Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Bauchi State House of Assembly last Wednesday began amendment of the law establishing the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic to facilitate the establishment of an autonomous college of agriculture.
The amendment followed the adoption of a report by the House Special Committee on the de-merger of the School of Agriculture Bauchi from the polytechnic.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the committee, Baba Abubakar, said the School of Agriculture could not work effectively due to inadequate funding, neglect and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
He added that it was imperative to amend the existing laws of the polytechnic to fast-track successful take-off of the proposed college.
Abubakar decried the “serious neglect” of the school by the polytechnic management, adding that upgrading the institution to a college would encourage agricultural activity and reduce poverty.
Borno
The Borno government said last Wednesday that it had secured a N1 billion credit facility for farmers in the state under the agriculture loan guarantee scheme.
Alhaji Usman Zanna, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, said this in Maiduguri at a ministerial briefing.
Zanna said that the loan was sourced through the Fidelity Bank Plc after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties.
“Government has signed a MoU with the Fidelity Bank Plc to access N1 billion loan for distribution to farmers this cropping season,’’ he said.
Zanna said that the loan was sourced at 7.5 per cent interest rate, adding: “this is the first time farmers in the state will be benefiting from this kind of loan facility. “The loan is going to be interest-free to the farmers as government has decided to take care of the interest,” he said.
Ekiti
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has donated a jeep to the outgoing Anglican Archbishop of Ondo and Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev. Samuel Abe.
The gesture, according to Fayemi, is one of the ways the government and the people could show their appreciation to the cleric.
Abe, who is retiring from office on the attainment of 70 years of age, was at the governor’s office on a farewell visit.
He was accompanied by his wife and scores of other clerics.
The Bishop urged governors in the South West Zone to lay good examples through good governance and positive impact on the lives of their people.
He commended Fayemi for initiating a social security scheme for the aged people.
Abe said the scheme was an example of how governors in the south west could lead the way for their counterparts in other parts of the country.
FCT
The Executive Director, National Council for Arts and Culture, Mr Mwajim Maidugu, last Thursday in Abuja described President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposed museum for past leaders as an inspiration to Nigerians.
Maidugu said that building a museum for past leaders was a great innovation in the history of the country.
According to him, this pronouncement will go a long way to give our past and present heroes a proper place for reference purposes and to project into the future.
“These leaders need to be celebrated in a hall of fame for students at all levels to emulate these good leadership qualities of tolerance, patience and patriotism. “Thinking more of what to do for the country and not what to get out of the country. Reading about great leaders will inculcate good leadership qualities in the youth,’’ he said.
Maidugu said that in developed countries, museum for past leaders was a good tourist site to behold, adding that reading through the lifestyle of past leaders would give a mental picture of a good leader.
Jigawa
A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, serving in Birnin-kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa, Malam Aminu Muhammad, has donated 150 poultry birds to 10 Almajirai in Birnin-kudu.
Muhammad, who made the donation last Thursday in Birnin-kudu in Jigawa, said the gesture was aimed at teaching the Almajirai poultry farming to make them self-reliant.
“As a graduate of agriculture from the Bayero University Kano with specialisation in animal production, I will train the Qur’anic scholars in order to empower them to learn and be on their own.”
He explained that the gesture would go along way to discourage the Almajiri from parading the motor parks and streets, begging
Kaduna
Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State has urged the people to promote peace at all times to pave the way for more democratic dividends in their respective areas.
Yakowa made the appeal in Kaduna last Wednesday during the commissioning and inspection tour of projects in Sabon-Gari, Kudan and Makarfi Local Government Areas of the state.
He observed that peace was the cardinal pillar for development, adding that the projects executed in the state would not have been possible without peace.
The governor assured the people of the readiness of his administration to work tirelessly for the good of the state.
Lagos
A pastor and a tailor, who allegedly snatched a Honda City Saloon car at gunpoint, were on Wednesday docked at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for armed robbery.
Sekou Kareem (38), a pastor, and Adekanbi Mathew (45), a tailor, were charged with armed robbery and unlawful possession of dangerous weapons. The court, however, did not take their plea as Magistrate F.O Aigbokhaevbo said the court had no jurisdiction to try armed robbery cases. Aigbokhaevbo ordered them to be remanded in prison custody pending the advice of the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Ondo
The Baale of Oke-Odo in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Chief Samuel Falade, has pleaded with residents of the state to shun violence in the gubernatorial election billed for October.
Falade said last Wednesday at Oke-Odo, Ondo State, that the people of the state should learn to live together peacefully irrespective of their political differences. “ We cannot afford to have a repeat of political violence in this state like it happened during the time of Papa Ajasin and Omoboriowo; it was a bad experience for us all,’’ Falade said.
Osun
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Osun has threatened to embark on a sympathy strike should the Lagos State Government fail to recall its sacked colleagues.
The state government had sacked 788 striking doctors after negotiation on their demands collapsed.
Dr Olukayode Ajewole, the state Chairman, said at a press conference in Osogbo last Wednesday that the decision was in consonance with the position of the NMA National Executive Council (NEC).
Ajewole said the NMA NEC had called an emergency meeting to address the matter on Saturday. “ Doctors in Osun, who are about 800, may be forced to join forces with our colleagues in Lagos State if the Lagos State Government fails to reinstate them,” he said.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Arzika Tureta, has called on Nigerians to support the government at all levels to ensure political growth of the country.
Tureta made the call in an interview last Wednesday in Sokoto.
He said that meaningful development could only be achieved if Nigerians irrespective of political party differences join hands with government to ensure smooth implementation of its programmes.
The commissioner explained that the success of any government policy depended largely on the mutual support and cooperation between the government and the governed.
Taraba
The chairman of Jalingo Local Government Area, LGA, Taraba State, Hon Hassan Bappa says his blue print for the development of the LGA will be people-oriented.
Speaking to Journalists in Jalingo, the state capital early in the week he said he will concerntrate on projects as a way of impacting on the lives of his people.
Such projects he said would include regular salaries for workers of the LGA, empowerment of the populace, enhanced agricultural methods to fed the people and maximum security to enhance peace in the area.
Zamfara
The Zamfara State Command of Nigeria Immigration Service has repatriated more than 80 illegal Aliens to their home countries between January and May, an official said.
The Comptroller of Immigration in the state, Mr Muhammad Argungu, said in Gusau last Wednesday.
He said many of the aliens were arrested following tip-offs from the areas where they stayed, adding that most of them were from the neighboring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon, adding that they usually entered the country on market days and refused to return home.
Argungu said the command usually deployed its personnel in plain clothes to markets, motor parks and other public places to monitor, arrest and deport illegal aliens to their countries after investigations.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has inducted and given orientation to 100 Ogoni youths for training on Creative Arts. The beneficiaries were drawn from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The induction and orientation ceremony, which took place at the CRAB of the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, was a prelude to the training proper, billed to commence next Tuesday.
As usual, HYPREP issued undertaking forms to the trainees, for them to complete and submit as a guarantee that they would subject themselves to the requirements of the programme as well as be of good behaviour throughout the four-month duration of the training.
HYPREP also announced that it would pay N150,000 to each of the beneficiaries monthly, as transport and feeding allowance, stressing, however, that only those who fully participate in the training would be entitled for the allowance.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, welcomed the trainees to the programme, saying, HYPREP’s projects are evolving and that one thing that is happening today is that the Project has gotten leadership right, by making promises and keeping those promises.
According to him, the Project had equally promised to move away from rudimentary skills acquisition to high impacts acquisition levels, which it has kept today by sponsoring the training on Creative Arts.
He noted that in planning its livelihood programmes for Ogoni youths, HYPREP has taken time out to look for skills that would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
Zabbey, who was represented at the event by the Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi said by packaging the Creative Arts training, it was expected that the Ogoni people would have their own version of Nollywood known as Ogoniwood just as Nigerians are familiar with Hollywood, Bollywood, Kannywood and Nollywood.
To achieve this goal, the Project Coordinator explained that it was the reason for choosing a reputable establishment like Halibiz Consult Limited, to partner with the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt, which he described as one of the most prestigious in the Niger Delta, for the training of the beneficiaries.
He also indicated that in doing this, HYPREP was desirous of going for talents that would help the Ogoni people grow in the film industry, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
Zabbey equally enjoined the trainees to put in their best so that in the next three to five years, they would carve a niche for themselves and become forces to reckon with in the film industry.
On her part, HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee said HYPREP does what it says it will, stressing that the process of training Ogoni youths on specialised skills started three years ago.
According to her, the selection process for the training was rigorous and transparent, and was carried out by renowned actors actresses.
She disclosed that the training consists of three major aspects, which include acting, script writing and make-up, while Nollywood actors like Charles Nnoje, Ngezu J. Ngezu and award-winning make-up artist, Jude Odo would be on hand to drill and groom the beneficiaries.
Mrs Nzidee noted that the programme is a specialised training that does not have anything like starter packs but that it is purely a professional certification programme that would launch the beneficiaries into the Nollywood industry in Nigeria.
According to her, the Creative Arts training is one of the four specialised trainings organised by HYPREP to ensure that the Ogoni people are well positioned in vital industries like Aviation, Maritime, Creative Arts and Mechatronics.
She said the last of such trainings on Mechatronics would take place in the coming months, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously so as to put the Ogoni people on the Nollywood map.
She further indicated that while Charles Nnoje and Ngezu J. Ngezu would take the beneficiaries on the practical aspects, Jude Odo would take them on the make-up aspects.
Also speaking, the External Relations Manager of Halibiz Consult Limited, Alabo Experience Douglas said his company gives much premium to standard and quality, and assured that the firm would give the trainees value for the money spent on the programme.
While charging the beneficiaries to be dedicated and punctual, he stressed the need for them to approach the programme with the mindset of being empty so that at the end of the day, they would benefit maximally.
On his part, the Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo said the CRAB is an acronym for Creative Review of Arts and Books, stressing that it was named by renowned playwright, Prof Ola Rotimi.
According to him, the CRAB had nurtured, groomed and produced Nollywood actors and actresses like Bobmanuel Udokwu, Ejike Asiegbu,Francis Duru, Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda, Julius Agwu, and a host of others, assuring the beneficiaries that they were on fertile environment to hone their talents.
He noted that symbolically, the crab is a nutritious seafood common in the Niger Delta, and reiterated the need for the beneficiaries to come empty for the training, as it were.
Ihunwo disclosed that the theory classes of the programme would run for three weeks while the fourth week would be for the master classes, and urged the trainees to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a difference by telling the Ogoni story, which he described as inexhaustible by themselves, in order to put Ogoni on the map.
A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.