Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Adamawa, Alhaji Mohammed Ngada, has urged electorate in the state to make the necessary sacrifice to ensure a hitch-free governorship election on Saturday.
Ngada made the call in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Yola.
He urged the electorate to be peaceful, orderly and law-abiding for a successful poll.
According to him, the agency has gone round the 21 Local Government Areas of the state to mobilise the people for a peaceful election.
“We have been telling them to exercise patience, to spare that one day. Those who will be going to their farms please let them spare that day.
“Those who will be going about their normal business places, let them spare that day to go and vote for the candidate of their choice.”
Bauchi
A Nigerian-US based Consultant on Good Leadership, Alhaji Bashir Bugaje, has challenged public servants to provide good and transparent leadership in order to enhance the quality of governance in the country.
Bugaji gave the challenge in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Bauchi.
He said that with good leadership skills, the current security challenges being faced in the country would be overcome.
According to him, leadership is critical to the performance of any government.
“It will enhance the art and science of leadership and to a greater extent, management and at the end of the day, these are qualities that we’ll live all our lives even when we leave the services of the government.”
FCT
The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) secretariat is developing investment and policy briefs for states across the federation.
This is in addition to developing a comprehensive labour relations programme at state level to smoothen relationship between workers and governors.
The Director General of the Secretariat, Mr Asishana Okauru, gave the information to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
He added that the secretariat recently launched a website to serve as a digital information hub for the policies and programmes of the 36 state governors.
The director general said the website was designed in collaboration with the Department for International Development (DFID).
Gombe
The Gombe State Government says it will continue to partner with newsmen in information dissemination and publicity of government programmes.
The Commissioner for Information, Rev. Habu Dawaki, made government’s intention known in Gombe on Thursday, when he visited the Gombe State office of NAN as part of his familiarisation tour of media establishments.
Dawaki said that he would revisit the suspension of subscription to news services by the state owned media organisations by previous administration with a view to ensuring closer collaboration with the agency.
The commissioner, who expressed delight over the operations of the agency in the state, solicited its cooperation in publicising the programmes and policies of the government.
Kano
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated drugs worth millions of naira to four hospitals treating victims of the recent bomb attacks in Kano metropolis.
Presenting the items to the representatives of the hospitals in Kano on Thursday, the Director-General of the agency, Alhaji Sani Sidi, said the gesture was aimed at assisting the victims.
The benefitting hospitals are Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Nasarawa Hospital, Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital and Dala Orthopedic Hospital.
Katsina
The Katsina State Government has earmarked N1 billion for the empowerment of women to participate in agricultural activities in the state.
the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Asmau Abdullahi, said this on Thursday in Katsina, shortly after defending the ministry’s 2012 budget before the State House of Assembly Committee on Appropriation.
She said the government had initiated three programmes to encourage women to participate in agricultural activities like fishery, poultry farming and planting of moringa trees.
Abdullahi said the women that would be selected to participate in the programmes, would be selected from the 34 local government areas of the state.
Kebbi
The Kebbi Government says it has spent N200.6 million in the past four years to assist people in the state living with disabilities to become self-reliant.
Alhaji Abdulnasir Argungu, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Saidu Dakingari on Matters of People Living with Disabilities, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that N52 million was spent annually on the programme.
He said that his office in collaboration with the state’s Social Security Welfare Agency, had distributed 500 tricycles, 500 wheel chairs and 400 bicycles to a total of 1,400 beneficiaries.
Argungu said that 8,000 bags of grains, comprising 6,000 bags of assorted rice and 2,000 bags of cereal as well as bundles of textile materials were given to the disabled persons.
Lagos
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has said that the more than new 500 transformers kept at the National Theatre, Ignamu, Lagos, will soon be installed within the Eko electricity distribution network.
NDPHC Managing Director, Mr James Olotu, told newsmen in Lagos that the transformers were to boost power supply within the network.
He denied insinuations that the transformers, known as High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS), were abandoned.
“The poles will soon be delivered. It is wrong to say the transformers were abandoned. They are transformers meant for the Nigerian Independent Power Projects (NIPP) and are to be installed within the Eko distribution network.
Niger
The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has called for tolerance and mutual respect among Nigerians for peace and stability in the country.
Abubakar made the call in Minna, when he led a team of traditional rulers on a solidarity visit to Gov. Babagingida Aliyu of Niger at the Government House.
The Etsu Nupe said that Nigerians must learn to tolerate and respect each other’s value system in the interest of peace.
Ogun
The National Council of Muslim Youths Organisations (NACOMYO) advocated the sustained use of community policing to complement government’s efforts at tackling the nation’s security challenges.
The call was contained in the orgnisation’s Maulud Nabiyy celebration message signed by its National Secretary, Alhaji Kamal’ddin Akintunde, and released in Abeokuta.
While canvassing for a well-equipped police with sophisticated and modern day equipment, NACOMYO called for community policing because of the enormity of the security challenges.
The group also said it was important for all Nigerians to have the best interest of the nation at heart irrespective of religious or political affiliations.
NACOMYO stressed the need for the political class to imbibe sound and robust democratic values while jettisoning sentiments detrimental to the nation’s interests.
Plateau
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed February 11, for the conduct of the re-run election in Dogo-Agogo polling unit of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency.
INEC Chief Public Affairs Officer in Plateau, Mr Bencyn Ikpe, disclosed this to newsmen in Jos on Thursday.
“The security situation has improved and we are going to hold the re-run election on February 11, 2012,’’ he said.
The election, ordered by the Court of Appeal, had earlier been scheduled for January 18, but was postponed for security reasons.
The re-run is between Peter Akujah (PDP) and Suleiman Kwande of the DPP.
The re-run order followed an appeal by Akujah against the verdict of the State Election Petition Tribunal, which had nullified his victory in the April election and declared Kwande winner.
Sokoto
The Acting Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Lawalli Zayyaba, has urged members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to help in sustaining peace and unity in Nigeria.
“The members of the Guild have great roles to play in the sustenance of peace, unity and tranquillity in Nigeria,” he said on Saturday in Sokoto when he received the standing committee of the Guild on a courtesy call.
“You came to Sokoto when interesting political development had occurred and that was why I am standing before you as the acting governor of the state.
“God gives and takes leadership to whom He wishes at the time He wants. But even if elections are to hold today, Wamakko will surely win by the grace of God”.
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.
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