Bauchi

The Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Isa Yuguda, last Wednesday urged the state’s Christian pilgrims going on pilgrimage to Israel and Rome to pray for peaceful conduct of the 2011 elections.

Yuguda, who gave the charge while addressing the intending pilgrims in Bauchi, said that 2011, being an election year, was crucial in the history of the nation and therefore, required special prayers.

The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Babayo Gamawa, charged the intending pilgrims to imbibe the virtues of peace, love, understanding and tolerance as exemplified by the life style of Jesus Christ.

Appealing to the pilgrims to pray for peace, unity and progress in the state and the country as a whole Yuguda said “Jesus Christ taught love, sacrifice and service to mankind.

Borno

 The National Insurance Commission (NIC) is planing a road show in Maiduguri to sensitise the people to the need to embrace the culture of taking insurance policy.

The commission’s Director of Research and Statistics, Alhaji Adamu Balanti, told newsmen yesterday in Maiduguri after a stakeholders meeting that the event, slated for December, would hold in major streets in Maiduguri and environs.

“The road show is part of the strategies to sensitise the people to the need to imbibe the culture of taking insurance policy.

“The objective is to let the people know that the 2003 Insurance Act has made third party insurance policy mandatory for all Nigerians,” he said.

FCT

 Participants at the ongoing Regional Deepwater Offshore West Africa Conference and Exhibition on Wednesday described the attendance as impressive. 

Some participants, who spoke to newsmen at the forum in Abuja, expressed satisfaction with the quality of  participation.

Mr Ofordile Okoye, the managing director of an  indigenous firm which manufactures  safety work wears,  said the exhibition was a platform for Nigerian companies to showcase their progress following the recent enactment of the Nigerian Content Law.

He said the industry was anxiously awaiting the passage of the PIB which he said would address the concerns of all the stakeholders and provide the legal framework for the growth and development of the oil and gas sectors.

Kano

The Kano State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya A’isha Isiyaku, has cautioned the public against “over consumption” of meat during the Sallah festival to avoid stomack disorders.

She gave the warning on Thursday in Kano in an interview with newsmen when the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, paid the traditional Sallah homage to Governor Ibrahim Shekarau.

Isiyaku also urged the people to avoid taking too much animal fats during the festival to avoid heart problems and arthritis.

She advised the people to take a lot of fruits and vegetable during the festival for improved good health. 

Katsina

The Katsina State Government has awarded a N3.9 billion contract for the completion of the first and second phases of the state’s stadium.

The deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Sirajo Damari, said this last Wednesday in Katsina during the traditional “Hawan Bariki, “ a programme held to mark the Sallah celebration.

He said the decision to complete the abandoned multi-million Naira stadium was borne out of the state government’s commitment toward boosting sporting activities.

Damari, who represented Governor Ibrahim Shema, also said the state government had within the last three and half years rehabilitated all the mini-stadia in the state.

“It is known that sporting activities play a significant role in politics of the world today, hence the decision by government to give the sector the attention it deserves,” he said.

Kebbi

Some children in Birnin Kebbi metropolis last Wednesday urged the state government to build an amusement park for their leisure. 

Musa Ahmadu  told newsmen that lack of an amusement park has denied children  a special arena to mark the Sallah celebration.

“I have played with friends but a modern amusement park is required here,” he said.

Abbati Ali, who came with his parents from Abuja, also lamented the absence of a park.

“I miss the fun in Abuja, though I have made new friends here,” he said.

Kogi

The reconstruction of the 200-year old Odogi traditional market in Kabba-Bunu Local Government of Kogi has commenced.

The project, being executed under the World Bank assisted Fadama III programme, will be completed soon.

Chairman of the Fadama Community Association (FCA), Mr Samuel Olobatoke made this known in an interview with newsmen in Kabba last Tuesday.

Olobatoke said the project of 24 cubicles and VIP latrines would cost N1.83 million provided by the World Bank, with counterpart funding from the community and the Federal and State Governments.

He said the market had historical and traditional significance having served the fore fathers of the community and its neighbouring towns and villages for more than 200 years.

Kwara

One policeman was killed and fifteen others seriously injured in a community clash at Ganmo Muslim Prayer Ground in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara on Tuesday.

The palace of the Olu of Ganmo, Oba Atanda Kolawole and some vehicles were damaged in the fracas by irate youths.

The crisis started in the morning at the Ganmo prayer ground over who should lead the prayer following an age long chieftaincy dispute.

Police spokesman, Mr Ezekiel Dabo, said the Command received a distress call from the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Kolawole.

“The command mobilised its anti-riot policemen to restore peace, but suddenly, some soldiers, numbering about eight, appeared and engaged the policemen in a gun battle.

He pointed out that one faction in the chieftaincy dispute had mobilised some youths to prevent the other faction from leading them at the prayer. “That was how the crisis started.’’

Lagos

The inauguration  of  the Customs Examination Bay at Seme border earlier scheduled for this month has been postponed to  June 2011.

Mr Fred Udechukwu, Managing Director  of  Global SCAN SYSTEM Ltd., the firm handling the project,  told newsmen last Wednesday in Lagos that the date was no longer feasible.

“The commissioning of the Bay has been postponed till June next year because some important aspects of the contract have not been concluded,’’ he said.

Udechukwu also  said the delay in concluding the job was caused  by the swampy nature of the area which called for sand filling.

The firm had during an inspection visit by officials of the Ministry of Finance in August promised that the Bay would be ready in November.

Ogun

Former Commonwealth scribe, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on Monday suggested that traditional rulers should be enlisted into the country’s governance under the current presidential system.

Delivering a lecture to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the coronation of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, in Abeokuta, Anyaoku said the role of traditional rulers in the nation could not be over-emphasised.

He described traditional rulers as the custodians of their people’s culture and the embodiment of their collective conscience.

He noted that the traditional rulers played an important role in the sustenance of the cohesion of societies, thereby maintaining law and order, especially in the rural setting.

Osun

The Osun chapter of  the Action Congress of  Nigeria (ACN) last Wednesday  again took up the state government over the N18.4 billion loan it took in  April.

It would be recalls that the loan was approved by the House of Assembly on April 27 in spite of  criticisms  by opposition parties.

The state government had said the loan was to boost development projects which had already been captured in the 2010 budget.

But ACN in a statement by  its Director of  Research and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, expressed concern over what the loan had been  used for since it was obtained in April.

Plateau

Plateau United FC Technical Adviser, Ndubusi Nduka, says the players will  blend with each other  by the end of Week Five of  the current season.

Nduka told newsmen last Wednesday in Jos that  perfect understanding in the team was crucial to picking the continental ticket.

He said just two weeks into the league, the NPL was  showing remarkable improvement in form and content and attributed this  to the revolution in  Nigerian football.

The former Dolphins FC Coach said ace midfielder, Olaniyi Olayinka,  had resumed light training after suffering from a groin injury which sidelined him since the commencement of the league.

On the standard of  officiating, he said referees and other match officials had lived up to expectations and appealed to them to maintain this.

Sokoto

 An international conference on climate change and desertification is scheduled to take place at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, from Dec. 6 to Dec. 9, 2010, a statement said.

The statement signed by Prof. Saka Yusuf, a consultant to the university, was made available to newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday.

It said that one of the objectives of the conference was to identify areas of human endeavour most at risk to climate change and desertification in Nigeria.

The statement said the conference would be organised by the university in conjuction with the Ilorin-based consultancy firm, Saka Yusuf and Associates.