THE STATES

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Ministry of Environment said recently in Bauchi that it planned to establish three new markets within the metropolis.

A Director in the Ministry, Alhaji Umar Abulkadir, told newsmen that the measure was being taken to reduce congestion in market places.

Abdulkadir said that the proposal, which was submitted few months ago, still awaited the approval of Governor Isa Yuguda.

He said that the ministry intended to establish the facilities for trade in various commodities to make the environment conducive to members of the public.

“Three new markets were proposed and we are waiting for the approval so that the traffic and other congestion will be reduced in market areas.

Ekiti

Ekiti State Environmental Health Workers recently apprehended no fewer than 41 persons for violating environmental laws.

The apprehended persons were immediately tried by the Ado-Ekiti State Environmental Mobile Court.

The trial Magistrate, Mr Bayode Owoeye, who sentenced the violators to jail terms ranging from five days, one month and two months, however, gave the convicts an option of fine, ranging from one thousand to three thousand naira.

The Prosecutor, Mrs Olubunmi Atobiloye, told newsmen that those apprehended committed the offence on February 23, at various locations in Ado-Ekiti.

FCT

The Good Tidings Church International, Abuja donated one bore hole each to five communities in the FCT last  Saturday, to provide potable water to the communities.

The bore holes, valued at two million naira each, were built and donated to the communities to mark the 50th birthday of the Senior Pastor of the church, Mr Dayo Olutayo.

The benefiting communities are Angwan Gede in the Kuje Area Council, Zuba Motor Park Community in Gwagwalada Area Council and Kaba Community in the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

Others are Angwan Pawa, Nyanya in the Abuja Municipal Area Council and Koroduma, otherwise known as One-Man Village in Nasarawa State.

Kaduna

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to provide relevant infrastructure to promote national economic growth.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, gave the pledge last Saturday in Kaduna at the opening of the 34th edition of Kaduna International Trade Fair.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Dauda Kigbu, the minister said the government would provide trade fair complexes, shopping malls and modern abattoirs in the geo-political zones to boost domestic and international trade and investment.

According to him, the federal government is conscious of its social and economic responsibilities to Nigerians and the international community.

Kebbi

Deputy Inspector-General of Police (A) Operations, Suleiman Fakai, has tasked the Kebbi Police Command to ensure proper environmental sanitation within the office premises and barracks.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Chukwu Ikechukwu, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the DIG was on an on-the-spot assessment of police formations in line with directives of the Inspector-General, Mohammed Abubakar.

Ikechukwu said the deputy inspector-general also inspected the command headquarters at Gwadangwaji and the barracks.

He said the aim of the inspection was to assess and eventually upgrade police facilities, to enhance performance.

Kwara

The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has paraded three suspects arrested for allegedly siphoning diesel at a telecommunications installation in IIorin.

The suspects were caught siphoning diesel at a telecommunications mast located at Kuntu in the IIorin West Local Government Area of the state.

The Commandant of the NSCDC in Kwara, Mr Gana Yerima, at a news conference gave the names of the three suspects as Azeez Dosunmu, Ango Abdullahi and Abdulkareem Agaka, all residing in the Ilorin.

He said that Dosunmu and Abdullahi were private security men attached to the mast, while the third suspect Agaka was the receiver of the stolen diesel.

Lagos

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), says it started the rehabilitation of Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway since February 11.

The FERMA Zonal Coordinator (South West 2), Mr Oladipo Fagbamila told newsmen in Lagos, that the repair work would be completed in three weeks.

Fagbamila said that three of the agency’s engineers had been deployed to work simultaneously on the deplorable portions of the highway to speed up the repairs.

“Two of the engineers are working on the Lagos side and one in Ogun side of the expressway.

Nasarawa

The popular Orange Market at Mararaba in Nasarawa State was thrown into pandemonium on Saturday, following the burning of shanties in the market by suspected hoodlums, our correspondent reports.

A resident in the area, Mrs Julie Efreme, told newsmen that her husband’s shop, where he sold furniture and electronics was just one of many shops burnt.

She said that she and her husband were unaware that traders were supposed to remove their shanties in the market after the traders recently contributed money to get a two-month extension on the shanties.

“The shop was full to the brim and he was not able to bring out a single thing, everything got burnt.

Ogun

Governor  Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun last Saturday expressed the determination of his administration to enforce strict compliance with the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the state.

Amosun spoke in Sagamu while monitoring the level of compliance during the February sanitation exercise.

He noted that the environmental sanitation programme was introduced in good faith, to ensure that the residents lived in a clean and safe environment.

Oyo

Chairman, Ibadan Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Oluseun Abimbola, has described the suspension of two judges by the National Judiciary Council (NJC) as encouraging.

Abimbola made the statement in Ibadan in an interview with the newsmen recently.

“I am really encouraged by the decision of the NJC; it is an exceptional decision and a step taken in the right direction to redeem the image of the judiciary.

“The standards and conduct expected of judges are usually high and these have been brought to bear on the decision of the NJC.

Plateau

The Chief Medical Director of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr Ishaya Pam, has described Nigerians’ tendency to rush abroad for every ailment as “wasteful and very unnecessary’’.

Pam spoke to newsmen in Jos on Sunday in an interview.

“Most of such medical journeys are purely psychological. Some are even products of ignorance because the treatment being sought for is something some hospitals in Nigeria can provide at the cheapest rates.

“The truth is that people travel abroad for conditions that can be treated here either because of lack of confidence in our health system or because the resources are available to them.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Government said last Saturday it spent N3 billion to execute various Millennium Development Goals projects in its 23 local governments within three years .

The state Commissioner for Local Governments, Alhaji Faruk Malami, told newsmen in Sokoto that the projects were on health, water supply, women and youths empowerment .

According to Malami, several hospitals and primary health centres have been rehabilitated and constructed, while others were equipped .

“ Several other health facilities were also upgraded to the status of general hospitals and others were expanded.