P10 STORIES

P10 STORIES

AROUND THE STATES

LAGOS

Land use charge: Lagos moves to prosecute defaulters

From Yahaya Ibrahim, Lagos

The Lagos State Government yesterday disclosed that it would soon start prosecuting property owners who default in the payment of Land Use Charge according to the Law.

Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi who disclosed this while addressing journalists at the Alausa Secretariat in Ikeja, also said that the state would not hesitate to seal the properties of residents who default in payment.

“Payment of Land Use Charge is a requirement of law and property tax. Defaulters will have their properties sealed and are liable to be prosecuted in court,” he said.

The Commissioner clarified the debate on who should be liable to pay Land Use Charge, stating that by law, the onus falls on land owners/landlords to pay and not the tenants.

RIVERS

River establishes traffic court

From Eyo Charles, Calabar

The Cross River State Government has established a traffic court to try traffic offenders in the state.

Special Adviser on Department of Public Transportation (DoPT), Mr. Gabriel Okulaja confirmed that the court had already arrested several offenders for trial, saying the court was established to give offenders the opportunity to defend themselves.

“There is provision for prosecution after every arrest because there is now a traffic court to give them an opportunity to present themselves before an independent assessor, not just taking the word of the traffic officer on the road. “So, if a traffic officer apprehends you, he should take you to court or you should ask to be taken to a court.

BENUE

Benue yet to benefit from FG agric loan -AFAN

From Hope Abah, Makurdi

Farmers in Benue State have said that they are yet to benefit from the federal government’s agricultural loan for this year’s farming season.

State chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Aondona Hembe Kula told our correspondent in Makurdi that the association had not been enlightened about the process involved in acquiring the loan.

“The state government has asked us to forward the names of registered farmers which we have done. We are still waiting,” he said.

BAUCHI

Bauchi partners StarTimes on digitisation

From Balarabe Alkassim, Bauchi ?

The Bauchi State Government has signed an agreement with the StarTimes group for the digitisation of the state-owned media outfits.

The Special Assistant on Communications to Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, Shamsuddeen Lukman Abubakar said in a statement that the governor who was on a working visit to China met with the President of Startimes Group, Mr. Pang Xin Xing to discuss the deal.

The statement said several collaborative issues were discussed at the meeting, including the proposed digitisation of the Bauchi State Television Authority (BATV ) and the Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC).

NASARAWA

Nasarawa to prosecute perpetrators of crisis

From Hassan Ibrahim, Lafia

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has expressed his administration’s commitment to make perpetrators of crisis face the full wrath of the law.

Addressing the warring communities of Agwan Mamman, Dadare and Tudun

Adabu Obi local government areas of the state during a working visit to the areas in order to ascertain the level of destruction to enable government provide emergency relief to the victims, the governor urged the affected communities to lay down their swords and allow peace in the state.

Clashes had erupted last week in the communities of Agwan Mamman, Dadare and Tudun Adabu after a land dispute between the Eggon and Gwandara ethnic groups, resulting in death of six people and

scores of houses set ablaze.

JIGAWA

Jigawa flags off fertilizer sales for farmers

From Aliyu M. Hamagam, Dutse

The Jigawa State Government has flagged off the sale of assorted fertilizer at subsidized rate of N3,000 per bag to farmers for this year’s irrigation farming season.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Kabiru Ali, made this known over the weekend after the flagging off exercise in Dutse, saying the delay in distribution of the fertilizer for irrigation farming was as a result of a census carried out to ensure all eligible farmers benefit from the subsidized product.

He added that the state procured 1,600 metric tons of assorted fertilizer for sale to Fadama farmers who are operating under a cluster system. He said, “The fertilizer will be sold at subsidized rate of N3,000 per bag to the farmers.

SOKOTO

Sokoto to provide 106m gallons of water daily

From Abubakar Auwal, Sokoto

Sokoto State will soon provide 106 million gallons of water daily as the N7.5 billion on-going water projects are at various stages of completion.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources, Alhaji Garba S. Kudu who was briefing newsmen in his office yesterday said that the projects were between 80 to 90 per cent completion.

The total water requirement of the state is 60 million gallons, but Kudu said they were targeting 106 million gallons at the end of the projects.

He lamented the epileptic power supply and alarming rate of illegal connections which he said hinder supply, assuring that they were working round the clock to address the problems.

C/RIVER

Cross River insists on refund for mending federal roads

From Eyo Charles, Calabar

The Federal Government and the government of Cross River State are currently quarrelling over the latter’s claim of N34 billion for the repairs of federal roads in the state in the past few years.

The Federal Government has approved only N4 billion to be paid as refund to Cross River State, and even then only the sum of N250 million has been released and the minister of works is apparently reluctant over settling the claims.

Commissioner for works in the state, Dane Osim-Asu who said this, stressed that the demand for the compensation is their right for rehabilitating federal roads. “The state has defended its claims before the National Assembly Committee on Works and Finance which investigated the claim,” the commissioner said, adding that the state needed the refund to plough back to repair “more of the very terrible federal roads” in the state.

OGUN

Ogun presents world’s tallest drum

From Kehinde Akinyemi, Abeokuta

Ogun State is set to make a public presentation of the world’s tallest drum, as the first music festival kicks off today.

Nineteen states of the federation and about 10 foreign countries, including Germany and China, have shown interest to participate in the three-day festival, which is expected to showcase all types of drums from the country and beyond.

The state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipo said at a news conference yesterday that the tallest known drum which is about 16 feet, produced by an indigene of the state, is to be unveiled. “The 16ft drum has been born and we shall christen it tomorrow,” he said.