Edo Govt will deploy interlocking blocks technology for road projects, says Obaseki

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January 16, 2020

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has assured members of the Interlocking Engineers Association, that interlocking block technology would be deployed in some road projects undertaken by the Edo State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) programme.

The governor gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by members of the association led by the Chairman, Ernest Omozee, to the Government House, in Benin City.

The governor said the state government will engage the services of the artisans in some road projects undertaken by the Edo SEEFOR programme.

While commending the entrepreneurship drive of members of the association, the governor noted that his administration will provide the needed support for them to succeed.

Obaseki mandated the Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure to come up with modalities for engaging the services of the Interlocking Engineers Association.

“It is possible to put interlocking blocks and stones on the edges of most of our roads to serve as a walkway. It is possible for us to help you with some inputs such as cement so you can get them at regulated prices from the manufacturers,” Obaseki said.

He added that the association would also be linked to major road contractors in the state to improve the quality of their products.

Earlier, the Public Relation Officer of the Association, Comrade Jackson Ebhote, praised the governor for his administration’s entrepreneurial programmes for youths in the state through EdoJobs initiative, Edo Production Centre and the revamping of the Government Science and Technical College.

Ebhote said members of the association have decided to make the governor the grand patron going by his leadership style and for prioritising the welfare of Edo people.

He noted that the association is fully in support of the Governor Obaseki-led administration, urging the governor not to be distracted by a few individuals who are opposed to reforms.

R-L: Director General, EdoJobs Agency, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Infrastructure, Mr. Ferguson Enabulele; Commissioner for Infrastructure, Hon. John Inegbedion; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Chairman, Interlocking Engineers Association of Nigeria, Omozee Smart; Vice Chairman, Kelly Ehibor, and the Association’s Public Relations Officer, Comrade Jackson Ebhote, during a courtesy visit to the governor by the Association, at the Government House, Benin City.

Governors looting LG funds will face trial after tenure – Presidency

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Alex Enemanna

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January 16, 2020

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The Presidency has warned governors hijacking local government funds that they will face trial when their immunity elapses at the end of their tenure.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, made this known in a statement by his spokesman, Edet Etuk.

The statement said Sen. Enang spoke on a radio programme where he charged the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Attorney-General of the Federation to monitor the spending of funds allocated to states.

Enang said, “Let the governors know that they would be made to stand trial in accordance with the extant law when their immunity is eventually lifted.”

ISWAP release five kidnapped aid workers

By

Alex Enemanna

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January 16, 2020

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Islamic State-aligned jihadists have released five local aid workers abducted last month in Borno State, security sources and one of those freed said Thursday.

The aid workers were seized along with other passengers in two separate incidents in December when fighters from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) disguised as soldiers intercepted vehicles on highways outside the Borno state capital of Maiduguri.

ISWAP, which split from the Boko Haram jihadist group in 2016, has focused on targeting military installations and troops since mid-2018.

However, there has recently been an increase in attacks on civilians blamed on ISWAP.

The decade-long jihadist conflict in northeast Nigeria has killed 35,000 people and displaced around two million from their homes.

The violence has spread to neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting the formation of a regional military coalition to fight the Islamists.

A security source told AFP “the five aid workers were released… after days of mediated negotiations with ISWAP” on Wednesday.

The hostages are a local staff of international humanitarian agencies, providing aid to thousands of people displaced by the violence in the region, the source said.

Asabe Musa, a hygiene specialist with ALIMA (Alliance for International Medical Action), a French NGO, is among the five freed hostages.

“We were released by our captors today (Wednesday). Two of us are from ALIMA, one each from Red Cross, Solidarity and IOM (International Office for Migration).

“We were first taken to the DSS headquarters before we were handed over to our various agencies,” she told AFP, referring to Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency.

“We are all in good health. I and my colleagues are now at ALIMA office here in Maiduguri where we are staying for the night.”

The negotiations for the release were initiated by the DSS, the security source said.

It was not clear whether a ransom was paid for the aid workers’ release.

A sister of Asabe Musa told AFP her sibling spoke with their mother on the phone from the DSS offices after her release.

“My sister was allowed to call our mother and confirm her release along with four others,” Vicky Musa told AFP.

Asabe Musa was kidnapped along with two others on December 22 on their way to Maiduguri for Christmas from the garrison town of Monguno, 135 kilometres (84 miles) away.

On December 4 ISWAP claimed the abduction of two Red Cross staff along with 12 other passengers on a separate highway outside Maiduguri.

ISWAP has increasingly been abducting motorists at checkpoints in Borno state, targeting security personnel, anti-jihadist militia as well as Christians.

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said he was “deeply relieved” at the news of the release.

But he said in a statement it was unfortunate that aid workers are being targeted by jihadists in Nigeria.

“These dedicated humanitarians were working to provide life-saving support to millions of Nigeria’s most vulnerable in north-eastern Borno state…

“I also remain gravely concerned for the lives of our (Action Contre la Faim) colleague Grace Taku, abducted near Damasak in July 2019, and Alice Loksha, a nurse and a mother, abducted during an attack in Rann in March 2018. Both are still held captive by non-state armed groups”.

Benue State approves new minimum wage

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Alex Enemanna

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January 16, 2020

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Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has approved the implementation of the new minimum wage for workers in the state.

Special Adviser to the governor on labour, Ode Enyi, said the approval was arrived at at the meeting on the new minimum wage and adjustment of salaries held in Makurdi by the negotiation committee.

He said that the labour and the government agreed on N30,009.99 as the new minimum wage in the state.

He added that the committee would meet to adjust the salaries of level-seven workers and above.

“Already, level one to six have been settled,” Enyi said.

Enyi said that the chairman of the committee and the Secretary to the State Government, Tony Ijohor, expressed the readiness of the Ortom administration to tackle the issues affecting workers in the state with all seriousness.

When asked about the date for commencement of the new minimum wage, Enyi said, “(When) the committee meet on the adjustment of the salary for all levels, the implementation period will be known.”

I Declare Judgement Upon Those Who Curse Me For Nothing – Fr. Mbaka

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ABN TV EDITOR

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January 16, 2020

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The Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has sent curses upon the people he said curse him for nothing.

This is following the recent declaration of Sen. Hope Uzodinma by Supreme Court as the duly elected governor of Imo state after Rev. Mbaka had earlier prophesied the replacement of the former governor, Emeka Ihedioha with the recently inaugurated Hope Uzodinma.

The clergy in a verified Facebook page of the ministry said he is not a politician contrary to insinuation in some quarters.

He insisted that his prophecy is not from any evil alter but from God Almighty, saying God of Adoration will speak for him.

“I Bless The Name Of The Most High God; Because He Said It And It Come To Pass!; My Prophecy Is Not Borrowed Or From Any Evil Alter But From God Almighty Creator Of Heaven And Earth. Some Accused Me Of Being A Politician But Only God Knows Who I Am;

“Let God Of Adoration Speak For Me, You Who Speaks Evil Against Me Hmm; God Of Adoration Is A Consuming Fire; I Declare Judgement Upon Those Who Curse Me For Nothing; My Hands Are Clean; I Bless Those Who Know The Truth And Stand For It; Let God Of Elijah Fight For Me; Let The Heaven Speak And Let The Children Of God Receive Their All Round Blessings In Jesus Mighty Name: Say Amen. The Lord Is Taking You To A Level Even Your Enemy Can Not Reach; This Will Be Your Year Of Abundance; Everything You Ask In Your Prayer Will Be In Abundance In Jesus Mighty Name”.

I Declare Judgement Upon Those Who Curse Me For Nothing - Fr. Mbaka

Lassa fever outbreak: Enugu govt warn residents against bush burning

By

Alex Enemanna

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January 16, 2020

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The Enugu State Government has cautioned the residents of the state of uncontrolled bush burning, saying the fleeing rodents may cause the spread of Lassa fever disease in homes.

Dr Boniface Okolo, the Director of Public Health, Enugu State Ministry of Health, made this known in Enugu on Thursday, explaining that fleeing rodents from burning bushes were likely to run into homes for safety.

He explained that rodents carrying Lassa fever would defecate on raw and cooked foodstuffs not properly covered in the homes they had fled into for safety.

He said that this could become a threat to the safety and health of people living in such homes.

Okolo said, “Bush burning will definitely cause rodents and rats in those bushes to find their ways into residential areas for safety.

“Whenever we burn bushes around us, rats eventually run into our houses. They contaminate our foodstuffs with their secretions, urine and excretions and this leads to household members contracting Lassa fever.”

The director advised the citizens to maintain proper hygiene in their environments, and always cover all their foodstuffs to prevent rodents from contaminating them.

He also advised the public to fumigate their homes and keep their environments clean.