Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Federal High Court, Yola, has discharged and acquitted former Adamawa State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Emmanuel Vahyla, on corruption charged involving N30 million filed against him by ICPC.
The presiding Judge, Justice S. M Musa, said the prosecutor failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt that the accused violated section 14 (1) of the money laundry Act.
Vahyla, who is presently the Commissioner representing Adamawa State in Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMFC) was dragged to court by ICPC for allegedly using seven different cheques to withdraw the money from government’s account in Diamond Bank in December 2007 while serving as commissioner.
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Commissioner for Animal Resources and Nomadic Resettlement, Alhaji Abdulkadir Ibrahim, has called for a law prohibiting the consumption of dogs and selected domestic animals.
Ibrahim told newsmen in Bauchi that the law should also prohibit the consumption of donkeys, and horses.
He said that the law became necessary because of the pivotal roles played by the animals in human life.
The commissioner said that the animals due to their cultural heritage had played pivotal roles either as means of transportation or security.
He expressed concern over the extinction of such animals, and said, “their numbers have reduced to a negligible level in spite of their importance to human life”.
FCT
The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, has presented N171 million life insurance benefits to the 41 nearest relatives of military personnel killed in various operations.
Petinrin presented the cheques to the beneficiaries of the military personnel killed between March, 2010 and November 2011 on Wednesday in Abuja.
He urged them to desist from fraud and spend the money judiciously to improve the welfare of their families.
He promised that the Nigerian Armed Forces would stand behind the deceased’s next of kin by ensuring that the payment of their benefits was given priority.
The defence chief commended the leadership of the Budget Office, Standard Alliance Insurance and Leverage Insurance Broker, for making Nigerian Armed Forces realise its dream in terms of the staff welfare.
Gombe
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Gombe state has trained more than 582 youths in various skills since January, the state Co-ordinator, Mr Abdulkadir Mabudi disclosed on Thursday in Gombe.
He told newsmen that 168 other youths were currently receiving training in various skills in the vocational institutions in the state.
Mabudi said that the directorate, in collaboration with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Office in the state, established a training centre in each of the three senatorial zones in the state where the beneficiaries received their training.
Kaduna
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) branch has urged understanding among parents and students over the ongoing nationwide strike by the union.
The branch Chairman, Dr Mohammed Kabir-Aliyu, told newsmen in Zaria, Kaduna State that “the union was pushed to the wall.”
He said that the essence of the industrial action was to press home the union’s demand for adequate funding to pave way for favourable learning atmosphere in Nigerian universities.
Kano
The students of Bayero University, Kano, on Wednesday pleaded for a quick resolution of disagreement between Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government.
Speaking with newsmen Amar Idris, a 200 level student, noted that ASUU’s decision to embark on the indefinite strike was unfortunate.
He said the strike came at the time the students were already preparing for their examinations.
Also speaking, a 300 level student, Malama Sadiya Balarabe, also argued that the strike should have begun after the examinations so as not to disrupt the academic calendar.
Lagos
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has reconstituted the state’s security committee to address more effectively some of the security challenges posed by commercial motorcycle operators.
Inaugurating the committee in Ikeja, the governor said the number of lives lost to motorcycle accidents in the state was unacceptable, saying that the committee also had the mandate to check the problem.
The 32-man committee, chaired by retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Mr Waheed Olusegun, had three weeks to submit its recommendations to the state government.
Niger
President of the Association of Fish Farmers of Nigeria (AFFAM), Mr Gogwim Shiumang, says the country can produce two million tonnes of fish for local consumption, if the fish industry is properly harnessed.
Shiumang told newsmen in Minna that the industry was also capable of producing fish for export.
He said that a meeting would be held to create awareness among members on ways to improve their production techniques to achieve maximum production.
Osun
No fewer than 2,000 patients suffering from various diseases are to benefit from the free surgery programme of the Osun Government.
The state’s Commissioner for Health Dr Temitope Ilori, made the disclosure in Osogbo on Wednesday while speaking with newsmen.
The programme was organised by the Oranmiyan Group Worldwide, an interest group, in collaboration with the Osun State Ministry of Health and Hospitals Management Board.
Plateau
A group of the Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA) and Keffi Old Boys Association (KOBA) is organising a campaign against same-sex marriage in the country.
In a statement signed on Thursday in Jos, the organising committee said that the campaign, tagged: “Trek against Same-sex Marriage”, was aimed at commemorating the 2011 International Human Rights.
It said the trek was aimed at expressing solidarity with African leaders, who were against legalising and celebrating same-sex marriage as part of the fundamental human rights declaration by the UN General Assembly.
“The trek will mobilise those, who are against same-sex marriage to use this year’s International Human Rights Day to express dismay over Western countries concepts of human rights, which allows same-sex marriage.”
Taraba
An educationist, Dr Gambo Matudi, said in Jalingo on Wednesday that 45 per cent of teachers in Taraba’s primary schools have not obtained the required minimum qualifications to teach.
Matudi, the leader of a team charged with the responsibility of developing a new development plan in the education sector in the state, made this known at a one-day education stakeholder’s sensitisation meeting.
He explained that some problems confronting the education sector were identified by the team.
According to him, almost half of those teaching in the Taraba’s primary schools are not trained teachers and are just there because they have no other job opportunities.
Yobe
The Secretary Gashua Vegetables Farmers Union in Yobe Alhaji Mohammed Kaku has warned of an impending scarcity of vegetables because of poor storage facilities in the country.
Kaku told newsmen in Gashua in Yobe that the situation was forcing farmers to abandon the cultivation of vegetables.
“It is the same predicament facing vegetable farmers in Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Adamawa, Benue, Plateau, Jigawa, Kano and all other states in the country,” he said.
Kaku said that there was gross decline in the number of irrigation farmers growing tomatoes, onion and pepper now, when compared to previous years.
He said, “The farmers had in the previous years been forced to sell their produce at give-away prices at the peak of harvests and, therefore, operating at a loss.
Strategic regulators and other stakeholders have expressed satisfaction with the pace, quality and magnitude of work carried out by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Ogoniland, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In their separate speeches at the 2025 4th quarter key regulators / asset owners meeting held in Port Harcourt, the strategic stakeholders commended HYPREP for the significant milestones achieved with excellent efficiency and transparency, demonstrating capacity and commitment to sustaining collaboration with development partners for the overall success of the Project.
The regulators particularly lauded HYPREP for the landmark success in the implementation of the land and shoreline remediation, mangrove restoration, provision of reticulated potable water, the various sustainable livelihood programmes, donation of ambulances to health facilities in Ogoni, the construction of Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, as well as the ongoing Ogoni Power Project, adding that their independent field reports have shown proofs of HYPREP driving even beyond its mandates.
The goodwill messages were made by representatives of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Centre for Environment and Human Rights Development (CEHRD), Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA), Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), and Federal Ministry of Environment. Others are the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the Rivers State Ministry of Health, the National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Rivers State Ministry of Power, the Rivers State University, the Rivers State Ministry of Water and Rural Development, and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
Following the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit’s presentation on the status of HYPREP projects, participants offered feedback on areas of concern. They reassured HYPREP and the people of Ogoni of their continued support for the Project’s success. They also suggested that the quarterly review meeting be sustained as it enables them to report, evaluate and proffer solutions to areas of concern.
Participants also commended HYPREP for improved community and stakeholder engagement and for adding to what they saw the previous time. “We commend HYPREP for the quality work done at sites. The progress is phenomenal, because HYPREP is scoring good grades, above average,” Prof. Iyenemi Kakulu from Rivers State University said.
In his speech at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who was represented by Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, Director of Technical Services, commended the regulators and asset owners for their cooperation with the Project, and for making themselves available for fieldwork and the regular review meetings.
Prof Zabbey reiterated HYPREP’s commitment to best practice in waste management, particularly waste generation and disposal, calling on the Regulators for adequate logistics support, saying HYPREP’s priority is to focus on the core recommendations by UNEP, especially, remediation(soil, shoreline) mangrove restoration, provision of potable water, interventions in public health care services and sustainable livelihood for the people.
The Project Coordinator further highlighted the status of the Project, the successes achieved across all thematic areas, and assured that HYPREP will soon complete most of the ongoing projects and roll out others. He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review the progress of the Ogoni cleanup, ensure quality control, and foster effective collaboration.
Consequently, the quarterly key regulators/asset owners meeting is HYPREP’s strategic stakeholder management model, further underscoring the Project’s commitment to transparency, partnership for development, and accountability, all of which are harbingers of effective project delivery.
Speaking to newsmen, HYPREP Project Support Lead and representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr Ehioze Igbinomwanhia, described his involvement with HYPREPas an encouraging and insightful experience, saying, the Project is implementing a wide range of projects across Ogoniland, spanning immediate remediation works as well as livelihood support initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of affected communities.
Engr Igbinomwanhia emphasised that Renaissance Africa Energy remains fully committed to supporting the objectives of the Ogoni cleanup project, noting that the company has a long history of collaboration with HYPREP.
He added that the partnership has been characterised by continuous learning, adaptation and a willingness to respond to observations and recommendations aimed at improving outcomes.
He further emphasised the importance of safety in all project operations, particularly given the challenging terrain and operating conditions in Ogoniland.
He noted that safety is treated as a critical priority and that contractors are continually reminded to maintain high safety standards, stressing that lessons learnt from previous operational challenges like the collapse of the water tank in Gwara Community are being applied to strengthen safety practices and overall performance.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
