Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

November 21, 2014

Ekiti

An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court has dissolved a 9-
year-old marriage between Mrs Enema Friday and his wife, Mary.
Our correspondent reports that the case first came up for mention on May 6.
The marriage was dissolved on grounds of frequent beating, threat to life, as well as lack of care.
Mary, 32, told the court that her husband maltreated her which made her to pack out of his house.
She said the husband had not been taking care of her because of her childlessness, and that he once threatened her with a pistol for allegedly having extra marital affairs.
Mary explained that she contributed to the building of their house, but had to pack out because of the threat.

FCT

Some workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
have reacted to plans by the territory’s administration in conjunction with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to provide affordable, quality accommodation for workers.
While some of the respondents commended the initiative as a way of ameliorating the high cost of accommodation in Abuja, others advised parties to the agreement to extend such opportunity to workers in the public sector.
According to Mr Samson Isah, an Abuja-based civil servant, the housing initiative was commendable and should be encouraged by well-meaning Nigerians.
He advised government and the labour unions to monitor the project thoroughly to ensure that the contractors delivered on schedule.

Gombe

Members of the Sickle Cell Association club in
Gombe, have appealed for increase in their drugs following a rise in the number of their registered members.
The Chairman of the association, Malam Isa Barkama, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Gombe.
He said that the number of the registered members rose from 10,000 to 17,000 following awareness campaigns embarked upon by the association.
“Initially, we had only 10,000 members who were registered but our number increased to 17,000 because of the awareness campaigns we embarked upon,” he said.
He said that the wife of the Gov. Hajiya Adama Dankwambo, had been giving them the drugs free of charge.
He said that people were now voluntarily bringing their children for the test, adding, “it is important for everyone to know his or her genotype’’.

Jigawa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC)
in Jigawa State said it arrested a 33-year-old-man with 16 bags of adulterated animal feed.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Muhammad Gidado, told newsmen in Dutse that the suspect was arrested at Maigatari International Market recently.
Gidado complained that many people engaged in selling adulterated food items, particularly Sesame oil and other cooking oil.
He said “our men have succeeded in arresting a 33-year-old-man with 16 bags of adulterated animal feed at the popular Maigatari International Market.
“Intelligence report shows that many people have developed the habit of selling adulterated food items such as Sesame oil, cooking oil and many more.’’
Katsina

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund),
yesterday, said it placed top priority on entrepreneurship training of lecturers and students in public tertiary institutions.
The TETFund Board Chairman, Alhaji Musa Babayo, stated this in Katsina at the opening of a two-day capacity building workshop on Entrepreneurship Development in Public Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.
According to him, the capacity building workshop for lecturers in public tertiary institutions is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship skills.
He said “entrepreneurship has the capacity to create wealth for students and empower them to become self innovative and creative thinkers in business.”

Kwara
Kwara State Government said it was working
toward improving its internally generated revenue (IGR) to better the lots of its citizens.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Tunji Moronfoye, stated this in llorin in an interview with newsmen.
He said that the improved internal revenue would augment the shortfalls in the state’s allocations from the Federation Account.
According to him, this is part of viable initiatives being put together to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people, adding that the government was committed to providing quality and affordable healthcare services.
He said that no fewer than 8,500 people had benefited from the state’s primary healthcare programme.

Lagos

An Ikeja High Court has rejected the bail application
filed by a 52-year-old man, Moses Olayemi, accused of defrauding a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Aliyu Salman, of N2.5 million.
The trial judge, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, in a ruling on Olayemi’s bail application, agreed with the objections raised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge noted that the defendant was previously convicted for the same offences by a Kano State High Court.
He said that Olayemi’s prior criminal record and the severity of the charge could make him abscond if the application was granted.
Lawal-Akapo consequently dismissed the application and ordered Olayemi to be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, pending the conclusion of the case.
Ogun

The convener, Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde
Bakare, says students unionism has fallen from its pinnacle of intellectual doggedness to become mere appendage of political parties.
Bakare, who made this assertion in Abeokuta at the 2014 anniversary of the International Day of Students, said “it is also now a tool for corrupt politicians”.
In a paper titled: “Good Governance: Sustainability of Democracy, the Role of Students in the Forthcoming General Election”, Bakare said students unionism in the country had lost its activists steam and was in a sorry state.
He called on the students’ body to embark on a journey of rebirth to return to the good old days of students’ activism.
“To achieve this, you must rid yourselves of cultism and other self-destructive tendencies and take back student unionism from hoodlums and charlatans.

Osun

The Osun State sector command of the Federal Road
Safety Commission (FRSC) said last Tuesday that it issued 268 new number plates to motorists in the state in the month of October.
The Sector Commander, Mr Muhammad Husaini, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo.
Husaini said the figure was submitted to the commission by the state revenue board, the department responsible for number plates production.
He added that the figure covered number plates for cars, buses, articulated vehicles and motorcycles.
The sector commander said “the FRSC works in partnership with the state revenue board in registration and production of new number plates or upgrading of old ones by motorists.’’

Sokoto

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State said that
about 1,000 indigent students of the state were currently pursuing various academic programmes in various universities abroad.
They are being sponsored by the government.
Wamakko announced this at the inauguration of Hamma Ali Road in Kware Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the students were studying Medicine, Pharmacy and Engineering, among others.
He said that the state government was committed to producing the needed manpower to develop the state.
Wamakko said that already 240 ward primary health centres had been equipped and provided with ambulances to ensure smooth and effective health care delivery in the state.

President Goodluck Jonathan (left), receiving letter of credence from the new Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, Mr Torben Gettermann in Abuja recently

Nation

RSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Holds Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria

Published

1 day ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State University and the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education jointly hosted a two-day National Conference on 8 and 9 May 2026 to examine the state of values in Nigeria.

The two days conference held at Rivers State University convocation arena brought together academics, policymakers, legal experts and education leaders under the theme _“Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria.”_

The gathering focused on policy gaps, curriculum reform, and the role of ethics in public service and education.

The event opened on Friday with remarks from Vice Chancellor Prof. Chief Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who stressed the need to address declining moral and civic values across Nigeria’s education and public sectors. A book of abstracts for the plenary sessions was also presented to participants.

Key speakers included former Attorney General Chief Dr Kanu Agabi, SAN; NERDC Executive Secretary Prof. Shehu Salisu; Prof. Hauwa Imam, FNAE, of the University of Abuja; former Rivers SUBEB Chairman Ven Dr Fyneface Akah, ; former NIMASA DG Dr Hon. Dakuku Adol-Peterside; and RSU Director of ICT Prof. Sunny Orike.

Discussions centered on integrating values education into schools, tertiary institutions and public institutions, alongside the impact of technology on moral development among young Nigerians. Panel and plenary sessions produced practical recommendations for curriculum and policy reform.

On Saturday, the foundation marked its centenary with the unveiling of the book _Otonti Nduka in History_, launched by Chief Engr. Grant Offor, FNSE. The Nigerian Academy of Education held a ceremonial procession led by its President Prof. Olu Jegede and the Ikwerre Professors Forum.

In a communiqué, participants called for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and academia to mainstream values education nationwide. They recommended reviewing teacher training curricula and expanding digital platforms to promote ethical civic engagement, with the foundation pledging to share the outcomes with education authorities for implementation.

Dignitaries present included Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide as Chief Host, Prof. Emeritus Chief T. Uzodimma Nwala, the Ikenga 1 of Mbaise and first philosophy student of Prof. Otonti Nduka, alongside scholars and community leaders.

Amadi Akujobi

Nation

Shell, MAN Back Rivers’ Drive for Expanded Gas Supply to Industries

Published

1 day ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Shell Nigeria Gas Limited, in partnership with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, has reaffirmed support for efforts to expand gas distribution infrastructure in Rivers State as part of initiatives aimed at improving access to affordable, cleaner and more reliable energy for industries across the South-South region.

The commitment was highlighted during the SNG–MAN Business Forum held in Port Harcourt, where stakeholders from the industrial and public sectors examined the role of natural gas in driving industrialisation, boosting local production and strengthening energy security.

Speaking at the forum on behalf of the Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Gas Limited, the company’s Head of Gas Distribution, Mr. Chukwuka Amos Ejesi, described natural gas as a critical component of Nigeria’s energy mix and a key driver of sustainable industrial growth.

According to him, Nigeria’s gas development agenda has reached a stage where policy direction must be matched with practical implementation capable of addressing the energy challenges confronting manufacturers.

He noted that pipeline gas offers industries a cleaner, more dependable and cost-effective energy alternative capable of supporting uninterrupted operations, reducing emissions and improving production efficiency.

“Gas is the backbone of manufacturing, and we are encouraged by the growing recognition among stakeholders of the need for cleaner and more reliable energy solutions,” he said.

Ejesi stressed the need for sustained collaboration among energy providers, government institutions and industrial stakeholders to maximise the country’s gas resources for economic development.

He added that improved gas infrastructure would strengthen manufacturing value chains, enhance productivity and promote more competitive industrial operations across Rivers State and the wider South-South region.

Participants at the forum also emphasised the importance of expanding energy infrastructure as a pathway to unlocking industrial capacity, reducing operating costs and promoting sustainable industrial development.

Representing Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Director-General of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to partnering with private sector investors to revitalise industrial activities in the state.

He identified key projects targeted under the initiative to include the revival of the Ahoada Industrial Park, the New Port City project and the proposed Bonny Industrial Park, all aimed at stimulating economic growth and expanding industrial opportunities along the Bonny corridor.

According to the governor, the long-term vision is to position Rivers State as a leading manufacturing hub in Southern Nigeria through strategic public-private partnerships.

Governor Fubara also commended Shell Nigeria Gas and MAN for sustaining engagements geared towards improving industrial energy access, noting that gas infrastructure development remains central to the state’s economic recovery plans.

He further observed that the gas sector presents enormous opportunities for economic growth, especially as global energy systems continue to shift towards cleaner energy sources.

The governor called on stakeholders to work collectively towards developing a practical and sustainable gas framework capable of supporting the state’s industrial and energy development objectives.

Chairman of MAN, Rivers and Bayelsa Branch, Elder Vincent Okuku, described gas as indispensable to industrial operations, noting that many manufacturers continue to struggle with the high cost of alternative energy sources.

Similarly, President of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Dr. Chinyere Ngozi Nwoga, said the transition to natural gas had become increasingly necessary for businesses seeking stable and cost-efficient operations.

“Pipeline natural gas provides a more cost-effective and reliable source of energy for industries,” she stated.

Also speaking, former Chairman of MAN in Rivers and Bayelsa States, Mrs. Emilia Akpan, stressed the need to align energy infrastructure development with investment in human capacity.

She maintained that rebuilding the state’s economy would require not only reliable energy supply but also the development of technical skills needed to support long-term industrial growth.

By Kevin Nengia

Nation

City Boy Movement Hails Onyesoh’s APC Primary Win

Published

1 day ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The City Boy Movement in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers state has commended Senator Allwell Onyesoh on his victory in the APC primary election for Rivers East Senatorial District.

Chairman of the group in Etche, Dr. Fortune Uchenna Obi, spoke to journalists in Okehi Ward after participating in Monday’s direct primary. He described Onyesoh’s emergence as the party’s candidate for the 2027 senatorial election as a reflection of the people’s will.

Dr. Obi said the senator has performed well during his first term and deserves re-election. He also thanked FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, leader of the Renewed Hope Agenda and Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State, for supporting Onyesoh’s candidacy. According to him, Wike’s backing was instrumental to the senator’s nomination, clearance, and victory at the primary.

He further praised voters in Etche and across Rivers East for turning out in large numbers at ward centers and urged them to sustain the support to ensure Onyesoh’s success in the January 2027 general election.