Nation
THE STATES

Governor Muhammed Abubakar of Bauchi State (left), presenting relief materials to Chairman, Bauchi Local Government Area, Alhaji Ado Aska, during the commencement of distribution of Federal Government’s relief materials to Idps in Bauchi State on Monday
Bauchi
Some women in the Internally Displaced Persons
(IPDs) camp in Gudun Fulani community in Bauchi State, have pleaded with the state government to provide them with farmlands as the rainy reason sets in.
They made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi.
Hajiya Fatima Alhaji alleged that the state government had not been assisting them with food and shelter hence they need land to cultivate to feed themselves.
According to her, food and shelter are major challenges confronting the IDPs.
“We are pleading with the Bauchi State Government to please provide us with farmlands to enable us reduce the economic burden we are facing us in trades”.
Borno
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said
it would auction 44 jerrycans containing1320 litres of petrol seized from black market operators in Bornu State.
The Zonal Controller of DPR, Malam Ali Zoaka, who disclosed this, said that the seized items were handed over by officials of Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Maiduguri.
Zoaka said that the items were seized at various filling stations in the state capital by men of the NSCDC.
“We have decided to auction the commodities to members of the public, while the money would be remitted to the Federal Government account.
FCT
The Advocacy for Economic Integrity, an NGO, has
called on the Federal Government to create markets for farmers by giving them contract for the supply of farm produce to schools and other public institutions.
The Director-General of the NGO, Mr Abdullahi Aremu, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja recently.
Aremu said the creation of such markets for farm produce would help farmers, particularly the young entrepreneurs, to invest more and grow their agric businesses.
According to him, it will also help in increasing demand and supply chain for the nation’s farm products.
The director-general said government should ensure that farmers transported their goods from the hinterlands to city markets without much hussles.
Kaduna
The United States Agency for International Develop
ment (USAID), has reiterated its commitment to the reduction of maternal and child mortality in Nigeria.
Dr Blair King, Director, Peace and Democratic Governance Office, made this known in Kaduna at the opening of a two-day Consensus Workshop on the Sokoto State Strategic Health Development Plan, 2016-2020.
He said, “USAID is highly concerned with the high rates of maternal and child mortality and it would offer the necessary interventions to reduce the disturbing figures.
“The agency is also fully committed to improving other health indices, as well as taming HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases.”
Kano
The Federal Government said it would partner with
Kano State Government to empower women in agribusiness in the state.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Aisha Alhassan, disclosed this during a visit to the Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly.
The minister, represented by her Special Assistant, Alhaji Abubakar Umar, said the federal government would also provide the institutional framework to promote the well-being of women, children, and persons living with disabilities, the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
.Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State says
his administration’s strategies in reducing the cost of governance and renewed revenue generation mechanism will ensure prompt payment of salaries and pensions.
Ahmed, represented by the state’s Head of Service, Hajia Zara Umar, said this at this year’s Workers’ Day celebration held at the Metropolitan Square, Ilorin.
The governor noted that the state’s Internal Revenue Service, KWIRS, had been empowered to shore up the state’s internally generated revenue.
He added that this would enable the state government to meet up with its statutory commitments and promote infrastructural development.
Lagos
The Lagos State University (LASU) has suspended four
students for cult-related activities and improper conducts.
This is contained in the university’s official bulletin obtained by our correspondent in Lagos.
The bulletin quoted the institution as saying that conducts of the suspended students could cause breach peace on the campus.
The bulletin said the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, took the decision on behalf of the university authority.
It said the decision to suspend the students was taken by Vice-chancellor, who invoked section 28 of the law establishing LASU.
Nasarawa
The Rural Finance Institution Building Programme
(RUFIN) has urged women in Nasarawa State to form cooperative societies, in order to access loans to boost their businesses.
The state Desk Officer, Hajiya Rifkatu Jatau, gave the advice in a message to a one-day workshop for rural women held at Igbado in Doma local government area of the state.
Jatau said the workshop was to sensitise the rural poor on the need to pool their resources through cooperative societies in order to benefit from government and other institutional support.
Niger
A 50-year-old man, Adebayo Attahiru, has been ar
rested by the Police in Niger for allegedly raping a three-year-old baby.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Bala Elkana, Police made this known to newsmen in Minna, recently.
Elkana said that the incident occurred on Friday.
The spokesman said the accused resides around Mobil area of Minna, the state capital.
Ogun
A 35-year-old driver, Yinka Durojaye, has been ar
raigned for alleged manslaughter and reckless driving.
Durojaye, who lives at No. 17 Odeyemi St., Iyana-Ilogbo, Ota, is facing a two-count charge of manslaughter and reckless driving before an Ota Magistrates’ Court.
The prosecutor, Abdulkareem Mustapha, told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 2 at 4:00 p.m. at Fowobi Area, Ota.
Mustapha alleged that the accused, dangerously drove a Volvo Tipper Lorry with registration number AAB 641 X, which resulted in the death of one 22-year old Izuchukwu Chinedu.
He said that the offence contravened Sections 6 (1) and 18 of the Federal Highway Act. Cap 135 of the Revised Laws of the Federation, 2006.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Plateau
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State says the
bilateral agreement signed between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chinese Government is beginning to yield positive results in the state.
Lalong made the observation in Jos when he received some Chinese investors who were in the state to explore the investment opportunities that abound.
“When the President opened the door, North Central Nigeria and China held a business summit in Guangzhou from April 18 to April 22.
“It is as a result of the agreement that a business delegation from Yuzhou Group and the Hunan Xianghui Development Group are in Jos today,” he said.
Sokoto
The Cement Company of Northern Nigeria
(CCNN), has donated assorted drugs worth over N5 million to five clinics in Wamakko local government in Sokoto State.
Our correspondent reports that the drugs include: antibiotics and antigenes for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children.
The Managing Director of the firm, Mr Aminu Ibrahim, represented by the Director, Human Resources, Alhaji Yawalle Isa said, “the gesture is part of the company’s social responsibility to enable our neighboring communities benefit from its industrial development.
Nation
Council Boss Impeached 48 Hours To LG Polls In Katsina
The Chairman of Malumfashi Local Government Council of Katsina State, Maharazu Dayi, has been impeached.
Maharazu Dayi was impeached yesterday by 11 out of 12 councillors, barely two days before the local government elections in the State.
The councillors reportedly took action following allegations of misconduct and poor governance against the chairman after a dispute over the distribution of the council’s Paris Club funds.
The development has sent shock waves across the local government area, especially as the impeached chairman is among those who failed to secure the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest in the forthcoming election.
Nation
Association Tasks Fubara On Rumuwoji Market Phase Three
The Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association, Mile 1, Port Harcourt, has urged the state government to utilise the available spaces within the area to build phase 3 of the Rumuwoji Market in order to solve the ever increasing needs of traders.
The association, which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, also described as a welcomed development the decision by the state Governor to open the phase 2 of the market for business.
According to the association, “We consider it as an answer to the various cries of the people, because he is a man on a mission who is out to place the interest of Rivers people first. It is a dream come true for the first time for the market to be dully allocated and open for business”
Chairman of the association, Hon Godspower Wobo, who briefed the press shortly after a meeting of the association in Port Harcourt, also urged the public to disregard the activities of some persons whose stock in trade is to cause disaffection in the market.
He said the attention of the association was drawn to the activities of some strange fellows who went about misforming the people about situation in the market, stressing that apart from his association, no other group exists in the market except subdiary unions.
Wobo also tasked the reallocation committee to tread with caution so as to avoid being deceived by any group.
According to him, time has come for the state government to engage in robust discussion with aggrieved shop owners who went to court and those who paid monies to the state coffers and issued with allocation certificates for the overall interest of peace.
He also advised the public to deal directly with his association, stressing that the meeting was to review activities for the last year as well as unveil their new Constitution.
Also speaking, former Chairman of the association, Deacon Kenneth Eze urged the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to open the phase 2 of the market, as it is long overdue.
Eze who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the association also urged the public to do business with only the Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association as it is the only union recognised by the traders.
Nation
AfDB President Denies 2027 Presidential Ambition
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has debunked reports linking him with the race for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.
Reacting to the report on his X handle yesterday, following a recent interview with Arise TV, the AfDB boss said his quotes were misrepresented and misinterpreted in several Nigerian media reports.
However, the AfDB president denied the media reports, stating that he never said that he wanted to contest for President.
“A segment of my recent interview on @Arise TV has been both misinterpreted and misrepresented in several Nigerian media outlets. What I said was, “I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including my own country.”
“A listen to the substantive and robust interview, which is available online, will show this to be the case. For clarity and for the record, I did not say that I am running for the office of President of Nigeria,” Adesina said.