Adamawa

The Adamawa Acting Governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, on Tuesday presented the state budget of N97.9 billion for the 2012 fiscal year for approval by the House of Assembly.

The budget estimate is made up of N38.5 billion from statutory allocation, N7.5 billion from value added tax, and N8.1 billion from excess crude oil, with N28.9 capital receipt and N6.7 from internally generated revenue.

Fintiri said that in order to utilise the budget estimate judiciously, government had proposed N87.9 billion for expenditure, out of which N17.3 billion was earmarked for personal emolument, and N22.9 billion for overhead costs, while N4.9 billion was being expected as consolidated revenue.

He said the balance of N42.5 billion was earmarked for capital projects and programmes.

Fintiri attributed the sharp rise in the budget estimate to the increase in minimum wage as well as the recent recruitment exercise in the civil service and post primary school management board.

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government says it will establish farm centres in its three senatorial zones to encourage the involvement of youths in agricultural productions.

The Commissioner  for Agriculture and Natural Resources,  Alhaji Tasiu Mohammad, disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi.

He said that the farm centres, to cost about N2 billion, would generate nearly 6,000 jobs in three locations.

He said that the centres would complement the state government’s efforts at empowering the youths through various cooperative societies established for such purposes.

Mohammad said that already, work had commenced at the farm centres and the programmes would begin once funds from the 2012 budget were released.

The commissioner said that the criteria for youths to benefit from the scheme were through registering with a cooperative society.

Ekiti

Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has condoled with the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Abubakar, over the death of his wife, Hajia Mariam Abubakar.

Fayemi, in a letter addressed to the acting IGP, urged him to take consolation in the fact that she lived a good life.

“I received with rude shock the news of the death of your dear wife, Hajia Mariam Abubakar, who died on Monday.

“Her death, at this crucial time, is very unfortunate, but I hope you will take consolation in the fact that she lived a good life,’’ he said.

He prayed God to give the IGP and the entire family the fortitude to bear the great loss.

“On behalf of my family and the good people of Ekiti State, please accept our deep condolence on this irreparable loss and may her gentle soul rest in peace,’’ he added.

FCT

The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Nnamdi Okorie-Affia has said that corps members will henceforth be posted to four key areas for their primary assignments.

Okorie-Affia said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

“Under the new policy, the posting of corps members will focus primarily in the following key sectors: rural health, education, infrastructure and agriculture,’’ the statement said.

It said the new policy was aimed at making the scheme more responsive to the development needs of the country.

According to the statement, the policy will take effect with the incoming batch ‘A‘ and will ensure effective and efficient use of the corps members.

The statement noted that the skills of corps members would fast-track the nation’s socio-economic transformation.

It said that the new posting policy would enhance equitable distribution of corps members and re-energise the objectives of the scheme.

Gombe

The Gombe State Government has signed a contract worth N4.1 billion with a Chinese firm for the provision of water to Gombe metropolis and its environs.

Speaking at the ceremony on Tuesday in Gombe, Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo said the contract was for the reticulation and rehabilitation of the Gombe Township Water pipelines and the extension of the scheme to Kwami, Gadam and Bojude villages.

He said the network of pipelines would cover a distance of about 150 km across Bagadaza, Riyad, Madaki, Hammadu Kafi, Kagarawal, Tunfure and Tudun Wada Pantami areas in the metropolis.

Some other new areas to benefit from the project, he said, included Gabukka, New GRA, Arawa, Checheniya and Kanoyel “because the pipelines in those areas were old”.

Dankwambo said the project became necessary in view of the influx of people to the state due to its commercial activities, adding that the completion period for the project was 18 months.

Katsina

The Katsina Government has earmarked N4.2 billion for water supply in the state this fiscal year.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Jamilu Muhammad, made the announcement on Monday in Katsina while defending the ministry’s 2012 budget before the Katsina State House of Assembly Appropriation Committee.

Muhammad said that the amount would be spent on urban water supply project, semi-urban water scheme and rural water supply in the state.

He said that the government would resuscitate dams in each of the three senatorial districts in the state before the end of the year.

The commissioner said that the dams would provide drinking water for both animals and human beings, noting that the project would also enhance irrigation activities and provide employment opportunities for the people.

Lagos

A 26-year-old woman, Mrs Sandra Agofure, has begged an Ikeja High Court in Lagos to free her husband, Lucky Agofure, who is standing trial for alleged murder.

Sandra was testifying before Justice Lateefat Okunnu at the ongoing trial of her husband, who allegedly murdered one Princewill Oduocha on February 6, 2010 in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

The witness, who was being led in evidence by Agofure’s lawyer, Mr Olarenwaju Ajanaku, said the accused was innocent of the charge preferred against him.

She claimed that Agofure and the deceased were friends, adding that he was not responsible for his death.

Sandra said: “On that fateful day, my husband and Princewill had a quarrel over a N1, 000 debt being owed him by my husband.

Niger

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said on Monday that the State Government is to establish a security outfit to complement the efforts of the police and other security agencies in protecting lives and property in the state.

Aliyu made the announcement when he received the Igbo Community and other non-indigenes residing in the state in his office in Minna.

“Tomorrow there will be a public hearing by the Niger State House of Assembly on a bill for a law to establish Niger State Vigilante so that in every ward we will have a vigilante that will complement the police and other security forces in the state,” he said.

Sokoto

PDP chieftain in Sokoto State, Alhaji Abdullah Bafarawa has canvassed for dialogue between the Federal Government and members of the ‘Boko Haram’ sect, as a way of resolving the nation’s present security challenges.

Bafarawa gave the advice while answering questions from newsmen at the Sultan Abubakar International Airport, Sokoto.

‘I strongly advocate a political forum where dialogue will take place between the Federal Government and members of the sect in enhancing peaceful co-existence among Nigerians,” he said.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Government has given hawkers three months ultimatum to leave the streets or face the full wrath of the law.

The Director of Environment in the state, Mr Solomon Guruza, gave the warning while speaking with newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday.

“The government will not return goods seized; we have given them three months notice to leave the roads. At the expiration of the ultimatum, government will rid the streets of the presence of illegal traders.”

Yobe

A guard with the Church of Christ in Nigeria, Mr. Baba, was on Sunday evening murdered after church service in Potiskum, Yobe State. Garba was said to be a Karekare man from Kopkop village in Daigubi area of Potiskum.

His killing came on the heels of allegations by the Cooirdinator of a non-governmental organisation, Stetanos Foundation, Mr. Mark Lipdo, that indiscriminate and selective killings, mostly targeted at Christians, were still going on in Yobe State.

Our correspondent learnt that 62-year-old Garba was murdered by two young men on a motorcycle, who trailed him to his house located east of Potiskum barracks after church service. The killers were said to have waited for Garba in front of his house and on sighting him, shot him at point-blank range.