Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa-German Medical Centre (AGMC) in Yola says
it has treated about 14,000 patients since inception in 2012.
The Administrator of the centre, Mrs Fadimatu Yakubu, made this known in an interview with newsmen.
Yakubu said the centre had at December 2015 handled 13,284 out-patients and 673 in-patients.
“Within the period under review, this centre which is rendering world class service carried out 220 surgeries, 107 mammography, 309 CT scan and 88 MRI, among others.
“A total of 8,345 patients had undergone various tests from March 2012 to December 2015. Our laboratory is fully equipped to carry out all kinds of medical test,” Yakubu said.
Borno
The Borno State Government, has awarded a N660 million
contract to three indigenous firms for the supply of medical equipment to public hospitals in the state.
The indigenous companies are Trans Sahara International Ltd, Kabiru Muhammad and Co Ltd and Kime International Ltd.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Haruna Mishelia, signed the contract on behalf of the State government, while representatives of the firms signed on behalf of their companies.
Mishelia said that the contract would include the provision of medical equipment, beds and beddings, as well as additional wards at Maimusari Healthcare Clinic in Maiduguri.
The commissioner said that the contacts were awarded after approval of the state Executive Council.
FCT
National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has
called on government to improve existing response mechanism to ensure rapid response in cases of disease outbreaks in the country.
President of the association, Dr Muhammad Askira, made the call at a news conference in Abuja on the recent outbreak of Lassa fever.
Askira said the disease had so far claimed 43 lives in 10 states and the FCT Abuja.
He decried the emergency response arrangement set up by the government to tackle outbreak of any epidemic of this nature.
Jigawa
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria
(MACBAN) has urged nomads to desist from grazing their livestock at night as the practice can raise suspicion among members of the community concerned.
The National President of the association, Alhaji Muhammad Kirowa, gave the warning in Dutse while speaking with newsmen.
According to Kirowa, the warning has become necessary in view of the current security challenges the country is facing.
He said that it had become necessary to warn the nomads against grazing at night because they had been accused of committing all sorts of crime during the night.
The president of the association also urged parents to desist from sending their under-aged children out to graze at night.
Kaduna
The Chairman, Southern Kaduna Christian Leader’s Council,
Bishop Joseph Bagobiri, has urged the people of the area to hold on to their faith and trust in God for deliverance.
Bagobiri gave the advice in a sermon delivered at the 15th Annual Southern Kaduna National Prayer Summit held at the Catholic Cathedral, Kafanchan.
The Bishop said that the message was against the backdrop of attacks witnessed in the area between 2012 and 2015 that led to wanton destruction of lives and property.
According to him, the Summit provides the platform and a rallying point for the people of the area to consolidate on the spirit of unity.
Kano
Kano State Government will host the forthcoming
conference on National Council on Agriculture scheduled to hold between February 8 and February 12.
The State’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Nasiru Gawuna, made this known in Kano in an interview with newsmen recently.
According to him, the local organising committee has been set up by the government to ensure the success of the event.
He said stakeholders from the 36 states and FCT as well as participants from outside the country are expected to attend the conference.
Katsina
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in
Katsina State has intercepted a lorry loaded with cannabis sativa, psychotropic substances and cough syrups concealed in paint containers.
The NDLEA State Commandant, Hajiya Maryam Sani, who disclosed this to newsmen in Katsina, said that the vehicle was intercepted in Katsina on Friday, following a tip-off.
‘’The suspects placed real paints on top, whereas the others were below to deceive people into believing it was all paints that were being transported.
“When the vehicle was stopped by our men on duty, the some of the occupants of the vehicle took to their heels while two persons were arrested,’’ she said.
The commandant added that the items concealed inside the paint containers included cannabis sativa wrapped with polythene materials, hundreds of bottles of cough syrups, different types of psychotropic substances and other prohibited drugs.
Lagos
Alaguntan Community Development Association (CDA)
in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State has commended Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for approving the reconstruction of 114 inner roads across the state.
Our correspondent reports that the reconstruction of 114 inner roads, two in each of the 57 council areas, is an initiative of the Ambode administration.
The project, which is being fully funded by the State Government, is slated for completion in six months at a cost of N17.5 billion.
The General Secretary of the Alaguntan CDA, Mr Bada Saubana, said that the inclusion of Shotunde Street in the community among roads slated for reconstruction was a welcome development.
According to him, the reconstruction of the community roads will open up the areas for more socio- economic activities and improve the welfare of the people.
Nasarawa
The Karshi Development Area Council in Nasarawa State
has warned workers against truancy, absenteeism and other sharp practices for improved productivity.
The Director of Personnel Management (DPM) Mr Musa Adamu, of the council, gave the warning in an interview with newsmen in Karshi.
He advised the workers to buckle up to record optimal productivity in the council and justify the huge investment of government at the grass roots.
“I want to appeal to the staff of the council to be punctual, dedicated, diligent and be more committed to their duty and to contribute their quota to national development.
“I am also calling on the workers to shun non-chalant attitude to work and other sharp practices.
“Doing that, will not only move the council forward, it will also enable the public have trust in the council administration for grassroots development and the country at large,’’ he said.
Niger
The Coordinator of Fadama III project in Niger, Mr Aliyu
Kutigi, said that the state had acquired farm inputs worth N28.2 million for ten production clusters.
Kutigi made this known in Minna when he presented the report of project implementation to the Team Leader of the World Bank assisted Fadama III Additional Financing Project, Dr Adetunji Oredipe.
According to him, the agricultural inputs are of 30 metric tonnes of improved rice seeds, 2,300 litres of herbicides and 150 metric tonnes of fertilisers to farmers under Fadama project.
“I will like to inform you that the state has gone far in the implementation of Fadama III Additional Financing (AF) as one of core states.
“The state has 970 hectares of rice, comprising 700 hectares in 2015 rainy season and 270 hectares for dry season,’’ Kutigi said.
He said the state government was committed to the Fadama III Additional Financing Project, adding that benefitting communities were also cooperating.
Oredipe commended Niger Government for the success it had so far recorded in the project, but stressed the need to add value to the project.
Plateau
The Plateau State Commissioner for Housing and Urban
Development, Mr Samuel Gahe has urged contractors to step up effort and perform creditably.
Galadima, who gave the assurance wile interacting with contractors executing government projects in the state, said the current administration would also complete projects embarked upon by the previous administration.
The Commissioner said since the contractors had been fully mobilized financially, any excuse for non-performance would not be accepted.
“This government is very determined not to leave any project uncompleted.
“That is why it has given finances to the contractors handling various projects to ensure completion within the time frame”, he said.
Sokoto
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, said that the
government would undertake a verification of all workers on the payroll of the state and local governments.
Tambuwal announced this when he received the National President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE, Mr Ibrahim Khalil, in Sokoto.
The governor was quoted in a statement by his media aide, Imam Imam, as saying that the exercise was “to reposition the civil service.”
“We will carry out full verification to ascertain the number of workers we have at the state and local government levels.”
The governor said that the exercise would also end “the culture of truancy especially at LGAs where workers go to work late and in some instances, they don’t go at all.”
Tambuwal restated his support for full autonomy of local councils and urged NULGE to sustain its campaign to ensure amendment to the relevant sections of the Constitution.”

Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State (right), inspecting the dormitory of the Government Girls Science College in Dakingari on Wednesday.
Nation
HYPREP Marks 15 Years Of UNEP Report, Highlights Major Cleanup Milestones
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commemorated the 15th anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the environment and improving the livelihoods of affected communities.
In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.
The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.
According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.
Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.
In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.
The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.
Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3
Nation
REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product
Nation
Self Help Africa programme expands water access for 320,000 Nigerians
-
Business22 hours ago
PTDF Committed To Tinubu’s Development Plan – CEO
-
City Crime18 hours agoTinubu Appoints Ex-Tide Staff Registrar Of Chartered Chemists
-
Oil & Energy22 hours ago
Civil Society Demands Accountability over N60Billion AKS Oil Producing Communities
-
Education23 hours ago
Environmental Education Remains Critical Tool To Address Environmental Challenges Says Experts
-
Business22 hours ago
NMDPRA, NUPRC To Strengthen Domestic Crude Supply Chain ………, Says Nigeria’s Refining Capacity Hits 1.25 Million bpd
-
News23 hours ago
Court Hears ATROMPCON Leadership Suit Today
-
News22 hours agoPolice Nab Kidnap Syndicate, Arrest Five In Rivers
-
Oil & Energy23 hours ago
NCDMB, BOI Unveil $100m Nigerian Content Equity Fund …Set To Invest $5m In Oil Firms
