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Adamawa
Surgical teams from the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC), have treated 90 people wounded  in the Maiduguri and Madagali bomb blasts.
ICRC Health Coordinator in Nigeria, Dr Hashemi Padshah, made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen in Yola, Adamawa State.
Padshah said that the Red Cross currently has two surgical teams in the country which had so far treated over 1,800 patients in the north-east within the year.
He said that the ICRC was assisting 16 primary health-care centres and nine mobile clinics by providing them with primary healthcare services for internally displaced persons, returnees and other residents in the north-east

Borno
The Victim Support Fund (VSF) says it has donated about
N370 million for the procurement of building materials for reconstruction of eight primary schools destroyed by Boko Haram in Bama.
The Chairman of the fund, retired Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, disclosed this in Bama at the official flagging-off of the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of 10 public structures in the area.
Represented by Amb. John Gana, he said the VSF was committed to addressing the plight of victims of insurgency and other related violence in the country.
According to him, the VSF expended N250 million for reconstruction of 40 projects in Dikwa Local Government Area of the state in January 2016.

Gombe
The Gombe State Board of Internal Revenue would soon em
bark on a biometry of tax payers in both formal and informal sectors of the state.
The exercise, according to the Chairman of the board, Alhaji Adamu Damji, is to ensure effective tax collection and adequate remittance of the revenue to the state treasury.
Damji told newsmen in Gombe on the sidelines of a training programme for tax collectors from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state that the need for more revenue, informed the state government’s decision to embark on the biometry.
According to him, the state has been making efforts to boost its Internally Generated Revenue and improve its Revenue Data Base.

Kaduna

The Director-General (DG), Nigerian Institute of Transport
Technology (NITT), Zaria, Dr Aminu Musa-Yusuf, says every Nigerian has the right to live and work anywhere in the country.
Musa-Yusuf made the remark when the Niger-Delta APC Youth-Vanguard presented him an award of excellence recently in recognition of his selfless service to Nigeria.
A statement signed by NITT’s Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations and made available to newsmen in Zaria, Kaduna State, quoted the DG as saying: “Nigeria is for all of us, and therefore, every Nigerian has equal right to live and work anywhere in the country.
“That is why the institute religiously adhered to the principles of federal character during the last recruitment exercise”.

Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has appealed to
the federal and Nasarawa State governments, to dualise the Keffi/Akwanga road.
The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, made the call in Lafia, after Mr Ibrahim Bala (APC-Keffi West), moved a motion, under matters of public interest, on the need to expand the Keffi roundabout.
Balarabe-Abdullahi said dualising the road would reduce the rate of accidents and save the lives of the people plying the road.
Earlier, Mr Ibrahim Bala (APC-Keffi West) called on his colleague, to support his motion
Mr Muluku Ibrahim (PDP-Nassarawa Eggon East) seconded the motion.
Niger
Niger State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Re
sources, Alhaji Aliyu Abdullahi, has urged the media to educate the youth to embrace agriculture.
Abdullahi, who made the appeal in an interview with in Minna, said that agriculture has huge potentials for employment and wealth creation.
According to him, the gesture will support massive production and ensure food security in the country.
He explained that the state government had provided modern farming inputs at subsidised rates to farmers across the state.
Ondo
A 25-year-old travel agent, Adetula Dotun-Ola, was
last Tuesday brought before an Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court over an alleged N1,000,000 fraud.
The Police Prosecutor, Sgt.  Uloh Okokon, told the court that the accused person fraudulently obtained N1,000,000 from one Kehinde Anthony-Bejide, under the pretence of procuring an air ticket for him to Cuba, which he could not procure.
Okokon said that the Adetula falsely presented himself as a travel agent before Kehinde, with intent to defraud him and convert the money to his own use.
He alleged that the accused person committed the offence on July 24, 2016 at Local Government Secretariat Shopping Complex, Akure.

Osun

A 40-year-old man, Ikechukwu Muojekwu, has been
sentenced to 13 months imprisonment in Ilesa prison by an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court for burglary.
The Magistrate, Mr Olusola Aluko, ordered that Muojekwu be kept behind bars due to the magnitude of the offence committed or pay an option of N20,000 fine.
The State Counsel, Mrs Olubukola Akintayo, told the court that the convict committed the offence on December 18, 2009 at about 6.30p.m. at No. 17 Aiyetoro area, Osogbo.
She said that the convict conspired with others at large, broke into the shop of one Mrs Fasilat Suraju and carted away some valuable items.
Akintayo said the the offence contravened sections 86 (1), 516, 390(9), and 249 (d) of the criminal code cap 34 vol. 11 laws of Osun, 2003.

Oyo
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC),
in Oyo State, says it is committed to ensuring standard in the operations of private guard companies in the state.
The state Commandant of the corps, Mr John Adewoye, stated this during a stakeholder’s seminar in Ibadan.
He said the NSCDC was mandated to regulate the activities of private guard companies operating across the country hence it became mandatory for the companies to comply with the operational guidelines.
Adewoye disclosed that biometric registration of all private guard companies across the country would soon commence to flush out fake and unregistered companies.

Ogun
The Ogun Commissioner for Commerce and Industry,
Mr Bimbola Ashiru, has urged the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to improve information dissemination to shippers to avoid exportable goods being condemned and confiscated at ports of destination.
Ashiru made the plea in Ota, Ogun, in a message to a one-day Enlightenment/Awareness Seminar with a Theme: “Ports Economic Regulator: A Stimulus to Enhance International Trade’’.
The commissioner was represented by a Director in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr Kayode Ogunti.
The seminar was organised by the South West Zone of the NSC.
Plateau
Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State
has sunk 37 boreholes in 20 communities within the locality in the last one year.
The Management Committee Chairman of the council, Mr Isa Hashidu, disclosed this when the state House of Assembly Standing Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs visited the council.
The House had on December 2 directed the committee to visit and ascertain the levels of development at the 17 local government areas of the state.
The chairman said that the council spent N27 million to execute the project to completion.
Similarly, the Management Committee Chairman for Mikkang Local Government, Mr Vulgab Pabuet, told the committee during its visit that it had constructed 40 lock-up shops.
Sokoto
The Nigerian Army has recovered about 300  cattle
from rustlers in various parts of Zamfara State, Brig.-Gen. Ginikanwa Nwosu, Commander, 1 Brigade, Sokoto, has said.
Nwosu spoke recently in Sokoto, when he addressed newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Press Centre.
He said:” The recovery was part of the myriad of successes recorded by the military in the fight against cattle rustling, kidnappings and other forms of armed banditry”.
Nwosu announced that the military recently deployed more troops to various parts of Zamfara to reinforce the fight against cattle rustling, kidnappings and armed banditry.
Nwosu pledged to “sustain the current tempo of cordial relations between the military and the journalists, as well as the civilian population”.
The State NUJ Chairman, Isa Shuni, had earlier commended Nwosu for the visit, describing it as the first by any Commander of the brigade.

Taraba
The Taraba State Police Command says it is awaiting
the result of the autopsy conducted on the body of Mr Samuel Awar, a comedian who was found dead by his aides in a hotel in Jalingo on December 8.
The command’s Spokesman, David Mishal, said in Jalingo that the autopsy would determine the cause of Awar’s death.
“ It is normal to conduct an autopsy in situations like this to determine weather the deceased was killed or he died as a result of natural causes,” Mishal said.
He said the two ladies whom the command earlier invited for interrogation in connection with the case, had been released after nothing implicating was found against them.
He made his last public appearance penultimate Wednesday when he went out with his fans to paste posters around Jalingo in preparation for a peace concert scheduled for December 17.

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Key Regulators, Asset Owners Impressed With HYPREP’s Milestones

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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.

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Maternal Mortality: RSG Identifies 6 High Risk Local Government Areas

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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.

 

John Bibor

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HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

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The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.
This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.
According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”
She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.
As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.
A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.
Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.
The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.
By: John Bibor
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