Borno

The Borno State Government plans to import 1,000 heavy duty tractors from Pakistan to harness the agricultural potential of the state.

Governor Kashim Shettima who made this known while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri on Sunday explained that an agreement had already been signed by the Pakistani government and the Borno state government for the supply of the tractors.

“We are just coming back from a working visit to three countries – Pakistan, Turkey and India.

FCT

The Norsemen Club, a youth advocacy group, on Sunday in Abuja called on the Federal Government to protect Nigerian students against potential attacks.

President of the FCT chapter of the group, Mr Segun Fakehinde, made the call in an interview with our correspondent.

He stressed that Nigerian students ought to be given adequate protection by all levels of government to forestall probable attacks on them.

“We are not happy with the incidents that recently occurred in Mubi and Port Harcourt; we are appealing to the government at all levels to recognise the fact that the future of the country lies in the hands of the youths and the majority of these youths are students.

Jigawa

Dabi Community in Ringim Local government Area of Jigawa has begun reconstruction of its only access road recently washed away by flood.

The Chairman of the Dabi Community Development Association, Alhaji Ali Adamu, told The Tide last Saturday in Ringim that the road was their only link to the outside world.

He said the disaster had hindered transportation and exposed the community to difficulties, pointing out that the rehabilitation of the road was being executed through communal efforts at the cost of N2 million.

He added that the flood had also crippled social and economic activities in the area and appealed to Jigawa State Government to relocate the community to a new site and empower them in view of the losses they had suffered as a result of the disaster.

Kano

The Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) National President, Garba Mohammed, has called on the Kano State government to re-open the Triumph Newspapers Publishing Company it closed down recently for poor performance.

He made the call during the Annual Lecture/Role Model award ceremony organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ in Kano on Saturday.

“I want to appeal to the state government to immediately re-consider its decision and consider the general rehabilitation of the Triumph Newspapers.

Katsina

Katsina State government says it has constructed 832 kilometres of roads as part of its urban expansion programme aimed at laying a solid foundation for economic advancement of the state.

Governor Ibrahim Shema made this known on Sunday in Katsina when he spoke with The Tide expressed his administration’s commitment to build a legacy of quality infrastructural development to facilitate economic empowerment of the people

He stressed that road construction was an on-going and continuous exercise of the administration’s urbanisation programme.

Kebbi

A former Chief Judge of Kebbi State Justice Ibrahim Umar, has attributed the successes recorded in the state Judiciary in the last five years to the non-interference of the executive arm.

Umar made this known during a valedictory session organised by the state to mark his exit from the bench in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.

He retired after 24 years on the bench, including serving as chief Judge in the former Sokoto State and the present Kebbi.

The outgone chief judge said the executive and legislative arms of the government worked closely to provide enabling environment to the Judiciary to function independently.

Kogi

A businessman, Alhaji Abdulrazak Kutepa, has donated N10 million cash to the victims of the recent flood disaster in Kogi State.

A statement signed by Mr Jacob Edi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, said that Kutepa handed over the money to Governor Idris Wada on Saturday evening at the Government House.

The statement, a copy of which was made available to The Tide on Sunday in Lokoja, said Kutepa also donated bags of rice, clothes and other materials to the victims.

Kutepa expressed sadness over the flood disaster which ravaged 457 communities in nine local government areas of the state.

Kwara

The Kwara State Government has so far committed the sum of N900 million into the energy sector, the state Commissioner for Energy, Alhaji Tajudeen Sulu-Oloje, has said.

He told The Tide last Sunday in Ilorin that an additional sum of N400 million was on the verge of being spent, adding that the sum had been earmarked for the construction of injection sub-station in Ilesa Baruba in Baruteen Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

“It is an electrification project and we are now in the rainy season. But once we enter the dry season, work will commence fully on providing electricity in these communities.

Lagos

President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Nasir Fagge,  on Sunday described the incessant killings of students in some parts of the country as unfortunate and condemnable.

Fagge told our correspondent in a telephone interview in Lagos that the union was worried and sad by the development.

He said the union had directed affected institutions to investigate the incidents and that it was waiting for the outcome before taking appropriate steps.

“We have asked our members in the affected institutions to give us information but whatever it is, it is a condemnable act.

Nasarawa

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has assured the country that it would not be plunged into food crisis or famine.

He gave the assurance on Saturday at the 2012 National Agriculture Show in Tudun Wada, Nasarawa State following concerns of likely food shortage as a result of flooding in the country.

He stressed that the Federal Government had resolved to set up a Flood Recovery Food Production plan to support farmers in the flood affected areas.

“We have already put in place a Flood Recovery Food Production plan to support farmers in the flood affected areas.

Sokoto

The Independent National Electoral Commission( INEC) has held a one-day interactive session in Sokoto on its 2012-2016 Strategic Plan meant to enhance the credibility of future elections.

The Tide reports that the session drew participants from the commission’s offices in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states.

The INEC National Commissioner in charge of the states Hajiya Amina Zakari, said the session was to gather inputs from the staff to ensure the smooth implementation of the plan.

“We want to draw from your rich store of knowledge and experience”, she said, adding that it was aimed at making the staff proud owners of the plan so as to elicit its implementation.

Ondo

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured that there will be free, fair and violent free governorship election in Ondo on October 20.

Jonathan gave the assurance on Saturday in Akure at a rally for the presentation of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) flag to its candidate, Chief Olusola Oke.

The President urged the people of the state to vote for the PDP to enable the party utilise the state’s abundant natural and mineral resources to enhance the well being of the people.

“We are working to make Ondo State very rich, if you vote for PDP, we will work with your governor to make you rich because you are richly blessed with agricultural and mineral resources.

Osun

Wife of the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Mrs Muibat Salaam, was on Saturday rescued from her abductors at Ogunmakin area, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway, in Ogun.

The Tide recalled that Muibat, who is the first wife of the speaker, Mr Najeem Salaam was kidnapped on October 9 in Ejigbo area of Osun State.

The Tide reliably gathered that the rescue operation was carried out by officers of the Vigilante Service of Ogun.

The source said that the organisation acted on a tip-off and arrested three of the hoodlums who were handed over to the officers of Ogun State Police Command in Abeokuta.