Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday inaugurated
its North – East Zonal office in Bauchi.
Inaugurating the building, Governor Isa Yuguda, represented
by his deputy, Alhaji Sagir Saleh, described Bauchi “as the birth place of
PDP.”
“PDP was born in Bauchi State. The party has no ethnic,
religious or sectoral coloration,” he said.
According to him, the state government has very good
relationship with members of the executive council of the party in the zone and
added that the occasion marked the fulfilment of his promise to provide a
befitting office for the party in the zone.
Benue
The Special Assistant to Benue State Governor on Millennium
Development Goals (MDGS), Timothy Aikor, recently expressed satisfaction over the
completion of N1.8 billion MDGs projects in the state.
Aikor made this known when he addressed participants at a
one-day capacity building workshop for state and local government officials in
Makurdi recently.
He said that the funds were used to renovate and upgrade 49
primary healthcare centres in 23 local government areas of the state, pointing
out that eight bore holes were constructed in each of the local governments and
some public institutions in the state.
FCT
President Goodluck Jonathan has described the late Dr.
Abdul-Lateef Adegbite as a bridge-builder who reached across ethnic and
religious divides to promote peace and unity.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati,
The President said that Adegbite’s tenure as the
Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA),
would forever be remembered for fostering peace and unity among religious
groups in the country.
The President said the late Adegbite would also be
remembered for his moderating influence and
observed that Adegbite’s wealth of experience in government, private
practice and especially in handling inter-religious matters , would no doubt,
be missed.
Jigawa
The Birnin kudu Local Government area of Jigawa State has
said it would buy variety of improved seeds for distribution to farmers in the
area.
Alhaji Khalid Ibrahim, the council chairman, disclosed this
in Birnin kudu in an interview with The Tide.
Ibrahim, who said this shortly after launching 12 hectares
of new maize variety demonstration farm in Birnin Kudu, said the improved seeds
to be bought were maize, ground nuts, millets, sesame and rice.
He pledged that his administration would continue to give
priority to agriculture as contained in President Goodluck Jonathan’s
transformation agenda to make things better for the citizenry.
Kaduna
Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State has threatened to
sack contractors handling the evacuation of solid waste in the state over poor
performance.
Yakowa told newsmen in Kaduna after going round the city to
assess the conduct of the state monthly sanitation exercise that the government
would review the performance of the contractors and sack those found wanting.
The governor noted the heaps of refuse dumped on major high
ways of the city, saying, “erring solid waste contractors will be sacked
irrespective of their connection because they are not fulfilling their part of
the contract agreement”.
Kano
An environmentalist, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu, has called on
residents of Kano to ensure that collection and disposal of refuse generated
are properly disposed off into designated sites.
Shehu, who gave the advice in Kano on Sunday in an interview
with The Tide said dirty environment could lead to preventable diseases.
He stressed the need for people to imbibe the culture of
cleanliness to guarantee good health.
“Cleanliness is part of our culture and the government
require the full support of the public to transform our environment,” Shehu
said.
Katsina
Head of the Immunisation Unit of the National Primary Health
Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Mustapha Mahmud, says Katsina State has
the highest cases of polio infection in Nigeria.
Mahmud, who said this in Katsina while speaking with
journalists on Saturday stressed that Katsina State recorded the highest number
of polio cases out of the 88 confirmed cases in the country.
Mahmud, however, said that the state government had shown
some seriousness in tackling the menace of polio once and for all.
“The governor emphasised that funds have been released not
once or twice; he has directed the state Primary Health Care Development Agency
to release funds for polio immunisation.
Kebbi
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu
Tambuwal, on Saturday gave an assurance that the dispute with Saudi Arabia over
repatriation of some female pilgrims would be resolved amicably.
Tambuwal, the Head of the Federal Government’s delegation
appointed to resolve the matter, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that concerted
efforts were being made for Nigerians to perform the pilgrimage.
He expressed optimism that the matter would be resolved,
considering the cordial relations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
He appealed to the prospective pilgrims to exercise patience
as the matter would be resolved to enable them to attend the religious
function.
Kogi
Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State has advised the people of
the state to be at alert as the flood will continue for a long time.
Wada who gave the
advice in Lokoja while receiving relief materials donated to the state by
Partners for Development and Baby Hanatu Foundation said that the brief he just
received from experts on the flood disaster was categorical that the state
would witness more floods.
Wada said that the government would do its best to mitigate
the effects of the disaster on the people living in the affected 332
communities spread across the nine local government areas of the state.
The governor, who had earlier met with officials of NEMA to
get a situation report on the flooding, thanked the donors for their support
and assistance, assuring them that the materials would reach the victims.
Lagos
Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited (BCHS), the contractor
handling the reconstruction of Lagos-Ibadan expressway, says it will
re-introduce weigh bridges to regulate the weight of the cargo of haulage
trucks.
Mr Dipo Kehinde, the Head of Communications and Media
Relations in BCHS, said this while speaking with newsmen in Lagos, adding that
the measure would prevent the abuse of the highway.
Kehinde said that trucks, whose cargo exceeded the required
capacity, would be made to shed load before using the highway.
“It is because there has been some indiscipline in the past;
you cannot have a road like this without weighing what is transported on it.
Ogun
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has urged Nigerians
to continue to live in peace and harmony to bring about development in the
country.
Amosun made the call at a special Jumat service held at the
Central Mosque, Abeokuta, to mark the nation’s 52nd independence.
He said that the country had come of age and that activities
that would continue to bring development should be the priority of any
government.
“As we celebrate, we should give priority to policies and
programmes that will better the lives of our people.
“I believe that with the cooperation of our people, Ogun
State will move from strength to strength.
Taraba
The Taraba Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sani Abubakar, has
challenged the competence of the panel investigating allegations of gross
misconduct against him.
The Judicial Panel of Inquiry was set up by the state Acting
Chief Judge, Justice Josephine Tuktur, to investigate the allegations by the
state House of Assembly which was seeking to impeach the deputy governor.
His counsel, Barr. Yunusa Usman (SAN), said the panel was
not properly constituted and was therefore not competent to investigate the
allegations against his client.
He said the acting Chief Judge, who constituted the panel,
had over stayed the statutory three months provided by law to hold the office
in acting capacity.
The counsel also alleged that a member of the panel, Hajiya
Aisha Mohammed, had been indicted by a judicial commission set up by the
present state administration.
Zamfara
The Zamfara State Government last Friday received 137 female
pilgrims who were deported from Saudi Arabia.
The deportees, who arrived at the state capital Gusau, were
received by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala, at the Presidential
Lodge.
Addressing the pilgrims, the deputy governor, who is also
the state Amirul Hajj, sympathised with the women.
Wakkala assured that the Federal Government had entered into
diplomatic discussions with the Saudi Arabian Government over the matter,
adding that the matter would be amicably resolved and that the pilgrims would
be taken back so that they could perform the Hajj.
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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