Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
No fewer than 27 organisations have declared their readiness to campaign for the re-election of Gov. Murtala Nyako of Adamawa on the PDP platform in 2012.
The party’s Chairman in the state, Alhaji Mijinyawa Kugama, made the announcement at the inauguration of the office of the Adamawa Consensus Forum for the Nyako/Ngilari 2012 Support Group.
Kugama said the emergence of the growing number of interest groups clamouring to work for the re-election of Nyako was a welcome development and a testimony of his good performance in transforming Adamawa.
“As far as we are concerned in the PDP, this is a pointer that Nyako’s team is a winning one that is just waiting for 2012 to renew its mandate with ease.”
In his remarks, Nyako lauded all those working to ensure PDP’s victory and gave assurance that his administration would continue to ensure fairness to all parts of the state in terms of development projects in line with the party’s manifesto.
He said the PDP had been good to the Adamawa people at all levels and its re-election would ensure continued provision of democracy dividends.
‘’Some say PDP will lead Nigeria for 60 years. As for the people of Adamawa we won’t mind PDP ruling for 600 years.’’
Bauchi
Bauchi State House of Assembly has approved the request earlier submitted to it by Gov. Isa Yuguda to appoint Directors-General but warned him against incurring additional fund for the exercise.
The approval followed reports of an ad hoc committee earlier set up by the House under Alhaji Hassan Ningi to investigate if the request was in line with the nation’s constitution.
Ningi, in his reports at the House plenary session on Thursday, presided over by Speaker Yahaya Miya, said that Yuguda had the power to appoint personal aides under the 1999 Constitution.
He told the legislators that the committee, in the course of its investigations, discovered that under Section 208 (2) D of the amended 1999 Constitution, the governor has the power to appoint personal staff and ascribe any name to them.
Miya observed that the appointment of directors-general ranked below the special advisers but placed above senior special assistants to the governor.
He, therefore, advised that since they were above special assistants, the nominations must be submitted to the House for confirmation.
FCT
A don, Prof. Saleh Dauda, has called on African leaders to embrace constitutionalism in governance to enhance peace in the continent.
Dauda, who teaches political science and international relations at the University of Abuja, made the call in Gwagwalada, FCT, while reacting to the death of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Thursday.
Gaddafi, who ruled his country for 42 years, was killed on Thursday in Sirte, his home town, while trying to escape from being captured by rebels, who had been fighting to overthrow his government.
Dauda told newmen that the Libyan people revolted against Gaddafi because he denied them their fundamental human rights.
Dauda, therefore, called on African leaders to ensure that the wishes and desires of their people were given utmost attention because, according to him, the quest for change is a global phenomenon.
He also called on politicians in the continent to see political office as a call to service “within a specific period”.
Gombe
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Gombe State is to engage the services of 1,052 ad-hoc staff for the conduct of the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency bye-election fixed for October 22.
The INEC Administrative Secretary in Gombe State, Alhaji Mohammed Giro, told newsmen in Gombe that 20 permanent staff would be involved in the election.
Giro said that the training of the ad-hoc staff, most of them NYSC members has, commenced adding that voting would take place in 317 polling units in the two local government areas of Balanga and Billiri.
The administrative secretary said, “We are fully prepared for the conduct of election and had already assigned all ad-hoc staff to all the polling units.
“They are expected to report to their places of assignment as soon as their training is concluded. We are also in possession of non-sensitive election material and the sensitive ones will arrive in Gombe on Thursday.
Kaduna
The National President, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Mr Mohammed Auwal-Ibrahim, says colleges of education are critical to the production of quality teachers in the education system.
He spoke with journalists shortly after the opening of an expanded National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the National Delegate Conference of COEASU held at the Federal College of Education (FCE) Zaria last Thursday.
Auwal-Ibrahim observed that colleges of education were the necessary path toward the production of sound teachers, “while teachers are central to the educational development of any nation’’.
“Growth and development of any sector of the nation’s economy lies on the quality of teachers to produce the basic manpower needed in the sector,” he said.
He appealed to government to accord special attention to teacher-education with a view to graduating quality teachers, who would in turn contribute to national growth and development.
Kano
An economist, Dr Aminu Ahmed, has advised the non-oil producing states in the country to diversify their revenue base and explore the potential of solid mineral resources.
Ahmed told newsmen in Kano that the diversification of Nigeria’s revenue sources would safeguard the nation from plunging into economic crisis.
He noted that there were over 400 sites with various mineral resources in commercial quantities across the country, adding, however, that “the main problem to our economic growth is the lack of political will”.
He stressed that successive governments had failed to explore the enormous potentials and opportunities existing in the solid minerals sector, resulting in the country’s over-dependence on oil.
Ahmed, who identified diamond, gold, gypsum, limestone and glass as some of the country’s solid minerals that were in high demand in the international market, said that the minerals could also be processed locally.
Kwara
Wife of Kwara Governor, Mrs Omolewa Ahmad, has called on political office holders in the state to make use of her Charity Foundation’s free health care to enhance the health care delivery of the people.
Ahmed, the initiator of LEAH Charity Foundation, said this in Ilesha Baruba in Baruteen Local Government Area of Kwara on Wednesday during the inauguration of Clinic-On Wheel Programme.
She said that the clinic-on-wheel programme became necessary due to the increasing rate of malaria, diabetes, blindness and hypertension in the state.
The clinic-on-wheel programme is a mobile clinic that affords the people the opportunity to access health care services from the team of medical experts going round the communities.
The Kwara first lady said, “LEAH Charity Foundation is offering free drugs for newly diagnosed malaria cases, provision of free prescription eye glasses and free cataract operation.”
She pointed out that the medical team would be around for some weeks moving round the three districts of the local government area.
Lagos
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it is not against any meeting with the Federal Government, its ministers or agents, but insists that such meeting must have a clear agenda.
Mr Owei Lakemfa, the Acting General Secretary of NLC, said this on Saturday in a statement made available in Lagos.
Lakemfa said he was reacting to the meeting allegedly held between the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr Emeka Wogu, and some labour leaders in Abuja on October 20.
He said that the leadership of NLC boycotted the meeting because there was no clear agenda.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that labour is not averse to any meeting with the Federal Government, its ministers or agents,’’ he said.
Nasarawa
Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Al-makura, on Wednesday submitted four separate requests to the state House of Assembly, including the one asking for the confirmation of his proposed 18-man cabinet.
The governor also asked the legislature to approve his proposal to appoint 20 special advisers.
The requests were presented to the House by the Majority Leader, Assemblyman Godiya Akwashiki (PDP-Nasarawa Eggon West).
The requests include the legislature’s consideration and approval of the 2011 Supplementary Appropriation Bill, which aims at capturing expenses that are not reflected in the 2011 budget.
Others are a bill seeking the amendment of the Remuneration of Political and Public Office Holders and a bill for the Establishment, Structure, Composition, Finance and Functions of Local Government System (Second Amendment).
After some intense debate, the House resolved to prune down Al-makura’s request for 20 special advisers to 15.
Niger
No fewer than 11 pregnant women from Niger have been barred from performing this year’s Hajj by the State Pilgrims Welfare Commission.
The Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Mamman Mohammad, announced this in an interview with newsmen in Minna on Wednesday.
He said those disqualified were detected following the thorough screening of female prospective pilgrims.
Mohammad said the commission’s medical team detected the women during the screening preparatory to their departure to Saudi Arabia.
He said the screening was a success as all the pregnant women, who had attempted to beat the exercise, were detected and barred from the Hajj.
Mohammad said barring such women from the pilgrimage was due to the health hazard that could be encountered during the exercise.
He said it was in line with the guidelines of the Saudi Arabian Government and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) that forbade them from undertaking the Hajj.
Mohammad said the state lost seven seats as penalty from NAHCON over the inability to detect some pregnant women during the 2010 Hajj operation which resulted in miscarriages.
As the world commemorates World Water Day, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing potable water across Ogoni communities, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the Ogoni Environment.
In a statement issued by its Project Coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, on March 22, 2026, HYPREP noted that this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” alongside the campaign slogan, “Where Water Flows, Equity Grows,” underscores its resolve to extend potable water supply beyond oil-impacted communities to all Ogoni communities.
Zabbey emphasized that access to clean water is a fundamental human right, adding that HYPREP remains committed to ensuring inclusive and equitable water access across the region.
He disclosed that the agency has successfully provided potable water to over 43 communities in Ogoni, while ongoing Phase 3 water projects are expected to benefit an additional 17 communities. He also highlighted steady progress on windmill-powered water projects in less populated areas, particularly in Khana Local Government Area.
According to him, the K-Dere Water Project, which is over 99 percent complete, will be commissioned in the coming weeks, even as work continues on other water schemes across Ogoni.
Zabbey further noted that HYPREP’s interventions are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
To ensure sustainability, he explained that the agency has adopted a joint management model involving host communities, the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, and the Rivers State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RSSTOWA). He added that Water Consumers’ Associations have been established in communities such as Nchia and Eleme, alongside training programmes conducted in collaboration with non-governmental organisations.
The Project Coordinator stressed the importance of community ownership and protection of water facilities, echoing the call by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, for residents to safeguard the infrastructure provided in their areas.
Zabbey expressed optimism that the ongoing efforts will significantly improve access to safe drinking water, reduce waterborne diseases, and enhance public health outcomes across Ogoni communities.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced that the mangrove wetlands in Ogoniland have been officially designated a Ramsar Site of International Importance by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The designation, according to HYPREP, underscores the global ecological significance of Ogoniland’s mangrove wetlands and highlights ongoing restoration efforts aimed at addressing environmental degradation in the area.
In a press statement issued by the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, the recognition was described as a major milestone for the agency, the people of Ogoni and other stakeholders working towards environmental restoration in the region.
Zabbey explained that the mangrove wetlands, which cover more than 31,700 hectares, consist of islands, tidal creeks, mudflats and mangrove forests that support a wide range of biodiversity. The ecosystem provides habitat for several species including fin fish, shellfish, crustaceans, crocodiles, turtles and the endangered grey parrot.
He noted that beyond biodiversity conservation, the wetland also provides essential ecosystem services such as fisheries production, flood control, water purification and carbon storage. According to him, the international recognition will further support local livelihoods, promote ecotourism and bring global attention to the region.
The HYPREP coordinator disclosed that the designation followed a meticulous process that began in 2024 when the project submitted a memorandum to the National Council on Environment seeking support for the recognition of the Ogoni wetlands as a Ramsar site.
Following the council’s review and approval, the Honourable Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP’s Governing Council, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, formally wrote to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat requesting international recognition of the wetlands.
After a comprehensive ecological assessment, the Ramsar Secretariat granted the designation, officially recognising the Ogoniland wetlands as one of the world’s sites of international importance.
Zabbey said the recognition would strengthen ongoing environmental restoration efforts in the area and encourage stronger conservation measures and sustainable management of the wetlands for the benefit of present and future generations.
He added that the designation also fulfils a key recommendation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, marking another significant step in the implementation of the report’s recommendations.
The HYPREP project coordinator reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to restoring the Ogoni environment through the remediation of oil-polluted land, shorelines and mangrove ecosystems.
He also called for collective responsibility and stakeholder support to sustain the progress of the Ogoni cleanup programme and facilitate the development of a comprehensive and sustainable management plan for the Ogoni mangrove wetlands.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, has attributed the successes of the 12-day programme organised for adolescent girls aimed at eliminating Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) in some parts of the State to the ability of the respective stakeholders to take ownership of the programme.
Mrs Davies-Dimkpa, who dropped the hint in an interview at the end of the programme in Elele-Alimini Community in Emohua Local Government Area on Saturday, said the event had a buy-in component, an ownership mentality, whereby facilitators, staff, and everyone involved took ownership of the project.
She explained that the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) had packaged a series of training sessions for adolescent girls aimed at ending the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in some communities across the State.
According to her, the initiative was designed to educate young girls on the harmful effects of the practice and empower them to become advocates against it within their communities.
She noted that the programme, which lasted for several weeks, targeted adolescent girls from different local government areas where the practice is still prevalent, stressing that
data collected by UNICEF and the Ministry revealed that Female Genital Mutilation is still practised in some parts of the State, prompting the need for intensified sensitisation and community engagement.
Mrs Davies-Dimkpa explained that the programme adopted a “train-the-trainer” approach where adolescent girls were educated on the dangers of the practice and encouraged to share the knowledge with their peers, families and communities.
“This is a programme by the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation with support from UNICEF and UNFPA to train adolescent girls towards ending Female Genital Mutilation, which is still practised in some local government areas,” she said.
She further explained that each participating local government area had a three-day training session, with the exercise running for a total of 12 days.
The local government areas, where the programme took place, she noted, included Ahoada West, Abua-Odual, and Emohua, adding that the initiative is part of broader efforts by the state government and development partners to eliminate harmful traditional practices and protect the rights and wellbeing of girls.
She revealed that prior to the training of the adolescent girls, the Ministry and its partners had also engaged community facilitators, including older women and men, to sensitise them on the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
According to her, the involvement of community leaders and adults is essential in addressing the cultural and social factors that sustain the practice.
Speaking on the response of the participants, the permanent secretary expressed satisfaction with the level of engagement and enthusiasm shown by the girls throughout the training sessions.
She noted that many of the participants said they were learning about the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation for the first time.
“The girls are between the ages of 12 and 17 and from the interactions we had with them, they were very excited. Some of them are hearing these things for the first time and never knew that the practice is harmful,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the knowledge gained from the training would enable the girls to serve as advocates for change within their communities.
She added that the Rivers State Government, alongside its partners, would continue to intensify efforts and expand community-based interventions aimed at ending the practice across the State.
Meanwhile, the participants for Emohua Local Government Area were drawn from Elele-Alimini, Egbeda, Rumuji, Ibaa, Rumuekpe, Rumuakunde, Eligbarada, and Ogbakiri Communities.
The participants,who spoke in separate interviews described the training as eye-opening, noting that it helped them better understand issues surrounding adolescent health, personal hygiene, reproductive health, and the harmful consequences of Female Genital Mutilation.
Favour Azukwu from Rumuekpe community, said the programme provided a deeper understanding of the dangers associated with the practice, particularly its impact on the health and wellbeing of girls and women.
She explained that the training sessions exposed participants to the medical, social and psychological effects of Female Genital Mutilation, including severe bleeding, infections and complications during childbirth.
She revealed that she personally experienced the practice at the age of 12 and suffered heavy bleeding afterwards, an experience that has strengthened her determination to advocate for its eradication.
According to her, many communities still practise Female Genital Mutilation because it is perceived as a cultural tradition, despite the dangers associated with it.
“I do not support Female Genital Mutilation because there are many dangers involved. I experienced severe bleeding when it was done to me as a child.
Another participant, Glory Ken, a 16-year-old secondary school student from Rumuji community, said the programme broadened her understanding of several important topics affecting adolescents.
She explained that beyond the discussion on Female Genital Mutilation, the training also focused on issues such as personal hygiene, reproductive health, peer education, and self-care.
According to her, the sessions helped participants understand the importance of making informed health decisions and supporting one another as peer educators.
“I learned about many things that affect young people in society and how to take care of myself. I also learned that Female Genital Mutilation is harmful to our health. The message I am taking back to my community is that this practice should stop,” she said.
Also speaking, Goodness Kenjika Nyeche described the programme as very impactful.
She noted that the training equipped participants with the skills and confidence to educate others about the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation.
She said she plans to organise sensitisation among adolescents in her community, particularly girls between the ages of 10 and 19, to ensure they understand the dangers associated with the practice.
“I learned many things from this programme and I feel very good about it. I will educate other young girls in my community and help them understand why Female Genital Mutilation should not continue,” she said.
For Queen Dike from Ibaa community, the programme helped clarify misconceptions surrounding the practice.
She explained that in some communities, the practice is still referred to as circumcision and is viewed as part of cultural identity.
She said the training helped participants understand that Female Genital Mutilation involves the cutting or removal of parts of the female genital organs and that it has serious health consequences.
She stressed that awareness and education are key to ending the practice, especially among communities that continue to uphold it as tradition.
“I think the programme is very helpful because many people still believe it is part of culture. More awareness is needed so people can understand why it should stop,” she said.
Another participant, MyJoy Echika Amadi, said the programme provided critical information about adolescent health and the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
She described the initiative as enlightening and said it encouraged young people to become advocates for change in their communities.
According to her, participants were encouraged to use various platforms such as churches, peer groups, schools and community gatherings to spread awareness about the harmful effects of the practice.
“This programme has enlightened us about the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation. I will do my best to create awareness in my community and encourage people to stop the practice,” she said.
Many of the participants emphasised that the knowledge gained during the programme has empowered them to challenge harmful traditions and promote healthier practices among young people.
They also called on the Rivers State Government, development partners and civil society organisations to sustain the sensitisation campaigns and extend the training to more communities across the State.
According to them, empowering young people with the right information will play a critical role in eliminating Female Genital Mutilation and protecting the rights, health and dignity of girls in Rivers State.
The participants expressed appreciation to the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, UNICEF and UNFPA for organising the programme and for investing in the wellbeing and future of adolescent girls in the State.