Abuja

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, says that she has no plan to contest in the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State.

A statement signed by Dr Levi Ajuonuma, the Group General Manager (Public Affairs) of NNPC, on Wednesday in Abuja, described the speculation about the minister’s intention to contest in the polls in some quarters as baseless.

“The publication is not only misleading but it is 360 degrees different from the reality on ground.

“The fact is that Alison-Madueke is seriously occupied with the ongoing reform agenda in the oil and gas industry, which is an integral part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation programme,’’ the statement said.

Jigawa

The National Association of Jigawa State Students (NAJISS) has concluded arrangements to begin extra lessons for secondary school students to halt mass failure in examinations in the state.

The President of NAJISS, Malam Ibrahim Sule, said during a courtesy call on the Chairman, Yankwashi Local Government, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, that the association was worried by the failures recorded by the students, especially in WAEC and NECO examinations.

Sule said the gesture would complement the efforts of the Jigawa Government and other stakeholders in reducing examination failures and revamping the education sector in general.

Kaduna

National and State Assembly Election and Petitions Tribunal in Kaduna has concluded the recounting of votes for seven local government areas under Kaduna North Senatorial District.

Makarfi, the immediate former senator representing Kaduna North Senatorial District, is challenging the return of Sen Yusuf Datti by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the April polls for the district.

Makarfi is alleging electoral malpractice which included ballot boxes stuffing by the CPC and other criminal activities which were a violation of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

To prove the allegations of ballot box stuffing contained in his petition, Makarfi tendered 53 ballot boxes for the seven local government areas.

Kano

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain in Kano State Gambo Dan-Pass on Tuesday called on governors in the northern part of the country to focus on youth empowerment to check the growing rate of unemployment in the region.

He said: “There is an urgent need for governors in the north to concentrate on job creation to reduce redundancy, frustration, restiveness and poverty among our youths.”

Dan-Pass told newsmen in Kano that empowering the youth was necessary if the region was to make any appreciable progress in economic growth and development.

“If the north is to make significant progress in economic development, our leaders must empower the teeming number of unemployed youth that are parading our streets,” he said.

Kebbi

The Bagudo Local Government in Kebbi has earmarked N45.6 million for the construction of a veterinary clinic to curtail animal diseases.

The Sole Administrator, Alhaji Samaila Bagudo, told newsmen in Bagudo on Monday that the large concentration of herdsmen in the area had exposed 20,000 livestock to various diseases.

He added that when completed the centre would also facilitate rapid response to outbreak of animal diseases.

Bagudo reiterated the determination of the council to provide adequate livestock drugs for the health of the animals, pointing out that the council would embark on awareness campaign to educate herdsmen on symptoms of livestock diseases and how to prevent them.

Kwara

The Kwara Government says it has started payment of compensation to more than 700 people, whose land were acquired for the new Government Reservation Area at Budo-Osho, Ilorin.

The Director-General of the state Bureau of Lands, Mr Tope Daramola, told newsmen in Ilorin that payment would commence on Wednesday at the premises of the Bureau for Lands in Ilorin.

Daramola pointed out that those to be compensated included customary land owners, landed property owners, developers and other interest on the plots of land acquired.

He said, “A breakdown of the list of beneficiaries as contained in the list shows that 17 customary land owners, 21 plantation owners, 46 property owners and 143 land purchasers are to benefit.

“Prominent families on the list of beneficiaries include the Budo Osho, Awesu Adepoju,Alagbon, Agbaje, Budo Tapa, Bayero and Dikko families.”

Lagos

Dr Ish-aq Akintola, an Islamic scholar and university lecturer, says the Federal Government’s devotion of “a meagre six per cent” of the nation’s budget to education in the country is not encouraging.

Akintola told newsmen in Lagos that the government as well as school owners, needed to show more commitment to the provision of qualitative education.

“What do you expect from a human developing sector of the economy to which only six percent of the budget was allocated?‘’

Akintola urged the government to accede to the UNESCO’s recommendation that developing countries should devote 26 per cent of their budget to education.

“Acceding to the UNESCO’S recommendation would allow proper training of teachers, provision of basic educational facilities, funding of research programmes and other basic necessities required for educational development.’’

Nasarawa

The Osana of Keana in Nasarawa, Sen. Emmanuel Oyatikpo- Elayo on Tuesday honoured the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Vice Chairman, North Central, Mr Yusuf Ayitogo and six illustrious sons of the area with traditional titles.

Our correspondent reports that Ayitogo was honoured with the title of Ubangarin Keana, while Amese Ogiri and Sabo Ari were given the titles of Bunu and Majin of Keana Kingdom respectively.

Other sons honoured include Mr Amegwa Aritogo as the Okinawe Kha-Keana, Mr Idi Orume-Sabo as the Magajin-Gari Karama of Keana, Mr Jerry Woziri-Elayo as Oyiahosa Kha of Keana and Abiri Owuntoshi as the Leke Kha of Keana.

Speaking at a brief ceremony, the Osana of Keana said that the traditional institution honoured those who had contributed to the Keana Kingdom, the state and country and indeed humanity.

Sokoto

Sheik Yusuf Alibawa, a Sokoto State based Islamic scholar, on Monday tasked politicians to eschew violence in their activities, to maintain the state’s peaceful environment.

Alibawa told newsmen in Sokoto that there was a need for politicians to always exhibit high sense of political maturity during and after the 2012 governorship election in the state.

He urged political leaders to evolve methods that would end violence and thuggery among the political class.

“They must sensitise their followers to realise that seeking elective positions must not be seen as a do-or-die affair.”

Aliwaba also called on parents not to allow their children to be used as political thugs during and after the polls.

Zamfara

A total of 1,007 prospective pilgrims from Zamfara have been transported to Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj.

Alhaji Yakubu Mafara, spokesman of the state pilgrims Welfare Agency, announced this in Gusau in an interview with newsmen.

He said the pilgrims were from Anka, Maradun and Gummi Local Government Areas.

He urged the next batch to depart on Wednesday to arrive at the airport on time for necessary procedure.

Mafara expressed the hope that the 5,857 pilgrims from the state would be transported without any hitch.

He urged them to be law abiding and ensure that their conduct in Saudi Arabia was guided by the country’s laws.