Nation
THE STATES
Ekiti
The Ekiti State judicial workers say they will commence a five- day warning strike today to protest against the government’s failure to improve their welfare.
The workers, who spoke under the aegis of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ekiti State chapter, made this known in a letter dated January 10, 2011 and addressed to Governor Kayode Fayemi.
A copy of the letter, which was made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, was jointly signed by Comrade Ibiyemi Michael and Comrade Owolabi Tayo, the Chairman and Secretary of the union respectively.
The union accused the state government of not implementing the 156 percent increase in the allowances and fringe benefits approved by the Federal Government for judicial workers.
Besides, the union lamented the government’s refusal to pay its members the 20 percent year 2010 Christmas Bonus approved by the governor.
FCT
Four Presidential aspirants on the platform of ANPP on Saturday promised Nigerians to reform the country, if voted into power in the April general elections.
The aspirants, who addressed over 5,000 delegates at the Eagles Square, venue of the ANPP National Convention in Abuja, were Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State, Chief Harry Akande, Alhaji Bashir Tofa and Alhaji Dauda Birmah.
Addressing the convention, Shekarau said the occasion was “a day of great history, a great moment of change for ANPP and for Nigeria as a whole’’.
Shekarau, who broke the jinx of second term as Governor of the state, said the expected change in Nigeria would come with the election of a credible and experienced leader to midwife the much needed change.
Plateau
Bank customers in Jos have complained about the continued closure of banks in the city, in spite of the return of peace to the troubled city.
Banks in Jos have shut their doors to customers since the past five days, following the recurring spate of killings in the city.
Sources in some of the banks told newsmen that the closure was as a result of the precarious security situation in the city.
Mr Gwotbit David, a customer waiting at the Secretariat Branch of First Bank at Hwolshe, appealed to the banks to consider the suffering of the people.
He urged the banks to consider devising ways of attending to customers on skeletal basis.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association(NMA) yesterday suspended its planned strike over the non-payment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure(CONMESS) by the State Government.
The Tide’s source reports that the suspension, followed the acceptance of the State Government to implement the policy 100 per cent
The state’s branch Chairman of the association, Dr Solomon Avidime, confirmed the development to newsmen in Kaduna, after an emergency meeting held with representatives of the State Government.
Avidime said that members of the association had wanted to embark on an indefinite industrial action from today, to press their demand, but noted that the government’s action had averted the planned action.
Katsina
The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, has advised leaders to win people’s confidence by prioritising their needs.
Kabir gave the advice yesterday in Katsina when the state’s Committee on the Payment of Cumulative Gratuities to Local Government Pensioners, paid him a courtesy call at his palace.
He said the payment of the cumulative gratuities to the beneficiaries had come at the right time when government was paying more attention to issues relating to the welfare of citizens.
He urged the committee to justify the confidence reposed in it by the government.
According to him, the emirate is willing to offer useful advice to leaders who are open to ideas and suggestions.
Kebbi
The Kebbi Government has donated N1 million to the state’s chapter of the Nigerian Legion to improve the welfare of its members.
Governor Saidu Dakingari, made the donation on Friday in Birnin Kebbi at the launching of an appeal fund as part of activities to mark the annual Armed Forces Remembrance Week.
Dakingari, who was represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Alhaji Shehu Sambawa, said that further support would be provided to the legion.
He said that members of the legion had played vital roles in attaining peace and unity of the country.
The Chairman of the state’s chapter of the legion, Jibo Dabai, commended the state’s authorities for sustaining its support to members of the legion.
“We will not relent in seeking further support in the implementation of policies and programmes that will help in developing the society,” he said.
Lagos
The Federal Government has been urged to terminate the services of MEAVIS Ltd, a concessionaire charged with the mandate to generate revenue for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) made the call at a news conference yesterday in Ikeja in Lagos State.
The President of ATSSSAN, Mr Benjamin Okewu, told journalists that FAAN had not been able to maintain airports in the country because of non-remittance of funds from MEAVIS.
Okewu alleged that the FAAN/MEAVIS agreement had not in anyway impacted positively on the nation’s airports.
He claimed that FAAN was generating enough money to maintain its airports in the country before MAEVIS came on board.
Ogun
Senator Ibikunle Amosun on Friday in Abeokuta emerged the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Ogun.
The Tide’s source reports that Amosun, an accountant, emerged the candidate out of 10 other contestants in a consensus arrangement adopted by the party.
Amosun was the gubernatorial candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the 2007 general elections in Ogun.
Presenting Amosun to jubilant supporters at the party’s Secretariat in Abeokuta, the State Chairman of ACN, Alhaji Tajudeen Bello, described the consensus process as rigorous.
He said that at the end of the day, Amosun emerged, based on the approval of the other 10 governorship aspirants.
Osun
The Director, Osun Action Committee on AIDS (SACA) , Dr Funso Ajao, says the prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the state still stands at 1.2 per cent.
Ajao told newsmen in Osogbo on Friday that the committee would continue to create awareness through sustained campaigns on Radio and Television programmes on the virus.
Ajao said that the committee would continue to carry out counselling and testing at various centres as a means of further reducing the prevalence of the scourge.
He said that awareness creation was a major strategy of controlling the spread of the virus and that through testing, people could know their status.
The Director, however, did not disclose the actual figure of people, who tested positive to the virus, saying that he needed time to collate the figures from the various counselling and testing centres.
Sokoto
Alhaji Abdulkadir Jalani, Chairman of Sabon-Birni Local Government in Sokoto state, has called on Nigerians to always pray for God’s intervention in political activities of the country.
Jalani told The Tide’s source in Sokoto that the nation was in dire need of prayers to ensure peaceful conduct of the forth coming general elections.
He said that prayers were vital in ensuring the success of the elections.
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.
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.
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.