Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, has
commenced a special education programme for 21 Chibok girls under its scholarship programme.
The President of the university, Dr Margee Ensign, said this in an interview with newsmen in Yola recently.
Ensign said the specialised intensive programme was to prepare the girls to do well in their JAMB examination that would enable them commence full academic programme in the university. She also said that the university’s Peace and Community Development Programme had been very effective in promoting peaceful coexistence and giving assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
“ Our peace initiative is beginning to get international recognition. I was asked to brief some United States policy makers on the initiative,” she said.
FCT
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre
(CISLAC) said it would train about 50 Journalists on the reportage of the 2015 general elections.
The Programme Officer of the group, Mr Salawudeen Hashim, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Hashim said that the journalists would be drawn from different media outfits, including social media across the country. He said the two-day training programme would commence in the first week of February.
He said the event would feature in-depth reportage of the elections and avail participants of the opportunity to share experience.
Katsina police warn candidates, supporters against inflamatory statements
Katsina
The Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, Alhaji
Muhammed Hurdi, has warned candidates and political party supporters in the state to desist from making inflammatory statements during and after the forthcoming elections.
Hurdi gave the warning during a meeting with political parties, candidates, security agencies and party supporters in Katsina. He said the police would deal decisively with any person no matter how highly placed, if found disrupting the peace. “The command advises the politicians to call their boys to order and make them behave as gentlemen.
“We have been monitoring the campaign activities and we are not happy with the utterances of many politicians in the state.
Kaduna
The presidential candidate of the All Progressive
Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, t has pledged to bring about positive change in Nigeria within two years in office, if elected.
Buhari, who made the pledge while addressing his supporters in Kaduna, said the APC administration would reverse the current state of economy, insecurity, unemployment and corruption in the country.
“We pledge to you, that if given the mandate, we will bring about positive changes in the lives of Nigerians within two years,” he said.
“Our desire for change has not diminished, that was why in all the elections we participated we never asked people to take the law into their hands.
“We have always pursued our grievances over the elections at the tribunal.
“I believe in democratic governance, and as long as I am alive, I shall continue to struggle for the good of all Nigerians,” he said.
Kwara
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji
Abubakar Baraje has chided Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State over alleged inflammatory comments on the health status of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
Baraje in a statement made available to newsmen in Ilorin said the governor’s comments were capable of igniting crisis in the country. He called on the Inspector General of Police, INEC Chairman, SSS and other security agents to take appropriate action to stop such “inflammatory statements originating from Fayose.”
Baraje, a former national chairman of PDP, described the statement credited to the governor as “not only reckless, uncalled for, but a statement that can cause anarchy and crisis in the country.
He noted with dismay that the comments were made few days after President Goodluck Jonathan and the APC presidential candidate signed a non-violence peace agreement.
Lagos
A tourism lecturer, Mr Wale Odeyemi, has urged par
ents and guardians to ensure that indigenous languages were spoken in homes for children to have basic understanding of their languages.
Odeyemi, who is the Zonal Head, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Lagos Campus, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
The lecturer, who said that indigenous languages were on the verge of extinction, added that “most parents do not speak their indigenous languages at home; some believe the language is inferior to English.
“In as much as parents try to expose their children to civilised standard of living, it will be wiser to teach the children the indigenous languages to inculcate their cultural identity in them.
“Language is the cultural identity of a people which must be guided, no matter one’s social status. Our indigenous language gives us a sense of belonging.
Niger
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has pledged to
tackle economic woes bedeviling the people of Niger State.
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the APC Presidential Candidate, made the promise his campaign at rally in Minna.
“Niger state is known as the power state because of its dams that provide electricity to the country. “These are also resources that will be used to revive the agricultural sector of the state and its neighbours. We will address transport, rural health, education as well as unemployment,” he said. “It is the responsibility of the government to provide security for all its citizens. We will discourage corrupt practices as well as prudently manage available resources.
Osun
A medical practitioner, Dr Kayode Oyebode, has
warned Nigerians to guard against an outbreak of Bird Flu.
Oyebode, who gave the warning in an interview with newsmen said cases of the epidemic had been recorded in some states, including Lagos and Kano.
“To prevent the spread of such epidemic, our people must be careful with the way they eat chickens and other birds to avoid being victims of the deadly disease.
‘’Bird Flu is a deadly disease mostly contracted from birds. The disease, which could be contracted from eating chickens, kills as fast as Ebola disease.
‘’ People must be enlightened on the danger of eating birds with such a disease and also be informed on ways to prevent an outbreak of such a disease,’’ Oyebode said.
Oyo
The Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) solicited the support of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, in its bid to conduct free, fair and credible elections. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Amb. Rufus Akeju, made the call for support at the palace of the monarch in Oyo during an advocacy visit.
Akeju, who told the monarch that the advocacy visit was to sensitise the public on the need for peaceful elections, said.
“We need your help to deliver credible, free and fair elections to the people.
“You are the one that will mobilise the voters to come out to vote.
“We also need you to help tell the voters not to engage in violence and rigging and to comport themselves during the polls.’’
Taraba
The Acting Governor of Taraba, Alhaji Sani Danladi,
said the state government would pay over N300 million as outstanding salary arrears to the lecturers of Taraba University, Jalingo “within the shortest time possible”.
Danladi said this in Jalingo at the commissioning of Taraba University staff quarters.
He said the payment was necessary to boost the morale of the lecturers for effective service delivery.
“I am aware that there are still some outstanding financial commitments to academic staff and other organisations. Government will redeem these commitments within the shortest time possible,“ he said.
From Left: Alhaji Lamidi Ajadi; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his Ssg, Alhaji Ismael Olalekan-alli, at the Agodi Eid Prayer Ground during the Eid-el-fitr prayers in Ibadan recently.
Strategic regulators and other stakeholders have expressed satisfaction with the pace, quality and magnitude of work carried out by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Ogoniland, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In their separate speeches at the 2025 4th quarter key regulators / asset owners meeting held in Port Harcourt, the strategic stakeholders commended HYPREP for the significant milestones achieved with excellent efficiency and transparency, demonstrating capacity and commitment to sustaining collaboration with development partners for the overall success of the Project.
The regulators particularly lauded HYPREP for the landmark success in the implementation of the land and shoreline remediation, mangrove restoration, provision of reticulated potable water, the various sustainable livelihood programmes, donation of ambulances to health facilities in Ogoni, the construction of Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, as well as the ongoing Ogoni Power Project, adding that their independent field reports have shown proofs of HYPREP driving even beyond its mandates.
The goodwill messages were made by representatives of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Centre for Environment and Human Rights Development (CEHRD), Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA), Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), and Federal Ministry of Environment. Others are the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the Rivers State Ministry of Health, the National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Rivers State Ministry of Power, the Rivers State University, the Rivers State Ministry of Water and Rural Development, and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
Following the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit’s presentation on the status of HYPREP projects, participants offered feedback on areas of concern. They reassured HYPREP and the people of Ogoni of their continued support for the Project’s success. They also suggested that the quarterly review meeting be sustained as it enables them to report, evaluate and proffer solutions to areas of concern.
Participants also commended HYPREP for improved community and stakeholder engagement and for adding to what they saw the previous time. “We commend HYPREP for the quality work done at sites. The progress is phenomenal, because HYPREP is scoring good grades, above average,” Prof. Iyenemi Kakulu from Rivers State University said.
In his speech at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who was represented by Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, Director of Technical Services, commended the regulators and asset owners for their cooperation with the Project, and for making themselves available for fieldwork and the regular review meetings.
Prof Zabbey reiterated HYPREP’s commitment to best practice in waste management, particularly waste generation and disposal, calling on the Regulators for adequate logistics support, saying HYPREP’s priority is to focus on the core recommendations by UNEP, especially, remediation(soil, shoreline) mangrove restoration, provision of potable water, interventions in public health care services and sustainable livelihood for the people.
The Project Coordinator further highlighted the status of the Project, the successes achieved across all thematic areas, and assured that HYPREP will soon complete most of the ongoing projects and roll out others. He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review the progress of the Ogoni cleanup, ensure quality control, and foster effective collaboration.
Consequently, the quarterly key regulators/asset owners meeting is HYPREP’s strategic stakeholder management model, further underscoring the Project’s commitment to transparency, partnership for development, and accountability, all of which are harbingers of effective project delivery.
Speaking to newsmen, HYPREP Project Support Lead and representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr Ehioze Igbinomwanhia, described his involvement with HYPREPas an encouraging and insightful experience, saying, the Project is implementing a wide range of projects across Ogoniland, spanning immediate remediation works as well as livelihood support initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of affected communities.
Engr Igbinomwanhia emphasised that Renaissance Africa Energy remains fully committed to supporting the objectives of the Ogoni cleanup project, noting that the company has a long history of collaboration with HYPREP.
He added that the partnership has been characterised by continuous learning, adaptation and a willingness to respond to observations and recommendations aimed at improving outcomes.
He further emphasised the importance of safety in all project operations, particularly given the challenging terrain and operating conditions in Ogoniland.
He noted that safety is treated as a critical priority and that contractors are continually reminded to maintain high safety standards, stressing that lessons learnt from previous operational challenges like the collapse of the water tank in Gwara Community are being applied to strengthen safety practices and overall performance.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
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