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L-R: Former Governor Of Bauchi State,Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, Bauchi State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hajia Amina Katagum, Vice President Namadi Sambo and Governor Isa Yuguda, during the inauguration of fertilizer blending company in Bauchi last Saturday.

L-R: Former Governor Of Bauchi State,Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, Bauchi State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hajia Amina Katagum, Vice President Namadi Sambo and Governor Isa Yuguda, during the inauguration of fertilizer blending company in Bauchi last Saturday.

Borno

The Nigerian Army says it has destroyed two
suspected operational vehicles of the Boko Haram sect in the ongoing operations in Maiduguri.
The spokesman of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, Lt.-Col. Mohammed Dole, announced this in a statement.
Dole said that the destruction was to clear the insurgents terrorising motorists on high ways in Borno State.
“We have been able to identify camps used by the terrorists in planning attacks against motorists and innocent villagers in Kaga Local Government Area of the state.

Ekiti
A 31-year-old man, Joseph Idowu, has divorced his
wife, Omolara, for insulting his landlord.
Idowu had filed a suit before an Ikole Customary Court in Ekiti on August 31, seeking the dissolution of his five-year-old  “mere association“, which was blessed with two children.
The plaintiff told the court that Omolara insulted his landlord when he was trying to settle a dispute between the couple, and later moved out of his house because she got annoyed for being corrected.
The woman, who denied the allegation, gave her evidence on oath to the effect that she did not insult their landlord.

Kaduna

The Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Alhaji
Usman Tahir, has constituted a seven-man adhoc committee to investigate alleged abuse of recruitment guidelines by the Zaria District office of Nigeria Railway Corporations (NRC).
The investigation was prompted by a motion moved on the floor of the assembly by Alhaji Yakubu Soja (APC-Zaria Kewaye) on alleged abuses in the recruitment of junior staff on grade levels 01-06 by the district office.
According to him, the recruitment violated the provisions of the Federal Civil Service, which provided that such vacancies be filled by applicants where the government offices were located.
Soja informed the members that applicants from Zaria district of the NRC had been sidelined from the exercise.

Katsina

The Katsina State Government has approved N159
million for the repairs of all damaged rural electrification projects across the state.
The General Manager of the state Rural Electrification Board (REB), Alhaji Abdullahi Tanwa, disclosed this at a press briefing in Katsina.
Tanwa said the resolution for the repairs of the projects followed Governor Ibrahim Shema’s directive to that effect, adding that it was to enhance power supply to rural areas.
According to him, some of the rural power installations were damaged by windstorms and car accidents, while “others were vandalised or stolen by unscrupulous persons”.

Kebbi

The National Association of Fish Farmers in Kebbi
State has started updating the database of its members as it gets set to provide soft loans and equipment to them.
Its Chairman, Alhaji Hussaini Raha, told newsmen  in Birnin Kebbi that the database would enable the association to obtain loan from a bank so as to expand the scope of fish farming in the state.
Raha said the association has 2,145 major fish pond owners located in Argungu, Birnin Kebbi, Bunza, Bagudo, Shanga, Yauri and Ngaski local government areas that have high production of tilapia and cat fish.
He said there were 4,000 artisans and 300 cooperative societies registered under the association.

Jigawa

The Jigawa State Government has earmarked about
N2 billion for the construction and renovation of schools in the state.
A permanent member of the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Bala Ahmad, made this known during the award of the contract in Dutse.
Ahmad said that the projects would cover Early Child Care, Primary and Secondary Schools, and would be funded under the 2012/2013 Universal Basic Education Commission intervention fund.
He said the projects were meant to provide conducive environment for teaching and learning in the schools.

Lagos

Two sales assistants were charged before an Igbosere
Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, over alleged theft of their employer’s goods valued at N469,500.
The accused — Isaiah Uduak, 19, and Esther James, 37 — whose addresses are unknown, are standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, receiving of stolen money and theft.
The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
But the prosecutor, Cpl. Okete Ejime, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime between August and September at House L10, Road 13, Close 16, Victoria Garden City Estate, Lagos.

Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Government has granted pardon to
three prisoners serving various jail terms in the state.
Notice of the pardon is contained in a statement issued by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Innocent Lagi, in Lafia.
The statement quoted the attorney general as saying the inmates were freed from the Lafia, Nasarawa and Wamba prisons respectively.
Lagi noted that the government pardon was in accordance with Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Ogun

The Ogun Commissioner for Forestry, Mr Ayo Olubori,
in Abeokuta said the ministry had generated N116.6 million between January and June of this year.
Olubori said this when members of the state House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Forestry paid an oversight visit to the ministry.
“The ministry, however, generated this figure out of the N375 million proposed for the same period,’’ he said.
The commissioner further said the ministry raised 450,000 tree seedlings of various species between January and April.

Osun
The Osun State House of Assembly says the 2013
budget performance by ministries, agencies and parastatals of the state government is “below average’’.
The House Committee Chairman on Finance and Appropriation, Mr Kamil Oyedele, made the observation when the budget and planning office of the governor presented budget performance of the organisations between January and September.
Oyedele said the statistics given by the budget office showed that the 2013 was “poorly implemented”.
He said it was time for the organisations to buckle up and be more aggressive, to generate revenues for effective implementation of the budget.

Oyo

The wife of the Oyo State Commandant of the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mrs  Foluke Obafaiye, has described  the home as the bedrock of peace.
She spoke  in Ibadan while inaugurating the state’s chapter of the Civil Defence Officers Wives Association (CDOWA)  at the command’s headquarters.
According to Obafaiye, the choice of  CDOWA’s motto,  “Peace at Home; Peace in the Nation,” showed  the importance attached to peace at home.
“Peace is associated with growth and development in any society, but before the society knows peace at all, the home is the starting point.

Yobe
The Yobe State Government has inaugurated trucks and
equipment worth N361 million procured for the construction of roads through direct labour in the state..
Gov. Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, who inaugurated the equipment in Damaturu, said it would be used for the construction of short roads linking villages and towns.
He said the direct labour programme would hasten execution of road projects and save cost.
Gaidam expressed satisfaction with the quality of the equipment saying, there is value for money in the machines.

Zamfara
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Zamfara State
has dewormed 102 children of Gusau Orphanage Home as part of activities marking its 2013 Physicians’ Week.
The Chairman, Dr Sunday Onazi, said the exercise was aimed at ensuring that the inmates lived a healthy life.
He pointed out that it was important to deworm children regularly to protect them against malnutrition.
“If worms are allowed to grow in children, they would eat up most of the important nutrients in their body and then diseases such as malnutrition will take over.”

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Cleric Preaches Love As Deputy Governor, Chief Judge Grace Wedding In PH

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The Presiding Bishop of Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, Bishop Victor Uzosike, has described love as the bedrock of human existence, family stability and societal harmony, stressing that without love, nothing meaningful can thrive.

Bishop Uzosike made this assertion while speaking to journalists during the wedding ceremony of his daughter, Praise Uzosike, to Architect Chibuzor Akubueze on Saturday, December 20, 2025. The solemnisation was held at the Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, and was attended by dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond.

According to the cleric, love is not only the foundation of relationships but also a powerful force that determines the success of individuals, families and communities.

“If you do not love a place, that place will not bless you. If you do not love your children, they will not be useful to you. If you do not love your family, your family will become a strange island to you. What you do not love, you do not have. Love is the key,” he said.

Reflecting on his family’s journey, Bishop Uzosike said God’s love had sustained them through seasons of challenges and triumphs, noting that unity had remained their greatest strength.

“We have stayed together as one family. God has shown us love in miraculous and mysterious ways, especially during difficult times,” he stated.

Describing the wedding as an amazing and beautiful experience, the bishop expressed appreciation for the show of love from his daughter’s friends, many of whom travelled from the United Kingdom and Ghana to attend the ceremony. He revealed that some of them personally paid for their flights and accommodation, which he described as a rare display of genuine friendship.

He also disclosed that his first daughter, who lives in Manchester, United Kingdom, with her husband, could not attend the wedding due to tight schedules, but noted that she remains happily married and fulfilled.

While thanking guests for honouring his family with their presence, prayers and goodwill, Bishop Uzosike said he felt proud and grateful to God.

“One of the greatest gifts God can give to a man is children who are sound in all ramifications. My children can see, hear, speak and walk. That alone is enough reason to be grateful,” he said.

He praised the bride, describing Praise as an exceptional achiever who had distinguished herself academically. According to him, she completed secondary school at 15, graduated with First Class honours at 19, and earned distinctions in her MBA as well as her first and second master’s degrees.

“For a long time, people believed that highly educated women may not marry early or at all. Today, Praise has proved otherwise. She has made her mother and me very proud,” he said, describing her as a rare gem.

Bishop Uzosike also expressed joy over his son-in-law, whom he described as God-fearing, disciplined and professionally sound.

“He is well brought up, passionate about God and morally upright. His parents did a great job. My wife, Pastor Esther, also did an excellent job,” he added.

The wedding ceremony attracted prominent personalities, including the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu; the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Ayemeyie; and several senior clerics.

Bishop Fidelis Ugbong officiated the solemnisation, while Apostle Chika Onuzo delivered the sermon, identifying communication, sex and money as key factors that can strengthen or weaken marriages.

Prof. Ngozi Odu also prayed for the couple and paid glowing tributes, drawing admiration from attendees.

The reception, held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Port Harcourt, was equally colourful. Justice Matilda Ayemeyie proposed the toast, describing marriage as not always a bed of roses and emphasising patience, commitment and understanding.

The event was chaired by Chief Henry Nwabugo and attended by notable personalities, including retired Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili; Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey; Hon. Otunba Jumbo; Nze Best Anele; and Prof. Henry Ogiri, among others.

Guests were entertained with dance performances by the couple, while the parents’ outing added elegance to the celebration. The master of ceremonies, Ambassador Kingsley, kept the audience engaged with humour and interactive sessions.

Overall, the wedding was a remarkable blend of spirituality, culture and celebration, marked by love, joy and unforgettable moments.

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2027: APC Chieftain Predicts Tinubu’s Victory  …Says Bayelsa Stakeholders Supporting President en masse  … IPAC Knitted Together, Working In Synergy With His Office

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Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC), in Bayelsa State and Special Adviser to the State Governor on Inter-Party Relations, Dr Jackson Ebi Suokiri has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would secure landslide win in the 2027 Presidential polls.

The Governor’s Aide stated this in Yenagoa, the state capital on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen against the backdrop of Tuesday’s pioneer Stakeholders meeting of the party convened by the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri as leader of the Party in the State upon his recent defection late last year.

He averred that Party stakeholders in the state were prepared to give the President the massive support needed to return elected, come 2027 following his sterling trajectory of performance and qualitative leadership prowess.

Dr Suokiri stressed that the reason for the governor’s swapping of party was in the best interest of the state, while also noting that the governor took the right decision as there was no need continuing with opposition politics even as the state has to align with the national government for rapid socioeconomic and political advantages for the state and its people.

“Governor Diri’s defection like you’ve personally heard him saying was for the best interest of our state, Bayelsa. When you’ve a President performing well at the national level and being very supportive to your state as a governor, I don’t think you’ve to be in an opposition party anymore, but rather align with the centre.

“Diri is a bridge builder. He is at peace with everybody and willing to work with all, irrespective of party affiliations or political differences for the interest of the state.

“As Stakeholders we’ve resolved to collectively work to return President Tinubu elected for second term in 2027. And you can see the Governor is not pressuring anybody or the structure of his former party, the PDP to defect like he has done.

“The PDP structure in the state is still intact, and for the APC, his new Party even as current leader in the State, he has been working with the structure and everybody he met on ground, hence you can see that the APC Caretaker Committee led by Dr. Dennis Otiotio has been maintained at the pioneer Stakeholders meeting convened by the Governor.

“But you must also know like you’ve seen and I’ve previously said that Governor Diri has outperformed expectations of Bayelsans in all sectors, be it economy, infrastructure, health, education, etc.”, he said.

Meanwhile, as against insinuations that some political parties were not working with the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter-Party Relations, the Governor’s Aide has revealed that as it were currently, all the 19 registered political parties with presence in the state are working in unity with his office as members of the Inter-party advisory council (IPAC).

“IPAC is working in unity with my office. Before the Governor’s defection the only party that wasn’t working with my office was the APC. But since after his formal defection, the APC and even those other parties that were either sympathetic to the APC, the governor’s new party or the PDP, his former Party are all now working together with my office as members of IPAC”, Suokiri added.

 

By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

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Firefighters battle New Year Day inferno in Abuja, several states

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Federal Fire Service FFS entered the New Year on full operational alert, tackling multiple fire outbreaks across the country from midnight into the early hours of January 1, 2026, in what officials described as one of the busiest festive-season deployments in recent years.
The intensified nationwide response followed a December 2025 directive issued by the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, who had ordered that no firefighter should proceed on leave throughout the holidays.
According to a statement by the National Public Relations Officer and Head of Corporate Services of the FFS, DCF Paul Abraham, the no-leave policy proved critical as the Service moved swiftly to contain fires in several states.
The Federal Capital Territory FCT recorded its first fire incident of the year barely twenty-three minutes after midnight when flames erupted at Cake Hot Restaurant located within River Plate Park, Wuse, Abuja.
Abraham said fire crews from the Federal Fire Service and the FCT Fire Service arrived promptly and were able to stop the blaze before it could spread through the popular recreational centre.
While a section of the garden area was destroyed, no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded.
Officials said property worth an estimated ?1.5 billion was saved, although losses were placed at about ?500 million.
“Preliminary findings suggested that the fire was triggered by objects thrown during New Year celebrations, reinforcing long-standing warnings over the dangers posed by fireworks during the harmattan season”, the Service said.
The Controller General had repeatedly urged Nigerians to avoid fireworks, candles and open flames indoors, warning that the dry winds characteristic of the season allow fires to spread rapidly.
He also warned the public about electrical faults and power surges and advised that electrical appliances be switched off and unplugged when not in use or when occupants leave their homes, stressing that overloading sockets and extension boxes remains a significant cause of domestic fires.
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