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THE STATES

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Adamawa

Supporter of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari,
identified as Abubakar Duduwale , has set for a walk from Yola in Adamawa to Abuja.
He told newsmen in Yola on Saturday at the onset of the walk that the adventure was to express his joy over the emergence of Buhari as president-elect.
Duduwale, from Yola North Local Government Area of Adamawa and Chamba by tribe, reportedly began the journey at Yola Gate on Yola-Numan highway at about 6:30 a.m.
He said he had wanted to start the journey a day after the Independent National Electoral Commission announced Buhari as a winner but somebody from Lagos pre-empted him.
“The reason why I am trekking from Yola to Abuja is to express my joy and solidarity with President -elect Muhammadu Buhari.
“I want to trek from Yola to Abuja to witness the inauguration ceremony of President elect, Duduwale said.

Borno

The Borno State Government has warned residents
in the state capital to desist from tapping electricity from street lights using generators.
The warning is contained in a statement signed by Alhaji Baba Sanda, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Works.
The statement described the spate of vandalism and illegal connection of electricity in Maiduguri as disturbing and called on the people of the state to stop the trend.
“In spite of the concerted efforts being made to stop the illegal act, it has continued.
“That is why we have intensified efforts and patrol to ensure that anyone caught in the act faces the wrath of the law,’’ the statement said.
It also said that measures had been put in place to deal with persons caught tampering with all government facilities in the state.

FCT

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Friday
said it would take stringent measures to check the activities of scammers that were swindling unsuspecting job seekers of large sums of money.
Mr Gboyega Fola-Kayode, Special Assistant to the Comptroller-General of the service, Mr David Parradang, said this during an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Fola-Kayode, who spoke for the comptroller-general, was reacting to a case of job scam reported by one of the 2015 recruitment applicants.
He said Parradang condemned the incident, saying that a lot of Nigerians had been swindled of large sums of money by scammers with promise of fake employment into various agencies and parastatals of government.

Kano

Kano State Task Force Sanitation Committee, has
shut down the Unguwa Uku slaughter house in Kano due to very poor sanitary condition.
Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, told newsmen that the action was taken after “several warnings over the past few months”.
Abbas who doubled as the State Commissioner for Environment said two local governments were responsible for the slaughter house.
Abbas, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Bello Bari, explained that the committee had written to Kumbotso and Tarauni local councils to reconstruct drainage at the abattoir but were yet to comply.
He said that the present drainage was done without expert advice.
The committee said that the slaughter house was closed to safeguard the lives of residents.
Katsina

Katsina State Governor-elect, Aminu Masari has
promised to provide free education and healthcare services for the benefit of orphans in the state.
Masari made the promise in Katsina on Saturday while donating food items to the Katsina Orphanage Home.
He said that his administration would continue to feed the orphans free of charge on a daily basis.
The governor-elect said that the gesture was part of his efforts to improve the living condition of people in the state, particularly the less privileged in the society.
“My administration will do everything possible to cater for the need of such children so that they will grow up to be responsible people in the society.

Kebbi

Members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC)
in Kebbi State on Friday elected Malam Murtala Usman, as the new Chairman at its triennial delegates conference held in Birnin Kebbi.
The Returning Officer for the conference, Mr Kafas Dogonyaro, said that Usman polled 603 votes against the incumbent Chairman, Alhaji Sadiq Kao’je, who garnered 437 votes.
The other officials elected as ex-officio included Malam Samaila Sawwa, Malam Aminu Kangiwa and Malam Abubakar Danladi.
Dogonyaro also announced that other officials of the NLC that were returned unopposed included Malam  Yunusa Musa,Vice Chairman; Malam Tasiu Lawal,Vice Chairman; Malam Umar Kalidu, Treasurer and, Malam Abubakar Umar, Auditor.

Kaduna

The Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, has advised
the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to strengthen anti corruption laws in the country to make it easier to prosecute offenders.
The Managing Director of the foundation, Justice Mamman Nasir, made the appeal at a news conference in Kaduna.
Nasir said fighting corruption would require laws that would make it difficult for people to be corrupt and easier to prosecute.
Nasir, who is also a former president, Court of Appeal said, “Our laws must make corruption difficult to perpetuate but easy to logically prosecute persons accused of corruption.”
He also called for the strengthening of the nation’s security forces to make them well informed and committed to protecting the country’s constitution.

Lagos

The Lagos State Government on Friday said it res
cued no fewer than 62 babies abandoned across the state in the last one year.
The Permanent Secretary in the Office of Youths and Social Development, Dr.  Adesegun Oshinyinka,  gave the figure at a news conference in Ikeja.
He said that 34 of the babies were male, while 28 were female.
The permanent secretary said that the babies had been taken to some registered orphanages where they were being given adequate care.

Ondo

The Ondo Government has banned the production
and consumption of locally-made gin, commonly called ‘ogogoro‘ in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Akinyanju, announced this at a news conference in Akure on Saturday.
The commissioner attributed the ban to the outbreak of an unknown disease two weeks ago in Irele Local Government Area of the state.
“Our clinical analysis reveals the fact that there were no known viruses, while toxicology reports have confirmed our prime suspicion of methanol poisoning.
“We have reviewed our strategies and embarked on sensitisation to let people know that locally-made gin is prohibited.

Osun

Assemblyman Busola Adeyeni representing Ife-East
in Osun has pleaded with Nigerians who are living in other countries to invest in their country.
He made the plea in an interview news on Saturday in Ile-Ife.
Adeyeni expressed concerns about the attitudes of some Nigerians abroad who, somewhat, abandoned and neglected their home country just for mere luxury of living.
He also urged them to always come home to celebrate annual festivals which he said could give them the opportunity to interact and make investment plans.
“It is not a crime to be a sojourner in a foreign land but it is a crime not to have a foresight for the future,’’ he said.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (3rd left), President, Guild of Editors, Mr  Femi Adesina (2nd left), General Secretary, Mr Isaac Ighure(4th right), and others  during the  Guild of Editors visit to Governor Fashola in Lagos last Friday.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (3rd left), President, Guild of Editors, Mr Femi Adesina (2nd left), General Secretary, Mr Isaac Ighure(4th right), and others during the Guild of Editors visit to Governor Fashola in Lagos last Friday.

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Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.

Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

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THE LAPSES OF THE MEDIA IN ELECTIONS

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The media is supposed to be a platform through which people express their thoughts, beliefs, and opinions on issues of public interest. Unfortunately, it has often failed to live up to its role as the fourth estate of the realm.During the 2023 elections, the media recorded several lapses that deserve critical examination in academic and professional spaces. Before discussing these failures in detail, it is important to briefly explain the meaning, role, and duties of the media. In simple terms, the media refers to the main channels of mass communication, including broadcasting, print publishing, and the internet.
It is a collective term for all means through which information reaches the public. The media is often called the fourth tier of government because of the popular saying, “No media, no society.” This is not an exaggeration. Scholars have shown that the media plays an integral role in society, since political, economic, religious, and academic activities all depend on information flow through the media.
The word MEDIA can be broken down to reflect its core functions:  M – Meeting the People  E – Educating the People  D – Discussing with the People  I – Involving the People  A – Accessing the PeopleSpecifically during elections, the media is expected to provide accurate and timely information to the public by reporting and updating citizens on government and electoral activities. This responsibility is central to keeping the electorate informed.The media also strengthens democracy by engaging citizens on critical issues affecting the electoral process. When the media effectively disseminates relevant information, the public can see through the failures of government, hold leaders accountable, and propose solutions that serve the common good.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram play a vital role in democratic societies because they allow mass participation. Unlike radio and television, social media is accessible to anyone with a smartphone and data bundle, making it the most inclusive platform for political discourse. Despite these roles, the media must not abandon its ethics or promote partisan agendas that mislead the public. In many schools of thought, the media is described as closely related to the judiciary.
People often see the media as a place to voice grievances and seek justice.However, it is fair to say that the media has lost ground by failing to fulfill its duties during elections. Below are ten key lapses observed in the February 2023 elections.Lack of coordination among journalists. Many press personnel who covered different polling units were poorly equipped and unprepared. Some lacked functional cameras and modern technology needed to carry out professional reporting.
Partisanship and breach of ethics. Media personnel, who are supposed to remain non-partisan, openly violated professional ethics by taking political sides and favoring certain candidates in their reporting.Commercialization of coverage. Some journalists prioritized money over news. It was disappointing to see professionals from reputable stations engaging in what I call “Oga, find me something syndrome” begging politicians for money in exchange for favorable coverage or interviews.Loss of independence and self-censorship. On election day, some journalists took instructions from politicians on what to report and what to suppress. This compromised the independence of the media and reduced public trust.
Poor post-election reporting. Few media outlets reported what actually happened at the polling units. Incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and irregularities were either underreported or ignored entirely, while praise was lavished on politicians instead of amplifying the voices of the people.Spread of misinformation and unverified claims. In the rush to be first, some media houses published unverified results and rumors from social media without fact-checking. This fueled confusion and tension among the electorate.Inadequate coverage of rural and marginalized areas. Media attention was concentrated in urban centers, leaving rural polling units underreported. The experiences and challenges of rural voters were largely absent from mainstream coverage.
Sensationalism over substance. Some outlets prioritized sensational headlines and conflict-driven stories over factual analysis of policies and candidate manifestos, leaving voters uninformed about real issues. Failure to hold INEC accountable in real time. While INEC faced logistical failures and delays, many media houses were slow to question officials or demand explanations on air, missing opportunities for live accountability.
Neglect of voter education. Beyond reporting results, the media did little to educate voters on procedures, rights, and what to do in case of irregularities. This left many citizens uninformed and vulnerable on election day.These lapses weaken public trust and undermine the credibility of the electoral process. For the media to regain its role as a watchdog of democracy, it must return to the principles of accuracy, impartiality, and public service.
The media must be informed to follow its ethics as the 2027 elections approaches. This is encourage electorates rely on the authenticity and objectivity of media practice.Failure to uphold media standards will further make the country plunge into political apathy, electoral violence and disgust for those in the media practice.
By KRUKRUBO, NYE TAMUNODIKI.
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RSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Holds Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria

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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

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