Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
No fewer than 4.5 million Nigerians have so far enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the North-East Zonal Coordinator of NHIS, Alhaji Ma’aji Abdu has said.
Abdu made the statement in Bauchi at the opening ceremony of a Forum for NHIS enrollees and other stakeholders.
He said that the scheme had been embraced by some state governments because of the success it had recorded since inception adding that there were 62 Health Management Organisations, who ensured that drugs were provided to enrollees on request.
He said that NHIS had a drug list, which providers referred to, adding that only generic drugs were allowed as against branded drugs.
The coordinator explained that the list was taken from the Federal Government essential drug list of the Federal Ministry of Health and therefore reliable.
Benue
A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Mr Dan Ogo, has ordered a 20-year old farmer, Mtomga Atem, to be remanded at the Federal Prisons Benue for robbing a police officer.
Prosecutor Michael Ewoh told the court that the police officer, Cpl. Starkis Mwandirga, attached to Zaki-Biam Police Station reported at the station that he was robbed.
Ewoh told the court that the complainant stated that the accused and others now at large, who were armed with dangerous weapons, including guns, broke into his house and robbed him and his wife of their valuables.
He further said that the items stolen were one Nokia and Techno handsets all valued at N11, 500.00, a set of police uniform and his wife’s necklace valued at N2,500
He said the offence was contrary to Sections 97 of the Penal Code and 5(B) and 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, Cap. 398 law of the Federation of Nigeria, 1994.
However, when the case came up for mention, no plea was taken for want of jurisdiction.
Ekiti
The Ekiti State Government has approved the establishment of 16 remedial schools in each of the 16 local government areas of the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr Funminiyi Afuye who disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti in an interview said the remedial schools would avail students, who failed the WAEC examination, the opportunity to be tutored again before sitting for another examination.
The commissioner said government was concerned about the large number of students in the state who fail public examinations each year, adding that it had decided to address the issue.
Afuye promised that the remedial schools would be established before the expiration of the current long holiday. He added that the government had also concluded arrangement to recruit experienced teachers for the proposed schools.
The commissioner urged teachers, parents and students to assist government in its determination to ensure that the state regained its lost glory in the education sector.
Gombe
The Gombe State police command has said that no life was lost in Wednesday’s night attack by gunmen on two anti-Kalare stations in the Gombe metropolis.
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Fwaje Atajiri, said in Gombe that the two anti-Kalare stations were in Tudun Wada Pantami and Idi quarters.
He said that at about 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday unknown gunmen attacked the security operatives but were repelled after an exchange of gun-fire between them and security operatives.
Atajiri , however, said that a patrol vehicle belonging to the security operatives was burnt by the hoodlums, adding that three unexploded explosive devices were found at the scene of the incident.
“There was an exchange of fire and the gunmen immediately left because of our superior power.
“There was no injury on the part of our men and no arrest was made.’’
Atajiri called on the public to always provide information to security agents to rid the state of criminals, stating that the confidentiality of the informants would be guaranteed.
Katsina
The Katsina State Government has approved N92.7 million for landscaping of the new Katsina Government House.
The Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Mustapha Maikudi, made this known in Katsina at a news conference after the state’s Executive Council meeting.
Maikudi said that the government planned to do the landscaping during the rainy season and had awarded the contract to Emaculate Facility Managers.
The commissioner also said that the state government had approved N413 million for the construction of three township roads in Katsina metropolis.
Kwara
An Ilorin Area Court has dissolved a four-year-old marriage over allegations of neglect and care-free attitude of the husband.
Mrs Mujidat Oladimeji of Deeper Life Road, Ilorin, had approached the court to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Musibau, saying she was no longer interested in the union.
She claimed that her husband had neglected her and their three-year-old son since 2008 when they got married.
“ I got married to the defendant in 2008 and since then, there has been no rest of mind. We have been living separately since 2010 and he never cared how we were surviving. “ I have no more love and passion for him anymore,’’ she said.
The defendant, however, did not object to the prayer of the plaintiff and urged the court to grant her request. The judge, Mr Yusuf Abdulkarem, dissolved the marriage and issued a certificate of divorce to the plaintiff.
Kogi
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has emphasised the need for Nigerians to make use of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the nation’s social justice system to fast-track dispensation of justice.
Its Director in Kogi, Mr Ibikunle Medubi, made the call in Lokoja at a one-day workshop on capacity-building for senior orientation and mobilisation officers in Kogi.
Medubi said the ADR mechanism which simply meant, ‘arbitration outside the court system’ had proved to be an instrument to fast-track dispensation of justice in several places where it had been in practice.
The director observed that the expectations of Nigerians in accessing social justice might remain elusive until the ADR was fully adopted and mainstreamed into the justice delivery system.
Its Head of Social Justice, Mr K.C. Ogbedeagu, in his paper titled, “Social Justice and the Concept of Alternative Dispute Resolution” described social justice as the bastion of the Rule of Law.
Kebbi
The Kebbi Government has commenced the disbursement of N379 million to households affected by the construction of five major roads in Gwandu Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Alhaji Hussaini Raha, who made the payment to the beneficiaries, in Gwandu, said alternative land would also be provided them.
He said that the ministry and traditional rulers in the area would work out modalities for the allocation of land compensation to those affected.
The District Head of Gwandu, Alhaji Mohammed Rasheed, commended Governor Sa’idu Dakingari for fulfilling his campaign promise of providing roads in the area and compensating the households affected.
Nasarawa
The Speaker of Nasarawa House of Assembly, Musa Ahmed – Mohammed, has said that PDP lawmakers were not planning to defect to CPC.
Addressing newsmen in Lafia, Ahmed-Mohammed said reports from some quarters that they were planning to leave the party were “false and malicious’’.
He said the reports were aimed at creating “disaffection among the PDP family’’ in the state.
“As the speaker of the Assembly, I know that the 19 PDP members in the House have never contemplated defecting to any political party in Nigeria.
Ogun
The Ogun State Government has urged intending pilgrims for the 2012 Hajj to promptly pay up the balance of their fares in order to guarantee their slots.
The Secretary, Ogun Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Sefiu Rasheed, who made the call while speaking in Abeokuta said that intending pilgrims, who had earlier made initial deposits, should balance up before Aug. 10.
Rasheed said that the state had approved the sum of N570, 000 as fare for the 2012 exercise.
“We arrived at the figure following careful considerations of the welfare and conveniences of the pilgrims. “This is part of the state’s commitment to the welfare of pilgrims from the state, particularly indigenes of Ogun,” he said.
He disclosed that the amount to be paid in the state was the cheapest in the Southwest Region. Rasheed further advised them to have not less than N108,750 and a maximum of N145,000 as the Basic Travelling Allowance for the exercise.
Plateau
The Plateau House of Assembly has elected Dem Daniel as its new Majority Leader. Daniel, a fresh PDP lawmaker, represents Riyom constituency in the House.
The new leader replaces Mr Gyang Fulani, the former Majority Leader, who died on July 8, in a stampede when gunmen attacked mourners at Maseh, a village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Senator Gyang Dantong (PDP, Plateau North), died in that same stampede.
A top official of the House, who would not want to be named, said in Jos that Daniel became the choice because he is from the Plateau to which the post is zoned.
Zamfara
The Zamfara State House of Assembly has directed its committees on Environment and Public Finance to investigate the N1.3 billion Ecological Fund released to the state by the Federal Government.
The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Garba Rikiji, gave the directive, saying that the money was received by the former governor, Mahmuda Shinkafi, after his predecessor Alhaji Ahmad Yarima, made the request in 2006.
Rikiji said further that the fund was meant for the repairs of the Gusau-Wanki Bridge which collapsed following a down pour in 2006. He added that records had shown that Shinkafi collected the money on behalf of the state during his tenure “but could not account for it.”
Earlier, a member of the assembly,Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed, had moved a motion seeking the house to investigate the utilisation of the ecological fund.
The motion which was supported by another member, Alhaji Isah Abdulmumini, was unanimously adopted after deliberations.
The President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide and the Mgboh XIII of the Mgboh Royal Family of Emohua Kingdom in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze (Barrister) Godspower Onuekwa, penultimate Friday celebrated his 80th birthday with pomp, pageantry and fanfare.
The celebration, which commenced with a symposium organised in his honour at Rivers State University on Thursday, August 21,2025, got to a resounding climax on Friday at Suntai Event Centre in Port Harcourt, where people from all walks of life, including business associates, friends, well-wishers, relatives, community folks, traditional rulers, and admirers, gathered to pay glowing tributes to the celebrant.
Before then, a well attended thanksgiving service was held that same Friday at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Okoro-Nu-Odo, to honour him and return gratitude to God Almighty for the fruitful and eventful life and accomplishments of the Emohua leader and icon.
The service which was officiated by Rt Rev Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, Bishop of Niger Delta North had other renowned and respected clerics like Most Rev(Dr) Blessing Enyindah, Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Rt Rev(Dr) Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta; Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, Bishop, Diocese of Evo; and Ven Solomon Eze Nelson, Archdeacon, Okoro-Nu-Odo; among others lined up as officiating ministers.
The service lived up to its billing, as it featured powerful and soul-lifting praise and worship; point-blank prayers; and beautiful renditions, which electrified the entire atmosphere, essentially packaged to thank God for the life of the celebrant.
However, the crowning moment actually came when the who is who, the crème de la crème of the society, thronged the terraces and fabulously decorated expansive hall of Suntai Event Centre, to celebrate Eze Onuekwa, amid accolades, aplomb and panache, wining and dining, and clinking of glasses with him and all.
The chairman of the colourful ceremony, Chief Evans Woherem, who was represented by Eze(Prof) Christian Akani of the prestigious Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, praised the celebrant for his youthfulness in spite of clocking 80 years, generosity, humility, humaneness and selfless services to the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and called on all and sundry to emulate his good legacies and simple disposition towards life and existence.
Goodwill messages also poured in in torrents to underscore and salute the doggedness, resilience, astuteness and uniqueness of the endearing life of the celebrant, with Prof Emenike Wami, the Ochia Ohna Ikwerre(XIV), taking the lead.
Prof Priye Iyalla, the wife of late renowned writer, novelist and playwright, Dr Elechi Amadi, held the audience spellbound as she masterfully reeled out the profile of the celebrant, amid intermittent applause from the crowd.
The Tiv Community from Benue State, resident in Rivers State, were not left out, as they honoured and decorated Eze Onuekwa in their complete traditional regalia.
Cultural displays from Baptist Church, Rumuowhor; ADNA Wogbuji Dancing Group, Egbeda; Tiv Dancing Group; and Promoter Eze and Rumu-Mgboh Emohua Wrestling Group, equally added colour and grace to the occasion, with the celebrant and his wife, Dame Ann Onuekwa, joining them to wriggle their waists and bodies in ecstasy.
In his response, the highly elated celebrant, Eze Onuekwa thanked all those gathered to celebrate with him, saying, celebrations would never cease in their homes, and attributed everything he represents in life, including his modest accomplishments to God.
Eze Onuekwa, while addressing newsmen, harped on the need for hard work among the youths and members of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, as a way of sustaining and giving meaning to the motto of the organisation, which he noted is anchored on peace, unity and progress.
He specially thanked God for sustaining his life, and for making everything possible for him and his family, saying, he was joyous that he has today become an octogenarian and elder statesman in Rivers State.
His son and medical practitioner, Dr Samuel Chizia Onuekwa expressed delight that people from far and near had come together to celebrate the father, whom he described as a role model and great inspirator.
He said it was a good thing that the children were celebrating their father when he is alive, stressing that the last time Eze Onuekwa was celebrated in such magnitude was 20 years ago, during his 60th birthday celebration, and prayed God to grant him many more years in good health.
Among dignitaries who graced the event were Senator Andrew Uchendu; Chief Sampson Agbaru; Prof Emenike Wami; Dr Peter Didia; Eze(Prof) Samuel Ugo Onyeka; and a host of others. Justice Iche Ndu(rtd); and C O Kattey were among personalities that attended the thanksgiving service, while the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi led the academics who graced the symposium, alongside Eze G A O Omodu.
As the 100 Ogoni youths trained by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Creative Arts close out their training on Tuesday at the Theatre Arts Department, University of Port Harcourt, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has urged the beneficiaries to use the skills acquired to ensure that the Ogoni stories are told and heard in the right way.
The trainees, who had completed a four- month training in script writing, film production and make-up are beneficiaries of the HYPREP sustainable livelihood programme, aimed at providing high demand skills to Ogoni youths in the lucrative creative arts and entertainment industry.
Zabbey described the Creative Arts training as well as other programmes and interventions as HYPREP’s strategic sustained effort to create alternative sources of livelihood.
”Targeted capacity building for Ogoni youths and women remains a central strategy in HYPREP’s livelihood restoration and improvement efforts. Our goal is to reach every part of the Ogoni community and ensure that no group or talent pool is left behind. This training is a deliberate step to empower young people who aspire to make their mark in the creative and entertainment industry”, he said.
While commending the trainees for producing four short films within the training period, one of which was premiered at the ceremony-Dirty Festival, the Project Coordinator noted that the training would serve as a springboard into the industry, and enable them earn a living, become entrepreneurs, and open new doors of opportunities for themselves and their communities. The three other movies are Open Pain, Bomu and Green War.
He enjoined them to utilise their skills and platforms to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental sustainability, urging them to ensure that Ogoni is heard in the right way, speak for HYPREP and highlight the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report.
Other speakers at the event, including the Director of Technical Services of HYPREP, Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi; Dr Ovunda Ihunwo, Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt; Chief Douglas Experience, the Project Coordinator of Halibiz Consult Limited; and Mrs Josephine Nzidee, Head, Sustainable Livelihood of HYPREP, all applauded HYPREP for the training, and charged the trainees to maximise the opportunity.
The trainees were later presented certificates of participation.
Visibly elated Ms Lebee Tornwe, one of the beneficiaries, thanked HYPREP and the Project Coordinator for offering the trainees the rare opportunity to acquire skills in the creative arts and entertainment industry, and expressed delight that Dr Ihunwo and Halibiz Consult Limited gave their all in grooming them.
With the wrapping up of the Creative Arts training(100), HYPREP has trained 230 Ogoni youths in high demand skill sets ,viz; seafaring(100); and aviation (30). The Project will this year, commence training in other skill areas, including Mechatronic, Aviation, Full-Stack Development, Commercial Diving, Underwater Welding and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Still in the offing is the training for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities in five skill sets- fish farming; basic computer skills; photography; fashion and design; and shoemaking in line with their Needs Assessment and HYPREP’s policy of inclusivity.
The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) had called on stakeholders to work collaboratively towards the development and empowerment of Ogoni youths.
NYCOP made the call in a communique issue over the weekend after an emergency Congress in Port Harcourt and signed by its President, Comrade Raymond Nwibani Marcus.
In the communique, NYCOP endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s appointments of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BOT) members of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), particularly Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah as Chairman of HYPREP’s BOT.
It respectfully appealed to the President to consider appointing a representative from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) under the leadership of Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, being the pioneering social vehicle for Ogoni advocacy since the inception of the Ogoni struggle, adding that it would significantly contribute to the decision-making process.
The body commended the overall management of HYPREP and urges the President to continue funding the HYPREP project.
NYCOP furthermore recommended considering the conversion of HYPREP from a project to a full-fledged agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The communique also stated that NYCOP thanked President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, and for appointing key staff, forming a dialogue committee, and initiating infrastructural projects like the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and economic prospects.
In solidarity with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying it believes his leadership embodies the aspirations of the Ogoni people and Nigerians at large.
“After thorough consideration of the Disciplinary Committee’s report, NYCOP resolves:
” To indefinitely suspend Comrade Nade Nade Burale from his position as Secretary General due to misconduct.
“To declare Comrade Saviour Imeabe persona non grata on Ogoni youth issues, given his actions’ potential to instigate crisis in Ogoni and beyond” the communique stated.
NYCOP in his resolution issued a 7-day ultimatum to former HYPREP BOT Chairman Mike Nwialeghi to explain the $100 million HYPREP fund investment, warning of potential litigation.
NYCOP reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ogoni youth interests and preventing personal aggrandizement.
According to the communique the resolutions demonstrate NYCOP’s efforts to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth.
“We will no longer tolerate any individual or group using the name or issues of Ogoni youth for personal aggrandizement.
” Our mandate is clear: to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth” the communique said.
NYCOP passes a vote of confidence in Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah, acknowledging his impeccable credentials and credibility to lead the BOT of HYPREP effectively.
Kiadum Edookor
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