THE STATES

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government would soon take over the
management of some community schools in the state, the Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu has said.
Speaking on Friday in Bauchi during a meeting with members of the Parent-Teachers-Association (PTA), Zaranda Community Secondary School, Aminu said the take over of the community schools by the government was informed by its decision to ensure smooth running of the schools.
He revealed that the government had earlies posted some teachers to head such schools to ensure that government policies pertaining to education were implemented in those schools and warned that government would not pay compensation for lands where such schools were sited either for expansion or further development.
The commissioner, who told the Zaranda community that their school was among those schools that would be taken over by government, added that a standing committee had been appointed to assess the school to enable it to know its status.
Kano

Kano State Government has solicited for collective ef-S
forts in total eradication of polio in the state, saying it is a social responsibility.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, made the call at a press conference held at the ministry to mark the World Polio Day celebrated annually on October 24.
The commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Dahiru Musa, said that the ministry had organised a rally to celebrate all those committed to the fight against polio.
The Special Adviser to the government on Disabled, Alhaji Usman Yahya, who doubled as a member of the Polio Survivors Association, commended the efforts of the his fellow members.
The Director Primary Health and Disease Control of the Ministry, Dr Nasiru Mahmud, said the state government had spent over N140 million in the past year to strengthen routine immunisation in the state.

Kaduna

The Chief Imam of Nupe Central Mosque, Kaduna,
Malam Muhammad Nafi’u, on Friday urged Nigerians to pray for the success of the 2015 general elections.
Nafi’u who made the call after the Friday congregational prayers in Kaduna, said the prayers would help in restoring the faith of Nigerians, adding, “prayer is the solution to problems; It will also  strengthen the country’s unity.’’
He called on politicians to play politics with maturity, shun sectarianism and focus on what would bring unity among the people.
The clergyman said that politicians should see themselves as servants of the people and the youths to shun violence during campaigns.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure free, fair and credible polls in the forthcoming general elections.
Nafi’u reiterated that both Muslims and Christians should pray for the peace, unity and harmony of the country.

Katsina

The Musawa Local Government Council in Katsina State
said it has earmarked N4 million for the rehabilitation of boreholes and semi-urban water schemes in the area.
The Council Chairman, Alhaji Tanimu Kira, disclosed this on Friday while handing over the working tools to the council’s Director of Water and Sanitation, Alhaji Adamu Hussaini-Garu.
Kira said the initiative was aimed at improving potable water supply in the area to safeguard public health adding that boreholes’ spare parts and other tools for the project were supplied through a committee established by the council.
He said the exercise would be handled through direct labour by the water and sanitation department, in collaboration with community water supply voluntary groups.
Kebbi

The Kebbi Command of the National Drug Law Enforce
ment Agency (NDLEA), on Friday promised to collaborate with the state Ministry of Information and Culture to fight drug abuse and human trafficking.
The Commandant of the agency in the state, Mr Okon Ulo, who gave the promise when he visited the ministry said that the command would establish a joint drug abuse control committee with the ministry.
The commandant said the ministry’s role in information dissemination was very vital, which underscored the importance of the partnership stating that the NDLEA would continue to rehabilitate drug offenders to make them fit back into the society.
The state Commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Shehu Sambawa, assured NDLEA of the support of the ministry in the fight against drug abuse and drug trafficking.
Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command said on Friday it
had arrested 23 suspects and recovered four stolen vehicles, arms, ammunitions, charms and other items recovered from them..
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Ismaila Numan disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Lafia.
Numan said items recovered from the suspects include; “One AK 47 Rifle, eight locally made pistols, two live cartridges and two rounds of live ammunition. “Others are one Hilux bus, one Vectra and two end-of -discussion  Honda Accord, cutlass, face mask and police uniform among others.”
He said that five of the suspects were arrested for alleged armed robbery, eight for alleged rape, seven for alleged criminal conspiracy, one for alleged mischief and two arrested for illegal possession of arms.
Numan commended the public for supplying information to the command, saying that was responsible for the achievement it recorded.

Oyo

The Executive Director, Human of  Substance Empower
ment Initiative(HOSEI), an NGO, Miss Abiola Abiade, said on Saturday that only youths with different vocational skills would  survive economic hardship.
Abiade who said this in Ibadan at the graduation ceremony of 20 youths sponsored by the NGO on a three-month  vocational training programme declared that the organisation was ready to contribute its quota toward  women and girl child empowerment.
The Chairperson of  MAGI, Alhaja Tawa Malik, congratulated the graduands for completing  the programme and explained that MAGI was engaged  in sensitising women and the girl child against societal ills such as human trafficking.
Plateau

The Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) said it
would commence the installation of speed limiting device in commercial vehicles in the country from June, 2015.
The Sector Commander of the commission in Plateau, Mr Sunday Maku, who made this known on Friday in Jos at the commission’s “ember months” sensitization campaign, said that the measure was among others being taken to minimise road traffic crashes across the country.
Maku also decried the violation of traffic regulations by drivers “who consistently use phones, drive against traffic lanes, and overtake at bends and corners” and warned that offenders would be sanctioned.
In his remarks, Mr Jonah Emor, Chairman, Plateau chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, thanked FRSC for its sustained efforts to minimise road crashes in the country.

Taraba

A group of veteran labour leaders  in Taraba on Satur-
day advised   members of the Nigeria Labour Congress  against engaging in  partisan politics.
The spokesperson for the group, Alhaji Faruk Waziri, gave the advice at a news conference organised by the former labour leaders in Jalingo.
According to him, the independence and sanctity of labour union can only be preserved through political neutrality.
“We are compelled to issue a stern warning to labour unions, individuals or organisations against endorsing or aligning themselves with  any political candidate,” he said.

Zamfara

The United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF), Kaduna field office, has commended the efforts of Zamfara Government in its fight against poliomyelitis.
UNICEF Communications Officer, Alhaji Rabiu Musa, at an occasion to mark this year’s World Polio Day in the state, described the measures put in place by the state government as “remarkable and worthy of emulation by all”.
He said that if the state government maintained the tempo, the issue of poliomyelitis would soon be history in the state.
In his contribution, the representative of WHO, Alhaji Yusuf Argungu, urged parents in the state to continue to present their children for immunisation against the six child-killer diseases.

Governor Sule Lamido (left) of Jigawa with the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sunusi during Sallah Dutse on yesterday.