Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The President of National Union of Adamawa State Students (NUADSS), Danladi Jonah, has appealed to the state government to resume the payment of scholarship to Adamawa State students in tertiary institutions.
Jonah made the appeal Thursday in an interview with The Tide in Yola.
Jonah said that Adamawa students in tertiary institutions had been finding it difficult since the suspension of scholarship six years ago.
“Adamawa students in tertiary institutions have not been receiving government scholarship for the past six years; things are hard for our students as you know Adamawa is among the states seriously affected by insurgency.
Bauchi
Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Halima Muqadas has called on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to be posting to her ministry, all corps members that studied health related courses.
Making the call when the State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr Afolayan Adeola visited her last Thursday, the commissioner said post such corps members to her ministry would add to existing human resources needed to boost healthcare delivery in the state.
Muqadas noted that various communities had been seeking for such corps members, hence the need for ministry to coordinate their posting so as to take care of their welfare.
“We will prefer all corps members that studied health-related courses to be posted to the Hospital Management Board because the hospital board coordinates issues of human resource and posting.
Ekiti
For allegedly threatening to kill a counsel, Mrs Adeola Adetayo, two accused: Adefemi Awe, 58 and Taiwo Okunade, 33, appeared in an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court lastThursday.
The accused, whose addresses were not given, are facing two-count-charge of breach of peace and threat to life.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Monica Ikebuilo, told the court that the two accused conspired with one other to commit the offence on February 2 in Fajuyi area of Ado-Ekiti.
Ikebuilo further said that Awe and Okunade threatened to kill Adetayo for being the counsel in a case against their brother.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government says it has disbursed N375 million loan to farmers to accelerate paddy rice production.
The Commissioner of Agriculture, Alhaji Kabir Ali, said this at the inauguration of the pilot rice trading Centre project in Auyo, Jigawa.
Ali said the loans were disbursed to registered farmers under the Farm Cluster scheme during the last cropping season.
He explained that fertiliser, seeds, chemicals and farm inputs were given to the farmers under a soft loan revolving scheme designed to enhance agricultural financing.
Kaduna
The President of Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union (SOKAPU), Mr Solomon Musa, last Thursday said the union was not a religious or tribal organisation but a body pushing for the development of all communities in the area.
Musa made the declaration during a consultative meeting with Global Peace Foundation, an NGO, seeking for dialogue to end the crisis in the area.
“SOKAPU is not for the protection of Baju, Fulani, Atiyap, Ham, Hausa and any other tribe, but is for the protection of all people in southern Kaduna regardless of where you come from; but we will protect defend and be fair to everybody.
Kano
The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested 958 beggars for allegedly violating the law banning street begging on major streets in the state’s capital.
Malam Musa Tsangaya, in charge of the anti-begging unit of the board, told newsmen in Kano State that 203 of the arrested people were children, while 755 were adults.
“Our men arrested 958 street beggars around Bank Road, Civic Centre, Dangi Junction, Lugard Road and Magwan Junction violating the law, banning street begging in the Kano metropolis.
Kebbi
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has allocated 4,105 hajj seats to Kebbi State for the 2017 hajj exercise, a top official has said.
The Executive Chairman of the state Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Alhaji Bala Sakaba, made this known to newsmen on Thursday in Birnin Kebbi.
Sakaba spoke after meeting with the 21 local government sole administrators on preparations for the exercise.
“The commission has directed us to commence collecting hajj fare deposits from intending pilgrims from last month and to complete the collection at the end of February 2017.
Kwara
Traders in Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State last Thursday called for the establishment of a modern market to boost the economic development of the community.
The Market Leader in the council area, Mrs Mogbonjubola Awoniyi, made the call during an inspection visit to markets in Omu-Aran.
Awoniyi was accompanied by a team led by Mr Olushola Babalola, the Coordinator of the National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corps (NAVC) in Kwara South Senatorial District.
She said the establishment of a modern market by the state government in partnership with the council was long overdue.
Nasarawa
A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting at Masaka in Nasarawa State last Thursday revoked the bail granted to a security man, Peter Callitus, 23, for failing to appear in court .
The Magistrate, Mr Victor Manga, revoked the bail after the Prosecutor, Mr Frank Swem, announced that the defendant refused to appear in court as instructed.
Swem said that the accused always absented himself in court.
“This was not his first time of exhibiting such habit.
“He is much aware that his case is slated for today, I tried to reach him and his number was not going.
“I also called his surety who told me that he was not in town,’’ he said.
Niger
Head, Accident and Emergency Unit, General Hospital, Minna, Niger State, Dr Hauwa Kolo, has advised the state government to revisit its position on commercial motorcycle riders in the state.
Kolo gave the advice in an interview with newmen in Minna lastThursday.
She said that the advice became necessary in view of the alarming rate of accidents among commercial motorcyclists in Niger and the need to check the development.
“There is need for the authorities to check and caution commercial motorcycle riders.
‘’This is because at the rate they get injured; there will come a time when the hospitals will run out of space to accommodate them,’’ she said.
The state government, on August 8 2016, placed restriction on the movement of motorcycles in the state capital, Minna and some other towns based on insecurity.
Ondo
A 30-year-old carpenter, Saheed Osuolale, was last Thursday brought before an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State, over alleged assault and malicious damage of property worth N95,000.
Osuolale is facing a two-count charge of assault and malicious damage.
Police Prosecutor Zedekiah Orogbemi told the court that the accused had on January 1 at about 11.00 a.m. at No. 17, Akinfolarin Str., Okitipupa, assaulted a woman, Ayinke Bolajoko, following a misunderstanding between them.
“The accused also used a saw to inflict injuries on the complainant.
Osun
Members of the Osun State House of Assembly last Thursday passed a vote of confidence on the Speaker, Mr Najeem Salaam, over what they described as “his quality leadership style”.
The assembly members commended the leadership of the house when they appeared before the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation to defend the 2017 budget proposal in Osogbo.
The N3.2 billion budget proposal was presented to the committee by the Leader of Government Business, Mr Timothy Owoeye.
In his remarks, Mr Kamil Oyedele, the House Committee Chairman on Finance and Appropriation, said the manner in which the Speaker had been directing the affairs of the assembly had translated to peaceful coexistence between the executive and the legislative arms of government in the state.
Oyo
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State last Thursday in Ibadan inaugurated bio-metric data capturing and identification card project for artisans and tradesmen.
The governor expressed optimism that the project would bring greater development to the economy of the state and boost activities of the artisans and tradesmen.
The Tide reports that Tradesmen and Artisans Association of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter has 45 members associations.
Ajimobi said that the project, when completed would be of great benefit to government, the public, artisans and tradesmen.
Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto State, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has again assured parents that the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) is safe for Nigerian children.
The Tide reports that Abubakar spoke in Sokoto last Thursday at a one-day Round Table Discussion on Polio Eradication (PEI).
The meeting comprised media professionals and other stakeholders.
He said that the vaccine had been globally tested by seasoned medical experts and clerics and it was found to be efficacious.
Represented by Alhaji Bello Abubakar, the District Head of Hamma’ali, the sultan said: “the vaccine properly protects the children from getting infected from the debilitating disease and other child killer diseases’’.
“Our children should be fully immunised against the child killer diseases like measles, tetanus and diphtheria, among others.’’
Nation
Key Regulators, Asset Owners Impressed With HYPREP’s Milestones
Strategic regulators and other stakeholders have expressed satisfaction with the pace, quality and magnitude of work carried out by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Ogoniland, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In their separate speeches at the 2025 4th quarter key regulators / asset owners meeting held in Port Harcourt, the strategic stakeholders commended HYPREP for the significant milestones achieved with excellent efficiency and transparency, demonstrating capacity and commitment to sustaining collaboration with development partners for the overall success of the Project.
The regulators particularly lauded HYPREP for the landmark success in the implementation of the land and shoreline remediation, mangrove restoration, provision of reticulated potable water, the various sustainable livelihood programmes, donation of ambulances to health facilities in Ogoni, the construction of Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, as well as the ongoing Ogoni Power Project, adding that their independent field reports have shown proofs of HYPREP driving even beyond its mandates.
The goodwill messages were made by representatives of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Centre for Environment and Human Rights Development (CEHRD), Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA), Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), and Federal Ministry of Environment. Others are the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the Rivers State Ministry of Health, the National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Rivers State Ministry of Power, the Rivers State University, the Rivers State Ministry of Water and Rural Development, and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
Following the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit’s presentation on the status of HYPREP projects, participants offered feedback on areas of concern. They reassured HYPREP and the people of Ogoni of their continued support for the Project’s success. They also suggested that the quarterly review meeting be sustained as it enables them to report, evaluate and proffer solutions to areas of concern.
Participants also commended HYPREP for improved community and stakeholder engagement and for adding to what they saw the previous time. “We commend HYPREP for the quality work done at sites. The progress is phenomenal, because HYPREP is scoring good grades, above average,” Prof. Iyenemi Kakulu from Rivers State University said.
In his speech at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who was represented by Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, Director of Technical Services, commended the regulators and asset owners for their cooperation with the Project, and for making themselves available for fieldwork and the regular review meetings.
Prof Zabbey reiterated HYPREP’s commitment to best practice in waste management, particularly waste generation and disposal, calling on the Regulators for adequate logistics support, saying HYPREP’s priority is to focus on the core recommendations by UNEP, especially, remediation(soil, shoreline) mangrove restoration, provision of potable water, interventions in public health care services and sustainable livelihood for the people.
The Project Coordinator further highlighted the status of the Project, the successes achieved across all thematic areas, and assured that HYPREP will soon complete most of the ongoing projects and roll out others. He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review the progress of the Ogoni cleanup, ensure quality control, and foster effective collaboration.
Consequently, the quarterly key regulators/asset owners meeting is HYPREP’s strategic stakeholder management model, further underscoring the Project’s commitment to transparency, partnership for development, and accountability, all of which are harbingers of effective project delivery.
Speaking to newsmen, HYPREP Project Support Lead and representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr Ehioze Igbinomwanhia, described his involvement with HYPREPas an encouraging and insightful experience, saying, the Project is implementing a wide range of projects across Ogoniland, spanning immediate remediation works as well as livelihood support initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of affected communities.
Engr Igbinomwanhia emphasised that Renaissance Africa Energy remains fully committed to supporting the objectives of the Ogoni cleanup project, noting that the company has a long history of collaboration with HYPREP.
He added that the partnership has been characterised by continuous learning, adaptation and a willingness to respond to observations and recommendations aimed at improving outcomes.
He further emphasised the importance of safety in all project operations, particularly given the challenging terrain and operating conditions in Ogoniland.
He noted that safety is treated as a critical priority and that contractors are continually reminded to maintain high safety standards, stressing that lessons learnt from previous operational challenges like the collapse of the water tank in Gwara Community are being applied to strengthen safety practices and overall performance.
Nation
Maternal Mortality: RSG Identifies 6 High Risk Local Government Areas
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
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