Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Emir of Mubi in Adamawa, Alhaji Isa Ahmadu, has advised teachers to ensure proper upbringing of their pupils.
The emir gave the advice on Monday in Mubi at a student parade organised by Islamic schools, as part of the activities to mark the Eid-el-Maulud celebration.
He stressed the need for teachers to emphasis discipline for the good and moral upbringing of the pupils.
Ahmadu said, “The lack of discipline is largely responsible for the political and socio-economic problems in the country.
“We must emphasis discipline and morality to address the growing social vices in the society.’’
He also urged teachers to adopt more practical measures toward imparting knowledge in students and urged students to dedicate themselves to their studies.
Borno
The National Deputy Chairman of African Liberation Party (ALP), Alhaji Abba Kale has in Maiduguri called on Nigerians to support President GoodLuck Jonathan continuity bid.
· Kale in an interview with newsmen told the people to vote him in the April general polls.
· He said the Jonathan PDP led administration had initiated many developmental projects across the country and should be re-elected to complete them.
· He said an attempt to vote for any other party’s candidate would send Nigeria back to the starting point as the leadership will start all over again.
FCT
Chief Ambrose Owuru, the presidential candidate of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), says credible, free and fair elections will avert civil revolution in Nigeria.
He said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja and made available to the newsmen.
Owuru said that except the leadership of the nation was allowed to be determined by Nigerians through their votes, civil revolution might take place.
“There is a civil revolution now cutting across Africa. It might visit Nigeria if care is not taken,” he said.
Owuru, who is also the national chairman of the party, explained that credible, free and fair elections would oust bad leaders who had held the nation to ransom.
He attributed the socio-economic under-development of Nigeria to bad leadership.
Gombe
The Federal College of Horticultre, Dadinkowa in Gombe, has donated 265 books on enhanced farming techniques to farmers and secondary schools in Baure and Hinna towns.
At the presentation ceremony in Hinna, the Provost of the College, Dr Umaru Gurama, told representatives of the two communities the books would enhance the skills.
He identified areas the books would add value to the beneficiaries to include poultry, fisheries, livestock, vegetable, fruits and ornament production, among others.
According to him, if the farmers use those books as guide, their farm output will be enhanced, thereby boosting food production in the state and the country at large.
The provost said that his institution had assigned coordinators in each of the college’s outreach centres to assist farmers in comprehending the contents of the books for effective application.
Kaduna
The North-West zonal office of the PDP has declared that it recorded huge success at its presidential campaign in Kaduna.
The Tides source recalls that the PDP held its presidential campaign rally in Kaduna on February 10.
The zonal secretary of the party, Mr Baba Lawal-Aliyu, told the source in Kaduna that executives from the seven states, the NWC, the governorship, National and State Assembly flag bearers attended the rally.
“It is malicious and deliberate mischief by some idle minds that the rally was poorly attended.
“It is also a complete falsehood that the poor attendance cause feud between Gov. Patrick Yakowa and Vice President Namadi Sambo,’’ he said.
Kogi
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Kogi has called on the state government to evolve a people-oriented tax policy that will lessen the burden on its workforce.
The Chairman of the association in the state, Dr Attah Ahmed, told newsmen that the state government should revert to the old tax policy and maintain the status quo to avoid further recourse to strikes and industrial unrest.
The chairman said that prior to the recent development, the state had been deducting one per cent of the workers’ net pay, which was about 10 per cent of the basic salary.
He explained that under the new tax regime, between 18 per cent and 20 per cent of the net pay of the workers, amounting to about 40 per cent of the basic salary, was being deducted monthly, adding that the implication was grievous.
Kwara
Twenty seven students from various tertiary institutions under the aegis of the National Association of Kwara State Students were recently arraigned before an Ilorin Magistrates’ Court over ‘violent’ protest.
The 27 persons are also being accused of criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation, criminal force and assault on public servants.
The Tide’s source reports that other charges brought against them include mischief and disturbance of public peace, which run contrary to sections 97, 397, 267 and 113 of the Penal Code.
The source recalls that the students were arrested on Friday in the course of a protest for non-payment of their 2009/2010 bursary allowances by the Kwara Government.
According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), the students during the protest criminally conspired to destroy a Nissan Primera with registration number AL285 MUN and a Volkswagen Golf (AW693APP).
Lagos
Some financial experts have urged the Federal Government to adopt policies that would create the enabling environment to attract foreign investment.
The experts, who gave the advice in separate interviews with newsmen in Lagos, called on the government to revamp ailing sectors, especially the power sector.
Dr Tunde Adeoye, a lecturer in the Department of Economics, University of Lagos, said that the problem of epileptic power supply must be solved for the survival of ailing industries as well as generate employment.
“For Nigeria to be successful economically, the power sector must be given urgent attention to ensure stable electricity in the country,” he said.
Adeoye said that the government needed to fast track the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to end the challenges of power supply in the country.
Security is another critical area that the experts said needed to be tackled.
Niger
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger has urged people in the state to vote enbloc for President Goodluck Jonathan, during the April elections.
Aliyu made the call in Minna, at the inauguration of his campaign team tagged: “Talba-2011’’.
“We must vote for President Jonathan if we want to attract federal projects to Niger.
“If you vote for PDP all round, your Governor can walk to the Villa to ask for anything,” Aliyu declared.
He tasked the campaign organisation to ensure that the party got two million votes of the total 2.5 million registered in the state.
The governor re-affirmed his administration’s commitment to a hitch- free election.
Aliyu also called on the electorate to ensure a PDP-controlled House of Assembly, to ease governemnt activities.
Oyo
The Federal High Court in Ibadan, has vacated the interim injunction restraining INEC from listing Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala as a contestant in April polls.
The Tide’s source recalls that Alao-Akala was elected in the governorship primaries conducted by the ruling PDP on December 31, 2010 at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.
Three aspirants, Chiefs Wole Oyelese, Yekinni Adeojo and Hazeem Gbolarunmi and 34 others, had on February 1, secured an injunction restraining INEC from listing Alao-Akala and others as the party’s candidates from the primaries.
In vacating the order, Justice Johnson Shakarho said that since the plaintiffs and Alao-Akala were seeking elective posts in the PDP, they should go to INEC to harmonise their positions.
Plateau
Striking medical and health workers in Plateau, have suspended their industrial action for two weeks.
Mr. Richard Gbawuan, Secretary, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), disclosed this to newsmen in Jos.
He said that the suspension was to make room for negotiations with government.
The Tide’s source reports that the latest action, which took effect from February 14, followed series of meetings with the various groups involved.
“We also took into consideration the effect of the protracted industrial action on the citizens of the state,’’ Gbawuan said.
The source reports that health workers are seeking a harmonised salary structure and the Consolidated Health salary scale (CONHESS).
Yobe
The Coalition of Political Parties in Yobe has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide helicopters for timely delivery of materials and supervision at the Nigeria-Niger border areas during the April elections.
Malam Bala Mohammed, the Chairman of the coalition, told newsmen in Damaturu that the provision of the helicopters was necessary in view of the difficult terrain of such areas.
He said the helicopters would not only facilitate the transportation of materials but also stem the problem of non-participation of citizens in the elections as well as ensure safety of poll materials, officials and observers.
Zamfara
National Assembly PDP caucus from Zamfara, on Tuesday called for peaceful campaigns in the state towards the April general elections.
Senator Sahabi Yau (PDP-Zamfara) who spoke on behalf of the group at a news conference in Abuja, said that the security situation in the state was worrisome.
He blamed the current insecurity situation in the state on the dangerous activities of some politicians.
“We, therefore, call on the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police, the State Security Service and other security organs to take note of these issues we have raised,’’ he said.
Youths from five local government areas in Northern Cross River State have concluded a one-week warning protest and blockade of the dilapidated Ikom-Wula-Obudu federal highway over the weekend.
They have vowed to resume the road blocks if by this week the authorities do not intervene to fix the road.
More than five thousand locals, mostly youths from Obanliku, Etung, Obudu, Ikom and Boki LGAs trooped out everyday for one week, used palm trees to block the highway to draw state and federal government’s attention to their plights, requesting the repair of a road has has been unmotorable for about 40 years.
They warned that if they do not see any actions from the state or federal governments, they will resume their Plan B protest, stop revenue collections and make governance unpalatable.
The youths also warned that without interventions on the road which has claimed several lives, including that of last week when a pregnant woman died with her baby in the full glare of the protesters because of the terrible road, no election can hold in the area next year.
One of the leaders of the No Road , No Election protest, who is also the Abo Youths in Boki LGA, Dr Martins Assam said both the federal and state governments have neglected the region, which generates more than 70 percent state revenue from agriculture.
He said if machinery is not deployed by next week, they will not have any option than to embark on unpalatable and disastrous protest, and stop revenue collections in the area.
“Last week we had only a warning strike for one good week. We’ll embark on a more elaborate, disastrous one-month blockade of this highway until they intervene. We call on our Governor and representatives in the National Assembly to act now by impressing on the federal government to immediately fix this road else. We’re not asking for two much but to be treated as human beings.”
Another protester, Clinton Obi from the Etung axis said, “We’ve been neglected for 40 years. This Ikom-Obudu federal highway had been impassable. The government has removed its concentration from our plights. By this one week protest, we want action on this road otherwise the next phase of protest will be costly.”
Reverend Father Francis Amaozo, priest in charge of St. Nicholas parish in Nashua, Boki LGA said, “I have also been a victim of this very deplorable road. Enough is now enough. We’ve been betrayed by our representatives and other leaders, so that we in this axis have become endangered species on this road. I have lost some many members on this road.”
Member, representing the Boki-Ikom federal constituency of the state in the House of Representatives, Bisong Victor Abang had pleaded with the locals to be a bit more patient with the government as action will commence shortly.
Nation
UNIPORT VC Receives Inaugural Lecture Brochure As Professor Highlights Urgent Need For Drug Repurposing In Malaria Fight
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof Owunari Georgewill, last Thursday received the inaugural lecture brochure from the Inaugural Lecturer, Professor Udeme Georgewill, during a ceremony at the university’s Centre of Excellence attended by academics, researchers, students, and distinguished guests.
Delivering her lecture, Professor Udeme Georgewill described the occasion as the culmination of years of dedicated research, teaching, and service to humanity. He explained that his work as a pharmacologist has consistently focused on finding practical, affordable, and scientifically sound solutions to health challenges that disproportionately affect developing countries, particularly malaria, which remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health concerns.
She noted that Nigeria continues to bear one of the heaviest malaria burdens globally, accounting for a significant percentage of worldwide cases and deaths. The disease, largely caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite and transmitted through Anopheles mosquitoes, remains especially dangerous for children under five years and pregnant women, threatening not only present populations but unborn generations. Despite years of intervention efforts, malaria continues to strain families, health systems, and the national economy.
Prof Georgewill empha-sised that while Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies such as Artemether-Lumefantrine remain the gold standard for malaria treatment, emerging resistance patterns pose a serious challenge. He explained that drug resistance is a survival mechanism of the parasite, enabling it to adapt and reduce the effectiveness of medications designed to eliminate it. According to her, instances where patients do not feel better after initial treatment sometimes lead to repeated dosing or the search for injectable alternatives, practices that can worsen resistance and complicate treatment outcomes.
Against this backdrop, she advocated strongly for drug repurposing as a strategic and urgent response. Drug repurposing, he explained, involves identifying new therapeutic uses for already approved and widely available medications. He likened the concept to “old wine in new wineskins,” stressing that medicines already proven safe for certain conditions can be carefully re-evaluated and optimised for new roles in malaria management. This approach, she argued, offers advantages such as reduced research timelines, lower development costs, and faster clinical application compared to developing entirely new drugs from scratch.
She disclosed that her research had progressed from laboratory investigations to clinical evaluations, where his team is studying combinations involving Artemether-Lumefantrine and Ivermectin to determine their effectiveness in improving treatment outcomes and possibly reducing transmission. Clinical trials are ongoing, and findings will be communicated upon completion of regulatory processes. However, he cautioned strongly against self-medication, warning that misuse of drugs without proper diagnosis and prescription can lead to organ damage, treatment failure, and increased resistance.
Referencing global health commitments, Prof Georgewill highlighted Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, which seeks to end epidemics of malaria and other major infectious diseases by 2030. She questioned whether the goal remains attainable under current realities, especially with growing resistance and funding gaps. He also referred to strategies of the World Health Organisation aimed at drastically reducing malaria incidence and mortality while pushing toward elimination in several countries.
Looking ahead, she revealed that her team is building comprehensive research databases to support artificial intelligence-driven drug repurposing. He stressed that the integration of artificial intelligence, molecular docking, and advanced screening technologies is transforming global drug discovery, and Nigerian researchers must be equipped to participate competitively in this evolving scientific landscape.
In her recommendations, she called for the establishment of a National Centre for Drug Repurposing to coordinate research efforts and leverage artificial intelligence in identifying new indications for existing medicines. He urged policymakers to simplify and accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical application, ensuring that scientific breakthroughs benefit the public more efficiently. She also appealed to the university and relevant authorities to increase funding and modernise laboratory infrastructure, including high-throughput screening facilities, to strengthen Nigeria’s position in global biomedical research.
The lecture concluded with expressions of gratitude to God, the university leadership, colleagues, students, and guests, as the event underscored the University of Port Harcourt’s commitment to research excellence and its role in addressing critical public health challenges facing Nigeria and the wider world.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Niger State Chapter, has rejected the proposed Niger State Hisbah Directorates Bill, describing it as controversial and capable of deepening religious division in the state.
In a statement signed by the State Chairman, Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, and made available to The Tide’s source yesterday, the association urged Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago not to assent to the bill if it is passed by the State House of Assembly.
The bill, sponsored by the member representing Chanchaga Constituency, Hon. Mohammed Abubakar, seeks to establish a Hisbah Directorate in Niger State.
CAN warned that the legislation could be perceived as discriminatory against Christians and may heighten tension in the religiously diverse state.
“Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, we, the entire Christendom in the state, wish to draw your attention to what could easily create division among the people you govern,” the statement read in part.
The association questioned the necessity and benefits of the proposed law, asking what economic or social value it would add to the state.
It further argued that existing security agencies, including the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, already have constitutional mandates to maintain law and order.
The Christian body also faulted the legislative process, disputing claims that it was consulted during a public hearing on the bill.
It insisted that it was neither invited nor notified of any such engagement, despite being a critical stakeholder in the state.