Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

December 19, 2016

Adamawa
The Adamawa State Police Command, has said that it
would destroy Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which had been recovered from insurgents in the area over the years.
A statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Othman Abubakar said the IEDs would be destroyed on Saturday at the military shooting range at Mayo-Ine in Fufore Local Government Area.
Abubakar urged the public not to panic during the exercise but to go about their normal businesses.
“The Adamawa State Police Command informs the public that the Anti-Bomb Squad will carry out demolition exercise of some recovered IEDs at the military shooting range at Mayo-Ine,” he said.
Bauchi

Chief of Army Staff. Lt-Gen. Tukur Burutai has said
that the military would strive to provide decent accommodation to soldiers to boost their morale and enhance their performance.
Burutai made the pledge in Bauchi while inaugurating 30 chalets at the Nigeria Army Armour Corps barracks in Bauchi.
He noted that the military had grown in units and strength, hence the need to increase welfare facilities.
While commending the building engineers for a job well done, he urged officers and soldiers to imbibe maintenance culture for the structures put in place to last.

Borno
The Nigeria Army has said it had rescued additional
605 women and children during its operation in Sambisa forest.
The Threatre Commander, Maj-Gen. Leo Irabor, stated this during a press conference at the headquarters of the 7 Division of Operation lafiya Dole in Maiduguri.
Irabor said that troops on operation rescure final have continue to record remarkable progress in the fight against counter terrorism operation in Sambisa forest.
He added that “69 male adults, 180 females, 227 male children and 129 female children, were rescued during the operation between December 7 and December 14, 2016.

Ekiti
The Ekiti State Police Command said it had arrested 85 sus
pected criminals at different locations in the state within the last one week.
A statement issued in Ado Ekiti by the command’s Public Relation officer, Alberto Adeyemi, and made available to newsmen said that the feat was achieved in a mass raid of some identified black spots in the state.
Adeyemi said the action was also part of the promise made by the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, to rid the state of criminals within the first six months of his assumption of duty.
He said on December 9, combined team of Police and NDLEA operatives carried out raids on black spots and criminal hideouts at Atikankan, Mathew roundabout, Ijan motor park and Odo tipper Garage, all in Ado Ekiti.

Katsina
The Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Mr Usman
Abdullahi, has warned police officers and men in the state to shun corrupt practices or face the consequences.
Abdullahi, gave the warning during the inauguration of the “Change Begins with Me’’ campaign in the state.
He also flagged-off the distribution of rebranded Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) flyers in different languages.
Abdullahi said the distribution of the PCRRU flyers was aimed at making the police force more accessible to members of the public.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Police Command has in Lafia inaugurated
the Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) of the police to check corruption and professional misconduct among its officers and men.
The Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Sadiq-Bello, while inaugurating the unit at the Lafia Market, said the initiative was aimed at addressing corruption within the police circle and enhance police public relationships.
Bello said that the PCRRU 24-hour service provider would receive complaints from the public pertaining to professional misconduct of police officers,giving assurance that such complaints will receive prompt attention.
Niger
An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Niger,
Mr. Muazu Rijau has expressed optimism that the 2017 budget would turn around the fortunes of Nigeria.
Rijau told newsmenin Minna that the task ahead was for Nigerians to support the government and pray God to ensure a successful implementation of the budget.
The politician said that the budget had what it would take to pull Nigeria out of the current economic recession and open the floodgates for developmental activities.
He explained that the budget would provide avenues for job opportunities during the implementation of capital projects.
Ogun

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has said
the commission has embarked on massive campaign to further reduce road accidents during the festive periods.
FRSC Unit Commander, Agbado Unit, Mr. Lanre Ogundele disclosed this during the Ember Months Public Enlightenment Rally at Ijaiye Motor Park, Ojokoro, Lagos.
Ogundele noted that the rally’s theme: “Crash the Crash: Speed kills’’ was carefully chosen to alert motorists of the commission’s zero tolerance to reckless driving on the nation`s highways.
The unit commander stated that FRSC officials would be on patrols during the festive period in order to ensure reduction of accidents on the roads.

Ondo
Four men, who allegedly performed abortion of five
months’ pregnancy on a teenager, have been brought before an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court.
They are Gboyega Amuwayo, 22, James Amuwayo, 18, Gbenga Babatunde, 20 and Egbeyelo Abilogun, 19.
The accused of no fixed addresses and occupations are standing trial on a four-count-charge of conspiracy, felony, unlawful abortion and impersonation.
The prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that one of the accused, Amuwayo, impregnated the teenager, but later lured her to abort the pregnancy.
The prosecutor said that the accused committed the offences on October 23 at Ipare-Oke Community near Okitipupa.
Osun
Justice Adedotun Onibokun of Osun State High Court
in Ile-Ife has sentenced one Fatai Jimoh and his wife, Lateefat to death by hanging for murder.
Delivering judgment, Onibokun said the prosecutor had proven his case beyond any reasonable doubt, saying that the convicts were guilty of the three-count charge of murder, conspiracy and armed robbery.
The judge consequently sentenced the couple to death by hanging for the murder of one Bukola Taiwo at Ikeketu Village near Garage Olode in Ife South Local Government Area of Osun on August 12, 2009.
The Prosecutor and state Counsel, Mr Moses Faremi, had earlier told the court that the deceased was strangulated by the couple in her rented room and her head was smashed with a sledge hammer.
Oyo

A 24-year-old man, Joseph Onafusi, was last Wednes
day brought before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan for allegedly stealing 100 live turkeys and 40 male cockerels.
Onafusi, of an unknown address, faced a three-count charge of conspiracy, forced entering and stealing.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Sunday Fatola, told the court that accused on December 9, at about 2: 34 p.m., allegedly entered a house belonging to one Olufemi Fabunmi, to commit the offences.
The accused, however, pleaded guilty to the charge of forced entering and pleaded not guilty to counts two and three, bordering on stealing.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abdulateef Adebisi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Plateau
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),
Plateau State Command, said it had trained 56 private security guards from 19 private companies in the state.
The State Commandant of the corps, Mr. Solomon Olusupo disclosed this during the passing-out parade of the guards.
Olusupo said that the NSCDC which was saddled with the responsibility of training private guards operatives organised the training with the aim of giving the best to the society in terms of grass root security.
He said the exercise was also aimed at ridding the state of incompetent private security guards.

Sokoto

The National Agency for the Prevention of Trafficking
in Persons (NAPTIP), says it had rescued 18 under-aged girls being used as house helps in Sokoto State.
NAPTIP Zonal Head of Counselling and Rehabilitation, Hajiya Asmau Aliyu disclosed this in Sokoto when she paraded the trafficked children and two suspects.
She said that the children, aged between four and 12 years, were brought to Sokoto from Niger and Kebbi states for “child labour.”
She appealed to parents to desist from allowing some “selfish individuals” to engage their children in the obnoxious act.
Zamfara

The Zamfara State Civil Service Commission (CSC), says
it has introduced digital system of recording the data of its civil servants.
The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Attahiru Bello, disclosed this in Gusau while speaking with journalists after defending the commission’s 2017 budget at the state House of Assembly.
Bello, said that N10 million had been earmarked for the procurement of computers and data banks to implement the programme.
According to him, the move is one of the major policies of civil service administration in the state.
The governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, had presented N107 billion before the state House of Assembly for the 2017 fiscal year.

Nation

Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

Published

1 week ago

June 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.

Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

Nation

THE LAPSES OF THE MEDIA IN ELECTIONS

Published

2 weeks ago

May 29, 2026

The Tide

The media is supposed to be a platform through which people express their thoughts, beliefs, and opinions on issues of public interest. Unfortunately, it has often failed to live up to its role as the fourth estate of the realm.During the 2023 elections, the media recorded several lapses that deserve critical examination in academic and professional spaces. Before discussing these failures in detail, it is important to briefly explain the meaning, role, and duties of the media. In simple terms, the media refers to the main channels of mass communication, including broadcasting, print publishing, and the internet.

It is a collective term for all means through which information reaches the public. The media is often called the fourth tier of government because of the popular saying, “No media, no society.” This is not an exaggeration. Scholars have shown that the media plays an integral role in society, since political, economic, religious, and academic activities all depend on information flow through the media.

The word MEDIA can be broken down to reflect its core functions: M – Meeting the People E – Educating the People D – Discussing with the People I – Involving the People A – Accessing the PeopleSpecifically during elections, the media is expected to provide accurate and timely information to the public by reporting and updating citizens on government and electoral activities. This responsibility is central to keeping the electorate informed.The media also strengthens democracy by engaging citizens on critical issues affecting the electoral process. When the media effectively disseminates relevant information, the public can see through the failures of government, hold leaders accountable, and propose solutions that serve the common good.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram play a vital role in democratic societies because they allow mass participation. Unlike radio and television, social media is accessible to anyone with a smartphone and data bundle, making it the most inclusive platform for political discourse. Despite these roles, the media must not abandon its ethics or promote partisan agendas that mislead the public. In many schools of thought, the media is described as closely related to the judiciary.

People often see the media as a place to voice grievances and seek justice.However, it is fair to say that the media has lost ground by failing to fulfill its duties during elections. Below are ten key lapses observed in the February 2023 elections.Lack of coordination among journalists. Many press personnel who covered different polling units were poorly equipped and unprepared. Some lacked functional cameras and modern technology needed to carry out professional reporting.

Partisanship and breach of ethics. Media personnel, who are supposed to remain non-partisan, openly violated professional ethics by taking political sides and favoring certain candidates in their reporting.Commercialization of coverage. Some journalists prioritized money over news. It was disappointing to see professionals from reputable stations engaging in what I call “Oga, find me something syndrome” begging politicians for money in exchange for favorable coverage or interviews.Loss of independence and self-censorship. On election day, some journalists took instructions from politicians on what to report and what to suppress. This compromised the independence of the media and reduced public trust.

Poor post-election reporting. Few media outlets reported what actually happened at the polling units. Incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and irregularities were either underreported or ignored entirely, while praise was lavished on politicians instead of amplifying the voices of the people.Spread of misinformation and unverified claims. In the rush to be first, some media houses published unverified results and rumors from social media without fact-checking. This fueled confusion and tension among the electorate.Inadequate coverage of rural and marginalized areas. Media attention was concentrated in urban centers, leaving rural polling units underreported. The experiences and challenges of rural voters were largely absent from mainstream coverage.

Sensationalism over substance. Some outlets prioritized sensational headlines and conflict-driven stories over factual analysis of policies and candidate manifestos, leaving voters uninformed about real issues. Failure to hold INEC accountable in real time. While INEC faced logistical failures and delays, many media houses were slow to question officials or demand explanations on air, missing opportunities for live accountability.

Neglect of voter education. Beyond reporting results, the media did little to educate voters on procedures, rights, and what to do in case of irregularities. This left many citizens uninformed and vulnerable on election day.These lapses weaken public trust and undermine the credibility of the electoral process. For the media to regain its role as a watchdog of democracy, it must return to the principles of accuracy, impartiality, and public service.

The media must be informed to follow its ethics as the 2027 elections approaches. This is encourage electorates rely on the authenticity and objectivity of media practice.Failure to uphold media standards will further make the country plunge into political apathy, electoral violence and disgust for those in the media practice.

By KRUKRUBO, NYE TAMUNODIKI.

Nation

RSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Holds Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria

Published

3 weeks ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State University and the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education jointly hosted a two-day National Conference on 8 and 9 May 2026 to examine the state of values in Nigeria.

The two days conference held at Rivers State University convocation arena brought together academics, policymakers, legal experts and education leaders under the theme _“Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria.”_

The gathering focused on policy gaps, curriculum reform, and the role of ethics in public service and education.

The event opened on Friday with remarks from Vice Chancellor Prof. Chief Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who stressed the need to address declining moral and civic values across Nigeria’s education and public sectors. A book of abstracts for the plenary sessions was also presented to participants.

Key speakers included former Attorney General Chief Dr Kanu Agabi, SAN; NERDC Executive Secretary Prof. Shehu Salisu; Prof. Hauwa Imam, FNAE, of the University of Abuja; former Rivers SUBEB Chairman Ven Dr Fyneface Akah, ; former NIMASA DG Dr Hon. Dakuku Adol-Peterside; and RSU Director of ICT Prof. Sunny Orike.

Discussions centered on integrating values education into schools, tertiary institutions and public institutions, alongside the impact of technology on moral development among young Nigerians. Panel and plenary sessions produced practical recommendations for curriculum and policy reform.

On Saturday, the foundation marked its centenary with the unveiling of the book _Otonti Nduka in History_, launched by Chief Engr. Grant Offor, FNSE. The Nigerian Academy of Education held a ceremonial procession led by its President Prof. Olu Jegede and the Ikwerre Professors Forum.

In a communiqué, participants called for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and academia to mainstream values education nationwide. They recommended reviewing teacher training curricula and expanding digital platforms to promote ethical civic engagement, with the foundation pledging to share the outcomes with education authorities for implementation.

Dignitaries present included Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide as Chief Host, Prof. Emeritus Chief T. Uzodimma Nwala, the Ikenga 1 of Mbaise and first philosophy student of Prof. Otonti Nduka, alongside scholars and community leaders.

Amadi Akujobi