Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

June 3, 2015

Adamawa
The Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency
(ADSEMA) says no fewer than 2,000 school-aged children of Internally Displaced Persons, have enrolled into the Safe School programme in the state.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Mr. Haruna Furo, who disclosed this to newsmen in Yola, said the initiative was part of the Federal Government’s special education package for the children of IDPs nationwide.
According to him, the programme is a collaboration between State Universal Basic Education Board, National Emergency Management Agency, and UNICEF.
He disclosed that the main objective of the programme was to ensure that the education of the affected children did not suffer any setback while living in the camps.
“Presently, the Safe School programme for children of IDPs in both primary and secondary schools had commenced in six designated camps across the state.
“Over 2000 children have enrolled in the programme and about 165 of them, already admitted into various Unity Schools and Colleges across the country.” Furo said.

Bauchi
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the North
East Zone has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to be fair to all Nigerians without religious prejudice or ethnic sentiment.
The Chairman of the association in the zone, Rev. Shuaibu Byal, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi.
Byal said that the generality of Nigerians from different walks of life and without prejudice to religion and ethnicity voted for the president.
He said that it would be fair for the Buhari administration to consider every part of the country for appointment into the various political offices irrespective of religion, regional or ethnic differences.
“Appointments into political offices have always been based on ethnicity and religion in this country.
“Now that the long awaited change has come, Nigerians expect a shift from such predispositions.
“As Nigerians, we expect fairness and equity in appointments into political offices, particularly by ensuring a balance between the two major religions, to strengthen trust and confidence among us,’’ he said.

Ekiti

Former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr.
Olufemi Bamitile, said the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would restore Nigeria’s lost glory.
Bamitile said this in his country home, Kuta in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State when he addressed a gathering of party faithful to celebrate the inauguration of President Buhari.
He commended the courage of APC supporters in the state and urged them to continue working for the success of the party.

FCT

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria
(HURIWA), an NGO, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to pay attention to police reforms and to wage total war against corruption and mass poverty.
National coordinator, HURIWA, Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, made this call in a signed statement made available to journalists in Abuja.
Onwubiko described the smooth civilian -to-civilian transition programme that took place on May 29 as unprecedented and successful.
He urged the new Federal Government to begin without further delay the comprehensive overhaul of the anti-graft machinery by appointing tested, trusted, fearless, incorruptible and competent persons to his cabinet.
The HURIWA boss stressed the need to appoint competent and qualified persons to head the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission (ICPC).
He said HURIWA believed that the current leadership of the two anti corruption agencies have compromised in very unpleasant dimension.

Gombe
Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has
pledged to continue to pursue probity, transparency and accountability in running the affairs of the state.
He spoke while taking oath of office for a second term in office in Gombe administered by the State Chief Judge, Justice Akila Heman at the Pantami Stadium Gombe.
The governor promised to carry all stakeholders along to give them a sense of belonging.
He said the sporadic attacks from insurgents and the hosting of internally displaced persons from the neighbouring states affected by the crisis had negative impact on the lean resources of the state.
The governor, however, said his commitment and stringent fiscal management had led to the transformation of the state into a modern metropolis for other states to emulate.

Jigawa

Some persons displaced as a result of the Boko Haram
insurgency, have resorted to begging in major streets of Hadejia town in Jigawa, to fend for themselves.
Sources said that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), comprising of women and children, roam the streets, offices, market places and other strategic locations, to beg for alms.
According to sources some of the IDPs were taking refuge in unoccupied stalls at Hadejia market, due to lack of approved camp in the area, while others, who migrated from Yobe and Borno states, as well as Niger Republic, were staying with relations in Hadejia town.
Hauwa Bakari, one of the displaced persons, said she was forced to beg to fend for herself and her three children.

Kano

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, said that his
administration would employ female sanitary Inspectors to strengthen personal hygiene in many homes in the state.
Ganduje announced this in Kano while launching a campaign on “Keep Kano Clean” at the Gyadi-Gyadi dumping site in Tarauni Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the present administration would focus more on strengthening personal and environmental hygiene with seriousness, to keep Kano clean.
The female inspectors, he said, would go into houses to ensure that children and everyone in the house observed personal and environmental cleanliness, as it used to be.
He further said that sanitary inspectors would be posted to all markets and slaughter houses in the state, to oversee their activities, stressing that the new administration would not tolerate negligence in sanitation issues.

Kwara

An economist, Mr. Babatunde Salami, has blamed poor
economic management and unjustifiable high debt profile for the country’s failing economy.
Salami made the remark while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin.
According to him, it is pitiable that it may take about four or more years to offset the over N14 trillion loan borrowed by government.
He stressed that it was unimaginable that the level of development was not commensurate with the country’s debt profile.
Lagos

The Women Advocates Research and Documentation
Centre (WARDC) has urged the Federal Government to establish an Independent Electoral Offences Tribunal to address issues of electoral violence in the country.
The Executive Director of the centre, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, made the call at a joint media briefing with the International Foundation for Electoral System and the European Union on “Issues and Challenges of Post 2015 Election’’.

Plateau

Elder statesman and All Progressives Congress (APC)
chieftain in Plateau, Alhaji Yahaya Kwande, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to resort to the use of internal mechanisms in fighting corruption.
He told newsmen in Jos last Saturday that corruption was not a new thing in Nigeria as it predated the colonial era.
Kwande however said that the scourge of corruption escalated because institutional mechanisms for fighting it such as checks and balances in the various Ministry’s Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were relegated to the background.
He lamented that, in recent time, even commissioners and deputy governors were mere figures heads who acted on issues, including corruption among their staff, only on the directives of either the president or the governors.

Sokoto

Former VC Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, Prof. Shehu
Riskuwa, has expressed confidence that the present administration would weed out Boko Haram insurgency.
Riskuwa told newsmen in Sokoto that President Muhammadu Buhari, being an army general, would come out with stringent security measures that would end the killings of innocent souls.
He said that Buhari had the political will to end the activities of the insurgents, hence the decision to relocate the military central command to Maiduguri showed that the administration was committed to tackling the insurgency.
He explained that ‘’ it has been part of his campaign to bring to an end the activities of the insurgents.

Secretary, Nuj, Fct, Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche (left), presenting a nomination form for the post of the Nuj President to the National Secretary of the union, Mr Shu’Aibu Leman, on behalf of Mustapha Lamidi of the News Agency of Nigeria (Nan), during the submission of the form for Nuj Election in Abuja recently. With them are the contestant, Mr Mustapha Lamidi (2nd-right) and Chairman, Nan Chapel, Mr Felix Ajide.

Nation

Sachet Alcohol Fuels Binge Drinking Among Nigerian Youths, Group Warns

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Standard Bearers (SB) Islamic Organisation has raised concerns over the growing rate of binge drinking among Nigerian youths, attributing the trend largely to the widespread availability of sachet alcohol.

The group’s position follows the recent move by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce a ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres.

In a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Dr. Nurudeen AbdulRaheem, and National Secretary, Malam Qaasim Adegbuyi, the organisation declared its full support for NAFDAC’s decision, describing it as a timely and necessary public health intervention.

AbdulRaheem noted that sachet alcohol, often sold for as little as ?100, has made excessive drinking more accessible, particularly to young people and minors. According to him, the affordability and small packaging of such products have worsened binge drinking, youth addiction and community insecurity.

He explained that binge drinking involves consuming multiple alcoholic drinks within a short period, typically within two hours, a practice that can lead to severe physical and mental health complications as well as legal and social problems.

The SB National Coordinator cited global health data indicating that alcohol is responsible for more than three million deaths annually worldwide and remains a major contributor to road accidents, violence, liver disease and mental health disorders.

While acknowledging concerns from industry stakeholders over the economic implications of the ban, AbdulRaheem maintained that public health considerations must take precedence.

“Public health and the protection of young lives must come first,” he stated, adding that Islamic ethical values, like many societal norms, emphasise the protection of life, intellect and family stability.

The organisation urged NAFDAC and the Federal Government to remain resolute in implementing the policy while also providing transition support for businesses that may be affected by the ban.

According to the group, the enforcement of the ban represents a significant step toward promoting a safer and healthier society.

By Favour James

Nation

HYPREP Unleashes 100 Ogoni Youths Into Maritime Industry …Tasks Them On Discipline, Safety

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has successfully concluded its Seafarers Training Programme for 100 Ogoni youths, positioning them for opportunities in the competitive global maritime industry.

The beneficiaries, who underwent four months of intensive training at Charkin Maritime Academy, Port Harcourt, received their certificates during a close-out ceremony held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The event was attended by top management staff of HYPREP, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning of Charkin Maritime Academy, the Head of the Seafaring Department, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, and other dignitaries.

Addressing the graduates, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, described the ceremony as a celebration of hard work, dedication, and the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the young beneficiaries.

He said the graduation symbolises vision, resilience, and hope — hope translated into skills, certificates, and tangible opportunities for a better future for Ogoni youths.

According to him, the passing-out ceremony marks an important milestone in HYPREP’s mandate to restore livelihoods and promote sustainable development in Ogoniland. He urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the skills and certifications acquired.

“These skills and achievements should not end here but serve as a springboard for self-reliance, dignity of labour, and long-term economic empowerment for the good of Ogoniland and Nigeria,” he stated.

Prof. Zabbey noted that the seafaring programme is significant not only to the beneficiaries but also to HYPREP’s broader livelihood restoration strategy and the Federal Government’s blue economy agenda.

He explained that by equipping the youths with globally relevant maritime skills, HYPREP is opening alternative income opportunities while discouraging oil theft, artisanal refining, re-pollution, and other environmentally harmful practices. He added that the initiative aligns with the directives of the 2016 HYPREP Establishment Gazette and reinforces the Project’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.

Commending Charkin Maritime Academy as a dependable training partner, Zabbey described the institution as one of the foremost maritime training centres in the country.

“This partnership has delivered high-quality results today, and we intend to expand it as we intensify efforts to provide sustainable alternative livelihoods for the Ogoni people,” he said.

He expressed confidence in Ogoni youths as drivers of unity, peace, and progress, noting their resilience and commitment to peace in the area. He reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to supporting the aspirations of youths and women in Ogoniland.

The Project Coordinator likened knowledge and certificates to fuel in a vehicle, stressing that they are meant to propel the graduates toward greater heights.

“We hear your voices calling for restoration, and today, environmental and livelihood restoration are gradually unfolding before your eyes, bringing renewed hope. We continue to lay brick upon brick, building pillars of Ogoni development, as evidenced by the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), which is 93 per cent completed,” he added.

He emphasised that HYPREP’s approach integrates all projects and interventions toward achieving environmental sustainability and long-term development in Ogoniland.

Also speaking, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr. Ehioze Igbinomwahia, said the graduates had gained not only technical maritime skills but also discipline, resilience, and confidence to compete globally.

He described their graduation as the beginning of a new journey and noted that the UNEP Report emphasised that environmental restoration must be complemented by sustainable livelihoods, capacity building, and youth empowerment.

“Without empowering people, restoration cannot be complete. Programmes such as this maritime training represent practical steps toward creating employment pathways, dignity, and long-term community stability,” he said.

Engr. Igbinomwahia added that Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited remains committed to supporting environmental recovery, human capacity development, and sustainable economic opportunities in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta.

Highlighting the importance of discipline and safety, he urged the graduates to be ambassadors of professionalism and integrity.

“The sea you are about to enter is vast and sometimes challenging, but it is also full of opportunity. Let discipline guide your actions, let safety remain your constant companion, and let your character speak for you wherever you go,” he advised.

Similarly, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning at Charkin Maritime Academy, Captain Joseph Awodeha, who represented the Chairman, Dr. Charles Wami, emphasised discipline and safety as critical to career success in the maritime sector.

The Head of the Seafaring Department, Captain Jonathan Hammond, urged the graduates to remain humble and disciplined, noting that such virtues are essential for career growth.

In his remarks, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, Barrister Dornu Baridan, commended the beneficiaries for successfully scaling through the
rigorous selection process and completing their training as seafarers.

Nation

Nigerian Society of Engineers Inaugurates 14-Member Executives In Rivers”

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Port Harcourt Branch, Rivers State, has elected 14 member executives to lead the organization for the 2025/2026 year. Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, is the 23rd chairman.

The inauguration ceremony, held at the Engr. Ishmael A. Branch Secretariat, 3 Benard Carr Street (Waterworks Yard), Port Harcourt, attracted members of the engineering profession from within and outside the state.

Other elected executives include:
Engr. Samuel H. Kwelle, MNSE – Vice Chairman
Engr. Dr. Promise Jumbo, FNSE – General Secretary
Engr. Priye P. K. Lawson, MNSE – Assistant Secretary
Engr. Patrick O. Udegbunam, MNSE – Treasurer.

Others are Engr. Hilda D. Batubo, MNSE – Financial Secretary
Engr. Bowei M. Dauseighe, MNSE – Technical Secretary
Engr. Charles O. Okwakpam, MNSE – Assistant Technical Secretary
Engr. Agnes Komolafe, MNSE – Membership Secretary
Engr. Dike N. Livingstone, MNSE – Publicity Secretary

Also elected are Engr. Ayebaye Daniel Wanatoi, MNSE – Welfare Secretary
Engr. Oribiokpomari I. Comfort, MNSE – Internal Auditor
Engr. Dr. Idaeresoari Harriet Ateke, FNSE – Immediate Past Chairman
Engr Dr Hachimenum Amadi, FNSE (Ex-Officio)

In his a goodwill message, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon. Frederick Anabraba, urged the new executive to maintain high ethical standards and move the association forward.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, promised an inclusive administration and teamwork, focusing on collaboration with stakeholders. He had begun building partnerships with Rivers State University and the University of Port Harcourt.

The highlight was the inauguration lecture, “Engineering Solution for Security, Energy Access and Sustainable Development,” delivered by Engr. Victor Bandele, Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater Assets, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited.