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Kano

Kano State Government has urged the State board of Internal Revenue to find ways of generating more funds to augment its receipts from the Federal Government.

The State Commissioner for projects, monitoring and evolution, Alhaji Ibrahim Garba said at a meeting with officials of the board that the effort became necessary in the light of short falls in funds that the state received from the federation account.

Speaking through a statement from the office of the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate in Kano the commissioner urged the board to support the government to successfully execute its programme.

 

Sokoto

 

Sokoto state government has sacked Alhaji Isa Bajini the ‘Galadima Garri who is a senior councilor in the sultanate councilor Bajini was also relieved of his membership of the state council of chiefs.

This information was contained in a statement signed by Malam Sani Umar the Media Assistant to Governor Aliyo Wamakko.

The statement said the state government and the sultanate council were only responding to the yearnings and aspiration of the people.

 

Taraba

 

Shelter Development Nigeria Limited has called on Taraba State Government to ensure adequate maintenance of the Jolly Nyame International Sprots Complex in Jalingo.

The call was made by a representative of the company’s managing director, Engr. Mohammed Tahir, at the finale handing over of the sports complex to the state Government by the company.

According to him, the complex has modern sporting facilities, and can seat 16,000 people. He said with the finale completion and handing over, of the project to the state government, Taraba can now  serve as a hosting centre to any international sports event in the country.

 

Zamfara State

 

The Zamfara State Zakkat Endowment board has set aside N91 million for the construction of 28 schools to facilitate educational development among less privileged communities in the state.

The Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Atiku Sani Maradun, said on Thursday in Bungudu during presentation of cash donations to some less privileged that five out of the 28 schools have been completed at a cost of N16.2 million.

He gave the benefitting communities, as Madidi in Bungudu, Yargadaje in Zurmi, Jangeru in Shinkafi, Abarma in Gusau and Mabangala in Talata Mafara Local Government councils of the state.

He said the second phase of the project would cover Tsafe, Kauran Namoda, Maru Maradun and Anka Local Governments and is expected to be completed with in the next six months.

He said that the project was conceived out of the desire to encourage indigent communities to learn both Islamic and western education through the conventional school system.

The schools he said would be handed over to the communities under the supervision of the Ministry for Religious Affairs after completion, for proper co-ordination and guidance.

He also said that the board has contributed N15m to orphans and physically challenged persons under its small scale business support scheme across the state.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Mahmuda Shinlkafi commended the board for its commitment to the welfare of their professional responsibility to the society.

While speaking at the occasion, senior environmental officer with KEPA, Mrs Maureen Oyedoja, expressed satisfaction and commended the ACPN members for willingly destroying the expired drugs.

 

Ogun

 

Pro Chancellor of the Olabisi Onobanjo University (DOU), Ago Iwoye Ogun State otunba Alex Onabanjo has attributed the rot in the university system to the lack of managerial exposure and training of successive vice chancellors.

Speaking as the guest lecturer in the maiden public lecture of the correspondents chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ibadan, Onabonjo decried the politicisation and ethnicisation in the appointments of vice chancellors and the constitution of governing councils of the nation universities stating that merit and vision have been sacrificed.

In the lecture entitled “Taking the public universities to the next level, the managerial challenged, Onabonjo said that politicisation of the appointments have robbed many universities of purposeful leadership.

He advised both the federal and state governments to always look for individuals who are successful in the business world to complement whatever theoretical knowledge academic and non academic members possess.

According to him, the primordial considerations has led to the emergence of universities leadership that lacked managerial abilities, purpose and vision complement the ideal of the founding fathers of tertiary education in the country.

 

Kaduna

 

Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) in partnership with the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) have destroyed expired drugs and related products worth N2.9 million.

Speaking shortly after the destruction the chairman of ACPN, Kaduna State chapter, Mr Alphonsus Okoye said that the products destroyed included anti-cancer drugs, anti-biotics, anti-malaria, cough preparations and analgesics, among others.

He further explained that the expired drugs and related products were submitted to the association by its members to be destroyed based on the demands of pharmacy ethics.

According to him “this is an annual exercise aimed at safeguarding the health of  the public by preventing them from accessing expired drug products.”

Okoye appealed to the government at all levels of always patronize registered pharmacies for their drugs so as to avoid buying expired ones and also called on the management of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to ensure that Nigerians access drugs only from  NHIS accredited pharmacies.

He also advised pharmacist to continue to submit expired drugs to the association for destruction  as part of their professional responsibility to the society.

While speaking at the occasion, senior Environmental officer with KEPA, Mrs Maureen Oyedoja, expressed satisfaction and commended the ACPN members for willingly destroying the expired drugs.

 

Lagos

 

Worried by the menance of land speculators (Omonile), the Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the State Security Service (SSS) to assist the government in arresting the trend, especially around Ikorodu.

Speaking at the weekend when he and other members of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, visited the Director of SSS, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, the committee chair, Hon. Ipoola Omisore, said the activities of the land speculators could throw the state into chaos.

“We need to look at the Ikorodu axis on the Omonile issue; it is very explosive and capable of causing crisis in the state,” Omisore said.

He spoke on the need for state police to enhance security.

Replying, Abubakar said the service recognised the importance of legislature and was prepared to enhance security.

“We share information with various states and federal agencies to aid the security situation not only in Lagos but throughtout the country,” Abubakar said.

On land speculators, the Director said it was within the purview of the outfit and “and we have been doing a lot about that and we are sure that by God’s grace we shall surmount”.

Abubakar praised the state government for its support for the security agencies, adding “we will continue to do our best to improve the situation.

 

Oyo

 

Oyo State Commissioner for establishment and poverty Alleviation, Jeleel Agboola has stressed the need for skill acquisition among women, describing it as a veritable tool for driving away hunger and creating sustainable employment among the womenfolk.

Agboola who said this at a poverty reduction workshop also urged for attitudinal change among the womenfolk, if the effort of the government to reduce poverty must have the desired effect.

The commissioner also urged the womenfolk and the youths to embrace acquisition and thus become self reliant, stressing that the focus on women was deliberate due to their sensitive nature and home support.

“Women constitute a large percentage of the population of this state and playing significant economic roles in the family as opposed to the past when they are limited to just taking care of children.”

In her goodwill message, of the event, the wife of the Oyo State Governor Mrs Oluwakami Alao-Alala lamented the second class role being conferred on the women by political office holders in the country, insisting that they constitute an important stake in the democratic project of the country.

“Clearly, empowering women through capacity building is on essential step to confronting the challenges of poverty and hunger” she said.

 

Abuja

 

The South South parliamentary caucus in the House of Representatives, has urged the federal Government not be in a haste to withdraw the Joint Military Taskforce ( JTF) deploy to the Niger Delta until it has been fully ascertained that there were no armed  groups anymore in the region.

Secretary to the caucus Hon. Daniel Reyenieja said there should be a limit to the amount of pressure interest groups can bring upon government when it comes to issue of national security.

Reyenieju who spoke to newsmen in Abuja said that every Nigerian should applaud the amnesty programme and the success achieved so for, stressing that urging for the immediate withdrawal of the military from the region w’re doing so move out of the euphoria of the moment than out of the knowledge of the red security situation in the region.

“This is a national security issue and we cannot force the federal government to take certain decisions without considering their implications.

The decision to disown the militant groups was taken by the government in the best interest of the citizenry and as such when the peace has been achieved, to a relative height, government knows what to do.

He also said that the Niger Delta is so vast and so polarized that there are certain parks of the region that would not want the military to move out yet, because of the peculiar security situation prevalent in such places over the years.

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FG Restates Commitment To Seafarers’ Welfare, Safety

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The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing the safety of the seafaring profession and upgrading maritime institutions to international standards.
Speaking at the 2025 World Seafarers’ Day celebration in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, organised by NIMASA, with the theme, “My Harassment-Free Ship.
He said that this year’s theme “speaks to our collective duty to make every ship a safe and respectful workplace noting that harassment and bullying have no place in our maritime industry.
The Minister further emphasised the importance of continuous training and retraining to ensure seafarers remain competitive and employable.
Also speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari, emphasised that seafarers are the backbone of international trade, facilitating the smooth transportation of goods and services across the globe.
He stressed the need to eliminate all forms of violence, harassment, and bullying against seafarers.
In his welcome address, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, emphasised the need for the maritime community to prioritise the welfare, safety of seafarers and maintain zero tolerance for harassment.
According to the DG, “Today provides opportunity for the Maritime Community to honor seafarers globally for their immense contribution to both domestic and international trade, powering the blue economy and connecting nations across oceans”.
He said that this year’s theme was particularly apt, as it was a call to action to “ensure that our seafarers feel safe, are valued and protected while at sea because the ship is not just their place of work; it is their temporary home. It must therefore reflect the highest standards of dignity and professionalism fostering zero tolerance for harassment”.
He declared that NIMASA must continue to play its part in ensuring that Nigeria contributes effectively to regulations affecting seafarers, as Nigeria remains the highest contributor of seafarers in Africa. “Our men and women sail on vessels in our domestic waters and also globally. This will continue to grow through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) and the effort of our Maritime Training Institutions.
‘At the recently concluded 113th session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, seven (7) amendments to the MLC 2006 code addressing a broad range of issues affecting seafarers, including the recognition of seafarers as key workers, improved protection against ship board violence and harassment, enhanced access to shore leave and repatriation and updated medical and occupational safety standards were approved by an overwhelming majority.
These seven (7) amendments reflect collective global effort to align maritime Labour standards with the evolving landscape of global shipping.
I, therefore, call on shipowners, operators and crewing agencies to begin to review their operational manuals to align with these amendments ahead of the expected entry into force in December 2027. Our seafarers must be able to report grievances without fear of retaliation, while also ensuring protection against vexations or malicious complaints.
He added that NIMASA will play its role by establishing clear policies and procedures for preventing and addressing harassment on Nigerian-flagged vessels, ensuring confidential reporting channels for incidents of harassment and that reports are thoroughly investigated and addressed.
“Today is a clear reminder to us all – government, employers, unions, shipowners, and civil society- that seafarers should not be left alone in their struggles. They look up to us to help them foster a culture of zero tolerance on ships to protect their dignity”, he stated.
He also assured that under his leadership, NIMASA will ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, particularly the renewal of entries into force by ship owners, operators, and relevant agencies come December 2027.

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Ogoni Stakeholders Hail Zabbey’s Performance

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Stakeholders drawn across the four local government areas of Ogoniland in Rivers State, have expressed delight over the excellent performance of the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof Nenibarini Zabbey within the past two years, describing him as a true patriot, who has been showing leadership in delivering service to the people.
The stakeholders, who gave the indication in their separate goodwill messages during the mid-term stakeholders engagement and scorecard presentation organised by HYPREP in Port Harcourt, scored the Project Coordinator high on the Ogoni cleanup and the overall implementation of the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
The President of KAGOTE and Board member of the Ogoni Trust Fund, Hon Emma Deeyah, particularly commended Zabbey for turning around the fortunes of the Ogoni people, as they are now having value for the money earmarked for the cleanup project, describing the Project Coordinator as “one of our best.”
He noted that Zabbey has done well on the saddle, working very hard, being an administrator and leader with listening ears, striving assiduously to meet the yearnings and expectations of the people.
He said the Ogoni cleanup is a journey that has just begun, stressing that he was happy that the Project Coordinator is not on the saddle to amass wealth but to deliver and achieve results, and appealed to the Ogoni people to continue to give him their support.
On his part, member representing Gokana/Khana Federal Constituency in the National Assembly and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Rt Hon Dumnamene Dekor, said HYPREP under the watch of Zabbey is working with renewed vigour, and thanked the Project Coordinator for driving the Ogoni cleanup project with passion.
He noted that the funds dedicated and earmarked for the project are running out, disclosing that he was working on an Executive Bill, to facilitate the work of HYPREP.
While stressing the need for the people to take full responsibility of all the projects sited in their communities, Dekor regretted that some beneficiaries had sold the starter packs presented to them by HYPREP, while the water facility provided in his Bierra community has been vandalised.
The King of Tai Kingdom, King Samuel Nnee, said HYPREP under Zabbey as Project Coordinator has been delivering on its mandate, describing him as a square peg in a square hole, who has given hope to the Ogoni people.
The monarch urged the Ogoni people to give the Project Coordinator the necessary support.
The Paramount Ruler of Barako Community and member of the Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt, Mene Kadilo Kabari, said Zabbey has always demonstrated that he is a true patriot by carrying along Ogoni people from all strata of the society, describing him as a performing Project Coordinator.
He noted that the bane of HYPREP before now had been the conflict between the Project Coordinator and the Minister of Environment, saying, under Zabbey, Ogoni people can now see what unity of purpose can achieve.
He expressed delight that the water facility which was the first commissioned by HYPREP in his community is functioning optimally following the solar-powered system installed by the Project.
The King of Eleme Kingdom, King(Dr) Philip Osaro Obelle thanked HYPREP’s management team for all that it is doing in Ogoniland, stressing that the Project was built on the graves, bellies and blood of Ogoni sons and daughters who lost their lives during the Ogoni struggle.
He, therefore, advised HYPREP “not to deviate from the expectations of our heroes but to do those things that would benefit Ogoni people for the betterment of Ogoniland.”
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Netherlands, Hon Oji Ngofa said HYPREP has been like the government of Ogoniland, and harped on the sustainability of all the projects.
According to him, Zabbey has been giving HYPREP a human face.
Former Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof Barineme Fakae applauded Zabbey for the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, and stressed the need for the implementation of the recommendations of its technical committee which recently submitted its report.
According to him, if the project succeeds, Ogoni people are going to succeed.
Chief Priscillia Vikue, on her part, thanked Zabbey for his outstanding performance, saying, the women of Ogoni are very happy with what he is doing in Ogoniland.
While scoring the Project Coordinator highly on his performance, she said the women are happy because Zabbey knows what he is doing with HYPREP.
“You went to school.You did not cut corners.You are a square peg in a square hole.You have engaged women and the youths. We have seen what you have done. And we give you A1”, she said, and challenged Zabbey to see how more women would participate in the project and also how to sustain it.
In his remarks, the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey said the mid-term engagement is important because “it allows us to present tangible evidence of progress in the Ogoni cleanup effort, reinforce accountability, deepen transparency, and most importantly, enables HYPREP to interact directly with the communities and stakeholders who are the heartbeat of this project.”
He noted that the scorecard presentation is designed to show what HYPREP has achieved across key thematic areas, what challenges it is currently grappling with, and what the road ahead looks like, saying, “it is a moment for stocktaking and for re-affirming our shared commitment to the success of the Ogoni cleanup project”.
According to him, HYPREP has recorded commendable progress in the implementation of its core mandates in line with UNEP recommendations and the directives in the official gazette establishing HYPREP.

 

Donatus Ebi

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TETFunds’ South Rep Visits CEAPOLY …Unveils Mass Communication Dept Building

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The South-South representative of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Board, Rt. Hon. Aboh Uduyok, has concluded his one-day official visit to Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Rumuola, Rivers State, with the unveiling of the Mass Communication Department classroom building. The project was executed under the 2021 TETFund intervention project.
During the unveiling of the project, Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rt. Hon. Uduyok commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to the educational sector and praised the polytechnic’s management for utilising TETFund resources judiciously.
He noted that the quality of ongoing projects met approved specifications, and expressed satisfaction with the institution’s progress.
The TETFund representative stated that his visit was aimed at familiarising himself with beneficiary schools, assess fund utilization, and identify challenges.
He assured the school management that he would convey their requests for constructing engineering works and hostel accommodations to the board and notify them of any approval.
Rt. Hon. Uduyok explained that the TETFund Board is not initiating new projects this year, except where necessary, due to presidential directives. However, he commended the institution for the commendable quality of both completed and ongoing projects.
In his welcome address, the Rector of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Dr. Moses S. Neebee, thanked the TETFund representative for visiting, and highlighted the institution’s successes and challenges. He requested support for hostel accommodations and engineering works, emphasising that a higher institution without hostels is akin to a glorified secondary school.
Dr. Neebee while briefing the visitor on the institution’s progress, noted that it currently runs 21 National Diploma programme and five Higher National Diploma courses. He disclosed that the school accessed the 2021 TETFund release in full but faced challenges with the 2023 fund due to harsh economic conditions and bid process delays, which increased project costs. The Rector pleaded for assistance in securing additional funds for the 2023 intervention release.

Akujobi Amadi

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