THE STATES

Adamawa

The Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board (ADSUBEB) has trained 750 teachers in Michika Local Government Area of the state.

The Local Government Council’s Education Secretary, Mr Isaac Sanda, told newsmen in Michika  last  Thursday that the teachers were trained in the last three years.

Sanda said that the beneficiaries were exposed to modern teaching techniques on core subjects like English, Mathematics, Physical Education and Science.

He said that the training was conducted in collaboration with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) office.

“The measure is to enhance teachers’ capacity in delivering quality education,’’ Sanda said.

Borno

The Borno State Government  has attributed the slow take-off of its municipal tricycle scheme to “due process.”

Gov. Kashim Shettima had on August 5, launched the first phase of the scheme involving 1,500 tricycles to be distributed to unemployed youths.

He said the scheme was to tackle transportation problems in the state capital.

But Alhaji Babakaka Garbai, the Chairman of the distribution committee told newsmen in Maiduguri, that government was not in a haste to release the tricycles.

“It is true that the governor launched the scheme several days ago, but we do not want to release them without proper documentation.

FCT

President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerian women to rise up to the task of achieving their dreams, saying his administration will be a catalyst for their progress.

In a post on his Facebook page last Thursday, the president said it was his desire to ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders in the nation, irrespective of sex, religion or ethnic background.

Jonathan said, “I promised women a 35 per cent slot in my cabinet.

“And I fulfilled that vow because it is my desire to ensure a level playing field in Nigeria by heading an administration where ethnicity, gender and religion do not hinder qualified persons from fulfilling their potentials.’’

He said it was for the same reason that he ordered the admission of women into the Nigerian Defence Academy, the first from a sitting president in the country.

Kano

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Kano State has warned commercial drivers against violation violating traffic rules and regulations in the area.

He said the sector found it necessary to issue the warning in view of the increase in number of vehicles, especially commercial ones coming into the state due to the approaching Sallah.

He said the FRSC would soon embark on special patrol along the highways in the state to check the excesses of commercial drivers.

According to him, plans are underway to embark on massive public enlightenment on the proposed new number plate and driver’s licence.

He said the exercise would take place at motor parks and major  points in the state aimed at sensitising the public on the importance of the new items .

Katsina

Wife of Katsina State Governor, Hajiya Fatima Shema, has urged mothers to watch out for contaminated food items likely to be consumed by children during the Ramadam fasting.

Shema, who was represented by wife of the Deputy Governor, Hajiya Lubabatu Garba, made the call at the annual Tafsir organised by a coalition of Muslim women associations in Kafur Local Government Area .She said that fruits especially could be contaminated, while mothers should also watch out for expired food items during this period.

The governor’s wife also called on women to keep a clean environment which is a prerequisite to good health, as well as to respect their husbands.

Kogi

Over 7,000 applicants turned up for enlistment into the Police as Cadet Assistant uperintendent of Police (ASPs) and Inspectors.

The Kogi Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Ajayi Okasanmi told journalists in Lokoja that the applicants came from the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

He said that of the number, 4,000 applied for enlistment as ASPs while 3,000 applied for Inspectors’ cadre.

Okasanmi said the screening of the applicants began last Monday with the State Police Commissioner, Mr John Abakasanga as Chairman of the team.

He said the police would strictly adhere to all the guidelines for the exercise.

Kwara

The Kwara State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission  last hursday embarked on road walk, as part of  efforts to reduce road crashes in the state.

The walk, which started from the FRSC office along Fate Road, Ilorin at about 8.30 a.m. passed through Tanke Road to Maraba Garage, where the Sector Commander, Mr Yusuf Salami, addressed motorists and commuters.

Salami said that the command embarked on the road show awareness along some major street and roads in Ilorin to sensitise the general public on the dangers of overloading.

He told newmen  later that the road show awareness embarked upon by the command involving the regular, special marshal and NYSC Road Safety Club.

The sector commander said that it was aimed at drawing the attention of road users on the need to inculcate road safety measures during the ember months.

Nasarawa

The National President of the NUJ, Mohammed Garba has said that the union would picket media organisations which do not pay the salaries of their staff.

Garba said at an interactive session with newsmen in Lafia, as part of the nationwide tour by the National Executive of the union, that the picketing would start with defaulting media organisations in Lagos State.

He expressed concern over non payment of staff salaries by media organisations.

Garba also said that the union would closely monitor media organisations to ensure that their staff were paid regularly.

The president called for improved funding for media organisations across the country to be able to meet the 2012 deadline for migrating from the analogue to digital transmission.

Ogun

A don, Prof. Babatunde Salako, says chronic kidney disease accounts for the death of six per cent of the country’s population every year.

Salako, a professor of nephrology at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan said in a lecture on “Nephrology Practice In Nigeria: The Journey So Far,” at the Federal Medical Centre,

The lecture was part of the send forth programme in honour of Dr Julius Osinfade, the Head of Dialysis Centre of the hospital.

Osun

Three members of the Osun State House of Assembly, have appealed to the leadership of the Osun Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to call off their ongoing strike.

The Leader of the House, Timothy Owoeye, the House Whip, Ipoola Binuyo and Babatunde Komolafe, made the appeal while speaking with newsmen, on the ongoing industrial action in the state.

Owoeye, representing Ilesa East State Constituency, said the workers should put the interest of the masses at heart, adding that the present administration was committed to the welfare of workers.

He noted that the strike had paralysed government’s activities, saying that it would pose a challenge to the rapid development of the state which the current administration was tackling.

Sokoto

Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State said the Sokoto State Government has spent N280 million on the rehabilitation of two water tanks and the construction of a new one at Arkilla in the state.

Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, who gave the figure in Sokoto, said that the tank under construction would have the capacity to store one million gallons of water.

Wamakko, said after inspecting the projects, that his administration had also commenced the construction of a new water treatment plant in Asara village in Wamakko Local Government Area of the state.

He said that when completed, the projects would improve water supply to Sokoto City and its environs.

“I must commend the state task force on water supply as well as the contracting firm for a job well done,’’ the governor said.

Taraba

The Taraba State Muslim Pilgrims Board has registered 1693 people as intending pilgrims for the 2011 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.

The Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Abba Tukur, told journalists in Jalingo that the pilgrims were registered in all the three categories based on fare differentials.

He said the maximum fare was N626,000, the medium N555,000 and minimum fare N525,000.

Tukur said the maximum fare would attract Basic Travelers Allowance (BTA) of N201,600; the medium fare would receive N135,000 while N108,000 would be given to those on the minimum fare.

He revealed that the board had secured accommodation for the pilgrims very close to the Kaaba, with arrangements concluded on feeding them free in Mina, Arafat and Mustalifat.