Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Senior Special Adviser to Governor Isa Yuguda on
Pilgrims Affairs, Alhaji Sanusi Sarkin-aska has solicited the establishment
of a pilgrims’ camp near the Bauchi
International Airport, currently under construction.
He made the call in Bauchi while speaking at a farewell
ceremony organised for intending pilgrims from Bauchi State.
Sarkin-aska said that if the pilgrims’ camp was close to the
airport, it would make things easier for pilgrims and officials during hajj
operations and commended the state
governor for aiding the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board to discharge its duties
effectively.
In his message, the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu,
urged the intending pilgrims to be mindful of the fact they were travelling to
Saudi Arabia purposely to perform their religious obligations.
FCT
The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters,
Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, has called on Nigerians to support government to nurture
democracy to maturity.
Gulak made the call on Sunday in Abuja in an interview with
our correspondent.
“All Nigerians must
put their hands on deck to see to it that this democracy is nurtured to
maturity and it is sad that many have failed to see national issues different
from partisan politics,” he said.
The special adviser urged Nigerians to believe and genuinely
contribute their quota to the success of the Nigerian project to actualise and
enjoy the dividends of democracy.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government on Saturday said it would
prosecute parents who reject the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for their children in
the on-going immunisation exercise in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Tafida, told
newsmen that defaulters would be sentenced to between six months and one year
imprisonment without an option of fine.
Tafida said this at the beginning of the October round of
Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs) exercise in Dutse, pointing out that the state
House of Assembly had enacted a law which was assented to by the governor to
deal with “anybody who rejects the vaccine and also to promote participation in
the exercise.’’
He said that the state had also adopted effective campaign
measures to sensitise communities on the importance of presenting their wards
for vaccination and also mobilise participation in the exercise.
Jos
The Association of Architectural Educators in Nigeria
(AARCHES) has advised the federal and state governments to always engage
architects in urban design to avoid ecological problems arising from climate
change.
The advice is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of
the three-day biennial general meeting of the association, held at University
of Jos.
“Government should create consultancy services for
architects in urban design so that such professionals can solve ecological problems
arising from climate change.
“The architects are in the best position to advise
government and suggest ways out of incessantly changing climatic conditions,”
the communiqué stated.
Kano
The Kano State Government has donated 52 truckloads of
relief materials to flood victims in neighbouring Niger Republic.
The items include 5,000 bags of maize, 5,000 bags of millet,
5,000 bags of guinea corn, 5,000 blankets, 5,000 pieces of “Shadda’’ brocade
and 5,000 pieces of female textile wax.
Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso, who presented the items at
Bandirawo, Dawakin Tofa Local Government
Area of the state, said that the donation was aimed at alleviating the
suffering of the flood victims.
Kwankwaso, who spoke about the long-standing relations
existing between Kano State and Niger Republic, stressed the need for people to
be their brothers’ keepers so as to strengthen harmonious living and promised
to continue to work with the Nigerien government in efforts to promote
socio-economic ties between Kano State and Niger Republic.
Kogi
Four persons from Ajaokuta Local Government Area in
Kogi State are still missing after the
flood that ravaged the area recently, a council official said.
The acting Chairman of Ajaokuta Local Government Council, Mr
Aloysius Okino, said in Lokoja on Sunday that the missing persons included
three women and a man, pointing out that
when he visited the displaced persons in Gadumo camp in Ajaokuta the victims were from Onakumi Island, which
was completely submerged in the flood
He said all efforts to trace the four had been fruitless.
The Tide recalls that the Red Cross had earlier confirmed
the death of two male adults in Ajaokuta area during the disaster.
Apart from Onakumi village which was completely washed away
by the flood, Okino said that fishing which was the traditional occupation of
the people, had been disrupted while rice farms and livestock were washed away.
Lagos
A former President, Association of National Accountants of
Nigeria (ANAN), Dr. Samuel Nzekwe has urged the Federal Government to
effectively implement the budget, particularly the capital expenditure.
Speaking with the newsmen in Lagos, Nzekwe said that
effective implementation of the budget would create the enabling environment
for the productive sector of the economy to thrive as well as create job
opportunities.
According to him, it will increase the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) and solve the problem of infrastructure deficit.
Nzekwe further asked government to evolve people-oriented
projects aimed at creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths, pointing
out that creating more job opportunities
would reduce the level of criminal activities in the country.
Nasarawa
The Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa in Nasarawa State has
expelled 59 students for examination malpractices.
The Registrar of the polytechnic, Hajiya Fati Jimeta, told
our correspondent in an interview in
Nasarawa that the students were caught
during the 2011/2012 academic session.
She said the management of the polytechnic reached the
decision to expel the students at a meeting of the Academic Board.
Jimeta said 18 were full-time students, while 41 were
part-time students, adding that the students had been blacklisted by the
institution.
The registrar warned that any of the students seen within
the premises of the polytechnic would be arrested by the security.
Niger
The Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),
Niger State Alhaji Abdullahi Abdul has called on the state government to
sponsor a bill for the control and sale of cough syrups in the state.
Abdul made the call in Minna in a paper he presented at the
Niger Security Awareness Summit, tagged “Grass Roots Campaign on Internal
Security as a Sustainable Developmental Tool in Minna”.
He said that the drug had the same adverse effect with
cocaine, heroin and cannabis when abused.
“It will be recalled that these brands of cough syrup with
codeine content, have the same effect as cocaine, heroin, cannabis etc, when
abused and thus jeopardising security,’’ he said.
He further said that users of the cough syrups got easy
access to any patent medicine store where the drugs were sold indiscriminately
and without prescription.
“Most youths, especially in the higher institutions of
learning, are into this practice and the consequences are alarming.
Ogun
Nine persons, including an infant, died on Saturday morning
in a fatal accident on Abeokuta-Sagamu expressway in Obafemi Owode Local
Government area of Ogun State.
The Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun State
Command, Mr Ayobami Omiyale told newsmen that the accident occurred a few
kilometres to the Police College in Kobape area of the road.
Omiyale said that two vehicles, a Volvo tipper, marked LAGOS
JJJ 489 XB and a Toyoa Hiace bus with registration number, XF 795 AAA, were
involved in the accident.
He said that although 20 people were involved in the
accident, only nine could be confirmed dead by the FRSC.
Omiyale added that “nine persons, which include an infant
less than a year old, were confirmed dead by my men.’’
Oyo
The Treasurer, Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, Oyo
State Chapter, Mr. Bernard Adegoke has called on government to support a
first-generation commercial bank in assisting cocoa farmers with loans.
Adegoke told The Tide
in Ibadan on Sunday that the collaboration of the government with the
bank in giving out loans to cocoa farmers would boost production.
“ We need the government to support us, to assist us and
support the First Bank of Nigeria to help the farmers in giving us the loan.
“We all are seeing what is happening in the oil market now,
oil is going to finish either we like it or not, it’s going to remain farming
and if we are talking about farming we are talking about cocoa.
“If we are talking about cassava or maize or whatever, you
cannot be comparing that with cocoa.’’
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