Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Chairman of Christian CAN, Adamawa branch, Prof. Daniel Babayi has urged government at all levels to establish and empower inter- Religious councils to effectively mobilise the people on religious tolerance.
Babayi told newsmen in Yola, that the councils, to be made up of respected Christian and Muslim leaders, could tackle the problem of intolerance among their followers, particularly in identified volatile areas.
He decried the lukewarm attitude of some state governments, which did not carry along religious groups in their mobilisation programmes for peace.
Bauchi
Unknown gunmen late last Friday attacked the Alkaleri branch of Unity Bank Plc and a police station and carted away a huge sum, sources said.
Our Correspondent learnt that the gunmen had earlier made an attempt to rob a bank in Bauchi metropolis but failed.
They later broke into the bank in Alkaleri and the police station, 60km away from Bauchi town, a witness told our correspondent, adding that the robbers first attacked the police station with explosives, which released a loud sound and thick smoke.
The witness said that the robbers subsequently launched an attack on the bank while public attention was focused on happenings at the station.
Borno
The Operation Restore Order Military Task Force in Borno State on Saturday warned residents of Maiduguri against allowing their premises to be used for attacks by suspected Boko Haram militants.
The warning was contained in a statement by the Spokesman of the Task Force, Col. Victor Ebhaleme in Maiduguri.
“The Task Force has observed with dismay the unacceptable behaviour of some residents in Maiduguri, who willingly allow their surroundings or frontage of their business places to be used for nefarious activities.
“Such residents are strongly advised to desist from such acts. The Task Force will henceforth take appropriate actions to protect the public from such actions.’’
FCT
Dr. Andrew Zamani, a clinical psychologist at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, has urged men to assist their expectant wives with domestic household tasks as such will reduce pregnancy complications due to stress.
Zamani told newsmen that severe stress in pregnancy and attitudes of uncaring husbands, had been shown to be contributory factors of high morbidity and mortality among women.
“Household demands and the lack of quality spousal support could also be stressful, severe stress is often associated with vulnerability to birth complications. Women who have had sustained emotional assaults or have been exposed during pregnancy to many stresses tend to have higher incidence rates of postpartium depression.
Kaduna
An Islamic cleric, Sheik Yusuf Sambo, has appealed to the Federal Government to establish a Religious Affairs Commission as a possible measure to curb incessant ethno-religious crisis bedeviling Nigeria.
He made the call during a quarterly meeting of religious leaders and traditional institutions of Zazzau Emirate in Kaduna State, held in Zaria last Friday.
Sambo, who is the Chairman, Committee of Ulamas, Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’a Wa’iqamatis Sunna (JIBWIS), suggested that the commission should comprise representatives of the two major religions, Islam and Christianity.
The cleric observed that when such commission was inaugurated, it would go a long way in ensuring peace and unity among the followers of the two religions.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has advised tertiary institutions in the country to evolve programmes that would make their graduates self-employed and employable.
The governor made the call in IIorin when the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, led a delegation to the Government House.
The governor stressed the need for universities to fashion out an entrepreneurship programme that would encourage skills acquisition in various fields.
Ahmed commended the University for sustaining its good name through good ethics and enforced standards.
He decried the rate of unemployment in the country and advocated the establishment of technical institutes all over the country to reduce the unemployment.
Katsina
The Katsina State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has resolved to hand over nine journalists to the Police for allegedly selling a bus belonging to the union.
The Council Chairman, Abdullahi Izima, said this shortly after the executive council meeting of the Union in Katsina.
He said the decision followed the resolution of the executive council after all efforts to recover the vehicle in an amicable way failed.
Izima said the journalists, who had been suspended from the union, had confessed to a probe panel that they received the bus.
“They confessed before the committee that they received the vehicle donated to the council by the ControllerGeneral of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Ande, and sold it”, he said.
He said the union initially gave the affected journalists five weeks and three days to produce the vehicle.
Lagos
A 23-year-old house boy, Oliver Togbe, was docked at an Igbosere magistrates’ Court lagos, for allegedly stealing his master’s property.
The prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu, put the value of the items, allegedly stolen from Mr. Thomas Awagu, at N376,000.
Nwosu told the court that the alleged offence was committed on June 20, 2011 at No. 11 Ojomu Road, Ikoyi.
He said that the accused had access to most rooms in Mr. Awagu’s house where he allegedly stole two passports, with Nos. A02477004, A1607752, some works of art and souvenirs, valued at N376,000.
Nwosu said that the alleged offence contravened Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Magistrate Mulikat Alli-Balogun granted him bail in the sum of N300,000, with two sureties in like sum.
Ogun
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun has solicited the support and cooperation of International donor agencies to boost free health care services in the state.
He made the call in Abeokuta while receiving delegates from Procter and Gamble (P&G) and UNICEF during their fact-finding visit to the state.
The governor was represented by a member of the Transition Committee on Health, Dr. Ajibola Amosun.
Amosun said the presence of international partners in the state had contributed immensely to the well-being of the citizenry, particularly the less privileged.
He added that their focus on tetanus elimination would fast-track the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on reducing child and maternal mortality rate.
Ondo
The national Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Ondo State has urged the State house of Assembly to collaborate with the directorate in fighting unemployment and poverty.
The NDE Coordinator in the state, Mr. Joseph Olayinka, made the call in Akure when he led a team of officials on a courtesy visit to the Speaker, Mr. Samuel Adesina.
The Coordinator said the support of the House would assist the directorate in the implementation of its employment generation programmes.
Sokoto
Sokoto State Government says it has trained about 130,000 youths in various trades under its skill acquisition programme.
Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, the Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, told our correspondent Friday in Sokoto that the government was committed to providing job opportunities to youths in the state.
He said that the beneficiaries were trained in the areas of knitting, welding, carpentry and soap making, among others.
Aliyu said they were issued with various tools for their skills, free of charge, to start their businesses.
Plateau
Chief Judge of Plateau Justice Lazarus Dakyen, has advised the state Assembly to always send laws passed by it for proof reading to check for errors.
Dakyen, who made the appeal last Friday when the Speaker, Mr. John Clark, paid him a visit, said the judiciary had the capacity to interpret such laws before they were made public.
He said as an important arm of government, a close working relationship was necessary for the optimal performance of all the branches of government.
Yobe
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has lauded the Yobe Government for engaging 20 consultants to improve health services in the state.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Abubakar Ali, had announced the engagement of the consultants from University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital last week.
The consultants are specialists in gynaecology, general surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics and radiology.
Addressing a news conference in Damaturu, Dr. Musa Baba, the Chairman of Yobe chapter of the association, said “NMA congratulates the state government for the giant stride of reaching accord with 20 consultants from UMTH to offer specialist care to patients.”
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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