Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Mr Umar Atiku, Adamawa State Commissioner for
Works said yesterday that the state government had approved a total of N2.6 billion for the reconstruction of Jimeta to Yola highway.
Atiku told newsmen in Yola, that the project would cover two major roads in the state capital.
He said among the roads to be reconstructed included Police round-about to Karewa junction and Army Barracks junction to Yola town.
He said contract in respect of the project, was awarded to PW Nigeria Construction Limited, and would start as soon as the rainy season was over.
He added that the project would be completed in eight months.
Ekiti
Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has inaugurated
the 20-km Ikole-Ijesaisu-Ilumoba road, rehabilitated by his administration.
Fayemi also flagged off the construction of the eight-km Ikole township road and 20-km Ikole-Ara-Isinbode road, linking Ekiti and Ikare in Onda State.
The governor said that his administration was delivering on its electioneering promises in all sectors of the economy, especially in the provision of infrastructure.
Fayemi said that his administration was interested in rehabilitation of roads because this would engender development and improve the socio-economic lives of the people.
Gombe
The police in Gombe State said it recovered two Ak47 riffles
and 360 live ammunition in an uncompleted building during the Eid-el Kabir celebrations in Gombe metropolis.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Fwaje Atajiri, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Gombe yesterday.
Atajiri said the police also recovered five empty magazines and a motorcycle in the building.
He said the period was hitch-free, but the command got intelligence report about a criminal hide-out in Kondulum Area of Gombe metropolis on Wednesday and raided the area.
The police spokesman said the suspects ran away on sighting the police operatives and left the weapons and ammunition.
He said the police was investigating the incident as well as the owner of the building.
FCT
A Muslim Scholar, Alhaji Mufutaudeen Ajijola-Anabi, has
urged Muslim parents to give proper training to their children.
Ajijola-Anabi, who is also the Chief Imam of the Abuja branch of “Dairat Jafariyat Fitorikat Tijaniyat’’ Islamic Organisation, gave the advice at the Eid-el-kabir praying ground in Abuja.
According to him, Allah has commanded Muslims to always show affection and kindness to their children, stressing that He forbids ill-treatment, abuse and neglect of duties.
The cleric quoted Allah as saying in the Qur’an: “Your Lord has decreed that you shall worship none except Him and show kindness to one another.’’
Kaduna
The transportation of prospective Christian pilgrims from
Kaduna State will commence on October 19, an official said.
Rev. Joseph Yari, the Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Christian Pilgrims Board, told newsmen in Kaduna that most arrangements had been concluded for the transportation.
He said 800 prospective Christian pilgrims were expected to embark on the 2013 pilgrimage to Israel.
Yari said the board would screen the intending pilgrims before they leave, adding that “the pilgrims will hold a national prayer in the Holy Land on October 24.
“The prayer is to intercede for peace, unity and development in Nigeria.’’
Kogi
Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State has urged Nigerians to
live in peace and harmony irrespective of their religious affiliation.
The governor made the appeal in Lokoja in his congratulatory message to Muslims as they celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir.
He urged Muslims and Christians not to see themselves as enemies but as brothers and sisters created equally and with the same purpose by only one God.
Wada said the insecurity in some parts of the country could have been avoided if there was peace and love among adherents of the different faiths.
Kwara
The Olugbense ruling house of Offa has petitioned the
Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Aloma Muktar, praying her to reassign the stay-of-execution of judgment suit filed by the deposed Olofa of Offa, Mufutau Gbadamosi.
The petition, which was signed by Mr Saka Keji on behalf of the ruling house, was dated October 8 and made available to newsmen recently.
Keji stated in the petition that the Olugbense family had no confidence in the new panel of the Court of Appeal to which the suit had been assigned.
“We have no confidence that the new panel of justices can do justice to us in the case just as we have our fears and concerns on the motion for stay,” he added.
Lagos
The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Adeyemi
Ikuforiji, says only God would determine his governorship ambition.
“As a believer, I know that when the time comes, the Almighty God will show the light and make it clear that this is your next direction and your next seat.
”No matter the noise, the plotting of the coup and counter coup, what God has destined to be, no man can stop,” Ikuforiji told newsmen in Epe, during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
He said that he became the speaker by the will of God, and that only God would determine his next political step in 2015.
Nasarawa
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has
inaugurated five newly acquired fire-fighting trucks to boost the fire-fighting capacity of the state’s fire service.
Al-Makura said that the fire-fighting trucks would boost the operations of the state’s fire service.
He said that the trucks would be deployed to strategic areas that were vulnerable to fire outbreaks, enjoining the firemen to make judicious use of the facilities.
Besides, Al-Makura said that the towing vehicles would be stationed at accident-prone areas, especially the Akwanga-Lafia road.
Ogun
The police yesterday arraigned a driver, Adewale Adesanya,
40, before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun on a two-count charge of manslaughter and reckless driving.
The police prosecutor, Cpl. Rosemary Brown, told the court that the accused committed the offence on September 27 at 2.30 p.m. near Excel Primary School on Ilogbo-Oju-Ore road, Sango Ota.
The prosecutor said the accused drove his Mitsubishi gallant car with Lagos registration number SMK 916 BL recklessly and killed a 47-year-old Sunday Balogun.
Brown said the other victim, Mr Ibrahim Otefila, was still receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the state.
She said the offences contravened sections 17 and 18 of the Road Traffic Act 29 Vol. 21 of the revised laws of Ogun State, 2006.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Osun
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has stressed
the need for peace, security and cooperation among Nigerians to move the nation forward.
The governor said this in his Eid-el-Kabir message, signed by Mr Semiu Okanlawon, the Director of Communication in the Governor’s Office.
He urged Muslims to live in peace, while exhibiting tolerance towards adherents of other faiths.
Aregbesola, however, called on the adherents of all religions to protect the sanctity of human life, saying in all the Scriptures, God never commanded or appointed anyone as judge over other human beings.
Oyo
No fewer than 157 graduates of Caleb University, Imota,
Lagos State, would participate at the third convocation ceremony billed for Saturday.
This was contained in a statement issued by the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan.
The vice- chancellor said the convocation ceremony would mark another milestone in the history of the university which took off in 2008.
“As at today, the university has continued to enjoy the National Universities Commission’s full accreditation status, thereby confirming our core objective of ensuring the production of quality graduates who would contribute positively to national growth,’’ he said.
Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto State, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged
striking workers to call off their strikes and go back to the negotiating table.
Abubakar made the call as part of his Eid el-Kabir message to the Muslim faithful.
“We wish to use this opportunity to call on all those on strike, especially university academic and non-academic staff to call off their strikes so as to reduce the sufferings of the people.
“And they should go back to the negotiating table in order to bring an end to the crisis.
“This is a problem in the development of the country. We urged the government to listen to the complaints of the workers with the intention of solving them”, he said.
Aig Zone 12, Mr Edgar Nanakumo (left), with Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State during his courtesy visit in Bauchi, yesterday Photo: NAN
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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