THE STATES

Adamawa

The Federal Government has been urged to enhance security at the commercial border town of Mubi in Adamawa to check the threat of armed robbers.

Member representing Mubi South Constituency, Alhaji Usman Lamorde, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Yola on Monday.

Usman spoke against the backdrop of last week’s day-light robbery at Mubi market in which four people lost their lives.

He said the people of Mubi were disturbed by the development and wanted security beefed up at the market area to forestall future occurrences.

Usman said Mubi, the commercial hub of Adamawa, had always enjoyed peace and growing commercial activities, adding that everything needed to be done to sustain the tempo.

 

Borno

The Borno State Government will put in place machinery to enlighten the public on the state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan on some areas of the state.

The Commissioner for Information Mr Inuwa Bwala told newsmen shortly after an emergency meeting of the State Executive Council that “Council met and deliberated on the declaration of the state of emergency.

“After brainstorming for some hours, council agreed on the need to educate our people on the development.

“Council stressed the need to disabuse the minds of our people on the misconception that all democratic structures have been removed,” Bwala said.

 

Ekiti

Ten inmates of the Ado-Ekiti Prison have been granted amnesty by Gov. Kayode Fayemi as part of the new year celebrations. They include eight males and two heavily pregnant female inmates of the prison.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, said the two pregnant inmates, Bose Joseph and Omotosho Yetunde, were at advanced stages of pregnancy and there were fears that their prospective babies could suffer stigmatisation if allowed to deliver in the prison yard.

According to sources the two women were not involved in capital offences.

The statement said the eight other inmates had been under incarceration in the prison for between 12 and 14 years while awaiting trial.

 

FCT

A group, Youth Alliance for the Deregulation of the Downstream Oil Sector, has urged other Nigerian youths to embrace the removal of fuel subsidy which took effect on Sunday.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja, Mr Okechukwu Okorie, the coordinator of the group, urged Nigerian youths to avoid any form of protest as it would only lead to chaos in the already “tension-soaked country’’.

“Information reaching us reveals that some of the major cabals that are benefiting from the fuel subsidy are busy organising some disgruntled youths for a protest march.

“We want to sound a note of warning that if any Nigerian youth comes out on the streets of Nigeria, we shall mobilise youths to counter any protest march.’’

 

Gombe

Four shops were burnt and another destroyed by some hoodlums at Angwan Shamaki ward in Tudun Wada area of Gombe metropolis on Monday.

An eye witness told newsmen that the youths came from opposite directions around 5.30 p.m. and set fire on one of the shops, which later spread to the others.

The witness said the hoodlums fled immediately after setting the shop on fire.

Our correspondent learnt that the incident occurred shortly after some groups had allegedly clashed at the Central Mosque, Gombe, during which three people were injured.

 

Kano

Law enforcement agents have beefed up security in Kano metropolis, following a protest by some youths on Monday over the withdrawal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

Our correspondent who went round the city reports that armed policemen had been drafted to strategic places to monitor the movement of people to prevent a possible break down of law and order.

Policemen were seen in vehicles patrolling some of the major streets.

 

Kebbi

Kebbi State Governor Saidu Dakingari has approved the construction of Kawara/Mairuwa/Goron-Dutse road in Suru Local Government Area at a cost of N4.1billion.

This was contained in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mua’zu.

According to the statement, the road which covers a distance of 16 kilometres will link five local government areas (LGAs) across the Rima River in the state.

“The road, which also has provision for the construction of four bridges along the Fadama landscape, is expected to link Suru, Bunza, Dandi, Koko-Besse and Bagudo LGAs, as well as parts of Niger Republic,’’ it said.

 

 

Lagos

A former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olisa Agbakoba, in Lagos,  has criticised the withdrawal of fuel subsidy by the government on January 1, calling it “an unpopular’’ decision.

Agbakoba told newsmen on telephone, that the government disregarded ongoing consultations with the different spectrums of the public on the matter.

“It is unfortunate. I am highly disappointed that government disregarded public outcry against fuel subsidy removal.

 

Niger

Authorities of Federal Polytechnic, Bida in Niger State, has expelled 11 students for various examination malpractices during its 2010/2011 academic session.

Alhaji Abdullahi Sule, the rector of the polytechnic, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Bida, Niger.

He said the students were caught cheating during the examination, adding that their cases were forwarded to the institution’s Exams Misconduct Committee.

Sule said that the affected students, who were on indefinite suspension, refused to appear before the committee to defend themselves on the allegation levelled against them which led to their expulsion from the institution.

 

Oyo

The National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) has condemned the spate of bombings and violence in some parts of the country.

General Secretary of the organisation, Alhaji Kamaldin Akintunde, in a statement in Ibadan on Monday had described the bombing attacks as ‘disastrous, painful, unfortunate’ and a bad omen for the country.

“Let me remind the sect that claimed responsibility for the bombings that attack on any place of worship is grievous and punishable.’’

He said the act was against Islamic prophetic tradition which forbids killing of innocent souls and suicide.

Akintunde urged the Federal Government to employ ‘radical and aggressive’ approaches to curb terrorism and insecurity in the nation.

 

 

Sokoto

A Sokoto-based politician, Alhaji Abubakar Yabo, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state emergency in the security sector.

Yabo told newsmen in Sokoto on Monday that the measure would enable the Federal Government to apprehend and prosecute those sponsoring terrorism in the country.

He said that a well-articulated security network is required urgently to safeguard the nation’s hard-earned democracy.

He explained that the time had come for the government to set in motion a comprehensive security mechanism that would enable Nigerians put terrorism behind them for the overall political growth of the country.

Yabo, who is also the secretary of Aliyu Magatakarda Advocacy Group,called on the Federal Government to provide modern working facilities for all the nation’s security outfits.

 

 

Zamfara

Governor Yari of Zamfara State has directed his special advisers to relate with people and obtain feedback that can assist the administration in good governance.

Yari gave the advice recently in Gusau at the swearing-in ceremony of the 33 newly-appointed special advisers in the state.

“I urge you to relate with people and obtain feedback, which will assist us in making government policies and programmes that are more responsive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people”, Yari said.

He urged the advisers  to always be guided by the oath of office, which restricted them from allowing their personal interests to influence their official decisions and conduct.