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THE STATES

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Adamawa

Governor  Murtala  Nyako of Adamawa  State  has ap
proved the extension of the appointment of Justice Nathan Musa as the acting Chief Judge of the state.
Nyako also approved  the appointment of Alhaji Muhammed Alkali as the acting Grand Khadi of the state Sharia Court of Appeal.
The approvals were contained in a statement signed by the Adamawa Judiciary Head of Information, Mr Ishaya Lidawus, last Tuesday in Yola.
The statement said the extensions were in line with the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).
“Both appointments were in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended,” the statement said.
Ekiti

A Muslim cleric, Alhaji Musbaudeen Yisah,  last Tuesday
urged Muslim faithful to be moderate in their celebration of the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival.
According to him, Muslims should use the period to serve Allah wholeheartedly and worship the creator in accordance with His command.
“It is against Islamic injunction to take loan or spend above  your limited resources for the celebration. Allah does not have interest in how much you expend  in buying rams but your commitment and sincerity of purpose,” Yisah said.
He noted that some people lay more emphasis on the celebration than the worship of Allah and doing His will and  appealed to Muslims to monitor the movement of their children and wards during  the  celebration to avoid unpleasant occurrences.

FCT

Justice Abubakar Umar of an FCT High Court last Tues
day ordered a Polish woman, Dora Gilmaska, standing trial over a N9 million scam, to appear unfailingly on November 14.
The judge gave the order after  the Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Samuel Ugwegbulam, said that the woman had for the second time, failed to appear in court.
The EFCC is prosecuting Gilmaska, the Executive Officer of Icon Media and Marketing Agency Limited, for allegedly forging and issuing a dud cheque of N9 million to one Tayo Olugbemi in 2012.
Her counsel, Mr Selekowei Larry (SAN), prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him trace her, electing that his client had not communicated to him, her reason for not being in court.
The judge, then adjourned the matter to November 14 for adoption of the final written addresses.

Gombe

Traditional rulers in Gombe State  last Tuesday promised
to reinforce their campaign against rape in the state to save the girl-child from being ruined.
They made the promise when members of the Child Protection Network (CPN), an NGO, and officials of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) paid advocacy visit to the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, in Gombe.
The District Head of Bolari, in Gombe metropolis, Alhaji Garba Abubakar, descried the increasing cases of rope in the state.
Earlier, the Coordinator, CPN Kano, Alhaji Mohammed Ali-Mashi, urged the traditional rulers to take the campaign to their subjects and enjoined the traditional rulers to impress on clerics to preach against the menace in mosques, churches, naming ceremonies and other social gatherings.

Jigawa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Jigawa State has said that it arrested a 45- year-old man for alleged fraud.
The State Commandant, Mr Muhammad Gidado, said that “the suspect had been duping people in Dutse and its environs”.
He alleged that the suspect paraded himself as a close associate of Jigawa and Kebbi States governors adding that the suspect promised to secure his victims contracts to supply 500 cars each to the Kebbi and Jigawa governments.
Gidado said the suspect told his victims that the money would be used to pay for his hotel and feeding allowances throughout his stay in the states to facilitate the contracts.
Kaduna

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has expressed
dissatisfaction with the level of sanitation in the state, saying the government must justify the N90 million it spends monthly on refuse disposal.
The House took the stand last Tuesday after reviewing the report of its committees on Environment, Natural Resource, Solid Minerals, Works and Transport as well as Land, Survey and Country Planing.
The Assembly had on September 25 mandated the committees to jointly evaluate the sanitation situation in the state following complaints from the public.
It said the state was too dirty and that the government needed to take action to justify the huge monthly expenditure on refuse evacuation and disposal.

Kogi

Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) last Tues
day said it had rehabilitated 300 km  out of 1, 630 km federal roads in Kogi.
The Director of FERMA in the state, Mr Kayode Emmanuel, said  in Lokoja that 225 km of the roads were awarded to contractors for rehabilitation.
According to him, the remaining 75 km were executed through direct labour by the agency and listed the roads rehabilitated to include: Itakpe-Ogaminana-Kabba road, Ajaokuta-Anyigba road, Anyigba-Otukpa road and Kabba-Okorogbede road.
The director said that all the Federal Government roads in the state were in good condition except Okene-Ajaokuta road, Kabba-Omuo-Ekiti road and Egbe-Kwara State boundary road which were in terrible shape.

Kwara

A bill seeking an amendment to the Area Court Law of
Kwara, 2006,  last Tuesday  passed  second reading in the state House of Assembly.
The bill was sent to the House in September by Governor  AbdulFatah Ahmed.
The motion for the second reading of the bill was moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu AbdulKareem,  and seconded by Mrs Ebun Owolabi representing Ekiti Constituency.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Prof. Gana Yissa, who presided over  plenary, referred the bill to the House Committee on Judiciary, Ethics and Privileges for more inputs. He directed the House Committee on Business and Rules to monitor the progress on the bill.

Nasarawa

The National Association for the Blind, Lafia chapter in
Nasarawa State, has urged the state government to institute a scholarship scheme for its members.
The Chairman of the union, Malam Hassan Adogo,who  made the appeal in a statement last Tuesday in Lafia Adogo said members of the union needed scholarships to enable them to pursue studies that would make them become self-reliant later in life.
He said the blind had always participated in elections but never received any dividends of democracy when elected governments were inaugurated.
The scholarship, he added, would go a long way in helping many of its members to complete and even further their education.
Ogun

The Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), Ogun territory, last
Tuesday said it had received 362,593 letters and parcels within eight months.
The Area Postal Manager, Mr Afolabi Mathias, said  in Abeokuta that emphasis was shifted from individual mailers to bulk mailers between January and August.
The manager said that the use of ICT had enhanced the services of NIPOST, adding that the Internet was, however, limited in the number of facilities provided.
According to him, the baggage on ground can not be sent by Internet and maintained that the post would continue to be relevant because people would continue to receive and send messages, especially hard copies.
He advised students to embrace the habit of writing letters to improve their writing skills, saying that the use of postal service would boost their writing skills.

Ondo

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation,
Chief Olu Falae, last Tuesday, urged members of the cc State House of Assembly to render selfless service to the people.
Falae made the remark in his Oba-ile residence in the state when the lawmakers paid him a condolence visit over the death of his son, Deji in the plane crash in Lagos last Thursday.
The Afenifere Chieftain appreciated the lawmakers over the Assembly’s nomination of his deceased son as a two-time commissioner under Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration.
In a remark, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr Dare Emiola, who led other lawmakers to Falae’s house, described Deji’s death as “rude shock and as a great loss to the people of the state.“
Sokoto

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has directed
the Ministry of Finance to begin the payment of October salaries to the state civil servants.
A statement Tuesday  in Sokoto by the Senior Special Assistant to Wamakko on Media, Malam Sani Umar, said the directive was to enable the Muslims to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir slated for October 15, next tuesday.
It stated that the payment of the salaries should start  today.
‘’The governor has therefore, directed the state Ministry of Finance to ensure that the salaries are paid latest by Friday. ‘’The measure is meant to assist the civil servants to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir comfortably with their families,’’ the statement added.

Yobe

Yobe State Livestock Pilot Development Programme, Dr
Mustapha Gaidam, said 5.2 million livestock had been vaccinated against various diseases since 2009 in the State.
Mustapha said  in Damaturu on Saturday that the state was now targeting 1.7 million cattle, sheep, goats and dogs in the 2013 mass vaccination.
He explained that 800,000 herds of cattle were to be vaccinated against Contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia (CBPP) and Black Quarter (BQ).
“Also, 900,000 sheep and goats will be vaccinated against pest de petit ruminantes and 2,500 dogs will be vaccinated against rabies”, he said.

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Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

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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.

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THE LAPSES OF THE MEDIA IN ELECTIONS

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The media is supposed to be a platform through which people express their thoughts, beliefs, and opinions on issues of public interest. Unfortunately, it has often failed to live up to its role as the fourth estate of the realm.During the 2023 elections, the media recorded several lapses that deserve critical examination in academic and professional spaces. Before discussing these failures in detail, it is important to briefly explain the meaning, role, and duties of the media. In simple terms, the media refers to the main channels of mass communication, including broadcasting, print publishing, and the internet.
It is a collective term for all means through which information reaches the public. The media is often called the fourth tier of government because of the popular saying, “No media, no society.” This is not an exaggeration. Scholars have shown that the media plays an integral role in society, since political, economic, religious, and academic activities all depend on information flow through the media.
The word MEDIA can be broken down to reflect its core functions:  M – Meeting the People  E – Educating the People  D – Discussing with the People  I – Involving the People  A – Accessing the PeopleSpecifically during elections, the media is expected to provide accurate and timely information to the public by reporting and updating citizens on government and electoral activities. This responsibility is central to keeping the electorate informed.The media also strengthens democracy by engaging citizens on critical issues affecting the electoral process. When the media effectively disseminates relevant information, the public can see through the failures of government, hold leaders accountable, and propose solutions that serve the common good.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram play a vital role in democratic societies because they allow mass participation. Unlike radio and television, social media is accessible to anyone with a smartphone and data bundle, making it the most inclusive platform for political discourse. Despite these roles, the media must not abandon its ethics or promote partisan agendas that mislead the public. In many schools of thought, the media is described as closely related to the judiciary.
People often see the media as a place to voice grievances and seek justice.However, it is fair to say that the media has lost ground by failing to fulfill its duties during elections. Below are ten key lapses observed in the February 2023 elections.Lack of coordination among journalists. Many press personnel who covered different polling units were poorly equipped and unprepared. Some lacked functional cameras and modern technology needed to carry out professional reporting.
Partisanship and breach of ethics. Media personnel, who are supposed to remain non-partisan, openly violated professional ethics by taking political sides and favoring certain candidates in their reporting.Commercialization of coverage. Some journalists prioritized money over news. It was disappointing to see professionals from reputable stations engaging in what I call “Oga, find me something syndrome” begging politicians for money in exchange for favorable coverage or interviews.Loss of independence and self-censorship. On election day, some journalists took instructions from politicians on what to report and what to suppress. This compromised the independence of the media and reduced public trust.
Poor post-election reporting. Few media outlets reported what actually happened at the polling units. Incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and irregularities were either underreported or ignored entirely, while praise was lavished on politicians instead of amplifying the voices of the people.Spread of misinformation and unverified claims. In the rush to be first, some media houses published unverified results and rumors from social media without fact-checking. This fueled confusion and tension among the electorate.Inadequate coverage of rural and marginalized areas. Media attention was concentrated in urban centers, leaving rural polling units underreported. The experiences and challenges of rural voters were largely absent from mainstream coverage.
Sensationalism over substance. Some outlets prioritized sensational headlines and conflict-driven stories over factual analysis of policies and candidate manifestos, leaving voters uninformed about real issues. Failure to hold INEC accountable in real time. While INEC faced logistical failures and delays, many media houses were slow to question officials or demand explanations on air, missing opportunities for live accountability.
Neglect of voter education. Beyond reporting results, the media did little to educate voters on procedures, rights, and what to do in case of irregularities. This left many citizens uninformed and vulnerable on election day.These lapses weaken public trust and undermine the credibility of the electoral process. For the media to regain its role as a watchdog of democracy, it must return to the principles of accuracy, impartiality, and public service.
The media must be informed to follow its ethics as the 2027 elections approaches. This is encourage electorates rely on the authenticity and objectivity of media practice.Failure to uphold media standards will further make the country plunge into political apathy, electoral violence and disgust for those in the media practice.
By KRUKRUBO, NYE TAMUNODIKI.
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RSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Holds Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria

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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

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