THE STATES

Borno

The Kashim Ibrahim College of Education, Maiduguri
authority says it has obtained approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to start a degree programme in 10 academic fields.
Mallam Mohammed Kolo, the Provost of the college, disclosed this in Maiduguri at the 29th matriculation for new intakes of the college.
He said the proposed degree programme would roll off from the 2016/2017 academic session. Kolo said that the approval was granted in 2015 after the college had satisfied the NUC requirements for the programme.
He said that the college had already been affiliated with the University of Maiduguri for the programme.
“We got NUC’s approval for 10 programmes in 2015; we could not begin due to insurgency; we decided to start now that the security situation in town has greatly improved,’’ Kolo said.

FCT

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has
remitted N15.4 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Head of Communication and Public Affairs of the corporation, Mr Hadi Birchi, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
The statement said that NDIC had complied with the payment of 25 per cent of its gross revenue to the Consolidated Revenue Account of the federation.
It explained that the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) had commended the corporation on its effort to make the payment, saying this was in accordance with ministerial circular on Internally Generated Revenue.
“It is quite commendable that NDIC is one of the few corporations that have fully complied with FRC regulations.

Kaduna

Kaduna State, has developed a prototype refinery with a
capacity of refining one barrel of crude oil per day.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the main Campus in Samaru, Zaria.
Our correspondent reports that the briefing was part of series of activities toward the 38th Convocation Ceremony slated for Saturday, January 30. “
This is a prototype refinery that runs on one barrel a day. It is a very long term project. We started it, then Raw Materials Development Council came in to support.
“The project being built in stages, so far we can produce petrol (PMS) and diesel.

Kano

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),
Kano State command, said it had arrested three suspects for operating illegal petrol depot in the state.
The State Commandant of the corps, Mr Aliyu Yusha’u, who disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Kano, said that the suspects were arrested at Dawanau market in Dawakin -Tofa Local Government Area of the state.
He said that during the operations, the operatives of the command also recovered 240 drums of petrol, equivalent to 63, 000 litres.
Yusha’u said that the arrest of the suspects and the discovery of the illegal fuel depot were as a result of consistent surveillance mounted by the men of the command.
He promised that the command would continue to raid areas suspected of suspicious movement in order to arrest perpetrators of illegal acts for justice.

Katsina

Pro-Chancellor and chairman, Governing Council, Federal
University, Dustin-ma, Katsina State, Dr Olusola Obada,  has urged the Federal Government to approve special grant to enable the institution complete some infrastructural projects.
Obada made the call in Dutsin-ma during the maiden convocation of the university.
She said that the special grant would be used to provide road networks, connect the institution to the national grid and establish water treatment plant.
“The funds will also be used to fence the university, build staff residential houses, and for the provision of clinic and sports facilities at the permanent site.
“The government should also take a close look at the allocation of funds for running the university, often called overhead because it is what drives the system after physical structures.
“It is our humble suggestion that the formula for allocation for the running cost should relate to the personnel cost, which should not be less than 20 per cent of personnel cost’’.
Kogi

National Vice-President, Environmental Health Officers
Association of Nigeria (EHOAN), North Central, Mr Nuhu Anyegwu, has urged government at all levels to strengthen Environmental Health Services to check the spread of Lassa Fever.
Anyegwu who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Idah said there was need for more government, groups and individuals’ commitment to environmental health issues.
He said that with the prevalence of communicable diseases especially, the sudden outbreak of Lassa fever (viral haemorrhagic fever) in the country, governments should advance and strengthen environmental health services to fighting the disease.
“It is popularly stated that the major parameters or indices with which to measure the effectiveness and success of environmental Health services is a drastic reduction in the incidences of communicable diseases and where feasible, complete elimination”, he said.

Kwara

The Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (ICEN),
Kwara State chapter, said that Nigeria’s participation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) would attract more foreign investors into the non-mineral sector.
The Registrar of ICEN, Mr Dare Atewoshe, told newsmen in Ilorin that the country stood to benefit a lot from the forum.
The 26th edition of WEF will hold in Geneva, Switzerland. Atewoshe said the meeting would provide an opportunity for President Muhammadu Buhari to woo investors to the non-mineral sector, like the abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi, Jos tin resources and other states in the country.

Lagos

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its determination
to deal decisively with anyone found engaged in cultism and criminal activities.
Mr Steve Ayorinde, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, conveyed the government’s resolve in a statement in Ikeja.
He warned all criminally-minded individuals not to test the will of the government, as it would unleash the power of the law on anyone found threatening the safety and peaceful co-existence of residents.
The commissioner decried the rising cases of cultism resulting in violent clashes in some areas of the state.                   According to him, the state government has directed law enforcement agencies to ensure that such unwholesome practices are dealt with accordingly.
“The government will henceforth go tough with any cult member or group, sponsor, or collaborators, as well as criminal gangs disturbing the peace,” he said.
Ayorinde said the government would not fold its arms and watch innocent citizens suffer unduly in the hands of unscrupulous elements.

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State governorship candidate of the All
Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Labaran Maku, has called on Nigerians to live in peace with one another irrespective of their differences.
Maku, who made the call at a newsmen conference in Wakama Village of Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Area, said so many lives had been lost in the country due to crises.
The former Minister of Information, said that with the crises already witnessed in some parts of the country and the state, there was need to seek God’s intervention to avert further loss of lives and property.
Maku said he accepted the Supreme Court judgment of January 20 which upheld the victory of Gov. Umaru Al-Makura, adding that justice was for God and not man.

Ogun

A  former Chief Medical Director, Dr Tunde Banuso,State
Hospital, Ota, Ogun State, has advised the Federal Government to establish well equipped medical centres in various hospitals across the country.
Banuso, who gave the advice in Ota in an interview with newsmen said that such centres would be useful in checking the spread of Lassa fever.
He explained that the establishment of effective centres across the country would deal with diagnosis of Lassa fever and reduce the widespread of the deadly disease among the people.
Banuso said that the Ministry of Health must intensify its efforts in enlightening the general public on how to curb the spread of Lassa fever.

Plateau

The Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) has sunk N2
billion into procuring new transformers and other critical infrastructure crucial to effective service delivery.
The Managing Director of JEDC, Mohammed Modibbo,  said in Jos that part of the money went into procuring customer metres and the maintenance of other facilities that had broken down.
“When we took over JEDC, we found out that most of the transformers were dilapidated; some were more than 50 years old and needed urgent replacement.
“We had to replace many of them which improved the capacity of injection sub-stations and improved power distribution,” he said.

Yobe

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Yobe State, Female
Role Model Initiative, has commenced vocational skill acquisition training to prepare 100 widows for post-insurgency life.
Hajiya Halimatu Amshi, the coordinator of the NGO, told newsmen in Damaturu that the training was necessary to prepare the widows for a new life at the end of the insurgency.
She said that the widows were selected from Damaturu and Fika.
According to her, the widows will be trained on poultry farming, animal husbandry, soap, cream and detergent making, tailoring, making of local food seasoning cubes, “Dawa-dawa” and production of ground nut oil.
“The NGO conducted a NEEDS Assessment of the widows to enable them choose skills of their interests to ensure sustenance after the training”, she said.
“The trainees will be provided with take-off materials to start production for self-reliance and employment.
“We have put in place an effective monitoring mechanism to ensure that the beneficiaries do not sell the materials,” she said.

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State (left), welcoming the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, during the Minister’s project verification and inspection visit to Plateau State on Wednesday.