Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

February 25, 2013

Adamawa
The Management of Adamawa Polytechnic,Yola, has confirmed the accreditation and approval of seven new courses in the institute by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Rector of the Institution Prof. Bobboi Umar told newsmen in Yola that the development was first of its kind in the history of the institution.
Umar said, “ the institution is able to record a remarkable achievement where about seven new courses were accredited by the NBTE.”
He explained that, the accredited programmes include mass communication, social development, business administration and four engineering courses.

Benue
The Business Manager of PHCN in Makurdi, Benue, Mr John Emeruwa, has attributed the current power outage in Makurdi to ongoing power lines upgrade in the state.
Emeruwa disclosed this to newsmen in Makurdi.
Emeruwa said the 132 KV lines that linked Benue with Enugu were no longer adequate for the increasing number of customers and the demand for power supply in the area.
He said the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had been mandated to improve power supply to Benue by evacuating more power from the national grade to Benue.

Borno
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno has re-assured the people that the relationship between him and his deputy, Alhaji Zanna Mustapha, was “cordial and progressive”.
Shettima was reacting to speculations of a rift between him and his deputy as well as his predecessor, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, in Maiduguri.
Reports also indicated that the governor was in the process of carrying out a cabinet reshuffle following a rift between him, his deputy and Sheriff.
But Shettima said while receiving a delegation of the Southern Borno ANPP Forum in Maiduguri that the reports were unfounded.

FCT
Assistant Director of Administration, Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture, Mr Adamu Bigari, Abuja, has decried the neglect of indigenous languages in the country.
Bigari told newsmen that foreign language was eroding the country’s indigenous languages.
He said as the world marked the International Day for Mother Tongue, there was a need to promote indigenous languages to sustain “our culture”.
Bigari blamed the decline in the use of mother tongue on both parents and policy makers, adding that more attention was paid to foreign languages to the detriment of local ones.

Gombe
The Federal Government is to execute N2 billion worth of projects at the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kabir Farouk, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen at Kashere, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State recently.
Farouk said that the amount was the grant approved by the Federal Government last year to each of the nine universities to develop their main campuses.
According to him, the projects comprised the Senate building, Library, Information, Communication and Technology centre and two faculty buildings, which locations have been decided based on the university’s master plan.

Jigawa
The Federal Government has distributed 7,200 tonnes of fertiliser to Jigawa dry season farmers to boost rice production in the state, according to the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN).
The Chairman of the association, Malam Adamu Haruna, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Hadejia recently.
Haruna said that each member of the association received three bags of the commodity at the rate of N2,750 per bag as against N5,000 per bag in the open market.
He said that the Federal Government had given 50 per cent subsidy, while farmers paid the remaining 50 per cent.
He said that the brand of the assorted fertiliser distributed to the farmers included

Kaduna
The Zaria water project has reached 78 per cent completion and will be completed and commissioned by 2013, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Sunday Marshall, has said.
Marshall, who made this known in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna, said that the state government had spent N14.7 billion so far on the project.
He said that the project was awarded at the cost of N15.7 billion in January 2009 and that the cost had been reviewed to N24.6 billion.
In a separate interview, the Project Manager, Mr Yusuf Kobo, told newsmen that the water supply project was being implemented in collaboration with the Federal Government
Kobo said that when completed, the project would provide potable water to 2.2 million people in 23 communities across eight local government areas of the state.

Katsina
The District Head of Kafur in Katsina State, Alhaji Rabe Abdullahi, has called for increased public awareness to boost participation in environmental sanitation activities.
Rabe, who is also the Dangaladiman Katsina, made the call at the inauguration of local government sanitation committee members saddled with the task of ensuring proper conduct of the re-introduced monthly sanitation exercise in the state.
Represented by his son, Alhaji Abdulrahman Rabe, the traditional ruler said public awareness on the importance of the exercise could be achieved through the media and community town criers.
He gave an assurance of the traditional rulers’ support for the success of the exercise and pledged to mobilise wards and community leaders to achieve the goal.

Lagos
The police in Lagos have arraigned two men, who allegedly defrauded a woman of N290,000, and told her that she would die if she disclosed the crime.
Ugiagbe Osamuyimin, 48, and Bernard Obukene, 34, appeared before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and fraud.
They allegedly defrauded a nursing mother, Mrs Kehinde Agbana, at 1:00 p.m.on February 7, at the Lekki Beach area of Lagos State.
Osamuyimin, who claimed to be a herbalist, resides at the Lekki Beach, while Obukene, who claims to be a builder, resides on Badore Kekere St., Ajah, Lagos.
The prosecutor, ASP Augustine Orji said: “They led their victim into believing that they would supply her with clothes, but ended up collecting her phone and ATM card and withdrawing the above mentioned amount from her bank account.Ogun

Ogun
Wife of the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, Mrs HID Awolowo,Mrs HID Awolowo, has appealed to the people of South-West to be united ahead of 2015 elections.
Awolowo made the appeal during her welcome address at the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) meeting held at Awolowo residence in Ikenne-Remo,Ogun.
She said that there was need for Yorubas to come together as one before 2015 so as to know the direction to go.
“Time is now for the Yoruba nation to come together as one for us to take our rightful place in the country.
Awolowo also urged the Yorubas to be patient with one other, adding that Yoruba nation must rise again.
She stressed that the YUF committee was working toward uniting the Yorubas before 2015.

Plateau
The Plateau Government has announced that it had approved the establishment of an Information Communication Technology Agency to boost computer literacy.
“The EXCO has approved the formation of the agency with desk offices in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Mr Abraham Yiljap, the Information and Communication Commissioner, told newsmen in Jos.
“We want to be sure that assets acquired by various administrations are documented electronically for easy assessment.
“Government wants a proper inventory of its assets; we don’t want a situation where successive governments will not know what belongs to government and how to access it.’’

Zamfara
The Federal Government has released N158.3 million for the promotion of safe mining practice among artisanal miners in Zamfara State, according to an official.
The Director, Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Obiora Azubuike, announced this in Gusua at a news briefing.
Azubuike said money was part of the N850 million released by the Federal Government to control lead poisoning in mining communities in the state.
He said that the government had also mapped out a programme to control lead poisoning in Zamfara.
He said the programme included environmental remediation of Bagega village, treatment of victims of lead poisoning and promotion of safe mining practice.
Azubuike, who is also the Chairman, Technical Committee on the Promotion of Safe Mining, said that the programme would involve the formalisation of mining activities across the state.

Nation

MOSIEND URGE NDDC TO EMBARK ON WATER PROJECTS IN BUGUMA …TASK RSG TO REVAMP BUGUMA FISH FARM

Published

1 day ago

December 5, 2025

The Tide

The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on the Management of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to embark on the water projects in Buguma city in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers state

The Group called on the Rivers state government to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths

On the water project in Buguma, MOSIEND said the population of Buguma has increased tremendously as the residents need more water projects to enhance the daily livelihood of the people

The Group also appealed to the Chairman of the council to assist in making the project a reality and attracts more developmental projects to the city

This call was on Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Radio program, Talk of the Town, by MOSIEND Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn alongside Mark Ojuka,Chairman of Buguma and Hon Sandra Owunari JP Chairman Obuama and monitored by our correspondent

Comrade Ojuka also called on the Management of Liquidifed Natural Gas NLG to embark on a free medical outreach in all Kala bari communities to improve their health status

He appealed to LNG to award scholarship to indigens of Kalabari communities in tertiary institutions to better their education, noting the company is doing same in Bonny, abandoning Kalabari communities

“We need contracts, free medical, scholarships and employment including skill acquisition programs for our teeming youths in Kalabari extractions ”

On Security, Mark Ojuka said security in Buguma is at zero level with the help of the Ama Ma soldiers the city is more peaceful and investors friendly as the youths of area have cordial relationship with the security agencies in the area

“Security is very secured in Buguma clan”

He called on the Rivers state to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths

“The youths are asking for human capacity building in the area to reduce unemployment”

“The revamping of the Buguma fish farm will also reduce youth violence”

Also Speaking, Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn called for more improve in infrastructures in Kalabari community, especially in electricity

There is little improvement in terms of electricity in Buguma city

He decried the deplorable condition
of Buguma Health Centre, saying that the hospital is near functional

“Our sisters that are pregnant and our sick parents can not access the health centre for a better treatment ”

Describing the Health Centre as an eye saw, he called on Rivers state government and Buguma Local Government chairman Hon William to improve on facilities in the centre and make it more medically accessible to the sick persons in the area

Buguma, Tammy Bruce said is the spiritual headquarter of Kalabari people as such deserve more modern facilities from the government to improve lives

The Coordinator called on government, stakeholders and oil companies to assist and improve the poor infrastructural facilities in area

“We need first class hospitals, qualified medical doctors and nurses in the health centres and hospitals”

On the oil spilled in Obuoma Chairman MOSIEND Obuoma, Hon Sandra Owunari said the spill destroyed their crops and Rivers even polluted their only source of drinking water

She expressed displeasure that Rivers state government did not send any relief materials to the people in the affected community

On Chieftaincy title to women in Obuama, Hon Sandra Owunari said the community do not install Chieftaincy title to women, saying that Chieftaincy title is only reserved for men only in the community

CHINEDU WOSU

Nation

EFCC Holds Stakeholders Engagement Party With Media, CSOs

Published

5 days ago

December 1, 2025

The Tide

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Port Harcourt zonal command has held a one-day capacity workshop with some selected media organisations and civil society organisations in the state

The one-day capacity workshop was aimed at strengthening existing relationships among the media and the civil society organisations in the state with a view to improving the existing relationships among the graft agency and the media.

Speaking at the event the zonal commander of EFCC, MR. HASSAN SAIDU, said the
initiative is part of the Commission’s ongoing commitment to strengthening collaboration with key stakeholders, particularly the media and civil society, in our collective fight against economic and financial crimes , adding that the decision to organize this workshop underscores the strategic importance the EFCC places on the roles of the media and the CSOs as watchdogs of the society.

According to him,all over the world, the partnership between anti-corruption agencies, the media, and civil society has been instrumental in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance, noting that the collaboration is even more imperative in Nigeria given the scale and sophistication of economic crimes we contend with.

“Let me take this opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the invaluable support you have given to the EFCC over the years.

Your consistent focus on our work through reporting, advocacy, and public engagement has helped to sustain the momentum of our preventive and enforcement efforts.”

The EFCC’s mandate is both engaging and arduous. I say this because the landscape of economic crime is dynamic and your duty to report and interpret these developments requires diligence, patriotism and integrity.”

He posted that It is in recognition of these challenges that the Commission introduced a Specialized Workshop Series on Economic and Financial Crimes Reporting for journalists, adding that the commission has expanded this initiative to include civil society organizations to further demonstrate their belief in an inclusive and collaborative anti-corruption framework.

“As you are aware, Port Harcourt remains Nigeria’s treasure base of the Nation and a fertile ground for various forms of economic and financial crimes, ranging from pipeline vandalism, foreign exchange scams and business email compromise to investment and property fraud, and crude oil theft.”

The EFCC zonal commander averred that the 2025 edition of the workshop is Understanding Cryptocurrency Fraud and other Emerging Financial Crimes and Prosecution of Financial Crimes: Issues, Challenges and Way Forward , adding that
It is imperative for us to note that the surge of Cryptocurrency Fraud and other related offences in the Nigeria’s Cyberspace is becoming alarming hence, as part of the efforts of the EFCC to nip this menace and eradicate these crimes from Nigeria Cyberspace there is need for synergy with relevant Stakeholders, that is the reason why the Commission has chosen these topics to educate, create awareness and discuss arising issues that will yield more significant results as the EFCC tackles the spate of these crimes.

“We must work together to intensify public sensitization. Your platforms- print, broadcast, digital, and community-based- are essential in equipping Nigerians with the knowledge to make informed decisions and avoid falling prey to scammers. ”

He reiterated that the fight against economic and financial crimes is not the sole responsibility of the EFCC or other anti-corruption agencies. It is a collective national duty, meaning all hands must be on deck , stressing that
We owe it to our country and, indeed, the global community to expose and confront corrupt practices wherever they exist.

“The media must continue to hold public institutions accountable, while civil society must deepen civic engagement and promote transparency at all levels.
The EFCC remains committed to building a stronger and more effective partnership with all stakeholders in the fight against corruption. he stated.

Earlier In his presentation on cryptocurrency-related crimes, CSE Coker Oyegunle, Head of Advanced Fee Fraud, explained that digital assets are increasingly being used for money laundering, identity theft, phishing, malware attacks, and ransomware, most of which involve untraceable crypto payments.

He noted that Nigeria now has a coordinated regulatory framework involving multiple agencies. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) serves as the lead regulator under the Investment and Securities Act 2025, defining digital assets as securities and licensing virtual asset service providers.

Our correspondent reports that other topics presented during the workshop include prosecuting Financial crimes: Issues, challenges and the way forward and the role of CSOs and media in driving a preventive frame work.

Nation

RSU Blames Poor Funding for Failure to Meet Academic Targets as 1,356 Set for Combined Convocation on Saturday”

Published

5 days ago

December 1, 2025

The Tide

The management of Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt, has stated that poor funding has hindered the institution’s ability to meet its expected academic targets.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, made this statement during a press briefing held at the institution on Monday in Port Harcourt, ahead of the week-long 37th and 38th combined convocation ceremony scheduled for Friday and Saturday this week.

Prof. Zeb-Obipi emphasized that poor funding continues to be a major challenge limiting the institution’s ability to meet its targets, adding that they trust the state governor, Sir Fubara Siminalaye, who is the visitor to the university, will continue to strengthen and support them.

He noted that the state governor has demonstrated his commitment to supporting the university, recently approving N700m for the ongoing NUC accreditation.

The Vice-Chancellor stated that the university faces deficits in classrooms, staff accommodation, and student hostels, with the infrastructure gap widening, and existing lecture halls and laboratories requiring renovation.

“We are prioritizing phased upgrades based on program needs,

He added that the university is short-staffed, having lost staff to retirement, death, and changes in job or place of work, and that new programs, departments, and faculties have been created to meet the contemporary needs of society.

Mean while,a total of 13,242 students are set to graduate in the combined convocation, with 10,648 undergraduates, 1,356 Master’s degree students, 700 postgraduate diplomas, and 538 Doctors of Philosophy.

The Vice-Chancellor also used the opportunity to list some achievements of his administration, including the creation of new directorates, completion of abandoned laboratories, and upgrades in the faculty of sciences, made possible with support from the Tertiary Education Technology Fund (TETFund).

He expressed appreciation to the governor and visitor to the university, Sir Siminalaye Fubara, for approving his appointment and promised to justify the confidence placed in him.