Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
A Consultant Endocrinologist, Dr Sule Bathner, has
advised people with diabetes ailment to feed more on fiber and starchy food.
Speaking in Bauchi at the monthly meeting of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, Bauchi chapter, Bathner also said that moderate consumption of fat, cholesterol and protein and other classes of food items was advisable.
According to him, a combination of mixing food items that had starch and fiber slows down the digestion process, making it convenient for the system of diabetics to assimilate.
He said that this process assisted greatly in ensuring a controlled sugar level in the person’s system. The physician also advised against the common practice of moving the outer layer of grains before preparation.
Borno
The Borno State Government will prosecute contrac
tors found wanting in the execution of projects, Gov. Kashim Shettima has said.
The governor stated this while laying the foundation stone for the construction of the N823 million Bama Ultra Modern Market in Bama, heaquarters of Bama Local Government Area.
Shettima said the government would also sanction site engineers who failed to ensure that contractors executed standard job.
“Let me warn that government will henceforth apply sanction on any site engineer who allows contractors to execute poor jobs. “Government will also blacklist and prosecute contractors who execute bad jobs.
FCT
The Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) has approved
the commencement of clinical training for students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja. The university disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Gwagwalada, FCT.
It said the approval followed a visit to the institution by the VCN’s Accreditation Committee on December 4, 2012.
The statement signed by Malam Waziri Garba, the institution’s Information Officer, said the approval was contained in a letter written by VCN to the university.
Kano
A group, under the aegis of Concerned Arewa Patri
ots (CAP), has called for the fielding of a credible candidate from the north to contest for the country’s Presidency in 2015.
The North-West Co-ordinator of CAP, Mr Maiyaki Idris, made the call in Kano while briefing newsmen.
‘’CAP hereby appeals to the North to passionately address the crucial choice of a presidential candidate with credible standards devoid of ethnic, political and religious sentiments,’’ he said.
The group appealed to politicians from the north to ensure the selection of a candidate who is “incorruptible, sellable, reliable’’.
Kogi
Farmers in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi have
appealed to the Federal Government to provide seedlings and relief materials to cushion effects of the 2012 flood disaster.
The farmers, in separate interviews in Ibaji, told newsmen that they lost all their crops and granaries to the disaster. The Tide reports that Ibaji Local Government Area was the worst hit area in the state by the 2012 floods.
This had led the Federal Government into evacuating all residents to Idah town in the state.
The area is a border riverine community between Kogi and Anambra, comprising no fewer than 34 villages with farming as the major occupation of inhabitants.
Kwara
Alhaji Nurudeen Mohammed, a former Commissioner
for Finance in Kwara, has urged the nation’s anti-graft commissions to intensify their efforts at tackling corruption to engender development.
Mohammed, who stated this in Ilorin, appealed to the EFCC and ICPC to live up to their mandates of ridding the menace of corruption, which he said had reached an alarming rate.
He pleaded with the judiciary to ensure quick dispensation of justice, especially in matters that related to corruption.
The former commissioner, who is the Tafida of Kaima in Kwara, urged Nigerians, irrespective of religion and social cultural background, to work with security agencies in their bid to ensure a crime-free society.
Lagos
A university lecturer, Dr Oluyombo Onafowokan, on
Sunday in Lagos urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts that would further reduce poverty among Nigerians in 2013.
Onafowokan who is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Financial Studies, Redeemer’s University, Mowe in Ogun, told newsmen, government needed to be pro-active.
He said this would help it in achieving an improved standard of living for the populace.
Nasarawa
Mr Raphael Saka, the Chairman, Nasarawa State
House of Assembly’s Committee on Education, in Lafia decried the low level of school enrolment of the girl-child in the North.
Saka told newsmen, there was the need to address the imbalance if Nigeria must attain its set target of Education For All (EFA) by year 2015.
‘’It is only in the North that people are forced to go school, especially the females. It is a hard sell convincing parents that a girl should be educated first before getting married.
Niger
The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has appealed
to religious leaders to use religion to foster unity, peace and harmonious coexistence among Nigerians.
Abubakar made the appeal at the 4th graduation ceremony of 70 students of Madarasat Tahfizil Quran Wa Tarbiyatul-Islamiya School, Bida, and the school’s N20 million appeal fund in Bida.
“The two major religions of the world, Islam and Christianity preach peace as such the leaders of both religions should join hands to foster unity among Nigerians.
He cautioned all those that were aggrieved to always use dialogue to resolve their differences rather than confrontation.
Osun
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Saturday in Ile-
Ife unveiled an Ife ancestral monument, popularly called Ori-olokun, as part of activities marking the inauguration of Ori-olokun garden.
The governor performed the unveiling of the huge Ori-Olokun sculpture at the Ori-Olokun Roundabout, formerly Mayfair Roundabout in Ile-Ife.
He described the monument as a precious heritage of the Yoruba race, and urged the people to protect and preserve it.
Mr Taiwo Olaiya, the Executive Secretary, Ife Central Local Government, under whose jurisdiction the garden is situated, also described the monument as the most famous in history.
Oyo
The Anti-Vandal Squad of the Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, has arrested four suspected pipeline vandals.
The four suspects, Tijjani Abdulahi, 33; Sarafa Sanusi, 35; Wasiu Ajibola, 35; and Sunday Solomon, 40, were paraded at the Command Headquarters at Iyaganku, Ibadan, by the State Commandant, Mr Clement Adesuyi.
Adesuyi, while parading the suspects, told newsmen that the suspects were arrested late Friday evening at Ajanla farms area in Sanusi Village along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
He said that the alleged culprits had already tapped into an NNPC petroleum pipeline that passed through the area and were only waiting to convey the products when they were apprehended.
Yobe
The Yobe Ministry of Sports will develop a new
scheme of partnership with schools and institutions in the state to promote sporting activities at the grassroots.
Alhaji Yusuf Yahaya, the state Commissioner for Sports, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
He explained that the scheme was intended to develop potential to make good use of sporting facilities at the zonal community sports centres.
The commissioner noted that the zonal community sports centre in Geidam, which was designed to improve sports development at the grassroots, would be completed in 2013.
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
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