Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Adamawa State Government says it has established and
renovated 64 earth dams in 30 grazing reserves in the state ahead of the establishment of National Grazing Reserves programme.
The State’s Commissioner for Livestock Production, Dr Isa Salihu, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Yola.
Salihu said that the state government had equally established nomadic schools in some of the grazing reserves.
He said that the state government was committed to giving all necessary support and cooperation to the Federal Government towards the establishment of the grazing reserves and cattle ranches in the state.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State chapter of the Rice Farmers Association
of Nigeria (RIFAN), has vowed to exceed the targeted one million metric tonnes of dry season rice production to 1.1 million metric tones.
The state chairman of the association, Alhaji Samaila Augie, made this disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.
He said the Federal Government’s Anchor Borrower Programme, was aimed at mass production of rice, so as to achieve food security and the diversification of the economy.
Augie said the association had registered interested farmers, who were supplied with incentives that included, cash, water pumping machines, fertiliser and insecticides to boost productivity.
Kogi
Protesting students of Kogi State University, Ayangba,
yesterday blocked major roads leading into and out of Lokoja, thereby paralysing socio-economic activities for hours.
The students, who were protesting against three months closure of the university due to lecturers’ unpaid salaries, said they were tired of staying at home.
Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi had repeatedly appealed to the lecturers to call off the strike to no avail.
Bello had at stakeholders’ forum on July 5, said government had met 80 per cent of the lecturers’ demands, wondering why they were still on the strike.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has ap
proved the elevation of eight traditional rulers in the state to First Class status.
This is contained in a statement issued in Ilorin and signed by Alhaji Haruna Mohammed, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development.
Our correspondent reports that the upgraded chiefs include Alhaji Idris Abubakar, Emir of Okuta; Alhaji Sabi Idris, Emir of Gwanara; Prof Halidu Abubakar, Emir of Ilesha-Baruba.
Others are Alhaji Usman Seriki, Oba Salihu Adasofegbe, Olosi of Osi in Ekiti local government council, Oba Abubakar Adelodun Olupako of Share in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
Lagos
A former Executive Secretary, National Universities Com
mission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, has criticised the recently announced method of admitting students into tertiary institutions, saying it amounts to admitting candidates blindly.
Okebukola made the assertion while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the 2016 Speech Day and Prize Giving ceremony of Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos, recently.
He said that the current criteria or guidelines put in place for admission of candidates into the country’s tertiary institutions would only allow unqualified candidate to be admitted.
Okebukola, who was reacting to the recent cancellation of the Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by the Federal Government, said the criteria were still unclear to stakeholders.
Nasarawa
The Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi,
Nasarawa State, Dr Joshua Giyan-Ndom, has commended the Federal Government over efforts at transforming the country’s health sector.
Giyan-Ndom told newsmen in Keffi that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was making funds available to strengthen the health sector with infrastructure, equipment, facilities and personnel.
He also acknowledged the government determination to make FMC Keffi one of the best health facilities in the country through funding and provision of modern equipment.
Our correspondent reports that FMC Keffi was established in year 2000 to provide modern tertiary medical and healthcare services.
Niger
The Niger State House of Assembly has asked the State
Government to refund deductions made from workers salaries with immediate effect.
The House passed the resolution following a motion by Mr Bello Ahmad (PDP- Agwarra) and seconded by Mr Salihu Edati (APC-Edati).
Ahmad said that the legislative arm was not consulted before the deductions, adding that the governor’s action was unconstitutional.
“As far as this issue of slashing workers’ salaries is concerned, none of us was consulted and we are primary stakeholders in matters that affect the people.
“If you look at the constitution and the labour act, you will see that there is no provision that empowers the state government to slash salaries, no matter the state of the economy.
Ondo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
says it has commenced the training of 204 e- collation staff of the commission for the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State.
Head of Voters Registration and ICT in the state, Mr Olubunmi Egbeeye, told newsmen in Akure that the training was necessary for the conduct of the election.
Egbeeye said the training, which would last for six days, was for all INEC staff in the 18 local government areas of the state.
He added that the training would enhance the staff’s computer knowledge and keep them abreast of vital concepts and terms.
Oyo
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Oyo State has
decried the living condition of workers in the state, vowing to embark on mass action if the situation does not improve.
The TUC Chairman, Mr Emelieze Andrew, told newsmen in Ibadan that urgent steps must be taken by states and the Federal Government to tackle the development.
He also said TUC would embark on a mass protest at the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum it issued recently.
Lamenting that the economic challenges were biting hard on Nigerian workers, Andrew advised governors finding it difficult to pay salaries to rise up to the challenge or consider resignation.
The Executive Director, Girl-child Right Awareness Ini
tiative in Africa, Mrs Olayinka Ojomo, has advised governments at all levels to evolve education policies that will enhance qualitative education for the girl-child.
Ojomo told the newsmen on Tuesday in Osogbo that the measure became necessary in order to build an egalitarian society.
She said that the only way the society could be sanitised and become sophisticated was to educate the custodians of families from the beginning and prepare them for better future.
Ojomo explained that young girls of today would eventually become wives and mothers that would be in charge of families, hence the need to make them more enlightened and educated.
Plateau
Farmers in Plateau State, have called on the State Gov
ernment to hasten the distribution of its subsidised fertiliser, three weeks after it inaugurated the sales offer.
Our correspondent reports that Governor Simon Lalong, had at the inauguration in Bokkos on June 28, said that government had subsidised the commodity for a bag to sell at N4,000.
“Realising that most of the farmers are peasants, who can hardly afford the high price of fertiliser in the open market, government has subsidised the product by 50 per cent.
“The subsidy makes it possible for farmers to access the product at N4,000 per bag,” Lalong had said.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government says it will spend N1.2
billion on the construction of a secondary school in Balle, headquarters of Gudu Local Government Area.
The State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Jabbi Kilgori, disclosed this to newsmen in Sokoto recently.
“Gudu Local Government is reputed to be the only one without a senior secondary school in the whole of the country.
“That was what informed the decision of the state government to conceive this noble project which was duly approved by the state executive council penultimate week.
Zamfara
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai in Gusau
said that intelligence reports indicated that many cattle rustlers and bandits were already fleeing the forest in Gusau.
Buratai made the disclosure during activities to mark the Army Day celebration in Gusau.
“We have also got the report that many of the criminals are already on the run in the forest.
“We understand that they are trying to escape from the ongoing operation but this will not deter us from going on with the operations,”he said.
He noted that the Army would sustain the offensive against the criminals until all known enclaves in the forest were cleared.
Youths from five local government areas in Northern Cross River State have concluded a one-week warning protest and blockade of the dilapidated Ikom-Wula-Obudu federal highway over the weekend.
They have vowed to resume the road blocks if by this week the authorities do not intervene to fix the road.
More than five thousand locals, mostly youths from Obanliku, Etung, Obudu, Ikom and Boki LGAs trooped out everyday for one week, used palm trees to block the highway to draw state and federal government’s attention to their plights, requesting the repair of a road has has been unmotorable for about 40 years.
They warned that if they do not see any actions from the state or federal governments, they will resume their Plan B protest, stop revenue collections and make governance unpalatable.
The youths also warned that without interventions on the road which has claimed several lives, including that of last week when a pregnant woman died with her baby in the full glare of the protesters because of the terrible road, no election can hold in the area next year.
One of the leaders of the No Road , No Election protest, who is also the Abo Youths in Boki LGA, Dr Martins Assam said both the federal and state governments have neglected the region, which generates more than 70 percent state revenue from agriculture.
He said if machinery is not deployed by next week, they will not have any option than to embark on unpalatable and disastrous protest, and stop revenue collections in the area.
“Last week we had only a warning strike for one good week. We’ll embark on a more elaborate, disastrous one-month blockade of this highway until they intervene. We call on our Governor and representatives in the National Assembly to act now by impressing on the federal government to immediately fix this road else. We’re not asking for two much but to be treated as human beings.”
Another protester, Clinton Obi from the Etung axis said, “We’ve been neglected for 40 years. This Ikom-Obudu federal highway had been impassable. The government has removed its concentration from our plights. By this one week protest, we want action on this road otherwise the next phase of protest will be costly.”
Reverend Father Francis Amaozo, priest in charge of St. Nicholas parish in Nashua, Boki LGA said, “I have also been a victim of this very deplorable road. Enough is now enough. We’ve been betrayed by our representatives and other leaders, so that we in this axis have become endangered species on this road. I have lost some many members on this road.”
Member, representing the Boki-Ikom federal constituency of the state in the House of Representatives, Bisong Victor Abang had pleaded with the locals to be a bit more patient with the government as action will commence shortly.
Nation
UNIPORT VC Receives Inaugural Lecture Brochure As Professor Highlights Urgent Need For Drug Repurposing In Malaria Fight
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof Owunari Georgewill, last Thursday received the inaugural lecture brochure from the Inaugural Lecturer, Professor Udeme Georgewill, during a ceremony at the university’s Centre of Excellence attended by academics, researchers, students, and distinguished guests.
Delivering her lecture, Professor Udeme Georgewill described the occasion as the culmination of years of dedicated research, teaching, and service to humanity. He explained that his work as a pharmacologist has consistently focused on finding practical, affordable, and scientifically sound solutions to health challenges that disproportionately affect developing countries, particularly malaria, which remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health concerns.
She noted that Nigeria continues to bear one of the heaviest malaria burdens globally, accounting for a significant percentage of worldwide cases and deaths. The disease, largely caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite and transmitted through Anopheles mosquitoes, remains especially dangerous for children under five years and pregnant women, threatening not only present populations but unborn generations. Despite years of intervention efforts, malaria continues to strain families, health systems, and the national economy.
Prof Georgewill empha-sised that while Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies such as Artemether-Lumefantrine remain the gold standard for malaria treatment, emerging resistance patterns pose a serious challenge. He explained that drug resistance is a survival mechanism of the parasite, enabling it to adapt and reduce the effectiveness of medications designed to eliminate it. According to her, instances where patients do not feel better after initial treatment sometimes lead to repeated dosing or the search for injectable alternatives, practices that can worsen resistance and complicate treatment outcomes.
Against this backdrop, she advocated strongly for drug repurposing as a strategic and urgent response. Drug repurposing, he explained, involves identifying new therapeutic uses for already approved and widely available medications. He likened the concept to “old wine in new wineskins,” stressing that medicines already proven safe for certain conditions can be carefully re-evaluated and optimised for new roles in malaria management. This approach, she argued, offers advantages such as reduced research timelines, lower development costs, and faster clinical application compared to developing entirely new drugs from scratch.
She disclosed that her research had progressed from laboratory investigations to clinical evaluations, where his team is studying combinations involving Artemether-Lumefantrine and Ivermectin to determine their effectiveness in improving treatment outcomes and possibly reducing transmission. Clinical trials are ongoing, and findings will be communicated upon completion of regulatory processes. However, he cautioned strongly against self-medication, warning that misuse of drugs without proper diagnosis and prescription can lead to organ damage, treatment failure, and increased resistance.
Referencing global health commitments, Prof Georgewill highlighted Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, which seeks to end epidemics of malaria and other major infectious diseases by 2030. She questioned whether the goal remains attainable under current realities, especially with growing resistance and funding gaps. He also referred to strategies of the World Health Organisation aimed at drastically reducing malaria incidence and mortality while pushing toward elimination in several countries.
Looking ahead, she revealed that her team is building comprehensive research databases to support artificial intelligence-driven drug repurposing. He stressed that the integration of artificial intelligence, molecular docking, and advanced screening technologies is transforming global drug discovery, and Nigerian researchers must be equipped to participate competitively in this evolving scientific landscape.
In her recommendations, she called for the establishment of a National Centre for Drug Repurposing to coordinate research efforts and leverage artificial intelligence in identifying new indications for existing medicines. He urged policymakers to simplify and accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical application, ensuring that scientific breakthroughs benefit the public more efficiently. She also appealed to the university and relevant authorities to increase funding and modernise laboratory infrastructure, including high-throughput screening facilities, to strengthen Nigeria’s position in global biomedical research.
The lecture concluded with expressions of gratitude to God, the university leadership, colleagues, students, and guests, as the event underscored the University of Port Harcourt’s commitment to research excellence and its role in addressing critical public health challenges facing Nigeria and the wider world.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Niger State Chapter, has rejected the proposed Niger State Hisbah Directorates Bill, describing it as controversial and capable of deepening religious division in the state.
In a statement signed by the State Chairman, Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, and made available to The Tide’s source yesterday, the association urged Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago not to assent to the bill if it is passed by the State House of Assembly.
The bill, sponsored by the member representing Chanchaga Constituency, Hon. Mohammed Abubakar, seeks to establish a Hisbah Directorate in Niger State.
CAN warned that the legislation could be perceived as discriminatory against Christians and may heighten tension in the religiously diverse state.
“Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, we, the entire Christendom in the state, wish to draw your attention to what could easily create division among the people you govern,” the statement read in part.
The association questioned the necessity and benefits of the proposed law, asking what economic or social value it would add to the state.
It further argued that existing security agencies, including the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, already have constitutional mandates to maintain law and order.
The Christian body also faulted the legislative process, disputing claims that it was consulted during a public hearing on the bill.
It insisted that it was neither invited nor notified of any such engagement, despite being a critical stakeholder in the state.