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THE STATES

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Benue

The TY Danjuma Foundation (TYDF), has donated roofing
materials worth N5million to residents of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
Presenting the materials, the Team Leader, Mr Gima Forje, said that it was in fulfilment of the foundation’s promise to the people after its assessment tour of the ravaged communities on May 25.
He said that during the tour, the foundation met with relevant stakeholders in the area, stressing that it was from there that they arrived on needs of the area.
‘’We carried out an assessment visit to the area, held discussions with members of the community, local government chairman and community leaders.
‘’The report of the assessment determined the type of intervention the foundation has provided,’’ he said.

Borno

The Borno State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defense Corps (NSCDC) say it has arrested four butchers for allegedly selling the meat of dead animals to Maiduguri residents.
State Commandant of Corps, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, told newsmen that the suspects, who had confessed to committing the crime, were arrested at the Murtala Square area in the state capital.
“The culprits have been selling dead livestock to innocent unsuspecting people.
“They normally go around and pick dead animals from the outskirt of the town and sell same to the public.
“Some of these animals died from tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia or even brucellosis, which can pose dangerous health challenges when consumed.
“Even if you have the licence to operate in an abattoir, the veterinary doctors must ascertain that the animals are safe for human consumption”.

Ekiti
Two men, Ibrahim Mohammad and Usman Haruna  who
allegedly stole 16 cows, have been brought before an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The accused, Mohammad, 30 and Haruna, 26, are facing a charge of stealing to which they have pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Caleb Leranmo told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 3 at about 2.00 a.m. at Ilafo Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area.
He alleged that the accused stole 16 cows valued at N1 million, property of Mr Yusuf Abdullahi.
The offence contravened Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti 2012.
Counsel to the accused, Mr Timilehin Omotosho, urged the court to grant them bail on liberal terms with a promise that they would not jump bail.

FCT
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and
Financial Crimes,Sen. Chukwuka Utazi, has reiterated the committee’s resolve to support the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its anti-graft war.
This is contained in a statement issued by Head of Media, EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
The statement quoted Utazi as having given the assurance when members of the committee visited the acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu.
Utazi stated that one of the committee’s priorities was to ensure that the commission’s headquarters was completed and made conducive for officers to carry out their duties effectively.
“We understand that EFCC is short changed in the 2015 budget; we will ensure that the building is completed.
“We will get all you need to work better, contained in the 2016 approved budget,’’ it stated.

Kaduna
A haematologist, Dr Abdul-Aziz Hassan, says Nigeria
needs about 1.7 million units of donated blood per annum.
Hassan, the Head of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Department, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, made the assertion at a programme to commemorate the World Blood Donor Day in Zaria.
The consultant haematologist, who spoke to newsmen on the sidelines of the programme, said 100 million units of blood were donated across the world annually.
According to him, more than 60 per cent of this figure is, however, collected in the developed countries.
Kano
A 32-year-old man, Suleiman Umar, who allegedly impreg
nated his 13-year-old niece, has been remanded in prison on the order of a Kano Magistrates’ Court.
Umar, who lives at Yan Kifi Village in Kunchi Local Government Area of Kano, is being tried for impregnating his niece.
The Chief Magistrate, Maryam Sabo, said the accused should be kept behind bars until the next date of adjournment.
Earlier, Prosecutor Shuaibu Musa told the court that a man, Dauda Muhammad of the same address reported the case at Kunchi Police Station in Kano on April 18.
According to him, the accused about five months ago had carnal knowledge of the 13-year-old daughter of his older brother, Muhammad.

Lagos

The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nige
ria (AMSLN) has urged government at all levels to provide adequate security for all categories of health workers.
The National President of the association, Alhaji Tosin Raheem, made the call at a “Day of Tributes and Prayer’’ for  the Acting Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria, late Mrs Olufunke Omotuyi,.
The event was organised by the Lagos State council of the association and LUTH chapter in honour of the late Omotuyi in Lagos.
According to him, law enforcement agencies must ensure safety of every individual in the country, especially the health workers.
Our correspondent reports that the late Omotuyi was killed by assailants at about 4 a.m on June 8, at her residence in Apo Quarters, Abuja.
Niger

Former Head of State, retired Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami
has urged the Federal Government to dialogue with militant groups in the Niger Delta.
Abdulsalami gave the advice when he received members of the Niger State House of Assembly who visited him on his 74th birthday in Minna.
“All we need to do is to sit down on a round table and discuss these problems.
“Even if you fight a war and win, you must sit down with the people you conquered. The insecurity we are going through now is uncalled for.
“For the Boko Haram, nobody knows what they want. The Avengers are now out, what are they avenging?’’, he asked.

Ogun
The Ogun State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM)
has advised parents and guardians of students in public secondary schools to desist from engaging their children and awards in part-time education.
TESCOM Chairman, Mrs Olabosipo Ogunsan, gave the advice during an unscheduled assessment tour of some secondary schools in the Remo Zone of the state.
Ogunsan said that if parents should encourage their children to engage in trade apprenticeship during school session, this would distract them from concentrating on their studies.

Osun

The Osun House of Assembly passed seven bills in the
last one year, the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Mr Bosun Oyinloye,has said.
Oyintiloye disclosed this in Osogbo on Thursday in an interview with newsmen.
He said the bills were expected to impact positively on the living conditions of the people and the state’s economy.
According to him, the bills are Public Procurement Bill, Land Use Charge Bill, and Primary Healthcare Development Board (Establishment) Bill and the Street Trading and Illegal Market (Prohibition) Bill.
Others are Micro-credit Agency Bill, Conservation Fund (repeal) Bill and the 2016 Appropriation Bill.
Oyintiloye noted that each of the bills was linked to revenue generation, blockage of revenue wastage and theft as well as sustaining transparency in governance.

Oyo

A lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Mrs Christiana
Nwankwo, has recounted her experience in the hands of a land agent, Alexander Okoya, who allegedly defrauded her of N4.23 million.
Testifying before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of Ibadan High Court, Nwankwo told the court that Okoya sold 1.054 hectares located around University of Ibadan to her at N4 million and was paid N230,000 as commission.
She added that Okoya claimed to be a land and estate agent of repute, adding that the money was paid in two instalments.
“A group of my students and I wanted to use the land as a small laboratory.
“My lord, after I made all the payments, I demanded to see the land owner, but Okoya lied to me.
“He first said that the owner lives in Lagos and later said that he had been rushed to London due to his sickness.

Plateau

Prof. David Wonang of University of Jos has
recommended the use of organic manure to tackle “root-knot nematodes, a disease affecting roots of crops.
Wonang gave the recommendation at the 80th Inaugural Lecture of the university in Jos.
The lecture is titled: “Root-Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne species) Farmers Silent/Unseen Enemies: Implications on food Security and Stability in Nigeria.’’
Wonang described root crop disease as a major cause of food shortage in developing countries.
“It has been generally difficult to quantify the amount of economic losses caused by root-knot nematodes, especially in developing countries where crops are rarely grown as mono crops.

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Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.

Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

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THE LAPSES OF THE MEDIA IN ELECTIONS

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The media is supposed to be a platform through which people express their thoughts, beliefs, and opinions on issues of public interest. Unfortunately, it has often failed to live up to its role as the fourth estate of the realm.During the 2023 elections, the media recorded several lapses that deserve critical examination in academic and professional spaces. Before discussing these failures in detail, it is important to briefly explain the meaning, role, and duties of the media. In simple terms, the media refers to the main channels of mass communication, including broadcasting, print publishing, and the internet.
It is a collective term for all means through which information reaches the public. The media is often called the fourth tier of government because of the popular saying, “No media, no society.” This is not an exaggeration. Scholars have shown that the media plays an integral role in society, since political, economic, religious, and academic activities all depend on information flow through the media.
The word MEDIA can be broken down to reflect its core functions:  M – Meeting the People  E – Educating the People  D – Discussing with the People  I – Involving the People  A – Accessing the PeopleSpecifically during elections, the media is expected to provide accurate and timely information to the public by reporting and updating citizens on government and electoral activities. This responsibility is central to keeping the electorate informed.The media also strengthens democracy by engaging citizens on critical issues affecting the electoral process. When the media effectively disseminates relevant information, the public can see through the failures of government, hold leaders accountable, and propose solutions that serve the common good.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram play a vital role in democratic societies because they allow mass participation. Unlike radio and television, social media is accessible to anyone with a smartphone and data bundle, making it the most inclusive platform for political discourse. Despite these roles, the media must not abandon its ethics or promote partisan agendas that mislead the public. In many schools of thought, the media is described as closely related to the judiciary.
People often see the media as a place to voice grievances and seek justice.However, it is fair to say that the media has lost ground by failing to fulfill its duties during elections. Below are ten key lapses observed in the February 2023 elections.Lack of coordination among journalists. Many press personnel who covered different polling units were poorly equipped and unprepared. Some lacked functional cameras and modern technology needed to carry out professional reporting.
Partisanship and breach of ethics. Media personnel, who are supposed to remain non-partisan, openly violated professional ethics by taking political sides and favoring certain candidates in their reporting.Commercialization of coverage. Some journalists prioritized money over news. It was disappointing to see professionals from reputable stations engaging in what I call “Oga, find me something syndrome” begging politicians for money in exchange for favorable coverage or interviews.Loss of independence and self-censorship. On election day, some journalists took instructions from politicians on what to report and what to suppress. This compromised the independence of the media and reduced public trust.
Poor post-election reporting. Few media outlets reported what actually happened at the polling units. Incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and irregularities were either underreported or ignored entirely, while praise was lavished on politicians instead of amplifying the voices of the people.Spread of misinformation and unverified claims. In the rush to be first, some media houses published unverified results and rumors from social media without fact-checking. This fueled confusion and tension among the electorate.Inadequate coverage of rural and marginalized areas. Media attention was concentrated in urban centers, leaving rural polling units underreported. The experiences and challenges of rural voters were largely absent from mainstream coverage.
Sensationalism over substance. Some outlets prioritized sensational headlines and conflict-driven stories over factual analysis of policies and candidate manifestos, leaving voters uninformed about real issues. Failure to hold INEC accountable in real time. While INEC faced logistical failures and delays, many media houses were slow to question officials or demand explanations on air, missing opportunities for live accountability.
Neglect of voter education. Beyond reporting results, the media did little to educate voters on procedures, rights, and what to do in case of irregularities. This left many citizens uninformed and vulnerable on election day.These lapses weaken public trust and undermine the credibility of the electoral process. For the media to regain its role as a watchdog of democracy, it must return to the principles of accuracy, impartiality, and public service.
The media must be informed to follow its ethics as the 2027 elections approaches. This is encourage electorates rely on the authenticity and objectivity of media practice.Failure to uphold media standards will further make the country plunge into political apathy, electoral violence and disgust for those in the media practice.
By KRUKRUBO, NYE TAMUNODIKI.
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RSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Holds Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria

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Rivers State University and the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education jointly hosted a two-day National Conference on 8 and 9 May 2026 to examine the state of values in Nigeria.

The two days conference held at Rivers State University convocation arena brought together academics, policymakers, legal experts and education leaders under the theme _“Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria.”_

The gathering focused on policy gaps, curriculum reform, and the role of ethics in public service and education.

The event opened on Friday with remarks from Vice Chancellor Prof. Chief Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who stressed the need to address declining moral and civic values across Nigeria’s education and public sectors. A book of abstracts for the plenary sessions was also presented to participants.

Key speakers included former Attorney General Chief Dr Kanu Agabi, SAN; NERDC Executive Secretary Prof. Shehu Salisu; Prof. Hauwa Imam, FNAE, of the University of Abuja; former Rivers SUBEB Chairman Ven Dr Fyneface Akah, ; former NIMASA DG Dr Hon. Dakuku Adol-Peterside; and RSU Director of ICT Prof. Sunny Orike.

Discussions centered on integrating values education into schools, tertiary institutions and public institutions, alongside the impact of technology on moral development among young Nigerians. Panel and plenary sessions produced practical recommendations for curriculum and policy reform.

On Saturday, the foundation marked its centenary with the unveiling of the book _Otonti Nduka in History_, launched by Chief Engr. Grant Offor, FNSE. The Nigerian Academy of Education held a ceremonial procession led by its President Prof. Olu Jegede and the Ikwerre Professors Forum.

In a communiqué, participants called for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and academia to mainstream values education nationwide. They recommended reviewing teacher training curricula and expanding digital platforms to promote ethical civic engagement, with the foundation pledging to share the outcomes with education authorities for implementation.

Dignitaries present included Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide as Chief Host, Prof. Emeritus Chief T. Uzodimma Nwala, the Ikenga 1 of Mbaise and first philosophy student of Prof. Otonti Nduka, alongside scholars and community leaders.

 

Amadi Akujobi

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