THE STATES

Adamawaa

South African President Jacob Zuma has called on political leaders on the continent to give priority to quality education to enhance the development of the black race.

Zuma said this in Yola, Adamawa, on Saturday after he was conferred with an honorary Doctorate Degree of Philosophy at the American University of Nigeria (AUN).

The South African leader, who expressed concern over the poor state of education in Africa urged its leaders to join together in promoting quality and standard education for the betterment of their people..

Speaking shortly after the conferment of the award, Zuma thanked the university authorities for the outstanding recognition given to him. The award ceremony, which took place at the university’s main campus in Yola, witnessed the presence of international and national dignitaries.

Bauchi

The  Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Mr Ikechukwu  Aduba, said that bandits on Friday used locally-made rockets and bombs to burn down Ganjuwa Divisional Police Headquarters. Adubatold newsmen that early in the morning the bandits launched simultaneous attacks on the station at Kafin-Madaki in an attempt to steal more than N2 million meant for the payment of the salary of junior staff of the council.

He said the bandits laid siege on the station and attacked it, thereby forcing the security agents to retreat. Aduba said that a reinforcement of security men, comprising the army and the police, however, forced the bandits to abandon their cars and run into a nearby bush.

FCT

Vice President Namadi Sambo in Abuja, has challenged Nige rians to exposed people standing on the way of government’s goal of achieving positive results in the nation’s power sector. Sambo, who gave the warning at a meeting with the Board of the Niger Delta Holding Company Ltd, said that any contractor who failed to complete his assignment on scheduled, would have the contract revoked.

He said that the issue of variation should not come up again as the Federal Government was interested in inaugurating power projects from January next year. Sambo regretted the inability of the distribution and transmission companies to deliver because of inadequate manpower to manage the new power plants built across the country.

Gombe

Dry season farmers in Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe State have urged the same government to provide them with farm inputs in time, to boost food production in the area. Some of the farmers who spoke with newsmen at their farms in Kupto village on Saturday, said they had already commenced dry season farming but were in need of the inputs. On of them, Malam Adamu Rabiu said that they need fertilisers, insecticides, herbicides, water pumps and other items necessary for dry season farming.

Rabiu said that most of the farmers in the area relied on dry season farming, because it always generated good yields for them. He, however, said many of them relied on hiring items such as water pumps for use during the season.

Another farmer, Malam Mohammed Rabiu, said if government would assist them with the facilitaites, they would redouble their production. Malam Adamu Sale, a tomatoes farmer, however, said that they also required the technical assistance from extension workers to improve their yields.

Kano

Malam Abdullahi Sani, the Secretary General of Kano State Film Makers’ Association, says the association is committed to total elimination of film pirates in the state. Sani told newsmen in Kano  that the association had taken some legal actions on some pirates, who attempted pirating Hausa movies. He said the association had earlier solicited the support of the police and other concerned authorities in the fight. He saidthe association had reported many suspected pirates in Alaba Market in Lagos and Kano to the police, adding that many had been taken to court.

Katsina

Irrigation farmers in Gorar-Dansaka Village in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, have appealed to the state government to rehabilitate the dam in the community to boost agricultural production.

A spokesman for the farmers, Malam Mannir Namadi, told newsmen in Malumfashi on Saturday that farmers utilising the facility could not use the dam this year because of damage to it.

He said that the damage to the dam’s embankment and spillway, made it impossible to store enough water during the raining season for irrigation use later. Namadi said that because of the problem, many irrigation farmers had now resorted to other trades and businesses to survive, while others have migrated elsewhere.

Lagos

The Airport Police Command has called on the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to support them with modern security devices to enhance security at the airports.

The new Commissioner of Police at the Command, Mr Akila Gwary, told newsmen on Sunday in Lagos that his men needed modern equipment to work with. “Our major predicament is that we don’t have enough modern devices.

“There are so many things to be done which FAAN and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority definitely need to look into,” he said. Gwary disclosed, however, that the authorities concerned were aware of the challenges and had promised to effect changes.

Niger

The police in Niger State have smashed a syndicate that specialises in issuing fake NYSC documents, the Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Maishanu, said in Minna on Friday. Maishanu made the fact known while parading three members of the syndicate, who alleged specialised in issuing fake NYSC certificates, identity cards, call-up letters, among others to gullible youths.   The commissioner said the police acted on a tip-off on Nov. 24 and found some luggage hidden on top of a rock in a bush in New York area of Bosso in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger.

Osun

A lawmaker representing Ede South Constituency in the Osun House of Assembly,  Johnson Ojo has called on the state government to implement the Child Rights Law. Ojo, who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo, observed that the implementation of the law was long overdue as the state legislature had domesticated the law since November 2007. He urged the relevant ministries to collaborate with the law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders, noting that effective implementation required the support of all and sundry.

Plateau

One person was killed and 14 others injured in three consecutive bombs that hit some parts of Jos on Saturday night.

The Plateau State Police Command told newsmen that the explosions occurred separately at Tina Junction, Odus and City of David, all around Bauchi Ring Road in Jos North. He said that the three explosions, which occurred at local football viewing centres were caused by timed improvised explosive devices.  Jacob said, however, that no arrests had been made, but added that the command had begun investigation into the blasts.  Meanwhile the Plateau government has condemned the blasts which it described as “acts to deliberately instil fear into the minds of the people’’.

Sokoto

Sokoto PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Alhaji Yusuf  Suleiman,  has promised to re- position the education sector if elected governor in March 2012.  Addressing party supporters shortly after inaugurating his campaign office in Sokoto, Suleiman said that Sokoto used to be centre of learning in the past. He said that effort would be geared toward providing modern learning tools that would enhance learning culture among youths and women in the state.

Taraba

The police in Taraba have restricted the use of all kinds of motorcycles from 11 p.m to 5 a.m throughout the state. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Ibiang Mbasieke, told newsmen in Jalingo  that the ban became necessary to ensure the safety of lives and property of the people. Mbasieke explained that the police was taking pro-active measures even when the security threat posed by the motorcyclists in other states did not take place in the state.