Nation
THE STATES
Ekiti
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has barred all elected and appointed officials in the state from campaigning for his second term in office.
Fayemi gave the order in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday at the special sitting of the state House of Assembly while reacting to the vote of confidence passed on his administration by the house.
He called on them to forget about 2014 for now and join hands with him in tackling the various developmental problems confronting the state.
Fayemi, who rejoiced with the assembly, urged the law makers to continue to embrace constructive engagements in dealing with him and forget about campaigning for him for a second term.
“By the vote of confidence you unanimously passed on me today, you have placed a big burden on my shoulder because we have a lot of work to do for our people now. “However, let us limit the encouragement you are giving me to the level of vote of confidence and forget about second term or 2014.’’
FCT
The Director of Assets Declaration, Code of Conduct Bureau, Alhaji Sani Mohammed, has said that civil servants can declare just their bank accounts in the absence of any tangible assets.
Mohammed, who gave the clarification in Abuja on Thursday in Abuja, said assets must not be tangible and big before they could be declared.
He said that some civil servant often complained that they did not know what to declare since they did not own houses, cars or any other assets that they could declare as assets.
The director described asset declaration, as one of the mandatory duties of civil/public servants contained in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Every public officer shall, within three months after taking office, declare his assets and any officer that fails to comply with this provision of the constitution will be deemed to have violated laws of the land.”
Kaduna
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Transport, Sen. Sahabi Ya’u, says the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) is a path for Nigeria to meet global transport challenges.
He made this known on Wednesday to newsmen after inspecting facilities at the NITT in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Ya’u said the institute had all it takes to transform the nation’s transport system, noting that the Senate would revisit its enabling law for the good of Nigerians and Africans.
“So far so good, the institute is doing very well. All the same, we want to review its law in such a way that NITT can compete favourably with world class transport institutes.”
The lawmaker lauded the contributions of the institute toward ensuring a virile and standard transport system in Nigeria.
The NITT Director-General, Alhaji Aminu Musa-Yusuf, had said that without transportation nothing meaningful could be achieved.
Kebbi
Some Political parties in Kebbi on Wednesday criticised the new fees and guidelines issued by KebbiState Independent Electoral Commission (KSIEC), for the forthcoming local government polls in the state. The KSIEC had announced September 15, 2012 as date for fresh council elections.
The state Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Alhaji UsmanDan-Gwari, said that the non refundable fees of N150, 000 for nomination forms for the chairmanship position was too much. He said that the N50, 000 fees for the positions of councillors was not acceptable to the party.
Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), observed that women had not been given any special attention in the guidelines.
The state Chairman of Alliance Democracy (AD), Hajiya Hauwa’u Mohammed, Alhaji Boi Isa, called on the commission to provide alternative for voters who had lost their voters cards to enable them cast their votes.
Jigawa
The Jigawa Commissioner for Education Prof. Haruna Wakili, says the State Government will establish sick bays in all the boarding schools across the state.
Wakili said in Dutse on Wednesday that all the sick bays would be equipped and manned by qualified health personnel.
“The sick bays will be established in all the 43 boarding schools we have, where the sick students will be treated,’’ he said.
He said the State Government had approved the school health policy for the well being of its students.
Wakili explained that henceforth any new student admitted into any of the schools in the state would be examined medically to ascertain the health condition of such student.
“The medical tests will enable us to know the history of the student as it is done in tertiary institutions.”
Nasarawa
Governor Umaru Al-makura of Nasarawa State last Thursday naugurated a seven- member commission of enquiry to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of last week’s violent crisis in the state.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dameshi Luka, Al-makura, described as “shocking’’ the hostilities between the Eggon and Alago tribes in the area, which left many dead and property worth millions of naira destroyed.
The governor said that appropriate legal instruments were executed in setting up the commission and gave it 30 days to complete its assignment and submit a report to government.
Responding, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Isah Ramalan (rtd), assured the state government that the members would carry out their assignment diligently, without fear or favour.
He called for the support of the people of the state, especially the affected communities, to facilitate their assignment, aimed at bringing a lasting solution to the incessant crisis in the state.
Osun
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Osun has described the death of Oba Oladele Olashore, the Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesha as “the end of an era.”
This is contained in a condolence message jointly signed by the party’s chairman, Chief Adelowo Adebiyi and Publicity Secretary, Prof. Moses Awogbade, on Wednesday in Osogbo.
The duo in the statement made available to newsmen said the passage of the traditional ruler was a monumental loss to the state and the country at large.
The ACN chieftains described the late Olashore as one of the nation’s patriots during his life time, adding that his contributions to the country’s financial sector were immense.
“Olashore who until his death was one of the greatest patriots in Nigeria served as a Minister of Finance meritoriously and built a niche for himself in the finance sector.”
Oyo
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has warned the new caretaker executive of the NURTW in the state against acts of violence and brigandage in the state.
Ajimobi gave the warning on Wednesday when the executive members led by Alhaji Taofik Oyerinde visited his office in Ibadan.
The governor said all acts capable of breaching public peace in the state would be seriously dealt with.
He, however, vowed that government would make the state conducive for every peace loving member of the union to go about his business.
Responding, Oyerinde commended the governor for lifting the ban placed on the union’s activities in the state.
Oyerinde assured government that his members would give necessary support to the restoration programme of the state government by conducting itself peacefully at all times.
Plateau
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Garba Pwul, has asked the Plateau Government to “immediately” conduct elections into the local government councils.
“Governor Jonah Jang must move immediately to democratise the 17 local governments by conducting council polls without further delay,” Pwul said in Jos on Wednesday.
Noting that appointing administrators to head the councils was illegal, he asked the governor to end such illegality as there was no place for Transition Chairman in the Nigerian Constitution.
The Plateau State government on January 18 appointed transition chairmen for the 17 Local Governments after dissolving the elected council chairmen, whose tenure had expired.
Pwul said that the governor should not have dissolved the former council chairmen without conducting a fresh council election and argued that with the Plateau Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) in place, there was no need for government to delay the conduct of the polls.
Sokoto
Chairman, Wamakko Local Government Council of Sokoto State, Alhaji Mohammad Kalambaina, said that the council spent about N2.5 million in the renovation of 30 houses in its staff quarters.
Kalambaina told newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday that the project was aimed at maintaining the building structures for optimal use.
He said the administration would continue to accord priority to the welfare of its workers to ensure high productivity.
The chairman called on the workers to reciprocate the gesture by excelling in the discharge of their primary assignments.
Kalambaina called on the people to always live in peace with one another to enable the council provide social amenities for them.
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.