Across The Nation

Ijebu-Ode residents want solution to flood menace
RESIDENTS of Ijebu-Ode in Ogun have called on both the Federal and State governments to find a lasting solution to threats posed by flooding in the ancient town.
Spokesmen of a group known as “Concerned Residents” told newsmen that major areas of the town are usually water-logged whenever there is heavy rain.
Mrs. Funke Bamitale and Mr. Kayode Orediya attributed flooding in Ijebu-Ode to either lack of effective drainage control system or aging gutters constructed several years ago.
The duo said such ugly development had, in the past, brought untold hardship to residents, maintaining that both human and vehicular movements are always hampered.
Mr. Mufutau Oseni, Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, however, allayed the fears of the people, saying the council would do everything possible to tackle the flood menace.
He said that the problem would be tackled through re-construction of new water channels and drainage in the town as well as upgrade the existing ones.

NELGA Chairman advises staff
THE Executive Chairman of Ndokwa East Local Government, Elder Chike Ugwummadu, has advised staff of the local government to always take their jobs with utmost dedication.
The Chairman who gave the advice in an interactive session with the staff of the council, also charged the Heads of Department to properly educate staff under them on the need to eschew lateness, absenteeism, and lukewarm attitude to their duties.
Elder Ugwummadu equally charged workers in the environment and primary healthcare (PHC) departments to always come to work in their uniforms.
He lamented the poor work orientation among the workforce and pleaded for a change as his administration would not condone any form of indiscipline among the staff.

NDLEA seizes 991 kg of Indian hemp in FCT
THE NDLEA has seized more than 881 kg of Indian hemp in the FCT, in the last five months.
Mrs. Victoria Egbase, the FCT Commander of the agency, disclosed this at Ggwagwalada in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
She said within the same period, the command arrested one Ibrahim goje with 218.9 Kg of the weed and one kilogamme of Diazapam tablets.
“We also arrested Christopher Okofu of Garki village with 102.2 grammes of cocaine,” she said.
Egbese said the command has introduced a special intelligence unit to fish out more drug dealers, especially in the satellite towns.
“The special intelligence team recently arrested one 29-year old Habib Bello with about 233 kg of Indian hemp at Abaji town,” she stated.
She added that the command would soon introduce anti-drug campaigns in primary and post-primary schools in the FCT.
“We have to save our children from being ruined by drugs,” she said, while commending the Police, FRSC and FCT administration for supporting the anti-drug campaign in the area councils.

UI authorities descend on erring students
SEVENTEEN students from various departments of the University of Ibadan have been sanctioned for gross misconduct and examination malpractice.
A statement issued by the institution and signed by Mrs. Omotayo Ikotun, the Registrar and Secretary to Council, said 11 of the affected students had been expelled, while two others were suspended indefinitely.
Two other students had been asked to withdraw on grounds of poor academic records, one was rusticated for four semesters and another one for a semester, the statement added.
It further said that 14 other students had their cases deferred, five had their cases stepped down for further investigation and two were discharged.
According to the statement, two accused students were left off the hook after investigations had shown that they were not culpable, and three other were “strongly reprimanded.”
Meanwhile, all senior non-teaching employees of the university will, according to a separate release, henceforth write promotion examinations, with effect from October 1.
The statement said that this is in keeping with a university council decision taken in 2003, which the management is now implementing.
“Promotion,” the statement said, “should be to established positions after certain level and subject to some form of examination or test of skill with other approved criteria as it obtains in other arms of the public serve.”

81 housing units now ready at Asaba estate
By CLETUS NGWODO
THE Managing Director of African American Designs Ltd, Dr. Patrick Nwamu, has said that 81 out of the 201 housing units have been completed at the Asaba Exquisite Housing Estate located along Asaba - Benin expressway.
Dr. Nwamu, a renowned architect, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in his office in Asaba, on the job done so far to ensure that the projection date for the completion of the estate is kept.
He said that while the firm has commenced the construction of another 60 units made up of two, three and four-bedroom apartments, water and electricity are being connected to the completed 81 units while contract for the construction of internal roads has been awarded and work has already commenced.
Dr. Nwamu hinted that construction work on the 60 units will be completed in the next four months, attributing the delay in finishing the work to the bureaucracy on the part of the Federal Mortgage Bank in releasing the required funds.
He disclosed that the completed 81 units have been allocated to contributors of Federal Housing Funds, explaining that to be eligible one must have contributed for a minimum of six months. He said that other qualified persons could also apply.
Dr. Nwamu urged both the Federal and State governments to show more commitment to the issue of housing, saying that Nigerians need a lot of houses to meet up with the demands which, according to him, have resulted in exorbitant house rent across the country.