Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government has concluded plans to rehabilitate all the infrastructure in the 20 local government areas of the state destroyed by windstorm during the 2011 rainy season.
The Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Alhaji Sani Bura, disclosed the plan in Bauchi on Tuesday while addressing the people of Gabarin/Konkiyel; Sabon Sara and Toro communities.
He said that the affected infrastructure included water, electricity and road projects in the 20 local government areas.
Bura said that most of the projects affected by the windstorm had reached various stages of completion, while others were being assessed and quantified to facilitate their completion.
He said that the projects, which also included roads rehabilitation and reconstruction, would be completed before the inception of the 2012 rainy season.
FCT
The Minister of National Planning Commission, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, says that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has computed Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in six pilot states.
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Head, Information unit of the Commission, Mr Salisu Haiba.
Usman while flagging-off of the State GDP Computation Project in Nigeria in Minna, Niger, said that six pilot states that had been selected were Anambra, Rivers, Niger, Kano, Lagos, Gombe and Rivers.
He said that the six states were selected based on the size of their economies and commitment of reform programmes.
He described the project as significant in the economic history of Nigeria being the first time it was being undertaken by the NBS.
Jigawa
Governor of Jigawa State Sule Lamido has said that his desire to boost small-scale businesses in the state informed his decision to build a modern market.
Lamido, who stated this while addressing newsmen Tuesday after an inspection of the market project in Dutse, said that the market was constructed to boost commerce, eradicate poverty and entrench economic prosperity in the state.
“This market will accommodate 80 per cent of those in small businesses like vegetables sellers, barbers and butchers, among others.
“Shops would be rented out to people at affordable rates because the essence of the exercise is to fight poverty”, he said.
Kano
Governor of Kano State Rabi’u Kwankwaso has called on the Federal Government to pay more attention on the training and equipping of the police and other security agencies in the country.
Kwankwaso made the call when he received members of the Presidential Task-Force on Police Reforms, who paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Kano.
He said that the call was necessary in view of the prevailing security challenges facing the country.
The governor stressed the need for security agencies to collaborate with other stakeholders so as to reduce the level of crime in the country.
Kwankwaso said that the Kano State Government had been working with security agencies in the state with a view to ensuring peace and security.
Katsina
The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Katsina State has announced the dismissal of all members of the party who accepted any form of appointment under the Katsina State government.
The Interim Chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Farouq Aliyu, told newsmen in Katsina on Tuesday that the action of the members was an “unpardonable offence”.
‘’Members who had taken appointments with the Katsina State government, committed an unpardonable offence and should consider themselves out of the party, because CPC does not believe in the government of national unity at the federal, state or local level.’’
He accused such members of selfishness, saying their acceptance of the appointments was to better their lots and not in the interest of the party.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State Department of Fire Service recorded 34 incidents of fire outbreaks in Kebbi State within the last three months.
The state Director of Fire Service, Alhaji Bello Zagga, disclosed this to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi recently.
He, however, said there were no loss of lives in the incidents.
The director said the usage of inferior electrical cables were responsible for 90 per cent of the fire incidents while the remaining 10 per cent could be traced to undue exposure of animal feeds to open fire.
Zagga said the department “would organise workshops to sensitise the public on preventive measures”.
Lagos
A lecturer in the Department of Architecture at Covenant University, Mr Eziyi Ibem, has advised the Federal Government to adopt Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for effective housing delivery.
Ibem told newsmen in Lagos that provision of housing would continue to be a problem until all stakeholders were involved.
“For instance, the Building Materials Manufacturers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria should be involved in the public-private partnership.
“Their involvement will ease the constraints in the procurement of building materials.
“If the association is properly integrated into all PPP projects, it will give housing developers access to quality, durable and reasonably priced building materials,” Ibem said.
Oyo
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Tuesday in Ibadan alerted Nigerians of a fake brand of sugar in circulation.
The Zonal Coordinator for Oyo State, Mrs Omosola Osinbanjo, said the discovery of the fake sugar followed the intensive surveillance exercise carried out across the state by officials of the agency.
Osinbanjo said the initiatives of NAFDAC led to the discovery of the fake product at a market in Agbeni area of the metropolis.
Plateau
The Special Task Force (STF) maintaining peace in Plateau on Tuesday paraded a young man alleged to be a fake soldier and four suspected armed robbers at its headquarters in Jos.
The STF Media Officer, Capt. Mdahyelya Markus, who briefed newsmen on the arrest, alleged that the “fake soldier” was arrested in a Nigerian Army Camouflage with the rank of sergeant.
Markus said the suspect was arrested by STF personnel at a checkpoint in Lantang South Local Government Area of Plateau.
He said that one of the suspected robbers had claimed that he was a student of ECWA Seminary, Jos, while another claimed to be a 400 level Accounting student of University of Jos.
Taraba
Construction work on the multipurpose Kashimbilla Dam project in Taraba is 50 per cent completed, Mr Regy Ikpeawujo, the Deputy Director, Dams and Reservoir Operations, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, has said.
Ikpeawujo, who disclosed this in Abuja in an interview with newsmen said the that dam would commence full operation in 2014.
“By the year 2014, the dam should fully take off its operation,’’ he said, adding that work on the project was being carried out in stages.
He said that if completed, the dam would generate hydro power, provide irrigation and supply to water to several towns and villages in Taraba and Benue states.
Yobe
Two months into the staff verification exercise by Yobe State Universal Basic Education Board, primary school teachers in the state have decried the non-payment of their two-month salary.
Some teachers who spoke to newsmen on Tuesday in Damaturu, said the verification was taking too long while they wallowed in poverty and hunger.
Malam Yusuf Umar, a teacher in Damaturu, said the delay in completing the exercise was having a negative effect on the welfare of teachers across the state.
Another teacher, Malam Manu Bukar, said there had been series of screening in the past but this one had subjected them to “hunger and poverty”.
Zamfara
The Zamfara State House of Assembly has extended the tenure of the local government caretaker committees in the state from January to June 2012.
The Assembly had last July approved the formation of the caretaker committees with a mandate to serve for a maximum of six months, with the hope that elections into the councils would be conducted in January 2012.
Its Majority Leader, Alhaji Salisu Tsafe, said at the presentation of the bill that it sought to amend the law establishing the caretaker committees.
He said the decision was in accordance with section 18, sub section 4 of the state’s local governments’ law.
Tsafe explained that the law had given the house absolute powers to terminate or extend the tenure of local government councils.
He argued that in the event that the state government could not conduct elections into positions in the local government councils, the house could extend the tenure of the councils to allow the conduct of the elections within the period covered by the extension.
After debating the matter, the House unanimously agreed that the tenure of committees be extended from Jan. 29 to June 2012 during which elections should be conducted.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced that the mangrove wetlands in Ogoniland have been officially designated a Ramsar Site of International Importance by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The designation, according to HYPREP, underscores the global ecological significance of Ogoniland’s mangrove wetlands and highlights ongoing restoration efforts aimed at addressing environmental degradation in the area.
In a press statement issued by the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, the recognition was described as a major milestone for the agency, the people of Ogoni and other stakeholders working towards environmental restoration in the region.
Zabbey explained that the mangrove wetlands, which cover more than 31,700 hectares, consist of islands, tidal creeks, mudflats and mangrove forests that support a wide range of biodiversity. The ecosystem provides habitat for several species including fin fish, shellfish, crustaceans, crocodiles, turtles and the endangered grey parrot.
He noted that beyond biodiversity conservation, the wetland also provides essential ecosystem services such as fisheries production, flood control, water purification and carbon storage. According to him, the international recognition will further support local livelihoods, promote ecotourism and bring global attention to the region.
The HYPREP coordinator disclosed that the designation followed a meticulous process that began in 2024 when the project submitted a memorandum to the National Council on Environment seeking support for the recognition of the Ogoni wetlands as a Ramsar site.
Following the council’s review and approval, the Honourable Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP’s Governing Council, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, formally wrote to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat requesting international recognition of the wetlands.
After a comprehensive ecological assessment, the Ramsar Secretariat granted the designation, officially recognising the Ogoniland wetlands as one of the world’s sites of international importance.
Zabbey said the recognition would strengthen ongoing environmental restoration efforts in the area and encourage stronger conservation measures and sustainable management of the wetlands for the benefit of present and future generations.
He added that the designation also fulfils a key recommendation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, marking another significant step in the implementation of the report’s recommendations.
The HYPREP project coordinator reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to restoring the Ogoni environment through the remediation of oil-polluted land, shorelines and mangrove ecosystems.
He also called for collective responsibility and stakeholder support to sustain the progress of the Ogoni cleanup programme and facilitate the development of a comprehensive and sustainable management plan for the Ogoni mangrove wetlands.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, has attributed the successes of the 12-day programme organised for adolescent girls aimed at eliminating Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) in some parts of the State to the ability of the respective stakeholders to take ownership of the programme.
Mrs Davies-Dimkpa, who dropped the hint in an interview at the end of the programme in Elele-Alimini Community in Emohua Local Government Area on Saturday, said the event had a buy-in component, an ownership mentality, whereby facilitators, staff, and everyone involved took ownership of the project.
She explained that the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) had packaged a series of training sessions for adolescent girls aimed at ending the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in some communities across the State.
According to her, the initiative was designed to educate young girls on the harmful effects of the practice and empower them to become advocates against it within their communities.
She noted that the programme, which lasted for several weeks, targeted adolescent girls from different local government areas where the practice is still prevalent, stressing that
data collected by UNICEF and the Ministry revealed that Female Genital Mutilation is still practised in some parts of the State, prompting the need for intensified sensitisation and community engagement.
Mrs Davies-Dimkpa explained that the programme adopted a “train-the-trainer” approach where adolescent girls were educated on the dangers of the practice and encouraged to share the knowledge with their peers, families and communities.
“This is a programme by the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation with support from UNICEF and UNFPA to train adolescent girls towards ending Female Genital Mutilation, which is still practised in some local government areas,” she said.
She further explained that each participating local government area had a three-day training session, with the exercise running for a total of 12 days.
The local government areas, where the programme took place, she noted, included Ahoada West, Abua-Odual, and Emohua, adding that the initiative is part of broader efforts by the state government and development partners to eliminate harmful traditional practices and protect the rights and wellbeing of girls.
She revealed that prior to the training of the adolescent girls, the Ministry and its partners had also engaged community facilitators, including older women and men, to sensitise them on the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
According to her, the involvement of community leaders and adults is essential in addressing the cultural and social factors that sustain the practice.
Speaking on the response of the participants, the permanent secretary expressed satisfaction with the level of engagement and enthusiasm shown by the girls throughout the training sessions.
She noted that many of the participants said they were learning about the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation for the first time.
“The girls are between the ages of 12 and 17 and from the interactions we had with them, they were very excited. Some of them are hearing these things for the first time and never knew that the practice is harmful,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the knowledge gained from the training would enable the girls to serve as advocates for change within their communities.
She added that the Rivers State Government, alongside its partners, would continue to intensify efforts and expand community-based interventions aimed at ending the practice across the State.
Meanwhile, the participants for Emohua Local Government Area were drawn from Elele-Alimini, Egbeda, Rumuji, Ibaa, Rumuekpe, Rumuakunde, Eligbarada, and Ogbakiri Communities.
The participants,who spoke in separate interviews described the training as eye-opening, noting that it helped them better understand issues surrounding adolescent health, personal hygiene, reproductive health, and the harmful consequences of Female Genital Mutilation.
Favour Azukwu from Rumuekpe community, said the programme provided a deeper understanding of the dangers associated with the practice, particularly its impact on the health and wellbeing of girls and women.
She explained that the training sessions exposed participants to the medical, social and psychological effects of Female Genital Mutilation, including severe bleeding, infections and complications during childbirth.
She revealed that she personally experienced the practice at the age of 12 and suffered heavy bleeding afterwards, an experience that has strengthened her determination to advocate for its eradication.
According to her, many communities still practise Female Genital Mutilation because it is perceived as a cultural tradition, despite the dangers associated with it.
“I do not support Female Genital Mutilation because there are many dangers involved. I experienced severe bleeding when it was done to me as a child.
Another participant, Glory Ken, a 16-year-old secondary school student from Rumuji community, said the programme broadened her understanding of several important topics affecting adolescents.
She explained that beyond the discussion on Female Genital Mutilation, the training also focused on issues such as personal hygiene, reproductive health, peer education, and self-care.
According to her, the sessions helped participants understand the importance of making informed health decisions and supporting one another as peer educators.
“I learned about many things that affect young people in society and how to take care of myself. I also learned that Female Genital Mutilation is harmful to our health. The message I am taking back to my community is that this practice should stop,” she said.
Also speaking, Goodness Kenjika Nyeche described the programme as very impactful.
She noted that the training equipped participants with the skills and confidence to educate others about the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation.
She said she plans to organise sensitisation among adolescents in her community, particularly girls between the ages of 10 and 19, to ensure they understand the dangers associated with the practice.
“I learned many things from this programme and I feel very good about it. I will educate other young girls in my community and help them understand why Female Genital Mutilation should not continue,” she said.
For Queen Dike from Ibaa community, the programme helped clarify misconceptions surrounding the practice.
She explained that in some communities, the practice is still referred to as circumcision and is viewed as part of cultural identity.
She said the training helped participants understand that Female Genital Mutilation involves the cutting or removal of parts of the female genital organs and that it has serious health consequences.
She stressed that awareness and education are key to ending the practice, especially among communities that continue to uphold it as tradition.
“I think the programme is very helpful because many people still believe it is part of culture. More awareness is needed so people can understand why it should stop,” she said.
Another participant, MyJoy Echika Amadi, said the programme provided critical information about adolescent health and the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
She described the initiative as enlightening and said it encouraged young people to become advocates for change in their communities.
According to her, participants were encouraged to use various platforms such as churches, peer groups, schools and community gatherings to spread awareness about the harmful effects of the practice.
“This programme has enlightened us about the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation. I will do my best to create awareness in my community and encourage people to stop the practice,” she said.
Many of the participants emphasised that the knowledge gained during the programme has empowered them to challenge harmful traditions and promote healthier practices among young people.
They also called on the Rivers State Government, development partners and civil society organisations to sustain the sensitisation campaigns and extend the training to more communities across the State.
According to them, empowering young people with the right information will play a critical role in eliminating Female Genital Mutilation and protecting the rights, health and dignity of girls in Rivers State.
The participants expressed appreciation to the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, UNICEF and UNFPA for organising the programme and for investing in the wellbeing and future of adolescent girls in the State.
