THE STATES

Bauchi

Bauchi State Government says it spent over N17 million
as subsidy on the purchase of uniforms and other items for pilgrims performing the 2016 Hajj.
The State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Nuhu Gidado, announced this in Bauchi during a farewell ceremony organised for the pilgrims from the state.
Gidado, who is also the State Amirul Hajj, explained that the state government had to also subsidise accommodation, feeding and other facilities for the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
He also announced that the state government donated 300 Saudi Riyal to each of the 2,520 pilgrims from the state.
He said that the state government was not able to sponsor pilgrims for the 2016 Hajj like in previous years due to the meagre resources accruing to the state.

Benue

St Andrew’s Adikpo Old Boys Association (SAOBA),
Makurdi, says it is building a N16 million worth of ultra modern hall for its Alma mater.
This is contained in a communiqué signed by its National President, Mr Justin Gbagir and National Secretary, Mr Robert Udende on Saturday in Makurdi.
It stated that the association would construct a hall for the school and the Golden Jubilee of the school would be celebrated in it.
The communiqué, signed at the end of the association’s meeting in Makurdi, noted that the school was established in 1967 and it would be 50 years in 2017.

Gombe

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged
media professionals to maintain ethical standards while reporting children-related issues.
Mr. Samuel Kaalu, the Media Office of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, said this on Saturday at a training organised for media practitioners in Gombe state.
Our corresondent  reports that the training was organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Bauchi State Television (BSTV).
Kaalu also tasked journalists to adequately protect and promote the rights of children through objective reportage.
“Journalists and media professionals must strive to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct while reporting issues that concern children.”
Kaduna

The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Training Command,
Kaduna, AVM Nuradeen Balogun, says physical and mental fitness of the body is critical to the military service.
Balogun, represented by Air Commodore, Remigius Ekeh, made this known during the command’s 10-km walk, at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna, recently.
“The Nigerian Air Force is a combat arm of service, you are aware that we participate in various military operations in the country.
“That is why we have to be physically and mentally fit to be ready to face any challenge,” Balogun said.
He said that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, designed the walk to ensure that personnel were physically and mentally fit to carry out their duty professionally.

Kebbi
The Kebbi State Hisbah Committee has amicably settled
332 civil cases brought before it in the last one year, its Director, Alhaji Abubakar Augie, has said.
Augie, who gave a beakdown of the activities carried out by the group during the period, said 12 abandoned babies were recovered during the period under review.
“We found the 12 dumped babies alive and took them to orphanage for care and upbringing while 31 women with unlawful pregnancies were counselled and assisted to undergo safe delivery.”
Augie added that 50 youths engaged in drug abuse were arrested during the period under review and handed over to relevant authorities for counselling and rehabilitation.

Kwara
A cleric, Pastor Dare David has called on youths in Ni
geria to strive to contribute to the nation building.
David made the call in Ilorin at the two-day youth conference organised by the Kwara State Youth Wing of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), tagged “Youthful but Useful.”
“God has called you, young men and women to a life of impact, without you; there is no future for this nation.
“If you fail as youths in your assignment of nations-building, you will find yourself in asylum in later years.

Lagos

The Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO) has urged all tiers
of government to enforce policies on healthier and sustainable food systems in the country in commemoration of the 2016 International Youths Day.
The General Secretary, Lagos State chapter of the group, Mr Adekunle Aderibigbe, made the plea in a statement issued by the group and made available to newsmen
Our correspondent reports that the 2016 International Youths Day, celebrated on Friday, was entitled: “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production”.
“Having led the various sustainability goals, we are advocating for the government to enforce policies to aid healthier and sustainable food systems.

Niger
Governor Sani Bello of Niger State has issued a seven-
day days ultimatum to individuals or groups with illegal firearms to surrender them to the appropriate authority in the state.
Bello gave the directive in a state broadcast in Minna.
He spoke on the recent security challenges in some communities in Bosso Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, the state will no longer accommodate individual or groups in possession of firearms and will not be a safe haven for criminals.

Nasarawa

A retired Director of Agriculture in Nasarawa State, Mr
Samuel Gikyu, has urged Nigerians to go back to farm in order to become self reliant.
Gikyu told newsmen on Friday in Akwanga that agriculture would also fight poverty, unemployment and boost the socio-economic development of the country.
He said that for the country to achieve food sufficiency as well as to overcome the present hardship, youths and other Nigerians must go back to farm.
Plateau

The Director-General, National Youth Service
Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazure, has commended the Nigerian Army for working with the scheme.
Kazure made the commendation when he paid a courtesy call on the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Armoured Division, Maxwell Kohobe Cantonment, Jos.
The NYSC boss expressed joy that the GOC had availed the NYSC the use of army facilities for the conduct of its annual nationwide promotion examinations holding in Jos.
“I am very thankful for the cordial relationship that is existing between the scheme and the command, the synergy we have with the army is very strong,” he said.

Taraba

The Taraba State Police command,  has presented
to newsmen 142 cows and 26 sheep it recovered from suspected cattle rustlers in Serti, Gashaka Council Area of the state.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Yakubu Babas, told newsmen in Jalingo that the animals were intercepted in collaboration with Tabital Pulaaku Vigilance Group.
According to him, the police recovered the animals after a gun battle with the suspected cattle rustlers.
“On the receipt of the intelligence information, a team of policemen with vigilantes were drafted to the area.
“On sighting our men, the rustlers engaged them in a shootout but due to the superior power of my men, they took to their heels abandoning 142 cows and 26 sheep.

Yobe
Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence
Corps, Yobe State, Dr Muhammad Fari says the command has adopted special measures to check violence against women and children in the state.
Fari stated this in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
According to him, the command will intensify its activities to protect women, young girls, boys and elderly persons against violence and abuse.
“The command will work assiduously in all the 17 local government areas to ensure that the rights of these vulnerable groups are protected against abuse.