Adamawa

The Adamawa Government has offered a reward of N25 million to anybody with information that can lead to the arrest of gunmen who killed 26 people in Mubi and Yola.

Gov. Murtala Nyako announced the reward Saturday in Yola in a broadcast to the state.

The yet-to-be identified gunmen killed the 26 people in three separate incidents Thursday and Friday in Mubi and Yola towns respectively.

On Thursday, the gunmen killed three people in Mubi at a beer parlour, while a group was planning their burial the next day, the gunmen showed up again and killed 11 others.

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it arrested 130 suspects in 2011.

The disclosure was made on Friday by the Sector Commander, Mr Sule Momodu.

He said that out of the 130 suspects, 93 were charged to court while 37 suspects who were arrested at various smoking hideouts were convicted.

Momodu said the agency also seized a total of 834,310 kilograms of cannabis during the period under review.

FCT

The Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Erkki Tuomoija, says that his country and most of Europe have confidence in Nigeria’s economy and political system.

Tuomoija said when he met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja.

“Your economy is doing very well, and many countries in Europe envy your growth figures.

“We have confidence in your democracy and in your ability to deal with the terrorism and other challenges confronting you,’’ he said.

Gombe

Christian and Islamic clerics in Gombe State have appealed for calm in the wake of Thursday’s attack on worshippers at the Deeper Life Bible Church, Nasarawo-Gombe.

Eight people were killed in the attack in which 17 people were also injured.

The clerics made their respective appeals shortly after they had an emergency meeting with Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo on the development in the state on Friday.

Rev. Abare Kalla, the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Gombe State, said Christians should heed Christ’s injunction that vengeance was God’s.

Jigawa

The Jigawa State Police Command promoted 1,151 of its officers and men last year.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP. Abdu Jinjiri, made the disclosure in Dutse on Thursday in an interview with our correspondent.

Giving a breakdown, the Police spokesman stated that 576 constables were promoted to the rank of corporal within the period.

He said that 250 corporals were promoted to the rank of sergeant while 252 sergeants were also promoted to the rank of inspector.

Kebbi

Dole Faransi, a border town between Niger Republic and Dandi Local Government Area in Kebbi has been connected to the national grid at the cost of N16.5 million.

A statement signed by Alhaji Abubakar Mu’azu, the Press Secretary to the Governor in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday stated that the provision of the electricity was aimed at boosting social and economic activities in the area.

The statement recalled that the Dole Kaina and Dole Faransi Communities from Niger Republic had visited Gov.Saidu Dakingari in the quest to sustain the peace and unity between them and their neighbours.

Lagos

Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP)  President, Alex Eyengho, has said the removal of the fuel subsidy by the Federal Government would lead to a reduction in the patronage of the arts sub-sector.

Eyengho, who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, urged the Federal Government to reconsider its stand on the removal of the subsidy.

“It will cause more sufferings for the movie sector. The removal will make us to suffer more and it means we would close shop in the arts sector,” he said.

The president also urged the Federal Government to introduce measures that would help to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal in the arts sub-sector.

Niger

The Niger State government has began the disbursement of the N150 million worth of relief materials and cash to victims of the Christmas day bomb blast at St Theresa Catholic Church Madalla in Suleja Local Government Area of the state.

Presenting the cheques to the 25 verified relations of the 42 victims who died in the carnage, the Chairman of Niger Assessment Committee on Madalla Bomb Blast, Alhaji Garba Tagwai said the exercise “is a token relief to the relations.”

He said the committee had verified the actual relations of the 25 victims in conjunction with the Catholic Church.

Tagwai said the exercise would be a continuous one, adding that the balance of N17 million would be paid to the relations of the deceased persons, who could not be paid yet until the screening was completed.

Osun

The Osun legislature has pledged to monitor the implementation of all projects highlighted in the 2012 budget.

This was contained in a communiqué issued by the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr Kamil Oyedele, at the end of its three-day retreat, at Ejigbo.

In the communiqué on Saturday in Ejigbo, the House promised that the lawmakers would also carry out their oversight functions effectively.

The legislators, however, urged that necessary provisions should be made for the committees to enable them effectively carry out their oversight functions.

The communiqué said that sufficient budgetary provision for the committees would discourage the temptation of asking government agencies to finance their oversight activities.

Sokoto

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has commenced the sale of 109, 995 litres of kerosene to the members of the public at N50 per litre.

Our correspondent reports that the State Government expended N148 million on the kerosene as well as the purchase of five new trucks with the capacity for 21,999 litres each.

Speaking at the ceremony, Wamakko said that the gesture was aimed at alleviating the suffering of the people of the state.

Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Abdullahi Maigwandu, Wamakko criticised the situation where by the people now buy the commodity at between N900 to N1, 000 per four-litres.

Yobe

Potiskum, the commercial nerve centre of Yobe has recorded series of explosions and gunfire, the second since the declaration of state of emergency in the state by the Federal Government.

Alhaji Lawal Tanko, the State’s Commissioner of Police, who confirmed the incident, said the command had yet to receive details.

It would be  recalled that few days after the declaration of state of emergency in the state, an explosion was first recorded in ‘Khandahar’ area of Damaturu metropolis on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, business activities have remained lull in many parts of the state with several shops and business centres under lock and key.

Zamfara

A member of National Assembly, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa has pledged to collaborate with the federal and state governments in tackling poverty and illiteracy among the people of his constituency.

Marafa made the pledge in Gusau on Saturday at the distribution of vehicles and motorcycles to ANPP officials, youths and women to cushion the economic hardship in the country.

He said there was the need to empower the people, especially those in the rural areas.

Marafa assured his constituency that the gesture would be extended to as many people as possible from time to time.

The Senator distributed 500 vehicles and 1,000 motorcycles to state, local government and ward executives of the ANPP as well as notable youth and women groups in the constituency.