Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Commissioner of Information in Adamawa, Alhaji Abdurrahman Jimeta, has described the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Adamawa as “a dead party” that did not know how to mount an opposition to government policies and programmes.
Abdurrahman, who was reacting to ACN allegation that the state PDP led government has not delivered and was living on borrowed time, said the people of Adamawa knew better.
Abdurrahman said the past administration of Boni Haruna, who is now the state ACN leader, constructed only 300 classrooms in eight years whereas Gov Murtala Nyako who spent four years now had built 4,000 classrooms.
“We have awarded contract for the construction of road networks, transformed agriculture through the introduction of commercial agriculture to empower the people alongside other numerous projects.
“On issues of security and workers salaries ACN is trying to play politics with the issues; everybody knows security is a general problem and that Adamawa is far better in the North East if you talk of security problems.
Bauchi
Some residents of the area marked for the construction of the proposed Bauchi International Airport have accused the government of not compensating them for their lands.
A representative of the residents, Alhaji Musa Ibrahim of Durum Ward, told newsmen in Bauchi on Wednesday that in 1982, some government officials visited the area and wrote down their names.
Ibrahim said that none of the land owners had been paid, adding “We urge the government to tell us who was paid the money in our community so that we can confront him’’.
Also speaking, Malama Hadiza Umar, who said she was representing her mother, said the family had not received any compensation and urged the government to assist them.
“I am here to represent my mother because she is very old and unable to be here; we are asking the good government of Bauchi State to please pay us the compensation,’’ she said.
FCT
President Goodluck Jonathan has said the happiness and aspirations of many families across the world had been dampened by natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods.
Jonathan made the statement at the 39th World Congress on Military Medicine in Abuja.
He listed the natural disasters as earthquakes and landslides in Haiti, China, Spain, India, Turkey as well as floods in Brazil, Philippines, Colombia, South Africa, South Korea and Thailand.
The President was represented on the occasion by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal, Oluseyi Petinrin.
“There is no gainsaying that many nations in the world are presently grappling with problems of emergencies and natural disasters. The earthquakes and landslides that occurred in 2011 in Haiti and China as well as those in Fukushima, Spain, India and Turkey.
Gombe
The Emir of Pindiga in Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State, Alhaji Adamu Yakubu has helped in resolving the problem of resistance among the people to polio vaccines in two districts.
Yakubu told newsmen on Sunday in Pindiga that he with the assistance of traditional rulers and opinion leaders in the districts, including Kashare, were able to re-orient the people to participate in polio immunisation.
He attributed the problem of resistance by the people to communication gaps between the traditional rulers and their subjects.
“We organised awareness campaigns several times in this emirate in order to reach out to the people and we were able to make them understand the importance of immunisation.
Jigawa
The Economic Adviser, Cross River State Planning Commission, Dr Ndem Ayara, has urged state governments to make laws that will establish State Planning Commissions and Bureau of Statistics.
Ayara gave the advice in Dutse on Monday in an interview with newsmen in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.
He said that a law establishing the Commissions should make the governors as the chairmen of the commissions to ensure effective implementation of the plans.
“First of all, you need a law that establishes the state planning commission which will put the governor as the chairman.
“The second is that the backbone of planning is statistics and also we need to have law for your state bureau of statistics and those two laws in Cross River State have been passed,” the economic adviser said.
Kebbi
The Kebbi Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has banned the collection of any form of levy by heads of Primary and Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in the state, an official has said.
Alhaji Sodangi Diggi, the Secretary of the Board, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, on Tuesday, that the state government had declared all levies illegal.
“Education at those levels are free and no one should collect any form of levy.“
He warned that violators of the new directive would be penalised.
Kogi
Ahead of the December 3 governorship elections in Kogi, INEC on Monday warned its officials against receiving “strange gifts” from any quarter.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, gave the warning in Okene at a two-day training programme for supervisory presiding officers recruited for the election.
He advised them to exercise self-caution, saying that desperate politicians would attempt to reach out to them before and during the election.
Jega urged the officers to partner with INEC to deliver a free and fair election in the state, saying that the perception of the commission as a credible electoral umpire must be sustained.
The INEC Chairman, who was represented at the event by the national Commissioner in charge of training, Prof. Lai Olurode said the commission intended to improve on the standards achieved in the April elections.
Kwara
The Sector Commander of the FRSC in Kwara, Mr Yusuf Salam, said 17 lives were lost, while 20 persons were injured in motor accidents in the state during the Eid-el-Kabir festival.
Salam told newsmen in Ilorin on Tuesday that most of the accidents were as a result of careless and reckless driving.
He said the command had taken measures to ensure that the rate of accidents were drastically reduced during the Christmas.
“The corps will improve on its efforts and enforcement level. We are introducing more mobile courts to ensure that people violating traffic rules are instantly brought to book.
“During the period, we will encourage the use of rest areas. We will encourage road users, especially motorists, the drivers, at least, when they travel for long period, to rest.
Lagos
Speaker of the House of Representative, Aminu Tambuwal, on Saturday in Lagos defended the inauguration of a Constitution Review Committee by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The committee was charged with the responsibility of advising the President on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
Tambuwal made the defence while fielding questions with journalists at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos.
He described the setting up of a committee by Jonathan on constitution review as highly proactive in the dynamic Nigerian polity.
Ogun
The prevailing under-development in Nigeria’s rural communities has been identified as a major threat to the country’s national security.
The Commandant General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ade Abolurin made the observation in Abeokuta on Monday at the commencement of the 2011 Press Week of the Ogun State Chapter of the NUJ.The theme of the event is “Democracy and National Security”. Abolurin spoke on “Grassroots Development: a Prerequisite to National Security’’.
The NSCDC boss said that information had shown that many of the apprehended terrorists and hoodlums were people who migrated from rural areas to the cities for better living conditions.
Abolurin stressed that there were sub-standard living conditions in the grassroots, due to inadequate provision of electricity, bad roads, poor transportation system and a lack of health facility.
He noted that the situation had resulted in poor health, high infant and maternal mortality, high level of disease, low level of education, chronic poverty and high rate of rural-urban drift.
“The fact that life in the grassroots is nasty and brutish further leads to petty thievery and drug abuse among the adults and youths.
“Many of the youths in the grassroots migrate to the urban areas to get better life, but because many of them are not academically suited for jobs in the urban areas, their life styles are not better than what they are at the grassroots,” he noted.
Osun
The Osun Government is to recruit caterers and food vendors for its elementary school feeding and health programme, known as ‘O-Meal.’
The Operations Officer of the programme, Mrs Olubunmi Ayoola said in a statement in Osogbo on Monday that Gov. Rauf Aregbesola had pledged to improve the programme, which was introduced by his predecessor, retired Brig.-Gen. Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Ayoolasaid the state government was prepared to re-organise the programme to ensure that it had the desired impact on the school system.
She said arrangements had been concluded to recruit candidates, who possessed the Ordinary National Diploma in Catering and Hotel Management, as caterers and food vendors.
According to the statement, applicants must also possess at least the West African School Certificate (WASC) or General Certificate of Education (GCE) in Home Economics.
Although the number of those to be recruited was not stated, job seekers have started to submit applications for employment under the ‘O-Meal’ Programme.
The programme is expected to cover all elementary schools in the 30 local government areas of the state.
The Head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt’s College of Health Sciences, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive forensic science infrastructure, warning that the nation’s ability to investigate and solve crime is being hampered by lack of scientific data and systems.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Man: Fearfully Different, Wonderfully Made,” delivered as part of the 207th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university, Prof Oladipo highlighted that while no two individuals are exactly the same, the country currently lacks the robust systems needed to collect and manage biological and anthropometric data that could support criminal investigations.
He explained that the natural variations among humans — from fingerprints to physical measurements — form the foundation of personal identification in forensic work. These biological differences, he said, are essential for distinguishing one person from another, especially in the context of criminal investigations where clarity of identity can mean the difference between justice and impunity. Without this scientific foundation, he argued, law enforcement agencies lack a critical tool in the fight against crime.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s forensic science capacity has historically lagged behind needs, with only a few forensic facilities available and many law enforcement agencies struggling to access or use scientific evidence effectively. One review of the state of forensic investigation in Nigeria found that outdated facilities and limited adoption of modern forensic methods have left many cases unsolved or poorly investigated, even as crime rates rise across the country.
In Lagos, efforts to improve forensic capabilities have focused on DNA analysis, with the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre — the first of its kind in West Africa — providing critical support for criminal investigations and helping to identify human remains, link related cases, and assist with paternity testing. However, such initiatives are yet to be replicated at a national scale, leaving many regions without access to these vital scientific tools.
Prof Oladipo’s lecture went beyond academic theory to propose concrete actions. He called for the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Science responsible for creating and managing a nationwide anthropometric and forensic data bank. This repository, he stressed, would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to track crime, assist law enforcement agencies, and improve the administration of justice by providing reliable scientific evidence for investigative and legal processes.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening research and training in forensic science. Many Nigerian universities currently lack the funding and infrastructure to offer complete undergraduate or postgraduate programs in areas such as forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, and crime scene investigation, a gap that forces aspiring experts to rely on collaborations with institutions abroad. By fostering a research-friendly environment and securing greater support from both government and private sectors, Nigerian institutions could produce homegrown experts capable of advancing forensic science in the country.
Awareness of forensic science’s role in criminal justice remains low among the general public and even among some security professionals. Studies have shown that a significant portion of Nigerians are unfamiliar with basic forensic concepts or the existence of tools such as DNA profiling and national forensic databases — tools that are common features of criminal justice systems in countries like South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Oladipo also urged regular training and retraining programs to keep forensic practitioners updated with evolving scientific methods. According to him, continuous professional development is critical in a field where technological advances — from biometric databases to digital forensic tools — are transforming how crimes are investigated and solved.
The lecture was attended by academics, students, and professionals drawn to the intersection of science, identity, and justice, all of whom heard the professor make a compelling case for scientific innovation and institutional reform as central to Nigeria’s effort to contain crime and strengthen its justice system.
The event not only showcased Prof Oladipo’s expertise in human anatomy and forensic psychology but also positioned forensic science as a strategic national priority — one that could bring clarity to investigations, support victims and their families, and ultimately enhance public safety across Nigeria.
The University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) on Thursday staged a vibrant and memorable edition of its Annual Inter-House Sports Competition at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Village, drawing an impressive turnout of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests.
The event, organised by the UPWA International Group of Schools, brought together children from the pre-nursery, nursery and secondary sections in a colourful celebration of youth athleticism, discipline and teamwork. The arena came alive with cheers and excitement as pupils, clad in their various house colours, marched in a ceremonial parade before proceeding to compete in a wide range of track and field events, relays, novelty races and other team-based activities designed to promote physical fitness and healthy competition.
Declaring the competition open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended UPWA for sustaining a tradition that continues to nurture young talents beyond the classroom. He noted that sports remain a critical component of holistic education, helping to build resilience, confidence, leadership skills and social interaction among children.
In her remarks, the President of UPWA, Professor Udeme Georgewill, expressed appreciation to parents, teachers and members of the organising committee for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the success of the programme despite prevailing economic challenges. She described the event as a reflection of unity and collective effort within the school community.
“This is the first time White House is emerging overall winner, and that shows remarkable improvement and great sportsmanship,” she said. “We all had fun. It is not easy putting an event like this together considering the economic situation, but we are grateful to the parents for being part of this journey. The excitement everywhere is truly heartwarming.”
The competition featured spirited participation from the various houses, including Purple House, San Chicago Red House and White House, with pupils demonstrating strength, speed, coordination and teamwork. Parents and supporters filled the stands, cheering enthusiastically and adding colour to the spectacle, while teachers ensured orderliness and safety throughout the proceedings.
Professor Georgewill emphasized that the true essence of sports lies not merely in winning trophies but in participation and personal growth. “Sports is not just about winning. It is an avenue for growth, discipline and opportunity. The fact that a child is able to participate is already a win. Losing this year does not mean you cannot win next year. Keep trying,” she encouraged, urging pupils to see both victory and defeat as stepping stones to greater achievements.
She further observed that while there are many competing interests in the Nigerian sports sector, consistent grassroots investment remains essential for discovering and nurturing future champions.
The colourful ceremony culminated in medal presentations, trophy awards and group photographs, with UPWA executives, including Vice President I, Professor Adedamola Onyeaso, joining the participating teams to celebrate the day’s achievements.
The annual inter-house sports competition continues to stand as one of UPWA’s flagship events, reinforcing its commitment to balanced education, character formation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among its pupils.
