Nation
THE STATES
Gombe
Vice President Namadi Sambo has solicited the support of emirs and other traditional rulers in the northern part of the country for the Almajiri Model School scheme.
Sambo made the call in Gombe on Saturday when he visited the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, in his palace.
“I am happy to inform you that under the Almajiri programme, we plan to assign a lot of responsibilities to your council so that we will succeed in that direction.
“Mr President has stated that every Nigerian child has the right to education and we must educate every child.
“That is why that programme came from primary school project.
“It is very impressive, it is one of its kind and these are the types of programmes that other states should emulate so that we can achieve our objectives of educating every Nigerian child,’’ he said.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has advised residents to report any incident of suspected Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in the state.
The government gave the advice when it announced a five-point prevention strategy against the outbreak of the disease.
The state Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Paul Dogo said that residents were being sensitised through public enlightenment on the preventive measures.
Dogo disclosed that adequate medical and health personnel including drugs and vaccines, had been mobilised to control, treat and manage the disease wherever an outbreak was reported.
He advised residents to report any suspicious outbreak of communicable diseases to the nearest health facility to prevent an epidemic.
Kano
The Kano State Government has warned residents of Kano metropolis against violating the monthly environmental sanitation.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, gave the warning while addressing newsmen shortly after the exercise in Kano on Saturday.
“The environmental sanitation is for their own good hence the need for all Kano residents to come out and participate fully in the monthly exercise.
“This time around there is no police and mobile courts because we want to relax the enforcement due to the security situation in the state.”
He, however, urged the people of the state, particularly Kano residents and other major towns, to ensure full compliance with the order on restriction of movement during the exercise.
The Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the massive turn out of people in some areas within the metropolis.
Kebbi
The former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alfa Belgore, was on Saturday awarded the Garkuwan Bunza title, by the traditional institution of Bunza, his ancestral home in Kebbi.
The district head of Bunza, Dr Mustapha Bande, announced the award on Saturday in Bunza at the foundation laying ceremony of the multi purpose town hall complex in honour of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Bande said the honour given to Justice Belgore was well deserved.
The Kebbi government would jointly execute the project with CITAR, an NGO on political awareness and sustainable human development.
Also speaking, Justice Belgore commended the NGO and the state government for the financial and human resources committed to building the complex in his honour.
He recalled that his parents migrated to Ilorin in 1858 to propagate Islamic knowledge and assured the people that he would continue to relate well with his ancestral home as well as partake in development efforts in the area.
He said the project would be completed and supported especially in the provision of facilities to ensure that it was beneficial to the people.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara on Friday said that the bomb attacks on some media establishments marked a dangerous trend in the act of terrorism in the country.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, the governor described Thursday’s attacks on ThisDay newspaper office in Abuja and other media houses in Kaduna as “shocking and unfortunate’’.
He stressed that the mass media constituted the conscience of the nation and the fulcrum of free speech required for deepening the democratic culture in a society.
He said that the attacks represented another despicable and deplorable effort to silence popular expression by promoting hate and fear among the citizens.
Ahmed, nonetheless, urged the country’s journalists not to be despondent because of the emerging threats, stressing that they should remain committed to the ideals of journalism and good governance.
“On behalf of the good people of KwaraState, I commiserate with the management and staff of ThisDay, the NUJ, NPAN, NGEs, friends and families of the deceased on this occasion of national grief.
Nasarawa
Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Saturday assured the people that his administration would be prudent and accountable in respect of contract awards.
Al-Makura madethe statement while inaugurating some earth moving equipment for the construction of rural roads in parts of the state in Lafia.
He said the present administration in the state would distance itself from the past practice when contractors failed to deliver on contracts and collected money.
“We are going to take a full stock of all projects that have been awarded and those either completed, abandoned or uncompleted.
“My administration will not leave any stone unturned and will deal with anybody found guilty of siphoning government funds,’’ the governor said.
He said the construction of rural roads would start at Agyaragu–Kwara, in Nasarawa North Senatorial (Lafia) Zone and in Garaku in Nasarawa West Senatorial (Keffi) Zone through Dari-Amba-up to Basa.
He said the Nasarawa Central (Akwanga) Zone road construction would begin from Wamba through FarrinRuwa to Maman areas.
He said the state government bought the equipment in conjunction with the local government/development areas for the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads.
Ondo
An Ondo State governorship aspirant under the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Dr Olu Agunloye, has called for stiff penalties for electoral offences.
INEC is to conduct the gubernatorial election on October 20.
Agunloye decried the absence of commensurate penalties for electoral offences.
“One of the symptoms of apathy was the faulty reward and penalty systems in Nigeria.
“People don’t get appropriate rewards for the good they do and no adequate penalty for offenders,’’ Agunloye said.
Agunloye, a former Minister of Power and Steel, was also of the view that voters’ apathy was on the increase in the country because electoral offenders were not prosecuted.
The aspirant also cited the absence of justice as bane to smooth electoral process, adding that where there was no justice; there could not be peace.
Plateau
The Plateau chapter of National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has expressed satisfaction with the decision of the state government to deploy local government staff to their areas of origin.
The state President of the union, Mr Samson Mafuyai, told our source in Jos on Sunday that the union had “no objection’’ to the policy, adding that the policy would make the workers more productive.
“The state government has the right to bring up any policy, but we have tried to find out whether such policies are good.
“ We have asked government to explain their motives and hope such motives will be very convincing,’’ he said.
The government last Wednesday inaugurated a 16-member committee for the deployment of local government staff to their local government areas of origin.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof Shedrack Best, who inaugurated the committee, said that the decision was based on the recommendations of a committee on civil service reforms.
Yobe
The Yobe Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (YOSACA) has distributed 60 sewing and 70 grinding machines to 130 beneficiaries to promote self-reliance among People Living with HIV and AIDS.
YOCASA’s Executive Director, Hjiya Farida Mamudo, on Friday in Damaturu said that the empowerment project was intended to engender self-employment and self-sufficiency among the group.
She said that the agency had trained 100 health workers on how to reduce the stigmatisation of those living with the disease, while facilitating their support and social integration.
However, Mamudo said that 200 agricultural extension workers and 100 commercial transport workers had been trained by the agency on HIV prevention strategies.
She noted that the agency had been providing people living with HIV and AIDS with skills and materials to enhance their wellbeing and economic status.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing the safety of the seafaring profession and upgrading maritime institutions to international standards.
Speaking at the 2025 World Seafarers’ Day celebration in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, organised by NIMASA, with the theme, “My Harassment-Free Ship.
He said that this year’s theme “speaks to our collective duty to make every ship a safe and respectful workplace noting that harassment and bullying have no place in our maritime industry.
The Minister further emphasised the importance of continuous training and retraining to ensure seafarers remain competitive and employable.
Also speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari, emphasised that seafarers are the backbone of international trade, facilitating the smooth transportation of goods and services across the globe.
He stressed the need to eliminate all forms of violence, harassment, and bullying against seafarers.
In his welcome address, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, emphasised the need for the maritime community to prioritise the welfare, safety of seafarers and maintain zero tolerance for harassment.
According to the DG, “Today provides opportunity for the Maritime Community to honor seafarers globally for their immense contribution to both domestic and international trade, powering the blue economy and connecting nations across oceans”.
He said that this year’s theme was particularly apt, as it was a call to action to “ensure that our seafarers feel safe, are valued and protected while at sea because the ship is not just their place of work; it is their temporary home. It must therefore reflect the highest standards of dignity and professionalism fostering zero tolerance for harassment”.
He declared that NIMASA must continue to play its part in ensuring that Nigeria contributes effectively to regulations affecting seafarers, as Nigeria remains the highest contributor of seafarers in Africa. “Our men and women sail on vessels in our domestic waters and also globally. This will continue to grow through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) and the effort of our Maritime Training Institutions.
‘At the recently concluded 113th session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, seven (7) amendments to the MLC 2006 code addressing a broad range of issues affecting seafarers, including the recognition of seafarers as key workers, improved protection against ship board violence and harassment, enhanced access to shore leave and repatriation and updated medical and occupational safety standards were approved by an overwhelming majority.
These seven (7) amendments reflect collective global effort to align maritime Labour standards with the evolving landscape of global shipping.
I, therefore, call on shipowners, operators and crewing agencies to begin to review their operational manuals to align with these amendments ahead of the expected entry into force in December 2027. Our seafarers must be able to report grievances without fear of retaliation, while also ensuring protection against vexations or malicious complaints.
He added that NIMASA will play its role by establishing clear policies and procedures for preventing and addressing harassment on Nigerian-flagged vessels, ensuring confidential reporting channels for incidents of harassment and that reports are thoroughly investigated and addressed.
“Today is a clear reminder to us all – government, employers, unions, shipowners, and civil society- that seafarers should not be left alone in their struggles. They look up to us to help them foster a culture of zero tolerance on ships to protect their dignity”, he stated.
He also assured that under his leadership, NIMASA will ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, particularly the renewal of entries into force by ship owners, operators, and relevant agencies come December 2027.
Stakeholders drawn across the four local government areas of Ogoniland in Rivers State, have expressed delight over the excellent performance of the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof Nenibarini Zabbey within the past two years, describing him as a true patriot, who has been showing leadership in delivering service to the people.
The stakeholders, who gave the indication in their separate goodwill messages during the mid-term stakeholders engagement and scorecard presentation organised by HYPREP in Port Harcourt, scored the Project Coordinator high on the Ogoni cleanup and the overall implementation of the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
The President of KAGOTE and Board member of the Ogoni Trust Fund, Hon Emma Deeyah, particularly commended Zabbey for turning around the fortunes of the Ogoni people, as they are now having value for the money earmarked for the cleanup project, describing the Project Coordinator as “one of our best.”
He noted that Zabbey has done well on the saddle, working very hard, being an administrator and leader with listening ears, striving assiduously to meet the yearnings and expectations of the people.
He said the Ogoni cleanup is a journey that has just begun, stressing that he was happy that the Project Coordinator is not on the saddle to amass wealth but to deliver and achieve results, and appealed to the Ogoni people to continue to give him their support.
On his part, member representing Gokana/Khana Federal Constituency in the National Assembly and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Rt Hon Dumnamene Dekor, said HYPREP under the watch of Zabbey is working with renewed vigour, and thanked the Project Coordinator for driving the Ogoni cleanup project with passion.
He noted that the funds dedicated and earmarked for the project are running out, disclosing that he was working on an Executive Bill, to facilitate the work of HYPREP.
While stressing the need for the people to take full responsibility of all the projects sited in their communities, Dekor regretted that some beneficiaries had sold the starter packs presented to them by HYPREP, while the water facility provided in his Bierra community has been vandalised.
The King of Tai Kingdom, King Samuel Nnee, said HYPREP under Zabbey as Project Coordinator has been delivering on its mandate, describing him as a square peg in a square hole, who has given hope to the Ogoni people.
The monarch urged the Ogoni people to give the Project Coordinator the necessary support.
The Paramount Ruler of Barako Community and member of the Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt, Mene Kadilo Kabari, said Zabbey has always demonstrated that he is a true patriot by carrying along Ogoni people from all strata of the society, describing him as a performing Project Coordinator.
He noted that the bane of HYPREP before now had been the conflict between the Project Coordinator and the Minister of Environment, saying, under Zabbey, Ogoni people can now see what unity of purpose can achieve.
He expressed delight that the water facility which was the first commissioned by HYPREP in his community is functioning optimally following the solar-powered system installed by the Project.
The King of Eleme Kingdom, King(Dr) Philip Osaro Obelle thanked HYPREP’s management team for all that it is doing in Ogoniland, stressing that the Project was built on the graves, bellies and blood of Ogoni sons and daughters who lost their lives during the Ogoni struggle.
He, therefore, advised HYPREP “not to deviate from the expectations of our heroes but to do those things that would benefit Ogoni people for the betterment of Ogoniland.”
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Netherlands, Hon Oji Ngofa said HYPREP has been like the government of Ogoniland, and harped on the sustainability of all the projects.
According to him, Zabbey has been giving HYPREP a human face.
Former Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof Barineme Fakae applauded Zabbey for the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, and stressed the need for the implementation of the recommendations of its technical committee which recently submitted its report.
According to him, if the project succeeds, Ogoni people are going to succeed.
Chief Priscillia Vikue, on her part, thanked Zabbey for his outstanding performance, saying, the women of Ogoni are very happy with what he is doing in Ogoniland.
While scoring the Project Coordinator highly on his performance, she said the women are happy because Zabbey knows what he is doing with HYPREP.
“You went to school.You did not cut corners.You are a square peg in a square hole.You have engaged women and the youths. We have seen what you have done. And we give you A1”, she said, and challenged Zabbey to see how more women would participate in the project and also how to sustain it.
In his remarks, the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey said the mid-term engagement is important because “it allows us to present tangible evidence of progress in the Ogoni cleanup effort, reinforce accountability, deepen transparency, and most importantly, enables HYPREP to interact directly with the communities and stakeholders who are the heartbeat of this project.”
He noted that the scorecard presentation is designed to show what HYPREP has achieved across key thematic areas, what challenges it is currently grappling with, and what the road ahead looks like, saying, “it is a moment for stocktaking and for re-affirming our shared commitment to the success of the Ogoni cleanup project”.
According to him, HYPREP has recorded commendable progress in the implementation of its core mandates in line with UNEP recommendations and the directives in the official gazette establishing HYPREP.
Donatus Ebi
The South-South representative of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Board, Rt. Hon. Aboh Uduyok, has concluded his one-day official visit to Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Rumuola, Rivers State, with the unveiling of the Mass Communication Department classroom building. The project was executed under the 2021 TETFund intervention project.
During the unveiling of the project, Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rt. Hon. Uduyok commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to the educational sector and praised the polytechnic’s management for utilising TETFund resources judiciously.
He noted that the quality of ongoing projects met approved specifications, and expressed satisfaction with the institution’s progress.
The TETFund representative stated that his visit was aimed at familiarising himself with beneficiary schools, assess fund utilization, and identify challenges.
He assured the school management that he would convey their requests for constructing engineering works and hostel accommodations to the board and notify them of any approval.
Rt. Hon. Uduyok explained that the TETFund Board is not initiating new projects this year, except where necessary, due to presidential directives. However, he commended the institution for the commendable quality of both completed and ongoing projects.
In his welcome address, the Rector of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Dr. Moses S. Neebee, thanked the TETFund representative for visiting, and highlighted the institution’s successes and challenges. He requested support for hostel accommodations and engineering works, emphasising that a higher institution without hostels is akin to a glorified secondary school.
Dr. Neebee while briefing the visitor on the institution’s progress, noted that it currently runs 21 National Diploma programme and five Higher National Diploma courses. He disclosed that the school accessed the 2021 TETFund release in full but faced challenges with the 2023 fund due to harsh economic conditions and bid process delays, which increased project costs. The Rector pleaded for assistance in securing additional funds for the 2023 intervention release.
Akujobi Amadi