Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

May 29, 2015

Adamawa

A group of unknown gunmen has kidnapped the mem
ber representing Toungo Counstituency in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Usman.
Usman was said to be kidnapped by the gunmen who stormed his residence at Kofare Ward of Yola around midnight.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Adamawa Police Command, Mr Othman Abubakar, said the lawmaker was taken away at gunpoint.
He however said that the police were investigating the incident.

Bauchi

Arewa Youths and Women Coalition for Good Gover
nance (AYWCGG), a Bauchi-based non-governmental organization, has called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to be fair to all in their zoning formula.
The North East Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Aminu Sidi, made the call at a press conference in Bauchi.
Sidi said that Nigerians had entrusted the future of the country in the hands of APC because of their belief that the party would help restore the country’s lost glory.
He called on the leadership of the party, to be fair, just and carry every geo-political zone along in its power sharing formula, to reflect the aspiration of Nigerians, who voted APC as the nation’s ruling party.

FCT

The Federal Government has agreed to go into partner
ship with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD) in its Youth Education Development project.
The Country Representative of the institute, Mr Dickson Omoregie, made the disclosure in a statement issued recently in Abuja.
The Education and Youth Development Department of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development is expected to host ICD in its Youth Education Development project.
The project will be domiciled in the youth ministry because of government partnership, to gain accessibility and easy dissemination of information, Omoregie stated.

Gombe

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
has presented relief materials to over 1,000 individuals and organisations affected by bomb blasts, insurgency attacks and fire disasters in Gombe State, recently.
Our correspondent learnt that the affected groups comprised those affected by the bomb blast at Dukku motor park and fire disaster in some areas of Gombe metropolis and Billiri town.
Others are victims of insurgency attacks in Gombe metropolis, Dadin Kowa, Hinna and Kwadon towns of Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony in Gombe the Head of Operations, NEMA, Gombe, Alhaji Ahmed Minin, said the materials were to serve as succour and not compensation to the victims.

Jigawa

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in
Jigawa State, Alhaji Ubali Hashim, has called on the Federal Government to complete the Hadejia Valley project to encourage agricultural activities in the area.
Hashim told newsmen in Hadejia, Jigawa State, that the call was imperative in order to mobilise participation in agriculture, accelerate paddy rice production and reduce poverty in the country.
He said that the project would open up lands for irrigation farming in Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states.
He added that more than one million farmers in Jigawa could be engaged when the project was completed as it would immensely contribute to sustainable socio-economic development of the state.
The APC leader also advised the new administration in the state to utilise the agriculture and water resources to address the problem of unemployment among youths.

Kaduna

Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, has solicited the assis
tance of the Federal Government and other stakeholders for funds to support the less privileged in need of legal services.
The Director-General of the Council, Mrs Joy Bobmanuel, made the appeal on Friday in Kaduna in an interview with newsmen.
The Legal Aid Council was set up to assist the less privileged who could not afford legal services in courts.
Bobmanuel said the council was constraint by inadequate funding from both the federal government and international donors.
She said that additional funding would help the council assist more persons in need of its services.

Kwara

Women in three rural communities in Kwara State would
be sponsored under a girl education programme by the Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication, an NGO.
The Chief Executive Officer of the centre, Alhaji Sulaiman Kareem, disclosed this recently in Tunga Maje, Kaiama local government area of the state at a community dialogue.
The forum was convened to chart a new course on ways to improve girls’ education in rural communities, he said.
Kareem noted that the NGO, a partner of Actionaid Nigeria, was working in three communities of Tenebo, Tunga Maje and Gatte because of the decline in girls’ enrollment in schools in the area.
According to him, the centre will set up business for the women and proceeds from it would be spent on sponsorship of girls’ education alone.

Lagos

The Librarian, National Open University of Nigeria
(NOUN), Dr Ukoha Igwe, has called on librarians in schools across the country to step up efforts in sustaining school libraries.
Ukoha made the call at the close of the week long Nigeria International Book Fair, held in Lagos.
According to him, the libraries remain the power house of knowledge, adding that without them, there will be no innovation.
He said that librarians must be able to develop their capacities to improve on library services.
The NOUN librarian said that for librarians to remain relevant, they must ensure that they train and retrain, to be at par with new technologies and other developing trends.
Ukoha said that libraries should be torchbearers that must constantly provide light for people to come out of darkness.
He said that the failure of libraries to provide light for people would promote conflicts among the young people in the society.
Nasarawa

The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi, Nasarawa
State, has commenced the digitisation of keeping information relating to patients.
The Medical Director of the centre, Dr Joshua Giyan, stated this during the inauguration of the new technology at the information management unit of the centre in Keffi.
He said that the move was part of the centre’s commitment to ensure that patients’ information were kept safe as well as to ensure quality service delivery for the benefit of all.
“The aims and objectives of this new technology are to ensure that patients’ information is kept for a longer period without entertaining any fear.
“The new device will help to curb cases of misinformation about patients’ details,” he said.
He said that all modalities had been put in place for proper maintenance of the new device, to ensure its durability.

Oyo

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan(UI), Prof. Isaac
Adewole, says in Ibadan, that the institution would partner Galilee Institute of Management, Israel, in the areas of research development.
He said that the two institutions would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)that would include modalities to deepen? research in technology and health.
Adewole, who spoke at the ?64th Interdisciplinary Discourse of the Postgraduate School, decried under-funding of research in Nigeria.
The vice-chancellor said that Nigeria cannot compete globally without strengthening research.
“The successes recorded in Israel are a pointer to the fact that only Nigerians can turn around positively the fortunes of Nigeria with determination and commitment” he said.
He urged the incoming administration to invest in research, and properly fund tertiary institutions in order to place Nigeria tops among the comity of nations.

Yobe

The Nigeria Red Cross Society has distributed relief ma
terials to 3,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Yobe State under the Presidential Initiative for the North-East zone.
Red Cross Distribution Officer for Yobe, Malam Kabir Umar, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
“Under this Programme, we have carefully screened 3,000 genuine victims of insurgency to benefit from the package.
“The beneficiaries who are taking refuge in Damaturu, Potiskum, Fika and Geidam were screened and authenticated by leaders of the affected communities.
“The society is working in partnership with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for easy location and identification of the victims to benefit from the programme,” Umar said.

R-L: Apc Taraba Gubernatorial Cadidate, Senator Aisha Alhassan, President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Chairman of APC in Taraba State, Alhaji Jika Hassan and Chief Whip Rep Ishala Baurau during their visit to President, elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja

Nation

Acting Provost Dismisses Alleged Missing Equipment Claims at Rivers Health College

Published

9 hours 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.

Nation

Ogoni Mangrove Wetlands Gain International Recognition As Ramsar Site

Published

3 weeks ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

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.