Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) has opened new operation offices in Adamawa, Edo and Kano states in its efforts to bring disaster management closer to communities and reduce response time, its Director General, Muhammad Sani Sidi, announced.
Sidi made the announcement in a statement issued by Mr Sani Datti, the Media and Public Relations Officer of the agency in Yola.
He stated that “as the agency saddled with responsibility of coordinating disaster management and related matters, NEMA is making efforts to build stakeholders’ capacity and appropriate mechanism to address various facets of disaster risk reduction.”
He explained that the mechanisms being put in place to reduce disaster risks were prevention, mitigation, preparedness, quick response and recovery.
FCT
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe
Kachikwu, has urged parastatal agencies under the ministry to develop a roadmap for self funding of their activities within the next three to four years.
A statement by Head of Press, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Kalu Otisi in Abuja yesterday, stated that Kachikwu gave the charge while inspecting PTDF’s upgraded projects in PTI Effurum Delta-State.
“ According to the statement, facilities inspected by the minister included an ultra-modern laboratory complex, a one- stop laboratory for research and training in diverse areas of onshore and offshore operations.
Other projects are facilities for exploration, drilling and production provided by PTDF, a demonstration training land rig with flow station rehabilitated and made functional by PTDF and the latest drilling simulators, welding and mechanical workshops.
Kachikwu, accompanied by some senior officials of the ministry including the new Executive Secretary of PTDF, Dr. Bello Aliyu Gusau, commended the Fund for the rigorous implementation of its capacity building programmes.
Ibadan
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Office has arraigned in a Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti an illegal polytechnic operator.
The alleged illegal operator, Johnson Babatola was arraigned before Justice Taiwo Taiwo on a 7-count charge bordering on Advance fee fraud and operation of illegal Polytechnic.
Babatola, a former Principal Manager of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ado-Ekiti branch pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The EFCC said that the suspect was arrested following a petition from the National Board for Technical Education in Kaduna, alleging that he was operating an illegal Polytechnic named Teedek Polytechnic at Ilogbo, Ekiti State.
The board said that the accused had allegedly extorted gullible students, who were not aware of the status of the institution.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Board of Internal Revenue has ad
vised vehicles owners in the state whose number plates had faded and no longer identifiable, to replace them.
The Coordinator of Road Taxes of the board, Alhaji Salisu Sani, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Dutse yesterday.
Sani said that vehicles with such faded number plates could be used to commit crimes since the information on them was no longer visible.
“We want to urge such vehicle owners to, as quickly as possible, replace the faded numbers.
“This is because such numbers are no longer identifiable, and as such, some criminals can hide under that and commit certain crimes.
“And the replacement can also help the board to generate more revenue for our dear state,” Sani said.
Kaduna
The Provost, College of Agriculture and Animal Sci
ence, Mondo, Dr Balarabe Jahun, says diversification to agriculture by government is the right direction to pull Nigeria out of economic rot.
Jahun told newsmen in Kaduna that, if Nigeria can produce over 50 per cent of its agricultural needs, it would reduce the country’s challenges and ensure stability.
According to him, self sufficiency in food production and export of the excess will boost the economy, increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product and create employment.
The provost said that Nigeria has the capacity to produce all it required and export the surplus.
Kano
The authorities of Bayero University, Kano, have con
firmed the release of its lecturer, Mr Saminu Aliyu-Kiri, who was kidnapped in Kaduna State on Thursday night.
The Director, Public Affairs of the university, Malam Ahmed Shehu, confirmed the release of the abducted lecturer in an interview with newsmen in Kano.
Shehu said the lecturer, who regained his freedom on October 7, had since been reunited with his family in Kano.
“As I am talking to you now, the lecturer has regained his freedom since Friday, October 7, and reunited with his family,” he said.
Shehu, who, did not state whether ramson was paid before the release, said it was by the miracle of God that the lecturer regained his freedom.
Kebbi
The Fidelity Youth Empowerment Academy yesterday
began training of 500 youths on skill acquisition, digital media and enterprise in Kebbi.
Our correspondent reports that the academy is carrying out the exercise in Birnin Kebbi in collaboration with the Gazzalle Academy Vocational Centre.
The Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc., Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, said at the commencement of the training that the five-day programme was part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Okonkwo, represented by an official of the bank, Malam Abdulrahman Ibrahim, said that the initiative would produce a new breed of Nigerian entrepreneurs.
Lagos
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has
ordered the immediate demolition of all shanties around the creeks and on the waterways.
Ambode gave the order when he visited the Ilubirin LagosHomes project during an inspection tour of some parts of the state.
He asked all illegal occupants of the shanties to leave within seven days and stressed that the safety of citizens was paramount, hence the government’s zero tolerance for kidnapping and other crimes.
Ambode assured residents that government would review the laws on kidnapping and promised prompt and quick rescue of the students and teachers of Igbonla Model College, Epe, kidnapped on Thursday in their school.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Judiciary yesterday constituted
five appeal panels to review 127 judgments delivered by lower courts in the state.
The state Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko, announced this at the inauguration of 2016 Second Call-Over Special Appeal Session at the State High Court in Keffi.
“The 127 cases to be reviewed include; 81 civil cases and 46 criminal cases,” Dikko said.
He added that out of the 127 cases, 102 were old cases, while 39 were new.
Niger
Niger State government said it will discontinue the
payment of West African Examination Certificate (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO), fees for its students in Secondary Schools in the state.
Governor Sani Bello of Niger, disclosed this yesterday when he visited Justice Legbo Kutigi Secondary School to inspect the ongoing renovation of the school in Lavun local government areas of the state.
Bello said that government can not continue to pay N800 million every year for students that only 5 per cent of them are able to pass with four credits.
Ogun
The Ogun State government has urged residents liv
ing in areas severely affected by flood to relocate in order to guide against loss of lives and property.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Bolaji Oyeleye, made the plea in a statement yesterday in Abeokuta.
According to him, some of the affected areas include: Kara, Isheri, Denro, Akute, Wawa and Warewa, all in Ifo and Obafemi Owode Local Government Areas of the state.
Sokoto
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, has called
on the Federal Government to rehabilitate the Zari’a-Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto highway.
The governor made the call in Sokoto when he received the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who paid him a courtesy visit.
He said that the call became necessary in view of the importance of the highway which links almost all the states in the North-west geopolitical zone.
He thanked the Federal Government for the on-going rehabilitation of Sokoto-Jega-Kontagora road.
Yobe
The Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Hajia Khadija
Ibrahim, donated 5,136 (50kg) bags of rice to Yobe Government as intervention to Internally Displaced Personss in Gujba Local Government Area and it environs to improve standard of living.
Ibrahim handed over the commodity in Gujba area of Yobe.
She said the the aim of the intervention was to alleviate the plight of the people affected by the activities of insurgents in the Northeast.
Strategic regulators and other stakeholders have expressed satisfaction with the pace, quality and magnitude of work carried out by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Ogoniland, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In their separate speeches at the 2025 4th quarter key regulators / asset owners meeting held in Port Harcourt, the strategic stakeholders commended HYPREP for the significant milestones achieved with excellent efficiency and transparency, demonstrating capacity and commitment to sustaining collaboration with development partners for the overall success of the Project.
The regulators particularly lauded HYPREP for the landmark success in the implementation of the land and shoreline remediation, mangrove restoration, provision of reticulated potable water, the various sustainable livelihood programmes, donation of ambulances to health facilities in Ogoni, the construction of Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, as well as the ongoing Ogoni Power Project, adding that their independent field reports have shown proofs of HYPREP driving even beyond its mandates.
The goodwill messages were made by representatives of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Centre for Environment and Human Rights Development (CEHRD), Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA), Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), and Federal Ministry of Environment. Others are the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the Rivers State Ministry of Health, the National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Rivers State Ministry of Power, the Rivers State University, the Rivers State Ministry of Water and Rural Development, and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
Following the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit’s presentation on the status of HYPREP projects, participants offered feedback on areas of concern. They reassured HYPREP and the people of Ogoni of their continued support for the Project’s success. They also suggested that the quarterly review meeting be sustained as it enables them to report, evaluate and proffer solutions to areas of concern.
Participants also commended HYPREP for improved community and stakeholder engagement and for adding to what they saw the previous time. “We commend HYPREP for the quality work done at sites. The progress is phenomenal, because HYPREP is scoring good grades, above average,” Prof. Iyenemi Kakulu from Rivers State University said.
In his speech at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who was represented by Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, Director of Technical Services, commended the regulators and asset owners for their cooperation with the Project, and for making themselves available for fieldwork and the regular review meetings.
Prof Zabbey reiterated HYPREP’s commitment to best practice in waste management, particularly waste generation and disposal, calling on the Regulators for adequate logistics support, saying HYPREP’s priority is to focus on the core recommendations by UNEP, especially, remediation(soil, shoreline) mangrove restoration, provision of potable water, interventions in public health care services and sustainable livelihood for the people.
The Project Coordinator further highlighted the status of the Project, the successes achieved across all thematic areas, and assured that HYPREP will soon complete most of the ongoing projects and roll out others. He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review the progress of the Ogoni cleanup, ensure quality control, and foster effective collaboration.
Consequently, the quarterly key regulators/asset owners meeting is HYPREP’s strategic stakeholder management model, further underscoring the Project’s commitment to transparency, partnership for development, and accountability, all of which are harbingers of effective project delivery.
Speaking to newsmen, HYPREP Project Support Lead and representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr Ehioze Igbinomwanhia, described his involvement with HYPREPas an encouraging and insightful experience, saying, the Project is implementing a wide range of projects across Ogoniland, spanning immediate remediation works as well as livelihood support initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of affected communities.
Engr Igbinomwanhia emphasised that Renaissance Africa Energy remains fully committed to supporting the objectives of the Ogoni cleanup project, noting that the company has a long history of collaboration with HYPREP.
He added that the partnership has been characterised by continuous learning, adaptation and a willingness to respond to observations and recommendations aimed at improving outcomes.
He further emphasised the importance of safety in all project operations, particularly given the challenging terrain and operating conditions in Ogoniland.
He noted that safety is treated as a critical priority and that contractors are continually reminded to maintain high safety standards, stressing that lessons learnt from previous operational challenges like the collapse of the water tank in Gwara Community are being applied to strengthen safety practices and overall performance.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
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