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Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State (middle), his Wife,  Mrs.salamatu Umaru-Al-Makura (7th left), with trainees of Mothers and Child Care Education Foundation (MCCEF), during their graduation in Lafia on Saturday

Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State (middle), his Wife, Mrs.salamatu Umaru-Al-Makura (7th left), with trainees of Mothers and Child Care Education Foundation (MCCEF), during their graduation in Lafia on Saturday

Bauchi
Wife of Bauchi State governor, Hajiya Hadiza
Abubakar, has said the state government was committed to reforming the health sector in the state.
Abubakar said this at the 2015 Maternal, Neo-natal and Child Health Week (MNCHEW) held in Bauchi.
She said that the flag of has clearly shown the willingness and commitment of the government towards giving priority to the sector.
She said that MNCHEW, which was aimed at reducing childhood mortality and improving maternal health, would provide various packages for women and children across the state.
“The week is a strategy to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing child mortality and improving maternal health, the programme is going on in all the 20 local government areas of the state,’’ she said.
Benue
Wife of Benue  State governor, Mrs Eunice Ortom,
has advised hospital owners in the state to upgrade their facilities with a view to screening blood samples.
Ortom gave the advice in an interview with newsmen last Wednesday in Makurdi.
She said that upgrade of blood sample facilities would checkmate the units of blood from donors with questionable lifestyles.
The wife of the governor noted that intensive screening was the only effective way to reduce the spread of hepatitis virus and other blood related diseases.
She alleged that available statistics obtained from the state ministry of health showed that many people in the state had the virus but had refused to go for testing.

Ekiti
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said that
his administration would collaborate with the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to maintain peace in the state.
Fayose made the remark when the national executives of the union paid him a courtesy visit at  Government House in Ado-Ekiti.
He said that leaders must ensure that peace remained the hallmark of their governance, stressing that being a leader was not about driving the best cars but the number of lives impacted.
Fayose said his administration was able to resolve the issues between RTEAN and security personnel in the state by encouraging them.

FCT
Some stakeholders in the education sector have criticised
the West African Examinations Council (WAEC’s) decision to withhold the 2015 results due to debts owed by some states.
The stakeholders, who spoke with newsmen in separate interviews in Abuja on Wednesday, described the decision as insensitive and irrational.
One of the stakeholders, Mrs Perpetua Okorie, said WAEC had not considered the interest of the children in taking that hasty decision.
Okorie, a parent, said that students should not be held to ransom for any inaction on the part of government.

Jigawa
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
command in Jigawa State, says  it  has arrested two suspects for alleged theft of three motorcycles and a cell phone.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Malam Muhammad Gidado, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.
Gidado said one of the suspects, Inuwa Ali, aged 19, was arrested in Shuwarin village, Kiyawa Local Government Area.
He explained that the suspect allegedly stole one motorcycle (Daylong brand) from Jahun Local Government Area and rode it to Shuwarin village in Kiyawa Local Government Area.
The commandant added that when the suspect got to Shuwarin, he abandoned it and attempted to take another one (Boxer brand).

Kaduna
Chairman, Interim Management Committee of Zaria Lo
cal Government in Kaduna State,  Alhaji Ja’afaru Abbas, said 35 trucks of fertilisers had been procured by the council for farmers.
Abbas made this known while inaugurating the sales of fertilisers for this year’s farming season in Zaria.
The chairman said the sales of fertilisers to farmers at subsidised rate became necessary in enhancing bumper harvest during this year farming season.
He said that NPK fertiliser would be sold at a subsidised rates of N3, 750; Unrea fertiliser would cost N3,600, while SSP fertiliser would attract N2,940.
The chairman said the commodity was specifically meant for the small scale farmers and warned them against any act that could lead to diversion of the fertilisers.

Kebbi
Kebbi Maternal and Child Health Care Civil Society, an
NGO, has distributed Treated Insecticidal Mosquito Nets to 150 pregnant women in Kebbi.
Hajiya Maryam Mustapha, Chairperson of the NGO, who presented the nets to beneficiaries in Takalau community in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area, said the group would ensure that pregnant women were protected from health hazards.
“The group would sustain support that would safe guard the health of mother and child, especially against mosquito bites that is rampant during raining season,” she said.
She explained that the group was established to support efforts made by the state and local governments as well as donor agencies in reducing the rate of maternal and child mortality.
Lagos
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Fatai
Owoseni, on Thursday urged traditional rulers in the state to be “the eyes and ears” of security agencies in the fight against crime.
Owoseni made the appeal when he met with the royal fathers at the government house to brief them of his programme and his expectations.
He said the royal fathers occupied a very important position in the society since they were in better position to know and get information about individuals and their activities.
Owoseni assured them of the command’s determination to ensure adequate security in all parts of the state, adding that the command was working out new strategies on how best to make the state crime-free.
Osun
Governor  Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, says work
ers’ backlog of salaries would be paid soon.
This promise is contained in a statement issued by the governor’s media aide, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, in Osogbo.
The statement said Aregbesola made the promise when Ijesa Society, a social group, visited him.
Aregbesola, according to the statement, expresses his displeasure over the delay in payment of workers’ salaries.
The statement said every government initiative in the state represented the fulfillment of campaign promises made to the people.

Plateau
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has met with
leaders of Berom and Fulani herdsmen in Riyom and Barkin Ladi local governments to find solution to lingering crises in the areas.
Lalong said the meeting was to give the leaders opportunity to openly express themselves and suggest ways to stop attacks and reprisals in the areas.
The governor said he earlier met with the Beroms and Fulani herdsmen at separate occasions where they expressed themselves..
“The summary of all the meetings is that everybody is tired of crises and we all want peace. Today is an opportunity for all of us to find lasting peace in Plateau’’, he said.
The governor said the essence of governance was peace, hence the reason for the series of meetings his administration had held with various stakeholders within the last two months.
Mr Nasiru Oki, Commissioner of Police in Plateau, said the meeting was very fruitful.
Oki said a committee had been set up to look into key issues deliberated upon by the parties towards bringing the desired lasting peace.

Yobe
A Non Governmental Organisation, Advocacy Part
nership on Environment, Water and Sanitation, has urged Yobe State Government  to rescind its decision scrapping the Ministry for Environment in the state.
The NGO made the call in Damaturu when its officials visited the Speaker, Yobe House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Dala-Dogo.
Chairman of the organisation, Alhaji Sheriff Ibrahim, said retaining the ministry will go a long way to effectively fight the challenges of desertification and other environmental threats.
“Although the rationalisation of government ministries was done to save cost and improve service delivery, we wish to call on government to have a rethink on the scrapping of the ministry for environment.

Zamfara
Zamfara State Government has donated N450 million
to the Federal University in Gusau for the construction of additional lecture theatres and students accommodation.
The Acting Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Haruna Sallau, announced the donation at the First Matriculation of the university in Gusau recently.
Sallau said the donation was part of the state government’s commitments to ensuring that a concrete foundation was laid in the university, for better educational development.
He noted that the government also provided additional land at the permanent site of the university worth N700million.
Sallau added that utility vehicles were also provided for officials of the institution.
He reiterated government’s commitment to continue to partner with the university in order to ensure sustainable development of education in the state.

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Cleric Preaches Love As Deputy Governor, Chief Judge Grace Wedding In PH

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The Presiding Bishop of Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, Bishop Victor Uzosike, has described love as the bedrock of human existence, family stability and societal harmony, stressing that without love, nothing meaningful can thrive.

Bishop Uzosike made this assertion while speaking to journalists during the wedding ceremony of his daughter, Praise Uzosike, to Architect Chibuzor Akubueze on Saturday, December 20, 2025. The solemnisation was held at the Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, and was attended by dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond.

According to the cleric, love is not only the foundation of relationships but also a powerful force that determines the success of individuals, families and communities.

“If you do not love a place, that place will not bless you. If you do not love your children, they will not be useful to you. If you do not love your family, your family will become a strange island to you. What you do not love, you do not have. Love is the key,” he said.

Reflecting on his family’s journey, Bishop Uzosike said God’s love had sustained them through seasons of challenges and triumphs, noting that unity had remained their greatest strength.

“We have stayed together as one family. God has shown us love in miraculous and mysterious ways, especially during difficult times,” he stated.

Describing the wedding as an amazing and beautiful experience, the bishop expressed appreciation for the show of love from his daughter’s friends, many of whom travelled from the United Kingdom and Ghana to attend the ceremony. He revealed that some of them personally paid for their flights and accommodation, which he described as a rare display of genuine friendship.

He also disclosed that his first daughter, who lives in Manchester, United Kingdom, with her husband, could not attend the wedding due to tight schedules, but noted that she remains happily married and fulfilled.

While thanking guests for honouring his family with their presence, prayers and goodwill, Bishop Uzosike said he felt proud and grateful to God.

“One of the greatest gifts God can give to a man is children who are sound in all ramifications. My children can see, hear, speak and walk. That alone is enough reason to be grateful,” he said.

He praised the bride, describing Praise as an exceptional achiever who had distinguished herself academically. According to him, she completed secondary school at 15, graduated with First Class honours at 19, and earned distinctions in her MBA as well as her first and second master’s degrees.

“For a long time, people believed that highly educated women may not marry early or at all. Today, Praise has proved otherwise. She has made her mother and me very proud,” he said, describing her as a rare gem.

Bishop Uzosike also expressed joy over his son-in-law, whom he described as God-fearing, disciplined and professionally sound.

“He is well brought up, passionate about God and morally upright. His parents did a great job. My wife, Pastor Esther, also did an excellent job,” he added.

The wedding ceremony attracted prominent personalities, including the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu; the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Ayemeyie; and several senior clerics.

Bishop Fidelis Ugbong officiated the solemnisation, while Apostle Chika Onuzo delivered the sermon, identifying communication, sex and money as key factors that can strengthen or weaken marriages.

Prof. Ngozi Odu also prayed for the couple and paid glowing tributes, drawing admiration from attendees.

The reception, held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Port Harcourt, was equally colourful. Justice Matilda Ayemeyie proposed the toast, describing marriage as not always a bed of roses and emphasising patience, commitment and understanding.

The event was chaired by Chief Henry Nwabugo and attended by notable personalities, including retired Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili; Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey; Hon. Otunba Jumbo; Nze Best Anele; and Prof. Henry Ogiri, among others.

Guests were entertained with dance performances by the couple, while the parents’ outing added elegance to the celebration. The master of ceremonies, Ambassador Kingsley, kept the audience engaged with humour and interactive sessions.

Overall, the wedding was a remarkable blend of spirituality, culture and celebration, marked by love, joy and unforgettable moments.

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2027: APC Chieftain Predicts Tinubu’s Victory  …Says Bayelsa Stakeholders Supporting President en masse  … IPAC Knitted Together, Working In Synergy With His Office

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Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC), in Bayelsa State and Special Adviser to the State Governor on Inter-Party Relations, Dr Jackson Ebi Suokiri has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would secure landslide win in the 2027 Presidential polls.

The Governor’s Aide stated this in Yenagoa, the state capital on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen against the backdrop of Tuesday’s pioneer Stakeholders meeting of the party convened by the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri as leader of the Party in the State upon his recent defection late last year.

He averred that Party stakeholders in the state were prepared to give the President the massive support needed to return elected, come 2027 following his sterling trajectory of performance and qualitative leadership prowess.

Dr Suokiri stressed that the reason for the governor’s swapping of party was in the best interest of the state, while also noting that the governor took the right decision as there was no need continuing with opposition politics even as the state has to align with the national government for rapid socioeconomic and political advantages for the state and its people.

“Governor Diri’s defection like you’ve personally heard him saying was for the best interest of our state, Bayelsa. When you’ve a President performing well at the national level and being very supportive to your state as a governor, I don’t think you’ve to be in an opposition party anymore, but rather align with the centre.

“Diri is a bridge builder. He is at peace with everybody and willing to work with all, irrespective of party affiliations or political differences for the interest of the state.

“As Stakeholders we’ve resolved to collectively work to return President Tinubu elected for second term in 2027. And you can see the Governor is not pressuring anybody or the structure of his former party, the PDP to defect like he has done.

“The PDP structure in the state is still intact, and for the APC, his new Party even as current leader in the State, he has been working with the structure and everybody he met on ground, hence you can see that the APC Caretaker Committee led by Dr. Dennis Otiotio has been maintained at the pioneer Stakeholders meeting convened by the Governor.

“But you must also know like you’ve seen and I’ve previously said that Governor Diri has outperformed expectations of Bayelsans in all sectors, be it economy, infrastructure, health, education, etc.”, he said.

Meanwhile, as against insinuations that some political parties were not working with the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter-Party Relations, the Governor’s Aide has revealed that as it were currently, all the 19 registered political parties with presence in the state are working in unity with his office as members of the Inter-party advisory council (IPAC).

“IPAC is working in unity with my office. Before the Governor’s defection the only party that wasn’t working with my office was the APC. But since after his formal defection, the APC and even those other parties that were either sympathetic to the APC, the governor’s new party or the PDP, his former Party are all now working together with my office as members of IPAC”, Suokiri added.

 

By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

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Firefighters battle New Year Day inferno in Abuja, several states

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Federal Fire Service FFS entered the New Year on full operational alert, tackling multiple fire outbreaks across the country from midnight into the early hours of January 1, 2026, in what officials described as one of the busiest festive-season deployments in recent years.
The intensified nationwide response followed a December 2025 directive issued by the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, who had ordered that no firefighter should proceed on leave throughout the holidays.
According to a statement by the National Public Relations Officer and Head of Corporate Services of the FFS, DCF Paul Abraham, the no-leave policy proved critical as the Service moved swiftly to contain fires in several states.
The Federal Capital Territory FCT recorded its first fire incident of the year barely twenty-three minutes after midnight when flames erupted at Cake Hot Restaurant located within River Plate Park, Wuse, Abuja.
Abraham said fire crews from the Federal Fire Service and the FCT Fire Service arrived promptly and were able to stop the blaze before it could spread through the popular recreational centre.
While a section of the garden area was destroyed, no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded.
Officials said property worth an estimated ?1.5 billion was saved, although losses were placed at about ?500 million.
“Preliminary findings suggested that the fire was triggered by objects thrown during New Year celebrations, reinforcing long-standing warnings over the dangers posed by fireworks during the harmattan season”, the Service said.
The Controller General had repeatedly urged Nigerians to avoid fireworks, candles and open flames indoors, warning that the dry winds characteristic of the season allow fires to spread rapidly.
He also warned the public about electrical faults and power surges and advised that electrical appliances be switched off and unplugged when not in use or when occupants leave their homes, stressing that overloading sockets and extension boxes remains a significant cause of domestic fires.
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