Adamawa

A Yola-based environmentalist, Mr Yohanna Usa, last Thursday in Yola said that 18 out of the 21 local government areas in Adamawa were threatened by desert encroachment.

Adamawa in early 1980s was among the states in the federation covered by forest vegetation.

Usa, who is also the Coordinator of the Garden Trust Foundation, (GTF) told newsmen that 50 per cent of the land in Adamawa had lost its vegetation.

“This is due to desert encroachment that is affecting 18 local government areas,” the environmentalist said.

He listed the affected local governmnet areas to include Madagali, Michika, Mubi-North, Mubi South, Maiha, Hong Gombi and Song.

Others, he said were Girei, Furore, Yola North, Yola South, Toungo, Mayo-Belwa, Demsa, Shelleng, Guyuk and Numan local government areas.

Bauchi

The Zakkat Committee in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State has distributed 230 bags of grains to the needy in Bulan Gawo village.

A statement signed by the Information Officer of the council  last Thursday in Bauchi,  Malam Awwalu Kafi, said the commodities included 70 bags of maize, 50 bags of rice, 45 bags of millet, 35 bags of guinea corn and 30 bags of beans.

It added that the Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Abubakar Sale, was represented by the chief of the village, Malam Abdullahi Umar.

It appealed to wealthy persons in the society to always give out Zakkat, especially cash, to purify their wealth as enshrined in the Islamic Sharia.

Commenting on the matter, an Islamic Scholar, Malam Muhammad Umar, said Zakkat was one of the five pillars of Islam, adding that Allah mentioned in the Holy Qur’an that those who spent their wealth in His way would be rewarded.

Alhaji Muhammadu Tata, the Bauchi State Permanent Commissioner in charge of Zakkat, commended the committee for its efforts in collecting and distributing the dues.

Ekiti

A 25-year old man, Idowu Akinlaja, was last Thursday arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly assaulting, stealing and threatening the life of one Mr Ayodeji Happy.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Akinyemi Oriyomi, told the court that the incident happened at Fayose Market in Ado-Ekiti, where the accused person allegedly beat the victim with wood and stole N42,000.

Oriyomi said the accused person had on March 12, at Fayose Market in Ado-Ekiti, assaulted, stole and threatened the life of Happy, the owner of a shop in the market.

The prosecutor added that Akinlaja had committed an offence punishable under various sections of the Criminal Code of Ondo State, applicable to Ekiti.

FCT

The Minister of Youth Development, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, has  said that five and not 18 prospective NYSC members lost their lives in an auto crash on their way to Taraba..

The Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Mr Julius Ogunro, said in a statement last Thursday that the prospective NYSC members were travelling from Lagos to Taraba where they were posted for the service

The minister, however, said contrary to earlier reports which stated that 18 corps members died, the police could only confirm the death of five prospective corps members in the crash.

“Contrary to earlier reports, which stated that 18 corps members were killed in an auto crash on their way to the NYSC Orientation Camp in Taraba, we wish to clarify that the police could only confirm the death of five prospective corps members of the fourteen people who died in the fatal crash,” the statement stated.

Kaduna

The National Chairman of ANPP, Mr Ogbonnaya Onu,  has urged the media to partner with opposition political parties to ensure a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

Onu made the call in Kaduna in a good will message delivered at the golden jubilee anniversary of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Kaduna.

He advised the media to always offer fair air time and coverage to the activities of all political parties, to promote healthy competition and ensure the entrenchment of democratic culture.

The chairman said the media must also be the vanguard of peace and unity, especially now that the country was bedeviled by insecurity challenges.

Kebbi

Ahead of the governorship re-run in Kebbi, the state’s chapter of the Northern Youth Assembly (NYA) has mounted a sensitisation campaign among youths to eschew political thuggery.

The Chairman of the NYA, Malam Bello Abubakar, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi last Thursday that  the assembly’s campaign would go along way in dissuading youths from indulging in violence.

Abubakar said that the campaign would also discourage money politics and any form of lawlessness during election.

He said, “We will ensure that youths understand clearly their roles in the electoral process, as they may be prone to being used as thugs by desparate politicians bent on achieving their selfish goals.

“We expect the youths to be responsible in their conducts.”

Lagos

The President, National Union of Pensioners (Electricity Sector), Mr Temple Ubani, on Thursday advised the Federal Government to decentralise the Pension Unit in the Office of Head of Service of the Federation, to curb fraud.

Speaking with newsmen on alleged mismanagement of pension funds, Ubani called for the establishment of state offices of the Office of the Head of Service to monitor the management of pension funds across the country.

“If there is proper supervision of the state offices, it will be easy to keep record of the number of people that had died, those who are bed-ridden and many other lapses,’’ he said.

He said that it was pertinent to decentralise the pension office because stealing and fraud could easily be carried out through the use of fictitious names.

“The money might not be the money used to pay the pensioners but corrupt officials could use more names to get higher allocations from the government as revealed at the public hearing,’’ Ubani said.

Nasarawa

Unknown persons have vandalised windows, doors and other installations at the abandoned N2.3 billion Yams and Sweet Potatoes Processing Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Our correspondent, who visited the centre, reports that all the windows, doors, pipes and other materials had been catered away by vandals.

Contract for the project was awarded by former Governor Abdullahi Adamu, but was abandoned by his successor, former Governor Akwe Doma.

Investigations revealed that the Adamu released N80 million as mobilisation fee to the contractor of the project, BCC TROPICAL Nigeria Limited.

Workers on the project, who had been around the site for some time, however, left the area early last year, after they tried in vain to secure some attention from Gov. Aliyu Doma, Adamu’s successor.

Government sources told newsmen that the project would have been generating N150 million monthly for the state if it was completed.

Oyo

The  Chairman of the Bee-Keepers Association of  Nigeria in Oyo State, Mr Ayodele Salako, says the inadequate  number of  bee-keepers is responsible for the high cost of honey.

Salako told the newsmen in Ibadan  that  only mass production of honey  occasioned by an increased number of  bee-keepers  could bring down the cost of honey.

He said  the huge demand for honey in the face of inadequate supply had led to a hike in the price of the commodity.

To boost the volume of production, he said the association had embarked on membership drive.

“ The population of  active members has  increased from 1,600 about this time last year to more than  2,000 at present.

“ We are optimistic that more people will turn to bee keeping by joining us,’’ he said.

Plateau

A-24-year old man, Abdulsalam Abuta, has appeared before an Upper Area Court in Jos for alledgedly stealing a chair estimated to cost N10,000.

Abuta, a resident of Agwan-Rogo area of Jos, appeared before Malam Mustapha Hassan, on a one-count charge of theft.

The Prosecutor, Mr Shuaibu Tambaya, had told the court that on March 7, at about 2.00 p.m., the accused was arrested for allegedly stealing the swinging chair.

He said the accused, in company of one Hamza Maisalati— now at large— broke into the shop of Alhaji Awwalu Haruna and made away with the chair.

“Luck, however, ran out on them as they were sighted by some neighbours of Haruna, while they were committing the offence.

Sokoto

Governor  Aliyu Wamakko of  Sokoto State has reiterated the determination of the government to provide necessary working tools for its workforce to achieve maximum results.

Wamakko made the pledge while swearing in 9 Permanent Secretaries at the Government House.

“ Your appointment comes at a time when the government has demonstrated greater concern and commitment to the welfare of workers.”

He explained that this had translated to a better pay package, timely payment of salaries and emoluments, and provision of loans as well as incentives to achieve its targets.

Taraba

The Taraba Government has been advised not to relocate its College of Agriculture from Jalingo to Gembu in the state or risk losing the accreditation status of all its courses.

Mr Aloysius Mpieri, the team leader from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), gave the advice on Thursday in Jalingo at a news conference.

He said the planned relocation of the college would mean starting everything a fresh.

“I can’t say no to their plan, but my advice is that all the accreditation status would be lost.