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THE STATES

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Adamawa

The Police Command in Adamawa State said it recorded
15 rape cases across the state in two years.
This is contained in the statistics of the cases from the command, signed by Mr Salau Usman, the command’s Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of CID in Yola last Tuesday.
The statement stated that 16 people, made up of 10 people in 2012 and six in 2013 were arrested during the period under review. It said that eight suspects were charged to court in 2012 and three in 2013.
The statistics also showed that 27 cases of house breaking and theft were also reported within the period with 12 in 2012 and 15 cases in 2013, respectively.

Borno

The Borno State Fire Service Department recorded 121
fire incidents in the state in 2013, an official said in Maiduguri last Tuesday.
The Director of Fire Service in the state, Alhaji Musa Hussaini, said in an interview that no life was lost in the incident and added that the agency was working toward protecting the lives and property of the citizens.
He said the agency had acquired 60 fire fighting vehicles to facilitate speedy response to fire outbreaks and other related incidents adding that the agency was collaborating other organisations, such as Federal Road Safety Commission and Red Cross, to save lives.
Husain said the agency had opened area offices in Bui, Hawal, Shani, Damboa, Askira Uba, Goza, Bama, Konduga and Ngala local government areas to expand its reach to local communities and appealed to the public to desist from using charcoal to warm their houses during the hamattan.

Ekiti

Any person wishing to be appointed into any public
office in Ekiti State must first ensure that he or she is qualified, with sound character and exceptional pedigree.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State made the declaration in Ado-Ekiti last Tuesday, during the swearing-in of Mr Ayoola Owolabi, the state Accountant-General as a Permanent secretary.
He said there would be no room for persons whose preoccupation was to cut corners to achieve their goals in life and  restated the determination of his administration to ensure that appointment in the state civil service was based only on ability and competence, rather than patronage.

FCT

The Nigerian Army has appointed Brig.-General  Olajide
Laleye as its new Director of Public Relations.
Laleye, who hails from Lagos State, was commissioned into the Nigerian Army on September 23, 1989 was until his appointment, the Commander, 1 Division Garrison, Kaduna.
He holds a B.Sc in Physics from the Nigerian Defence Academy and Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Strategy, Defence and Disaster Management from the University of Yaounde.
Speaking in Abuja at a brief handing over ceremony, Laleye said that under his leadership, the directorate would focus attention on the achievements of the various sectors in the army.
He said the directorate would key into the vision of the Chief of Army Staff “to transform the Nigerian Army into a force better able to face contemporary challenges’’.

Jigawa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Jigawa State said it had set up monitoring team to check the activities of illegal Private Guards Companies (PGCs) in the state.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Muhammad Gidado, said in Dutse, last Tuesday, that the move was to ensure people did not run such companies without licence.
He explained that the action was necessary to ensure proper coordination of security activities in the state and urged all other PGCs operating in the state must renew their licences for them to continue operating.
Gidado said that some of the companies operating in the state were yet to establish their offices and advised those affected to establish their offices in the state before the end of the year.

Kaduna

Former executive members of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, last Tuesday, restated their loyalty to the party, saying they were not among those who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A former zonal chairman of the party, Alhaji Maikudi Tela,who made the position of the members known in a chat with newsmen in Kaduna State dismissed the allegation that they were part of the group led by a former state PDP chairman, Alhaji Yaro Makama, who defected to the APC two weeks ago.
He assured that they were committed members of the party and would continue to be loyal to it irrespective of the current challenges.
In her contribution, a former women leader, Hajiya Hauwa Abdullahi, stressed that no woman would decamp from PDP to any party and  assured that the defectors would “certainly return to the party’’.

Kano

Kano State Government said it would accommodate refu
gees evacuated from the Central African Republic whose families had not been identified.
The Executive Secretary of the State Rehabilitation and Emergency Management Board, Alhaji Bashir Nikel, said in Kano State, last Tuesday, that although people from across the state had been coming forward to claim the refugees, those whose families could not be identified “will become government’s property.”
The executive secretary said the state rehabilitation centre at Mariri would be used to accommodate the unclaimed refugees.
He, however, said that the infants and children amongst them would be taken to the children’s home and would be placed under the care of the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
About 413 refugees were on Monday transported to Kano from Abuja, most of whom women and children.

Kogi

The wife of Kogi State Governor, Hajia Halima Wada,
has donated gift items to babies delivered in the state on the first day of 2014.
The wife of the governor who donated these items through the chairpersons of the local governments to mothers of the babies in Lokoja last Tuesday, said the history of Nigeria would not be complete without mentioning Lokoja as the first seat of government in Nigeria, hence the need to celebrate the centenary babies.
She said that the presentation of the gift items was to give the state its rightful place in the event and to celebrate the babies delivered during this period.
Earlier, the Director of her office, Mrs Susan Oguche, commended the governor’s wife for carrying every one along in her activities, and prayed that God would give her more grace to continue the good works.

Kwara

Governor  Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State last Tuesday, said the state government would give priority to youth entrepreneurship in 2014.
Ahmed said at the graduation of Skill Acquisition programme organised by Dynamix Industrial Training Institute in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development. He charged the 25 graduates drawn from the 16 local governments in Ilorin to take advantage of the opportunity to develop themselves and become employers of labour.
Represented by  Special Assistant on Youth Empowerment, Saka Babatunde,  Ahmed said his administration would continue to focus on youth development because they constituted the largest percentage of the country’s population.
Lagos

The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and
the Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development lastTuesday, signed an agreement to enhance exchange of research on Africa’s continental relations.
Signing the agreement in Lagos State, NIIA’s Director-General, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, said it was imperative for the institutes to come together and contribute to the continent’s development.
He said, “We have realised that Africa’s relationship with the rest of the world has been vertical. We strongly believe that through our partnership, we can promote African renaissance and intra-African cooperation.

Nasarawa

The Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, Mr Umar
Shehu, said that the command recovered a total of 40 stolen vehicles and 50 motorcycles in 2013.
Shehu, who was briefing newsmen  in Lafia yesterday on the efforts of the command to combat crime in 2013, also said that 136 armed robbery suspects were arrested and prosecuted within the period under review.
He noted the crime rate in the state in 2013 reduced significantly compared to previous years as only 234 criminal cases were recorded in the year under review as against 307 cases in 2012.
Shehu said that 92 of the cases were successfully investigated, prosecuted and the suspects convicted while 22 were still under investigation.

Ogun

The Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Suraj
Adekunbi, in Abeokuta last Tuesday said the state government would continue to partner with civil servants.
Adekunbi, who gave the assurance shortly after a New Year special prayer session, said this would enhance the delivery of democracy dividends to the people of the state.
He said workers remained the engine through which the government functioned, and government had remained consistently proactive to ensure improved welfare for the workforce.

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno (middle), accompanied by other officials inspecting the Chad Basin Development Authority Bump Station in New Marte in Maiduguri last Tuesday. Photo: NAN

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno (middle), accompanied by other officials inspecting the Chad Basin Development Authority Bump Station in New Marte in Maiduguri last Tuesday. Photo: NAN

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

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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.

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

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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.

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NYCOP Urges Stakeholders To Develop, Empower Ogoni Youths

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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

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