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Friday, October 28, 2010
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Community Mirror I am looking forward to a day when all the elderly population will have Social Security in Nigeria. Majority of these elderly ones are weak, some are facing health challenges and need serious support. EKITI STATE GOVERNOR, KAYODE FAYEMI
NDLEA destroys cannabis farm in Ogun FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA
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he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in Ogun State has begun the destruction of 30 hectares of weed farms suspected to be cannabis sativa in Odogbolu Local Government Area. The destruction of the farm inside the Aiyepe forest reserve was carried out by the agency personnel supervised by the state commander, Bala Fagge. NDLEA, which had acted on a tip-off, also arrested five of the eight suspects
said to own the weed farm. Speaking at the site, Bala Fagge said his command had declared total war on cannabis cultivation, even as the command got information on the farm through sources. He said the destruction of the hemp farm was meant to serve as deterrent and make intending growers to keep off Ogun State, as he stressed that the method was to ensure that no illegal drug enters the market. He said it would be counter-productive if the command had waited for the perpetrators’ to harvest the weed, hence the immediate
destruction of the cannabis. “This is a system we have developed to follow them to the farm because if we allow the cannabis to enter the society, we will not be able to mop up 40 or 60 per cent of it, but when you go to the farm, you are sure of its total destruction so that no cannabis enters the market”. Fagge further said that the five suspects arrested were already giving useful information on how to arrest the others at large, stressing that they will be prosecuted in the court. Fagge solicited the support of the people, espe-
cially land owners, who were advised to scrutinise prospective farmers before renting their land for any purpose. Speaking, the Supervisor for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Odogbolu Local Government, Mr. Faith Idowu expressed the council’s readiness to support the anti drug agency in stopping the cultivation of cannabis in the state. Commenting on several efforts to discourage the cultivation and trading in illicit drugs, Fagge said the command has seized more than 3, 560 kg
Mobile phone technicians plying their trade at Shuarin village market in Jigawa State.
PHOTO: NAN
200 arrested for violating sanitation law HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE
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total of 200 people have been prosecuted for violating the Ondo State sanitation laws,even as the offenders were accused of dumping wastes in canals, roaming the streets during the exercise and violation of other environmental laws. According to the General Manager of the Waste Management Authority, Mr. Ayo Mesuleya, most of the offenders were arrested for not complying with the sanitation laws, even as he expressed satisfaction
with the turnout during the monthly exercise, but regretted that some people still break the laws with impunity. Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Environment, Chief Sola Ebiseeni has issued a two week ultimatum to residents of Akoko Southwest Local Government to remove all domestic animals from the streets or forfeit them to the government. Ebiseeni, who was speaking at the palace of Olubaka of Oka, Oba Adebori Adeleye expressed disgust at the uncontrolled roaming of domestic animals on the streets. He said the sight of these animals
at the headquarters of the local government was not befitting and said that environmental task officers have been empowered to impound them. He also told the Olubaka-in-Council to inform the residents that any house without modern toilets would be sealed and the property converted to public use. According to him, 80 percent of houses in Oka have no modern toilets for occupants and that government would not fold its arms and allow this to continue,even as he said owners of such houses will be prosecuted.
of cannabis sativa, while 46 farmlands of various sizes were destroyed from January 2013 till date. He said the command arrested 72 suspects of which 53 have been prosecuted,
while 23 cases are pending in the Federal High Court. The NDLEA boss said that his officers will go to another undisclosed farm for the destruction of cannabis sativa found there.
Group begs Ondo to release White Paper on Ile-Oluji crisis
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community development association has appealed to the Ondo State Government to release the White Paper on the enquiry it ordered into the two-day crisis which rocked Ile-Oluji in May this year. Speaking during the inauguration of national patrons and officers of some chapters of IleOluji National Union, INU, the union’s president-general, Chief Moses Adewakun, said the community was “growing in apprehension on the delay of the white paper on the judicial commission set up by Ondo State Government to find out the immediate and remote course of the May 27 and 28 riots.” According to Adewakun, the people of Ile-Oluji kingdom appreciated the fact that the state government set up the commission to find out what brought about the crisis, adding that it was so pleasing that the government gave two weeks to the commission
to submit its report and that the deadline was met by the panel. He said, however, that four months after the report was submitted, the much-expected White Paper was yet to be released. Adewakun said: “All right thinking people of Ile-Oluji are really worried about this development and are praying that our amiable governor listens to the voice of reason and make hay while the sun shines as this is the only way the Ondo State Government would have the confidence of the people registered in this administration. We implore the Governor to do something very quickly to address this matter.” The community leader told the gathering that violence never solved any problem. “Violence complicates issues and this is why I will always counsel that people should invest in the democratic way of getting things done,” he said.
Cleric buries mother amidst encomiums CHARLES OKEKE AWKA
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he funeral of late Mrs. Veronica Ezeokafor, mother of the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has taken place at Nanka,Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State amid encomiums. The church service which
took place at the St Anthony Catholic Church, Nnanka was attended by dignitaries from home and abroad, including politicians. The governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi described the Late Mrs Ezeokafor as a virtuous woman and urged the Bishop to take consolation in the fact that his mother lived a good life on earth.