Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Switzerland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Chad and Niger, Dr
Hans-Rudolf Hodel, has urged Nigerian youths to work towards a peaceful general elections.
Hodel made the call in Yola while interacting with staff and students of American University of Nigeria, Yola, on democracy in Switzerland.
He said that violence in any form must be avoided, insisting that dialogue had remained the best way of resolving any conflict.
He lauded the university’s authorities for what he described as ”quality education” being provided to students, adding that education was the bedrock of all developments.
According to him, an educated population will ensure peace and prosperity of a nation.
On bilateral relations with Nigeria, Hodel said that Switzerland, currently with a population of eight million people, supported Nigeria’s independence in 1960 and established its embassy in the country in 1961.
He said currently Switzerland has about 60 companies doing business in Nigeria with Nestlé being the most popular among them.
Borno
The Borno State government said it planned to explore the
possibilities of completing the long awaited Biu Dam project using its own resources.
The state Governor, Kashim Shettima, stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Biu, Alhaji Mustapha Aliyu in his palace in Biu.
Shettima said the government had been worried over the continued abandonment of the dam in spite of its socio-economic potential.
He added that the state government had already paid its counterpart funding for the completion of the project.
“The state government has paid its counterpart fund for the completion of the dam but the Federal Government is yet to release its own for the commencement of work on the site.”
He said that the dam, when completed, would assist in tackling the problem of perennial water shortage as well as providing water for irrigation farming for the people.
The governor added that his administration had executed many developmental projects worth about N10 billion in the area since his assumption of office in 2011.
He named some of the projects to include the construction of the Miringa-Gunda road and reconstruction of Government Secondary School (GSS) Miringa.
Shettima said the administration also carried out mass overhaul of structures at Government Secondary School, Marama, as well as upgraded general hospitals in Biu, Kwaya-Kusar and Bayo local government areas.
Responding, the Emir thanked the governor for the visit which he described as historic.
FCT
A coalition of women, youths and persons with disability
in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have announced support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming elections.
They said, at a rally in support of APC’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja, that the party was better prepared to address the plight of vulnerable groups in the country.
They stated that women and the youth had been abandoned for too long while the welfare of disabled persons had been neglected.
National Coordinator, Harbingers of Change for Buhari, Hajiya Hasiya Suleiman, a member of the coalition, said that though the present administration had done its best, it was time for Nigerians to embrace change.
She said that Buhari represented the change that vulnerable groups in the country had yearned for in the past 15 years of democratic rule in the country.
Suleiman said that the group was committed to its support for Buhari’s candidacy ”till the results of the elections are announced”.
Kaduna
Authorities of Shehu Idris College of Health Science Tech
nology, Makarfi, Kaduna State, have shut its main campus following a fire outbreak in the female hostel.
Our correspondent learnt that the fire destroyed 25 rooms in the “female hostel block B” and left 200 students without accommodation.
The Provost of the college, Mr Musa Garba-Abdullahi, told newsmen that the college had been closed and examinations suspended.
“We have already started the first semester examination, which we are supposed to have completed on Wednesday, February 12, but this ugly incident happened.
“We decided to shut down the main campus and the examination suspended till further notice,” he said.
The provost, however, said that there was no loss of life because the incident happened while the students were writing their examinations.
Kwara
The Vice Chancellor of Al-hikmah University, Prof Suleiman
AbdulKareem, has urged the Federal Government to extend its grants and financial assistance to private universities as part of measure to provide quality university education to youths.
Abdulkareem made the call at the 10th matriculation of the institution for the 2014/2015 academic session in Ilorin recently.
He also stressed the need for both the federal and state governments to continue to give priority attention to education through adequate funding, by providing basic infrastructural facilities.
The vice-chancellor noted that apart from being the best legacy a nation could bequeath to its youths, education is also the pivotal which the national development rests.
He, therefore, cautioned the newly admitted students against examination malpractice and other immoral behaviours, saying that the university had zero tolerance to them.
Lagos
The President, Society for Women in Taxation (SWIT), Mrs
Justina Okoro, has called for synergy between tax institutes and governments to combat double taxation in the country.
Okoro told newsmen in Lagos that many companies had crumbled as a result of double taxation.
“This also is retarding rapid industrial growth in the country, especially now that the country’s benchmark of crude oil is dwindling, we should encourage diversification and industrial growth,” she said.
She said that multiple taxations could discourage diversifications and industrial expansion.
“I urge all tax stakeholders to join hands to resolve this challenge. A good tax system should be targeted at consumption and not at investment.
“And whether consumptions or investments, none should be doubly taxed,” she said.
Oyo
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has
urged Nigerians not to be frustrated by the shift in the dates of the general elections.
Chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan chapter, Prof. Segun Ajiboye, made the appeal while reacting to postponement of the February elections on Saturday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ajiboye said that Nigerians should rather ensure that they collected their Permanent Voter Cards before the rescheduled dates for the elections.
He described the INEC decision as a serious setback for Nigerian democracy.
“We condemn the shift in the dates for the polls but, however,we encourage Nigerians to keep calm in the face of unnecessary provocations.
“The decision is a serious setback for Nigerian democracy. But we should remain steadfast. Let us organise and not agonise,” he said.
Plateau
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
in Plateau, has started the distribution of more Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), especially for those who registered in November 2014 in the state.
The commission’s Head, Voter Education and Publicity in Plateau, Mr Imahiyereobo Osaretin, told newmen in Jos, that the distribution began last week.
Osaretin explained that the PVCs were for those who registered in November 2014, while those who registered in 2011 and were yet to collect theirs, could also collect their cards.
“We have collected over 1. 3 million PVCs from our headquarters for those, who registered in 2011 and we have so far distributed more than 1.2 million out of the number brought to us, which represents 88.3 per cent.
”No fewer than 643,241 PVCs have again arrived from our headquarters solely for those who registered in 2014, and we have started distribution immediately,” he said.
He said that prospective voters, who registered in 2011 and had yet to collect their PVCs, should return to their registration centres as the newly arrived PVCs also had some of the missing ones.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government said it was sponsoring 42
students in Niger and Burkina Faso to obtain bachelor’s degrees in French.
Chairman of Sokoto State Scholarship Board, Alhaji Jelani Kalgo, made this known at the inauguration of an eight-month Intensive Preliminary French Programme for 70 persons in Sokoto recently.
Kalgo, represented by the Director of Administration of the board, Alhaji Salihu Galadanchi, said the first batch of 17 students were pursuing their first degrees in French at Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey, Niger Republic.
Another batch of 25 students will be leaving for the University of Ougadougou, Burkina Faso, for a similar programme.
“The board has also paid registration fees for fresh, returning , spill over and amnesty students at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
“The gestures are aimed at grooming interested and qualified indigenes to pursue degree programmes in French language.
Taraba
The Commissioner of Police in Taraba State, Mr Ademola
Omole, has warned governorship candidates of vari
ous political parties against attacking opponents at campaign rallies.
Omole gave the warning at a meeting with governorship candidates of political parties in Jalingo where an accord to end attacks on opponents was later signed by the candidates.
The commissioner decried the clash among political parties in Suntai village which claimed two lives, warning that the command would come hard on anyone that went against the terms of the accord.
Our correspondent reports that seven out of the 15 governorship candidates in the state signed the accord.
From Left: Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar Iii and Governor Aliyu Wamakko, during Governor Amaechi’s visit to the Sultan in Sokoto on Thursday
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on the Management of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to embark on the water projects in Buguma city in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers state
The Group called on the Rivers state government to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
On the water project in Buguma, MOSIEND said the population of Buguma has increased tremendously as the residents need more water projects to enhance the daily livelihood of the people
The Group also appealed to the Chairman of the council to assist in making the project a reality and attracts more developmental projects to the city
This call was on Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Radio program, Talk of the Town, by MOSIEND Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn alongside Mark Ojuka,Chairman of Buguma and Hon Sandra Owunari JP Chairman Obuama and monitored by our correspondent
Comrade Ojuka also called on the Management of Liquidifed Natural Gas NLG to embark on a free medical outreach in all Kala bari communities to improve their health status
He appealed to LNG to award scholarship to indigens of Kalabari communities in tertiary institutions to better their education, noting the company is doing same in Bonny, abandoning Kalabari communities
“We need contracts, free medical, scholarships and employment including skill acquisition programs for our teeming youths in Kalabari extractions ”
On Security, Mark Ojuka said security in Buguma is at zero level with the help of the Ama Ma soldiers the city is more peaceful and investors friendly as the youths of area have cordial relationship with the security agencies in the area
“Security is very secured in Buguma clan”
He called on the Rivers state to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
“The youths are asking for human capacity building in the area to reduce unemployment”
“The revamping of the Buguma fish farm will also reduce youth violence”
Also Speaking, Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn called for more improve in infrastructures in Kalabari community, especially in electricity
There is little improvement in terms of electricity in Buguma city
He decried the deplorable condition
of Buguma Health Centre, saying that the hospital is near functional
“Our sisters that are pregnant and our sick parents can not access the health centre for a better treatment ”
Describing the Health Centre as an eye saw, he called on Rivers state government and Buguma Local Government chairman Hon William to improve on facilities in the centre and make it more medically accessible to the sick persons in the area
Buguma, Tammy Bruce said is the spiritual headquarter of Kalabari people as such deserve more modern facilities from the government to improve lives
The Coordinator called on government, stakeholders and oil companies to assist and improve the poor infrastructural facilities in area
“We need first class hospitals, qualified medical doctors and nurses in the health centres and hospitals”
On the oil spilled in Obuoma Chairman MOSIEND Obuoma, Hon Sandra Owunari said the spill destroyed their crops and Rivers even polluted their only source of drinking water
She expressed displeasure that Rivers state government did not send any relief materials to the people in the affected community
On Chieftaincy title to women in Obuama, Hon Sandra Owunari said the community do not install Chieftaincy title to women, saying that Chieftaincy title is only reserved for men only in the community
CHINEDU WOSU
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Port Harcourt zonal command has held a one-day capacity workshop with some selected media organisations and civil society organisations in the state
The one-day capacity workshop was aimed at strengthening existing relationships among the media and the civil society organisations in the state with a view to improving the existing relationships among the graft agency and the media.
Speaking at the event the zonal commander of EFCC, MR. HASSAN SAIDU, said the
initiative is part of the Commission’s ongoing commitment to strengthening collaboration with key stakeholders, particularly the media and civil society, in our collective fight against economic and financial crimes , adding that the decision to organize this workshop underscores the strategic importance the EFCC places on the roles of the media and the CSOs as watchdogs of the society.
According to him,all over the world, the partnership between anti-corruption agencies, the media, and civil society has been instrumental in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance, noting that the collaboration is even more imperative in Nigeria given the scale and sophistication of economic crimes we contend with.
“Let me take this opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the invaluable support you have given to the EFCC over the years.
Your consistent focus on our work through reporting, advocacy, and public engagement has helped to sustain the momentum of our preventive and enforcement efforts.”
The EFCC’s mandate is both engaging and arduous. I say this because the landscape of economic crime is dynamic and your duty to report and interpret these developments requires diligence, patriotism and integrity.”
He posted that It is in recognition of these challenges that the Commission introduced a Specialized Workshop Series on Economic and Financial Crimes Reporting for journalists, adding that the commission has expanded this initiative to include civil society organizations to further demonstrate their belief in an inclusive and collaborative anti-corruption framework.
“As you are aware, Port Harcourt remains Nigeria’s treasure base of the Nation and a fertile ground for various forms of economic and financial crimes, ranging from pipeline vandalism, foreign exchange scams and business email compromise to investment and property fraud, and crude oil theft.”
The EFCC zonal commander averred that the 2025 edition of the workshop is Understanding Cryptocurrency Fraud and other Emerging Financial Crimes and Prosecution of Financial Crimes: Issues, Challenges and Way Forward , adding that
It is imperative for us to note that the surge of Cryptocurrency Fraud and other related offences in the Nigeria’s Cyberspace is becoming alarming hence, as part of the efforts of the EFCC to nip this menace and eradicate these crimes from Nigeria Cyberspace there is need for synergy with relevant Stakeholders, that is the reason why the Commission has chosen these topics to educate, create awareness and discuss arising issues that will yield more significant results as the EFCC tackles the spate of these crimes.
“We must work together to intensify public sensitization. Your platforms- print, broadcast, digital, and community-based- are essential in equipping Nigerians with the knowledge to make informed decisions and avoid falling prey to scammers. ”
He reiterated that the fight against economic and financial crimes is not the sole responsibility of the EFCC or other anti-corruption agencies. It is a collective national duty, meaning all hands must be on deck , stressing that
We owe it to our country and, indeed, the global community to expose and confront corrupt practices wherever they exist.
“The media must continue to hold public institutions accountable, while civil society must deepen civic engagement and promote transparency at all levels.
The EFCC remains committed to building a stronger and more effective partnership with all stakeholders in the fight against corruption. he stated.
Earlier In his presentation on cryptocurrency-related crimes, CSE Coker Oyegunle, Head of Advanced Fee Fraud, explained that digital assets are increasingly being used for money laundering, identity theft, phishing, malware attacks, and ransomware, most of which involve untraceable crypto payments.
He noted that Nigeria now has a coordinated regulatory framework involving multiple agencies. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) serves as the lead regulator under the Investment and Securities Act 2025, defining digital assets as securities and licensing virtual asset service providers.
Our correspondent reports that other topics presented during the workshop include prosecuting Financial crimes: Issues, challenges and the way forward and the role of CSOs and media in driving a preventive frame work.
Nation
RSU Blames Poor Funding for Failure to Meet Academic Targets as 1,356 Set for Combined Convocation on Saturday”
The management of Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt, has stated that poor funding has hindered the institution’s ability to meet its expected academic targets.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, made this statement during a press briefing held at the institution on Monday in Port Harcourt, ahead of the week-long 37th and 38th combined convocation ceremony scheduled for Friday and Saturday this week.
Prof. Zeb-Obipi emphasized that poor funding continues to be a major challenge limiting the institution’s ability to meet its targets, adding that they trust the state governor, Sir Fubara Siminalaye, who is the visitor to the university, will continue to strengthen and support them.
He noted that the state governor has demonstrated his commitment to supporting the university, recently approving N700m for the ongoing NUC accreditation.
The Vice-Chancellor stated that the university faces deficits in classrooms, staff accommodation, and student hostels, with the infrastructure gap widening, and existing lecture halls and laboratories requiring renovation.
“We are prioritizing phased upgrades based on program needs,
He added that the university is short-staffed, having lost staff to retirement, death, and changes in job or place of work, and that new programs, departments, and faculties have been created to meet the contemporary needs of society.
Mean while,a total of 13,242 students are set to graduate in the combined convocation, with 10,648 undergraduates, 1,356 Master’s degree students, 700 postgraduate diplomas, and 538 Doctors of Philosophy.
The Vice-Chancellor also used the opportunity to list some achievements of his administration, including the creation of new directorates, completion of abandoned laboratories, and upgrades in the faculty of sciences, made possible with support from the Tertiary Education Technology Fund (TETFund).
He expressed appreciation to the governor and visitor to the university, Sir Siminalaye Fubara, for approving his appointment and promised to justify the confidence placed in him.
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