THE STATES

Bauchi

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), North-
East Zone, has said delegates to the proposed national conference should be elected so as to be accepted and trusted by Nigerians.
The association’s Zonal Chairman, Rev. Shuaibu Byel, said in Bauchi that delegates that were appointed would only be loyal to whoever appointed them to the conference.
Byel said that groups which are responsible for electing their delegates would hold them accountable to their interests and also ensure that such was protected.
The CAN official faulted the Federal Government’s resolve to nominate as many as 492 delegates, and pointed out that nominations would cause serious disagreements.
While noting that there were 55 ethnic groups in Bauchi State who would want to be represented, he said no random nomination could give them a fair representation.

Ekiti

It may soon become a crime punishable under the
law for any husband to abandon his wife after childbirth in any part of Ekiti State.
The wife of the state Governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, gave the indication in Ado-Ekiti while on a sympathy visit to one Mrs. Bosede Omole.
Omole’s husband had run away after she was delivered of triplets at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital.
Fayemi condemned the manner in which mothers were usually abandoned by their husbands soon after delivery of new babies, especially multiple births.
“Such a behaviour is not only callous and wicked, but a betrayal of the marriage trust between couples,’’ she said.

FCT

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Com
mission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has advised politicians to guard against utterances that can trigger violence as the 2015 elections are gathering momentum.
Jega made the call at a forum on 2015 elections’ coverage organised by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in Abuja, recently.
He expressed concerned over lack of civility in the conduct of some politicians, urging them to give priority to national interest in ensuring peaceful political atmosphere before, during and after 2015 elections.
“ The attitude of political class is one of our biggest challenge in INEC, politicians have a responsibility to change their behaviour to stop overheating the polity,’’ Jega said.

Jigawa

The Jigawa State Government says it has earmarked
N76 million for the renovation of Dutse Open Air Theatre.
The Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, Alhaji Ibrahim Babandi, said this in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.
Babandi said that the theatre was being renovated in order to raise its standard.
He explained that the gesture would assist in promoting and sustaining the traditions and cultures of the people of the state.
The commissioner said that an archive library would be built in the theatre so as to document historical events in the state.

Kaduna

The New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC),
Kaduna, has awarded a N740 million contract for the building of a 3-storey shopping complex to Lubell Nigeria Limited.
The Group Managing Director of the company, Dr Ahmed Musa, said the Multi-Purpose Shopping Mall would be built along  Muhammadu Buhari Way, Kaduna.
Musa said the building would have 51 spaces of different sizes, adding that space would be provided to accommodate a Bank, a restaurant and at least 62 cars.
He said the building was expected to be completed within 65 weeks.

Katsina

The Katsina State Government has constituted a com
mittee to verify complaints on the payment of pension to retired civil servants in the state.
This is contained in a statement issued in Katsina by the Press Secretary to the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Sani Kabomo.
According to the statement, the committee will be headed by Justice Sadiq Abdullahi Mahuta, a retired Chief Judge of the state.
Other members of the committee included the Chairman, State Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Abdulkarim Abubakar, as well as Alhaji Danyaya Mashi, Alhaji Labiru Musa and Alhaji Sada Abubakar.

Nasarawa

The police have arraigned Ibrahim Abdullahi and
Lawal Jibril, both of Mararaba in Nasarawa State in a Mararaba Upper Area Court, Nasarawa State for criminal conspiracy.
The two men are facing a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, intimidation and mischief.
The prosecutor, Joseph Ahua, told the court that Isah Kogi of Masaka, Nasarawa State and Nurudeen Shamsudeen of Jikwoyi, Abuja, reported the matter at ‘A’ Division Police Station, Nasarawa State, on February 1.
He said that on the same date at about 8 a.m., Abdullahi and Jibril conspired and destroyed the foundation of Shamsudeen’s building valued at N205,400, situated behind Medical Centre, Mararaba.
Oyo

The wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence
Ajimobi, has given automatic employment to 88 outgoing corps members under her pet project, Educate A Rural Child (ERC), for their dedication and selflessness during the service year.
Mrs Ajimobi who announced this at a reception organised for the outgoing Batch “B” corps members who served in her office said that the appointment was, however, subject to their willingness to stay in the state to continue with the work they had been doing in encouraging rural pupils.
The benefiting corps members were volunteers under the ERC project put in place by the governors’ wife to bridge the gap in the quality of education to rural children.
Ajimobi said that incoming corps members, who would be ready to go to rural areas and work with ERC, would get stipends monthly from the ERC in addition to their state allowances.
She said the purpose of recruiting corps members, under the ERC, to interface with children, parents and teachers in rural areas had been achieved.

Plateau

The Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources,
Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has donated N10 million to Plateau State Fadama III Farmers’ to aid them in establishing Fadama Micro-finance Bank.
The bank is a brain child of the Fadama III farmers who contributed five percent of their savings to set it up, to enable them to get a one digit interest loan to finance the farming business.
Adesina made the donation on behalf of the ministry  in Jos during a visit to assess agriculture facilities in Plateau.
The minister lauded the initiative by the farmers, comprising 75 percent women, and assured them of the Federal Government’s support.

Zamfara

The police in Gusau has confirmed the killing of
16 persons, including a policeman, by armed bandits in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Lawal Abdullahi, told newsmen that about 150 armed hoodlums riding on motorcycles perpetrated the act.
He said the hoodlums had invaded the three villages of Tungar Rakumi, Mallamawa and Kangarawa on Saturday night.
The police spokesman said 12 persons were killed in Tungar Rakumi alone, while the rest four were killed in Mallamawa and Kangarawa.

L-R: Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, Minister of FCT, Sen. Bala Mohammed, former Governor Of Yobe State, Sen. Bukar Abba Ibrahim, President Goodluck Jonathan, Managing Director, Suntrust Investment Ltd, Alhaji Mohammed Jibril and Minister of Steel and Solid Minerals Development, Mr Musa Sada, at the inauguration of FMBN Aviation Village in Abuja last Thursday. Photo: NAN