Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
As part of efforts to surmount the spate of insurgency,
violence and crises bedeviling the North eastern part of the country, the Federal Government under the ‘Presidential Initiative for North East’ has selected hundreds of youths from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states that constitute the region for training on how to seal and package grains into sacks with the use of machines.
The program which was in collaboration with the international firm ‘LINTEX International Limited’ has trained the beneficiaries to become professional sealers and packagers who can work in any food production company within and outside the nation.
Speaking yesterday during the closing ceremony of the training in Bauchi, the Chief Executive Officer of LINTEX International, Alhaji Bashir Dantata represented by Mr Adeagbo Sultan explained that the program was aimed at mitigating the rate of poverty and youths restiveness which make them to perpetrate crimes or indulge into insurgency activities.
Benue
Benue State women, under the aegis of the Southern
Women in Action Group (SWAG), have called for power shift to the Idoma-speaking area of the state in the forthcoming governorship election in the interest of fair play and justice.
National President of the group, Mrs. Ene Ibenu, who made the call at a briefing in Makurdi, the state capital, said the demand was premised on the principle of rotation and equity.
According to her, “what we are saying is that since the creation of Benue State some 38 years ago, nobody of Idoma extraction has assumed the leadership of the state as governor.
Borno
A senior official of the traditional rulers council of Gwoza town in Borno State has disclosed that members of the Boko Haram sect are having a field day in territories they have captured and have turned the sacked Emir’s palace in Gwoza to their headquarters.
He said the militants are now relocating from their camp in Sambisa forest in Borno State to the territories they have annexed in the northern region.
According to witnesses, their move is predicated on unabated territorial conquests by the insurgents who have occupied the army base in Gamboru town in Borno State which they took over on Monday.
FCT
The FCT Primary Health Care Development Board says
plans are underway to build toilets in strategic locations in Abuja.
Dr Matthew Ashikeni, Director, Disease Control Department of the board, announced this at the National Task Group and Sanitation meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
Ashikeni explained that the move was designed to ensure improved sanitation in the city with emphasis on reducing open defecation in FCT.
Ashikenu blamed open defecation on lack of functional sanitation facilities in public places in the city.
Kano
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration
and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed off seven shops and confiscated contraband food products worth millions of Naira in Kano.
The NAFDAC Assistant Director (Enforcement), Mr Shaba Mohammed, disclosed this in Kano on Thursday in an interview with newsmen.
Our correspondent reports that six of the affected shops were located at the popular Singer Market, while the other shop was situated at Galadima area in Sabon Gari.
He explained that the operation was conducted recently to measure the level of compliance to regulation, particularly on food products.
Katsina
Barring unforeseen circumstances, General Muhammadu
Buhari would declare for the presidential race within the next few days as he rounds off his nationwide consultations, his political aide has disclosed.
The former head of state and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not new in the race as he has been consistently contesting for the presidency since 2003 when he ran against the then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo under the platform of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).
Buhari also contested in 2007 and in 2011 against the late President Umaru Yar Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan respectively but lost in the three elections.
Kogi
Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada, has vowed to stamp out
political thuggery in the state.
Wada who made this known, yesterday, while addressing the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, supporters during the “Thank You Visit” to Ajaka, headquarters of Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State, said his government would not tolerate any act of indiscipline from any one.
Wada warned that anybody caught in act of hooliganism would face the wrath of law no matter how highly placed, advising parents not to allow their children to be used as political thugs in the state.
Kaduna
Members of the Down Quarters Community in Kaduna
South Local Government area of Kaduna State have protested the setting up of an Ebola quarantine centre in the area.
They vehemently kicked against the proposed project, saying that government was not sensitive to the negative implication of locating such project in the midst of the community.
But the state government through the Deputy Governor, Nuhu Bajoga, said the government would go ahead with the project. He said the government could not afford to take the centre far away from the people in case there was an outbreak “so that the patient will not die on the way.”
Lagos
Lagos State Government has organised training for no fewer
than 1000 of its secondary school teachers in the effective use of ICT across the education curriculum.
The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye said at the opening of the workshop in Lagos that it was the beginning of a series of many capacity building interventions and activities for teachers in the state public secondary schools which the state government was putting together.
She described high quality education as one of the major planks of national development, saying developed nations across the world paid great attention to their educational service delivery as they did not only invest in physical infrastructure but also in the human infrastructure at all levels.
Nasarawa
The violent feud involving Eggon and Fulani communities
in Nasarawa State took another dimension yesterday when Fulani attackers invaded Tudun Adabu, an agrarian town, in the morning which led to hours of fierce fighting leaving casualties on both sides.
One of those who fled the area when the Fulani were said to have invaded at about 10am, Esla Jatau, said there had been rumours since Monday morning of the impending attack by Fulani herdsmen, so women and children were evacuated before they struck about 10am.
Unlike their attack on Akunni and Ikposogye where they had a field day destroying homes and property because the residents of the villages had deserted their homes, the Fulani met stiff resistance from Tudun Adabu youths who engaged them in exchange of fire lasting several hours.
Ogun
The Ogun State protem chairman, Peoples Democratic
Movement, Mr.Isiak Gbadamosi, has said the party will not form alliance with any other political party in order to win any elective positions in 2015.
He said this at the party secretariat at Olomore, Abeokuta while briefing journalists on the activities of the party registered in 2013.
The protem chairman who was in company of other officials of the party which include the protem secretary, Mr. David Adeife, senatorial chairman, Ogun-West, Mr. Muhammed Adeyemi among others, said the party would not even consider an offer from the Peoples Democratic Party, which is an offshoot of the PDM.
He said, “We will not form alliance with any other political party. Any party that want to join us must submit its certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission and come under the PDM.
Plateau
Plateau State Commissioner for Justice, Mr Edward Pwajok,
has said that the report of the Justice Bola Ajibola Commission of Inquiry into the 2008 Jos crisis would soon be released.
Pwajok told newsmen in Jos recently that: “Government has concluded deliberations on the report and shall soon make it public.’’
Our correspondent reports that the commission was set up by the state government in November 2008, after the devastating crises in Jos that claimed many lives.
“The State Government set up the commission of inquiry to investigate the immediate and remote causes of that crisis; it was expected to identify persons responsible for it and recommend sanctions, among other things.
Former Lagos State Miliary Administrator, Retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (right), declaring for Adamawa State governorship in Yola, recently.
The Head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt’s College of Health Sciences, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive forensic science infrastructure, warning that the nation’s ability to investigate and solve crime is being hampered by lack of scientific data and systems.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Man: Fearfully Different, Wonderfully Made,” delivered as part of the 207th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university, Prof Oladipo highlighted that while no two individuals are exactly the same, the country currently lacks the robust systems needed to collect and manage biological and anthropometric data that could support criminal investigations.
He explained that the natural variations among humans — from fingerprints to physical measurements — form the foundation of personal identification in forensic work. These biological differences, he said, are essential for distinguishing one person from another, especially in the context of criminal investigations where clarity of identity can mean the difference between justice and impunity. Without this scientific foundation, he argued, law enforcement agencies lack a critical tool in the fight against crime.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s forensic science capacity has historically lagged behind needs, with only a few forensic facilities available and many law enforcement agencies struggling to access or use scientific evidence effectively. One review of the state of forensic investigation in Nigeria found that outdated facilities and limited adoption of modern forensic methods have left many cases unsolved or poorly investigated, even as crime rates rise across the country.
In Lagos, efforts to improve forensic capabilities have focused on DNA analysis, with the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre — the first of its kind in West Africa — providing critical support for criminal investigations and helping to identify human remains, link related cases, and assist with paternity testing. However, such initiatives are yet to be replicated at a national scale, leaving many regions without access to these vital scientific tools.
Prof Oladipo’s lecture went beyond academic theory to propose concrete actions. He called for the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Science responsible for creating and managing a nationwide anthropometric and forensic data bank. This repository, he stressed, would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to track crime, assist law enforcement agencies, and improve the administration of justice by providing reliable scientific evidence for investigative and legal processes.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening research and training in forensic science. Many Nigerian universities currently lack the funding and infrastructure to offer complete undergraduate or postgraduate programs in areas such as forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, and crime scene investigation, a gap that forces aspiring experts to rely on collaborations with institutions abroad. By fostering a research-friendly environment and securing greater support from both government and private sectors, Nigerian institutions could produce homegrown experts capable of advancing forensic science in the country.
Awareness of forensic science’s role in criminal justice remains low among the general public and even among some security professionals. Studies have shown that a significant portion of Nigerians are unfamiliar with basic forensic concepts or the existence of tools such as DNA profiling and national forensic databases — tools that are common features of criminal justice systems in countries like South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Oladipo also urged regular training and retraining programs to keep forensic practitioners updated with evolving scientific methods. According to him, continuous professional development is critical in a field where technological advances — from biometric databases to digital forensic tools — are transforming how crimes are investigated and solved.
The lecture was attended by academics, students, and professionals drawn to the intersection of science, identity, and justice, all of whom heard the professor make a compelling case for scientific innovation and institutional reform as central to Nigeria’s effort to contain crime and strengthen its justice system.
The event not only showcased Prof Oladipo’s expertise in human anatomy and forensic psychology but also positioned forensic science as a strategic national priority — one that could bring clarity to investigations, support victims and their families, and ultimately enhance public safety across Nigeria.
The University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) on Thursday staged a vibrant and memorable edition of its Annual Inter-House Sports Competition at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Village, drawing an impressive turnout of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests.
The event, organised by the UPWA International Group of Schools, brought together children from the pre-nursery, nursery and secondary sections in a colourful celebration of youth athleticism, discipline and teamwork. The arena came alive with cheers and excitement as pupils, clad in their various house colours, marched in a ceremonial parade before proceeding to compete in a wide range of track and field events, relays, novelty races and other team-based activities designed to promote physical fitness and healthy competition.
Declaring the competition open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended UPWA for sustaining a tradition that continues to nurture young talents beyond the classroom. He noted that sports remain a critical component of holistic education, helping to build resilience, confidence, leadership skills and social interaction among children.
In her remarks, the President of UPWA, Professor Udeme Georgewill, expressed appreciation to parents, teachers and members of the organising committee for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the success of the programme despite prevailing economic challenges. She described the event as a reflection of unity and collective effort within the school community.
“This is the first time White House is emerging overall winner, and that shows remarkable improvement and great sportsmanship,” she said. “We all had fun. It is not easy putting an event like this together considering the economic situation, but we are grateful to the parents for being part of this journey. The excitement everywhere is truly heartwarming.”
The competition featured spirited participation from the various houses, including Purple House, San Chicago Red House and White House, with pupils demonstrating strength, speed, coordination and teamwork. Parents and supporters filled the stands, cheering enthusiastically and adding colour to the spectacle, while teachers ensured orderliness and safety throughout the proceedings.
Professor Georgewill emphasized that the true essence of sports lies not merely in winning trophies but in participation and personal growth. “Sports is not just about winning. It is an avenue for growth, discipline and opportunity. The fact that a child is able to participate is already a win. Losing this year does not mean you cannot win next year. Keep trying,” she encouraged, urging pupils to see both victory and defeat as stepping stones to greater achievements.
She further observed that while there are many competing interests in the Nigerian sports sector, consistent grassroots investment remains essential for discovering and nurturing future champions.
The colourful ceremony culminated in medal presentations, trophy awards and group photographs, with UPWA executives, including Vice President I, Professor Adedamola Onyeaso, joining the participating teams to celebrate the day’s achievements.
The annual inter-house sports competition continues to stand as one of UPWA’s flagship events, reinforcing its commitment to balanced education, character formation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among its pupils.
