Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has
appointed Justice Nathan Musa as the new Acting Chief Judge of the state. At the swearing-in of the Acting Chief Judge in Yola on Monday, Nyako congratulated him on the appointment and urged him to be fair and honest in discharging his duties, he said:
“Your appointment is based on merit, following your successful record in the state judiciary.’’
The governor urged the judiciary to join hands with other arms of government to move the state forward.
Bauchi
Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi had called on
Nigerians to pray that the security challenges facing the country should end in 2013.
Yuguda, who made the call recently in his New Year message, said that this would enhance the effort made toward achieving lasting peace in the country.
He called on citizens of Bauchi to make a New Year resolution toward a peaceful co-existence among their brothers and sisters irrespective of religious, cultural or political differences.
“While we usher in the New Year, I urge you to use the occasion to assess your performances in the last one year and pray for better and prosperous 2013.
Benue
Makurdi residents have resolved to pray for God’s
intervention concerning the security challenges facing the country instead of relying on leaders in 2013.
‘Our security is in the hands of the Lord, we would go to him, cry to him, petition him, and appeal to him for the forgiveness of the sins of Nigeria, we know our God, He would never let us down.
“We would serve God wholeheartedly from 1st January 2013 so that he would intervene in our security challenges in the country.
“We would pray so that God will change the minds of our leaders and they would fulfill their promises.”
Ekiti
The police in Ado-Ekiti last Monday arraigned five
men, Sola Bamikole, Adedayo Adedoyin, Seun Awoyemi, Ayo Adeosun and Blessing Adedayo before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ court for allegedly stealing cat fish.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Caleb Leranmo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Dec. 24, at about 4:00 a.m. at Odo-Aremu Sreet, Ado-Ekiti.
Leranmo alleged that the accused unlawfully broke into the beer parlour of one Madam Lucky restaurant and stole fresh cat fish from the pond.
Leranmo said the offence contravened section 390 (g) of the Criminal Code Cap. C 16, Vol. 1 of Ekiti State of Nigeria.
FCT
The Federal Government will save about N300
billion annually on the importation of wheat through the use of 20 per cent cassava flour for bread production.
Mr Labaran Maku, the Minister of Information, announced this on Monday in Abuja at a news conference, while briefing newsmen on the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in 2012.
Maku said the amount spent on wheat importation had so far been brought down by N200 billion following the improvement in the production and processing of cassava flour.
He said the government was exploring agriculture as major area to create jobs and wealth generation.
Gombe
The family of Alhaji Jalo Ganga, the Gombe
lawmaker who was kidnapped on Sunday in Gombe, has resorted to praying and fasting for his release.
The elder brother of the legislator, Alhaji Yayaji Ahmed-Ganga, made this known while speaking with newsmen in Gombe recently.
He said family and friends of the legislator embarked on prayer to seek God’s intervention in the kidnap which had put friends and relations of the legislator in a pathetic situation.
He said the family had not had any communication with their brother and appealed to the kidnappers to release him.
Jigawa
An acute fuel scarcity in Dutse and its surroundings
has left motorists frustrated in long queues at filling stations.
The situation has negatively affected free flow of vehicular and human movement and brought hardship to the people.
Our source, who went round some fuel stations on Tuesday, reports that because of the non-availability of fuel in major filling stations, there are long queues of vehicles at NNPC retail stations which have stocks.
Meanwhile, in the thriving black market, a litre of petrol sold at N150.
Lagos
A Muslim cleric in Epe Local Government Area of
Lagos State, Mr Olademeji Kaka, has urged Muslims and Christians to embrace peace and unity in the new year.
Kaka, who is the Imam of Lagbade Central Mosque, gave the advice recently night in a special prayer, tagged, “Tahajjud Night’’, to mark the end of year 2012.
He called on Muslims and Christians to collectively observe one day of fasting and prayer for the peace and unity of the country.
“Muslims love peace, Islam does not preach violence and we are peaceful people and that is why we are going to use this prayer to pray for the peaceful coexistence of Muslims and our Christian brothers and sisters.
Plateau
Youths protesting against Sunday killing of their
peer by stray bullet in Kuru, near Jos, last Monday destroyed the only bridge in the area.
Capt. Salisu Mustapha, the STF media officer made this known in an interview with newsmen in Jos on Monday.
Mustapha said: “the youths have destroyed one part of the bridge, only one part is passable and vehicles must queue up to take their turns from opposite directions.’’
He confirmed that one youth was hit by a stray bullet on Sunday, but rejected the youths’ position that the bullet was fired by soldiers.
Sokoto
Alhaji Umar Mohammed, the Chairman of Isa
Local Government, Sokoto State, has advised the people to form vigilance groups to assist security agencies in confronting security threats.
Mohammed told newsmen in Sokoto that the agencies needed intelligence reports to apprehend criminals. “
This is greatly important as the system would help in crime prevention. “
The task of ensuring the safety and security of lives and property is a collective duty of all Nigerians,” he added.
Yobe
The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe State said four
insurgents had been killed and 59 suspects arrested in an operation in Yindiski area of Potiskum Local Government.
A statement by Lt. Eli Lazarus, JTF spokesman, stated that one policeman died and a soldier, who sustained injury, was receiving treatment.
The statement said “four AK 47 rifles, one double barrel gun, 16 magazines and 380 rounds of ammunitions were recovered’’.
It said other items recovered in the operation included two gas cylinders and materials used for improvised explosive devices.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.
Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.
“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.
Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state
He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.
“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.
While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.
He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.
Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.
Rivers State University and the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education jointly hosted a two-day National Conference on 8 and 9 May 2026 to examine the state of values in Nigeria.
The two days conference held at Rivers State University convocation arena brought together academics, policymakers, legal experts and education leaders under the theme _“Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria.”_
The gathering focused on policy gaps, curriculum reform, and the role of ethics in public service and education.
The event opened on Friday with remarks from Vice Chancellor Prof. Chief Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who stressed the need to address declining moral and civic values across Nigeria’s education and public sectors. A book of abstracts for the plenary sessions was also presented to participants.
Key speakers included former Attorney General Chief Dr Kanu Agabi, SAN; NERDC Executive Secretary Prof. Shehu Salisu; Prof. Hauwa Imam, FNAE, of the University of Abuja; former Rivers SUBEB Chairman Ven Dr Fyneface Akah, ; former NIMASA DG Dr Hon. Dakuku Adol-Peterside; and RSU Director of ICT Prof. Sunny Orike.
Discussions centered on integrating values education into schools, tertiary institutions and public institutions, alongside the impact of technology on moral development among young Nigerians. Panel and plenary sessions produced practical recommendations for curriculum and policy reform.
On Saturday, the foundation marked its centenary with the unveiling of the book _Otonti Nduka in History_, launched by Chief Engr. Grant Offor, FNSE. The Nigerian Academy of Education held a ceremonial procession led by its President Prof. Olu Jegede and the Ikwerre Professors Forum.
In a communiqué, participants called for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and academia to mainstream values education nationwide. They recommended reviewing teacher training curricula and expanding digital platforms to promote ethical civic engagement, with the foundation pledging to share the outcomes with education authorities for implementation.
Dignitaries present included Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide as Chief Host, Prof. Emeritus Chief T. Uzodimma Nwala, the Ikenga 1 of Mbaise and first philosophy student of Prof. Otonti Nduka, alongside scholars and community leaders.
Amadi Akujobi
