Nation
THE STATES
Nigerian Ambassador to Gambia, Amb. Esther Ausu (left) and President, FCT Indigenous Women Forum, Mrs Rifkatu Chidawa (right), decorating the President, National Council of Womewn Society (NCWS), Mrs Nkechi Mba, during a countesy visit by the members of the forum to NCWC Presidnet in Abuja on Wednesday.
Adamawa
The Adamawa State Government has warned that any person or
group caught diverting relief materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons would be punished.
The Deputy Governor, Mr Martins Babale, gave the warning during the distribution of relief materials to communities affected by floods in the state in Yola.
Babale said the government was aware of the activities of some “heartless’’ agents who were in the habit of diverting relief materials meant for the poor to themselves.
He said any person found wanting would be punished.
He said government would no longer tolerate the activities of elements that were in the habit of sabotaging government efforts.
Meanwhile, Malam Haruna Furo, Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, said seven local government areas were seriously affected by floods between August and September.
Furo added that “property, including houses, farmlands and domestic animals worth hundreds of millions of naira were swept by the floods.”
Borno
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
recently visited crisis prone areas in Borno State to get firsthand information on the ongoing war against insurgency in the area.
Mohammed told Governor Kashim Shettima during a courtesy call that he had paid an inspection visit to Bama town and other crisis prone areas in the state.
“We went straight to Bama and when we got to Bama, we got firsthand information on the scale of destruction and garbage that the Boko Haram terrorists left behind.
“I hope that with this visit, my colleagues in the media will show more understanding in reporting the efforts in the war against terrorism.
‘’We are much more informed about the horror of the war.
Mohammed commended the state government for its rehabilitation, resettlement and reconstruction projects embarked upon in some villages destroyed by the insurgents.
FCT
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has underscored
the need to strengthen basic education.
Adamu, made the call at the 14th quarterly meeting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) with chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in Abuja.
The meeting with the theme “Consolidating Basic Education in Nigeria: Challenges and the Way Forward’’ brought together SUBEB chairmen from the 36 states of the federation.
The minister, who was represented by Mrs Anne Okonkwo, Director Basic and Secondary Studies, Federal Ministry of Education, said the theme was apt in the change era.
According to him, providers of basic education are making efforts at ensuring quality education delivery through various infrastructure and teachers development programmes.
He added that these programmes, however, faced with unprecedented challenges such as terrorism, kidnapping, poor funding and the out-of-school children syndrome.
Jigawa
Governor Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State has presented N137.2
billion budget proposal to the State House of Assembly for the 2016 fiscal year.
The governor said that the N137.2 billion budget for 2016 was 37 per cent higher than the figure for 2015.
He said that N62.2 billion (46 per cent of the budget) was for recurrent expenditure while N71.3 billion (52 per cent) was for capital expenditure.
Badaru said that N2.4 billion and N600 million respectively was earmarked for stabilisation and contingency funds.
He said that N43.5 billion, which represents 32 per cent of the total appropriation bill, was earmarked for the education sector.
He said that the 32 per cent earmarked for education exceeded the 26 per cent recommended by UNESCO.
The governor said that N20.4 billion was appropriated for health services, N39.2 billion for the economic sector while N7.4 billion was budgeted for the agric sector.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government said in Kaduna, that it would spend
N31 billion on road expansion and construction, housing and transportation.
The State Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Mr Hassan Mahmud, said the construction of the roads would boost economic activities.
Mahmud said that a rapid rail transit system would be constructed to link the Kaduna metropolis to the Ring Road through Rigasa to the city.
He said that the Kawo Bridge will be expanded to tally with on-going road expansion within the area.
According to Mahmud, public housing will be built through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), with interested developers and packaged with mortgages.
“The government also intends to provide street lighting in our major urban centres to improve security, encourage our economic activities at night, and enhance the quality of life of our residents,’’ he explained.
Katsina
Kafur Local Government branch of the Katsina State Metal Workers
Association on Tuesday presented 106 furniture items it repaired free-of-charge for pupils of Kafur Model Primary School, Kafur to its head teacher.
The chairman of the association, Malam Tijjani Adamu, said the gesture was the union’s efforts to uplift education in the state.
Adamu said it was also part of the association’s corporate social responsibilities (CSR) to the school under the leadership of its State Chairman, Alhaji Abbati Abdulrasheed.
He said the association had also repaired metal furniture in the health sector across the 34 local government areas of the state.
Adamu said that it was part of the union’s contribution to relieve the government of its burden in uplifting the standard of education in the state.
Kwara
Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, has approved the release of N3.2billion for the completion of outstanding capital projects in the state.
This is contained in a statement issued in Ilorin, by Dr Muyideen Akorede, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Communications to the Governor.
Akorede said the money would be used for the completion of projects in Education, Energy, Health, Roads, Works and Justice sectors.
Akorede quoted Gov Ahmed as saying that the funds were released after the recent verification of the state’s outstanding capital projects.
He also said that the approval was based on authenticated and duly certified stages of completion of work on each project.
He also quoted the governor as saying that the release of funds would ensure timely completion of work on the various sites.
Lagos
The Lagos State Government says over N98.3 billion worth of
property were salvaged while about N16.4 billion property were lost to various fire incidents from January 1, 2015 to date.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Relations, Mr Oluseye Oladejo, made the disclosure at a news conference recently in Alausa, Ikeja.
Oladejo said that over 1,667 emergency calls were responded to within the period.
He warned residents against the use of fireworks during the Yuletide, especially at this period of harmattan, saying it posed a great challenge and might lead to fire outbreak.
Oladejo said that the government was committed to the protection of lives and property of residents and therefore solicited the compliance, cooperation and understanding of all.
Niger
Youths in Lambata have blocked the major highway leading into
Minna, the Niger State capital.
The youths were protesting the relocation of the Lambata market by the state government.
Malam Hassan Adamu, a fish seller in Lambata, said that the road was blocked since Monday evening.
“The youths came out late night to block the road due to the stopping of market activities by government.
“The Izom people wanted the Lambata and Izom markets to operate simultaneously, but there is opposition from Lambata,” he said.
ASP Elkana Bala, Police Spokesman, confirmed the blockage to newsmen saying security had already been deployed to the venue.
Oyo
Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has set aside tribunal judgment and
declared Sen.Buruji Kashamu of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), winner of Ogun East Senatorial District seat.
Kashamu had challenging the judgment of the tribunal delivered in Abeokuta by Justice Tobi Ebiowel that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in 110 polling units in the district.
Mr Dapo Abiodun of All Progressives Congress (APC), had challenged the declaration of Kashamu by INEC at the tribunal as the winner in the senatorial election of March 28.
The Court of Appeal chaired by Justice A.G. Mshelia, unanimously agreed that Abiodun did not lay a credible foundation for the admissibility of the documents tendered to the tribunal.
Mshelia said the tribunal was wrong for laying emphasis on the documents tendered by Abiodun and using it as a basis for nullification of election of some polling units.
He, however, nullified the judgment of the tribunal and declared Kashamu as the winner of the election.
Plateau
The Court of Appeal sitting in Jos has upheld the judgment of the
National and State Assemblies tribunal nullifying the election of Vincent Bulus Venman of PDP as a member of Plateau State House of Assembly.
Delivering judgment, Justice Bage ordered the conduct of a fresh election in Langtang South State Constituency where he was elected to represent within 90 days.
Bage said the lower tribunal was right in disqualifying the PDP candidate, who was an ex-convict, from the contest.
He said that Venman had not met the requirement of the law to qualify for the state pardon granted him by the former governor of the state, Sen. Jonah Jang.
The court said while the former governor had the right to grant pardon to Venman, he did not follow the due process of law that requires the report of an amnesty committee as a condition for exercising the right.
The appeal court, however, refused the prayer of the APC candidate, Mr Jackson Danladi, that he be declared winner of the election following the disqualification of Venman.
Sokoto
Alhaji Danmadami Isa, Sokoto State Chairman, APC, has called
on supporters of the party to vote for the party’s candidates in the forthcoming local government election in the state.
Isa made the call in an interview with newsmen in Sokoto.
“it is only when you ensure all the party candidates win the election that projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the governed will be implemented.
“I, therefore, implore all supporters to come out en-mass to sustain the party’s political change.’’
Isa said that the candidates contesting in the election would complement the efforts of the state and Federal Government in the execution of meaningful projects for the people.
He explained that political change should start at the grassroots with the election of credible candidates that would move their local government areas forward through the implementation of capital projects.
Isa also advised voters not to sell their permanent voter cards but to safeguard them and cast their votes for the party’s candidates.
The chairman called on supporters of the party to shun all forms of violence to ensure a smooth exercise.
The President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide and the Mgboh XIII of the Mgboh Royal Family of Emohua Kingdom in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze (Barrister) Godspower Onuekwa, penultimate Friday celebrated his 80th birthday with pomp, pageantry and fanfare.
The celebration, which commenced with a symposium organised in his honour at Rivers State University on Thursday, August 21,2025, got to a resounding climax on Friday at Suntai Event Centre in Port Harcourt, where people from all walks of life, including business associates, friends, well-wishers, relatives, community folks, traditional rulers, and admirers, gathered to pay glowing tributes to the celebrant.
Before then, a well attended thanksgiving service was held that same Friday at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Okoro-Nu-Odo, to honour him and return gratitude to God Almighty for the fruitful and eventful life and accomplishments of the Emohua leader and icon.
The service which was officiated by Rt Rev Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, Bishop of Niger Delta North had other renowned and respected clerics like Most Rev(Dr) Blessing Enyindah, Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Rt Rev(Dr) Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta; Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, Bishop, Diocese of Evo; and Ven Solomon Eze Nelson, Archdeacon, Okoro-Nu-Odo; among others lined up as officiating ministers.
The service lived up to its billing, as it featured powerful and soul-lifting praise and worship; point-blank prayers; and beautiful renditions, which electrified the entire atmosphere, essentially packaged to thank God for the life of the celebrant.
However, the crowning moment actually came when the who is who, the crème de la crème of the society, thronged the terraces and fabulously decorated expansive hall of Suntai Event Centre, to celebrate Eze Onuekwa, amid accolades, aplomb and panache, wining and dining, and clinking of glasses with him and all.
The chairman of the colourful ceremony, Chief Evans Woherem, who was represented by Eze(Prof) Christian Akani of the prestigious Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, praised the celebrant for his youthfulness in spite of clocking 80 years, generosity, humility, humaneness and selfless services to the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and called on all and sundry to emulate his good legacies and simple disposition towards life and existence.
Goodwill messages also poured in in torrents to underscore and salute the doggedness, resilience, astuteness and uniqueness of the endearing life of the celebrant, with Prof Emenike Wami, the Ochia Ohna Ikwerre(XIV), taking the lead.
Prof Priye Iyalla, the wife of late renowned writer, novelist and playwright, Dr Elechi Amadi, held the audience spellbound as she masterfully reeled out the profile of the celebrant, amid intermittent applause from the crowd.
The Tiv Community from Benue State, resident in Rivers State, were not left out, as they honoured and decorated Eze Onuekwa in their complete traditional regalia.
Cultural displays from Baptist Church, Rumuowhor; ADNA Wogbuji Dancing Group, Egbeda; Tiv Dancing Group; and Promoter Eze and Rumu-Mgboh Emohua Wrestling Group, equally added colour and grace to the occasion, with the celebrant and his wife, Dame Ann Onuekwa, joining them to wriggle their waists and bodies in ecstasy.
In his response, the highly elated celebrant, Eze Onuekwa thanked all those gathered to celebrate with him, saying, celebrations would never cease in their homes, and attributed everything he represents in life, including his modest accomplishments to God.
Eze Onuekwa, while addressing newsmen, harped on the need for hard work among the youths and members of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, as a way of sustaining and giving meaning to the motto of the organisation, which he noted is anchored on peace, unity and progress.
He specially thanked God for sustaining his life, and for making everything possible for him and his family, saying, he was joyous that he has today become an octogenarian and elder statesman in Rivers State.
His son and medical practitioner, Dr Samuel Chizia Onuekwa expressed delight that people from far and near had come together to celebrate the father, whom he described as a role model and great inspirator.
He said it was a good thing that the children were celebrating their father when he is alive, stressing that the last time Eze Onuekwa was celebrated in such magnitude was 20 years ago, during his 60th birthday celebration, and prayed God to grant him many more years in good health.
Among dignitaries who graced the event were Senator Andrew Uchendu; Chief Sampson Agbaru; Prof Emenike Wami; Dr Peter Didia; Eze(Prof) Samuel Ugo Onyeka; and a host of others. Justice Iche Ndu(rtd); and C O Kattey were among personalities that attended the thanksgiving service, while the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi led the academics who graced the symposium, alongside Eze G A O Omodu.
As the 100 Ogoni youths trained by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Creative Arts close out their training on Tuesday at the Theatre Arts Department, University of Port Harcourt, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has urged the beneficiaries to use the skills acquired to ensure that the Ogoni stories are told and heard in the right way.
The trainees, who had completed a four- month training in script writing, film production and make-up are beneficiaries of the HYPREP sustainable livelihood programme, aimed at providing high demand skills to Ogoni youths in the lucrative creative arts and entertainment industry.
Zabbey described the Creative Arts training as well as other programmes and interventions as HYPREP’s strategic sustained effort to create alternative sources of livelihood.
”Targeted capacity building for Ogoni youths and women remains a central strategy in HYPREP’s livelihood restoration and improvement efforts. Our goal is to reach every part of the Ogoni community and ensure that no group or talent pool is left behind. This training is a deliberate step to empower young people who aspire to make their mark in the creative and entertainment industry”, he said.
While commending the trainees for producing four short films within the training period, one of which was premiered at the ceremony-Dirty Festival, the Project Coordinator noted that the training would serve as a springboard into the industry, and enable them earn a living, become entrepreneurs, and open new doors of opportunities for themselves and their communities. The three other movies are Open Pain, Bomu and Green War.
He enjoined them to utilise their skills and platforms to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental sustainability, urging them to ensure that Ogoni is heard in the right way, speak for HYPREP and highlight the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report.
Other speakers at the event, including the Director of Technical Services of HYPREP, Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi; Dr Ovunda Ihunwo, Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt; Chief Douglas Experience, the Project Coordinator of Halibiz Consult Limited; and Mrs Josephine Nzidee, Head, Sustainable Livelihood of HYPREP, all applauded HYPREP for the training, and charged the trainees to maximise the opportunity.
The trainees were later presented certificates of participation.
Visibly elated Ms Lebee Tornwe, one of the beneficiaries, thanked HYPREP and the Project Coordinator for offering the trainees the rare opportunity to acquire skills in the creative arts and entertainment industry, and expressed delight that Dr Ihunwo and Halibiz Consult Limited gave their all in grooming them.
With the wrapping up of the Creative Arts training(100), HYPREP has trained 230 Ogoni youths in high demand skill sets ,viz; seafaring(100); and aviation (30). The Project will this year, commence training in other skill areas, including Mechatronic, Aviation, Full-Stack Development, Commercial Diving, Underwater Welding and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Still in the offing is the training for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities in five skill sets- fish farming; basic computer skills; photography; fashion and design; and shoemaking in line with their Needs Assessment and HYPREP’s policy of inclusivity.
The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) had called on stakeholders to work collaboratively towards the development and empowerment of Ogoni youths.
NYCOP made the call in a communique issue over the weekend after an emergency Congress in Port Harcourt and signed by its President, Comrade Raymond Nwibani Marcus.
In the communique, NYCOP endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s appointments of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BOT) members of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), particularly Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah as Chairman of HYPREP’s BOT.
It respectfully appealed to the President to consider appointing a representative from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) under the leadership of Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, being the pioneering social vehicle for Ogoni advocacy since the inception of the Ogoni struggle, adding that it would significantly contribute to the decision-making process.
The body commended the overall management of HYPREP and urges the President to continue funding the HYPREP project.
NYCOP furthermore recommended considering the conversion of HYPREP from a project to a full-fledged agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The communique also stated that NYCOP thanked President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, and for appointing key staff, forming a dialogue committee, and initiating infrastructural projects like the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and economic prospects.
In solidarity with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying it believes his leadership embodies the aspirations of the Ogoni people and Nigerians at large.
“After thorough consideration of the Disciplinary Committee’s report, NYCOP resolves:
” To indefinitely suspend Comrade Nade Nade Burale from his position as Secretary General due to misconduct.
“To declare Comrade Saviour Imeabe persona non grata on Ogoni youth issues, given his actions’ potential to instigate crisis in Ogoni and beyond” the communique stated.
NYCOP in his resolution issued a 7-day ultimatum to former HYPREP BOT Chairman Mike Nwialeghi to explain the $100 million HYPREP fund investment, warning of potential litigation.
NYCOP reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ogoni youth interests and preventing personal aggrandizement.
According to the communique the resolutions demonstrate NYCOP’s efforts to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth.
“We will no longer tolerate any individual or group using the name or issues of Ogoni youth for personal aggrandizement.
” Our mandate is clear: to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth” the communique said.
NYCOP passes a vote of confidence in Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah, acknowledging his impeccable credentials and credibility to lead the BOT of HYPREP effectively.
Kiadum Edookor
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