Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Ahead of the 2012 governorship election in Adamawa, many supporters of former Vice President Abubakar Atiku are staging a return to the ruling PDP.
Many aggrieved loyalists of Atiku had left the party in protest over the conduct of the PDP presidential primaries that ushered in President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s flag bearer in the April polls.
It was also gathered that the influx into the PDP in the state may not be unconnected with reports in the local media indicating that Atiku had directed his supporters to work for the party’s success in the forthcoming council and governorship elections.
The spokes man of the former vice president, Mallam Garba Shehu, confirmed the development last Saturday, saying Atiku had always stressed the need for a united PDP in Adamawa.
Bauchi
As the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan marks 100 days, some residents of Bauchi town have called for a complete overhaul of the security system.
The residents told the newsmen that while the administration had done well so far in some areas, the security situation had been a source of concern.
They said the achievements of the administration had been over-shadowed by the frequent ‘‘bombings and ethno-religious conflicts’’.
AlhajiAbdullahi Tanko, the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, Bauchi State, said the situation was gradually de-generating and might get out of control if not checked.
Mr Austine Tsenzughul, a Bauchi-based journalist, lauded the efforts of the Federal Government toward tackling the security problem by increasing the number of police personnel.
Borno
Three persons were feared dead following a riot which broke out in Biu Local Government Area of Borno last Friday.
Eyewitnesses told newsmen in Biu that the crisis began after some suspected militants killed a military officer.
“Soldiers stationed in Biu stormed the township immediately the news filtered to them and began shooting indiscriminately,” Malam Isa Shehu, a witness said.
“No fewer than three persons were shot during the incident while dozens of shops were also set ablaze by the rampaging soldiers.
“But the incident led to mass riot as dozens of unemployed youths cashed in on the situation to ransack the town,” he said.
Shehu said the youths also destroyed some places of worship and government buildings during the riot before the military authorities took control.
FCT
Special Adviser says terrorism is contrary to Nigeria‘s traditional value
Dr Sarah Jibril, the Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, said last Friday that acts of terrorism and senseless killings were contrary to Nigeria‘s traditional and cultural values.
Jibril made the remarks in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, insisting that Nigerians were peace loving people.
“Acts of terrorism through suicide bombing, improvised explosive devise and other forms of senseless killings and destruction are very profoundly unethical and represent everything contrary to the tradition, culture and religious values of Nigeria,’’ the statement said.
It said that Nigerians were not only peace loving people, but were very receptive and caring to foreign nationals and establishments in their midst.
Jigawa
A forum of students from states in the northern part of the country has pledged to play a role in tackling the mass failure of students from the area in the Senior Secondary School examinations.
This was contained in a communiqué issued last Friday in Dutse, Jigawa, at the end of the maiden meeting of the National Presidents of Northern States Students Forum (NAPNSSF).
The forum, which was formed recently and inaugurated in Jigawa, consists of presidents of the National Association of Students from the 19 states in the northern part of the country.
According to the communiqué, the rate of failure of students from states in the northern part of the country in WAEC and NECO was disturbing.
It said that as students in higher institutions from the area, they would play their part in changing the situation.
Kano
Elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure the implementation of his economic transformation agenda.
The veteran politician, said in Kano last Saturday that he was satisfied with the steps so far taken by the president towards realising the agenda.
Yakasai, who was the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters to former President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic, also commended the president for constituting an economic team of tested hands.
“By appointing the Economic Management Team under the leadership of our renowned international financial expert, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the president has taken the right step in the right direction.’’
Katsina
Katsina State Government has ordered the arrest of one Aminu Lawal, an accountant with the Kurfi Local Government Council of the state, over alleged diversion of the council workers’ salaries..
The order was contained in a statement issued last Friday in Katsina and signed by Alhaji Sani Makana, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The statement directed the Local Government Services Commission to suspend Lawal, pending the outcome of an investigation into the matter.
According to the statement, Lawal, an accountant in the works department, is being accused of diverting the council workers’ salaries for August.
It warned that the ministry would not tolerate any case of misconduct, pointing out any staff of the commission found wanting would not be spared.
Ogun
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has hinged the defeat suffered by the party in the South -West Zone during the April general elections on indiscipline among PDP members.
Obasanjo, who is the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, spoke last Saturday at the South-West Zonal Meeting of the party held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“Absolute indiscipline and gross violation of the party’s constitution was the bane of our party during the last general elections,’’ he said.
He also attributed the poor performance of the party during the elections to strong internal strife as well as lack of commitment and loyalty to the party.
The former president, however, encouraged PDP members in the zone to learn from the past and forge ahead.
Sokoto
Thirteen lives have been lost to gastro-enteritis within the last two weeks in Sokoto State, Alhaji Abdullahi Maigwandu, the State Commissioner for Health, said last Saturday.
Maigwandu told newsmen that the disease was localised to six local government councils in the state.
He listed the councils as Gwadabawa, Rabah, Wurno, Goronyo, Dange/Shuni and Tambuwal.
Maigwandu pointed out that the 13 deaths were recorded as at Friday (September 2) from the more than 726 cases recorded.
He said that the casualties included males and females as well as children and adults.
Taraba
The T.Y. Danjuma Foundation last Friday distributed relief materials to the victims of the recent flood disaster in Taraba.
Presenting the items to the victims at the three Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps in Jalingo, the organisation’s Executive Director, Ms Thelma Ekiyor, said the donation was under the organisation’s “Quick Impact Grant Scheme.”
Ekiyor said it was necessary to promptly attend to the immediate needs of the victims because Taraba was the Foundation’s “home state”.
“Seeing people who have lost everything calls for the support of all Nigerians. Private Institutions and individuals should work with the government to assist the victims in flood affected states,” she said.
Yobe
A cross section of Nigerians in the North East geopolitical zone, has advised the Federal Government to instal scanning equipment on all highways across the country to check proliferation of arms.
This was the consensus of a group of people who spoke to journalists in an interview.
One of them, Alhaji Musa Habu , a Damaturu resident said last Friday that the scanning machines would assist security operatives to detect hidden arms and its movement across the country.
“Security operatives will remain helpless without the necessary working tools to check trucks and lorries that are heavily loaded with goods and possibly carrying hidden arms.
“Government should also mount the x-ray machines at all border posts and, the highways to check the contents of all vehicles as a measure to curb arms smuggling into the country” he observed.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.
Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.
“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.
Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state
He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.
“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.
While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.
He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.
Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.
Rivers State University and the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education jointly hosted a two-day National Conference on 8 and 9 May 2026 to examine the state of values in Nigeria.
The two days conference held at Rivers State University convocation arena brought together academics, policymakers, legal experts and education leaders under the theme _“Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria.”_
The gathering focused on policy gaps, curriculum reform, and the role of ethics in public service and education.
The event opened on Friday with remarks from Vice Chancellor Prof. Chief Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who stressed the need to address declining moral and civic values across Nigeria’s education and public sectors. A book of abstracts for the plenary sessions was also presented to participants.
Key speakers included former Attorney General Chief Dr Kanu Agabi, SAN; NERDC Executive Secretary Prof. Shehu Salisu; Prof. Hauwa Imam, FNAE, of the University of Abuja; former Rivers SUBEB Chairman Ven Dr Fyneface Akah, ; former NIMASA DG Dr Hon. Dakuku Adol-Peterside; and RSU Director of ICT Prof. Sunny Orike.
Discussions centered on integrating values education into schools, tertiary institutions and public institutions, alongside the impact of technology on moral development among young Nigerians. Panel and plenary sessions produced practical recommendations for curriculum and policy reform.
On Saturday, the foundation marked its centenary with the unveiling of the book _Otonti Nduka in History_, launched by Chief Engr. Grant Offor, FNSE. The Nigerian Academy of Education held a ceremonial procession led by its President Prof. Olu Jegede and the Ikwerre Professors Forum.
In a communiqué, participants called for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and academia to mainstream values education nationwide. They recommended reviewing teacher training curricula and expanding digital platforms to promote ethical civic engagement, with the foundation pledging to share the outcomes with education authorities for implementation.
Dignitaries present included Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide as Chief Host, Prof. Emeritus Chief T. Uzodimma Nwala, the Ikenga 1 of Mbaise and first philosophy student of Prof. Otonti Nduka, alongside scholars and community leaders.
Amadi Akujobi
