Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

September 2, 2016

Adamawa

From January 2016 to date, the Adamawa State Govern
ment has generated over N7 million revenue from the sale of timber, Permanent Secretary, Mr Barnabas Pata, Ministry of Environment, has said.
“In 2015, government discovered underground dealing and unlawful activity by the association of timber dealers, Adamawa branch.
“We invited and held meeting with the members and categorically informed them of the importance of registration and government supervision.
“I am therefore happy to inform you that, as a result of the meeting, the ministry generated over N7 million between January and today, ” Pata told newsmen in Yola recently.
Bauchi

Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State said
that previous administrations in the country were responsible for the poor state of local government councils.
Abubakar made the assertion in Bauchi while having an interactive session with the 20 council chairmen in the state.
He said that past administrations in the country had reduced activities at the local governments to nothing.
“Workers only visit the councils at the end of each month to collect salaries and allowances,’’ he said.
Abubakar said local governments, if effectively utilised, would wipe out poverty and create wealth.
He said that the country needed radical measures that would proffer sustainable solutions to the myriads of problems and scarce resources facing the country.

Borno

Alhaji Abubakar Deribe, Caretaker Committee Chairman,
Jere Local Government Area, Borno State said the council had sunk 42 boreholes with hand pumps in the area.
In addition, he said that the council constructed 20 earth dams to support the boreholes in providing water to people in the area.
Deribe told newsmen in Maiduguri that the projects were undertaken to address the problems of potable water supply in the 12 wards under his council.
He said that the projects were also conceived to minimise the heavy dependence on diesel and petrol-powered boreholes and save cost.
“Water supply has been a major problem in Jere for quite some time; so, to address the problem, we decided to do the hand pumps which are cheaper and easier to maintain”.
Ekiti

An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court has dissolved a four-
year-old marriage between Yetunde Kayode and her husband, Temitope over lack of care.
The President of the Court, Mr Joseph Ogunsemi, who dissolved the union said he observed that it had broken down irretrievably.
Ogunsemi awarded the custody of the five month old baby of the union to the mother, Yetunde, saying that Temitope would be responsible for the child’s education at all levels.
He held that Temitope should pay N5, 000 as monthly feeding allowance for the child. Ogunsemi granted the respondent access to see his child whenever he wanted to.
Earlier, Yetunde, a resident of Abekoko, Falegan area of Ado-Ekiti, told the court that when she got pregnant and told her husband he gave her money to abort the child.
She said she refused to abort the pregnancy because she had once aborted a pregnancy for him, saying she was not ready to die.

FCT
Alhaji Isiwele Shehu, President of the Road Transport
Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), has called on state governments to allow local government in the country to enjoy autonomy.
Shehu made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja recently.
He said that said autonomy for the councils was one of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, which should not be ignored.

Kogi

The Kogi State Pastor of the Living Faith Church, Lokoja,
Pastor David Popoola, has urged the people of Kogi to be united irrespective of their ethnic diversities and political differences.
Popoola spoke to newsmen in Lokoja on the sidelines of the 25th anniversary celebration of the creation of the state.
He said that, though, tongue and tribe might differ, people should learn to live together in peace and harmony, and as brothers and sisters.
“We should celebrate and promote those things that unite us and do away with things that separate and divide us as a state and a nation.
“The Lord will help our leaders at all levels and give them divine wisdom to know and do what it takes to move this state to greater heights.

Kwara

The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, a Non-Gov
ernmental Organisation (NGO), has called for industrialisation of Kwara State in order to boost the state’s economy.
The call is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the group’s National Coordinator, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim.
“We appeal for industrialisation of Ilorin to boost its economic power and commercial activities. The state government should create the enabling environment for this economic boost to come to reality,’’ the statement said.
The group congratulated the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari, on his 21st coronation anniversary.
“We call on the people of Ilorin Emirate to support the Emir by moving closer to him, and admonish him on the importation of some cultural behaviour.

Lagos

Governor Akinwinmi Ambode of Lagos State has or
dered the contractor handling the Berger area expansion project to deliver the project by December, 2016 or face sanction.
Ambode, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, gave the ultimatum while on inspection visit to some ongoing projects in the state, recently.
According to the statement, the governor ordered the contractors to work day and night, saying that the directive became imperative in view of the strategic importance of the axis as major gateway to the state.
It said that Ambode ordered the construction of iron barricades under the newly-completed pedestrian bridge to compel usage, save lives and facilitate free flow of traffic.
The statement also said that Ambode inspected the newly-completed lay-by at Car Wash Bus Stop in Oworonsoki and 1.65 kilometre road from Olopomeji in Oworonsoki to Ifako.
It added that Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ganiyu Johnson, said the projects, upon completion, would not only give Berger even a befitting look, but would permanently remove gridlock associated with the area.

Nasarawa

Head of Nupe community in Nasarawa State, Chief Baba
Bello, has called for truce between the state government and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the interest of the state.
He said that both parties should bury the hatchet and urged leadership of the workers to end the two-month old strike in the state.
Bello, who is Sarki Nupe of Nasarawa State, made the call while addressing newsmen in Lafia.
According to him, the strike which has lasted for two months now has brought untold hardship to the people of the state and also brought setback to the economic fortunes of the state.

Plateau

The management of Jos University Teaching Hospital
(JUTH), Plateau State, said that it had resolved the feud with its striking workers months after it started.
It said this was after a joint meeting facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Health .
Its Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Edmund Banwat, said in Jos that the meeting, brokered by the former Governor of Plateau, Senator Joshua Dariye, provided the platform where all the parties ventilated their positions on the lingering dispute.
Our correspondent reports that all had not been well between the workers and the JUTH management since March which had resulted into intermittent strikes and street protests among others.

Sokoto

The National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), Sokoto
Zone, has transported 8,500 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2016 Hajj in 17 flights.
Alhaji Abubakar Kaoje, the zonal coordinator of the commission, told newsmen in Sokoto that the pilgrims were from Sokoto and Zamfara States.
He said that the pilgrims were transported by Max Airline from the Sultan Abubakar International Airport, Sokoto.
According to him, 4,500 of them were from Sokoto and were transported through nine flights.

Taraba

Senior Special Assistant to Taraba State governor on
Media and Publicity Mr Sylvanus Giwa, says the digitisation of the state’s broadcasting station would be completed before June, 2017.
Giwa gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Jalingo saying that, the move was to beat the 2017 deadline for switch-over from analogue to digital broadcasting.
He said that the state government signed the contract for the full digitization of the station with Pinnacle Communication Limited in December, 2015 to ensure that the deadline was met.

Nation

Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

Published

6 days ago

June 2, 2026

The Tide

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.

Nation

THE LAPSES OF THE MEDIA IN ELECTIONS

Published

1 week ago

May 29, 2026

The Tide

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.

Nation

RSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Holds Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria

Published

3 weeks ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

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