Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Vice-President Namadi Sambo has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to good governance and delivery of dividends of democracy to the citizenry.
Sambo gave the assurance on Saturday at a grand reception organised for Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the National Chairman of PDP in his home town of Mayo-Kalaye in Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa.
The reception was packaged by members of PDP from the North-East geo-political zone to honour the party’s national chairman.
He said it was based on the government’s commitment to deliver on its campaign promises that the administration had focused on power, agriculture, education, among other sectors of the economy.
In his remarks, Gov. Babangida Aliyu, of Niger State and Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, who spoke on behalf of PDP governors, described Tukur as a responsible elder that would add value to the party.
In his address, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, said his new position was an opportunity for him to offer selfless service and to provide President Goodluck Jonathan and his team the needed support to deliver on good governance.
The PDP national chairman called for unity among Nigerians so that the nation could make progress in all fields of human endeavours.
Bauchi
The wife of the FCT Minister, Hajiya Aisha Muhammed, on Saturday distributed poverty alleviation materials to 120 women and youths in Alkaleri town in Bauchi State. The materials include sewing machines, welding machines and knitting machines.
Distributing the materials to the beneficiaries, Muhammed promised to work to reduce poverty and idleness among the people, especially in Alkaleri Local Government Area and Bauchi State.
Muhammed, who is the founder of Al-Muhibba Foundation, which distributed the materials, said the foundation started as an NGO that focused attention on the rehabilitation of cemeteries.
She noted cemeteries were the final resting places of all human beings and added that she decided to expand the project to cover skill acquisition, particularly among women and youths.
Mohammed condemned youths who allowed themselves to be used as political thugs instead of going to school to be educated or be involved in other useful ventures.
She promised to extend the services of the foundation to other parts of the state. “Al-Muhibbawill extend its services to Gamawa and Darazo local government areas as part of our determination to cover the entire state,’’ Mohammed said.
In her remark, Hajiya Aisha Yuguda, the wife of Gov. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, commended Muhammed for offering such services to her immediate constituency.
The governor’s wife, represented by Mrs Lydia Shehu, a Director in Bauchi State Ministry of Women Affairs, said she would collaborate with any organisation in efforts to improve the standard of living of the youth and women.
Jigawa
The residents of Dutse in Jigawa last Saturday celebrated the first rainfall for the year.
A cross section of residents who spoke to newsmen in Dutse on Saturday, said they had now ‘heaved a sigh of relief’.
Mrs Zainab Abubakar, a house wife and a resident, said that the rainfall would cool the hot temperature experienced in the town in the last couple of months.
She explained that the heat before the heavy downpour on Saturday had made their homes uncomfortable for them.
Another resident, Malam Ahmed Yakubu, expressed delight on the rainfall and said that he hoped that the rain would continue because of what the family had gone through as a result of heat.
Many Dutse residents were heard congratulating themselves over the rain even as the downpour, which started at about 1:30 a.m., lasted for two hours. It was accompanied by windstorm.
Kaduna
Some youths stormed the Zaria Police Station on Saturday to protest the alleged killing of one Abdullahi Nura by a middle age man, over a N250 snatched from a girl.
The protesting youths demanded that the suspect, who was in police custody be handed over to them. It took the intervention of the Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris, to disperse the crowd.
According to our source, the youths were aggrieved because they claimed that this was not the first time the suspect had committed murder in Zaria.
One of the youths said that the suspect allegedly snatched N250 from a young girl sent on errand by her parent, adding that the deceased asked the suspect why he took the money from the girl.
Katsina
The Katsina State chapters of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), have called on Imams and clerics to continue to mobilise their followers for peaceful co-existence.
The associations made the call on Saturday in Katsina at a joint meeting on mutual understanding and maintenance of peace between their members.
The chairmen of JNI, Alhaji Isa Dodo and his CAN counterpart, Dr Adewale Adediran, said Imams and clerics should, in their sermons, mobilise and encourage their members to embrace each other so as to ensure continued peace in the state and the nation at large.
According to them, Katsina has been one of the most peaceful states in the federation, “but we need to maintain that peace by enlightening our followers on the importance of peaceful co-existence among ourselves’’.
Nasarawa
The Police have recovered three locally-made pistols in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Corlineuos Ocholi, made this known in Lafia last Saturday.
Ocholi said the pistols were recovered by “some good people’’ in Lafia East, when they were cutting grass in their premises.
“The pistols were believed to have been buried in the premises by some unknown persons.’’
Ocholi said that the police had been drafted to the area to keep surveillance, pointing out that the police had commenced investigations to fish out those behind the act.
He, however, appealed to the public to always furnish the police with necessary information that would assist in ensuring that law abiding citizens slept with their two eyes closed.
Osun
Govenor of Osun Rauf Aregbesola on Saturday in Osogbo urged youths to support the campaign against polio across the state.
He made the call while flagging off the “Youth Polio Awareness Campaign 2012”, organised by the Ministry of Health.
The governor said it was necessary to step up campaign on the deadly disease’s prevention even though the state had not recorded any case of poliomyelitis in the last four years.
He said the programme involved the immunisation of every child under the age of five, adding that this was to forestall any possible outbreak in the future.
Aregbesola said his administration placed priority on the health of the state’s citizens and urged community leaders, market women and religious bodies to help mobilise mothers to embrace the programme.
Sokoto
The Chairman of Silame Local Government in Sokoto State Alhaji Mani Maishinko, has said that his administration spent N4 million in the rehabilitation of four boreholes in Silame, Gande, Katami and Kobudo towns.
Maishinko told newsmen in Silame on Saturday that the local government also expended N1 million monthly in the maintenance of the boreholes.
He said the local government also constructed eight open dug wells at more than N6 million.
‘’All these excluded several other projects being carried out by the state and Silame local governments aimed at providing adequate potable water for the people.
“Water is life and if you provide it regularly and adequately for the people, you have solved most of the water borne diseases.’’
Zamfara
The Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Commission has commenced investigation on a petition against top government official over alleged fraud and breach of trust
Seventeen aggrieved persons petitioned the commission, claiming that one Alhaji Dandosara, believed to be close to Zamfara State government collected a total of N472,000 from the petitioners, promising to secure them jobs.
The chairman of the commission, Dr Atiku Balarabe said while briefing newsmen that Dan Dosara collected N27,000 from each of the 16 victims to secure them teaching appointments.
He added that the suspect also collected N40,000, eight chickens, 150 pieces of eggs and cooking oil from the 17th victim, with a promise of securing for him appointment as Judge under the state judiciary.
Concerned Rivers Chiefs For Peace And Development has said it formation was not politically motivated or has any links to political parties or candidates.
The group which said this at a media briefing at Abuloma in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area said it’s formation has nothing to do with politics.
According to the text for the briefing jointly signed by Chief Boma Kele Oyika it’s chairman and Chief Inemo T Ikama Deputy Secretary General said the organization is expected to focus on conflict Resolution, community engagement, collaboration with government and private sector actors
‘it mandate also includes promoting peace building initiative, supporting local economic empowerment programms and strengthening traditional institutions in our state and beyond as partners in governance ”
It said the body is led by a team of respected traditional leaders serving as trustees
“Their collective leadership reflects a blend of experience cultural authority and grassroots connection
“Key elements considered vital for addressing long standing,socio economic and security challenges in the region”
The release further says ” the formation of this organization comes at a time when communities in Rivers state continue to navigate between issues ranging from youth unemployment, environmental concerns and intermittent conflicts amongst the traditional rulers and beyond
“By bringing together influential traditional figures under a unified platform, the group aims at serving as stabilizing force while advocating for inclusive development policies ” it said
It also described its emergence as a new chapter in grass roots leadership and regional development
Earlier, chairman of the body, Chief Boma Kele Oyika said the organization will work with relevant authorities to promote peaceful coexistence in the state, reduce crime and promote economic development.
He said it is open to all Chiefs from the 23 local government areas.
The Chairman of The Nigeria Delta Chamber of Commerce, Trade, Mines and Agriculture NDCCTMA,Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) Dr Samuel Ogbuku have challenged Niger Delta entrepreneurs to close the gap in Gross Demostic Products (GDP) differences between the region and that of the South Western part of the country by coming home to invest.
The two leaders spoke at a business round table organized by NDDCTMA in Port Harcourt
Chairman of NDDCTMA Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, said to close the gap between the south west region which he said has a GDP seize of about #59 trillion and that of the Niger Delta which is about #34 trillion was to massively invest in the region.
He said no other persons can do this except sons and daughters from the region.
“For me I believe in statistics,I believe in data and everyday I looked at the data concerning development in Nigeria and from the GDP point of view, the South West has #59 trillion, that is the seize of the south west region economy, the second region following them is the Niger Delta region with GDP seize of #34 trillion,so there is a yearning gap of #25 trillion that separates the south west and the Niger Delta region, that is why we are here”
Ogan said the region has the capacity to close the gap and even surpassed it but regretted that indigenes of the region have chosen to ignore it in terms of investment.
“We need to close that gap .If we close that gap and even surpassed it,all the negative problems of militancy and unemployment will automatically erase “he said
Ogan said the event was organized to remind the people that past efforts of militancy and agitations have not led the region to any where
“That is why we are gathered here in this room “he said.
Also speaking Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission( NDDC) Dr Samuel Ogbuku urged indigenes of the region not to use the problem of insecurity as an excuse to continue to deny the region of investment as every part of the country have in one time or the other experienced crisis.
Ogbuku said most indigenes have displayed high level of unpatriotism towards the region by taking investments that would have benefited the people to either Lagos or Abuja.
“With little threat we have left the city,we have gone to Lagos,we have moved our families to Abuja and Lagos
“If you go round GRA all the property, you will see,”to let to let”most of them are now empty “he said.
The NDDC MD said despite the fact that people from the region are doing well in the oil and gas, banking and other sectors, its impact are not being felt at home because they are stationed outside the region.
He said time has come for potential investors from the region to have a change of heart by coming home to invest.
John Bibor
The Nile University of Nigeria has successfully hosted the maiden National Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA) Nigeria Chapter, drawing scholars, policymakers, and media professionals to examine emerging global communication trends and Africa’s positioning within them.
The two-day conference, themed, “Global Communication Shifts and Implications for Africa,” took place from March 24 to 25, 2026, at Nile University of Nigeria in Abuja. The event marked the first national gathering of the ICA Nigeria Chapter since its inauguration in March 2023, making it a historic milestone for communication scholarship on the continent.
Delivering a welcome address on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of Nile University, Prof. Dilli Dogo, the Head of Mass Communication Department, Dr. Jacob Suemo, described the conference as a “clarion call to reimagine Africa’s place in the global communication landscape,” emphasising the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation.
The conference convened leading international scholars, including ICA President, Prof Thomas Hanitzsch and REACH Committee Chair, Prof Noshir Contractor, alongside other notable academics such as Prof Srivi Ramasubramanian, Dominique Brossard, and Prof. Raka Shome. Representatives from ICA chapters in India, Indonesia, and Kenya also participated, reinforcing the global outlook of the gathering.
Participants engaged in keynote sessions, panel discussions, and paper presentations addressing critical themes such as artificial intelligence, climate change communication, media systems, governance, and digital transformation. These discussions reflected the broader aim of the conference to interrogate how global communication shifts affect African societies, institutions, and development pathways.
A key highlight of the conference was a strategic panel session titled, “Is Africa Ready for ICA26?” which assessed the continent’s readiness for deeper global engagement ahead of the ICA International Conference scheduled for June 2026.
The event featured over 50 research presentations from scholars across Nigerian institutions, showcasing diverse perspectives on communication research and practice. It also attracted major stakeholders in government and media, including representatives of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the News Agency of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Press Council. Discussions underscored the importance of strategic communication in national development and Africa-driven narratives in global discourse.
A major outcome of the conference was the leadership transition within the ICA Nigeria Chapter. Professor Desmond Okocha emerged as the new Chair, succeeding the founding Chair, Dr. Ekaete George. The transition was described as a step toward consolidating the association’s growth and expanding its influence across Nigeria’s academic and media landscape.
Organised in collaboration with academic institutions including Bingham University, University of Cross River State, Nasarawa State University, and the University of Calabar, the conference also featured participation from the West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy (WABMA) as a partner and sponsor.
The ICA Nigeria Chapter noted that the conference provided a vital platform for intellectual exchange, collaboration, and policy dialogue, positioning Nigeria as a key player in global communication research and practice.
The second edition of the ICA Nigeria National Conference is scheduled for March 2027, building on the success of the inaugural event.
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