Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Three persons have been reported dead and many still missing
in flood caused by the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon Republic.
“The incident occurred following the release of water from
Lagdo Dam by the Cameroon Republic on Saturday,’’ Mr Shadrack Barub, the
Secretary of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said.
He added that “during assessment tour by the agency in some
of the affected areas, the agency received three death cases, so far, while
many are still missing and thousands of people have been rendered homeless.”
Barub said that the most-hit areas included Fufore,
Girei,Yola South, Yola North, Demsa, Numan, Lamurde, Sheleng, Michika, Guyuk
and Ganye local government areas.
FCT
The National Youth Desk Coordinator, Presbyterian Church of
Nigeria (PCN), Rev. Akin Mbeh on Sunday called on youths to start to build a
new Nigeria on the “ruins and rubbles ‘’ of what remained of the once
prosperous and glorious nation.
In a goodwill message presented to the youth in All
Presbyterian Church on the occasion of the Youths 2012 Sunday in Abuja and made
available to our correspondent, Mbeh said “If we are not truthful to ourselves
, we will never admit any lost glory of our life .’’
’’Youths and all Nigerians should be both builders of new
things and builders of damaged treasures,’’ he added.
“Therefore, we must think well before we build, know what we
want to build , how to build, for who we are building, why we must build and
our end reward or penalty .’’
Jigawa
The Jigawa Government said on Sunday in Dutse that it haS
spent N2. 5 billion on different scholarship programmes for its students from
2007 to date.
Prof. Haruna Wakili, the Commissioner for Education, said
this during the inauguration of the new site of Dutse Model International
School.
Wakili explained that between 2011 and 2012, no fewer than
307 students from the state were sponsored abroad to study Medicine,
Engineering, ICT and Islamic studies.
He said government’s spending on students studying in the
country had increased from N43 .5 million in 2007 to N734 .5 million in 2011.
The commissioner said tertiary institutions also received a
boost as government recently earmarked N1.1 billion for the establishment of
College of Remedial Studies in Kafin-Hausa.
Katsina
No fewer than 100 houses and 146 farms have been destroyed
by flood in Kofa and Tofani villages in Kusada Local Government area of Katsina
State.
The Tide also gathered that eight persons sustained injuries
during the flood which occurred on Friday in the two villages.
The injured persons were said to be receiving treatment at
various hospitals including Katsina General Hospital and Kankia Hospital, with
three treated and discharged.
The flood was said to have destroyed 85 houses and 95 farms
in Kofa village and 15 houses and 51 farms in Tofani village.
Kaduna
A Zaria-based agrochemical dealer, Alhaji Kasimu Iliyasu,
has won CPC’s primaries to be the party’s flag-bearer for Zaria by-election
into Kaduna State House of Assembly.
Declaring the result after the primaries held in Zaria on
Sunday, the Returning Officer, Senator Mohammed Garba, said Iliyasu polled 59
votes to defeat eight other contestants.
Garba said other contestants were Mohammed Ibrahim, who
scored 29 votes, Abass Hassan, 17 votes, Umar Sani, 13 votes, while Aliyu
Ja’afaru, Mohammed Tukur and Hussaini Usman got five, three and two votes
respectively.
The Tide reports that immediately after the declaration of
the result, all the contestants rallied round the winner indicating acceptance
of the outcome of the primaries.
Kogi
Some residents in Lokoja in Kogi State on Tuesday expressed
mixed feelings on the proposed currency restructuring by the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN).
The Tide reports that while some residents said it would
have positive effects, others said that it would not have desired effects on
the economy.
Mr Bayo Adeyemi, the Manager of Saklad Wine Shop, told our
correspondent that the currency restructuring policy was necessary now to
improve the economy.
He said it would be easier to move funds to banks after
daily sales if N5, 000 notes were part of the nation’s legal tender.
Kwara
Prof. Shehu Jimoh, Chaiman, Governing Council of Kwara
Polytechnic, Ilorin, has urged tertiary institutions in the country to
emphasise the teaching of science and technology courses in their institutions.
Jimoh told The Tide in Ilorin on Tuesday that the emphasis
was needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
According to him, concentrating on the disciplines will also
help move the country forward.
“There is need to place more emphasis on science and
technology, just as they do on cultism, examination malpractice and other
related issues.
“It is obvious now that the development of any nation
depends largely on science and technology and our tertiary institutions should
rise up to the challenge,” he said.
Lagos
Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),
Ahmadu Giade has vowed to put an end to the abuse of narcotic drugs and
unconventional substances in some parts of the country.
This was contained in a statement signed by the agency’s
spokesman, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, which was made available to newsmen in Lagos.
Giade noted that substances like rubber solution, petrol,
lizard dung and pit toilet were regularly abused in some parts of Nigeria,
particularly in Kano State.
“We are determined to stop the abuse of narcotics and
unconventional substances such as rubber solution, petrol, lizard dung and pit
toilet, all in a bid to get high. All hands must be on deck to protect lives
from destruction.
Nasarawa
Academic activities have been paralysed in three tertiary
institutions of Nasarawa due to strike by lecturers.
The institutions are the College of Education Akwanga, the
College of Agriculture and the Nasarawa State Polytechnic, both in Lafia.
Chairman of the Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions in the
state, Comrade Ibrahim Bako, told newsmen in Lafia on Tuesday that it was a
warning strike to press the state government to meet their demands.
According to him, the government has failed to pay the 18
months outstanding salary arrears to staff of the three institutions.
Niger
The Niger Disaster Management Agency has called on the
Federal Government to hasten the repair of the Wuya Usman bridge across the
River Kaduna to avert its possible collapse due to erosion menace.
The Agency’s Director General, Alhaji Mohammed Shaba, made
the call on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Minna.
He said that the repair works must be carried out to prevent
the bridge from collapsing and cutting off the northern parts of the country
from the south on the Bida-Ilorin route.
Shaba, however, said the state government had begun some
repair works around the base of the bridge, adding: “but the Federal Government
must move fast and carry out the repairs so it will be permanent and avoid the
disaster’’.
Ogun
Ten passengers of a commercial bus died on Tuesday at
Obada-Oko in Ogun when their bus collided with an articulated vehicle.
Mr Fatai Bakare, the Itori Unit Commander of the Federal
Road Safety Commission, said the accident occurred along the Abeokuta-Lagos
expressway at about 12 midnight, adding that 11 people were involved.
Bakare gave the registration number of the bus as LAGOS CZ
269 MUS, while the articulated vehicle was marked LAGOS 208 XB.
“All the deceased had been deposited at Federal Medical
Centre (FMC), Abeokuta and Ifo General Hospital. The only survivor is
critically injured and receiving treatment at FMC.
Osun
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the ruling party in
Osun, said on Sunday that it had put the state on the path of growth.
A statement by Mr Kunle Oyatomi, the party’s local Director
of Publicity, Research and Strategy in Osogbo, said that Governor Rauf
Aregbesola’s administration had made life meaningful for the people.
According to the party, as Osun marks its 21st anniversary
on August 27 it has been able to execute meaningful programmes two years after
it assumed power.
The party said that the rainy season that used to be a
period of grief due to poor drainage network was no longer so.
Sokoto
The Chairman of Shagari Local Government in Sokoto State,
Alhaji Abdullahi Maigwandu, said on Tuesday that the council spent about N100
million to construct 10 motorised boreholes in different parts of the area.
Maigwandu told newsmen in Sokoto that the council spent N10
million on the project in each of the 10 wards.
He said that the projects were undertaken to ensure the
supply of potable water for both human and animal consumption.
He explained that the council would continue to initiate
policies and programmes that would have direct bearing on the lives of the
people in the area.
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