Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
Bauchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board said last Thursday that it would consolidate on successes recorded during 2016 Hajj operations to ensure the smooth conduct of the 2017 Hajj.
Chairman of the board, Alhaji Abdullahi Hardawa, stated this in Bauchi during a review meeting of 2016 Hajj operation, held at the headquarters of the board.
Hardawa said he was impressed with successes recorded during the 2016 exercise, emphasizing that “the 2016 operation was one of the best recorded in the history of the state.”
“The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) even commended the state for excellence after the 2016 operation.
“We will ensure that we improve on the orderliness of pilgrims, feedings, accommodations, environmental health and respect for laws of the Saudi Arabia to enable us perfect the situation,” he said.
Hardawa was optimistic that the 2017 hajj would be more successful than that of the 2016, especially that the board had commenced preparation earlier than it did in 2016.
Borno
The desire to acquire tertiary education before marriage has made most females in Borno State to prefer enrolling in Polytechnics and Colleges of Education instead of universities, some education stakeholders in the state, have observed.
They told newsmen last Thursday that polytechnics and Colleges of Education were more convenient for females because of the shorter years of studies, thereby enabling them to complete their A-Level education before getting married.
Some of them told our correspondent that it was easier for applicants to secure admissions into such institutions than Universities.
Alhaji Babazannah Abdulkarim, Borno state Focal Person of N-Power, said Colleges of Education had higher numbers of females enrolling for their higher education.
“The girl-child has limited time. Most girls, especially in Northern Nigeria, find it more convenient to go to colleges than Universities because they always got married before 18 years.
Gombe
Chairman, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Gombe State, Malam Abba Jato-Damboa has called on governments and wealthy individuals to assist his colleagues toward settling house rents.
“Paying house rents has become a major challenge faced by IDPs in Gombe; we need urgent assistance in that area,” Jato-Damboa told newsmen last Thursday in Gombe.
He said that many IDPs had been ejected from their abodes because they could not pay house rents.
“IDPs are worst hit by the economic problems and the landlords hardly consider our plight,” he said.
Jigawa
Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Jigawa State, Alhaji Idris Maiunguwa, has called on farmers to repay loans given to them by the government to enhance sustainability of the agricultural financing scheme.
Maiunguwa made the call in an interview with The Tide last Thursday in Hadejia, Jigawa.
Maiunguwa said that the loans were disbursed to rice farmers during the last cropping season in the state.
He said it was imperative for the farmers to offset the remaining balance of the loan to facilitate sustainability and mobilise participation in the programme, adding that so far, about 90 per cent of the loans had been recovered.
Maiunguwa commended the farmers over the prompt repayment, stressing that their action indicated support to government programmes.
Kogi
The Kogi State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mrs. Rosemary Osikoya, has warned against indiscriminate dumping of waste, and promised severe sanctions against anyone caught.
“Government is disturbed by the discriminate of waste, especially in the urban areas. We are committed to checking this trend and shall not spare anyone involved,” Osikoya said in Lokoja, last Thursday.
Osikoya spoke at a one-day sensitisation campaign on sanitation and waste management, organised by the ministry in collaboration with the NYSC Environmental Protection and Sanitation CDS group.
The commissioner, who was represented by Mr Taiye Peters, director in charge of sanitation, said that sensitising the public had become imperative to educate everyone on the need to maintain clean environments.
Kwara
The National Anti-corruption Volunteers Corps (NAVC) would continue to champion activities aimed at curbing incessant sharp practices among traders, especially at the grassroots, through enlightenment.
The Corps Commandant in Kwara South Senatorial District, Mr Olushola Babalola, said this last Thursday during a meeting between NAVC and the officials of the Master Bakers’ Association of Nigeria (MBAN) in Omu-Aran, Kwara State.
The Tide reports that NAVC is an arm of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences’ Commission (ICPC).
Babalola said that the meeting was part of the organisation’s campaign strategies to educate, inform and enlighten traders and bakers on the dangers inherent in indulging in fraudulent practices.
He decried traders arbitrarily increasing the prices of food items such as rice, yam flour, vegetable oil, without consultation with stakeholders.
Nasarawa
The Governing Council of the Federal University Lafia in Nasarawa State, has appointed Dr Abubakar Mamuda as the new Registrar of the university.
The university’s Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Abubakar, made this known in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of a news briefing and handing over ceremony that took place in Lafia on Thursday.
Mamuda was the university’s Deputy Registrar (Council Affairs) before his present appointment.
He took over from Dr Idris Jibril whose tenure ended on February 15, 2016.
Abubakar explained that Mamuda’s appointment takes immediate effect and will last for five years.
Mamuda expressed gratitude to the council for the appointment while pledging to do his best to justify the confidence reposed in him.
Niger
Niger State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Aliyu Tangwagi, has warned residents of the state against bush burning during and after the dry season period.
Tangwagi gave the warning in Minna on Thursday in an interview with newsmen.
He said that the state government had established a security outfit, named ‘Green Guards’, trained and equipped them to preserve the forests against bush burning.
‘‘We have since issued an operational order to our field officers on various security measures to be taken to prevent fire outbreaks during and after the harmattan period.
‘‘Green Guards would arrest and prosecute those found setting the bush on fire and cutting of trees,’’ he said.
He stated that members of the Green Guards had commenced patrols of the forests in the state to ensure the protection of the state‘s forests.
Ondo
A 35-year-old trader, Asiki Adesuyi, last Thursday appeared in an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for alleged N240,000 fraud.
Adesuyi, of no fixed address, is facing a charge of advance fee fraud, which he pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the accused committed the offence at about 12:30 p.m at No. 5, Akindele Street., Okitipupa on December 23, 2016
Orogbemi said the accused defrauded, Talabi Omogboye, on the pretext of supplying five bundles of “cameroon roofing sheets’’ to him.
He said that the accused absconded after collecting the money until he was later arrested by the police.
Oyo
A Senior Lecturer, Department of Biology, the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Mrs Mojisola Siyanbola, has emphasised the need for government at all levels to make pragmatic approach to the development of aquaculture in Nigeria.
Siyanbola, a Hydro-biology and Fishery expert, gave the advice during an inaugural lecture she delivered at the institution last Wednesday evening in Ibadan.
The lecture is entitled: “Nigeria’s Fish Supply Deficit: Bridging the Gap through Sustainable Aquaculture”.
Siyanbola said that, there had been a serious threat to food security status of Nigeria with the animal protein sector severely affected.
According to her, Nigeria is the largest fish consumer in the world with over 1.5 million tonnes of fish consumed annually.
Sokoto
Sokoto State Government says, it has earmarked over N5.4 billion to feed no fewer than one million students in its primary and secondary schools in 2017.
It was gathered that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Alhaji Mainasara Ahmed, disclosed this in Gusau lastThursday.
He spoke at a three-day workshop organized by a USAID-assisted Leadership, Empowerment, Advocacy and Development (LEAD) Project being implemented in Sokoto and Bauchi States.
“These pupils and students are currently studying in both boarding and non-boarding schools across the 23 local government areas in the state.
“This money also includes the homegrown school feeding programme to be jointly undertaken by both the federal and state governments.
Zamfara
The Zamfara State-owned Abdu-Gusau Polytechnic, Talata-Mafara, has decried low enrollment of indigenes into the institution.
The institution’s spokesman, Malam Aliyu Damri, told The Tide in Talata-Mafara on Thursday that “the low enrollment is a threat for the future education of the state”.
Damri said that the polytechnic was established by the state government to educate its citizens, adding that the expected number of indigenes in the school was not there.
He noted that non-indigenes were higher than the indigenes, saying that “as parents, we must make serious efforts to ensure we educate our children to guarantee their future.
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.