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THE STATES

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Adamawa

Adamawa Muslim Pilgrim’s Welfare Board has received an initial allocation of 2,401 seats from the National Hajj Commission for the 2012 Hajj.

The Administrative Secretary of the board, Malam Musa Lamurde, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Yola.

Musa explained that the seats had been distributed to the 21 local government areas of the state.

He said a committee had been set up to train and enlighten the intending pilgrims on how to perform the Hajj.

Lamurde called on the Hajj commission to allow state pilgrims boards to feed their respective pilgrims during the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

 

Benue

Benue State House of Assembly has passed the bill seeking to amend the 2007 Local Government Law .

Our correspondent reports that with the passage of the bill, the tenure of elected local government councils in the state would be slashed from three to two years.

The bill was passed last Tuesday by the legislature during its plenary session through a voice vote conducted by Speaker David Iorhemba.

Iorhemba said that local council caretaker committees would be appointed to oversee the affairs of the councils for six months.

He said the committees would comprise seven members – chairman, vice chairman and five supervisory councillors.

He further said that the committees would be dissolved after inauguration of elected councils.

 

FCT

The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to serve former Gov. Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa with summons by substituted means.

The court gave the order in Abuja on Monday following the EFCC’s request.

EFCC had on February 24, dragged Sylva to court on alleged misappropriation of N6.46 billion state funds.

Justice Adamu Bello gave the order in a ruling on an exparte motion filed by Mr Festus Keyamo, counsel to the prosecutor.

“The application is granted.

“So, the prosecutor is now authorised to either serve the accused person by pasting the service on the gate of his house at No 3 River Niger Street, Maitama, Abuja or through publication in not less than two national dailies.’’

The prosecutor had sought the order of the court to allow it to serve Sylva the summons by substituted means “in view of his evasive nature.’’

The anti-graft agency, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/23/2012, claimed that Sylva and others now at large, committed the offence between October 2009 and February 2010.

 

Gombe

The Chief (Mai) of Tula in Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State, Alhaji Abubakar Buba, has called on entrepreneurs to invest on the rich tourism potential in the area.

The Monarch made the call in an interview with newsmen in Kaltungo.

Buba said such investment would boost the economy of the state and improve the lives of the people there.

“I am calling on both local and international investors to invest in Tula because in the North East I would say, Tula stands out to be different in terms  of the weather, the high altitude and the historical background of the chiefdom.”

He said Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo had assured the people of the area of his plan to develop the tourist sites in the area to attract investors.

He identified resorts and hotels as well as iron and solid minerals, as some of areas in which the investors can put in their money.

 

Jigawa

The Fadama III Office, in collaboration with the Jigawa Government, has disbursed the sum of N189 million to farmers to boost commercial agriculture in the state.

The Fadama National Project Coordinator, Mr Tayo Adewumi disclosed this during the inauguration ceremony of the project and disbursement of cheques in Dutse.

Adewunmi said that 36 Fadama Community Associations and 432 Fadama User Groups in the state would benefit from the programme.

Represented by the Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Bala Shaibu,  Adewunmi said that the project’s concept was “community-demand-driven”, adding that every stakeholder in the business must be carried along.

He urged beneficiaries to use the funds for the intended purpose so as to produce more food for consumption and for export.

In his remarks, Gov. Sule Lamido, said that his government was committed to boosting agriculture, being the occupation of the teeming populace in the state.

 

Kwara

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) says it will continue to embrace policies and programmes which promote unity and peace among students.

The association stated this in a release in Ilorin against the background of the ongoing 13th West Africa University Games (WAUG) at the University of Ilorin.

The release issued by the association’s Sports Director, Saheed Ninalowo, was made available to newsmen.

The association said policies and programmes like WAUG would bring together students and other youths across the world to share common ideas and values.

“The Games provided a medium of bringing all students across West African universities together to agitate and discuss policies and programmes that affect their existence,,’’ it said.

 

Lagos

A pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Atayese, on Tuesday, urged the state governors to each organise referenda in their respective states and ethnic nationalities to determine what the people wanted.

At a news conference in Lagos, the Chairman of the group, Chief Tokunbo Ajasin, said it was the people’s desires that should be reflected in the presentations at the national conference Nigerians were clamouring for.

“The agitations for a sovereign national conference are okay but it must be preceded by a referendum.

“The people of each ethnic nationality must be allowed to decide on issues that they want to bring to a national discourse,” he said.

Ajasin suggested that the referenda should not be delayed to avoid more tension in the polity.

 

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has passed the N104 billion appropriation bill for the state for 2012.

The House Speaker, Ahmed Musa-Mohammed, said that the appropriation bill was increased by over N7 billion to N104 billion to enable the government complete pending projects.

Musa-Mohammed said that the increase was specifically to construct three kilometres of road in each of the 13 local government areas of the state.

He said that the Clerk of the House had been directed to produce a copy of the bill for ratification by the Committee on Finance and subsequent assent by the governor.

Before the passage of the budget, Muhammed Baba- Igbako, representing Udegye/Loko Constituency, had urged the House to expunge the provision for establishment of an airport in Lafia from the budget.

 

Niger

The prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS has dropped from 6.2 per cent to 4.0 per cent in Niger, Director General, Niger Action Committee on HIV/AIDS Mr Baba Umaru, has said.

“The drop was due to effective awareness campaign embarked upon by the committee across the state,” Umaru said on Monday in Minna in an interview with newsmen.

He added that the support and cooperation received by the committee from the government also contributed in reducing the pandemic.

The director general said the services of the committee had been made available in all the 25 local government areas of the state.

 

Osun

More than 73,000 children under the age of five years were immunised against polio in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun during the second round of the 2012 immunisation exercise.

The Council’s Immunisation Officer, Mrs Jumoke Akande, disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo.

Akande said the exercise was to ensure that all children between 0 to 59 months were given oral polio vaccine to protect them against poliomyelitis.

“ A day-old child is expected to be immunised at least few hours after birth until the child is nine months to have the normal routine immunisation,’’ she said.

 

Plateau

The Plateau government has earmarked N8 billion for the construction of additional water reservoirs to mitigate water shortage in Jos metropolis and adjourning towns.

The amount would also be deployed to overhaul old water pipes and lay new ones to address persistent shortage of potable water in the state.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Idi Waziri, told newsmen in Jos that an initial N2.2 billion earlier released by the state government was used to rehabilitate three water treatment plants.

He explained that the rehabilitated plants would provide 140 million litres of water daily to the metropolis.

“This will improve the situation drastically as only 30 million litres are currently being pumped out,’’ he said.

Waziri, however, declared that the full potential would be achieved only when all the old pipes were overhauled and more water reservoirs constructed.

“We have finished the mechanical aspect which is the rehabilitationof the three water treatment plants.

 

Sokoto

The President of the Pontifical Council on Inter-religious Dialogue at the Cardinal James Tauran, Vatican, has called for sustained dialogue to ensure global peace and unity.

Tauran made the call in Sokoto when he paid a courtesy call on Gov. Aliyu Wamakko as part of his one-week working tour of Nigeria.

Tauran also said the fight against illiteracy and diseases should be fought collectively by Muslims and Christians globally.

“There must be moral formation and we must be peace-makers in the churches, mosques, schools and the universities, among others.’’

He said that in spite of the cultural and religious diversities, dialogue brings about change at all levels.

“In spite of all the diversities of religions, cultures and ethnicity, we are all the same and it is good to live together.’’

He commended the existing cordial relationship between the Muslims and Christians in Sokoto State, describing the state as a model in NIgeria.

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HYPREP Reaffirms Support For Ogoni Youths …Organises Workshop For Undergraduates

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In pursuit of its strategic human capacity development initiatives, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has restated its commitment to supporting Ogoni youths to maximally benefit from its projects and programmes that align with their visions and aspirations.

The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who gave this indication during the second edition of the international career enhancement and employability workshop organised by the Project for undergraduates and fresh graduates of Ogoni ethnic nationality in Port Harcourt, assured the participants of its commitment to continually initiate programmes that support their visions and aspirations.

He noted that the workshop reaffirms the Project’s commitment to inclusiveness and continuous skills development, as strategic pillars in its efforts to restore and improve livelihoods in Ogoniland.

He said the workshop was aimed at equipping the Ogoni youths with relevant career skills and empower them with employability tools, to ensure that HYPREP’s gains extend beyond remediation into long-term transformations, stressing that the Project is committed to supporting their dreams.

”HYPREP is committed to supporting your dreams through targeted initiatives, such as this workshop and we will explore ways to empower you with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed.
I want to emphasise that this workshop is not just about enhancing your career prospects; it is also about building a community of young people and equipping you to make a positive impact in your communities. As you benefit from HYPREP’s interventions (and the experiences of the facilitator), I challenge you to take the message of peace and constructive engagement to your communities and live accordingly,” he said.

Zabbey further assured that HYPREP would continue to stand with Ogoni youths by supporting their aspirations through targeted workshops and broader livelihood initiatives that prioritise their development, noting that the Project believes in them and remains committed to creating platforms where their potential can be nurtured and realised.

The Project Coordinator enjoined them to continue to contribute to the success of HYPREP.

The second edition of the career enhancement and employability workshop had Dr Akanimo Odon and Dr Chioma Okonkwo as facilitators, while the participants were drawn from the four Ogoni local government areas.

Among other modules, participants at the two-day workshop were provided with tips on ways to explore opportunities in seemingly challenging situations, discover themselves, convert hobbies and interests into passion and profits through three career e-routes and understand the power of networks and partnerships.

Participants were also given useful nuggets, career resources of time and skills, and career resources of funding, especially how to access foreign scholarships and funding.

At the closing, HYPREP’s Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, urged the participants to earnestly pursue their passions and commit to their dreams.

Meanwhile, the participants expressed gratitude to HYPREP for organising the workshop, which they described as impactful and transformative.

HYPREP has continued to be intentional in its efforts to prioritise human capacity development in Ogoni through such workshops and trainings. This year, the Project will be rolling out trainings in high demand skill areas like mechatronics, underwater welding, commercial diving, full-stack development and GIS, targeting the youths as major beneficiaries and giving them a fair head start and comparative advantage in a highly competitive environment.

 

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NIPR Practitioners Urge To Go Beyond Traditional Media Relations To Strategic Leadership Functions

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The Public Relations practitioners across Nigeria have been charged to go beyond the perceived roles of media relations and protocol services to strategic leadership functions that is crucial to shaping and transforming the nation.

 

In his message at this year’s (2025) World Public Relations Day, with the Theme: ” Building Bridges, Navigating Polarisation” In Port Harcourt, The National President of the Nigeria Institution of Public Relations Dr. Ike Neliaku expressed delight to address members and guests on this special day, pointing out that the day offers a an opportunity to reflect on the journey over six decades since Public Relations formally birthed in Nigeria.

 

He maintained that this year’s world Public Relations day gives opportunity to members to reflect on the actions and inactions towards the development of the profession and to boldly develop new frontiers for a greater institution.

 

The NIPR president explained that the values of Public Relations particularly in areas of fostering relationship, strengthening leadership and advancing good governance remain a key -through effective and goal- oriented communication.

 

Earlier, The Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, (RSU) Prof. Isaac zep-Obipi being represented by the Deputy VC admin Prof. Victor Akujuru throw challenge to NIPR members to rebranding and portray the state in good light, standing that RSU remains a state owned institution that have not witness any strike in the passed fifteen years.

 

Also in his speech, the state chairman NIPR Rivers Chapter Rev. Francis Asuk described world Public Relations day as a day set aside to pay attention to the works of public relations globally indeed that relationship is important that the world is crying about in rebuilding relationship due to the collapsed of the value systems at family, society and world level of human existence.

” At the highest level of human existence relationship has become imperative for all practitioners to come together and build bridges to navigates those Polarisation” he said.

 

In a related development,the keynote speaker Rev (Fr.) Prof. Walter C.Ihejirika, said the media has a lot to do especially on its role of enlightenment to the public about the role and function as a key element in the development of a better society.

 

Prof. Ihejirika who is the Dean faculty of Communication and Media Studies , University of Port Harcourt, stressed that when media practitioners navigate on the area of strategic communications with a goal, then the public will be better informed and know that they have a responsibility for the large society, “because if the large society is not good, the organization cannot function effectively.”

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FG Restates Commitment To Seafarers’ Welfare, Safety

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The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing the safety of the seafaring profession and upgrading maritime institutions to international standards.
Speaking at the 2025 World Seafarers’ Day celebration in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, organised by NIMASA, with the theme, “My Harassment-Free Ship.
He said that this year’s theme “speaks to our collective duty to make every ship a safe and respectful workplace noting that harassment and bullying have no place in our maritime industry.
The Minister further emphasised the importance of continuous training and retraining to ensure seafarers remain competitive and employable.
Also speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari, emphasised that seafarers are the backbone of international trade, facilitating the smooth transportation of goods and services across the globe.
He stressed the need to eliminate all forms of violence, harassment, and bullying against seafarers.
In his welcome address, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, emphasised the need for the maritime community to prioritise the welfare, safety of seafarers and maintain zero tolerance for harassment.
According to the DG, “Today provides opportunity for the Maritime Community to honor seafarers globally for their immense contribution to both domestic and international trade, powering the blue economy and connecting nations across oceans”.
He said that this year’s theme was particularly apt, as it was a call to action to “ensure that our seafarers feel safe, are valued and protected while at sea because the ship is not just their place of work; it is their temporary home. It must therefore reflect the highest standards of dignity and professionalism fostering zero tolerance for harassment”.
He declared that NIMASA must continue to play its part in ensuring that Nigeria contributes effectively to regulations affecting seafarers, as Nigeria remains the highest contributor of seafarers in Africa. “Our men and women sail on vessels in our domestic waters and also globally. This will continue to grow through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) and the effort of our Maritime Training Institutions.
‘At the recently concluded 113th session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, seven (7) amendments to the MLC 2006 code addressing a broad range of issues affecting seafarers, including the recognition of seafarers as key workers, improved protection against ship board violence and harassment, enhanced access to shore leave and repatriation and updated medical and occupational safety standards were approved by an overwhelming majority.
These seven (7) amendments reflect collective global effort to align maritime Labour standards with the evolving landscape of global shipping.
I, therefore, call on shipowners, operators and crewing agencies to begin to review their operational manuals to align with these amendments ahead of the expected entry into force in December 2027. Our seafarers must be able to report grievances without fear of retaliation, while also ensuring protection against vexations or malicious complaints.
He added that NIMASA will play its role by establishing clear policies and procedures for preventing and addressing harassment on Nigerian-flagged vessels, ensuring confidential reporting channels for incidents of harassment and that reports are thoroughly investigated and addressed.
“Today is a clear reminder to us all – government, employers, unions, shipowners, and civil society- that seafarers should not be left alone in their struggles. They look up to us to help them foster a culture of zero tolerance on ships to protect their dignity”, he stated.
He also assured that under his leadership, NIMASA will ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, particularly the renewal of entries into force by ship owners, operators, and relevant agencies come December 2027.

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