Nation
THE STATES
FCT
The Census Tribunal on Tuesday in Abuja validated the 2006 enumeration figure of Charanchi Local Government Area of Katsina State as declared by the National Population Commission (NPC).
The council had earlier dragged the commission before the Census Tribunal ‘A’ alleging that some of its localities were not captured by the enumeration officials during the 2006 National Population and Household Census.
It also alleged that the population figure of 136,989 declared for the area was grossly inaccurate and urged the tribunal to void the figure.
The council further submitted that the commission’s witness, Mr Simon Gonley, was not competent and that his testimonies were based on ‘hearsay’, adding that he was not physically present in Katsina State during the census.
The tribunal validated the figure in its judgment based on the failure of the council to tender evidence with regards to the localities it alleged were not enumerated.
Gombe
The Gombe State Government last Tuesday said it would upgrade facilities at the Gombe airport to international standard.
Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure Alhaji Shehu Ahmed, said in Gombe that the government would key into the current efforts of the Federal Ministry of Aviation to access funds for the project.
He said that the funds would be utilised to remodel the airport’s terminal building, provide an operational cargo terminal and cold stores for preservation of perishable goods for export.
“We want what will give Gombe the status of being truly an international airport, not a mixture of arrival and departure but things you see in an international airports in terms of character and design.
“Our aim is to make the state a real commercial and tourist destination, considering its central location in the North East sub region. “ he said.
Ahmed said the focus on air transport was because of its safety and reliability, as well as timely movement of people and goods for enhanced economic services.
Jigawa
Chairman, Nigeria Association of Pensioners, Jigawa chapter, Alhaji Abdullahi Tsoho, on Tuesday commended the state government for its support to the pension fund scheme.
Tsoho said in Dutse that the gesture had facilitated effective implementation of the pension fund in the state.
He said that government had demonstrated commitment to ensuring prompt payment of its contribution to the scheme.
“In the last six years; the state government has been paying its contribution as at when due with more than N16 billion in its coffers.
“It also adopted proactive measures to improve the wellbeing of pensioners in the state,” he said.
The chairman said that the association was working in collaboration with the state government to sensitise its members to enhance effective pension administration.
Tsoho urged workers to ensure proper documentation in line with the civil service rules to avoid encountering problems in the payment of their benefits after retirement.
Kaduna
A legal practitioner, Mr Christopher Danjuma, on Tuesday said children who were abused by their parents, government, individuals or institutions have a right to sue for compensation.
Danjuma, of Noble Crest Solicitors, Kaduna said in an interview that the rights of children were clearly enshrined in the Child Rights Act and were enforceable.
He noted that a lot of children were being trafficked, abused and denied certain basic rights, saying that such children have the legal mandate to seek for compensation.
Danjuma commended the activities of some non governmental organisations championing the cause of children and advised children being abused to seek the assistance of such organisations. He urged parents to believe in their children and guide them to attain their full potentials in life, adding that excessive control and denial of rights would only affect the children negatively.
Katsina
Faskari Local Government of Katsina State has distributed hand washing facilities to primary school pupils to encourage personal hygiene among residents.
The Chairman of the council’s Transition Committee, Alhaji Isiyaku Ahmad, handed over the items on Tuesday in Faskari as part of the ongoing Maternal and Child Health Week.
He said personal hygiene was necessary to the promotion of community health and urged parents and teachers to inculcate the habit in children.
In a related development, wife of the Chairman, Musawa Local Government of the state, Hajia Rabi Kira, has embarked on a tour of the area to sensitise rural women on nutrition and hygiene.
She said that the tour, followed the success of a similar one on immunisation. According to her, rural women deserve to be educated, especially on diet and nutrition as well as environmental sanitation.
Kebbi
The National Association of Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Owners in Kebbi, has secured a N15.7 million loan for disbursement to its members, the state Chairman, Alhaji Bagudu Mohammed, has said.
Mohammed said in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday that the loan was obtained from a commercial bank and was meant to assist the association members to boost their business.
The chairman said no fewer than 100 registered members who fulfilled the bank’s conditions would benefit from the loan.
“The association obtained the money from a commercial bank, so we must ensure that the bank’s conditions are all met so that we will not be seen as defaulters in case we seek for more assistance,” he said.
The chairman disclosed that the association had in the last two years provided financial assistance amounting to N650,000 to the families of some of their deceased members.
Kogi
Kogi State Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi, has said that the state would exploit the opportunities offered by the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Project in Niger State.
In statement issued in Lokoja on Tuesday by his Press Secretary, Mr Michael Abu, the deputy governor said, power supply in the state will be boosted when the project is eventually inaugurated.
He said that the 700MW Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Project was good for the transformation of the power sector.
Awoniyi said that the state was in partnership with the Federal Government and Niger State Government to ensure that Kogi benefitted immensely from the project.
“The completion of work on the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant will help boost power generation in Kogi.
Lagos
British Council Nigeria on Monday restated its commitment to protection of Nigeria’s children from abuse, exploitation and negligence. The council said in statement to mark 2013 Children Day that it was important to create “child-safe environment” in Nigeria communities.
According to the statement, child protection involves taking steps to safeguard children from all forms of abuse. It also expressed the council’s preparedness to safeguard and promote children’s welfare in Nigerian communities
“Many children experience abuse every day from people they know and trust. The situation threatens their survival, development and participation in society. “We at British Council Nigeria are therefore, campaigning for lasting change to ensure that children are safe and protected.
Ondo
Five men on Monday died in a motor accident along Akure- Ogbese road. Head of Operations, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Sunday Ajayi who, confirmed the accident on Tuesday in Akure, said that the accident was caused by dangerous over-taking .
Ajayi said that the accident involved a trailer with the registration number Abuja XA 397 GWL and a Volkswagen Jetta marked Lagos AV 800 KSF.
He said that the corpses of the victims had been deposited at the state Specialist Hospital, Akure while the two occupants of the trailer survived the accident.
Ajayi advised motorists to exercise patience on the road, adding that over-taking was not a quick and safe way of driving.
Plateau
The President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, on Monday urged the Federal Government to increase the level of attention given to the Nigerian child.
Kaigama said in Jos at the Children’s Day Anniversary that the level of attention given to the welfare of the Nigerian child left much room for improvement.
He said that he had always insisted that the family, school and places of worship were strategic areas for the formation of children.
Kaigama said the institutions were better-placed for moulding the character of children while government should provide the environment by meeting the needs of schools.
Zamfara
A Gusau Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday remanded one Rabo Muhammad, 36 of Daki Takwas area of Anka Local Government in Zamfara, for alleged conspiracy and culpable homicide.
The prosecutor, Mr Tiokulus Danjuma told the court that on May 12, this year, one Muhammad Kirwa of the same address reported the case at Jangebe police outstation.
Danjuma said that about two months ago, the accused person with two others now at large, entered the complainant’s apartment and shot his younger brother, Manu Kirwa, to death.
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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