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THE STATES

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Borno

The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has pre
sented about N30 million cash support to parents of the abducted Government Secondary   School (GSS) Chibok students in Borno.
Buhari, represented by the wife of the Borno governor Hajiya Nana Shettima, presented the cash to the parents at a ceremony in Maiduguri.
She explained that the gesture was aimed at assisting the parents with some financial support towards alleviating their sufferings.
Buhari pointed out that the presentation was in fulfillment of her promise to assist the less privileged and victims of insurgency in the North East.
“Today’s presentation was in fulfillment of the promise I made earlier in the year during my book launch in Abuja.
“I made a promise that the proceeds will be used to better the lives of women and victims of insurgency in the North East,” she said.

FCT

Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China have signed
a bilateral agreement of over eight million China’s Yuan (about 400 million naira) for various projects in the FCT.
The projects were feasibility studies of the second phase of the Abuja Solar Powered Traffic Control Signal, Agricultural Demonstration Centre and the 2016 Bilateral Training Programmes.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr James Akpandem, Media Adviser to Minister of Budget and National Planning  Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, in Abuja.
“The agreement was signed at the sixth session of the Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation Joint Commission meeting in Abuja.
“The agreement is a prelude to Chinese government’s full involvement in the projects once they are certified feasible.
“The project will be funded through gratis assistance as part of the 2012 Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement between the two governments,” the statement said.

Jigawa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Jigawa State says it will deploy 1,500 personnel to ensure hitch-free sallah celebration in the state.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Malam Muhammad Durumin-Iya, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.
Durumin-Iya said the officers would be deployed to Dutse, the state capital and other major towns across the state.
He explained that the gesture was to provide adequate security during and after Sallah celebrations across the state.
“As part of plans to ensure hitch-free event, and adequate security, during and after Sallah in Jigawa, we will also deploy about 150 special force, which comprises of Special Armed Squad and Counter Terrorism Squad”, he said.

Kaduna

A mobile court has convicted 49 drivers for violation of
road traffic regulations during a special patrol in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area, Kaduna State, by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
FRSC Legal Officer, Kaduna Sector Command, Mr Ibrahim Tanko, told newsmen that the offenders were convicted by mobile court after their arrest.
The official said that eight of the offenders were convicted for light sign violation, seven for driving with worn out tyres or without spare tyre and four for vehicle licence violation.
Eight others he said were convicted for drivers’ license violation, five for fire extinguisher violation, nine for seat belt violation, three for over-loading and one for number plate violation.
He added that four others were convicted for obstructing marshal on duty, operating vehicle with forged document, caution sign violation and vehicle windshield violation respectively.

Kwara

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Kwara State, says it has deployed 2,500 personnel across the state to ensure protection of lives and property during the Eid-al-fitr celebration.
The Kwara Commandant of the corps, Mr Pedro Ideba, disclosed this in llorin during an interview with newsmen.
He said that the personnel had already been deployed in all the 16 local government areas of the state to ensure a hitch free Sallah celebration.
The commandant said that the corps was collaborating with other security operatives in the state to achieve this.
Ideba said that personnel had been dispatched to all the Eid praying grounds and other sensitive locations in the state to provide adequate security.
The commandant warned residents of the state against taking laws into their hands, adding that any person or group of peoples who constitute security threat would be dealt with.

Lagos

Group Managing Director, Lagos State Water Corpora
tion, Mr Muminu Badmus, said its officials would be visiting residents to verify their complaints toward boosting service delivery.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Rasaq Anifowoshe of the corporation‘s Public Affairs Division.
According to him, the visit is designed to help the corporation improve water services to every home in the state.
‘’Lagos Water Corporation is planning to visit Water Customers for effective Service delivery.
‘’The exercise will start from Surulere Area of the state on July 7, and will be extended to other parts of Lagos metropolis”, he said.

Nasarawa

Nasarawa State Police command says it has deployed
over 2,000 officers to various strategic places in the state in order to ensure a hitch-free Eid-el-Fitr.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, Lawal Shehu, told newsmen in Lafia that appropriate measures were being taken to forestall any breakdown of law and order during the festivity.
He said officers had been placed on surveillance patrol of identified flash points of violence and criminality across the state.
“Hoodlums usually take advantage of festive periods to perpetrate crimes but we are ready for them this time,” he said.
Shehu called on members of the public, especially Muslim faithful, to cooperate with the police to safeguard lives and property.

Ogun

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, says the intro
duction of single currency by West African states would promote economic integration and progress within the region.
Obasanjo said this while playing host to the President, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Commission, Mr Marcel de Souza, at his hilltop estate, Abeokuta.
The former president said it was high time the organisation started using single currency, adding that it would help boost the economy of all members of ECOWAS.
“We have decided that our unit of currency will be ‘eco’, let us now start using eco, let eco become our unit of currency.
“Single currency unit for ECOWAS states will bring about more development and growth among the states”, he said.

Oyo

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has
handed over completed school projects worth 1.3 Japanese Yen (N2 billion) to the Oyo State Government.
JICA handed over the projects to the state government at a ceremony held at St. Luke’s Demonstration School, Molete, Ibadan.
The Chief Representative in the Nigeria office of JICA, Mr Hirotaka Nakamura, said that the sum was expended on 231 classrooms, two staff rooms and 218 toilet booths spread across 30 schools in the state.
Our correspondent  reports that the classroom blocks were furnished with desks, chairs and blackboards.
“The completion of this project brings the total number of classrooms constructed in the education sector in Nigeria to 1, 038 classrooms and 999 toilet booths since December 2014 till date”, he said.

Sokoto

Sokoto State Government has purchased 9,000 metric
tonnes of fertiliser and 16,000 water pumps worth about N 1.7 billion to be distributed to farmers in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Alhaji Umaru Nagwari made the disclosure in Sokoto in an interview with newsmen.
According to Nagwari, the assorted fertiliser and water pumps will be distributed to both dry and rainy season farmers across the 23 local government areas of the state.
Nagwari said that the fertiliser, which comprised of Urea and NPK brands, were bought at about N8, 000 per bag but would be sold to the farmers at 75 per cent subsidy.
The commissioner also disclosed that the state executive council had approved the purchase of Faro rice seedlings worth about N392 million for distribution  to the farmers free of charge.

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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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