Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

July 15, 2016

Borno

The Borno State Environmental Protection Agency
(BOSEPA) says it will partner with a Ugandan firm to manufacture roofing sheets in the state.
Its Sole Administrator , Malam Nasiru Surundi, told newsmen in Maiduguri that the roofing sheets would be manufactured from recycled polythene bags and water sachets.
“The Borno State Government is trying to set up a roofing sheet manufacturing plant in Maiduguri.
“ The plant will use polythene waste as its raw materials, thereby converting the numerous water sachets littering the state to wealth”.
According to Surundi, the setting up of a roofing sheet manufacturing plant is aimed at keeping the environment safe and clean.

FCT

A Senior Business Manager with APTECH Nigeria, Mr
Tushar Gupta, has called on the Federal Government to update ICT curriculum in colleges and other institutions.
APTECH Nigeria is a recognised Computer and IT institute in Nigeria, which provides computer education and IT training.
Gupta, who made the call in an interview with newsmen said that Nigerian colleges did not give deep knowledge on ICT applications.
“ICT is a course which students are expected to have in-depth knowledge on the topics that they are being taught.
“In ICT, you need to get intense knowledge on the topics so that the student can work and use the knowledge in life.
“So, without giving the deep knowledge, it is difficult to use and utilise the knowledge gained for day to day activities.”

Jigawa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in
Jigawa State says it has arrested a 25-year-old bricklayer with a 300-meter armour cable suspected to be the property of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Muhammad Durumin-Iya, said this while presenting the suspect to newsmen in Dutse.
Durum in-Iya said the suspect allegedly stole the cable in Dajin Gwamna in Gumel Local Government Area of the state.
He said the suspect was arrested by one of the volunteers of the corps operating in the area while trying to sell the cable.
The commandant said the suspect, who confessed to committing the offence, would soon be charged to court.

Kwara

The Principal of Government Secondary School, Omu Aran,
Kwara State, Mr Segun Abifarin, says popular Christian cleric, Bishop David Oyedepo, is paying 20 teachers N40,000 each monthly to support the education sector.
Abifarin disclosed this in Ilorin during the re-union meeting of the 1981 set of the old students of the school.
He said Oyedepo, the President of Living Faith Church also known as Winners Chapel, was paying five teachers each in four community schools in Omu Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.
The principal said Oyedepo believes that government alone could not do everything for its citizenry and enjoined private individuals to support the education sector.
Abifarin said the school was presently under staffed and needed more teachers in core subjects.

Lagos

Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State said that his
administration had earmarked N20 billion to revamp the health and education sectors in the state before December.
Ambode said this during an interactive session at the 2016-second-quarter-town-hall meeting in Badagry.
He said that his administration had commenced a comprehensive rehabilitation and upgrading of hospital facilities across the state.
“Modern equipment will be procured to facilitate treatment of patients and we will invest in capacity building of our medical staff.
“We intend to spend over N10 billion on our hospitals across the state before December this year,” he said.

Nasarawa

Some traders and residents of Keffi, Nasarawa State,
have appealed to the state government to reconsider its decision to cut salaries of workers in order to ensure industrial peace.
They made the appeal in separate interviews with our correspondent on Sunday in Keffi.
It would be recalled that on July 4, 2016, the labour unions in the state went on an indefinite strike to protest the downward review of their salaries by 50 per cent.
The respondents said that their appeal became necessary because of the prevailing economic hardship, adding that pay-cut would worsen conditions of workers.
A petty trader, Mrs Sarah Oboh, said that the state government’s action would weaken the purchasing power of the civil servants.
“Our problem is that the strike by workers has been affecting our businesses negatively.”

Niger

No fewer than 250 people have been displaced due to a
clash between Fulani herdsmen and Gwagyi farmers in Niger State.
Our correspondent reports that the clash led to the death of four persons and destruction of property in Bara-kuta in Bosso Local Government Area recently.
Director-General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Malam Ahmed Inga, made this known to newsmen in Minna.
He said the displaced people were being resettled in a school in Bosso while reconciliation was ongoing toward returning them to their homes.
“The State Government has established links with the herdsmen and the farmers toward restoring lasting peace in the area to enable the Gwagyis go back to their homes and attend to their farms.

Ogun
The Ado- Odo/Ota Local Government in Ogun State
generated N103.5 million in the first half of the year, the council’s Chairman, Mr Olukayode Idowu-Ojumo, has said.
Idowu-Ojumo, who heads the council’s Transition Committee, disclosed this when the State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs visited the council secretariat as part of its oversight functions.
He said the council received N9.7 million in January, N9.6 million in February, N18.3 million in March while in April it generated N40.6 million.
The council boss added that N14.9 million was raked in May while N10.4 million was earned in June.

Osun

A 35-year-old man, Bolanle Akanda, has been arraigned
before an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court over an alleged N200,000 fraud.
The Prosecutor, Insp Taiwo Adegoke told the court that the accused committed the offence on April .2 at about 1. 00 p.m. in Ile-Ife, Osun.
Adegoke said the accused allegedly defrauded one Pastor Oluwasanmi Samuel by collecting N200,000 on the pretext of buying and fixing some aluminum doors in his house.
The offence contravened Section 419 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2003.
The accused pleaded not guilty.
Counsel to the accused, Mr Wole Olaleye, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.

Oyo

An Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court has granted a
cumulative total of N5 million bail to five defendants for allegedly hijacking a fuel-laden tanker.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. F. Richard, released the accused on N1million bail each, with two sureties in like sum.
She held that the sureties must also have landed property and be their blood relatives.
She adjourned the case to Aug. 23.
The accused persons, whose addresses are unknown, were identified as Saheed Adeleke (35); Moses Ishaka (33); Opeyemi Habeeb (29); Niyi Samuel (33) and Omotayo Adepemisoye (31).
They allegedly hijacked the Total Oil and Gas company’s tanker, laden with 33, 000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as Petrol, at Olorunsogo area of Ibadan.

Plateau

Seven in every 10 victims of road crashes are youths aged between
15 and 29, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has said.
Its Commanding Officer in charge of Jos Zone, Mr Oludare Fadogba, told newsmen in Jos on Sunday that Road Traffic crashes (RTCs) had remained the leading cause of deaths among youths.
The official, whose zone comprised Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa States, said that road crashes had devastating effects on Nigeria’s growth and development potentials.
“Road traffic crashes remain a global phenomenon, but they have more devastating effects in the developing countries like ours.

Yobe

The Chairman, Yobe State Pilgrims Commission, Alhaji Ibrahim
Al-Arab, said a total of 2,231 intending pilgrims from the state were set and ready for the 2016 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Arab, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu, said the Commission had already carried out successful orientation for the pilgrims and acquainted them with rituals of the exercise.
“The commission has organised educational enlightenment and practical exercises for the pilgrims so that they do not miss out anything and also get value for their money.

Nation

Kwara Community Residents Flee Over Persistent Bandits’ Attacks

Published

9 hours ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

Residents of Omugo Community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have deserted their homes due to persistent bandit attacks.
The Tide’s source reports that the once lively community has turned into a ghost town with only a few domestic animals left.
Reports indicate that the recent bandits’ attack on the Omugo ECWA Church via Oro-Ago, led to the abduction of eight worshippers including the wife of the pastor in charge.
Three persons escaped out of the eight abductees with a N1billion ransom placed on the remaining victims in captivity. The community could only gather N1million which was rejected by the bandits.
Last week, the armed bandits invaded Oro-Ago community, killed one vigilante man identified as Baba Ibeji and injured his younger brother known as Ajere.
A Point of Sales, PoS, shop directly opposite the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Divisional office, was broken into by the bandits.
The gunmen also attacked the NSCDC office and sprayed bullets on the facility, though no casualty was recorded.
In earlier attacks on Oro-Ago environs, armed bandits ambushed a convoy between Oro-Ago and Oke-Ayan in Ilere district of Ifelodun Local Government Area and killed two local hunters on escort duty.
On Saturday, there was tension in Oro-Ago following a security alert that armed bandits were regrouping to launch fresh attacks on the community.
All security formations were, however, placed on ‘Red Alert’ to forestall the planned attack.

Nation

Acting Provost Dismisses Alleged Missing Equipment Claims at Rivers Health College

Published

19 hours ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

The Acting Provost of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Peace Chigozirim Amadi has refuted claims circulating in the media suggesting that laboratory equipment went missing from the college.

In a recent statement, Dr. Amadi described the reports—particularly those attributed to certain publications—as false and misleading. She emphasized that all laboratory equipment at the college remain intact.

“I am here to set the record straight. No laboratory equipment disappeared from my college. Nothing is missing,” Dr. Amadi said, challenging anyone with contrary claims to provide evidence, including the names of the equipment and their supposed locations.

She further noted that the college recently underwent an accreditation exercise, during which significant investments were made in laboratory equipment. According to Dr. Amadi, these items are fully accounted for, and the college maintains a robust security system to protect its assets.

“Everything is intact. Nothing disappeared. The information being circulated is false and should be discarded,” she reiterated.

Beyond addressing the allegations, Dr. Amadi also called on media practitioners to exercise professionalism and verify stories before publication. “I want to plead with journalists to always verify their stories. Junk journalism does not help anyone. No matter the information you receive, it is important to hear the other side before publishing,” she said.

While social media posts have occasionally raised concerns about various issues in the region’s health education sector, including extortion and examination malpractice at related institutions, there is no independent evidence from credible news sources confirming that equipment went missing from Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology.

The college, a public tertiary institution based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is accredited to offer a variety of health-related programs, including Nursing, Midwifery, Laboratory Technology, and Environmental Health. It has consistently emphasized integrity, safety, and transparency in its operations.

Dr. Amadi’s statement seeks to reassure the public, students, and stakeholders that the college remains secure, well-managed, and free from the alleged equipment losses, while urging journalists to prioritize accuracy in reporting.

Nation

HYPREP Reaffirms Commitment to Safe Water Supply In Ogoni

Published

1 week ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

As the world commemorates World Water Day, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing potable water across Ogoni communities, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the Ogoni Environment.

In a statement issued by its Project Coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, on March 22, 2026, HYPREP noted that this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” alongside the campaign slogan, “Where Water Flows, Equity Grows,” underscores its resolve to extend potable water supply beyond oil-impacted communities to all Ogoni communities.

Zabbey emphasized that access to clean water is a fundamental human right, adding that HYPREP remains committed to ensuring inclusive and equitable water access across the region.

He disclosed that the agency has successfully provided potable water to over 43 communities in Ogoni, while ongoing Phase 3 water projects are expected to benefit an additional 17 communities. He also highlighted steady progress on windmill-powered water projects in less populated areas, particularly in Khana Local Government Area.

According to him, the K-Dere Water Project, which is over 99 percent complete, will be commissioned in the coming weeks, even as work continues on other water schemes across Ogoni.

Zabbey further noted that HYPREP’s interventions are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

To ensure sustainability, he explained that the agency has adopted a joint management model involving host communities, the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, and the Rivers State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RSSTOWA). He added that Water Consumers’ Associations have been established in communities such as Nchia and Eleme, alongside training programmes conducted in collaboration with non-governmental organisations.

The Project Coordinator stressed the importance of community ownership and protection of water facilities, echoing the call by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, for residents to safeguard the infrastructure provided in their areas.

Zabbey expressed optimism that the ongoing efforts will significantly improve access to safe drinking water, reduce waterborne diseases, and enhance public health outcomes across Ogoni communities.