Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Adamawa State Government says it has established and
renovated 64 earth dams in 30 grazing reserves in the state ahead of the establishment of National Grazing Reserves programme.
The State’s Commissioner for Livestock Production, Dr Isa Salihu, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Yola.
Salihu said that the state government had equally established nomadic schools in some of the grazing reserves.
He said that the state government was committed to giving all necessary support and cooperation to the Federal Government towards the establishment of the grazing reserves and cattle ranches in the state.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State chapter of the Rice Farmers Association
of Nigeria (RIFAN), has vowed to exceed the targeted one million metric tonnes of dry season rice production to 1.1 million metric tones.
The state chairman of the association, Alhaji Samaila Augie, made this disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.
He said the Federal Government’s Anchor Borrower Programme, was aimed at mass production of rice, so as to achieve food security and the diversification of the economy.
Augie said the association had registered interested farmers, who were supplied with incentives that included, cash, water pumping machines, fertiliser and insecticides to boost productivity.
Kogi
Protesting students of Kogi State University, Ayangba,
yesterday blocked major roads leading into and out of Lokoja, thereby paralysing socio-economic activities for hours.
The students, who were protesting against three months closure of the university due to lecturers’ unpaid salaries, said they were tired of staying at home.
Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi had repeatedly appealed to the lecturers to call off the strike to no avail.
Bello had at stakeholders’ forum on July 5, said government had met 80 per cent of the lecturers’ demands, wondering why they were still on the strike.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has ap
proved the elevation of eight traditional rulers in the state to First Class status.
This is contained in a statement issued in Ilorin and signed by Alhaji Haruna Mohammed, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development.
Our correspondent reports that the upgraded chiefs include Alhaji Idris Abubakar, Emir of Okuta; Alhaji Sabi Idris, Emir of Gwanara; Prof Halidu Abubakar, Emir of Ilesha-Baruba.
Others are Alhaji Usman Seriki, Oba Salihu Adasofegbe, Olosi of Osi in Ekiti local government council, Oba Abubakar Adelodun Olupako of Share in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
Lagos
A former Executive Secretary, National Universities Com
mission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, has criticised the recently announced method of admitting students into tertiary institutions, saying it amounts to admitting candidates blindly.
Okebukola made the assertion while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the 2016 Speech Day and Prize Giving ceremony of Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos, recently.
He said that the current criteria or guidelines put in place for admission of candidates into the country’s tertiary institutions would only allow unqualified candidate to be admitted.
Okebukola, who was reacting to the recent cancellation of the Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by the Federal Government, said the criteria were still unclear to stakeholders.
Nasarawa
The Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi,
Nasarawa State, Dr Joshua Giyan-Ndom, has commended the Federal Government over efforts at transforming the country’s health sector.
Giyan-Ndom told newsmen in Keffi that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was making funds available to strengthen the health sector with infrastructure, equipment, facilities and personnel.
He also acknowledged the government determination to make FMC Keffi one of the best health facilities in the country through funding and provision of modern equipment.
Our correspondent reports that FMC Keffi was established in year 2000 to provide modern tertiary medical and healthcare services.
Niger
The Niger State House of Assembly has asked the State
Government to refund deductions made from workers salaries with immediate effect.
The House passed the resolution following a motion by Mr Bello Ahmad (PDP- Agwarra) and seconded by Mr Salihu Edati (APC-Edati).
Ahmad said that the legislative arm was not consulted before the deductions, adding that the governor’s action was unconstitutional.
“As far as this issue of slashing workers’ salaries is concerned, none of us was consulted and we are primary stakeholders in matters that affect the people.
“If you look at the constitution and the labour act, you will see that there is no provision that empowers the state government to slash salaries, no matter the state of the economy.
Ondo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
says it has commenced the training of 204 e- collation staff of the commission for the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State.
Head of Voters Registration and ICT in the state, Mr Olubunmi Egbeeye, told newsmen in Akure that the training was necessary for the conduct of the election.
Egbeeye said the training, which would last for six days, was for all INEC staff in the 18 local government areas of the state.
He added that the training would enhance the staff’s computer knowledge and keep them abreast of vital concepts and terms.
Oyo
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Oyo State has
decried the living condition of workers in the state, vowing to embark on mass action if the situation does not improve.
The TUC Chairman, Mr Emelieze Andrew, told newsmen in Ibadan that urgent steps must be taken by states and the Federal Government to tackle the development.
He also said TUC would embark on a mass protest at the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum it issued recently.
Lamenting that the economic challenges were biting hard on Nigerian workers, Andrew advised governors finding it difficult to pay salaries to rise up to the challenge or consider resignation.
The Executive Director, Girl-child Right Awareness Ini
tiative in Africa, Mrs Olayinka Ojomo, has advised governments at all levels to evolve education policies that will enhance qualitative education for the girl-child.
Ojomo told the newsmen on Tuesday in Osogbo that the measure became necessary in order to build an egalitarian society.
She said that the only way the society could be sanitised and become sophisticated was to educate the custodians of families from the beginning and prepare them for better future.
Ojomo explained that young girls of today would eventually become wives and mothers that would be in charge of families, hence the need to make them more enlightened and educated.
Plateau
Farmers in Plateau State, have called on the State Gov
ernment to hasten the distribution of its subsidised fertiliser, three weeks after it inaugurated the sales offer.
Our correspondent reports that Governor Simon Lalong, had at the inauguration in Bokkos on June 28, said that government had subsidised the commodity for a bag to sell at N4,000.
“Realising that most of the farmers are peasants, who can hardly afford the high price of fertiliser in the open market, government has subsidised the product by 50 per cent.
“The subsidy makes it possible for farmers to access the product at N4,000 per bag,” Lalong had said.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government says it will spend N1.2
billion on the construction of a secondary school in Balle, headquarters of Gudu Local Government Area.
The State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Jabbi Kilgori, disclosed this to newsmen in Sokoto recently.
“Gudu Local Government is reputed to be the only one without a senior secondary school in the whole of the country.
“That was what informed the decision of the state government to conceive this noble project which was duly approved by the state executive council penultimate week.
Zamfara
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai in Gusau
said that intelligence reports indicated that many cattle rustlers and bandits were already fleeing the forest in Gusau.
Buratai made the disclosure during activities to mark the Army Day celebration in Gusau.
“We have also got the report that many of the criminals are already on the run in the forest.
“We understand that they are trying to escape from the ongoing operation but this will not deter us from going on with the operations,”he said.
He noted that the Army would sustain the offensive against the criminals until all known enclaves in the forest were cleared.
The Standard Bearers (SB) Islamic Organisation has raised concerns over the growing rate of binge drinking among Nigerian youths, attributing the trend largely to the widespread availability of sachet alcohol.
The group’s position follows the recent move by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce a ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Dr. Nurudeen AbdulRaheem, and National Secretary, Malam Qaasim Adegbuyi, the organisation declared its full support for NAFDAC’s decision, describing it as a timely and necessary public health intervention.
AbdulRaheem noted that sachet alcohol, often sold for as little as ?100, has made excessive drinking more accessible, particularly to young people and minors. According to him, the affordability and small packaging of such products have worsened binge drinking, youth addiction and community insecurity.
He explained that binge drinking involves consuming multiple alcoholic drinks within a short period, typically within two hours, a practice that can lead to severe physical and mental health complications as well as legal and social problems.
The SB National Coordinator cited global health data indicating that alcohol is responsible for more than three million deaths annually worldwide and remains a major contributor to road accidents, violence, liver disease and mental health disorders.
While acknowledging concerns from industry stakeholders over the economic implications of the ban, AbdulRaheem maintained that public health considerations must take precedence.
“Public health and the protection of young lives must come first,” he stated, adding that Islamic ethical values, like many societal norms, emphasise the protection of life, intellect and family stability.
The organisation urged NAFDAC and the Federal Government to remain resolute in implementing the policy while also providing transition support for businesses that may be affected by the ban.
According to the group, the enforcement of the ban represents a significant step toward promoting a safer and healthier society.
By Favour James
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has successfully concluded its Seafarers Training Programme for 100 Ogoni youths, positioning them for opportunities in the competitive global maritime industry.
The beneficiaries, who underwent four months of intensive training at Charkin Maritime Academy, Port Harcourt, received their certificates during a close-out ceremony held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The event was attended by top management staff of HYPREP, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning of Charkin Maritime Academy, the Head of the Seafaring Department, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, and other dignitaries.
Addressing the graduates, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, described the ceremony as a celebration of hard work, dedication, and the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the young beneficiaries.
He said the graduation symbolises vision, resilience, and hope — hope translated into skills, certificates, and tangible opportunities for a better future for Ogoni youths.
According to him, the passing-out ceremony marks an important milestone in HYPREP’s mandate to restore livelihoods and promote sustainable development in Ogoniland. He urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the skills and certifications acquired.
“These skills and achievements should not end here but serve as a springboard for self-reliance, dignity of labour, and long-term economic empowerment for the good of Ogoniland and Nigeria,” he stated.
Prof. Zabbey noted that the seafaring programme is significant not only to the beneficiaries but also to HYPREP’s broader livelihood restoration strategy and the Federal Government’s blue economy agenda.
He explained that by equipping the youths with globally relevant maritime skills, HYPREP is opening alternative income opportunities while discouraging oil theft, artisanal refining, re-pollution, and other environmentally harmful practices. He added that the initiative aligns with the directives of the 2016 HYPREP Establishment Gazette and reinforces the Project’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
Commending Charkin Maritime Academy as a dependable training partner, Zabbey described the institution as one of the foremost maritime training centres in the country.
“This partnership has delivered high-quality results today, and we intend to expand it as we intensify efforts to provide sustainable alternative livelihoods for the Ogoni people,” he said.
He expressed confidence in Ogoni youths as drivers of unity, peace, and progress, noting their resilience and commitment to peace in the area. He reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to supporting the aspirations of youths and women in Ogoniland.
The Project Coordinator likened knowledge and certificates to fuel in a vehicle, stressing that they are meant to propel the graduates toward greater heights.
“We hear your voices calling for restoration, and today, environmental and livelihood restoration are gradually unfolding before your eyes, bringing renewed hope. We continue to lay brick upon brick, building pillars of Ogoni development, as evidenced by the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), which is 93 per cent completed,” he added.
He emphasised that HYPREP’s approach integrates all projects and interventions toward achieving environmental sustainability and long-term development in Ogoniland.
Also speaking, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr. Ehioze Igbinomwahia, said the graduates had gained not only technical maritime skills but also discipline, resilience, and confidence to compete globally.
He described their graduation as the beginning of a new journey and noted that the UNEP Report emphasised that environmental restoration must be complemented by sustainable livelihoods, capacity building, and youth empowerment.
“Without empowering people, restoration cannot be complete. Programmes such as this maritime training represent practical steps toward creating employment pathways, dignity, and long-term community stability,” he said.
Engr. Igbinomwahia added that Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited remains committed to supporting environmental recovery, human capacity development, and sustainable economic opportunities in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta.
Highlighting the importance of discipline and safety, he urged the graduates to be ambassadors of professionalism and integrity.
“The sea you are about to enter is vast and sometimes challenging, but it is also full of opportunity. Let discipline guide your actions, let safety remain your constant companion, and let your character speak for you wherever you go,” he advised.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning at Charkin Maritime Academy, Captain Joseph Awodeha, who represented the Chairman, Dr. Charles Wami, emphasised discipline and safety as critical to career success in the maritime sector.
The Head of the Seafaring Department, Captain Jonathan Hammond, urged the graduates to remain humble and disciplined, noting that such virtues are essential for career growth.
In his remarks, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, Barrister Dornu Baridan, commended the beneficiaries for successfully scaling through the
rigorous selection process and completing their training as seafarers.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Port Harcourt Branch, Rivers State, has elected 14 member executives to lead the organization for the 2025/2026 year. Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, is the 23rd chairman.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Engr. Ishmael A. Branch Secretariat, 3 Benard Carr Street (Waterworks Yard), Port Harcourt, attracted members of the engineering profession from within and outside the state.
Other elected executives include:
Engr. Samuel H. Kwelle, MNSE – Vice Chairman
Engr. Dr. Promise Jumbo, FNSE – General Secretary
Engr. Priye P. K. Lawson, MNSE – Assistant Secretary
Engr. Patrick O. Udegbunam, MNSE – Treasurer.
Others are Engr. Hilda D. Batubo, MNSE – Financial Secretary
Engr. Bowei M. Dauseighe, MNSE – Technical Secretary
Engr. Charles O. Okwakpam, MNSE – Assistant Technical Secretary
Engr. Agnes Komolafe, MNSE – Membership Secretary
Engr. Dike N. Livingstone, MNSE – Publicity Secretary
Also elected are Engr. Ayebaye Daniel Wanatoi, MNSE – Welfare Secretary
Engr. Oribiokpomari I. Comfort, MNSE – Internal Auditor
Engr. Dr. Idaeresoari Harriet Ateke, FNSE – Immediate Past Chairman
Engr Dr Hachimenum Amadi, FNSE (Ex-Officio)
In his a goodwill message, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon. Frederick Anabraba, urged the new executive to maintain high ethical standards and move the association forward.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, promised an inclusive administration and teamwork, focusing on collaboration with stakeholders. He had begun building partnerships with Rivers State University and the University of Port Harcourt.
The highlight was the inauguration lecture, “Engineering Solution for Security, Energy Access and Sustainable Development,” delivered by Engr. Victor Bandele, Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater Assets, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited.
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