Adamawa
The Adamawa State Government in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) last Thursday, launched the rehabilitation of some block of classrooms destroyed  by Boko Haram insurgents in seven local government areas of the state.
Speaking at the launching ceremony in Balwhona Primary School in Gombi Local Government Area, the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, said the work that was being supported by  UNICEF would be handled by members  of the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) of  the benefiting schools.
Farauta, who was represented by the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Francis Pius, said 40 schools were selected to benefit from the support in Gombi, Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha, Hong, Michika and Madagali  local government areas.
The Director, Social Mobilisation of Adamawa State Universal Education Board (ADSUBEB), Mrs Fadimatu Alfa, said the UNICEF package was N25 million shared among the SBMCs in the 40 benefiting schools with different amounts depending on the rehabilitation work needed.

Benue
The Benue State Police Command last Wednesday, arraigned Mrs. Queen Akwaza, wife of a wanted criminal suspect, Terwase Akwaza, over alleged refusal to disclose her husband’s whereabouts.
Mrs. Akwaza, who appeared before a Makurdi Chief Magistrate’s Court, was charged with criminal conspiracy, screening of armed robbery and kidnapping suspects and acts of terrorism.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, Mr Hyacinth Gbakor, are punishable under sections 1(2)(b), 6(a)(b)(c) of the robbery and firearms acts, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Section 1(2) of Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Gbakor told the court that on June 15, 2017,  a team of Police Joint Task Force Patrol, led by Mr Simon Majinga,  arrested eight persons, who were arraigned in the same court, on July 7, for the same crimes.

Ekiti
The Ekiti  State Coordinator of  the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Dayo Famosaya, last Wednesday urged Nigerians to embrace the practice of  hand washing  in order to prevent  epidemics.
Famosaya made the call at a  sensitisation programme organised for community leaders and heads of worship houses  in Ilupeju-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of  Ekiti State.
The programme was organised by the Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF).
The Health Educator for Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs Abimbola Adeyemi,  on her part, urged  participants and  voluntary mobilisers to diligently disseminate the information they had learnt to residents.

Kaduna
No fewer than 81 students displaced by Boko Haram insurgency are studying under the Safe School Initiative in Kaduna State.
Vice Chairman, Presidential Committee on North East Initiative, Tijjani Tumsah, made this known during a routine evaluation and monitoring of students under the Initiative in Kaduna.
According to him, the students were making progress and should be encouraged to be useful to themselves and the society.
He said five of the students had passed their JAMB and had written the West African School CertificateExamination (WASC) and were now waiting for the NECO examination.

Katsina
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdulmanaf Daura, has called on government to deploy police and military personnel to border communities to stem cross-border crimes.
The chieftain, who is also the APC North West Organising Secretary, said criminals were taking advantage of the country’s porous borders to terrorise border communities.
Daura told  newsmen last Thursday, that recent attack on border communities by bandits in Sandamu and Mai’adua Local Governments in Katsina State, was worrisome and requires reinforcement of security to the borders.
The armed bandits attacked Rijiyar Tsamiya village in Sandamu Local Government, killing a businessman, Alhaji Ado Kero, a week ago.

Kogi
Ijumu Local Government Administrator, Alhaji Taufiq Isa, standing trial over alleged assassination attempt on Sen. Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West) said he never sent anybody to attack the Senator.
Isa disclosed this in his written statement tendered before Justice Aromeh Akogwu, Resident High Court Judge, Kabba, sitting in Lokoja  at the resumed hearing of the case last Thursday.
The prosecution tendered the statement as exhibit at the resumed hearing of the case of culpable homicide and conspiracy preferred against the accused and four others.
The council boss said he did not send anybody and neither knew the people that allegedly attacked the senator.

Kwara
The management of the University of Ilorin, last Thursday, warned students of the institution, particularly female students, against walking alone in dark alleys at night.
The Registrar of the University, Mr Dada Obafemi, said the management had observed that many students were not careful enough about their personal security and safety rules while on the campus.
“Reports reaching management indicate that students, particularly female students, walk alone at night and in the early hours of the day between 12.00 midnight and 4.00 a.m.
“Many students have been seen walking alone in dark alleys, through the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Works Department to the road linking the Bank area at night, not minding the risks involved”, he added.

Lagos
The police have arraigned  a 25 year -old man, Leonard Akoji , who  allegedly  stole a laptop worth N180,000 from one Mr Benjamin Nwobi, his friend.
The accused,  whose address is unknown, was docked in a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, where he is facing a charge of stealing.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Akpan Ikem, told the court that the accused committed the offence at No 6, Hundeyin Street, Badagry on July 4.
He said the Apple laptop belonged to his friend, who is the complainant.

Nasarawa
A Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State, last Thursday, sentenced an 18-year-old man, Victor Yakubu, to 18 months imprisonment for stealing a cell phone valued at N27,500.
The convict, who is a generator repairer, was sentenced as he pleaded guilty to the charge.
The judge, Ibrahim Shekarau, however, gave the convict, an option of N8, 000 fine, and warned him to be of good behaviour.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. Hamen Donald, told the court that the matter was reported at‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba, by one Atiku Ibrahim on June 28.

Osun
The Speaker of  Osun State House of Assembly, Mr Najeem Salaam, says the electoral defeat suffered by the All Progressives  Congress (APC) in the July 8 senatorial bye-election will  not affect the fortunes  of the party.
Salaam,  in a statement issued last Thursday in Osogbo  by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Goke Butika, described the defeat as  an electoral set back and a wake-up call.
The speaker, who said the development would strengthen  the APC  for  future elections, promised that all the loopholes identified during the poll  would be critically addressed.
The APC caucus in the assembly, he said, however, passed  a vote of confidence on Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
Salaam said the enduring achievements of the governor in the areas of education, security, infrastructure and health could not be ignored.

Oyo
The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Oyo State has appealed to all members  irrespective of factional affiliation to unite and work towards the success of  the party in future elections.
The Publicity Secretary of   the PDP in  the state, Mr Ismaila Asipa, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
He was reacting to the Supreme Court judgment which declared Sen.  Ahmed Makarfi  as  the authentic National Chairman of the party.
Asipa  urged all PDP members to see the judgment as a victory for all.

Plateau
The Plateau State Government announced last Thursday that appointed local government councillors would only be entitled to sitting allowances.
“Appointed local government councillors will only be entitled to sitting allowances; they will sit just once in a week and be paid the allowances for that sitting. No more salaries,” Governor Simon Lalong stated in Jos.
The governor, who spoke at an APC stakeholders meeting in Mangu, said that the step was part of measures to cut the cost of governance in view of the current economic recession.
Represented by his Deputy, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, the governor confirmed that interim management committees would soon be appointed for the 17 local governments to replace those sacked on June 29.

Sokoto
Councillors in Sokoto North Local Government of Sokoto State have denied plotting to impeach the Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim.
The councillors made the denial when they spoke to newsmen in Sokoto, last Thursday, while reacting to social media posts on the alleged impeachment plot.
Postings in the social media alleged that eight out of the 11 councillors had signed impeachment notice to remove the chairman.
Speaking on the matter, the Councillor representing Sarkin Musulmi, “B” ward, Alhaji Abdullahi Sidi, said,” there was never any plan to impeach the chairman.