Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

February 20, 2015

Adamawa

The Adamawa State Command of the Nigeria Immigra
tion Service (NIS) has arrested 280 illegal aliens in the state.
The Comptroller of the service in the state, Mr Ubi Ikpi, told newsmen in Yola that the arrest was part of the command’s renewed efforts to rid the state of illegal aliens and enhance security.
“It is pertinent that we rid Adamawa of miscreants because it is very possible they can compound the security situation in the country since they don’t have valid papers and identifiable places of abode,” Ikpi said.
He said those arrested were from neighbouring African countries, adding that they would be documented and screened for subsequent deportation.
He urged the general public to support and cooperate with the command by identifying and reporting illegal aliens and criminals to the appropriate authorities.

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Chapter of the National Union of Road
Transport Workers (NURTW) says it has embarked on a campaign to sensitise and warn its members against engaging in election malpractice.
The union’s Chairman, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi .
Adamu explained that NURTW would play a critical role in the coming general elections, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said that the union would transport all INEC staff and election materials to the various polling units across the country.
“Because of the vital role we have to play, there was the need to consistently sensitise our members and warn them against being used by politicians to divert election materials or participate in any form of election malpractice or violence”, he said.

Benue

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has de-
cried the poor usage of crash helmets and seat belts by motorists in Benue State.
The Sector Commander of the commission in the state, Mr Habu Daudu, told newsmen in Makurdi that most motorists preferred to pay fines to the use of such protective devices.
“Most motorists in Benue and indeed, most states in the Northern parts of the country, prefer to pay fines instead of using helmets,” Daudu said.
He attributed the trend to “attitudinal problems”, stressing that most of the time, “it is discovered that some even have the helmets but will deliberately leave them at home”.
The sector commander, therefore, advised motorists to always use such protective devices to safeguard their lives in times of accidents.
He also warned drivers in the state to avoid making phone calls while driving.

Jigawa

The Jigawa State Command of the Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said it arrested 29 persons for allegedly hawking petrol on roadsides in the state.
The state Commandant of the Corps, Mr Muhammed Gidado, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.
He said petrol hawking had been identified to be the cause of frequent fire outbreaks in parts of the state.
Gidado said that selling of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in open places in the state had been banned.
“This measure is informed by the public outcry on the practice which often causes fire outbreak and artificial scarcity of fuel.’’
He said 25 persons suspected to have engaged in roadside hawking of petrol and five filling station managers were arrested by his men.
“The 29 suspects were nabbed at different locations in Dutse and its environs after three weeks warning against such practice”, he said.
Kaduna

More than 70, 000 farmers in Kaduna State have ben
efited from the World Bank-assisted West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP).
WAAPP’s Desk Officer in the state, Mr Umar Bashir, disclosed this in Kaduna in an interview with newsmen.
Bashir explained that the programme involved the distribution of quality seeds to farmers to enhance agricultural production.
He said that more than 56, 918 kilogrammes of seeds were produced and distributed to farmers under the programme in the last one year.
Bashir said the project also involved community multiplication programme in which farmers were selected to produce seeds for distribution to communities.

Katsina

A Senior Magistrates Court in Katsina State has or
dered a 65-year-old man, Sale Sani and two others standing trial for raping a 10-year-old girl, to be remanded in prison custody.
The Chief Magistrate, Hajiya Nafisat Lawal had fixed March 10 for the mentioning of the case after the police had formally charged the three for allegedly raping the girl.
The two others involved in the rape case are Bala Mati and Abdulkarim Bawale, all aged 55.
The prosecutor, Insp. Hashimu Musa told the court that the three old men committed the offence at Muduru village in Mani Local Government of Katsina State.
Musa said that the victim’s father Malam Lado reported the case to police on January 23, accusing the three of luring his daughter and raping her at Mati’s house located in the village..
He said that the police subsequently arrested the accused persons and transferred the case to the state Criminal Investigation Department for further action.

Kogi

Fifteen Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kogi
State have received N70 million soft loan to expand their operations.
The loan, which was given under the Kogi State/Bank of Industry N2 billion Matching Fund for SMEs, will attract five per cent interest with payback period of three years.
Distributing the cheques to the beneficiary companies in Lokoja, Governor Idris Wada said that the gesture was in line with his administration’s transformation agenda to industrialise the state and create jobs for its teeming youths.
Wada described small and medium scale enterprises as the engine room for rapid industrialisation and sustainable economic development.
He said the government would continue to rely on the sector in its quest to alleviate poverty and generate employment for the people.
Nasarawa

The traditional council in Akwanga Local Government
Area of Nasarawa State, will set machinery in motion to investigate all plots of land sold in controversial circumstances in the area.
Residents, who are involved in the illegal act would be prosecuted, Chief Samson Gamu-Yari, the Chun-Mada of Akwanga, has warned.
Gamu-Yari, who is also the chairman of the traditional council in the area, gave the warning in Akwanga while addressing Village and District Heads.
“We will set machinery in motion to investigate lands sold in controversial circumstances and make sure that all those involved in the illegal act are brought to book.
“This meeting was called to address land disputes that occurred in Gwanje Village which led to the death of two persons; including a police officer,” he said.

Oyo

The Oyo State branch of the All Farmers Association of
Nigeria (AFAN) has urged the state government to involve stakeholders in the agriculture sector in its policy formulation.
The Chairman of the association, Mr Olumide Aina, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
He said politicians were usually involved in formulation of agricultural policies rather than the actual farmers in the state.
“Majority of government policies were not evolved by experts, rather they were the products of politicians who call themselves farmers but know nothing about farming.
“But if stakeholders in the agriculture sector are carried along in policy formation, we are sure that agricultural problems will be half-solved, if not completely solved,” he said.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Police Command says it has com
menced a 24-hour patrol of all schools across the state to protect lives and property.
The Spokesman of the command, Mr Al-Mustapha Sani, disclosed this to newsmen in Sokoto.
“This is part of sustainable and proactive measures by the command to ensure that all schools across the state are more secure.
“It is also to provide a conducive environment for effective teaching and learning in the schools,’’ Sani said.
He said the command had recently organised a seminar for school principals, headmasters and proprietors of private schools on the need to be security-conscious.
“They can also go a step further by engaging the personnel of reputable private security guards in this direction,’’ the police spokesman said.

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Hassan-Kuka (left), with Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, during inauguration of the Governing Board of Nasarawa State University in Lafia recently. Bishop Kuka is the Chairman of the Board.

Nation

Ogoni Cleanup Programme, Enabling Pathways To Development Of Ogoni – Zabbey

Published

3 days ago

October 27, 2025

The Tide

With significant achievements recorded across thematic areas of the Ogoni cleanup programme being executed by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the Project Coordinator of the Project, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has said that all these are enabling pathways to the development of Ogoniland.

This is coming on the heels of milestone achievements in the following areas and their impact on Ogoni communities. They are mangrove restoration which is 94 percent complete; shoreline remediation which stands at 67.1 percent; and the phase 2 land remediation progressing to 36.55 percent.

Moreso, HYPREP has constructed 14 water facilities, providing potable water to 40 communities. With the commissioning of the water schemes in Bane and Gwara communities, the number of communities with access to clean and safe drinking water will be 45. The process of operationalising the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) which is at 92 percent complete, is ongoing. The same for the Ogoni Power Project which is progressing with wayleave compensation and construction works at Bodo and Wiiyaakaara substations ongoing

Similarly, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital and Buan Cottage Hospital are at 76.8 percent and 98.7 percent respectively.

This is alongside other public health interventions and the Human BioMonitoring Survey also in progress.

Under the livelihood
programme, over 7,000 direct jobs have been created for Ogoni women and youths, while over 5,000 have been trained in multiple skills and provided start-up kits, workshops, education grants, scholarships and other empowerment programmes. This quarter, training will commence in other demand-driven skill areas, such as cybersecurity, full-stack development, mud logging, software development, commercial diving, and underwater welding.

Zabbey had reeled out these achievements, during the third quarter interactive session between the Project Coordination Office engagement with Ogoni youths in Port Harcourt on Friday, in line with HYPREP’s strategic stakeholders policy to provide an interface opportunity to abreast Ogoni youths on the Project’s activities, while garnering their feedback.

Zabbey noted that, “This
quarterly engagement was,therefore, designed as an inclusive strategy to ensure that youth voices are heard, concerns are addressed, and progress updates are provided transparently. Also, it reflects our firm belief that a project of this magnitude must be people-centred, accountable, and participatory”.

” I am delighted to inform you that the Project remains on course to achieve its mandate as outlined in the UNEP Report on the Ogoni environment and the official gazette establishing HYPREP. HYPREP is committed to transparency and accountability in the implementation of the cleanup projects and activities”, he said.

He stressed that HYPREP’s achievements are pathways to a better Ogoniland, assuring that the Project’s goals are aimed at benefiting all categories of Ogoni youths, whether in business, farming, advocacy, education, entrepreneurship or community development.

”This Project belongs to all of you, and its success depends mainly on your participation, unity and constructive engagement. And with your support, we are confident that all challenges will be addressed in the overall public interest,” Zabbey said.

The Project Coordinator urged Ogoni youths to continue to support the Project by promoting peace, discouraging misinformation, and collaborating with project teams working in the communities, and address challenges through dialogue, rather than confrontation.

Prof Dinebari Badey, a Professor of Development Sociology in the University of Port Harcourt, delivered the keynote address, linking the nexus between HYPREP and youths in the development of Ogoniland through unity of purpose while Engr Solomon Akere, gave a talk on Ogoni youths in business.

Participants raised questions concerning the maintenance of the water projects, remediation efforts, and compensation for the Right of Way (RoW), among others.

In attendance were management staff of HYPREP who provided responses to the interventions.

Nation

Community Health Practitioners Marks 2025 Week

Published

3 days ago

October 27, 2025

The Tide

Members of the Association of Community Health practitioners of Nigeria (ACHPN),Rivers state Chapter have marked the 2025 Community Health week with a call for the state government to employ more community health practitioners to mann the various health centres across the 23 local government areas of the state .

The theme of one week event “strengthening the Nigerian healthcare system,the role of community health practitioners in reducing maternal and under _five mortality in line with sustainable development goals”attracted community health practitioners across the state.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event held at the conference hall of the state primary healthcare office in port Harcourt, the state chairman of the Association,Dr Justina Onuwa appeal to the state governor,Sir Siminalayi Fubara to approve the employment of more community health practitioners in other to effectively mann the primary health centres in the state.

Onuwa stated that the call become imperative following the decline in community health practitioners in the civil service and the need to ensure that the people in rural communities have more access to primary healthcare services in their localities.

The state chairman of ACHPN averred members of the association were not captured in the employment scheme during last employment of medical health workers by the state government.”our people need to be employed like other health care service providers”

She appeal to the state government to provide vehicles and office secretariat for its association and as well ensure that their members are promoted as at when due.

Also speaking,the state Health Educator,Dr Babbo Diana who represented the commissioner for health and Executive secretary RSPHCMB while congratulating them on their celebrations called them to partner with the state government to build more efficient healthcare services in the state.

She urge them to be passionate with their work, stressing that all hands must be on deck and everyone must play their roles in other to ensure the success of government primary healthcare services in the state.

In his good will message,the representative of the state Director of Health planning Research and statistics, Dietician Buduzhi Gift Oguzor described members of the association as foot soldiers of health services care providers in the state.

He called on them to be more dedicated in their responsibilities especially in the areas of infrastructure development, noting that the state of infrastructure under their custody are in a detoriating conditions despite the huge of resources released to them by the state government.

Earlier in her lecture on the theme “strengthening the Nigerian healthcare system,the role of the community practitioners in reducing the under _five mortality in line with the sustainable development goals”prof Alice Nte urge them to review their association curriculum in other to upgrade their profile and become more relevant and attend to the optimum value in the profession.

She opined that the WHO according to the Nigerian Demography survey didn’t included members of the association as stillbirth attendant, adding that they should restrategise and look into their curriculum and see where it can be updated.

The climax of the week long celebrations ended with road work,free medical care services and church thanks service.

Akujobi Amadi

Nation

NIOB President Calls For Innovation, Entrepreneurship In Housing Delivery

Published

6 days ago

October 24, 2025

The Tide

The President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Bldr. Daniel Abimbola Kolade, FNIOB, has called on Nigerian builders to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship as key drivers for addressing the nation’s housing deficit.

Speaking at the inaugural council meeting of the Institute held at its National Secretariat in Abuja in his speech themed, “Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Key Driver to Housing Delivery,” the NIOB President said the Institute is poised to lead transformative change in the nation’s housing delivery system.

Bldr. Kolade described the meeting as a strategic platform for redefining NIOB’s policy direction for the next two years, stressing that the housing challenge presents both a national problem and a professional opportunity.

“We, as custodians of building production management, must reposition ourselves not only as technical experts but as innovators, entrepreneurs, and national solution providers,” he stated.

He emphasized that innovation must now be embedded in the professional DNA of builders, urging practitioners to embrace sustainable technologies, research-based construction methods, and digital project management tools.

According to him, the Institute will promote innovation through research collaborations, innovation labs, and pilot projects that showcase emerging construction techniques.

On entrepreneurship, Bldr. Kolade noted that competence alone was no longer sufficient, and that builders must evolve into enterprise creators capable of driving employment and economic growth through construction-based ventures.

He further outlined the Institute’s five key policy pillars for the next two years, to include innovation
and research; entrepreneurial
development; professional regulation and ethics; advocacy
and policy influence;
capacity building and youth empowerment.

The NIOB President also paid tribute to past leaders of the Institute for laying the foundation upon which the current administration will build, saying leadership must go beyond preservation to purposeful expansion.

“If we can harness innovation, embrace entrepreneurship, and strengthen our professional unity, we will not only close the housing gap — we will redefine the standards of housing delivery in Africa,” he affirmed.

He called on builders nationwide to view themselves as not only craftsmen but nation builders, visionaries, and entrepreneurs committed to delivering sustainable housing and national development.

The NIOB President earlier led the National Council members to a site visit to the NIOB construction site at Idu, Abuja.