THE STATES

Adamawa

Worried by the level of insecurity, a coalition of Islamic and Christian Leaders in Michika, Adamawa, has set up a committee to sensitise communities on peace building and conflict resolution.

The Public Relation Officer of the group, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Mutawale told newsmen in Mubi on Sunday that the measure was aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence among the people in the area.

Mutawale said members of the sensitisation sub-committees had already been inaugurated across the 16 wards in the area to create awareness on the need for people to live in peace and harmony.

He said the group in collaboration with the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) had held various meetings between religious and community leaders on the need to promote peace in the area.

Benue

Governor of Benue Gabriel Suswam has urged the people to unite in the interest of development in the state.

Suswam was speaking Sunday at St Theresa’s Parish, Makurdi, in a thanks-giving mass in honour of Mr Fidelis Audu, Chairman, Makurdi Local Government Council.

The governor, who was represented by Dr Eugene Aliegba, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, said peace was necessary for sustainable development.

He called on the people to desist from fomenting trouble on the account of their political differences but to play the game of politics according to the rules.

He said politics ought to be devoid of violence and advised them to shun violence.

Borno

Governor of Borno  Kashim Shettima on Sunday attributed last Tuesday’s inauguration of caretaker committees for the 27 local governments in the state to security reasons.

Some opposition parties in the state had accused the governor of refusing to conduct elections into the councils for political reasons.

But Shettima told newsmen in Maiduguri that the committees were inaugurated because of the difficulties in organising polls, especially against the current security challenges in the state.

Shettima said that, government planned to conduct credible elections for the councils once the security situation improved.

FCT

The new Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Nigeria, Dr Montaser Abuzaid, said in Abuja on Sunday that he would promote the existing cordial relations between the two countries.

“I will work to promote the existing relations between Nigerian and the State of Palestine, especially in the areas of culture, sports and education,’’ Abuzaid told newsmen.

He said the two countries could do a lot together in the area of culture considering that the role of the embassy was to facilitate contact between the two countries’ relevant ministries, departments and agencies.

“We can organise student exchange programmes as well as sporting activities; we can also explore each other’s tourism sector as Palestine is blessed with many historic and tourist sites,’’ Abuzaid said.

Kaduna

The Catholic Diocese of Kaduna Province on Sunday called on the faithful to contribute toward improving the lives of the less privileged in the society.

The Provincial Organising Committee Chairman, Rev. Fr. Michael Gadache, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna at the launch of Lenten Campaign for the diocese.

Gadache said that arrangements for the event had reached their zenith as the faithful and other dignitaries were being sensitised to brace up for the success of the programme.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Mr John Bagu told newmen that Rev Fr. Peter Babangida would preside over the event at the St. Pius X Catholic Church, Unguwar Romi, Kaduna South Local Government Area.

Kano

Former President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has said that leaders at all levels must be involved in providing security in the country.

Gen. Babangida said this in Kano on Saturday when he paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, in his palace, over the multiple bomb blasts that killed about 200 people in Kano.

Babangida, who ruled the country between 1985 and 1993, said it was the responsibility of not only the Federal Government , but leaders at all levels, to ensure peace and stability in the country.

Kebbi

Two female councillors in Maiyama and Kalgo Local Government Areas of Kebbi died on Wednesday in a motor accident on Funtua – Zaria road.

The Chairman of the state chapter of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Alhaji Musa Dan-Illela, disclosed this in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday in an interview with newsmen.

He said that the deceased, Hajiya Ruqqayya Mohammed and Sa’adatu Umar were travelling to Abuja to witness the Supreme Court sitting in the case filed by Alhaji Abubakar Mallam of CPC against the election of Gov. Saidu Dakingari.

Lagos

The Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), an NGO, on Saturday in Lagos pledged to sensitise Nigerians on various opportunities on wealth creation.

President of the group, Mrs Lola Okanlawon said during an interactive session with journalists, that the aim was to promote the establishment of small and medium entreprises in the country.

She said that the NGO was principally focussed on creating wealth and not alleviating poverty.

As part of the strategy, Okanlawon said the group had concluded plans to organise a workshop to expose men and women on how to earn a living in the oil and gas industry.

Osun

A group of Young Professionals has been inaugurated in Ile-Ife, Osun on Saturday, with a pledge to impact positively on the lives of Nigerians.

The group has membership from various professions, including medicine, engineering, the academics and law.

Leader of the group, Dr Bayo Olokun, promised that it would work to improve the quality of life of the citizenry.

Olokun, who is a consultant at the National Hospital, Abuja, said the group would offer humanitarian services to the people, especially the less previledged.

“Our aim is to make a better Nigeria, the country has invested so much in her people, we want the nation to be properly positioned.

Plateau

The Yakubu Gowon Foundation has distributed 800 pairs of school sandals to female pupils of some primary schools in Mikang Local Government Area of Plateau.

The beneficiaries are pupils of L.E.A. Primary Schools in Jimakwi, Pukien, Pangjem and Pangsot Local Government Areas.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Mr Dan Tenshak, said the initiative was in line with the organisation’s advocacy on girl-child education.

“It is in line with the foundation’s way of assisting indigent students. The initiative will also create awareness on the challenges of girl-child education toward bridging the gender gap in learning.”

He noted that education was becoming more expensive, and stressed the need for governments and NGOs to encourage girls from poor homes to pursue their dreams.

Sokoto

Stakeholders from the 23 local governments in Sokoto State have expressed their support to fast track the formulation of a draft policy on water and sanitation for the state Our correspondent reports that the state government and a USAID- assisted non governmental organisation,  Research Triangle Institute / Leadership. Empowerment , Advocacy and Development –RTI/ LEAD  are championing the formulation of the policy .

A public hearing on the draft policy was conducted on January 28 by the state Ministry of Water Resources and the organisation .

A statement signed by Alhaji Tijjani Mohammed , the Deputy Chief of Party ( DCoP) of the organisation, said in Sokoto on Sunday that the public hearing was attended by the various stakeholders in the state .

Yobe

The Deputy Governor of Yobe State Alhaji Abubakar Ali, has expressed the hope that the new 200-bed hospital in Damaturu would prevent the people from seeking medical attention outside the state.

Ali, who is also the Commissioner for Health, told newsmen in an interview on Sunday that the ultra modern hospital had adequate provisions for laboratory examinations, diagnosis and treatment of patients.

He said the services of consultants engaged from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital would be an advantage to the facility.

“Travelling out of the state to seek medical treatment will soon be a thing of the past. The new hospital will decongest the existing specialist hospital, which is overstretched,” he said.

He said a committee had been constituted to equip the hospital with state-of-the-art facilities “to promote efficiency and qualitative healthcare delivery to the people.