Adamawa

The Adamawa State Government has approved N873.4 million for the renovation of its secondary schools.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Musa Bubakar, told newsmen in Yola on Wednesday that the decision was taken last week at the state’s executive council meeting.

He said the project would be executed in selected schools in the three senatorial zones of the state including Government Secondary School, Mayo Belwa and Government Day Secondary School, Banjiram in Guyuk local government area.

The commissioner said the executive council had also approved the immediate release of N48.9 million for the implementation of the “Access To Education Programme,” launched by the Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, early in the year.

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA), is to train 20 doctors from private and public hospitals on new guidelines for the treatment of malaria.

The Chairman of BACATMA, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, made the plan known on Wednesday in Bauchi during an opening ceremony of a two-day workshop, organised by the agency in Yankari.

Mohammed said that 60 per cent of deaths in Nigeria were caused by malaria.

He said that patent medicine dealers in the 20 local government areas of the state would also be trained by the agency on the appropriate dosage of drugs for the control of the disease and prevention.

Benue

The Benue State Government has concluded plans to recruit 1,000 teachers in all academic disciplines to enhance the quality of education in the state.

Mr Benjamin Ashaver, the state’s Commissioner for Education said on Thursday in Makurdi at a news conference said the Benue State Teaching Service Board (BTSB), had been given the go ahead to handle the recruitment.

“The gesture is to minimise the shortage of manpower, to be precise shortage of teachers in secondary schools in the state, the recruitment will commence this October”, he stated.

On promotion of teachers in the state, Ashaver said that those who met the conditions for promotion had been promoted while others were being processed.

Borno

Governor Ali Sheriff of Borno State on Thursday ordered the immediate completion of the fencing and renovation of the permanent site of the NYSC orientation camp in the state.

Sheriff gave the directive in Maiduguri at the passing out ceremony of 2009 Batch “C” Corps members.

He disclosed that the state government would construct additional hostel blocks for corps members before the end of the life of his administration.

The governor, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Amb. Ahmed Jidda, lauded the corps members for their effort toward the development of the state.

FCT

 Senator Kolawole Bajomo, (PDP-Ogun West), has called for the construction of more dams, to check the inflow of water into Ogun River and Lagoons.

Bajomo made the call on Thursday in Abuja, while briefing newsmen on the flood in some communities in Ogun and Lagos, which displaced inhabitants and destroyed farmlands.

He called on the Ministry of Water Resources to come out with the design and location of small dams in the adjourning areas, to control the inflow of water.

Gombe

The Gombe State Government is to spend N118.36 million as subsidy for the accommodation of 2,500 pilgrims in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The Executive Secretary of the State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Umar Abdulsalam, told  newsmen in Gombe on Wednesday that the government would subsidise each pilgrim with 1,076 Saudi Riyals (N47,344).

He said the 2,500 intending pilgrims comprised 1,510 males and 1,003 females, to be accompanied by 13 officials.

Jigawa

Jigawa State House of Assembly has approved N2 billion for the implementation of a new salary structure for workers in the state service.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Alhaji Inuwa Udi, told newsmen in Dutse on Wednesday that the legislature approved the salary structure based on a supplementary budget of N3.96 sent by the executive arm of the government.

Udi said that the payment of the salary would take effect from October, adding that the salary structure was agreed between the government and Nigeria Labour Congress.

He said all provisions in the supplementary budget would be funded with money from the federation allocation with some adjustments.

Katsina

Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State has commended the Federal Government for awarding the contract for the installation of 10 megawatts Windmill in the area.

The contract was awarded in June 2009 at N492 million.

Shema made the commendation on Thursday in Rimi village while inspecting equipment at the project site, located in Rimi local government area.

He said that when completed, the project would not only boost power supply to the state, but also enhance the socio-economic status of the benefiting communities.

Kogi

The Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Chief Clarence Olafemi, on Thursday in Lokoja inaugurated 25 House Standing Committees for the 2010/2011 legislative year.

Inaugurating the committees on the floor of the House at a plenary session, Olafemi said the committees were to perform oversight functions of the House in the various ministries, departments and agencies.

He asked the chairmen and members of the committees to ensure proper conduct of government activities in the various ministries, departments and agencies under them, especially as the current political dispensation was on its last lap.

Lagos

The police in Lagos on Thursday arraigned a 34-year-old driver, Abudlkareem Suleh, for allegedly stealing a Toyota Corolla car belonging to his employer, Leadway Assurance Ltd.

Suleh, charged before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The prosecutor, Insp. Eshiet Eshiet, submitted that the accused stole the saloon car with registration No. FF 123 KRD, worth N2.5 million, on September 15 at Bode Thomas St., Surulere, Lagos.

He told the court that Suleh made away with the car when he was sent on an errand by his boss.

Osun

Six lives and property worth about N253.4 million were lost to fire outbreaks in Osun State between January and September.

The state Director of Fire Service, Mr Timothew Ogunje, made the announcement in Osogbo on Thursday in an

interview with newsmen.

He said that 155 persons were rescued, while property worth more than N48 billion were salvaged in fire incidents during the period.

He attributed the success recorded by the department to the six newly acquired vehicles, which enhanced its operations and facilitated quick responses to emergencies.

Plateau

 A 75-year-old grandfather, Mr John Davou, has dragged his 20-year-old proposed wife, Hope Joseph, to a Hwolshe Area Court in Jos over alleged cheating and deceit.

Davou, who lodged a direct criminal complaint, told the court that his estranged lover collected the sum of N63,655. after promising to marry him.

“She deceived me with a fake promise to marry me and collected a lot of money from me,” he told the court.

Sokoto

National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ayodele Oritsejafor, has urged the media to mobilise the people to actively participate in the electoral process.

Oritsejafor told newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday that such mobilisation would ensure that all Nigerians contributed to the much needed transparent, free and fair elections in 2011.

He said the 2011 elections are too significant to be left to go the way of past elections, which led the country to the current situation it found itself.

Yobe

The League for Human Rights has alleged that forceful and early marriages are still practised in Yobe State.

Mrs Tamwakat Golit, the Project Coordinator of the League, told newsmen in Damaturu on Thursday that such marriages usually made the girls not to complete their education.

She claimed that in spite of the campaign for free and compulsory basic education by the state government, girls in the villages still suffered forceful and early marriages.

Zamfara

The Zamfara State House of Assembly has announced the death of Alhaji Saidu Bawa Bagega, member representing Anka constituency.

Alhaji Bature Umar Sambo, the Speaker, said in a statement in Gusau on Thursday that Bagega died after a brief illness in Gusau.

Bagega died at the age of 44. Sambo, who prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased, described the late member as a pillar in the Assembly.