Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government has procured 21,300 tonnes of assorted fertiliser worth N2.2 billion for distribution to farmers in the state for 2012 Cropping season.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Tasiu Muhammed, disclosed this in Bauchi while briefing newsmen on the activities of the Ministry in the past 12 months.
Muhammed said that that 5,000 tonnes of Urea was procured at the cost of N580 million while 1,500 tonnes of NPK had been blended by the state fertiliser company.
He further explained that the Federal Government allocated another 14,800 tonnes of the commodity valued at N1.62 to the state.
He said that the commodity would be sold to farmers in the state at 50 per cent subsidy through the e-wallet system.
According to the farmers, the state had registered more than 300,000 farmers under the scheme, adding that arrangements had been concluded to commence the sale of the commodity.
Borno
The Borno State Government on Tuesday said that it would sanction teachers found to be absent from school.
The Commissioner of Education, Comrade Inuwa Kubo, said this when he paid an unscheduled visit to the Shehu Garbai Secondary School, Maiduguri. Kubo expressed shock over the poor attendance by both the school management and teachers.
“I am disappointed with what I have seen today at the school. “It is really disheartening to say that neither the school principal nor any of his two vice had reported to duty as at 7.30 a.m.,’’ he said.
Kubo, who waited for about 30 minutes for the principal to show up, then presided over the school morning assembly during which he interacted with the students in the absence of the principal.
He advised the students to face their studies diligently to justify huge government expenditure.
FCT
The Federal Government should not hesitate to sanction anybody found culpable in the June 3 Dana plane crash in Lagos, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has said.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Danladi Zhin, the ALGON National Publicity Secretary, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Kuje, headquarters of the Kuje Area Council of the FCT on Tuesday.
“We encourage the Federal Government to go a step further to ensure that any agency, airline or individual indicted at the end of government investigation is brought to book with a view to avoiding future occurrence,” the statement said.
It said that the constitution of an investigative panel by the Federal Government would unravel the cause of the crash, which claimed the lives of the 153 passengers on board the ill-fated plane.
The statement called on regulators in the aviation industry to ensure strict compliance with aviation regulations, and advised airline operators to ensure routine maintenance of their fleets and do proper checks on aircraft before departure.
Gombe
The Director of the State Security Service (SSS) in Gombe State, Mr Bitrus Asher, announced on Tuesday that unknown gunmen had killed a retired officer of the SSS, Malam Aliyu Abubakar in Gombe.
Abubakar was shot by the gunmen in Yulunguruza Quarters in Gombe at about 6.30 p.m. on Monday while Abubakar was performing ablution in his friend’s house.
The director said the deceased was shot in the back and was immediately taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, where he died.
Asher said the deceased was buried on Tuesday and that security operatives in the state were investigating the matter.
He said that no arrest had been made on the incident.
Kaduna
The New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN) Company resumed production on Monday after a 4-month strike by its workers. The workers had in February embarked on an indefinite strike over non-payment of outstanding salary arrears and other allowances.
The Managing Director of the company, Malam Tukur Abdurrahman said in Kaduna that the company had released its first publication in four months.
Abdurrahman said he was satisfied with the turn-out of workers and commended them for their commitment and the interest shown in the progress of the company.
He said the company would continue with its publication as issues on the outstanding salary arrears that led to its closure were almost resolved.
Kwara
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State says cultural revival among various ethnic groups in Nigeria is the panacea to the nation’s multi faceted problems.
Fayemi said this in a lecture entitled: “Federalism and the quest for national integration and development in Nigeria” organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to commemorate its Law Week on Monday in Ilorin.
“Nigerians lost their culture of dialogue in a period when militarisation and the primacy of force had become state policy,” he said.
He added that unemployment and poverty were the immediate causes of increased violence in the country.
The governor advocated for the country’s return to the culture of dialogue, saying: “this may not necessarily culminate in a sovereign national conference, but opportunity to discuss issues.
Ondo
The police in Akure have arraigned two men before an Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court on a six-count charge of conspiracy, fraud, stealing, defacing of beacon pillar and breach of peace.
The accused, Oluwole Abiodun, 55 and Adedeji Olusegun, 60 were said to have committed the offence with others at large sometimes in 2011. They were accused of committing the offence of felony to wit: removing boundary mark with intent to defraud.
The offences were allegedly committed at various times at plots 1-3; block A on the State Industrial estate on Ilesa Road, Akure. They were also accused of converting N4 million, being proceeds of plots 1-3, block A on the State Industrial estate to their use.
The property was said to belong to Ind/Chem Technologies limited and Samson Adebayo.
The police prosecutor, ASP Pelumi Adejuwon, said the offence was contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. I Laws of Ondo State 2006.
The accused persons were also said to have unlawfully defaced four beacon pillars lawfully erected as indications of boundary of land belonging to Ind/Chem Technologies limited and Samson Adebayo.
Oyo
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has urged the Federal Government to confer the GCFR award on the late Chief MKO Abiola.
Ajimobi made this known in a release issued in Ibadan on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo.
The governor said that the Nigerian nation should see the late business mogul as a symbol of democracy and the martyr who laid down his life for the democracy enjoyed today by Nigerians.
“To have continued with this perennial silence on the democratic feat that Abiola wrought through his sheer bravery and belief in Nigeria would show to the whole world that we are an ungrateful nation.
“ But for Abiola and his bravery in choosing to die rather than allow his mandate to be exchanged for the biblical mesh of portage, we would perhaps still be in the bondage of military rule and crying out for democratic salvage,” the governor said.
He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for seeking to name monuments after Abiola, Ajimobi.
Plateau
The new Sector Commander of the (FRSC) in Plateau, Mr Sunday Maku, has called for stronger collaboration among security agencies.
Maku made the call during a courtesy visit to the Plateau Command of the Nigeria Immigrations Service (NIS) in Jos, Monday.
He said that a stronger tie would enhance the duties of the agencies toward protection of lives and property in Plateau and reduce incidences of breach of law among the populace.
The sector commander noted with satisfaction that the issue of “inter-security” rivalry no longer existed.
The State Comptroller of Immigration, Mr Gambo Wuyep, assured the sector commander of the cooperation of his command in his assigned duties.
He said that the NIS would contribute its quota for the good of the state and the nation.
Taraba
The Taraba Police Command has arrested five persons in connection with ethnic clashes between the Bachama and Fulani people at Badun in Lau Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Amos Olaoye, who confirmed this to newsmen on Monday in Jalingo, said the persons were arrested with machetes, bows and arrows.
“On June 9, a group of armed men suspected to have come from neighbouring Adamawa State launched an attack on Badun and burnt down three houses.
“No one was hurt in the attack. The five persons arrested are under interrogation at the state command,’’ he said.
Olaoye added that normalcy had been restored in the affected area as investigations continued.
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
