Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa State chapter of Association of Nigerian
Architectural Professionals (ATAP) has embarked on a tree planting campaign as part of activities to mark its end of year programme.
Speaking to newsmen on the campaign, the Chairman of the union, Mr Umar Marafa, said members had planted many tree seedlings in various parts of Yola to mark the end of the year.
He said that the association had also conducted career talks for students in various schools.
Also commenting, the National President of the association, Dr Olusegun Idowu, lauded the effort of the association, adding that the group was committed to nation building and promoting professionalism.
Benue
Two civil servants have been remanded in prison by a
Makurdi Magistrates’ Court on charges of criminal conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.
When the case came up for mention in court, plea of the defendants was not taken for want of jurisdiction.
The police prosecutor, Insp. Abraham Akule, told the court that the defendants, Samson Abeh, an Accountant and Christina Mhambe, a Director of Finance were staffers of Benue Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Akule said a letter of complaint was written to the Commissioner of Police, Benue Command, dated September 30 by one Dr Felix Lawani of Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue.
Borno
The United Nations (UN) has promised to increase hu
manitarian support to the Federal Government to restore normalcy and security to the North Eastern part of the country.
The Country Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr. Janthomas Hiemstra said this during a courtesy call on the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri.
Hiemstra said “we have come to assure the General Officer Commanding (GOC) that the UNDP are going to put more presence in this area’’.
“This second phase of the post-insurgency has to be done along with the humanitarian agencies.
Ekiti
A Superintendent of Police attached to Ekiti State Po
lice Command, Idowu Taiwo has been murdered by unknown persons.
The deceased was reported to have been initially kidnapped last Sunday night at a drinking joint in Ado Ekiti.
His corpse was later found on Monday in a car in Ado Ekiti after a search for his whereabouts.
According to a source, the motive for his murder is yet to be ascertained but until his death, Taiwo was the Officer in Charge of Finance, commonly called OC MSS.
The corpse of the deceased was discovered in a car with his hands handcuffed.
Jigawa
Police in Jigawa State have placed a total ban on the
use of fireworks, bangers and other explosives during the Yuletide in the state.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Abdu Jinjiri, made this known in a statement in Dutse.
“This is to remind the general public that the ban on the use of fireworks, bangers and other explosives during any celebration is still in force,” he said.
Jinjiri warned parents to advise their children and wards to refrain from the use of such explosives capable of instilling fear in the people, especially during the upcoming Yuletide celebration.
Kogi
The Secretary, Kabba Drivers Union, Onitcha chapter
in Kogi State, Mr. Ade Eseyin has decried the spate of recklessness among Dangote truck drivers on the Obajana-Kabba road.
Eseyin told newsmen in Lokoja that he was almost killed by one of the truck drivers along the route.
He said that he was on his way from Kabba to Lokoja when a Dangote truck ran into his car and destroyed his car and wounded some of his passengers.
He noted that when he reported to the Dangote authorities, he was told by one Mr Sanni Bello to either take 10,000 or take the driver to court.
Nasarawa
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has
called on religious leaders in the state to consistently preach messages of love and peace in order to ensure harmony amongst all citizens.
Al-Makura gave the charge in Lafia at the farewell ceremony for the state contingent of intending Christian pilgrims for the 2016 pilgrimage to Israel.
The governor, represented by his Deputy, Mr Silas Agara, pointed out that such sermons hinged on tolerance and love for one another would go a long way in fostering religious harmony and societal development.
He also urged the intending pilgrims to use the opportunity of the exercise to pray fervently for the state and the nation to overcome the various challenges, especially the current economic recession.
Ogun
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has reiter
ated his commitment to resuscitate the Gateway Hotel in Ota, Ogun.
Amosun disclosed this during the opening ceremony of the first Shoprite Plaza situated at the Toll-Gate in Ota.
According to Amosun, the resuscitation of the Gateway Hotel would complement the new Shoprite Plaza in bringing development to Sango-Ota, as well as the entire Ogun State, because of its proximity to Lagos State.
He added that this would boost commerce and industrial activities in the area and also generate employment opportunities for youth in the state.
Ondo
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) says it
would deploy more than 150 personnel on the Sagamu-Ore-Benin expressway during the yuletide.
The Unit Commander, Ore Command, Ondo State, Mr. Umoru Abudullahi said that the deployment was to check the excesses of motorists.
According to Abdullahi, commercial drivers are always in a hurry to make many trips during the yuletide.
He said this often resulted to road crashes.
The FRSC boss urged motorists not to speed so as to avert accidents during the festivities.
Osun
Three tanker drivers, who allegedly stole 33,000 litres of petrol, have been arraigned in an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun State.
The three accused persons are: Abdullahi Oladapo, 43; Wasiu Ogunsola, 44 and Gbenga Makinde, 31.
The Prosecutor, Insp Monday Ojiezele, told the court that the accused committed the offence on December 6, at 7:05 p.m. at Ibadan- Ife Toll Gate in Ile-Ife.
He explained that the accused stole 33,000 litres of petrol valued at N4.5 million in a tanker with Reg No. AGL 496 XP, property of Five OS Petroleum Limited, Ile-Ife.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence alleged against them.
Oyo
A Grade C Customary Court, Agodi, Ibadan, has granted
the prayer of a grandfather, Adeetan Adeoye, to end his 47-year-old marriage with his wife, Sekinatu.
Pa Adeoye had on December 5 requested for the dissolution of the union to avoid further embarrassment, molestation and provocation from the respondent.
In his testimony before the court, the petitioner stated that his wife used to partake in widows’ benefits and abused him whenever he raised eyebrows on her actions.
In her defence, the woman, who said the petitioner married her as a virgin 47 years ago, pleaded with the court not to dissolve the marriage that was blessed with four grown up children.
Plateau
The first and second joint convocation of the Plateau
State University (PLASU), Bokkos, earlier slated for December 2016 has been postponed to February. 4, 2017 due to some logistic problems.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the university Mr. John Agams stated this in an interview in Bokkos.
Agams disclosed that the authorities had tried to complete the library complex and the multi-purpose hall before now but to no avail.
According to him, the completion of those two strategic projects is very key to the success of the convocation, hence, the need to shift the date.
Agams expressed optimism that the projects would be completed before end of January to give room for successful hosting of the convocation.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Police command says it has recorded
no fewer than 45 cases of culpable homicide across the state from January to date.
The state Police Commissioner, Mr Mohammed Abdulkadir, disclosed this to newsmen in Sokoto while reviewing the activities of the command within the year.
He said that the command had also arrested 69 homicide suspects within the year, 60 of whom had been charged to courts.
Abdulkadir said that the command had also arrested and charged suspects to courts over 141 cases of armed robbery.
Zamfara
The Commissioner of Police in Zamfara State says, Mr
Shaba Alkali, crime rate has drastically reduced in the state.
Alkali, who stated this in Gusau while launching the “Change Begins With Me “ campaign of the Federal Government at the state level, said this was largely due to collaboration between the security agencies and the general public.
He said many criminals who had terrorised innocent people in the state in the last two years had either repented or left the state.
Alkali expressed satisfaction with the change of attitude among people of the state, noting that “we still need to change for the better so that we can progress as a nation”.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced that the mangrove wetlands in Ogoniland have been officially designated a Ramsar Site of International Importance by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The designation, according to HYPREP, underscores the global ecological significance of Ogoniland’s mangrove wetlands and highlights ongoing restoration efforts aimed at addressing environmental degradation in the area.
In a press statement issued by the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, the recognition was described as a major milestone for the agency, the people of Ogoni and other stakeholders working towards environmental restoration in the region.
Zabbey explained that the mangrove wetlands, which cover more than 31,700 hectares, consist of islands, tidal creeks, mudflats and mangrove forests that support a wide range of biodiversity. The ecosystem provides habitat for several species including fin fish, shellfish, crustaceans, crocodiles, turtles and the endangered grey parrot.
He noted that beyond biodiversity conservation, the wetland also provides essential ecosystem services such as fisheries production, flood control, water purification and carbon storage. According to him, the international recognition will further support local livelihoods, promote ecotourism and bring global attention to the region.
The HYPREP coordinator disclosed that the designation followed a meticulous process that began in 2024 when the project submitted a memorandum to the National Council on Environment seeking support for the recognition of the Ogoni wetlands as a Ramsar site.
Following the council’s review and approval, the Honourable Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP’s Governing Council, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, formally wrote to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat requesting international recognition of the wetlands.
After a comprehensive ecological assessment, the Ramsar Secretariat granted the designation, officially recognising the Ogoniland wetlands as one of the world’s sites of international importance.
Zabbey said the recognition would strengthen ongoing environmental restoration efforts in the area and encourage stronger conservation measures and sustainable management of the wetlands for the benefit of present and future generations.
He added that the designation also fulfils a key recommendation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, marking another significant step in the implementation of the report’s recommendations.
The HYPREP project coordinator reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to restoring the Ogoni environment through the remediation of oil-polluted land, shorelines and mangrove ecosystems.
He also called for collective responsibility and stakeholder support to sustain the progress of the Ogoni cleanup programme and facilitate the development of a comprehensive and sustainable management plan for the Ogoni mangrove wetlands.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, has attributed the successes of the 12-day programme organised for adolescent girls aimed at eliminating Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) in some parts of the State to the ability of the respective stakeholders to take ownership of the programme.
Mrs Davies-Dimkpa, who dropped the hint in an interview at the end of the programme in Elele-Alimini Community in Emohua Local Government Area on Saturday, said the event had a buy-in component, an ownership mentality, whereby facilitators, staff, and everyone involved took ownership of the project.
She explained that the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) had packaged a series of training sessions for adolescent girls aimed at ending the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in some communities across the State.
According to her, the initiative was designed to educate young girls on the harmful effects of the practice and empower them to become advocates against it within their communities.
She noted that the programme, which lasted for several weeks, targeted adolescent girls from different local government areas where the practice is still prevalent, stressing that
data collected by UNICEF and the Ministry revealed that Female Genital Mutilation is still practised in some parts of the State, prompting the need for intensified sensitisation and community engagement.
Mrs Davies-Dimkpa explained that the programme adopted a “train-the-trainer” approach where adolescent girls were educated on the dangers of the practice and encouraged to share the knowledge with their peers, families and communities.
“This is a programme by the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation with support from UNICEF and UNFPA to train adolescent girls towards ending Female Genital Mutilation, which is still practised in some local government areas,” she said.
She further explained that each participating local government area had a three-day training session, with the exercise running for a total of 12 days.
The local government areas, where the programme took place, she noted, included Ahoada West, Abua-Odual, and Emohua, adding that the initiative is part of broader efforts by the state government and development partners to eliminate harmful traditional practices and protect the rights and wellbeing of girls.
She revealed that prior to the training of the adolescent girls, the Ministry and its partners had also engaged community facilitators, including older women and men, to sensitise them on the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
According to her, the involvement of community leaders and adults is essential in addressing the cultural and social factors that sustain the practice.
Speaking on the response of the participants, the permanent secretary expressed satisfaction with the level of engagement and enthusiasm shown by the girls throughout the training sessions.
She noted that many of the participants said they were learning about the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation for the first time.
“The girls are between the ages of 12 and 17 and from the interactions we had with them, they were very excited. Some of them are hearing these things for the first time and never knew that the practice is harmful,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the knowledge gained from the training would enable the girls to serve as advocates for change within their communities.
She added that the Rivers State Government, alongside its partners, would continue to intensify efforts and expand community-based interventions aimed at ending the practice across the State.
Meanwhile, the participants for Emohua Local Government Area were drawn from Elele-Alimini, Egbeda, Rumuji, Ibaa, Rumuekpe, Rumuakunde, Eligbarada, and Ogbakiri Communities.
The participants,who spoke in separate interviews described the training as eye-opening, noting that it helped them better understand issues surrounding adolescent health, personal hygiene, reproductive health, and the harmful consequences of Female Genital Mutilation.
Favour Azukwu from Rumuekpe community, said the programme provided a deeper understanding of the dangers associated with the practice, particularly its impact on the health and wellbeing of girls and women.
She explained that the training sessions exposed participants to the medical, social and psychological effects of Female Genital Mutilation, including severe bleeding, infections and complications during childbirth.
She revealed that she personally experienced the practice at the age of 12 and suffered heavy bleeding afterwards, an experience that has strengthened her determination to advocate for its eradication.
According to her, many communities still practise Female Genital Mutilation because it is perceived as a cultural tradition, despite the dangers associated with it.
“I do not support Female Genital Mutilation because there are many dangers involved. I experienced severe bleeding when it was done to me as a child.
Another participant, Glory Ken, a 16-year-old secondary school student from Rumuji community, said the programme broadened her understanding of several important topics affecting adolescents.
She explained that beyond the discussion on Female Genital Mutilation, the training also focused on issues such as personal hygiene, reproductive health, peer education, and self-care.
According to her, the sessions helped participants understand the importance of making informed health decisions and supporting one another as peer educators.
“I learned about many things that affect young people in society and how to take care of myself. I also learned that Female Genital Mutilation is harmful to our health. The message I am taking back to my community is that this practice should stop,” she said.
Also speaking, Goodness Kenjika Nyeche described the programme as very impactful.
She noted that the training equipped participants with the skills and confidence to educate others about the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation.
She said she plans to organise sensitisation among adolescents in her community, particularly girls between the ages of 10 and 19, to ensure they understand the dangers associated with the practice.
“I learned many things from this programme and I feel very good about it. I will educate other young girls in my community and help them understand why Female Genital Mutilation should not continue,” she said.
For Queen Dike from Ibaa community, the programme helped clarify misconceptions surrounding the practice.
She explained that in some communities, the practice is still referred to as circumcision and is viewed as part of cultural identity.
She said the training helped participants understand that Female Genital Mutilation involves the cutting or removal of parts of the female genital organs and that it has serious health consequences.
She stressed that awareness and education are key to ending the practice, especially among communities that continue to uphold it as tradition.
“I think the programme is very helpful because many people still believe it is part of culture. More awareness is needed so people can understand why it should stop,” she said.
Another participant, MyJoy Echika Amadi, said the programme provided critical information about adolescent health and the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
She described the initiative as enlightening and said it encouraged young people to become advocates for change in their communities.
According to her, participants were encouraged to use various platforms such as churches, peer groups, schools and community gatherings to spread awareness about the harmful effects of the practice.
“This programme has enlightened us about the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation. I will do my best to create awareness in my community and encourage people to stop the practice,” she said.
Many of the participants emphasised that the knowledge gained during the programme has empowered them to challenge harmful traditions and promote healthier practices among young people.
They also called on the Rivers State Government, development partners and civil society organisations to sustain the sensitisation campaigns and extend the training to more communities across the State.
According to them, empowering young people with the right information will play a critical role in eliminating Female Genital Mutilation and protecting the rights, health and dignity of girls in Rivers State.
The participants expressed appreciation to the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, UNICEF and UNFPA for organising the programme and for investing in the wellbeing and future of adolescent girls in the State.
