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Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State (4th left), his Deputy, Dr Oluranti Adebule (3rd left),  Amirul Hajj and Chairman, Special Adhoc Committee for the Lagos 2015 Hajj, Dr Abdulhakeem Abdullateef (3rd right) and others, during the inauguration of the Committee in Lagos last Monday

Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State (4th left), his Deputy, Dr Oluranti Adebule (3rd left), Amirul Hajj and Chairman, Special Adhoc Committee for the Lagos 2015 Hajj, Dr Abdulhakeem Abdullateef (3rd right) and others, during the inauguration of the Committee in Lagos last Monday

Adamawa

The wife of Adamawa State Governor, has organised a Sallah
party for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Malkohi Camp near Yola.
Addressing the IDPs at a  party, Jibrilla said the gesture was to give them a sense of belonging and make them feel at home.
She urged them not to lose hope, assuring that this administration was committed to their safety and welfare.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Hajiya Maisaratu Bello, reiterated the state government’s commitment to the welfare of the IDPs, particularly the vulnerable ones comprising women and children.
Responding on behalf of the IDPs, the Excutive Secretary of the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), Alhaji Haruna Furo, thanked the governor’s wife for the party and donation of foods and other materials to IDPs.

Benue

The General Manager, Benue Environmental and Sanitation
Agency (BENSESA), Mr Ediga Akpa, says additional dump sites will be created across the state to facilitate waste management.
Akpa disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi.
He said the additional dump sites would facilitate effective discharge of the agency’s duties as well as enhance compliance with sanitation laws.
He said the present dump sites at North bank, Gboko road and Naka road were inadequate. Akpa attributed the indiscriminate refuse heaps in Makurdi to ongoing evacuation of drains and gutters by his men.
According to him, the evacuation will allow for the free flow of drains in the city and prevent flood.

FCT

The practice of true federalism will fast track Nigeria’s develop
ment, Mr Rafiu Salau, National Chairman, Alliance for Democracy (AD), has said.
Salau made the remark in Abuja during a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party.
The meeting was attended by executive members of the party from the six geo-political zones of the country.
“The party believes that the nation needs true federalism.
“The practice of true federalism will boost our democracy and enhance national growth and development,’’ Salau said.
The chairman said the creation of local governments was not the responsibility of the federal government but that of the state.
“It is not the responsibility of the federal government to decide the number of local governments for a state.

Gombe

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has
donated drugs to victims of multiple blasts at Dukku and Dadin/Kowa motor parks, Gombe.
Presenting the drugs, the Director-General of the agency, Alhaji Sani Sidi, described the incident as unfortunate.
He said the donation was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to assist victims of the disaster.
Sidi commended the state Hospitals Management Board for treating the victims and condoled families of those who lost their lives during the incident.
He said the agency would continue to support the state government to take good care of the victims.
Receiving the drugs, an official of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Dr Zainab Chukuma, thanked the agency for its concern.
Jigawa

The Jigawa State Government recently nnounced its decision
to establish School of Nursing and Specialist Hospital in Hadejia Local Government Area of the state.
This is contained in a statement issued by Malam Bello Zaki, the Special Assistant on Media to Governor Muhammad Badaru, made available to newsmen in Dutse.
The statement quoted Zaki as saying the governor stated this when he visited the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Maje, during a working tour to inspect parts of the town wrecked by flood.
Zaki said “Governor Muhammad Badaru has announced his government’s decision to establish School of Nursing and Midwifery in Hadejia town and the conversion of the town’s General Hospital to a specialists hospital during the tour.
“The governor mentioned it at the palace of the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Maje, during courtesy visit.’’
The special assistant said Badaru had reiterated the state government’s readiness to expand the Birniwa Hospital in Birniwa Local Government Area of the emirate to standard general hospital.

Kano

The Kano State Government, has directed its health of
ficials to investigate the reasons for the large number of unhealthy and dead cattle that littered abattoir in the state capital.
The Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Haruna Makena, gave the directive last Saturday in Kano while monitoring the monthly sanitation exercise in Kano metropolis.
Makena, who was represented by Alhaji Sagir Wall, the Permanent Secretary, expressed concern that unhealthy and dead cattle could endanger the health of the people.
“We cannot just sit by and watch the health of our citizens being jeopardised,” he said and urged health officials to look into the cause of large numbers of dead and unhealthy cattle in its abattoir.
The commissioner commended Kano residents for participating in the sanitation exercise.

Nasarawa

Nigeria and her citizens need God’s favour to overcome
challenges and be self sustainable, Pastor Ben Andrew of Living Faith Church in Lafia  Nasarawa State.
The cleric made the declaration in a Sunday sermon entitled “favour, its impacts and benefits.
According to him, if the country and its citizens are not spiritually favoured by God, they cannot escape the struggles even if all manner of aids are offered freely to them.
He said “the lack of God’s favour makes one not to progress and creates unending problems. The lack of God’s favour makes one to be forgotten.’’
Andrew also said the lack of divine favour could result into daunting struggles with nothing to show.
He then pleaded with leaders in the country and the citizens to look up to God for lasting favours rather than shun Him and rely on fellow humans whose favours were unpredictable, short lived and had unreasonable conditions.

Oyo

A cleric, Moses Kasali, has called on Nigerians to be
patient with President Muhammadu Buhari over the delay in constituting his cabinet.
He made the call recently  while addressing the congregation at the auditorium of the ministry in Ibadan.
Kasali, Head, Mercy of Prayer Ministry, Ibadan, was optimistic that the President would choose members of his cabinet within the first 100 days of his administration.
He also urged Nigerians to avoid calling the President ‘Baba Go Slow’ for not constituting his cabinet almost two months after his inauguration.
He said that Buhari was studying the situation to ensure appointment of competent and reliable hands into key ministries and parastatals.
Kasali said the wrangling in the two chambers of the National Assembly was a carryover of the old order.

Plateau
Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, last Sunday appointed
Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir as the state’s Amirul Hajj for this year’s Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Jingir is Chairman, Council of Ulama of the Jama’atul Izalatul Bidi’a Walikatis Sunna, which headquarters is in Jos.
Lalong, in a statement signed by Mr Emmanuel Nanle, Director of Press Affairs, also directed intending pilgrims that had completed the payment of their Hajj fare, to appear for screening from July 29, 2015.
According to him, the screening team, led by Alhaji Danlami Abdullahi, will carry out the exercise for two weeks.
The statement assured intending pilgrims that their safety and comfort would be ensured,both in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

Sokoto
Binji Local Government in Sokoto State has spent N100 million
into the construction of 10 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), its Chairman, Alhaji Umaru Danhabe, said in Sokoto, Sokoto State, recently.
Danhabe told newsmen that the council spent N10 million in constructing each of the facilities.
According to him, each of the PHCs had 10 wards with beds for 20 patients.
He said that one ambulance had also been provided to each of the centres to cater for emergency situations.
The chairman advised the people to promptly report any outbreak of epidemic to the nearest health centres, and assured them of government’s readiness to cater for their health needs.

Taraba

The Caretaker Chairman of Kurmi Local Government Area of
Taraba State, Mr Stephen Agya, has appealed to the federal and state governments to provide assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in the area.
Agya, who made the appeal in an interview with journalists in Jalingo, noted that thousands of people have been displaced by communal clashes and rainstorm in the area.
“I want to appeal to the federal and state governments to come to the aid of the council in taking care of the victims of communal clashes and rainstorm, who have been in camps for so long.
“NEMA and SEMA carried out assessment of the level of damage in the area five months ago, but no assistance has yet been given,’’ he said.
Agya said that the council had been catering for the IDPs within its limited resources.

Zamfara

The Deputy Director, Special Education, Federal Ministry of
Education, Mrs Joyce Eke, said last  Saturday that globally there were 58 million children of primary school age who were not enrolled in school.
Eke said in Gusau at a two-day National meeting on the revision of the Girls Education Project (GEP-3) Enrollment Drive Guidelines that globally 100 million children do not complete primary education.
The meeting was organised jointly by UNICEF, the Federal Ministry of Education and the five GEP-3 states of Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger, Katsina and Niger.
She said that Nigeria was responsible for 10.5 million out of the 58 were, a figure, she said was the highest in the world.

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FG Restates Commitment To Seafarers’ Welfare, Safety

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The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing the safety of the seafaring profession and upgrading maritime institutions to international standards.
Speaking at the 2025 World Seafarers’ Day celebration in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, organised by NIMASA, with the theme, “My Harassment-Free Ship.
He said that this year’s theme “speaks to our collective duty to make every ship a safe and respectful workplace noting that harassment and bullying have no place in our maritime industry.
The Minister further emphasised the importance of continuous training and retraining to ensure seafarers remain competitive and employable.
Also speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari, emphasised that seafarers are the backbone of international trade, facilitating the smooth transportation of goods and services across the globe.
He stressed the need to eliminate all forms of violence, harassment, and bullying against seafarers.
In his welcome address, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, emphasised the need for the maritime community to prioritise the welfare, safety of seafarers and maintain zero tolerance for harassment.
According to the DG, “Today provides opportunity for the Maritime Community to honor seafarers globally for their immense contribution to both domestic and international trade, powering the blue economy and connecting nations across oceans”.
He said that this year’s theme was particularly apt, as it was a call to action to “ensure that our seafarers feel safe, are valued and protected while at sea because the ship is not just their place of work; it is their temporary home. It must therefore reflect the highest standards of dignity and professionalism fostering zero tolerance for harassment”.
He declared that NIMASA must continue to play its part in ensuring that Nigeria contributes effectively to regulations affecting seafarers, as Nigeria remains the highest contributor of seafarers in Africa. “Our men and women sail on vessels in our domestic waters and also globally. This will continue to grow through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) and the effort of our Maritime Training Institutions.
‘At the recently concluded 113th session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, seven (7) amendments to the MLC 2006 code addressing a broad range of issues affecting seafarers, including the recognition of seafarers as key workers, improved protection against ship board violence and harassment, enhanced access to shore leave and repatriation and updated medical and occupational safety standards were approved by an overwhelming majority.
These seven (7) amendments reflect collective global effort to align maritime Labour standards with the evolving landscape of global shipping.
I, therefore, call on shipowners, operators and crewing agencies to begin to review their operational manuals to align with these amendments ahead of the expected entry into force in December 2027. Our seafarers must be able to report grievances without fear of retaliation, while also ensuring protection against vexations or malicious complaints.
He added that NIMASA will play its role by establishing clear policies and procedures for preventing and addressing harassment on Nigerian-flagged vessels, ensuring confidential reporting channels for incidents of harassment and that reports are thoroughly investigated and addressed.
“Today is a clear reminder to us all – government, employers, unions, shipowners, and civil society- that seafarers should not be left alone in their struggles. They look up to us to help them foster a culture of zero tolerance on ships to protect their dignity”, he stated.
He also assured that under his leadership, NIMASA will ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, particularly the renewal of entries into force by ship owners, operators, and relevant agencies come December 2027.

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Ogoni Stakeholders Hail Zabbey’s Performance

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Stakeholders drawn across the four local government areas of Ogoniland in Rivers State, have expressed delight over the excellent performance of the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof Nenibarini Zabbey within the past two years, describing him as a true patriot, who has been showing leadership in delivering service to the people.
The stakeholders, who gave the indication in their separate goodwill messages during the mid-term stakeholders engagement and scorecard presentation organised by HYPREP in Port Harcourt, scored the Project Coordinator high on the Ogoni cleanup and the overall implementation of the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
The President of KAGOTE and Board member of the Ogoni Trust Fund, Hon Emma Deeyah, particularly commended Zabbey for turning around the fortunes of the Ogoni people, as they are now having value for the money earmarked for the cleanup project, describing the Project Coordinator as “one of our best.”
He noted that Zabbey has done well on the saddle, working very hard, being an administrator and leader with listening ears, striving assiduously to meet the yearnings and expectations of the people.
He said the Ogoni cleanup is a journey that has just begun, stressing that he was happy that the Project Coordinator is not on the saddle to amass wealth but to deliver and achieve results, and appealed to the Ogoni people to continue to give him their support.
On his part, member representing Gokana/Khana Federal Constituency in the National Assembly and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Rt Hon Dumnamene Dekor, said HYPREP under the watch of Zabbey is working with renewed vigour, and thanked the Project Coordinator for driving the Ogoni cleanup project with passion.
He noted that the funds dedicated and earmarked for the project are running out, disclosing that he was working on an Executive Bill, to facilitate the work of HYPREP.
While stressing the need for the people to take full responsibility of all the projects sited in their communities, Dekor regretted that some beneficiaries had sold the starter packs presented to them by HYPREP, while the water facility provided in his Bierra community has been vandalised.
The King of Tai Kingdom, King Samuel Nnee, said HYPREP under Zabbey as Project Coordinator has been delivering on its mandate, describing him as a square peg in a square hole, who has given hope to the Ogoni people.
The monarch urged the Ogoni people to give the Project Coordinator the necessary support.
The Paramount Ruler of Barako Community and member of the Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt, Mene Kadilo Kabari, said Zabbey has always demonstrated that he is a true patriot by carrying along Ogoni people from all strata of the society, describing him as a performing Project Coordinator.
He noted that the bane of HYPREP before now had been the conflict between the Project Coordinator and the Minister of Environment, saying, under Zabbey, Ogoni people can now see what unity of purpose can achieve.
He expressed delight that the water facility which was the first commissioned by HYPREP in his community is functioning optimally following the solar-powered system installed by the Project.
The King of Eleme Kingdom, King(Dr) Philip Osaro Obelle thanked HYPREP’s management team for all that it is doing in Ogoniland, stressing that the Project was built on the graves, bellies and blood of Ogoni sons and daughters who lost their lives during the Ogoni struggle.
He, therefore, advised HYPREP “not to deviate from the expectations of our heroes but to do those things that would benefit Ogoni people for the betterment of Ogoniland.”
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Netherlands, Hon Oji Ngofa said HYPREP has been like the government of Ogoniland, and harped on the sustainability of all the projects.
According to him, Zabbey has been giving HYPREP a human face.
Former Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof Barineme Fakae applauded Zabbey for the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, and stressed the need for the implementation of the recommendations of its technical committee which recently submitted its report.
According to him, if the project succeeds, Ogoni people are going to succeed.
Chief Priscillia Vikue, on her part, thanked Zabbey for his outstanding performance, saying, the women of Ogoni are very happy with what he is doing in Ogoniland.
While scoring the Project Coordinator highly on his performance, she said the women are happy because Zabbey knows what he is doing with HYPREP.
“You went to school.You did not cut corners.You are a square peg in a square hole.You have engaged women and the youths. We have seen what you have done. And we give you A1”, she said, and challenged Zabbey to see how more women would participate in the project and also how to sustain it.
In his remarks, the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey said the mid-term engagement is important because “it allows us to present tangible evidence of progress in the Ogoni cleanup effort, reinforce accountability, deepen transparency, and most importantly, enables HYPREP to interact directly with the communities and stakeholders who are the heartbeat of this project.”
He noted that the scorecard presentation is designed to show what HYPREP has achieved across key thematic areas, what challenges it is currently grappling with, and what the road ahead looks like, saying, “it is a moment for stocktaking and for re-affirming our shared commitment to the success of the Ogoni cleanup project”.
According to him, HYPREP has recorded commendable progress in the implementation of its core mandates in line with UNEP recommendations and the directives in the official gazette establishing HYPREP.

 

Donatus Ebi

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TETFunds’ South Rep Visits CEAPOLY …Unveils Mass Communication Dept Building

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The South-South representative of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Board, Rt. Hon. Aboh Uduyok, has concluded his one-day official visit to Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Rumuola, Rivers State, with the unveiling of the Mass Communication Department classroom building. The project was executed under the 2021 TETFund intervention project.
During the unveiling of the project, Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rt. Hon. Uduyok commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to the educational sector and praised the polytechnic’s management for utilising TETFund resources judiciously.
He noted that the quality of ongoing projects met approved specifications, and expressed satisfaction with the institution’s progress.
The TETFund representative stated that his visit was aimed at familiarising himself with beneficiary schools, assess fund utilization, and identify challenges.
He assured the school management that he would convey their requests for constructing engineering works and hostel accommodations to the board and notify them of any approval.
Rt. Hon. Uduyok explained that the TETFund Board is not initiating new projects this year, except where necessary, due to presidential directives. However, he commended the institution for the commendable quality of both completed and ongoing projects.
In his welcome address, the Rector of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Dr. Moses S. Neebee, thanked the TETFund representative for visiting, and highlighted the institution’s successes and challenges. He requested support for hostel accommodations and engineering works, emphasising that a higher institution without hostels is akin to a glorified secondary school.
Dr. Neebee while briefing the visitor on the institution’s progress, noted that it currently runs 21 National Diploma programme and five Higher National Diploma courses. He disclosed that the school accessed the 2021 TETFund release in full but faced challenges with the 2023 fund due to harsh economic conditions and bid process delays, which increased project costs. The Rector pleaded for assistance in securing additional funds for the 2023 intervention release.

Akujobi Amadi

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