Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

May 31, 2010

Adamawa

An Adamawa High Court presided over by Justice Bamare Bansi, has ordered the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) to pay Adamawa revenue board N73.71 million as tax.

The sum was tax that accrued to Savanah Sugar Company, Numan, in Adamawa between 2002 and 2008 when BPE bought over the company and later resold it to Dangote Group of Companies.

Under the agreement, BPE was to inherit all liabilities of the sugar company and offset same before re-selling it to Dangote.

Records made available to newsmen at the Sugar Estate in Numan, revealed that BPE failed to offset the liabilities when it sold the company to Dangote in 2008.

Benue

The Benue State House of Assembly has passed 25 out of 36 bills it received in two years, the Speaker, Mr Terseer Tsumba, has said.

Tsumba made this known while addressing newsmen in Makurdi on Wednesday at the ongoing accountability briefing to mark the three years administration of Gov. Gabriel Suswam.

Out of the 36 bills, 35 were sponsored by the executive and one was sponsored by a lawmaker.

According to him, the sixth assembly which commenced business on June 4, 2007 had within the period lost two members of staff.

Bauchi

A political group, IBB Democratic Coalition (IDC), has called on Gen. Ibrahim Babangida not to relent on his determination to contest the 2011 presidential election.

The group, rising from its maiden meeting in Bauchi on Friday, therefore, called on Babangida to quickly tour the 36 states of the federation.

A communique signed by the coordinator of the group, Alhaji Bello Arabi and Malam Ibrahim Bello, Secretary, said that this would enable Babangida to unfold his agenda for Nigerians.

The group also said that it was committed to the sustenance of democratic rule.

Ekiti

The Ekiti Government has donated 200 teak and melina seedlings to Irele-Ekiti Community in Ikole Local Government Area of the state to boost its tree planting campaign.

The campaign was organised by an NGO, the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Church of Ekiti Diocese.

Making the donation in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Forestry, Prince Olatunde Olatunji, said the gesture was “in line with the state government’s policy of encouraging communities engaging in tree planting exercises for economic and environmental purposes”.

Gombe

No fewer than 646,700 expectant women and children below age five are to get free longer lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets from the Gombe Malaria Control Booster Project (MCBP).

Dr Abel Arnold, the MCBP Project Manager, said in Gombe on Tuesday that more than one million of such nets would be given out during the forthcoming Nets Distribution Exercise scheduled for June 16 to June 19.

Arnold said at a one-day workshop organised for journalists in Gombe on the role expected of them in the fight against malaria that the use of the nets was one of the ways of preventing malaria, especially among pregnant women and children.

He expressed regret that due to ignorance on the part of most people, especially the grassroots, the nets had not been put to proper use “even when they are being provided free of charge.

Jigawa

The pioneer chairman of the PDP,Chief Solomon Lar, has expressed happiness on the return of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the party.

Lar stated this on Friday in Dutse during the inauguration ceremony of nine housing units built by the Jigawa Government.

The houses were dedicated and named after the then G9 which metamorphosed to G18 and later to the 34 who formed the PDP.

Lar said that Atiku never left PDP, adding that it was PDP that left him.

“I am happy to see Atiku here; he is back to his home, PDP, of which he is one of the founding members and he will remain permanently with PDP’’ Lar noted.

Kaduna

Gov Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State said on Friday that the government would establish three fertiliser blending plants in its three Senatorial districts.

Yakowa said this during the launch of fertiliser sales for the farming season at Awai Village in Soba Local Government Area of the state.

He said that when established, the blending plants would enhance the availability of the commodity at all times and at cheaper rates.

“This is a clear indication of the administration’s drive toward the development of the agricultural sector of the state.

Katsina

Some towns in Katsina State have been facing acute water shortage since the past two months, although the state government has purchased three drilling rigs.

Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that the capital, Katsina and other towns, including Daura, Malumfashi, Mani, Kankia and Dutsin-ma were worse hit by the problem.

The situation has resulted in borehole owners and water vendors making brisk businesses in major towns in the state.

In the Katsina metropolis, water vendors who purchase the commodity at N100 per truck of 10 jerry cans now sell at N30 per jerry can.

Kogi

The Kogi State House of Assembly on Wednesday called on the state government to constitute a high-powered disarmament committee to mop-up weapons in the hands of warring youths.

The House made the call at a plenary following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, representing Okene I constituency, in view of violent clashes involving youths across the state.

Bello said that the phenomenon had constituted serious security threat and outright breakdown of law and order “on virtually every nook and cranny of the state for the past four years.”

Kebbi

The Emir of Yauri in Kebbi State, Prof. Muhammad Zayyanu, has called on Gov. Saidu Dakingari to provide social amenities for the people of his emirate.

Zayyanu, who led a delegation of title holders and top functionaries from the emirate on a visit to Dakingari on Friday in Birnin Kebbi, said the emirate lacked good roads and a water supply scheme.

He called for the rehabilitation of the only dam in the area, considering the relevance of water to human beings and animals, adding that such amenities would facilitate rapid development.

The emir expressed regret that in spite of the presence of River Niger in the area, potable water had not been adequately provided for the people.

Dakingari assured the emirate that some amenities would be provided, stressing that he would personally monitor and ensure that bureaucratic matters did not prevent the area from getting the facilities.

Kwara

The Kwara Government has again assured the people of the state of its determination to provide sustainable and affordable houses.

The state Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Adebayo Ishola, renewed the pledge on Friday in Ilorin.

Ishola spoke at a meeting in his office with Chief Bode Afolayan, the chairman of the firm handling the construction of the estates in the state, and the General Manager of the state housing corporation Architect Salihu Sulieman.

Ishola said that the administration of Governor Bukola Saraki was committed to effective delivery of sustainable and affordable housing scheme in the state.

Lagos

The New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to fully implement the recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee.

The party also called for the reconstitution of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the appointment of credible persons into the commission.

The NNPP, in a message to commemorate “Democracy Day” said: “ The voice of the people on electoral reforms must be respected if the nation’s democracy is to survive.”

Dr Boniface Aniebonam, the party’s National Chairman, signed the statement and made available to newsmen in Lagos.

Ondo

The Ondo State House of Assembly in Akure on Wednesday advised the state government to employ 200 guards to check encroachment in government forest reserves.

The Assembly upheld the recommendation of the House Committee on Agriculture, which had been mandated to come up with solutions into the problem of encroachment in forest reserves.

Oyo

Mrs Omotolani Ogundipe, National President, Prisons Officers Wives Association (PROWA), on Friday attributed the difficulty in sourcing funds for its projects to stigmatisation of ex-convicts.

Ogundipe said this while speaking to newsmen in Ibadan on the sidelines of the inauguration of Oyo State chapter of Prisons Inspectors Wives Association (PIWA).

She said members of the association found it difficult to solicit for funds from philanthropists because the stigma attached to ex-convicts was extended to prison officers and their wives.

Osun

Gov. Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun on Saturday urged the opposition to cooperate with his administration to move the state forward.

Oyinlola made the plea while addressing the people of the state in a broadcast to mark the seventh anniversary of his administration in Osogbo.

The Osun Governorship Retrial Tribunal on Friday declared Oyinlola of PDP the validly elected governor of the state in the 2007 poll.

The declaration was based on a petition filed by

Mr Rauf Aregbesola, the AC candidate in the election.

The governor expressed his readiness to work with the opposition if it was prepared to contribute to the development of the state.

He urged all political parties to close ranks to achieve a common goal of developing the state.

Plateau

Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau said his administration would not leave any project uncompleted at the end of its tenure in May, next year.

Jang made the promise in his Democracy Day message to the people in Jos on Saturday, saying: “The era of abandoned projects has come to an end in Plateau.

“Let me assure the people that our administration will complete every project that we started all over the state before the end of my first tenure.

“Some projects were not commissioned this month because Democracy Day is low-keyed but they will be commissioned in October as part of the activities marking Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee.’’

Jang commended Nigerians for imbibing the culture of democracy, which had led to 11 years of uninterrupted civil governance in spite of enormous challenges.

Nation

HYPREP Inducts 100 Ogoni Youths For Creative Arts Training

Published

5 days ago

May 2, 2025

The Tide

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.

Nation

Nasarawa Varsity Student Commits Suicide

Published

5 days ago

May 1, 2025

The Tide

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.

Nation

Ogun, Nike Art Gallery Set To Transform Olumo Rock

Published

5 days ago

May 1, 2025

The Tide

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.