THE STATES

Abeokuta

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, on Tuesday promised to actualise the dream of late Health Minister, Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, for a medical village.

Ransome-Kuti, aged 73, died on June 2, 2003 at a London hotel while attending a WHO conference.

The renowned paediatrician and indigene of Abeokuta, had proposed to build a medical village at Ipakoto in Ifo local government area of the state.

He, however, could not actualise the dream before his demise.

Amosun, who spoke while receiving the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Abeokuta, expressed his administration’s commitment to building the village.

Abuja

The most common allergies cause symptoms like itching, runny nose and mild swelling but the more serious conditions like asthma and some food allergies can have deadly consequences, according to Dr Abiodun Awolusi, a medical doctor.

Awolusi, Head of Accident and Emergency Unit, National Hospital Abuja, told  newsmen that allergic reactions could result in eczema, rashes, inflammation of the nasal airways, asthma attacks, and reaction to food, drugs and the venom of stinging insects.

According to him, an allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system that occurs when a person’s body reacts to normally harmless environmental substances.

Ijebu-Ode

The Academic Staff Union of Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu-Ijebu, Ogun State,  has suspended its four-month old strike.

The union in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Femi Osibamawo ,  in Ijebu-Ode on Tuesday, stated that the strike was suspended due to the plea by Governor Ibikunle Amosun during his state media conference.

The union had in March embarked on an indefinite strike over non-payment of nine months salaries and arrears of the academic staff.

The union while  pleading with Governor Amosun to fulfill his promise to pay the outstanding  salaries and arrears of the lecturers  said they would press for the payment within  the next  three weeks.

Jos

The University of Jos will conduct its post-UTME screening of prospective students in August, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hayward Mafuyai, has announced.

Mafuyai, who made the announcement at a news briefing in Jos, said the cut-off points for the various courses would be made known at a meeting called by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for next week in Abuja.

The vice-chancellor said the institution had been under intense pressure with applications overshooting the required slots for each department.

Kano

An Islamic scholar, Malama Hafsat Bello, says youth empowerment, through the provision of sustainable means of profitable employment will eliminate criminal tendencies and enhance national security.

She told newsmen on Tuesday, in Kano, that both the federal and state governments should give priority to the creation of job opportunities to bring a new lease of life to the youth under the new dispensation.

Bello said it was by constructively engaging the youth that government could effectively weam tje, frp, cro,e amd ptjer megatove temdemcoes.

Kebbi

The Kebbi government has received and distributed 26,000 tonnes of fertiliser to farmers in the state for the 2011 farming season.

Alhaji Umar Aliero, the General Manager, Kebbi State Agricultural Supply Company (KASCOM), told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday, that efforts were on to deliver the commodity to all the wards in the council areas at subsidised rates.

He said that state and local government committees had been set up to ensure smooth and equitable distribution of the commodity to farmers, irrespective of political or other differences.

Aliero added that government had also purchased seedlings worth N6.5 million for distribution to farmers.

Kogi

The Kogi Government has purchased more than 5,000 assorted farming implements for distribution to farmers in the 21 local government areas in the state to enhance mechanised farming.

Governor Ibrahim Idris, who made the announcement on Tuesday, while inaugurating various projects executed by the Okene Local government area, said time had come for farmers to do away with obsolete farming tools.

He said the quality and quantity of agricultural produce in the state had failed to improve over the years due to the dependence of most rural farmers on the traditional and obsolete manual tools.

Idris promised that the challenge of low yields by farmers would soon be a thing of the past in the state.

Lagos

Some local government chiefs in Lagos State have appealed to the NNPC to extend to the rural areas the sale of kerosene in mobile trucks.

They also urged the federal government to ensure that the product was not diverted by middlemen.

The NNPC, in partnership with Capital Oil, on July 16 began the sale of kerosene to consumers from mobile trucks following a lingering scarcity of the commodity.

Mr Olusegun Agbaje, Chairmen of Epe local government council, said that the government should extend the initiative to the rural areas for the benefit of those Nigerians who are the main consumers of the product.

He said that the extension of the sales to the rural areas would reduce the high dependence on firewood for cooking.

Lokoja

Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has appealed to aggrieved groups and individuals nationwide, to eschew violence in the interest of unity and stability of the nation.

He said it was under an atmosphere of peace and tranquility that the nation could achieve developmental goals.

He made the appeal in Lokoja during a courtesy call on Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi.

The Speaker added that dialogue remained a viable option to resolve the nation’s problems, adding that the House was evolving an agenda for the next four years.

Maiduguri

Governor  Kashim Shettima of Borno, has described the killings by the Boko Haram sect in the name of Islam as as “unjustifiable.”

“How can a true muslim explain, let alone profoundly justify the current unfortunate cold blooded murders and bombings in the name of Islam”.

“Islam means peace and submission to the will of God and thus it should remain so, in both theory and practice.”

“This was the understanding of our forefathers; theirs is the true meaning of Islam in both letter and spirit,” Shettima told newsmen in Maiduguri.

Ondo

An accident involving four trucks at Asewele/Ajue in Ore, Odigbo local government area of Ondo State, on Monday night, left two dead and many others injured.

The FRSC Unit Commander, Mr Mike Arinzeagu, told newsmen on Tuesday, in Ore, that the accident was caused by an earlier accident involving a truck.

He said a truck with registration number ABUJA KX940 KWL had earlier fallen on the road.

“The other four trucks later rammed into this truck, which later resulted in the death of two people and many others injured.”

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Police Command has mobilised 5,000 police personnel for the conduct of Saturday’s local government election in the state.

The Commissioner, Alhaji Adeola Adeneji, said in Sokoto on Tuesday, that necessary operational arrangements have been concluded.

He said that Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) had been briefed and put on alert, to ensure peace and political stability.