Nation
THE STATES
Kaduna
The vice-chancellor of Kaduna State University (KASU) has decried the non-release of the N500 million take-off grant for the development of the institution’s Kafanchan campus.
The Vice-Chancellor had told the Kaduna State governor Namadi Sambo that the development had slowed down the execution of projects for the smooth take-off of the campus.
Abdulahi said the grant was included in the 2009 budget, but had not been released, and that no single work has been done at the site.
He said the dilapidated former Government Secondary School, Kafanchan and site of the campus had been taken over by weeds, while part of it had been converted to farmland by the residents of the area.
Zamfara
The Zamfara State Government has spent N35.8 million on the rehabilitation of roads across the state.
Managing Director of Zamfara Road Maintenance Agency (ZAROMA), Alhaji Tukur Rafi who disclosed in Gusua, at a lecture on “Maintenance Culture of Public Infrastructure,” organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) said the agency had conducted a survey on the state of the roads and discovered that they were plagued by faulty designs, inadequate drainage system and pot holes.
Ajaokuta
The Federal Government of Nigeria have been commended for its resolve to complete the Ajaokuta-Warri rail line.
National President of the Association of Steel Workers, Mr Otori Maliki who made the commendation, said that the development showed government’s commitment to developing the sector.
It will be recalled that the Federal Government, through the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had recently approved N36 billion for the rehabilitation and construction of the remaining 22km rail line and six stations along the route.
According to Maliki, the Ajaokuta-Warri rail line, constructed in 1994, needs to be repaired, following vandalism and dilapidation, which occurred over time, since the project commenced.
Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has opposed the application filed by former Director-General, National Arts Gallery, Joe Musa, praying an Abuja high court to quash the corruption charges brought against him and four others.
Specifically, Musa and his co-accused were arraigned by the EFCC for alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to the National Arts Gallery.
But in an application argued by Musa’s counsel, Kolawole Olewookere, he submitted that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case against him.
Olowookere argued that “a thorough examination of the proof of evidence attached to the charge would s how that there is nothing linking the accused person to the alleged offence contained in the 12 count charge.”
In his response, counsel to the EFCC, Steve Odiase, asked the court not to grant Musa’s application, insisting that the accused had a case to answer.
Odiase argued that Musa was trying to use the court to shield himself from prosecution over the alleged fraud.
Everyone must answer for his misdeed and that is exactly what we have called the accused person to do,” he submitted.
The court will on December 10 rule on whether or not to discontinue the trial.
Kwara
The two billion naira Kwara State Advanced Diagnostics Centre (KWSADC), Ilorin, may be ready by the end of April next year, according to the state’s commissioner for health, Oladimeji Hassan.
Already, a part of the contractual agreement was sealed on Monday while parties to the pact promised the readiness of the centre “in five months” time.
The centre, when completed, would be comparable to any of its kind in the world. Services of renowned experts in diagnosis would be sought towards accurate and early detection of ailment.
Hassan spoke yesterday in Ilorin, during the opening of a seminar on emergency obstetrics care and life-saving skills for health care providers, organised by university of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.
Kogi
The Kogi State House of Assembly has put on hold the job of four local government council chairmen for two months for failure to comply with the state’s financial regulations.
Investigations have shown that the decision of the House was sequel to the adoption of a report from the office of the state’s Auditor-General for local governments.
The report which was presented by the House Committee Chairman on Finance and Appropriation, Alhaji Abdullahi Ali, accused the chairmen of failing to submit their reports from 2006 to 2008 for which they were initially queried on.
Yobe
At least, 1,200 plots recently allocated for commercial and residential purposes in Damaturu and Potiskum towns have been revoked by the Yobe State government.
The commissioner for lands and survey, Alhaji Samaila Gadaka who announced the revocation in a statement in Damaturu, said the revocation was with immediate effect.
He stated that the state governor, Ibrahim Gaidam approved the revocation, following the detection of massive irregularities in the allocation.
The statement also said that the affected plots were allocated without adherence to due process and advised those who had commenced development on them to stop work with immediate effect.
Minna
The chairman, Global 2000 and former Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) has declared Nigeria free from the guinea worm disease scourge.
The former head of state who disclosed this in Minna, Niger State during a courtesy call on Governor Babangida Aliyu, said the country had been rid of the disease through the combined efforts of the Federal, State and local governments, as well as those of Global 2000.
Gowon recalled that that former president of the United States (US), Jimmy Carter invited him in 1987 to join in the fight against the scourge of the disease, through is non-Governmental Organisation, Global 2000.
He stated “the number of people afflicted by the disease stood at 650,000 for a long time, which did not go up or down, showing its seriousness on the health of our people in 21 states.”
The Global 200 chairman further stated that the situation was very pathetic, as the disease afflicted both the old, the productive group and the children, reducing their capacities to engage in productive venture.
He said Global 2000, through the various state governments in the affected states, began massive public enlightenment and provisions of good drinking water to the endemic areas.
Gowon, noting that boreholes, local drugs and filtration clothes were provided, posited that the efforts yielded fruits, as the country had been rid of the disease.
Taraba
The wife of the president, Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua has urged policy makers to bring to bare issues that would reduce child and maternal mortality rate in the country.
The First Lady who made the call during her one-day advocacy visit to Taraba State, also recalled that statistics have shown that Nigeria has a very high child and maternal health problems in the world.
Turai pointed out that the North-East zone where Taraba state falls into, has the highest maternal mortality rate when compared with other geo-political regions in the country.
She said the advocacy visit is to sensitise policy makers, women folk and the public of the need to ensure that pregnancy and delivery do not pose threat to lives of mothers and the new born.
According to her, the visit was also to encourage children to develop full potential to contribute to the nation’s socio-economic development, and called on policy makers, royal fathers, religious leaders and parliamentarians in the country to support policies and laws that could promote good health for women and children in the country.
The first lady, who commended the effort of the federal government in the implementation of the Integrated Maternal new born and child health strategy, said it is a key government initiative towards ensuring universal coverage of maternal newborn and child health intervention in the country.
She also commended the debt relief funded maternal and child health progress and the midwifery service scheme launched recently in Abuja.
Borno
The cholera outbreaks in Biu and Gwoza, Borno State, have spread to Maiduguri, the state capital and the neigbouring Jeve Local Council killing six people, including two children.
Also, three persons have been confirmed dead and several others hospitalised as a result of cholera outbreak in Karim-Lamido Local Council of Taraba State.
The spread of the water borne disease, according to Director of Disease Control in the Borno State Ministry of Health, Dr. Abubakar Sadik, was caused by drinking of contaminated water and poor personal hygiene.
The fresh outbreak brought to a total 78 those who have lost their lives, as 72 cholera patients last month died in Gwoza, Dikwa and Madube, a border community with Adamawa State.
Confirming the fresh outbreak, health commissioner, Zubairu Maina, told The Tide that in Biu alone, about 65 people were killed at the cholera treatment centre.
Oyo
The peace deal brokered among People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in Oyo State by the Senator Ike Nwachukwu-led committee may have collapsed followed renewed disagreements over alleged dissolution of the state party executive.
Although the Nwachukwu committee was silent on the status of the controversial party executives allegedly handpicked by the late Oyo PDP chieftain, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, it however set up a 19-member harmonisation committee to oversee the affairs of the party along with a newly constituted elders council.
But while the duo of Senator Lekan Balogun and Senator leader Teslim Folarin maintained that the state party executive council stands dissolved, former Governor Kolapo Ishola and the state secretary of PDP, Bashiru Akanbi, said the executive remained intact.
Balogun argued that since there was no party executive in place in the first instance, there was nothing to dissolve by the peace panel.
His words: “first, there was an injunction restraining the conduct of the congress that purportedly gave birth to this illegal executive, an injunction that the powers that be at that time ignored which rendered whatever they did at the so-called congress a nullity and was reechoed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) letter of July 23, 2008 confirming this illegal status.
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.
