Nation
THE STATES
Borno
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State said he aban
doned the use of bullet proof cars as an act of sympathy with the suffering masses who had no means of self protection from terrorists.
Shettima stated this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
He said that the action was also aimed at showing that the terrorists had no super natural powers.
“We have to dare the terrorists; I have bullet proof cars, but I do not use them; I want to be exposed to the elements as the ordinary people do,” Shettima said.
He said the bullet proof cars were only kept for the use of visitors who might be afraid to use ordinary cars.
“We have so many bullet proof cars but we only use them for our guests”, he added.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government says it will immunise over
1.7 million children against polio in the ongoing immunisation campaign in the state.
Executive Secretary of the state Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHDCA), Dr Kabiru Ibrahim, disclosed this to newsmen in Dutse.
Ibrahim said that enough personnel had been engaged to conduct the exercise simultaneously across the 27 local government areas of the state.
The executive secretary commended traditional and religious leaders and other stakeholders in the state for their support and cooperation for the smooth conduct of the exercise, so far.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Electricity Company says it has com
menced customer enumeration using Geographic Information System in four states under its franchise.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Head, Corporate Communication of the company, Abdulazeez Abdullahi and made available to newsmen in Kaduna.
The statement said that the exercise would be conducted across the company’s franchise states of Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara.
It said that the exercise had commenced in Kaduna State, using NYSC members.
The statement explained that the exercise would capture the data of existing customers, prospective ones, identify undeveloped and developed properties, as well as vacant houses.
Kano
Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central), has called on ca
dets at the Nigeria Police Academy,Wudil, Kano State, to change the current perception of the society about the Nigeria police.
Sani made the call while addressing Kaduna State cadets currently undergoing training at the Academy.
“As cadets you have the duty to change the perception of the society about the Nigeria police as time has passed when the police was for those who could not make it academically,” he said.
Sani, who, is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debts, also urged the cadets to avoid corrupt practices and any act capable of denting the image of the Force.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government has procured firefighting
equipment worth N35million to effectively tackle fire outbreak in the state.
The State Director, of Fire Service, Alhaji Bello Zagga, disclosed this to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.
He said the equipment would be distributed to the department’s outfits located in the 21 local government areas of the state.
“The equipment include fire extinguishers, safety jackets, fume and other relevant materials”, he said.
Zagga said the department had this year repaired four fire fighting vehicles and trained 30 officers on rapid response to emergency situations.
Kogi
A Kogi-based lawyer, Daniel Makolo, has called on Presi
dent Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a Kogi indigene to replace the Minister of State for Labour, late James Ocholi
Makolo made the call at a press conference in Lokoja in Lokoja.
He said that for almost seven months, Kogi had been denied representation in the Federal Executive Council meetings, adding that there was a dire need for the representation.
According to him, the meeting has the primary purpose of promoting good governance and welfare of all persons in the country on the principles of freedom, equality and justice and for the purpose of consolidating the unity of the people.
Lagos
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is to ensure that
there is steady electricity supply at the terminals to facilitate trade, the Executive Director, Finance, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko has said.
Bello-Koko told newsmen in Lagos that power supply to port facilities was important.
He said that several grey areas of concern to stakeholders would be improved upon with constant power supply to facilities.
“We are looking at a 24-hour cargo clearing time frame as template to drive others. “If we can get the energy stabilised, things like cargo examination can take place, even in the evening.
“With power supply, several repair and maintenance services of equipment that tends to delay operations in terminals can be carried out in the night,’’ Bello-Koko said.
Nasarawa
The Federal University, Lafia, has terminated the appoint
ment of 35 of its non-teaching staff over the inability of the institution to pay their salaries.
Vice Chancellor of the university,Prof. Mohammed Sanusi-Liman, told newsmen in Lafia that the council took the decision due to paucity of funds.
Sanusi-Liman explained that the affected staff, who were employed by the institution earlier in the year, comprised 11 corps members who were retained after their service year and 24 others.
Niger
Rice and Cassava Value Chain Development Programme
(VCDP) farmers in Niger State have commended the Federal Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development for empowering farmers.
The Chairman Bankoregi Progressive Farmers Association, Malam Ibrahim Mohammed, made the commendation during a visit by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe in Katcha, Niger State.
Oyo
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has received the
report of the State Committee on Participatory Management of Schools, saying the recommendations would form the fulcrum of the state’s new education policy.
According to him, countries that were developing were those who used education and technology to drive development, adding that they embraced discipline, rule of law and basic tenets of a modern society.
Our correspondent reports that the 31-man committee inaugurated on July 12 was headed by Prof Adeniyi Gbadegesin, the Vice Chancellor, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.
The committee was to review the status and standard of education in the state as well as recommend suitable and plausible options to government and other relevant means of emhancing the overall standard of education in the state.
Sokoto
Senator Aliyu Wamakko has challenged journalists in
the country to strive to foster unity amongst the nation’s heterogeneous society.
“You should work to foster sustainable, peace, unity and even socio-economic prosperity in the country”, Wamakko told newsmen in Sokoto.
Wamakko said that journalists as watchdogs should routinely educate the people on the realities on the ground.
He enjoined them to be objective, factual and adhere to the ethics of the profession, adding that this should be done devoid of any intimidation, blackmail or distortion of facts.
Wamakko, who represents Sokoto Central, further called on the journalists to always work professionally by reporting the facts in order to maintain the respect known in the field.
Taraba
Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has ap
pointed Senator Jeremiah Useni as the Chancellor of Taraba University, Jalingo.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Hassan Mijinyawa, and made available to newsmen in Jalingo.
According to the statement, the appointment is with immediate effect.
Our correspondent reports that Useni is a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from Plateau State.
He is a retired Army General and also a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory , Abuja.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has inducted and given orientation to 100 Ogoni youths for training on Creative Arts. The beneficiaries were drawn from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The induction and orientation ceremony, which took place at the CRAB of the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, was a prelude to the training proper, billed to commence next Tuesday.
As usual, HYPREP issued undertaking forms to the trainees, for them to complete and submit as a guarantee that they would subject themselves to the requirements of the programme as well as be of good behaviour throughout the four-month duration of the training.
HYPREP also announced that it would pay N150,000 to each of the beneficiaries monthly, as transport and feeding allowance, stressing, however, that only those who fully participate in the training would be entitled for the allowance.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, welcomed the trainees to the programme, saying, HYPREP’s projects are evolving and that one thing that is happening today is that the Project has gotten leadership right, by making promises and keeping those promises.
According to him, the Project had equally promised to move away from rudimentary skills acquisition to high impacts acquisition levels, which it has kept today by sponsoring the training on Creative Arts.
He noted that in planning its livelihood programmes for Ogoni youths, HYPREP has taken time out to look for skills that would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
Zabbey, who was represented at the event by the Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi said by packaging the Creative Arts training, it was expected that the Ogoni people would have their own version of Nollywood known as Ogoniwood just as Nigerians are familiar with Hollywood, Bollywood, Kannywood and Nollywood.
To achieve this goal, the Project Coordinator explained that it was the reason for choosing a reputable establishment like Halibiz Consult Limited, to partner with the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt, which he described as one of the most prestigious in the Niger Delta, for the training of the beneficiaries.
He also indicated that in doing this, HYPREP was desirous of going for talents that would help the Ogoni people grow in the film industry, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
Zabbey equally enjoined the trainees to put in their best so that in the next three to five years, they would carve a niche for themselves and become forces to reckon with in the film industry.
On her part, HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee said HYPREP does what it says it will, stressing that the process of training Ogoni youths on specialised skills started three years ago.
According to her, the selection process for the training was rigorous and transparent, and was carried out by renowned actors actresses.
She disclosed that the training consists of three major aspects, which include acting, script writing and make-up, while Nollywood actors like Charles Nnoje, Ngezu J. Ngezu and award-winning make-up artist, Jude Odo would be on hand to drill and groom the beneficiaries.
Mrs Nzidee noted that the programme is a specialised training that does not have anything like starter packs but that it is purely a professional certification programme that would launch the beneficiaries into the Nollywood industry in Nigeria.
According to her, the Creative Arts training is one of the four specialised trainings organised by HYPREP to ensure that the Ogoni people are well positioned in vital industries like Aviation, Maritime, Creative Arts and Mechatronics.
She said the last of such trainings on Mechatronics would take place in the coming months, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously so as to put the Ogoni people on the Nollywood map.
She further indicated that while Charles Nnoje and Ngezu J. Ngezu would take the beneficiaries on the practical aspects, Jude Odo would take them on the make-up aspects.
Also speaking, the External Relations Manager of Halibiz Consult Limited, Alabo Experience Douglas said his company gives much premium to standard and quality, and assured that the firm would give the trainees value for the money spent on the programme.
While charging the beneficiaries to be dedicated and punctual, he stressed the need for them to approach the programme with the mindset of being empty so that at the end of the day, they would benefit maximally.
On his part, the Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo said the CRAB is an acronym for Creative Review of Arts and Books, stressing that it was named by renowned playwright, Prof Ola Rotimi.
According to him, the CRAB had nurtured, groomed and produced Nollywood actors and actresses like Bobmanuel Udokwu, Ejike Asiegbu,Francis Duru, Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda, Julius Agwu, and a host of others, assuring the beneficiaries that they were on fertile environment to hone their talents.
He noted that symbolically, the crab is a nutritious seafood common in the Niger Delta, and reiterated the need for the beneficiaries to come empty for the training, as it were.
Ihunwo disclosed that the theory classes of the programme would run for three weeks while the fourth week would be for the master classes, and urged the trainees to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a difference by telling the Ogoni story, which he described as inexhaustible by themselves, in order to put Ogoni on the map.
A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.