Bauchi

No fewer than 4.5 million Nigerians have so far enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS),  the North-East Zonal Coordinator of NHIS, Alhaji Ma’aji Abdu  has said.

Abdu made the statement in Bauchi at the opening ceremony of a Forum for NHIS enrollees and other stakeholders.

He said that the scheme had been embraced by some state governments because of the success it had recorded since inception  adding that there were 62 Health Management Organisations, who ensured that drugs were provided to enrollees on request.

He said that NHIS had a drug list, which providers referred to, adding that only generic drugs were allowed as against branded drugs.

The coordinator explained that the list was taken from the Federal Government essential drug list of the Federal Ministry of Health and therefore reliable.

Benue

A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Mr Dan Ogo,  has  ordered a 20-year old farmer, Mtomga Atem, to be remanded at the Federal Prisons Benue for robbing a police officer.

Prosecutor Michael Ewoh told the court that the police officer, Cpl. Starkis Mwandirga, attached to Zaki-Biam Police Station reported at the station that he was robbed.

Ewoh told the court that the complainant stated that the accused and others now at large, who were armed with dangerous weapons, including guns, broke into his house and robbed him and his wife of their valuables.

He further said that the items stolen were one Nokia and Techno handsets all valued at N11, 500.00, a set of police uniform and his wife’s necklace valued at N2,500

He said the offence was contrary to Sections 97 of the Penal Code and 5(B) and 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, Cap. 398 law of the Federation of Nigeria, 1994.

However, when the case came up for mention, no plea was taken for want of jurisdiction.

Ekiti

The Ekiti State Government has approved the establishment of 16 remedial schools in each of the 16 local government areas of the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Funminiyi Afuye who disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti  in an interview said the remedial schools would avail students, who failed the WAEC examination, the opportunity to be tutored again before sitting for another examination.

The commissioner said government was concerned about the large number of students in the state who fail public examinations each year, adding that it had decided to address the issue.

Afuye promised that the remedial schools would be established before the expiration of the current long holiday. He added that the government had also concluded arrangement to recruit experienced teachers for the proposed schools.

The commissioner urged teachers, parents and students to assist government in its determination to ensure that the state regained its lost glory in the education sector.

Gombe

The Gombe State police command has said that no life was lost in Wednesday’s night attack by gunmen on two anti-Kalare stations in the Gombe metropolis.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Fwaje Atajiri, said  in Gombe that the two anti-Kalare stations were in Tudun Wada Pantami and Idi quarters.

He said that at about 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday unknown gunmen attacked the security operatives but were repelled after an exchange of gun-fire between them and security operatives.

Atajiri , however, said that a patrol vehicle belonging to the security operatives was burnt by the hoodlums, adding that three unexploded explosive devices were found at the scene of the incident.

“There was an exchange of fire and the gunmen immediately left because of our superior power.

“There was no injury on the part of our men and no arrest was made.’’

Atajiri called on the public to always provide information to security agents to rid the state of criminals, stating that the confidentiality of the informants would be guaranteed.

Katsina

The Katsina State Government has approved N92.7 million for landscaping of the new Katsina Government House.

The Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Mustapha Maikudi, made this known in Katsina  at a news conference after the state’s Executive Council meeting.

Maikudi said that the government planned to do the landscaping during the rainy season and had awarded the contract to Emaculate Facility Managers.

The commissioner also said that the state government had approved N413 million for the construction of three township roads in Katsina metropolis.

Kwara

An Ilorin Area Court has  dissolved a four-year-old marriage over  allegations of neglect and care-free attitude of the husband.

Mrs Mujidat Oladimeji of Deeper Life Road, Ilorin, had approached the court to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Musibau, saying she was no longer interested in the union.

She claimed that her husband had neglected her and their three-year-old son since 2008 when they got married.

“ I got married to the defendant in 2008 and since then, there has been no rest of mind. We have been living separately since 2010 and he never cared how we were surviving. “ I have no more love and passion for him anymore,’’ she said.

The defendant, however, did not object to the prayer of the plaintiff and urged the court to grant her request. The judge, Mr Yusuf Abdulkarem, dissolved the marriage and issued a certificate of divorce to the plaintiff.

Kogi

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has emphasised the need for Nigerians to make use of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the nation’s social justice system to fast-track dispensation of justice.

Its Director in Kogi, Mr Ibikunle Medubi, made the call in Lokoja at a one-day workshop on capacity-building for senior orientation and mobilisation officers in Kogi.

Medubi said the ADR mechanism which simply meant, ‘arbitration outside the court system’ had proved to be an instrument to fast-track dispensation of justice in several places where it had been in practice.

The director observed that the expectations of Nigerians in accessing social justice might remain elusive until the ADR was fully adopted and mainstreamed into the justice delivery system.

Its Head of Social Justice, Mr K.C. Ogbedeagu, in his paper titled, “Social Justice and the Concept of Alternative Dispute Resolution” described social justice as the bastion of the Rule of Law.

Kebbi

The Kebbi Government has commenced the disbursement of N379 million to households affected by the construction of five major roads in Gwandu Local Government Area.

The Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Alhaji Hussaini Raha, who made the payment to the beneficiaries, in Gwandu, said alternative land would also be provided them.

He said that the ministry and traditional rulers in the area would work out modalities for the allocation of land compensation to those affected.

The District Head of Gwandu, Alhaji Mohammed Rasheed, commended Governor Sa’idu Dakingari for fulfilling his campaign promise of providing roads in the area and compensating the households affected.

Nasarawa

The Speaker of Nasarawa House of Assembly, Musa Ahmed – Mohammed, has said  that PDP lawmakers were not planning to defect to CPC.

Addressing newsmen  in Lafia, Ahmed-Mohammed said reports from some quarters that they were planning to leave the party were “false and malicious’’.

He said the reports were aimed at creating “disaffection among the PDP family’’ in the state.

“As the speaker of the Assembly, I know that the 19 PDP members in the House have never contemplated defecting to any political party in Nigeria.

Ogun

The Ogun State Government  has urged intending pilgrims for the 2012 Hajj to promptly pay up the balance of their fares in order to guarantee their  slots.

The Secretary, Ogun Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Sefiu Rasheed, who made the call while speaking in Abeokuta said that intending pilgrims, who had earlier made initial deposits, should balance up before Aug. 10.

Rasheed said that the state had approved the sum of N570, 000 as fare for the 2012 exercise.

“We arrived at the figure following careful considerations of the welfare and conveniences of the pilgrims. “This is part of the state’s commitment to the welfare of pilgrims from the state, particularly indigenes of Ogun,” he said.

He disclosed that the amount to be paid in the state was the cheapest in the Southwest Region. Rasheed further advised them to have not less than N108,750 and a maximum of N145,000 as the Basic Travelling Allowance for the exercise.

Plateau

The Plateau House of Assembly has elected Dem Daniel as its new Majority Leader.  Daniel, a fresh PDP lawmaker, represents Riyom constituency in the House.

The new leader replaces Mr Gyang Fulani, the former Majority Leader, who died on July 8, in a stampede when gunmen attacked mourners at Maseh, a village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Senator  Gyang Dantong (PDP, Plateau North), died in that same stampede.

A top official of the House, who would not want to be named, said in Jos  that Daniel became the choice because he is from the Plateau to which the post is zoned.

Zamfara

The Zamfara State House of  Assembly  has directed its committees on Environment and Public Finance to investigate the N1.3 billion Ecological Fund released to the state by the Federal Government.

The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Garba Rikiji, gave the directive, saying that the money was received by the former governor, Mahmuda Shinkafi, after his predecessor Alhaji Ahmad Yarima, made the request in 2006.

Rikiji said further that the fund was meant for the repairs of the Gusau-Wanki Bridge which collapsed following a down pour in 2006. He added that records had shown that Shinkafi collected the money on behalf of the state during his tenure “but could not account for it.”

Earlier, a member of the assembly,Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed, had moved a motion seeking the house to investigate the utilisation of the ecological fund.

The motion which was supported by another member, Alhaji Isah Abdulmumini, was unanimously adopted after deliberations.