Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
No fewer than 70,000 farmers will benefit from the Federal Government’s Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme under the Agriculture Transformation Agenda, an official has said.
The Federal Director of Agriculture in the state, Dr Walia Hamman, disclosed this in an interview with The Tide in Yola.
Hamman told our correspondent that this followed the government’s decision to participate in the programme after several meetings between the federal and state government officials.
According to him, Adamawa was the only state that initially declined participation in the programme, adding that the agreement was contained in a letter signed by Governor Murtala Nyako on August 28, 2012, and made available to the ministry.
The letter read: “Honourable Minister, the Adamawa Government expresses appreciation for the effort and programme you are making to enhance the lot of our farming populace, especially those at the subsistence level.
Bauchi
Farmers in Tafawa Balewa Local Government area of Bauchi State have rejected the brand of fertiliser offered them under the e-Wallet System of Fertiliser Distribution.
Mr Bala Suleiman, the Head of Department for Agriculture of the local government council, made this know in Bununu, headquarters of the local government in an interview with The Tide.
Suleiman said, “The farmers are coming but not many, they are coming, but not like expected, but they are coming, it is not the type of fertiliser that they are in need of.
“Initially, they were to take one bag of Urea and one bag of NPK, but the problem we encountered here is that it was only NPK that was brought to this local government while none of the farmers was given seeds.
“We registered 147 farmers under the Agricultural Loan Scheme, therefore, you will see that we have enough farmers that could consume all the consignment.
“But by the time they brought NPK, the time for application of NPK had passed,” he said.
Suleiman said that the council recorded more than 8,000 registered farmers under the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), while four trailers out of the 28 trailers allocated to the area was dumped at Bununu and Zwul sale points.
Ekiti
No fewer than 100 patients received free eye surgery at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti.
The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Olusola Fasubaa, made this known at the Ophthalmology Centre of EKSUTH in Ado Ekiti on Monday.
Fasubaa said that the beneficiaries were treated during the 5th edition of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s Free Health Mission in the state and explained that the free health mission was part of the efforts of the Fayemi-led administration to improve healthcare delivery enshrined in its eight-point agenda.
He urged the beneficiaries to justify the government’s huge spending by taking their drugs according to prescriptions and undergo regular medical check-up.
Dr Kola Adu, the state Director of Hospital Services, said that the free health mission was a continuous exercise, adding that the 6th edition would be held before the end of 2012.
FCT
The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, has called on Nigerians to invest in the printing industry in the country.
Maku made the call when members of the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria visited him in Abuja on Monday.
“I call on Nigerians to invest in printing because it is very lucrative and has a very huge market.
“The manpower base in Nigeria is great, so foreign investors should not be allowed to take over the industry.
“Printing should be driven by the private sector because it is a great source of investment,’’ he said.
He further advised the institute to collaborate with the government and the ministry to foster capacity building.
Jos
The Plateau State Government is to build a centre for traditional medicine to modernise its practice, Prof. Comfort Piwuna, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, has said.
Piwuna told our correspondent in Jos on Tuesday that the gesture would advance herbal practice, rid it of quacks and minimise sharp practices.
“A formal centre for the practice of traditional medicine will bring the practitioners under one umbrella and standardise their reach,’’ he said.
The commissioner explained that the state government, through the Agriculture and Health Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology, had been conducting research on plants for medical purposes.
Gombe
Public schools in Gombe State will resume on September 30, Hajiya Aishatu Ahmed, the Commissioner for Education, has said.
Ahmed told our correspondent in Gombe that 12 schools would not resume until a later date because they were undergoing renovation.
According to her, the schools affected are Government Girls College Doma, Government Science Secondary School, Gombe, Government Science Secondary School II, Gombe, Govt Arabic College, Gombe and Govt Arabic College II, Gombe.
Others are Government Science Secondary School Billiri, Govt Day Secondary School, Ibinola, Hassan Central Primary School Gombe, Kumo Central Primary School, Gabuka Primary School Gombe, Herwagana Primary School and Abubakar Umar Memorial Primary School Gombe.
Kaduna
The police in Kaduna State on Tuesday confirmed the killing of a suspected armed robber and the arrest of another in Zaria in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Aminu Lawal, told our correspondent that the police recovered two guns from an aborted robbery attack in Zaria on Tuesday.
Lawal said on telephone that “our men have succeeded in killing one of the armed bandits, one is in our custody, while we recovered two guns and some ammunition from the gang,’’ adding that investigation into the matter had already begun and urged members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious act to the appropriate authorities.
An eyewitness told The Tide that the robbery attempt occurred at about 3 a.m. when a gang of four armed robbers attacked the house of a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mr Murtala Abbass, at Unguwan-Fatika, Zaria.
Kebbi
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in Kebbi State has promised to assist the State Urban Development Authority on solid waste management.
Dr Ahmed Kasim, the Coordinator of the agency, stated this in Birnin Kebbi when he visited the newly appointed General Manager of the urban development authority, Malam Yahaya Chindo.
He called on the authority to solve the waste management challenges, especially identifying designated dump sites where refuse in the metropolis and urban centres are located and evacuate them.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has threatened to blacklist contractors delaying execution of government projects or doing shoddy jobs.
The governor issued the threat when he paid an unscheduled visit to the State General Hospital, Share, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government area. The hospital is undergoing renovation.
He charged contractors handling government projects to execute them in good time and according to specification, or risk sanctions.
Ahmed, who was visibly enraged with the slow pace of work at the hospital, said his administration would not allow shoddy execution of projects and waste of the state’s scarce resources.
Lagos
Chairman of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Mr Olatunde Jaiyesimi, has advised government to fully engage professionals in the management of construction sites.
Jaiyesimi who gave the advice in an interview with The Tide in Lagos, said that the Federal and State Governments would deliver on their promises to develop the infrastructure if they fully engaged professionals in the construction industry.
He said that construction professionals were the only ones that were complying with construction and building codes.
Jaiyesimi noted that the incidence of building collapse in the country was partly due non-adherence to building codes.
He said that the use of quacks had also compounded problems in the construction industry.
Ondo
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has announced that 50 tricycle ambulances and 10,000 mobile phones would be distributed across the state to assist pregnant mothers.
Mimiko made this known while inaugurating the construction and rehabilitation of Ore township roads in Odigbo Local Government area of the state on Monday.
He said the tricycle ambulances became necessary because “when our mothers are in labour most of them don’t have a way to get to the hospital.
“They are ambulances and mobile hospitals where mothers can give birth,’’ he said, explaining that mobile phones would be given to pregnant women as means of communicating with their health rangers and to call for assistance during emergencies.
Osun
The Chairman, Osun House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Mr Oladoyin Bamisayemi, has urged the State Government to recruit more primary school teachers.
Bamisayemi made the call when the Directors of the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) appeared before the committee in Osogbo.
He said that majority of primary schools in rural areas had shortage of teachers, adding that those to be employed should be posted to these areas.
The chairman appealed to the directors to ensure that teachers when employed were evenly distributed to schools to improve the standard of education of the pupils in the state.
Bamisayemi said the nine local governments, which needed primary school teachers included Ife South, Oriade, Atakumosa East and West, Ejigbo, Ifedayo, Obokun, Ola Oluwa and Bolorunduro.
Zamfara
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Malam Musa Sada, has denied the allegation that the N650 million meant to assist Zamfara State lead poison victims by the Federal Government had been embezzled.
Sada who denied this allegation in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the matter said the ministry applied for N650 million to the Federal Government so as to assist the victims but that this money had not been released to his ministry even though it received the Federal Government’s approval.
Sada assured that whenever this money was released the ministry would make judicious use of it to the victims.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Port Harcourt zonal command has held a one-day capacity workshop with some selected media organisations and civil society organisations in the state
The one-day capacity workshop was aimed at strengthening existing relationships among the media and the civil society organisations in the state with a view to improving the existing relationships among the graft agency and the media.
Speaking at the event the zonal commander of EFCC, MR. HASSAN SAIDU, said the
initiative is part of the Commission’s ongoing commitment to strengthening collaboration with key stakeholders, particularly the media and civil society, in our collective fight against economic and financial crimes , adding that the decision to organize this workshop underscores the strategic importance the EFCC places on the roles of the media and the CSOs as watchdogs of the society.
According to him,all over the world, the partnership between anti-corruption agencies, the media, and civil society has been instrumental in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance, noting that the collaboration is even more imperative in Nigeria given the scale and sophistication of economic crimes we contend with.
“Let me take this opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the invaluable support you have given to the EFCC over the years.
Your consistent focus on our work through reporting, advocacy, and public engagement has helped to sustain the momentum of our preventive and enforcement efforts.”
The EFCC’s mandate is both engaging and arduous. I say this because the landscape of economic crime is dynamic and your duty to report and interpret these developments requires diligence, patriotism and integrity.”
He posted that It is in recognition of these challenges that the Commission introduced a Specialized Workshop Series on Economic and Financial Crimes Reporting for journalists, adding that the commission has expanded this initiative to include civil society organizations to further demonstrate their belief in an inclusive and collaborative anti-corruption framework.
“As you are aware, Port Harcourt remains Nigeria’s treasure base of the Nation and a fertile ground for various forms of economic and financial crimes, ranging from pipeline vandalism, foreign exchange scams and business email compromise to investment and property fraud, and crude oil theft.”
The EFCC zonal commander averred that the 2025 edition of the workshop is Understanding Cryptocurrency Fraud and other Emerging Financial Crimes and Prosecution of Financial Crimes: Issues, Challenges and Way Forward , adding that
It is imperative for us to note that the surge of Cryptocurrency Fraud and other related offences in the Nigeria’s Cyberspace is becoming alarming hence, as part of the efforts of the EFCC to nip this menace and eradicate these crimes from Nigeria Cyberspace there is need for synergy with relevant Stakeholders, that is the reason why the Commission has chosen these topics to educate, create awareness and discuss arising issues that will yield more significant results as the EFCC tackles the spate of these crimes.
“We must work together to intensify public sensitization. Your platforms- print, broadcast, digital, and community-based- are essential in equipping Nigerians with the knowledge to make informed decisions and avoid falling prey to scammers. ”
He reiterated that the fight against economic and financial crimes is not the sole responsibility of the EFCC or other anti-corruption agencies. It is a collective national duty, meaning all hands must be on deck , stressing that
We owe it to our country and, indeed, the global community to expose and confront corrupt practices wherever they exist.
“The media must continue to hold public institutions accountable, while civil society must deepen civic engagement and promote transparency at all levels.
The EFCC remains committed to building a stronger and more effective partnership with all stakeholders in the fight against corruption. he stated.
Earlier In his presentation on cryptocurrency-related crimes, CSE Coker Oyegunle, Head of Advanced Fee Fraud, explained that digital assets are increasingly being used for money laundering, identity theft, phishing, malware attacks, and ransomware, most of which involve untraceable crypto payments.
He noted that Nigeria now has a coordinated regulatory framework involving multiple agencies. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) serves as the lead regulator under the Investment and Securities Act 2025, defining digital assets as securities and licensing virtual asset service providers.
Our correspondent reports that other topics presented during the workshop include prosecuting Financial crimes: Issues, challenges and the way forward and the role of CSOs and media in driving a preventive frame work.
Nation
RSU Blames Poor Funding for Failure to Meet Academic Targets as 1,356 Set for Combined Convocation on Saturday”
The management of Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt, has stated that poor funding has hindered the institution’s ability to meet its expected academic targets.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, made this statement during a press briefing held at the institution on Monday in Port Harcourt, ahead of the week-long 37th and 38th combined convocation ceremony scheduled for Friday and Saturday this week.
Prof. Zeb-Obipi emphasized that poor funding continues to be a major challenge limiting the institution’s ability to meet its targets, adding that they trust the state governor, Sir Fubara Siminalaye, who is the visitor to the university, will continue to strengthen and support them.
He noted that the state governor has demonstrated his commitment to supporting the university, recently approving N700m for the ongoing NUC accreditation.
The Vice-Chancellor stated that the university faces deficits in classrooms, staff accommodation, and student hostels, with the infrastructure gap widening, and existing lecture halls and laboratories requiring renovation.
“We are prioritizing phased upgrades based on program needs,
He added that the university is short-staffed, having lost staff to retirement, death, and changes in job or place of work, and that new programs, departments, and faculties have been created to meet the contemporary needs of society.
Mean while,a total of 13,242 students are set to graduate in the combined convocation, with 10,648 undergraduates, 1,356 Master’s degree students, 700 postgraduate diplomas, and 538 Doctors of Philosophy.
The Vice-Chancellor also used the opportunity to list some achievements of his administration, including the creation of new directorates, completion of abandoned laboratories, and upgrades in the faculty of sciences, made possible with support from the Tertiary Education Technology Fund (TETFund).
He expressed appreciation to the governor and visitor to the university, Sir Siminalaye Fubara, for approving his appointment and promised to justify the confidence placed in him.
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has decried the neglect of communities in Obolo Nation and others in the Niger Delta Region
MOSIEND also called on the stakeholders to empower the youths in skill acquisition and other meaningful ventures to better their lives
This call was on Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Radio program, Talk of the Town, by MOSIEND Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn, alongside Asarama Clan Chairman, Comrade Amos Zebedee Udu, and Unyeada Clan Chairman Comrade Owen Wilson Ngere monitored by our correspondent
The spokepersons underscores the urgent need for government agencies and development partners to respond decisively to the dire state of basic amenities in the area.
MOSIEND leaders in Obolo Nation lamented the absence of potable water, electricity, access roads, and other functional public infrastructures in the clans
“What is troubling is that these complaints continue to echo without corresponding action from the Rivers State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission, and the oil companies operating in and around the area”.
According to the MOSIEND leaders, the situation has reached a point where community members, particularly youths and women, require deliberate intervention to rebuild livelihoods and restore hope.
They also emphasised the need for empowerment programmes, vocational training, and investments in local economies that depend heavily on fishing and trade.
The Clan leaders call for provision of small engine boats for fishermen and the construction of proper market spaces for the communities
Asarama Clan Chairman, Comrade Udu noted that the community participates fully in electoral processes yet continues to live without clean water or electricity.
He insisted that the clan is not benefiting as they ought to from any MoU with oil companies nor from NDDC projects, raises concerns about the fairness and inclusiveness of development planning in the state.
Equally troubling is the account from Unyeada Clan Chairman, Comrade Owen Wilson Ngere, who highlighted the alarming state of Unyeada Primary School, where children are forced to learn on bare floors without desks, chairs, or basic sanitation facilities.
” For a region that hosts oil and gas activities, such conditions are unacceptable and should concern all stakeholders”.
The Unyeada Clan Commended NDDC for the installation of solar lights in the communities, noting that the project is not enough for the entire community as they
appeal for more of the solar project in the area
While the leaders expressed appreciation to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the ongoing construction of roads in the area, and to the local council Chairman for the provision of potable water in some communities, .
“Obolo Nation has shown remarkable restraint and continues to maintain peace, as noted by the MOSIEND Coordinator”.
“The issues highlighted are not demands for luxury,but are basic necessities that every community in the Niger Delta deserves.
“The time for promises has passed; what Obolo communities need now is visible, sustained, and inclusive development.
Chinedu Wosu
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