THE STATES

Borno
Members of Maiduguri Monday Market Youth Trad
ers Association in Borno State, recently donated relief materials worth millions of Naira to victims of Boko Haram crisis in the state.
Alhaji Kashim Abdullahi, the Chairman of the association, presented the materials to Gov. Kashim Shettima at the Government House, Maiduguri.
Abdullahi said that the gesture was aimed at assisting victims of the numerous Boko Haram attacks who had lost their means of livelihood.
“We are here to present these items as donation to victims of the Boko Haram crisis in the state.

Ekiti
The Director General of the National Orientation Agency,
Mr Mike Omeri, NOA, has advised the people of Ekiti State against act capable of disrupting the state’s gubernatorial election slated for June 21.
He gave the charge at a workshop last Thursday at Oye-Ekiti, organised by the agency to sensitise the public on the need to create an environment conducive for free, fair and credible election.
Omeri, who was represented by Fam Anene, Director, Political Matters, said politicians should embrace dialogue, accommodate each other, and work towards transforming the state.
He cautioned the people against voting more than once, called on parents to ensure that their children are not used as thugs.
FCT
UNESCO has renewed its commitment to develop a
framework to improve the quality of education in Nigeria.
The Director-General of the organisation, Prof. Hassana Alidou, made the pledge in Abuja recently at the ongoing workshop to pre-test an action research guidebook for youth and adult literacy in multilingual context.
The theme of the workshop is: “Empowering learners in a multilingual world”.
Alidou said the Universal Basic Education in Nigeria was constrained by finance, limited number of qualified teachers and supervisors, huge class size and high rate of school drop-out.
She observed that the problems undermined the efforts of the government to expand access to basic education to all children.

Gombe
Gombe State Executive Council has approved the re
lease of N5.8 billion for the execution of various road projects in the state.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Alhaji Shehu Hadi, told newsmen in Gombe that N1.4 billion of the amount would be spent on the construction of additional roads in Bajoga town.
He said N2.5 billion would be for the construction of Gaji Bauchi-Jurara-Daban, Fulani-Lubo-Zambuk-Baure roads, including the reconstruction of Lubo bridge.
According to him, N1.1 billion of the amount is for the provision and installation of street lights on 20 roads in Gombe metropolis.

Kwara
The Kwara State Government last Thursday demolished
two petrol stations within Ilorin metropolis for building without approval.
Our correspondent reports that the demolition was carried out by the state Town Planning and Development Authority (KTPDA).
One of the stations was situated on waterway near the Kuntu Bridge, while the other was directly opposite the Alawonla Compound, Okelele.
The Executive Secretary of KTPDA, Mr Raimi Adeoti, who led the demolition team, said the owners of the structures built illegally without approval.
Adeoti said the structures would hamper the free flow of water and endanger the lives of people living around the area, adding that KTPDA took the action to save lives and property.

Kebbi
The Kebbi State chapter of All Farmers Association of
Nigeria (AFAN) has appealed to the government to build more markets for the sale of agricultural products in the state.
The secretary of the association, Alhaji Muhammad Idris, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi recently.
He said the quest for the provision of outlets to sell farmers’ produce was occasioned by the increase in farming activities due to incentives for wet and dry season farming.
Idris said that farmers had responded to the call for increased rice production, especially considering the prompt purchase of the commodity by the SURE-P Office.

Lagos
A man, Francis Enyi, who stood surety for an accused,
was charged before an Itire Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for failing to produce him.
Enyi, 48, who resides at No. 8, Ali Ijaiye St., Lawanson, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and an attempt to pervert the course of justice.
He, however, pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Insp. Olakunle Shonibare, told the court that Enyi, who stood surety for one Chika Adole, had failed to produce him at Lawanson Police Post, Anjorin-Ikate, Surulere.
He said Adole was being investigated by the police over alleged threat to life.

Nasarawa
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State
said recently that the party would be stronger despite the defection of two lawmakers to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr Stanley Buba, the Interim State Chairman of the party, told newsmen in Lafia that the recent defections would not affect the fortunes of APC in the state.
Our correspondent recalls that Mr Ahmed Kana (APC-Karu/Kokona/Keffi) and Mr Nathaniel Agyomesa (APC-Lafia North state constituency) recently defected to the PDP.
Buba described the action of the two legislators as good omen and not a setback for APC.

Osun
The Special Adviser on Environment to Osun State gov
ernor, Mr Bola Ilori, has advised residents of the state to ensure they clear their gutters and waterways as heavy rainfall begins.
Ilori, who spoke with newsmen in Osogbo recently, added that gutters, culverts, and other waterways must be cleared of grass, domestic wastes and sand, to prevent flooding.
“The few rains experienced so far this year may not have carried the wastes and sand far away; therefore, it is necessary to clear the debris to give room for water to flow.
Taraba
Member representing Wukari II Constituency in Taraba
State House of Assembly, Mr Daniel Gani, has called on the Federal Government to deploy soldiers in the area to avert further attacks by suspected herdsmen.
Gani made the call while addressing news conference in Jalingo.
He said the low presence of security personnel in the area was responsible for the ongoing senseless killing of innocent people.
“The only way to avert these brutal killings in Wukari and its environs is to massively deploy troops just like what the federal government did in Benue and Nasarawa states”, he said.
Gani said lack of seriousness on the part of the state Government left him with no option than to seek intervention from the federal government.

Yobe
The Speaker, Yobe State House of Assembly, Alhaji
Adamu Dala-Dogo, has urged politicians to promote ideals of democracy and good governance to enhance service delivery in the country.
The speaker, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
He noted that Nigeria’s 15 years of uninterrupted democracy should have equipped politicians with the basic tenets of democracy and good governance, which were critical to service delivery.
“After this long experience, we are supposed to have surpassed sentiments and other primordial differences to institutionalise a strong democracy of service delivery and development.
“It is regrettable that after this experience, the political parties are still battling with the problems of internal democracy, while the rule of law which is the backbone of democracy is also lacking.”

Zamfara
A Gusau Magistrates’ Court has ordered the remand
of a 23-year-old man, Musa Sani of Mayana Area, Gusau, charged with the rape of an eight-year-old girl.
The Magistrate, Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim, ordered that Sani should be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till April 22 for mention.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Daniel Longwal had told the court that on April 7, one Abubakar Salisu of Mayana Area, Gusau, reported the case at Central Police Station, Gusau.
Longwal said that on March 26, the complainant’s daughter was returning from an Islamic school when the accused took her to an isolated place and raped her.