Adamawa

Unidentified gunmen on Tuesday in Mubi, Adamawa, killed a police officer, Cpl. Jubril Abdulkarim.

A resident, Malam Idi Baba, told newsmen that the incident occurred at about 6 a.m. at Wuro-Gude area of Mubi.

Baba said the police officer was riding on a motorcycle when he was killed by the gunmen several metres away from the town’s abattoir.

“I was on bed and heard gunshots in the early morning hours. Later, some butchers at the slaughter house told us that they saw the dead body of a motorcyclist near the river,” the resident told newsmen

The Adamawa Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Altine Daniel, confirmed the incident, saying that the policeman was killed on his way home after night duty in one of the banks in the area.

Bauchi

A physician with the Bauchi State Specialist Hospital, Dr Ahmad Panti has advised members of the public to use face masks for protection against communicable diseases during the harmattan period.

Panti told newsmen on Tuesday in Bauchi that the chances of contacting such diseases were high as winds would blow in all directions at this season.

“It is most likely for people to contact communicable diseases easily as we inhale the air that blows in all directions; as such, people should imbibe the habit of using facial mask.

“Meningitis, for example, can also be contacted because this sickness also exists during harmattan and not in the hot season alone. So people should protect themselves from contacting such diseases.”

The physician also advised parents to take proper care of their children by wrapping them in warm clothing all the time to protect them from catching pneumonia and asthma.

FCT

Concerned about the current insecurity in the country, Nigerian women have been urged to play watchdog roles in their communities.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, made the call  at the Nigerian Women Stakeholders’ Forum.

The forum had as its theme, “Women: Bridge Builders, Peacemakers.’’

“The issue of security is our collective responsibility; it is not one man’s business.

“You have to keep your eyes and ears open, to take note and report suspicious things to the Police as peacemakers in your communities.”

She explained that through personal interactions, information that could endanger people’s life could filter into their ears, which required that such matters were reported to the law enforcement agents.

“It is in the nature of women to talk to one another and so when you hear or notice anything that is out of place in your communities, please report it.

Kaduna

The Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, has lauded the Nigerian Labour Movement and the Federal Government for the peaceful resolution of the issues which led to the nationwide strike.

Idris made the commendation in Zaria on Monday when he received a group of Zaria-based journalists who paid him a courtesy call in his palace.

He said the strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had not only affected the government but the entire country.

“I want to appeal for more public enlightenment on government policies and programmes, especially those that have direct bearing on the common man,’’ the royal father said.

Idris, who is the Chairman, Kaduna State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, also called on Nigerians to embrace one another regardless of religious, ethnic and political differences.

“This will help to pave way for national growth and development,’’ he said.

The emir advised the country’s traditional institutions to sensitise their subjects on the need to contribute towards ensuring the safety of lives and property of non-indigenes living amongst them.

“Such a situation will allow for mutual trust to prevail among Nigerians,’’ he said.

Kogi

Residents of Lokoja in Kogi, have appealed to the Federal Government to slash the price of petrol further to make the commodity affordable to Nigerians.

The residents told newsmen in Lokoja on Monday that President Goodluck Jonathan should exhibit further magnanimity as the nation’s President by reducing the price of fuel to N70.

According to them, the removal of subsidy on premium motor spirit will cause more hardship to Nigerians as many factors will play themselves out.

A recharge card seller at Adankolo area of the city Mrs Saudatu Usman said that the removal of the subsidy since the beginning of January had plunged the people into unprecedented hardships.

A metal fabricator, Mr Goddy Achem, commended the Federal Government for deeming fit to review the price from N141 to N97 but noted that there was still need for a further slash as the informal sector of the economy would be the hardest hit.

A banker, Mr Mafo Elukpor, said that the current pump price had put many families in financial difficulty, noting that the gains to the federal, state and local governments were far less than the pains.

Lagos

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says it will force filling stations that have petroleum product, to sell at approved pump prices.

Operations Controller in Lagos/ Ogun Zonal Office, Mr Gbenga Koku told newsmen in Lagos  that the agency had directed its surveillance teams to visit filling stations.

Koku said that any station that failed to sell petroleum products at the approved rates would be shut down immediately.

“We are going to ensure that any station that has petroleum products sell to customers.

“Our position is to clear all queues and ensure that stations sell petrol at the pump price rate of N97 per litre,’’ he said.

The DPR boss, however, said that many filling stations were closed because they lacked products, stressing that many stations had not received products since the strike started.

“Most filing stations have ran out of stock and we expect that before the week runs out, they will have products,” he said.

Nasarawa

The Parish Priest of St. John Catholic Church, Mararaba, near Abuja, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Patrick has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for effecting a reduction in the pump price of petroleum from N141 to N97 as demanded by Nigerians.

He told newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday that the reduction was a demonstration of the fact that the president meant well for the country.

Patrick also commended the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for calling off the strike, and urged Nigerians to take advantage of the various palliative measures announced by the Federal Government.

Niger

Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu,  has raised a 13-member committee to assess the extent of damage to public and private property during the January 11 riot by youths protesting the removal of fuel subsidy in the country.

The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Danladi Abdulhameed, told newsmen in Minna on Tuesday that the governor gave the committee two weeks to submit its report.

The committee, headed by the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Yahaya Dansallau, is expected to visit the affected places to assess the damage to property by the rioting youth and speak to the owners or managers of such property.

Abdulhameed said the governor had expressed shock at the damage done to the property, “and he is committed to

bringing succour to the owners of the property’’.

He, however, commended the youth of Kapkungu Ward in Minna for coming out to protect the two roundabouts in the area from the arsonists and urged other youths to emulate their good example by protecting government property in their midst.

Sokoto

The Head of Political Science Department, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, Dr. Sule Kano has urged the Federal Government to provide essential facilities for the nation’s security outfits.

The don told newsmen in Sokoto on Tuesday that it was only by so doing that the security operatives would be able to manage the security situation in the country without any hindrance.

“Effective communication system, decent barracks accommodation and enhanced welfare will go a long way in boosting the morale of our security officers to safeguard our hard-earned nascent democracy.”

Zamfara

Onions, a bulb vegetable widely used in a variety of cuisines for its excellent taste to dishes, is going beyond the reach of the common man in Zamfara.

A market survey in Gusau and its environs on Tuesday, showed that the commodity has been scarce in the markets.

A small basket of the commodity hitherto sold for N100 has gone up to between N500 and N600, depending on the bargaining power of the buyer and the quality.

Speaking to newsmen, Alhaji Inusa Saminu, the Chairman of sellers of perishable items in the state, said: “We can now say that onions are no longer available in the state because of the high cost.’’

Saminu said that the cost of transporting the commodity from neighbouring Sokoto and Kebbi states had become prohibitive.

He futher said exporting tomatoes and pepper from the state to other parts of the country had become a challenge.

“We cannot move tomatoes and pepper to other parts of the country especially Abuja, eastern and southern parts of the country.”

“We used to charter a Toyota Canter to transport these items from Gusau to Kano at the rate of N90,000, but the fare has increased, to over N200,000 for the same destination.”

Onion is a vegetable cultivated in almost all the countries of the world and consumed across the globe.

Not only does the vegetable lend an excellent taste to dishes, it is also associated with imparting a number of health benefits to its users.