Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

March 7, 2014

Adamawa
The District Head of Yola in Adamawa State,
Alhaji Sa’adu Bawuro, has urged traditional title holders in his domain to sensitise students in the area on the dangers of violence.
Bawuro made the call when he visited Yelwa Primary School in Yola South Local Government Area.
He urged title holders to take the sensitisation campaign to primary and secondary schools in their domains to enlighten students on the dangers of violence.
He said the move had become necessary in view of the prevailing insecurity ravaging the state and other North Eastern states.

Bauchi
Justice Rabi Umar of the Bauchi State High Court has
ordered the Police Commissioner in Kaduna State and the DPO in Saminaka to pay one Gideon Okoh the sum of N1 million for unlawful detention.
Passing the judgement in Bauchi, Umar said that the arrest and detention of the applicant on the orders of the DPO and on the insistence of the commissioner violated his fundamental human rights.
She therefore ordered that the duo and one Alhaji Sabo Gidan-Dutse to jointly pay the money to the applicant.
The judgment also added that apart from the N1 million, the DPO should refund additional sum of N5,000 taken from the applicant as bail money and N1,000.00 taken unlawfully.

Ekiti
Campaigns for the June 21 governorship election in
Ekiti State will formally begin on March 23, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said recently.
The INEC office in the state disclosed this in a Time Table and Schedule of Activities for the election released in Ado-Ekiti and made available to newsmen.
It also gave April 1 as the date for the collection of forms for the election by political parties.
According to the commission, verification of voters status will hold between March 7 and March 9, while Continuos Voters Registration (CVR) will take place between March 12 and March 17.

FCT

The police have started taking strategic proactive mea
sures to ensure peaceful elections in 2015, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, said recently.
Mba made the disclosure when he paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Director, Editorial Operations, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Mr Isaac Ighure, in Abuja.
He said that “beyond the internal preparations that we are doing, we are actually taking other proactive measures to ensure that we have hitch-free 2015 elections.
“We are also maintaining very strong surveillance on our campuses.”

Kaduna

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has
restated its commitment to ensure the success of ongoing power sector reforms in the country.
The Chairman, TCN Board, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim gave the pledge while inspecting facilities of Kaduna Transmission Company.
Represented by a member of the board, Prof. Peter Akper, the chairman said the reform was key to achieving national growth and development.
“We must emphasise that the government takes the power reforms very seriously; because it is the only key that we have to achieving our developmental objectives generally,” he said.
Kwara
A university teacher, Prof. Shehu Jimoh, has identified
polluted value system, disfunctional education, corruption and insecurity as some of the challenges facing Nigeria.
Jimoh, a former Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of IIorin, made the observation in IIorin while speaking with newsmen.
He noted that the education system was not functional, stressing the need to review and re-engineer the system to restore its lost value
The don called on government to tackle the challenges facing the country for more development to be attained.

Lagos
The police in Lagos State have arraigned a 43-year-old
lawyer, Yinka Oluwole, who allegedly stole N10 million from his client.
Oluwole, who resides at No. 1, Jolaosho St., Obanikoro, Lagos, is standing trial before an Oshodi Magistrates’ Court.
He was charged with stealing and obtaining money under pretext.
The Prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused and one David Okoro, still at large, stole the sum from Mr Femi Onamusi.
Olatunde said that the theft occurred on October 10, 2013, at No. 5, Obalodun St., Ilupeju, Lagos.

Niger
The management of Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai
in Niger State, has matriculated 2,222 students into its various programmes for 2013/2014 session.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ibrahim Kolo, said at the university’s 8th Matriculation ceremony in Lapai that the new students constituted the largest number of students ever matriculated by the university.
He said the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences had 545 matriculating students; Natural Sciences, 470 students; and Education and Arts, 783 students.
Kolo said the Language and Communication Studies had 298 students, Agriculture; 75 students, while Faculty of Applied Science and Technology; 52 students each.

Ogun
The Ogun State Police Command says it has placed one
Bisi Onigogo on its “wanted list’’ for allegedly beating his daughter, Yemi, to death.
This was contained in a statement by the command’s spokesman, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, issued last Tuesday in Abeokuta.
Adejobi said Onigogo allegedly committed the crime on March 3 at Ogbere in Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state.
He said that Onigogo was annoyed over his daughter’s misbehaviour and allegedly beat her to death, and escaped immediately he noticed she was dead.
Ondo
The Osun State House of Assembly has con
doled with its Ondo State counterpart over the demise of its Speaker, Samuel Adesina.
The Deputy Speaker of Osun State Assembly, Mr Akintunde Adegboye, who led a delegation to Akure, described the late speaker as a leader, who contributed to the development of Ondo State.
According to Adegboye, the late speaker must be immortalised for creating a harmonious relationship between the executive and the lawmakers.
He expressed regrets at the loss to the people of the state, and urged the lawmakers to maintain the existing peace the deceased had enthroned.

Oyo
A former Chairman of Odua Investment Com
pany Ltd, Chief Sarafadeen Alli, has urged pharmacists to refrain from aiding criminal activities.
Alli made the observation at the opening ceremony of the 30th anniversary of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan.
According to him, pharmacists should refrain from directly or indirectly abetting criminal activities or conspiring with drug traffickers.
Alli, who spoke as the guest speaker on “Pharmacy Practice in Relations to Nigerian Law,’’ said pharmacists had responsibilities to the profession, colleagues, clients and the public.

Taraba
The Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) said
it would prosecute motorists with old number plates and drivers licence as from July 1.
Corps Commander, Clement Oladele, who is the Head, Advisory and Planning Unit of the Corps, stated this in Jalingo at a workshop to sensitise motorists on the need to switch over to the new policy.
Oladele noted that the workshop became necessary given the fact that the June deadline to phase out the old system was fast approaching.
“Nigerians are aware that October 1, 2013 was set as deadline for them to switch over to the new licence and number plate following the launch of the new policy by President Goodluck Jonathan, but for some reasons the deadline was shifted to June, 2014.

Former Secretary to Sokoto State Government, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi (left), with Governor Aliyu Wamakko, during an APC stakeholders meeting in Sokoto last Monday.

Nation

Kwara Community Residents Flee Over Persistent Bandits’ Attacks

Published

1 day ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

Residents of Omugo Community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have deserted their homes due to persistent bandit attacks.
The Tide’s source reports that the once lively community has turned into a ghost town with only a few domestic animals left.
Reports indicate that the recent bandits’ attack on the Omugo ECWA Church via Oro-Ago, led to the abduction of eight worshippers including the wife of the pastor in charge.
Three persons escaped out of the eight abductees with a N1billion ransom placed on the remaining victims in captivity. The community could only gather N1million which was rejected by the bandits.
Last week, the armed bandits invaded Oro-Ago community, killed one vigilante man identified as Baba Ibeji and injured his younger brother known as Ajere.
A Point of Sales, PoS, shop directly opposite the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Divisional office, was broken into by the bandits.
The gunmen also attacked the NSCDC office and sprayed bullets on the facility, though no casualty was recorded.
In earlier attacks on Oro-Ago environs, armed bandits ambushed a convoy between Oro-Ago and Oke-Ayan in Ilere district of Ifelodun Local Government Area and killed two local hunters on escort duty.
On Saturday, there was tension in Oro-Ago following a security alert that armed bandits were regrouping to launch fresh attacks on the community.
All security formations were, however, placed on ‘Red Alert’ to forestall the planned attack.

Nation

Acting Provost Dismisses Alleged Missing Equipment Claims at Rivers Health College

Published

2 days ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

The Acting Provost of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Peace Chigozirim Amadi has refuted claims circulating in the media suggesting that laboratory equipment went missing from the college.

In a recent statement, Dr. Amadi described the reports—particularly those attributed to certain publications—as false and misleading. She emphasized that all laboratory equipment at the college remain intact.

“I am here to set the record straight. No laboratory equipment disappeared from my college. Nothing is missing,” Dr. Amadi said, challenging anyone with contrary claims to provide evidence, including the names of the equipment and their supposed locations.

She further noted that the college recently underwent an accreditation exercise, during which significant investments were made in laboratory equipment. According to Dr. Amadi, these items are fully accounted for, and the college maintains a robust security system to protect its assets.

“Everything is intact. Nothing disappeared. The information being circulated is false and should be discarded,” she reiterated.

Beyond addressing the allegations, Dr. Amadi also called on media practitioners to exercise professionalism and verify stories before publication. “I want to plead with journalists to always verify their stories. Junk journalism does not help anyone. No matter the information you receive, it is important to hear the other side before publishing,” she said.

While social media posts have occasionally raised concerns about various issues in the region’s health education sector, including extortion and examination malpractice at related institutions, there is no independent evidence from credible news sources confirming that equipment went missing from Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology.

The college, a public tertiary institution based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is accredited to offer a variety of health-related programs, including Nursing, Midwifery, Laboratory Technology, and Environmental Health. It has consistently emphasized integrity, safety, and transparency in its operations.

Dr. Amadi’s statement seeks to reassure the public, students, and stakeholders that the college remains secure, well-managed, and free from the alleged equipment losses, while urging journalists to prioritize accuracy in reporting.

Nation

HYPREP Reaffirms Commitment to Safe Water Supply In Ogoni

Published

1 week ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

As the world commemorates World Water Day, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing potable water across Ogoni communities, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the Ogoni Environment.

In a statement issued by its Project Coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, on March 22, 2026, HYPREP noted that this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” alongside the campaign slogan, “Where Water Flows, Equity Grows,” underscores its resolve to extend potable water supply beyond oil-impacted communities to all Ogoni communities.

Zabbey emphasized that access to clean water is a fundamental human right, adding that HYPREP remains committed to ensuring inclusive and equitable water access across the region.

He disclosed that the agency has successfully provided potable water to over 43 communities in Ogoni, while ongoing Phase 3 water projects are expected to benefit an additional 17 communities. He also highlighted steady progress on windmill-powered water projects in less populated areas, particularly in Khana Local Government Area.

According to him, the K-Dere Water Project, which is over 99 percent complete, will be commissioned in the coming weeks, even as work continues on other water schemes across Ogoni.

Zabbey further noted that HYPREP’s interventions are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

To ensure sustainability, he explained that the agency has adopted a joint management model involving host communities, the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, and the Rivers State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RSSTOWA). He added that Water Consumers’ Associations have been established in communities such as Nchia and Eleme, alongside training programmes conducted in collaboration with non-governmental organisations.

The Project Coordinator stressed the importance of community ownership and protection of water facilities, echoing the call by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, for residents to safeguard the infrastructure provided in their areas.

Zabbey expressed optimism that the ongoing efforts will significantly improve access to safe drinking water, reduce waterborne diseases, and enhance public health outcomes across Ogoni communities.