Nation
THE STATES
Borno
The Borno State Government has shut down 20 private schools in the state for failing to meet the minimum standard set by government.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Malam Inuwa Kubo, made the disclosure in Maiduguri on Sunday, saying that government took the action after several warnings by the inspectorate unit of the ministry of education for the proprietors to meet up with set standards.
Kubo said that the schools would, however, be re-opened once the proprietors complied with the government’s regulations on standards, stressing that the government was disturbed over the proliferation of schools without standards.
The commissioner noted that the government had in the last two years overhauled the education sector in its quest to address the long years of decay.
“The state governor set up a high-powered committee on the transformation of the education sector shortly after assuming office in 2011. “I am happy to say that 95 per cent of the committee’s recommendations have been implemented, leading to numerous successes in the sector,’’ he said.
FCT
The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Malam Auwal Rafsanjani, has urged Nigerian leaders to build strong democratic institutions to ensure transparency and accountability in governance.
Rafsanjani said in Abuja last Sunday, that strong institutions were needed in the governance of the country in order to deepen democracy.
The director advised the political class to rise against personal interest in the course of discharging their responsibilities, adding that it was imperative for leaders to give special attention to strengthening institutions than advancing the interest of any individual or groups.
Rafsanjani urged the Federal Government to renew its commitment in the fight against corruption, with a view to enhancing public confidence in governance, and urged the National Assembly to strengthen its oversight function with a view to checking duplication of funds in budget making and implementation.
Jigawa
Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, has said that collaboration between the executive and the judiciary will facilitate good governance and enhance political stability of Nigeria.
Lamido, who made the remarks during the swearing-in of the state’s Acting Chief Judge, Justice Aminu Sabo, in Dutse last Friday, described the judiciary as a pillar of democracy.
He said that achieving transparency in democratic governance for the common good, would require the executive, legislature and judiciary working in harmony.
The governor said that the workings of the judiciary had been enhanced after his administration had executed various projects and refrained from undue interference.
“I know you are a man of integrity and you should put your wealth of experience in promoting good working relations with us to move the state forward,” Lamido said.
Kaduna
Former Head of State, retired Major.-General Muhammadu Buhari, has said the recent merger of opposition parties was key to the stability of the country.
Buhari, who made the remarks at a National Conference of Opposition Parties held in Kagoro in Kaura local government area of Kaduna State last Saturday, said the only way to effect positive change is for opposition parties to make concerted efforts to guarantee the success of the merger.
Senator Mohammed Sale (CPC-Kaduna Central), held that corruption had been elevated to the height where the citizens considered it to be a virtue rather than a vice, stressing the imperative of curbing the menace.
Chairman of the occasion and former Chief of Naval Staff, retired Vice Admiral Ibrahim Iko, urged the stakeholders in the merger to shun tendencies that will impede the country’s progress.
The Guest Speaker, Mr Tom Maiyashi, said in spite of the availability of enormous resources, the nation’s industries were still comatose, noting that the growing number of unemployed youths in the country posed a danger for the future.
Kano
The Kano State Government has urged security agents in the state to cooperate with it to ensure compliance with sanitation laws and regulations.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, made the call on Saturday during the monthly environmental sanitation in Kano. He noted that this would encourage other people to obey the policy and described as disheartening the way security personnel who were not on duty flout sanitation restrictions.
“On many occasions, these security personnel will come out doing commercial services with their vehicles as you can see this one is engaging in commercial transportation. “We should all know that this duty is to ensure good health and sanitation for all residents,’’ he said.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State chapter of the National Council of Ulamas on Saturday urged local government areas in the state to organise special prayers for peaceful co-existence in the country.
The Chairman of the council, Malam Ibrahim Ika, made the call in Birnin Kebbi during an interview with newsmen after an Islamic lecture organised by the state government.
He urged members of the public to be steadfast in prayers and remain vigilant to complement the state’s and federal governments’ efforts at securing the nation. The chairman also advised parents to ensure proper upbringing of their children to make them law-abiding leaders of tomorrow.
Lagos
Archbishop Adewale Martins, Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, said last Saturday that Nigerians must work collectively to build a solid foundation for the children. Martins, who spoke at a press briefing to mark his 54th birthday at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos, noted that such a solid foundation was essential for the growth of the nation’s future leaders.
The cleric urged the three tiers of government to invest in educational institutions, create more job opportunities and enact relevant laws to protect children from all forms of exploitation. “Children are our future; we cannot afford to toy with their future, and government should invest more in our educational institutions.
Niger
The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Prof. Musibau Akanji, last Friday, appealed to the National Assembly to consider granting special fund to the Federal Universities of Technology for research and teaching.
Akanji made the appeal in Minna, while playing host to members of Senate Committee on Education led by the Chairman of the committee, Senator Uche Chukwumerije on oversight function visit to the institution.
Akanji, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Suleiman Sadiku, said that such universities needed funds to boost the nation’s quest for technological breakthrough and advancement
Ogun
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, last Saturday in Abeokuta, urged Nigerians and civil society groups to partner with the Federal Government to tackle flood in the country.
The former president said this at a one-day workshop on “Building a Coordinated Approach to Flood Disasters in Nigeria’’, organised by the Centre for Human Security (CHS), an arm of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
He said, “We are here to find a lasting solution to flood disasters in this country; I will not say that we are fools because already we are learning from our mistakes. The good thing about flood is that even though it’s a natural occurrence, it is reasonably predictable and it’s seasonal and you also can predict places that may be affected”.
“Normally, flood should not be a disaster; it is only when we are caught unawares that it becomes a disaster since it is seasonal and reasonably predictable. Why not therefore adequately prepare ourselves for it; I believe that the aspect of how to prepare for it is what brought us here,’’ Obasanjo added.
Oyo
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has said that the state government was set to construct the Ibadan Circular road awarded at the cost of N52 billion.
Ajimobi said this last Friday in Ibadan, at the Inter-Denominational Service organised by the state government to commemorate the Democracy Day celebration and his second year in office.
He said that the state government would also inaugurate the Cargo Airport, which it was presently vying for, before the end of the present administration.
The governor also said that the present administration had expended at lest nothing less than N90 billion on all the projects it had executed, adding that the state was one of the three states in the country that owed no debt.
Plateau
The General Manager of the Plateau State Radio Television Corporation (PRTVC), Mr Sunday Rogo, said last Sunday that journalists covering the lingering crises in Plateau were “not being fair’’ to the state.
He said that most of the reports on the crises are not correct and certainly not fair to the government and inhabitants of Plateau State. When one person is killed, for instance, the reporters will say 50, such reports had often demonised the state, as the reports and the reality on ground were never the same”.
“Sometimes too, a skirmish could occur in one obscure location in a local government very far away from the state capital but the journalists will report that the incident took place in Jos,’’ he added
Rogo blamed the situation on journalists, whom he said, stayed far from Jos and who were basing their reports on hear-say and rumours, describing the development as “very sad’’.
He said that the international media was particularly guilty of such “inaccuracies’’ and advised people seeking to report correctly to visit the state so as not to feed the public with wrong information.
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.