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THE STATES
un Resident Coordinator, Ms Fatma Samoura handing over unfpa Health Kits to Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno during her visit to Maiduguri last Thursday.
Adamawa
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
has advised Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Adamawa not to sell relief materials donated to them by the agency and other donors.
The state Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Sa’ad Bello, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Yola.
Bello said the advice became necessary as some beneficiaries of relief materials sold the items.
He said that on many occasions when such relief materials were seen in the market, people accused NEMA officials of selling them.
“Not for sale is boldly written on the materials. I want to appeal to the public to report any person seen selling the materials to the nearest police station,’’ Bello advised.
Benue
Concern Universal, an NGO, said it has received a grant
of N642 million from the Department for International Development (DFID) to scale up sanitation and hygiene in Cross River.
The Programme Manager of the organization Mr Nanpet Chuktu, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi.
He explained that the grant would be used for implementing the Community-Led Health Improvement through Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion (CHISPIN) in Nigeria.
He said the programme was expected to run for three years in similar design of the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion Programme with emphasis on activities at the local areas.
Chuktu said using the Community Led Total Sanitation approach, no fewer than 702, 000 persons in Biase, Ikom and Yala local government areas would benefit from the programme.
Ekiti
An Ado-Ekiti High Court has sentenced two students of
Ekiti State University (EKSU)- Akintunde Olumide and Oladapo Olaoluwa, to three years imprisonment each for belonging to secret cults.
Justice Mosun Abodunde, in her judgment held that the prosecution established a case of secret cultism against the two convicts beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge said that the police found in their custody, a small cutlass, black head warmer band, black T. shirt, and black trousers during investigation.
The judge held that the short cutlass was not the type used for agriculture or weeding grass.
“It is not a tool for education, it is a weapon of danger and incriminating, and should not be seen within the school premises,’’ she added.
Gombe
Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has urged
traditional rulers in the state to sensitise their subjects on the need to guard against fire outbreaks.
Dankwambo made the call when he visited the Emir of Pindiga in Akko local government area.
He said traditional rulers had an important role to play in sensitising their subjects against fire disasters in view of the recent reports of fire outbreaks in parts of the North.
He advised the public to always switch off electrical appliances before closing from businesses, offices and their houses when going to bed, to avoid fire outbreaks.
The governor also advised people to desist from storing petroleum products in their houses, warning that such act may lead to fire outbreak.
Jigawa
The Jigawa Government says it wants some Chinese com
panies that have indicated interest to invest in agriculture to establish their factories in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Kabiru Ali, made this known when he briefed newsmen in Maigatari on the visit of the Chinese investors to the state.
“Basically, what we want these Chinese to do is to establish the factory here in Jigawa so that the state will be buying in bulk the equipment we need.
“Also, other states will come to Jigawa and buy the equipment they need,’’ Ali said.
Ali said that Chinese were in the state to see the possibility of establishing a factory for the manufacturing of small farm equipment.
Katsina
Sen. Mustapha Bukar (APC-Katsina North) says he is
training 710 youths in Computer and Information Technology (ICT) in Katsina State.
Bukar stated this in Daura at the opening ceremony of the training programme.
He said that the training would be conducted by the Global Plus ICT in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) sponsored by him.
According to him, the beneficiaries will be trained in three months, after which a certificate would be given to each trainee.
He pointed out that the programme would complement the state government efforts at making people of the state computer literate.
“Computer education is regarded as backbone of societal development worldwide, but our youths are left behind in that area,’’ he said.
Besides, Bukar said that the trainees would be empowered with working materials and capital to enable them establish their businesses and become self-reliant after the programme.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has awarded N11 billion
contracts for the renovation of schools and provision of furniture, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr Shehu Adamu, has said.
Adamu said while briefing newsmen in Kaduna that N7 billion would be spent on the renovation of 420 secondary schools, while N4 billion was for the provisions of furniture.
According to him, the state has a total of 4, 225 primary schools and 524 secondary schools, most of which are dilapidated.
“The contract entails the complete renovation of the schools, construction of toilets facilities, provision of solar-powered motorized boreholes with overhead tanks, and construction of new classes where necessary.
“For the furniture, the contracts were awarded for the provision of more than 770,000 units of furniture to be distributed across the state”.
Nasarawa
A Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada, has admitted
a 28-year-old wheelbarrow pusher, Friday Bebaca, to bail in the sum of N100,000 for alleged extortion.
Bebaca of Aso Junction Mararaba was arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and extortion.
The presiding officer, Mr Albert Maga, in his ruling, ordered the defendant to produce one surety in like sum.
Maga ordered that the surety should have a fixed address, reasonable means of livelihood, and also reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
He adjourned the case till April 15 for further hearing.
Prosecutor Friday Adaji had told the court that Musa Abubakar of Aso Pada, Mararaba, reported the matter at ‘A’ Divisional Police Headquarters, Mararaba, on March 30.
Adaji said the defendant conspired with two others now at large to attack the complainant along Mararaba Junction while he was coming back from work.
Oyo
The Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF) said it
has partnered with the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) to fight sickle cell in the country.
The President of the foundation, Prof. Adeyinka Falusi, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
Falusi said that the foundation was forging collaboration with NYSC as part of efforts to promote awareness and education on preventive approach to the disease.
“The objective of NYSC is to inculcate in Nigerian youths the spirit of selfless service to the community.
“The corp members are distributed nationwide and SCHAF is initiating a partnership with the NYSC to serve as a vehicle of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) prevention.
Plateau
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Pla
teau has said that its Mobile Court has been a vital tool to check unqualified drivers and vehicles from plying the highways.
The state Public Education Officer of the commission, Mr Andrew Bala, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Jos.
According to him, the mobile court activity has been a vital tool that the corps is using to reduce the number of unqualified drivers and vehicles from plying highways.
“Mobile court proceeding has given our men on patrol the opportunity to charge traffic offenders and they are given a fair hearing when arrested.’’
Niger
Twenty thousand rice farmers in Niger would be as
sisted with a N1.8 billion loan, under CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme within the next four years, Niger Coordinator of Agriculture Graduates Association of Nigeria (AGAN), has said.
The Coordinator, Malam Hussaini Iliyasu, stated this in Minna at a stakeholders’ meeting.
Our correspondent reports that the Rice Value Chain Investment Project Multi Stakeholders’ meeting was held between the State Ministry of Agriculture, IFAD, CBN and the association.
Zamfara
The Emir of Gusau in Zamfara, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, has
refuted rumours of his purported death being peddled across the state.
In a statewide broadcast on the state –owned radio station the emir assured the people of the state that he was still alive.
“I want the people to know that I am alive, but I will soon go to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment,” he said.
The monarch said the announcement was necessary in order to clear the air over rumours being peddled by some people that he had died.
The emir, however, thanked his well wishers for their concern over his well-being and urged them to continue to pray for him.
The Head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt’s College of Health Sciences, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive forensic science infrastructure, warning that the nation’s ability to investigate and solve crime is being hampered by lack of scientific data and systems.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Man: Fearfully Different, Wonderfully Made,” delivered as part of the 207th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university, Prof Oladipo highlighted that while no two individuals are exactly the same, the country currently lacks the robust systems needed to collect and manage biological and anthropometric data that could support criminal investigations.
He explained that the natural variations among humans — from fingerprints to physical measurements — form the foundation of personal identification in forensic work. These biological differences, he said, are essential for distinguishing one person from another, especially in the context of criminal investigations where clarity of identity can mean the difference between justice and impunity. Without this scientific foundation, he argued, law enforcement agencies lack a critical tool in the fight against crime.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s forensic science capacity has historically lagged behind needs, with only a few forensic facilities available and many law enforcement agencies struggling to access or use scientific evidence effectively. One review of the state of forensic investigation in Nigeria found that outdated facilities and limited adoption of modern forensic methods have left many cases unsolved or poorly investigated, even as crime rates rise across the country.
In Lagos, efforts to improve forensic capabilities have focused on DNA analysis, with the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre — the first of its kind in West Africa — providing critical support for criminal investigations and helping to identify human remains, link related cases, and assist with paternity testing. However, such initiatives are yet to be replicated at a national scale, leaving many regions without access to these vital scientific tools.
Prof Oladipo’s lecture went beyond academic theory to propose concrete actions. He called for the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Science responsible for creating and managing a nationwide anthropometric and forensic data bank. This repository, he stressed, would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to track crime, assist law enforcement agencies, and improve the administration of justice by providing reliable scientific evidence for investigative and legal processes.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening research and training in forensic science. Many Nigerian universities currently lack the funding and infrastructure to offer complete undergraduate or postgraduate programs in areas such as forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, and crime scene investigation, a gap that forces aspiring experts to rely on collaborations with institutions abroad. By fostering a research-friendly environment and securing greater support from both government and private sectors, Nigerian institutions could produce homegrown experts capable of advancing forensic science in the country.
Awareness of forensic science’s role in criminal justice remains low among the general public and even among some security professionals. Studies have shown that a significant portion of Nigerians are unfamiliar with basic forensic concepts or the existence of tools such as DNA profiling and national forensic databases — tools that are common features of criminal justice systems in countries like South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Oladipo also urged regular training and retraining programs to keep forensic practitioners updated with evolving scientific methods. According to him, continuous professional development is critical in a field where technological advances — from biometric databases to digital forensic tools — are transforming how crimes are investigated and solved.
The lecture was attended by academics, students, and professionals drawn to the intersection of science, identity, and justice, all of whom heard the professor make a compelling case for scientific innovation and institutional reform as central to Nigeria’s effort to contain crime and strengthen its justice system.
The event not only showcased Prof Oladipo’s expertise in human anatomy and forensic psychology but also positioned forensic science as a strategic national priority — one that could bring clarity to investigations, support victims and their families, and ultimately enhance public safety across Nigeria.
The University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) on Thursday staged a vibrant and memorable edition of its Annual Inter-House Sports Competition at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Village, drawing an impressive turnout of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests.
The event, organised by the UPWA International Group of Schools, brought together children from the pre-nursery, nursery and secondary sections in a colourful celebration of youth athleticism, discipline and teamwork. The arena came alive with cheers and excitement as pupils, clad in their various house colours, marched in a ceremonial parade before proceeding to compete in a wide range of track and field events, relays, novelty races and other team-based activities designed to promote physical fitness and healthy competition.
Declaring the competition open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended UPWA for sustaining a tradition that continues to nurture young talents beyond the classroom. He noted that sports remain a critical component of holistic education, helping to build resilience, confidence, leadership skills and social interaction among children.
In her remarks, the President of UPWA, Professor Udeme Georgewill, expressed appreciation to parents, teachers and members of the organising committee for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the success of the programme despite prevailing economic challenges. She described the event as a reflection of unity and collective effort within the school community.
“This is the first time White House is emerging overall winner, and that shows remarkable improvement and great sportsmanship,” she said. “We all had fun. It is not easy putting an event like this together considering the economic situation, but we are grateful to the parents for being part of this journey. The excitement everywhere is truly heartwarming.”
The competition featured spirited participation from the various houses, including Purple House, San Chicago Red House and White House, with pupils demonstrating strength, speed, coordination and teamwork. Parents and supporters filled the stands, cheering enthusiastically and adding colour to the spectacle, while teachers ensured orderliness and safety throughout the proceedings.
Professor Georgewill emphasized that the true essence of sports lies not merely in winning trophies but in participation and personal growth. “Sports is not just about winning. It is an avenue for growth, discipline and opportunity. The fact that a child is able to participate is already a win. Losing this year does not mean you cannot win next year. Keep trying,” she encouraged, urging pupils to see both victory and defeat as stepping stones to greater achievements.
She further observed that while there are many competing interests in the Nigerian sports sector, consistent grassroots investment remains essential for discovering and nurturing future champions.
The colourful ceremony culminated in medal presentations, trophy awards and group photographs, with UPWA executives, including Vice President I, Professor Adedamola Onyeaso, joining the participating teams to celebrate the day’s achievements.
The annual inter-house sports competition continues to stand as one of UPWA’s flagship events, reinforcing its commitment to balanced education, character formation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among its pupils.
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