Nation
THE STATES
Ijesha Land
Prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ijesha land have resolved to champion the course of re-electing Senator Iyiola Omisore as the Senator representing Ife/Ijesa Senatorial District at National Assembly in the forthcoming re-run in the zone.
Towards matching their words with action, Hon. Oluwole Oke representing the same constituency at the House of Representatives, Chief Dosu Fatokun, a chieftain of the party from the state have raised an initial donation of about N5 million in their commitment to mobilize support for Omisore in all nooks and crannies of his senatorial district.
Financial support for Omisore’s re-election moves also came from Ifeland with Chief Mrs Olu Awope donating a total sum of N250,000.
PDP Director of publicity, Prince Adeolu Adeyemo, who made this known to The Tide source in the area stated that the commitment was made at a well attended meeting with the leadership of the party in Osogbo.
Kwara
14 rural communities across three existing 16 in Kwara State had in the last one month been connected to the National Grid.
The development formed part of the state government’s plan to electrify 105 rural communities in the state before the end of this year.
The 14 beneficiary communities are Odone, Budo Oba/Aikojo, Ile Apa, Isokun/Oloyin and Onikoko all in Ilorin East Local Council.
Others are Ayedum, Ilale, Igosi/Igba, and Erinmope, in Oke Ero council.
From Ifelodun local government area are; Omi-Aro, Ita Olomo, Alomi Laya/Amoyo, Sango/Tayo Atada Aja Ali and Okaka/Ajibowo.
The state commissioner for energy, Alhaji Zakari Mohammed Tuesday at a press briefing in Ilorin, said work in 60 other communities had reached to 70 per cent completion.
Besides, 10 others have been completed between 40 and 50 per cent level mile 10 others with poor terrain would be completed by the first week in December.
The state government under a joint project endeavour with the councils, has earmarked a sum of N1.2 billion for the project.
While the state will pay 60 per cent of the total fund, the council swill contribute 40 per cent.
The commissioner said that the government’s plan was aimed at reducing the high rate of rural/urban migration and encourage the establishment of cottage industries across the state.
Ekiti
Following expiration of the 14-day ultimatum issued to government by leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Ekiti State, within which to pay the workers September and October Salaries workers in the state Thursday embarked on a two-day warning strike to press home their demand.
However, there was a twist as the Public Service Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) immediately dissociated itself from the strike.
In its reaction to the development the state government, which denied owning the workers, described the leadership of the labour union as agents of destabilization.
Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Wale Ojo-Lanre, queried the rationale behind the warning strike, saying that the salaries had been paid up to date.
The Ekiti State chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Messrs Joseph Arogundade and Raph Kolawole, respectively, in a statement Wednesday, alleged that their demands had not been met by the state government.
Ojo-Lanre described the labour leaders as agents of destabilization, adding that in some states, they are owing seven months, if they go on strike, government may down size, saying that the labour leaders should come and discuss.
Osun
Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Adejare Bello, has officially declared the seat of Osogbo state constituency vacant following the Monday judgement of Appeal Court that ordered the nullification of the election.
The Court of Apeal sitting in Ibadan had in a judgement read by Justice Dauda Bagge, ordered a re-run in state constituency within 60 days.
The court also ordered Akintude Adegboye of AC representing the constituency to vacate the seat immediately.
The Progress Peoples Alliance (PPA) had challenged the validity of the election on the ground that it was excluded from the polls by INEC.
In his comments, Bello charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to, in no distant time, fix a date for a re-run that will afford the Osogbo State Constituency representation in the state parliament.
The speaker said with the current arrangement, the state parliament now has its members reduced to 25 from 26, until there is an election to produce a representative of Osogbo in the Assembly.
Abuja
The first step towards implementating the health sector component of vision 20:20:20 through a Presidential Health Summit is being taken by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH).
At a media briefing in Abuja, Minister of Health, Prof Babatunde Osotimehin, announced that the summit scheduled for yesterday and today is entitled, accepting Collective Responsibility for improving our health in Nigeria. It is aimed at engaging the governors towards obtaining their commitment in the on-going efforts to meet the health needs of the people and the achievement of the seven-point Agenda of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
According to Osotimehin, the summit which will be in two parts, will feature a draft agreement on the health agenda and the way forward.
This will undoubtedly position the state and the local councils to achieving participate in the delivery of healthcare at their various levels.
As part of the expected out come, Osotimehin said, a partnership agreement known as National Health partnership declaration and mutual Accounting, for measurable Results which will reflect key and measurable deliverables within the health sector that will benefit the majority of our people in the short, medium and long term, will be developed.”
Ondo
The rank of Labour Party (LP) members in Ondo state swelled at the weekend in Ofon, headquarters of Ose Local Council, when hundreds of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithfuls defected to the ruling party.
Led by former Chairman of the Board for Technical and Vocational Education during the last PDP administration of Dr Olusegun Agagu, Elder Samuel Aborowa, the decampees, at an impressive rally, said they decided to join the LP because of the leadership style of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
The Aborowa group in the PDP, which claimed to have thousands of supporters at the grassroots, said its movement out of the party has sounded its death knell in Ose, reputed to be one of the councils with high voter population.
Justifying the movement at the rally which was attended by a colorful array of LP chieftains led by Deputy Governor, Alhaji Alli Olamusi, Aborowa said, “The Labour Party is made up of progressives, peace-loving and caring people. With the few months they have governed the state under the leadership of Dr Olusegun Mimiko, they have embarked on many projects that are people-oriented.”
Taraba
Both the Taraba State radio and television have not been functioning for over a month due to use of obsolete equipment.
Unlike the television which still manages to transmit for about three hours daily, the radio station has totally been out of transmission.
The reasons according to the General Manager, Sani Sule Sale, are connected with lack of equipment which include power generating sets, transmitters, etc.
“There are other problems which we have been reporting. Personally, I know that a radio station needs additional back up. You cannot have a station where only one transmitter will be working daily without a back up,” he said.
Saleh, who spoke Tuesday with pressmen at the station’s premise, described the transmitter as “the heath of the radio that can fail at anytime.”
Oyo
Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Muruf Atilola has declared the seat for Akinyele Constituency One, hitherto occupied by his deputy, Jelili Adeleke, vacant following the nullification of his election by the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal, by unanimous decision on October 29, 2009, nullified Adeleke’s election, owing to unlawful exclusion of the Labour Party (LP) Logo from the ballot paper, and ordered a re-run within 60 days.
LP’s candidate in the election, Mukaila Akinrinade, had petitioned the tribunal on the unlawful exclusion whose decision the appellate court upheld.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed November 14, as the re-run day in the constituency, as well as the Ibadan South-West/North-West Federal Constituency where the election of Folake Olunloyo-Osinowo, had also been nullified by the same appellate court.
However, as the speaker declared the seat vacant, attempt for and election into the vacant deputy speaker seat in the Assembly was resisted by Atilola Ajekiigbe, of the action congress (AC).
Middle Belt
In response to the on-going clamour for constitutional reform, the middle belt forum has demanded for the implementation of true federalism in the country, insisting that every state in Nigeria should take total control of their resources and pay 75 per cent tax to the federal government while developing and controlling the resources.
The forum also called on the federal government to create a special savings fund through which the effects of the proposed deregulation could be cushioned.
In a statement signed Wednesday by the National Chairman of the Forum, Mr Williams Juta, and National Publicity Secretary. George Ohemu, the forum said the proposed 10 per cent stake in the oil industry for the oil producing states will become unnecessary once this fundamental issue is addressed through constitutional amendments.
Kaduna
Legal practitioners from all over the federation have converged in Kaduna for the third yearly conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs Farida Waziri, are expected to speak at the event.
In a statement issued yesterday, NBA National Publicity Secretary, Murtala Abdulrasheed and Chris Nnoli, secretary publicity sub-committee of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), said the theme of the two-day conference, “legal practice” changing times, changing strategies,” will feature Bernard Sullivan as the keynote speaker.
The Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola will be the session chairman with the topic, “when financial transactions become financial crime the powers of regulatory bodies and judicial institutions.”
Other lead speakers include Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Prof. Joe Goldface-Orokalibe, former president of the association, Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Ganiyu Ogunlaye.
Niger
Crisis of confidence rocking Niger State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a turn for the worse Wednesday, as the former National Vice Chairman, North Central, Alahji Abubakar Magaji, resigned his membership from the party in a letter addressed to his ward chairman, dated October 22, 2009.
“I here tender my resignation as a member of the PDP. Consequently, I am also withdrawing my membership of the party. Also I no longer wish to belong,” he said.
Magaji was one of the three founding fathers of the PDP in the state. “I pray to God to give our leaders the fear of God and conscience to do right,” he said.
Another party stalwart who is equally a founding father of the party in the state and also served as the chief political adviser of the immediate past administration, Alhaji Mokwa has also resigned his membership from PDP.
In is letter dated November 3, 2009, he said “I have the singular honour to inform you that I wish to tender my resignation from the PDP. “It is worthy to note that this is without prejudice to any ulterior motive or bad feelings against anybody or other members of the PDP family in general,” he said.
“I still remain a good friend and brother to you and other good people of Niger State in general,” he concluded.
The Head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt’s College of Health Sciences, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive forensic science infrastructure, warning that the nation’s ability to investigate and solve crime is being hampered by lack of scientific data and systems.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Man: Fearfully Different, Wonderfully Made,” delivered as part of the 207th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university, Prof Oladipo highlighted that while no two individuals are exactly the same, the country currently lacks the robust systems needed to collect and manage biological and anthropometric data that could support criminal investigations.
He explained that the natural variations among humans — from fingerprints to physical measurements — form the foundation of personal identification in forensic work. These biological differences, he said, are essential for distinguishing one person from another, especially in the context of criminal investigations where clarity of identity can mean the difference between justice and impunity. Without this scientific foundation, he argued, law enforcement agencies lack a critical tool in the fight against crime.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s forensic science capacity has historically lagged behind needs, with only a few forensic facilities available and many law enforcement agencies struggling to access or use scientific evidence effectively. One review of the state of forensic investigation in Nigeria found that outdated facilities and limited adoption of modern forensic methods have left many cases unsolved or poorly investigated, even as crime rates rise across the country.
In Lagos, efforts to improve forensic capabilities have focused on DNA analysis, with the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre — the first of its kind in West Africa — providing critical support for criminal investigations and helping to identify human remains, link related cases, and assist with paternity testing. However, such initiatives are yet to be replicated at a national scale, leaving many regions without access to these vital scientific tools.
Prof Oladipo’s lecture went beyond academic theory to propose concrete actions. He called for the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Science responsible for creating and managing a nationwide anthropometric and forensic data bank. This repository, he stressed, would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to track crime, assist law enforcement agencies, and improve the administration of justice by providing reliable scientific evidence for investigative and legal processes.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening research and training in forensic science. Many Nigerian universities currently lack the funding and infrastructure to offer complete undergraduate or postgraduate programs in areas such as forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, and crime scene investigation, a gap that forces aspiring experts to rely on collaborations with institutions abroad. By fostering a research-friendly environment and securing greater support from both government and private sectors, Nigerian institutions could produce homegrown experts capable of advancing forensic science in the country.
Awareness of forensic science’s role in criminal justice remains low among the general public and even among some security professionals. Studies have shown that a significant portion of Nigerians are unfamiliar with basic forensic concepts or the existence of tools such as DNA profiling and national forensic databases — tools that are common features of criminal justice systems in countries like South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Oladipo also urged regular training and retraining programs to keep forensic practitioners updated with evolving scientific methods. According to him, continuous professional development is critical in a field where technological advances — from biometric databases to digital forensic tools — are transforming how crimes are investigated and solved.
The lecture was attended by academics, students, and professionals drawn to the intersection of science, identity, and justice, all of whom heard the professor make a compelling case for scientific innovation and institutional reform as central to Nigeria’s effort to contain crime and strengthen its justice system.
The event not only showcased Prof Oladipo’s expertise in human anatomy and forensic psychology but also positioned forensic science as a strategic national priority — one that could bring clarity to investigations, support victims and their families, and ultimately enhance public safety across Nigeria.
The University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) on Thursday staged a vibrant and memorable edition of its Annual Inter-House Sports Competition at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Village, drawing an impressive turnout of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests.
The event, organised by the UPWA International Group of Schools, brought together children from the pre-nursery, nursery and secondary sections in a colourful celebration of youth athleticism, discipline and teamwork. The arena came alive with cheers and excitement as pupils, clad in their various house colours, marched in a ceremonial parade before proceeding to compete in a wide range of track and field events, relays, novelty races and other team-based activities designed to promote physical fitness and healthy competition.
Declaring the competition open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended UPWA for sustaining a tradition that continues to nurture young talents beyond the classroom. He noted that sports remain a critical component of holistic education, helping to build resilience, confidence, leadership skills and social interaction among children.
In her remarks, the President of UPWA, Professor Udeme Georgewill, expressed appreciation to parents, teachers and members of the organising committee for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the success of the programme despite prevailing economic challenges. She described the event as a reflection of unity and collective effort within the school community.
“This is the first time White House is emerging overall winner, and that shows remarkable improvement and great sportsmanship,” she said. “We all had fun. It is not easy putting an event like this together considering the economic situation, but we are grateful to the parents for being part of this journey. The excitement everywhere is truly heartwarming.”
The competition featured spirited participation from the various houses, including Purple House, San Chicago Red House and White House, with pupils demonstrating strength, speed, coordination and teamwork. Parents and supporters filled the stands, cheering enthusiastically and adding colour to the spectacle, while teachers ensured orderliness and safety throughout the proceedings.
Professor Georgewill emphasized that the true essence of sports lies not merely in winning trophies but in participation and personal growth. “Sports is not just about winning. It is an avenue for growth, discipline and opportunity. The fact that a child is able to participate is already a win. Losing this year does not mean you cannot win next year. Keep trying,” she encouraged, urging pupils to see both victory and defeat as stepping stones to greater achievements.
She further observed that while there are many competing interests in the Nigerian sports sector, consistent grassroots investment remains essential for discovering and nurturing future champions.
The colourful ceremony culminated in medal presentations, trophy awards and group photographs, with UPWA executives, including Vice President I, Professor Adedamola Onyeaso, joining the participating teams to celebrate the day’s achievements.
The annual inter-house sports competition continues to stand as one of UPWA’s flagship events, reinforcing its commitment to balanced education, character formation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among its pupils.
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