Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

December 23, 2011

Adamawa

The Federal Polytechnic Mubi Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), has elected an eight-member executive council to run its affairs.

A statement signed by Mr. Stephen Stanley, said the election followed the removal of Mr. Innocent Ephraim the former Vice-Chairman and five others.

The statement said the congress unanimously endorsed the impeachment of the former officials and replaced them with the new elected members.

It added that the newly elected officials had already been inaugurated.

According to the statement, some of those elected are Mr. Stephen Stanley, as chairman, Muhammad Lawal, vice-chairman, Ndidi Camilia, secretary and Hussaini James, as assistant secretary.

Benue

The reconstituted Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Benue, on Monday refused an oral application brought by ACN governorship candidate Prof. Steve Ugbah, for the consolidation of his application with that of Prof. Daniel Saror of ANPP against Gov. Gabriel Suswam.

Ugbah on Monday made the oral application for consolidation through his counsel, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), at the commencement of the pre-trial session on both petitions.

Both Ugba and Saror had petitioned against the governor on the grounds that he was wrongfully returned by INEC as the winner of the April election.

Ugbah is also claiming that the elections were marred by electoral malpractices while Saror alleged that the governor had no Secondary School certificate, and as a result was not qualified to contest.

Their petitions were however dismissed by the Justice Munir Ladan’s Tribunal on the grounds of technicalities.

FCT

The National Coordinator of the One Nigerian, One Emblem Project, Dr. Kenneth Kalu has appealed to Nigerians to support the campaign to give military retirees better living conditions.

Kalu made the appeal on Monday in Abuja at a news conference on the preparation for the sale of the 2012 emblem for the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration.

He said that every emblem purchased by a Nigerian was a donation to the Nigerian Legion, adding that the project was a charity drive meant to uplift a segment of the society.

Kalu noted that the Nigerian Legion was unpopular in the country but promised that the organisation would promote the body to make it popular.

Gombe

The National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has suspended elections into the executive of the Gombe State Council of the union, earlier scheduled for Tuesday.

Briefing newsmen on Monday night in Gombe, the National President of the Association, Asabe Baba-Nahaya, said the suspension of the election was based on petitions written by some members of the association.

Baba-Nahaya also said that the office of the Vice President, Zone E and the Gombe State Council did not inform her of the election.

She said that the state executive did not follow established procedure in forming the election credentials committee, hence the need to resolve certain issues before the election.

Also in a press release, the NAWOJ president said the shift in the election date “is based on the petition received by the National Secretariat and the rancour currently going on in the association in the state.’’

Kano

Participants at the just concluded three-day retreat for management staff of the Centre for Management Development (CMD) have appealed to the Federal Government to fund research institutes in the country.

A communiqué signed by the Director-General of the center, Dr Kabiru Usman, said on Tuesday that the effectiveness of the institutes was tied to adequate funding.

The communiqué identified research activities as crucial for national growth and development, and urged the Federal Government to formulate policies that would enable the institutes to be result-oriented.

Lagos

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Monday inaugurated an eighth-member task force to develop strategies for the eradication of poliomyelitis among the populace.

At the inauguration in Ikeja, Fashola said that the state had not recorded any case of polio in the last three years and that the task force was aimed at maintaining the record.

Fashola said the state would soon carry out joint polio immunisation and sensitisation activities with Ogun to ensure that the achievements of both states were not set back by migration.

The governor called on all stakeholders to do their best to eliminate polio from the country.

The task force is headed by the state Commissioner for Health, Mr Jide Idris.

Niger

Two rice mills are to be built in Badeggi and Wushishi in Niger State under a Public Private Partnership arrangement, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adeshina, said in Minna on Monday.

Adeshina said the projects were in addition to the rehabilitation of the old rice mill in Badeggi.

The minister said when he paid a courtesy call on Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger that the ministry would work closely with the Niger government toward boosting rice production.

He said the ministry would construct one Agro-Industrial Estate in Minna in conjunction with the state government to process 6,200 tonnes of rice per annum.

Adeshina said a market for the farmers would be constructed in Bida to warehouse fresh produce and market on favourable conditions to consumers.

He also said that one-stop shops and agricultural input centres would be constructed in Bida, Wushishi, Salka and Mokwa towns in 2012.

Osun

The Osun State Government has employed 12 Nursing Tutors as part of its efforts to strengthen the personnel in the health sector.

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola made the disclosure at the inauguration of the “Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme” in Osogbo on Tuesday.

Represented by Mrs Temitope Ilori, the Commissioner for Health, the governor said the services of nurses were indispensable in any health conscious society.

According to him, nurses are key players in the restoration of a healthy living, which is one of the six-point integral action-plan of his administration.

“Nurses are essential in ensuring that government’s plan for the provision of effective health care for the people is successful,” Aregbesola said.

He recalled that his administration had recently approved the implementation of the new medical salary scale known as Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for health workers.

Plateau

An Upper Area Court in Jos has sentenced a commercial motorcyclist, Federick Adamu, 30, to six months imprisonment for stealing a motorcycle.

Adamu stole a motorcycle estimated to cost N50,000 belonging to his friend, one Michael Anthony, contrary to section 287 of the Penal Code.

The court, however, gave the convict an option of N3,000 fine.

The Judge, Malam Mustapha Hassan, had said that the prosecution convinced the court beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence.

Hassan said that the court relied heavily on section 157(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) that stipulated quick judgemnet for any persons that pleaded guilty to his or her offence.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Shuaibu Tambaya, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on November 22.

Sokoto

The Federal Government in collaboration with the Sokoto State Government have commenced comprehensive rehabilitation of dilapidated primary schools in the state.

The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board ( SUBEB), Alhaji Umaru Nagwari, told newsmen in Sokoto on Tuesday that the rehabilitation would gulp N2 billion.

“The Federal Government will contribute N1 billion while the Sokoto State Government will contribute N1 billion for the project.

“Arrangements have been concluded for the commencement of the state-wide project, aimed at giving a general face-lift to the primary schools in the 23 local government areas of the state.

“Most of the primary schools are currently in a sorry state and Gov. Aliyu Wamakko got worried during his just –concluded state-wide tour.”

Nagwari said the contract for the rehabilitation would be given to competent persons and companies who would do a good job.

Yobe

Four persons suspected to be assembling explosives in Damaturu on Monday sustained injuries, the Yobe State Commissioner of Police (CP), Alhaji Lawal Tanko, has confirmed.

The commissioner told newsmen in a telephone interview that one was apprehended at the site with wounds, while three others escaped with wounds.

He said “the police had intensified its searchlight to arrest the three suspects.”

Tanko added that the police had also made some recoveries “and we are still collecting the details on the incident.”

The Yobe capital was on November 4, rocked by series of bomb blasts and gun shots which resulted in the death of several security men and civilians.

However, normalcy had returned, with residents going about their normal businesses.

Nation

Kwara Community Residents Flee Over Persistent Bandits’ Attacks

Published

15 hours ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

Residents of Omugo Community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have deserted their homes due to persistent bandit attacks.
The Tide’s source reports that the once lively community has turned into a ghost town with only a few domestic animals left.
Reports indicate that the recent bandits’ attack on the Omugo ECWA Church via Oro-Ago, led to the abduction of eight worshippers including the wife of the pastor in charge.
Three persons escaped out of the eight abductees with a N1billion ransom placed on the remaining victims in captivity. The community could only gather N1million which was rejected by the bandits.
Last week, the armed bandits invaded Oro-Ago community, killed one vigilante man identified as Baba Ibeji and injured his younger brother known as Ajere.
A Point of Sales, PoS, shop directly opposite the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Divisional office, was broken into by the bandits.
The gunmen also attacked the NSCDC office and sprayed bullets on the facility, though no casualty was recorded.
In earlier attacks on Oro-Ago environs, armed bandits ambushed a convoy between Oro-Ago and Oke-Ayan in Ilere district of Ifelodun Local Government Area and killed two local hunters on escort duty.
On Saturday, there was tension in Oro-Ago following a security alert that armed bandits were regrouping to launch fresh attacks on the community.
All security formations were, however, placed on ‘Red Alert’ to forestall the planned attack.

Nation

Acting Provost Dismisses Alleged Missing Equipment Claims at Rivers Health College

Published

1 day ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

The Acting Provost of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Peace Chigozirim Amadi has refuted claims circulating in the media suggesting that laboratory equipment went missing from the college.

In a recent statement, Dr. Amadi described the reports—particularly those attributed to certain publications—as false and misleading. She emphasized that all laboratory equipment at the college remain intact.

“I am here to set the record straight. No laboratory equipment disappeared from my college. Nothing is missing,” Dr. Amadi said, challenging anyone with contrary claims to provide evidence, including the names of the equipment and their supposed locations.

She further noted that the college recently underwent an accreditation exercise, during which significant investments were made in laboratory equipment. According to Dr. Amadi, these items are fully accounted for, and the college maintains a robust security system to protect its assets.

“Everything is intact. Nothing disappeared. The information being circulated is false and should be discarded,” she reiterated.

Beyond addressing the allegations, Dr. Amadi also called on media practitioners to exercise professionalism and verify stories before publication. “I want to plead with journalists to always verify their stories. Junk journalism does not help anyone. No matter the information you receive, it is important to hear the other side before publishing,” she said.

While social media posts have occasionally raised concerns about various issues in the region’s health education sector, including extortion and examination malpractice at related institutions, there is no independent evidence from credible news sources confirming that equipment went missing from Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology.

The college, a public tertiary institution based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is accredited to offer a variety of health-related programs, including Nursing, Midwifery, Laboratory Technology, and Environmental Health. It has consistently emphasized integrity, safety, and transparency in its operations.

Dr. Amadi’s statement seeks to reassure the public, students, and stakeholders that the college remains secure, well-managed, and free from the alleged equipment losses, while urging journalists to prioritize accuracy in reporting.

Nation

HYPREP Reaffirms Commitment to Safe Water Supply In Ogoni

Published

1 week ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

As the world commemorates World Water Day, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing potable water across Ogoni communities, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the Ogoni Environment.

In a statement issued by its Project Coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, on March 22, 2026, HYPREP noted that this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” alongside the campaign slogan, “Where Water Flows, Equity Grows,” underscores its resolve to extend potable water supply beyond oil-impacted communities to all Ogoni communities.

Zabbey emphasized that access to clean water is a fundamental human right, adding that HYPREP remains committed to ensuring inclusive and equitable water access across the region.

He disclosed that the agency has successfully provided potable water to over 43 communities in Ogoni, while ongoing Phase 3 water projects are expected to benefit an additional 17 communities. He also highlighted steady progress on windmill-powered water projects in less populated areas, particularly in Khana Local Government Area.

According to him, the K-Dere Water Project, which is over 99 percent complete, will be commissioned in the coming weeks, even as work continues on other water schemes across Ogoni.

Zabbey further noted that HYPREP’s interventions are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

To ensure sustainability, he explained that the agency has adopted a joint management model involving host communities, the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, and the Rivers State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RSSTOWA). He added that Water Consumers’ Associations have been established in communities such as Nchia and Eleme, alongside training programmes conducted in collaboration with non-governmental organisations.

The Project Coordinator stressed the importance of community ownership and protection of water facilities, echoing the call by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, for residents to safeguard the infrastructure provided in their areas.

Zabbey expressed optimism that the ongoing efforts will significantly improve access to safe drinking water, reduce waterborne diseases, and enhance public health outcomes across Ogoni communities.