THE STATES

Borno
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it distributed over 7,000 metric tonnes of assorted food items to persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State in the past two months.
The NEMA Coordinator of Emergency Food Intervention for the Northeast, Mr E. Umesi, made the disclosure last Thursday in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Umesi said that the agency distributed the food items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri and other liberated communities.
“We went to do enumeration of liberated areas; we have virtually done that everywhere, even in areas where people find it difficult to live we went there.
‘’We have gone to Mafa, Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Benishiek and Jekana”, he said.

Ekiti
A former Governor of Ekiti State and an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in 2018 governorship election, Mr  Segun Oni, says he has always been a stickler for probity and accountability in public service.
Oni, also the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC said this in a statement signed by Mr Steve Alabi, the Director, Media and Publicity, Segun Oni Campaign Organisation, (SOCO).
SOCO was reacting to critics that described Oni as being “tight-fisted’’.
Oni said, “if it is my money; I can spend it the way I like, but if it is government’s money or public fund, I cannot do that.
“I was able to achieve much because I cut down on waste and conserved money for the state during my tenure. I’m not uncharitable, no. Government in a state like Ekiti does not have the latitude to spend money recklessly”.

FCT
A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Israel Famurewa (Osun-APC) last Wednesday said there was need for a law to check the increasing rate of hate speech among Nigerians.
Famurewa, who said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja advocated stringent penalties against offenders.
“Honestly I will support that because most of these things we are witnessing today started from peoples’ misguided utterances.
“Someone staying somewhere wishing another person, your brother, your sister whatever, wishing such person something bad.
“We are supposed to have a law written clearly in the constitution and state penalty for such violators”, he said.

Jigawa
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it had arrested two suspects in connection with drug-peddling in Jigawa State.
The Commander of the agency in the state, Mrs Josephine Obi made the disclosure last Thursday in Dutse while briefing newsmen.
She said that the command also recovered one locally-made double-barrel gun and some drugs from the suspects.
Obi said the suspects were arrested recently at about 8 p.m. by officers on routine patrol along Kano-Ringim road.
She said two tablets of Tramadol, one wrap of a substance suspected to be Indian hemp, two daggers and several charms were also recovered from the suspects.
“These suspects were arrested by our men last Sunday along Kano-Ringim road during a random stop-and-search on commercial vehicles.

Kaduna
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin last Thursday challenged officers and men of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) to remain loyal, disciplined, dedicated and patriotic in their assignments.
Olonisakin gave the challenge during the graduation of 106 direct short service cadets held at the Military Training Centre, NAF Base, Kaduna.
He particularly told the cadets that the service would not compromise on discipline and patriotism, adding that they must gear up to be part of the efforts to restore peace in parts of the country.
“You must at all times, subordinate yourself to constituted civil authority and protect democracy.
“Indeed, you must remain absolutely loyal to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Kogi
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Kogi State, Mrs Bolanle Amupitan  last Thursday said the state government would collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement agency (NDLEA) to control drug abuse in the state.
Amupitan who disclosed this while receiving NDLEA officials in Lokoja said the state government would participate in this year’s commemoration of the international drug abuse day in the state.
She also said that the state government would support drug addicts to overcome their challenges.
She described poverty, marital problems and lack of parental care as some of the causes of drug abuse and called for support to rehabilitate the addicts.

Lagos
A new Resident Electoral Commissioner has been appointed for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State. He is Mr Sam Olumekun.
Olumekun assumed duty last Wednesday at the state headquarters of the commission in Yaba.
His appointment followed the retirement from service by Mr Akin Orebiyi, the immediate past Resident Electoral Commissioner.
The commission has successively been led by two Administrative Secretaries — Mr Clement Oha and Dr Mudashiru Mustapha.
The Head of Public Affairs Department at the commission, Mr Femi Akinbiyi confirmed to newsmen that the new commissioner had reported for duty.

Nasarawa
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Nasarawa State has arrested an ex-soldier  for allegedly defrauding a pastor and 27 job seekers of  N4.3 million.
The NSCDC’s Commandant in the state, Mr  Lawan Bashir-Kano, told newsmen last Thursday in Lafia that the suspect was arrested in Doma last  Monday  following complaints  by  the victims.
Bashir-Kano said that investigation revealed that the suspect was dismissed from the Army in 2014 and had been going around defrauding unsuspecting citizens.
He said  the suspect  collected the money from the job seekers in the pretext of securing employment for them in  military and paramilitary agencies.

Niger
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State last Wednesday said it had deployed 57 security personnel to Minna-Suleja federal highway to curb kidnapping and cattle rustling in the area.
The Corps’ Commandant in the state, Mr Philip Ayuba made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Minna.
Ayuba said that the deployment became necessary because of the high rate of kidnapping, which had become the order of the day on the route.
“We have armed our personnel with the required working facilities to enable them to pursue men of the underworld vigorously,’’ he said.

Ondo
Labour unions in Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH), Okitipupa last Tuesday urged  Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to reverse the decision slashing   the institution’s monthly subvention.
The unions made up of  the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT)  made the appeal in a communiqué.
The  communiqué  was  jointly signed by leaders of the unions–Temidayo Temola, Peter Akindehinde and Bobola Bamigbola for SSANU, NASU  and NAAT  respectively.
The unions said that the institution’s monthly subvention was slashed from N60million  to N42million, adding that this was  not enough  to pay  staff salaries  let alone maintenance and other overhead costs.
They said that the administration  had promised to make the university  a world class institution.

Oyo
The Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Adeyemo, has advised insurance firms to enlighten Nigerians on benefits of insurance policies.
He gave the advice when a delegation from NEM Insurance led by its Chairman, Dr Fidelis Ayebae paid him a courtesy visit in Ibadan.
Report says that the delegation was in Ibadan for the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled to hold in Ibadan last Thursday.
Adeyemo said that insurance firms were important sector of the economy whose significance Nigerians were yet to appreciate.
“Insurance policies are useful and accepted instruments in the developed nations. Insurance policies give succour to loss of lives and properties”, Adeyemo said.

Sokoto
The Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency says it has completed the transportation of 4, 859 pilgrims from the state to Saudi Arabia for the 2017 Hajj.
Report says that the last batch of 474 pilgrims was transported by Max Airline at about 3 a.m. last Thursday.
Speaking to newsmen at the Sultan Abubakar International Airport Sokoto, the Director General of the agency, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar said the pilgrims were transported in nine consecutive flights.
Umar, who described the exercise as successful, commended Governor Aminu Tambuwal, airline operators, individuals and voluntary groups that facilitated the success of the exercise.
The official disclosed that some individuals and organisation had distributed printed and audio copies of Hajj guide to the pilgrims to facilitate understanding of the process.
Umar confirmed that some of the intending pilgrims were substituted due to ill health, pregnancy, accidents and deaths, adding that the figure for the total number of those affected was being compiled.