Nation
THE STATES
Borno
The need to offer assistance to the orphans and the less privileged in the society in order not to increase the crime rate of the country has been emphasised by a health maintenance organisation.
The company which asked corporate bodies to make it a point of duty to share a though for this group in our midst at its award of the health insurance hospital cards to children of the Fatimah Al-Sheriff Motherless babies an orphanage run and managed by the Borno State government, said the society would be better if the group is not allowed to go wayward.
Presenting the card which offer the orphans a comprehensive health cover, the managing director of the company Chief G. Idowu said the gesture was part of the company’s social responsibility aimed at giving succour to the less privileged.
The managing director who was represented by one of the company’s directors, Engineer Adegbeyi also revealed that the donation was part of the company’s commitment to the promotion of quality healthcare in the country, noting that multi-field provides comprehensive medical cover to all disadvantaged children in the country.
Ondo
Two ballot boxes stuffed with thumb printed papers were last Saturday allegedly recovered in the vehicle conveying the Senator representing Ondo State central district in the upper chamber of National Assembly Senator Gbenga Ogunniwa during the bye-election of the Akoko-South West and Akoko South East Federal Constituency.
Ogunniwa who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs was in the vehicle along with Akoko North East and North West federal constituency Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye and Temitayo Fawehinmi of the Ondo East and Ondo West Federal Constituency.
The wine coloured Peugeot 407 marked MFR 333 was later taken along with two other similar bands with covered number plates, two police vehicles with mobile policemen and two buses with suspected thugs to Kese police station.
Abuja
Telecommunication companies in the country may face stringent penalties if they fail to confer with National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Agency (NESREA) on the installation of their mast.
The agency’s threat came on the heels of a court judgement ordering Kaduna-based telecommunication company Helios Towers to dismantle and remove its mast from residential premises in Kaduna where it was installed.
NESREA’s Legal Adviser, Mr. Kola Odugbesean, who spoke to The Tide on the matter said the company not only breached the regulatory laws guiding the location of masts by installing it without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), it ignored warnings and pleadings from NESREA to relocate the facility, which led to the judicial action.
He stated that NESREA had resolved that henceforth, it would start prosecuting organisations and their chief executives found violating the EIA act and all extant environmental laws and regulations.
Kwara
More Close Circuit Television Cameras (CTCs) are being acquired by the Kwara State Government as a measure to combat crime in the state.
Governor Olusola Saraki who dropped the hint during an inspection of overhead bridge constructed by his administration along Post Office/Murtala Mohammed Way, Ilorin, told reporters that unless adequate security of lives and property was guaranteed, the provision of infrastructure would be an exercise in futility.
We want more of the CTCs to be installed in Ilorin and indeed, the entire state so that crime could be promptly recorded and consequently taken up at the auspicious time for proper investigations.
“The experience in other parts of the world has assisted greatly in reducing crime. Even if you look at the crime records in our state since the installation of CTCs a few months ago, one can see a drastic reduction. In other words fighting crime offensively is better than fighting crime defensively.”
Ekiti
The Ekiti State House of Assembly has passed about 16 bills including one that protects the rights and matters affecting persons with disabilities in the state.
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Olatunji Odeyemi lauded his colleagues for passing 16 bills into law in one year.
Odeyemi, in a chat with reporters, said apart from the six bills signed into law by the governor, 10 others are awaiting the signature of the state chief executive, adding that another 19 bills were in the process of being passed by the legislature.
According to him, the current crop of legislators in Ekiti State, which can best be described as an indivisible entity despite their different political backgrounds, worked tirelessly to come up with empirically verifiable successes.
Signing the disability law, which, was among the eight others assented to by the Governor Segun Oni reiterated the commitment of his administration to the well-being of all physically challenged people in the state, adding that the new law would be fully implemented.
Apart from making it mandatory for any department of government to have persons with disabilities in two percent of its workforce, the new law also provides that: “Every person with disability, who is an indigene of Ekiti State shall be entitled to automatic scholarship at all levels.”
Zamfara
Governor Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi of Zamfara State last Saturday announced cabinet reshuffle which affected six commissioners and four Special Advisers.
A statement made available to newsmen and signed by director of press to Shinkafi, Adamu Katuru, said those affected by the development include Dr. Na’Allah Isah who moves from the Ministry of Lands and Survey to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Isyaku Zuma was moved from the Finance Ministry to that of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs while Engineer Kabira Marafo was moved from the Water Resources to that of Education.
The statement revealed that Bashir Madaiu who held forth at the Ministry of Education before the exercise will now be incharge of the Ministry of Lands and Survey, while Tukur Dangaladima has been moved from Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to that of Water Resources.
It said Alhassan Shinkafi who was recently cleared by the State House of Assembly will assume duty as the new commissioner of Finance similarly, Aliyu Adamu Tsate who was incharge of Budget and Economic Planning Ministry will be given a new schedule in due course.
Kebbi
All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) in Kebbi State has last Saturday said it would boycott the Kebbi Central Senatorial bye-election slated for December 19, this year because of alleged massive rigging by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and lack of confidence on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Lagos
The ultimatum issued by Lagos State Government on striking workers of the State University has failed following action by the union not to resume work in the school.
The labour unions of the institution had declared that their members would not resume work until the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hussain Lateef is suspended for alleged corrupt practices pending the outcome of further investigations.
The unions comprised of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institution (NASU).
The unions in a statement said “the university governing council and visitors were deceitfully misled into believing that the VC was turning LASU around.
In contrast to this positive perception held about the VC he has turned LASU into his personal empire/business venture and a slave enclave.”
Kaduna
The Kaduna Government has debunked claims made by the Action Congress in the State over the whereabout of the Governor, Namadi Sambo.
Governor Sambo has been away from the state since the Sallah holidays without any official explanation by the government regarding his whereabouts until some sections of the state raised eyebrows.
However, the Kaduna State Chapter of the Action Congress (AC) through its publicity secretary, Mohammed Soba had alleged that, “since assumption, of office, Governor Sambo has been exhibiting traits of administrative truancy by frequently absenting himself from the seat of power.”
The party therefore called on the Commissioner of Police, Tambari Mohammed to immediately declare Governor Sambo missing,” in line with international convention as the whereabouts of the governor is not known to the citizens of Kaduna State and there is no official explanation on his absence from the seat of power.”
The party further asserted that the state is too big to be kept in the dark over the absence of its chief executive.
Adamu also described the AC’s comment as a display of crass ignorance, adding that the governor was on an official assignment outside the country contrary to the assertion of the opposition elements in the state.
The AC spokesman insisted that the governor should be declared missing having stayed out of the state for days without any official explanation.
Sabo declared, “presently Namadi Sambo is out of the country for a pleasure trip with a sizeable number of Kaduna State Executive Council members using the state’s time and resources without any explanation.”
Residents of Omugo Community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have deserted their homes due to persistent bandit attacks.
The Tide’s source reports that the once lively community has turned into a ghost town with only a few domestic animals left.
Reports indicate that the recent bandits’ attack on the Omugo ECWA Church via Oro-Ago, led to the abduction of eight worshippers including the wife of the pastor in charge.
Three persons escaped out of the eight abductees with a N1billion ransom placed on the remaining victims in captivity. The community could only gather N1million which was rejected by the bandits.
Last week, the armed bandits invaded Oro-Ago community, killed one vigilante man identified as Baba Ibeji and injured his younger brother known as Ajere.
A Point of Sales, PoS, shop directly opposite the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Divisional office, was broken into by the bandits.
The gunmen also attacked the NSCDC office and sprayed bullets on the facility, though no casualty was recorded.
In earlier attacks on Oro-Ago environs, armed bandits ambushed a convoy between Oro-Ago and Oke-Ayan in Ilere district of Ifelodun Local Government Area and killed two local hunters on escort duty.
On Saturday, there was tension in Oro-Ago following a security alert that armed bandits were regrouping to launch fresh attacks on the community.
All security formations were, however, placed on ‘Red Alert’ to forestall the planned attack.
The Acting Provost of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Peace Chigozirim Amadi has refuted claims circulating in the media suggesting that laboratory equipment went missing from the college.
In a recent statement, Dr. Amadi described the reports—particularly those attributed to certain publications—as false and misleading. She emphasized that all laboratory equipment at the college remain intact.
“I am here to set the record straight. No laboratory equipment disappeared from my college. Nothing is missing,” Dr. Amadi said, challenging anyone with contrary claims to provide evidence, including the names of the equipment and their supposed locations.
She further noted that the college recently underwent an accreditation exercise, during which significant investments were made in laboratory equipment. According to Dr. Amadi, these items are fully accounted for, and the college maintains a robust security system to protect its assets.
“Everything is intact. Nothing disappeared. The information being circulated is false and should be discarded,” she reiterated.
Beyond addressing the allegations, Dr. Amadi also called on media practitioners to exercise professionalism and verify stories before publication. “I want to plead with journalists to always verify their stories. Junk journalism does not help anyone. No matter the information you receive, it is important to hear the other side before publishing,” she said.
While social media posts have occasionally raised concerns about various issues in the region’s health education sector, including extortion and examination malpractice at related institutions, there is no independent evidence from credible news sources confirming that equipment went missing from Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology.
The college, a public tertiary institution based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is accredited to offer a variety of health-related programs, including Nursing, Midwifery, Laboratory Technology, and Environmental Health. It has consistently emphasized integrity, safety, and transparency in its operations.
Dr. Amadi’s statement seeks to reassure the public, students, and stakeholders that the college remains secure, well-managed, and free from the alleged equipment losses, while urging journalists to prioritize accuracy in reporting.
As the world commemorates World Water Day, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing potable water across Ogoni communities, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the Ogoni Environment.
In a statement issued by its Project Coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, on March 22, 2026, HYPREP noted that this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” alongside the campaign slogan, “Where Water Flows, Equity Grows,” underscores its resolve to extend potable water supply beyond oil-impacted communities to all Ogoni communities.
Zabbey emphasized that access to clean water is a fundamental human right, adding that HYPREP remains committed to ensuring inclusive and equitable water access across the region.
He disclosed that the agency has successfully provided potable water to over 43 communities in Ogoni, while ongoing Phase 3 water projects are expected to benefit an additional 17 communities. He also highlighted steady progress on windmill-powered water projects in less populated areas, particularly in Khana Local Government Area.
According to him, the K-Dere Water Project, which is over 99 percent complete, will be commissioned in the coming weeks, even as work continues on other water schemes across Ogoni.
Zabbey further noted that HYPREP’s interventions are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
To ensure sustainability, he explained that the agency has adopted a joint management model involving host communities, the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, and the Rivers State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RSSTOWA). He added that Water Consumers’ Associations have been established in communities such as Nchia and Eleme, alongside training programmes conducted in collaboration with non-governmental organisations.
The Project Coordinator stressed the importance of community ownership and protection of water facilities, echoing the call by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, for residents to safeguard the infrastructure provided in their areas.
Zabbey expressed optimism that the ongoing efforts will significantly improve access to safe drinking water, reduce waterborne diseases, and enhance public health outcomes across Ogoni communities.
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