Nation
THE STATE
Ogun
Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State, at the weekend held its first convocation ceremony with a call on the country leaders to take serious steps towards industrial revolution.
The University’s chancellor, Prof. Akin Mabogunje who made the call in his speech also stressed the need for mankind to establish a new relation with its environment “If it is to continue to live and work in relative peace, safety and security.”
Gombe
Gombe State Commissioner for Health, Dr Muhammad Isa Umar, has said that a bill would soon be presented to the state House of Assembly for the transformation of Gombe State Action Committee on AID (GOMSACA) to a full-fledge agency.
The commissioner disclosed this while delivering a speech during the International Centre for AID Care and Treatment Programmes (ICAP) and local council stakeholders’ forum in Gombe.
Osun
A call has been made to the Federal Government to extend part of the Education Intervention Fund (EIF) and Education Trust Fund (ETF) being enjoyed by the public universities to their private counterparts in the country to enhance the development of the nation’s tertiary education system.
The call was made by the Vice Chancellor of Bowen University and Chairman Committee of Vice Chancellors and Registrars Private Universities (CVCRPU), Prof Timothy Olagbemiro.
Speaking during the fourth convocation of Bowen University Iwo, Osun State at the weekend, the vice chancellor noted that the request would assist private universities to fulfill their objective by providing qualitative education for the overall development of the society.
Olagbemino who under scored the role private universities have played since the liberalisation of the educational sector said proprietors of such institutions also deserve the support by the government in the spirit of equity, fair play and social justice.
He urged President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to consider the demand by CVCRPU saying that the government should also be sensitive to the development in the private educational sector if the objective of revamping the nation’s university system is to be achieved.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State government has donated 200 motorcycles to the state police command in order to check the rising crime rate in the remote areas of the state.
Disclosing this to journalists recently, the state Police Commissioner, Tambari Yabo Muhammad, said the command has all the while received support from the government in order to fight crime.
He said: “Before I came to the state, the government had launched the Operation Yaki exercise and as at today, over 70 Hilux vehicles have been given to the command to check crime. And the interesting aspect of the exercise was the donation of over 200 motorcycles by the state government to curtail crimes in areas that were not accessible to vehicles. All these were tailored toward making the state a crime free state and model to other states of the federation.
“We want to acknowledge that it is not only in the city that crimes are rampant but in the remote areas as well where access is difficult.
With the new motorcycles, I believe my personnel can move in and check the rate of crime. This is a plus to the state government and I am yet to see any state that has done this in recent times,” Muhammad said.
Tambari Mohammad who was formerly at the Lagos Airport added that closed circuit television cameras, connected to the state command, would soon be mounted in particular locations to monitor events throughout the state.
Oshogbo
Tragedy struck at the weekend in Oshogbo, Osun State, when a mobile police man shot and killed a septuagerian identified as Mr Jacob Odedeji.
Odedeji and members of his family were returning to Lagos from Oyan, Kwara State, where the wedding of his son took place.
The solemisation of the deceased son’s wedding, according to sources, was held at Saint Peters Anglican Church, Oyan, less than an hour before the incident.
We learnt that Odedeji’s driver allegedly refused to stop when waved down by policemen at a road block in front of the moribund Oshogbo Stell Rolling Company.
Another version of the story had it that the policeman was provoked when the driver refused to part with a N20 graft demanded from him.
Angered by the drivers stance, one of the policeman allegedly shot into the car, killing Odedeji on the spot and injuring another occupant of the car who was later rushed to Osun State General Hospital, Asubiaro, Oshogbo.
The policeman reportedly shot sporadically into the car and escaped the area immediately, apparently for fear of a mob attack.
The shooting engendered a melee in the entire neighbourhood as commuters and motorists scampered for safety, creating a traffic bottleneck.
Osun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) confirmed the incident.
Benue
Governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue State has called on solar energy experts in the country to promote their skills and expertise, so that Nigeria can use them to solve the power problems of the nation.
Speaking at the weekend in Makurdi during the Annual Meeting of the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria, Suswan urged the experts to make themselves more available because those who plan to use solar energy as an alternative means of scheming the power problems of the country were not aware of the existence of local experts in the sector.
The governor stated that Nigeria had abundant sunlight, which is the primary raw material for solar energy, pointing out that there was no need why the country should be importing experts in this area with the huge potential it has.
He declared that with the success of the solar powered streetlights in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, his administration had concluded plans to extend the same facility to the major towns of the state to provide illumination for the people at night.
Suswam said that in the quest to enhance the availability of power in the state for industrial and domestic use, his administration has invited alternative energy experts from Canada to explore the wind energy potential of the state.
He promised to contribute to the programmes and activities of the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria at all times, describing the society as relevant to the growth of the nation.
Ondo
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has been cautioned to beware of sycophants who could make him to derail and not to perform creditably. He was advised to open his doors to those who have genuine interest to make significant contributions to good governance in the state.
The plea was made at the weekend by Pastor William Oluwole Falae of the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Ayo District Headquarters (Assembly centre), at an ordination service in Akure, the state capital.
Falae, who also urged the wife of the governor, Mrs.Olukemi Mimiko, to always pray for her husband so as to bring good governance to the doorsteps of the masses, noted that for them to have meaningful impact in the state, they must do at all times shun wrong advice.
The cleric said people should be very careful when they occupy any exalted office and admonished the governor to have people-oriented programmes so as to move the state forward.
According to him, to bridge the gap between the young and old, there must be recognition of the reality of where we are coming from and where we are heading to which would usher in positive charge.
He also called on the governor to make the villager habitable and comfortable with the provision of basic amenities in order to bridge the gap between the rural and urban centres.
Katsina
Four siblings have died in Katsina metropolis under circumstances that appear to be mysterious. The four youths, namely Halliru Dalhatu, Muntaka Dalhatu, Bashir Magaji and Zaidu Salihu aged between 19 and 23, were found dead in a shop in Kota Guga, where they had slept the night before.
An eye-witness who spoke with newsmen said the deceased were hale and hearty before they went to sleep in the shop, but were found dead early the next day.
He said it was about 7a.m that shop owners in the area realised that the shop was still close, and the youths had not been seen around.
They raised alarm and forced their way into the shop and found all four of them dead. Police later invited parents of the decease to the scene and the bodies taken to the state’s General Hospital in Katsina for autopsy.
Traders around the scene said they suspected the deceased might have died from suffocation or food poisoning as a local drink, fura denunu, was sold in the shop.
The state Police Commissioner, Mr Dan’ azumi Doma, who confirmed the incident, said the police also suspected food poisoning, as possible cause of death. Doma said the command is expecting medical reports from the General Hospital, while investigation of the case is on going.
Lagos
The Federal Government has appealed the judgement of a federal High court in Lagos which declared the deportation of the vaswani brothers and thirty other Indians illegal last week
The Government has also urged the court to stay execution of its judgement pending the determination of the appeal filed at the court of appeal in Lagos.
The Vaswani brothers were deported over allegations of evading payment of custom duties on imported rice.
Justice Mohammed Liman of the federal high court voided government’s letters withdrawing the expartiate quota to the foreigners declaring the action as null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
The judge, who held that due process of law and fair hearing was not followed in the entire process culminating in the deportation set aside the decision, further restrained government from confiscating or selling the business premises of the foreigners and disturbing them from carrying out their business.
Citing section 18, 19 and 45 of the Immigration Act, Justice Liman said governments action, “is an administrative one which must be based on law and the constitution empowers the court to determine whether those actions are in accordance with the law.
Kano
Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau has said that the contruction of Kanawa International Market sited in the state capital would cost N15 billion.
Governor Shekarau disclosed this at the weekend while speaking with journalists shortly after the inauguration of the National Executive Council members of the Moslem Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) in Gombe.
He added that the project was conceived to be executed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP), noting that the state government had provided a land for the project in which over N400 million was spent for compensation and resettlement of the villages that were displaced as a result of the project.
According to him, the proposed market, which after completion was expected to be the biggest market in the West African sub-region, would among other facilities, house a telecommunications centre, banks, clinic, school, among others.
Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration says it will henceforth sanction any plot owner with overgrown weeds in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The Minister, Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero made this threat on Thursday in Abuja during an unscheduled inspection of some strategic locations in some Districts of the Federal Capital City, Abuja aimed at personally assessing the performance of operational departments of the FCT administration.
The Minister reiterated that plot owners should take possession of their property and keep them clean or else the FCT administration will clean them but for a cost.
“The government cannot sit down and fold its arms to see overgrown grasses taking over strategic locations in the Federal Capital City while the men of the underworld gladly take advantage,” he restated.
Senator Aliero warned that all affect property owners are hereby advised to cut such grasses and keep them clean or face sanction by the FCT Administration.
The Presiding Bishop of Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, Bishop Victor Uzosike, has described love as the bedrock of human existence, family stability and societal harmony, stressing that without love, nothing meaningful can thrive.
Bishop Uzosike made this assertion while speaking to journalists during the wedding ceremony of his daughter, Praise Uzosike, to Architect Chibuzor Akubueze on Saturday, December 20, 2025. The solemnisation was held at the Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, and was attended by dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond.
According to the cleric, love is not only the foundation of relationships but also a powerful force that determines the success of individuals, families and communities.
“If you do not love a place, that place will not bless you. If you do not love your children, they will not be useful to you. If you do not love your family, your family will become a strange island to you. What you do not love, you do not have. Love is the key,” he said.
Reflecting on his family’s journey, Bishop Uzosike said God’s love had sustained them through seasons of challenges and triumphs, noting that unity had remained their greatest strength.
“We have stayed together as one family. God has shown us love in miraculous and mysterious ways, especially during difficult times,” he stated.
Describing the wedding as an amazing and beautiful experience, the bishop expressed appreciation for the show of love from his daughter’s friends, many of whom travelled from the United Kingdom and Ghana to attend the ceremony. He revealed that some of them personally paid for their flights and accommodation, which he described as a rare display of genuine friendship.
He also disclosed that his first daughter, who lives in Manchester, United Kingdom, with her husband, could not attend the wedding due to tight schedules, but noted that she remains happily married and fulfilled.
While thanking guests for honouring his family with their presence, prayers and goodwill, Bishop Uzosike said he felt proud and grateful to God.
“One of the greatest gifts God can give to a man is children who are sound in all ramifications. My children can see, hear, speak and walk. That alone is enough reason to be grateful,” he said.
He praised the bride, describing Praise as an exceptional achiever who had distinguished herself academically. According to him, she completed secondary school at 15, graduated with First Class honours at 19, and earned distinctions in her MBA as well as her first and second master’s degrees.
“For a long time, people believed that highly educated women may not marry early or at all. Today, Praise has proved otherwise. She has made her mother and me very proud,” he said, describing her as a rare gem.
Bishop Uzosike also expressed joy over his son-in-law, whom he described as God-fearing, disciplined and professionally sound.
“He is well brought up, passionate about God and morally upright. His parents did a great job. My wife, Pastor Esther, also did an excellent job,” he added.
The wedding ceremony attracted prominent personalities, including the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu; the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Ayemeyie; and several senior clerics.
Bishop Fidelis Ugbong officiated the solemnisation, while Apostle Chika Onuzo delivered the sermon, identifying communication, sex and money as key factors that can strengthen or weaken marriages.
Prof. Ngozi Odu also prayed for the couple and paid glowing tributes, drawing admiration from attendees.
The reception, held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Port Harcourt, was equally colourful. Justice Matilda Ayemeyie proposed the toast, describing marriage as not always a bed of roses and emphasising patience, commitment and understanding.
The event was chaired by Chief Henry Nwabugo and attended by notable personalities, including retired Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili; Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey; Hon. Otunba Jumbo; Nze Best Anele; and Prof. Henry Ogiri, among others.
Guests were entertained with dance performances by the couple, while the parents’ outing added elegance to the celebration. The master of ceremonies, Ambassador Kingsley, kept the audience engaged with humour and interactive sessions.
Overall, the wedding was a remarkable blend of spirituality, culture and celebration, marked by love, joy and unforgettable moments.
Nation
2027: APC Chieftain Predicts Tinubu’s Victory …Says Bayelsa Stakeholders Supporting President en masse … IPAC Knitted Together, Working In Synergy With His Office
Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC), in Bayelsa State and Special Adviser to the State Governor on Inter-Party Relations, Dr Jackson Ebi Suokiri has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would secure landslide win in the 2027 Presidential polls.
The Governor’s Aide stated this in Yenagoa, the state capital on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen against the backdrop of Tuesday’s pioneer Stakeholders meeting of the party convened by the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri as leader of the Party in the State upon his recent defection late last year.
He averred that Party stakeholders in the state were prepared to give the President the massive support needed to return elected, come 2027 following his sterling trajectory of performance and qualitative leadership prowess.
Dr Suokiri stressed that the reason for the governor’s swapping of party was in the best interest of the state, while also noting that the governor took the right decision as there was no need continuing with opposition politics even as the state has to align with the national government for rapid socioeconomic and political advantages for the state and its people.
“Governor Diri’s defection like you’ve personally heard him saying was for the best interest of our state, Bayelsa. When you’ve a President performing well at the national level and being very supportive to your state as a governor, I don’t think you’ve to be in an opposition party anymore, but rather align with the centre.
“Diri is a bridge builder. He is at peace with everybody and willing to work with all, irrespective of party affiliations or political differences for the interest of the state.
“As Stakeholders we’ve resolved to collectively work to return President Tinubu elected for second term in 2027. And you can see the Governor is not pressuring anybody or the structure of his former party, the PDP to defect like he has done.
“The PDP structure in the state is still intact, and for the APC, his new Party even as current leader in the State, he has been working with the structure and everybody he met on ground, hence you can see that the APC Caretaker Committee led by Dr. Dennis Otiotio has been maintained at the pioneer Stakeholders meeting convened by the Governor.
“But you must also know like you’ve seen and I’ve previously said that Governor Diri has outperformed expectations of Bayelsans in all sectors, be it economy, infrastructure, health, education, etc.”, he said.
Meanwhile, as against insinuations that some political parties were not working with the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter-Party Relations, the Governor’s Aide has revealed that as it were currently, all the 19 registered political parties with presence in the state are working in unity with his office as members of the Inter-party advisory council (IPAC).
“IPAC is working in unity with my office. Before the Governor’s defection the only party that wasn’t working with my office was the APC. But since after his formal defection, the APC and even those other parties that were either sympathetic to the APC, the governor’s new party or the PDP, his former Party are all now working together with my office as members of IPAC”, Suokiri added.
By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
