Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa Government in Yola has inaugurated a 12member committee on the implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage.
The Head of Service, Alhaji Othman Mohammed, who inaugurated the committee in his office, Monday said that it would devise ways and modalities to be used in the implementation of the minimum wage.
Othman said that while the committee should look into jacking up the salaries of those on grade levels 01 to 06 to meet up with the required N18,000, it should also “find a way of sprinkling some salt on the other grades so that their salaries will also be palatable”.
He urged the committee to consider a series of demands on enhanced salary package by various unions before the government so as to determine the huge financial obligation on the government.
Bauchi
The NUJ National President, Malam Mohammed Garba, on Tuesday in Bauchi said the union was watching with keen interest the final signing of the new salary structure for its members.
Garba made this known when he paid a courtesy visit to Alhaji Sani Adamu, the Bauchi Zonal Manager of the News Agency of Nigeria.
He said that the agitation for new salary structure was the right of the practitioners as well as the union, which, he added, was a professional body.
Garba revealed that the union had earlier reached an agreement with the Salaries and Wages Commission, the Information and Communications Ministry and the Ministry of Labour over the issue. He, therefore, appealed to the three government organs to facilitate the final signing of the agreement to enable members of the profession to benefit from the gesture.
Kano
A food processing company, Geisha Brand, has donated 1000 sets of furniture to five primary schools in Kano as part of activities to mark its 100 years anniversary.
Hajiya Aishatu Atiku, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the State Universal Basic Education Board, announced the donation on Monday on behalf of the chairman, Alhaji Yakubu Adamu.
She said the items included classroom chairs and tables as well as other working materials.
The director expressed appreciation to the company for contributing to the educational development of the state, saying the gesture “supplements government’s efforts”.
Katsina
Thieves on Sunday night broke into Government Day Secondary School, Suduje in Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State and stole textbooks and Home Economics equipment, a witness said. An eyewitness said in Suduje village on Tuesday that eight thieves stormed the school premises in a bus by 2a.m. on the day of the incident.
The witness said the thieves attacked the security guard on duty, Abdullahi Madubi, stripped him and locked him up in the staff room before beginning their operation. Cartons of books and equipment.
Kogi
Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi has approved the immediate dissolution of the executive councils of all the 21 local government councils in the state. Mr Joe Abrahams, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, announced the dissolution in a statement in Lokoja on Tuesday.
The commissioner said that the governor had directed the outgoing chairmen to hand over to the directors in their respective local governments on or before July 28.
He said that the dissolution of the councils’ executives was because their three-year tenure would expire on July 28.
Kwara
The Kwara government has called on the Union Bank of Nigeria to accelerate the release of the N1 billion agriculture loan to members of the Integrated Youth Agricultural Training Farm at Malete in Moro Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Mohammed Isah, made the call during his familiarisation visit to the farm at Malete on Monday.
Isah noted that the loan would enable the young farmers to realise their dreams of becoming big time commercial farmers.
The commissioner also called on the chairmen of the 16 local governments in the state to provide land to the trained farmers.
Niger
The police in Niger has arrested seven persons for allegedly being in possession of large quantity of chemicals used in making explosives.
The Police Public Relation Officer, Mr Richard Oguche, who confirmed the arrest, told newsmen in Minna on Monday that the materials were recovered by the police in the house of one Alhaji Bature on Wednesday last week.
“We recover from him a highly sophisticated chemical capable of making bombs. From our findings the chemicals are high explosives that can only be used by licenced explosives end users.
“But from our investigation Alhaji Bature is neither a licensed retailer nor an end user. The claim that they used it for mining could not be genuine,” Oguche said.
The Federal College of Agnculture, Ibadan, has advocated the re-introduction of agricultural commodity marketing boards to boost farmers’ productivity.
The Provost of the college, Dr. Foluke Oluwatoyinbo, made the call while speaking on Monday in Ibadan. Oluwatoyinbo said that the marketing boards would ensure quality in agricultural production as was the case during the First Republic.
The provost recalled that the cassava glut that happened during the Obasanjo administration, could have been avoided if there had been marketing boards to standardise the quality of cassava and processed by-products.
Plateau
The Permanent Secretary, Plateau Ministry of Health, Mr Jacob Wongdem, says the state Government has identified preventive actions against malaria.
Wongdem said in Jos, that the measures became particularly imperative because malaria had been found to be responsible for most cases of infant mortality.
“Thirty-five per cent to 50 per cent of most clinics, primary health centes and hospital in-cases and out-cases and most deaths that occur in children under five years of age are caused by malaria”.
He said that government had also distributed 1.4 million insecticide treated nets in all the local government areas.
He stated that the preventive measure had become even more necessary because malaria was becoming resistant to a single drug.
Sokoto
Mrs Dawa Everest, the NYSC Coordinator in Sokoto State, said on Tuesday that 70 per cent of the 1,606 batch ‘’B’’ 2011 corps members deployed to the state were posted to schools .
Everest disclosed this in Sokoto at the terminal parade of the batch after the completion of the three-week orientation.
According to her, “this is to ensure that the scheme contributes to the educational advancement and other socio- economic development of the state’’.
Everest said the decision was taken due to an observation that corps members posted to the ministries were largely under utilised and engaged in private practice.
She commended the state government, Sokoto Sultanate Council and the public for their sustained support to the scheme.
Zamfara
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara has ordered the contractor handling the Gusau-Sokoto bye-pass road project to ensure completion of the project before his first 100 days in office or have it revoked.
Yari, who made an unscheduled inspection tour of some vital projects in the state, said on Tuesday that his administration would not accept excuses from the contractors if the project failed to meet the September 10, completion deadline. “Having met our obligations and our part of agreement, I am not ready to accept any excuse if the project is not completed on or before our 100 days in office because the project is vital to the administration.”
Yari, however, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done and urged the contractor to keep it up.
The Presiding Bishop of Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, Bishop Victor Uzosike, has described love as the bedrock of human existence, family stability and societal harmony, stressing that without love, nothing meaningful can thrive.
Bishop Uzosike made this assertion while speaking to journalists during the wedding ceremony of his daughter, Praise Uzosike, to Architect Chibuzor Akubueze on Saturday, December 20, 2025. The solemnisation was held at the Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, and was attended by dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond.
According to the cleric, love is not only the foundation of relationships but also a powerful force that determines the success of individuals, families and communities.
“If you do not love a place, that place will not bless you. If you do not love your children, they will not be useful to you. If you do not love your family, your family will become a strange island to you. What you do not love, you do not have. Love is the key,” he said.
Reflecting on his family’s journey, Bishop Uzosike said God’s love had sustained them through seasons of challenges and triumphs, noting that unity had remained their greatest strength.
“We have stayed together as one family. God has shown us love in miraculous and mysterious ways, especially during difficult times,” he stated.
Describing the wedding as an amazing and beautiful experience, the bishop expressed appreciation for the show of love from his daughter’s friends, many of whom travelled from the United Kingdom and Ghana to attend the ceremony. He revealed that some of them personally paid for their flights and accommodation, which he described as a rare display of genuine friendship.
He also disclosed that his first daughter, who lives in Manchester, United Kingdom, with her husband, could not attend the wedding due to tight schedules, but noted that she remains happily married and fulfilled.
While thanking guests for honouring his family with their presence, prayers and goodwill, Bishop Uzosike said he felt proud and grateful to God.
“One of the greatest gifts God can give to a man is children who are sound in all ramifications. My children can see, hear, speak and walk. That alone is enough reason to be grateful,” he said.
He praised the bride, describing Praise as an exceptional achiever who had distinguished herself academically. According to him, she completed secondary school at 15, graduated with First Class honours at 19, and earned distinctions in her MBA as well as her first and second master’s degrees.
“For a long time, people believed that highly educated women may not marry early or at all. Today, Praise has proved otherwise. She has made her mother and me very proud,” he said, describing her as a rare gem.
Bishop Uzosike also expressed joy over his son-in-law, whom he described as God-fearing, disciplined and professionally sound.
“He is well brought up, passionate about God and morally upright. His parents did a great job. My wife, Pastor Esther, also did an excellent job,” he added.
The wedding ceremony attracted prominent personalities, including the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu; the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Ayemeyie; and several senior clerics.
Bishop Fidelis Ugbong officiated the solemnisation, while Apostle Chika Onuzo delivered the sermon, identifying communication, sex and money as key factors that can strengthen or weaken marriages.
Prof. Ngozi Odu also prayed for the couple and paid glowing tributes, drawing admiration from attendees.
The reception, held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Port Harcourt, was equally colourful. Justice Matilda Ayemeyie proposed the toast, describing marriage as not always a bed of roses and emphasising patience, commitment and understanding.
The event was chaired by Chief Henry Nwabugo and attended by notable personalities, including retired Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili; Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey; Hon. Otunba Jumbo; Nze Best Anele; and Prof. Henry Ogiri, among others.
Guests were entertained with dance performances by the couple, while the parents’ outing added elegance to the celebration. The master of ceremonies, Ambassador Kingsley, kept the audience engaged with humour and interactive sessions.
Overall, the wedding was a remarkable blend of spirituality, culture and celebration, marked by love, joy and unforgettable moments.
Nation
2027: APC Chieftain Predicts Tinubu’s Victory …Says Bayelsa Stakeholders Supporting President en masse … IPAC Knitted Together, Working In Synergy With His Office
Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC), in Bayelsa State and Special Adviser to the State Governor on Inter-Party Relations, Dr Jackson Ebi Suokiri has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would secure landslide win in the 2027 Presidential polls.
The Governor’s Aide stated this in Yenagoa, the state capital on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen against the backdrop of Tuesday’s pioneer Stakeholders meeting of the party convened by the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri as leader of the Party in the State upon his recent defection late last year.
He averred that Party stakeholders in the state were prepared to give the President the massive support needed to return elected, come 2027 following his sterling trajectory of performance and qualitative leadership prowess.
Dr Suokiri stressed that the reason for the governor’s swapping of party was in the best interest of the state, while also noting that the governor took the right decision as there was no need continuing with opposition politics even as the state has to align with the national government for rapid socioeconomic and political advantages for the state and its people.
“Governor Diri’s defection like you’ve personally heard him saying was for the best interest of our state, Bayelsa. When you’ve a President performing well at the national level and being very supportive to your state as a governor, I don’t think you’ve to be in an opposition party anymore, but rather align with the centre.
“Diri is a bridge builder. He is at peace with everybody and willing to work with all, irrespective of party affiliations or political differences for the interest of the state.
“As Stakeholders we’ve resolved to collectively work to return President Tinubu elected for second term in 2027. And you can see the Governor is not pressuring anybody or the structure of his former party, the PDP to defect like he has done.
“The PDP structure in the state is still intact, and for the APC, his new Party even as current leader in the State, he has been working with the structure and everybody he met on ground, hence you can see that the APC Caretaker Committee led by Dr. Dennis Otiotio has been maintained at the pioneer Stakeholders meeting convened by the Governor.
“But you must also know like you’ve seen and I’ve previously said that Governor Diri has outperformed expectations of Bayelsans in all sectors, be it economy, infrastructure, health, education, etc.”, he said.
Meanwhile, as against insinuations that some political parties were not working with the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter-Party Relations, the Governor’s Aide has revealed that as it were currently, all the 19 registered political parties with presence in the state are working in unity with his office as members of the Inter-party advisory council (IPAC).
“IPAC is working in unity with my office. Before the Governor’s defection the only party that wasn’t working with my office was the APC. But since after his formal defection, the APC and even those other parties that were either sympathetic to the APC, the governor’s new party or the PDP, his former Party are all now working together with my office as members of IPAC”, Suokiri added.
By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
