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THE STATES

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Abuja

The Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), says the Nigerian Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE), will focus on funding for the development of tourism in the country.

The maiden exhibition of the body which will hold from May 21 to May 22 in Abuja, is expected to feature seminar and exhibition of Nigerian tourism and hospitality destinations.

The National President of the association, Chief Samuel Alabi, told newsmen that the two-day event would address the issue of funding as a vital element in promoting development and maintenance of tourism products and destinations.

He, however, urged the Federal Government to give the tourism sector a commensurate attention given to the oil sector as a way of diversifying the nation’s economy.

 

Adamawa

The Chairman of Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Malam Mohammed Bako, says that a female police constable  has been killed while three persons in detention were released by gunmen who attacked the Mayo-Belwa Police Station recently.

Bako made the disclosure while touring the scene of attack, saying that the gunmen used Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) in the attack.

“A female police constable, Rahila Azoko, was killed while a policeman was injured during the assault on the Divisional Police Station.

“Three civilians, including a security man, were also injured in the attack on banks.’’

 

Bauchi

Bauchi State Government has said that it spent about N10 billion to renovate and provide facilities at the Yankari Game Reserve.

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Isa Yuguda, Mr Ishola Michael, stated this in Yankari, Bauchi State, while briefing members of the state chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and Heads of Media Organisations.

Michael explained that the renovation, which started in 2005 during the tenure of the past administration, had been on-going, adding that the reserve now wore a befitting look.

According to him, when completed, the reserve will be leased out to private organisations or individuals for efficient management that will ensure the recouping of the money spent.

NAWOJ Chairperson in Bauchi, Hajiya Kaltume Shall later told newsmen that heads of media organisations in the state were includd in the programme because of their contribution to the development of journalism.

 

Benue

A 29-year-old man, Levi Achivin, has been arraigned before a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court, charged with illegal possession of firearm and criminal conspiracy.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Omaye Ujata, told the court that an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdulsalami Busari, arrested the accused while on patrol along Airforce Base in Makurdi.

Ujata said that Busari handed Achivin over to the State CID where one locally-made pistol and six live ammunitions were found on him.

Ujata said that the accused hails from of Tongov in the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue.

During interrogation, the accused admitted committing the offence.

 

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service announced the arrest of 182 illegal aliens in Zaira.

The state Comptroller, Mr. Hamman Abdullahi-Yerima, told journalists shortly after the operation in Zaira, that the raid was to rid the state of illegal immigrants.

The comptroller said that arrangement had been made to repatriate them to their  respective  countries.

Those arrested had neither  valid  travel documents nor entered  Nigeria through  established controlled posts.

Abdullahi-Yerima attributed the influx of aliens to the country’s porous borders, saying thousands of motorcyclists were moving people illegally along the Nigeria/Niger border.

 

Kano

The Kano State Government has said it spent N238 million on the third batch of mass wedding for 1,000 couples in the state.

Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso announced this at a reception in honour of the couples held at the Government House in Kano.

Kwankwaso said government came up with the idea after counselling from Islamic clerics.

“They stressed the need to ease the hardship being encountered by the less privileged in the society who are in dire need of marriage.’’

The government gave out N20,000 to each bride to start a small scale business to complement the efforts of their husbands.

 

Kebbi

The Kebbi  State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KPHDA), has received drugs worth N2.5 million from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency(NPHCDA) to combat outbreak of measles.

The Executive Director of KPHDA, Dr Abubakar Koko, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi recently that the drugs were distributed to primary healthcare clinics to combat the disease.

He said that the donation of the drugs from the NPHCDA was timely considering the fact that measles outbreak had been recorded, and had resulted into the isolation of victims.

Koko said that health personnel had been deployed to all local government areas of the state to combat the disease.

 

Kogi

President Goodluck Jonathan has  called on the new Attah-Igala, Idakwo Ameh-Oboni II, to use his reign to bring peace, unity and development to the kingdom and the country.

The president made the call at the inauguration and presentation of first class staff of office to the new Atta Igala in Idah by Goveror  Idris Wada of Kogi State.

Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, congratulated the monarch, and prayed for his peaceful and successful reign.

Presenting the staff of office to the Attah, Wada said the appointment followed due process and laid down rules, traditions and culture of the people.

 

Lagos

The Lagos State Taskforce on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods, has said that it had sealed about 30 illegal patent medicine stores in the Ajah-Lekki area of the state.

A statement in Lagos by the Lagos State Ministry of Health said that the state government was worried about the dangers posed by illegal drug hawkers.

It quoted the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adesina as saying that their nefarious activities needed to be urgently curtailed.

The statement alerted members of the public to the risks and dangers of purchasing drugs from hawkers.

“The shops were sealed for offences ranging from sales of drugs without licence from the regulatory authorities, to failure to relocate from a market area/adherence to the mandated distance between a patent medicine shop and the market place, among others.

 

Nasarawa

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Nasarawa State, Mr Abayomi Akeremale,has enjoined residents to join hands in providing security for lives and property, as it was a collective responsibility.

He stated this when he inaugurated a police post which was upgraded to a Divisional Police Station in Azara, Nasarawa State.

According to Akeremale, various security agencies need the support of all Nigerians in discharging their constitutional responsibilities.

He advised the traditional rulers, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) and the public to always furnish the police with useful information on activities of suspected criminals.

Akeremale said there was no hiding place for criminals in the state as the command was more determined to track them down and bring them to justice.

 

Ogun

The Board of Technical and Vocational Skills in Ogun State has advised students in institutions of higher learning to embrace technical and vocational skills.

The Chairperson of the board, Mrs Doyin Ogunbiyi, who gave the advice, said that acquiring skills would prevent students from depending desperately on white collar jobs after graduation.

Ogunbiyi spoke at a seminar organised by the Icon of Change Initiative, a non-governmental organisation at the Tai Solarin University of Education in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

She said that technical and vocational education was important part of higher education which all students must embrace to live fulfilled life styles.

She said that students should engage themselves in handiwork while in school for them to become useful, noting that the state government was making efforts to give priority to vocational education.

 

Oyo

The Police in Oyo State have arrested Alhaji Abass Oloko, a former vice-chairman of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing) over alleged murder.

The Tide gathered that Oloko was picked up by the police at his house in Ibadan after policemen had laid an ambush for him .

Oloko was arrested in connection with the attempted killing of Chief Ayodele Adigun, a former Secretary to the State Government during the administration of former Governor Rasheed Ladoja.

The Tide learnt that Oloko was also being held in police custody as a suspect in the murder of one of Adigun’s guards on March 26.

Gunmen had invaded Adigun’s Ikolaba residence on March 26 and frantically searched the house for the former SSG.

Adigun was, however, lucky to have escaped unhurt since he was away to Ado Ekiti, in Ekiti State with former governor Rashidi Ladoja to formally inaugurate the state chapter of the Accord Party.

The state command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs Olabisi Ilobanefor said that Oloko was under interrogation over the murder of Adigun’s guard.

“We are interrogating him and if he is found culpable, your guess is as good as mine; he will face the music and be charged to court.

 

Zamfara

The Federal Government has  said that it would soon dredge River Benue up to Yola fringes in Adamawa State.

Information Minister, Labaran Maku announced this at a town-hall meeting in Gusau as part of the on-going Good Governance Tour to Zamfara State.

Maku said the government had concluded arrangement for dredging that would pass through Benue and terminate in Yola.

He stated that the Federal Government had attained 50 per cent in the modern rail line project, which would at the end link up Kano and Abuja through Kaduna.

The minister explained that the tour was aimed at showcasing projects and programmes being executed by the different tiers of government and projecting same to the rest of the world.

While commending the Zamfara Government for ensuring peace in the state, Maku assured that the Federal Government would revive all collapsed dams in the country, open up new ones in Benue and Taraba.

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Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.

Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

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THE LAPSES OF THE MEDIA IN ELECTIONS

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The media is supposed to be a platform through which people express their thoughts, beliefs, and opinions on issues of public interest. Unfortunately, it has often failed to live up to its role as the fourth estate of the realm.During the 2023 elections, the media recorded several lapses that deserve critical examination in academic and professional spaces. Before discussing these failures in detail, it is important to briefly explain the meaning, role, and duties of the media. In simple terms, the media refers to the main channels of mass communication, including broadcasting, print publishing, and the internet.
It is a collective term for all means through which information reaches the public. The media is often called the fourth tier of government because of the popular saying, “No media, no society.” This is not an exaggeration. Scholars have shown that the media plays an integral role in society, since political, economic, religious, and academic activities all depend on information flow through the media.
The word MEDIA can be broken down to reflect its core functions:  M – Meeting the People  E – Educating the People  D – Discussing with the People  I – Involving the People  A – Accessing the PeopleSpecifically during elections, the media is expected to provide accurate and timely information to the public by reporting and updating citizens on government and electoral activities. This responsibility is central to keeping the electorate informed.The media also strengthens democracy by engaging citizens on critical issues affecting the electoral process. When the media effectively disseminates relevant information, the public can see through the failures of government, hold leaders accountable, and propose solutions that serve the common good.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram play a vital role in democratic societies because they allow mass participation. Unlike radio and television, social media is accessible to anyone with a smartphone and data bundle, making it the most inclusive platform for political discourse. Despite these roles, the media must not abandon its ethics or promote partisan agendas that mislead the public. In many schools of thought, the media is described as closely related to the judiciary.
People often see the media as a place to voice grievances and seek justice.However, it is fair to say that the media has lost ground by failing to fulfill its duties during elections. Below are ten key lapses observed in the February 2023 elections.Lack of coordination among journalists. Many press personnel who covered different polling units were poorly equipped and unprepared. Some lacked functional cameras and modern technology needed to carry out professional reporting.
Partisanship and breach of ethics. Media personnel, who are supposed to remain non-partisan, openly violated professional ethics by taking political sides and favoring certain candidates in their reporting.Commercialization of coverage. Some journalists prioritized money over news. It was disappointing to see professionals from reputable stations engaging in what I call “Oga, find me something syndrome” begging politicians for money in exchange for favorable coverage or interviews.Loss of independence and self-censorship. On election day, some journalists took instructions from politicians on what to report and what to suppress. This compromised the independence of the media and reduced public trust.
Poor post-election reporting. Few media outlets reported what actually happened at the polling units. Incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and irregularities were either underreported or ignored entirely, while praise was lavished on politicians instead of amplifying the voices of the people.Spread of misinformation and unverified claims. In the rush to be first, some media houses published unverified results and rumors from social media without fact-checking. This fueled confusion and tension among the electorate.Inadequate coverage of rural and marginalized areas. Media attention was concentrated in urban centers, leaving rural polling units underreported. The experiences and challenges of rural voters were largely absent from mainstream coverage.
Sensationalism over substance. Some outlets prioritized sensational headlines and conflict-driven stories over factual analysis of policies and candidate manifestos, leaving voters uninformed about real issues. Failure to hold INEC accountable in real time. While INEC faced logistical failures and delays, many media houses were slow to question officials or demand explanations on air, missing opportunities for live accountability.
Neglect of voter education. Beyond reporting results, the media did little to educate voters on procedures, rights, and what to do in case of irregularities. This left many citizens uninformed and vulnerable on election day.These lapses weaken public trust and undermine the credibility of the electoral process. For the media to regain its role as a watchdog of democracy, it must return to the principles of accuracy, impartiality, and public service.
The media must be informed to follow its ethics as the 2027 elections approaches. This is encourage electorates rely on the authenticity and objectivity of media practice.Failure to uphold media standards will further make the country plunge into political apathy, electoral violence and disgust for those in the media practice.
By KRUKRUBO, NYE TAMUNODIKI.
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RSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Holds Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria

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Rivers State University and the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education jointly hosted a two-day National Conference on 8 and 9 May 2026 to examine the state of values in Nigeria.

The two days conference held at Rivers State University convocation arena brought together academics, policymakers, legal experts and education leaders under the theme _“Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria.”_

The gathering focused on policy gaps, curriculum reform, and the role of ethics in public service and education.

The event opened on Friday with remarks from Vice Chancellor Prof. Chief Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who stressed the need to address declining moral and civic values across Nigeria’s education and public sectors. A book of abstracts for the plenary sessions was also presented to participants.

Key speakers included former Attorney General Chief Dr Kanu Agabi, SAN; NERDC Executive Secretary Prof. Shehu Salisu; Prof. Hauwa Imam, FNAE, of the University of Abuja; former Rivers SUBEB Chairman Ven Dr Fyneface Akah, ; former NIMASA DG Dr Hon. Dakuku Adol-Peterside; and RSU Director of ICT Prof. Sunny Orike.

Discussions centered on integrating values education into schools, tertiary institutions and public institutions, alongside the impact of technology on moral development among young Nigerians. Panel and plenary sessions produced practical recommendations for curriculum and policy reform.

On Saturday, the foundation marked its centenary with the unveiling of the book _Otonti Nduka in History_, launched by Chief Engr. Grant Offor, FNSE. The Nigerian Academy of Education held a ceremonial procession led by its President Prof. Olu Jegede and the Ikwerre Professors Forum.

In a communiqué, participants called for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and academia to mainstream values education nationwide. They recommended reviewing teacher training curricula and expanding digital platforms to promote ethical civic engagement, with the foundation pledging to share the outcomes with education authorities for implementation.

Dignitaries present included Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide as Chief Host, Prof. Emeritus Chief T. Uzodimma Nwala, the Ikenga 1 of Mbaise and first philosophy student of Prof. Otonti Nduka, alongside scholars and community leaders.

 

Amadi Akujobi

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