THE STATES

Benue

A consortium of agricultural experts, Wright Brothers
Farmers, has asked the Benue State Government for land to invest in commercial agriculture in the state.
The leader of the team, Mr Lee Wright, who paid a courtesy visit to Governor  Gabriel Suswam in Makurdi, said they were in the state on the recommendation of the Federal Government, to secure land for commercial farming.
Lee said they had approached the Federal Government for land to establish commercial farms and were referred to Benue State on the grounds that it was the only state with the land mass to accommodate their request.
He said when established, the farm would produce food that would be affordable to the people of the state and the country at large.

Ekiti

An agricultural consultant, Dr Mobolade Famodimu,
has urged poultry farmers to develop more interest in quail farming.
Famodimu, who gave the advice in an interview with newsmen at Ido in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State last Tuesday, said that quail farming was profitable.
“Experience has also shown that cost management of quail farming is less when compared with other poultry.
“Poultry owners who are yet to embrace quail farming should begin to invest in it because it is easier to keep and has little risk.”

FCT

Some persons with disabilities have called on the
government to initiate purposeful policies which would reduce their plight and incorporate them in decision-making processes.
They made the call in separate interviews with newsmen in Abuja, as the world celebrates the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The theme of this year’s celebrations is “Break Barriers and Open Doors for an inclusive society and development for all’’.
Ms Ekaete Umoh, Executive Director, Family-Centred Initiative for Challenged Persons, said that persons with disabilities ought to start enjoying the rights which they deserved in the society.

Gombe

The Emir of Gombe State, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar,
has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to relocate the Federal University, Kashere, in Akko Local Government Area of the state, to Gombe.
The Emir made the appeal when the President visited him in his palace in Gombe.
“Permit me to express our grievances of the majority of our people in Gombe with regard to federal university allocated to Gombe State by your government,” he said.
He said that the current location of the university meant that its potentialities were a loss to the generality of the people of the state and Nigerians.
He said that the university’s employees were facing challenges of shuttling on daily basis from Gombe to the location.

Kwara

The Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Prof.
AbdulGaniyu Ambali, said in Ilorin that the institution would soon start a degree programme in Entrepreneurship Studies.
Ambali stated this at a book launch entitled “Management and Entrepreneurship in Societal Transformation: Perspectives from Africa”.
The vice chancellor said the book was written in honour of Prof. Jackson Olujide, the Dean of Management Sciences, because of his commitment to duty.
Ambali said that efforts were being made to reform the Technical and Entrepreneurship Centre in the university.
Lagos

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Dikko
Abdullahi, has said that Customs would no longer stop any cargo on the road with the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR).
Abdullahi said this at the launching of PAAR at Trade Hub Centre of the Balogun Business Association (BBA) at the International Trade Fair Complex in Lagos.
He said that all cargoes cleared with the PAAR document would not be stopped on roads by the Customs to encourage people to use them.
“With PAAR, clearing of cargoes is convenient, faster and limits human contact,’’ he said.
Abdullahi advised that an importer should open a PAAR, fill and submit the document before importing a cargo.
He said it was pertinent for the maritime operators to embrace the new system by using the information available to comply with the trade routes to facilitate their business.

Nasarawa

The Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Suleiman
Dikko, has reiterated his commitment to decongest prisons through speedy administration of justice in the state.
Dikko announced the commitment at the commencement of a four-day working tour of prisons in the state in Lafia recently.
He attributed the delay of justice in cases of most awaiting trial inmates in various prisons to the attitude of the police.
“The police go ahead to assign robbery and capable homicide cases to Magistrates, Area and Upper Area courts, knowing that those courts do not have jurisdiction over such matters,’’ he said.

Ogun

Governor  Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has said
that the state government would partner with the Malaysian Government to revamp its agricultural sector in the areas of rice and palm oil production.
Amosun said this in Abeokuta while receiving a delegation from the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, led by Mohammed Abdullah, the Secretary-General of the ministry.
“All the local governments in the state have their own uniqueness in terms of crops production.
“We are looking into where we have comparative advantage like rice, cassava, palm oil plantation, cotton and many others,” the governor said.
He said that if the state government could get it right in agricultural production, it would create massive employment opportunities for the unemployed youths.
Osun

The Osun State University has distributed cheques
to indigenous vegetable farmers’ cooperative societies as part of the efforts to boost food production.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adekunle Okesina,  presided over the ceremony at a workshop held at the university’s auditorium in Osogbo.
The programme was hosted by the university under the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF) in conjunction with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and University of Manitoba.
No fewer than seven organisations including Odi-Aperin God Mercy Cooperative Akanran, Unity Farmers’ Society, Akure, Ijero Ekiti Precious Women Cooperative and Inisa Vegetable Growers benefitted from the gesture.

Oyo

The Oyo State Police Command says that it has
arrested two suspected drug traffickers with 646 bags of Indian hemp, valued at N11 million.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Indabawa, said this at a news conference in Ibadan recently.
Indabawa said that the police acted on a piece of information received from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Ogbere, Ibadan, on November 29 around 9.00 p.m.
“We learnt that a consignment of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp was packaged and already loaded for conveyance in a truck at a cannabis plantation at Eleja Village, near Akanran.
“The DAF truck, marked XR 967 JJJ was intercepted and found loaded with 646 bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.

Plateau

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),
UNIJOS chapter has said that classes would only resume in the institution if directed by the national body.
The chapter Chairman, Dr David Jangdam told newsmen in Jos that the lecturers were waiting for directives from the national body before the five-months strike could be called off.
“Classes will only resume if directed by the national body,’’ he said.
Jangdam said that the decision of the national body was final and binding on all local chapters.

L-R: Assistant Controller-General of Prisons, Dr Ekpedeme Udom, Chairman, House Committee on Health, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu and representative of I-G, Mr Dauda Fakai, at the official launch of the Police Action Committee on Aids Strategic Plan Document in Abuja, last Tuesday.