Bauchi

A cross section of Bauchi residents have advised Governor Isa Yuguda to ensure the completion of all ongoing projects he initiated.

The residents, in separate interviews with newsmen in Bauchi on Monday, advised the governor to appoint credible persons into various positions during his second term.

Alhaji Sufiyanu Maisalati, the Chairman, Justice Party, urged the governor to ensure the monitoring and supervision of ongoing projects.

Maisalati, who is also the Leader of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in the state, urged Yuguda to sanction erring officials and adhere to laid down procedures in project execution.

Also speaking, Alhaji Abubakar Musa, the Secretary-General of the Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation, Bauchi State chapter, advised the governor to select credible people and those with experience as members of his cabinet.

Borno

The Police in Borno State said on Monday that it had received information about an impending attack by some suspected Boko Haram members in the state.

A statement signed by the Police spokesman, Malam Lawal Abdullahi, in Maiduguri said:“We wish to inform the public that we have received an intelligence report on possible attacks.

“Some fundamentalists have decided to launch an attack on the good people of Borno State.

“The group and other social miscreants have decided to team up with some politicians to terrorise the good people of the state, using the leadership of a dangerous sect from neighbouring Yobe State.’’

The statement added that the Police Command had already mapped out strategies to counter the attacks.

“The command has set modalities and mechanisms in motion to track down these miscreants for immediate arrest and prosecution,’’ the statement added.

Ekiti

Medical practitioners in Ekiti are set to begin routine treatment of common ailments in rural communities free of charge.

Dr Abiola Omodan, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors, University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Ado-Ekiti, disclosed this on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti at the maiden edition of the association’s annual lecture titled “Medical Ethics in the Face of Emerging Medical Legal Issues in Nigeria’’.

Omodan said that the initiative was aimed at complementing government’s efforts toward providing adequate healthcare for the people.

He explained that one of the objectives of the association was to promote improved healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

The guest lecturer, Chef Afe Babalola (SAN), called for public private participation in the management of the nation’s health scheme.

FCT

Bilateral ties between Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago are to be strengthened in the area of children and maternal health following talks between the First Ladies of the two nations.

Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, gave this indication on Monday in Abuja when she received in audience the First Lady of Trinidad and Tobago, Mrs Jean Ramjohn-Richards.

Jonathan said the passion shared by both countries in the area of care for women, children and the indigent would enable them to explore several areas of mutual benefit.

“I believe your coming will afford us an opportunity to explore mutual areas of interest as we both have passion for the welfare of women, children and the less privileged in the society.

Jigawa

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa has called for concerted efforts between Nigeria and Niger to tackle border security challenges.

Lamido made the call when he received the governor of Danmagaram, Alhaji Umar Isiyaka, and that of Maradi, Alhaji Ahmed Sidi in Niger Republic, who paid him a courtesy visit on Monday in Dutse.

The two governors were in the state to grace his inauguration ceremony for the second term.

Lamido stressed the need for the governors of states that share borders to address the security challenges in  the border towns.

Kaduna

Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State has reiterated his administration’s determination to provide basic amenities to the people as soon as possible.

He made the promise in Kaduna while inspecting the ongoing Malali water project in the metropolis.

Yakowa, who was conducted round the project by its Manager, Malam Kabiru Ahmed, directed the management to furnish his office with details of the project and the level of its performance in water supply to consumers in the metropolis.

He directed the management to supply detailed information of its daily supply coverage and the challenges it faces for immediate attention.

Ahmed had earlier told Yakowa that the water supply was constrained by inadequate power supply, adding that the water works currently supplies only 50 per cent of its installed capacity.

Lagos

An NGO, the International Human Rights Watch has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to take immediate steps to address the issue of violence in some parts of the country.

A statement signed by Mr Eric Guttschuss, the group’s Researcher on Nigeria, stated that the organisation was worried about the many violent happenings in the country.

In the statement, on Monday in Lagos, the group also urged the President to address some human rights problems in the country as well as the “endemic” corruption.

“Post-presidential-election riots and sectarian killings in April left more than 800 people dead in northern Nigeria, while inter-communal, political and sectarian violence have claimed more than 15,700 lives since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999.

“The ruling elite squandered and siphoned the nation’s tremendous oil revenues, while neglecting basic health and education services for the vast majority of ordinary citizens.

Niger

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger  State has promised to review the salaries of traditional rulers to boost their morale.

Aliyu gave the assurance in Minna while receiving the Niger State Council of  Traditional Rulers.

According to him, the traditional rulers deserve an enhanced salary package.

Aliyu said the government had set up a committee to look into the demand for the upward review of the salaries for traditional rulers, including the district and village heads.

The governor noted the important role traditional rulers played in governance.

“The people trust the traditional rulers more than politicians. Even if we give directives, the people go for validation by them,” he said.

Aliyu said that government would strengthen the traditional institutions so that the government could benefit from their influence in implementing policies and programmes.

Plateau

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) says it requires at least N70 billion to fix the nation’s roads.

Mr Ifeanyi Nweke, FERMA Maintenance Engineer in Plateau, told newsmen in Jos on Monday that the nation’s roads were in bad state and required urgent attention.

“There is so much work to be done, but the funds are lacking,’’ Nweke said, adding that the N70 billion figure was arrived at after a careful study.

He said that the agency was working hard to ascertain the causes of the failure of the roads so as to minimise the incidence.

“Preliminary findings blame the situation on the quantum of loads that ply the roads on a daily basis. “Our roads are constructed to carry loads not above 42 tonnes, but the failure of our rail system has given us no other option,’’ he said.

Other factors responsible for the sad state of the roads, he said, included the fact that the roads were constructed a long time ago.

Sokoto

Sokoto government has trained more than 30,000 youths in various vocational trades in the past three years, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, the Commissioner for Youths, Social Welfare and Sports has said.

Aliyu disclosed this in Sokoto on Sunday at an occasion to commemorate Governor Aliyu Wamakko’s three years in office.

He said that some of the youths were now gainfully employed, while others, who are now self-reliant, had become employers of labour.

Aliyu said the 30,000 youths were trained in various vocations, including ICT, agriculture and other skills.

In addition, he said the youths were given working tools and take-off grants free on graduation, to assist them in establishing their own businesses.

“The youths should, however, reciprocate this noble gesture by being law abiding and patriotic because without peace, there will be no meaningful socio-economic development,’’ he said.

Zamfara

The Zurmi Emirate Council in Zamfara state has announced the withdrawal of  traditional titles from six eminent members.

A statement by the Secretary of the council, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, listed Col Bala Mande (rtd), a former military Governor of Nassarawa State and one time Minister of Environment, among the personalities affected.

Mande, who contested for the Governorship position under the PDP in 1999 but lost to Ahmad Sani Yarima, was the state coordinator of President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign.

Until the development, Mande held the title of Chiroman Zurmi, a title traditionally reserved for heirs to the throne.

Other prominent personalities affected included Alhaji Aliyu Na-Allah, the Chairman of the state Civil  Service Commission, who held the title of Walin Zurmi and hitherto Baraden Zurmi; Alhaji Isyaku Mohammed,  the immediate past Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.