Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa State Police Command has confirmed the
abduction of the Vice Chairman of Hong Local Government, Mr Bijida Yakubu, by suspected insurgents.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Othman Abubakar, who confirmed the incident, said three vigilante members that were with Yakubu lost their lives in the encounter.
Abubakar, who did not give details, however, said policemen investigating the incident had so far recovered the vice chairman’s shoes.
A resident of Hong who simply identified himself as Hussaini told newsmen that the incident occurred in Gayafa village of the area.
“You know, insurgents attacked the village last week. The vice chairman who hail from the village was on an assessment visit with some hunters when the insurgents attacked and over-powered them.
“ About seven insurgents were killed in the encounter before they over-powered the hunters and took away the vice chairman,” he said.
Hussaini claimed that the abducted vice chairman was later allowed by his captors to call his wife with his cell phone before the device was switched off.
The Chairman of Adamawa branch of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Alhaji Sahabo Gurin, also confirmed the incident.
Bauchi
The Raw Material Research and Development Council
(RMRDC), said it would collaborate with the Bauchi State Government to train 20 local government council chairmen on cluster formation.
The Bauchi State Coordinator of the council, Malam Ahmed Waziri said the training would help drive industrialisation in the state through clusters, which he described as a congregation of various industries that produced similar products, using common raw materials or mineral resources as input.
Waziri told newsmen in Bauchi that plans were on to deploy the council’s Ward-Based Cluster Technology Programme (WBCTP) to all the wards of the 774 local government areas in the country to start the process.
“Clusters have been identified as one of the engine rooms for industrialisation globally.
“When they are concentrated in one geographical location, it is easy for the government to provide them with a common facility.
Benue
The Benue State House of Assembly has directed the
state Commissioner for Finance to submit details of revenue received from the Federation Account to it before March 3.
The House gave the directive during the plenary after considering the motion moved by 23 members.
Our correspondent reports that the motion called on the state government to furnish the house with details of its financial status.
Speaking, the leader of the group, Mr James Ochojila, stated that the constitution had empowered them to investigate any matter or thing that it had power to make laws on.
Ochojila further said that the power of investigation of the House covered the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, ministries, departments and agencies.
FCT
Electricity consumers in the commercial and industrial
sectors of the country have called on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to suspend the implementation of the new electricity tariff.
NERC, on December 23, approved a review of the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2.1 regime for commercial and industrial consumers on D3 with the take-off date of January 1.
Some members of the sector made the call at a consumer forum organised by NERC for commercial and industrial consumers in Abuja.
Mr Felix Okojie, a representative of the Steel Manufacturers Association, said that 45 per cent increase in tariff for the commercial and industrial sector was astronomical and inappropriate.
He said that the increase had interrupted the long term planning by members of the association.
Kaduna
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
has alerted passengers of commercial vehicles in Kaduna to be wary of armed robbers posing as drivers.
The warning was contained in a statement signed by the Kaduna State NSCDC Commandant, Alhaji Zakari Ningi.
It said the operators of the vehicles took advantage of passengers and ended up robbing them at vulnerable spots.
“The operators of painted commercial buses in the metropolis carry unsuspecting passengers but end up robbing them on board,” Ningi said.
He said the command had received complaints from victims of such robberies, and advised passengers to be extra careful while boarding commercial vehicles, especially within Kaduna metropolis.
He said the command had since commenced investigation into the matter after it received “two reports of persons who have been robbed in such manner”.
The commandant urged the general public to assist the NSDC with useful information to track down and apprehend the perpetrators.
Kano
The Police in Kano have arrested a female politician,
Hajiya Aisha Maijama’a, over alleged sponsorship of political thugs in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of the state.
The state Police Commissioner, Mr Ibrahim Idris, announced this while briefing newsmen in Kano recently.
Idris said the woman who is a strong member of one of the political parties, was apprehended along with 23 thugs found carrying different kinds of local weapons trying to instigate violence in the area.
He said investigation had commenced after which the suspects would be charged to court.
The commissioner said the command had on different occasions warned politicians against acts capable of causing violence in the state.
He said the command would not allow any groups or individuals to breach the peace, warning that anybody who indulged in acts of violence would be arrested.
Kebbi
The Nigeria Immigration Service in Kebbi State has de
ported 500 illegal immigrants as part of security measures ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The Comptroller of the service in the state, Alhaji Abdullahi Salahu, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the arrest and deportation of illegal immigrants would be a continuous exercise.
He said the exercise followed the directives of the Controller-General of the service, Mr David Paradang.
He said the service would ensure that foreigners did not partake in the elections.
“During the mop-up operation 47 National Identity cards; 16 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs); 53 Temporary Voter Cards and three Court Affidavits were impounded from the illegal immigrants,” he said.
Lagos
A businessman, Aremulola Anjorin, who allegedly de
frauded some people of N36.7 million, has been charged before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
Anjorin, 42, is facing charges of stealing, conspiracy, issuance of dud cheques and fraud.
Prosecutor G.O. Osuji told the court that the accused committed the offences at different times in his office.
He said that the accused defrauded Mr Ernest Uduebor of N2.5 million on June 2, 2014, at No. 2, Ayorinde St., Ojota, adding that he defrauded Mr Kenneth Eromosele of N20.9 million sometime in May 2012, on Ogudu Road, Ojota.
Osuji also submitted that the accused obtained N8.9 million from Mr Basil Ogoha under false pretences and issued a dud cheque to him to cover the amount.
“Anjorin also obtained the sum of N4.8 million from one Ibukunoluwa Otesile with a promise to supply her company petroleum products.’’
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 285 (9) (b), 312(3) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Nasarawa
Nasarawa State Government has budgeted N1.2 billion
for the construction of students’ hostels in four state owned tertiary institutions to improve the standard of education in the state.
Alhaji Husseini Abubakar the supervising commissioner for Higher Education, made the disclosure recently in Lafia while defending the 2015 budget of the ministry before the House of Assembly Committee on Education.
He said that if the budget was approved, the money would be utilised for the construction of students’ hostels in four higher institutions to reduce the problem of accommodation.
Abubakar said the ministry had done its best to improve the standard of education in the state through the execution of various projects aimed at providing conducive environment for teaching and learning.
He appealed to the committee to ensure speedy passage of the budget to enable the ministry execute more projects.
Oyo
The Oyo State Government says it has met the demands
of its judiciary workers who have been on strike since January 5.
The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adebayo Ojo, said this in an interview with newesmen in Ibadan recently.
He said government officials had met with executives of the Oyo State branch of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), adding that the strike was expected to be suspended.
“We had a meeting with the JUSUN last week and we have fulfilled their demands. We, therefore, expect them to call off the strike,” he said.
But the JUSUN Chairman in the state, Mr Ayoade Ademola, said that the expected suspension of the strike by the attorney-general was “ wishful thinking.’’
“This must be his wishful thinking because our demands are still not yet met.
L-R: Founder, Support Our Troops Foundation (Sotf), Mrs Funmi Ogbue, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, member, Board of Trustees of Sotf, Mr Femi Adesila and others, during a road walk by Sotf in Abuja last Saturday
The President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide and the Mgboh XIII of the Mgboh Royal Family of Emohua Kingdom in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze (Barrister) Godspower Onuekwa, penultimate Friday celebrated his 80th birthday with pomp, pageantry and fanfare.
The celebration, which commenced with a symposium organised in his honour at Rivers State University on Thursday, August 21,2025, got to a resounding climax on Friday at Suntai Event Centre in Port Harcourt, where people from all walks of life, including business associates, friends, well-wishers, relatives, community folks, traditional rulers, and admirers, gathered to pay glowing tributes to the celebrant.
Before then, a well attended thanksgiving service was held that same Friday at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Okoro-Nu-Odo, to honour him and return gratitude to God Almighty for the fruitful and eventful life and accomplishments of the Emohua leader and icon.
The service which was officiated by Rt Rev Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, Bishop of Niger Delta North had other renowned and respected clerics like Most Rev(Dr) Blessing Enyindah, Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Rt Rev(Dr) Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta; Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, Bishop, Diocese of Evo; and Ven Solomon Eze Nelson, Archdeacon, Okoro-Nu-Odo; among others lined up as officiating ministers.
The service lived up to its billing, as it featured powerful and soul-lifting praise and worship; point-blank prayers; and beautiful renditions, which electrified the entire atmosphere, essentially packaged to thank God for the life of the celebrant.
However, the crowning moment actually came when the who is who, the crème de la crème of the society, thronged the terraces and fabulously decorated expansive hall of Suntai Event Centre, to celebrate Eze Onuekwa, amid accolades, aplomb and panache, wining and dining, and clinking of glasses with him and all.
The chairman of the colourful ceremony, Chief Evans Woherem, who was represented by Eze(Prof) Christian Akani of the prestigious Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, praised the celebrant for his youthfulness in spite of clocking 80 years, generosity, humility, humaneness and selfless services to the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and called on all and sundry to emulate his good legacies and simple disposition towards life and existence.
Goodwill messages also poured in in torrents to underscore and salute the doggedness, resilience, astuteness and uniqueness of the endearing life of the celebrant, with Prof Emenike Wami, the Ochia Ohna Ikwerre(XIV), taking the lead.
Prof Priye Iyalla, the wife of late renowned writer, novelist and playwright, Dr Elechi Amadi, held the audience spellbound as she masterfully reeled out the profile of the celebrant, amid intermittent applause from the crowd.
The Tiv Community from Benue State, resident in Rivers State, were not left out, as they honoured and decorated Eze Onuekwa in their complete traditional regalia.
Cultural displays from Baptist Church, Rumuowhor; ADNA Wogbuji Dancing Group, Egbeda; Tiv Dancing Group; and Promoter Eze and Rumu-Mgboh Emohua Wrestling Group, equally added colour and grace to the occasion, with the celebrant and his wife, Dame Ann Onuekwa, joining them to wriggle their waists and bodies in ecstasy.
In his response, the highly elated celebrant, Eze Onuekwa thanked all those gathered to celebrate with him, saying, celebrations would never cease in their homes, and attributed everything he represents in life, including his modest accomplishments to God.
Eze Onuekwa, while addressing newsmen, harped on the need for hard work among the youths and members of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, as a way of sustaining and giving meaning to the motto of the organisation, which he noted is anchored on peace, unity and progress.
He specially thanked God for sustaining his life, and for making everything possible for him and his family, saying, he was joyous that he has today become an octogenarian and elder statesman in Rivers State.
His son and medical practitioner, Dr Samuel Chizia Onuekwa expressed delight that people from far and near had come together to celebrate the father, whom he described as a role model and great inspirator.
He said it was a good thing that the children were celebrating their father when he is alive, stressing that the last time Eze Onuekwa was celebrated in such magnitude was 20 years ago, during his 60th birthday celebration, and prayed God to grant him many more years in good health.
Among dignitaries who graced the event were Senator Andrew Uchendu; Chief Sampson Agbaru; Prof Emenike Wami; Dr Peter Didia; Eze(Prof) Samuel Ugo Onyeka; and a host of others. Justice Iche Ndu(rtd); and C O Kattey were among personalities that attended the thanksgiving service, while the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi led the academics who graced the symposium, alongside Eze G A O Omodu.
As the 100 Ogoni youths trained by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Creative Arts close out their training on Tuesday at the Theatre Arts Department, University of Port Harcourt, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has urged the beneficiaries to use the skills acquired to ensure that the Ogoni stories are told and heard in the right way.
The trainees, who had completed a four- month training in script writing, film production and make-up are beneficiaries of the HYPREP sustainable livelihood programme, aimed at providing high demand skills to Ogoni youths in the lucrative creative arts and entertainment industry.
Zabbey described the Creative Arts training as well as other programmes and interventions as HYPREP’s strategic sustained effort to create alternative sources of livelihood.
”Targeted capacity building for Ogoni youths and women remains a central strategy in HYPREP’s livelihood restoration and improvement efforts. Our goal is to reach every part of the Ogoni community and ensure that no group or talent pool is left behind. This training is a deliberate step to empower young people who aspire to make their mark in the creative and entertainment industry”, he said.
While commending the trainees for producing four short films within the training period, one of which was premiered at the ceremony-Dirty Festival, the Project Coordinator noted that the training would serve as a springboard into the industry, and enable them earn a living, become entrepreneurs, and open new doors of opportunities for themselves and their communities. The three other movies are Open Pain, Bomu and Green War.
He enjoined them to utilise their skills and platforms to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental sustainability, urging them to ensure that Ogoni is heard in the right way, speak for HYPREP and highlight the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report.
Other speakers at the event, including the Director of Technical Services of HYPREP, Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi; Dr Ovunda Ihunwo, Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt; Chief Douglas Experience, the Project Coordinator of Halibiz Consult Limited; and Mrs Josephine Nzidee, Head, Sustainable Livelihood of HYPREP, all applauded HYPREP for the training, and charged the trainees to maximise the opportunity.
The trainees were later presented certificates of participation.
Visibly elated Ms Lebee Tornwe, one of the beneficiaries, thanked HYPREP and the Project Coordinator for offering the trainees the rare opportunity to acquire skills in the creative arts and entertainment industry, and expressed delight that Dr Ihunwo and Halibiz Consult Limited gave their all in grooming them.
With the wrapping up of the Creative Arts training(100), HYPREP has trained 230 Ogoni youths in high demand skill sets ,viz; seafaring(100); and aviation (30). The Project will this year, commence training in other skill areas, including Mechatronic, Aviation, Full-Stack Development, Commercial Diving, Underwater Welding and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Still in the offing is the training for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities in five skill sets- fish farming; basic computer skills; photography; fashion and design; and shoemaking in line with their Needs Assessment and HYPREP’s policy of inclusivity.
The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) had called on stakeholders to work collaboratively towards the development and empowerment of Ogoni youths.
NYCOP made the call in a communique issue over the weekend after an emergency Congress in Port Harcourt and signed by its President, Comrade Raymond Nwibani Marcus.
In the communique, NYCOP endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s appointments of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BOT) members of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), particularly Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah as Chairman of HYPREP’s BOT.
It respectfully appealed to the President to consider appointing a representative from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) under the leadership of Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, being the pioneering social vehicle for Ogoni advocacy since the inception of the Ogoni struggle, adding that it would significantly contribute to the decision-making process.
The body commended the overall management of HYPREP and urges the President to continue funding the HYPREP project.
NYCOP furthermore recommended considering the conversion of HYPREP from a project to a full-fledged agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The communique also stated that NYCOP thanked President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, and for appointing key staff, forming a dialogue committee, and initiating infrastructural projects like the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and economic prospects.
In solidarity with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying it believes his leadership embodies the aspirations of the Ogoni people and Nigerians at large.
“After thorough consideration of the Disciplinary Committee’s report, NYCOP resolves:
” To indefinitely suspend Comrade Nade Nade Burale from his position as Secretary General due to misconduct.
“To declare Comrade Saviour Imeabe persona non grata on Ogoni youth issues, given his actions’ potential to instigate crisis in Ogoni and beyond” the communique stated.
NYCOP in his resolution issued a 7-day ultimatum to former HYPREP BOT Chairman Mike Nwialeghi to explain the $100 million HYPREP fund investment, warning of potential litigation.
NYCOP reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ogoni youth interests and preventing personal aggrandizement.
According to the communique the resolutions demonstrate NYCOP’s efforts to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth.
“We will no longer tolerate any individual or group using the name or issues of Ogoni youth for personal aggrandizement.
” Our mandate is clear: to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth” the communique said.
NYCOP passes a vote of confidence in Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah, acknowledging his impeccable credentials and credibility to lead the BOT of HYPREP effectively.
Kiadum Edookor
