Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government says its decision to pardon four out of the 20 former local government chairmen indicted by a government White Paper for corrupt practice was not “politically motivated”.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Al-Mustapha Suleiman, made the clarification in Bauchi in an interview with newsmen.
The indicted former chairmen are Alhaji Muhammed Hassan of Katagum Local Government, Alhaji Tukur Adamu of Kirfi, Alhaji Bello Arabi from Alkaleri and Alhaji Garba Magaji, Darazo Local Government.
Gov. Isa Yuguda had on Thursday granted amnesty to 18 convicts and the four former local government chairmen indicted for embezzling public funds in the last administration.
Borno
An Islamic scholar, Sheikh Bashir Mustafa, was last weekend shot dead in his Gwange, Maiduguri residence, by gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect.
An eyewitness, told newsmen in Maduguri that the cleric was shot with one of his students, Alhaji Dunoma, who had visited him.
“The cleric and Dunoma were inside the house when we saw two men approach the house on a motorbike.
“They packed the bike outside and went straight to meet them inside where they opened fire on them.
FCT
As the world marks the World Post Day, the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) last weekend in Abuja presented the 2010 Definitive Postage Stamps to promote Nigeria’s tourism potential.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dora Akunyili, the Minister of Information and Communications, commended NIPOST for its initiative to key into the “Re-branding Nigeria” project through the production of the stamps.
Akunyili, represented by Mr Lagdam Ndam, Director, Research and Production in the ministry, noted that NIPOST, over the years had promoted the best of Nigeria’s cultural life, arts and history through postage stamps.
“All over the years, postage stamps are regarded as effective means of supplying information about a country’s history, people and culture.
Kaduna
Vice-President Namadi Sambo has said that President Goodluck Jonathan will be fair to all Nigerians if elected in 2011.
Sambo gave the assurance last weekend in Kaduna while inaugurating the Jonathan-Sambo 2011 North- West Zonal Campaign Office.
He said that the agenda of their administration was to restructure all the major sectors of the economy so as to attain the goals of Vision 20:2020.
The vice-president stressed that the administration was determined to make the country a comfortable place for all citizens, irrespective of where they came from.
Sambo appealed to the people of the North-West geopolitical zone region to vote for Jonathan in the 2011 presidential election, assuring them that there were specific development programmes earmarked for the region.
Kano
Participants at a workshop on Planning and Budgeting, have asked state governments to set up anti-corruption agencies to facilitate smooth budget planning and implementation.
In a communique issued at the end of the five-day workshop in Kano last weekend, the participants noted that corruption was “a major impediment to budget planning” in Nigeria.
The communique, which was signed by Malam Maikano Bashir, a Principal Assistant Secretary in the Kano State Deputy Governor’s Office, also urged State Houses of Assembly to pass the Fiscal Responsibility Bill into law to give legal backing to new planning and budgeting initiatives.
Katsina
The Katsina State Government will devote the N650 million it won in the 2007-2008 Award for Good Performance in UBE Implementation to the decongestion of some primary schools, an official said.
Alhaji Nuhu Kuki, the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), announced the plan on Saturday in an interview with newsmen in Katsina.
He said that apart from the decongestion of the schools, the money would also be used for other school projects across the state.
Kebbi
Kano State governor Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau has donated N25 million to assist victims of the recent flood disaster in Kebbi State.
He made the donation last weekend in Birnin Kebbi when he visited his Kebbi counterpart Alhaji Saidu Dakingari.
Shekarau, who led a large delegation to Birnin Kebbi, said the donation was to show brotherly concern for fellow human beings.
“The monetary donation is aimed at alleviating the hardship faced by the flood victims and we sincerely hope and pray for the avoidance of future disasters,” he said.
Gov Saidu Dakingari, who received the donation, commended the government and people of Kano State for the assistance and pledged that the money would be judiciously utilised.
Lagos
A total of 108 ships are scheduled to berth in Lagos ports in October, our correspondent reports.
The shipping position released by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Lagos last weekend showed that many of the ships would be laden with containers, vehicles and petroleum products.
According to the shipping document, 15 of the ships are bringing in various petroleum products, mostly petrol, and are already waiting for clearance to berth.
Eighteen others are carrying bulk cargoes such as fish, fertiliser, bulk cement, bulk urea, bulk salt and containers.
Ogun
A business mogul, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim, last weekend pledged to construct a building worth N50 million for Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta (MAPOLY).
Ibrahim announced the donation when he was conferred with the honourary fellowship of the polytechnic during its 13th convocation ceremony.
He said that the building would be known as “Olusegun Obasanjo Privatisation Centre’’.
Ibrahim said that the project would be jointly financed by five of his companies — Global Fleet, Nigeria Re-insurance, Air Nigeria, NICON Insurance and NICON Hotel.
Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State also received an honourary fellowship of the institution during the convocation.
Osun
The Osun Government has recruited 600 teachers to fill vacant positions in public primary schools in the state, Prof. Wale Oladipo, the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) said.
Oladipo said in a statement obtained by our correspondent last week in Osogbo that the recruitment would improve the standard of basic education in the state.
The newly employed teachers, he said, had already collected their letters of appointment and had been posted to primary schools across the state.
The SUBEB chairman also called on other qualified teachers seeking employment to come to the board for application forms to fill positions expected to be vacated by retiring teachers next year.
Sokoto
The Federal Government says plans have reached advanced stage for the reconstruction of the access
road to Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, that was destroyed by flood in August.
Mr Chris Ogiewonyi, the Minister of State for Works, made the information known last weekend in Sokoto shortly after inspecting the road.
Ogiewonyi, who also inspected the Sokoto-Ilela road that links Nigeria with Niger Republic and promised that work would soon begin on the road.
More than 20 villages were washed away in Sokoto State following floods that ravaged 20 villages across six local government areas and rendered more than 8,000 people homeless.
The floods washed away more than 4km of the access road and a bridge to the university and connecting seven local government areas to Sokoto town.
Plateau
President Goodluck Jonathan last weekend inaugurated a new Governor’s Lodge and office for Plateau.
The President, who is in Plateau on a two-day visit, also inaugurated an overhead bridge in Kabong which was built at N2.8 billion.
Jonathan, who lauded the Plateau government for building the bridge he described as “very strategic’’, also thanked the Government for naming a road after him.
The 25km road named after Goodluck Jonathan, is a federal road which the State Government rehabilitated.
“The bridge is the only flyover bridge in Plateau and the best in the North-Central Zone; it will remain a landmark to the entire nation,’’ he said.
Yobe
ACN Chairman in Yobe Mai-mala Buni last Sunday advised the electorate to stop non-performing politicians aspiring for the Governorship House from getting elected.
Buni told newsmen in Damaturu that “Yobe has peculiar problems of desertification and drought, but docile lawmakers could not make any impact on those problems.
“Some of these politicians are now aspiring for the governorship which must be resisted because of their incompetence.
“It will be disastrous to entrust the future of the state in the hands of people who could not sponsor bills to impact on the lives of the people while at the National Assembly,” he said.
Buni, who is also the chairman of the coalition of political parties in the state, noted that political parties would sensitise their members against “aspirants who cannot deliver to improve the lives of the people’’.
Residents of Omugo Community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have deserted their homes due to persistent bandit attacks.
The Tide’s source reports that the once lively community has turned into a ghost town with only a few domestic animals left.
Reports indicate that the recent bandits’ attack on the Omugo ECWA Church via Oro-Ago, led to the abduction of eight worshippers including the wife of the pastor in charge.
Three persons escaped out of the eight abductees with a N1billion ransom placed on the remaining victims in captivity. The community could only gather N1million which was rejected by the bandits.
Last week, the armed bandits invaded Oro-Ago community, killed one vigilante man identified as Baba Ibeji and injured his younger brother known as Ajere.
A Point of Sales, PoS, shop directly opposite the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Divisional office, was broken into by the bandits.
The gunmen also attacked the NSCDC office and sprayed bullets on the facility, though no casualty was recorded.
In earlier attacks on Oro-Ago environs, armed bandits ambushed a convoy between Oro-Ago and Oke-Ayan in Ilere district of Ifelodun Local Government Area and killed two local hunters on escort duty.
On Saturday, there was tension in Oro-Ago following a security alert that armed bandits were regrouping to launch fresh attacks on the community.
All security formations were, however, placed on ‘Red Alert’ to forestall the planned attack.
The Acting Provost of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Peace Chigozirim Amadi has refuted claims circulating in the media suggesting that laboratory equipment went missing from the college.
In a recent statement, Dr. Amadi described the reports—particularly those attributed to certain publications—as false and misleading. She emphasized that all laboratory equipment at the college remain intact.
“I am here to set the record straight. No laboratory equipment disappeared from my college. Nothing is missing,” Dr. Amadi said, challenging anyone with contrary claims to provide evidence, including the names of the equipment and their supposed locations.
She further noted that the college recently underwent an accreditation exercise, during which significant investments were made in laboratory equipment. According to Dr. Amadi, these items are fully accounted for, and the college maintains a robust security system to protect its assets.
“Everything is intact. Nothing disappeared. The information being circulated is false and should be discarded,” she reiterated.
Beyond addressing the allegations, Dr. Amadi also called on media practitioners to exercise professionalism and verify stories before publication. “I want to plead with journalists to always verify their stories. Junk journalism does not help anyone. No matter the information you receive, it is important to hear the other side before publishing,” she said.
While social media posts have occasionally raised concerns about various issues in the region’s health education sector, including extortion and examination malpractice at related institutions, there is no independent evidence from credible news sources confirming that equipment went missing from Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology.
The college, a public tertiary institution based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is accredited to offer a variety of health-related programs, including Nursing, Midwifery, Laboratory Technology, and Environmental Health. It has consistently emphasized integrity, safety, and transparency in its operations.
Dr. Amadi’s statement seeks to reassure the public, students, and stakeholders that the college remains secure, well-managed, and free from the alleged equipment losses, while urging journalists to prioritize accuracy in reporting.
As the world commemorates World Water Day, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing potable water across Ogoni communities, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the Ogoni Environment.
In a statement issued by its Project Coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, on March 22, 2026, HYPREP noted that this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” alongside the campaign slogan, “Where Water Flows, Equity Grows,” underscores its resolve to extend potable water supply beyond oil-impacted communities to all Ogoni communities.
Zabbey emphasized that access to clean water is a fundamental human right, adding that HYPREP remains committed to ensuring inclusive and equitable water access across the region.
He disclosed that the agency has successfully provided potable water to over 43 communities in Ogoni, while ongoing Phase 3 water projects are expected to benefit an additional 17 communities. He also highlighted steady progress on windmill-powered water projects in less populated areas, particularly in Khana Local Government Area.
According to him, the K-Dere Water Project, which is over 99 percent complete, will be commissioned in the coming weeks, even as work continues on other water schemes across Ogoni.
Zabbey further noted that HYPREP’s interventions are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
To ensure sustainability, he explained that the agency has adopted a joint management model involving host communities, the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, and the Rivers State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RSSTOWA). He added that Water Consumers’ Associations have been established in communities such as Nchia and Eleme, alongside training programmes conducted in collaboration with non-governmental organisations.
The Project Coordinator stressed the importance of community ownership and protection of water facilities, echoing the call by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, for residents to safeguard the infrastructure provided in their areas.
Zabbey expressed optimism that the ongoing efforts will significantly improve access to safe drinking water, reduce waterborne diseases, and enhance public health outcomes across Ogoni communities.
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