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Category: General News

  • Plateau govt. donates tractor to Qua’an Pan LGA to boost farming 

    Plateau govt. donates tractor to Qua’an Pan LGA to boost farming
    Tractor
    By Peter Amine
    Jos, June 29, 2024 (NAN), The Plateau Government, through the Agricultural Services and Training Centre (ASTC), has donated a tractor to Qua’an Pan Local Government Area to boost farming in the area.
    Mr Luka Dakul, Mangu Site ASTC Manager, while handing over the tractor to Mr Christopher Manship, Chairman, Transition Implementation Committee, Qua’an Pan LGA on Saturday in Jos, said the gesture would boost food sufficiency.
    Dakul restated the state government’s commitment to revive the state economy through agriculture and reposition Plateau as the home of peace and tourism.
    The manager further said that the tractor would help farmers cultivate their farms effortlessly as a mesaure  to enhance food security in the state.
    He expressed confidence that the partnership between the state government and ASTC would encourage robust and sustainable economic growth through farming.
    Manship, who received the tractor on behalf of the local government, thanked Gov. Caleb Mutfwang and ASTC for the laudable initiative.
    The chairman assured the people that his administration would ensure that the tractor reached the farmers directly to revive agriculture in the local government.
    He restated  the local government’s resolve to work with relevant partners to improve the well-being of the people of Qua’an Pan. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    PAT/YGA
    =======
    Edited by Gabriel Yough

  • Southern Kaduna youth forum commits to peace building, civic participation

  • Child Labour: NBS rating not true reflection in C’River – Commissioner

     

    Rate

    By Ehigimetor Igbaugba (07030464940)

    Calabar, June 29, 2024 (NAN) The Government of Cross River has described the state rating on child labour by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) as “spurious” and not a true reflection of what is happening in the state.

    The government demanded to know the parameters used by the NBS to carry out the research that rated Cross River number one in the country involved in child labour with 67.4 percent.

    The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Erasmus Ekpang who made the demand in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said Cross River remained the most “child friendly” state in Nigeria.

    Ekpang explained that Cross River showed the value it placed on the rights of every child by being among the first state in the country to domesticate the Child Rights Law.

    “The United Nations is aware of what we are doing in this regard. So, it is preposterous for us to degenerate into such a high lows even when there are a number of violations of the law.

    “To say the least, we are concerned about such statistics and would want to verify this claim which I still consider as spurious.

    “We have continued with sustained advocacy on the existence of the Child Rights Law in the state. The Law provides for criminalisation of violators and offenders of the law.

    “As a state, we created a special Ministry to be in charge of this, which is the Ministry of Women Affairs with Desk Offices established in the 18 council areas to cascade this advocacy to the wards and villages.

    “Government has gone ahead to involve traditional rulers, opinion leaders and women groups to strengthen this campaign against child labour and child abuse respectively.

    “Of course, note that some violators have been and are being prosecuted in the courts. Even in my ministry of information, my orientation department has been doing a lot to sensitise and orientate the citizenry on the existence of the Law and implementation in the state.

    “All these are helping and would continue to change the narrative in this regard,” he stated.

    The NBS report indicates that over 24 million Nigerian children are involved in child labour, with 14.3 millions of these children engaged in hazardous work as of 2022 when the last report was conducted.

    The northwest geopolitical zone bears the brunt of these figures, with the highest number of child labourers (6,407,102) and children in hazardous work (3,266,728).

    The South East region emerged the highest in terms of percentage prevalence of child labour with nearly half of the children involved in child labour at 49.9 per cent.

    Nationally, 39.2 per cent of children (24,673,485) are in child labour, and 22.9 per cent (14,390,353) are involved in hazardous work, painting a grim picture of the conditions under which nearly two out of every five Nigerian children live.

    The report also shows that children in the 5–17 age group in child labour commit an average of 14.6 hours of work per week.

    The data further revealed the top 10 states grappling with high percentage of child labour in Nigeria.

    According to the data, Cross River, Yobe, Abia, Plateau and Taraba are are top five with 58.6, 58.9, 60.1, 62.6, and 67.4 percent respectively.

    Taraba State is followed by Ebonyi with 56.2 per cent, Imo with 56.2 percent, Kogi with 54.4 per cent while Bauchi and Akwa Ibom came 9th and 10th with 53.3 and 52.2 percent respectively. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    ESI/MNA

    Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

     

  • 14 die in auto crash in Kano

    14 dies in auto crash in Kano

    Auto crash

    By Bosede Olufunmi

    Kano, June 28, 2024(NAN) No fewer than 14 persons died in an auto-crash at Imawa town along the Zaria – Kano highway in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State.

     

    The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Ibrahim Abdullahi, confirmed the accident to newsmen on Friday in Kano.

     

    He said that the accident occurred when a truck with registration number MKA 537 XN lost control and collided with pedestrians who had just concluded Friday prayers and killed 14 of them

    Abdullahi said, “We received a distress call at about 01:50 p.m. on June 28, 2024, On receiving the information, we quickly dispatched our personnel and vehicle to the scene of the accident.

     

    “The FRSC is committed to road safety and urges all road users to adhere strictly to traffic regulations to prevent such avoidable tragedies.”

     

    The sector commander extended  his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and assured the  public that efforts were ongoing to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding the crash.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    BO/BEKl/BRM

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    Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Bashir  Rabe Mani

     

     

     

  • Those behind oil theft live outside Niger Delta – Sen. Dickson

    Theft

    By Edeki Igafe

    Warri (Delta), June 28, 2024 (NAN) Sen. Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa West) on Friday described those behind oil theft in the Niger Delta as “big players” who reside outside the region.

    The senator made the allegation at Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta while visiting the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketepe, Agadagba.

    Dickson said although Ijaw youths were tagged to be behind oil theft, they lacked the capacity and technical know-how to understand how pipelines operate.

    “Those big players behind the crude oil theft are not from the region but are based in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the world,” he said.

    He explained that the Ijaw people were living in the creeks, earning their daily livelihood on the waterways and farmlands when the alleged thieves polluted the land with their nefarious activities.

    “We have no means and no capacity to engage in the high-level operations that result in the daily loss of Nigerian crude oil produced from our place.

    “Those who have the capacity to compromise and infiltrate the national security system and infiltrate the national petroleum system; those who have the capacity to hire the tankers and shuttle vessels, they are not Ijaws.

    “We do not have the capacity to do that! We do not even have the experience to be involved in that kind of operation,” he said.

    The legislator, who is also the state ex-governor, said such high-level operations needed a lot of resources, coordination, funding and international networking.

    He, however, urged Nigeria to step up her game in the international arena by pushing for the designation of her stolen crude oil.

    “Those who, on a daily basis under declare what is produced; those who have refused to properly monitor and record what is produced for over 50 or 60 years should take the blame.

    “It is not the Ijaw youth – harmless people without the capacity and without the technical know-how,” he said.

    He, however, commended the traditional ruler for ensuring peace in his kingdom and the entire Niger Delta.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dickson also visited Dr Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, founder of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL).

    He commended Ekpemupolo for the wonderful job he had been doing with his private security outfit, TSSNL, to boost the nation’s oil revenue and ensure the regeneration of the region’s ecosystem. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    EDI/KOO/MAS
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    Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Moses Solanke

  • Tinubu mourns elder statesman Amadu Na-Funtua

    Tinubu mourns elder statesman Amadu Na-Funtua

    Mourning

    By Salif Atojoko

    Abuja, June 28, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu extends his condolences to the government and people of Katsina State over the passing of elder statesman and long-reigning Sa’in Katsina, Alhaji Ahmadu Abdulkadir.

    Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, in a statement on Friday, said the deceased, better known as Amadu Na-Funtua, was a renowned leader, politician and businessman.

    “President Tinubu states that the contributions of the late Na-Funtua to community building and development will long be remembered.

    “The president prays for Allah’s mercy on the soul of the deceased and comfort for his family,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    SA/JPE

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    Edited by Joseph Edeh

     

  • Tinubu condoles with Davies’ family over passing of matriarch 

    Tinubu condoles with Davies’ family over passing of matriarch 

    Condolence

    By Salif Atojoko 

    Abuja, June 28, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu has extended his condolences to the family of the late Chief Hezekiah Oladipo Davies over the passing of their matriarch, Mrs Olujoke Davies.

    Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, in a statement on Friday, said Olujoke passed away at the age of 90.

    He said Olujoke was the wife of Davies, one of Nigeria’s founding fathers; a lawyer, journalist, and former Minister of Industries.

    She was the mother of Mrs Olufunmilayo Goka, former Deputy Managing Director of Agip Oil, 

    “The President describes the departed matriarch as an illustrious daughter of the nation who lived a full life dedicated to the Almighty and to the service of her family and community.

    “President Tinubu commiserates with the entire Davies family, as well as the Oluwole family and the Ogunmade ruling house of Lagos,” the statement said.

    It said the President prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased, while asking her family to take solace in her enduring legacies. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    SA/SOA

    Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

     

  • LASG exposes 30 students to road, bridge construction  

     

    Construction

    By Aderonke Ojediran

    Lagos, June 28, 2024 (NAN) Lagos State Government on Friday reiterated its commitment to engaging local engineers and students in higher institutions to ensure transfer of knowledge in roads and bridge construction.

     

    Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, gave the during a tour of five strategic road and bridge projects.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government selected for internship,  no fewer than 30 students studying civil engineering in both private and public universities.

     

    The projects toured include Abiola-Onijemo link road with bridge, Ikeja GRA regeneration road project, and Opebi Mende-link bridge and roads.

     

    The others  include Arowojobe link bridge and approach road at Maryland, Agidi Demurin and Church Street Network, and Saint Finbarrs Road (UNILAG to Abule Okuta- Soluyi).

     

    Omotosho said: ” Many of our youths have been employed, we have seen our students working there, they are being taken to come and learn how to do things.

     

     

    “The project of this Opebi link bridge is not something that is common; so, it is very good for our young engineers to have this experience.

     

    “It is a massive project that will bring relief to residents of Lagos trying to connect the airport, Ojota, Ikorodu.”

     

     

    Omotosho said that in spite of the rains, contractors were committed to meeting deadlines.

     

     

    “We have been going around since morning, and what we have seen is testimony to the fact that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is not resting on his oars.

     

     

    “There are so many things that have been completed and so many in the pipeline,” he said.

     

    The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Infrastructure, Mr Olufemi Daramola, who was in the team, expressed satisfaction at the various levels of completion of the projects in spite of the rainy season.

     

    ” The weather slowed down the spate of works on sites but the contractors are working assiduously in ensuring completion of the projects they are handling.

     

    “This tour is part of our efforts to ensure that all our contractors are up and doing.

    “Most of the projects have very commendable progress. The major challenge is the issue of the rain.

    ” However, I assure you that public works are up and running,” Daramola said.

     

    Miss Apologun Onetere, one of the interns on site and a fourth year student of Babcock University, said that the experience had been thrilling.

     

    ” I have learnt a lot about piling which is the foundation of building a bridge.

    “It is so interesting, I appreciate this experience,” she said.

    All the projects toured recorded, at least, 70 per cent  completion. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    OAF/IGO

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    Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

  • NGO urges advanced data tools usage to tackle ecological challenges

    Ecology
    By Precious Akutamadu
    Port Harcourt, June, 28, 2024(NAN)The Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI), an NGO, on Friday urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to deploy advanced data tools in the campaign against ecological challenges.
    The Executive Director, Mr Okoro Emmanuel, made the call at a media briefing to mark the 2024 International Day of the Tropics  in Port Harcourt.
    Represented by Mr Ikechukwu  Ahaka, the Project, Policy and Governance Officer, Emmanuel urged the Federal Government to collaborate strongly with relevant stakeholders to tackle environmental challenges in the tropical regions.
    “Nigeria’s Southern Tropics is facing loss of tropical biodiversity and environmental degradation from human-induced activities such as oil spills, artisanal crude oil refining and uncontrolled carbon emissions.
    “There are also other environmental challenges arising from indiscriminate mining and war in the Northern Sahel Tropics.
    “The tropics host nearly 95 per cent of the world’s mangrove forests, covering an area of about 99 per cent of mangrove species.
    “These mangrove species are essential to society’s survival, they serve as both a carbon sink and a habitat for a wide range of animal species,”he said.
    The executive director identified the lack of adequate environmental data and an evidence-based intervention system in Nigeria as one of the challenges in tackling ecological problems.
    He stated that MAJI with support from the U.S. Consular-General’s office, had developed an environmental data analysis Mobile App called DATACAB, as part of its contribution towards data-oriented environmental protection system.
    “This mobile application collects existing environmental data. It refines and analyses these data into free and easy to read formats for stakeholders to use.
    “It is available in downloadable formats for Android and IOS based mobile platforms.
    “We call on stakeholders to use this year’s international day for tropics to ponder on the current challenges facing Nigeria’s rich ecological environment.
    “The government should make specific efforts to document environmental data in a sustainable and effective manner,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    PA/AZU
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    Edited by Azubuike Okeh

  • Oborevwori tasks youths on skills acquisition  

     

    Oborevwori task youths on  skills acquisition
    Skills
    By Ifeanyi Olannye
    Asaba, June 28, 2024(NAN) Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta on Friday, charged youths in the country to acquire skills and financial literacy to become self-employed.
    The governor gave the charge at the Niger Delta Viewpoint Small Medium Enterprises (NDVP-SME) Conference 2024 in Asaba, Delta.
    The  theme of the conference is:  “Financial Literacy and Skill Acquisition, A Journey To Self Actualisation”.
    Oborevwori, represented by his Chief of Staff, Prince Johnson Erijo, said acquisition of skills in various fields was a sure avenue for self development and empowerment.
    He called on young people to learn from and emulate successful entrepreneurs by starting businesses of their choice.
    “The training of our youths and women in self actualising knowledge and skills to make them economically independent, is a  welcome development.
    “The time has come to wean our people, especially the youths, from  depending soley  on government for the provision of all human capital development mechanism,”he said.
    He said that  government alone cannot employ everybody.
    “It has  become necessary to train our people in various areas where they can become entrepreneurs, grow their businesses and become employers of labour.
    “I am happy this programme will train our people in financial literacy.
    “This way, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs can find their way in independently negotiating and accessing funds to grow their businesses,” he said.
    He said the state government has trained thousands of youths, male and  female in skills acquisition in various fields.
    The governor said that they have also been  empowered to start their chosen businesses on their own.
    “We sincerely believe that the State has created a sizeable pool of entrepreneurs capable of revolutionising SMEs in the State.
    “It is noteworthy that this initiative covers catering, fashion, IT, both soft and hardware, farming, manufacturing and the creative industry.
    “These array of skills acquisition is capable of making participants economically self reliant.
    “I urge all participants to pay serious attention and be well equipped in the knowledge of whatever area they have chosen.
    “I implore the organisers to lay emphasis on mentoring. Some graduates of skill acquisition often branch off from what they have learnt,”he said.
    Earlier, the Founder and Group Managing Director,  Kudimata Nigeria Limited, Mrs Kathleen Erhimu, said after working  in the financial sector, it became imperative to work for herself while creating value for others.
    She said it provided empowerment, training and development to individuals and small-scale businesses in the interest of economic growth.
    The Lead Speaker and Founder, House of Tara, Mrs Tara Fela-Durotoye, Harped on the importance of relationship, reputation and resilience in the business world.
    On his part, Mudiaga Enajemo, of Mudi Africa, said he built his brand for over 30 years with talent and self-confidence.
    He urged Nigerian youths to build on their talent by undergoing requisite training needed to grow their businesses.
    Frank Onosigho, a lawyer who spoke on legal basics for entrepreneurs, said businesses must be registered through the Corporate Affairs Commission CAC.
    He also said that business  should be  built on  trust and relationships for excellence and sustainability in business.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kudimata in conjunction with Prudential Energy, presented N500,000 cheques to each of the 50 beneficiaries to start up their own businesses.(NAN) (www.nannews.com.ng).
    IO/JPE
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    Edited by Joseph Edeh