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THE STATES
Abeokuta
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, on Tuesday promised to actualise the dream of late Health Minister, Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, for a medical village.
Ransome-Kuti, aged 73, died on June 2, 2003 at a London hotel while attending a WHO conference.
The renowned paediatrician and indigene of Abeokuta, had proposed to build a medical village at Ipakoto in Ifo local government area of the state.
He, however, could not actualise the dream before his demise.
Amosun, who spoke while receiving the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Abeokuta, expressed his administration’s commitment to building the village.
Abuja
The most common allergies cause symptoms like itching, runny nose and mild swelling but the more serious conditions like asthma and some food allergies can have deadly consequences, according to Dr Abiodun Awolusi, a medical doctor.
Awolusi, Head of Accident and Emergency Unit, National Hospital Abuja, told newsmen that allergic reactions could result in eczema, rashes, inflammation of the nasal airways, asthma attacks, and reaction to food, drugs and the venom of stinging insects.
According to him, an allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system that occurs when a person’s body reacts to normally harmless environmental substances.
Ijebu-Ode
The Academic Staff Union of Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu-Ijebu, Ogun State, has suspended its four-month old strike.
The union in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Femi Osibamawo , in Ijebu-Ode on Tuesday, stated that the strike was suspended due to the plea by Governor Ibikunle Amosun during his state media conference.
The union had in March embarked on an indefinite strike over non-payment of nine months salaries and arrears of the academic staff.
The union while pleading with Governor Amosun to fulfill his promise to pay the outstanding salaries and arrears of the lecturers said they would press for the payment within the next three weeks.
Jos
The University of Jos will conduct its post-UTME screening of prospective students in August, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hayward Mafuyai, has announced.
Mafuyai, who made the announcement at a news briefing in Jos, said the cut-off points for the various courses would be made known at a meeting called by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for next week in Abuja.
The vice-chancellor said the institution had been under intense pressure with applications overshooting the required slots for each department.
Kano
An Islamic scholar, Malama Hafsat Bello, says youth empowerment, through the provision of sustainable means of profitable employment will eliminate criminal tendencies and enhance national security.
She told newsmen on Tuesday, in Kano, that both the federal and state governments should give priority to the creation of job opportunities to bring a new lease of life to the youth under the new dispensation.
Bello said it was by constructively engaging the youth that government could effectively weam tje, frp, cro,e amd ptjer megatove temdemcoes.
Kebbi
The Kebbi government has received and distributed 26,000 tonnes of fertiliser to farmers in the state for the 2011 farming season.
Alhaji Umar Aliero, the General Manager, Kebbi State Agricultural Supply Company (KASCOM), told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday, that efforts were on to deliver the commodity to all the wards in the council areas at subsidised rates.
He said that state and local government committees had been set up to ensure smooth and equitable distribution of the commodity to farmers, irrespective of political or other differences.
Aliero added that government had also purchased seedlings worth N6.5 million for distribution to farmers.
Kogi
The Kogi Government has purchased more than 5,000 assorted farming implements for distribution to farmers in the 21 local government areas in the state to enhance mechanised farming.
Governor Ibrahim Idris, who made the announcement on Tuesday, while inaugurating various projects executed by the Okene Local government area, said time had come for farmers to do away with obsolete farming tools.
He said the quality and quantity of agricultural produce in the state had failed to improve over the years due to the dependence of most rural farmers on the traditional and obsolete manual tools.
Idris promised that the challenge of low yields by farmers would soon be a thing of the past in the state.
Lagos
Some local government chiefs in Lagos State have appealed to the NNPC to extend to the rural areas the sale of kerosene in mobile trucks.
They also urged the federal government to ensure that the product was not diverted by middlemen.
The NNPC, in partnership with Capital Oil, on July 16 began the sale of kerosene to consumers from mobile trucks following a lingering scarcity of the commodity.
Mr Olusegun Agbaje, Chairmen of Epe local government council, said that the government should extend the initiative to the rural areas for the benefit of those Nigerians who are the main consumers of the product.
He said that the extension of the sales to the rural areas would reduce the high dependence on firewood for cooking.
Lokoja
Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has appealed to aggrieved groups and individuals nationwide, to eschew violence in the interest of unity and stability of the nation.
He said it was under an atmosphere of peace and tranquility that the nation could achieve developmental goals.
He made the appeal in Lokoja during a courtesy call on Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi.
The Speaker added that dialogue remained a viable option to resolve the nation’s problems, adding that the House was evolving an agenda for the next four years.
Maiduguri
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno, has described the killings by the Boko Haram sect in the name of Islam as as “unjustifiable.”
“How can a true muslim explain, let alone profoundly justify the current unfortunate cold blooded murders and bombings in the name of Islam”.
“Islam means peace and submission to the will of God and thus it should remain so, in both theory and practice.”
“This was the understanding of our forefathers; theirs is the true meaning of Islam in both letter and spirit,” Shettima told newsmen in Maiduguri.
Ondo
An accident involving four trucks at Asewele/Ajue in Ore, Odigbo local government area of Ondo State, on Monday night, left two dead and many others injured.
The FRSC Unit Commander, Mr Mike Arinzeagu, told newsmen on Tuesday, in Ore, that the accident was caused by an earlier accident involving a truck.
He said a truck with registration number ABUJA KX940 KWL had earlier fallen on the road.
“The other four trucks later rammed into this truck, which later resulted in the death of two people and many others injured.”
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Police Command has mobilised 5,000 police personnel for the conduct of Saturday’s local government election in the state.
The Commissioner, Alhaji Adeola Adeneji, said in Sokoto on Tuesday, that necessary operational arrangements have been concluded.
He said that Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) had been briefed and put on alert, to ensure peace and political stability.
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
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