NIGERIAN NOTCH

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has asked that no congratulatory message should be placed for him in newspapers for his birthday,  as he clocks 55 years on Thursday. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Gboyega Akosile, said in a statement on Wednesday, that the governor wished to continue his tradition of reaching out and sharing love with the needy in the society. ”This is to inform friends, families, professional colleagues and political associates of the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, that no congratulatory advertisements should be placed in newspapers to celebrate his forthcoming birthday. ”Mr Governor believes that an occasion of one’s birthday, especially a milestone such as the age of 55, should be a day to reflect on one’s purpose of existence in life,” Akosile said. The Chief Press Secretary said that according to the governor, the purpose of existence was ”to serve the humanity”. He said that apart from the outreach, the governor was

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N14.9 billion for the execution of 11 ecological projects across the six geopolitical zones of the country. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known when he briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Council fifth virtual meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. He said the approval followed the memo presented by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). He said: “Memo presented, on behalf of Mr President, by the Secretary to the Government, we sought approval for the award of contract for emergency procurement of the third and fourth quarters 2019, soil erosion, flood control, acceleration intervention projects in favour of 11 contractors, in total sum of N14,907,754,845.’’ According to him, the 11 projects are spread across the six geopolitical zones of the federation. “The first is a gully erosion control at Ogige-Uruala-Chikabi-Ajibara in Isikwat

 The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), have advised Nigerian youths to develop their digital skills to support government effort toward building digital economy. Inuwa gave the advice during an online interactive session with Nigerian youths on the topic: ‘Education, Employment and Technology in Nigeria: Gaps and Opportunities Post COVID-19 Pandemic’. The meeting was organised by Global Shapers Community, an international Non-Governmental Organisation which specializes in outsourcing talents, creating jobs and building careers. Inuwa said that developing digital skills would help them be self reliant post COVID-19 era. “Nigerian youths should stay committed and focused on their endeavors because time to hold-on to only educational qualifications without prerequisite skills is gone, especially now that the world has changed in different dimensions. “The outbreak of the novel Coronavirus has been a monumental disaster globally, Nigeria inclusiv

By Chikeluba Romanus  It is really good to get to know people well before  forming opinions about them, rather than judging people from a distance or from biased reports deliberately spread around by people whose motives are anything but pure speculation. So, I set about getting to know Senator Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah well, after my visit to an uncle in the rebuilt electrical electronics market in Nnewi . The visit  afforded me the opportunity to get firsthand the pure joy and happiness on the faces and body chemistry of market men and women who all had wonderful stories to tell about Senator Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah since his intervention in the fire disaster that befell them,   by rebuilding the market and also providing numerous other financial assistance that enabled them withstand the devastating effects of he fire incident, which gave them a fresh breath of life when all hopes seemed lost  On getting home that very day after the sobering visit, I decided to take my time to meticul

Ogbaru Community in Anambra State has dragged Julius Berger Nigeria Plc before the Federal High Court in Awka, alleging a violation of Environmental Impact Assessment in the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge. Also joined as defendants in the suit are the Federal Ministry of Works and B and Q Dredging. The community is seeking N2.5bn as damages for the alleged environmental and health hazards arising from the activities of the respondents in the construction of the bridge. The plaintiff claimed that more than 160 buildings from 15 communities in the Ogbaru Council Area on the coastal line of the River Niger had been adversely affected by the ongoing construction, which passed through Asaba to Ogbaru and stretched to Obosi. The community claimed that the activities of the construction company had polluted River Niger, their only source of water supply, with attendant negative impact on aquatic and domestic lives. They sought a court order to compel the defendants to recognise, deal an

Senator Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah By Kamen Chuks Ogbonna Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to unite in a way that little else does. It speaks to the youths in a language they can understand. Sport creates hope where once lies  despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination. -Nelson Mandela It is often said that SPORTS has an inherent ability to bring people together, particularly  the youths, and yet until recently, the tremendous potential of sports in achieving youth developmental  objectives has been grossly under utilized.  *By its very nature, sports encourages participation bridging National, Ethnic, Social and Religious Divides*  It is precisely for this reason that sports , when used as a tool for development, can serve as an impetus for social transformation and change! *It is this vision that shaped the  mindset of  Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah and spurred him on to venture

The Federal Government on Friday said it has released N4.5 billion to 31 Federal Teaching and Medical Centres across the country for the payment of hazard and inducement allowances for the month of April and May. Senator Ngige, flanked by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, said that the money was released early morning of Friday. The Minister also said that they briefed President Buhari on the strike embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD. It will be recalled that NARD had on Sunday directed its members to go on strike over the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, and poor remuneration for members as they battle the raging Coronavirus pandemic. According to him, “Just this morning, before we went to see Mr President, the Ministry of Finance reported that as at this morning, 3 am, they have paid the allowances for hazard and inducement to 31 teaching and Federal Medical

By Chigozie Igbo  The constituents of Anambra South Senatorial District, in Anambra state, are still basking in the euphoria of the  celebration of one year in office of their Sistinguished Senator, Senator Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, who has shown dexterity and maturity, even in the face of so many cases thrown on his path to distract him. Little wonder, Plato stated that "Excellence is not a gift, but a skill that takes practice. We do not act ‘Rightly’ because we are ‘excellent’, in fact we achieve ‘excellence’ by acting ‘Rightly."  Senator Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah in the last one year has achieved excellence by acting rightly. His constituents, Anambra state and Nigeria has indeed benefitted from the role he has played in the Senate, most especially in articulating for streams of revenue for the federal government through the signing into law by President Muhammad Buhari the bill SB 21: Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act( Amendment) Bill,2019. Its

--- appeal to Obiano, IGP, CP to stop the invasion by cultists, armed youths Some elders of Umuneri Village , Isu-Aniocha, Awka North local government area, Anambra state yesterday rose in condemnation of the forceful takeover of their entire lands by the Anambra state Housing Development Corporation Awka led by Arc. Willie Okafor. The elders said they have placed a caveat emptor on the land for buyers to beware of the danger signals to avoid regrets.  The Elders asked all intending buyers of the 54.27 hectares of land Green Valley Housing Estate among others surrounding it to beware and shun doing business with Anambra state Housing Development Corporation Awka with regards to the land until all matters pertaining to it is resolved or lose their investment. They described as treasonable felony, fraudulent and wickedness, the invasion of the entire Umuneri Village land by Housing Development Corporation Awka to build an estate against 54.72 hectares being negotiated with them by some o

President Muhammadu Buhari has announced the disbursement of funds from the $200 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund to indigenous manufacturers and service providers in the oil and gas sector. This was part of the President’s speech during his June 12, 2020, Democracy Day Speech on Friday. This is part of the Federal Government’s effort to boost indigenous participation in the oil and gas sector in order to continue to grow local content and invariably increase investment in the sector. According to the President, ‘’We continue to grow local content in other areas of the oil and gas sector with the disbursement of funds from the $200 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund to indigenous manufacturers and service providers.’’ As at July 2019, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), which has the responsibility to manage this fund had disbursed about $160 million to local oil firms.

The Imo state government led by His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma have inaugurated the Imo State Community Policing/Advisory Committee at the Mbakwe Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri The members were charged to ensure that they work hard to fish out criminals in Imo communities and villages.   Federal Government, through the Presidency, has approved the formation and inauguration of similar formations all over the country.  The sole aim is to ensure peaceful co-existence of indigenes and non-indigenes, ethnic groups and tribes in our communities all over the federation.   The Committee is not an alternative to Nigerian Security Agencies like the Police or the Army, rather the outfit will partner with them to ensure that our communities are properly secured, hence making their security job seamless and easy.   The Committee is to work to ensure that we live together in love and in peace and to smoke out all criminals, reduce acrimonies among Nigerians in our domai