THE STATES

Bauchi

Some private hospitals in Bauchi State have stopped rendering service to civil servants under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Our correspondent gathers that the stoppage followed the inability of the state government to pay for such services on behalf of the civil servants who enrolled into the programme.

Some of the Chief Medical Directors of the affected private hospitals told newsmen that they were being owed amounts ranging from N5 million to N25 million.

‘’The Bauchi State Government has yet to pay us for the services we have rendered to its enrollees between April 2009 and September 2009 as well as between November 2010 and February 2011.

Benue

The effective implementation of the Rural Finance Institution Building Programme (RUFIN) will ensure the success of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda, a director has said.

The Benue State Director Cooperatives, Mr David Bauchi, said this in an interview with the newsmen in Makurdi on Tuesday.

“If well implemented, RUFIN can serve as a catalyst that will ensure the success of government transformation programme, especially in the rural areas in the country.’’

Borno

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has advised the people of Borno State to clean up drains and culverts to prevent flooding this rainy season.

Malam Zakariya Darazo, the North East Manager of the agency, who gave the advice on Tuesday in Maiduguri in an interview with newsmen said the state would experience heavy rainfall this year.

According to him, rainfall might cause flooding just as he predicted bumper harvest.

Darazo also advised the people and traders to always remain indoors whenever they observed dark clouds.

FCT

A cross-section of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) residents have called on the Federal Government to employ the use of modern security devices to check the spate of insecurity in parts of the country.

Some of them, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja decried the time wasted at some check-points across the metropolis.

Mr Sylvester Fayemiwo, an employee of Ecoscan, Garki, Abuja expressed discomfort over some of the measures used by security operatives at some check-points.

“I believe there are modern devices they can use that can be more effective than the current stop and search system,’’ Fayemiwo said.

Kaduna

Alhaji Balarabe Musa, former governor of old Kaduna State, has advised the Federal Government to dialogue with members of the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

He told newsmen in Kaduna last Tuesday that government should adopt “practical strategies aimed at ending the crisis by engaging the members politically”.

Musa advised government to accept making mistakes in the way it handled the problem initially.

“I am canvassing for the use of dialogue and political resolution for two reasons. Firstly, the world over, such crises are resolved through dialogue and secondly, the use of force doesn’t solve crisis.’’

Katsina

A former Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, has blamed the current security challenges in the country on the lack of accurate intelligence by security agencies.

Coomassie told newsmen in Katsina that the security situation was worrisome and called for urgent solution.

He noted that the sporadic bomb blasts, threats of the Boko Haram militants and other security lapses were all traceable to the lack of effective and accurate intelligence by security agencies.

“We have dealt with groups such as Maitatsine sect in Kano and similar cases in other parts of the country with the help of efficient intelligence.’’

Lagos

To achieve success in “rolling back’’ malaria, the cycle of infection must be broken, the National Professional Officer (Malaria) with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tolu Arowolo has urged.

The Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM) is the global framework for coordinated action against malaria. It forges consensus among key actors in malaria control, harmonises action and mobilises resources to fight malaria in endemic countries.

In an interview with newsmen Arowolo listed the cycle to include unkempt environment, incomplete treatment and the attitude of not using the Long Lasting Insecticide Net (LLIN).

She explained that if an individual did not complete malaria treatment, mosquitoes could transmit the malaria parasite from the individual with malaria to another person.

“And how can you break the cycle? It is either by treatment, either by prevention, by having a barrier or causing a barrier between human and mosquitoes.

Niger

The presidential panel on post-election violence has urged the people of Niger to provide useful information that will assist the panel to deliver on its terms of reference.

Justice Samson Uwaifo (rtd), sub-committee ‘A’ Chairman of the panel, made the call in Minna on Tuesday.

Uwaifo was speaking when he led his team on a courtesy visit on the acting Governor of Niger, Alhaji Ahmed Ibeto.

He said that his sub-committee was in the state on a fact-finding mission with regard to the post-election violence that took place in the state.

“If there is anybody with useful information, which will help us meet the terms of reference given by the Federal Government let him come up with it.”

Ogun

Female staff of Ijebu-Ode Local Government of Ogun failed to come to work last Tuesday, while market women also closed their shops over the observance of a traditional festival, “Agemo”.

“Agemo’, a traditional masquerade of Ijebu-Ode people, is believed to come to town with other deities after three days of traditional rituals during the festival and must not be seen by women.

The belief is that a woman, who mistakenly comes across Agemo will die.

Based on the assumption, the palace of Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, issued a statement last week and posted it in strategic places in the town advising women to keep off from the streets.

Ondo

The Chairman, ad- hoc Committee on Local Government Creation in Ondo State, Mr Lawrence Ajetumobi, says that states are vested with powers to create new local governments.

Ajetunmobi made this known in Akure while receiving memorandum on creation of the proposed Ogbese Local Council from the present Akure North Local Government.

He said, however, that states’s constitutional provision to create more councils was subject to approval of State Assembly and final enlistment by the National Assembly.

According to him, the committee will strictly follow all constitutional procedures to ensure the success of the exercise in the state without acrimony.

At the presentation of the memorandum were traditional rulers including Oloba of Oba- Ile, Oba Joseph Agunbiade, Alayede of Ayede- Ogbese, Oba(Prof) Iseoluwa Oluyide, Olu of Owode, Chief Samuel Fapohunda and Chief Olu of Ilado, Chief Johnson Ajomale.

Oyo

The Polytechnic, Ibadan, has graduated 99,379 students since its inception 40 years ago, the Rector, Prof. Olusegun Odunola, said.

Odunola made the fact known in Ibadan  at a news conference to mark the institution’s 40th anniversary celebration.

He said the polytechnic had become a citadel of learning for Nigerians with 51 accredited programmes at both the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels.

“The institution since establishment has distinguished herself from its peers through brilliant performance in both academic and extra-curricular activities.

Plateau

Retired Col. Fidelis Attahiru , running mate to Plateau Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Governorship candidate in the April 26, 2011 election, has been suspended from the party.

Mr Amos Gizo, the party chairman, who announced the action in Jos, said that four other top shots of the party had also been suspended over alleged “gross misconduct”.

The others included Gizo’s Deputy, John Haruna, Mr Philip Samci, Vice-Chairman, Central Zone, as well as Sen. Silas Janfa and Moses Atan.

Sokoto

Sokoto State Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Arzika Tureta, has urged PDP supporters in the state to ignore acts of provocation by the opposition during the campaigns for the local government elections.

Tureta, who was the Director-General of the Wamakko/Shagari Campaign Organisation, said “we should not engage in any form of violence as it is not in our character’’.

He told newsmen in Sokoto that all the candidates fielded were credible, sincere and committed party members who would work towards the successful implementation of the party’s manifestoes.

He said as democrats, PDP members should exhibit high sense of political maturity at all times.

Tureta said the party had already taken measure to promote its “lofty ideals” for the overall political development of the state.