Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

January 24, 2011

Adamawa The Adamawa State Fadama Office says it has supported three fish farmers groups with inputs worth N408,000. Malam Dalhatu Girei, the communication officer of the programme told newsmen that the objective was to encourage fish farming and increase the income of the groups. Girei said the office was currently working with 19 fish farmer groups across the state. He identifed one of the three groups being supported as Fada B women fish farmers in Tola village in Mayo Belwa Local Government Area. According to him, 1,800 fingerlings, 300 bags of feeds and 20 sachets each of antibiotic and stress drugs were given to the group. FCT The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has constituted an eminent persons committee to proffer ways of addressing disputes that arose from its just concluded primaries. This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Buba Galadima, the National Secretary in Abuja. The statement stated that approval for the constitution of the committee was granted by the National Executive Committee of the party for some states in the federation. It added that members of the committee in some cases were not card carrying members of any political party. The statement quoted Galadima as saying that the essence of the committee was to “harmonise contestants in some constituencies and to advise the party on the way forward’’. The committee, according to the statement, is expected to examine the social and political environment and assess its dynamics and variables. This, it said, was with a view to recommending candidates that would ensure electoral victory in each constituency. Gombe Dr Abu Muazu, the Head of Public Health Department at Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, has advised adults to drink, at least, five litres of water daily. Addressing patients at the hospital last Thursday, Muazu said the measure would go a long way to aid the physiological system, especially the kidney. “The medically recommended quantity of water for every adult is a minimum of five litres daily. “This helps a lot in cleansing the digestive system, making it easier for the kidney to discharge its responsibilities without any stress. According to him, the recommended quantity of water for children depends on their weight. The doctor, however, said that women, who were practising exclusive breast feeding, were exempt from the practice. Muazu condemned the practice by some people, who ate solid food without drinking enough water. Jigawa The Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Mohammadu Sanusi, has appealed to his subjects to turn out en masse and participate in the ongoing voter registration exercise. Sanusi, who gave the charge last Thursday in Garu-Kudu ward in Dutse where he registered, advised residents in his domain to exercise patience no matter how long it would take to register. He noted that voting was one way Nigerians could exercise their civic responsibility, saying voters would have the opportunity to elect leaders of their choice. Sanusi also enjoined husbands to allow their wives to register in order to promote gender equity. He appealed to politicians not to engage in acts that would jeopardise the unity and mutual co-existence among the people. Kaduna The Police in Kaduna say they are yet to arrest one Mubarak, alias Best Keeper and seven others, who allegedly murdered one Sunday Onoja. Onoja, 25, a sachet water vendor, was last Tuesday allegedly stabbed to death by Mubarak at Kabala Doki, Kaduna, at about 5 p.m. The Police Public Relations Officer, Malam Aminu Lawal, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Kaduna, said the police were still investigating the incident. Lawal said that the parents of the suspects were being held by the police, but that they were in “protective custody” against possible attack from the relations of the deceased. Kano Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State last Thursday, urged the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), to make nation building its priority. He made the call in Kano at the national delegates’ conference of NAWOJ, which has the theme: “Media Women and Development: The Challenges of Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG)”. “Your role is more like that of a middleman. You educate the general public on government activities and vice-versa. “It is good to assess yourselves and ensure that you engage in nation building so as to promote unity and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians in order to move the country forward,” he said. Earlier, Alhaji Haruna Dederi, the state Commissioner for Information and Sports, had remarked that women had the capacity to make a difference in any country. Katsina The Katsina State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Sabo Ringim, last Friday warned politicians in the state against using thugs to foment trouble during election campaigns. Ringim gave the warning in Katsina at a joint meeting of various security agencies on election security. He said that the command would not allow thugs to breach the peace during any political activity, stressing that it would deal with anybody found wanting. According to him, the state command is prepared to ensure the security of lives and properties during and after the general elections. The commissioner called on politicians in the state to give the police all the necessary support and cooperation to ensure violence-free election campaigns in the state. In his remark, Alhaji Abubakar Wara, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, expressed appreciation with the security provided at all the registration centres across the state. Kebbi The Kebbi State Government has disbursed N1.98 billion to its 21 local government areas for the January monthly allocation. Alhaji Abubakar Kardi, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi last week that N2.1 billion was received by the state from the Federal Government for the month. He said that in accordance with the provisions of the law, some statutory deductions were made and N527.9 million, representing 25 per cent, was allocated for rural infrastructure projects. Kardi said N357.4 million was for payment of UBE primary school teachers, N45 million for local government service commission and N11.6 million for servicing of joint account committees. The commissioner said N4.2 million was allocated for social security welfare, while N6.3 million was for the army and police joint patrol. He said that Birnin Local Government Area received the highest allocation of N65.8 million, while Zuru Local Government Area got the lowest allocation of N39.4 million. Kardi advised the councils to utilise the resources judiciously in executing projects that had direct positive impact on the people, warning that strict punitive measures would be taken against officials who diverted or mismanaged the funds. Lagos The Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Dr John Akanya, has appealed to importers to be patriotic when importing goods. Akanya told our correspondent in Lagos last Thursday at the presentation of a quality certificate tagged “ISO 2008” to Dangote Cement Plc that in spite of efforts to stamp out substandard products, some businessmen still imported such goods. He said the trend was his major regret, noting that “despite the organisation’s milestone achievements under my tenure, some unscrupulous importers still cut corners and import substandard products. “It’s regrettable that some importers still circumvent the law and import substandard products that can destroy the lives of innocent Nigerians. “My vision is for the average Nigerian to abide by standards, be orderly as far as quality standard is concerned and make consumers have value for their money. Ogun The Ogun State Government has approved 150 per cent salary increase to its medical and health workers in line with the Enhanced Medical and Health Workers Salary Scale (OGEHESS). Mr Sina Kawonise, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, announced this in a statement issued last Friday in Abeokuta. The commissioner said that the gesture was aimed at boosting the morale of the medical and health workers. The new wage (150 per cent increase) has increased the monthly wage bill of the health sector in the state by N300 million. “This increase is the fourth for medical and health workers since the inception of the present administration in May 2003,’’ the commissioner noted. He said that to further demonstrate its concern for the health of the people, the government had established new or rehabilitated existing general hospital in each of the 20 local government areas. Kawonise added that government had also provided one health centre, complete with the appropriate manpower and state-of-the-art equipment in each ward. “From 1,175 in 2003, workers in the health sector in the state increased to 3,085 by 2010, while the number of hospitals increased from 26 to 29. Sokoto No fewer than 100 patients of the Ammanawa Leprosy Hospital in Dange-Shuni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, have been registered in the ongoing voter registration. Mr. Moses Kayode, a Registration Officer at the hospital’s registration unit, told newsmen there was a large turn-out of the patients to exercise their civic responsibility. He said that all the materials needed for the conduct of exercise had been provided by INEC. He said: “I don’t have a problem registering eligible voters as all the materials needed for the exercise are in good condition.” Most of the registration centres in Dange-Shuni and Tureta Local Government Areas witnessed large turn-out of people. Alhaji Mande Usman, Chairman of Tureta Local Government, told The Tide in Tureta, that already the council had embarked on a campaign to mobilise voters to participate in the exercise.

Nation

Accolades, Fanfare As Ogbakor Ikwerre President General Celebrates 80th Birthday

Published

4 weeks ago

September 1, 2025

The Tide

The President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide and the Mgboh XIII of the Mgboh Royal Family of Emohua Kingdom in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze (Barrister) Godspower Onuekwa, penultimate Friday celebrated his 80th birthday with pomp, pageantry and fanfare.

The celebration, which commenced with a symposium organised in his honour at Rivers State University on Thursday, August 21,2025, got to a resounding climax on Friday at Suntai Event Centre in Port Harcourt, where people from all walks of life, including business associates, friends, well-wishers, relatives, community folks, traditional rulers, and admirers, gathered to pay glowing tributes to the celebrant.

Before then, a well attended thanksgiving service was held that same Friday at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Okoro-Nu-Odo, to honour him and return gratitude to God Almighty for the fruitful and eventful life and accomplishments of the Emohua leader and icon.

The service which was officiated by Rt Rev Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, Bishop of Niger Delta North had other renowned and respected clerics like Most Rev(Dr) Blessing Enyindah, Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Rt Rev(Dr) Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta; Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, Bishop, Diocese of Evo; and Ven Solomon Eze Nelson, Archdeacon, Okoro-Nu-Odo; among others lined up as officiating ministers.

The service lived up to its billing, as it featured powerful and soul-lifting praise and worship; point-blank prayers; and beautiful renditions, which electrified the entire atmosphere, essentially packaged to thank God for the life of the celebrant.

However, the crowning moment actually came when the who is who, the crème de la crème of the society, thronged the terraces and fabulously decorated expansive hall of Suntai Event Centre, to celebrate Eze Onuekwa, amid accolades, aplomb and panache, wining and dining, and clinking of glasses with him and all.

The chairman of the colourful ceremony, Chief Evans Woherem, who was represented by Eze(Prof) Christian Akani of the prestigious Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, praised the celebrant for his youthfulness in spite of clocking 80 years, generosity, humility, humaneness and selfless services to the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and called on all and sundry to emulate his good legacies and simple disposition towards life and existence.

Goodwill messages also poured in in torrents to underscore and salute the doggedness, resilience, astuteness and uniqueness of the endearing life of the celebrant, with Prof Emenike Wami, the Ochia Ohna Ikwerre(XIV), taking the lead.

Prof Priye Iyalla, the wife of late renowned writer, novelist and playwright, Dr Elechi Amadi, held the audience spellbound as she masterfully reeled out the profile of the celebrant, amid intermittent applause from the crowd.

The Tiv Community from Benue State, resident in Rivers State, were not left out, as they honoured and decorated Eze Onuekwa in their complete traditional regalia.

Cultural displays from Baptist Church, Rumuowhor; ADNA Wogbuji Dancing Group, Egbeda; Tiv Dancing Group; and Promoter Eze and Rumu-Mgboh Emohua Wrestling Group, equally added colour and grace to the occasion, with the celebrant and his wife, Dame Ann Onuekwa, joining them to wriggle their waists and bodies in ecstasy.

In his response, the highly elated celebrant, Eze Onuekwa thanked all those gathered to celebrate with him, saying, celebrations would never cease in their homes, and attributed everything he represents in life, including his modest accomplishments to God.

Eze Onuekwa, while addressing newsmen, harped on the need for hard work among the youths and members of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, as a way of sustaining and giving meaning to the motto of the organisation, which he noted is anchored on peace, unity and progress.

He specially thanked God for sustaining his life, and for making everything possible for him and his family, saying, he was joyous that he has today become an octogenarian and elder statesman in Rivers State.

His son and medical practitioner, Dr Samuel Chizia Onuekwa expressed delight that people from far and near had come together to celebrate the father, whom he described as a role model and great inspirator.

He said it was a good thing that the children were celebrating their father when he is alive, stressing that the last time Eze Onuekwa was celebrated in such magnitude was 20 years ago, during his 60th birthday celebration, and prayed God to grant him many more years in good health.

Among dignitaries who graced the event were Senator Andrew Uchendu; Chief Sampson Agbaru; Prof Emenike Wami; Dr Peter Didia; Eze(Prof) Samuel Ugo Onyeka; and a host of others. Justice Iche Ndu(rtd); and C O Kattey were among personalities that attended the thanksgiving service, while the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi led the academics who graced the symposium, alongside Eze G A O Omodu.

Nation

Ensure That Ogoni Is Heard In The Right Way, HYPREP Urges Creative Arts Trainees

Published

1 month ago

August 22, 2025

The Tide

As the 100 Ogoni youths trained by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Creative Arts close out their training on Tuesday at the Theatre Arts Department, University of Port Harcourt, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has urged the beneficiaries to use the skills acquired to ensure that the Ogoni stories are told and heard in the right way.

The trainees, who had completed a four- month training in script writing, film production and make-up are beneficiaries of the HYPREP sustainable livelihood programme, aimed at providing high demand skills to Ogoni youths in the lucrative creative arts and entertainment industry.

Zabbey described the Creative Arts training as well as other programmes and interventions as HYPREP’s strategic sustained effort to create alternative sources of livelihood.

”Targeted capacity building for Ogoni youths and women remains a central strategy in HYPREP’s livelihood restoration and improvement efforts. Our goal is to reach every part of the Ogoni community and ensure that no group or talent pool is left behind. This training is a deliberate step to empower young people who aspire to make their mark in the creative and entertainment industry”, he said.

While commending the trainees for producing four short films within the training period, one of which was premiered at the ceremony-Dirty Festival, the Project Coordinator noted that the training would serve as a springboard into the industry, and enable them earn a living, become entrepreneurs, and open new doors of opportunities for themselves and their communities. The three other movies are Open Pain, Bomu and Green War.

He enjoined them to utilise their skills and platforms to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental sustainability, urging them to ensure that Ogoni is heard in the right way, speak for HYPREP and highlight the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report.

Other speakers at the event, including the Director of Technical Services of HYPREP, Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi; Dr Ovunda Ihunwo, Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt; Chief Douglas Experience, the Project Coordinator of Halibiz Consult Limited; and Mrs Josephine Nzidee, Head, Sustainable Livelihood of HYPREP, all applauded HYPREP for the training, and charged the trainees to maximise the opportunity.

The trainees were later presented certificates of participation.

Visibly elated Ms Lebee Tornwe, one of the beneficiaries, thanked HYPREP and the Project Coordinator for offering the trainees the rare opportunity to acquire skills in the creative arts and entertainment industry, and expressed delight that Dr Ihunwo and Halibiz Consult Limited gave their all in grooming them.

With the wrapping up of the Creative Arts training(100), HYPREP has trained 230 Ogoni youths in high demand skill sets ,viz; seafaring(100); and aviation (30). The Project will this year, commence training in other skill areas, including Mechatronic, Aviation, Full-Stack Development, Commercial Diving, Underwater Welding and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Still in the offing is the training for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities in five skill sets- fish farming; basic computer skills; photography; fashion and design; and shoemaking in line with their Needs Assessment and HYPREP’s policy of inclusivity.

Nation

NYCOP Urges Stakeholders To Develop, Empower Ogoni Youths

Published

1 month ago

August 18, 2025

The Tide

The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) had called on stakeholders to work collaboratively towards the development and empowerment of Ogoni youths.

NYCOP made the call in a communique issue over the weekend after an emergency Congress in Port Harcourt and signed by its President, Comrade Raymond Nwibani Marcus.

In the communique, NYCOP endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s appointments of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BOT) members of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), particularly Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah as Chairman of HYPREP’s BOT.

It respectfully appealed to the President to consider appointing a representative from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) under the leadership of Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, being the pioneering social vehicle for Ogoni advocacy since the inception of the Ogoni struggle, adding that it would significantly contribute to the decision-making process.

The body commended the overall management of HYPREP and urges the President to continue funding the HYPREP project.

NYCOP furthermore recommended considering the conversion of HYPREP from a project to a full-fledged agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The communique also stated that NYCOP thanked President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, and for appointing key staff, forming a dialogue committee, and initiating infrastructural projects like the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and economic prospects.

In solidarity with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying it believes his leadership embodies the aspirations of the Ogoni people and Nigerians at large.

“After thorough consideration of the Disciplinary Committee’s report, NYCOP resolves:

” To indefinitely suspend Comrade Nade Nade Burale from his position as Secretary General due to misconduct.

“To declare Comrade Saviour Imeabe persona non grata on Ogoni youth issues, given his actions’ potential to instigate crisis in Ogoni and beyond” the communique stated.

NYCOP in his resolution issued a 7-day ultimatum to former HYPREP BOT Chairman Mike Nwialeghi to explain the $100 million HYPREP fund investment, warning of potential litigation.

NYCOP reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ogoni youth interests and preventing personal aggrandizement.

According to the communique the resolutions demonstrate NYCOP’s efforts to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth.

“We will no longer tolerate any individual or group using the name or issues of Ogoni youth for personal aggrandizement.

” Our mandate is clear: to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth” the communique said.

NYCOP passes a vote of confidence in Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah, acknowledging his impeccable credentials and credibility to lead the BOT of HYPREP effectively.

Kiadum Edookor