Nation
THE STATES
Ekiti
A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti last Thursday sentenced 17 men to two years’ imprisonment each for attempting to plant 18 kilogrammes of Indian hemp (Cannabis) without lawful authority.
The presiding judge, Mr Justice Emmanuel Obile, however, granted each of them an option of fine of N60,000.
Those convicted included David Luke (24), Friday Nwakana (26) Lucky Onyausuma (20), Olu Sounmi (28), Godwin Ogbu (19), Akpan Samuel (40), Bolaji Aluko (32), Bassey Akanima (22) and Anselem Urama (32).
The rest are Raymond Abenu (32), Amechi Akanu (42), Saturday Ileoben (25), Mathew Okah (27) Friday Ejeh (35), Taiye Echaruku (28), Okonye Chukudi (28) and Ezekiel David.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Iliya Waji, a Senior Legal Officer with the NDLEA, had told the court that the convicts were caught attempting to cultivate 60 acres in order to plant 18 kilogrammes of Indian hemp seeds. He said that they were caught on March 6, 2012 at the Ise-Ekiti forest of Ekiti State.
The Defence Counsel, Mr Benson Nduka, had earlier pleaded with the judge to temper justice with mercy, considering the ages of most of the convicts, who could still be useful to the society.
FCT
An Abuja Magistrates’ Court, has ordered that a 23-year-old commercial sex worker, Charity Achibong, be remanded in prison for biting off her lover’s tongue.
Achibong of Jabi village, Abuja, appeared in court on a one-count charge of causing hurt contrary to section 245 of the Penal code.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Clement Egwu, said that one Mr Ephraim Okoronkwo reported the accused on July 9, at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja.
He said that the complainant and the accused had a misunderstanding and heated argument in his room on the day of the incident.
Egwu said that the accused jumped on the complainant in the midst of the argument and bit off his tongue, adding that the accused tried to run away but was apprehended by a security man nearby.
The prosecutor said that the bite caused Okoronkwo serious injury, resulting in his being admitted at the Gwarimpa Hospital, where he is still receiving treatment. The accused pleaded guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs Jacinta Okeke, asked that the case be suspended and that the accused be remanded in prison, while the condition of the accused was being monitored.
Gombe
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has called on the Gombe State Government to implement the 2006 Local Government Scheme of Service.
National President of the Union, Mr. Ibrahim Khaleel, made the call at the official inauguration of the state NULGE Secretariat last Wednesday.
He said most workers in the local government service in other states were already enjoying the scheme.
Khaleel also urged the governor to provide a housing programme for local government workers in each council headquarters as applied to other state workers.
The Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress in Gombe State, Mr. Ahmed Maisakala, urged the governor to pay the arrears of N18, 000 Minimum Wage owed workers in the state.
In his remark, Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo, represented by his Deputy, Mr. Tha’anda Rubainu, assured the workers that the government would look into their requests with a view to meeting them.
Jigawa
The Jigawa Government, has awarded N500 million contract for the construction of two ultra-modern mini-stadia in the state.
The Director of Sports, Alhaji Muhammad Yahaya, who disclosed this in an interview on Thursday in Dutse.
Yahaya said the projects would be executed in Dutse and Kazaure.
He said the contracts were awarded to Mandh and Lidiano construction companies, respectively, adding that the projects were designed to meet national standard.
The director said the gesture was part of the state government’s commitment toward encouraging sports development at the grassroots.
He said the state had concluded arrangements to enable its athletes to participate in the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos in November, tagged “EKO 2012’’.
According to him the athletes would compete in the male and female football, volleyball, basketball and athletics. “Our players are ready to participate and win trophies at the tournament”, he said.
Kebbi
The Kebbi World Bank-assisted Community and Social De
velopment Project will train 118 traditional rulers on ways to reduce environmental degradation, says the acting manager of the project, Mrs. Esther Jatau,.
Jatau said in Birnin Kebbi last Thursday that the project would support the government, corporate bodies and individuals to checkmate the menace of environment degradation.
She noted that open defecation, especially during the rainy season, had become rampant and posed a threat to human health.
Meanwhile, Mr Musa Umar, t the General Manager of the Kebbi State Environmental Protection Agency, who is also the Desk Officer on Environment in the project, said that a total 280 people would be trained.
According to him, the second category of those to be trained include Directors of agriculture in local government councils, vigilance groups, farmers’ associations, media practitioners and NGOs.
Lagos
Some residents in Lagos last Thursday said the new Lagos Tenancy Law had not made the required positive impact on tenants I8 months into the implementation of the law.
The law prohibited a landlord in the state from demanding or receiving rents in excess of six months from a sitting tenant paying monthly and one year rent from a tenant paying yearly.
Fashola signed the Tenancy Bill into law on Aug.24, 2011.
Mr Akeem Folarin, a resident in Yaba, said that he was made to pay two years rent with high commissions to secure his new apartment.
“Three of us were negotiating to rent the place; it would be stupid of me to offer to pay one year when two others were ready to pay two years.
“Some people were lucky to meet law abiding landlords that accepted one year rent, but not all the landlords are complying with the law and it is frustrating,” he said.
Mr Jolomi Ogunlana, a prospective tenant in Surulere area, said the tenancy law had not made the needed impact.
Nasarawa
Relatives of some patients last Wednesday attacked workers of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, for allegedly denying them access to patients.
A statement on Thursday by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr. Ahmed Ashuku, said the incident occurred at the maternity ward of the hospital.
Healleged that the relatives broke the burglary proof of the ward, threw food and other objects at the workers for asking them to keep to visiting hours two workers sustained injury during the fracas and had been treated.
Ashuku in the statement described the action as embarrassing and urged visitors to the hospital to respect official visiting hours.
“It should be noted that the hospital is not a social ground or a place for merriment, but a place for medical attention for the sick.”
Niger
The German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), says it has trained 86 communities in 17 local government areas of Niger State on shea butter processing and production to boost their earnings.
The GIZ Country Representative, Mr Christian Vidmann, said this on Thursday in Minna during the opening of the stakeholders workshop on pro-poor growth and promotion of employment.
Vidmann said that the community members were trained on group formation and how to increase the quantity and quality of shea butter produced in the state for sale in Nigeria and aboard.
According to him, the communities were provided with processing machines under a partnership arrangement between the state government, GIZ and some companies.
He said that the GIZ was ready to partner with the Niger government towards the attainment of its vision of becoming one of the top three most developed economies in the country by the year 2020.
Osun
The Osun Commissioner for Health, Mrs Temitope Ilori, says plans are underway to procure modern technological equipment for the use of physiotherapists in the state.
Ilori disclosed this in Osogbo on Thursday at a scientific conference organised by the Osun chapter of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy.
She noted that physiotherapy was a distinct professional practice with specialised functions in health care and medical rehabilitation services delivery.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Acting Director in the ministry, Mr Adeboye Adelowokan,said procurement of modern equipment would boost health care delivery.
Ilori charged physiotherapists to be more committed and dedicated to duty as part of their contributions toward the reformation of the state’s health sector.
Earlier, the state chairman of the association, Mr Segun Oluwafemi, called for the declaration of a state of emergency in the area of physiotherapy, stating that there was a gross shortage of professionals and equipment.
Oyo
The Managing Director, LNG Ship Manning Limited, Dr
Grant Akata, last Thursday in Ibadan said organisations must effectively deploy the mechanism to rate and reward employees.
Akata said this in a lecture he delivered at the 2012 Annual Branch Conference of Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Oyo State Chapter.
In his lecture was entitled: “Managing Performance and Reward for Organisational Success,’’ Akata, a human resource expert, said organisations must plan, ensure continual monitoring and review of performance as well as develop capacity to rate and reward performance.
He said individual and team members constitute the driving force for the delivery of organisational goals, adding that their contributions must have linkage with the team’s objectives.
Mr Sunday Adeyemi, the Registrar of CIPM, urged members to always update their knowledge, adding that the human resource remained the cornerstone of every organisation.
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