Nation
THE STATES
L-R: Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja 11, wife of the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Melva Perez De Trejo, Ambassador of Cuba, Carios Trejo Sosa and Deputy Ambassador, Miriam Morales Palmero, during a reception organised by the Ooni for African Ambassadors and other countries that claim Yoruba Descent, at the Cuban Embassy in Abuja on Thursday.
Bauchi
Eighty inmates of Bauchi Prison have completed a train
ing programme on preparation of detergents and cap washing, organised by a corps member, Mr Sani Imam.
Speaking with newsmen at a ceremony organised for the inmates to display their new-found talent, Imam said the aim of the skills acquisition programme was to make the inmates productive upon release from prison.
“It is not easy for even graduates to secure employment now, talk-less of those released from prison.
“The little skills acquired here can make them to be self-reliant and they can also impart same knowledge on others after leaving the prison.
“Cap washing is a flourishing trade, especially in the far North, where the mode of dressing of most people is gown and cap,” he said.
In his remarks at the occasion, Bauchi State Co-ordinator of NYSC, Malam Musa Abubakar, noted that the trades were not capital intensive for any beginner and as such affordable to delve into.
FCT
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Com
mission (NCPC), Mr John-Kennedy Opara, said that the commission recorded an increase of 65 per cent in pilgrimage self-sponsorship in 2015.
Opara said this when he featured the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum, the flagship programme of the agency in Abuja.
He said that Christian pilgrimage operations had hitherto been sponsored 100 per cent by the Federal and State Governments, adding that the withdrawal of government sponsorship made the commission to emphasise self-sponsorship.
According to him, even though there has been a steady decrease in terms of the total number of pilgrims, the commission has been recording increase in terms of the number of self-sponsored pilgrims.
Kaduna
The United States of America has commenced training
exercise of at least 750 soldiers selected from various units of the Nigerian Army, battling Boko Haram.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the 145 Battalion training, at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI), Jaji, the U.S. Ambassador James Entwistle, emphasised the need for other nations to join Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.
He said the training was a right step and the best approach to addressing the prolonged Boko Haram attacks in the north-eastern part of Nigeria.
”Nigeria, U.S. partnership extends beyond immediate gains, we need to work together to rebuild the North-East. We are two great democracies and we do many great things together,” he stressed.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, said “the excellent relationship has led to several joint initiatives one of which is the commitment of the United States and her military to assist Nigeria in professionalising our security forces.K
Kebbi
The All Progressives Congress(APC) in Kebbi State has
announced the suspension of a member of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Sani Idris (Zuru constituency).
The APC Public Relations Officer in the state, Alhaji Sani Dododo, made this known to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi recently. Dododo said that the suspension was for alleged insubordination and disrespect to the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Samaila Yombe. Dododo, who is also a member of the Central Working Committee of the state APC, said the suspension was sequel to a report of the Zuru Local Government executive council on the incident.
He said the party would not tolerate any incident bordering on disrespect to leaders and elders of the party in the state.
“The party will not condone indiscipline and disrespect to leaders and duly constituted authority”, he said.
Lagos
Two Eko Hotel and Suites staff and a cab driver, have
been charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos over alleged theft of chickens worth N55, 000.
The accused were, however, granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with two sureties in like sum.
Olabode Jacob, 40, a steward, Sunday Ossoua, a gardener, 40 and Rapheal Addoho, a cab drive, 42 are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Ingobo Emby, told the court that the accused committed the offences on February 12, at Eko Hotel and Suites, No. 14/15, Adetokunbo Ademola St., Victoria Island, Lagos.
He said that the accused allegedly conspired and stole the chicken, property of Eko Hotel and Suites.
“The accused were nearly lynched when they were caught and that would have been breach of peace,” he said.
Emby said that the offences contravened Sections 285 (7), 166 (d) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
“The Magistrate, Mr W. A. Balogun, ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and their addresses verified.
He adjourned the case to March 10 for mention.
Oyo
A total of 4,117 students have matriculated at The Poly
technic, Ibadan, for the 2015/2016 academic session.
A breakdown of the figure indicated that 2,500 were admitted for the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) while 1,617 were admitted for the Higher National Diploma (HND) in the five faculties. The Faculties are Engineering, Communication Studies, Environmental Studies, Financial Management Studies and Sciences. The Rector of the institution, Prof. Olatunde Fawole, said that 59, 254, candidates made the polytechnic either their first or second choice for the OND while 6, 379, sought admission for HND. “ Out of this staggering number of applicants, only very few candidates were admitted, “ he said. Fawole admonished the newly admitted students to keep away from associations that would tarnish their image and that of their families.
Ogun
The Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) has called on the Fed
eral Government to rescue the nation’s economy from collapse, due to the dwindling revenues of government.
The Chairman of the YUF, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Gbonigi, made the call at a meeting of the group, held at the country-home of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Ikenne-Remo in Ogun.
Gbonigi said that the unofficial devaluation of the naira at the foreign exchange market was a pointer to the urgent attention the economy needed to arrest projected inflation.
He said that millions of jobs were already under threat, due to forex downturn and fall in crude oil price.
The chairman, therefore, urged the Federal Government to formulate policies to restore investors’ confidence in the Nigerian economy.
Plateau
Fire has gutted the female section of the Jos Central Mosque.
Our correspondent, who visited the scene of the inci
dent, observed that large flames had swallowed most parts of the entire Mosque.
The flames and smoke also covered houses and shops in the vicinities.
Mr Emmanuel Abu, spokesman of the Plateau Police Command, described the fire as “very serious and unfortunate”.
He said that a vehicle parked beside the Mosque caught fire and it spread to the Mosque.
“For now, we can confirm that no one was caught in the fire, but we have despatched our men to the scene to protect property.
“Once an incident like this happens, there are miscreants always taking that as an advantage to steal.
“We want to make sure that such did not happen,” he said.
Sokoto
The World Bank has earmarked over 100 million dollars
for girl child education in five northern states in Nigeria, Dr Tunji Adekola, an official of the bank, said.
Adekola disclosed this in Sokoto at the inauguration of the state chapter of the Nigeria Partnership for Education Project.
He listed the benefitting states as Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna.
Adekola said that the four-year project was aimed aimed at improving access to and quality of basic education, especially for the girl-child in the states.
“The project is also aimed at improving the issue of equity in education as well as ensuring uniformity in access for all to education.
“This is the bring back the out of school children to schools and also improve gender parity between boys and girls,” he said.
Zamfara
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State says he has never spent public funds on any foreign trip, challenging critics to prove him wrong.
The governor, who spoke through his Information and
Culture Commissioner, Ahaji Umar Jibo Bukkuyum, also explained that what he had done and was still doing, was to move the state forward developmentally.
He said instead of spreading unfounded rumours, people, should pray for the leaders to succeed in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The commissioner added that contracts for a number of roads to be constructed in the state had been awarded by the government in addition to the ones that had been completed, stressing that recently over N1 billion was released for payment of WAEC and NECO for students.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has successfully concluded its Seafarers Training Programme for 100 Ogoni youths, positioning them for opportunities in the competitive global maritime industry.
The beneficiaries, who underwent four months of intensive training at Charkin Maritime Academy, Port Harcourt, received their certificates during a close-out ceremony held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The event was attended by top management staff of HYPREP, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning of Charkin Maritime Academy, the Head of the Seafaring Department, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, and other dignitaries.
Addressing the graduates, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, described the ceremony as a celebration of hard work, dedication, and the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the young beneficiaries.
He said the graduation symbolises vision, resilience, and hope — hope translated into skills, certificates, and tangible opportunities for a better future for Ogoni youths.
According to him, the passing-out ceremony marks an important milestone in HYPREP’s mandate to restore livelihoods and promote sustainable development in Ogoniland. He urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the skills and certifications acquired.
“These skills and achievements should not end here but serve as a springboard for self-reliance, dignity of labour, and long-term economic empowerment for the good of Ogoniland and Nigeria,” he stated.
Prof. Zabbey noted that the seafaring programme is significant not only to the beneficiaries but also to HYPREP’s broader livelihood restoration strategy and the Federal Government’s blue economy agenda.
He explained that by equipping the youths with globally relevant maritime skills, HYPREP is opening alternative income opportunities while discouraging oil theft, artisanal refining, re-pollution, and other environmentally harmful practices. He added that the initiative aligns with the directives of the 2016 HYPREP Establishment Gazette and reinforces the Project’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
Commending Charkin Maritime Academy as a dependable training partner, Zabbey described the institution as one of the foremost maritime training centres in the country.
“This partnership has delivered high-quality results today, and we intend to expand it as we intensify efforts to provide sustainable alternative livelihoods for the Ogoni people,” he said.
He expressed confidence in Ogoni youths as drivers of unity, peace, and progress, noting their resilience and commitment to peace in the area. He reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to supporting the aspirations of youths and women in Ogoniland.
The Project Coordinator likened knowledge and certificates to fuel in a vehicle, stressing that they are meant to propel the graduates toward greater heights.
“We hear your voices calling for restoration, and today, environmental and livelihood restoration are gradually unfolding before your eyes, bringing renewed hope. We continue to lay brick upon brick, building pillars of Ogoni development, as evidenced by the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), which is 93 per cent completed,” he added.
He emphasised that HYPREP’s approach integrates all projects and interventions toward achieving environmental sustainability and long-term development in Ogoniland.
Also speaking, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr. Ehioze Igbinomwahia, said the graduates had gained not only technical maritime skills but also discipline, resilience, and confidence to compete globally.
He described their graduation as the beginning of a new journey and noted that the UNEP Report emphasised that environmental restoration must be complemented by sustainable livelihoods, capacity building, and youth empowerment.
“Without empowering people, restoration cannot be complete. Programmes such as this maritime training represent practical steps toward creating employment pathways, dignity, and long-term community stability,” he said.
Engr. Igbinomwahia added that Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited remains committed to supporting environmental recovery, human capacity development, and sustainable economic opportunities in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta.
Highlighting the importance of discipline and safety, he urged the graduates to be ambassadors of professionalism and integrity.
“The sea you are about to enter is vast and sometimes challenging, but it is also full of opportunity. Let discipline guide your actions, let safety remain your constant companion, and let your character speak for you wherever you go,” he advised.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning at Charkin Maritime Academy, Captain Joseph Awodeha, who represented the Chairman, Dr. Charles Wami, emphasised discipline and safety as critical to career success in the maritime sector.
The Head of the Seafaring Department, Captain Jonathan Hammond, urged the graduates to remain humble and disciplined, noting that such virtues are essential for career growth.
In his remarks, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, Barrister Dornu Baridan, commended the beneficiaries for successfully scaling through the
rigorous selection process and completing their training as seafarers.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Port Harcourt Branch, Rivers State, has elected 14 member executives to lead the organization for the 2025/2026 year. Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, is the 23rd chairman.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Engr. Ishmael A. Branch Secretariat, 3 Benard Carr Street (Waterworks Yard), Port Harcourt, attracted members of the engineering profession from within and outside the state.
Other elected executives include:
Engr. Samuel H. Kwelle, MNSE – Vice Chairman
Engr. Dr. Promise Jumbo, FNSE – General Secretary
Engr. Priye P. K. Lawson, MNSE – Assistant Secretary
Engr. Patrick O. Udegbunam, MNSE – Treasurer.
Others are Engr. Hilda D. Batubo, MNSE – Financial Secretary
Engr. Bowei M. Dauseighe, MNSE – Technical Secretary
Engr. Charles O. Okwakpam, MNSE – Assistant Technical Secretary
Engr. Agnes Komolafe, MNSE – Membership Secretary
Engr. Dike N. Livingstone, MNSE – Publicity Secretary
Also elected are Engr. Ayebaye Daniel Wanatoi, MNSE – Welfare Secretary
Engr. Oribiokpomari I. Comfort, MNSE – Internal Auditor
Engr. Dr. Idaeresoari Harriet Ateke, FNSE – Immediate Past Chairman
Engr Dr Hachimenum Amadi, FNSE (Ex-Officio)
In his a goodwill message, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon. Frederick Anabraba, urged the new executive to maintain high ethical standards and move the association forward.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, promised an inclusive administration and teamwork, focusing on collaboration with stakeholders. He had begun building partnerships with Rivers State University and the University of Port Harcourt.
The highlight was the inauguration lecture, “Engineering Solution for Security, Energy Access and Sustainable Development,” delivered by Engr. Victor Bandele, Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater Assets, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited.
Nation
World Wetlands Day: HYPREP Blends Science, Tradition To Restore Ogoni Mangroves, Revive Livelihoods
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to wetlands protection and ecosystem restoration, highlighting significant progress in mangrove restoration and shoreline cleanup in Ogoniland, Rivers State.
In a statement issued by HYPREP to mark this year’s World Wetlands Day on Monday, February 2, 2026,and signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, the Project said its ongoing mangrove restoration programme in Ogoni is delivering tangible environmental and socio-economic benefits by combining modern science with indigenous traditional knowledge.
The World Wetlands Day 2026 is observed under the theme, “Wetlands And Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage.”
According to Zabbey, the theme aligns strongly with the Project’s restoration approach, which integrates scientific best practices with community-led stewardship rooted in local culture.
He disclosed that Phase One of HYPREP’s mangrove restoration programme has successfully restored about 560 hectares of oil-degraded mangrove ecosystem, while Phase One of the Ogoni shoreline cleanup has reached over 76 per cent completion. These efforts, he noted, are already yielding encouraging signs of biodiversity recovery across affected creeks and improving the livelihoods of host communities.
The Project Coordinator explained that the mangrove restoration initiative is science-based and involves large-scale planting of five native mangrove species, carefully designed to mimic the natural zonation of black, white and red mangroves found in Ogoni creeks, saying, the Project also adheres strictly to health, safety and environmental (HSE) standards to ensure sustainability, inclusiveness and alignment with international wetlands conservation principles.
Beyond planting, he said the project incorporates traditional ecological knowledge, recognising the cultural and economic importance of mangroves to the Ogoni people. This approach, he noted, has strengthened community ownership and enhanced long-term environmental stewardship.
Recent post-fish stock assessments in Bomu Creek, where mangrove restoration and shoreline cleanup are ongoing, show promising signs of ecological recovery.
According to him, HYPREP reported increased fisheries production, with fish species previously absent returning to the creek. “Local fisherfolk are now recording improved catches, while women and youths have resumed picking periwinkles, signalling a revival of traditional livelihoods,” he said.
He stressed that the mangrove restoration project goes beyond environmental remediation, describing it as a catalyst for ecosystem revitalisation, cultural renewal and social recovery. Healthy wetlands, HYPREP noted, contribute to safer shorelines, improved fisheries, enhanced carbon sequestration and renewed economic opportunities for communities.
He also highlighted HYPREP’s efforts to reintroduce the West African cockle into Ogoni creeks, a species deeply connected to the cultural identity and culinary heritage of the people.
Acknowledging the role of collaboration, the Project Coordinator commended community leaders and residents, civil society organisations and relevant government agencies for their collective contributions to on-the-ground progress, and called for sustained partnerships, policy support and responsible environmental stewardship to safeguard Nigeria’s wetlands.
The Ogoniland mangrove restoration programme, Zabbey concluded, stands as a practical demonstration of how degraded wetlands can be restored to deliver lasting environmental, economic and social benefits.
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