Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that participated as ad-hoc staff in the just concluded Adamawa governorship election have been commended for their good conduct.
The Adamawa Coordinator of NYSC, Alhaji Shittu Suleiman, made the commendation in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Yola.
Shittu said apart from returning safely to their places of primary assignment after participating in the exercise no corps member was caught wanting in his or her conduct during the exercise.
“This is a good development and we have to commend them for a job well done,’’ Shittu said.
The state coordinator said that the outstanding allowance of all those that participated was with his office and would be paid to them on Wednesday.
He lauded all stakeholders particularly security and the people of Adamawa for their active support and cooperation in ensuring the safety of all corps members and other ad-hoc staff that participated in the election which was generally peaceful.
Benue
A 36-year-old man, Christopher Emmanuel, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court charged with murder.
Emmanuel was arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Michael Iwoh, told the court that one Anthony Odoh reported the matter at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Oblegi in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue.
He said that Odoh alleged that the accused conspired with a group of men and killed one Inalegwu Abah.
Iwoh said that the accused along with one Emmanuel Sunday, Micheal Okpe and others now at large, stabbed the deceased with a knife while they were drinking at John Brown Beer Parlour in Obu Branch, Otukpa.
He said that during Police investigation, the accused was arrested at Nsukka in Enugu while trying to escape to Port-Harcourt.
FCT
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina, says 28 states of the federation have so far benefitted from the Federal Government’s Women Fund for Economic Empowerment (WOFEE) scheme.
WOFEE is a micro-credit scheme aimed at strengthening women’s operational bases in the rural areas through the formation of women cooperatives.
Zainab, who was speaking at the ongoing Annual Microfinance Conference organised by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Abuja on Tuesday, said the scheme was being implemented by the ministry in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).
She said the ministry in collaboration with the bank also initiated the establishment of “Business Development Fund foe Women” (BUDFOW), following the successful take off of the WOFEE programme.
“Following the successful take off of WOFEE, a gap was also observed regarding the need for a higher level of financial and technical assistance for women who will be graduating from the WOFEE programme to establish a small and medium scale businesses of their own.
Kaduna
Retired Maj.-Gen. Bala Usara has commended the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, Kaduna State, for graduating “sound and vibrant” young soldiers.
He gave the commendation during the school’s 2012 West African Social Activities, held in Zaria on Saturday.
Usara observed that the young soldiers were not only given professional training but also sound academic education helped them to score excellent grades in both WAEC and NECO.
He appealed to the commandant of the school, Col. Abdullahi Lawal-Faskari, not to relent in his efforts aimed at maintaining excellent standard.
Earlier, Lawal-Faskari said the school had stepped up efforts to molding the students to enable them cope with global technological challenges.
Kano
The Kura Local Government Council of Kano State has set up a 14-man committee to oversee the disbursement of scholarship funds to students of the local government in tertiary institutions.
Inaugurating the committee on Saturday in Kura, the council Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Halilu, said that setting up the committee was in line with the state government’s effort to enhance the students’ welfare.
Halilu said the council found it necessary to constitute the committee to ensure transparency and fairness in the payment of scholarship allowances to students from the area.
Kebbi
A stakeholders parley on security in Birnin Kebbi has recommended regular meetings between Christians and Muslims to promote cordial relationship among the faithful of the two major religions.
The meeting also urged security agencies in the state to enforce the laws guiding the conduct of Muslim and Christian preachers.
A statement by Alhaji Abubakar Mua’azu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday said the meeting, which was chaired by Gov. Saidu Dakingri, urged the public to be security conscious by reporting on criminal activities in their neighbourhood to security agencies.
The meeting urged the state and local governments to urgently facilitate the demarcation of grazing lands to prevent frequent clashes between farmers and cattle breeders.
Kwara
The Kwara State Government and the National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) have approved the release of N500 million to assist Small Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Commerce and Cooperatives, Alhaji Saka Omimago, said this on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.
According to him, Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed has provided the sum of N250 million while NERFUND will provide the balance.
He explained that the fund would be disbursed in two phases of N250million each through 10 micro finance banks already identified by government.
Lagos
The Police in Lagos have paraded two suspected armed robbers, who allegedly robbed two bankers of $12, 800 (about N1.92m) on January 30.
Parading two of the three suspects, the Police spokesman, SP Jaiyeoba Joseph, said that the suspects were arrested a day after the incident.
Joseph, however, confirmed that $8, 320 dollars was recovered from the two suspects, while the third member of the gang was on the run.
Of the two suspects, Joseph said one was a 200 level law student of the University of Uyo, while the second, who allegedly masterminded the robbery, was a driver with the victims’ bank.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa Commissioner for Planning, Hajiya Maryam Buba, has re-affirmed the state government’s readiness to partner with civil society groups and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) for the rapid development of the state.
She gave the assurance recently in Lafia when officials of the state chapter of the National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS) paid her a courtesy visit.
Buba said the administration would continue to partner with unions, associations and NGOs to proffer solutions for the development of the state.
She said government would do everything humanly possible to facilitate good working relations between it and the various organisations.
Oyo
The Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) is to establish 10 forestry villages in different parts of the country.
FRIN’s Executive Director, Prof. Solomon Badejo, made this known on Tuesday while speaking with newsmen on phone in Ibadan.
He said the villages would help create awareness about FRIN’s activities.
“We want to establish 10 adopted villages in different ecological zones of the country whereby we can demonstrate most of the technologies developed and perfected here at FRIN,’’ Badejo said.
Plateau
Eventolicks, a world class tour packaging in Spain, has indicated interest in exploring the abundant tourism opportunities in Nigeria.
Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, told newsmen in Jos recently that the outfit was interested in “packaging tours to Nigeria for different categories of its clients’’.
Runsewe, who just returned from this year’s World Fair held in Madrid, Spain, quoted Mr Javier Arambarri, the company’s representative at the fair, as describing Nigeria’s tourism potential as “great and attractive’’.
The Madrid fair, which was attended by 72 countries, brought together countries and private industry practitioners from all over the world.
Sokoto
Former Sokoto Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, says he would execute projects worth over N2 billion for three Local Government Area (LGAs) that give PDP the highest number of votes at the governorship poll.
Wamakko, the PDP candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, made the offer at Binji on Tuesday while addressing PDP supporters during a campaign rally in the area .
The Independent Electoral Commission ( INEC) had fixed February 18 , 2012 for the gubernatorial poll in the state sequel to the judgment of the Supreme Court, which sacked five state governors, including Wamakko.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has inducted and given orientation to 100 Ogoni youths for training on Creative Arts. The beneficiaries were drawn from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The induction and orientation ceremony, which took place at the CRAB of the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, was a prelude to the training proper, billed to commence next Tuesday.
As usual, HYPREP issued undertaking forms to the trainees, for them to complete and submit as a guarantee that they would subject themselves to the requirements of the programme as well as be of good behaviour throughout the four-month duration of the training.
HYPREP also announced that it would pay N150,000 to each of the beneficiaries monthly, as transport and feeding allowance, stressing, however, that only those who fully participate in the training would be entitled for the allowance.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, welcomed the trainees to the programme, saying, HYPREP’s projects are evolving and that one thing that is happening today is that the Project has gotten leadership right, by making promises and keeping those promises.
According to him, the Project had equally promised to move away from rudimentary skills acquisition to high impacts acquisition levels, which it has kept today by sponsoring the training on Creative Arts.
He noted that in planning its livelihood programmes for Ogoni youths, HYPREP has taken time out to look for skills that would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
Zabbey, who was represented at the event by the Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi said by packaging the Creative Arts training, it was expected that the Ogoni people would have their own version of Nollywood known as Ogoniwood just as Nigerians are familiar with Hollywood, Bollywood, Kannywood and Nollywood.
To achieve this goal, the Project Coordinator explained that it was the reason for choosing a reputable establishment like Halibiz Consult Limited, to partner with the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt, which he described as one of the most prestigious in the Niger Delta, for the training of the beneficiaries.
He also indicated that in doing this, HYPREP was desirous of going for talents that would help the Ogoni people grow in the film industry, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
Zabbey equally enjoined the trainees to put in their best so that in the next three to five years, they would carve a niche for themselves and become forces to reckon with in the film industry.
On her part, HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee said HYPREP does what it says it will, stressing that the process of training Ogoni youths on specialised skills started three years ago.
According to her, the selection process for the training was rigorous and transparent, and was carried out by renowned actors actresses.
She disclosed that the training consists of three major aspects, which include acting, script writing and make-up, while Nollywood actors like Charles Nnoje, Ngezu J. Ngezu and award-winning make-up artist, Jude Odo would be on hand to drill and groom the beneficiaries.
Mrs Nzidee noted that the programme is a specialised training that does not have anything like starter packs but that it is purely a professional certification programme that would launch the beneficiaries into the Nollywood industry in Nigeria.
According to her, the Creative Arts training is one of the four specialised trainings organised by HYPREP to ensure that the Ogoni people are well positioned in vital industries like Aviation, Maritime, Creative Arts and Mechatronics.
She said the last of such trainings on Mechatronics would take place in the coming months, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously so as to put the Ogoni people on the Nollywood map.
She further indicated that while Charles Nnoje and Ngezu J. Ngezu would take the beneficiaries on the practical aspects, Jude Odo would take them on the make-up aspects.
Also speaking, the External Relations Manager of Halibiz Consult Limited, Alabo Experience Douglas said his company gives much premium to standard and quality, and assured that the firm would give the trainees value for the money spent on the programme.
While charging the beneficiaries to be dedicated and punctual, he stressed the need for them to approach the programme with the mindset of being empty so that at the end of the day, they would benefit maximally.
On his part, the Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo said the CRAB is an acronym for Creative Review of Arts and Books, stressing that it was named by renowned playwright, Prof Ola Rotimi.
According to him, the CRAB had nurtured, groomed and produced Nollywood actors and actresses like Bobmanuel Udokwu, Ejike Asiegbu,Francis Duru, Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda, Julius Agwu, and a host of others, assuring the beneficiaries that they were on fertile environment to hone their talents.
He noted that symbolically, the crab is a nutritious seafood common in the Niger Delta, and reiterated the need for the beneficiaries to come empty for the training, as it were.
Ihunwo disclosed that the theory classes of the programme would run for three weeks while the fourth week would be for the master classes, and urged the trainees to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a difference by telling the Ogoni story, which he described as inexhaustible by themselves, in order to put Ogoni on the map.
A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.