Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa Government plans to freight agricultural produce from Yola International Airport to other parts of the world, Gov. Murtala Nyako said on Wednesday.
Nyako disclosed this in Yola while declaring open a one week Agricultural Show tagged “Coping with Challenges in Agriculture to Ensure Food Security in Adamawa State”.
He said the plan, if well implemented, would enable the state to harness its agricultural potential and promote export to Europe and America.
Nyako also disclosed the government’s plans to construct warehouses at strategic locations in the state for the storage and marketing of farm produce.
Benue
The Benue Government said it awarded a contract of N4. 98 billion for the construction of the Greater Makurdi Water Works within the last three years,
The Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Mr John Ngbede, made this known in Makurdi on Wednesday,during a ministerial briefing to mark three years of Gov. Gabriel Suswam’s administration.
He said out of the amount, N3.99 billion had been paid to Gilmor Engineering (Nig.) Ltd., the construction firm handling the project.
FCT
Special prayers were offered on Friday at the Abuja National Mosque for the repose of the soul of the late President, Umaru Yar’Adua as well as for peace and stability of the country.
Our correspondent reports that thousands of Muslim faithful thronged the mosque to offer prayers for the late President.
Ustaz Musa Muhamad in his sermon, stressed the need to obey Allah’s command and be of good behaviour.
He reminded the congregation that “everybody is going to give account on his or her deeds on the day of Judgment, no matter how highly placed.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Directorate of Vehicles Inspection (VIO), has impounded 1,122 vehicles for various traffic offences in the last four months. Mr Nehemiah Abet, the state’s VIO Director, told newsmen on Friday in Kaduna that the offences included over loading, use of extra lights and over speeding. Abet disclosed that vehicles that were not roadworthy and motorists who drove vehicles dangerously were also arrested, with some facing prosecution. He said the vehicles included articulated or heavy duty trucks, commercial cars and buses as well as private luxury vehicles.
Kano
Kano State Government spent more than N20 billion on agricultural development between 2003 and 2009, Alhaji Musa Shanono, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, said on Wednesday.
Shanono disclosed in Kano while declaring open the 4th bi-monthly meeting on the Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP).
He said the investment was demonstration of the government’s commitment to the improvement of food security, poverty reduction and farmers’ livelihoods.
Katsina
A former military governor of Kaduna State, retired AVM Muktar Mohammed, has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to give priority to security during his tenure.
He gave the advice on Friday in Katsina in an interview with newsmen shortly after condoling with the family of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Mohammed said the advice became necessary in view of the current security situation in the country.
He urged the president to put the issue of security as number one item on his agenda in order to save the country from unforseen circumstances.
Mohammed stressed that the issue of security was crucial to the socio-economic and political development of any country.
Kogi
The Ohiopisa Eiyire of Obehira Community in Kogi, Alhaji Idrisu Okeji, has appealed to his subjects not to revenge the recent attack on the community by Okengwe and Idoma communities.
Seven youhs of Obehira Community lost their lives in the attack in which more than 200 houses were burnt.
Okeji, who made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Ageva, near Okene on Wednesday, noted that there was need for peace to prevail among the neighbouring communities.
He said that although the invasion inflicted “great and incalculable damage to life and property,’’ he had commenced meeting with various interest groups on the need to leave vengeance to God.
The traditional ruler commended the police for establishing its presence in Ageva, stressing that the action would go a long way in curtailing crisis.
Kwara
The Kwara Government has approved the selection of a businessman, Alhaji Muftau Gbadamosi, as the new Olofa of Offa in Offa Local Government Area of the state.
Alhaji Ahmed Makama, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, made the announcement in a statement on Friday in Ilorin.
The statement said the approval, which takes effect from May 6, followed the demise of the former occupant of the stool, Oba Olawore Olanipekun on February 11.
Lagos
Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has declared Force Majeure on Bonny Light lifting for May and June with effect from May 7.
A statement issued by the company’s spokesman, Mr Precious Okolobo in Lagos on Saturday, said that the declaration was as a result of production deferment from the leaks and fire incidents which occurred on the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) on May 5.
The statement said that several incidents were detected on the sections of the pipeline at Bodo West and Bera Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers.
It added that preliminary investigations indicated that they were caused by crude theft activities, which made the company to shut down on May 5 to enable it carryout repair works.
Niger
Dr Isa Vatsa, Niger Commissioner for Water Resources, says the government has spent N284 million on water pumps to ease the water shortage in Minna and its environs.
Vatsa said this in Minna on Friday while speaking to newsmen.
‘’About N284 million was spent by the state government to buy 16 low lift water pumps for Chanchaga water works to ease the problem of water shortage in Minna and its environs,’’ he said.
He said that the pumps would be manufactured accordingto the specification of the state government.
The commissioner said that the pumps would supplement the four water pumps bought by the government earlier in 2010.
Vatsa said that more than N190 million would be spent in desilting Chanchaga dam reservoir in order to increase the volume of water supply to the public.
Osun
Osun lawmakers on Friday condoled with members of the family of the late president Umaru Yar’Adua and the Nigerian people over his death.
A cross section of the lawmakers, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo, said that it was unfortunate that death did not allow Yar’Adua to fulfill his desires for the country.
The speaker, Mr Adejare Bello, said “ judging by the late president’s humility, honesty, transparency and contentment, Nigeria has indeed lost a dedicated leader.“
Oyo
With her motherly advice, the President of an Ibadan Grade C Customary Court, Mrs Ibijoke Adeleke-Gomes, on Friday saved a 23-year-old marriage from crumbling.
Ramoni Bamidele, a pensioner, who filed for the divorce, had told the court that his wife, Funke, a trader, was very stubborn and that her attitude had changed negatively in the past two years.
Sokoto
The Shagari Local Government Council in Sokoto State has spent over
N72.4 million on the construction of 10 houses for traditional rulers in the area.
The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Abdullahi Danjeka, disclosed this on Friday in Shagari, near Sokoto, when he received a team of journalists on a monitoring visit of projects in the area.
The President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide and the Mgboh XIII of the Mgboh Royal Family of Emohua Kingdom in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze (Barrister) Godspower Onuekwa, penultimate Friday celebrated his 80th birthday with pomp, pageantry and fanfare.
The celebration, which commenced with a symposium organised in his honour at Rivers State University on Thursday, August 21,2025, got to a resounding climax on Friday at Suntai Event Centre in Port Harcourt, where people from all walks of life, including business associates, friends, well-wishers, relatives, community folks, traditional rulers, and admirers, gathered to pay glowing tributes to the celebrant.
Before then, a well attended thanksgiving service was held that same Friday at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Okoro-Nu-Odo, to honour him and return gratitude to God Almighty for the fruitful and eventful life and accomplishments of the Emohua leader and icon.
The service which was officiated by Rt Rev Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, Bishop of Niger Delta North had other renowned and respected clerics like Most Rev(Dr) Blessing Enyindah, Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Rt Rev(Dr) Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta; Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, Bishop, Diocese of Evo; and Ven Solomon Eze Nelson, Archdeacon, Okoro-Nu-Odo; among others lined up as officiating ministers.
The service lived up to its billing, as it featured powerful and soul-lifting praise and worship; point-blank prayers; and beautiful renditions, which electrified the entire atmosphere, essentially packaged to thank God for the life of the celebrant.
However, the crowning moment actually came when the who is who, the crème de la crème of the society, thronged the terraces and fabulously decorated expansive hall of Suntai Event Centre, to celebrate Eze Onuekwa, amid accolades, aplomb and panache, wining and dining, and clinking of glasses with him and all.
The chairman of the colourful ceremony, Chief Evans Woherem, who was represented by Eze(Prof) Christian Akani of the prestigious Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, praised the celebrant for his youthfulness in spite of clocking 80 years, generosity, humility, humaneness and selfless services to the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and called on all and sundry to emulate his good legacies and simple disposition towards life and existence.
Goodwill messages also poured in in torrents to underscore and salute the doggedness, resilience, astuteness and uniqueness of the endearing life of the celebrant, with Prof Emenike Wami, the Ochia Ohna Ikwerre(XIV), taking the lead.
Prof Priye Iyalla, the wife of late renowned writer, novelist and playwright, Dr Elechi Amadi, held the audience spellbound as she masterfully reeled out the profile of the celebrant, amid intermittent applause from the crowd.
The Tiv Community from Benue State, resident in Rivers State, were not left out, as they honoured and decorated Eze Onuekwa in their complete traditional regalia.
Cultural displays from Baptist Church, Rumuowhor; ADNA Wogbuji Dancing Group, Egbeda; Tiv Dancing Group; and Promoter Eze and Rumu-Mgboh Emohua Wrestling Group, equally added colour and grace to the occasion, with the celebrant and his wife, Dame Ann Onuekwa, joining them to wriggle their waists and bodies in ecstasy.
In his response, the highly elated celebrant, Eze Onuekwa thanked all those gathered to celebrate with him, saying, celebrations would never cease in their homes, and attributed everything he represents in life, including his modest accomplishments to God.
Eze Onuekwa, while addressing newsmen, harped on the need for hard work among the youths and members of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, as a way of sustaining and giving meaning to the motto of the organisation, which he noted is anchored on peace, unity and progress.
He specially thanked God for sustaining his life, and for making everything possible for him and his family, saying, he was joyous that he has today become an octogenarian and elder statesman in Rivers State.
His son and medical practitioner, Dr Samuel Chizia Onuekwa expressed delight that people from far and near had come together to celebrate the father, whom he described as a role model and great inspirator.
He said it was a good thing that the children were celebrating their father when he is alive, stressing that the last time Eze Onuekwa was celebrated in such magnitude was 20 years ago, during his 60th birthday celebration, and prayed God to grant him many more years in good health.
Among dignitaries who graced the event were Senator Andrew Uchendu; Chief Sampson Agbaru; Prof Emenike Wami; Dr Peter Didia; Eze(Prof) Samuel Ugo Onyeka; and a host of others. Justice Iche Ndu(rtd); and C O Kattey were among personalities that attended the thanksgiving service, while the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi led the academics who graced the symposium, alongside Eze G A O Omodu.
As the 100 Ogoni youths trained by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Creative Arts close out their training on Tuesday at the Theatre Arts Department, University of Port Harcourt, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has urged the beneficiaries to use the skills acquired to ensure that the Ogoni stories are told and heard in the right way.
The trainees, who had completed a four- month training in script writing, film production and make-up are beneficiaries of the HYPREP sustainable livelihood programme, aimed at providing high demand skills to Ogoni youths in the lucrative creative arts and entertainment industry.
Zabbey described the Creative Arts training as well as other programmes and interventions as HYPREP’s strategic sustained effort to create alternative sources of livelihood.
”Targeted capacity building for Ogoni youths and women remains a central strategy in HYPREP’s livelihood restoration and improvement efforts. Our goal is to reach every part of the Ogoni community and ensure that no group or talent pool is left behind. This training is a deliberate step to empower young people who aspire to make their mark in the creative and entertainment industry”, he said.
While commending the trainees for producing four short films within the training period, one of which was premiered at the ceremony-Dirty Festival, the Project Coordinator noted that the training would serve as a springboard into the industry, and enable them earn a living, become entrepreneurs, and open new doors of opportunities for themselves and their communities. The three other movies are Open Pain, Bomu and Green War.
He enjoined them to utilise their skills and platforms to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental sustainability, urging them to ensure that Ogoni is heard in the right way, speak for HYPREP and highlight the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report.
Other speakers at the event, including the Director of Technical Services of HYPREP, Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi; Dr Ovunda Ihunwo, Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt; Chief Douglas Experience, the Project Coordinator of Halibiz Consult Limited; and Mrs Josephine Nzidee, Head, Sustainable Livelihood of HYPREP, all applauded HYPREP for the training, and charged the trainees to maximise the opportunity.
The trainees were later presented certificates of participation.
Visibly elated Ms Lebee Tornwe, one of the beneficiaries, thanked HYPREP and the Project Coordinator for offering the trainees the rare opportunity to acquire skills in the creative arts and entertainment industry, and expressed delight that Dr Ihunwo and Halibiz Consult Limited gave their all in grooming them.
With the wrapping up of the Creative Arts training(100), HYPREP has trained 230 Ogoni youths in high demand skill sets ,viz; seafaring(100); and aviation (30). The Project will this year, commence training in other skill areas, including Mechatronic, Aviation, Full-Stack Development, Commercial Diving, Underwater Welding and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Still in the offing is the training for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities in five skill sets- fish farming; basic computer skills; photography; fashion and design; and shoemaking in line with their Needs Assessment and HYPREP’s policy of inclusivity.
The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) had called on stakeholders to work collaboratively towards the development and empowerment of Ogoni youths.
NYCOP made the call in a communique issue over the weekend after an emergency Congress in Port Harcourt and signed by its President, Comrade Raymond Nwibani Marcus.
In the communique, NYCOP endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s appointments of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BOT) members of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), particularly Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah as Chairman of HYPREP’s BOT.
It respectfully appealed to the President to consider appointing a representative from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) under the leadership of Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, being the pioneering social vehicle for Ogoni advocacy since the inception of the Ogoni struggle, adding that it would significantly contribute to the decision-making process.
The body commended the overall management of HYPREP and urges the President to continue funding the HYPREP project.
NYCOP furthermore recommended considering the conversion of HYPREP from a project to a full-fledged agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The communique also stated that NYCOP thanked President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, and for appointing key staff, forming a dialogue committee, and initiating infrastructural projects like the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and economic prospects.
In solidarity with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying it believes his leadership embodies the aspirations of the Ogoni people and Nigerians at large.
“After thorough consideration of the Disciplinary Committee’s report, NYCOP resolves:
” To indefinitely suspend Comrade Nade Nade Burale from his position as Secretary General due to misconduct.
“To declare Comrade Saviour Imeabe persona non grata on Ogoni youth issues, given his actions’ potential to instigate crisis in Ogoni and beyond” the communique stated.
NYCOP in his resolution issued a 7-day ultimatum to former HYPREP BOT Chairman Mike Nwialeghi to explain the $100 million HYPREP fund investment, warning of potential litigation.
NYCOP reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ogoni youth interests and preventing personal aggrandizement.
According to the communique the resolutions demonstrate NYCOP’s efforts to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth.
“We will no longer tolerate any individual or group using the name or issues of Ogoni youth for personal aggrandizement.
” Our mandate is clear: to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth” the communique said.
NYCOP passes a vote of confidence in Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah, acknowledging his impeccable credentials and credibility to lead the BOT of HYPREP effectively.
Kiadum Edookor
