Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Rural Information and Communication Technology Centre (RITC) in Mubi, Adamawa, has trained 30 unemployed youths from Mubi North Local Government Area of the state.
The Manager of the centre, Malam Abdulkareem Abubakar, told newsmen in Mubi on Monday that the 30 were trained in Computer Appreciation and Software Application.
He said that the graduates were exposed to various aspects of IT during the three months training.
Established under the Federal Government’s Rural Information and Communication Technology (RICT) scheme, Abubakar said the centre was designed to provide training and enhance IT development at the grass-roots level.
Bauchi
No fewer than 100 suspected political thugs on Monday in Bauchi surrendered their weapons and promised to turn a new leaf.
The youths gathered at Mallam Goje Enclave in Bauchi Metropolis to surrender their weapons and promised to shun political violence.
The youths confessed to previous crimes, which they committed, at the forum organised by one Alhaji Uba Boris and attended by Hajiya Hawa Yuguda, Wife of the State Governor.
Boris said most of the youths indulged in political violence locally known as “sara suka” (a group that specialises in killing people along the north-eastern part of the country).
He attributed their renouncing of violence to efforts made by the government to empower youths.
Borno
The Borno State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday, called on the State Government to address the killing of innocent people in the state urgently.
The Chairman of the chapter, Rev. Yuguda Mdurvwa, made the call while addressing newsmen in Maiduguri.
Mdurvwa pointed out that the Christian community in the state had suffered great losses in recent times, following attacks by unidentified gunmen.
“A number of churches, clergy men and other Christians have been killed in recent times in cold blood in Maiduguri.
FCT
Mrs Fidelia Njeze, the Minister of Aviation, on Monday in Abuja gave a six-week ultimatum to the Committee on the Removal of Disabled Aircraft to submit its report.
Njeze gave the ultimatum during the inauguration of the 12-member committee, chaired by Capt. Mohammed Ruma, the Director, Safety and Technical Policy Department of the ministry.
“The purpose of this gathering is to formally bring together professionals and stakeholders to outline the responsibilities to manage the removal of disabled aircraft as it is consistent with safety and security of aircraft and airport operations.
Jigawa
Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa has commended the Nigerian military for its contributions to peacekeeping operations in the West African sub-region.
Receiving members of the Course 33 of Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, on Monday in Dutse, Lamido said the Nigerian military had played significant roles in ensuring peace among African countries.
He said the military also ensured that the country remained one, united and an indivisible entity.
“To be frank, the military has displayed uncommon brotherhood for its African brothers in ensuring that peace prevails on the continent each time they are deployed to any troubled state,” he said.
Kaduna
The Minister of Defence, Mr Adetokunbo Kayode, on Monday in Jaji, Kaduna State, called for adequate media coverage of Nigerian contingents on peace support operations.
The minister, who was represented by the Army Director of Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, made the call at the opening ceremony of a capacity building workshop for defence correspondents in Jaji.
Katsina
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of CPC in Katsina State, Alhaji Aliyu Gidado, has alleged the registration of ineligible and foreign persons in some parts of the state.
Gidado told newsmen after a closed-door meeting of the 34 local government chairmen of the party in Katsina on Monday that some Nigerians were registered in Mai’adua Local Government Area.
He also alleged that some politicians were selling voters cards and bribing INEC officials to facilitate the registration of ineligible persons.
Gidado complained of inadequate registration materials in many registration units and urged INEC to address the anomalies.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Wara, however, dismissed the allegations.
He said additional DDC machines had been received and distributed to areas where they were lacking.
Kogi
Kogi chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on Monday in Abuja staged a protest at the party’s National Secretariat, requesting for fresh primaries.
A governorship aspirant, Mr. George Olumoroti, told newsmen during the protest that its essence was to pressurise the party to conduct fresh primaries.
“The prospects of ACN in Kogi state now are very high and we cannot afford to go to the polls without somebody that is popularly elected,” he said.
Olumoroti said the primaries which held on January 12 were annulled due to some malpractice and rescheduled to January 23.
He said the exercise did not hold on the day while there was no explanation by the secretariat.
Lagos
Popular Juju musician, King Sunny Ade, recently gave his life to Jesus Christ at a church service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Yaba, Lagos.
Sunny Ade dedicated himself to Christ during an alter call by the RCCG’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
The Juju music maestro was among 30 worshippers at the service that rushed to the altar to be prayed for by the General Overseer.
When Adeboye asked that the persons who answered the call were to confess their sins, Sunny Ade was the first to kneel down.
During the thanksgiving, Sunny Ade expressed gratitude to God for his mercies and for making him see the day.
In his characteristic style, Sunny Ade rendered a song in Yoruba with members of his band: “If not for God, I would have been gone and buried. I thank you God for my life”.
Earlier in his message, Adeboye had told the congregation that anyone who had not given his life to Christ should not rejoice and praise God because such a person was hell-bound.
Oyo
Voter registration is set to commence in 478 polling units in Oyo State as the state INEC on Sunday took delivery of 837 Direct Data Capturing (DDC) machines.
Alhaji Ayodele Afolami, the Public Affairs Officer of INEC in Oyo, told newsmen on phone that since the voter registration started the exercise had not taken place in 478 polling units out of the 4,783 in the state.
He said that the machines had been dispatched to all the outstanding 478 units.
“The machines have been configured and all that the registration officers need do is to charge the battery and commence registration,’’ he explained.
Plateau
Five persons were killed and three others injured in a midnight attack on Sunday by unknown gunmen on Dagiru, a village in Farin Lamba, Vom, Plateau State.
The development forced an emergency security council meeting presided over by Governor Jonah Jang, where urgent measures were taken to restore peace in the crises-ridden state.
Mr James Mannok, Director of Press Affairs, confirmed the meeting in an interview with correspondents.
Mr Moses Dalyop, Chairman, Jos South Local Government Area, told correspondent that the attackers came in two Hilux vehicles and were “dressed in black jackets as soldiers”.
Sokoto
Atiku Kafur, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 10, has stressed the need for officers and men under his command to abide strictly by the ethics of policing.
Addressing officers and men of the Sokoto State Police Command on Monday in Sokoto, Kafur said it was only through abiding by the ethics that the police would effectively provide adequate security in the country.
He said the police faced the major task of mapping out a formidable strategy that would enhance security in the country as “we are approaching the April general elections’’.
Yobe
Alhaji Abbagana Tata, PDP Chairman in Yobe State, has alleged that 50 people from a border village in Niger Republic were transported into the state to register as voters.
“Forty persons were brought in to register in Korsoli and 10 others in Karigide villages in Machina Local Government Area of the state,’’ he added.
Tata, who made the allegation in Damaturu on Tuesday, accused some public officers of hiring people from Niger Republic to register as voters in the state.
“We are aware of government officials smuggling youths from Niger Republic, Borno and Kano States to register in order to boost the voter register in their favour,” he added.
The Head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt’s College of Health Sciences, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive forensic science infrastructure, warning that the nation’s ability to investigate and solve crime is being hampered by lack of scientific data and systems.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Man: Fearfully Different, Wonderfully Made,” delivered as part of the 207th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university, Prof Oladipo highlighted that while no two individuals are exactly the same, the country currently lacks the robust systems needed to collect and manage biological and anthropometric data that could support criminal investigations.
He explained that the natural variations among humans — from fingerprints to physical measurements — form the foundation of personal identification in forensic work. These biological differences, he said, are essential for distinguishing one person from another, especially in the context of criminal investigations where clarity of identity can mean the difference between justice and impunity. Without this scientific foundation, he argued, law enforcement agencies lack a critical tool in the fight against crime.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s forensic science capacity has historically lagged behind needs, with only a few forensic facilities available and many law enforcement agencies struggling to access or use scientific evidence effectively. One review of the state of forensic investigation in Nigeria found that outdated facilities and limited adoption of modern forensic methods have left many cases unsolved or poorly investigated, even as crime rates rise across the country.
In Lagos, efforts to improve forensic capabilities have focused on DNA analysis, with the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre — the first of its kind in West Africa — providing critical support for criminal investigations and helping to identify human remains, link related cases, and assist with paternity testing. However, such initiatives are yet to be replicated at a national scale, leaving many regions without access to these vital scientific tools.
Prof Oladipo’s lecture went beyond academic theory to propose concrete actions. He called for the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Science responsible for creating and managing a nationwide anthropometric and forensic data bank. This repository, he stressed, would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to track crime, assist law enforcement agencies, and improve the administration of justice by providing reliable scientific evidence for investigative and legal processes.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening research and training in forensic science. Many Nigerian universities currently lack the funding and infrastructure to offer complete undergraduate or postgraduate programs in areas such as forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, and crime scene investigation, a gap that forces aspiring experts to rely on collaborations with institutions abroad. By fostering a research-friendly environment and securing greater support from both government and private sectors, Nigerian institutions could produce homegrown experts capable of advancing forensic science in the country.
Awareness of forensic science’s role in criminal justice remains low among the general public and even among some security professionals. Studies have shown that a significant portion of Nigerians are unfamiliar with basic forensic concepts or the existence of tools such as DNA profiling and national forensic databases — tools that are common features of criminal justice systems in countries like South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Oladipo also urged regular training and retraining programs to keep forensic practitioners updated with evolving scientific methods. According to him, continuous professional development is critical in a field where technological advances — from biometric databases to digital forensic tools — are transforming how crimes are investigated and solved.
The lecture was attended by academics, students, and professionals drawn to the intersection of science, identity, and justice, all of whom heard the professor make a compelling case for scientific innovation and institutional reform as central to Nigeria’s effort to contain crime and strengthen its justice system.
The event not only showcased Prof Oladipo’s expertise in human anatomy and forensic psychology but also positioned forensic science as a strategic national priority — one that could bring clarity to investigations, support victims and their families, and ultimately enhance public safety across Nigeria.
The University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) on Thursday staged a vibrant and memorable edition of its Annual Inter-House Sports Competition at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Village, drawing an impressive turnout of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests.
The event, organised by the UPWA International Group of Schools, brought together children from the pre-nursery, nursery and secondary sections in a colourful celebration of youth athleticism, discipline and teamwork. The arena came alive with cheers and excitement as pupils, clad in their various house colours, marched in a ceremonial parade before proceeding to compete in a wide range of track and field events, relays, novelty races and other team-based activities designed to promote physical fitness and healthy competition.
Declaring the competition open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended UPWA for sustaining a tradition that continues to nurture young talents beyond the classroom. He noted that sports remain a critical component of holistic education, helping to build resilience, confidence, leadership skills and social interaction among children.
In her remarks, the President of UPWA, Professor Udeme Georgewill, expressed appreciation to parents, teachers and members of the organising committee for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the success of the programme despite prevailing economic challenges. She described the event as a reflection of unity and collective effort within the school community.
“This is the first time White House is emerging overall winner, and that shows remarkable improvement and great sportsmanship,” she said. “We all had fun. It is not easy putting an event like this together considering the economic situation, but we are grateful to the parents for being part of this journey. The excitement everywhere is truly heartwarming.”
The competition featured spirited participation from the various houses, including Purple House, San Chicago Red House and White House, with pupils demonstrating strength, speed, coordination and teamwork. Parents and supporters filled the stands, cheering enthusiastically and adding colour to the spectacle, while teachers ensured orderliness and safety throughout the proceedings.
Professor Georgewill emphasized that the true essence of sports lies not merely in winning trophies but in participation and personal growth. “Sports is not just about winning. It is an avenue for growth, discipline and opportunity. The fact that a child is able to participate is already a win. Losing this year does not mean you cannot win next year. Keep trying,” she encouraged, urging pupils to see both victory and defeat as stepping stones to greater achievements.
She further observed that while there are many competing interests in the Nigerian sports sector, consistent grassroots investment remains essential for discovering and nurturing future champions.
The colourful ceremony culminated in medal presentations, trophy awards and group photographs, with UPWA executives, including Vice President I, Professor Adedamola Onyeaso, joining the participating teams to celebrate the day’s achievements.
The annual inter-house sports competition continues to stand as one of UPWA’s flagship events, reinforcing its commitment to balanced education, character formation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among its pupils.
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