Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa Police Command has mobilised 4,000 personnel to ensure security for the two-day campaign visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Yola, scheduled for today and tomorrow.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Akelere Shinaba, disclosed this in Yola on Monday while addressing newsmen.
Shinaba said various units of the police, including Bomb Squad, Mounted troop, Police Dog and a detachment of Mobile Police from Enugu, had been mobilised for the presidential campaign visit.
“We are going to be civil, courteous but very firm in the discharge of our duty.
“We are not out to intimidate anybody but we will deal with anyone who tries to foment trouble,” Shinaba said.
He advised the public to cooperate with the police and other security operatives that would direct them on moving in and out of Ribadu Square, venue of the campaign rally, to avoid incidents such as stampede.
The Commissioner also assured journalists of unfettered access to cover Jonathan’s presidential campaign.
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government has approved the implementation of 27.5 per cent allowance for teachers in the state and local government employ, one year after some states had implemented.
Following agreement reached between the national body of the NUT and the 36 governors, the latter had agreed to pay the 27.5 per cent in the allowances of teachers as from January 2010.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service, Establishment and ServiCom Matters, Alhaji Hudu Yunusa, in Bauchi yesterday.
The statement said that government had approved the new allowances and incentives for teachers in secondary schools in addition to the already existing Teachers Salary Scale (TSS).
“The allowances include the 20 per cent Inducement, 10 per cent Rural, Examination/ Supervision, 10 per cent Learning Society and five per cent Responsibility.
Others are the five per cent Hazard, five per cent English, 10 per cent Mathematics and 10 per cent Science Courses Allowances,” it said.
Benue
Chief Obadiah Ando, the Minister of Water Resources, has laid the foundation stone of a N17 billion multi-purpose earth dam in Otobi, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue.
Ando said on the occasion that the dam, billed for completion in two and a half years, had the capacity to supply 30 million cubic metres of water.
He said the hydro-power component of the dam had the capacity to generate five megawatts of electricity for the people of Otukpo and its environs.
“The Otukpo multi-purpose dam is designed to supply water to several communities and irrigate 2,000 hectares of land downstream of the dam,” the minister said on Monday.
He said the Federal Government had committed a lot of resources to the development of dams and irrigation projects nationwide to boost economic activities ensure food security and enhance the wellbeing of the people.
FCT
Justice Hussein Baba of the FCT High Court yesterday in Abuja threatened to send out any lawyer who is “shabbily” dressed.
Baba, who expressed his disappointment at the way some lawyers appeared in court, said there was an urgent need for change in the dress code of lawyers in Abuja.
“I will not tolerate counsel who dress shabbily to court. You are supposed to wear your white stiff wing collar with bands hanging down the front of the neck.
“You are also supposed to wear either a black double-breasted suit or with a waist coat if single-breasted or a black coat and waist coat and grey pin striped trousers.
“These are the basic things you were taught in Law School. This is a High Court. Your appearance matters here,” Baba said.
Meanwhile, Baba has fixed May 8 for judgment in a murder case filed against an accused, Paul Owolo, by the State (Ministry of Justice).
Katsina
The Katsina State Transport Authority (KTSTA) has released N2.7 million to the families of 11 passengers who died in a recent accident involving one of its buses.
Presenting cheques totalling N1.7 million to the second batch of seven families in Katsina on Tuesday, the General Manager of the authority, Alhaji Sirajo Makera, said four families had earlier received N1 million.
He explained that each deceased passenger’s family received N250,000 being part of the insurance scheme entered between the authority and an insurance company for the safety of passengers.
The manager said the payment was not meant to compensate the families of the deceased, but was a palliative measure.
Kebbi
Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State has promised to provide more amenities to the people of Gwandu Local Government Area if re-elected.
The governor, who is the PDP flag bearer in the April election, made the pledge while addressing party supporters in Gwandu on Monday.
“The provision of 20 kilometres of roads in this area would be executed during my second tenure,” he said.
He said in the last four years, N820million was spent on the provision of a new General Hospital and township roads.
“The hospital was provided at N685million while N135million was spent on roads. “If you elect me in April 2011, my focus would be on improvement of amenities for better living conditions as well as youth empowerment.
“Job opportunities would be created to promote self reliance,” he added. He appealed to youths in the area to shun politics of violence and money.
Kogi
Workers in Kogi began an indefinite strike on Monday to protest alleged government refusal to fulfill agreements on the payment of allowances to them, labour said.
A statement, issued by Abdulsalami Ojanaun, on behalf of NLC and TUC in Lokoja yesterday, described the strike as a last resort by the workers.
Labour recalled that the issues in dispute were the same on which government and labour agreed last year but that the government had reneged its part of the bargain.
The statement recalled that the government issued a circular on February 17, stating that “Federal circulars not adopted or domesticated would not apply in the state.”
The workers are demanding the payment of salary relativity to core civil servants and the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to health workers.
Lagos
Doctors in federal hospitals in Lagos on Monday embarked on strike in sympathy with their striking colleagues in Lagos State Government-owned health institutions.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) last Friday directed doctors in all federal hospitals, apart from those in the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), to join the strike.
The NMA said the strike, beginning from Monday, was in support of their colleagues in Lagos State hospitals, following the refusal of the state government to meet their demands.
Doctors in the state hospitals on October 4, 2010 began a strike to press for the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), a reduction of tax and the re-instatement of a dismissed colleague. Our correspondent, who visited the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, and the Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, on Monday reports that there were no doctors to attend to patients in the two institutions, and only nurses were available at the psychiatric hospital.
A nurse at the psychiatric hospital, who elected to remain anonymous, said that the doctors were not around, adding, “we have only nurses and nurse assistants working in the hospital today and we are doing the work of the doctors,” she said.
It was discovered that resident doctors also abandoned their duty posts at the LUTH, leaving only nurses and consultants to attend to patients.
Plateau
Eight residents of the Tin Mines Quarters, Jos, have appeared before a Kabong Upper Area Court for alleged conspiracy and unauthorised entry into some houses without the manager’s consent.
The accused persons are Musa Silas, Pam Chuwang, Chuwang Silas, Yohanna Davou, Challom Sho, Mrs Kachallom Silas, Gyang Pam and Rwang Chollom.
The manager of the quarters, Mr Charles Abeh, told the court that the accused persons broke into the houses without his knowledge.
He claimed that the accused persons conspired and broke into two houses which were locked after the tenants who lived there had left. Abeh said that since 1980, he had been managing the quarters which were given to him by the Amalgamated Tin Mines of Nigeria to handle.
He told the court that the accused persons claimed they had been given the right to move into the houses by the Consolidated Tin Mines Association which, he said, lacked the right to do so.
“I have every document to show that I am still the manager of the houses. “My Lord, I am here to move the motion for the suit; the motion is supported by a 14-paragraph affidavit.
Sokoto
Ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan’s scheduled campaign visit to Sokoto State today, about 5,000 police personnel have been deployed to provide security in the state.
Alhaji Adeola Adeniji, the state Commissioner of Police, told newsmen in Sokoto on Monday that an operational order had been issued to the officers and men, to provide effective security network during the presidential visit.
He said the command had evolved a system that would enhance the security situation during and after the visit.
He said the command expected reinforcement from Kebbi, Zamfara and katsina states to effectively cover the state.
The Commissioner called on politicians to eschew violence, warning that any one caught in the act would be prosecuted.
“Sokoto state is one of the peaceful states in the federation and a formidable security mechanism has been put in place to sustain the tempo,” he said.
Yobe
The Yobe State Government is to disburse a N178 million as grants to women associations in 17 local government areas to empower them.
Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam announced this yesterday at Yusufari town in Yobe while inspecting some projects.
He said the amount would be released next week to the local government councils through their Committee of Trustees set up by the chairmen of the councils.
According to him, the objective of the grant is to improve the income of rural women, especially in agriculture and livestock farming as well as encourage them to participate in politics.
Gaidam added that “we all know how our mothers suffer to keep the family, especially in this difficult time.”
The governor said that the money would be disbursed in accordance with the committees’ recommendations, which must be based on peculiarity needs and job description.
“Under the arrangement, each group from a ward will receive N1 million as grant,” Gaidam said.
He said that last year, the government bought and distributed sewing, tailoring and baking machines as well as computer sets to 500 youths in the state.
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.
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.
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
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