Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning
in Bauchi State, Alhaji Shehu Ningi, said the state intended to raise N1 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in 2016.
Ningi told newsmen in Abuja that the projected amount in the 2016 budget would be used to enhance socio-economic development of the state
“We are targeting more than N1 billion in 2016; our IGR is usually between N200 and 300 million annually, so it is very low compared to other states.
“It is low because of lack of industries, backwardness in commercial activities, but we are trying to get out of the problems.
“We are getting out of the problems by encouraging farming, establishing small scale industries and introducing some reforms in the Land Use Act in the state”.
Borno
The Borno State Commissioner for Finance, Budget
and Planning, Alh. Mohammed Kauji said the state was now safe for local and foreign investors.
Kauji told newsmen in Abuja that economic activities were picking up in the state after years of battling with insurgency.
“There is improvement in the economy of the state; I am assuring investors that there is peace in the state now.
“Anybody who wants to see things for himself is free to do so.
“ Security personnel on ground are working hard to protect lives of the citizens, including investors,’’ he said.
The commissioner said the state had been facing security challenges which had impacted negatively on the economy of the state, including its Internally Generated Revenues.
FCT
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),
has called on the Federal Government to stop private ownership of electricity in the country.
Dr Nasir Isa, President of ASUU, who made this call at a news conference, explained that private ownership of electricity sector had jeopardised economic development and national security.
“It is obvious that the power sector epitomises the massive fraud that characterised the privatisation process.
“At the onset, there were official campaigns on how committed and experienced investors were going to inject funds to turn around the comatose power sector.
“In spite of spirited efforts by patriotic Nigerians, particularly in the labour movement, the ruling class forced the bitter pill down the throat of the helpless workers and citizens.
“Three years down the line, provision of uninterrupted electricity has remained a mirage and the story of power sector has changed for the worse.
“Nigerians now pay higher bills for less hours of brightness than they did in 2012 or earlier”, he said.
Kaduna
The Medical Director, National Ear Care Centre (NECC), Kaduna, Dr Aminu Bakari, has advised parents to take their wards for routine check-up on ear and nose diseases.
Bakari gave the advice when members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kaduna State council, visited him in Kaduna.
The medical director said a large number of children were being killed by ear, nose and throat diseases due to ignorance.
He said that most parents were ignorant of ear discharge or ear, nose and throat ailment and urged them to always take their children with ear, nose and throat problems for check up and treatment.
He noted that Nigeria has less than 200 Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists.
“Lack of adequate man power is our major challenge in West Africa because presently Nigeria has less than 200 ENT specialists across the country.
Kano
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) in Kano State says it has launched an operation tagged ‘Operation Clean Kano of Hard Drugs Users’.
The Commandant of the agency in the State, Alhaji Hamza Umar, disclosed this to newsmen in Kano recently.
Umar said that the operation was in collaboration with some neighborhood vigilance groups in the state.
He said this was part of the command’s effort to clean the state of drug abuse.
“These vigilance groups are within the communities, therefore we think they are in the position to assist us in fishing out anyone involved in hard drug abuse ,“he said.
“Other substances intercepted include Tramadol, Codene, Rochi, Pentazoline and Diazapam,” he said.
Kogi
The Nigeria National Population has commenced the
Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) in Kogi State in preparation for the 2017 population and housing census.
Alhaji Mohammed Aikoye, the state’s NPC Federal Commissioner, said at the event in Lokoja that the exercise formed the entire foundation on which the entire 2017 census would stand.
The commissioner urged traditional rulers, religious leaders and other critical stakeholders to ensure the success of the exercise.
Aikoye assured that the exercise would be professionally handled to avoid on lapping EADs, oversized enumerations areas, under sized enumeration areas and non- existent enumeration areas in 2017 census.
The commissioner said that the ongoing EAD will be the last that the NPC will conduct before a full scale census, saying that further exercise would only require updating of the EADs.
. Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has urged chemists to play active roles in solving Nigeria’s challenges in the areas of healthcare, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and agribusiness.
Ahmed made the call in Ilorin when he received the 2016 Award of the America Chemical Society and Nigeria International Chemical Societies Chapter.
Ahmed, who is a graduate of chemistry, noted that the prevailing economic challenges in the country and the quest for the diversification of the economy provide ample opportunities for chemists to play critical roles in that regard.
“At a time like this, when the country is diversifying its economic base, it is expedient that chemists increase research into areas such as agro-processing, and solid Minerals Development.
Niger
The Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna,
would tomorrow graduate 34 first class students at its 25th convocation ceremony.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Musbau Akanji, made the disclosure on Tuesday at a pre-convocation press briefing in Minna.
He said the institution would also graduate 3, 505 students in various classes for the 2014/2015 academic session.
“We shall be graduating a total of 3,505 students. Out of this, 2, 787 will be graduating with first degrees, 220 with Post Graduate Diplomas, 464 Masters and 34 Doctorate degrees.
Ogun
Ogun State House of Assembly has ordered the imme
diate probe of Mr John Mark, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Sagamu Division, over alleged extortion.
The Speaker, Mr Suraj Adekunbi, gave the order at plenary after the submission of the House Majority Leader, Mr Mafe Adeyinka.
Adeyinka had accused the DPO of large scale corruption, including demanding huge sum of money before granting bail to accused persons.
Osun
A 39-year-old man, Kazeem Ariyo has been docked at
an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court for allegedly pouring ‘strange’ water on a prophetess.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Ajayi told the court that the accused committed the offense on Feb. 19 at about 11:00a.m, along Sabiatu Street, Osogbo.
Ajayi said that the accused was having a misunderstanding with the complainant before he poured the liquid substance on her, and caused a breach of the peace.
He said that the offence contravened section 249(d) of the Criminal Code cap34 Volume.11 laws of Osun, 2003.
Oyo
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Prof. Olatunde
Fawole, has urged key players in the economy to invest more in the country’s education sector.
Fawole spoke at the inauguration of a 350-seater lecture hall donated to the institution by Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
The rector urged professional bodies with affiliation to the education sector to come up with proposals to support tertiary education in the country, particularly with reference to provision of infrastructure.
Plateau
Mr Dickson Onuoha, Director of Procurement at the
Industrial Training Fund (ITF), has taken over as Acting Director General of the organisation.
A press statement given to newsmen in Jos said this followed a handover ceremony which took place in Abuja.
The statement, signed by Dr Felix Otuwarikpo, Head of Public Affairs Unit of the ITF, announced the change in leadership.
According to the statement, ITF is among 26 parastatals and agencies whose chief executives were recently relieved of their appointments by the Federal Government.
“In the handing over ceremony at the ITF Corporate Office in Abuja, the outgoing Director General, Mrs Juliet Onaeko urged the Acting DG to focus on consolidating the gains and achievements recorded by the fund under her leadership.’’
Strategic regulators and other stakeholders have expressed satisfaction with the pace, quality and magnitude of work carried out by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Ogoniland, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In their separate speeches at the 2025 4th quarter key regulators / asset owners meeting held in Port Harcourt, the strategic stakeholders commended HYPREP for the significant milestones achieved with excellent efficiency and transparency, demonstrating capacity and commitment to sustaining collaboration with development partners for the overall success of the Project.
The regulators particularly lauded HYPREP for the landmark success in the implementation of the land and shoreline remediation, mangrove restoration, provision of reticulated potable water, the various sustainable livelihood programmes, donation of ambulances to health facilities in Ogoni, the construction of Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, as well as the ongoing Ogoni Power Project, adding that their independent field reports have shown proofs of HYPREP driving even beyond its mandates.
The goodwill messages were made by representatives of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Centre for Environment and Human Rights Development (CEHRD), Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA), Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), and Federal Ministry of Environment. Others are the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the Rivers State Ministry of Health, the National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Rivers State Ministry of Power, the Rivers State University, the Rivers State Ministry of Water and Rural Development, and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
Following the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit’s presentation on the status of HYPREP projects, participants offered feedback on areas of concern. They reassured HYPREP and the people of Ogoni of their continued support for the Project’s success. They also suggested that the quarterly review meeting be sustained as it enables them to report, evaluate and proffer solutions to areas of concern.
Participants also commended HYPREP for improved community and stakeholder engagement and for adding to what they saw the previous time. “We commend HYPREP for the quality work done at sites. The progress is phenomenal, because HYPREP is scoring good grades, above average,” Prof. Iyenemi Kakulu from Rivers State University said.
In his speech at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who was represented by Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, Director of Technical Services, commended the regulators and asset owners for their cooperation with the Project, and for making themselves available for fieldwork and the regular review meetings.
Prof Zabbey reiterated HYPREP’s commitment to best practice in waste management, particularly waste generation and disposal, calling on the Regulators for adequate logistics support, saying HYPREP’s priority is to focus on the core recommendations by UNEP, especially, remediation(soil, shoreline) mangrove restoration, provision of potable water, interventions in public health care services and sustainable livelihood for the people.
The Project Coordinator further highlighted the status of the Project, the successes achieved across all thematic areas, and assured that HYPREP will soon complete most of the ongoing projects and roll out others. He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review the progress of the Ogoni cleanup, ensure quality control, and foster effective collaboration.
Consequently, the quarterly key regulators/asset owners meeting is HYPREP’s strategic stakeholder management model, further underscoring the Project’s commitment to transparency, partnership for development, and accountability, all of which are harbingers of effective project delivery.
Speaking to newsmen, HYPREP Project Support Lead and representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr Ehioze Igbinomwanhia, described his involvement with HYPREPas an encouraging and insightful experience, saying, the Project is implementing a wide range of projects across Ogoniland, spanning immediate remediation works as well as livelihood support initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of affected communities.
Engr Igbinomwanhia emphasised that Renaissance Africa Energy remains fully committed to supporting the objectives of the Ogoni cleanup project, noting that the company has a long history of collaboration with HYPREP.
He added that the partnership has been characterised by continuous learning, adaptation and a willingness to respond to observations and recommendations aimed at improving outcomes.
He further emphasised the importance of safety in all project operations, particularly given the challenging terrain and operating conditions in Ogoniland.
He noted that safety is treated as a critical priority and that contractors are continually reminded to maintain high safety standards, stressing that lessons learnt from previous operational challenges like the collapse of the water tank in Gwara Community are being applied to strengthen safety practices and overall performance.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
