Nation
THE STATES
Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi (right) and Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State (2nd right), sympathising with the victim of Gombe ‘s multiple bomb explosion, during their visit at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe on Friday. Photo: NAN
Adamawa
The police in Adamawa State have arrested four sus
pected kidnappers believed to be terrorising the residents of Yola and its environs.
A statement by Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Othman Abubakar, said two AK 47 rifles and sixty rounds of ammunitions were found with the suspects at the time of arrest.
It said they were responsible for the recent kidnap of Adamawa House of Assembly member, Alhaji Usman Adamu and Sarkin Tsafta of Adamawa, Alhaji Aliyu Aminu.
It added that the gang was also responsible for the kidnap of Wilson Gundiri, brother to Marcus Gundiri, governorship candidate of SDP in the last general elections.
The statement said the suspects were undergoing investigation at the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Bauchi
Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State has
urged journalists working in the state to always abide by the ethics of their profession.
The Governor made the call in Bauchi when a delegation of the Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) visited him.
He advised them to shun reports that would mislead members of the public and threaten the peace of the state
The governor pledged to provide the necessary support that would enable journalists discharge their duties without hindrance.
On the payment of weigh-in allowances to staff of state-owned media outfits, the governor said that he was yet to be briefed on the issue by the appropriate authorities.
Benue
The Chairman, Benue NGO Network, (BENGONET), Mr
Justin Gbagir, has advised Governor Samuel Ortom to conduct an audit of civil servants in Benue State to weed out ghost workers and reduce monthly wage bill.
Gbagir newsmen in an interview in Makurdi that the current wage bill of N3.7 billion being incurred by the state was unacceptable.
He said the audit would determine the actual staff strength of the state, saying that a lot of administrative lapses in the last regime in the state, might have been responsible for the huge amount.
He commended Ortom for his management of the resources of the state, urging him to continue the good work.
“What he (Ortom) has done shows an improvement over what we witnessed in the past eight years in this state.
FCT
The Department of State Services (DSS) has reassured
Nigerians of its readiness to check activities of criminal gangs in the country.
This is contained in a statement by the department, signed by Mr Tony Opuiyo in Abuja
It assured Nigerians that it would not relent in its efforts to checkmate the activities of any criminal gang that terrorised innocent citizens across the federation.
The statement urged members of the public to volunteer useful information that would assist the service in apprehending criminal gangs, promising that such information would be treated with ”utmost confidentiality and dispatch”.
It said that any suspect arrested by the service would be arraigned in courts in accordance with the law, adding that efforts were on to apprehend fleeing members of some kidnap gangs and others hiding across the country.
It disclosed that it had arrested some criminals in some states across the country.
Gombe
Wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, has do
nated undisclosed amount of money to 48 victims of the recent Gombe bomb blast admitted at the Federal Teaching and Specialists’ Hospital (FTH), Gombe.
Jibir member representing Dukku/Nafada Federal constituency of Gombe State, Hajiya Aisha, presented the money Saturday in Gombe,on behalf of the First Lady.
Jibir told the victims that she was sent by the president’s wife to commiserate with them and give them a token assistance.
“The president’s wife was told about your conditions and being a caring mother, she decided to assist.
“The amount is just a token to help relieve you of the suffering you are encountering.
“She also prayed for the soul of those that lost their lives in the blast, to rest in peace,” she told the victims.
Jigawa
Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State has said
that it immunised 111,372 children against polio virus during the recent round of polio immunisation.
The Manager, National Programme on Immunisation for the area, Alhaji Suraj Muhammad, told newsmen in Dutse last Sunday the council received 121,000 doses of Oral Polio Vaccines and used 119,040.
He said 150 non-compliance cases were recorded out of which 142 cases were resolved and eight cases pending.
Muhammad said that the non-compliance cases would have resulted in the non-immunisation of 282 children, but its resolution led to 272 children being immunised.
Kebbi
The wife of the Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Zainab Atiku,
has donated drugs and food stuff to people living positive and drug addicts in Zuru Emirate of Kebbi state.
The donation was presented in Zuru to Sani HIV/AIDS Trust Fund, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) established by the Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Sani Gomo II.
Atiku told the Emir that the donation was to reduce hardship faced by the victims, make them have a sense of belonging, as well as erase the pain of stigma.
She pledged to sustain her support to the victims and other under privileged members of the society, calling on other privileged persons to do same.
In his remarks, the Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Sani Gomo II, commended the donor and called on other members of the public to emulate her by providing employment, material and financial support to the victims.
Lagos
The National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria
(NAPTAN) last Friday urged state governments indebted to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to pay up, to avoid jeopardising the children’s future.
NAPTAN’s National Coordinator Babs Animashaun made the plea in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
WAEC had on July 27, threatened to withhold results of thousands of students from 19 states, who participated in the May/June WASSCE, over non-payment of their registration fees.
WAEC said that the affected state governments were indebted to the council to the tune of over N4 billion.
Nasarawa
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has of
fered employment to 10 persons out of 40 persons living with HIV/AIDs who had just concluded a skills acquisition programme in the state.
Al-makura announced the gesture last Saturday in Lafia at the 5th graduation of beneficiaries of the programme, trained at Mother and Child Care Enhancement Foundation, a pet project of Mrs Salamatu Umaru-Almakura.
About reports that 40 beneficiaries were trained in different skills, including tailoring, knitting, hairdressing, interior decorations and catering.
He said that providing employment to people living with HIV/AIDs was to give them a sense of belonging as well as to improve their standard of living.
Plateau
The Transition Interim Chairman of Bokkos Local Gov
ernment of Plateau State, Mr Luka Makut, has urged workers to be committed and diligent in the discharge of their duties.
Makut gave the charge in Bokkos as he took over the mantle of leadership of the council.
”As workers, you are the engine room of the council, therefore, it behoves on you to be diligent and hardworking to assist me in my quest to transform the area.
”I need your cooperation in my drive to ensure that Bokkos Local Government becomes one of the well-developed councils in Plateau, ” he said.
The new council boss pledged to do his best in improving the living conditions of the good people of Bokkos.
According to him, the little resources of the area will be fully utilised to transform the council and to give workers welfare priority attention.
Sokoto
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has warned
middlemen to steer clear of fertilisers purchased by the state government.
Tambuwal spoke in Bodinga Local Government Area when he inaugurated the sale of the 6,600 bags of NPK and Urea brands of fertlisers allocated to the council area.
Represented by Alhaji Mainasara Ahmed, Permanent/Clerk of the House of Assembly, Tambuwal said that 3,975 bags of fertilisers would be sold only to small-scale farmers.
He said that the remaining would be sold to large-scale farmers, traditional and religious leaders, politicians, and civil servants who engage in farming activities.
Tambuwal warned that the state government would not fold its arms and allow some unscrupulous and unpatriotic elements to prevent the genuine farmers from getting the subsidised commodity.
According to him, the NPK and Urea brands will be sold to the farmers at the highly subsidised prices of N1,700 and N1,800 per bag, respectively.
Zamfara
Over 10,000 people have been treated and discharged
in Sokoto State in the past two years under free medical treatment programme of the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN).
The National President of the Association, Dr. Salisu Isma’il, stated this recently in Gusau while fielding questions from newsmen in Gusau, as part of activities of the 16th National Scientific Conference and National General Meeting of the association.
Dr. Isma’il said that the beneficiaries comprised men and women in Sokoto metropolis and some neighbouring local government areas.
“The treatment was part of the assistance rendered by the association as we always work towards assisting patients, especially those without the means to foot the bills of their medical treatment.
“We also organise seminars and workshops on health related issues for our members and other community members, conduct enlightenment campaign with the aim of improving knowledge and understanding of the people on health related issues”, he said.
Youths from five local government areas in Northern Cross River State have concluded a one-week warning protest and blockade of the dilapidated Ikom-Wula-Obudu federal highway over the weekend.
They have vowed to resume the road blocks if by this week the authorities do not intervene to fix the road.
More than five thousand locals, mostly youths from Obanliku, Etung, Obudu, Ikom and Boki LGAs trooped out everyday for one week, used palm trees to block the highway to draw state and federal government’s attention to their plights, requesting the repair of a road has has been unmotorable for about 40 years.
They warned that if they do not see any actions from the state or federal governments, they will resume their Plan B protest, stop revenue collections and make governance unpalatable.
The youths also warned that without interventions on the road which has claimed several lives, including that of last week when a pregnant woman died with her baby in the full glare of the protesters because of the terrible road, no election can hold in the area next year.
One of the leaders of the No Road , No Election protest, who is also the Abo Youths in Boki LGA, Dr Martins Assam said both the federal and state governments have neglected the region, which generates more than 70 percent state revenue from agriculture.
He said if machinery is not deployed by next week, they will not have any option than to embark on unpalatable and disastrous protest, and stop revenue collections in the area.
“Last week we had only a warning strike for one good week. We’ll embark on a more elaborate, disastrous one-month blockade of this highway until they intervene. We call on our Governor and representatives in the National Assembly to act now by impressing on the federal government to immediately fix this road else. We’re not asking for two much but to be treated as human beings.”
Another protester, Clinton Obi from the Etung axis said, “We’ve been neglected for 40 years. This Ikom-Obudu federal highway had been impassable. The government has removed its concentration from our plights. By this one week protest, we want action on this road otherwise the next phase of protest will be costly.”
Reverend Father Francis Amaozo, priest in charge of St. Nicholas parish in Nashua, Boki LGA said, “I have also been a victim of this very deplorable road. Enough is now enough. We’ve been betrayed by our representatives and other leaders, so that we in this axis have become endangered species on this road. I have lost some many members on this road.”
Member, representing the Boki-Ikom federal constituency of the state in the House of Representatives, Bisong Victor Abang had pleaded with the locals to be a bit more patient with the government as action will commence shortly.
Nation
UNIPORT VC Receives Inaugural Lecture Brochure As Professor Highlights Urgent Need For Drug Repurposing In Malaria Fight
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof Owunari Georgewill, last Thursday received the inaugural lecture brochure from the Inaugural Lecturer, Professor Udeme Georgewill, during a ceremony at the university’s Centre of Excellence attended by academics, researchers, students, and distinguished guests.
Delivering her lecture, Professor Udeme Georgewill described the occasion as the culmination of years of dedicated research, teaching, and service to humanity. He explained that his work as a pharmacologist has consistently focused on finding practical, affordable, and scientifically sound solutions to health challenges that disproportionately affect developing countries, particularly malaria, which remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health concerns.
She noted that Nigeria continues to bear one of the heaviest malaria burdens globally, accounting for a significant percentage of worldwide cases and deaths. The disease, largely caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite and transmitted through Anopheles mosquitoes, remains especially dangerous for children under five years and pregnant women, threatening not only present populations but unborn generations. Despite years of intervention efforts, malaria continues to strain families, health systems, and the national economy.
Prof Georgewill empha-sised that while Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies such as Artemether-Lumefantrine remain the gold standard for malaria treatment, emerging resistance patterns pose a serious challenge. He explained that drug resistance is a survival mechanism of the parasite, enabling it to adapt and reduce the effectiveness of medications designed to eliminate it. According to her, instances where patients do not feel better after initial treatment sometimes lead to repeated dosing or the search for injectable alternatives, practices that can worsen resistance and complicate treatment outcomes.
Against this backdrop, she advocated strongly for drug repurposing as a strategic and urgent response. Drug repurposing, he explained, involves identifying new therapeutic uses for already approved and widely available medications. He likened the concept to “old wine in new wineskins,” stressing that medicines already proven safe for certain conditions can be carefully re-evaluated and optimised for new roles in malaria management. This approach, she argued, offers advantages such as reduced research timelines, lower development costs, and faster clinical application compared to developing entirely new drugs from scratch.
She disclosed that her research had progressed from laboratory investigations to clinical evaluations, where his team is studying combinations involving Artemether-Lumefantrine and Ivermectin to determine their effectiveness in improving treatment outcomes and possibly reducing transmission. Clinical trials are ongoing, and findings will be communicated upon completion of regulatory processes. However, he cautioned strongly against self-medication, warning that misuse of drugs without proper diagnosis and prescription can lead to organ damage, treatment failure, and increased resistance.
Referencing global health commitments, Prof Georgewill highlighted Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, which seeks to end epidemics of malaria and other major infectious diseases by 2030. She questioned whether the goal remains attainable under current realities, especially with growing resistance and funding gaps. He also referred to strategies of the World Health Organisation aimed at drastically reducing malaria incidence and mortality while pushing toward elimination in several countries.
Looking ahead, she revealed that her team is building comprehensive research databases to support artificial intelligence-driven drug repurposing. He stressed that the integration of artificial intelligence, molecular docking, and advanced screening technologies is transforming global drug discovery, and Nigerian researchers must be equipped to participate competitively in this evolving scientific landscape.
In her recommendations, she called for the establishment of a National Centre for Drug Repurposing to coordinate research efforts and leverage artificial intelligence in identifying new indications for existing medicines. He urged policymakers to simplify and accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical application, ensuring that scientific breakthroughs benefit the public more efficiently. She also appealed to the university and relevant authorities to increase funding and modernise laboratory infrastructure, including high-throughput screening facilities, to strengthen Nigeria’s position in global biomedical research.
The lecture concluded with expressions of gratitude to God, the university leadership, colleagues, students, and guests, as the event underscored the University of Port Harcourt’s commitment to research excellence and its role in addressing critical public health challenges facing Nigeria and the wider world.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Niger State Chapter, has rejected the proposed Niger State Hisbah Directorates Bill, describing it as controversial and capable of deepening religious division in the state.
In a statement signed by the State Chairman, Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, and made available to The Tide’s source yesterday, the association urged Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago not to assent to the bill if it is passed by the State House of Assembly.
The bill, sponsored by the member representing Chanchaga Constituency, Hon. Mohammed Abubakar, seeks to establish a Hisbah Directorate in Niger State.
CAN warned that the legislation could be perceived as discriminatory against Christians and may heighten tension in the religiously diverse state.
“Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, we, the entire Christendom in the state, wish to draw your attention to what could easily create division among the people you govern,” the statement read in part.
The association questioned the necessity and benefits of the proposed law, asking what economic or social value it would add to the state.
It further argued that existing security agencies, including the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, already have constitutional mandates to maintain law and order.
The Christian body also faulted the legislative process, disputing claims that it was consulted during a public hearing on the bill.
It insisted that it was neither invited nor notified of any such engagement, despite being a critical stakeholder in the state.
