THE STATES

Adamawa
Former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Congo,
Amb. Yerima Isa, says the nomination of only career diplomats for ambassadorial posting by the Federal Government is a wise decision.
Isa gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Yola.
Isa, who was also a career diplomat, said that the job was a technical one, demanding those who were exposed to foreign services to handle.
He criticised the idea of posting politicians, who could be ignorant of foreign mission operations to handle ambassadorial position.
According to him, Buhari’s style of appointment shows that he believes in technocrats.
“With my all sense of responsibility, I want to commend President Buhari for the nomination of carrier diplomats as ambassadors.”

Borno
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),
said it had apprehended two members of a syndicate that specialised in stealing telephones and laptops at the University of Maiduguri.
Commandant of NSCDC in Borno State, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, told newsmen in Maiduguri that the suspects (names withheld), were arrested in 202 Housing Estate area of Maiduguri.
He said the syndicate’s areas of operation were student’s hostels, lecture theatres and places of worship within the institution, adding that two laptops and four telephones were recovered from the suspects.
He therefore urged students and lecturers of the institution to be vigilant and report suspicious characters or movements to law enforcement agents.

FCT
The FCT Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists has de
clared a7-day mourning for its immediate past Chairman, Mr Chuks Ehirim, who died on June 16.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja signed by  the Chairman of the council, Paul Abechi.
The council noted that the late Ehirim, who was Chairman of the NUJ, FCT council between 2012 and 2015, was a versatile journalist whose journalism career spanned over three decades.
“The deceased will be fondly remembered as a fearless journalist who used his journalistic career to entrench democratic tenets and was a strong advocate of freedom, justice and equity.
“He will be remembered more importantly as a much detribalised Nigerian, who believed in the unity of the country and always put the country first,’’ the council said.

Gombe
An Islamic Scholar, Dr. Muhammad Rigiyan-Lemo, has ad
monished Muslims to learn some lessons from the current economic challenges in the country and the world.
The scholar gave the advice in Gombe while speaking at the occasion of the 6th Annual Ramadan Lecture, organised by the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria, (IMAN) Gombe chapter.
The lecture has as its theme, “Economic meltdown and the Muslim Ummah, lessons to be learnt.”
“Muslims should learn a lot of lessons from the current situation and assist one another for more rewards and blessing from God in the hereafter.
“Islam teaches Muslims to understand the importance of wealth and how to benefit from it in the world and hereafter, by assisting one another and the religion,” he said.
He therefore advised wealthy individuals among the Muslims to assist the less privileged and orphans in the society, especially considering the current economic reality.

Jigawa
The operational office of the Great Green Wall Agency
(GGWA) is to be moved to Kano State, the Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed has said.
The minister gave the indication at an event to mark the 2016 World Desertification Day at Jansa village in Babura Local Government of the Jigawa State.
Mohammed said the move was to reposition and strengthen the project to achieve its objectives.
She also said that the movement of the operational office of the project to Kano State was to facilitate easy contact with its operational environment and maximise its impact on the eleven affected states.
The 11 frontline states are Kebbi, Zamfara, Gombe, Yobe, Jigawa, Adamawa, Bauchi, Katsina, Borno, Sokoto and Kano.
“We are all aware that the world today is faced with the challenges of climate change, global warming, flood, drought and desertification and our sub-region is not spared.
Kebbi
The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) has
renewed its call for tougher penalty for rape and all forms of violence against women.
The National President of the council, Mrs Nkechi Mba, made the call in Birnin Kebbi while fielding questions from newsmen.
She said that the council would remain resolute in the campaign for protection of women against violence and other forms of maltreatment.
Mba said the council would not relent in ensuring that the bill for the protection of women was passed by the National Assembly and domesticated in the states.
“Our activities include securing legislation for the protection of women against violence, and we will promote and empower women to seek elective positions,’’ she said.

Kogi
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the
Nigerian Army would soon deploy special forces to Kogi to help tackle crime in the state.
Buratai disclosed this when he paid a courtesy call on Gov. Yahaya Bello at the Government House in Lokoja.
The army chief said plans were at an advanced stage to deploy the troops to the affected areas in the state.
“I want to assure you that very soon we will deploy special forces to the state.
“That is why I came here with the Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison; he is getting them ready and by Monday they should be on ground.

Lagos
The Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee
on Homes Affairs, Mr Olayiwola Olawale, said the state required an implementable policy on siting of religious institutions.
Olawale (APC-Mushin II) said in Lagos that such a step had become imperative to tackle the prevalent noise pollution in the state.
According to him, the step will further enhance religious harmony, tolerance and unity in the state.
“We need a policy statement on the siting of religious institutions and industries. You do not just turn a building to a church, mosque or industry,” he said.

Oyo
The Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Oyo
State, Mrs Dolapo Dosumu, has urged Nigerians to embrace political tolerance so as to promote national integration and peace.
Dosumu made the plea in a lecture, “National Integration for Global Peace’’, organised by the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, Western Zonal Conclave in Ibadan.
She stressed that global peace should start with nations, communities and citizens, adding that “peace will remain an illusion without justice.
“Peace building is a collective task, citizens should seek peace, media should desist from sponsoring inciting statements, and spiritual leaders should preach peace, while government should protect its citizens.
“Conflict has entered the epicentre stage in Nigeria. For us not to be consumed by it, all hands must be on deck to nip the crisis in the bud before it degenerates into intractable problems,” Dosumu said.

Plateau
The State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)
in Plateau State says it has developed a software called ‘SMARTDESK’ for data entry, analysis and reporting.
The Executive Chairman of the board, Prof. Mathew Sule, who disclosed this in Jos, told newsmen that the software would help in overcoming data deficit currently faced.
‘’ When we start operating the new software, I am sure we will overcome the data deficit being currently faced, and be the first in the country to solve the data requirement dilemma,’’ he said.
He further explained that the board, in collaboration with an Information Technology Firm, Afritend Technologies Ltd, had concluded arrangement to commence training of public primary school teachers in Information Technology and General Computer literacy.
He said that capacity building for teachers in the field of Information Technology was necessary to ensure effective teaching, especially with the adoption of Information Technology globally.

Sokoto
Sokoto State Government said it was determined to
multiply energy sources in the state to improve power supply.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Bashir Garba, stated this at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese firm, Kunming Engineering Corporation, to establish 100-megawatt solar-powered plant in the state.
Garba signed on behalf of the state government, while the Assistant Managing Director for Overseas Business of the company, Qui Haisheng, signed for the firm.
He said that power that would be generated by the plant would among other benefits, boost small and medium-scale ventures in the state.

Yobe
The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Yobe  and
Adamawa States have expressed satisfaction with the feeding arrangement in their respective camps.
Speaking with correspondents in Damaturu and Yola, they said that the quality and quantity of food served them was satisfactory.
At the Pompomari IDP camp in Damaturu,Yobe, they said they were satisfied with the introduction of new meals on their menu list during the fasting period.
They explained that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) introduced local delicacies and fruits, thereby enriching their diet.
“Apart from the normal rice and stew or jollof rice, we now enjoy local delicacies like bean cake and gruel’ said one of the IDPs, Malam Baba Bulama.
He said that apart from light meals for breaking of fast, fruits were being served as appetizers.