Nation
THE STATES
L-R: Chief of Dadiya, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Galadima; Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Mr Charles Iliya and Chairman, Balanga Local Government Council, Alhaji Garba Tallase, at the First Annual Cultural Festival of Dadiya Community in Balanga, Gombe State, recently. Photo: NAN
Adamawa
The Adamawa State Government has alerted that about one million
people in the state are likely to be affected by flood this year.
The Permanent Secretary and Chairman, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Haruna Furo, raised the alarm in an interview with newsmen in Yola.
Furo confirmed that the state office of the agency received a warning message from the National Hydrological Centre that some local government areas of the state would be seriously affected with flood in 2015.
Furo said that among the predicted areas to be affected included Fufore, Yola South, Yola North, Girei and Demsa.
Others, he said, were Numan, Lamurde, Guyuk and Shelleng local government areas.
He recalled that in 2012 over 500,000 people were affected while many lost their lives and property worth billions of Naira destroyed by the flood.
The chairman warned that more than one million people would likely be displaced if precautionary measures were not taken in time.
Borno
The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai, has urged Muslims
to intensify prayers towards seeking divine intervention against Boko Haram insurgency in the country.
Garbai made the call while receiving members of the Indimi Mosque Management Committee, Maiduguri, who paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Maiduguri.
He lamented that the state had witnessed tremendous setbacks due to the prevailing insurgency, and expressed optimism in the power of prayers to end the problem.
Garbai commended the committee for its numerous efforts in spreading Islamic knowledge in the country.
He also commended the mosque for organising yearly Qur’anic tafsir (preaching) during Ramadan fast to educate Muslims on the religion.
Earlier speaking, Dr Muhammad Abubakar, the Chief Imam of the Mosque who led the delegation, said they were in the palace to pay a yearly visit to the monarch as part of the activities of the committee during Ramadan fast.
Ekiti
Cocoa farmers have been advised to replace their old cocoa trees,
which have reduced yields, with new ones to boost production.
Mr Michael Afolabi, an Agriculture Extension Officer, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen at Usi in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti.
Afolabi said that replacement of the old trees would sustain the future of the cocoa industry and allow farmers to begin reaping high quantity and quality cocoa beans in few years of planting.
He called on the Ministry of Agriculture in both state and Federal Ministries in the cocoa producing states to establish nurseries in every local government.
This he said was to enable farmers have enough seedlings of the new variety to replant their old cocoa farms.
Afolabi further appealed to government to introduce more incentives to support young Nigerians who want to venture into the cultivation of cocoa, saying such would motivate them to embrace farming.
He said that urgent steps needed to be taken to attract more young people into cocoa farming, to replace aging farmers.
FCT
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Kenneth Minimah, has called for
more prayers for soldiers in the battle field as the Nigerian Army intensifies efforts to defeat terrorism in the country.
Minimah made the call in Abuja at a special Juma’at Prayer as part of activities to commemorate the 2015 Nigerian Army Day Celebration.
Jumat prayer which was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Mogadishu Cantonment Mosque, witnessed special prayers for the nation.
Minimah, who was represented by Maj.- Gen. Adamu Abubakar, Chief of Army Administration, said that the Juma’at Service was one of the highlights of the 2015 Nigerian Army Day Celebration.
The chief of army staff, who described terrorism as a global phenomenon, which Nigeria was also battling to defeat, expressed optimism that the menace of terrorism would soon be defeated in Nigeria.
Kaduna
The Nigerian Breweries said in Kaduna that it had spent over N100
million on education in the northern region within the last five years.
The company, maker of Maltina and other assorted drinks, said the gesture was part its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) to the host communities.
The Brewery Manger in Kaduna, Mr Adebolu Obawole stated this while donating books and other instructional materials to Government Secondary School Makera in Kaduna South Local Government Area.
Obawole explained that the amount was spent on various interventions including construction of class rooms, supply of library
materials, upgrade of laboratories and provision of education materials among others.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State Urban Development Authority (KUDA) said it has
begun evacuation of waste from drains in major towns across the state as preventive measures against flooding.
The General Manager of the authority, Alhaji Muhammad Altine, made this known on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.
Altine said the exercise would ensure that drainages in flood prone areas within the metropolis and major towns were cleared.
He warned against the habit of constructing structures along water ways and in areas prone to flood.
According to him, the conversion of farmlands into residential buildings without government’s permit is illegal and unacceptable.
“People should consult the authority-concerned before embarking on building construction as it would complement our efforts in making sure that we avoid the 2014 disastrous flood experience,” Altine said.
Niger
The Anglican Bishop of Minna Diocese, Retired Rev. Daniel Yisa, has
condemned the United States of America’s decision to legalise same-sex marriage, describing such marriages as “satanic”..
Yisa made the remark while speaking with journalists after the 100 years (centenary) thanksgiving service at the St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral Church, on Sunday in Minna.
“Gay is not a Biblical or African practice; if God hates it, we all must hate it.
“We must know the basic truth of the Bible. As far as we are concerned as Nigerians, same sex-marriage is not our portion,’’ he said.
He said whoever wanted to engage in the practice in his country, could do so out of his or her free volition, but should not say that the Bible supported it.
The Bishop urged Nigerian leaders to be firm on moral issues, adding that same sex marriage would destroy whoever practiced it.
“We should be faithful to God, our families and our nation if we want God to heal our land,’’ he said.
Osun
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Osun State, says it will resist
any attempt by the State Government to reduce workers’ salaries by 50 per cent.
NLC Chairman in Osun State, Mr Jacob Adekomi, told newsmen after an emergency meeting of the union in Osogbo on Friday that the government had concluded plans to reduce workers’ salaries.
Although he did not disclose his source of information, it may not be unconnected with the government’s recent 50 per cent reduction in the salaries of political office holders as part of its austerity measures.
He said the financial mess the government found itself was a product of its systemic failure.
According to him, workers will not accept salary cut adding, any attempt to cut the salaries of workers by even one per cent will be vehemently resisted.
“If the plan is imposed on the workers, it will lead to unimaginable chaos. We learnt that the cut will take effect from January 2015”, he said.
Plateau
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State says he inherited a cash
balance of N93million and a debt profile of N104 billion from the immediate past administration of former Governor Jonah Jang.
Lalong disclosed this at the 2015 graduation ceremony of Saint Louis College Jos on Saturday.
The governor stated that having started the payment of outstanding workers salaries, his next priority would be on security and education.
He said that he would still give his best to the state, notwithstanding the inherited liabilities.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government has promised to assist
the victims of flood disaster in Butuku-Babba village of Bodinga Local Government of the state.
No fewer than 100 houses, 25 livestock, farm produce and stored food items, were washed away by the June 29 flood in the area.
The Director-General, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Hassan Maccido, told newsmen in Sokoto last Saturday that a team of experts had since been dispatched to the village.
Maccido said that the team would ascertain the extent of damage caused by the disaster.
He said that the team would also recommend the types of reliefs to be provided for the victims and proffer solutions to forestall the recurrence of the disaster.
Taraba
The Taraba StaCoordinator, National Youth Service
Corps (NYSC), Mr Tumba Freeman has said that three 2014 Batch ‘B’ corps members (names withheld) would repeat their service year for misconduct.
Freeman made this known at a news conference in Jalingo, saying that the culprits were punished for absenteeism at their places of primary assignments for three consecutive months.
According to him, three other corp members died in the course of the service as a result of medical complications which they had in an accident during the service year.
The coordinator said that the agency had given awards to 10 corp members for their meritorious service during the service year.
“We rewarded them for their excellent service which they totally deserved. “It may interest you to know that Taraba came second in terms of the number of corp members that received honors in the country.
“What we are simply doing is to recognise their contributions in community development, and to encourage other corps members to follow suit’’, Freeman said.
Yobe
Yobe State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps
(NYCS), has said that the management of the scheme would consider re-opening the orientation camp in the state next year.
According to Lass, the reopening depends on if the state government rehabilitates the camp.
He made this known while addressing newsmen during the passing-out ceremony of the 2014 Batch ‘B’ corps members in Damaturu.
He said that NYSC had not been holding orientation camp in the state since 2010 due to persistent security problems.
The coordinator said that holding orientation camp outside the state posed serious challenges to the management of the scheme in the area.
Lass, however, advised corps members deployed to the state not to panic, saying that the security situation in the state had improved tremendously.
He said that a total of 265 corps members served in the 2014 Batch B out of which five got presidential merit award.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing the safety of the seafaring profession and upgrading maritime institutions to international standards.
Speaking at the 2025 World Seafarers’ Day celebration in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, organised by NIMASA, with the theme, “My Harassment-Free Ship.
He said that this year’s theme “speaks to our collective duty to make every ship a safe and respectful workplace noting that harassment and bullying have no place in our maritime industry.
The Minister further emphasised the importance of continuous training and retraining to ensure seafarers remain competitive and employable.
Also speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari, emphasised that seafarers are the backbone of international trade, facilitating the smooth transportation of goods and services across the globe.
He stressed the need to eliminate all forms of violence, harassment, and bullying against seafarers.
In his welcome address, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, emphasised the need for the maritime community to prioritise the welfare, safety of seafarers and maintain zero tolerance for harassment.
According to the DG, “Today provides opportunity for the Maritime Community to honor seafarers globally for their immense contribution to both domestic and international trade, powering the blue economy and connecting nations across oceans”.
He said that this year’s theme was particularly apt, as it was a call to action to “ensure that our seafarers feel safe, are valued and protected while at sea because the ship is not just their place of work; it is their temporary home. It must therefore reflect the highest standards of dignity and professionalism fostering zero tolerance for harassment”.
He declared that NIMASA must continue to play its part in ensuring that Nigeria contributes effectively to regulations affecting seafarers, as Nigeria remains the highest contributor of seafarers in Africa. “Our men and women sail on vessels in our domestic waters and also globally. This will continue to grow through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) and the effort of our Maritime Training Institutions.
‘At the recently concluded 113th session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, seven (7) amendments to the MLC 2006 code addressing a broad range of issues affecting seafarers, including the recognition of seafarers as key workers, improved protection against ship board violence and harassment, enhanced access to shore leave and repatriation and updated medical and occupational safety standards were approved by an overwhelming majority.
These seven (7) amendments reflect collective global effort to align maritime Labour standards with the evolving landscape of global shipping.
I, therefore, call on shipowners, operators and crewing agencies to begin to review their operational manuals to align with these amendments ahead of the expected entry into force in December 2027. Our seafarers must be able to report grievances without fear of retaliation, while also ensuring protection against vexations or malicious complaints.
He added that NIMASA will play its role by establishing clear policies and procedures for preventing and addressing harassment on Nigerian-flagged vessels, ensuring confidential reporting channels for incidents of harassment and that reports are thoroughly investigated and addressed.
“Today is a clear reminder to us all – government, employers, unions, shipowners, and civil society- that seafarers should not be left alone in their struggles. They look up to us to help them foster a culture of zero tolerance on ships to protect their dignity”, he stated.
He also assured that under his leadership, NIMASA will ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, particularly the renewal of entries into force by ship owners, operators, and relevant agencies come December 2027.
Stakeholders drawn across the four local government areas of Ogoniland in Rivers State, have expressed delight over the excellent performance of the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof Nenibarini Zabbey within the past two years, describing him as a true patriot, who has been showing leadership in delivering service to the people.
The stakeholders, who gave the indication in their separate goodwill messages during the mid-term stakeholders engagement and scorecard presentation organised by HYPREP in Port Harcourt, scored the Project Coordinator high on the Ogoni cleanup and the overall implementation of the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
The President of KAGOTE and Board member of the Ogoni Trust Fund, Hon Emma Deeyah, particularly commended Zabbey for turning around the fortunes of the Ogoni people, as they are now having value for the money earmarked for the cleanup project, describing the Project Coordinator as “one of our best.”
He noted that Zabbey has done well on the saddle, working very hard, being an administrator and leader with listening ears, striving assiduously to meet the yearnings and expectations of the people.
He said the Ogoni cleanup is a journey that has just begun, stressing that he was happy that the Project Coordinator is not on the saddle to amass wealth but to deliver and achieve results, and appealed to the Ogoni people to continue to give him their support.
On his part, member representing Gokana/Khana Federal Constituency in the National Assembly and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Rt Hon Dumnamene Dekor, said HYPREP under the watch of Zabbey is working with renewed vigour, and thanked the Project Coordinator for driving the Ogoni cleanup project with passion.
He noted that the funds dedicated and earmarked for the project are running out, disclosing that he was working on an Executive Bill, to facilitate the work of HYPREP.
While stressing the need for the people to take full responsibility of all the projects sited in their communities, Dekor regretted that some beneficiaries had sold the starter packs presented to them by HYPREP, while the water facility provided in his Bierra community has been vandalised.
The King of Tai Kingdom, King Samuel Nnee, said HYPREP under Zabbey as Project Coordinator has been delivering on its mandate, describing him as a square peg in a square hole, who has given hope to the Ogoni people.
The monarch urged the Ogoni people to give the Project Coordinator the necessary support.
The Paramount Ruler of Barako Community and member of the Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt, Mene Kadilo Kabari, said Zabbey has always demonstrated that he is a true patriot by carrying along Ogoni people from all strata of the society, describing him as a performing Project Coordinator.
He noted that the bane of HYPREP before now had been the conflict between the Project Coordinator and the Minister of Environment, saying, under Zabbey, Ogoni people can now see what unity of purpose can achieve.
He expressed delight that the water facility which was the first commissioned by HYPREP in his community is functioning optimally following the solar-powered system installed by the Project.
The King of Eleme Kingdom, King(Dr) Philip Osaro Obelle thanked HYPREP’s management team for all that it is doing in Ogoniland, stressing that the Project was built on the graves, bellies and blood of Ogoni sons and daughters who lost their lives during the Ogoni struggle.
He, therefore, advised HYPREP “not to deviate from the expectations of our heroes but to do those things that would benefit Ogoni people for the betterment of Ogoniland.”
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Netherlands, Hon Oji Ngofa said HYPREP has been like the government of Ogoniland, and harped on the sustainability of all the projects.
According to him, Zabbey has been giving HYPREP a human face.
Former Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof Barineme Fakae applauded Zabbey for the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, and stressed the need for the implementation of the recommendations of its technical committee which recently submitted its report.
According to him, if the project succeeds, Ogoni people are going to succeed.
Chief Priscillia Vikue, on her part, thanked Zabbey for his outstanding performance, saying, the women of Ogoni are very happy with what he is doing in Ogoniland.
While scoring the Project Coordinator highly on his performance, she said the women are happy because Zabbey knows what he is doing with HYPREP.
“You went to school.You did not cut corners.You are a square peg in a square hole.You have engaged women and the youths. We have seen what you have done. And we give you A1”, she said, and challenged Zabbey to see how more women would participate in the project and also how to sustain it.
In his remarks, the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey said the mid-term engagement is important because “it allows us to present tangible evidence of progress in the Ogoni cleanup effort, reinforce accountability, deepen transparency, and most importantly, enables HYPREP to interact directly with the communities and stakeholders who are the heartbeat of this project.”
He noted that the scorecard presentation is designed to show what HYPREP has achieved across key thematic areas, what challenges it is currently grappling with, and what the road ahead looks like, saying, “it is a moment for stocktaking and for re-affirming our shared commitment to the success of the Ogoni cleanup project”.
According to him, HYPREP has recorded commendable progress in the implementation of its core mandates in line with UNEP recommendations and the directives in the official gazette establishing HYPREP.
Donatus Ebi
The South-South representative of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Board, Rt. Hon. Aboh Uduyok, has concluded his one-day official visit to Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Rumuola, Rivers State, with the unveiling of the Mass Communication Department classroom building. The project was executed under the 2021 TETFund intervention project.
During the unveiling of the project, Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rt. Hon. Uduyok commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to the educational sector and praised the polytechnic’s management for utilising TETFund resources judiciously.
He noted that the quality of ongoing projects met approved specifications, and expressed satisfaction with the institution’s progress.
The TETFund representative stated that his visit was aimed at familiarising himself with beneficiary schools, assess fund utilization, and identify challenges.
He assured the school management that he would convey their requests for constructing engineering works and hostel accommodations to the board and notify them of any approval.
Rt. Hon. Uduyok explained that the TETFund Board is not initiating new projects this year, except where necessary, due to presidential directives. However, he commended the institution for the commendable quality of both completed and ongoing projects.
In his welcome address, the Rector of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Dr. Moses S. Neebee, thanked the TETFund representative for visiting, and highlighted the institution’s successes and challenges. He requested support for hostel accommodations and engineering works, emphasising that a higher institution without hostels is akin to a glorified secondary school.
Dr. Neebee while briefing the visitor on the institution’s progress, noted that it currently runs 21 National Diploma programme and five Higher National Diploma courses. He disclosed that the school accessed the 2021 TETFund release in full but faced challenges with the 2023 fund due to harsh economic conditions and bid process delays, which increased project costs. The Rector pleaded for assistance in securing additional funds for the 2023 intervention release.
Akujobi Amadi