News
Nasarawa to conduct SDGs survey on GDP
By Anthony Adgidzi,
Lafia
The plan is under way by the Nasarawa State Government to conduct a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) survey on Gross Domestic Products (GDP) before the end of this year, 2024.
This is just as the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, has expressed its willingness to partner the State Bureau of Statistics (NSBS), in the areas of research and training for the overall benefit of the people of the state.
Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim, the Statistician General of the NSBS, made the disclosure, while playing host to the Director Linkages and International Corporation of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Assoc. Professor K’tso Nghargbu, in Lafia.
Nghargbu, was in the office of the state Statistician General, to congratulate him on his appointment and to enter an agreement of partnership with the bureau for sustainable development.
The Statistician General said, the state bureau will soon be collaborating with the National Bureau of Statistics to embark on the exercise.
“We are going to launch an SDGs survey on the state GDP. This is the first ever survey in the state to be conducted, so that the state will have a direction, will know what is earning, because now, as Nasarawa State is blind in yhe area of statistical records.”
Dr. Ibrahim emphasized that, by the time the GDP survey is conducted successfully, the state will be able to know what it can do, what it can earn on weekly, monthly and yearly.
He mentioned supply of statistics, users and policy formulators, suppliers of statistics snd research and training, are some of the elements of statistical system in operation.
He said, as a agency of government, they are ready to collaborate with the Nasarawa State University in the areas of research and training for the progress of the state.
Assoc. Professor K’tso Nghargbu, the Director Linkages and International Corporation, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, commended Governor Abdullahi Sule, for appointing an erudite scholar for the job.
Nghargbu said, the academic community in the state are happy with the establishment of the Bureau of Statistics.
“Academic and scholars strive on statistics. We can write nothing, we can do nothing without statistics.
“It was a sort of stepping down a work that hitherto was hanging there at the National level. Many a time, we have gone to NBS, looking for one data or another.
The Director Linkages and International Corporation, gave an instance where the former Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, during her tour of duty to the state, sought to access data on tourism at the NBS, Abuja.
“This is just underscores the import of what you are doing beyond Nigeria. If somebody from Europe will be looking for produce of your work, if we step down the work, it will become more detail, more enhance and more accessable.”
The university don, then commended the Bureau’s synergy with the NBS, to help citizens, students, researchers, scholars and other interested persons, to gain access to statistical data in the State.
He, however advocated the establishment of similar office in other states, to reduce the burden of traveling to NBS headquarters, Abuja, as such will make life easy for those who want to access data.
“As a purely teaching, research and training institution, we cannot do without you”, hence the university’s intention to collaborate with the Bureau, he added.
“We too have data, information and as a leaning institution will always be respository of certain kind of information and learning outcomes.
“I think such a partnership will benefit us in both ways.
Nghargbu, was optimistic that, the bureau has the capacity to guide it students and lecturers with necessary tools for more problem solving research, whereas the institution can provide the bureau with the number of students, faculties, PhDs produced in the last 10 years among others.
He commended the Bureau for been proactive, and hope that it request for partnership will be granted.
The Nasarawa State Coordinator of NBS, who was represented by Aliyu Bashir Maigoro, expressed happiness for the establishment of the Bureau and pledged NBS readiness to partner all stakeholders to achieve the desired result.
According to Maigoro, as a top data banking keepers, “we will accord the State Bureau of Statistics all the needed support to succeed in it mandate and to ensure the state has it own data base.”
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Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media and Public Communications to Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has responded to the recent appointment of Bashir Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).
Olayinka took to X (formerly Twitter) to address discussions surrounding this leadership transition. His post aimed to clarify that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not dismiss Mele Kyari, a northerner, to replace him with a southerner, as some speculated. Instead, Olayinka pointed out that Ojulari, like Kyari, hails from the northern region of Nigeria.
According to Olayinka’s post on his official X account, he emphasised that Bashir Ojulari is from Kwara State, located in North Central Nigeria. Additionally, the new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, originates from Borno State in the North East.
His post stated: “Bashir Ojulari, the new NNPCL CEO, is a northerner from Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. The new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is also a northerner, from Borno State, North East Nigeria.”
Olayinka’s statement came in response to narratives suggesting that the appointment was politically motivated to favour one region over another.
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has strongly condemned the extrajudicial killing of 16 travelers in Uromi, Edo State, while warning against retaliatory violence targeting Southerners in Northern Nigeria.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, MBF Spokesman Luka Binniyat denounced inflammatory threats from individuals claiming to represent Northern interests in response to the killings.
Recalled that the victims, were allegedly armed hunters, traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano when they were attacked by a mob that accused them of being kidnappers.
“The MBF strongly condemns the unlawful killing of any Nigerian citizen, including those who lost their lives in Uromi,” the statement read. “However, we categorically reject any attempt to use this tragic incident as a pretext to unleash violence against Southerners residing in Northern Nigeria.”
The forum assured that the Middle Belt would not become a battleground for reprisals, emphasizing that it remains a safe haven for all law-abiding Nigerians. It urged community leaders and youths to remain vigilant and prevent any attempts to instigate violence, calling for anyone with such intentions to be handed over to authorities.
The MBF also reaffirmed its commitment to justice for all victims of violence across Nigeria. The statement highlighted the ongoing security challenges facing Middle Belt communities, citing persistent attacks by armed herdsmen with little government intervention.
” We hope that the swift response to the Uromi killings would serve as a precedent for broader action against criminal elements terrorizing the region.
“Thousands of our people remain in captivity, and vast portions of our land are still under the control of violent outlaws—primarily Fulani militants,” the statement noted.
“Justice must be served across the board.”
The MBF concluded by reiterating its support for the ongoing investigation into the Uromi incident and calling for a fair and decisive crackdown on all forms of criminality across the country.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Kabir Ibrahim kware, has commended governor Ahmed Aliyu for executing numerous developmental projects without taking loan from any financial institution.
Ibrahim Kware whp gave the commendation when he led other members of the State Assembly on Sallah homage to governor Aliyu, added that, the governor is very prudent in managing resources to achieve results.
“There was never a time you approached us with a request for permission to borrow money from any financial institutions whether at home or abroad,”he affirmed.
This , according to him, is worthy of commendation considering the myriad people- oriented projects the governor is executing across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the State’s Judiciary, Sokoto State Chief Judge, Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Sifawa, commended the governor for the construction of additional Court rooms at the State High Court.
Justice Sifawa also expressed delight over the way and manner the governor responds to issues affecting the Judiciary, which he said, is a clear testimony of the good working relationship existing between the three arms of government in the state.
Responding to the commendations, governor Ahmed Aliyu appealed for more synergy among the three tiers of government in the overall development of the state.
A statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to governor Alhmed Aliyu reaffirmed his principal’s unwavering commitment of the executive arm to providing the direly needed dividends of democracy to the people of the state,in line with his campaign promises.
The governor also urged lawmakers to present all the needs of their constituencies for prompt and diligent implementation.
“”I want to assure you that my doors are always open for you at any given time, to listen to the demands of your people.”
He reminded them on the need to put politics aside and work together with the executive arm for the progress and even development of the people they represent.
Turning to the members of the State Judiciary, the governor appealed to Judges and Khadis to ensure the quick dispensation of justice, so as to decongest the correctional centres.
“It is worrisome to see how inmates are languishing in correctional centres for minor offences in the name of awaiting trial.
“We recently appointed seven additional Judges and 7 Khadis, which is the first in the history of Sokoto State.
“The idea is to enhance the manpower in our Judiciary so as to speed up the dispensation of justice,” he added.
The governor further assured the members of the Judiciary of his administration’s readiness to ensure their welfare at all times.