THE STATES

            Bauchi

Alhaji Yahaya Jalam, the Bauchi State Commissioner or health has pleaded with health workers to ensure judicious distribution and effective utilization of drugs provided by government in public hospitals across the state.

Jalam made the call recently in Bauchi during the de-briefing of the mosquito net distribution exercise.

The Tide’s correspondent recalled that the government had, in 2008, introduced free medical treatment and food supplement scheme for children under the ages of five and for pregnant mothers in its hospitals.

The Scheme was designed to enhance health care delivery and reverse the trend of high maternal and infant mortality rate in the state.

                                    FCT

Ustaz Musa Muhammad, the Chief Imam of the Abuja national Mosque, has called on Nigerians to continue to pray for the peace and stability of the nation.

Muhammad made the call in Abuja in an interview with newsmen shortly after the juma’ at prayers.

He urged Nigerians to intensify their prayers “as the country marches toward the 2011 general elections”.

Muhammad stressed the importance of Juma’ at prayers and urged Muslims to take advantage of it to supplicate to God for their needs and ask for forgiveness for their sins.

                                    Kaduna

Farmers in Zaria and its environs have expressed concern over the delay in the supply of fertiliser for this year’s farming season.

An investigation conducted by The Tide’s source in Zaira revealed that farmers have already started clearing their farmland in preparation to commece farming.

Alhaji Aliyu, Africana a farmer in the area, told the source that the commodity usually arrive late when farmers had already resorted to other althernatives.

“Most of us do not wait for fertilizer procured by the government; we source for the commodity from the black market.

“Nevertheless, I want to appeal to the state government to expedite action and ensure availability of the commodity in good time”, Africana said.

                                    Kogi

The Kogi State government has commenced the implementation of the white paper on the crisis in Ebira land, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Tom Ohikere, has said.

Ohikere told newsmen in Lokoja, that the move was to find lasting solution to the crisis in the area.

According to him, government has commenced the banning of masquerade outing in Ebira land in line with the recommendations of the white paper.

The law banning masquerades came into being during the first civilian administration in the state.

Ohikere said that government had equally granted permission for the setting up of a vigilance group to check questionable movements and behaviours, especially in Okene and other suburbs.

He said that names of identified persons, who were behind the crisis had been submitted to the security agents for necessary action.

The commissioner also told our source that government was considering “hosting a broad-based economic summit, to enable experts do a brain-storming on various social and economic issues capable of turning around the economy of the state for good.

                             Lagos

The Acting General Manager of the National Theatre, Lagos, Alhaji Yusuf Atai said about N6.5 billion would be needed to renovate the edifice.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen Atai said the national monument has become decrepit following several years of neglect.

“The National Theatre is like a village, so it requires huge amount of money to maintain. The facilities and buildings are in a deplorable state,” he said.

According to Atai, since 1976 when the structure was built by the Bulgarian contractors, no major renovation had been done to keep the building in shape.

“In the master plan, the instruction left by the contractors was that renovation should be done on the structure after 10 years, but for over 34 years now, no major renovation has been done”.

                             Niger

A High Court in Minna has ordered that the suspended Chairman of Rafi Local Government Council in Niger, Alhaji Ali Kagara, be reinstated.

In his judgment, Justice Aliyu Maiyaki ruled that “the appointment and swearing-in of the Acting Chairman of Rafi Local Government Council is declared “null and void.”

“He should vacate the office of the Chairman of Rafi Local Government Council forthwith.

“The defendants are also ordered to reinstate the plaintiff to the office of the executive chairman of Rafi Local Government Council forthwith and pay to him all his emoluments for the period he was unlawfully removed from office”, the Judge ordered.

Reacting to the judgment, Kagara expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the judgment and the judicial system for upholding his fundamental rights.

                                    Oyo

A dietician at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Mrs Iyabode Alabi, has advised Nigerians to consume more water as against soft drinks and processed fruit juice.

Alabi, the head of Department of Dietetics, told newsmen Ibadan that “many Nigerians consume more soft drinks because we attend social parties a lot.”

She further said: “Water transports nutrients from the body into the cell and allows free bowel movement.”

“Soft drinks do not contain any other useful nutrients to the body, their sugar content is high and also contain high caffeine.

“Caffeine is a stimulant which increases the body’s nervous activities, so it is not good especially if you are hypertensive or have stomach ulcers.”