Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

February 28, 2014

Adamawa
The National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) has expressed concern over the poor participation of the private sector in emergency relief response for Internally Displaced Persons in the North East.
Alhaji Muhammed Kanar, North East Zonal Coordinator of the agency, expressed the concern in an interview with newsmen in Yola, recently.
Kanar said that the attitude of leaving everything to government was over, as it could not afford to carter for the needs of all the people.

Bauchi

Rice farmers in Itas-Gadau Local Government Area,
Bauchi State, have said the Federal Government’s N3.6 billion Mechanised Agriculture Intervention Fund would reduce the cost of their activities when disbursed.
The Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigerian (RIFAN), Malam Auwalu Saidu, Itas-Gadau Local Government chapter, made the assertion in an interview with newsmen at Gabu.
He commended the Federal Government for coming up with the intervention, saying it would boost food production nationwide and make agriculture more lucrative.
“With this intervention, tractors and other farm machinery will be provided for hire at affordable prices to the farmers just as seeds; fertiliser and water pumps are being provided.

Borno

No fewer than 4,000 people in Borno State were
engaged in community-based development activities under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) in 2013.
The SURE-P Coordinator in the state, Malam Wakil Kalanga, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri recently.
Kalanga said that the participants were being empowered under the Community Services, Women and Youths Employment (CSWYE) project of the SURE-P.
He said that the beneficiaries were drawn from the 27 local government, included youths, women and vulnerable groups selected by the community leaders in their various localities.

Gombe

A commercial agricultural firm, Savannah Integrated
Export Processing Farm, has provided 1,504 acres of subsidised land to 1,000 farmers at Dadin-Kowa irrigation site to boost irrigation farming in Gombe State.
The farm manager of the firm, Malam Nasiru Umar, spoke to newsmen in Dadin-Kowa town recently.
Umar said the firm provided land to the farmers at subsidised rate, cultivated the land and gave to farmers of different crops at the site.
The farm manager said the company had wanted to give them water for irrigation, but could not do that and advised them to dig shallow wells.

Jigawa

The Jigawa State Government said it had spent N371
million to purchase vehicles for the 25 council chairmen in the state.
The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Salisu Ndarawa, said this in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.
Ndarawa said 25 Toyota Prado Jeeps were purchased for the chairmen, adding that nine of the vehicles had been delivered to some of them.
The commissioner said the remaining 18 would be delivered soon.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State House of Assembly has con
firmed the reappointment of Alhaji Kindi Zauro as a commissioner in the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).
Our correspodent reports that Governor Saidu Dakingari had requested the legislature to approve the reappointment after Zauro’s tenure expired five months ago.
The Speaker, Alhaji Habibu Jega, who presided over the plenary session, said members endorsed the reappointment unanimously after a voice vote.
Meanwhile, the House has also confirmed the appointment of Malam Hassan Dakingari as a Special Adviser to the governor on Micro Finance Banks.

Lagos

An Ogudu Magistrate Court in Lagos State has
sentenced a 25-year-old ‘pure water’ hawker, Musa Sule, to one year imprisonment, with hard labour, for stabbing a colleague.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Omolade Awope, sentenced Sule after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of assault.
Delivering judgment, Awope described the action by the convict as “callous”, adding that Sule must be very violent.
“Sule saw a knife just lying fallow in a tomato seller’s shop, picked it and put it in his pocket. What attracted him to the knife and for what intent?

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Government said that it had
constituted an 11-man committee to tackle the spread of communicable diseases in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Lafia.
According to him, the move is to ensure quick response in the event of any outbreak of diseases as well safeguard the lives of the people.
Akabe said that there were reported cases of Cholera, Lassa fever and other communicable diseases in Lafia and other parts of the state recently, which resulted to loss of lives.
Ogun

The Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, has appealed
to traditional rulers to caution politicians in their domains against activities capable of aggravating the security challenges facing the country.
Moro made the appeal in Abeokuta when he paid a courtesy call on Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Alake and paramount ruler of Egba land.
He visited the monarch shortly after inaugurating an administrative block and 36 units of staff quarters at the Civil Defence College of Security Management in Abeokuta.
The minister expressed concern over incidents of insurgency, militancy and communal clashes in some parts of the country.

Sokoto

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr
Usman Bugaje, has advocated the formation of political parties in Nigeria, based on “content, conscience and courage.”
Bugaje said this at the maiden edition of the monthly lecture series, organised by the Muslim community, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
He also called for the use of modern technology to transform political parties and democracy and stressed the need for vibrant civil society organisations as panacea to the nation’s political problems.

Yobe

The authority of the Federal Government College, Buni-
Yadi, in Yobe State, Mr Ibrahim Abdul, has confirmed that 29 of its students were killed by insurgents who attacked the institution on Monday.
A Senior Master, gave the figure while receiving Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam during a sympathy visit to the school.
Abdul said that 11 students also sustained various gunshot wounds.
He said that all the hostels and classrooms were burnt by the insurgents who attacked the college at about 11.30 p.m.

Zamfara
The Zamfara State Government has distributed more
than N20 million as assistance to victims of a recent attack in Tungar Rakumi Village of Maru Local Government Area.
The villagers were attacked three weeks ago by unknown gunmen, who killed 25 residents, burnt down houses and foodstuff and injured many others.
Chairman of the committee set up to distribute the money, Alhaji Sani Mayanci, said it was meant to serve as assistance to families of the victims.
He said the families of those who died would receive N300,000 each while others affected by the incident would be given N100,000 each.

L-R: Former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, at the Centenary Conference in Abuja, yesterday.

Nation

Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

Published

1 week ago

June 2, 2026

The Tide

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.

Nation

THE LAPSES OF THE MEDIA IN ELECTIONS

Published

2 weeks ago

May 29, 2026

The Tide

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.

Nation

RSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Holds Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria

Published

3 weeks ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

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