Nation
THE STATES
FCT
Fast food operators in Gwarinpa, FCT, have called on the Federal Government to provide adequate power supply to boost their businesses as the holiday Easter approaches.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, some of the operators said epileptic power supply in the area had adversely affected their businesses.
The Marketing Manager Chicken-n-Side, Mr Fujah Ahmed said that the business areas in the estate were not getting up to eight hours regular power supply daily in recent times.
He said that they were using generators in running their businesses, adding that this had eaten deep into their profits as a result of the huge money spent on fuel.
Gombe
Gombe State Government is to spend N4 billion for the construction of a holiday resort in Tula, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Bulus Samuel, has said.
The commissioner told newsmen in Gombe that the resort would be an avenue for revenue generation.
“I believe the resort will attract the attention of tourists from within and outside the country, ‘’he said.
Samuel said that the security challenges facing the North-East zone would not prevent government from developing its tourism potential.
He said that although the security challenges had caused a setback economically, government would ensure that the tourism potential of the state was developed.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government says said it has paid N302 million to the International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD) to facilitate implementation of community-based Agriculture and Rural Development Programme (CBARDP).
This is contained in a statement by Alhaji Salihi Birnin-Kudu, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the programme and made available to newsmen in Dutse.
The statement explained that the payment was for the state and local governments’ counter-part funding to the IFAD-CBARDP programme.
It said the amount was provided to fast track the execution of agriculture and empowerment projects in nine participating local government areas of the state.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government last Thursday said that it spent N1 billion in its first phase of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) across the state.
The state SURE-P Chairman, Mr Timothy Gandu, made this known when he addressed newsmen at the commencement of the screening exercise of the programme in Zaria.
Gandu, who is also the Commissioner for Economic Planning, explained that the amount covered purchase of buses, taxis and tricycles which were meant for onward distribution to beneficiaries.
“The total cost of the project so far is something in the neighbourhood of a billion naira plus from all the items, administrative cost and everything.
Katsina
The Katsina State Government says it would construct 2,000 houses between 2013 and 2014.
The Commissioner for Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Maikudi, made this known when he conducted a delegation from the Nigeria Leadership Initiative round projects executed by Governor Ibrahim Shema.
Maikudi said that the 2,000 houses would be sold to interested indigenes of the state at subsidised prices.
He said the special discount would enable more indigenes to acquire personal houses, noting that the state government had within five years constructed 1,772 houses.
The commissioner pointed out that the houses had been sold to civil servants at 50 per cent discount.
Maikudi said that the houses comprised two and three-bedrooms flat constructed at Barhin and Makera areas, respectively in Katsina metropolis.
Kebbi
The committee set up to recruit teachers in Kebbi State says it has uncovered fake certificates from the applicants.
A member of the recruitment committee, Alhaji Jibril Yahaya, made the revelation during an interview session in Jegal Local Government Area recently.
Yahaya, who did not reveal the number and category of the fake certificates, said that the applicants would be prosecuted.
“The committee uncovered that fake certificates have been presented by applicants during the interview sittings in Argungu.
“We have now resolved that necessary action will be adopted on such applicants,’’ he said.
Lagos
The Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), has urged the Waste Managers Association of Nigeria (WEMASON) to formulate policies that will assist in tackling the numerous waste challenges in the state.
The Managing Director of the agency, Mr. Ola Oresanya made the call while speaking with newsmen in Lagos.
Oresanya stressed that Nigeria needed to develop an internally generated policy for managing waste in the country.
He identified challenges to proper waste management as weak institutions, leading to poor implementation of policies.
Ogun
Two men, Ahmed Sabitu (22) and Kazeem Oluwole (18) were last Thursday sentenced to two years imprisonment each by an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court for assault and stealing planks valued at N40,000.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Augustine Ozimini, told the court that the offence was committed on March 3 at about 10 p.m at Lafenwa Sawmill in Abeokuta.
He said that the convicts stole the planks at the Sawmill and assaulted one Seun Ojelabi, the guard on duty, who sighted and accosted them while stealing the planks.
“The convicts hit Ojelabi with sticks on his head and injured him when he saw them and asked what they were doing in the Sawmill.
Ondo
Five persons were arraigned before an Ilutitun Magistrate’s Court, Ondo State, for conspiracy and unlawful damage of a house.
The police prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Omole, alleged that the accused persons, Lanre Ayetan, 27, Babalola Ayetan, 33, Iyi Ayetan, 35, Funmilola Ayetan, 33, and Bola Omolewa, 40, committed the offences on February 6, 2013.
“About 3:48 p.m. on Tirenioluwa Street in the Ilutitun Magisterial District, the five accused conspired together and unlawfully damaged the house of one Akinkuolere Edakoya, valued at N520,500,” he said.
Omole said the offences were contrary to and punishable under sections 516(A) and 451 respectively of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
Plateau
Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State last Thursday asked the Defence Headquarters to monitor activities of men of the Special Task Force (STF) to ensure that their operations were within the rules of their engagement.
The STF is saddled with maintaining the peace in Plateau as well as Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa Local Governments in Bauchi State.
Jang, who was represented by his Deputy, Ignatius Longjan, spoke in Jos when a delegation from the Defence Headquarters, Abuja led by Commodore Yusuf Hela, paid him a courtesy visit.
“The STF men must strive to operate by the rules of its engagement. This is very necessary to erode public skepticisms on their operations of late.
Taraba
Taraba State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said it trained 40 of its members on modern skills in negotiation with employers, to improve the working conditions of workers.
The Chairman of the union, Mr. Mark Ishaku, said this in Jalingo at a one-day workshop on “grass root peace and Industrial harmony”, organised by the union.
“Gone are the days when industrial relation was characterised by confrontation which is counter productive.
“Modern approach requires rigorous consultations between workers and employers in resolving labour disputes,” he said.
Zamfara
The Provost of Zamfara College of Education, Maru, Alhaji Muhammad Dankande, has commended UNICEF for providing scholarship to train 100 female students of the college to become teachers.
Dankande made the commendation recently in Maru in an interview with newsmen.
He said that UNICEF deserved commendation considering its sponsorship of the students under its programme of training rural female teachers.
He said that the programme would help in assisting the less-privileged ones to enrol in schools.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has inducted and given orientation to 100 Ogoni youths for training on Creative Arts. The beneficiaries were drawn from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The induction and orientation ceremony, which took place at the CRAB of the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, was a prelude to the training proper, billed to commence next Tuesday.
As usual, HYPREP issued undertaking forms to the trainees, for them to complete and submit as a guarantee that they would subject themselves to the requirements of the programme as well as be of good behaviour throughout the four-month duration of the training.
HYPREP also announced that it would pay N150,000 to each of the beneficiaries monthly, as transport and feeding allowance, stressing, however, that only those who fully participate in the training would be entitled for the allowance.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, welcomed the trainees to the programme, saying, HYPREP’s projects are evolving and that one thing that is happening today is that the Project has gotten leadership right, by making promises and keeping those promises.
According to him, the Project had equally promised to move away from rudimentary skills acquisition to high impacts acquisition levels, which it has kept today by sponsoring the training on Creative Arts.
He noted that in planning its livelihood programmes for Ogoni youths, HYPREP has taken time out to look for skills that would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
Zabbey, who was represented at the event by the Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi said by packaging the Creative Arts training, it was expected that the Ogoni people would have their own version of Nollywood known as Ogoniwood just as Nigerians are familiar with Hollywood, Bollywood, Kannywood and Nollywood.
To achieve this goal, the Project Coordinator explained that it was the reason for choosing a reputable establishment like Halibiz Consult Limited, to partner with the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt, which he described as one of the most prestigious in the Niger Delta, for the training of the beneficiaries.
He also indicated that in doing this, HYPREP was desirous of going for talents that would help the Ogoni people grow in the film industry, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
Zabbey equally enjoined the trainees to put in their best so that in the next three to five years, they would carve a niche for themselves and become forces to reckon with in the film industry.
On her part, HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee said HYPREP does what it says it will, stressing that the process of training Ogoni youths on specialised skills started three years ago.
According to her, the selection process for the training was rigorous and transparent, and was carried out by renowned actors actresses.
She disclosed that the training consists of three major aspects, which include acting, script writing and make-up, while Nollywood actors like Charles Nnoje, Ngezu J. Ngezu and award-winning make-up artist, Jude Odo would be on hand to drill and groom the beneficiaries.
Mrs Nzidee noted that the programme is a specialised training that does not have anything like starter packs but that it is purely a professional certification programme that would launch the beneficiaries into the Nollywood industry in Nigeria.
According to her, the Creative Arts training is one of the four specialised trainings organised by HYPREP to ensure that the Ogoni people are well positioned in vital industries like Aviation, Maritime, Creative Arts and Mechatronics.
She said the last of such trainings on Mechatronics would take place in the coming months, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously so as to put the Ogoni people on the Nollywood map.
She further indicated that while Charles Nnoje and Ngezu J. Ngezu would take the beneficiaries on the practical aspects, Jude Odo would take them on the make-up aspects.
Also speaking, the External Relations Manager of Halibiz Consult Limited, Alabo Experience Douglas said his company gives much premium to standard and quality, and assured that the firm would give the trainees value for the money spent on the programme.
While charging the beneficiaries to be dedicated and punctual, he stressed the need for them to approach the programme with the mindset of being empty so that at the end of the day, they would benefit maximally.
On his part, the Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo said the CRAB is an acronym for Creative Review of Arts and Books, stressing that it was named by renowned playwright, Prof Ola Rotimi.
According to him, the CRAB had nurtured, groomed and produced Nollywood actors and actresses like Bobmanuel Udokwu, Ejike Asiegbu,Francis Duru, Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda, Julius Agwu, and a host of others, assuring the beneficiaries that they were on fertile environment to hone their talents.
He noted that symbolically, the crab is a nutritious seafood common in the Niger Delta, and reiterated the need for the beneficiaries to come empty for the training, as it were.
Ihunwo disclosed that the theory classes of the programme would run for three weeks while the fourth week would be for the master classes, and urged the trainees to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a difference by telling the Ogoni story, which he described as inexhaustible by themselves, in order to put Ogoni on the map.
A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.