Connect with us

Nation

THE STATES

Published

on

Bauchi

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Devel
opment says it has started the second phase of aerial spray to check the menace of Quilea birds in the state.
A Director in the state ministry, Alhaji Mohammed Yusuf, said the 2013 North-East Quilea Birds Control programme was to ensure food security and improve the income of the farmers.
According to him, these noble objectives cannot be achieved without effective pest control measures, especially Quilea birds with capabilities of destroying huge hectares of land.
“The Federal Government through Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) is heavily intervening in the agricultural sector to boost agricultural productivity under its Growth Enhancement Support scheme (GES).

Benue

A Makurdi Upper Area Court has sentenced
one Mohammed Ali, 21, to one year imprisonment for stealing a motorcycle.
The Judge, Mrs Felicia Ikyegh, while delivering the judgement, observed that the accused had shown remorse for his actions, while also being honest in admitting guilt, but declared that he would be punished to deter other youths from such actions.
Ikyegh sentenced the convict to one year imprisonment with an option of five thousand naira fine.
“The accused shall serve one year imprisonment or pay an option of five thousand naira fine.
“In addition to his fine, he shall pay N50,000 compensation to the owner of the motorcycle,’’ she declared.

Borno

The Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) in Borno said
that 39 persons died in the area in separate accidents between January and October.
Commandant of the FRSC in the state, said this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Bazza said the victims died in 54 accidents, adding that 280 persons sustained severe injuries during the mishaps.
He attributed the spate of accidents to reckless driving on highways and disregard for traffic rules and regulations on the part of drivers.

FCT

The House of Representatives has resolved to
conduct public hearing on the alleged plan to sell the official residence of Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.
The committee is to establish the veracity of the allegation and report back to the House within one Month.
It also mandated the committee to ensure that adequate resources are allocated in the 2014 budget to undertake repairs of the property so that the Permanent Representative could move into the residence.
It further directed the committee to urge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to stop every lease or renting agreements of any apartments whatsoever, for the permanent representative at the expiration of such current leases or renting agreements.
Kano

The ECWA Eye Hospital, Kano, said it carried out free
eye operations for 300 adults at Gezawa, headquarters of the local government.
Dr Abu Sunday, Medical Director of the hospital, told newsmen in Kano that another set of 11 children were operated in the ongoing free eye camps.
“Many of such operations are done solely by the hospital or in conjunction with both local and international partners.
“Most of our free eye camps are conducted outside this facility; we go out to meet with those in need of help to save them from going blind.
Kebbi

Executive Director, National Cereals Research Institute
(NCRI), Birnin- Kebbi, Dr Mark Ukwungwu, said the institute had released 301 varieties of rice seedlings to farmers.
Ukwungwu announced this in Birnin-Kebbi during the distribution of rice seedlings to farmers as part of activities to mark the Rice Farmer’s Field Day 2013.
He said the institute had accelerated the development of 120 high yielding varieties of rice.
Ukwungwu added that 30 varieties had been screened and approved for farmers in Kebbi State.

Kwara

A housewife, Ketim Isiaka, has urged an Ilorin Area Court
to dissolve her three-year-old marriage to Sule, over her husband’s alleged hot temper.
Ketim, 28, of Maraba Area, Ilorin, told the court that Sule was too harsh and easily provoked at slightest provocation.
“My husband will at times beat me unnecessarily and fail to taste the food I prepare for him,’’ she said.
She said the marriage was contracted in 2010 and had produced two children, Rashidat and Mariam.
“My Lord, I want an end to this marriage because I cannot cope with a man that cannot control his emotion,’’ she said.

Niger

The Ministry of Information said it would work towards
implementing the 22 per cent weigh-in allowance for media workers in  Niger State.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Bala Moni made the promise in Minna when state executive members of Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union visited him.
He noted that the media weigh-in allowance was being enjoyed by media practitioners at the federal level and other states.
He added that the allowance would improve the services of media workers when paid.

Ogun

The Ogun State Government has announced a ban on
cattle rearing along the Abeokuta -Sagamu-Siun Expressway.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, announced the ban in Abeokuta at a meeting with leaders of the Fulani/Hausa communities in the state.
Adeoluwa said the step was part of measures to check criminal activities in the axis.
He noted that there had been a sudden rise in criminal activities in recent times in the area, adding: “most of these unwholesome developments were linked to herdsmen operating on the highway.”
Oyo

A 56-year-old man, Adegoke Oladipupo, was arraigned
on charges of stealing and possessing a gun.
He was brought before an Ibadan Chief Magistrate Court, sitting at Iyaganku.
Oladipupo was arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and possession of a single-barrel gun unlawfully.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Sunday Ogunremi, told the court that Oladipupo conspired with others now at large to commit the offence.
Ogunremi alleged that the accused stole one blue boxer Bajaj motorcycle with registration number: Lagos QS 080 FKJ, valued at N125,000, property of one Ramon Ajibade of Dalute Sanni Village, Idi-Ayunre, Ibadan.

Plateau

The Plateau State Police Command says it has smashed
four armed robbery gangs and arrested 11 persons suspected to be members of the gangs “terrorising” Jos and its environs.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Chris Olakpe, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Jos.
“The suspects were arrested in four different operations. The squad has been working hand-in-hand with intelligence department of the command to achieve the success, “ he said.
Olakpe said that the first gang of three armed robbery suspects was arrested on Sept. 28, by operatives in Laranto Division, Jos.

Yobe

L-R: Former Head of State, Rtd Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami, Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State and Founding Director, Forum for Cities in Transition, Prof. Padiraig O'malley, at the 4th International Conference on Peace and Reconciliation in Kaduna last Monday. Photo: NAN

L-R: Former Head of State, Rtd Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami, Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State and Founding Director, Forum for Cities in Transition, Prof. Padiraig O’malley, at the 4th International Conference on Peace and Reconciliation in Kaduna last Monday.
Photo: NAN

The Yobe State Government says it vaccinated more
than five million cattle in the past three years against animal diseases to prevent loss of livestock.
The state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, said this in Damaturu while launching the annual livestock mass vaccination campaign.
He said that the state government embarked on the campaign to check the danger posed by diseases on livestock and livelihood of farmers.
”The vaccination is to check these diseases in order to meet international standards,” the governor said.

Continue Reading

Nation

Accolades, Fanfare As Ogbakor Ikwerre President General Celebrates 80th Birthday

Published

on

The President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide and the Mgboh XIII of the Mgboh Royal Family of Emohua Kingdom in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze (Barrister) Godspower Onuekwa, penultimate Friday celebrated his 80th birthday with pomp, pageantry and fanfare.

 

The celebration, which commenced with a symposium organised in his honour at Rivers State University on Thursday, August 21,2025, got to a resounding climax on Friday at Suntai Event Centre in Port Harcourt, where people from all walks of life, including business associates, friends, well-wishers, relatives, community folks, traditional rulers, and admirers, gathered to pay glowing tributes to the celebrant.

 

Before then, a well attended thanksgiving service was held that same Friday at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Okoro-Nu-Odo, to honour him and return gratitude to God Almighty for the fruitful and eventful life and accomplishments of the Emohua leader and icon.

 

 

The service which was officiated by Rt Rev Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, Bishop of Niger Delta North had other renowned and respected clerics like Most Rev(Dr) Blessing Enyindah, Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Rt Rev(Dr) Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta; Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, Bishop, Diocese of Evo; and Ven Solomon Eze Nelson, Archdeacon, Okoro-Nu-Odo; among others lined up as officiating ministers.

 

The service lived up to its billing, as it featured powerful and soul-lifting praise and worship; point-blank prayers; and beautiful renditions, which electrified the entire atmosphere, essentially packaged to thank God for the life of the celebrant.

 

However, the crowning moment actually came when the who is who, the crème de la crème of the society, thronged the terraces and fabulously decorated expansive hall of Suntai Event Centre, to celebrate Eze Onuekwa, amid accolades, aplomb and panache, wining and dining, and clinking of glasses with him and all.

 

The chairman of the colourful ceremony, Chief Evans Woherem, who was represented by Eze(Prof) Christian Akani of the prestigious Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, praised the celebrant for his youthfulness in spite of clocking 80 years, generosity, humility, humaneness and selfless services to the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and called on all and sundry to emulate his good legacies and simple disposition towards life and existence.

 

Goodwill messages also poured in in torrents to underscore and salute the doggedness, resilience, astuteness and uniqueness of the endearing life of the celebrant, with Prof Emenike Wami, the Ochia Ohna Ikwerre(XIV), taking the lead.

 

Prof Priye Iyalla, the wife of late renowned writer, novelist and playwright, Dr Elechi Amadi, held the audience spellbound as she masterfully reeled out the profile of the celebrant, amid intermittent applause from the crowd.

 

The Tiv Community from Benue State, resident in Rivers State, were not left out, as they honoured and decorated Eze Onuekwa in their complete traditional regalia.

 

Cultural displays from Baptist Church, Rumuowhor; ADNA Wogbuji Dancing Group, Egbeda; Tiv Dancing Group; and Promoter Eze and Rumu-Mgboh Emohua Wrestling Group, equally added colour and grace to the occasion, with the celebrant and his wife, Dame Ann Onuekwa, joining them to wriggle their waists and bodies in ecstasy.

 

In his response, the highly elated celebrant, Eze Onuekwa thanked all those gathered to celebrate with him, saying, celebrations would never cease in their homes, and attributed everything he represents in life, including his modest accomplishments to God.

 

Eze Onuekwa, while addressing newsmen, harped on the need for hard work among the youths and members of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, as a way of sustaining and giving meaning to the motto of the organisation, which he noted is anchored on peace, unity and progress.

 

He specially thanked God for sustaining his life, and for making everything possible for him and his family, saying, he was joyous that he has today become an octogenarian and elder statesman in Rivers State.

 

His son and medical practitioner, Dr Samuel Chizia Onuekwa expressed delight that people from far and near had come together to celebrate the father, whom he described as a role model and great inspirator.

 

He said it was a good thing that the children were celebrating their father when he is alive, stressing that the last time Eze Onuekwa was celebrated in such magnitude was 20 years ago, during his 60th birthday celebration, and prayed God to grant him many more years in good health.

 

Among dignitaries who graced the event were Senator Andrew Uchendu; Chief Sampson Agbaru; Prof Emenike Wami; Dr Peter Didia; Eze(Prof) Samuel Ugo Onyeka; and a host of others. Justice Iche Ndu(rtd); and C O Kattey were among personalities that attended the thanksgiving service, while the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi led the academics who graced the symposium, alongside Eze G A O Omodu.

Continue Reading

Nation

Ensure That Ogoni Is Heard In The Right Way, HYPREP Urges Creative Arts Trainees

Published

on

As the 100 Ogoni youths trained by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Creative Arts close out their training on Tuesday at the Theatre Arts Department, University of Port Harcourt, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has urged the beneficiaries to use the skills acquired to ensure that the Ogoni stories are told and heard in the right way.

The trainees, who had completed a four- month training in script writing, film production and make-up are beneficiaries of the HYPREP sustainable livelihood programme, aimed at providing high demand skills to Ogoni youths in the lucrative creative arts and entertainment industry.

Zabbey described the Creative Arts training as well as other programmes and interventions as HYPREP’s strategic sustained effort to create alternative sources of livelihood.

”Targeted capacity building for Ogoni youths and women remains a central strategy in HYPREP’s livelihood restoration and improvement efforts. Our goal is to reach every part of the Ogoni community and ensure that no group or talent pool is left behind. This training is a deliberate step to empower young people who aspire to make their mark in the creative and entertainment industry”, he said.

While commending the trainees for producing four short films within the training period, one of which was premiered at the ceremony-Dirty Festival, the Project Coordinator noted that the training would serve as a springboard into the industry, and enable them earn a living, become entrepreneurs, and open new doors of opportunities for themselves and their communities. The three other movies are Open Pain, Bomu and Green War.

He enjoined them to utilise their skills and platforms to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental sustainability, urging them to ensure that Ogoni is heard in the right way, speak for HYPREP and highlight the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report.

Other speakers at the event, including the Director of Technical Services of HYPREP, Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi; Dr Ovunda Ihunwo, Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt; Chief Douglas Experience, the Project Coordinator of Halibiz Consult Limited; and Mrs Josephine Nzidee, Head, Sustainable Livelihood of HYPREP, all applauded HYPREP for the training, and charged the trainees to maximise the opportunity.

The trainees were later presented certificates of participation.

Visibly elated Ms Lebee Tornwe, one of the beneficiaries, thanked HYPREP and the Project Coordinator for offering the trainees the rare opportunity to acquire skills in the creative arts and entertainment industry, and expressed delight that Dr Ihunwo and Halibiz Consult Limited gave their all in grooming them.

With the wrapping up of the Creative Arts training(100), HYPREP has trained 230 Ogoni youths in high demand skill sets ,viz; seafaring(100); and aviation (30). The Project will this year, commence training in other skill areas, including Mechatronic, Aviation, Full-Stack Development, Commercial Diving, Underwater Welding and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Still in the offing is the training for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities in five skill sets- fish farming; basic computer skills; photography; fashion and design; and shoemaking in line with their Needs Assessment and HYPREP’s policy of inclusivity.

Continue Reading

Nation

NYCOP Urges Stakeholders To Develop, Empower Ogoni Youths

Published

on

The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) had called on stakeholders to work collaboratively towards the development and empowerment of Ogoni youths.

NYCOP made the call in a communique issue over the weekend after an emergency Congress in Port Harcourt and signed by its President, Comrade Raymond Nwibani Marcus.

In the communique, NYCOP endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s appointments of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BOT) members of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), particularly Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah as Chairman of HYPREP’s BOT.

It respectfully appealed to the President to consider appointing a representative from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) under the leadership of Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, being the pioneering social vehicle for Ogoni advocacy since the inception of the Ogoni struggle, adding that it would significantly contribute to the decision-making process.

The body commended the overall management of HYPREP and urges the President to continue funding the HYPREP project.

NYCOP furthermore recommended considering the conversion of HYPREP from a project to a full-fledged agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The communique also stated that NYCOP thanked President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, and for appointing key staff, forming a dialogue committee, and initiating infrastructural projects like the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and economic prospects.

 

In solidarity with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying it believes his leadership embodies the aspirations of the Ogoni people and Nigerians at large.

“After thorough consideration of the Disciplinary Committee’s report, NYCOP resolves:

” To indefinitely suspend Comrade Nade Nade Burale from his position as Secretary General due to misconduct.

“To declare Comrade Saviour Imeabe persona non grata on Ogoni youth issues, given his actions’ potential to instigate crisis in Ogoni and beyond” the communique stated.

NYCOP in his resolution issued a 7-day ultimatum to former HYPREP BOT Chairman Mike Nwialeghi to explain the $100 million HYPREP fund investment, warning of potential litigation.

NYCOP reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ogoni youth interests and preventing personal aggrandizement.

According to the communique the resolutions demonstrate NYCOP’s efforts to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth.

“We will no longer tolerate any individual or group using the name or issues of Ogoni youth for personal aggrandizement.

” Our mandate is clear: to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth” the communique said.

NYCOP passes a vote of confidence in Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah, acknowledging his impeccable credentials and credibility to lead the BOT of HYPREP effectively.

 

Kiadum Edookor

Continue Reading

Trending