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Bauchi
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Coordinator, Dass Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Mr Abubakar Ibrahim, said 351 communities will soon introduce group monetary contribution to construct modern laterines.
Ibrahim disclosed this on Wednesday in an interview with newsmen in Dass.
According to him, 90 people have been trained so far by UNICEF on the monetary contribution for the project.
The measure would go a long way to allow each household to have access to modern laterine within a short time frame, Ibrahim said.
He said that the programme, which was aimed at improving on hygiene and sanitation, would reduce diseases and bad odours emanating from toilets and drains, especially during rainy season.

Borno
The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has donated fortified foods and baby kits to 600 nursing mothers in Borno.
Mrs Buhari, who was represented by the Director of Borno Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development,  Hajiya Yabawa Kolo, said the gesture was in  line with the International Women’s Day celebration.
She said “I am happy to join other global leaders to call attention and recognize the importance of this very wonderful day.
“International Women’s Day events are held worldwide on March 8, to recognize the great roles and contributions of women in economic development.
“Here in Borno, we want to use the special day to identify with our nursing mothers who are victims of violence”.

FCT
The Nigerian Army has warned that it is a grievous criminal offence for any individual or community to continue to shield or harbour any known Boko Haram terrorist in their midsts.
The army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, gave the warning in a statement last Thursday, in Abuja, after troops thwarted attempt by the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists to invade and attack Magumeri town.
Usman said the terrorists made the attempt on Wednesday evening to attack the town in Magumeri local government area of Borno, but that the timely invention of troops thwarted the attempt.
Operation Lafiya Dole on clearance operations in the North-East has been raiding suspected hideouts of terrorists, destroying their camps and neutralising them.
“Consequently, we are constrained to state that it is high time for the people to take up the fight and help the Nigerian military and other security agencies to protect them.

Kaduna
Save the Children, an International NGO, has advised mothers to adopt exclusive breast feeding to improve the nutritional needs of under-five children.
The Nutrition Advocacy Coordinator of the organization, Mr Ekene Ifedilichukwu,  gave the advice at media training on nutrition reporting and budgeting on Wednesday in Kaduna.
He attributed the rejection of breastfeeding by children at birth on lack of proper positioning of the child by some mothers to the nipples of the breast.
Ifedilichukwu explained that some children immediately after birth are very eager to suck breast, adding that some mothers out of ignorance do not know how exactly to position such children  to gain access to the nipple of the breast.
According to him, when the child realised that in spite of all his struggles he could not access the breast on several occasions he had tried, the brain signals him that the breast was not meant for him, hence the rejection.

Katsina
The National Association of Cassava Growers has appointed the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk, as its grand patron.
The President of the association, Pastor Segun Adewunmi, who presented the letter of appointment to the Emir in Daura last Thursday,  said the appointment took immediate effect.
He said the association appointed the emir to such office because of his contributions to agriculture and wise counsel to the association.
According to Adewunmi, cassava production is one of the lucrative ventures capable of generating revenue for the nation, especially if the crop is promoted the same way as other cash crops.

Kogi State House of Assembly was again forced to adjourn sitting last Wednesday due to the excessive heat and faulty generating set to power the air conditioners at the chamber.
Our  correspondent who covered that  the proceedings at the Assembly reports that the problem was compounded by lack of regular powered supply in the area.
The Assembly could not sit on Tuesday due to the same challenges.
The Majority Leader of the House, Matthew Kolawole (PDP-Kabba-Bunu), moved a motion for the adjournment of sitting.
He urged that the three items on the Order Paper for the day be stepped down for deliberation another day.

Lagos
The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army last Wednesday, said it had set up a Board of Inquiry (BOI), and  detained six soldiers over the brutality of a woman in Lagos state.
The incident on 12 March, according to the Division’s spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Olaolu Daudu, happened in Odoguyan, Ikorodu area of Lagos.
It involved soldiers of 174 Battalion and the woman attacked has been identified in various reports as Ruth Orji.
According to reports, the Joint Legal Action Aids, which is representing her has already sued the military authorities, asking for N250million in damages.
In their reaction to the incident, the military authorities failed to disclose the names of the victim and her attackers.

Nasarawa
The Education Secretary, Lafia Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa, Mr Mohammed Haliru, has threatened to sanction teachers abandoning their duty posts without official permissions.
Haliru, who gave the warning on Thursday in Lafia at a meeting with head teachers of public primary schools, said that such an action amounted to dereliction of duty.
He said that the decision was to enhance the performance of teachers in the area and be fully committed to what they were employed and being paid to do.
Haliru said that truancy, lack of punctuality, among other negative attitudes demonstrated by some teachers, were factors responsible for the fallen standard of education in the area.

Niger
The Niger State Government said it has made provisions in the 2017 budget to provide free learning materials to pupils in public schools to encourage more enrolments.
The State Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Fatima Madugu, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Minna, recently.
Madugu said children in public schools would be provided free school uniforms and other instructional materials to attract more enrolments.
She noted that the state free education programme had increased girl-child enrolment in schools drastically unlike in the past.
She noted that the provision of free learning materials would totally take children off the streets and reduce child labour.

Osun
To improve the quality of education in the country, government at all levels must invest in teachers’ education.
The Permanent Secretary, Osun Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Kolawole Fatai,  said this in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo last Wednesday.
Fatai said it was imperative for government to ensure that teachers were trained to become better qualified in their profession.
“There is urgent need for government to invest more in teachers’ education, because it is not possible to teach what you don’t know.
“Our teachers need to be exposed to training from time to time for them to meet international standards”, he said.
The SUBEB boss also called on government to adequately motivate teachers, saying lack of motivation would surely kill teachers’ morale.

Oyo
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has urged journalists to place children’s well-being at the centre of child right abuses’ reportage in accordance with best global practices.
The UNICEF Communication Officer, Lagos Office, Mrs Blessing Ejiofor, made the call  last Wednesday in Ibadan at the opening of a two-day media workshop on ethical reporting on children.
Ejiofor revealed that reportage given to incidents of child rights  abuses in the country, if not in accordance with ethical journalism, often  end up doing more harm than good.
“We all know that reporting on children and young people has its special challenges. In some instances, the act of reporting on children places them or other children at risk of retribution or stigmatisation.
“Hence,  the aim of  this workshop is to share with journalists some developed guidelines and principles that would assist them cover children in an age appropriate and sensitive manner,’’  she said.

Plateau
The Plateau Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it is poised to curb drug addiction among youths in the state through sensitisation.
The Commandant of the corps in the state, Mrs Ngozi Madubuike, said this in an interview with  newsmen last Thursday in Jos.
Madubuike said that the command had embarked on intensive drug abuse awareness and sensitisation campaign targeted at different groups with emphasis on the youth population.
She said the command would achieve the goal by ensuring that the demand and supply of both psychotropic substances, cocaine and cannabis sativa were reduced to the barest minimum.
According to her, once people, especially the youths, are well informed about the dangers of drug abuse the demand will drastically reduce and this will affect the supply.

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MOSIEND Hails Benibo Anabraba Appointment As Rivers SSG

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The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), Eastern Zone, has applauded the appointment of Hon. Benibo Anabraba as Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) by His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara,

The Socio Cultural Organisation described the appointment as a masterstroke of leadership and wisdom.

MOSIEND in a statement by the Acting Chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Gibson, and the Assistant Secretary, MOSIEND Eastern Zone, Dr. Tams Longjohn hailed the appointment as a reflection of Governor Fubara’s Eagle-eyed discernment, belief in merit, and unwavering commitment to building a peaceful and people-centered administration anchored on excellence and integrity.

“Hon. Anabraba is a statesman in every sense, an accomplished lawyer, a tested grassroots politician, and a man of Peace whose record of service stands tall,”

The statement noted that “from his days as a grassroots politician to his election as a legislator, his tenure as Minority Leader in the Rivers State House of Assembly, and his service as a Commissioner, Hon. Anabraba has remained a model of maturity, courage, and dedication to the Rivers project.”

MOSIEND expressed confidence that Hon. Anabraba will bring his trademark calmness, intellect, and wealth of experience to bear in his new role, assuring that the people of Rivers State will feel the positive impact of his leadership.

The group commended Governor Fubara for his strategic and inspiring commitment to peace, stating that the appointment once again demonstrates the administration’s preference for competence, loyalty, and results over political convenience.

“We are proud of this choice,” MOSIEND affirmed. “It signals continuity, stability, and a renewed focus on people-oriented governance.”

The organization congratulated Hon. Benibo Anabraba and prayed for divine guidance, good health, and strength as he takes on this vital assignment in service to Rivers State.

Chinedu Wosu

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HYPREP Remains Steadfast In Adhering To International Standards—Zabbey …As Regulators, Asset Owners Hail Project

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The Project Coordinator of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP), Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has said that the Project remains steadfast in adhering to international standards, processes and protocols, contending that it would continue to engage all stakeholders transparently to achieve set goals and targets.

This is even as regulatory stakeholders, regulators and asset owners have expressed satisfaction with the work so far being carried out by the Project in Ogoniland, commending it for sustaining the momentum of the ongoing cleanup project.

Zabbey, who gave the indication during the third quarter meeting of HYPREP with regulators and asset owners in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said as an interventionist and community-based project, HYPREP would continue to engage all stakeholders transparently, as it addresses challenges that may arise during project implementation.

To this end, he noted that the continuous support and constructive feedback of regulators and asset owners remains vital in helping the project coordination office overcome challenges and sustain the momentum of progress.

Zabbey said the quarterly meeting with regulators and asset owners serves dual purpose of providing a platform for the Project to share updates on the status of the cleanup project, highlighting areas where further support is required; and allowing “regulators and asset owners to provide constructive feedback that would help our collective approach.”

According to him, the meeting is ultimately designed to catalyse deeper collaboration and synergy between HYPREP and its regulatory stakeholders.

While appreciating and recognising the invaluable roles of the regulators and asset owners in the project’s Quality Assurance and Quality Control(QA/QC) framework, the Project Coordinator said their consistent oversight, technical input, and commitment to upholding standards have remained essential to the integrity of the Ogoni cleanup efforts.

He noted with a sense of satisfaction that Quality Assurance and Quality Control are being given increased attention at all levels of the cleanup project, and solicited for the continuous support of the regulators and asset owners.

“QA/QC considerations are a key part of HYPREP’s policy framework, from the Governing Council decisions to field-level work,” he said, emphasising that this focus ensures that HYPREP’s interventions and activities are executed professionally, safely, and in compliance with national regulatory standards and global best practices, guaranteeing value for money.

“As we continue to consolidate the gains made so far, I want to reassure you that HYPREP remains steadfast in adhering to international standards, processes and protocols”, he said.

Zabbey announced that considerable progress is being recorded across various thematic areas of the cleanup project, including remediation of hydrocarbon-impacted sites; mangrove restoration; provision of potable water; public health interventions; the Ogoni power project; and the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration; among others.

He said these coordinated interventions are gradually restoring confidence in the cleanup effort and bringing renewed hope to Ogoniland.

The highpoint of the event was the presentation of the performance status of the cleanup project by HYPREP’s Evaluation and Monitoring Unit, which put the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration at 92.5 percent completion, among other legacy projects.

In their response, the regulators and asset owners were unanimous that HYPREP has recorded remarkable improvement so far in the cleanup efforts, and solicited for more support of the project.

Environmental Resource Manager of the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development(CEHRD), Mr Meshack Uyi commended the Project Coordinator and his team for the remarkable improvement recorded so far in the area of environmental remediation and mangrove restoration, describing the Ogoni cleanup as one of the most robust in Africa.

He applauded HYPREP for its human capacity building initiative, saying, building the capacity of Ogoni people and training them to become mangrove vanguards are boosting their economic wellbeing.

Uyi said what is going on in Ogoniland is a learning process for the Niger Delta, saying, “those who think that nothing is happening in Ogoniland, they should come closer and see that a lot is indeed going on, and this can impact on Nigeria, the Niger Delta and Africa.”

He called on people all over the world to come on board to support HYPREP to achieve far greater milestones.

Also, the representative of the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, Mrs Doris Wilcox Balafoma commended the Project for doing very well, working and collaborating with its partners, saying, “We are always with them in the field.”

She scored HYPREP 90 percent for its cleanup efforts, insisting, however, that the abandonment of some ongoing water facilities in some Ogoni communities is due to cost variations.

For the Executive Director of the Society for Women And Youth Affairs(SWAYA), Dr Stella Amaine, HYPREP has recorded a great improvement in the area of women inclusion and livelihood restoration.

She, however, noted that she looks forward to the realisation of the 45 percent empowerment quota for women as promised by the Project Coordinator.

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Cancer Care: Expert Seeks Hospice In UPTH

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As part of measures to tackle the growing menace of Cancer in the country, a medical expert and Head of Department of Palliative Care in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital(UPTH), Dr. Geraldine Ndukwu
has called for the establishment of a hospice to cater for indigent people who are battling with the disease.
 She therefore  tasked government and corporate bodies to support the department in improving and expanding palliative care, as a way to boost survival rate of cancer patients.
Dr. Ndukwu who spoke on the theme of the 2025 Palliative Day ,” Achieving the Promise :Universal Access to Palliative Care” said care and funding remain key to cancer survival.
Apart from being a human right, Dr. Ndukwu said many cancer patients do not have access to good care leading to high fatality in many hospitals.
She opined that palliative care helps improve survival rate of cancer patients,  helping them make lifestyle changes that elongate their life.
Without good care, she explained that Cancer patients easily give up due to effects of drugs and high cost of treatment.
“Cancer is traumatizing to many families, but by the time patients are given palliative care, they feel happier and heal quickly”,Ndukwu said.
Besides the care, she decried poor manpower in the palliative care across the country, stressing the need for more manpower to boost health care.
“Many of what we have are just self voluntary. We need trained personnel, and that will boost expertise and care to people”, she added.
To achieve this, she stated that more funding and support is needed from both government and corporate bodies to boost care and manpower.
By Kevin Nengia
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