Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

April 10, 2015

L-R: National Secretary of apc, Mr Fidelis Tumza, National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, a party stewart, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, former governor Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti State, President-elect, retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, at Buhari’s post-election speech in Abuja, recently. Photo: NAN

Bauchi
President-elect Muhammadu Buhari last Wednesday
thanked electorate in Bauchi State for supporting him during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Addressing APC supporters in Bauchi, Buhari also solicited for more votes on behalf of the party candidates in the April 11 gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections.
“I am here to thank you and ask you to elect APC candidates during the exercise.
“This is because you voted for me and members of the National Assembly during the presiderntial elections.
“I urge you to do same during gubernatorial polls on April 11.”
Buhari condoled with the families of those who lost their lives during the polls and called on party supporters to cast and protect their votes.

Borno
The Borno State Government last Wednesday said it
had awarded a N3.6 billion contract for the construction of five faculties and senate building at the proposed state University in Maiduguri.
Gov. Kashim Shettima stated this at an interactive session with stakeholders in Maiduguri.
Shettima said the project was expected to be completed before the end of the year, adding that the aim was to provide world class structure that would enable the university to take off smoothly.
“We are not in a haste to start the university because we believe that certain fundamental issues must be addressed before its take-off.
“Our plan is to establish a world class university that can stand the test of time in all ramifications because anything worth doing is worth doing well.
“We are not interested in establishing a glorified secondary school as the case in most state universities.

Ekiti

An octogenarian, Pa Owoeye Ajayi, has urged politi
cians in Ekiti against creating chaos in the state in the bid to impeach Gov. Ayodele Fayose.
Our correspondent reports that supporters of the governor had on Tuesday disrupted human and vehicular movement in the state while protesting the impeachment bid.
But Ajayi told newsmen in Ikole-Ekiti that many right thinking indigenes of the state were disappointed with the actions and utterances of the politicians irrespective of party affiliation.
“The performances of these politicians, in terms of constituency projects and poverty alleviation programmes since 1999 are not encouraging and is proof that they are not concerned about the welfare of the people.
“Ekiti people should be careful and caution themselves to avoid being used to cause violence by these politicians who might abandon them and stay away from the state when things get out of hand,’’ he said.

FCT
The Federal Government said that reclaiming territo
ries held by insurgents in the North-East and establishment of an atmosphere of peace and safety in them remained its top priority.
Coordinator, National Information Centre, Mr Mike Omeri, stated this while giving update on the security situation in the zone at a news conference.
Omeri said that the successes recorded by troops in regaining control of Boko Haram strongholds in Borno were testimony of the unwavering commitment in defeating the insurgents.
He said recent recapture of Alagarno in Borno, a well-known strategic stronghold of Boko Haram, had dealt a severe blow on their capacity to carry out surprise attacks on communities in the state.
“In a situation such as presently exists in the area, there is a high tendency for the insurgent group to suddenly aim at soft targets to destabilise communities which are regaining normalcy.

Kebbi

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kebbi
State, Alhaji Jibril Zarewa, says the commission has received sensitive materials for Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Zarewa told journalists in Birnin-Kebbi last Wednesday that the materials included ballot papers and result sheets.
He said representatives of security agencies and political party officials witnessed the presentation at INEC office.
Zarewa said the commission would ensure timely distribution of the materials as well as early arrival at polling stations on Saturday.
He said non-sensitive materials had been distributed to local government areas while the sensitive materials would be distributed on time.
The INEC boss urged voters to ensure that they voted peacefully as they did during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Lagos
The Managing Director of Kora Farms, Mr Adebola
Adebusuyi, recently advocated for increased investment in tomato processing, to stem post-harvest wastages.
Adebusuyi, who is also a tomato farmer, told newsmen, in Lagos that such investment would also enhance the tomato value chain.
According to him, many tomato farmers incurred losses every year due to wastages that could have been prevented through processing them into tomato puree.
He said that the nation was blessed with abundant capacity to produce tomatoes, but that the demand for it could not be met as a result of wastages.
“Nigeria is the second largest producer of tomatoes in Africa, after Egypt.
“We produce about 1.4 million metric tonnes of tomatoes annually, yet we spend almost N11 billion to import tomatoes and tomato puree every year.

Oyo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA), Oyo State Command, has paraded a 45-year-old unemployed graduate, Sam Oladiti and four others, for document forgery.
The State Commander, Mrs Omolade Faboyede, told newsmen in Ibadan that the individuals had collected the sum of N20,000 from one Kafayat Mustapha under the false pretence of obtaining an NDLEA Visa Clearance for her.
Our correspondent reports that the other suspects included Olawale Lawal (38), Yusuf Kazeem (28), Olusina Adewale (39) and Bolaji Kayode (35).
Faboyede said that the complainant, Mustapha, discovered she was issued a forged document because it was signed with the name of a past NDLEA chairman.
Plateau
Street sweepers in Plateau State have in Jos appealed
to the government to pay their six months’ salary arrears.
The sweepers, who spoke under condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the development had turned them into destitutes.
“We are paid N8, 000 each on monthly basis and we are surprised that our salary was stopped while we are still engaged by the government.
“Since last year September we have not received our monthly stipend that we are entitled to due to the job that we do, “ one of them said.
Another sweeper, while calling on the government to come to their rescue, said the money was her only means of livelihood.
“ I am a widow with three children and this is what I use in feeding and training them, “ she said.

Sokoto
The Independent National Electoral Commission (
INEC) says it has reconfigured over 4,000 Smart Card Readers for use in the April 11 governorship and state House of Assembly elections in Sokoto State.
The Head of Voter Education and Publicity Unit of the commission in the state, Alhaji Musa Muhammad, disclosed this to newsmen in Sokoto while commenting on the preparations for the polls.
‘’Over 4,000 card readers were deployed to the state for the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly polls, while 3,518 were actually deployed in the 3,035 polling units across the 23 local governments of the state.
‘’ All the 4,000 card readers had, therefore, been totally reconfigured and they are now being charged, while they are perfectly functional.’’

Zamfara

A Magistrates’ Court in Gusau, Zamfara State, has re
manded one Abduljalal Muhammad of Sabuwar Haya Area, Tudun Wada, Gusau, in prison custody over alleged armed robbery.
The prosecutor, Insp. Yakubu Abuga, told the court that sometime in Feburary 2015, the accused boarded a commercial motorcycle of one Shafiu Shehu of Hayin Mallam Sani Area, Tudun Wada, Gusau.
Abuga said that the accused told Shehu to take him to Garajin Mailena, along Magami road, Gusau but at a point behind Water Board, Gusau, he asked the motorcyclist to stop, after which he stabbed him on the back with a sharp knife.
He said that the accused robbed the motorcyclist of all the money he had and a handset, valued at N4,500.00, including his Bajaj motorcycle with registration number EKY090QB, valued at N115,000.00.

Nation

Kwara Community Residents Flee Over Persistent Bandits’ Attacks

Published

17 hours ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

Residents of Omugo Community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have deserted their homes due to persistent bandit attacks.
The Tide’s source reports that the once lively community has turned into a ghost town with only a few domestic animals left.
Reports indicate that the recent bandits’ attack on the Omugo ECWA Church via Oro-Ago, led to the abduction of eight worshippers including the wife of the pastor in charge.
Three persons escaped out of the eight abductees with a N1billion ransom placed on the remaining victims in captivity. The community could only gather N1million which was rejected by the bandits.
Last week, the armed bandits invaded Oro-Ago community, killed one vigilante man identified as Baba Ibeji and injured his younger brother known as Ajere.
A Point of Sales, PoS, shop directly opposite the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Divisional office, was broken into by the bandits.
The gunmen also attacked the NSCDC office and sprayed bullets on the facility, though no casualty was recorded.
In earlier attacks on Oro-Ago environs, armed bandits ambushed a convoy between Oro-Ago and Oke-Ayan in Ilere district of Ifelodun Local Government Area and killed two local hunters on escort duty.
On Saturday, there was tension in Oro-Ago following a security alert that armed bandits were regrouping to launch fresh attacks on the community.
All security formations were, however, placed on ‘Red Alert’ to forestall the planned attack.

Nation

Acting Provost Dismisses Alleged Missing Equipment Claims at Rivers Health College

Published

1 day ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

The Acting Provost of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Peace Chigozirim Amadi has refuted claims circulating in the media suggesting that laboratory equipment went missing from the college.

In a recent statement, Dr. Amadi described the reports—particularly those attributed to certain publications—as false and misleading. She emphasized that all laboratory equipment at the college remain intact.

“I am here to set the record straight. No laboratory equipment disappeared from my college. Nothing is missing,” Dr. Amadi said, challenging anyone with contrary claims to provide evidence, including the names of the equipment and their supposed locations.

She further noted that the college recently underwent an accreditation exercise, during which significant investments were made in laboratory equipment. According to Dr. Amadi, these items are fully accounted for, and the college maintains a robust security system to protect its assets.

“Everything is intact. Nothing disappeared. The information being circulated is false and should be discarded,” she reiterated.

Beyond addressing the allegations, Dr. Amadi also called on media practitioners to exercise professionalism and verify stories before publication. “I want to plead with journalists to always verify their stories. Junk journalism does not help anyone. No matter the information you receive, it is important to hear the other side before publishing,” she said.

While social media posts have occasionally raised concerns about various issues in the region’s health education sector, including extortion and examination malpractice at related institutions, there is no independent evidence from credible news sources confirming that equipment went missing from Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology.

The college, a public tertiary institution based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is accredited to offer a variety of health-related programs, including Nursing, Midwifery, Laboratory Technology, and Environmental Health. It has consistently emphasized integrity, safety, and transparency in its operations.

Dr. Amadi’s statement seeks to reassure the public, students, and stakeholders that the college remains secure, well-managed, and free from the alleged equipment losses, while urging journalists to prioritize accuracy in reporting.

Nation

HYPREP Reaffirms Commitment to Safe Water Supply In Ogoni

Published

1 week ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

As the world commemorates World Water Day, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing potable water across Ogoni communities, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the Ogoni Environment.

In a statement issued by its Project Coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, on March 22, 2026, HYPREP noted that this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” alongside the campaign slogan, “Where Water Flows, Equity Grows,” underscores its resolve to extend potable water supply beyond oil-impacted communities to all Ogoni communities.

Zabbey emphasized that access to clean water is a fundamental human right, adding that HYPREP remains committed to ensuring inclusive and equitable water access across the region.

He disclosed that the agency has successfully provided potable water to over 43 communities in Ogoni, while ongoing Phase 3 water projects are expected to benefit an additional 17 communities. He also highlighted steady progress on windmill-powered water projects in less populated areas, particularly in Khana Local Government Area.

According to him, the K-Dere Water Project, which is over 99 percent complete, will be commissioned in the coming weeks, even as work continues on other water schemes across Ogoni.

Zabbey further noted that HYPREP’s interventions are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

To ensure sustainability, he explained that the agency has adopted a joint management model involving host communities, the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, and the Rivers State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RSSTOWA). He added that Water Consumers’ Associations have been established in communities such as Nchia and Eleme, alongside training programmes conducted in collaboration with non-governmental organisations.

The Project Coordinator stressed the importance of community ownership and protection of water facilities, echoing the call by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, for residents to safeguard the infrastructure provided in their areas.

Zabbey expressed optimism that the ongoing efforts will significantly improve access to safe drinking water, reduce waterborne diseases, and enhance public health outcomes across Ogoni communities.