Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), North-East Zone,
has commended the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu, for campaigning for peaceful co-existence among the various religious and ethnic groups in the state.
The zonal chairman of the association, Rev. Shuaibu Byel, gave the commendation when he led other leaders of the association on a courtesy visit to the emir.
He said the current campaign for religious tolerance initiated by the emir was commendable, especially now that the country was preparing for the March 28 and April 11 general elections
He recalled that prior to the postponement of the elections several people had relocated to their places of origin for fear of being attacked.
Byel said: “your peace initiative which is aimed at strengthening unity between the Church and the host community is already yielding fruit.
Borno
The Borno State Government has advised Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) whose communities had been reclaimed by the military to exercise restraint in rushing back home.
This is in view of the fear of dangerous reptiles and landmines planted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in such communities.
The Commissioner of Housing and Rural Electrification in the state Dr Haruna Mishelia, gave the advice while addressing newsmen in Maiduguri.
Mishelia said that though it was the wish of the state government for IDPs to return home quickly, a number of measures had to be taken to safeguard their lives after returning home.
“You will agree with me that there is no place like home. It is the wish of government to see the IDPs return home as quickly as possible.
FCT
The Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria
(RTEAN) says it will establish more Welding Schools across the country.
National President of the Association, Chief Musa Shehu, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Shehu said the idea of opening the schools became necessary due to the need for certified pipe welders who could work in the union’s car workshops across the country.
“We want to open an institute for training pipe welders, not ordinary road side welders. The pipe welders are highly needed in vehicle assembling centres.
“There is already a workshop which the Ministry of Works handed over to us; so the welding training school will be introduced in the workshops located in the six geopolitical zones in the country.
“We want to make sure that there is an Assembly Plant in the workshop, Completely Knocked Down (CKD) plant where vehicle parts will be fixed and assembled,” he said.
Gombe
Governor Kashim Shetima of Borno has commended the gallantry of the Nigerian military in recapturing some of the areas that were taken over by Boko Haram.
Shetima made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Gombe recently.
He said that government would give the military all the moral and logistic support to accomplish the set goals.
“We commend them for the gallantry they have displayed in recovering some of the lost territories. We can only give them all the moral and logistic support for them to accomplish their goals.
“They have families, blood in their veins and are risking their lives for us to have sound sleep.
“I think they deserve to be commended not to be condemned, they need our support’’, he said.
According to the governor, Borno is the largest state in the federation in terms of land mass and the insurgents had a territory of more than 69,000 square kilometres.
Kogi
The President of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop
David Oyedepo, has urged Christians to earnestly pray for God’s choices to emerge at all levels of leadership in the forthcoming elections.
Oyedepo made the call at a monthly programme of the church tagged “One Night with The King” on Saturday morning in Lokoja.
The Bishop, in his sermon titled “Engaging the Prayer of Faith For Fulfillment of Prophecy’’, urged Christians to pray that God’s will should prevail in the elections.
“We must commit the elections to God’s hands for His will to be done and I am sure He will rescue this nation.
Kebbi
The PDP gubernatorial candidate in Kebbi State, Gen.
Bello Sarkin-Yaki (rtd.), has donated 175 metal
detectors to 68 religious organisations and four emirate councils in the state to enhance security.
The Special Adviser to the state governor on Religious Affairs, Malam Zakariya Yeldu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi recently.
Yeldu said that a committee to facilitate the distribution of the donated items had been constituted.
He said the 21 local government councils in the state would receive three metal detectors each while 68 pieces of the detectors would be distributed among the four emirates.
Yeldu said the metal detectors for the 17 registered religious organisations would be deployed to enhance security in mosques and preaching centres across the state.
Kwara
No fewer than one million people are to benefit from
the ongoing Community Health Insurance Scheme in Kwara State.
The Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed on Media and Publicity, Dr Muyideen Akorede, made this known in Ilorin during an interview with newsmen.
Akorede said the development was in line with the government’s commitment to the provision of quality, affordable and accessible healthcare services.
He explained that the development was also a giant step in the government effort to transform the health sector.
He also disclosed plans to renovate additional five hospitals to further move health centres closer to the people.
On education, he said 400 blocks of classrooms had been constructed while 120 were to be refurbished in line with global best standard.
He explained that these plans could only be realised if the people voted massively for the All Progressives Congress and refused being distracted by the antics of opposition who had little or nothing to offer.
Lagos
An Igando Customary Court in Lagos has dissolved a
20-year-old marriage between Olayiwola Ajayi and his wife, Isiwa, over battery by wife.
The President of the court, Mr Rasak Adeyeri, held that both parties were no longer husband and wife and they were free to go their separate ways.
Ajayi, 72, a retired civil servant, had alleged that his wife always threatened his life through beating, among other things.
“My wife is fond of beating me, she beats me on any slight provocation, I am tired of being brutalised.
“A day cannot pass without her laying her hands on me, I am afraid she may kill me one day if I still continue in the marriage,’’ Ajayi said.
Nasarawa
The traditional ruler of Obi community in Nasarawa
State, has appealed to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from his area to come back home as the area is now peaceful.
Orume made the appeal at Obi in an interview with newsmen recently.
The royal father expressed sadness over the unfortunate crisis witnessed in the area, but urged all those who fled for safety to return home.
He said that the area was now safe and peaceful, and urged those who fled to return to their ancestral homes.
He said that their return would facilitate the success and equitable distribution of relief materials to every IDP of the area.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on all Internally Displaced Persons to come back to their homes.
“It has been discovered that many are yet to return maybe out of fear. So I want to assure all those who are yet to return that Obi is now safe and secured.
Sokoto
Former President Shehu Shagari has appealed to Ni
gerians to pray for peace, progress and political stability in the country.
Our correspondent reports that Shagari was speaking while receiving the All Progressive Congress ( APC) Presidential candidate, Gen. Mohammed Buhari, at his resident in Sokoto
He said that only prayers by Nigerians would pave way for meaningful development in the country.
Shagari expressed appreciation for the visit and wished the general well.
Speaking earlier, Gen Mohammed Buhari congratulated Shagari for attaining the age of 90.
He prayed to God to continue to guide , protect and give the former President , good health.
Taraba
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship can
didate in Taraba State, Chief David Kente, has denied the rumour making the rounds that he has stepped down from the race.
“I want to make it clear that I have not and will not step down for anybody,” Kente said in Jalingo at a press conference.
Represented by Mr David Adekoya, his Special Assistant (SA) on Media and Publicity, Kente described the rumour as “the handiwork of mischief makers.’’
“I did not also return to the PDP as being speculated by some mischief makers who are obviously intimidated by my popularity among electorate,” he said.
Kente urged his supporters to ignore the rumour and turnout en masse on April 11 to give him the mandate to make a difference in the governance of the state.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced that the mangrove wetlands in Ogoniland have been officially designated a Ramsar Site of International Importance by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The designation, according to HYPREP, underscores the global ecological significance of Ogoniland’s mangrove wetlands and highlights ongoing restoration efforts aimed at addressing environmental degradation in the area.
In a press statement issued by the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, the recognition was described as a major milestone for the agency, the people of Ogoni and other stakeholders working towards environmental restoration in the region.
Zabbey explained that the mangrove wetlands, which cover more than 31,700 hectares, consist of islands, tidal creeks, mudflats and mangrove forests that support a wide range of biodiversity. The ecosystem provides habitat for several species including fin fish, shellfish, crustaceans, crocodiles, turtles and the endangered grey parrot.
He noted that beyond biodiversity conservation, the wetland also provides essential ecosystem services such as fisheries production, flood control, water purification and carbon storage. According to him, the international recognition will further support local livelihoods, promote ecotourism and bring global attention to the region.
The HYPREP coordinator disclosed that the designation followed a meticulous process that began in 2024 when the project submitted a memorandum to the National Council on Environment seeking support for the recognition of the Ogoni wetlands as a Ramsar site.
Following the council’s review and approval, the Honourable Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP’s Governing Council, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, formally wrote to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat requesting international recognition of the wetlands.
After a comprehensive ecological assessment, the Ramsar Secretariat granted the designation, officially recognising the Ogoniland wetlands as one of the world’s sites of international importance.
Zabbey said the recognition would strengthen ongoing environmental restoration efforts in the area and encourage stronger conservation measures and sustainable management of the wetlands for the benefit of present and future generations.
He added that the designation also fulfils a key recommendation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, marking another significant step in the implementation of the report’s recommendations.
The HYPREP project coordinator reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to restoring the Ogoni environment through the remediation of oil-polluted land, shorelines and mangrove ecosystems.
He also called for collective responsibility and stakeholder support to sustain the progress of the Ogoni cleanup programme and facilitate the development of a comprehensive and sustainable management plan for the Ogoni mangrove wetlands.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, has attributed the successes of the 12-day programme organised for adolescent girls aimed at eliminating Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) in some parts of the State to the ability of the respective stakeholders to take ownership of the programme.
Mrs Davies-Dimkpa, who dropped the hint in an interview at the end of the programme in Elele-Alimini Community in Emohua Local Government Area on Saturday, said the event had a buy-in component, an ownership mentality, whereby facilitators, staff, and everyone involved took ownership of the project.
She explained that the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) had packaged a series of training sessions for adolescent girls aimed at ending the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in some communities across the State.
According to her, the initiative was designed to educate young girls on the harmful effects of the practice and empower them to become advocates against it within their communities.
She noted that the programme, which lasted for several weeks, targeted adolescent girls from different local government areas where the practice is still prevalent, stressing that
data collected by UNICEF and the Ministry revealed that Female Genital Mutilation is still practised in some parts of the State, prompting the need for intensified sensitisation and community engagement.
Mrs Davies-Dimkpa explained that the programme adopted a “train-the-trainer” approach where adolescent girls were educated on the dangers of the practice and encouraged to share the knowledge with their peers, families and communities.
“This is a programme by the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation with support from UNICEF and UNFPA to train adolescent girls towards ending Female Genital Mutilation, which is still practised in some local government areas,” she said.
She further explained that each participating local government area had a three-day training session, with the exercise running for a total of 12 days.
The local government areas, where the programme took place, she noted, included Ahoada West, Abua-Odual, and Emohua, adding that the initiative is part of broader efforts by the state government and development partners to eliminate harmful traditional practices and protect the rights and wellbeing of girls.
She revealed that prior to the training of the adolescent girls, the Ministry and its partners had also engaged community facilitators, including older women and men, to sensitise them on the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
According to her, the involvement of community leaders and adults is essential in addressing the cultural and social factors that sustain the practice.
Speaking on the response of the participants, the permanent secretary expressed satisfaction with the level of engagement and enthusiasm shown by the girls throughout the training sessions.
She noted that many of the participants said they were learning about the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation for the first time.
“The girls are between the ages of 12 and 17 and from the interactions we had with them, they were very excited. Some of them are hearing these things for the first time and never knew that the practice is harmful,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the knowledge gained from the training would enable the girls to serve as advocates for change within their communities.
She added that the Rivers State Government, alongside its partners, would continue to intensify efforts and expand community-based interventions aimed at ending the practice across the State.
Meanwhile, the participants for Emohua Local Government Area were drawn from Elele-Alimini, Egbeda, Rumuji, Ibaa, Rumuekpe, Rumuakunde, Eligbarada, and Ogbakiri Communities.
The participants,who spoke in separate interviews described the training as eye-opening, noting that it helped them better understand issues surrounding adolescent health, personal hygiene, reproductive health, and the harmful consequences of Female Genital Mutilation.
Favour Azukwu from Rumuekpe community, said the programme provided a deeper understanding of the dangers associated with the practice, particularly its impact on the health and wellbeing of girls and women.
She explained that the training sessions exposed participants to the medical, social and psychological effects of Female Genital Mutilation, including severe bleeding, infections and complications during childbirth.
She revealed that she personally experienced the practice at the age of 12 and suffered heavy bleeding afterwards, an experience that has strengthened her determination to advocate for its eradication.
According to her, many communities still practise Female Genital Mutilation because it is perceived as a cultural tradition, despite the dangers associated with it.
“I do not support Female Genital Mutilation because there are many dangers involved. I experienced severe bleeding when it was done to me as a child.
Another participant, Glory Ken, a 16-year-old secondary school student from Rumuji community, said the programme broadened her understanding of several important topics affecting adolescents.
She explained that beyond the discussion on Female Genital Mutilation, the training also focused on issues such as personal hygiene, reproductive health, peer education, and self-care.
According to her, the sessions helped participants understand the importance of making informed health decisions and supporting one another as peer educators.
“I learned about many things that affect young people in society and how to take care of myself. I also learned that Female Genital Mutilation is harmful to our health. The message I am taking back to my community is that this practice should stop,” she said.
Also speaking, Goodness Kenjika Nyeche described the programme as very impactful.
She noted that the training equipped participants with the skills and confidence to educate others about the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation.
She said she plans to organise sensitisation among adolescents in her community, particularly girls between the ages of 10 and 19, to ensure they understand the dangers associated with the practice.
“I learned many things from this programme and I feel very good about it. I will educate other young girls in my community and help them understand why Female Genital Mutilation should not continue,” she said.
For Queen Dike from Ibaa community, the programme helped clarify misconceptions surrounding the practice.
She explained that in some communities, the practice is still referred to as circumcision and is viewed as part of cultural identity.
She said the training helped participants understand that Female Genital Mutilation involves the cutting or removal of parts of the female genital organs and that it has serious health consequences.
She stressed that awareness and education are key to ending the practice, especially among communities that continue to uphold it as tradition.
“I think the programme is very helpful because many people still believe it is part of culture. More awareness is needed so people can understand why it should stop,” she said.
Another participant, MyJoy Echika Amadi, said the programme provided critical information about adolescent health and the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
She described the initiative as enlightening and said it encouraged young people to become advocates for change in their communities.
According to her, participants were encouraged to use various platforms such as churches, peer groups, schools and community gatherings to spread awareness about the harmful effects of the practice.
“This programme has enlightened us about the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation. I will do my best to create awareness in my community and encourage people to stop the practice,” she said.
Many of the participants emphasised that the knowledge gained during the programme has empowered them to challenge harmful traditions and promote healthier practices among young people.
They also called on the Rivers State Government, development partners and civil society organisations to sustain the sensitisation campaigns and extend the training to more communities across the State.
According to them, empowering young people with the right information will play a critical role in eliminating Female Genital Mutilation and protecting the rights, health and dignity of girls in Rivers State.
The participants expressed appreciation to the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, UNICEF and UNFPA for organising the programme and for investing in the wellbeing and future of adolescent girls in the State.
