Borno

The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji
Zannah Mustapha,  has, reiterated the state government’s commitment to empower persons with disabilities so as to keep them away from begging.
Mustapha said this during the distribution of food items to 300 persons with disabilities, organised by Hajiya Nana Shettima SWOT Foundation in Maiduguri.
The Foundation was the pet project of the Borno governor’s wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima.
The deputy governor commended Shettima for the various support she had given to widows, orphans and Tsangaya (Islamic education) pupils in the state.
He said that the state government was determined to ensure that all grievances and problems were carefully looked into to enable the targeted persons to have a sense of belonging.

Ekiti

The Ekiti State Government  has warned prop
erty developers in the state to always get necessary government approval before erecting any structure.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Olufunke Falodun, gave the warning at a news conference in Ado Ekiti.
She warned people against indiscriminate erection of structures on water ways, roads and government land.
Falodun said the development had not only distorted development plan but also created avoidable environmental problems, including natural and man-made disasters in parts of the state.
She advised developers to obtain necessary documents and approvals for their properties, adding that the state government would soon embark on verification of building plans.

FCT
The Police have arraigned Sulaiman Daniel, 18,
of Kunchi Kawo, Abuja, in a Grade 1 Area Court, Kado, Abuja for misappropriation of fund.
The prosecutor, Insp. Simon Ibrahim, told the court that Joyce Ekulaman, canteen proprietor, of Utako, Abuja, reported the matter at Utako Police Station, Abuja, on February 11.
He said the accused converted N15,000 paid into his account meant for his employee to his personal use.
“The accused, who served food at the canteen, also stole N40,000 belonging to the employee’’, the prosecutor added.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 309 of the Penal Code.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, granted him bail in the sum of N20,000 and a surety in like sum.

Gombe
Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State
recently swore in chairmen, caretaker committees of the 11 local government areas, six new permanent secretaries and six new special advisers.
Speaking at the ceremony in Gombe, the governor said the appointment of the chairmen became necessary, following the expiration of their tenure after two years in office.
Our Correspondent reports that all the chairmen whose tenure expired were sworn in as chairmen caretaker committees of their respective councils.
“You could not have failed to notice that the set of people being sworn in today as local government caretaker committee chairmen require no introduction.
Kano

The Presidential candidate of All Progressives
Congress (APC), Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has condemned the latest bombings in Yobe and Kano states.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Malam Garba Shehu, the candidate expressed regrets over the attacks.
He noted that the attack came on the eve of the first anniversary of the Buni Yadi attack, where dozens of innocent students of Federal Government College in the community were murdered in their sleep.
He regretted the frequency with which terrorists were destroying the lives of innocent Nigerians.
“Although we commend the efforts and sacrifices of our counter-terrorism forces, there is the need for greater vigilance and new strategies,’’ Buhari said.

Kaduna
Malam Nuhu Bature, the traditional ruler of the
Bajju people in Zangon Kataf, Kaduna State, has cautioned politicians against unguarded utterances that might lead to crisis in the state.
The Agwam Bajju made the call  in his palace at Zangon Kataf when Gov. Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State paid him a courtesy visit as part of his campaign tour of the area.
Bature, who spoke on behalf of two other traditional rulers, the Emirs of Ikulu and that of Kamanta, said peace was the bedrock of any development.
He said those seeking to lead the people should at all times demonstrate responsible attitude to issues affecting their communities.
The traditional chief, therefore, appealed to politicians to “watch the kind of statements they make in the media, so as to ensure peace and harmony in the society.’’
Kogi

The kidnappers of the 87-year-old American
woman missionary , Rev. Phyllis Sortor, have reduced their ransom for her release from N60 million to N30 million, an aide of hers said.
The aide, Mr Jacob Ahiaba, told newsmen at Emi Woro community in Ajaokuta Local Government Area last Wednesday that Sortor informed an  aide by telephone on Tuesday that her abductors wanted N60 million ransom.
Ahiaba said Sortor made another call later to say that the kidnappers had reduced their demand to N30 million and asked that efforts be made to get the money to secure her release as soon as possible.
Lagos

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State,
Mr Godwin Eke, said last Wednesday that remedial work was being carried out on Wharf Road in Apapa to reduce the rate of accident.
Eke told newsmen in Lagos that the road was being rehabilitated as part of ongoing emergency repair of roads in Apapa.
“We received reports that trucks have been falling there. We now decided to do something remedial, something temporary to reduce the rate of accident there.
“That is part of our plan for the permanent works on Apapa-Tin Can Road.
“It is included in our quantities; there is no contravention; it is part of the emergency repairs that we are carrying out”.

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Government has directed
commercial banks to recognise only Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), as collateral security for their credit facilities henceforth.
The Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Mr Sonny Agassi, gave this directive during interactive session with the executives of the commercial banks in Lafia on Wednesday.
The commissioner cautioned the banks against granting loans or other facilities to their clients on the strength of Rights of Occupancy (R of O) and other land documents.
He said the C of O was the only registered land document recognised by the laws of the land to serve as collateral security for facilities from the banks.
According to him, accepting R of O instead of C of O will have dire consequences on their businesses after the changes being introduced by the present administration.
Oyo

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Oyo
State branch, has urged politicians to make the fear of God their priority in their political activities.
The state Chairman of the association, Ayo Olabisi, made the plea on Wednesday while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan.
The cleric called on politicians to observe the rules guiding the electoral processes while exhibiting the fear of God.
“We need to let our politicians know that coming into office is not a do or die affair. It is whatever God says that will come to manifestation,” he said.

Swearing-in of six Permanent Secretaries in Gombe Plc, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State (right), congratulating a newly appointed Permaent Secretary, Mr Renos Kabiny, during the swearing-in of the Permanent Secretaries and six Speical Advisers in Gombe State, recently.