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.
Strategic regulators and other stakeholders have expressed satisfaction with the pace, quality and magnitude of work carried out by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Ogoniland, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In their separate speeches at the 2025 4th quarter key regulators / asset owners meeting held in Port Harcourt, the strategic stakeholders commended HYPREP for the significant milestones achieved with excellent efficiency and transparency, demonstrating capacity and commitment to sustaining collaboration with development partners for the overall success of the Project.
The regulators particularly lauded HYPREP for the landmark success in the implementation of the land and shoreline remediation, mangrove restoration, provision of reticulated potable water, the various sustainable livelihood programmes, donation of ambulances to health facilities in Ogoni, the construction of Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, as well as the ongoing Ogoni Power Project, adding that their independent field reports have shown proofs of HYPREP driving even beyond its mandates.
The goodwill messages were made by representatives of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Centre for Environment and Human Rights Development (CEHRD), Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA), Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), and Federal Ministry of Environment. Others are the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the Rivers State Ministry of Health, the National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Rivers State Ministry of Power, the Rivers State University, the Rivers State Ministry of Water and Rural Development, and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
Following the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit’s presentation on the status of HYPREP projects, participants offered feedback on areas of concern. They reassured HYPREP and the people of Ogoni of their continued support for the Project’s success. They also suggested that the quarterly review meeting be sustained as it enables them to report, evaluate and proffer solutions to areas of concern.
Participants also commended HYPREP for improved community and stakeholder engagement and for adding to what they saw the previous time. “We commend HYPREP for the quality work done at sites. The progress is phenomenal, because HYPREP is scoring good grades, above average,” Prof. Iyenemi Kakulu from Rivers State University said.
In his speech at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who was represented by Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, Director of Technical Services, commended the regulators and asset owners for their cooperation with the Project, and for making themselves available for fieldwork and the regular review meetings.
Prof Zabbey reiterated HYPREP’s commitment to best practice in waste management, particularly waste generation and disposal, calling on the Regulators for adequate logistics support, saying HYPREP’s priority is to focus on the core recommendations by UNEP, especially, remediation(soil, shoreline) mangrove restoration, provision of potable water, interventions in public health care services and sustainable livelihood for the people.
The Project Coordinator further highlighted the status of the Project, the successes achieved across all thematic areas, and assured that HYPREP will soon complete most of the ongoing projects and roll out others. He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review the progress of the Ogoni cleanup, ensure quality control, and foster effective collaboration.
Consequently, the quarterly key regulators/asset owners meeting is HYPREP’s strategic stakeholder management model, further underscoring the Project’s commitment to transparency, partnership for development, and accountability, all of which are harbingers of effective project delivery.
Speaking to newsmen, HYPREP Project Support Lead and representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr Ehioze Igbinomwanhia, described his involvement with HYPREPas an encouraging and insightful experience, saying, the Project is implementing a wide range of projects across Ogoniland, spanning immediate remediation works as well as livelihood support initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of affected communities.
Engr Igbinomwanhia emphasised that Renaissance Africa Energy remains fully committed to supporting the objectives of the Ogoni cleanup project, noting that the company has a long history of collaboration with HYPREP.
He added that the partnership has been characterised by continuous learning, adaptation and a willingness to respond to observations and recommendations aimed at improving outcomes.
He further emphasised the importance of safety in all project operations, particularly given the challenging terrain and operating conditions in Ogoniland.
He noted that safety is treated as a critical priority and that contractors are continually reminded to maintain high safety standards, stressing that lessons learnt from previous operational challenges like the collapse of the water tank in Gwara Community are being applied to strengthen safety practices and overall performance.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
