Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Mrs. Wale Fwa, the only female member in Adamawa Assembly, has described as encouraging the growing number of women aspiring for elective offices in the 2011 general elections in the state.
She told newsmen in Yola that the women should not relent in their efforts at joining the political class and also called on others nursing political ambition to be courageous and come out to declare their interest.
The PDP lawmaker, who is representing Demsa Constituency, declared her interest to re-contest the seat, saying she would love to see more women joining her in the state assembly.
Bauchi
Hajiya Yelwa Tula, a renowned woman politician in Bauchi, has called on women to use their numerical strength to vote for women candidates at all level of representations in the 2011 elections.
Tula, who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi, urged women to show greater interest in politics so as to ensure effective gender representation in governance.
‘’Politics cannot be left to men alone. We have all it takes to change the course of history through the electoral process,’’ she said.
The woman politician urged women in Bauchi State to close ranks and vote for gender-friendly candidates at various levels of representations.
Ekiti
Ekiti State Government is to spend N1 billion on the construction of classrooms in public primary schools under the 2009 SUBEB/UBEC projects, an official said.
The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB), Mr Dayo Adeyeye, told newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday that the project would include the provision of furniture.
He explained that the projects, which would be executed in the 16 local government areas of the state, would involve the construction of 26 storey buildings, blocks of three and four classrooms with offices and computer and library projects.
FCT
The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has aligned itself with the decision of leaders from the northern part of the country to drop the zoning policy in the interest of democratic governance.
A spokesman of the party, Mr Jimoh Abdullahi, told newsmen in Abuja that the decision against the “unwholesome campaign” would be in the best interest of democracy in the country.
“If eleven sons of the same father will form a formidable national team, let them go ahead and represent the country to deliver result.
Kaduna
A member of House of Representatives, Joseph Gumbari has urged the Church to go beyond preaching against crime and initiate steps that would create jobs to curb idleness and minimise temptation to crime.
Gumbari, who is aspiring to represent Southern Kaduna in the Senate in 2011, was speaking in ECWA Church, Biniki, where he delivered a paper on “the importance of skills acquisition to the youths of Southern Kaduna’’.
He urged the Church to partner with local and international Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) to establish skills acquisition centres where youths could train to facilitate self-reliance.
The legislator advised youths against waiting on unavailable white-collar jobs but to seek ways of exploring their hidden talents to achieve success in life.
Kano
The Kano State Directorate of Societal Re-orientation has lauded the efforts of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Bala Mohammed, to rid Abuja of prostitutes.
The Director-General of the agency, Malam Bala Muhammad, said in a statement that the measure was necessary to prevent the territory from being taken over by unscrupulous persons.
He noted that “this unfortunate trend has reached such alarming stage that if all hands are not put together to fight it’’, its consequences would be disastrous for the society.
“This is because the menace is on the increase with young ladies as well as teenagers continuously flooding into the federal capital for a better life,” Muhammad said.
Kebbi
The Emir of Argungu in Kebbi State, Alhaji Samaila Mera, has called on the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to embark on intensive campaign to re-orientate the people on the 2011 general election.
Mera, who received the state NOA Director, Alhaji Umar Babuga, in Argungu said government organs were expected to embark on campaigns to encourage Nigerians to support good leadership.
He also called on state and federal authorities to ensure adequate funding of the agency to ensure people were enlightened on government programmes and policies as well as make the people part of decision making..
He said the agency was better placed to re-orientate the people on the irrelevance of ethnicity, rumour mongering, tribalism and the need to engage in activities that would usher in good leadership and development.
Kogi
The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) says it will revolutionise agriculture, power and energy, if voted into power in 2011.
The Vice-Chairman, North Central zone of the party, Alhaji Abu Onaji, gave the assurance on Thursday while speaking with newsmen in Lokoja.
Onaji, a onetime General Manager of Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, Lokoja, said the party would evolve people-oriented philosophy of selfless service to improve the well-being of the people.
He said that the party was determined to wrestle power from the ruling PDP in 2011, adding that agriculture and power sectors would be prioritised.
Lagos
The Chairman, Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Dr Samuel Adedayo, on Saturday urged the Lagos Metropolitan Development and Governance Project (LMDGP) to be more procative in upgrading slums in the area.
Adedayo made the call in Lagos when the wife of the state Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, inaugurated some projects in the LCDA.
He said that bureaucracy employed by the LMDGP had stalled the reconstruction of 15 roads and projects in three schools in Apapa-Iganmu LCDA. This has tasked our people’s patience beyond limit and has become a source of embarrassment and pressure on our administration”, he said.
He said the cardinal objective of his administration was to ensure even development in various wards that constituted the LCDA.
Niger
The Chanchaga Local Government Council in Niger State executed development projects worth N437.9 million between April 2008 and June 2010, its chairman, Alhaji Yakubu Sallau has said.
Sallau made the disclosure on Saturday in Minna at the inauguration of a primary health care clinic constructed by the Council.
He listed the projects to include the renovation and construction of classrooms and provision of instructional materials amounting to N204.3 million.
Others are the construction of primary health care centres in Kpakungu, and provision of other health facilites, which gulped a total of N53.8 million.
He said that N40 million was expended on environmental sanitation within the period, while the provision of boreholes in different parts of the local government area gulped N19.4 million.
Osun
NYSC Director-General Maharazu Tsiga has urged corps members to contribute to the success of credible election in 2011.
Tsiga, who made the appeal at Ede on Wednesday when he visited the orientation camp of the National Youths Service Corps, said INEC would need the services of 400,000 corps members as electoral officers during the elections.
He said their involvement in the elections would drastically reduce the cases of electoral fraud characterised with previous elections.
Tsiga said the scheme had been one of the unifying factors in Nigeria, adding that those calling for the scraping should be enlightened on its importance.
Sokoto
The Nigerian Ambassador to Argentina, Mr Nduka Kanu, has advised the Federal Government to take pro-active measures to effectively tackle the problem of kidnapping to restore confidence in the populace.
He told newsmen in Sokoto on Thursday that it was not in the culture of Nigerians to be involved in the evil act.
Kanu said that kidnapping posed a great threat to the survival of the nation’s democracy, adding that government should put in place approriate security arrangements to guarantee the safety of Nigerians.
He stressed the need for vigillance and adequate internal security to ensure smooth implementation of people-oriented programmes by the three tiers of government.
He also called for more political tolerance and understanding among Nigerians to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in 2011.
Yobe
Dr Shettima Saidu, Provost, Federal College of Education Potiskum, Yobe State says upgrading colleges of education to degree awarding institutions would reduce the pressure on the universities.
Saidu told newsmen on Saturday in Potiskum that the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) should be empowered to accredit colleges to award degrees.
He said the NCCE should be empowered to accredit colleges of education that have met the requirements to award degrees to reduce the pressure on universities.
He explained that, the FCE had gone a long way in striving to become a centre of excellence in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Zamfara
Due to the recent lead poisoning in Zamfara State, the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has advised the government to broaden the scope of its environmental assessment.
The tragedy claimed about 153 lives, according to government figures.
Alhaji Abdullahi Bindawa, the agency’s Director for North West zone, gave the advice while speaking with newsmen in Gusau.
Bindawa said that widening the assessment beyond the affected areas, would serve as a preventive measure against future outbreak of mining related disasters.
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.
