Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

May 31, 2017

Ekiti
A 44-year-old wife, Modupe Alegbeleye, last Thursday told an Ikole-Ekiti Customary Court in Ekiti State that she denied her husband, Ebenezer Alegbeleye, sex because of the cigarette odour from him.
Report that Modupe said this while replying to a statement by her husband that she denied him sex for three months.
According to her, my husband likes smoking cigarettes but I do not like its odour.
“So, whenever he smoked and demanded sex; I was always turning down his demand as I hated cigarette’s odour.
“Although, I knew that my husband was a cigarette smoker before we started our relationship, I was always advising him to stop it.
“I was also praying so that he would quit it, but to no avail.

FCT
The United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has provided an additional $9.5 million to the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) to ensure more than 175,000 mothers and children under five do not suffer from malnutrition during this year’s “lean” season.
The grant from USAID’s Health, Population, and Nutrition Office, augments ongoing support for the humanitarian assistance in Nigeria by its Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and Food for Peace (FFP), and seeks to bridge a funding shortfall announced by WFP late last month.
The grant will fund a blanket supplementary feeding program to protect the nutrition status of children aged six months to five years and lactating women in IDP and host communities of Borno State through provision of specialized nutritious foods.

Gombe
The reduction of average speed by mere five per cent could reduce fatality of accident by 80 per cent in an event of automobile crash, Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps in Gombe, Mr. David Mendie, said last Sunday.
Mendie, who stated this during a Thanksgiving service at the Saint James Catholic Church, Gombe, marking the end of United Nationa’s 4th Global Road Safety Week, said a credible research had proved so.
“Research has so much said that if an average speed is cut by five per cent, there is tendency for the reduction of fatality by 80 per cent whenever road crash occurs”, he said.
He said that based on the findings, the need for road users to adhere to the recommended speed limit, could not be over-emphasised.
According to him, FRSC in Gombe has intensified campaign on the need for motorists to manage speed while driving.

Kaduna
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) last Tuesday donated a 350-seat ultra-modern lecture theatre to the Department of Accounting, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
The ICAN National President, Mr Dicon Titus-Soetan, said at the inauguration of the facility, that the donation was part of the institute’s efforts to encourage the study of accounting.
Titus-Soetan urged the university to make judicious use of the theatre.
He said that ICAN, established in 1965 with the aim of training accountants and regulating accounting practice, had 42,000 members so far.

Kano
The Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has called on Muslims in the state to pray for peace and development of the country during the Holy month of Ramadan.
The governor made the call in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Malam Mohammed Garba and made available to newsmen in Kano on Saturday.
He also called on the people of the state to strictly adhere to the dictates and teachings of Islam during this Holy month of Ramadan.
The governor also urged Muslims to strive to imbibe in greater measure, the virtues of piety, self-discipline, tolerance, justice, fairness and compassion for the less-privileged and fear of Allah in all their undertakings, which the Ramadan fast promotes.
He said fasting, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, should not be just a period for abstaining from food and drink, but also be used to make greater sacrifice by praying fervently for peace, security and rapid socio-economic development of the state and the country in general.

Lagos
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State last Saturday said his administration was determined to protect children from abuse or molestation in order to safeguard their future while preparing them for the challenges of life.
Ambode, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule, said this in Lagos at the 2017 Children’s Day Celebration organised by the Ministry of Education as part of activities to mark the Lagos at 50 anniversary.
The theme of the Children’s Day celebration was “ Children of Today, Our Keepers Tomorrow.’’
“ We must protect these children today so that they can protect us tomorrow.
“It is a double celebration for us all in the state. It is children’s day and Lagos at 50 celebration.
“I was a child like you 50 years ago and some of us occupying leadership positions today got here because of the opportunities given to us by this great state.

Nasarawa
Some secondary school students in Nasarawa State, have called for truce between the government and labour unions to end the ongoing workers strike by academic staff in tertiary institutions in the state.
Secondary school teachers in the state have also joined the strike.
A cross section of the students appealed to the government and union leaders to ‘take step’to end the strike in the interest of the students.
They made the call in Keffi on Tuesday in separate interviews with newsmen
Recall that on May 12, labour unions in the academic sector embarked on indefinite strike to demand payment of their salary arrears, payment of their full salary and other entitlements.

Niger
The Nigerian Army said it raided a Boko Haram cell at Mokwa and its environs in Niger State last Thursday and arrested three leaders of the terrorist group.
The army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, named the suspects as Mustapha Muhammed (Adam Bitri), Ali Saleh and Uba Mohammed.
Usman said that they were picked up at their hideout at Gidan Mai village on Mokwa-Tegina road.
“Preliminary investigation has confirmed that one of the terrorists, Mustapha Muhammed (Adam Bitri), along with one Bakura (at large), was among the group of the Boko Haram terrorists that kidnapped the late elder statesman, Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno, in Maiduguri on May 13, 2013.

Osun
The Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Mr Najeem Salaam, has urged Muslims to take advantage of the Ramadan to pray ceaselessly for the nation as demanded by Prophet Muhammed.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr Goke Butika,quoted Salaam as saying in his Ramadan message on Saturday in Osogbo that the economic challenges the nation was facing would be tackled with prayers.
He also enjoined Islamic clerics to use the Ramadan lectures to speak the truth to those in power, saying leaders at this time would appreciate this in the spirit of the season.

Oyo
Rep. Abiodun Olasupo (APC- Iseyin/Iwajowa/Kajola/Itesiwaju Federal Constituency) says the bill on whistle blowing is at an advanced stage of being passed by the National Assembly.
Olasupo also said the National Assembly was working hard to ensure that all enabling laws protect the identity of whistle blowers and strengthen the principle.
The federal lawmaker spoke in Iseyin during a routine tour of his constituency to inaugurate projects and brief constituents.
“You should not be surprised that all the measures used in the anti-corruption crusade today were developed by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
“The Jonathan administration developed the policies of whistle blowing, Bank Verification Number (BVN), Treasury Single Account (TSA) but lacked the political will to implement them.

Plateau
The PDP in Plateau State has gone philosophical over the gale of defections that has emasculated its fold, declaring last Sunday that God was “sieving the chaff from the grain”.
“The defections do not surprise us; we believe that God is sieving. He is blowing away the chaff and leaving only the grain,” the party’s Chairman, Mr Damishi Sango, told journalists in Jos.
Our correspondent reported that the party has lost many of its key members including Sen. Joshua Dariye, Rep. Edward Pwajok and Yusuf Gagdi, Deputy Speaker, Plateau House of Assembly, to the APC.
The party, which also had 13 members to APC’s 11, when the Plateau House of Assembly was inaugurated in June 2015, currently has only eight, while the APC has 16.
But Sango told newsmen that the defecting members had only confirmed that they were only interested in where there was power.

Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government has earmarked over N202.3 million for the digitisation of its Radio and Television stations, Rima Radio and Rima Television.
Reports have it that the state’s Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Abdulkadir Jeli, disclosed this in Sokoto, on Saturday, at a news briefing to mark the two years of Governor Aminu Tambuwal in office.
He said that the state government has concluded arrangements to meet National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) digitisation deadline for state-owned media organisations.
“The government is fully aware of the deadline set by the NBC for the digitisation of all broadcast stations in the country.
“As such, the ministry has made contacts with companies with bias in Radio and TV equipment, for the supply of radio and television digital equipment for the state-owned broadcast stations.

Nation

Youths Vow To Continue Protest Over Dilapidated Highway

Published

4 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

Youths from five local government areas in Northern Cross River State have concluded a one-week warning protest and blockade of the dilapidated Ikom-Wula-Obudu federal highway over the weekend.
They have vowed to resume the road blocks if by this week the authorities do not intervene to fix the road.
More than five thousand locals, mostly youths from Obanliku, Etung, Obudu, Ikom and Boki LGAs trooped out everyday for one week, used palm trees to block the highway to draw state and federal government’s attention to their plights, requesting the repair of a road has has been unmotorable for about 40 years.
They warned that if they do not see any actions from the state or federal governments, they will resume their Plan B protest, stop revenue collections and make governance unpalatable.
The youths also warned that without interventions on the road which has claimed several lives, including that of last week when a pregnant woman died with her baby in the full glare of the protesters because of the terrible road, no election can hold in the area next year.
One of the leaders of the No Road , No Election protest, who is also the Abo Youths in Boki LGA, Dr Martins Assam said both the federal and state governments have neglected the region, which generates more than 70 percent state revenue from agriculture.
He said if machinery is not deployed by next week, they will not have any option than to embark on unpalatable and disastrous protest, and stop revenue collections in the area.
“Last week we had only a warning strike for one good week. We’ll embark on a more elaborate, disastrous one-month blockade of this highway until they intervene. We call on our Governor and representatives in the National Assembly to act now by impressing on the federal government to immediately fix this road else. We’re not asking for two much but to be treated as human beings.”
Another protester, Clinton Obi from the Etung axis said, “We’ve been neglected for 40 years. This Ikom-Obudu federal highway had been impassable. The government has removed its concentration from our plights. By this one week protest, we want action on this road otherwise the next phase of protest will be costly.”
Reverend Father Francis Amaozo, priest in charge of St. Nicholas parish in Nashua, Boki LGA said, “I have also been a victim of this very deplorable road. Enough is now enough. We’ve been betrayed by our representatives and other leaders, so that we in this axis have become endangered species on this road. I have lost some many members on this road.”
Member, representing the Boki-Ikom federal constituency of the state in the House of Representatives, Bisong Victor Abang had pleaded with the locals to be a bit more patient with the government as action will commence shortly.

Nation

UNIPORT VC Receives Inaugural Lecture Brochure As Professor Highlights Urgent Need For Drug Repurposing In Malaria Fight

Published

4 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof Owunari Georgewill, last Thursday received the inaugural lecture brochure from the Inaugural Lecturer, Professor Udeme Georgewill, during a ceremony at the university’s Centre of Excellence attended by academics, researchers, students, and distinguished guests.
Delivering her lecture, Professor Udeme Georgewill described the occasion as the culmination of years of dedicated research, teaching, and service to humanity. He explained that his work as a pharmacologist has consistently focused on finding practical, affordable, and scientifically sound solutions to health challenges that disproportionately affect developing countries, particularly malaria, which remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health concerns.
She noted that Nigeria continues to bear one of the heaviest malaria burdens globally, accounting for a significant percentage of worldwide cases and deaths. The disease, largely caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite and transmitted through Anopheles mosquitoes, remains especially dangerous for children under five years and pregnant women, threatening not only present populations but unborn generations. Despite years of intervention efforts, malaria continues to strain families, health systems, and the national economy.
Prof Georgewill empha-sised that while Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies such as Artemether-Lumefantrine remain the gold standard for malaria treatment, emerging resistance patterns pose a serious challenge. He explained that drug resistance is a survival mechanism of the parasite, enabling it to adapt and reduce the effectiveness of medications designed to eliminate it. According to her, instances where patients do not feel better after initial treatment sometimes lead to repeated dosing or the search for injectable alternatives, practices that can worsen resistance and complicate treatment outcomes.
Against this backdrop, she advocated strongly for drug repurposing as a strategic and urgent response. Drug repurposing, he explained, involves identifying new therapeutic uses for already approved and widely available medications. He likened the concept to “old wine in new wineskins,” stressing that medicines already proven safe for certain conditions can be carefully re-evaluated and optimised for new roles in malaria management. This approach, she argued, offers advantages such as reduced research timelines, lower development costs, and faster clinical application compared to developing entirely new drugs from scratch.
She disclosed that her research had progressed from laboratory investigations to clinical evaluations, where his team is studying combinations involving Artemether-Lumefantrine and Ivermectin to determine their effectiveness in improving treatment outcomes and possibly reducing transmission. Clinical trials are ongoing, and findings will be communicated upon completion of regulatory processes. However, he cautioned strongly against self-medication, warning that misuse of drugs without proper diagnosis and prescription can lead to organ damage, treatment failure, and increased resistance.
Referencing global health commitments, Prof Georgewill highlighted Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, which seeks to end epidemics of malaria and other major infectious diseases by 2030. She questioned whether the goal remains attainable under current realities, especially with growing resistance and funding gaps. He also referred to strategies of the World Health Organisation aimed at drastically reducing malaria incidence and mortality while pushing toward elimination in several countries.
Looking ahead, she revealed that her team is building comprehensive research databases to support artificial intelligence-driven drug repurposing. He stressed that the integration of artificial intelligence, molecular docking, and advanced screening technologies is transforming global drug discovery, and Nigerian researchers must be equipped to participate competitively in this evolving scientific landscape.
In her recommendations, she called for the establishment of a National Centre for Drug Repurposing to coordinate research efforts and leverage artificial intelligence in identifying new indications for existing medicines. He urged policymakers to simplify and accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical application, ensuring that scientific breakthroughs benefit the public more efficiently. She also appealed to the university and relevant authorities to increase funding and modernise laboratory infrastructure, including high-throughput screening facilities, to strengthen Nigeria’s position in global biomedical research.
The lecture concluded with expressions of gratitude to God, the university leadership, colleagues, students, and guests, as the event underscored the University of Port Harcourt’s commitment to research excellence and its role in addressing critical public health challenges facing Nigeria and the wider world.

Nation

Niger CAN Rejects Proposed Hisbah Bill, Urges Gov Bago Not To Assent

Published

4 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Niger State Chapter, has rejected the proposed Niger State Hisbah Directorates Bill, describing it as controversial and capable of deepening religious division in the state.
In a statement signed by the State Chairman, Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, and made available to The Tide’s source yesterday, the association urged Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago not to assent to the bill if it is passed by the State House of Assembly.
The bill, sponsored by the member representing Chanchaga Constituency, Hon. Mohammed Abubakar, seeks to establish a Hisbah Directorate in Niger State.
CAN warned that the legislation could be perceived as discriminatory against Christians and may heighten tension in the religiously diverse state.
“Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, we, the entire Christendom in the state, wish to draw your attention to what could easily create division among the people you govern,” the statement read in part.
The association questioned the necessity and benefits of the proposed law, asking what economic or social value it would add to the state.
It further argued that existing security agencies, including the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, already have constitutional mandates to maintain law and order.
The Christian body also faulted the legislative process, disputing claims that it was consulted during a public hearing on the bill.
It insisted that it was neither invited nor notified of any such engagement, despite being a critical stakeholder in the state.