Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Isa Yuguda, last Wednesday urged the state’s Christian pilgrims going on pilgrimage to Israel and Rome to pray for peaceful conduct of the 2011 elections.
Yuguda, who gave the charge while addressing the intending pilgrims in Bauchi, said that 2011, being an election year, was crucial in the history of the nation and therefore, required special prayers.
The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Babayo Gamawa, charged the intending pilgrims to imbibe the virtues of peace, love, understanding and tolerance as exemplified by the life style of Jesus Christ.
Appealing to the pilgrims to pray for peace, unity and progress in the state and the country as a whole Yuguda said “Jesus Christ taught love, sacrifice and service to mankind.
Borno
The National Insurance Commission (NIC) is planing a road show in Maiduguri to sensitise the people to the need to embrace the culture of taking insurance policy.
The commission’s Director of Research and Statistics, Alhaji Adamu Balanti, told newsmen yesterday in Maiduguri after a stakeholders meeting that the event, slated for December, would hold in major streets in Maiduguri and environs.
“The road show is part of the strategies to sensitise the people to the need to imbibe the culture of taking insurance policy.
“The objective is to let the people know that the 2003 Insurance Act has made third party insurance policy mandatory for all Nigerians,” he said.
FCT
Participants at the ongoing Regional Deepwater Offshore West Africa Conference and Exhibition on Wednesday described the attendance as impressive.
Some participants, who spoke to newsmen at the forum in Abuja, expressed satisfaction with the quality of participation.
Mr Ofordile Okoye, the managing director of an indigenous firm which manufactures safety work wears, said the exhibition was a platform for Nigerian companies to showcase their progress following the recent enactment of the Nigerian Content Law.
He said the industry was anxiously awaiting the passage of the PIB which he said would address the concerns of all the stakeholders and provide the legal framework for the growth and development of the oil and gas sectors.
Kano
The Kano State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya A’isha Isiyaku, has cautioned the public against “over consumption” of meat during the Sallah festival to avoid stomack disorders.
She gave the warning on Thursday in Kano in an interview with newsmen when the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, paid the traditional Sallah homage to Governor Ibrahim Shekarau.
Isiyaku also urged the people to avoid taking too much animal fats during the festival to avoid heart problems and arthritis.
She advised the people to take a lot of fruits and vegetable during the festival for improved good health.
Katsina
The Katsina State Government has awarded a N3.9 billion contract for the completion of the first and second phases of the state’s stadium.
The deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Sirajo Damari, said this last Wednesday in Katsina during the traditional “Hawan Bariki, “ a programme held to mark the Sallah celebration.
He said the decision to complete the abandoned multi-million Naira stadium was borne out of the state government’s commitment toward boosting sporting activities.
Damari, who represented Governor Ibrahim Shema, also said the state government had within the last three and half years rehabilitated all the mini-stadia in the state.
“It is known that sporting activities play a significant role in politics of the world today, hence the decision by government to give the sector the attention it deserves,” he said.
Kebbi
Some children in Birnin Kebbi metropolis last Wednesday urged the state government to build an amusement park for their leisure.
Musa Ahmadu told newsmen that lack of an amusement park has denied children a special arena to mark the Sallah celebration.
“I have played with friends but a modern amusement park is required here,” he said.
Abbati Ali, who came with his parents from Abuja, also lamented the absence of a park.
“I miss the fun in Abuja, though I have made new friends here,” he said.
Kogi
The reconstruction of the 200-year old Odogi traditional market in Kabba-Bunu Local Government of Kogi has commenced.
The project, being executed under the World Bank assisted Fadama III programme, will be completed soon.
Chairman of the Fadama Community Association (FCA), Mr Samuel Olobatoke made this known in an interview with newsmen in Kabba last Tuesday.
Olobatoke said the project of 24 cubicles and VIP latrines would cost N1.83 million provided by the World Bank, with counterpart funding from the community and the Federal and State Governments.
He said the market had historical and traditional significance having served the fore fathers of the community and its neighbouring towns and villages for more than 200 years.
Kwara
One policeman was killed and fifteen others seriously injured in a community clash at Ganmo Muslim Prayer Ground in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara on Tuesday.
The palace of the Olu of Ganmo, Oba Atanda Kolawole and some vehicles were damaged in the fracas by irate youths.
The crisis started in the morning at the Ganmo prayer ground over who should lead the prayer following an age long chieftaincy dispute.
Police spokesman, Mr Ezekiel Dabo, said the Command received a distress call from the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Kolawole.
“The command mobilised its anti-riot policemen to restore peace, but suddenly, some soldiers, numbering about eight, appeared and engaged the policemen in a gun battle.
He pointed out that one faction in the chieftaincy dispute had mobilised some youths to prevent the other faction from leading them at the prayer. “That was how the crisis started.’’
Lagos
The inauguration of the Customs Examination Bay at Seme border earlier scheduled for this month has been postponed to June 2011.
Mr Fred Udechukwu, Managing Director of Global SCAN SYSTEM Ltd., the firm handling the project, told newsmen last Wednesday in Lagos that the date was no longer feasible.
“The commissioning of the Bay has been postponed till June next year because some important aspects of the contract have not been concluded,’’ he said.
Udechukwu also said the delay in concluding the job was caused by the swampy nature of the area which called for sand filling.
The firm had during an inspection visit by officials of the Ministry of Finance in August promised that the Bay would be ready in November.
Ogun
Former Commonwealth scribe, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on Monday suggested that traditional rulers should be enlisted into the country’s governance under the current presidential system.
Delivering a lecture to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the coronation of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, in Abeokuta, Anyaoku said the role of traditional rulers in the nation could not be over-emphasised.
He described traditional rulers as the custodians of their people’s culture and the embodiment of their collective conscience.
He noted that the traditional rulers played an important role in the sustenance of the cohesion of societies, thereby maintaining law and order, especially in the rural setting.
Osun
The Osun chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) last Wednesday again took up the state government over the N18.4 billion loan it took in April.
It would be recalls that the loan was approved by the House of Assembly on April 27 in spite of criticisms by opposition parties.
The state government had said the loan was to boost development projects which had already been captured in the 2010 budget.
But ACN in a statement by its Director of Research and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, expressed concern over what the loan had been used for since it was obtained in April.
Plateau
Plateau United FC Technical Adviser, Ndubusi Nduka, says the players will blend with each other by the end of Week Five of the current season.
Nduka told newsmen last Wednesday in Jos that perfect understanding in the team was crucial to picking the continental ticket.
He said just two weeks into the league, the NPL was showing remarkable improvement in form and content and attributed this to the revolution in Nigerian football.
The former Dolphins FC Coach said ace midfielder, Olaniyi Olayinka, had resumed light training after suffering from a groin injury which sidelined him since the commencement of the league.
On the standard of officiating, he said referees and other match officials had lived up to expectations and appealed to them to maintain this.
Sokoto
An international conference on climate change and desertification is scheduled to take place at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, from Dec. 6 to Dec. 9, 2010, a statement said.
The statement signed by Prof. Saka Yusuf, a consultant to the university, was made available to newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday.
It said that one of the objectives of the conference was to identify areas of human endeavour most at risk to climate change and desertification in Nigeria.
The statement said the conference would be organised by the university in conjuction with the Ilorin-based consultancy firm, Saka Yusuf and Associates.
The Standard Bearers (SB) Islamic Organisation has raised concerns over the growing rate of binge drinking among Nigerian youths, attributing the trend largely to the widespread availability of sachet alcohol.
The group’s position follows the recent move by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce a ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Dr. Nurudeen AbdulRaheem, and National Secretary, Malam Qaasim Adegbuyi, the organisation declared its full support for NAFDAC’s decision, describing it as a timely and necessary public health intervention.
AbdulRaheem noted that sachet alcohol, often sold for as little as ?100, has made excessive drinking more accessible, particularly to young people and minors. According to him, the affordability and small packaging of such products have worsened binge drinking, youth addiction and community insecurity.
He explained that binge drinking involves consuming multiple alcoholic drinks within a short period, typically within two hours, a practice that can lead to severe physical and mental health complications as well as legal and social problems.
The SB National Coordinator cited global health data indicating that alcohol is responsible for more than three million deaths annually worldwide and remains a major contributor to road accidents, violence, liver disease and mental health disorders.
While acknowledging concerns from industry stakeholders over the economic implications of the ban, AbdulRaheem maintained that public health considerations must take precedence.
“Public health and the protection of young lives must come first,” he stated, adding that Islamic ethical values, like many societal norms, emphasise the protection of life, intellect and family stability.
The organisation urged NAFDAC and the Federal Government to remain resolute in implementing the policy while also providing transition support for businesses that may be affected by the ban.
According to the group, the enforcement of the ban represents a significant step toward promoting a safer and healthier society.
By Favour James
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has successfully concluded its Seafarers Training Programme for 100 Ogoni youths, positioning them for opportunities in the competitive global maritime industry.
The beneficiaries, who underwent four months of intensive training at Charkin Maritime Academy, Port Harcourt, received their certificates during a close-out ceremony held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The event was attended by top management staff of HYPREP, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning of Charkin Maritime Academy, the Head of the Seafaring Department, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, and other dignitaries.
Addressing the graduates, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, described the ceremony as a celebration of hard work, dedication, and the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the young beneficiaries.
He said the graduation symbolises vision, resilience, and hope — hope translated into skills, certificates, and tangible opportunities for a better future for Ogoni youths.
According to him, the passing-out ceremony marks an important milestone in HYPREP’s mandate to restore livelihoods and promote sustainable development in Ogoniland. He urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the skills and certifications acquired.
“These skills and achievements should not end here but serve as a springboard for self-reliance, dignity of labour, and long-term economic empowerment for the good of Ogoniland and Nigeria,” he stated.
Prof. Zabbey noted that the seafaring programme is significant not only to the beneficiaries but also to HYPREP’s broader livelihood restoration strategy and the Federal Government’s blue economy agenda.
He explained that by equipping the youths with globally relevant maritime skills, HYPREP is opening alternative income opportunities while discouraging oil theft, artisanal refining, re-pollution, and other environmentally harmful practices. He added that the initiative aligns with the directives of the 2016 HYPREP Establishment Gazette and reinforces the Project’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
Commending Charkin Maritime Academy as a dependable training partner, Zabbey described the institution as one of the foremost maritime training centres in the country.
“This partnership has delivered high-quality results today, and we intend to expand it as we intensify efforts to provide sustainable alternative livelihoods for the Ogoni people,” he said.
He expressed confidence in Ogoni youths as drivers of unity, peace, and progress, noting their resilience and commitment to peace in the area. He reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to supporting the aspirations of youths and women in Ogoniland.
The Project Coordinator likened knowledge and certificates to fuel in a vehicle, stressing that they are meant to propel the graduates toward greater heights.
“We hear your voices calling for restoration, and today, environmental and livelihood restoration are gradually unfolding before your eyes, bringing renewed hope. We continue to lay brick upon brick, building pillars of Ogoni development, as evidenced by the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), which is 93 per cent completed,” he added.
He emphasised that HYPREP’s approach integrates all projects and interventions toward achieving environmental sustainability and long-term development in Ogoniland.
Also speaking, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr. Ehioze Igbinomwahia, said the graduates had gained not only technical maritime skills but also discipline, resilience, and confidence to compete globally.
He described their graduation as the beginning of a new journey and noted that the UNEP Report emphasised that environmental restoration must be complemented by sustainable livelihoods, capacity building, and youth empowerment.
“Without empowering people, restoration cannot be complete. Programmes such as this maritime training represent practical steps toward creating employment pathways, dignity, and long-term community stability,” he said.
Engr. Igbinomwahia added that Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited remains committed to supporting environmental recovery, human capacity development, and sustainable economic opportunities in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta.
Highlighting the importance of discipline and safety, he urged the graduates to be ambassadors of professionalism and integrity.
“The sea you are about to enter is vast and sometimes challenging, but it is also full of opportunity. Let discipline guide your actions, let safety remain your constant companion, and let your character speak for you wherever you go,” he advised.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning at Charkin Maritime Academy, Captain Joseph Awodeha, who represented the Chairman, Dr. Charles Wami, emphasised discipline and safety as critical to career success in the maritime sector.
The Head of the Seafaring Department, Captain Jonathan Hammond, urged the graduates to remain humble and disciplined, noting that such virtues are essential for career growth.
In his remarks, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, Barrister Dornu Baridan, commended the beneficiaries for successfully scaling through the
rigorous selection process and completing their training as seafarers.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Port Harcourt Branch, Rivers State, has elected 14 member executives to lead the organization for the 2025/2026 year. Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, is the 23rd chairman.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Engr. Ishmael A. Branch Secretariat, 3 Benard Carr Street (Waterworks Yard), Port Harcourt, attracted members of the engineering profession from within and outside the state.
Other elected executives include:
Engr. Samuel H. Kwelle, MNSE – Vice Chairman
Engr. Dr. Promise Jumbo, FNSE – General Secretary
Engr. Priye P. K. Lawson, MNSE – Assistant Secretary
Engr. Patrick O. Udegbunam, MNSE – Treasurer.
Others are Engr. Hilda D. Batubo, MNSE – Financial Secretary
Engr. Bowei M. Dauseighe, MNSE – Technical Secretary
Engr. Charles O. Okwakpam, MNSE – Assistant Technical Secretary
Engr. Agnes Komolafe, MNSE – Membership Secretary
Engr. Dike N. Livingstone, MNSE – Publicity Secretary
Also elected are Engr. Ayebaye Daniel Wanatoi, MNSE – Welfare Secretary
Engr. Oribiokpomari I. Comfort, MNSE – Internal Auditor
Engr. Dr. Idaeresoari Harriet Ateke, FNSE – Immediate Past Chairman
Engr Dr Hachimenum Amadi, FNSE (Ex-Officio)
In his a goodwill message, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon. Frederick Anabraba, urged the new executive to maintain high ethical standards and move the association forward.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, promised an inclusive administration and teamwork, focusing on collaboration with stakeholders. He had begun building partnerships with Rivers State University and the University of Port Harcourt.
The highlight was the inauguration lecture, “Engineering Solution for Security, Energy Access and Sustainable Development,” delivered by Engr. Victor Bandele, Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater Assets, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited.
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