Nation
THE STATES
Abuja
A pastor of the Christ Embassy, Mr. Henry Idugboe, has sued an old generation bank in the country (name withheld) to court over allegations of negligence and breach of trust, seeking the sum of over N100 million compensation as damages he suffered owing to the financial institutions negligence.
He instituted the action before an Asaba High Court following the decision of the bank to honour cheques of Stephen Iduogbe and Sons Limited (second plaintiff), which did not carry his signature as required by the mandate card.
According to the mandate card issued to the bank, Idugboe, who is incharge of the Suleja branch of the Christ Embassy, is a compulsory signatory to all transactions made by Stephen Iduogbe and Sons Limited, a firm used to operate the Iduogbes family business.
Piqued by the bank’s alleged deposition to honour cheques of the family company, which did not contain his mandatory signature, the pastor has beseeched the court.
Benue
State chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, Dr Emmanuel Agbo, is under intense pressure from the Ohimini local government chapter of the party over the senatorial bid of General Lawson Onoja.
Agbo has been accused of anti-party activities, factionalisation of the party and illegal adoption of Onoja for the 2011 Benue South senatorial seat.
In a communiqué issued by some leaders of the party in the local government, led by Col. Idu Enonche (rtd), who addressed a press conference at the weekend in Otukpo, the stakeholders claimed that Agbo’s alleged endorsement of Onoja was illegality.
They also maintained that the so-called caucus meeting held at Onoja’s Otukpo residence during which he was allegedly endorsed was illegal and excluded key members of the party from the local government.
The communiqué, which was signed by 21 prominent PDP members from the area, accused Agbo of factionalising the party in Ohimini.
Ekiti
Ekiti State Government is to establish a School of Mid-wifery at Orun-Ekiti in Ise-Orun Local Council of the state, the state governor, Mr. Segun Oni has said.
A statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Wale Ojo-Lanre, said Ono, who made this known at Ise-Ekiti while commissioning a hospital building donated by Hon. Titi Akindahunsi of the House of Representatives said students of the school would make use of facilities of the general hospitals at Ise and Emure for their practical work.
Oni, who explained that the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ado-Ekiti could not presently meet the admission requirement of the people of the state, said government would totally transform general hospitals at Ise and Emune, preparatory for the take-off of the proposed School of Mid-wifery at Orun-Ekiti.
Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Danjuma Goje, has said that the outstanding sign-on fees for Gombe United Football Club would soon be paid.
Goje, who spoke at the grand finale of Sarkin Yakin Gombe Football tournament, said plans have been concluded to settle all the arrears owed the club.
To this end, he asked the club to consolidate on their past performances whereby they have recorded success at both national and continental fiesta adding that the government was poised to boost their morale.
The governor also promised to provide a bus for the team with a view to addressing their transport problems, adding that the gesture was to show the commitment of the state towards sports development.
He further expressed the determination of the government to identify hidden talents who could become future Okochas and Kanus in the international football encounters.‘
Kano
Parents in Kano State have decried the increasing deviant attitude among the youth, blaming the situation on their access to the internet and satelite television contents.
Salihu Ahmad, a resident of Gwangwazo quarters in Kano, told the newsmen that youths have unrestrained access to foreign values through the internet.
He noted that government in collaboration with parents, must check the trend and prevent young people from becoming radicals.
Umar Muhammed of far away area of the city said: “I face a lot of problems controlling my five male children because of peer influence.”
He said all his children are males and keeping them at home has been a very difficult task.
He added that they behave in ways that conform to the unwholesome attitudes of their friends.
Another resident, Habibu Ismail, described the situation as “very disturbing” saying youngsters, especially boys, prefer football and other naughty behavour to study.
He, however, advised parents to join hands and watch over their children for effective results instead of allowing them to be transformed by negative external influence.
Kaduna
Former Governor of Kaduna State and Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has tasked Nigerians to assess the performance of public office holders at various levels by the quantum of facilities they provide to Nigerians.
Makarfi was apparently disturbed by the self-assessment by public office holders who roll out dubious statistics of performance to deceive the electorate.
According to the former governor, who spoke in Kaduna in an interview at the weekend, the nation’s electorate should monitor how the allocation of funds to all governments at various levels are utilised, otherwise the problem of non-performance among public office holders will continue.
“This has really been the problem that has been confronting us… of course in terms of performance of government, it has been uniformly above average. The task of the last action of the National Assembly in extending expenditures on the 2009 appropriation to 31st March, which means the budget performance will be about 75 to 85 per cent can be realised.”
Lagos
A fire incident in Lagos at the weekend claimed the life of 85-year-old Alhaja Afusat Orisunmibare at Ikorodu on the outskirts of Lagos.
The inferno, which broke out at the victim’s family bungalow at No.14 Odugate street. Ikorodu, reportedly choked the aged woman to death.
Lagos police command’s spokesman, Frank Mba, who disclosed this, added that another elderly woman, Mrs. Abeni Kamson, sustained serious injuries in the incident and “was rushed to the general hospital where she is being treated.”
He added: “the aged woman has already been buried according to Islamic rites. The fire is suspected to have been caused by candle light.”
Ogun
All on-going road projects in Ogun State will be completed before the present administration quits office in 2011.
The Director of Information and Site Publicity Secretary of the Ogun State Road Management Agency (OGROMA), Abiodun Awere, gave this assurance in a recent press statement.
Awere quoted the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, who is also the Special Adviser to the governor on Works and Infrastructure, Kehinde Osikoya as saying that efforts are on to complete on-going road projects in line with the year 2010 budget of the state government.
“The road projects completion include Ayetoro road in Abeokuta, dualisation of Ondo road in ijebu-Ode, dualisation of Obafemi Awolowo road, Ikenne, dualisation of Ilo-Awela road, Alisiba road in Sango Ota and some roads in the Ojodu Abiodun/Berge axis”, he said.
Osun
Action Congress (AC) in Osun State has called on the police and other security operatives investigating the gruesome murder of Jonathan Ogundere, one of the lawyers to Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola in the on going trail of the April 14, 2007 governorship election to make their preliminary findings public.
The party in a statement signed by its Director of Research and Strategy, Sunday Akere, said the development would assist in clearing the air on the insinuation that the killing has political undertone.
The party said it is surprised that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is lacking political motives to the incident.
Akere said the party decided to break its earlier resolve not to join issues with the PDP on the incident which it described as unfortunate, adding that, the “PDP is seeking to win undeserved sympathy and distract the security operative from digging deep into the root of the matter to conceal facts and cover ups”.
Plateau
Ahead of the 2011 general elections in Nigeria, members of Plateau State Youth Vanguard have appealed to the electorate to turn their back on failed and fraudulent politicians.
The group said its advice was prompted by the unfolding ugly political drama in the state where past leaders who threw Plateau into avoidable crisis and looted the treasury were set for a comeback.
Meanwhile, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has charged the people of the state to remain faithful to its cause in the New Year by being peaceful with all.
Jang, who spoke during the cross-over service of the EBOMI prayer city in Jos, Plateau State, said he had rededicated the state to God in the New year. He assured that God had taken control of security in the state and as such peace had returned to Plateau.
Zamfara
Over 100 patients with Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) have been treated and empowered by Zamfara State government, wife of the state governor, Hajiya Saratu Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, has disclosed.
The governor’s wife made the disclosure at the weekend in Gusau, the state capital, while receiving delegates of a non-governmental organisation, Engender Health, a partner of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/AQUIRE FISTULA.
She also said the state in collaboration with USAID, had taken necessary measures to improve on maternal and child healthcare delivery.
According to her, in addition to free treatment given to the VVF patients, they were also empowered with new skills to make them self-reliant.
Hajiya Shinkafi further explained that each of the discharged VVF patients received a new sewing machine and N10,000 as start up capital for their sewing trade.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing the safety of the seafaring profession and upgrading maritime institutions to international standards.
Speaking at the 2025 World Seafarers’ Day celebration in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, organised by NIMASA, with the theme, “My Harassment-Free Ship.
He said that this year’s theme “speaks to our collective duty to make every ship a safe and respectful workplace noting that harassment and bullying have no place in our maritime industry.
The Minister further emphasised the importance of continuous training and retraining to ensure seafarers remain competitive and employable.
Also speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari, emphasised that seafarers are the backbone of international trade, facilitating the smooth transportation of goods and services across the globe.
He stressed the need to eliminate all forms of violence, harassment, and bullying against seafarers.
In his welcome address, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, emphasised the need for the maritime community to prioritise the welfare, safety of seafarers and maintain zero tolerance for harassment.
According to the DG, “Today provides opportunity for the Maritime Community to honor seafarers globally for their immense contribution to both domestic and international trade, powering the blue economy and connecting nations across oceans”.
He said that this year’s theme was particularly apt, as it was a call to action to “ensure that our seafarers feel safe, are valued and protected while at sea because the ship is not just their place of work; it is their temporary home. It must therefore reflect the highest standards of dignity and professionalism fostering zero tolerance for harassment”.
He declared that NIMASA must continue to play its part in ensuring that Nigeria contributes effectively to regulations affecting seafarers, as Nigeria remains the highest contributor of seafarers in Africa. “Our men and women sail on vessels in our domestic waters and also globally. This will continue to grow through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) and the effort of our Maritime Training Institutions.
‘At the recently concluded 113th session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, seven (7) amendments to the MLC 2006 code addressing a broad range of issues affecting seafarers, including the recognition of seafarers as key workers, improved protection against ship board violence and harassment, enhanced access to shore leave and repatriation and updated medical and occupational safety standards were approved by an overwhelming majority.
These seven (7) amendments reflect collective global effort to align maritime Labour standards with the evolving landscape of global shipping.
I, therefore, call on shipowners, operators and crewing agencies to begin to review their operational manuals to align with these amendments ahead of the expected entry into force in December 2027. Our seafarers must be able to report grievances without fear of retaliation, while also ensuring protection against vexations or malicious complaints.
He added that NIMASA will play its role by establishing clear policies and procedures for preventing and addressing harassment on Nigerian-flagged vessels, ensuring confidential reporting channels for incidents of harassment and that reports are thoroughly investigated and addressed.
“Today is a clear reminder to us all – government, employers, unions, shipowners, and civil society- that seafarers should not be left alone in their struggles. They look up to us to help them foster a culture of zero tolerance on ships to protect their dignity”, he stated.
He also assured that under his leadership, NIMASA will ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, particularly the renewal of entries into force by ship owners, operators, and relevant agencies come December 2027.
Stakeholders drawn across the four local government areas of Ogoniland in Rivers State, have expressed delight over the excellent performance of the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof Nenibarini Zabbey within the past two years, describing him as a true patriot, who has been showing leadership in delivering service to the people.
The stakeholders, who gave the indication in their separate goodwill messages during the mid-term stakeholders engagement and scorecard presentation organised by HYPREP in Port Harcourt, scored the Project Coordinator high on the Ogoni cleanup and the overall implementation of the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
The President of KAGOTE and Board member of the Ogoni Trust Fund, Hon Emma Deeyah, particularly commended Zabbey for turning around the fortunes of the Ogoni people, as they are now having value for the money earmarked for the cleanup project, describing the Project Coordinator as “one of our best.”
He noted that Zabbey has done well on the saddle, working very hard, being an administrator and leader with listening ears, striving assiduously to meet the yearnings and expectations of the people.
He said the Ogoni cleanup is a journey that has just begun, stressing that he was happy that the Project Coordinator is not on the saddle to amass wealth but to deliver and achieve results, and appealed to the Ogoni people to continue to give him their support.
On his part, member representing Gokana/Khana Federal Constituency in the National Assembly and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Rt Hon Dumnamene Dekor, said HYPREP under the watch of Zabbey is working with renewed vigour, and thanked the Project Coordinator for driving the Ogoni cleanup project with passion.
He noted that the funds dedicated and earmarked for the project are running out, disclosing that he was working on an Executive Bill, to facilitate the work of HYPREP.
While stressing the need for the people to take full responsibility of all the projects sited in their communities, Dekor regretted that some beneficiaries had sold the starter packs presented to them by HYPREP, while the water facility provided in his Bierra community has been vandalised.
The King of Tai Kingdom, King Samuel Nnee, said HYPREP under Zabbey as Project Coordinator has been delivering on its mandate, describing him as a square peg in a square hole, who has given hope to the Ogoni people.
The monarch urged the Ogoni people to give the Project Coordinator the necessary support.
The Paramount Ruler of Barako Community and member of the Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt, Mene Kadilo Kabari, said Zabbey has always demonstrated that he is a true patriot by carrying along Ogoni people from all strata of the society, describing him as a performing Project Coordinator.
He noted that the bane of HYPREP before now had been the conflict between the Project Coordinator and the Minister of Environment, saying, under Zabbey, Ogoni people can now see what unity of purpose can achieve.
He expressed delight that the water facility which was the first commissioned by HYPREP in his community is functioning optimally following the solar-powered system installed by the Project.
The King of Eleme Kingdom, King(Dr) Philip Osaro Obelle thanked HYPREP’s management team for all that it is doing in Ogoniland, stressing that the Project was built on the graves, bellies and blood of Ogoni sons and daughters who lost their lives during the Ogoni struggle.
He, therefore, advised HYPREP “not to deviate from the expectations of our heroes but to do those things that would benefit Ogoni people for the betterment of Ogoniland.”
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Netherlands, Hon Oji Ngofa said HYPREP has been like the government of Ogoniland, and harped on the sustainability of all the projects.
According to him, Zabbey has been giving HYPREP a human face.
Former Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof Barineme Fakae applauded Zabbey for the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, and stressed the need for the implementation of the recommendations of its technical committee which recently submitted its report.
According to him, if the project succeeds, Ogoni people are going to succeed.
Chief Priscillia Vikue, on her part, thanked Zabbey for his outstanding performance, saying, the women of Ogoni are very happy with what he is doing in Ogoniland.
While scoring the Project Coordinator highly on his performance, she said the women are happy because Zabbey knows what he is doing with HYPREP.
“You went to school.You did not cut corners.You are a square peg in a square hole.You have engaged women and the youths. We have seen what you have done. And we give you A1”, she said, and challenged Zabbey to see how more women would participate in the project and also how to sustain it.
In his remarks, the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey said the mid-term engagement is important because “it allows us to present tangible evidence of progress in the Ogoni cleanup effort, reinforce accountability, deepen transparency, and most importantly, enables HYPREP to interact directly with the communities and stakeholders who are the heartbeat of this project.”
He noted that the scorecard presentation is designed to show what HYPREP has achieved across key thematic areas, what challenges it is currently grappling with, and what the road ahead looks like, saying, “it is a moment for stocktaking and for re-affirming our shared commitment to the success of the Ogoni cleanup project”.
According to him, HYPREP has recorded commendable progress in the implementation of its core mandates in line with UNEP recommendations and the directives in the official gazette establishing HYPREP.
Donatus Ebi
The South-South representative of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Board, Rt. Hon. Aboh Uduyok, has concluded his one-day official visit to Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Rumuola, Rivers State, with the unveiling of the Mass Communication Department classroom building. The project was executed under the 2021 TETFund intervention project.
During the unveiling of the project, Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rt. Hon. Uduyok commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to the educational sector and praised the polytechnic’s management for utilising TETFund resources judiciously.
He noted that the quality of ongoing projects met approved specifications, and expressed satisfaction with the institution’s progress.
The TETFund representative stated that his visit was aimed at familiarising himself with beneficiary schools, assess fund utilization, and identify challenges.
He assured the school management that he would convey their requests for constructing engineering works and hostel accommodations to the board and notify them of any approval.
Rt. Hon. Uduyok explained that the TETFund Board is not initiating new projects this year, except where necessary, due to presidential directives. However, he commended the institution for the commendable quality of both completed and ongoing projects.
In his welcome address, the Rector of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Dr. Moses S. Neebee, thanked the TETFund representative for visiting, and highlighted the institution’s successes and challenges. He requested support for hostel accommodations and engineering works, emphasising that a higher institution without hostels is akin to a glorified secondary school.
Dr. Neebee while briefing the visitor on the institution’s progress, noted that it currently runs 21 National Diploma programme and five Higher National Diploma courses. He disclosed that the school accessed the 2021 TETFund release in full but faced challenges with the 2023 fund due to harsh economic conditions and bid process delays, which increased project costs. The Rector pleaded for assistance in securing additional funds for the 2023 intervention release.
Akujobi Amadi