Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Brig.-Gen. John Nwaoga, the Commander of the 23 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Yola, has confirmed that 15 people including seven security men were killed when suspected bandits attacked Gombi town in Adamawa.
Nwaoga said at a news conference last Friday at the Command’s headquarters, that the incident occurred on Thursday at about 2.30 p.m.
“Eight civilians were killed in Uba, while seven police men were killed in the Gombi Local Government Area Divisional Police headquarters.
“Right now we cannot conclude that the attack was carried out by members of Boko Haram sect; they could be bandits.
“We will reveal in subsequent investigation if they are actually members of the Boko Haram sect, judging by the way and manner the operation was carried out.
Kebbi
The Kebbi chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) will conduct a verification exercise aimed at identifying unqualified members and quacks in the profession.
The state chairman of the Union, Alhaji Muhammad Tukur, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi last Sunday that in addition to the verification an enlightenment campaign would be conducted for members to be conversant with the NUJ constitution.
He said the verification would also enable the smooth conduct of fresh election for new officials of the union, adding, “members were expected to pay their professional fees to enable them participate in the election”.
Kwara
Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has condemned in strong terms the bomb attack that rocked the United Nations building in Abuja, where several people were killed and many others injured.
Reacting to the unfortunate incident last Saturday, Ahmed said the attack was a national disgrace and an assault on the United Nations.
According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba and made available to the newsmen in Ilorin, Ahmed described the attack as barbaric and dastardly act.
He also called on the Federal Government and security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the attack and bring them to book to forestall future occurrence.
Nasarawa
INEC in Nasarawa State has commenced a recount of the ballots cast in some polling units during the April governorship election in the state.
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had granted the request of the PDP for a recount of ballot papers used in the election in some units from which INEC declared Umaru Al-Makura of CPC as winner of the poll.
Former Gov. Aliyu Akwe Doma of PDP, who lost his re-election bid, is contesting Al-Makura’s victory.
But PDP said it was not impressed with “the snail speed” of the ballot recount.
The PDP had taken Al-Makura and CPC to the tribunal to challenge the election result.
Niger
The Acting Governor of Niger, Ahmed Ibeto, has called for a National Security Summit to find a lasting solution to incessant bombings in the country.
Ibeto was reacting to the latest bomb attack at the UN House, Abuja, which killed and maimed several persons last Friday.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, quoted Ibeto as saying that the spate of bombings in the country had become a national emergency and should be treated as such.
“The issue of security should not be left to government alone. Government alone cannot stop the activities of terrorists which have left hundreds of innocent Nigerians either dead or wounded,” he said.
Ogun
An NGO, the Initiative for Environmental Education, has advised the three tiers of government to increase awareness on climate change in the rural and urban areas.
Mrs Justina Adebayo- Sopoiki, the executive secretary of the body, made the call in an interview in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun, last Sunday.
Adebayo-Sopoiki said the awareness on climate change, especially tree planting, was very low in Nigeria.
“We have been hearing about what is happening in other countries in terms of flooding and other natural disasters due to climate change.
Ondo
The Ondo State Government has condemned the bomb blast, which damaged part of the UN building in Abuja last Friday.
In a statement issued by Mr Kolawole Olabisi, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Olusegun Mimiko, in Akure last Saturday, the government described the action as reprehensible and antithetical to sane reasoning.
It expressed dismay at the spate of bombings in the country and sympathised with the families of the victims as well as the UN.
The government appealed to the security agencies to leave no stone unturned in efforts to arrest the perpetrators of the act.
Osun
The Federal Government has spent N1.5 billion on the construction of 25,000 metric tonnes silos in Ilesa, Osun.
Dr Adegbite Ojo, Coordinating Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Osun, made this known while speaking with the newsmen in an interview, recently .
Ojo said that construction work was still ongoing at the project site being the only Federal Government silos in the state.
According to him, the construction of the silos shows that the government is committed to the revival and development of agriculture especially in the area of food production.
Oyo
The police and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have confirmed 12 persons dead from the flood disaster in Ibadan last Friday night.
Mr Iyiola Akande, the South-West Zonal Director of NEMA, told newsmen that seven people died and five others missing in the flood.
Akande explained that three major bridges also collapsed in the flood that affected 11 local government areas around the capital city.
Similarly, the Police Spokesman in the state, Mr Femi Okanlawon, said that five people were found dead at Odo-Ona Elewe in Oluyole Local Government Area.
“One aged woman died when a wall fell on her while another old man was found dead at Apata area of Ibadan,” Okanlawon said.
Sokoto
An outbreak of Gastroenteritis in Gandi, Rabahl local government of Sokoto State
has claimed the lives of two children.
About 70 cases were said to have been recorded in the area.
The Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Abdullahi Maigwandu, confirmed the outbreak of gastroenteritis.
“We have since dispatched our medical team to the area and they are working with the local government and Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) (Doctors without borders).
“The ugly situation has been brought under control. The medical teams are still working in the area to ensure that the epidemic is tamed,’’ the commissioner explained.
Yobe
The Yobe State Sharia Court of Appeal has said that more
than 1,000 pending appeal cases will be tried in September.
A statement issued by Muhammad Degubi for the Chief Registrar of the Court and made available to newsmen Saturday in Damaturu, said the appeal session would sit for 25 days.
“The 2011 Sharia Court Appeal session shall sit between September 5 and September 30 in Potiskum, Gashua, Geidam and Damaturu, to cover the three Judicial Divisions and the Headquarters.
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), Eastern Zone, has applauded the appointment of Hon. Benibo Anabraba as Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) by His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara,
The Socio Cultural Organisation described the appointment as a masterstroke of leadership and wisdom.
MOSIEND in a statement by the Acting Chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Gibson, and the Assistant Secretary, MOSIEND Eastern Zone, Dr. Tams Longjohn hailed the appointment as a reflection of Governor Fubara’s Eagle-eyed discernment, belief in merit, and unwavering commitment to building a peaceful and people-centered administration anchored on excellence and integrity.
“Hon. Anabraba is a statesman in every sense, an accomplished lawyer, a tested grassroots politician, and a man of Peace whose record of service stands tall,”
The statement noted that “from his days as a grassroots politician to his election as a legislator, his tenure as Minority Leader in the Rivers State House of Assembly, and his service as a Commissioner, Hon. Anabraba has remained a model of maturity, courage, and dedication to the Rivers project.”
MOSIEND expressed confidence that Hon. Anabraba will bring his trademark calmness, intellect, and wealth of experience to bear in his new role, assuring that the people of Rivers State will feel the positive impact of his leadership.
The group commended Governor Fubara for his strategic and inspiring commitment to peace, stating that the appointment once again demonstrates the administration’s preference for competence, loyalty, and results over political convenience.
“We are proud of this choice,” MOSIEND affirmed. “It signals continuity, stability, and a renewed focus on people-oriented governance.”
The organization congratulated Hon. Benibo Anabraba and prayed for divine guidance, good health, and strength as he takes on this vital assignment in service to Rivers State.
Chinedu Wosu
Nation
HYPREP Remains Steadfast In Adhering To International Standards—Zabbey …As Regulators, Asset Owners Hail Project
The Project Coordinator of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP), Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has said that the Project remains steadfast in adhering to international standards, processes and protocols, contending that it would continue to engage all stakeholders transparently to achieve set goals and targets.
This is even as regulatory stakeholders, regulators and asset owners have expressed satisfaction with the work so far being carried out by the Project in Ogoniland, commending it for sustaining the momentum of the ongoing cleanup project.
Zabbey, who gave the indication during the third quarter meeting of HYPREP with regulators and asset owners in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said as an interventionist and community-based project, HYPREP would continue to engage all stakeholders transparently, as it addresses challenges that may arise during project implementation.
To this end, he noted that the continuous support and constructive feedback of regulators and asset owners remains vital in helping the project coordination office overcome challenges and sustain the momentum of progress.
Zabbey said the quarterly meeting with regulators and asset owners serves dual purpose of providing a platform for the Project to share updates on the status of the cleanup project, highlighting areas where further support is required; and allowing “regulators and asset owners to provide constructive feedback that would help our collective approach.”
According to him, the meeting is ultimately designed to catalyse deeper collaboration and synergy between HYPREP and its regulatory stakeholders.
While appreciating and recognising the invaluable roles of the regulators and asset owners in the project’s Quality Assurance and Quality Control(QA/QC) framework, the Project Coordinator said their consistent oversight, technical input, and commitment to upholding standards have remained essential to the integrity of the Ogoni cleanup efforts.
He noted with a sense of satisfaction that Quality Assurance and Quality Control are being given increased attention at all levels of the cleanup project, and solicited for the continuous support of the regulators and asset owners.
“QA/QC considerations are a key part of HYPREP’s policy framework, from the Governing Council decisions to field-level work,” he said, emphasising that this focus ensures that HYPREP’s interventions and activities are executed professionally, safely, and in compliance with national regulatory standards and global best practices, guaranteeing value for money.
“As we continue to consolidate the gains made so far, I want to reassure you that HYPREP remains steadfast in adhering to international standards, processes and protocols”, he said.
Zabbey announced that considerable progress is being recorded across various thematic areas of the cleanup project, including remediation of hydrocarbon-impacted sites; mangrove restoration; provision of potable water; public health interventions; the Ogoni power project; and the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration; among others.
He said these coordinated interventions are gradually restoring confidence in the cleanup effort and bringing renewed hope to Ogoniland.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of the performance status of the cleanup project by HYPREP’s Evaluation and Monitoring Unit, which put the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration at 92.5 percent completion, among other legacy projects.
In their response, the regulators and asset owners were unanimous that HYPREP has recorded remarkable improvement so far in the cleanup efforts, and solicited for more support of the project.
Environmental Resource Manager of the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development(CEHRD), Mr Meshack Uyi commended the Project Coordinator and his team for the remarkable improvement recorded so far in the area of environmental remediation and mangrove restoration, describing the Ogoni cleanup as one of the most robust in Africa.
He applauded HYPREP for its human capacity building initiative, saying, building the capacity of Ogoni people and training them to become mangrove vanguards are boosting their economic wellbeing.
Uyi said what is going on in Ogoniland is a learning process for the Niger Delta, saying, “those who think that nothing is happening in Ogoniland, they should come closer and see that a lot is indeed going on, and this can impact on Nigeria, the Niger Delta and Africa.”
He called on people all over the world to come on board to support HYPREP to achieve far greater milestones.
Also, the representative of the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, Mrs Doris Wilcox Balafoma commended the Project for doing very well, working and collaborating with its partners, saying, “We are always with them in the field.”
She scored HYPREP 90 percent for its cleanup efforts, insisting, however, that the abandonment of some ongoing water facilities in some Ogoni communities is due to cost variations.
For the Executive Director of the Society for Women And Youth Affairs(SWAYA), Dr Stella Amaine, HYPREP has recorded a great improvement in the area of women inclusion and livelihood restoration.
She, however, noted that she looks forward to the realisation of the 45 percent empowerment quota for women as promised by the Project Coordinator.
The National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), a recognized trade union, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Minister of Labour and Productivity to urgently investigate alleged tax deduction fraud by the management of Daewoo E&C Nigeria Limited and Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited.
The union, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), through its law firm, Everlaw Associates, Abuja office, raised an alarm about “unwholesome events” at the Nigerian LNG Limited Train 7 project site in Bonny, Rivers State.
The petition, signed by O. Marx Ikongbeh, Esq., the Principal of Everlaw Associates, and supported by a five-point affidavit deposed by NAPO President Mr. Harold Benstowe, alleges that the management of Daewoo E&C Nigeria Limited and Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited has been making unusual deductions from workers’ salaries for Pay As You Earn (PAYE) purposes.
According to the workers, despite the deductions, the taxes have not been remitted to the Rivers State Inland Revenue Service (RIRS) to their credit. When the workers approached RIRS to process their tax clearance certificates, they discovered that the taxes had not been remitted.
The workers further alleged that the management of Daewoo E&C Nigeria Limited and Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited misappropriated the deducted PAYE taxes, running into billions of Naira, for three years, to the detriment of both the federal and state governments.
The union urged the anti-graft agencies to investigate the management of NLNG Limited, Daewoo E&C Ltd and Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, and their subcontractors, to bring the perpetrators of this tax fraud to justice.
However, in a press statement, the management of Daewoo E&C Limited claimed that the tax matter had been completely resolved, stressing the company’s commitment to transparency, due process, and sound corporate governance, adding that the company remains dedicated to maintaining a compliant trust worthy and proactive working environment as it continues the successful delivery of the NLNG Train 7 project.
Akujobi Amadi