Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

November 5, 2014

Adamawa

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
says it has established seven new camps in Yola to accommodate Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the recent attacks in Mubi, Adamawa State.
Its North-East Coordinator, Alhaji Muhammadu Kanar, disclosed this to newsmen in Yola, shortly after he distributed relief materials to no fewer than 3,000 IDPs at Daware camp in Fufore Local Government Area.
Kanar said that 10,000 IDPs were registered within the last two days adding that several thousands were still trooping into the camps.
He said the state government had provided over 100 vehicles to help evacuate those that were stranded in the bushes and highways after escaping the insurgents’ attacks in Mubi and Uba towns.

FCT

The Budget Office of the Federation has urged stake
holders in the review of workers’ minimum wage to consider the revenue generation profile of the country in taking decisions.
The Director-General of the office, Dr Bright Okogu, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja recently.
He observed that the Federal Government raised workers’ wage bill from N857 billion in 2009 to N1.8 trillion in 2014.
He said that the increase followed incessant strikes by various labour unions across the country.
He said that “if you have that kind of situation in an environment where your revenue is not growing with the same margin, obviously there will be challenges.

Gombe

The Ministry of Transport is to develop a strategy on how best to safeguard motor parks in the country, says the Minister Malam Idris Umar.
Umar stated this in Gombe while speaking to newsmen shortly after visiting the Federal Teaching Hospital and Specialist Hospital Gombe, where the victims of bomb blast were admitted as well as the scene of the blast.
“I will soon summon an emergency meeting with Commissioners for Transport to discuss how best to safeguard our motor parks.
“Just recently we concluded the National Transport Council meeting; we addressed the issue of safety and security.
“But of course even the current level of challenges, we need to probably do more on the level of guarding the motor parks”.
Kadunaa

A gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of All
Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, has appealed to politicians to shun money politics.
Addressing party executives of Zaria Local Government in Zaria the aspirant said the call became necessary in view of the influence of money in the nation’s politics.
Lukman said avoiding money politics would certainly guarantee authentic and vibrant democracy in Nigeria.
The aspirant said that he was in Zaria to formally inform the executive members of APC in the area that he had purchased the form to aspire for gubernatorial seat.
Lukman urged the party leadership to give all aspirants a level playing field.
Kebbi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State
says it is working towards a consensus governorship candidate for the 2015 polls.
The party said each of the three senatorial districts would present an aspirant for screening before zeroing in on one candidate.
The Chairman of the Resolution Committee of the party, Alhaji Suleiman Argungu, told newsmen in Birnin-Kebbi that whoever emerged of the three would be the party’s flagbearer in the election.
“The resolution committee will ensure each of the Senatorial Districts presents an aspirant out of the many aspirants,’’ he said.
Argungu said the 10 aspirants who had indicated interest to contest the governorship seat were expected to agree on only one.
Kogi

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Kogi
State says that its mobile court has convicted 47 drivers of various traffic offences within one week.
The Sector Commander in the state, Mr Godwin Omiko, told newsmen in Lokoja that the convicted drivers were serial violators of the road safety rules and laws.
He said that the drivers were arraigned before a mobile court presided by Senior Magistrate Rachael Omajali, who found them guilty after trial.
He also said that those convicted were among 89 motorists arraigned before the court for overloading, over-speeding, seatbelt violation, phoning while driving and dangerous driving, among others.

Kwara

A member of the Kwara State House of Assembly,
Moshood Bakare, has expressed concern over the mass exodus of employees from the private to the public sector of the economy.
Bakare also expressed concern over the attendant negative consequences of the situation on the nation’s economy.
He said that economies, in developed parts of world, were driven by the private sector while the reverse was the case in Nigeria.
Addressing newsmen in Ilorin, the lawmaker expressed worry over what would befall the nation’s economy if urgent steps were not deployed to tackle the situation.
Bakare, who represents Omupo Constituency in the assembly, said there was need for the government to return normalcy to the ailing economy.

Osun

The Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Osogbo on the
August 9 Osun State governorship election has begun hearing the preliminary objections together with the substantive petition filed by Senator IyiolaOmisore to challenge re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, said on Tuesday in her ruling that the panel would hear the issues of jurisdiction together with the petition of Omisore, who contested the election as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Counsel for the petitioner, Dr. Alex Iziyon(SAN), had on Thursday prayed the tribunal to hear the preliminary objections and the petition together in order to save time but Aregbesola, had through his lead counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi(SAN), raised an objection to this.
He said the issue of jurisdiction, which bothered on the competence of the petition, should be first heard before the substantive petition.
However, the panel, in the ruling delivered on Wednesday, said all the four motions pending before it would be taken together with the petition.
Oyo

Team Akala, a support group for the re-election of former
Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State in 2015, has said that its principal is not jittery over the exercise.
The group said this in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Mr Niran Adeyoju, and made available to newsmen in Ogbomoso recently.
The group said a statement being circulated that Alao-Akala was jittery over 2015 was untrue.
The group also condemned the reports that its principal disrupted the distribution of voting materials for the ward congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held across the state on Saturday .
“The former governor did not in any way disrupt the congress when it is obvious that he was already leading in virtually all the wards.
“There is no basis for him or any of his political aide to have led thugs to the party secretariat to disrupt the process of distribution of materials, when we are already aware that the congress was already in our favour,’’ it said.

Plateau

The Plateau State chapter of the PDP is to conduct a
fresh ward congress in Pankshin Local Government, after it failed to carry out the exercise on Saturday, says its Organising secretary, Mr Michael Dachom.
Our correspondent reports that the congresses are expected to produce delegates to form the Electoral College to conduct the party’s primary elections— preparatory to the general elections in 2015.
Dachom told newsmen in Jos that the ward congresses could not hold in Pankshin because of some disagreements among stakeholders over the officials posted to conduct the exercise.
“The disagreements dragged on till late into the night and we had to postpone because of the terrain in Pankshin, coupled with the fact that the electoral panel had to move to all the wards,’’ he said.

Yobe

Twenty-nine people died yesterday in the mid-day sui
cide attack on Muslim Shiite sect members celebrating the Ashurah Day in Potiskum, Yobe State, eyewitnesses said.
The suicide attack took place at TsohonKasuwa, a densely populated area in the commercial city. It is 100km south of Damaturu, the state capital.
But the police put the figure of the dead at four, including the bomber. They said five people were injured.
The leader of the Shiite group, Mallam Mustapha Lawan Nasidi, said 29 members of the group were killed; over 80 injured.
Lawan blamed the military for the rise in the death toll, alleging that “many of the people were killed by security agencies, particularly soldiers”.

L-R: Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire,; Governor Babatunde Fashola and Commissioner for Sciene and Technology, Mr Ayo Mabadeje, at a briefing on Public Security System Demonstration in Lagos recently.

Nation

Sachet Alcohol Fuels Binge Drinking Among Nigerian Youths, Group Warns

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

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

Nation

HYPREP Unleashes 100 Ogoni Youths Into Maritime Industry …Tasks Them On Discipline, Safety

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

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.

Nation

Nigerian Society of Engineers Inaugurates 14-Member Executives In Rivers”

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

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.