The Rivers State Government has set up a judiciary of inquiry into the arson, killings, and other forms of violence that occurred in the State on Monday.

The move was after Ikwerre, Eleme, and Emohua local government council secretariats were set ablaze following the withdrawal of the police officers securing the 23 council secretariats on the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Following the attacks, the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, vowed to take decisive action against those responsible for setting ablaze three local government secretariats.

He pledged that the incident, unlike previous cases, will not be ignored, as his administration will collaborate with security agencies to identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable.

A statement by the Office of the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo on Tuesday, said the setting up of the judicial committee was pursuant to Section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Law, Cap 30, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.

The statement said, “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, has approved the Setting-up of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the arson, killings, and wanton destruction of property at some Local Government Council Headquarters which occurred on or about Monday, October 7, 2024.”

Members of the Commission are:

(1)        Hon. Justice I.R. Minakiri                   –           Chairman

(2)        Barr. Felicia Nwoke                            –           Member

(3)        Prof. Blessing Didia                            –           Member

(4)        Sir Samuel Egbe                                              –           Member

(5)        Venerable Alex Usifor                                    –           Member

(6)        Barr. Uzor Ikenga                               –           Counsel to the Commission

(7)        Mrs. Inyingi Brown                            –           Secretary

Members of the Commission have been sworn at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt.

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has announced Osun State as its South-West Zonal Headquarters, according to a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi.

The development was disclosed to the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Technical and Vocational Education, Arch.Dapo Ademola-Adesina by the ITF management on Monday.

Recall that Arch. Dapo had on the 30th of May 2024, during a courtesy visit to the agency, proposed a collaboration with the Osun State Board for Technical and Vocational Education in the areas of Vocational and Skill Training, Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) as well as Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).

The proposal became successful as the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the industrial Training Fund, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, sent his team to inspect various vocational sites in Osun state on the 13th of August, 2024.

This Strategic Partnership is in accordance with the vision of His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke to reduce unemployment rate and promote the acquisition and utilisation of relevant skills for economic development in the state.

The Federal Government has appointed Osun State as the coordinating point for the implementation of the Food System Transformation Pathways in the South West geopolitical zone, an initiative targeted at boosting nutritious and sufficient food production in Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi.

The Food System Transformation Pathways was initiated by the United Nations to facilitate well-functioning food systems that will provide higher incomes for smallholder farmers and small/medium scale food enterprises, empower women, increase youths’ employment, and increase the amount of money circulating in the economy.

The goals of the Food System Transformation Pathways by 2030 includes reducing poverty, reducing unemployment, especially among youths, reducing hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, reducing food imports and promote sustainable food trade, increasing women’s empowerment in agriculture index score and increasing environmental performance index score.

In the letter addressed to Governor Ademola Adeleke and copied his counterparts in Oyo and Ekiti states, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, H.E Atiku Bagudu, CON, said the implementation for the Food System Transformation Pathways in Oyo and Ekiti states will be coordinated from Osun state.

The Minister noted that the decision is in line with the effort of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration step towards achieving nutritious and food security as well as meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) objectives in the country.

“Your Excellency may wish to be informed that the coordination of the Three States in the South West Zone is part of efforts to complement the steps towards achieving nutritious and food security as well as SDGs in Nigeria. This is also part of the step being taken to deepen the achievement of Nigeria as presented at the Stock Taking Moment (STM) in Rome that was led by H.E Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON from 24-26 July, 2023,” the letter conveying the appointment of Osun state reads in part.

“The coordination arrangement is to consolidate on the agreed recommendations at the Retreat of the State Commissioners of Economic Planning, Agriculture and Health held in Abuja from 7- 8 March, 2024 that reiterated the need for quarterly review of implementation on geopolitical zonal basis.

“The Honourable Commissioners for Economic Planning, Agriculture and Health in all the 36 States plus the FCT will therefore be expected to work together for effective delivery of the implementation strategy and multisectoral plan of action for food and Nutrition.”