Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Adamawa Immigration Command said in Yola that it was prepared to ensure that foreigners did not register during the forthcoming voter registration in the border state.
Some politicians in Adamawa last week at an interactive session organised by INEC in Yola, raised alarm over plans by some people to recruit foreigners from a neigbouring country to participate in the exercise.
A statement by the Adamawa Immigration Command, Public Relations Officer, Malam Yahaya Ibrahim, said the command was prepared to stop any attempt to register foreigners.
Yahaya said immigration officials would not only check foreigners at the border but would also be around registration units to fish out any foreigner that attempted to register.
Ekiti
Oba Adetunla Adeleye, the traditional ruler of Ikole-Ekiti, in Ikole local government area of Ekiti State, is dead.
The death of the 76-year-old Elekole of Ikole-Ekiti was announced in a statement last week by one of the prominent title holders in the town, the Sajowa of Ikole, Chief M. Okunola.
The statement said the traditional ruler died on October 3 at the University of Ado-Ekiti Teaching Hospital, where he was on admission for an undisclosed illness.
Adeleye, a first class traditional ruler, ascended the throne at the age of 24 and ruled for 52 years.
Confirming the death, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs and Culture, Mrs Jolaade Onipede, told newsmen that the Ikole traditional council had officially notified the government.
FCT
Daniel Ige, a 33 year old recharge card seller, last week appeared before an Abuja High Court charged with robbery.
The prosecution had alleged that Ige committed the offence along with six other accused, who have yet to be arraigned.
Ige was arrested in 2006 following a raid by the Police in Idu-Karimo area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He told Justice Ishaq Bello that he did not commit the offence he was being charged for.
Ige said that on May 28, 2006, at about 5 p.m., he was at his place of business when a police van filled with policemen pulled up beside him and ordered him to join the vehicle.
Kano
The INEC is to supervise the conduct of party primaries, Amb. Ahmad Wali, the Zonal Commissioner for Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, has said.
Wali, who disclosed this at an interactive session with political party leaders in Kano last Thursday, said INEC would not hesitate to reject the result of any election that was not conducted properly.
He said the commission would also not accept any arrangement for consensus candidate without active participation of party members.
Wali described conduct of credible elections as a collective responsibility, saying the forthcoming voter registration would be conducted in the presence of party representatives.
Earlier, the Kano State Publicity Secretary of ANPP, Alhaji Mukhtari Saleh, advised INEC to screen and disqualify candidates of questionable character.
Kastina
The Katsina State Government completed 23 road projects across the state in the last three and a half years, Deputy Governor Sirajo Damari announced last week.
Damari told the Minister of Works, Sen. Sanusi Daggash, who paid him a courtesy visit in Katsina, that the 23 roads spanned 395.19 km.
He said the roads were constructed across the three senatorial districts in the state to provide an adequate and effective road network.
“The present administration has, right from inception, focused attention on the critical infrastructure, which made it to gear its effort toward completing all road projects inherited in 2007,” he said.
Lagos
A Surulere Magistrate Court last week sentenced a 27-year-old man to six months imprisonment for stealing N61,000.
The prosecutor, Insp. Olaide Sunday, told the court that Obiora Eya, with no visible means of livelihood, stole from different people at various times at Tejuosho market.
According to the prosecutor, Eya stole N15,000 from Mr Ali Nnaemeka and N46,000 from Mr Donatus Ogba in March and July this year, respectively.
He pleaded guilty to the charges.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Abiola Soladoye, sentenced the accused to three months imprisonment on each of the two counts.
The Chief Magistrate said that the sentence, which would run concurrently, should serve as deterrent to other criminals.
Ondo
The Ondo State government has commiserated with families of the three staff members of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, who died in a car accident last week.
In a statement on Wednesday, in Akure, by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Kolawole Olabisi, the government also commiserated with the entire Owo community over the unfortunate incident.
The deceased union leaders met their untimely death while returning to Owo from Akure, where they had attended a meeting with the governing council of the institution.
The polytechnic has been witnessing an industrial crisis in the last three months.
Ogun
An Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court, last Thursday sentenced one Rotimi Ayedun,32, to two years imprisonment with hard labour and without an option of fine for stealing.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Paul Etusi, told the court that Ayedun at about 11.a.m. on November 19, 2008, at Owode Edgba stole N600,000.belonging to one Mr Semiu Oshola.
Etusi argued that the accused committed an offence contrary to section 383 and punishable under section 390 (4c) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.
Plateau
The Plateau Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board will start the transportation of the 2010 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia on October 19, an official has confirmed.
Alhaji Abubakar Dashe, the Executive Secretary of the Board, told newsmen last Thursday, in Jos, that the state’s 1,280 pilgrims would be flown to the Holy Land within 10 days.
According to him, the pilgrims will be flown to Saudi Arabia by Max Airline from the Kaduna Airport
He disclosed that the Board had secured 1,000 visas for the pilgrims, while 200 visas were still being processed.
Sokoto
Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State last week inaugurated the distribution of relief materials to flood victims in the state.
Wamakko said the victims had so far received donations totaling about N100 million and about 9,393 bags of different food items.
The governor said other items received included 50 gallons of cooking oil, 50 bags of salt and 250 bags of semovita.
Others items, he said, were 6000 wrappers, 1000 bundles of guinea brocade, 2,850 mats, 6,680 blankets, 198 plastic buckets, 1000 mattresses and 2,500 cooking pots.
According to him, the state government was also making efforts to resettle the victims.
Yobe
Yobe Deputy Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Ali, said last week that 132 deaths and 2,273 cases of cholera were recorded in the state from July to date.
Fielding questions from newsmen in Damaturu, Ali said 79 people were on admission in various hospitals in the state.
“These were cases that were brought and recorded at the hospitals by the epidemiological unit but the deaths at home were not recorded,” he said.
The deputy governor, who is also the Commissioner for Health, said the government had established camps in local government areas like Gashua with high incidence of the disease.
Zamfara
Six hundred and fifty-eight farmers in Zamfara last week in Gusau received N21 million loan under the National Programme For Food Security (NPFS).
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Zamfara Agricultural Development Authority (ZARDA), Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, said the beneficiaries were drawn from nine local government areas.
He said the local government areas were Bakura, Birnin-Magaji, Bungudu, Bukkuyum, Maradun, Maru, Shinkafi, Tsafe and Zurmi.
Abubakar said the programme was aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity in the state and guarantee food security in the country.
He said the state government had distributed more than 5,000 improved seeds of economic fruits to increase the income of farmers.
The Standard Bearers (SB) Islamic Organisation has raised concerns over the growing rate of binge drinking among Nigerian youths, attributing the trend largely to the widespread availability of sachet alcohol.
The group’s position follows the recent move by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce a ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Dr. Nurudeen AbdulRaheem, and National Secretary, Malam Qaasim Adegbuyi, the organisation declared its full support for NAFDAC’s decision, describing it as a timely and necessary public health intervention.
AbdulRaheem noted that sachet alcohol, often sold for as little as ?100, has made excessive drinking more accessible, particularly to young people and minors. According to him, the affordability and small packaging of such products have worsened binge drinking, youth addiction and community insecurity.
He explained that binge drinking involves consuming multiple alcoholic drinks within a short period, typically within two hours, a practice that can lead to severe physical and mental health complications as well as legal and social problems.
The SB National Coordinator cited global health data indicating that alcohol is responsible for more than three million deaths annually worldwide and remains a major contributor to road accidents, violence, liver disease and mental health disorders.
While acknowledging concerns from industry stakeholders over the economic implications of the ban, AbdulRaheem maintained that public health considerations must take precedence.
“Public health and the protection of young lives must come first,” he stated, adding that Islamic ethical values, like many societal norms, emphasise the protection of life, intellect and family stability.
The organisation urged NAFDAC and the Federal Government to remain resolute in implementing the policy while also providing transition support for businesses that may be affected by the ban.
According to the group, the enforcement of the ban represents a significant step toward promoting a safer and healthier society.
By Favour James
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has successfully concluded its Seafarers Training Programme for 100 Ogoni youths, positioning them for opportunities in the competitive global maritime industry.
The beneficiaries, who underwent four months of intensive training at Charkin Maritime Academy, Port Harcourt, received their certificates during a close-out ceremony held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The event was attended by top management staff of HYPREP, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning of Charkin Maritime Academy, the Head of the Seafaring Department, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, and other dignitaries.
Addressing the graduates, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, described the ceremony as a celebration of hard work, dedication, and the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the young beneficiaries.
He said the graduation symbolises vision, resilience, and hope — hope translated into skills, certificates, and tangible opportunities for a better future for Ogoni youths.
According to him, the passing-out ceremony marks an important milestone in HYPREP’s mandate to restore livelihoods and promote sustainable development in Ogoniland. He urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the skills and certifications acquired.
“These skills and achievements should not end here but serve as a springboard for self-reliance, dignity of labour, and long-term economic empowerment for the good of Ogoniland and Nigeria,” he stated.
Prof. Zabbey noted that the seafaring programme is significant not only to the beneficiaries but also to HYPREP’s broader livelihood restoration strategy and the Federal Government’s blue economy agenda.
He explained that by equipping the youths with globally relevant maritime skills, HYPREP is opening alternative income opportunities while discouraging oil theft, artisanal refining, re-pollution, and other environmentally harmful practices. He added that the initiative aligns with the directives of the 2016 HYPREP Establishment Gazette and reinforces the Project’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
Commending Charkin Maritime Academy as a dependable training partner, Zabbey described the institution as one of the foremost maritime training centres in the country.
“This partnership has delivered high-quality results today, and we intend to expand it as we intensify efforts to provide sustainable alternative livelihoods for the Ogoni people,” he said.
He expressed confidence in Ogoni youths as drivers of unity, peace, and progress, noting their resilience and commitment to peace in the area. He reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to supporting the aspirations of youths and women in Ogoniland.
The Project Coordinator likened knowledge and certificates to fuel in a vehicle, stressing that they are meant to propel the graduates toward greater heights.
“We hear your voices calling for restoration, and today, environmental and livelihood restoration are gradually unfolding before your eyes, bringing renewed hope. We continue to lay brick upon brick, building pillars of Ogoni development, as evidenced by the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), which is 93 per cent completed,” he added.
He emphasised that HYPREP’s approach integrates all projects and interventions toward achieving environmental sustainability and long-term development in Ogoniland.
Also speaking, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr. Ehioze Igbinomwahia, said the graduates had gained not only technical maritime skills but also discipline, resilience, and confidence to compete globally.
He described their graduation as the beginning of a new journey and noted that the UNEP Report emphasised that environmental restoration must be complemented by sustainable livelihoods, capacity building, and youth empowerment.
“Without empowering people, restoration cannot be complete. Programmes such as this maritime training represent practical steps toward creating employment pathways, dignity, and long-term community stability,” he said.
Engr. Igbinomwahia added that Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited remains committed to supporting environmental recovery, human capacity development, and sustainable economic opportunities in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta.
Highlighting the importance of discipline and safety, he urged the graduates to be ambassadors of professionalism and integrity.
“The sea you are about to enter is vast and sometimes challenging, but it is also full of opportunity. Let discipline guide your actions, let safety remain your constant companion, and let your character speak for you wherever you go,” he advised.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning at Charkin Maritime Academy, Captain Joseph Awodeha, who represented the Chairman, Dr. Charles Wami, emphasised discipline and safety as critical to career success in the maritime sector.
The Head of the Seafaring Department, Captain Jonathan Hammond, urged the graduates to remain humble and disciplined, noting that such virtues are essential for career growth.
In his remarks, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, Barrister Dornu Baridan, commended the beneficiaries for successfully scaling through the
rigorous selection process and completing their training as seafarers.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Port Harcourt Branch, Rivers State, has elected 14 member executives to lead the organization for the 2025/2026 year. Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, is the 23rd chairman.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Engr. Ishmael A. Branch Secretariat, 3 Benard Carr Street (Waterworks Yard), Port Harcourt, attracted members of the engineering profession from within and outside the state.
Other elected executives include:
Engr. Samuel H. Kwelle, MNSE – Vice Chairman
Engr. Dr. Promise Jumbo, FNSE – General Secretary
Engr. Priye P. K. Lawson, MNSE – Assistant Secretary
Engr. Patrick O. Udegbunam, MNSE – Treasurer.
Others are Engr. Hilda D. Batubo, MNSE – Financial Secretary
Engr. Bowei M. Dauseighe, MNSE – Technical Secretary
Engr. Charles O. Okwakpam, MNSE – Assistant Technical Secretary
Engr. Agnes Komolafe, MNSE – Membership Secretary
Engr. Dike N. Livingstone, MNSE – Publicity Secretary
Also elected are Engr. Ayebaye Daniel Wanatoi, MNSE – Welfare Secretary
Engr. Oribiokpomari I. Comfort, MNSE – Internal Auditor
Engr. Dr. Idaeresoari Harriet Ateke, FNSE – Immediate Past Chairman
Engr Dr Hachimenum Amadi, FNSE (Ex-Officio)
In his a goodwill message, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon. Frederick Anabraba, urged the new executive to maintain high ethical standards and move the association forward.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, promised an inclusive administration and teamwork, focusing on collaboration with stakeholders. He had begun building partnerships with Rivers State University and the University of Port Harcourt.
The highlight was the inauguration lecture, “Engineering Solution for Security, Energy Access and Sustainable Development,” delivered by Engr. Victor Bandele, Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater Assets, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited.
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