THE STATES

Benue

The women wing of Christian Association of Ni
geria (CAN) in Benue State, last Thursday held a one day fasting and prayer session for children, youths and the  conduct of peaceful elections in Nigeria.
Rev. Hannah Ikyernum, the chairperson, CAN women wing in Benue State told newsmen in Makurdi that the prayers were aimed at averting violence during the polls.
She said that since the youths and children were usually the worst victims during electoral violence, there was need to organise such prayer sessions to commit the political processes into the hands of God.
“ We have also discovered that in any political crisis, the death toll is usually high hence our resolve to pray against such death rate in our state and country,” she said.
Ikyernum appealed to parents to ensure that their children and wards were of good conduct.

Borno
The National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) has presented relief materials to widows of slain soldiers currently fighting the Boko Haram insurgency in Maiduguri.
The Director,  Search and Rescue of the agency, Air Commodore Chris Otegba, presented the materials to Maj.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, the GOC of 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri.
Otegba, who represented the Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Sani Sidi, said the action followed directives of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“We are here on the directives of President Goodluck Jonathan to present relief materials to widows of slain officers of the disvision.
“The idea is to lend support to the widows who lost their bread winners.
Ekiti
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency,
(NDLEA), Ekiti State Command, has warned secondary school students against drug abuse.
The Principal Staff Officer (PSO) in Charge of Drug Demand Reduction Unit of the command, Mr Peter Njoku, gave the warning in Ado-Ekiti.
Njoku spoke during a seminar organised for An-saru-deen Comprehensive High School students, Ado-Ekiti.
He said that hard drugs were dangerous to health of human beings, especially young people who were in secondary school.
He advised them not to take Indian hemp, cocaine, and other harmful substances that could damage their brain, kidney and lungs.
The PSO also urged the students to disconnect themselves from drug addicts, in order not to lure them into the business of peddling of hard drugs.

FCT

FCT Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Com
mission (FRSC), Mrs Susan Ajenge, has advised applicants of new drivers licence to patronise any of the 29 accredited driving schools in the territory.
Ajenge, who gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, also stressed the need for the applicants to learn driving skills and obtain the certificates, accordingly.
She said applicants could go to any of the 29 accredited driving schools closer to them in order to get adequate driving skills as well as certification.
“There are 29 accredited driving schools spread all over the territory at the service of the public who are interested in learning how to drive safely on the roads.
”They will ensure that their trainees have adequate driving skills before they issue them certificates, so that they will not put the reputation of their schools at stake.
Jigawa
The US-based National Health Institute (NHI) said it
would conduct a study on kidney diseases in Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa.
The NHI representative, Dr Akinlolu Ojo, said this when a team of medical experts paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar, at his palace.
Ojo explained that the research would identify type of kidney diseases, causes and ways of prevention.
He said that the study would guide the institute in its plans to come up with a comprehensive intervention programme.
“We will carry forward research on kidney failure in Hadejia; this is sequel to a complaint to the institute by a native of the area on the high prevalence of the disease.
“The institute will develop an intervention project to address kidney problem in the area,” he said.

Kano
The Kano State Government has said it would collaborate
with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to export handmade products locally produced by women.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs in the state, Dr Binta Jibril, said this while receiving the NEPC Zonal Controller, Alhaji Abdullahi Mamman, in Kano.
She said the collaboration would help in marketing the products within and outside the country.
“Some indigent women are talented and specialised in various skills that attract investors from within and outside the country.”
Jibril, however, said most of the women were ignorant on how to export the products.
She said the recent bazaar and exhibition of handmade products organised by the ministry was aimed at showcasing them to investors.
Lagos
A 27-year-old man, Ibrahim Adeleke, who allegedly broke
into a pastor’s house at night and stole some valuables, has appeared  in an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.
The accused, whose address is unknown, is being tried on eight-count charge, bordering on felony, burglary, stealing and assault.
Prosecutor Mary Ajiteru, said the accused with others still at large, attacked the pastor, Abayomi Awolaja with an axe before carting away property valued at N77, 100.
She told the court that the accused committed the offences at No. 1A, Raji Fashola Ave., Unity Estate, Offin, Ikorodu, on June 28, 2014 at about 1.00 a.m.
He listed items stolen as a Nokia android phone, other phones, a driver’s licence and ATM cards, all valued at N77,100.
Oyo
A veterinary expert, Dr Mutiu Oladele-Bukola, has cau
tioned poultry farmers against contaminated chicken feeds.
Oladele-Bukola of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR and T), Ibadan, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
According to him, feeding is an important aspect of poultry rearing as it affects the health of the birds positively or negatively.
He, therefore, urged farmers to always give uncontaminated and well balanced feeds to the birds in order to get a befitting and healthy poultry.
He said “ready-made feeds that are already bagged should be given for the first four weeks of the chicken.
“Also, the chicks at that stage must be given foundation stock from reliable sources.’’

Plateau
The Plateau State Emergency Management Agency
(SEMA) has said that 70, 000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are currently taking refuge in the state.
The SEMA Director of Administration, Mr Biser Longnam, told newsmen in Jos that the IDPs were from the Northeast states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
Longnam said that some of the displaced persons were from Nasarawa and Taraba states, who left their  homes because of communal clashes  in the communities.
“We have 70, 000 IDPs currently in the state, 36, 000 of them are taking refuge at different locations in Plateau North senatorial district.
“Some of the IDPs are camping in Namu in Quan’Pan Local Government Area and other places in the Southern part of the state,’’ he said.

Zamfara
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
has commenced an awareness programme to sensitise stakeholders on the dangers of violence before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.
Assistance Head of NEMA’s Sokoto Operation Office, Mr Thickman Tanimu, said in Gusau that the outreach programme was to ensure orderliness during the polls.
Tanimu, who spoke at a workshop on election violence organised for youth, religious leaders and community-based organisations in Zamfara, said such awareness was critical to free, fair and credible polls.
He urged the participants to carry the message of peace, accommodation and respect for the electoral laws, in order to ensure peaceful and successful conduct of the general elections.