Yahaya Bello not a good youth representative, says Effiong
Photo Credit: The Nation Nigeria
The Managing Director of UpdateAfrika Communications, Dr. Joseph Effiong, has expressed disappointment in former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello over alleged involvement in financial fraud amounting to over N80 billion .
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that Bello moved the amount from the State’s coffer with some used to pay the school fees of five children for 14 years in advance.
Bello was declared wanted by the anti -graft body over the matter after the former Governor failed to honour and invitation for investigation.
Effiong,a youth ambassador, expressed concern on the implications of Bello’s disregard for EFCC’s invite and the impression such may have on youths.
“Nothing stops the former Governor from honouring EFCC’s invite if his hands were clean , with or without a court injunction restraining his arrest,” he asserted.
Effiong submitted the recent confirmation by The American International School, Abuja on receipt of the sum of $845,852 from the embattled Governor as well as EFCC’s announcement of refund by the school earlier today suggests that Bello has a case to answer.
Ongoing FCT road projects 98% completed — Wike
Photo Credit: Nigerian Tribune
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has said that most of the ongoing road projects pencilled down for commissioning by May, this year, are 98% completed.
Wike stated this while addressing newsmen shortly after inspecting ongoing road construction sites in Abuja, over the weekend.
Wike noted that the promises made under the Renewed Hope Agenda to the residents on road infrastructure were becoming a reality, and assured that the delivery of the projects before May 29th was achievable.
The projects inspected include the Southern Parkway from the Christian Centre to Ring Road 1, the Outer Southern Expressway, from Villa Roundabout to Ring Road 1, and the site of the Vice President’s official residence.
Others are, the B6 and B12 Independence and Constitution Avenue road, and the Arterial Road N20 from Northern Parkway, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Expressway, to Outer Northern Expressway, as well as the Wuye Interchange and Guzape Lot II District.
He expressed satisfaction with the speed and quality of work being executed and commended the various contractors handling the projects for delivering the job according to specifications.
Hardship, Insecurity Causing Mental Illnesses In Nigeria – Arch Ndagoso
Photo Credit: Leadership News
Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso has said that hardship, insecurity and other challenges in the country are pushing so many Nigerians into mental disorder.
Archbishop Ndagoso stated this yesterday at the 2024 Annual General Assembly of Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna with the theme, “Integrating Mental Health Into Pastoral Care in the Archdiocese of Kaduna.”
“Given what our country has been going through in the last 13 or so years with insurgency, banditry, kidnappings for ransom, farmers/herders conflicts, ethno-religious conflicts, armed robbery, alcohol and substance abuse and of late, the very high cost of living caused mainly by the unplanned and hasty removal of fuel subsidy and the free-floating of the Naira which led to its unimaginable devaluation and has brought unprecedented and untold hardship on the vast majority of the citizenry, causing all kinds of illnesses both mental and physical, many people have lost not only their sources of livelihood but above all their homes and ancestral lands. Acute hunger leading to malnutrition and death especially of children are the order of the day in our country today. Many are at a loss. Depression, anxiety and fear of the unknown are on the increase in the land.
“Security challenges seem to be still in the thick of the woods. The spate of kidnappings for ransom is on the increase in some rural communities. We must continue to be vigilant and work together with all security agents especially the local vigilante groups.
“Communities must be ready now to take their destinies into their own hands. Many have done it with good results. Like I said last year, the involvement of locals as informants within our communities has further compounded the problem. I believe there is something each community can do to protect itself,” he said.
Ndagoso lamented the increasing cases of mental health in the country, urging the government at all levels to urgently proffer solutions to the problem by addressing poverty and insecurity which he noted were responsible for mental health disorder in most homes in the country.
Nasarawa Governor Inaugurates Committee On Oil, Gas Devt
Photo Credit: Leadership News
As work on drilling of the Ebenyi-A oil well in Obi local government area of Nasarawa State progresses, Governor Abdullahi Sule has inaugurated the state advisory and technical committee on oil and gas development.
The governor said during the inauguration that the aim of the committee is for the state to evolve measures to ensure collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other stakeholders for seamless implementation of the project and ensure community participation.
He said the committee has the mandate to liaise with NNPCL to ensure seamless execution of the project; laisse with other relevant stakeholders in the industry; monitor and facilitate compliance with all oil and gas laws including seamless compensation of host communities and facilitate the execution of corporate social responsibilities to the host communities and the state.
Other responsibilities of the committee are to develop appropriate partnership and investment for the realisation of the project for the mutual benefit of the state and investors in the project; determine the state’s participation in form of investment in the project through shareholding of government and individuals for overall development and carry-out any other responsibility as may be necessary in the interest of the project.
The NNPCL had in 2010 carried out several exploratory activities in some parts of Nasarawa State. The outcome of the activities resulted in the discovery of abundant hydrocarbon deposits, particularly in Obi and Keana local government areas of the state.
The effort climaxed in the commissioning of the Ebenyi-A oil well by former president Muhammadu Buhari in March 2023.
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