Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

July 29, 2016

Borno
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has ex
pressed satisfaction with the success recorded by troops fighting insurgency in the North-East.
Represented by Maj. Gen. Hassan Umar, the Chief of Training and Operation, Buratai made the statement during the Combat Support Arms Training Week at the 7 Division Headquarters in Maiduguri.
“I am glad to state that significant progress has been made and several successes recorded especially in the current operation.
“Our troops have been able to carry out timely and synchronised operations in the theatre thereby denying the Boko Haram terrorists freedom of action.
“Success in battle depends largely on the support provided by the supporting arms. We shall continue to do our best within available resources to make improvement in our overall well being.”

Ekiti
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),
Ekiti State command, said establishment of drug free education clubs in secondary schools was a proactive measure to curb drug abuse.
The Public Affairs Officer of the NDLEA in the state, Mr Peter Njoku, disclosed this during an interview with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti.
He explained that several researches and investigations had been conducted and it was discovered that both male and female students in secondary schools take hard drugs.
Njoku said the drug free clubs were being established in schools to educate students on the danger inherent in taking drugs not prescribed by doctors and other harmful substances.
He said the main objective of the agency was to ensure that all students in secondary schools were well informed so as to avoid and reduce the intake of hard drugs.

Gombe
Gombe State Government says it will use technology to
block leakages in its revenue collection drive and improve the economy of the state.
The state Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Muhammadu Hassan, told newsmen in Gombe that the plan was aimed at reducing over-dependence on federal allocation.
He said that a lot of measures had been put in place to ensure the state succeeded in providing more dividends of democracy to its people.
“In terms of IGR we are looking at trying to increase the efficiency of collection of all across the revenue generating MDAs and to block leakages at the same time.
“In blocking leakages we intend to use technology, because whenever you have a leakage that means somebody is paying and the money collected by another person is not remitted to government account,” Hassan said.

Jigawa
Jigawa State has got a new Police Commissioner. He is Mr
Henry Fadairo, who until his appointment was the CP in charge of Research and Planning at the headquarters.
He takes over from Alhaji Muhammad Mustafa, who has been redeployed to the Federal Capital Territory Command as the helmsman.
A graduate of Political Science from the University of Lagos, Fadairo, who hails from Ekiti, joined the police as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent, according to a statement.
The statement, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent in Dutse, was signed by the command’s spokesman, SP Abdu Jinjiri.
Fadairo had also served as the CP of Cross River State.

Kwara
Seven female intending pilgrims from Kwara State have been
disqualified from performing the 2016 Hajji for being pregnant.
The Executive Secretary of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Hajia Fatimah Abolore-Jimoh, disclosed this state, newsmen in Ilorin, recently.
She said the affected women who had paid their Hajj fares in full were discovered to be pregnant during screening conducted by the board.
The scribe said the board took the decision for the safety of the women and the unborn babies.
“The seven women were detected to be pregnant during the medical screening.
“They were disqualified because it a risky to allow them make the trip to the holy land,’’ the executive secretary said.
Abolore-Jimoh said that the women had been informed of their disqualification by the board.
She said the board was ready to refund the Hajj fares paid by the women.
Nasarawa
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State says
his administration could not conduct local government elections due to the current economic challenges facing the country.
Al-Makura made the remark in Lafia on Monday during the swearing in of Interim Management Committees (IMC) to head the 11 local governments in the state.
The governor said that appointment of IMCs was legal and cheaper to maintain than democratically elected officials.
According to him, the appointments were backed by Section 2 (1-4) of Nasarawa State Local Government (Amendment) Law 2006.
Al-Makura explained that wide consultations were made before the appointments.
“As a listening administration, I want to assure all concerned that where there is a flaw, all necessary actions will be taken to address the issues raised”, he said.

Niger
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said
that about 662, 463 children in Niger State were suffering from malnutrition.
UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Dr Florence Oni, made this known at a Nutrition Interventions Implementation Review Meeting in Minna.
She said malnutrition was a major cause of death among children under the age of five, adding that Niger had moved from a medium burden to high burden state.
“Malnutrition is real and ravaging our children. Nutrition is not about having enough food to eat but eating right and eating the right proportion of the different variety of foods.
“Malnutrition accounts for more than half of under five mortality rate, as such we must increase the awareness levels of our people on nutrition because Niger State has moved from medium to high burden state,” she said.

Ogun

The Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps
(FRSC) in Ota, Ogun State, Mr Leye Adegboyega, has donated goods worth N150,000 to the Ilo-Awela Orphanage Home, to mark his birthday.
Adegboyega said that he decided to give back to the society to show appreciation for what God had done in his life.
‘’I wish to give thanks and glory to the Almighty God because many of my colleagues had died, but God kept me alive,’’ he said.
Adegboyega reassured the children of his commitment to assist them within the limit of his resources.
He also promised to be visiting them on regular basis to know how they were faring.
Oyo
The Agro Impact Projects Empowerment Initiative, an agri
cultural organisation, has urged government at all levels to train farmers on post harvest management of agricultural produce to boost food sufficiency.
The organisation’s members led by wife of the Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan (UI), Dr Eyiwumi Olayinka, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
Olayinka implored government to adequately fund research institutes to develop technologies that would enable farmers to preserve excess produce.
“Farmers need to be trained, from time to time, to ensure that they deploy best practices; this will, in turn, help to regulate prices of produce and eradicate scarcity in some seasons,’’ she said.

Plateau
A Jos Chief Magistrate’s Court has sentenced two men,
Azi Itsegok, and Atsen John, to 12 months in prison each for stealing four aluminium windows and a dane gun.
Itsegok, 20, and John 21, both of Lamingo, Jos East, were charged with criminal trespass, housebreaking, theft and receiving stolen property.
The Magistrate, Mrs Oluwatoyin Mafuyai, handed down the sentence after the convicts pleaded guilty and begged for leniency.
Mafuyai did not give the convicts an option of fine, and said that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to those who might want to engage in similar acts.
She also ordered that the convicts pay N40,500 to the nominal complainant as compensation for the value of the property stolen or spend additional 12 months each in prison.

Sokoto
Sokoto State Government will rehabilitate the General Hos
pitals in Dogon Daji and Yabo in Tambuwal and Yabo LGAs respectively, at the cost of over N369 million.
The Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Abdulkadur Jaleni, made the disclosure in Sokoto, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeing of the state executive council.
He said that the project would involve rehabilitation of all structures in the two hospitals, adding that the job is expected to be completed within six months.
“The rehabilitation of the two hospitals is in line with the commitment of the government to provide qualitative healthcare services to the people of the state,’’ he said.

Zamfara
The Zamfara State branch of Nigerian Medical Associa
tion (NMA), says health services in the State are poor and therefore urged the government to solve the problems urgently.
Chairman of NMA in the state, Dr Aminu Sakajiki, made the remark at its 4th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Guzau, recently.
“The health sector’s sorry condition is as a result of inadequate facilities, inadequate health workers, especially medical doctors and nurses, and poor remuneration of the workforce.
“Poor implementation of the sector’s health budget is also a major problem’’, Sakajiki said.
The NMA chairman urged the state government to ensure effective recruitment, training and retraining of health workers.

Nation

RSG Hosts 2026 President’s Inter-SS Debate as Eight States Vie for National Crown

Published

3 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

Eight states across Nigeria have converged in Port Harcourt for the 2026 edition of the President’s Inter-Senior Secondary Schools Debate Championship, hosted by Rivers State Government.

The three_days championship, themed “27th Democracy & 3rd Year Anniversary of President Ahmed Tinubu Inter-Senior Schools Debate Championship,” opened on Monday at Government Girls Secondary School, Rumueme, Port Harcourt.

The participating states are Ebonyi, Abia, Delta, Sokoto, Yobe, Kwara, Enugu, and host state Rivers. Each state is represented by its top debaters selected through state-level contests.

Declaring the event open, the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, said the championship goes beyond winning trophies. He described it as a national investment in the next generation of leaders.

“This platform is for nurturing young minds,” Nwagor said. “It builds critical thinking, research skills, confidence, effective communication, and the ability to engage constructively with views different from one’s own. These are the very qualities upon which responsible leadership and nation-building are founded.”

The Commissioner commended the organizers, participating schools, teachers, and coordinators for their commitment to promoting intellectual excellence among Nigerian youths.

He urged the students to compete with confidence, discipline, and respect. “Debate is not merely about winning an argument,” he noted. “It is about listening carefully, reasoning with clarity, presenting your evidence with honesty, and having the grace to learn from others. Let the quality of your ideas and the strength of your character define your participation here.”

Nwagor assured the participants that Rivers State is proud to play its part in raising a generation that will bring bold and innovative solutions to the country’s challenges. He wished all teams a rewarding, memorable, and successful championship.

Earlier in his welcome address, the National Coordinator of the President’s Schools Debate Nigeria, PSDN, Elder Dare Oritu, called the event a “gathering of minds” drawn from different parts of the country.

According to Oritu, debate is about three things. “It is about _unity_. It brings us together from different schools and backgrounds to learn from one another. It is about _broadening the mind_. It teaches you to think deeply, to listen well, to ask ‘why,’ and to defend your ideas with facts and respect. It is about _preparing you for leadership_. The problem-solvers and decision-makers of tomorrow are in this hall today.”

He reminded the students that debate is not a contest of aggression. “Debate is _not a fight_. We challenge ideas, not people. It is _not about who is better_. And it is _not do-or-die_. We win with grace, and we learn with humility,” Oritu said.

The PSDN National Coordinator encouraged all participants to compete with integrity, speak with clarity, and leave wiser than they came. He wished them the very best throughout the competition.

Highlights of the opening ceremony included the official draw for debate matches, administered by PSDN officials. The pairings will determine which states face each other in the preliminary rounds as the battle for the 2026 national title begins.

Amadi Akujobi

Nation

NIIT Port Harcourt Graduates 61 Cybersecurity Students, Enrols 48 New Intakes

Published

3 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

The National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT), Port Harcourt, has graduated 61 students from its six-month Cybersecurity training programme. The institute also inducted 48 new students for the new academic session during a brief ceremony held at its Port Harcourt centre on Monday.

Centre Manager of NIIT Port Harcourt, Mr. Precious Ogulu Tom, said the institute is always excited to induct students into cybersecurity because it is one of its flagship courses with strong international recognition. He noted that the centre’s performance has earned it high ratings from ICSS, adding that in the past academic year, more than 20 students passed ICSS certification exams.

According to him, beyond the NIIT certificate, which is globally recognized, students also proceed to ICSS and complete their courses without difficulty. He credited the faculty for maintaining standards and said NIIT remains the leading ICT training institute in Port Harcourt and Rivers State.

Tom said NIIT has a presence in all major cities in Nigeria and its headquarters in India, with training covering all areas of ICT. He added that every year the institute produces at least one first-class graduate in Software Engineering from partner universities such as Middlesex University and the University of Sunderland. He described the institute’s approach as practical and hands-on.

On fees, he addressed comments about cost online, saying quality training requires investment. “Does anything good come easy? Nothing good comes easy,” he stated. He explained that students receive industry-standard books and globally recognized certificates, and invited parents and prospective students to register with NIIT for value-driven training.

Also speaking, Principal Instructor for Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking, Mr. Nyekwere TamunoTonye, said the cohort began in February with high expectations and completed the programme in six months. He said one notable achievement was that the class remained largely intact despite challenges, including system breakdowns and family issues. “At the end of this six months, we never lost anybody. That is the greatest. So, we give God the glory,” he said.

Nyekwere said students were exposed to multiple domains in cybersecurity and received strong practical training. He told the graduands that their real learning starts now and urged them not to relent. “This is no longer the time you go back to play,” he added.

He emphasized that the institute equipped them not only with technical and practical skills but also with character and a mindset for continuous learning. He noted that no institution, including Harvard or Yale, can teach everything, but good schools set the path, which NIIT has done.

He charged them to deploy their skills positively. “I don’t want to see any of you being arrested by the EFCC tomorrow. I don’t want to see any of you being arrested by the police. I don’t want to see any of you being arrested,” he said.

Senior IT Counselor and Head of Sales and Marketing, Mrs. Igbigbari Vincent-Eretoru, congratulated the graduands for completing the programme and defending their presentations according to NIIT academic standards. She said certificates are awarded in character and learning, and urged them to be good ambassadors of NIIT Port Harcourt by applying what they learned.

Responding on behalf of the graduates, Class Section Head Tamunotonyesia Epelle said many came in with questions and uncertainty about specializations but left with clarity, confidence, and technical competence gained through practical assignments, teamwork, and the instructor’s push to avoid mediocrity.

Nation

HYPREP Marks 15 Years Of UNEP Report, Highlights Major Cleanup Milestones

Published

1 week ago

August 10, 2026

The Tide

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commemorated the 15th anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the environment and improving the livelihoods of affected communities.

In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.

The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.

According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.

Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.

In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.

The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.

Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3