Bauchi

The Deputy Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Babayo Shehu has said that the introduction of International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) would check corruption in public service.

Shehu said this in an interview with The Tide in Bauchi on the sideline of a 2-day sensitisation workshop on the introduction of the accounting system for government’s establishments in the North- East zone.

“When you have a system that you report more transparently, you promote more accountability and the reports are easily understood by the general public, then, it makes it difficult for people to commit and hide fraud.

“The world has decided to adopt the international standard, so, Nigeria cannot be left out because we are just one out of the many nations in the world.

Ekiti

Students of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, are facing hard times on the campus as most of them could not register for the second semester.

Their problem stemmed from the decision of the university authorities that all part-time programme students should pay the N1,000 registration fee at the campus branch of the institution’s bankers.

This led to a long queue of students waiting to pay the fee to the only approved teller at the counter, a development which made some of the students, who reside in Ado-Ekiti, to arrive the campus as early as 5 am.

Some of the affected students, who spoke to newsmen on the issue, said that the school authorities insisted that they should all pay the registration fee at the campus branch of the bank.

FCT

Dr. Folashade Momoh of FCTA/FCDA Secretariat has called on Nigerians, especially workers, to exercise regularly to promote healthy lifestyles and enhance productivity.

Momoh is director, Public Health Department of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)/Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Secretariat in Abuja.

She told The Tide in Abuja  after the workers’ trekking exercise that the whole essence was to keep the body fit.

Momoh said that physical exercise would help “maintain the body weight and keep the body organs functional, especially the heart.”

Kaduna

No fewer than 360 patients would benefit from the ongo ing free surgery being provided by the Kaduna State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

The Tide reports that patients would be treated of various ailments free by members of the association in the next three weeks.

The immediate past state Chairman of the association, Dr Solomon Avidime, told newsmen at the inauguration of the exercise  in Kaduna that the programme began in the Central Senatorial zone.

Avidime said that 120 patients each would benefit from the scheme in each of three senatorial zones of the state.

Kano

The Kano State Government has said the demolition of illegal structures in Kano metropolis was aimed at transforming the town into a mega city.

The General Manager of the state Urban Planning and Development Agency (KNUPDA) Alhaji Muntari Kura, made this known while answering questions from newsmen in Kano.

He explained that owners of the affected structures had been served with notification letters before the commencement of the exercise.

Kura, who was reacting to complaints on the exercise, said all the structures being demolished were erected illegally and not in accordance with the laid down rules and regulations on urban development.

Katsina

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has concluded plans to embark on enlightenment campaign against the use of defective vehicles in Katsina State.

The state’s FRSC Sector Commander, Alhaji Habu Dauda, told our correspondent in Katsina that the week-long campaign, tagged “Operation enlightenment all through”, commenced on September 3.

He said that during the campaign, special marshals would stop motorists, check their vehicles and enlighten them about the dangers of using defective vehicles.

According to Dauda, motorists found with defects on their vehicles will be issued with a free check list to go and effect repairs of the defective parts of their vehicles.

Kogi

The 25,000 tonnes capacity food storage facility, being built by the Federal Government at a cost of N1 billion in Zango Daji, Lokoja, has reached 75 per cent completion.

The Site Manager of the project, Mr Isaac Oguche, made the disclosure in Lokoja  while speaking with newsmen after a guided tour of the facility.

He said that all hands must be on deck to ensure the completion of the facility in November, to put it in use early next year.

Oguche said the contract which was awarded in 2008 was among the 20 projects being executed in Ilorin, Abuja, Yenagoa, Ilesha and other parts of the country.

Lagos

A criminal justice law expert, Prof. Adedokun Adeyemi, has in Lagos stressed the need for collaboration among the security agencies in the country to check terrorism.

Adeyemi, an emeritus professor of law and former dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, who gave the advice in an interview with newsmen, also called for synergy among the agencies and the Interpol.

He noted that in the US, the Department of Homeland Security was established comprising representatives of the various security agencies to tackle terrorism.

Adeyemi appealed to emirs and other community leaders in northern part of the country to do more in the fight against terrorism and the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

Nasarawa

A Karu Area Court in Nasarawa State has remanded a 19- year-old man, Monday David, in prison custody for alleged criminal intimidation and theft.

Police prosecutor, Inuwa Maigida told the court that Monica Adama, who resides at Aso Pada in Mararaba reported the matter at the Aso Police Station in Mararaba, Nasarawa State on August 21.

Maigida said that on August 21, the accused, who resides behind Vita Camp, Aso Pada, snatched David’s Nokia 200 handset valued at N13,500 near New Filling Station, Aso Pada.

He said that in the process of chasing the accused, the complainant lost her second phone valued at N15,000.

Maigida added that after the accused was arrested, he threatened to attack the lady and her family anytime he was released from cell.

Niger

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Niger State has said it collaborated with the state Ministry of Religious Affairs and Poverty Eradication to train and empower 50 physically-challenged persons.

The state NDE Coordinator, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed, made this known in an interview with The Tide in Minna recently.

Mohammed said that the training was carried out under the physically-challenged persons training scheme.

“We have collaborated with the state ministry to train and resettle 50 physically challenged persons,’’ Mohammed said.

He said that besides the 50 physically challenged persons, the directorate also assisted some graduates of the National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (NOAS) in the state to set up their own businesses.

Osun

The Osun State FRSC Sector Command recorded eight road accidents, leading to the death of six persons and injuries on 62 persons, including five children, during the recent Eid-El-Fitr celebration in the state.

The Sector Commander, Mr Imoh Etuk, disclosed this in Osogbo in an interview with our correspondent.

“The breakdown of the figures showed that five female adults and one adult male died in the crashes, while 24 male adults and 33 female adults were among the injured persons.

According to him, 516 traffic violators were booked, while 239 vehicles were impounded between August 16, and August 22, when the special patrol was carried out.

He said that fines ranging between N2,000 and N5,000 were imposed on offenders, while 84 persons with minor offences were cautioned and discharged.

Oyo

The Chairman, Oyo State Water Corporation, Prof. Wale Oyemakinde has in Ibadan said the problem of unemployment should be the concern of all tiers of government as well as other stakeholders.

Oyemakinde said this at the presentation of his book entitled, “Zero Tolerance for Unemployment, “ held at the conference hall of the University of Ibadan.

He said the aim of writing the book was to draw attention to the centrality of employment and how to ensure that the issue was taken seriously.

Oyemakinde said unemployed persons should not be left to their fate, adding that every effort should be made to ensure they were gainfully employed.

Sokoto

Senator Ibrahim Gobir ( PDP –Sokoto) has said in Sokoto that about N 70 million has been earmarked for the construction of eight solar-powered bore holes in the Sokoto East senatorial district.

Gobir told The Tide that each of the local government areas in the zone would have a befitting bore hole to boost the provision of adequate potable water for both human and animal consumption.

He said that already, feasibility studies had been carried out in each of the local governments where the projects would be sited.

He added that the project was part of his campaign promise to provide the needed social infrastructure that would enhance the living condition of the electorate.