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Efforts by the government of the south-western state of Ondo to broker a truce between Ijaws and Ilajes took a dip on Tuesday after representatives of the two feuding communities failed to attend a meeting called by Deputy Governor Afolabi Iyantan, `The Guardian' daily in Lagos reported on Wednesday.
The meeting had been called after some 16 people were killed and another 20 reported missing in fighting that broke out on Thursday in the Ondo town of Akure.
Round-the-clock police patrols
The federal government has approved 2.52 billion naira (US $26.6 million dollars) for the police and ordered the force to begin 24-hour patrols in the capital, Abuja, and in Lagos. The money will go toward buying vehicles and communication and security equipment, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) announced on Wednesday. Government took the measure in response to an increase in violent crime since Obasanjo's inauguration on 29 May.
Sharia in Zamfara
The government of the northern state of Zamfara has introduced the Shar'ia (Islamic law), but Governor Ahmed Sani Yerima said the existing legal system would continue to operate, NTA reported on Tuesday. Yerima assured non-Muslims that the state would continue to provide protection and social welfare programmes.
Better roads
The federal cabinet has approved the construction or completion of four major roads in an attempt to inject new life into Nigeria's economy.
The second phase of a ring-road bypass in the northern city of Kano will cost 1.1 billion naira (US $10.6 million).
An asphalt overlay for the road between Hadedja and Gawanyi, also in the north, will cost 230.3 million naira (US $2.4 million).
Emergency repairs costing 314.7 million naira ($3.3 million) will be made to the Otta-Abeokuta road in the west with the funding coming from tolls.
Phase one of the Benin-Asaba highway, especially the 40-km Benin-Olege stretch - will be completed at the cost of 2.9 billion naira. (US $30.6 million).
Government warns groups against terrorising others
Government said on Tuesday that it would match with equal force any militant ethnic association trying to terrorise other citizens of the country. It was reacting to reports of recent killings allegedly carried out by persons identified as members of the Oodua People's Congress.
Nigeria has been wracked by inter-communal violence including from ethnic-based groups challenging government and state authority in a bid to gain the recognition of their rights.
Free health care
Osun State Governor Adebisi Akande said on Wednesday that his administration would initiate a free health care programme costing more than 1.93 billion naira ($20.4 million).
Speaking at the official launch of the health policy, he said over 40 million naira ($422,000) had been earmarked for recurrent expenditure, drugs and consumables on a monthly basis.
Substantial sums would be regularly earmarked for capital expenditure and infrastructural upgrading of health services, he said.
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Item: irin-english-1693
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Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 1999
Subscriber: afriweb@sas.upenn.edu Keyword: IRIN
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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