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THE STATES

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Adamawa

Adamawa State Police Command has said it arrested
an unspecified number of suspected Boko Haram members who were residing at the Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Yola, the state capital.
Those arrested are said to be among the insurgents that unleased terror on communities of Michika, Bazza, Madagaili, Gulak and other surrounding villages in the Northern part of the state.
The Police Public Relation Officer for the command, ASP Michael Haa, confirmed the arrest.
He said, “Yes we have people all over, whenever we see suspicious movement, we pick them for questioning.
“As at the moment, I can’t tell you their number, because we are still screening them to establish the reality of their presence there”.

Bauchi

Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has backed Presi
dent Goodluck Jonathan’s recent declaration of a deadline to finally stem insurgency by the middle of October.
The governor, who spoke in Abuja, described the target as attainable if only all well-meaning Nigerians would support the President in view of the ongoing stepping-up of the anti-insurgency infrastructure to stem increasing threats to the unity and stability of the country.
”If there is anytime our President deserves and direly needs our fervent prayers and unconditional support, it is now. The best all well-meaning Nigerians can do in the present circumstance is to rally round President Jonathan and support him in steering the ship of the Nigerian State successfully at this critical moment”, he said.
He condemned the recent bombing and attacks in Kano and Kaduna, describing them as cruel, callous and barbaric. He prayed that the blood of the innocent victims of the senseless killings would continue to haunt the perpetrators.

Borno

The National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) has appealed to journalists to monitor the distribution of relief materials donated to the victims of Boko Haram insurgency in Borno.
In an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri, the Director-General of the agency, Alhaji Alhaji Sani Sidi, noted that more than 50 trucks of such relief materials had been supplied by the Federal Government.
Sidi said that the monitoring would ensure fair distribution of the materials among the displaced persons.
“The task is to ensure that the items go only to those affected, those in need and those that have been displaced and those in camps.
“You will recall that President Goodluck Jonathan set up a presidential committee for the procurement and distribution of relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

FCT

A governorship aspirants of Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Senator Lee Maeba, has promised to reconcile Governor Rotimi Amaechi with former governor Peter Odili and the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, if he became governor of the state.
Senator Maeba also promised to float a N100 billion business support scheme to empower the people in the rural areas to boost their businesses and financial base.
Speaking in an interview in Abuja weekend, Senator Maeba, who was Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum, Upstream, said he would take it as a priority to reconcile politicians from Rivers State for the rapid development of the state.
He also said that himself, Governor Amaechi, Mr. Wike, the Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secundus, among others, were members of the Odili political family.

Kaduna

The  Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Sanga
Local Government Area of Kaduna State has said over 300 natives were killed by terrorists in the communities within the area.
Its chairman, Reverend Fadan Amana, told Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State, in a letter made available to journalists, that they had suffered series of death in the hands of the gunmen.
“We have suffered gruesome massacre as members of the Christian community in Sanga. CAN, Sanga council chapter, wishes to passionately appeal that, as a matter of urgency, you kindly use your good offices to arrest this ugly development, by ending these terrible attacks on our peace-loving and defenceless people.

Kogi

Kogi State Government in collaboration with the United Nation Development Programme, UNDP, has committed N120 million for youth training in the state.
The Focal officer of the UNDP, Lokoja, Mr. Joseph
Osasona stated this at the opening ceremony of the three week first phase of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Youth in Agriculture camp holding at the NYSC orientation camp in Ashaya, Kabba-Bunu Local Government area of the state.
Osasona, who eulogised Governor Idris Wada’s efforts to make Kogi State re-enlisted into the UNDP projects after a long absence from the scheme, said 500 youths would be trained in the first phase in different vocational and artisans skills.
He said; “We appreciate Governor  Idris Wada, who painstakingly spearheaded the visit to the Minister for National Planning, Abuja to solicit for the re- enlistment of Kogi State into the UNDP activities.

Lagos
Resident  Doctors in Lagos, have petitioned the
State House of Assembly, seeking its intervention over alleged refusal of the state government to pay their August salary.
In a letter through the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, the resident doctors said they were not finding the alleged refusal of government to pay their August salary funny.
NMA letter which was read on the floor of the House by the Clerk, Ganiyu Abiru, called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to pay the doctors’ salary in the interest of industrial peace.
NMA had embarked on a nationwide industrial action which lasted for about two months before it was finally suspended in August.

Ogun

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) has described the purported lone defection of former Governor Gbenga Daniel (OGD) from the Labour Party (LP) to the PDP as “a continuation of the deceit that OGD is known for”.
In a statement issued in Abeokuta yesterday by the State Publicity Secretary, Waliu Oladipupo, the party said, “Much as our hands are widely opened to receive defectors into our party, including OGD, we find his purported solo return as a less than clever attempt to hoodwink our people and deceive the national leaders of our party.
“We have reliable information that the kite being flied that most of his followers have vowed not to return with him to the PDP is part of a grand plot to deceive our leaders and use the resources of the PDP and its government to fund his followers in LP.
“This is a repeat of what happened in 2011 when his body remained in the PDP but his heart and soul were with the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). He used the resources of the PDP-led government to fund the PPN.

Ondo

Six suspected kidnappers were amongst the 48 sus
pected criminals paraded by the Police in Ondo State yesterday.
The six suspects were said to have requested for N50 million ransom before they were arrested.
Parading the criminals, the state Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke, said in Akure that the kidnappers robbed one Adeniji Ayewamide in Idanre and later kidnapped him.
Eke said the victim was dragged into a Golf Volkswagen car and taken to the leader of the group, Basiru Ijimiga in Odigbo Ore.
Luck ran against the kidnappers on the fourth day when detectives from the state Criminal Investigation Department stormed their hideout.

Oyo

The Federal Government and the United Industrial De
velopment Organisation (UNIDO) will donate 51 units of ozone-friendly machines to Nigeria Association of Refrigerators and Air-conditioning Practitioners.
The Acting Director, Pollution and Environmental Health, Ministry of Environment, Mr Abdul-Kazeem Bayero, said this in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
Bayero said 30 units of ozone-friendly low pressure foaming machines had been earlier distributed to the practitioners in Abuja and Ibadan.
He said the machines would enable ice machine manufacturers to meet markets demands in a friendly environment with low cost.

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FG Restates Commitment To Seafarers’ Welfare, Safety

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The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing the safety of the seafaring profession and upgrading maritime institutions to international standards.
Speaking at the 2025 World Seafarers’ Day celebration in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, organised by NIMASA, with the theme, “My Harassment-Free Ship.
He said that this year’s theme “speaks to our collective duty to make every ship a safe and respectful workplace noting that harassment and bullying have no place in our maritime industry.
The Minister further emphasised the importance of continuous training and retraining to ensure seafarers remain competitive and employable.
Also speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari, emphasised that seafarers are the backbone of international trade, facilitating the smooth transportation of goods and services across the globe.
He stressed the need to eliminate all forms of violence, harassment, and bullying against seafarers.
In his welcome address, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, emphasised the need for the maritime community to prioritise the welfare, safety of seafarers and maintain zero tolerance for harassment.
According to the DG, “Today provides opportunity for the Maritime Community to honor seafarers globally for their immense contribution to both domestic and international trade, powering the blue economy and connecting nations across oceans”.
He said that this year’s theme was particularly apt, as it was a call to action to “ensure that our seafarers feel safe, are valued and protected while at sea because the ship is not just their place of work; it is their temporary home. It must therefore reflect the highest standards of dignity and professionalism fostering zero tolerance for harassment”.
He declared that NIMASA must continue to play its part in ensuring that Nigeria contributes effectively to regulations affecting seafarers, as Nigeria remains the highest contributor of seafarers in Africa. “Our men and women sail on vessels in our domestic waters and also globally. This will continue to grow through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) and the effort of our Maritime Training Institutions.
‘At the recently concluded 113th session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, seven (7) amendments to the MLC 2006 code addressing a broad range of issues affecting seafarers, including the recognition of seafarers as key workers, improved protection against ship board violence and harassment, enhanced access to shore leave and repatriation and updated medical and occupational safety standards were approved by an overwhelming majority.
These seven (7) amendments reflect collective global effort to align maritime Labour standards with the evolving landscape of global shipping.
I, therefore, call on shipowners, operators and crewing agencies to begin to review their operational manuals to align with these amendments ahead of the expected entry into force in December 2027. Our seafarers must be able to report grievances without fear of retaliation, while also ensuring protection against vexations or malicious complaints.
He added that NIMASA will play its role by establishing clear policies and procedures for preventing and addressing harassment on Nigerian-flagged vessels, ensuring confidential reporting channels for incidents of harassment and that reports are thoroughly investigated and addressed.
“Today is a clear reminder to us all – government, employers, unions, shipowners, and civil society- that seafarers should not be left alone in their struggles. They look up to us to help them foster a culture of zero tolerance on ships to protect their dignity”, he stated.
He also assured that under his leadership, NIMASA will ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, particularly the renewal of entries into force by ship owners, operators, and relevant agencies come December 2027.

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Ogoni Stakeholders Hail Zabbey’s Performance

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Stakeholders drawn across the four local government areas of Ogoniland in Rivers State, have expressed delight over the excellent performance of the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof Nenibarini Zabbey within the past two years, describing him as a true patriot, who has been showing leadership in delivering service to the people.
The stakeholders, who gave the indication in their separate goodwill messages during the mid-term stakeholders engagement and scorecard presentation organised by HYPREP in Port Harcourt, scored the Project Coordinator high on the Ogoni cleanup and the overall implementation of the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
The President of KAGOTE and Board member of the Ogoni Trust Fund, Hon Emma Deeyah, particularly commended Zabbey for turning around the fortunes of the Ogoni people, as they are now having value for the money earmarked for the cleanup project, describing the Project Coordinator as “one of our best.”
He noted that Zabbey has done well on the saddle, working very hard, being an administrator and leader with listening ears, striving assiduously to meet the yearnings and expectations of the people.
He said the Ogoni cleanup is a journey that has just begun, stressing that he was happy that the Project Coordinator is not on the saddle to amass wealth but to deliver and achieve results, and appealed to the Ogoni people to continue to give him their support.
On his part, member representing Gokana/Khana Federal Constituency in the National Assembly and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Rt Hon Dumnamene Dekor, said HYPREP under the watch of Zabbey is working with renewed vigour, and thanked the Project Coordinator for driving the Ogoni cleanup project with passion.
He noted that the funds dedicated and earmarked for the project are running out, disclosing that he was working on an Executive Bill, to facilitate the work of HYPREP.
While stressing the need for the people to take full responsibility of all the projects sited in their communities, Dekor regretted that some beneficiaries had sold the starter packs presented to them by HYPREP, while the water facility provided in his Bierra community has been vandalised.
The King of Tai Kingdom, King Samuel Nnee, said HYPREP under Zabbey as Project Coordinator has been delivering on its mandate, describing him as a square peg in a square hole, who has given hope to the Ogoni people.
The monarch urged the Ogoni people to give the Project Coordinator the necessary support.
The Paramount Ruler of Barako Community and member of the Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt, Mene Kadilo Kabari, said Zabbey has always demonstrated that he is a true patriot by carrying along Ogoni people from all strata of the society, describing him as a performing Project Coordinator.
He noted that the bane of HYPREP before now had been the conflict between the Project Coordinator and the Minister of Environment, saying, under Zabbey, Ogoni people can now see what unity of purpose can achieve.
He expressed delight that the water facility which was the first commissioned by HYPREP in his community is functioning optimally following the solar-powered system installed by the Project.
The King of Eleme Kingdom, King(Dr) Philip Osaro Obelle thanked HYPREP’s management team for all that it is doing in Ogoniland, stressing that the Project was built on the graves, bellies and blood of Ogoni sons and daughters who lost their lives during the Ogoni struggle.
He, therefore, advised HYPREP “not to deviate from the expectations of our heroes but to do those things that would benefit Ogoni people for the betterment of Ogoniland.”
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Netherlands, Hon Oji Ngofa said HYPREP has been like the government of Ogoniland, and harped on the sustainability of all the projects.
According to him, Zabbey has been giving HYPREP a human face.
Former Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof Barineme Fakae applauded Zabbey for the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, and stressed the need for the implementation of the recommendations of its technical committee which recently submitted its report.
According to him, if the project succeeds, Ogoni people are going to succeed.
Chief Priscillia Vikue, on her part, thanked Zabbey for his outstanding performance, saying, the women of Ogoni are very happy with what he is doing in Ogoniland.
While scoring the Project Coordinator highly on his performance, she said the women are happy because Zabbey knows what he is doing with HYPREP.
“You went to school.You did not cut corners.You are a square peg in a square hole.You have engaged women and the youths. We have seen what you have done. And we give you A1”, she said, and challenged Zabbey to see how more women would participate in the project and also how to sustain it.
In his remarks, the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey said the mid-term engagement is important because “it allows us to present tangible evidence of progress in the Ogoni cleanup effort, reinforce accountability, deepen transparency, and most importantly, enables HYPREP to interact directly with the communities and stakeholders who are the heartbeat of this project.”
He noted that the scorecard presentation is designed to show what HYPREP has achieved across key thematic areas, what challenges it is currently grappling with, and what the road ahead looks like, saying, “it is a moment for stocktaking and for re-affirming our shared commitment to the success of the Ogoni cleanup project”.
According to him, HYPREP has recorded commendable progress in the implementation of its core mandates in line with UNEP recommendations and the directives in the official gazette establishing HYPREP.

 

Donatus Ebi

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TETFunds’ South Rep Visits CEAPOLY …Unveils Mass Communication Dept Building

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The South-South representative of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Board, Rt. Hon. Aboh Uduyok, has concluded his one-day official visit to Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Rumuola, Rivers State, with the unveiling of the Mass Communication Department classroom building. The project was executed under the 2021 TETFund intervention project.
During the unveiling of the project, Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rt. Hon. Uduyok commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to the educational sector and praised the polytechnic’s management for utilising TETFund resources judiciously.
He noted that the quality of ongoing projects met approved specifications, and expressed satisfaction with the institution’s progress.
The TETFund representative stated that his visit was aimed at familiarising himself with beneficiary schools, assess fund utilization, and identify challenges.
He assured the school management that he would convey their requests for constructing engineering works and hostel accommodations to the board and notify them of any approval.
Rt. Hon. Uduyok explained that the TETFund Board is not initiating new projects this year, except where necessary, due to presidential directives. However, he commended the institution for the commendable quality of both completed and ongoing projects.
In his welcome address, the Rector of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Dr. Moses S. Neebee, thanked the TETFund representative for visiting, and highlighted the institution’s successes and challenges. He requested support for hostel accommodations and engineering works, emphasising that a higher institution without hostels is akin to a glorified secondary school.
Dr. Neebee while briefing the visitor on the institution’s progress, noted that it currently runs 21 National Diploma programme and five Higher National Diploma courses. He disclosed that the school accessed the 2021 TETFund release in full but faced challenges with the 2023 fund due to harsh economic conditions and bid process delays, which increased project costs. The Rector pleaded for assistance in securing additional funds for the 2023 intervention release.

Akujobi Amadi

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