THE STATES

FCT
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM)
has  promised to invest more funds in other projects to be embarked upon by the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in 2015.
The Chairman, Finance and Appropriation of the commission,  Mr Bashir Birni-Gwari, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Our correspondent reports that NAICOM funded ABU’s N93 billion Digital Centre Project which took about six months to complete.
Birni-Gwari said the commission also had ongoing projects in about 11 other universities.
He commended the efforts of the ABU management in the effective execution of the digital centre project.
“Money has been appropriated in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between NAICOM and ABU.

Katsina
The Katsina State Immigration Command says it
has arrested 10 suspected victims of human trafficking and the trafficker at the Kongolam border in the state.
The Comptroller of Immigration in the state, Mr Emmanuel Ogbumuo, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Katsina while briefing newsmen.
Ogbumuo said that the victims were arrested in a bus with Registration No. XC 997 APP.
“Our eagle-eyed patrol officers arrested them at about 5 a.m. at the Kongolam border in Katsina State.”
He said all the suspected victims and the trafficker were found lying or sitting on the floor of the vehicle as it had no seat.
He gave the name of the trafficker as Mohammed Usman, who was arrested while conveying his victims to Niger Republic.

Lagos
The National Emergency Agency (NEMA) has con
firmed five persons dead in an accident involving four vehicles at Igando area of Lagos State in the early hours of Tuesday.
Our correspondent reports that the accident involved three trucks loaded with alcoholic drinks and a Honda salon car.
The accident occurred near the Igando General Hospital in Alimosho local government area of the state.
The Spokesman of NEMA, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye,  who confirmed the accident, told newsmen that the corpses have been deposited at the morgue of the hospital.
He said that the victims, who were all male, were burnt beyond recognition.

Nasarrawa
A former Attorney-General and Commissioner for
Justice in Nasarawa, Mr Innocent Lagi, has declared his intention to contest for the state’s governorship seat in 2015.
Lagi, who made the declaration in Wamba Local Government area of the state, said that he was contesting on the platform of the Labour Party.
He told journalists that he had informed the national headquarters of the party of his intention.
The former attorney-general said that his aspiration was borne out of the desire to facilitate the development of the state.
He dispelled insinuations that he was being used as a mole by other aspirants for the governorship seat.
Ogun
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Ni
gerian youths to be God-fearing and to develop good characters and values to enable them succeed as future leaders.
Obasanjo made the appeal at the First Green Legacy Moments With Chief Olusegun Obasanjo On Leadership and Human Security In Africa.
The programme was organised by the Centre For Human Security (CHS), an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), in collaboration with the University of Ibadan and the Green Legacy Resort.
The former president said the fear of God, good character, values and the ability to impact on lives and the society were marks of successful life.
According to him, the totality of a man’s character determines who he or she is and also influences his or her reputation.
“Character influences your reputation and your reputation determines your altitude,” he added.

Osun
A senior lecturer at the Department of  African
Languages, Obafemi Awolowo  University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Dr Biodun Ogunwale has described youths as indispensable change agents.
Ogunwale said this in an interview with newsmen at Ede, Osun State.
He said the only way a nation could grow without hindrance was to breed and have productive youths.
“The youth, who is vibrant, is always in a better position to make a change. That is where the question of culture and values come to play.
“There is no way the young minds will be productive without instilling a clear-cut culture and values that will guide them.
“A good value system in a cultured environment brings about reliable, productive and patriotic youths who are completely equipped to change their nation for the better.
Oyo
The immediate past Chairman, Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ), Tribune Chapel, Mr Tunde Ogunesan, has joined the house of assembly race in Oyo State.
Ogunesan picked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form to contest for the Saki East House of Assembly seat in 2015.
He told newsmen in Ibadan that his entrance into politics was a call to serve his people.
Ogunesan, who hails from Sepeteri in Saki-East council area, was a Senior Reporter with African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc publishers of the Nigerian Tribune newspaper.
Plateau
The former Plateau House of Assembly Speaker,
has picked the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination form for 2015 governorship poll.
Lalong, who paid N5.5 million for the nomination and express of interest forms at the party’s headquarters in Jos, said there was need for “urgent change’’ in the Plateau.
“Plateau must change its political leaders if we must move forward,’’ Lalong, a former member of the PDP, told newsmen shortly after he picked the form.
He said he had prayed and fasted before making up his mind to contest, and declared that he was in the best position to bring “sanity’’ to the state because of his experience.
The ex-speaker, however, expressed the optimism that he would clinch the APC ticket.

Sokoto
The  Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association in
Sokoto State, Mr Steven Nwoke, says it is morally wrong for the police to withdraw security personel attached to Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.
Nwoke told newsmen in Sokoto that the Speaker’s defection to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC)  did not warrant such an action by the  police.
He said that the police should have waited  for the members of the House of Representatives to impeach the speaker before the withdrawal of his security details.
He advised  the police to, as matter of urgency, restore the speaker’s security details for peace and political stability in the country.
Zamfara
The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Con
gress (APC) says it will not conduct primary elections, following a consensus among the aspirants for various positions of the party.
The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Sani Gwamna, announced this to newsmen in Gusau.
Gwamna said the party’s Reconciliation Committee in the state, headed by Governor Abdul’aziz Yari, had succeeded in reconciling the aspirants vying for all the positions, from governorship to the state House of Assembly.
He said that the success was due to the cooperation and maturity shown by the aspirants.
He said it was “an indication of success of the party towards 2015 general elections”.
“Even before setting up the reconciliation committee, our members were united and always worked together; we therefore expect such cooperation and understanding from them in all elections.”

A Youth Leader, Mosunmola Umoru (left), presenting an award to Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the 2014 International Youth Day Celebration in Abuja, recently.