THE STATES

Adamawa

The State Security Service (SSS) says it has compiled a list of suspected political thugs for close monitoring to ensure a hitch-free 2012 governorship polls in Adamawa.

The Adamawa SSS Director, Mr Alfred Ajayi made this known while addressing officials of political parties in a meeting held on Wednesday in Yola.

Ajayi said the meeting organised by the service, was crucial toward sustaining the peace being enjoyed in the state particularly, as the January governorship election was approaching.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all of you to let us approach the election with the fear of God, remembering that the state we want to develop should not be turned to a theatre of war.

Bauchi

No fewer than 103 households in Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi State resisted the administering of the Polio Plus Vaccines Immunisation during the just concluded exercise in the area.

The Director, Primary Health Care of the council, Garba Abbati, said this on Saturday in Misau in an interview with newsmen

Abbati explained that 90 households had their cases resolved through the intervention of traditional and religious rulers.

He further explained that the remaining households were yet to be resolved, adding that efforts were being intensified by both the council and traditional rulers to resolve the issue.

Borno

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) The Mercy Vincent Foundation, an NGO, has distributed food items and clothes to widows and orphans as part of its efforts to provide succour for vulnerable groups in Borno

The donation of 50 bags of rice and many clothes to 50 widows and 25 orphans was made at the premises of the foundation in Maiduguri on Saturday.

However, three other widows, Hajiya Fatima Musa, Mrs Mary Mark and Mrs Medugu Amos, benefited from scholarship awards for their children by the foundation at the occasion.

Dr Oufuani Vicent, the Managing Director and Founder of the charity home, said that most widows were being confronted with tough and difficult lives after the death of their husbands.

FCT

Senate President David Mark has warned that the neglect of the tourism industry will deny Nigeria considerable revenue.

Mark, represented by Sen. Hassan Barata, made the statement in Abuja on Sunday, while declaring open the “Durbar“ event of AbujaCarnival, 2011, at the Guards Brigade Polo Club.

“Any gathering of this nature quickly reminds us of the strategic importance of culture and tourism as a viable industry,’’ he said.

Mark said the essence of the Durbar was to refresh people’s knowledge of the history, military capabilities and prowess as displayed in different emirates centuries ago.

Gombe

The Snake Bite Treatment and Research Centre, in the state has raised alarm over the increase in cases of snake bite patients seeking medical attention at the centre.

Dr. Habu Ballah, the Officer in Charge, told newsmen in Kaltungo that the increase was due to farming activities during the harvest period and rearing of animals.

According to him, the centre unfortunately has run short of treatment drugs.

He explained that the centre recorded 372 causes and 388 cases in September and October, adding that in 2010, more  than 3,000 patients were treated at the centre.

Jigawa

Jigawa State Government said on Wednesday said that property worth N88 million was lost to fire between January and December 2010.

The Director of the state Fire Service, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf, announced this in an interview with newmen  in Dutse.

He added that property estimated at N179.3 million was, however, saved during the period.

He said the organisation received 178 distress calls and rescued 137 people from different accidents and calamities.

Kaduna

Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Ballah Nasarawa said on Saturday in Kaduna that 165 persons were arrested since October for alleged involvement in various criminal activities.

The Commissioner told newsmen that crime rate in the state had declined.

The Police boss added that the Force had worked very hard to achieve crime-free Kaduna State.

“ Between October 17, 2011 and November 18, 2011, Operation Yaki Patrol teams carried out series of raids at some identified criminals’ hideouts and black spots within Kaduna city.

Kano

The Police Command in Kano State arrested 21 suspected armed robbers in November.

Ibrahim Idris, the state Commissioner of Police made this known to newsmen in Kano before parading the suspects at the Bompai police command headquarters.

The commissioner disclosed that his men had arrested five other suspects for illegally possessing fire arms including a Chadian named Faisal Mahmud on whom was found a Beretta pistol with one round of live ammunition.

Similarly, the commissioner said that four men, including an 80 year old man and a middle-aged policeman were arrested for defiling a minor who is four years old.

Lagos

Lack of funds and global acquisition of coastal lands have been identified as reasons for  the inability of Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) to establish an international border market.

Badagry West  LCDA is located at the entry point of Benin Republic with two major border markets at Seme and Owode ends.

Mr. Joseph Bamgbose, chairman, Badagry West LCDA, said recently at its Kankon secretariat  that the location of the area as border post would have made an international  Market desirable.

“The twin factors of lack of funds and global acquisition of coastal lands by the Federal Government are hindering  our plans to set up an international market in the LCDA,” he said.

Niger

The Niger Head of Service, Alhaji Ibrahim Matane, has decried the activities of illegal gold miners in Maiwayo village, Katcha Local Government Area of the state.

Matane told newsmen on Saturday in Minna that non-adherence to the mining laws of the state by the miners was of great concern to the government.

“They do not have any prospecting or mining licence from the relevant authorities such as the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development or the regulatory arm in Abuja.”

Matane further said that the miners did not have permit from any authority in the state before undertaking their illegal activities nor did they have any regard for environmental hazards their activities could cause.

Ondo

The Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State has appealed to nursing mothers to take advantage of the state government’s free health programme to reduce infant mortality rate in the area.

The council Chairman, Mr Banji Okunomo, made the appeal in Ilaje while flagging off the Maternal and New-born Child Health Week.

He emphasised the importance of health care delivery, saying it was the major focus of the state government.

Okunomo commended Gov. Olusegun Mimiko for his efforts in ensuring good health care delivery for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under the age of five.

Oyo

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, has discovered a new cassava flour that will save Nigeria N623 billion annually in foreign currency.

Dr Nteranya Sanginga, Director-General of IITA, said this in Ibadan when he visited Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.

Sanginga said that the suitable cassava flour which the institute discovered, would replace wheat in the production of bread.

The IITA boss expressed the readiness of the Institute to partner with the state in the area of food production and security.

Plateau

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced distribution of relief materials to the internally displaced persons from the Barkin-Ladi crisis in Plateau State.

Most of the 1,000 displaced persons were camped at the Barkin-Ladi Divisional Police Headquarters and also within the town.

No fewer than 10 people were reportedly killed in the violence which broke out in the locality on Sunday, 50 kilometres from Jos.

NEMA Zonal Coordinator, North Central, Mr. Abdulsalami Muhammed, who distributed the items to the victims, said the items were donated by donor agencies and stakeholders, which included the Plateau State Government and the Red Cross Society.