Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
A total of 33,049 people from 571 households were affected in the recent Adamawa flood disaster.
The Secretary of the state Emergency Relief Committee, Alhaji Abubakar Mahmud, said while briefing newsmen that the number was for the nine worst affected Local Governments along the river banks while reports from remaining 12 local government areas of the the state that were not seriously affected was being compiled.
He said that four people lost their lives along with 13,372 livestock in the nine Local Governments, comprising Yola North, Yola South, Demsa, Fufore, Numan, Lamorde, Girei, Shelleng and Guyuk.
Mahmud also said that over 1000 hectares of farmland was affected by the flood in the nine local governments, adding that the state government had expended over N500 million in assisting the flood victims across the state.
He said his committee would soon commence disbursing the N500 million released by the Federal Government after categorising the affected local governments.
Bauchi
The Bauchi State government will create additional 20,000 jobs in 2013 to cater for unemployed women and youths, Alhaji Aminu Hammayo, the commissioner for Finance, has said.
Hammayo who made this known in Bauchi at a roundtable discussion with stakeholders on the state’s 2013 budget, he said the jobs would be created through the public works programme, whcih had been adopted as a model by the Federal Government in the Subsidy Re-investment Programme (SURE-P).
Hammayo also said that various measures would be taken to curb over spending on overhead cost and other recurrent expenses in 2013.
The commissioner said that the savings from such measures would be channelled to sectors such as water, healthcare as well as new access roads for rural farmers.
Ekiti
The Ekiti Government in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday distributed Severe Acute Malnutrition treatment materials to five referral centres to be administered free on children of five years and below.
The referral centres are University of Ado Ekiti Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti as well as the specialist hospitals in Ikere, Ikole and Ijero.
The Chairman, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Sule Lawal, said while handing over the materials to the hospitals that malnutrition was a life threatening condition which required urgent treatment.
The Permanent Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs Folakemi Falore, commended the centres for giving the cases serious attention, thereby reducing acute malnutrition in the state.
Responding on behalf of the recipient hospitals, the Head of Department, Nutrition, at Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti, Dr Onyema Clifford, pledged to make good use of the items. (NAN)
Kano
Four private hospitals have been sealed for alleged illegal operations and unhygienic conditions in Kano State, a statement said on Wednesday.
The Public Relations Officer of the state Ministry of Health, Malam Isma’il Gwammaja, stated that they were closed by the Private Health Institution Unit of the ministry. The hospitals are; Pasly by nature health centre, Amana Hospital, Sarki hospital as well as Annur Hospital, all in the state capital.
The Senior Special Adviser to the state Governor, Dr Salisu Ibrahim, led the monitoring team that shut down the hospitals. Pasly by nature health centre was shut down because it use unauthorised herbal medication to treat patients, while Sarki hospital lacked the conducive atmosphere to operate.
Amana hospital lacked qualified personnel, while Annur violated the regulations of health care service delivery.
The statement warned that the State Government would not tolerate any unwholesome practices, especially as it regards health care delivery.
Katsina
Residents of Malumfashi local government of Katsina State on Wednesday appealed to the Katsina State Government to rehabilitate township water supply systems to ease persistent water scarcity in the area.
Speaking in separate interviews in Malumfashi, a cross-section of residents expressed displeasure over the situation.
A resident, Malam Sanusi Zubairu-Khalifa appealed to the state government to hasten the repairs of the damaged pipes as well as overhaul the water board operation.
Zubairu-Khalifa explained that the situation had increased domestic expenses, noting that the population of water vendors also increase daily due to the water scarcity.
Kogi
Kogi State Government has promised to assist victims of the recent flood disaster staying outside the relief camps.
According to the statement, signed by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Yabagi Bologi, Awoniyi said the Government would ensure equity in whatever assistance it would render to the victims.
He said that government was updating the records of all the victims in all parts of the state, adding that no one would be left out.
Awoniyi said that many of the relief camps would soon undergo reorganisation with those in public schools to be relocated to allow for normal academic activities to resume.
He advised farmers, who lost their farmlands to the floods, to be patient as government was already taking steps to provide them with seedlings and other inputs.
The deputy governor said that affected buildings were being enumerated to enable the government take appropriate decisions on their suitability for occupation.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, says the state is financially buoyant to meet its obligations.
Ahmed, who made this known in Ilorin during a monthly interactive session, “The Governor Explains”, said the State Government had paid salaries, contractors and settle other claims.
“There is no magic in our financial viability other than the fact that we have been able to manage our expenditure within our revenue profile,” he said.
He assured that no local government council would sack its workers as they had streamlined their expenditure portfolio to manageable size to avoid past experiences.
Ahmed said his administration had spent N70 million to repair Ajasse-Ipo-Erin-Ile Road, a federal road which linked the state with Osun State, promising to extend the intervention to other federal roads.
He said contract for the construction of Kaiama-Kisi Road, which links parts of Kwara North senatorial district, would be awarded soon.
He said the State Government was releasing N30 million monthly to the state Road Maintenance Agency to ensure a pot-hole-free road in the State.
Ahmed said his administration had spent more than N40 million on relief materials for the victims of the recent flood disaster.
He, however, commended the Federal Government for releasing N300 million as relief fund for the affected persons in the state.
LagoS
The former President of the Nigeria Power Lifting Federation (NPF), Fred Ine, last Thursday urged the three tiers of government to enact enabling sports policies to attract corporate partnership.
In an interview In Lagos, Ine observed that most investors in the country have long neglected interest in sports because there wee no binding policies in place.
“Sports development in the country is not the sole responsibility of government. It should be complementary between the government, individuals and corporate entities.
“But because there are no binding policies in place, corporate bodies in the country are operating the way they deemed fit,’’he said.
According to Ine, government should make it mandatory for corporate outfits to adopt any sport of their choice, to relieve the government of unnecessary burden.
Oyo
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has advised agrochemical dealers to adhere strictly to proper handling and administration of their products to avoid food poisoning.
NAFDAC Director, Narcotics and Controlled Substances Directorate, Mr Hashim Yusuf, gave the advice at a workshop organised for the dealers in Ibadan on Wednesday.
The sensitisation workshop was organised by NAFDAC for members of the West Agro Input Dealers Association (WAIDA).
Yusuf was represented by Mrs Ngozi Onuorah, the Deputy Director, Narcotics and Controlled Substances Directorate of the agency,
The director said that the inappropriate storage and handling of agrochemicals had harmful effects on human beings, animals and the environment.
Plateau
The Military Special Task Force keeping the peace in Plateau State, announced last Thursday that it has killed two persons believed to be assailants who attacked Kura falls village in Barkin Ladi.
The assailants attacked the village last Thursday. The STF spokesman, Capt. Salisu Mustapha, told newsmen in Jos that the STF men also recovered a baby belonging to a couple, who were believed to be killed by the assailants. The helpless baby, he said, was rescued in a nearby bush.
Mustapha said that the attackers had killed three persons, including a couple, while few other persons sustained injuries.
The spokesman expressed concern over the incessant attacks on villages in Barkin Ladi and Riyom in spite of the spirited efforts to ensure peaceful coexistence amongst the villagers, and warned that the STF would not condone that.
Taraba
The Taraba Deputy Governor, Malam Garba Umar, last Wednesday directed committees handling the distribution of relief materials to victims of the recent flood disaster in the state to begin distributing them.
Umar gave the directive in Jalingo while inspecting warehouses in which the materials were kept. The materials include food items, building materials, textiles, farming implements and fishing materials. The materials were bought with the N400 million provided to the state by the Federal Government to assist the victims in six local government areas.
Umar said a telecommunication company, MTN, the Red Cross and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had donated relief materials to the victims.
Zamfara
Bakura Emirate Council in Zamfara State, has donated drugs worth N1 million to cater for children affected by malnutrition in the area.
The Emir of Bakura, Alhaji Bello Muhammad, presented the drugs to the Director, Primary Healthcare, Bakura Local Government area, Alhaji Ahmad Suleman, last Thursday.
He said that donation was informed by the council’s concern over the health conditions of women and children, noting that the donation was also meant to draw the attention of policy makers to the plight of the children.
“From the reports I have received from the community, the management of malnourished children is worrisome. “There is need for collaborative efforts to reverse the trend,” the emir said.
He added that the emirate had also received complaints from the State Coalition for Maternal and Child Health “on the pathetic state of malnourished children in the area”.
The Head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt’s College of Health Sciences, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive forensic science infrastructure, warning that the nation’s ability to investigate and solve crime is being hampered by lack of scientific data and systems.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Man: Fearfully Different, Wonderfully Made,” delivered as part of the 207th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university, Prof Oladipo highlighted that while no two individuals are exactly the same, the country currently lacks the robust systems needed to collect and manage biological and anthropometric data that could support criminal investigations.
He explained that the natural variations among humans — from fingerprints to physical measurements — form the foundation of personal identification in forensic work. These biological differences, he said, are essential for distinguishing one person from another, especially in the context of criminal investigations where clarity of identity can mean the difference between justice and impunity. Without this scientific foundation, he argued, law enforcement agencies lack a critical tool in the fight against crime.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s forensic science capacity has historically lagged behind needs, with only a few forensic facilities available and many law enforcement agencies struggling to access or use scientific evidence effectively. One review of the state of forensic investigation in Nigeria found that outdated facilities and limited adoption of modern forensic methods have left many cases unsolved or poorly investigated, even as crime rates rise across the country.
In Lagos, efforts to improve forensic capabilities have focused on DNA analysis, with the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre — the first of its kind in West Africa — providing critical support for criminal investigations and helping to identify human remains, link related cases, and assist with paternity testing. However, such initiatives are yet to be replicated at a national scale, leaving many regions without access to these vital scientific tools.
Prof Oladipo’s lecture went beyond academic theory to propose concrete actions. He called for the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Science responsible for creating and managing a nationwide anthropometric and forensic data bank. This repository, he stressed, would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to track crime, assist law enforcement agencies, and improve the administration of justice by providing reliable scientific evidence for investigative and legal processes.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening research and training in forensic science. Many Nigerian universities currently lack the funding and infrastructure to offer complete undergraduate or postgraduate programs in areas such as forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, and crime scene investigation, a gap that forces aspiring experts to rely on collaborations with institutions abroad. By fostering a research-friendly environment and securing greater support from both government and private sectors, Nigerian institutions could produce homegrown experts capable of advancing forensic science in the country.
Awareness of forensic science’s role in criminal justice remains low among the general public and even among some security professionals. Studies have shown that a significant portion of Nigerians are unfamiliar with basic forensic concepts or the existence of tools such as DNA profiling and national forensic databases — tools that are common features of criminal justice systems in countries like South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Oladipo also urged regular training and retraining programs to keep forensic practitioners updated with evolving scientific methods. According to him, continuous professional development is critical in a field where technological advances — from biometric databases to digital forensic tools — are transforming how crimes are investigated and solved.
The lecture was attended by academics, students, and professionals drawn to the intersection of science, identity, and justice, all of whom heard the professor make a compelling case for scientific innovation and institutional reform as central to Nigeria’s effort to contain crime and strengthen its justice system.
The event not only showcased Prof Oladipo’s expertise in human anatomy and forensic psychology but also positioned forensic science as a strategic national priority — one that could bring clarity to investigations, support victims and their families, and ultimately enhance public safety across Nigeria.
The University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) on Thursday staged a vibrant and memorable edition of its Annual Inter-House Sports Competition at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Village, drawing an impressive turnout of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests.
The event, organised by the UPWA International Group of Schools, brought together children from the pre-nursery, nursery and secondary sections in a colourful celebration of youth athleticism, discipline and teamwork. The arena came alive with cheers and excitement as pupils, clad in their various house colours, marched in a ceremonial parade before proceeding to compete in a wide range of track and field events, relays, novelty races and other team-based activities designed to promote physical fitness and healthy competition.
Declaring the competition open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended UPWA for sustaining a tradition that continues to nurture young talents beyond the classroom. He noted that sports remain a critical component of holistic education, helping to build resilience, confidence, leadership skills and social interaction among children.
In her remarks, the President of UPWA, Professor Udeme Georgewill, expressed appreciation to parents, teachers and members of the organising committee for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the success of the programme despite prevailing economic challenges. She described the event as a reflection of unity and collective effort within the school community.
“This is the first time White House is emerging overall winner, and that shows remarkable improvement and great sportsmanship,” she said. “We all had fun. It is not easy putting an event like this together considering the economic situation, but we are grateful to the parents for being part of this journey. The excitement everywhere is truly heartwarming.”
The competition featured spirited participation from the various houses, including Purple House, San Chicago Red House and White House, with pupils demonstrating strength, speed, coordination and teamwork. Parents and supporters filled the stands, cheering enthusiastically and adding colour to the spectacle, while teachers ensured orderliness and safety throughout the proceedings.
Professor Georgewill emphasized that the true essence of sports lies not merely in winning trophies but in participation and personal growth. “Sports is not just about winning. It is an avenue for growth, discipline and opportunity. The fact that a child is able to participate is already a win. Losing this year does not mean you cannot win next year. Keep trying,” she encouraged, urging pupils to see both victory and defeat as stepping stones to greater achievements.
She further observed that while there are many competing interests in the Nigerian sports sector, consistent grassroots investment remains essential for discovering and nurturing future champions.
The colourful ceremony culminated in medal presentations, trophy awards and group photographs, with UPWA executives, including Vice President I, Professor Adedamola Onyeaso, joining the participating teams to celebrate the day’s achievements.
The annual inter-house sports competition continues to stand as one of UPWA’s flagship events, reinforcing its commitment to balanced education, character formation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among its pupils.
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