Nation
THE STATES
Borno
The need to offer assistance to the orphans and the less privileged in the society in order not to increase the crime rate of the country has been emphasised by a health maintenance organisation.
The company which asked corporate bodies to make it a point of duty to share a though for this group in our midst at its award of the health insurance hospital cards to children of the Fatimah Al-Sheriff Motherless babies an orphanage run and managed by the Borno State government, said the society would be better if the group is not allowed to go wayward.
Presenting the card which offer the orphans a comprehensive health cover, the managing director of the company Chief G. Idowu said the gesture was part of the company’s social responsibility aimed at giving succour to the less privileged.
The managing director who was represented by one of the company’s directors, Engineer Adegbeyi also revealed that the donation was part of the company’s commitment to the promotion of quality healthcare in the country, noting that multi-field provides comprehensive medical cover to all disadvantaged children in the country.
Ondo
Two ballot boxes stuffed with thumb printed papers were last Saturday allegedly recovered in the vehicle conveying the Senator representing Ondo State central district in the upper chamber of National Assembly Senator Gbenga Ogunniwa during the bye-election of the Akoko-South West and Akoko South East Federal Constituency.
Ogunniwa who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs was in the vehicle along with Akoko North East and North West federal constituency Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye and Temitayo Fawehinmi of the Ondo East and Ondo West Federal Constituency.
The wine coloured Peugeot 407 marked MFR 333 was later taken along with two other similar bands with covered number plates, two police vehicles with mobile policemen and two buses with suspected thugs to Kese police station.
Abuja
Telecommunication companies in the country may face stringent penalties if they fail to confer with National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Agency (NESREA) on the installation of their mast.
The agency’s threat came on the heels of a court judgement ordering Kaduna-based telecommunication company Helios Towers to dismantle and remove its mast from residential premises in Kaduna where it was installed.
NESREA’s Legal Adviser, Mr. Kola Odugbesean, who spoke to The Tide on the matter said the company not only breached the regulatory laws guiding the location of masts by installing it without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), it ignored warnings and pleadings from NESREA to relocate the facility, which led to the judicial action.
He stated that NESREA had resolved that henceforth, it would start prosecuting organisations and their chief executives found violating the EIA act and all extant environmental laws and regulations.
Kwara
More Close Circuit Television Cameras (CTCs) are being acquired by the Kwara State Government as a measure to combat crime in the state.
Governor Olusola Saraki who dropped the hint during an inspection of overhead bridge constructed by his administration along Post Office/Murtala Mohammed Way, Ilorin, told reporters that unless adequate security of lives and property was guaranteed, the provision of infrastructure would be an exercise in futility.
We want more of the CTCs to be installed in Ilorin and indeed, the entire state so that crime could be promptly recorded and consequently taken up at the auspicious time for proper investigations.
“The experience in other parts of the world has assisted greatly in reducing crime. Even if you look at the crime records in our state since the installation of CTCs a few months ago, one can see a drastic reduction. In other words fighting crime offensively is better than fighting crime defensively.”
Ekiti
The Ekiti State House of Assembly has passed about 16 bills including one that protects the rights and matters affecting persons with disabilities in the state.
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Olatunji Odeyemi lauded his colleagues for passing 16 bills into law in one year.
Odeyemi, in a chat with reporters, said apart from the six bills signed into law by the governor, 10 others are awaiting the signature of the state chief executive, adding that another 19 bills were in the process of being passed by the legislature.
According to him, the current crop of legislators in Ekiti State, which can best be described as an indivisible entity despite their different political backgrounds, worked tirelessly to come up with empirically verifiable successes.
Signing the disability law, which, was among the eight others assented to by the Governor Segun Oni reiterated the commitment of his administration to the well-being of all physically challenged people in the state, adding that the new law would be fully implemented.
Apart from making it mandatory for any department of government to have persons with disabilities in two percent of its workforce, the new law also provides that: “Every person with disability, who is an indigene of Ekiti State shall be entitled to automatic scholarship at all levels.”
Zamfara
Governor Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi of Zamfara State last Saturday announced cabinet reshuffle which affected six commissioners and four Special Advisers.
A statement made available to newsmen and signed by director of press to Shinkafi, Adamu Katuru, said those affected by the development include Dr. Na’Allah Isah who moves from the Ministry of Lands and Survey to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Isyaku Zuma was moved from the Finance Ministry to that of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs while Engineer Kabira Marafo was moved from the Water Resources to that of Education.
The statement revealed that Bashir Madaiu who held forth at the Ministry of Education before the exercise will now be incharge of the Ministry of Lands and Survey, while Tukur Dangaladima has been moved from Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to that of Water Resources.
It said Alhassan Shinkafi who was recently cleared by the State House of Assembly will assume duty as the new commissioner of Finance similarly, Aliyu Adamu Tsate who was incharge of Budget and Economic Planning Ministry will be given a new schedule in due course.
Kebbi
All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) in Kebbi State has last Saturday said it would boycott the Kebbi Central Senatorial bye-election slated for December 19, this year because of alleged massive rigging by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and lack of confidence on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Lagos
The ultimatum issued by Lagos State Government on striking workers of the State University has failed following action by the union not to resume work in the school.
The labour unions of the institution had declared that their members would not resume work until the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hussain Lateef is suspended for alleged corrupt practices pending the outcome of further investigations.
The unions comprised of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institution (NASU).
The unions in a statement said “the university governing council and visitors were deceitfully misled into believing that the VC was turning LASU around.
In contrast to this positive perception held about the VC he has turned LASU into his personal empire/business venture and a slave enclave.”
Kaduna
The Kaduna Government has debunked claims made by the Action Congress in the State over the whereabout of the Governor, Namadi Sambo.
Governor Sambo has been away from the state since the Sallah holidays without any official explanation by the government regarding his whereabouts until some sections of the state raised eyebrows.
However, the Kaduna State Chapter of the Action Congress (AC) through its publicity secretary, Mohammed Soba had alleged that, “since assumption, of office, Governor Sambo has been exhibiting traits of administrative truancy by frequently absenting himself from the seat of power.”
The party therefore called on the Commissioner of Police, Tambari Mohammed to immediately declare Governor Sambo missing,” in line with international convention as the whereabouts of the governor is not known to the citizens of Kaduna State and there is no official explanation on his absence from the seat of power.”
The party further asserted that the state is too big to be kept in the dark over the absence of its chief executive.
Adamu also described the AC’s comment as a display of crass ignorance, adding that the governor was on an official assignment outside the country contrary to the assertion of the opposition elements in the state.
The AC spokesman insisted that the governor should be declared missing having stayed out of the state for days without any official explanation.
Sabo declared, “presently Namadi Sambo is out of the country for a pleasure trip with a sizeable number of Kaduna State Executive Council members using the state’s time and resources without any explanation.”
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has inducted and given orientation to 100 Ogoni youths for training on Creative Arts. The beneficiaries were drawn from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The induction and orientation ceremony, which took place at the CRAB of the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, was a prelude to the training proper, billed to commence next Tuesday.
As usual, HYPREP issued undertaking forms to the trainees, for them to complete and submit as a guarantee that they would subject themselves to the requirements of the programme as well as be of good behaviour throughout the four-month duration of the training.
HYPREP also announced that it would pay N150,000 to each of the beneficiaries monthly, as transport and feeding allowance, stressing, however, that only those who fully participate in the training would be entitled for the allowance.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, welcomed the trainees to the programme, saying, HYPREP’s projects are evolving and that one thing that is happening today is that the Project has gotten leadership right, by making promises and keeping those promises.
According to him, the Project had equally promised to move away from rudimentary skills acquisition to high impacts acquisition levels, which it has kept today by sponsoring the training on Creative Arts.
He noted that in planning its livelihood programmes for Ogoni youths, HYPREP has taken time out to look for skills that would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
Zabbey, who was represented at the event by the Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi said by packaging the Creative Arts training, it was expected that the Ogoni people would have their own version of Nollywood known as Ogoniwood just as Nigerians are familiar with Hollywood, Bollywood, Kannywood and Nollywood.
To achieve this goal, the Project Coordinator explained that it was the reason for choosing a reputable establishment like Halibiz Consult Limited, to partner with the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt, which he described as one of the most prestigious in the Niger Delta, for the training of the beneficiaries.
He also indicated that in doing this, HYPREP was desirous of going for talents that would help the Ogoni people grow in the film industry, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
Zabbey equally enjoined the trainees to put in their best so that in the next three to five years, they would carve a niche for themselves and become forces to reckon with in the film industry.
On her part, HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee said HYPREP does what it says it will, stressing that the process of training Ogoni youths on specialised skills started three years ago.
According to her, the selection process for the training was rigorous and transparent, and was carried out by renowned actors actresses.
She disclosed that the training consists of three major aspects, which include acting, script writing and make-up, while Nollywood actors like Charles Nnoje, Ngezu J. Ngezu and award-winning make-up artist, Jude Odo would be on hand to drill and groom the beneficiaries.
Mrs Nzidee noted that the programme is a specialised training that does not have anything like starter packs but that it is purely a professional certification programme that would launch the beneficiaries into the Nollywood industry in Nigeria.
According to her, the Creative Arts training is one of the four specialised trainings organised by HYPREP to ensure that the Ogoni people are well positioned in vital industries like Aviation, Maritime, Creative Arts and Mechatronics.
She said the last of such trainings on Mechatronics would take place in the coming months, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously so as to put the Ogoni people on the Nollywood map.
She further indicated that while Charles Nnoje and Ngezu J. Ngezu would take the beneficiaries on the practical aspects, Jude Odo would take them on the make-up aspects.
Also speaking, the External Relations Manager of Halibiz Consult Limited, Alabo Experience Douglas said his company gives much premium to standard and quality, and assured that the firm would give the trainees value for the money spent on the programme.
While charging the beneficiaries to be dedicated and punctual, he stressed the need for them to approach the programme with the mindset of being empty so that at the end of the day, they would benefit maximally.
On his part, the Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo said the CRAB is an acronym for Creative Review of Arts and Books, stressing that it was named by renowned playwright, Prof Ola Rotimi.
According to him, the CRAB had nurtured, groomed and produced Nollywood actors and actresses like Bobmanuel Udokwu, Ejike Asiegbu,Francis Duru, Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda, Julius Agwu, and a host of others, assuring the beneficiaries that they were on fertile environment to hone their talents.
He noted that symbolically, the crab is a nutritious seafood common in the Niger Delta, and reiterated the need for the beneficiaries to come empty for the training, as it were.
Ihunwo disclosed that the theory classes of the programme would run for three weeks while the fourth week would be for the master classes, and urged the trainees to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a difference by telling the Ogoni story, which he described as inexhaustible by themselves, in order to put Ogoni on the map.
A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.