Nation
THE STATES
Ondo
Governor Olusegu Minimko is to be honoured by the people of Ondo town during this year’s Ekimogun day celebration.
The event will take place at the Oba Adesanoye civic centre, Ondo state and unlike part editions, Miniko is sole awardees this year, a statement said, Tuesday.
According to the organisers: The 2009 Ekimogun Day celebration has been specially dedicated to Mimiko to appreciate and honour God for his election as the indigene even to become governor of the Sunshine State since its creation in 1976.
Ekimogun Day is a yearly event which started since 1987 as special day set aside by the Ondo people to celebrate their common heritage, industry and achievements.
Oyo
The Nigerian Civil Service Union (NCSU) has invited a campaign for a special salary scale for its members in the service of state government nationwide.
The union also said that ongoing labour’s demand for N52,000 minimum wage will not affect its campaign for the special salary scale.
This was disclosed by the national president of the union, Comrade Shuaib Mohammed, at the delegate’s conference of the Oyo State Council of union in Ibadan at the weekend.
New members of State Executive of the union at the conference.
His comment came as the new Oyo State Council chairman, Comrade Kehinde Oporiude, called on aggrieved members to return to the fold.
Just as medical workers, teachers and others deserve special salary scale, Mohammed said members of his union deserved special pay in view of strategic role they perform in government service delivery.
Mohammed also described the wide desparity between the salary of permanent secretaries and directors in various state ministries, saying it is a clear case of imbalance.
The union leader said a situation where permanent secretaries earn over N400,000 while their fellow directors a paltry N80,000create a feeling of cheating and dissatisfaction among senior government workers.
Ekiti
All the six South West Governors and prominent traditional rulers will meet again to fashion out means of collectively developing the zone Governor Olusegun Oni is hosting other members of the council next Tuesday at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti.
The meeting which at one time or the other had had in attendance the Ooni of Ife, the Alaafin of Oyo and chairman of traditional councils of states of the south west will at this gathering set out the modalities and programmes that can allow the political and natural rulers of the zone create a common pattern of development that would, at the end, become a vital contribution to the growth of the country.
According to the coordinator of the council, Alao Adedayo who is also the publisher of Alaroye Group of Newspaper, attempt to always bring the royal fathers together with the governor is borne out of the desire to ensure that the leaders come together, plan together and work together for the development of Yoruba land, irrespective of their political or religious differences.
Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’adAbubakar has frowned at mass failure of examination organised by the West African Examination Council (WAEC0 and National Examination Council (NECO) for students across the country and urged the federal government to reintroduce the Teachers Colleges and reorganise the National Teachers Institute (NTI).
The Sultan made this call in Sokoto to during his address to the nation in the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir.
Alhaji Abubakar described the situation is very disturbing, “we have taken note of the mass failure of students at this year’s WAEC and NECO examinations. The situation is disturbing and we are calling on the federal government to find out reason for this.
“Since we are optimistic that the problem might not be unconnected to the failing standard of primary education in the country, w e therefore appealed to the Federal Government to reintroduce Teachers College and the re-organisation of the National Teachers Institute (NTI) in order to improve the quality of education.
Plateau
A businessman, Alexander Ejukorlem has petitioned the Pleateau State Police Command over the alleged invasion of his house by some gun wielding policemen who supervised the removal of roofing zinc, doors and other fittings they carted away.
Mr Ejukorlem alleged that the policemen numbering 14 and who claimed to be citing on instructions invaded his company’s premises located at No. 26 Jengre Road in the afternoon of October 27 to carry out the action.
“The men were fully armed intimidated all the residents of the premises and ordered everybody out of the premises. They were in company of some men and boys who we did not immediately know their identity.
“The boys climbed the roof under the watchful eyes of the policemen and removed the zinc, doors windows netting, burglary proof electrical cables, fitting and other items of the property where we lived with my brothers and officers of the company” the petition said.
Abuja
The conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has condemned the presidency over comment that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adu is full committed to the implementation of the Justice Mohammed Uwais committee report.
Special Advisers to the president on media and publicity, Mr olusegun Adeniyi on Sunday last week in a publication on pages of newspapers not (The Nation) captioned “who is afraid of the Uwais Report? Said even before the enactment of the enabling legislation on electoral reforms, President Yar’Adua has clearly demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the reform agenda.
His words: “But it would appear that with his conceptions about the Uwais Report (which many of the critics have not even bothered to read) the public is being misled into believing that this government is not committed to electoral reform. Nothing can be farther from the truth.
“This same report has been placed in its entirety by the President before the National Assembly which clearly is not a rubber-stamp institution.”
CNPP furious about this in a statement recalled that contrary to the twist from the presidency, the Uwais Report against the rules of the both chambers of the National Assembly did not accompany the seven tepid Executive Electoral Bills adding that it shows clearly that the presidency handled the Uwais Report with a “long spoon.”
It said in the defence of president Yar’Adua’s demonstration of practical commitment to Electoral Reform. Adeniyi rolled out series of court ordered bye-elections conducted by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but failed to note that the retention of Professor Maurice Iwu as an axe-man, after his record of gross misconduct in the 2007 sham elections is less than honourable.
Niger
The Anglican Bishop of Bida Diocese, Right Reverend Jonah Kolo, has blamed the fall in moral and academic standard in public schools on the forceful take over of missionary schools over thirty years ago by government.
Making a call for the return of such schools back to the original owners, the clergyman said that for the on-going reform in the education sector to produce the desired result, concerted efforts should be made to revive the moral and academic standard of students from our schools.
Kolo who was speaking in Minna ahead of today’s thanksgiving service to round off the 10th anniversary of the Diocese, maintained that it was time for the government to shed off some of the self inflicted burden on itself, by returning schools owned by the missions to the original owners.
Aside from these, the Bishop also observed that most of the schools taken over by government are in bad shape.
He said, “government has a lot to cater for; hence the attention given to these schools have failed to produce the desired result. Let government handover the schools back to the church.”
The Bishop attributed the current intervention of the church in the establishment of schools from primary to tertiary levels to the deplorable condition and standard of the sector.
Kano
Statement of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State, Alhaji Sidi Ali has said that the war against corruption in Nigerian cannot be left to the government alone.
Alhaji Ali who said this in an interview with newsmen in Kano, also called on the National Assembly to pass the freedom of information bill.
According to him, government need the collective effort of all to prosecute the war against corruption, stressing that until this is done, the situation will continue to remain the same.
“Government is prosecuting corruption but with the individuals that are put in leadership, is difficult to know what is in the heart of somebody.
“The government cannot prosecute itself, the government appoint people and these people have to go by government,” he said.
The PDP chieftain, also denied that there is division between the Northern Union (NU) and Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), stressing that the ACF which is the apex organisation in North is a cultural organisation and it non political.
“In his word, I am a member of the Northern Union, I am also a member of the ACF, and I can tell you that there is no division.
“The ACF that we all belong to, is a cultural organisation and non-political. However, with the Northern Union, we failed that there not much action you can do without politics.”
Kwara
It will amount like covering the moon with the palm of the arm for some state governments to implement the new tax regime in Nigeria, as many are yet to deliver the dividends of democracy to their people.
The chairman of the Northern Union, Dr Olusola Saraki has stated, just as he said the northern union was toying with the idea of making the group have national spread.
The strongman of Kwara politics, who told reports in Ilorin, the state capital said the issue of taxation has become imperative to engender more positive growth in the economy, lamented that with poor performance from some political leaders, it will be difficult to implement the policy.
On his opinion on the agitation for the creation of more states and local government area, he said it would be difficult to create new states and councils under a democratic dispensation more so as the Nigerian federalism was not the type practiced elsewhere across the globe.
Lagos
Nigeria has been urged to gear up for the post-oil era if the country wants to continue to be relevant in the scheme of things globally.
This is the subject of the lecture delivered recently in Lagos and organised by leadership watch in collaboration with science medicine research institute based on the United States.
The lecture tagged: Nigeria in a post oil era delivered by a team of American based Nigerian investors, with representatives of government in attendance said that Nigeria is reminded that these are the last days of the oil era.
The guest speaker, Dr Alphonsus Ekwerike said Nigeria has a lot of other things to offer the world outside oil.
“Nigeria in a post oil regime will be a vibrant era because a door will be opened for the people to go into innovations.
“Oil is not the only mineral we have in this country. We have other minerals, we have solid minerals” he said.
Nation
FG Restates Commitment To Seafarers’ Welfare, Safety
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.
Nation
Ogoni Stakeholders Hail Zabbey’s Performance

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