Adamawa

INEC National Commissioner in-charge of Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba States, Dr Nuru Yakubu, said INEC would build on the experience gained from the Adamawa governorship poll in conducting future elections.

Answering questions from newsmen in Yola  recently, the Commissioner said the Adamawa exercise was one of the best conducted polls in the country.

He said that based on the assessment of his colleagues and people of the state, the election was not only free and fair, but also very peaceful.

“Based on assessment that we undertook in the company of other National Commissioners, reports were the same all over the state that the conduct of the election was peaceful.

“INEC deployed four National Commissioners as well as many resident commissioners from neighboring states to monitor the election.

“I can say that based on my experience, this is one of the freest elections ever conducted and I think the result reflected the wish of the people.’’

Benue

Benue State House of Assembly has directed the Logo Local Government to commence negotiations with the banks being owed to enable them to cancel the debts.

The House gave the advice last Thursday during a plenary session in Makurdi.

The decision arose from deliberations on the volume one of the report of its Committee on Public Accounts on the activities of Local Government Areas.

Speaker of the House, David Iorhemba, further urged the council to abide by the guidelines provided by the Financial Memorandum in preparing financial records.

Iorhemba also called on Logo council to complete all abandoned projects before embarking on new ones.

He charged the council to have budgetary estimates in its yearly financial transactions to enhance performance.

FCT

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Bwari chapter, has stressed the need for adequate enlightenment on the introduction of the Growth Enhancement Programme (GEP) by the Federal Government.

The acting Chairman of the association, Alhaji Isa Labba, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Bwari.

Labba said that the call became necessary as the Federal Government was no longer involved in direct procurement and sale of fertiliser to farmers.

According to him, in view of this development, farmers are in a dilemma on how to access inputs for the 2012 farming season.

He urged the Federal Government institute a standard structure to replace the former fertiliser procurement arrangement.

Our correspondent recalls that the Federal Government had announced that the procurement and distribution of fertiliser had been handed over to interested private individuals.

Gombe

The Gombe State House of Assembly has confirmed the reappointment of Alhaji Abdulmajid Adamu as member of the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC).

The confirmation followed a letter sent to the House by Governor  Ibrahim Dankwambo.

In the letter, Dankwambo said the reappointment of the member was based on the powers conferred on him by section 198 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said the nominee was eligible for the reappointment having served for five years in the first appointment.

Moving the motion, the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Mamman Alkali, urged his colleagues to confirm the nominee based on his wealth of experience.

Alhaji Buba Mohammed Bajoga, representing Funakaye South Constituency, seconded the motion and was unanimously approved.

Kaduna

Japanese government has provided 2.53 million US dollars for the take-off of the “Access to Justice for the Poor Project“ in Kaduna state.

The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Ryuichi Shoji, made this known in Kaduna on Thursday at the launch of the three -year project, to be managed by the World Bank.

According to him, the project is aimed at providing the less privileged access to free legal services in line with the Millennium Development Goals.

He noted that the project would also assist those deprived of fair hearing in matters affecting them by using the services of the Legal Aid Council of  Nigeria.

He commended the federal government for the adoption of the Legal Aids Act 2011, saying that it would strengthen the legal framework relating to access to justice by the poor.

Katsina

The Police in Funtua, Katsina State, have killed one suspected armed robber and apprehended another after a shoot out in the early hours of Thursday.

The suspects, who were on a motorcycle, had engaged a police patrol team in a shoot out after failing to stop when flagged down along Katsina road in the town.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Muhammad Abubakar, confirmed the incident, saying his men were on the trail of the third suspect who fled.

“The three suspects were on a motorcycle and when police stopped them, they refused to stop, consequently the police pursued the suspects who engaged the law officers in gun battle.”

Kebbi

The Kebbi Primary School Teachers Pension Board has so far verified 1,293 retired teachers during its annual headcount.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Hajiya Halima Dikko,told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday that the execise was geared towards eliminating wastage of public funds.

According to her, ascertaining the actual number of pensioners as well as determining their monthly entitlements will go a long way in checking dubious practices.

“The number of retirees increases periodically but the monthly subvention to the board has not been increasing; the pensioners need to be patient.

Kogi

The Kogi Central Media Practitioners Association (KOCEMPA) has urged the Acting governor of the state, Alhaji Abdulahi Bello, to use his short tenure to ensure peace and growth by uniting the various ethnic groups in the state.

The President of the association, Alhaji Abduikareem Abdulmalik, gave the advice in a statement issue in Lokoja on Sunday.

The statement urged the action governor not to be bothered by the mild drama that preceded his inauguration, saying that it was one of the dynamics of politics.

Lagos

The Cargo Defence Fund (CDF) says it is handling more than 27 cases of unpaid proceeds of Nigerian exports.

The Secretary of the fund, Ms Azuka Ogo, said in a statement on Thursday in Lagos that the non-payments were due to breach of trust by the foreign buyers.

CDF, a project of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, is to assist importers and exporters in the pursuit of claims and legal remedies.

Ogo appealed to small-time exporters to always ensure the appropriate steps were taken in their transactions with foreign buyers.

According to her, the Open Account System of payment for international trade transactions which the Nigerian exporters contracted is based solely on trust.

Ogun

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP) has pledged its commitment to the success of its partnership with the Republic of Benin to facilitate the implementation of its mandate.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba,  made the pledge in Abeokuta on Thursday at the end of the 9th Nigeria/ Benin Joint Technical Committee meeting on Trafficking in Persons.

She said the partnership would help both nations to achieve the objective of phasing out human trafficking and increase “the dignity of man”.

A communiqué issued at the end of the four-day meeting was jointly signed by Jedy-Agba and Emile Ekpinse, the Deputy Secretary-General, Ministry of Family and Social Affairs, Republic of Benin.

Plateau

The Plateau State Government has approved the award of various road contracts worth more than N3 billion in its bid to improve on infrastructural development.

The state government has also purchased 500 units of tricycles worth N285 million in addition to 100 taxi cabs and 15 units of 18-seater buses to alleviate the transportation challenges following the increase in fuel pump price from N65 to N97.

The Commissioner of Information, Mr Abraham Yiljap, told newsmen in Jos after the State Executive Council meeting on Thursday that the wellbeing of the people was foremost in the agenda of the government.

He explained that contracts for the construction of five-kilometre road projects in Wase Local Government Area was re-awarded at the cost of N437 million.

Sokoto

A  lecturer at the Department of Mass Communications, Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Gusau, Mr. Agabas Apelugun, has expressed optimism that the on going reforms by President Goodluck Jonathan will transform the country for optimal goal.

Apelugun told newsmen in Sokoto on Tuesday that the President’s commitment to improve power supply would boost the socio-economic and political base of the country.

Apelogun explained that security agencies could not be everywhere all the times but relevant information from citizens would help in tackling the menace of criminals.

The lecturer appealed to traditional and religious leaders to complement the efforts of the government by sensitising their followers on the need to be security conscious.