Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Bauchi State House of Assembly committee on
budget and appropriation has commended the state government for pudent budget management and spendings in the 2012 fiscal year.
Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Abdulkadir Dewu, made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi.
Dewu said that his committee had specifically commended the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) for the way it handled the security situation in the state and the relative peace enjoyed in 2012.
FCT
A Zuba Grade 1 Area Court has sentenced a 19-year-
old man, Salisu Magaji, to six months imprisonment for stealing 11 baskets of onions.
Police prosecutor Momoh Ibrahim told the Court that Magaji of Dankogi, Abuja, stole the onions belonging to one Abdulhamidu Lawal of Fruit Market, Zuba, in the FCT.
He said that only six of the 11 baskets were recovered from the convict, who pleaded guilty to charge and begged the court to temper justice with mercy.
The Presiding officer, Alhassan Kusherki, sentenced Magaji to six months imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane. Kusherki, however, gave the convict an option to pay N10,000 fine and N7,000 as compensation to the complainant.
He said the sentence was not harsh because the convict, who pleaded guilty to the crime, was a first time offender.
Gombe
Gombe State Government has distributed 900 tonnes
of grains to 6,653 farmers affected by the 2012 flood disaster in the state.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Dahiru Buba-Biri, disclosed this to newsmen in Gombe on Thursday.
He said the foodstuff, comprising sorghum and millet, were delivered to the state by the Federal Government, to cushion the effects of the flooding on the victims.
“Gombe State received 900 tonnes of sorghum and millet for distribution to victims of the flood disaster. “To ensure that the grains reached the targeted beneficiaries, the ministry created five redemption centres for the 11 local government areas.” Buba-Biri announced plans by the state government to complement the Federal Government’s efforts by providing other relief materials to the victims.
Jigawaa
The Provost of Jigawa College of Education, Gumel,
Dr Dahiru Abdulkadir, said that the school would begin degree programmes in the 2013/2014 academic session.
Abdulkadir disclosed this in Gumel, Jigawa, in an interview with the newsmen.
He said the college had put all necessary facilities in place to start the programme in six courses.
According to him, the courses are Biology, Chemistry, English language, Hausa language, Agricultural Science and Physical Health Education. The provost stated that the courses would be run in conjunction with the Bayero University Kano.
Kaduna
Kaduna State Government has constructed two new
hostel blocks at the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Kaduna, to ease accommodation problem.
The State Coordinator, Mrs Victoria Ango disclosed this while speaking with newsmen on Thursday in Kaduna.
She said that with the additional facility, the camp now has the capacity to accommodate 2,800 corps members and 300 camp officials.
On general camp development, the coordinator said it was the collective responsibility of the federal, state and local governments.
“ The responsibility of providing hostel accommodation and office is the responsibility of the state government that is why I have been pushing them’’, she said.
Kano
The Police Command in Kano State on Thursday said
it recovered 1,123 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) between January and December 2012.
This is contained in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majiya, in Kano.
According to the statement, 68 IEDs were successfully defused in different parts of the state by the Anti-Bomb Disposal Unit of the command during the period.
“Even though the early part of the year 2012 was characterised by terrorists attacks, the situation was immediately brought under control through concerted efforts of the police and other security agencies.’’
and the public for their prayers which had “greatly helped the command against evil intention of criminals in the state”. The command also expressed gratitude to all those who assisted the police and other security agencies with timely information that led to successes in its operations.
Lagos
A Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded two busi
nessmen, Prince Emenike and George Egotanwa, at the Ikoyi Prisons over alleged importation of bullet proof jackets and other contraband.
Emenike, 37, and Egotanwa, 33, are facing trial on a two-count charge of unlawful importation and false declaration before Justice Okechukwu Okeke.
Okeke ordered that the men, who did not have legal representation but pleaded not guilty to the charges, be remanded in custody and adjourned the case till Feb. 1.
The judge advised the accused to secure legal representation to defend them before the next adjourned date.
The prosecutor, Mrs Salamatu Yakubu, told the court that the accused, both residents of Ilupeju in Lagos, were arrested by officials of the Nigeria Customs Service on Dec. 27, 2012, on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
Nasarawa
Nasarawa state governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura inaugurated 33-member visitation panels for the four tertiary institutions in the state.
The institutions are Nasarawa State University, Keffi; College of Education (COE), Akwanga; Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia and College of Agriculture, Lafia.
Prof. Festus Ogunlade is the chairman of the nine-member panel for the university and Dr Abdullahi Liman is the chairman of the six-member panel for COE. Dr Silas Gyar, is chairman of the nine-member panel for Nasarawa polytechnic, while Prof. Musa Enna is to serve as the chairman for the nine-member panel for the College of Agriculture. Speaking at the ceremony, Al-Makura said that the gesture was to reposition the state-owned tertiary institutions for better performance.
Osun
An Osogbo Magistrates’ Court last Thursday sen
tenced a 20-year old man, Dada Jimoh, to nine months imprisonment for stealing N500 telephone recharge card and N5,000 cash.
Jimoh, who pleaded guilty to the one- count charge of stealing, was convicted based on evidence presented before the court by the prosecution.
The police prosecutor, Insp. Solomon Oladele, had earlier told the court during a summary trial, that the convict on Jan. 7, at Jaleyemi area, Osogbo, “criminally unlocked a shop and carried out the act“.
According to Oladele, the convict broke into the shop of one Mrs Adetoro Eunice and stole the card and N5,000.
Oyo
A football academy based in Ibadan, New Glory Acad
emy, last Thursday said it would improve on the game’s technical skills to ensure its further development in the country. Babs Oderinde, the proprietor of the academy, newsmen in Ibadan that the academy was also to groom young talents into stardom.
“Whenever I watch some of the matches played in Ibadan, I am not always impressed by the technical approach to the game.
“Due to this, the academy, based at Loyola College, Ibadan, has concluded plans to enhance the technical know-how of the game for improved cohesion, “ he said.
Plateauu
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Plateau, says
it has begun a massive sensitisation of students against the menace of examination malpractice. Its Director, Musa Chantu, told newsmen in Jos last Thursday that the programme had begun in secondary schools and would be extended to the polytechnics and universities.
“Examination malpractice is an epidemic that can be more dangerous than the cultist groups existing in most Nigerian schools; that is why we are making a priority to create the needed awareness,’’ he said.
Chantu lamented that most students had abandoned proper reading and hard work which used to be the main path to effective growth and development in any society.
Yobe
Artisans, professionals and traders, who fled Damaturu
last year at the peak of insurgency attacks have returned to the city. Our source said that normal commercial activities in the state capital have returned as the fleeing traders have openned their shops.
In Damaturu, restaurants, furniture makers, masons, building materials and automobile spare part dealers, among others, have returned to base.
Mr Sunday Emmanuel, one of the traders, said: “I returned back to Damaturu following the relative peace recorded in the state capital. “It has not been easy since we left our businesses due to the attacks, but we thank God that everything is coming back to normal” he added.
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
