Nation
THE STATES
FCT
The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, has
called on ECOWAS to support efforts at improving education in Africa.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Aliyu Othman,
the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister, in Abuja on Tuesday.
The statement said that Rufa’I made this known at the
opening of the conference of ECOWAS Ministers of Education.
She noted that it was the desire of the Conference of Ministers
of Education of the African Union that education should receive a boost in line
with the AU Second Decade of Education Action Plan 2006-2015.
The minister called on the ECOWAS Ministers of Education to
popularise the tertiary education subsector as a means of developing the skills
required for the improvement in technological, health and research.
Gombe
The Gombe State Government has distributed 60 tonns of
improved seeds free to farmers to boost agricultural production in the state.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Dahiru
Buba-Biri, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) in Gombe on Tuesday.
“Apart from the support the Federal government gave to the
Growth Enhancement Scheme, the governor purchased 60 tonnes of improved seeds
which we distributed at highly subsidised rate,’’ he said.
Buba-Biri said the open pollinated maize was purchased from
Sebore Farms in Adamawa and distributed to farmers, adding that it collaborated
with the federal Government to provide improved seeds for cotton farmers.
“Collaboration is also being brokered by the State, Federal
Government and the private sector to give support to textiles as well as
exporters so that overall market for cotton will be open.
Jigawa
No fewer than seven persons were killed, while 12 others
were injured in floods that ravaged some communities in Kafin-Hausa Local
Government Area of Jigawa.
Alhaji Ahmad Zango, the Deputy Chairman of the local
government, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kafin-Hausa
that 700 houses and many hectares of farmland were also destroyed by the flood.
Zango said that the casualties were recorded at various
collapsed buildings in the communities.
“Dozens of residential homes were destroyed by flood which
killed seven persons and injured 12 others.
“Farm produce, such as rice, maize, millet, sesame seeds and
beans, were also destroyed,” Zango added.
Jos
Governor Jonah Jang
of Plateau has charged political appointees in the state to deliver their wards
in the October 6 bye-election to the People Democratic Party (PDP) candidates
or resign.
The governor said this at a campaign rally for the Plateau
North senatorial as well as the house of assembly seats in Barkin Ladi on
Tuesday.
Our correspondent recalled that the seat became vacant
following the demise of Sen. Gyang Dantong and Mr Gyang Fulani, the majority
leader of the assembly.
“My commissioners, Special Advisers and Council Caretaker
Chairmen in the Plateau North senatorial district must ensure that they deliver
their wards in this bye-election or tender their resignation letters.
The governor said that the bye-election was so crucial to
PDP and would not tolerate any laxity on the part of the appointees.
Kano
The Federal Government has started the training of farmers
in Kano State to minimise the amount of dioxin emission into the atmosphere
from open burning sources.
Alhaji Mohamed Maleh, the project manager of Less Burnt for
Clean Earth, a project of the Federal Ministry of Environment, announced this
on Tuesday at a training workshop for farmers in the state.
Our correspondent reports that dioxins are by-products of
various industrial processes and are commonly regarded as highly toxic
compounds that are environmental pollutants.
Our source reports that the three-day training workshop on
alternative approach to open burning of agricultural residue/waste was
organised by the ministry in collaboration with UNDP and Global Environment
Facility.
Kebbi
The International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD)-supported Community Based Agricultural and Rural Development programme
(CBARDP) has reached 1.3 million rural dwellers in Kebbi, Katsina and Zamfara
States, an official said.
Ms Atsuko Toda, the IFAD country representative, made the
statement on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi while addressing the wrap-up programme of
the FGN/IFAD supervision mission to the states.
She said 550,580 women, representing 41.5 per cent,
benefitted from the programme in the states.
She said 1,815 rural community groups also benefitted from
the programme while 543 community infrastructure were provided.
Toda said there was 200 per cent increase in rice
production, sorghum, recorded 94 per cent, while millet rose by 279 per cent.
Kogi
Kogi Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi says the State Government
will acquire and distribute mobile toilets for the use of the 12,000 displaced
persons in the state.
This is contained in a statement by Mr Michael Abu, his
Press Secretary in Lokoja on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the state is worried about the
possibilities of an outbreak of epidemics in the flood victims’ camps.
The statement stated that the state Ministry of Health had
been empowered to prevent the outbreak of epidemics in the state, added that
the mobile toilets was part of measures to keep the camp clean from diseases.
It expressed the commitment of the State Government toward
tackling the effects of devastation caused by the floods in the state.
Kwara
The Federal Government will engage 1,500 workers through the
Integrated Irrigation Dam Project in Eyekonrin-Araromi, Kwara, an official has
said.
Alhaji Abubakar Aduagba, the Managing Director of the Lower
Niger River Basin Authority, Ilorin, announced this in Eyekonrin, Asa Local
Government Area during the National Good Governance Tour to the project on
Tuesday.
Aduagba explained that the construction of the dam started
in 2009 as constituency project of Mr Ayo Adeseun, a member of House of
Representatives, which was funded by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
According to him, the 1.3 cubic metre dam will also provide
5,000 gallons of water per day for the people living in the area.
He also said that the National Directorate of Employment
(NDE) took advantage of the project to build structure in the area to train
graduates in farming and fishing.
Lagos
The president of the National Association of Nigerian
Traders (NANTS), Mr Ken Ukaoha, on Tuesday commended the Federal Government for
banning the importation of poultry products.
Ukaoha told our correspondent in Lagos that the ban had encouraged
the production and consumption of local breeds.
He said that there was remarkable success in wealth creation
for poultry farmers and those of several other items on the prohibition list.
He said through that policy more farmers had been productively
engaged.
Ukaoha stressed that with the increasing population in the
country, government should popularise local products.
The president, however, noted that the ban was not the best
way to achieve sustainability.
Mina
The management of Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna says it will
recruit a new technical adviser following the suspension of its technical
adviser, Mr Justine Tenge.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Suleiman Isah,
the club’s Media Officer, in Minna on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the indefinite suspension of
Tenge is still effective while the club is following the due process in
recruiting a new adviser.
The statement stated that 12 applications had been received,
noting that a committee would scrutinise and shortlist the successful
applicants for interview.
He said the club took the step because the national league
would start on October 28 and the new adviser would be expected to recruit and
groom players.
Nassawa
The Living Faith Church of Nigeria has donated a modern police
station worth N50 million to the Police Command in Nasarawa State.
The station is at Auta-Baleifi community, Karu Local
Government Area, Nasarawa State.
During the inauguration of the station on Tuesday, the
President of the church, Bishop David Oyedepo, said the gesture would assist
the police in fighting crime.
Oyedepo said “considering the prevailing security situation
in the country, the church thought it wise to assist the police in providing an
enabling environment for them to tackle crime and criminality bedeviling our
society.”
Represented by the Vice President of the church, Bishop
David Abiyoye, Oyedepo said the church donated the facility as part of its
contribution to national development and enhancement of security.
Ondo
Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu said on Tuesday that an ACN
government would cater more for the people of Ondo State if the party wins the
October 20 governorship election.
Tinubu made the promise in Ikare Akoko at the Mega Rally of
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for the poll.
He told the crowd that the wind of change blowing across the
South- West zone would come to the state “if ACN wins the governorship”
election.
Tinubu said the regional integration of the zone would not
be complete without Ondo State and called on the people to vote for the ACN
candidate, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, to be part of that development.
He promised that the tomato factory in Ikare would be
sustained and made to produce at optimum capacity.
Sokoto
Most Rev. Hassan Kukah, the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto
State, says the military administrations are responsible for the lack of
meaningful development in Nigeria.
Kukah told our correspondent in Sokoto on Tuesday that the
military only succeeded in destroying the solid foundation of the nation’s
democracy.
He said that other countries that had similar military
incursions in leadership had a different experience.
“But in our own case the greed of the military led to their
intervention which destroyed the foundation laid by the nation’s founding
fathers,’’ he said.
He explained that the Nigeria military had no capacity to
provide basic infrastructure to the governed for all the years they were in
power.
He said, “the greed of the military that led to the myriad
of military coups destroyed even the foundation of the military itself and this
truncated democracy in Nigeria.’’
Yola
Agricultural inputs worth more than N7 million were on
Tuesday in Yola distributed to 27 farmers’ groups from nine local government
areas of Adamawa.
Mr Chris Maxwell, the Project Manager of the Agricultural
Development Project ADP in Adamawa, gave the figure during the distribution of
the items.
Maxwell said that the inputs distributed were under the
community-based agriculture and rural development project.
He said, “Last year under the programme assorted
agricultural inputs worth N15 million were distributed, and similarly this
year, items worth more than N7 million will be distributed to farmers.
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