Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Federal Government has donated three trucks-load
of grains to returned Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Madagali Local Government Council of Adamawa State.
The NEMA Camps Coordinator in charge of Adamawa and Taraba Mr Sa’ad Bello, presented the items in Gulak town, Headquarters of Madagali.
Bello said the gesture was part of Federal Government’s humanitarian intervention to assist returnee communities affected by Boko Haram insurgency.
He explained that the three trucks were, however, not sufficient, considering the large number of the people but that more assistance would soon reach the community.
He added that “this is the first time grains relief material meant for the returnees through NEMA directly reached Madagali Local Government Area.
Bauchi
Accidental leak of a chemical substance suspected to
be chlorine from a cylinder in Bauchi, endangered the health of some students of a private school, Rainex Hallmark International College, who were attending classes.
It was gathered that the cylinders, presumably empty, and owned by some businessmen from Kano, were kept in premises close to the College, located in Fadaman Mada Area of Bauchi.
A woman who described herself as the ‘Director of the School’ said in a telephone interview Saturday that the incident occurred at about 10 am on Friday.
Contacted for his comment, Bauchi Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mahmoud Mohammed, said he would issue a statement on the matter at a later time.
Benue
The Benue State Sector Command of the Federal Road
Safety Commission (FRSC) has inspected over 2000 commercial vehicles for compliance with installation of the speed limiting device.
The state Sector Commander, Mr, Chidiebere Nkwonta, gave the figure in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi.
FRSC began advisory enforcement of installation of the device in commercial vehicles on October 1.
He said that the corps would collaborate with transport unions and other relevant stakeholders, including the media, religious leaders and traditional rulers, to ensure compliance.
He refuted a claim by some motorists that the speed limiter installation deadline had been extended to February, 2017.
Borno
The Chief of Army staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, says the
army would establish additional Forward Operation Bases to support increasing military operations across the country.
Buratai stated this while fielding questions from newsmen after the inauguration of a new Forward Operation Base in Buratai, in Borno State.
He revealed that already provisions had been made in 2017 budget for construction of more operational bases across the country.
According to him, the increasing operational activities in the fight against insurgency and terrorism in the North East, had necessitated the establishment of the Forward Operation Base in Buratai.
He stated that the base, which had accommodation and other facilities, would support operational activities in the area.
Ekiti
The regent of Orin Ekiti, in Orin, Mrs Bola Dada, has
appealed to the Federal Government and the National Assembly to hasten work on the proposed dam project in the town in Ido Osi local government area of Ekiti State.
In an interview with newsmen on the sideline of the annual “Orin Day’’ celebration, Dada said that adequately funding the dam would aid irrigation and improve farming in the area.
She recalled that the Owena River Basin Development Authority had already carried out feasibility studies on the project, and confirmed that it would boost irrigation farming in the area.
The regent, however, identified lack of effective follow-up, as well as funding, as the major factors hindering the commencement of the project.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has earmarked N11.4 billion
for township road projects in the 2017 budget estimate sent to the State House of Assembly for approval.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai had on October 12 sent a budget proposal of N215.9 billion for the 2017 financial year.
The budget breakdown shows that the N11.4 billion was part of the N24 billion earmarked for the ministry of works, housing and transport for capital projects.
The document indicates that N3.4 billion was set aside for trunk roads, N400 million for ring roads and N250 million for box culverts.
It also shows that N500 million will be spent on the supply and installation of street lights while N150 million was for street naming and house numbering.
Nasarawaa
The Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Mr Silas Agara,
has been praised by some Lafia residents and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for consistently obeying traffic rules.
They made the commendation in Lafia in separate interviews with newsmen.
Sector Commander of FRSC in Nasarawa State, Mrs Faustina Alegbe, expressed delight with the deputy governor’s conduct, within Lafia, the state capital.
A commercial motorcycle operator Mr Yusuf Adamu, who saw the deputy governor obey traffic rules on Shendam Road in Lafia, said he was touched by the deputy governor’s action.
A Lafia resident,Mr Hassan Usman also praised the deputy governor for his exemplary conduct.
Niger
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that one
person was killed and another seriously injured following a misunderstanding between two transport unions at the Abdulsalam Abubakar Motor Park, Minna.
The misunderstanding was between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria.
Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Bala Elkaina confirmed the death in an interview with newsmen in Minna.
He said that the injured person was currently receiving treatment at Minna General Hospital.
Elkaina said that the police had invited the two leaders of the union for thorough investigation in order to bring the culprits to justice.
Ogun
Former Vice Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota, Prof. Charles
Ayo, has urged the Federal Government to invest more in the health sector to reduce capital flight.
Ayo spoke at the 7th Inaugural Lecture of the institution titled, “Deconstructing the National Development Agenda : The Role of Information and Communications Technologies.”
He said the nation lost N1.5 trillion annually to health tourism due to poor infrastructure in the sector.
The don said that there was an average of 1,700 persons per hospital bed and the ratio of physician to the populace too wide..
The Chancellor of the institution, Dr David Oyedepo, said Federal Government should look at education as a core requirement in achieving changes as well as solving nation’s challenges.
Oyo
An advocacy group, Partnership for Advocacy in Child
and Family Health (PACFAH), has called for increased budgetary allocation to health sector in 2017 to boost the nation’s economy and productivity.
The Programme Coordinator of PACFAH, Ms Anu Rotimi, made the call at the end of a three-day stakeholders and advocacy meeting in Ibadan.
The meeting also featured a Validation Workshop for trend analysis of the 2006 to 2016 budgetary allocations to health sector in Oyo State.
Rotimi described the sector as the major driver for economic development which should be given priority in the nation’s budgetary allocation.
According to her, health and economic performances are inter-linked, and health sector is a viable avenue to revive the economy.
Plateau
The District 9125 of Rotary Club International has immu
nized no fewer than 2,000 children against polio in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The state Representative of Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee of Rotary in Plateau, Ms Gloria Thomas, said that the gesture was aimed at ensuring complete eradication of polio in Nigeria.
Thomas said that the exercise was in fulfillment of the pledge made by the club in 1985 to ensure that children enjoy a polio-free world.
“At least, children who missed the last exercise during the just concluded Polio plus Day would certainly have benefited from the one we just administered to them.
“Every Polio plus Day, Rotarians always come out en mass to support and ensure that every child gets immunised; to protect and boost their immune system against diseases,’’ she said.
Taraba
Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku has commiserated
with the people of Gashaka Council Area of the state over the death of Lamdo Gashaka, Alhaji Hammangabdo Sambo.
Sambo, 81, died at the National Hospital Abuja on Saturday night during a protracted illness.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Hassan Mijinyawa, Ishaku said that the death was a huge loss to the government and people of Taraba.
He described Sambo as a courageous and sincere monarch whose wisdom and honest counselling would be missed.
He was survived by about 70 children and many grandchildren.
Sokoto
Sokoto State Government says only five malaria-related
deaths were recorded at the Kofar-Kade Primary Health Centre in Sokoto North Local Government Area in the last one month.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Al-mustapha Othman, made the clarification while briefing newsmen in Sokoto shortly after he led officials of the ministry on assessment visit to the centre.
Othman said that no fewer than 390 patients were admitted at the facility during the period under review.
The permanent secretary said that the drugs were distributed to all health facilities across the state.
According to him, the drugs were being dispensed free to all categories of patients across the state.
Nation
Kwara Community Residents Flee Over Persistent Bandits’ Attacks
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
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
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.
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