Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Torrential rainfall which resulted to flooding have submerged several houses and bridges in some parts of Yola, the capital of Adamawa.
The rainfall, which lasted for seven hours, damaged houses and destroyed property worth millions of naira.
Our correspondent reports that the worst hit areas of the town includes Yolde-Pate, timber market, Damare, Shagari quarters, Wuro Hausa, Jambutu and Unguwan Tana.
At Yolde-Pate, some big culverts that linked the area with other parts of Yola town were submerged.
As a result of this, residents in flooded areas were stranded as they were unable to relocate to safer areas.
Bauchi
The Conditional Cash Transfer Programme of the Bauchi State Government for girl-child education has gulped N50 million within the last five years.
The Chief Coordinator of the Programme, Alhaji Karijo Buba made this known on Tuesday in Giade.
The programme is being undertaken in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) .
Buba made the disclosure while distributing letters of invitation to participate in the programme to some selected girls in Darazo, Dambam, Giade, Kirfi, Zaki and Dass local government areas of the state.
Buba said that the programme commenced in 2007 with 260 schools in the six local government areas as a pilot programme.
According to him, 9,880 girls between the ages of eight and 15 years in 245 schools have so far benefited from the programme.
The coordinator said that each of the beneficiaries was being paid N5,000 per term to enable them finance their education within the five year period stipulated by the programme.
Borno
The Borno State Government will soon embark on the spraying of farmlands with chemicals to prevent their invasion by Quela birds and grasshoppers.
Alhaji Usman Zannah, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, made this known on Thursday when he visited the state’s chemical store in Dalori, Maiduguri.
He said that the government had already mobilised the technical staff and other workers of the ministry for the programme.
“We have already begun the mobilisation of the technical staff and others needed for the smooth take-off of the programme.
“The essence is to protect farmlands from the yearly attacks by the invading birds and grasshoppers,’’ he said.
Zannah said that the government was according priority attention to the development of the agriculture sector because of its enormous potential.
“Government believes the sector has great potential of ensuring food security and providing employment for the teeming unemployed youths in the state,” he said.
FCT
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said in Abuja on Monday that it was set to carry out a major restructuring of political boundaries for the 2015 general elections.
Mr Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, made this known in an interview with newsmen.
Idowu said that consensus building and legislative work were crucial considering the intricacies surrounding the delineation exercise.
He noted that the exercise was expected to come with some major proposals and alignments that might shape the politics of the country.
Our correspondent recalls that INEC’s inability to carry out the delineation before April’s general elections was due to limited time available to the new leadership of the commission to prepare for the elections.
“If you understand the intricacies of delineation, it takes a lot of consensus building and legislative actions.
Kaduna
Mr Musa Tete, the Coordinator of World Bank’s N1.4 billion contract, awarded for the construction of 132 bridges in Kaduna State, says that the project is 80 per cent completed.
Tete, who oversees the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) in Kaduna State, made this known on Thursday, while speaking with newsmen in Kaduna.
He said that 112 river crossing bridges across the 23 local government areas of the state had been completed.
Tete said that 30 projects, including the construction of culverts and bridges, were still ongoing.
Lagos
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has urged estate management companies to immediately transfer all electricity distribution services to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) distribution companies.
Mr Chijioke Obi, Manager, Legal Licencing and Enforcement of NERC, made the plea on Monday at an enlightenment campaign held for estate developers and Lagos residents.
Obi also urged the distribution companies to seek the commission’s approval for the regularisation of the power supply arrangement in the estates.
Ibrahim said that the commission would embark on enlightenment campaign for Nigerians and estate developers in the six geo-political zones to ensure prompt payment of their electricity bills.
The commission, he said, would also address all the issues and complaints from both the estate developers and residents on the newly introduced Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO).
Nasarawa
No fewer than 845 ‘ghost’ workers have been discovered in the Nasarawa Civil Service, with 325 other staff found to have overstayed.
This is contained in a report of a screening, verification and computerisation of payroll and personnel records of ministries, departments and agencies conducted in the month of August.
Presenting the report to Gov. Umaru Al-makura on Thursday in Lafia, the Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji. Shuaibu Ahmed, said that 21,405 staff were on the payroll of the state government with a wage bill of N1.93 billion before the exercise was conducted.
He said the 845 perceived ‘ghost’ workers were those who did not turn up for the screening or had no files and were collecting N62.9 million as salaries monthly.
Niger
The Niger State Government needs about N50 billion to boost its water supply in the next five years, the “Committee on Lasting Solution to Water Supply Problem’’ has declared.
The committee made this known in a statement issued in Minna by its spokesman, Mr Ilya Garba.
It said that the amount would be used for the development of the infrastructure, as well as for the operation and maintenance of water facilities.
It, however, said that due attention ought to be paid to the management of the water facilities across the state so as to achieve regular water supply to the citizens.
The committee said that the adoption of short, medium and long term measures to tackle the people’s water supply problems would reduce the hardship which the people faced in having access to potable water.
It also stressed the need to grant the water board greater autonomy to enable it discharge its responsibilities to the people without any hitches.
Sokoto
Alhaji Muktari Mapia, the Deputy Treasurer of PDP in Sokoto State, has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Plateau to stop the cycle of killings going on there.
He made the call on Thursday, while speaking with newsmen in Sokoto.
He stressed that the declaration of a state of emergency was considered imperative because the state government had failed to find a lasting solution to the protracted ethno-religious crises in the state.
Mapia said that intensified security activity was needed to tackle the chaotic situation in Plateau, adding that it had the tendency of threatening the peace of the entire country.
He called on the government to make concerted efforts to restore order in Plateau, while bringing the perpetrators of the killings in the state to justice.
Zamfara
The new Chairman of the Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Murtala Jangebe, has ordered the suspension of all bank loans negotiated for teachers by the board.
Jangebe gave the directive in Gusau during a meeting with the education secretaries of the 14 local government councils in the state shortly after assuming duty.
He directed the board’s director of finance to write all commercials banks to stop any further action on the release of loans to the teachers.
The chairman warned that any bank which granted any loan in the name of the board as a guarantor would be doing so at its own risk.
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
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