Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Director-General of Bauchi State Christians Pilgrim
Board, Pastor Zakka Magaji, said the state government sponsored 400 Christian Pilgrims to Israel in 2012.
Magaji made this known in Bauchi last Tuesday, when he embarked on sensitisation tour of communities in Bauchi Southern Senatorial District in preparation for the 2013 pilgrimage to Israel.
He said that Bauchi State Government was the only government that sponsored 400 pilgrims to Israel during 2012 Pilgrimage and explained that the aim of the tour was to encourage the Christian communities to sponsor themselves to Israel in order to complement government’s efforts toward such venture.
Benue
Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State said his ad
ministration would soon commence implementing the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) to strengthen the state’s accounting standards.
Speaking at Makurdi, Tuesday, at a sensitisation workshop on IPSAS, Suswam stated that such a step would bring about transparency and accountability in the system
The governor, represented by the Head of Service, Dr David Salifu, said all local governments in the state would be directed to adopt the standards in line with global best practices.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Oklobia, said IPSAS would be entrenched in all the tiers of government in the state.
“This will also bring about transparency and adherence to accounting standards in all sectors,’’ he said.
FCT
The Legal Aid Council of Nigeria says it will not rest on
its oars in developing new strategies to tackle prison congestion across the country.
The Director-General of the council, Mrs Joy Bob-Manuel, said in an interview last Tuesday in Abuja that as part of its mandate, the council had begun to work closely with relevant stakeholders to speed up the criminal justice system by decongesting the prisons.
Bob-Manuel said that the council was working hard to ensure that all indigent Nigerians had access to justice and called on lawyers to contribute their quota to the speedy delivery of justice and prison decongestion by offering free legal services.
Kaduna
A member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Mrs
Esther Habu has advised women in the state to take more active interest in politics, by vying for elective positions.
Habu said in an interview last Tuesday in Kaduna that women had the capacity to appreciate the problems of the society and proffer better solutions to them.
She said as mothers, the women would also use their positions to mentor young people and guide them into becoming responsible citizens.
According to her, politics was about leadership, which women could also offer as enshrined in the Holy Books, and appealed to the various political parties and the government to accord concessions to women contesting elections.
Katsina
The Katsina State Government says it has procured
a mobile ambulance and drugs for the Almajiri model schools in Daura.
The Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Hussaini Garba, disclosed this to newsmen during the presentation of the items to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar, at his palace in Daura, Tuesday.
He said the items were procured for Daura Senatorial District under its Free-Medical-Care programme for the Almajiris, adding that the new ambulance was procured to replace the one damaged during the recent robbery attack in the town.
The commissioner said the state government had purchased three ambulances under the Almajiri model schools to provide free medical services to the pupils across the three senatorial zones of the state.
Kebbi
The Kebbi Ministry of Environment is to send 19 unemployed
youths to Kano State to be trained as forestry guards under the Great Green Wall Programme of the Federal Government.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ishaku Daudu, said this while supervising the programme at the two designated local government areas of Dandi and Arewa last Tuesday in Dandi. Daudu said the youths would be selected from four communities in Unguwar Hassan and Marina in Dand Local Government Areas and Garun Ango and Bachaka in Arewa Local Government Areas.
“These communities were selected considering their proximity to Niger Republic and also desert-prone zones that pose a great challenge to afforestation in the state.
“The youths will be sent to Kano for three months training on forestry guarding from September to November,’’ he said.
Kogi
Acting Managing Director of Kogi State Sanitation and Waste
Management Board (SWMB), Mrs Florence Joseph, has appealed to residents of the state to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
Joseph, who spoke with newsmen in Lokoja last Tuesday, appealed to the people to dump their refuse in waste disposal bins provided by the government.
The managing director said the government had provided all the necessary materials like trucks and waste containers for public use and declared that the government sanitation programme had provided jobs for unemployed graduates in the state.
She thanked the government for approving more comprehensive recycling sites meant for the conversion of waste after collection from different parts of Lokoja, stating also that very soon, government would provide more waste disposal trucks as promised in order for other parts of the state to benefit.
Kwara
No fewer than 1,950 people have registered for family planning
services at the Okelele Primary Healthcare Centre in Ilorin between January and August, following the intervention of the Nigeria Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI).
Head of Health Department, Ilorin East Local Government Council, Hajiya Fatima Kuranga, disclosed last Tuesday in Ilorin, that the number of beneficiaries during the eight month period under review increased considerably when compared with the about 680 recorded in 2012.
Kuranga explained that NURHI had helped in training and retraining of health care personnel and family planning supervisors.
She also stressed that NURHI had created awareness at the community level, adding that this had made residents of the area to embrace the free service being provided.
Lagos
Educationists have urged the governors of states in the South-
West geopolitical zone to be cautious in adopting Yoruba as the official language of instruction in primary schools.
Some educationists told newsmen in Lagos that implementation of the proposed policy would face some challenges.
The governors had on August 30 proposed that primary schools in the region would soon begin to use Yoruba as the language of instruction.
This was parts of their decisions at a meeting on the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) in Ibadan.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Government has concluded plans with a Chinese
firm to build a five-star hotel at Farin-Ruwa in the Wamba Local Government Area of the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Adamu Adogi, made the disclosure last Tuesday at the inauguration of a hotel in Keffi, near Lafia.
Adogi said that the construction of the hotel would boost the state’s revenue base and improve its tourism potential.
He stated that the Chinese partner, who recently visited the site of the proposed hotel, would soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Government for the commencement of the project.
The commissioner assured that the government would explore ways to to ensure the development of the state’s natural resources for the benefit of the people.
Sokoto
The Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command, Alhaji Shaibu
Gambo, has solicited the support of members of the public in the fight against crime in the state.
Gambo said in Sokoto, Tuesday that the officers and men of the command were determined to give their best to protect lives and property in the state, noting however, that this would not be possible without the cooperation of members of the public.
He said the personnel in the state command had received operational order on how to tackle insecurity in the state, adding that they were doing their best to ensure full compliance.
The commissioner, also solicited the support of traditional leaders in the fight against crime, pointing out that they play strategic role in mobilising their subjects for public policing.
Taraba
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) fact-finding Committee on the
health condition of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State has affirmed Alhaji Garba Umar as the Acting Governor of the state.
Briefing journalists after about a two-hour close door meeting, the Committee Chairman, Senator Hope Uzodima, stated that the impasse had been resolved with all stakeholders including Suntai’s wife, Hauwa.
He said the Ag. Governor should from time-to-time consult with Suntai on major political issues in the state, while he (Suntai) continued to recuperate, and further stressed that the issue was a purely PDP in-house problem which, as a family, could be sorted out amicably.
Suntai returned to the state on Sunday, Aug. 25, after 10 months of medical treatment abroad, following his involvement in a plane crash in October, 2012.
Zamfara
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Musa
Sada, has urged miners in Zamfara State to form cooperative groups in order to attract Federal Government support.
Sada said last Tuesday at the opening of three-day training on health and safety issues on miners’s operations in Gusau that formation of cooperatives by the miners would also promote safety in their operations.
The minister, who was represented by the Director of Planning, Policy Analysis and Monitoring, Mr John Mshelia, pointed out that the Federal Government was concerned about mining operations in the state.
He said the outbreak of lead poisoning in the state and subsequent death of victims since 2010 was worrisome.
As the world marked the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child on Sunday, October 11, 2026, a non-governmental organisation, Stand Up for Women Society (SWS) has intensified its campaign against child marriage, urging schoolgirls to prioritise education, protect their rights and develop skills for a better future.
The organisation joined the global observance of the day under the theme, “International Day of the Girl Child: End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” with a sensitisation programme at Government Girls Secondary School, Oromenike, D-Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Led by its Vice Chairperson, Daba Benebo, the group engaged the students in discussions on the dangers of early marriage, teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse and other challenges that threaten the education, safety and development of the girl child.
Speaking during the programme, Benebo urged the students to reject early marriage and remain focused on their studies, stressing that education would empower them to make informed decisions about their lives and future.
She cautioned the girls against allowing anyone to deprive them of their right to education and dignity, advising them to report cases of harassment, abuse and other violations of their rights to the appropriate authorities.
Benebo assured the students that SWS remained available to support them whenever they encountered violations of their rights.
She also encouraged them to maintain discipline and responsible conduct while avoiding behaviours that could expose them to negative influences and jeopardise their future.
Beyond formal education, the SWS vice chairperson urged the students to acquire vocational skills that could provide additional opportunities for economic independence and help them navigate future challenges.
The sensitisation programme, enlivened by singing, dancing and to share their views and experiences on issues affecting the girl child interactive sessions, provided an opportunity for the students to share their views and experiences on issues affecting the girl child.
One of the major issues raised during the discussion was the appropriate age for marriage. While some participants maintained that 18 years was the constitutionally approved age, the discussion highlighted the need to consider not only age but also the maturity, preparedness and responsibilities associated with marriage.
The speaker stressed that marriage required adequate mental and emotional preparation, as well as the capacity to shoulder its responsibilities.
She therefore advised the students to concentrate on acquiring a sound education before considering marriage, noting that education would equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to make responsible decisions and manage family life.
The issue of teenage pregnancy also featured prominently during the question-and-answer session.
In addressing the subject, the speaker explained that pregnancy could occur even at the age of 12, using the example to underscore the vulnerability of young girls to the consequences of early sexual activity.
She advised the students to avoid sexual intercourse and prioritise their education, personal safety and future aspirations.
The discussion also examined the difficulties some girls encounter when living with hostile spouses, relatives or guardians.
Benebo encouraged the students to cultivate patience, humility and diligence, noting that these qualities could help them navigate difficult situations and build a brighter future.
However, she warned that patience and humility should never be interpreted as an obligation to endure violence, abuse or degrading treatment.
She urged girls experiencing hostile or abusive living conditions to seek help from their parents, trusted adults or appropriate support services rather than remain in environments that could expose them to physical or emotional trauma.
“When such happens, please return to your parents and engage in petty trade or learn a skill to support your education rather than stay in a hostile environment,” Benebo stressed.
The programme also underscored the importance of protecting girls from early marriage and other harmful practices that can disrupt their education, compromise their well-being and limit their opportunities in life.
It also reinforced the need for families, schools, communities and relevant organisations to work together to ensure that girls have access to education, vocational training, protection and the support they need to realise their potential.
For SWS, the message was clear: empowering the girl child begins with protecting her rights, investing in her education and equipping her with the confidence and skills to make informed choices about her future.
Stories by Kevin Nengia
The Egberipapa Foundation has unveiled a mass transit scheme aimed at easing transportation difficulties and improving connectivity among communities in the three Kalabari local government areas of Asari-Toru, Degema and Akuku-Toru in Rivers State.
The initiative, established by former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Council, High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich, popularly known as Egberipapa, is designed to make transportation more accessible and affordable for residents across the Kalabari area.
The scheme was launched on Monday, October 12, 2026, and is expected to address longstanding transportation challenges confronting residents, particularly those in riverine and hard-to-reach communities.
Communities expected to benefit from the initiative include Krakrama, Minama, Angulama, Sangama, Omekwe-Tariama and Omekwe-Ama.
The project is expected to ease movement within and beyond the Central Group area, while providing residents with a more convenient means of transportation for their daily activities.
For decades, transportation difficulties have posed significant challenges to several Kalabari communities, making movement between settlements both cumbersome and expensive. These challenges have also affected commercial activities, social interactions and access to essential services.
The introduction of the mass transit scheme is therefore expected to provide relief to residents, strengthen inter-community connections and stimulate economic activities across the benefiting communities.
Beyond improving mobility, the initiative could contribute to community development by facilitating the movement of people and goods, supporting local businesses and enhancing social and economic interactions within the Kalabari area.
As the scheme gets underway, attention will be focused on its implementation, accessibility and sustainability, as well as its capacity to deliver lasting transportation benefits to the target communities.
The initiative represents a potentially significant step towards addressing transportation challenges and promoting grassroots development across the Kalabari Kingdom.
The Amaewhule family of mbodo Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State has cautioned members of the public against entering into any land transaction involving a disputed property known as “Ada Oro Fam Land,” located behind the OPM Church along Airport Road.
The family, through its legal counsel, Barrister Ndubuisi Agumagu, issued the warning amid an ongoing legal dispute over the ownership and control of the property, which is said to comprise more than 900 plots of land.
The matter is currently before the Isiokpo High Court of Rivers State in a suit numbered IHC/246/CS/2026, presided over by Justice Sobere Biambo.
The claimants in the suit include Chief Green Amaewhule and others, while Fabulous Amaewhule and Odibola Properties are listed among the respondents.
Counsel to the Amaewhule family, Barr Ndubuisi Agumagu, advised prospective land buyers and members of the public to exercise caution and refrain from purchasing any portion of the disputed property pending the determination of the case by the court.
According to the legal counsel, the property is a family estate belonging collectively to the Amaewhule family, and no individual member of the family has the authority to unilaterally dispose of portions of the land.
The counsel specifically maintained that Fabulous Amaewhule, one of the respondents in the suit, does not have the legitimate authority, according to the family’s position before the court, to sell portions of the disputed property.
The family further warned that anyone who proceeds to purchase land from the respondents while the matter remains before the court would be doing so at their own risk.
It stressed that such buyers could potentially lose their investments should the court eventually deliver judgment against the validity of the transactions.
The legal team said the warning became necessary to prevent unsuspecting members of the public from committing their resources to a property whose ownership and right of disposition are currently the subject of judicial determination.
The family also urged prospective investors, developers and land buyers to conduct proper legal inquiries and obtain independent verification of the status of the property before committing funds to any transaction relating to it.
The Amaewhule family said its position was intended to protect members of the public from possible financial losses and further legal complications while the case remains sub judice, stressing that interested parties should await the final determination of the court.
Akujobi Amadi