Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
Bauchi State Government has vowed to flush out
ghost workers from the state civil service and put in place strategies at providing quality service and prudence.
State Head of Service, HoS, Mr. Abdon Dalla Gin, spoke while declaring open a five-day capacity building training on Human Resources Management for civil servants organised by the Public Sector Governance Reform and Development Project in collaboration with Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, ASCON.
According to him, the administration was determined to ensure that only genuine civil servants were in its payroll through proper documentation.
He said: “The state government was able to surmount the ghost workers syndrome in the state through the provision of Data Bank for all civil servants in the state including pensioners. This training is aimed at equipping the officers with requisite knowledge that will not only enhance their skills but also assist them in ensuring effective service delivery and it will also expose them to information technology system.
Borno
No fewer than 200 members of the Boko Haram Is
lamic sect, were reportedly killed, yesterday, in a battle with soldiers of 7 Division, Nigerian Army when the sect members in their hundreds attempted to launch attack on Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
Also, more than six vehicles including an armoured tank with Arabic inscription; Rocket-Propelled Launchers, anti-aircraft guns, assorted number of AK-47 rifles with ammunition were recovered from the terrorists by the troops.
Konduga is South-East and about 42 kilometres drive from Maiduguri, the state capital which had witnessed series of deadly attacks in the past. Last Friday, more than 100 insurgents, who attempted to invade the town, were killed by the troops in a gun battle before seizing many of their vehicles, arms and ammunition.
A statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Olajide Laleye said: “In an attempt to regain the momentum they lost in Konduga last week, Boko Haram terrorists again attacked Konduga last Tuesday night. However, the terrorists were denied their objective by vigilant and gallant Nigerian Army troops. During the fight, several terrorists were killed and those fleeing Konduga with gunshot wounds were being pursued.
FCT
The Federal Government, last Monday, said it has “con
tained” the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.
This is even as the government has described as ill-conceived, the recent strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), especially when the nation’s health sector was under threat.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Linus Awute, spoke in Abuja, recently while briefing directors, deputy directors at a meeting with the Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Danladi Kifasi.
Kifasi had asked Awute to enlighten the top echelon of the Federal Civil Service on the Ebola outbreak and precautionary measures to take, in order to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.
Jigawa
Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, says the state
will not support President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid until promises made to the state in 2011 are kept by the president.
He said all the four promises made before the 2011 elections by the president have not been fulfilled by the Federal Government.
The governor, in an interview with BBC Hausa radio on Tuesday said that the state expected to be compensated for its support to Jonathan in 2011.
He mentioned the unfulfilled promises as “the cargo airport, which the president stated there would be six of them in the whole country, and promised us that one would be in Dutse.”
Kaduna
Chairman, Board of Nigerian Railway Corporation
(NRC), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has assured Nigerians that transforming railway system was President Goodluk Jonathan’s topmost priority.
Tukur said this in an interview with journalists shortly after inspecting railway facilities during a familiarisation tour to the Railway Northern District in Kaduna recently.
He said: “President Goodluck Jonathan had intensified efforts toward transforming the railway system to give it a new and dynamic face.
“With the determination of Mr President, board, management and the entire staff we will rebuild an enviable railway system in Nigeria.”
Kaduna
A former Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim
Coomassie, has urged Northern leaders to tackle the security challenges facing the North.
Coomassie, who is the chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), gave the advice at the emergency meeting of the ACF with Northern non-governmental organisation leaders in Kaduna recently.
“We must salvage the North and by extension the whole nation, our success will usher vista of hope, respect, unity and cooperation in the North,’’ he said.
According to him, if we fail to save the north, all of us will go down in history as those crops of leaders who have mortgaged the future of their progeny.
The former police boss called on the northern leaders to speak with one voice, adding: “we must all speak not as members of our individual groups but as members of the Arewa family’’.
Kwara
Minister of National Planning and Deputy Chairman,
National Planning Commission, Dr. Suleiman Olanrewaju, has advised members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Kwara State to bury their differences and unite to be able to win the 2015 general elections.
He spoke at the palace of Emir of Ilorin Alhaji Sulu Gambari, where he went to pay homage to the traditional ruler ahead of a PDP reception in his honour in Ilorin.
He said: “This is the first time Kwara State, as a government, will be in the opposition to the political party at the centre in the last 20 years, and we should take advantage of this golden opportunity.
“We all know that there is nothing as good as being with the party at the centre. We should, therefore, not miss 2015; we should, therefore, put our house in order and win Kwara State for PDP in the coming elections.”
Olanrewaju also cautioned that no member of PDP in the state should engage in politics of bitterness capable of causing breach of peace in any part of the state and also solicited for prayers of the royal father for peace in the state.
Lagos
The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA),
last Monday, blamed the Lagos State Government for blocking the median drain while constructing a diversion to Alimosho Road on Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway.
Mr Kehinde Afolabi, the FERMA engineer in charge of Lagos West, said this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
Afolabi said though the state government obtained permission to create the diversion while rehabilitating bridges on the axis, it was expected to restate the road to its original position.
According to him, lined drain that is supposed to discharge water from the road median was tampered with by the state government.
He said a drain channel on the road median, which connected the one that discharged water to the road shoulders, was blocked with crushed stone materials.
Nasarawa
Police in Nasarawa State are investigating a group of
male students of the state polytechnic, after they allegedly gang-raped a 200-Level student. The students are suspected to be members of a cult group.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred shortly after the victim returned from a trip.
Sources said the student returned to school with a lot of money and that she stayed out with the suspected rapists at a drinking joint, where “they all had a good time”.
She was said to have left the group after a quarrel ensued among them. She was, however, unable to gain access to her room as her roommate refused to open the door because she returned late.
Plateau
No fewer than 1,274 intending pilgrims from Plateau
State for this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, have been declared free of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, as well as other deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS.
State Executive Secretary, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Salisu Musa, disclosed this yesterday in Jos during the farewell address for the 2014 intending Pilgrims.
Addressing the intending pilgrims, Alhaji Musa said the state government in conjunction with the board had put in place all basic requirements that would guarantee smooth pilgrimage in the holy land.
According to him, “Out of the 1,274 intending pilgrims, 924 are self sponsored while the State and local governments sponsored 350. Adequate arrangements have been made in the areas of transportation, accommodation and medical facilities. Not only did the governor approve the sponsorship of some medical personnel but sufficient drugs have been purchased to be used in our clinic while in the holy land. The airlift of pilgrims is expected to start today (Wednesday) and the movement will be in three batches.”
L-R: Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State, Director General, mdgs, Precious Gbaneol and Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, at the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja, recently. Photo: NAN
The Standard Bearers (SB) Islamic Organisation has raised concerns over the growing rate of binge drinking among Nigerian youths, attributing the trend largely to the widespread availability of sachet alcohol.
The group’s position follows the recent move by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce a ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Dr. Nurudeen AbdulRaheem, and National Secretary, Malam Qaasim Adegbuyi, the organisation declared its full support for NAFDAC’s decision, describing it as a timely and necessary public health intervention.
AbdulRaheem noted that sachet alcohol, often sold for as little as ?100, has made excessive drinking more accessible, particularly to young people and minors. According to him, the affordability and small packaging of such products have worsened binge drinking, youth addiction and community insecurity.
He explained that binge drinking involves consuming multiple alcoholic drinks within a short period, typically within two hours, a practice that can lead to severe physical and mental health complications as well as legal and social problems.
The SB National Coordinator cited global health data indicating that alcohol is responsible for more than three million deaths annually worldwide and remains a major contributor to road accidents, violence, liver disease and mental health disorders.
While acknowledging concerns from industry stakeholders over the economic implications of the ban, AbdulRaheem maintained that public health considerations must take precedence.
“Public health and the protection of young lives must come first,” he stated, adding that Islamic ethical values, like many societal norms, emphasise the protection of life, intellect and family stability.
The organisation urged NAFDAC and the Federal Government to remain resolute in implementing the policy while also providing transition support for businesses that may be affected by the ban.
According to the group, the enforcement of the ban represents a significant step toward promoting a safer and healthier society.
By Favour James
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has successfully concluded its Seafarers Training Programme for 100 Ogoni youths, positioning them for opportunities in the competitive global maritime industry.
The beneficiaries, who underwent four months of intensive training at Charkin Maritime Academy, Port Harcourt, received their certificates during a close-out ceremony held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The event was attended by top management staff of HYPREP, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning of Charkin Maritime Academy, the Head of the Seafaring Department, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, and other dignitaries.
Addressing the graduates, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, described the ceremony as a celebration of hard work, dedication, and the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the young beneficiaries.
He said the graduation symbolises vision, resilience, and hope — hope translated into skills, certificates, and tangible opportunities for a better future for Ogoni youths.
According to him, the passing-out ceremony marks an important milestone in HYPREP’s mandate to restore livelihoods and promote sustainable development in Ogoniland. He urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the skills and certifications acquired.
“These skills and achievements should not end here but serve as a springboard for self-reliance, dignity of labour, and long-term economic empowerment for the good of Ogoniland and Nigeria,” he stated.
Prof. Zabbey noted that the seafaring programme is significant not only to the beneficiaries but also to HYPREP’s broader livelihood restoration strategy and the Federal Government’s blue economy agenda.
He explained that by equipping the youths with globally relevant maritime skills, HYPREP is opening alternative income opportunities while discouraging oil theft, artisanal refining, re-pollution, and other environmentally harmful practices. He added that the initiative aligns with the directives of the 2016 HYPREP Establishment Gazette and reinforces the Project’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
Commending Charkin Maritime Academy as a dependable training partner, Zabbey described the institution as one of the foremost maritime training centres in the country.
“This partnership has delivered high-quality results today, and we intend to expand it as we intensify efforts to provide sustainable alternative livelihoods for the Ogoni people,” he said.
He expressed confidence in Ogoni youths as drivers of unity, peace, and progress, noting their resilience and commitment to peace in the area. He reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to supporting the aspirations of youths and women in Ogoniland.
The Project Coordinator likened knowledge and certificates to fuel in a vehicle, stressing that they are meant to propel the graduates toward greater heights.
“We hear your voices calling for restoration, and today, environmental and livelihood restoration are gradually unfolding before your eyes, bringing renewed hope. We continue to lay brick upon brick, building pillars of Ogoni development, as evidenced by the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), which is 93 per cent completed,” he added.
He emphasised that HYPREP’s approach integrates all projects and interventions toward achieving environmental sustainability and long-term development in Ogoniland.
Also speaking, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr. Ehioze Igbinomwahia, said the graduates had gained not only technical maritime skills but also discipline, resilience, and confidence to compete globally.
He described their graduation as the beginning of a new journey and noted that the UNEP Report emphasised that environmental restoration must be complemented by sustainable livelihoods, capacity building, and youth empowerment.
“Without empowering people, restoration cannot be complete. Programmes such as this maritime training represent practical steps toward creating employment pathways, dignity, and long-term community stability,” he said.
Engr. Igbinomwahia added that Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited remains committed to supporting environmental recovery, human capacity development, and sustainable economic opportunities in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta.
Highlighting the importance of discipline and safety, he urged the graduates to be ambassadors of professionalism and integrity.
“The sea you are about to enter is vast and sometimes challenging, but it is also full of opportunity. Let discipline guide your actions, let safety remain your constant companion, and let your character speak for you wherever you go,” he advised.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning at Charkin Maritime Academy, Captain Joseph Awodeha, who represented the Chairman, Dr. Charles Wami, emphasised discipline and safety as critical to career success in the maritime sector.
The Head of the Seafaring Department, Captain Jonathan Hammond, urged the graduates to remain humble and disciplined, noting that such virtues are essential for career growth.
In his remarks, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, Barrister Dornu Baridan, commended the beneficiaries for successfully scaling through the
rigorous selection process and completing their training as seafarers.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Port Harcourt Branch, Rivers State, has elected 14 member executives to lead the organization for the 2025/2026 year. Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, is the 23rd chairman.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Engr. Ishmael A. Branch Secretariat, 3 Benard Carr Street (Waterworks Yard), Port Harcourt, attracted members of the engineering profession from within and outside the state.
Other elected executives include:
Engr. Samuel H. Kwelle, MNSE – Vice Chairman
Engr. Dr. Promise Jumbo, FNSE – General Secretary
Engr. Priye P. K. Lawson, MNSE – Assistant Secretary
Engr. Patrick O. Udegbunam, MNSE – Treasurer.
Others are Engr. Hilda D. Batubo, MNSE – Financial Secretary
Engr. Bowei M. Dauseighe, MNSE – Technical Secretary
Engr. Charles O. Okwakpam, MNSE – Assistant Technical Secretary
Engr. Agnes Komolafe, MNSE – Membership Secretary
Engr. Dike N. Livingstone, MNSE – Publicity Secretary
Also elected are Engr. Ayebaye Daniel Wanatoi, MNSE – Welfare Secretary
Engr. Oribiokpomari I. Comfort, MNSE – Internal Auditor
Engr. Dr. Idaeresoari Harriet Ateke, FNSE – Immediate Past Chairman
Engr Dr Hachimenum Amadi, FNSE (Ex-Officio)
In his a goodwill message, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon. Frederick Anabraba, urged the new executive to maintain high ethical standards and move the association forward.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, promised an inclusive administration and teamwork, focusing on collaboration with stakeholders. He had begun building partnerships with Rivers State University and the University of Port Harcourt.
The highlight was the inauguration lecture, “Engineering Solution for Security, Energy Access and Sustainable Development,” delivered by Engr. Victor Bandele, Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater Assets, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited.
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