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THE STATES

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L-R: Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Olabisi Onabanjo University, Comrade Egberongbe Taiwo, SSANU Chairman, University of Ibadan, Comrade Wale Akinremi, SSANU Secretary, Western Zone, Comrade Abdussobur Salaam and SSANU Chairman, Delta State University, Comrade Goodluck Ohwavborua, at a news confernce by Western Zone of SSANU on the main report of committee on NEEDS assessment of Nigerian Public Universities in Ibadan, recently.

L-R: Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Olabisi Onabanjo University, Comrade Egberongbe Taiwo, SSANU Chairman, University of Ibadan, Comrade Wale Akinremi, SSANU Secretary, Western Zone, Comrade Abdussobur Salaam and SSANU Chairman, Delta State University, Comrade Goodluck Ohwavborua, at a news confernce by Western Zone of SSANU on the main report of committee on NEEDS assessment of Nigerian Public Universities in Ibadan, recently.

Adamawa

Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has assured
the people of the state of justice and fairness in the provision of basic social amenities.
Nyako gave the assurance when he addressed the chairmen of the 21 local government councils of the state in Yola.
The governor said that in spite of the political and man-made challenges facing the state, his administration had performed wonderfully well in the provision of social amenities in all parts of the state
He expressed worry over the negative activities of some politicians, who he said, invoke “tribal  sentiment’’ to score cheap political points.

Borno

No fewer than 1,500 blind persons from across the country
took part in a special prayer for peace in Borno.
Alhaji Mai-Bukar Abacha, the chief of the blind in the state, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Abacha said the prayer session was an annual event organised by the blind as part of their contributions to the restoration of peace and harmony in the state and the country.
He said prayer was essential in ending the current security challenges in the northern region and the country in general.

FCT

A Grade 1 Area Court sitting in Gwagwalada in the FCT
has sentenced a 19-year-old man, Badamasi Abdullahi, to four months in prison for trespass and theft.
The presiding judge, Alhaji Hassan Muhammed, however gave him an option of fine in the sum of N8,000 and ordered him to pay N50,000 in compensation to the nominal complainant.
“For the fact that the accused has no previous criminal record, he is hereby convicted as charged.
“He is therefore sentenced to a month imprisonment for the charge of criminal trespass or to pay N3,000 in fine.

Jigawa

Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has
urged politicians to promote peaceful coexistence for the unity of the country.
Abubakar made the call when he visited Gov. Sule Lamido of Jigawa in Dutse.
He stressed that peace was important for the development of any society, pointing out that there will be no nation without peace.
“Where ever we are, we must make peace and this is also applicable to politics.
“We, as people must avoid violence and if there is any difference among us, there are procedures to follow – like the judiciary”, he said.

Kaduna

The Chairman, National Union of Road Transport
Workers (NURTW), in Kafanchan Mr Silas Kabruk, says sanctions await members who fail to participate in the ongoing membership registration exercise.
Kabruk told newsmen in Kafanchan that the union would take measures to ensure that all its genuine members were adequately covered in the registration.
He said the exercise was aimed at ensuring sanity in the system and cut down on road crashes among other reasons.
“We also want to get rid of unprofessional drivers by ensuring that every commercial driver register with the union,’’ Kabruk said.

Kano

A former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji
Abdullahi Gwarzo, has commended Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso of Kano State on the successful merger of the PDP splinter group with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The commendation is contained in a statement signed by the former deputy governor and made available to newsmen in Kano.
“I wish to congratulate His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State on the successful merger of new PDP with APC.
“This is a great achievement to the people of Kano State and a boost to democracy.’’

Kebbi

The Kebbi  State Government has earmarked N5.9 billion
for the rehabilitation and construction of township roads in Yauri, Koko/Besse, Maiyama and Shanga Local Government Areas of the state.
Governor Saidu Dakingari announced this in a message to the flag-off of the first phase of the project in Yauri recently.
Represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, the governor said the road projects were initiated to enhance socioeconomic activities in the affected areas.
“The rehabilitation and construction of the roads by this administration was without borrowing money, and we would ensure prompt payment of the contract,’’ Dakingari said.

Kwara

The IIorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union
(IEDPU) has called on the Federal Government to repair Jebba-BodeSaadu highway.
The president of the union, Justice Saka Yusuf, made the call in a statement made available to newsmen in Ilorin.
He said there is an urgent need to repair the road to enhance social and economic activities between the people of the north and the south.
According to him, the road which links the south with the northern part of the country is in a state of disrepair and has become a death trap.

Lagos

The former Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress
of Nigeria (TUC), Mr John Kolawole,  has urged employers to allow their workers join the union to avoid industrial crisis.
Kolawole told newsmen in Lagos State that “it is against the Nigerian Constitution for employers to stop their employees from joining a union of their choice.
“It is the right of every worker by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention and the Constitution of Nigeria to associate or belong to any organisation of their choice.
“Belonging to a union in any work place does not disturb the smooth running of that organisation. It only enhances productivity,’’ he said.

Nasarawa

A task force set up by the Nasarawa State Ministry of
Health has shut down six private clinics in Kadarko village, Obi Local Government Area of the state for allegedly operating illegally.
The Chairman of the task force, Dr. Damina Ali, told newsmen in Lafia that four proprietors of the clinics were handed over to the police.
He explained that all the clinics were operating without licence, equipment and trained health personnel.

Ogun

One Bola Mukaila, 38, was has been arraigned before
an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court for selling fake wines valued N300,000 to a customer.
The police prosecutor, Insp Augustine Ozimini, told the court that the offence was committed in Omida area of Abeokuta on September 5 at about 3:00 p.m.
Ozimini said the accused sold fake Hennessy, Jack Daniels and Remy Martins wines worth N300,000 to one Remi Abiodun.
“The accused, who owned a wine shop, mixed fake with original wines and sold cartons of them to Abiodun knowing that they were fake.

Sokoto

The National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA), has donated relief materials to victims of this year’s flood disaster in seven local government areas of Sokoto State.
The items included rice, millet, maize, blankets, detergents, roofing sheets, cement, nails, mats and mattresses, among others.
The Zonal Coordinator of the Agency, Alhaji Musa Ilalla, presented the materials through the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Sahabi Gada.
Ilalla said the gesture was not compensation but a support to alleviate the sufferings of the victims.
Yobe
The Yobe State Government has urged contractors handling various road projects in the state to take advantage of the relative peace attained to speed up work and recover time lost to insecurity.
The state Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Lawan Shettima, told newsmen in Damaturu that government was committed to early completion of the projects.
He observed that some of the projects could not be executed within the scheduled time frame due to security challenge.
“We thank God for the relative peace attained and urge our contractors to mobilise more equipment and manpower to the various sites to hasten completion of the projects,” he said.

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Rumuaholu Community Denies Land Grabbing Allegations, Accuses Obio/Akpor Chairman of Interference in Land Dispute

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The Ekeanyanwu family of Rumuaholu Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has strongly refuted allegations of land grabbing levelled against it, describing recent media reports as false, misleading, and deliberately fabricated.
The family made its position known during a press briefing held on Wednesday at the residence of Dr. Colonel Ogwumerum Eke in Rumuaholu. The briefing was attended by community leaders, stakeholders, and family representatives.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Dr. Eke dismissed claims attributed to the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Gift Worlu, which allegedly labelled the family as land grabbers. He described the allegations as baseless, frivolous, and lacking any factual foundation.
According to Dr. Eke, the Ekeanyanwu family remains the legitimate owner of the parcel of land known as Ohia Agbada, comprising approximately 6,000 plots situated along the Obiri-Ikwerre Airport Road corridor. He further maintained that Victory Estate, located within the disputed area, belongs exclusively to the Ekeanyanwu family and not to the Rumuosi Community as claimed by the council chairman.
Dr. Eke stated that ownership of the land had been affirmed by the courts, citing Case No. CCC/22/2015 at the Choba Customary Court. He explained that while the suit was instituted against another family in Rumuaholu, the Rumuosi Community sought to be joined in the matter but their application was rejected by the court.
He further disclosed that the family currently holds 15 subsisting court judgments in its favour relating to the disputed land, including judgments from the Customary Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal.
The family spokesman alleged that the Obio/Akpor council chairman, in collaboration with the local Anti-Land Grabbing Committee, was attempting to undermine the court decisions and dispossess the family of its land through what he described as “backdoor means.”
Dr. Eke accused the chairman of assuming the role of an appellate authority over matters that had already been conclusively determined by competent courts.
Expressing concern over recent developments, he alleged that individuals acting under the influence of the council chairman had destroyed properties worth millions of naira within Victory Estate. He described the action as a direct affront to existing court judgments and the rule of law.
Displaying copies of court judgments during the briefing, Dr. Eke questioned the rationale behind branding judgment creditors as land grabbers, insisting that those challenging the court rulings were the real offenders.
He called on members of the public to disregard what he termed misleading radio announcements purportedly made by the council chairman and urged government institutions and security agencies to uphold the sanctity of court judgments.
Also speaking at the briefing, Elder Prince Ndaokani, Principal Oji Owhor of Rumuaholu Community, supported the Ekeanyanwu family’s claims. He maintained that the disputed land originally belonged to Dr. Eke’s late father, who, according to Ikwerre native customary law, acquired ownership through the clearing and development of the land.
However, the allegations were dismissed by the Chairman of the Obio/Akpor Anti-Land Grabbing Committee, Chief Alex Wali, who responded on behalf of the local government council.
Chief Wali declined to engage directly with the claims made by Dr. Eke, stating: “That man cannot be gifted with our valued response to his tirades. People like that should not be in public but should be rotting in jail for heinous crimes against humanity.”
He maintained that nothing would prevent the council chairman from carrying out his constitutional responsibilities as the chief executive and chief security officer of the local government area.
According to him, the protection of lives and property remains a fundamental responsibility of government at all levels, and the council would continue to discharge its duties in that regard.
The dispute is the latest chapter in a long-running land ownership controversy in the area, with both sides maintaining opposing claims over the disputed property.
By Akujobi Amadi
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Asarama Kingdom Condemns Gruesome Murder of A Commercial Vehicle Driver

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The Asarama General Assembly in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State has condemned the gruesome murder of a commercial vehicle driver by some identified criminal elements in the community.
It would be recalled that on Thursday the 28th of May  2026, the kingdom was thrown into mourning, following the gruesome murder of a commercial vehicle driver by some criminal elements
The Assembly which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt also called for the establishment of a Mobile police and police anti cultism departments  at the Asarama Police Division.
The Okangh Ama /Paramount Ruler of Asarama kingdom HRM king Appolus J Nteijaewaye who read the text for the briefing onbehalf of The Asarama General Assembly at the briefing said the community condemned in totality the gruesome incident.
He said the kingdom also extends its condolences to the bereaved family of the murdered driver, stressing that as a kingdom it would leave no stone unturned to ensure that such an incident never occur within it’s territorial space again.
The General Assembly also commended the prompt intervention of the Nigerian police Force which led to the arrest of some members of the criminal gang, adding that even though the crime was committed at Asarama, some of those allegedly involved were not indigenes of Asarama kingdom.
“As a kingdom we use the sober moment of this unfortunate incident to further commend the prompt reaction of the leadership and men of the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers state that led to their effective results aimed at eliminating criminality and deterring the evil ones in our society “
The Community also described the incident as a pointer to the level of vulnerability of not only Asarama kingdom but the entire society, against the background that the sanctity of life ought to be sacred and protected by individuals, groups, communities and governmental institutions”
Meanwhile ,The Asarama General Assembly has called for the establishment of a Mobile Police  as well as police anti cultism departments at the Asarama Police Division
It said this has become necessary inview of the strategic location of the kingdom as a gateway to the rest of Andoni communities and Opobo -Nkoro Local Government Area.
“Owing to the peculiarity of our geographical location especially the amphibious nature of Asarama kingdom, intricately linked with its neighbouring inter ethnic Ogoni and Opobo -Nkoro Local Government Areas in general and intra Andoni communities in particular, the relevant authorities should urgently approved special mobile police force,Anti cultism and Marin units to be attached to the Asarama Divisional headquarters”
The kingdom also decried the continuous neglect of the Asarama police Division, since it’s establishment adding that the division up till date,does not have a single firearm as well as enough personnel
It said this situation has exposed the community to activities of criminal elements.
“The sordid state of the only security outfit that ought to police our territory and beyond now seems to complicate the delicate insecurity that we are already exposed to, first as a nation and second as a people inhabiting an intricate amphibious gateway kingdom
“Consequently we hereby cry to the appropriate authorities to urgently equip the Asarama Divisional Police headquarters with adequate men arms and ammunition “the Community said.
John Bibor
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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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