Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
has advised internally-displaced persons in some local government areas of Adamawa to return to their communities.
The Senior Information Officer of the agency Malam Sani Datti, told newsmen in Yola that peace had been restored in the areas concerned.
Datti said that following the military recapture of some of the local government areas from Boko Haram, NEMA had been able to assess the situation in three local government areas.
He listed the areas to include Gombi, Hong, Mubi North and Maiha.
“The agency is therefore advising those internally displaced persons, especially those from Gombi, Hong and Mubi Local Government Areas to go back to their respective areas.
FCT
The Foundation for the Advancement of Ethics and Val
ues (FAEV) has urged Nigerians to promote ethical and moral values for good governance to thrive in the country, as the general election approaches.
The President of the NGO, Mrs Shimite Katung, made the call while speaking with newsmen in Abuja.
Katung said that the foundation had collaborated with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Moral Values, to ensure that corruption, crises, violence and other evil acts were curbed.
She said that democracy was incomplete without accountability, transparency and integrity, adding that the organisation would contribute its quota toward the ongoing transformation of the country.
Gombe
The Gombe State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS
(GOMSACA) said it had increased the number of Prevention of Mother Child Transmission (PMCT) centres from 185 to 225 in the state.
The Project Managerof the agency, Dr Suraj Abdulkarim, told newsmen in Gombe that the centres were sited across the state.
He explained that the aim was to ensure that every pregnant woman that was tested positive accessed the services provided by the centre.
Abdulkarim said the agency had collaborated with non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations conducting advocacy in brothels to educate commercial sex workers on preventive measures against HIV and AIDS.
“They advise them on the need to use condoms as well as know their status,” he said.
The manager said that a bill on stigmatisation against people living with HIV was pending in the state House of Assembly.
“We are made to understand that most people do not want to come for voluntary counselling and testing.
“But it is very important to know your status, as well as the various preventive measures,” he said.
Kaduna
The President, Environmental Health Officers Associa
tion in Kaduna State, Mr Yandeh Mairiga, has suggested the use of tricycles for refuse evacuation in areas with difficult terrains and populous quarters.
Mairiga made this suggestion in Kaduna while speaking to newsmen recent.
He stressed the need to use tricycles to evacuate waste “in communities that are not easily accessible.”
He opined that this would ensure effective collection of waste from communities, especially in high-density areas, where heavy waste collection trucks might not be able to access.
The president said, “Using trucks would deal with the unhealthy situations in some localities that have become an eyesore in some parts of the state.’’
According to him, most dump-sites in the state are too far from residential areas, thereby making it difficult for residents to evacuate and dispose of their refuse.
Kano
The Dala local government area in Kano State said it
had budgeted more than N6.5 billion for this fiscal year.
The Council Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf, said this while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after defending his council’s budget at the state House of Assembly in Kano.
He said the council proposed to spend 54 per cent of the budget on capital projects and 36 per cent on recurrent expenditure.
“We also planned to construct six major drains to ensure a healthy environment,’’ he said.
The chairman said further that the council had trained more than 500 women in various vocational skills.
He said,“Since my assumption in office in May last year, the council had initiated a number of empowerment programmes for the people of the area.
Katsina
Avian Influenza, a.k.a. bird flu , has hit some poultry
farms in Katsina leading to the death of over 3,000 birds.
The Vice Chairman, Katsina State Poultry Farmers Association, Alhaji Musa Danhassan, confirmed the outbreak of the disease to newsmen in Katsina
Danhassan said that the farm of one of their members, Alhaji Garba Dalhatu was affected by the outbreak and the man lost over 3,000 birds.
He said that specimen from the affected birds had been taken to the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, where it was confirmed.
The vice chairman disclosed that their association had reported the outbreak to both the state and federal ministries of agriculture about the outbreak of the disease.
Kwara
The PDP deputy governorship candidate in Kwara State,
Alhaji Yinka Aluko, has called on wealthy muslims to imbibe the virtue of righteousness as exemplified by Prophet Mohammed.
Aluko made the call on Friday at the inauguration of a mosque built by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) within the premises of the Ilorin International Airport.
Aluko enjoined clerics to concentrate on the propagation of Islam in line with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.
This, he said, was to eradicate acts capable of undermining peaceful co-existence in the country.
Aluko also charged youths in the state to shun violence, stressing that it was an obstacle to growth and development of democracy.
He also advised parents and guardians to keep close watch on their children and wards.
Lagos
A UK theatre outfit, Hamlet Globe to Globe, will perform
Shakespeare’s historical play, Hamlet, in Lagos on March 4 and March 5 at the MUSON Centre, Victoria Island and St. Saviour’s School, Ikoyi.
A statement by the organisers said the Hamlet Globe to Globe tour opened at Shakespeare’s Globe, London, on 23 April 2014, the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth.
The event is coming to Nigeria courtesy of the British Council.
Hamlet is scheduled to tour every single country on earth in two years.
It features Nigerian actor, Ladi Emeruwa in the role of Hamlet and is directed by the Globe’s Artistic Director, Dominic Dromgoole.
The Hamlet theatre arrived Africa in January after showing in the U.S.A, Moscow, Mexico, Chile, Poland, St Kitts and Nevis and South America.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Government has threatened to sanc
tion principals and head teachers found collecting illegal fees in public schools in the state.
The Executive Chairman, Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Malam Abdulkarim Abdullahi, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Keffi.
He described unauthorised fee collection in public primary and secondary schools as an act of sabotage by the erring head teachers and principals.
Abdullahi explained that the state government declared free education policy to enable the children of the poor have access to education to better their future and for the overall development of the country.
He said: “In the olden days education was free, government will provide all the necessary and needed facilities for pupils, students from the primary to the higher institutions and there is an enabling environment for teaching and learning”.
Osun
The Provincial Pastor of Living Faith Church in Osogbo,
in Osogbo Pastor Muyiwa Emmanuel, has urged Christians to be faithful in their business dealings with others.
Emmanuel, who said this during a business and career summit said any Christian who aspired to be great in his business and career must learn and practise the virtue of faithfulness.
“Faithfulness has its reward. Unfaithfulness may work for people sometimes, but it does not all the time,’’ the cleric, who read from Luke 19 verses 7 to 26, said.
He urged Christians not to cheat in their dealings but should rather be honest and faithful.
Emmanuel, who decried the manner some Christians cheat in their business dealings, said unfaithfulness does not glorify God and urged Christians to be accountable in their businesses.
He urged Christians to be faithful to God and their fellow men.
“Faithfulness, accountability, generosity, divine guidance and gratitude are the hallmarks of breakthrough in a Christian’s business and career,’’ the pastor said.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr Ezekiel Oyemomi, Director, Women Affairs, Mrs Iran Ajufo and representative of UN Women, Kemi Ndiel, at the National Stakeholders’s Consultative meeting on the Status of Women in Abuja yesterday.
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.
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has decried the neglect of communities in Obolo Nation and others in the Niger Delta Region
MOSIEND also called on the stakeholders to empower the youths in skill acquisition and other meaningful ventures to better their lives
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 Asarama Clan Chairman, Comrade Amos Zebedee Udu, and Unyeada Clan Chairman Comrade Owen Wilson Ngere monitored by our correspondent
The spokepersons underscores the urgent need for government agencies and development partners to respond decisively to the dire state of basic amenities in the area.
MOSIEND leaders in Obolo Nation lamented the absence of potable water, electricity, access roads, and other functional public infrastructures in the clans
“What is troubling is that these complaints continue to echo without corresponding action from the Rivers State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission, and the oil companies operating in and around the area”.
According to the MOSIEND leaders, the situation has reached a point where community members, particularly youths and women, require deliberate intervention to rebuild livelihoods and restore hope.
They also emphasised the need for empowerment programmes, vocational training, and investments in local economies that depend heavily on fishing and trade.
The Clan leaders call for provision of small engine boats for fishermen and the construction of proper market spaces for the communities
Asarama Clan Chairman, Comrade Udu noted that the community participates fully in electoral processes yet continues to live without clean water or electricity.
He insisted that the clan is not benefiting as they ought to from any MoU with oil companies nor from NDDC projects, raises concerns about the fairness and inclusiveness of development planning in the state.
Equally troubling is the account from Unyeada Clan Chairman, Comrade Owen Wilson Ngere, who highlighted the alarming state of Unyeada Primary School, where children are forced to learn on bare floors without desks, chairs, or basic sanitation facilities.
” For a region that hosts oil and gas activities, such conditions are unacceptable and should concern all stakeholders”.
The Unyeada Clan Commended NDDC for the installation of solar lights in the communities, noting that the project is not enough for the entire community as they
appeal for more of the solar project in the area
While the leaders expressed appreciation to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the ongoing construction of roads in the area, and to the local council Chairman for the provision of potable water in some communities, .
“Obolo Nation has shown remarkable restraint and continues to maintain peace, as noted by the MOSIEND Coordinator”.
“The issues highlighted are not demands for luxury,but are basic necessities that every community in the Niger Delta deserves.
“The time for promises has passed; what Obolo communities need now is visible, sustained, and inclusive development.
Chinedu Wosu
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