L-R: Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Emir of Wase, Alhaji Mohammed Sambo and Deputy Speaker Plateau State House of Assembly, Alhaji Yusuf Gagdi, during the Eid el-Fitri traditional sallah homage to the governor in Jos last Monday. Photo: NAN

Adamawa
An Adamawa State-based non-governmental
organisation, Fombina Grassroots Development Association, has  facilitated the release of 20 inmates in Jimeta and Yola Prisons.
The Project Manager of the association, Alhaji Abubakar Njidda, made this known when he presented gift items to the inmates in Yola.
Njidda said the inmates, who regained their freedom, were those sentenced to prisons on civil cases, adding that the association could only pay the fines of 20 convicts.
He said that the association would continue to follow due process to seek the release of those who were convicted on civil cases and could not pay their fines.

Benue

A former Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav,
has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, to intervene to end the spate of killings in Benue state.
Tsav told newsmen in Makurdi that their intervention was imperative to prevent the state from plunging into anarchy.
A chieftain of the PDP in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, Mr Atoza Ihindan,  was recently gunned down by unknown assassins in broad day light near Jato Aka in the LGA.
Tsav, who bemoaned the incessant killings, noted that they occurred mostly within the Katsina-Ala axis of the state.

Ekiti

The Ekiti State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC) last Sunday paraded two suspects for allegedly carrying out illegal abortion.
The suspects, according to the State Commandant of the Corps, Mr Raji Adedoyin, specialised in carrying out abortions illegally around Tiwaloluwa Resort Area, FHA Estate, Afao Road, Ado -Ekiti.
The commandant, while parading the suspects at the headquarters of the corps, reiterated the commitment of the corps to free the state of quack doctors.
According to him, no religion supports abortion and if it is inevitable that pregnant individuals should visit government or certified hospitals.

FCT

The President of Pan-African Cultural Congress
(PACC), Mr Ferdinand Anikwe,   has said that Africa’s development must be based on its diverse cultures to succeed.
Anikwe made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja  saying the approach was necessary for Africa to succeed.
“Africa remains in deep political, economic and cultural crises beneath which lie her aspiration, struggle, hope and commitment.
“One of the major challenges of Africa has been the inability to generate, package and implement viable and effective programmes for growth and development,’’ Anikwe said.
He said that any plan for development that failed to recognise or take into cognisance Africa’s very rich cultural potential was bound to fail.

Kaduna

Queen Amina College, Kaduna, has appealed to the
Kaduna State Government to provide the college with teachers in core science subjects and a nurse for the school sick bay.
The Principal of the College, Hajiya Balkisu Ubangari made the appeal in an interview with newsmen  in Kaduna.
Ubangari said that the school was in shortage of teachers, particularly in core science subjects, namely mathematics, physics, geography, basic technology and agriculture.
Others, she said were physical and health education, religious knowledge, culture and creative art.
According to her, the subjects are very crucial in preparing students for tertiary institutions.

Lagos

Project for Human Development (PHD), a civil society
Organisation, has urged President Mohammadu Buhari not to listen to the US government on issues of Gay rights, so as to protect the laws and values of Nigeria.
The call as made at a rally in Lagos with the theme of the rally was, “Gay Marriage: Obama, Please Leave Nigeria Alone”.
Buhari is already in America where he is holding talks with President Barack Obama and other senior officials of the United States government.
Director-General of PHD, Mr Jerry Okwuosa said that the rally was to hint Buhari on the fears by Nigerians that Obama might ask him to decriminalise “the Same Sex Prohibition Law of Nigeria”.

Nasarawa
The founder of Tremas Academy in Mararaba, Nasarawa
State, Mrs Dora Iroro, has called on the three tiers of government to focus more on improving primary education in order to make the country an intellectual hub.
Iroro spoke at the school’s premises while briefing newsmen on the institution’s forthcoming graduation and prize giving day billed.
She said the call became imperative as primary education remains the building block for future societal endeavours.
Iroro advised the government to urgently provide an enabling environment for primary education and their operators to thrive.
She also said there was need to make registration of private primary schools less costly while incentives in form of tax holidays should be provided for owners.
Iroro further urged the government to ensure regular monitoring of the schools to ensure such quality service was not compromised.

Osun

A group, Women for Positive Impact Initiative, has
called for greater participation of women in the political space to contribute their quota to nation building.
The group made the call in Osogbo through its Executive Director, Mrs Tokunbo Ajayi, who described the level of women participation in politics as worrisome and discouraging
She urged women to show more interest in the decision-making process of the country and contribute their quota to nation building.
According to her, women play a very significant role in making a nation great through compassionate leadership.
“It is high time we changed our political equation and start to encourage more women to go into politics.
“Women are very sensitive and passionate than men when it comes to leadership; it is a way of making a nation great.

Oyo

Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria (ADS) has appealed
to the Boko Haram insurgents to sheathe their sword and allow peace to reign in the country.
The society made the call in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muibi Adebanjo, in Ibadan recently.
It congratulated the Muslims for the successful completion of Ramadan and urged the Islamic faithful worldwide to embrace the righteous ways displayed during Ramadan.
It noted that the nation cannot develop nor grow in a situation of insecurity, and charged the insurgents to sheathe their sword and make its agitation known to the government through dialogue.
The Islamic organization commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his approach to duty, and appealed to Nigerians to be patient with him.

Sokoto

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has
called for the establishment of rent control boards in the country as one of the methods of curbing insecurity.
Abubakar spoke in Sokoto last Sunday when he paid Sallah homage to Governor Aminu Tambuwal of the state.
According to the sultan, the proposed boards should be charged with the responsibility of keeping a national database on all landlords and tenants.
Abubakar also urged Nigerians to take the issue of security as a collective duty and not that of the government alone.
The sultan called on the state government to introduce a state-wide schools shuttle bus service to alleviate the suffering of students.

Zamfara

The National Union of Road Transport Workers
(NURTW), said its members had maintained their transportation fares throughout the Sallah period.
The Director of Publicity of the union, Mr Kefas Dogonyaro made this known in Gusau in an interview with newsmen.
He said that members of the union did not increase the transportation fare because they were considering the current economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
“Even though we knew many petrol stations sold the commodity over the approved Federal Government price of N87 per litre, we have maintained our fares so as not to add to the sufferings faced by our people.”
He said that all passengers that boarded vehicles at the motor-parks had enjoyed the regular fares without any increase.
Dogonyaro said that the union would continue to encourage passengers to board vehicles at designated motor-parks where details of passengers were usually obtained to guard against any unforeseen circumstance.