Nation
THE STATES
Nasarawa
The National Association of Students of English and Literature Studies (NASELS), Nasarawa State University. Keffi (NSUK), has celebrated its 2009 week.
The events marking the week began with the end up of a five man electoral committee that was charged to conduct a free and fair election.
At the end of voting, the former vice president, Clement Takat, won the office of the president unopposed. All other positions also went unopposed.
The next day saw the swearing in of the new leaders, drama presentations, songs, recitation of poems, talk shows and comedy, among others.
At the main show, the class Rep of the 400- level class, Osita Okafor introduced Love Oni and Precious Ona who acted as comperes.
The NASELS choir kicked off the night by singing the national anthem as well the NSUK anthem.
NASELS outgoing president, Austine Okonjo who took over the stage, thanked everyone, especially the students for making his tenure a success.
Okonjo also apologised for any short coming of his administration.
The Head of Department, Associate Prof. Umelo Ojinmah, administered the oath of office to the new executive.
Ojimah urged them not to allow unionism take place of academics.
In his address, the new president, Mr. Takat, promised to focus on programmes that will bring unity among the diverse students in the department.
He also asked for the help and cooperation of the students to enable him actualize his manifesto.
However, there were many talk-shows on issues ranging from education to literature, fashion, education, sports etc.
Taraba
As part of effort to contribute to the United Nations (UNs) Campaign for a green world, intending Christian pilgrims from Taraba State have unanimously agreed to plant no fewer than 1,000 trees in Israel.
The state, according to the chairman, Christian Pilgrim Board, Rev. Innocent R. Solomon, will not only be the first in Nigeria but also the first in the African continent to achieve this.
This was made known Tuesday to journalists in Jalingo, the state capital, by the chairman before departing for the Holy Land with other pilgrims.
According to him, the state will be planting trees as a mark of honour, as well as to promote the UNs call to ensure a a green world.
“We are going to be planting about 1,000 trees to contribute to the United Nations’ (UNs) Campaign to bring about green world”, he said.
The state, which has a total of 335 intending pilgrims, yesterday left for Israel under the leadership of the chairman of Traditional Council the ANU-UKA of Wukari, Dr. Shekaru Y. Ansyu Masa Ibi Nuryo II.
Plateau
The newly-appointed Plateau State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr. Tunde Nurudeen, has disclosed that he would work with the state police command to ensure corps members posted to the state enjoy maximum security in the service of the fatherland.
Mr Nurudeen also warned those who are out to forment trouble to desist from such as any harm done to any corps member in the state would not be tolerated.
He made this call after taking over from his predecessor, Mr. Ezekiel Aiyedogbon, who has been posted to head the Public Relations Department in the NYSC Headquarters, Abuja.
According to him, the staff of the scheme are expected to perform their duties as assigned and do away with rumour mongering, as this is capable of derailing the ideals of the scheme.
While relating his experiences on the job, he noted that working under the NYSC has been worthwhile as there are many testimonies to attest to this.
In his Hand-over speech, the out-going coordinator, Aiyegbon who had spent only 59 days in Plateau, described the in-coming coordinator as a hardworking and dependable person and sought the support of every member of staff to make his tenure a success.
Responding on behalf of the staff, Mrs. Elizabeth Iyizoba pledged their support and promised to work in harmony to ensure the ideals of the scheme are achieved.
Ogun
Daredevil armed robbers killed three policemen in Ogere, Ogun State, during a bank raid yesterday.
Among those killed was the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Simon Otene.
During the operation, a female police officer was also shot, but she did not die. She was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
The incident occurred only 10 days after the Police Area Command in Ijebu-ode, Omolodum Oladokun, was allegedly killed by rioting youths.
The rubbers were said to have attacked the bank, which share a fence with the police station.
The robbers, according to a source, had divided themselves into two groups, with one attacking the bank and the other the police station.
The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Hashimu Argungu, confirmed the incident. Argungu who spoke on phone, said: “the detail of the situation is still sketchy, but we learn that he was killed when the robbers, who came in a bus, attacked the station; we are still investigating”.
A source in the town, however, said the bandits came to set free some armed robbers allegedly detained in the police station.
“They said some robbers were arrested around this place some days ago and detained in the station in Ogere. So, it was not the bank that they came for originally. Though it was difficult to know if they eventually raided the bank”, the source said.
Borno
To address the poor state of roads in Borno, the state government has procured 133 units of heavy duty and earth moving construction equipment.
Inspecting the equipment Wednesday at Ramat Square, Maiduguri the commissioner for Works and Transport Mustapha Alkai Gajibo disclosed that the equipment including bulldozers, pay loaders, rollers, excavators and forklifts cost N3.8 billion.
He added that they would be inaugurated Friday by the Minister of works, Housing and Urban Development Mohammed Lawan Hassan.
The equipment would be used by the Borno Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA)
Zamfara
The Zamfara State government has approved N1.9 billion for the purchase of equipment to run engineering-related courses at the state-owned Abdu-Gasau Polytechnic, Talata Matara.
Governor Mohamuda Shinkafi said in Gusau on Tuesday that the project was part of efforts to meet National Board for Technical Education’s conditions for the accreditation of engineering courses at the polytechnic.
Shinkafi who spoke when Mr Klaus-Dieter Hand, the director of Africa Affairs of PHYWE system, a German company, visited him, said the government was determined to set a sound technology base for rapid development of the state.
He stressed that no society would prosper without a sound technical education base that could prepare its citizens for the global challenges of the 21st century.
The governor added that the government would ensure that the equipment was supplied within the shortest possible time.
He gave an assurance that as soon as due process was completed, government would release part of the conrtact sum for the supply.
He said the state government has significantly improved structures in secondary schools and some tertiary institutions in the last two years.
Speaking during the visit, Hand said he was in the state to present a report by his firm to the government, which emanated from the recent visit of the state delegation to the firm in Germany for collaboration in technological development.
He promised the governor that the company would collaborate with the state in realising its technological development dreams.
Kano
The Kano State government has rehabilitated and upgraded facilities at the Aminu Kano Community School at a total cost of N1.1 billion.
This was in fulfillment of a pledge the state governor, Malam (Dr) Ibrahim Shekarau made during the 40th anniversary of the college last year.
The Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Musa Salihu, disclosed this while handing over the contract to the contractors at the college’s Conference Hall, Tuesday.
Salihu, said that the government has already committed 50 per cent of the total amount estimated at about N550 million, while the other portion of the contract will commence in earnest.
He gave the breakdown of the projects as follows: Administration Block at the cost of N92,693,206, Multipurpose Hall worth N120,004,083.55, College Library Block at N83,897,541.52, School’s Mosque at N20,339,321.42, Ablution Area at N4,856,266.22, Bedroom at N52,522,083.50.
Others are three Bedroom flats at N117,722,263.90, a Guest House at N7,462,731.22, Road and Parking Space to gulp N26,332,258.97, External Electrical works at N1,239,999.50 and External Mechanical Works that cost N17,338,244.10.
The Commissioner also gave a brief history of the college which was established in 1967.
Ekiti
Witnesses Tuesday admitted irregularities in some of the results tendered for some polling units in Orin-ora Ward of Ido-Osi council area of Ekiti State at the election petition tribunal hearing the government petition filed by the Action Congress (AC) and its governorship candidate, Dr Nayode Feyemi, against the outcome of the April 25 rerun election in the state. The witnesses, who were called by the first respond, Governor Segun Oni, told the tribunal that the election was free and fair in their polling units while being led in their evidence by counsel to the governor, Duro Adeyele (SAN), They, however, blamed the irregularities in the results tendered by the Independent National Electoral Commission. (INEC) on its officials.
For instance, Davo Dada who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polling agent at unit 009 of the Ward, has tendered the result form EC8A for the unit and admitted that all the contents were correct as recorded by the presiding officer.
Under cross – examination by counsel to the petitioners, Anthony Adeniyi, he said the total valid scores recorded for both PDP and AC were 92 but on the result from ECZA, the presiding officer wrote 93 .
Besides, while the presiding officer wrote 93 as the total valid votes in one column, in another he simply wrote 1.
Also, of the 150 ballot papers issued for the unit, 93 was recorded as total number of used ballot papers and another 62 as unused ballot papers.
Dada, who was the respondent witness 40 (RW40), attributed the difference in his specimen signature, which was requested from him by Adeniyi and that of the one oath and the form EC8A, to the fact that he shortened his signature on the form EC8A
He, however affirmed that the election was free and fair in his unit, adding that AC polling agent signed the result and took away his own copy.
The second witness, Aina Oluwaseyi, who was PDP polling agent for unit 19, tendered the form EC8A containing the result for the unit. He told the tribunal that the election was conducted without any hitch.
Lagos
A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, yesterday dismissed a N200 billion suit instituted against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by four companies belonging to former Chief Executive of Inter-Continental Bank Plc and his wife.
The suit sought to enforce rights of the companies allegedly breached by the commission.
In dismissing the suit, Justice Morenike Obadina said the suit lacked merit.
She awarded N20,000 costs against the companies, Tropics Finance and Investment Company Limited, Tropics Properties Limited, Tropics Securities Limited and Tropics Holding Limited.
Justice Obadina said the EFCC Act empowers it to take the steps it took against the companies while investigating them over the alleged movement of over N15 billion from the bank to a Summit Limited account.
Summit Limited belongs to Akingbola and former bank chairman, Chief Raymond Obieri.
EFCC said the funds were later moved to the accounts of the four companies with the bank which they claimed were frozen by the commission.
Akingbola and his wife, Anthonia, are being investigated by the commission over alleged tax evasion and money laundering.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced that the mangrove wetlands in Ogoniland have been officially designated a Ramsar Site of International Importance by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The designation, according to HYPREP, underscores the global ecological significance of Ogoniland’s mangrove wetlands and highlights ongoing restoration efforts aimed at addressing environmental degradation in the area.
In a press statement issued by the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, the recognition was described as a major milestone for the agency, the people of Ogoni and other stakeholders working towards environmental restoration in the region.
Zabbey explained that the mangrove wetlands, which cover more than 31,700 hectares, consist of islands, tidal creeks, mudflats and mangrove forests that support a wide range of biodiversity. The ecosystem provides habitat for several species including fin fish, shellfish, crustaceans, crocodiles, turtles and the endangered grey parrot.
He noted that beyond biodiversity conservation, the wetland also provides essential ecosystem services such as fisheries production, flood control, water purification and carbon storage. According to him, the international recognition will further support local livelihoods, promote ecotourism and bring global attention to the region.
The HYPREP coordinator disclosed that the designation followed a meticulous process that began in 2024 when the project submitted a memorandum to the National Council on Environment seeking support for the recognition of the Ogoni wetlands as a Ramsar site.
Following the council’s review and approval, the Honourable Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP’s Governing Council, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, formally wrote to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat requesting international recognition of the wetlands.
After a comprehensive ecological assessment, the Ramsar Secretariat granted the designation, officially recognising the Ogoniland wetlands as one of the world’s sites of international importance.
Zabbey said the recognition would strengthen ongoing environmental restoration efforts in the area and encourage stronger conservation measures and sustainable management of the wetlands for the benefit of present and future generations.
He added that the designation also fulfils a key recommendation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, marking another significant step in the implementation of the report’s recommendations.
The HYPREP project coordinator reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to restoring the Ogoni environment through the remediation of oil-polluted land, shorelines and mangrove ecosystems.
He also called for collective responsibility and stakeholder support to sustain the progress of the Ogoni cleanup programme and facilitate the development of a comprehensive and sustainable management plan for the Ogoni mangrove wetlands.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, has attributed the successes of the 12-day programme organised for adolescent girls aimed at eliminating Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) in some parts of the State to the ability of the respective stakeholders to take ownership of the programme.
Mrs Davies-Dimkpa, who dropped the hint in an interview at the end of the programme in Elele-Alimini Community in Emohua Local Government Area on Saturday, said the event had a buy-in component, an ownership mentality, whereby facilitators, staff, and everyone involved took ownership of the project.
She explained that the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) had packaged a series of training sessions for adolescent girls aimed at ending the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in some communities across the State.
According to her, the initiative was designed to educate young girls on the harmful effects of the practice and empower them to become advocates against it within their communities.
She noted that the programme, which lasted for several weeks, targeted adolescent girls from different local government areas where the practice is still prevalent, stressing that
data collected by UNICEF and the Ministry revealed that Female Genital Mutilation is still practised in some parts of the State, prompting the need for intensified sensitisation and community engagement.
Mrs Davies-Dimkpa explained that the programme adopted a “train-the-trainer” approach where adolescent girls were educated on the dangers of the practice and encouraged to share the knowledge with their peers, families and communities.
“This is a programme by the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation with support from UNICEF and UNFPA to train adolescent girls towards ending Female Genital Mutilation, which is still practised in some local government areas,” she said.
She further explained that each participating local government area had a three-day training session, with the exercise running for a total of 12 days.
The local government areas, where the programme took place, she noted, included Ahoada West, Abua-Odual, and Emohua, adding that the initiative is part of broader efforts by the state government and development partners to eliminate harmful traditional practices and protect the rights and wellbeing of girls.
She revealed that prior to the training of the adolescent girls, the Ministry and its partners had also engaged community facilitators, including older women and men, to sensitise them on the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
According to her, the involvement of community leaders and adults is essential in addressing the cultural and social factors that sustain the practice.
Speaking on the response of the participants, the permanent secretary expressed satisfaction with the level of engagement and enthusiasm shown by the girls throughout the training sessions.
She noted that many of the participants said they were learning about the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation for the first time.
“The girls are between the ages of 12 and 17 and from the interactions we had with them, they were very excited. Some of them are hearing these things for the first time and never knew that the practice is harmful,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the knowledge gained from the training would enable the girls to serve as advocates for change within their communities.
She added that the Rivers State Government, alongside its partners, would continue to intensify efforts and expand community-based interventions aimed at ending the practice across the State.
Meanwhile, the participants for Emohua Local Government Area were drawn from Elele-Alimini, Egbeda, Rumuji, Ibaa, Rumuekpe, Rumuakunde, Eligbarada, and Ogbakiri Communities.
The participants,who spoke in separate interviews described the training as eye-opening, noting that it helped them better understand issues surrounding adolescent health, personal hygiene, reproductive health, and the harmful consequences of Female Genital Mutilation.
Favour Azukwu from Rumuekpe community, said the programme provided a deeper understanding of the dangers associated with the practice, particularly its impact on the health and wellbeing of girls and women.
She explained that the training sessions exposed participants to the medical, social and psychological effects of Female Genital Mutilation, including severe bleeding, infections and complications during childbirth.
She revealed that she personally experienced the practice at the age of 12 and suffered heavy bleeding afterwards, an experience that has strengthened her determination to advocate for its eradication.
According to her, many communities still practise Female Genital Mutilation because it is perceived as a cultural tradition, despite the dangers associated with it.
“I do not support Female Genital Mutilation because there are many dangers involved. I experienced severe bleeding when it was done to me as a child.
Another participant, Glory Ken, a 16-year-old secondary school student from Rumuji community, said the programme broadened her understanding of several important topics affecting adolescents.
She explained that beyond the discussion on Female Genital Mutilation, the training also focused on issues such as personal hygiene, reproductive health, peer education, and self-care.
According to her, the sessions helped participants understand the importance of making informed health decisions and supporting one another as peer educators.
“I learned about many things that affect young people in society and how to take care of myself. I also learned that Female Genital Mutilation is harmful to our health. The message I am taking back to my community is that this practice should stop,” she said.
Also speaking, Goodness Kenjika Nyeche described the programme as very impactful.
She noted that the training equipped participants with the skills and confidence to educate others about the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation.
She said she plans to organise sensitisation among adolescents in her community, particularly girls between the ages of 10 and 19, to ensure they understand the dangers associated with the practice.
“I learned many things from this programme and I feel very good about it. I will educate other young girls in my community and help them understand why Female Genital Mutilation should not continue,” she said.
For Queen Dike from Ibaa community, the programme helped clarify misconceptions surrounding the practice.
She explained that in some communities, the practice is still referred to as circumcision and is viewed as part of cultural identity.
She said the training helped participants understand that Female Genital Mutilation involves the cutting or removal of parts of the female genital organs and that it has serious health consequences.
She stressed that awareness and education are key to ending the practice, especially among communities that continue to uphold it as tradition.
“I think the programme is very helpful because many people still believe it is part of culture. More awareness is needed so people can understand why it should stop,” she said.
Another participant, MyJoy Echika Amadi, said the programme provided critical information about adolescent health and the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
She described the initiative as enlightening and said it encouraged young people to become advocates for change in their communities.
According to her, participants were encouraged to use various platforms such as churches, peer groups, schools and community gatherings to spread awareness about the harmful effects of the practice.
“This programme has enlightened us about the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation. I will do my best to create awareness in my community and encourage people to stop the practice,” she said.
Many of the participants emphasised that the knowledge gained during the programme has empowered them to challenge harmful traditions and promote healthier practices among young people.
They also called on the Rivers State Government, development partners and civil society organisations to sustain the sensitisation campaigns and extend the training to more communities across the State.
According to them, empowering young people with the right information will play a critical role in eliminating Female Genital Mutilation and protecting the rights, health and dignity of girls in Rivers State.
The participants expressed appreciation to the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, UNICEF and UNFPA for organising the programme and for investing in the wellbeing and future of adolescent girls in the State.
