Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State (left), with the Senior Adviser, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Mr David Lambo, during a visit to the Governor in Jos on Thursday

Bauchi
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji
Shehu Gabam, said President Muhammadu Buhari, has good intentions for the country and urged the opposition to support him.
Gabam, Chief of staff to former Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, made the call in Tilde-Fulani, Toro Local Government Area, in an interview with newsmen.
According to him, President Buhari has a good intention for the country and there is no need for the opposition to start bombarding him.
“Well, I believe the president should be allowed to determine his own pace of speed and also determine his own cruising level,” he added.

Benue
The Benue State House of Assembly says it is prepared to
assist the Government to tackle the spate of assassinations in the State.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Terkimbi Ikyange, made the remark during Valedictory Session in honour of former legislator, Mr Atoza Hindan, in Makurdi.
Hindan, who was murdered in his home in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state, was a two-time member of the assembly between 1979 and 1983.
The speaker rued the death which he said had depleted the ranks of senior colleagues and hampered growth and development of the legislature.

Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government says it has appointed the
Emir of Birnin Gwari, Alhaji Zubairu Jibril, as the 2015 Amirul-Hajj for the state.
In a statement by the media aide to Governor Nasiru El-Rufa’I, Mr Samuel Aruwan, in Kaduna, it explained that government’s decision to stop sponsoring people for pilgrimages has saved the state more than N221.8 million.
The statement, however, said the government would send 116 officials and guides that would ensure smooth Hajj operations for the 5,682 pilgrims from the state.
“The government will discharge its obligation to the pilgrims and send a delegation of guides, preachers, medical personnel, media professionals and pilgrim officers,” it added.

Kano
The Kano State Government says it approved N15 million
for the establishment of an eight-kilometre shelter belt for preserving the forest reserves in Danbatta and Bichi Local Government Areas.
The state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Muhammad Garba, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting, said the shelter belt would check desertification in desert-prone areas in the state.
The council, he said, also approved N35 million for the transformation of the Audu Bako Secretariat Complex into a green area.
The council, he added, also approved N2.2 billion for the execution of the 2015 constituency projects across the 44 local government areas of the state.

Kogi
A member of House of Representatives representing
Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency of Kogi, Rep. Tajudeen Yusuf, has promised to give top priority to education of his people.
Yusuf, who made gave the promise in an interview with newsmen in Lokoja, said that there was no better time than now.
He noted that his back-to-school summer studies was a way of contributing to the lives and educational development of children in his constituency.
According to him, education plays a very vital role in the development and growth of the society, and advised that children should be given the attentions they deserved to enable them get better education.

Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura has said
that all projects initiated by his administration were meant to enhance the productive capacity of the people.
Al-Makura stated this during an inspection tour of Mararaba Orange Market Bridge being constructed by the government in Karu Local Government.
He gave the contractors handling the bridge one month to complete the project to boost the socio-economic development of the area.
“I want to re-state my commitment to the development of this state; to fight poverty, unemployment and to boost the standard of living of the people,” he added.

Lagos
The Head of Chancery, Indian High Commission in Lagos,
Mr Vyas Choudhary has expressed satisfaction at the growing relationship between Nigeria and his country.
Choudhary, who spoke with newsmen at a ceremony to mark India’s 69th Independence Day at the country’s High Commission in Lagos, revealed his government’s plan to increase bilateral relations with Nigeria in the years ahead.
He said that his government “strongly sees Nigeria as an important ally in Africa”, and would continue to sustain its areas of cooperation with Nigeria.
Choudhary said that the celebration in Lagos and Abuja was to strengthen India and Nigeria cultural relations.

Niger
A Magistrates’ Court in Minna has remanded three men,
Barde Usman, Abdullahi Isah and Samaila Umar in prison custody for alleged armed robbery.
The accused persons were arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, contrary to Sections 97 and 298 of the Penal Code.
The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Jubilee Jac, told the court that a team of policemen on patrol along Bida road intercepted the accused persons robbing travellers on May 18.
When the charges were read to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty, but the Presiding Judge, Magistrate Mariam King, said she could not take the plea of the accused as her court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Ogun
The Chairman of the Transition Committee of Ijebu-Ode
Local Government Area, Mr Adeshina Baruwa, has urged the Igbo community to support his administration’s resolve to deliver the dividends of democracy.
Baruwa made the call during a courtesy visit by the Eze Ndigbo of Ijebu-Ode, Chief Ezendo Onwanaka, and other Igbo leaders in Ijebu-Ode.
The chairman said the Igbo community must be alive to its responsibilities and continue to live in peace with the locals.
He said his administration would not condone poor sanitation and disregard for environmental laws, adding that the task to keep Ijebu-Ode clean was everyone’s responsibility.
Ondo
A former Chairman of Okitipupa Local Government Area
of Ondo State, Mr Femi Aju is dead. The deceased, aged 40, slumped and died before he was rushed to hospital.
The Chief Medical Director of Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Mr Olumide Akadiri, told newsmen that the deceased was brought-in dead and his remains deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.
Caretaker Chairman of Okitipupa Local Council, Chief Solomon Bitire, described Aju’s death as “shocking, sudden and unfortunate,’’  and added.
He said that the area had lost a vibrant and intelligent career officer and politician who had good intentions for the people.

Osun
Scores of senior lecturers and students of Obafemi Awolowo Univer
sity, Ile-Ife, Osun, have eulogised the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.
Some of them, who spoke with newsmen in the ancient town of Ile-Ife, described the late monarch as a an architect of peace, harmony and equality.
The Dean of Faculty of Arts, Prof. Femi Adewole, said the late monarch was an epitome of humility, man of valour, and a passionate custodian of Yoruba tradition.
He described him as an elephant whose might and influence went beyond the shores of Nigeria, and prayed to God to grant the immediate family of the Ooni the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Plateau
The Director of Press and Public Affairs to Plateau State Governor,
Mr Emmanuel Nanle, has said that the governor has yet to award a contract for the renovation of Old Government House, Jos.
Nanle made the clarification in Jos following speculations that the governor had awarded a renovation contract of N2 billion for the complex to his brother.
The facility currently houses the Office of the Deputy Governor and General Administration Department.
Nanle told newsmen that although the structure needed renovation, no contract had been awarded but that an assessment of the facility was on.

Sokoto
The Acting Chairman of Sokoto State Zakkat and Endowment Com
mittee, Malam Lawal Maidoki, has said it returned over N1 million to the state government’s coffers.
Maidoki explained that the money was part of N45.8million released to the committee for the payment of allowances to physically-challenged persons across the state in June.
He urged the beneficiaries to utilise the allowances to improve their lives, so as not to defeat the objectives of the programme.

Yobe
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Munguno
(rtd), has said security operatives fighting the Boko Haram would cultivate a new relationship with the civil populace to quickly end insurgency in the country.
Munguno, accompanied by the service chiefs, stated this in Damaturu when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State.
He said a strong military/civilian relationship based on trust and mutual respect would facilitate effective fight against insurgency.
The NSA said the visit was for the service chiefs to assess the situation on ground, discuss with political leaders and the people, so as to effectively restrategise and quickly end the Boko Haram menace.

Zamfara

The Zamfara State Ministry of Health says it is working with Non-
governmental Organisations to distribute 2.6 million Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) across the 14 local government areas of the state.
The state’s Malaria Eradication Program Manager, Alhaji Hamisu Duran, said this during a one-day orientation workshop on “The role of the media towards ensuring a successful LLINs distribution Campaign,” held in Gusau.
Duran explained that the state government was also collaborating with Malaria Action Programmes for States (MAPS) and the Health Communication Capacity Collaborative Programme (HC3), in the distribution exercise.
Also speaking, the state MAPS’s Project Coordinator, Dr Kabiru Atta, commended the state government for creating an enabling environment for the MAPS to reduce malaria burden in the state.