Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Hama Bachama of Bachama Chiefdom in Adamawa State,
Chief Honest Irmiya, has appealed to beneficiaries of the state government micro-credit facility to repay the loan promptly.
Irimiya made the call when he received a government delegation on advocacy visit to his palace on the programme known as “Bindow for Social Change’’(BSC).
He said that the prompt payment of such loan would enable others to benefit in the long run.
The monarch commended the state government for the gesture, which he said, would promote entrepreneurship and reduce the attitude of dependency on the government.
He urged the people not to sabotage the policies of the administration, adding that the policies were aimed at positive change.
He encouraged the government to sustain such policies, noting that policy summersaults were the cause of underdevelopment.
Bauchi
A combined operation of the Bauchi and Taraba States
police command has led to the arrest of members of a gang for alleged murder and armed robbery.
The suspects were said to be members of vigilante groups from Alkaleri and Karim Lamido, two towns in Bauchi and Taraba States who conspired to perpetrate the crime.
A statement by the spokesperson of the Bauchi State police command, DSP Haruna Mohammed, said the suspects allegedly abducted their victim, Alhaji Bello from his village, Garin Gambo in Alkaleri Local Government of Bauchi State.
He added that the victim was later taken to Taraba State where he was allegedly shot dead by the gang.
“Following a formal complaint received on the 4/12/2015 by relatives of one late Alhaji Bello of Garin Sambo in Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State that on the 29/11/2015 at about 1700hrs, (a) group of armed men suspected to be vigilante from Karim Lamido in Taraba State conspired with their counterparts in Gwana District of Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State and abducted one Alhaji Bello Mai Karfi Haruna (now late) of Garin Sambo in Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State to Karim Lamido in Taraba State and carted away sum of four million four hundred and seventy thousand naira (N4, 470,000),” he said.
Borno
The Borno State Government has announced its plan
to return 50,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their communities in five local government areas in February.
No fewer than 200,000 IDPs from 23 of the 27 local government areas of the state were currently staying in 22 camps in Maiduguri after the communities were sacked by the Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.
The Executive Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), told newsmen in Maiduguri that “we are returning IDPs from communities in five local government areas in the state back to their homes in liberated areas.
“The communities are those located in Monguno, Gwoza, Askira-Uba, Mafa and Dikwa local government areas.’’
Ahmed said the movement of the IDPs would begin next week.
He noted that the exercise would involve about 10,000 IDPs from Gwoza, 8,000 from Monguno, 9,000 from Mafa and 500 from Askira among others.
FCT
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC)
said it would start free installation of prepaid meters pilot scheme in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) this month.
Mr Abimbola Odubiyi, the Executive Director of the company’s Regulatory and Stakeholders Relations, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
According to him, AEDC in 2015 installed 5,000 free prepaid meters to customers in Minna, Niger State and would in February 2016, commence another installation of 1,250 free prepaid meters to customers in the FCT.
He said the installations were pilot schemes and the contractors that handled the Minna project were given 5,000 meters but that of FCT would be given 1,250 meters.
Odubiyi said the meters would be used as a test-case so as to ascertain the efficiency of the projects.
Kaduna
President Muhammadu Buhari has charged Nigerian
universities on research breakthrough to accelerate national growth and development.
Buhari gave the charge in a message to the 38th convocation ceremony of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
Represented by Prof. Akanerem Essien of the National Universities’ Commission (NUC), the President also said Nigeria would not achieve greatness until “education is highly funded.”
He disclosed that the Federal Government, through TEDFUND, had established “institution based research and national research fund” to resuscitate research activities in Nigerian universities.
He, however, lamented that much of the funds were yet to be accessed by the nation’s public universities.
The President called on the universities to put in place tangible proposals for the purposes of research breakthrough that would make remarkable impact on national development.
Kebbi
The Extended Hands Foundation, an NGO, says it
has facilitated free surgical operation on 50 Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) patients in Kebbi State.
The organisation, established by a Nigerian actress, Mrs Stephenie Linus, said the surgery was performed at the VVF Centre, Birnin Kebbi.
The Project Manager of the organisation, Chinedu Omorie, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the organisation was established to assist women suffering from the disease and to help the victims to deal with the issue of stigma which they faced.
The project manager said the Foundation sponsored the surgery to enable the victims to live normal lives.
He added that “the founder of the organisation, who is an actress, is passionate about the issue of VVF and the trauma faced by victims and she is ready to
assist the women by producing a movie titled “DRY” to further enlighten them on the ailment.
Kwara
The Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr
Ali Ahmad, said the sudden demise of Hon. Moses Afolayan, member representing Oke-Ero Constituency in the House was a huge loss to the state.
The Speaker said this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the departed member in llorin.
Ahmad urged the family to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a life worthy of emulation.
He said “we all know that death is inevitable, but the manner it comes leaves much to be desired. We have lost a wonderful lawmaker and we are grieving
too.
“All we can say is for the family, especially the wife and children to remain strong, believing that he is resting with the Lord Almighty.
Nasarawa
The Assistant Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Raymond Tyohemba,
of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Akwanga, Nasarawa State has urged Nigerians to always stand by the truth no matter the circumstance.
Tyohemba made the call while delivering a sermon on Sunday, which he read from the books of Jeremiah 1: 4-5.17-19, First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 12: 31-13; 13 and Luke 4:21-30.
He said people should not be afraid to say the truth and do things rightly because they would be disliked by others, adding that “if people do not talk about you, then you are nobody.”
Osun
The Osun State of Osun House of Assembly has said
that it would give priority to its oversight function by strengthening its monitoring mechanisms in 2016.?
It said, this paradigm shift was necessary to ensure that the state government increases its internally generated revenue and judiciously use the same for the completion of all ongoing projects and execution of new ones.?
The Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye dropped the hint during an interview with journalists.
According to him, the resolution of the Assembly was borne out of the fact that what the state needs at this critical period of the economic downturn was to strengthen monitoring mechanisms, especially for the completion of ongoing projects and pending programmes in line with the policy of the state government.?
Oyo
The Head, Cassava Weed Management Project, Dr Alfred
Dixon, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, has called on Nigeria to focus more on high quality cassava flour production.
Dixon gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
He said cassava flour could generate enough income for the country as the price of crude oil continued to fall in the international market, stressing that “this is the
right time for Nigeria to diversify its economy to agriculture.
“Cassava is one of the crops that should be considered because Nigeria is a global leader in its production; the country needs to increase its production.”
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government said it earmarked N500
million for the purchase of six new ultra-modern fire fighting machines to tackle the issue of fire outbreaks in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Alhaji Isa Achida, made the disclosure at a news conference in Sokoto.
Achida, who was commenting on plans by the state government to stem the tide of frequent fire disasters resulting in loss of lives and property across the state, said part of the money, which was in the 2016 budget, would be used to repair six existing fire fighting machines.
According to him, the state’s Fire Service Department currently has only six fire fighting vehicles, out of which only three are fully operational.
L-R: Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani, Permanent Secretary, Wakama Belema, Paramount Ruler of Eneka, Port Harcourt, Prof. Rowland Woko, Former pdp National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Ibeshi and National Chairman, National Association of Community Leaders of nine Oil Producing States, Mr Ishmael Oputu, during the visit of the members of the association to the Minister in Abuja on Monday
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.
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
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