Nation
THE STATES
Benue
Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State says his
administration has worked out modalities to reduce poverty in the state to the
barest minimum.
He said this in Makurdi while inaugurating 42 units of buses
acquired by Benue Links Transport Company Limited.
The governor said he intended to achieve poverty reduction
through collaborative efforts with relevant agencies such as National Poverty
Eradication Programme (NAPEP) among others, pointing out that the acquisition
of the buses was also a move toward poverty reduction as they would ply all the
routes in the state and beyond at very reduced cost.
He urged the management of the company to handle the buses
with care in order to continue to serve the people for years.
Gombe
Gombe State Government will introduce a new method to screen
out pregnant intending pilgrims to this year’s Hajj, Dr Ya’u Kashere, Head of
the state Hajj Medical Team, has said.
Kashere said this during a sensitisation tour to Balanga and
Deba Local Government areas of the state by the state Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Usman
Baba-Liman.
He said the method would help to detect pregnant pilgrims
through scanning to void any more problems for the state during Hajj operations.
According to him, the Saudi Arabian Government had reduced
10 Hajj seats for the state this year as penalty for allowing a pregnant
pilgrim, who delivered in the Holy land, to travel for the Hajj last year.
Jigawa
The Jigawa Agricultural and Rural Development Authority
(JARDA) has introduced new farming techniques to farmers in the state, Alhaji
Rabiu Taura, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, has said.
Taura told The Tide on Friday in Dutse that the development
would boost crop yields during the next farming season adding that the measure
was aimed at transforming farming from subsistence to commercial venture for
economic growth and sustainability.
The commissioner pledged that the government would continue
to support agriculture in line with the Federal Government’s Agricultural
Transformation Agenda.
‘’It is in view of this that the state government has
provided tractors, fertiliser and other farm inputs toward boosting agriculture
not only in the state, but also in the country in general, ‘’ he said.
Lagos
An Environmentalist, Mr Godwin Ategwasi, has commended the
Federal Government for setting up the Presidential Committee on Flooding to
ascertain the level of devastation and proffer solution.
Ategwasi, the Deputy Director, Land Resources and Watershed
Monitoring in the Federal Ministry of Environment, gave the commendation in an
interview with our correspondent in Lagos.
He said that the committee, chaired by the Minister of
Environment, Mrs Hadiza Mailafia, would carry out vulnerability study on flood
test and proffer solutions to the perennial disasters
“The Federal Government is doing everything possible to
address flooding but Nigerians too must put up a good attitude towards the
environment,’’ he said.
Kano
The National Assembly has received 10 requests for creation
of new states from various communities in the North-West geo-political zone, a
member of the assembly has said.
Rep. Kawu Sumaila (ANPP-Kano) said in Kano while answering
questions from newsmen that two of the requests were from Kano State.
“There are a number of parameters to be considered before
creating a state such as landmass, population and Federal Constituencies.
“And in addition to that, 24 state assemblies must back or
support the requests,’’ he said, and advised the communities agitating for new
states to come up with reasonable demands in order to realise their dream.
On the issue of state police, the legislator who represents
Sumaila/Takai Federal Constituency, said he did not support the move in view of
the complex nature of the country.
Katsina
The Kebbi State Government has invested N1.6 billion in the
IFAD-assisted Community-Based Agricultural and Rural Development Programme
(CBARDP) in the last three years, an official said.
The programme is being financed by the International Fund
for Agricultural Development (IFAD), with the federal, states and local
governments providing counterpart contribution.
The seven benefitting states in the northern part of the
country are Borno, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.
Alhaji Garuba Hassan, the Kebbi State Project Officer told
The Tide in Katsina that the government had also disbursed N1 million to each
political ward to execute projects of their choices.
Kebbi
The Fityanul Islam of Nigeria group has pledged to sustain
the forum to foster peaceful co-existence between Muslims and non Muslims as
part of efforts to ensure national development.
Dr Muhammadu Abdulfathi, the group’s National President made
the pledge recently at the 2012 annual executive meeting of the group in Birnin
Kebbi.
He said that the forum was aimed at ensuring that youths
were united as bedrock of society and leaders of tomorrow.
“Our organisation is an advocate of peace and progress
through maximum support for the youth to imbibe global trends and contribute
towards rapid development and tolerance for one another devoid of tribal,
religious and ethnic sentiments.
Kogi
Governor Idris Wada of Kogi has reiterated the commitment of
the state government to render essential support to people displaced by flood
in the state.
Wada made the pledge on Saturday in Lokoja when he received
a 21-member presidential committee on flooding, who were in the state to assess
the level of damage caused by the disaster.
Represented by his Deputy, Arc. Yomi Awoniyi, the governor
said he had taken the issue of the disaster very personal, adding: “the government is on top the situation.’’
He said several measures aimed at granting relief to the
victims had been taken by the government while efforts were ongoing to relocate
and rehabilitate them.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed of Kwara State, has described the
death of Ahaji Kehinde Abdulrahaman, who died in a flood disaster last Thursday
in Akerebiata, Ilorin as a great loss.
The governor stated this in a condolence message to the
family of the deceased on Saturday.
Represented by his Special Adviser, Relief and Emergency,
Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, the governor said he was deeply touched by the death of
the deceased, describing death as a necessary end that every human being would
taste and urged the family of the deceased to see it as the wish of God.
Ahmed donated the sum of N200, 000 to the family of the
deceased to provide immediate succour to them.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State government on Saturday in Rinze, near
Akwanga promised to release more funds for the development of the 13 local
governments in the state.
Mr Dameshi Luka, the state’s Deputy Governor, made the
promise at the ceremony accompanying the distribution of materials for development
projects in the Akwanga West Local Government Area.
“The state government is ready to release more funds to
local governments and development areas which show commitment to quality
service delivery,’’ Luka, represented by Mr Samuel Meshi, the Commissioner for
Science and Technology, said.
He said the distribution of materials was to make life more
meaningful as well as bring development to the people at the grass roots.
The Tide reports that materials distributed included
transformers, an ambulance, a car, zinc and beds among others.
Niger
The Niger State Government is discussing with United Nations
Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Bank of Industry to
establish a Shea butter factory, an official has said.
Alhaji Ahmed Kontagora, Director General, Niger State Export
Promotion Council, said at a press briefing on Saturday in Minna that the
discussions had reached advanced stage.
“Niger State Government is talking with UNIDO and Bank of
Industry with a view to establishing a Shea butter refinery in the state; this
is because in the whole of Africa there is no Shea refinery.
The Director General did not say when and where the refinery
would be sited in the state but said that discussions with UNIDO and the bank
was on.
He said that the world market value of Shea nuts stands at
$3.8 billion, adding that one tone of Shea nut in the state now sells for
between 250, 000 and N300, 000.
Ondo
Ondo State Government spent N2.5 billion on rural
electrification projects in the last three and a half years, Mr. Sola
Akinsanmi, Chairman, Ondo State Electricity Board, said.
Akinsanmi told The Tide in Akure that the current state
administration completed 110 electrification projects in the 18 Local
Government areas during the period.
He said the administration inherited 43 uncompleted
electrification projects from its predecessor but had completed them, adding
that the board was currently executing 16 projects out of which eight would be
connected to the national grid in one week.
He, however, said that inadequate funding was a major
challenge to the activities of the board, in addition to acts of vandalism on
equipment by miscreants, which had slowed the pace of work by the agency.
Plateau
Fish farmers in Plateau State will access facilities offered
by the National Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (NACS) only if they
organise themselves into groups.
Mr. Badmus Olanrewaju, the Deputy National Secretary of the
Fishery Society of Nigeria (FISON) and spokesman of the body in Jos, told The
Tide that all necessary steps had been taken to ease access to such facilities.
The Head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt’s College of Health Sciences, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive forensic science infrastructure, warning that the nation’s ability to investigate and solve crime is being hampered by lack of scientific data and systems.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Man: Fearfully Different, Wonderfully Made,” delivered as part of the 207th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university, Prof Oladipo highlighted that while no two individuals are exactly the same, the country currently lacks the robust systems needed to collect and manage biological and anthropometric data that could support criminal investigations.
He explained that the natural variations among humans — from fingerprints to physical measurements — form the foundation of personal identification in forensic work. These biological differences, he said, are essential for distinguishing one person from another, especially in the context of criminal investigations where clarity of identity can mean the difference between justice and impunity. Without this scientific foundation, he argued, law enforcement agencies lack a critical tool in the fight against crime.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s forensic science capacity has historically lagged behind needs, with only a few forensic facilities available and many law enforcement agencies struggling to access or use scientific evidence effectively. One review of the state of forensic investigation in Nigeria found that outdated facilities and limited adoption of modern forensic methods have left many cases unsolved or poorly investigated, even as crime rates rise across the country.
In Lagos, efforts to improve forensic capabilities have focused on DNA analysis, with the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre — the first of its kind in West Africa — providing critical support for criminal investigations and helping to identify human remains, link related cases, and assist with paternity testing. However, such initiatives are yet to be replicated at a national scale, leaving many regions without access to these vital scientific tools.
Prof Oladipo’s lecture went beyond academic theory to propose concrete actions. He called for the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Science responsible for creating and managing a nationwide anthropometric and forensic data bank. This repository, he stressed, would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to track crime, assist law enforcement agencies, and improve the administration of justice by providing reliable scientific evidence for investigative and legal processes.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening research and training in forensic science. Many Nigerian universities currently lack the funding and infrastructure to offer complete undergraduate or postgraduate programs in areas such as forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, and crime scene investigation, a gap that forces aspiring experts to rely on collaborations with institutions abroad. By fostering a research-friendly environment and securing greater support from both government and private sectors, Nigerian institutions could produce homegrown experts capable of advancing forensic science in the country.
Awareness of forensic science’s role in criminal justice remains low among the general public and even among some security professionals. Studies have shown that a significant portion of Nigerians are unfamiliar with basic forensic concepts or the existence of tools such as DNA profiling and national forensic databases — tools that are common features of criminal justice systems in countries like South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Oladipo also urged regular training and retraining programs to keep forensic practitioners updated with evolving scientific methods. According to him, continuous professional development is critical in a field where technological advances — from biometric databases to digital forensic tools — are transforming how crimes are investigated and solved.
The lecture was attended by academics, students, and professionals drawn to the intersection of science, identity, and justice, all of whom heard the professor make a compelling case for scientific innovation and institutional reform as central to Nigeria’s effort to contain crime and strengthen its justice system.
The event not only showcased Prof Oladipo’s expertise in human anatomy and forensic psychology but also positioned forensic science as a strategic national priority — one that could bring clarity to investigations, support victims and their families, and ultimately enhance public safety across Nigeria.
The University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) on Thursday staged a vibrant and memorable edition of its Annual Inter-House Sports Competition at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Village, drawing an impressive turnout of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests.
The event, organised by the UPWA International Group of Schools, brought together children from the pre-nursery, nursery and secondary sections in a colourful celebration of youth athleticism, discipline and teamwork. The arena came alive with cheers and excitement as pupils, clad in their various house colours, marched in a ceremonial parade before proceeding to compete in a wide range of track and field events, relays, novelty races and other team-based activities designed to promote physical fitness and healthy competition.
Declaring the competition open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended UPWA for sustaining a tradition that continues to nurture young talents beyond the classroom. He noted that sports remain a critical component of holistic education, helping to build resilience, confidence, leadership skills and social interaction among children.
In her remarks, the President of UPWA, Professor Udeme Georgewill, expressed appreciation to parents, teachers and members of the organising committee for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the success of the programme despite prevailing economic challenges. She described the event as a reflection of unity and collective effort within the school community.
“This is the first time White House is emerging overall winner, and that shows remarkable improvement and great sportsmanship,” she said. “We all had fun. It is not easy putting an event like this together considering the economic situation, but we are grateful to the parents for being part of this journey. The excitement everywhere is truly heartwarming.”
The competition featured spirited participation from the various houses, including Purple House, San Chicago Red House and White House, with pupils demonstrating strength, speed, coordination and teamwork. Parents and supporters filled the stands, cheering enthusiastically and adding colour to the spectacle, while teachers ensured orderliness and safety throughout the proceedings.
Professor Georgewill emphasized that the true essence of sports lies not merely in winning trophies but in participation and personal growth. “Sports is not just about winning. It is an avenue for growth, discipline and opportunity. The fact that a child is able to participate is already a win. Losing this year does not mean you cannot win next year. Keep trying,” she encouraged, urging pupils to see both victory and defeat as stepping stones to greater achievements.
She further observed that while there are many competing interests in the Nigerian sports sector, consistent grassroots investment remains essential for discovering and nurturing future champions.
The colourful ceremony culminated in medal presentations, trophy awards and group photographs, with UPWA executives, including Vice President I, Professor Adedamola Onyeaso, joining the participating teams to celebrate the day’s achievements.
The annual inter-house sports competition continues to stand as one of UPWA’s flagship events, reinforcing its commitment to balanced education, character formation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among its pupils.
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