THE STATES

Adamawa

The Chairman of Christian CAN, Adamawa branch, Prof. Daniel Babayi has urged government at all levels to establish and empower inter- Religious councils to effectively mobilise the people on religious tolerance.

Babayi told newsmen in Yola, that the councils, to be made up of respected Christian and Muslim leaders, could tackle the problem of intolerance among their followers, particularly in identified volatile areas.

He decried the lukewarm attitude of some state governments, which did not carry along religious groups in their mobilisation programmes for peace.

Bauchi

Unknown gunmen late last Friday attacked the Alkaleri branch of Unity Bank Plc and a police station and carted away a huge sum, sources said.

Our Correspondent  learnt that the gunmen had earlier made an attempt to rob a bank in Bauchi metropolis but failed.

They later broke into the bank in Alkaleri and the police station, 60km away from Bauchi town, a witness told our correspondent, adding that the robbers first attacked the police station with explosives, which released a loud sound and thick smoke.

The witness said that the robbers subsequently launched an attack on the bank while public attention was focused on happenings at the station.

Borno

The Operation Restore Order Military Task Force in Borno State on Saturday warned residents of Maiduguri against allowing their premises to be used for attacks by suspected Boko Haram militants.

The warning was contained in a statement by the Spokesman of the Task Force, Col. Victor Ebhaleme in Maiduguri.

“The Task Force has observed with dismay the unacceptable behaviour of some residents in Maiduguri, who willingly allow their surroundings or frontage of their business places to be used for nefarious activities.

“Such residents are strongly advised to desist from such acts. The Task Force will henceforth take appropriate actions to protect the public from such actions.’’

FCT

Dr. Andrew Zamani, a clinical psychologist at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, has urged men to assist their expectant wives with domestic household tasks as such will reduce pregnancy complications due to stress.

Zamani told newsmen that severe stress in pregnancy and attitudes of uncaring husbands, had been shown to be contributory factors of high morbidity and mortality among women.

“Household demands and the lack of quality spousal support could also be stressful, severe stress is often associated with vulnerability to birth complications. Women who have had sustained emotional assaults or have been exposed during pregnancy to many stresses tend to have higher incidence rates of postpartium depression.

Kaduna

An Islamic cleric, Sheik Yusuf Sambo, has appealed to the Federal Government to establish a Religious Affairs Commission as a possible measure to curb incessant ethno-religious crisis bedeviling Nigeria.

He made the call during a quarterly meeting of religious leaders and traditional institutions of Zazzau Emirate in Kaduna State, held in Zaria last Friday.

Sambo, who is the Chairman, Committee of Ulamas, Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’a Wa’iqamatis Sunna (JIBWIS), suggested that the commission should comprise representatives of the two major religions, Islam and Christianity.

The cleric observed that when such commission was inaugurated, it would go a long way in ensuring peace and unity among the followers of the two religions.

Kwara

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has advised tertiary institutions in the country to evolve programmes that would make their graduates self-employed and employable.

The governor made the call in IIorin when the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, led a delegation to the Government House.

The governor stressed the need for universities to fashion out an entrepreneurship programme that would encourage skills acquisition in various fields.

Ahmed commended the University for sustaining its good name through good ethics and enforced standards.

He decried the rate of unemployment in the country and advocated the establishment of technical institutes all over the country to reduce the unemployment.

Katsina

The Katsina State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has resolved to hand over nine journalists to the Police for allegedly selling a bus belonging to the union.

The Council Chairman, Abdullahi Izima, said this shortly after the executive council meeting of the Union in Katsina.

He said the decision followed the resolution of the executive council after all efforts to recover the vehicle in an amicable way failed.

Izima said the journalists, who had been suspended from the union, had confessed to a probe panel that they received the bus.

“They confessed before the committee that they received the vehicle donated to the council by the ControllerGeneral of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Ande, and sold it”, he said.

He said the union initially gave the affected journalists five weeks and three days to produce the vehicle.

Lagos

A 23-year-old house boy, Oliver Togbe, was docked at an Igbosere magistrates’ Court lagos, for allegedly stealing his master’s property.

The prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu, put the value of the items, allegedly stolen from Mr. Thomas Awagu, at N376,000.

Nwosu told the court that the alleged offence was committed on June 20, 2011 at No. 11 Ojomu Road, Ikoyi.

He said that the accused had access to most rooms in Mr. Awagu’s house where he allegedly stole two passports, with Nos. A02477004, A1607752, some works of art and souvenirs, valued at N376,000.

Nwosu said that the alleged offence contravened Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Magistrate Mulikat Alli-Balogun granted him bail in the sum of N300,000, with two sureties in like sum.

Ogun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun has solicited the support and cooperation of International donor agencies to boost free health care services in the state.

He made the call in Abeokuta while receiving delegates from Procter and Gamble (P&G) and UNICEF during their fact-finding visit to the state.

The governor was represented by a member of the Transition Committee on Health, Dr. Ajibola Amosun.

Amosun said the presence of international partners in the state had contributed immensely to the well-being of the citizenry, particularly the less privileged.

He added that their focus on tetanus elimination would fast-track the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on reducing child and maternal mortality rate.

Ondo

The national Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Ondo State has urged the State house of Assembly to collaborate with the directorate in fighting unemployment and poverty.

The NDE Coordinator in the state, Mr. Joseph Olayinka, made the call in Akure when he led a team of officials on a courtesy visit to the Speaker, Mr. Samuel Adesina.

The Coordinator said the support of the House would assist the directorate in the implementation of its employment generation programmes.

Sokoto

Sokoto State Government says it has trained about 130,000 youths in various trades under its skill acquisition programme.

Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, the Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, told our correspondent Friday in Sokoto that the government was committed to providing job opportunities to youths in the state.

He said that the beneficiaries were trained in the areas of knitting, welding, carpentry and soap making, among others.

Aliyu said they were issued with various tools for their skills, free of charge, to start their businesses.

Plateau

Chief Judge of Plateau Justice Lazarus Dakyen, has advised the state Assembly to always send laws passed by it for proof reading to check for errors.

Dakyen, who made the appeal last Friday when the Speaker, Mr. John Clark, paid him a visit, said the judiciary had the capacity to interpret such laws before they were made public.

He said as an important arm of government, a close working relationship was necessary for the optimal performance of all the branches of government.

Yobe

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has lauded the Yobe Government for engaging 20 consultants to improve health services in the state.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Abubakar Ali, had announced the engagement of the consultants from University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital last week.

The consultants are specialists in gynaecology, general surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics and radiology.

Addressing a news conference in Damaturu, Dr. Musa Baba, the Chairman of Yobe chapter of the association, said “NMA congratulates the state government for the giant stride of reaching accord with 20 consultants from UMTH to offer specialist care to patients.”