Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari, on Monday in Bauchi called for synergy between his agency and the media in tackling some of the security challenges of the country.
Making the call when he visited the Bauchi Zonal Office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Abari said joint effort in sensitizing members on the need to shun acts that could jeopardize the unity and peaceful coexistence of Nigerians, was desirable now, than ever before.
According to him, the roles of the media have gone beyond the traditional “education, entertainment and enlightenment”, but have encompassed a greater challenge of “agenda setting” for the people.
He said that security challenges resulting from disagreements among people on issues that could otherwise be peacefully resolved, to other wider security issues, had made it paramount to intensify sensitization efforts, not only for people to embrace dialogue, but also become security conscious.
“Such discharge of social responsibility calls for synergy between NOA and the media, in view of the fact that our goals are similar.
Borno
Borno State Government on Thursday said it had constructed 1,760 boreholes for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to participate in dry season farming in three Local Government Areas.
Director, Engineering Infrastructural Services, Borno Agricultural Development Programme (BOSADP), Mr Abdull Ahmad, said this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Ahmad said the affected persons were located in Konduga, Jere and Damboa Local Government Area.
He said the state government, National Programme for Food Security (NPFS), FADAMA three and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) would jointly sponsor the programme.
He said about N24.3 million had been spent on the programme, adding the amount was expected to cover 70 per cent of the project in the areas.
FCT
The office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on Tuesday said it was partnering with the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) to prevent and counter violent extremism in the country.
The Coordinator, Counter Terrorism Centre (CTC) of ONSA, Commodore Yem Musa, said this while presenting a paper during validation meeting with the members of the two organisations and conveying the message of the NSA to the members
Musa said that the message was on the Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism in the country.
He said that in August 2016, the working group of the organisation served as a broad-based consultative and multi-stakeholders platform for countering violent extremism in the country.
Kaduna
The Chairman, Committee on Information, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Mr Nuhu Shadalafiya, said the Committees would soon start their oversight functions.
Shadalafiya said this on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen shortly after the Plenary.
The legislator was responding to a petition written to the house by some indigenes of the state over the non- chalant attitude of some companies in their area, especially on Corporate Social Responsibility.
He said the house had received complaints through their members.
“I believe in no distant time, the committees that are relevant to the organisations would begin to go for oversight functions to check the environment.
“See if the environment are friendly and if the products coming out are consumable,’’ Shadalafiya said.
Kwara
The Chairman , Kwara State branch of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria Mr. Babatunde Samuel has cautioned Nigerians against over consumption of junk foods and sedentary lifestyle to reduce the risk of chronic kidney disease.
Samuel gave the warning in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin on Wednesday.
The pharmacist said that people who were overweight had a chance of developing end stage renal disease compared to those of normal weights.
He recommended routine urine and blood tests for people to know the medical status of their kidney before it reached advanced stage.
Lagos
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, on Tuesday urged parents, teachers and the state schools management board to properly monitor children and students in their care.
Owoseni made the plea while briefing newsmen on the arrest of some suspected criminals including 10 secondary school boys aged between 11 and 16 years in Lagos.
“We appeal to parents and teachers in both Secondary and Primary Schools to improve on the monitoring of their children and students in their custody.
“ It gives us concern, as law enforcement agents that schools and homes are no longer doing their duties, but encouraging criminality.
“It is recurring that those we classified as children are taking to criminality,’’ the Commissioner of Police said.
He said that the underage suspects were caught in possession of cutlasses, axes and other dangerous tools.
Owoseni said that the students, during interrogation, claimed they armed themselves because of a conflict between students of two schools in Apapa area.
He said that the students would not be paraded because of their age.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Government in collaboration with the World Bank on Wednesday, donated 19 vehicles and 63 motorcycles to the health sector to boost service delivery in the state.
The state Deputy Governor, Mr Silas Agara, while presenting the vehicles to the beneficiaries in Lafia, said the effort was also to facilitate proper supervision for effective healthcare service delivery to the people.
“The quality of primary health service delivery depends largely on the strength of supervision.
“It is in view of this that the state government, in collaboration with the World Bank, supported the procurement of 18 Toyota Hilux vans, One Toyota Hiace bus and 63 motorcycles.
‘’The efforts is through the Nigeria State Health Investment Project (NSHIP) in the state.
“The 13 Local Government Primary Healthcare (PHC) departments will get a van each, three for Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NSPHCDA), while the state Hospital Management Board will get two vans and a bus,’’ Agara said.
Niger
The Niger State Police Command says it has charged two suspects at a Minna Magistrates’ Court with the killing of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Aaron Sunday, serving with Kpakungu Division Minna, by suspected hoodlums.
Mr Zubairu Muazu, Commissioner of Police, disclosed this to the newsmen in Minna on Tuesday.
He said that 14 others were also charged with causing civil disturbances during the incident that led to death of the police officer.
He explained that the command would ensure diligent prosecution of all those allegedly involved in the deadly act.
He said that already, the command had evolved aggressive intelligence gathering to strengthen security in the state .
“ We have deployed armed police operatives in and outside the metropolis for the arrest and prosecution of men of underworld .”
He explained that the command had identified some criminal hideout across the state.
Ondo
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has promised an effective women participation in his government that will supersede the United Nations 35 per cent affirmative action.
Akeredolu said this on Wednesday at the 2017 International Women’s Day celebration with the theme: ‘Women, Be Bold for Change’.
The governor said that day was a time to celebrate the socio-economic and political achievements of women across the globe.
He pledged to involve more women in his administration as well as support their programmes.
“We will take deliberate steps to engender more participation of women in our leadership system.
“We will also take deliberate steps to encourage and increase women programmes in key areas in our administration, especially, in health and agriculture.
Osun
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State last Thursday said the death of retired Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, the former Military Governor of defunct Western Region, had robbed Nigeria, especially Yoruba race, of a patriotic elder statesman.
Aregbesola, who made this known in a condolence message by his media aide, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, in Osogbo! said he joined other well-meaning Nigerians in commiserating with the family of the deceased who was the President of the socio-political group, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE).
“General Adeyinka Adebayo served his fatherland well. He was a fine officer of the Nigerian Army and did his best in all the capacities where he served.
“The history of our country is incomplete without mention of this fine officer.”
Recalling Adebayo’s interests in the growth and the development of the Yoruba race, Aregbesola, said the former President of the YCE stopped at nothing to ensure the unity and progress of the Yoruba people.
Oyo
The National Coordinator, Campus Cult Eradication Foundation (CCEF), Mr Samuel Ejembi, says 248 persons are ready to renounce their membership of various campus cult groups in various tertiary institutions in Oyo State.
Ejembi disclosed this on Thursday at a stakeholders’ meeting with Chief Security Officers (CSOs) and Deans of Students Affairs of all the tertiary institutions in the state, held at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.
CCEF is a non-governmental organisation working in conjunction with the Office of Inspector-General of Police (I-GP) to curb the menace of cultism in tertiary institutions in the country.
Ejembi noted that 115 among the 248 persons that want to renounce campus cultism are not students, while the remaining 133 comprises both male and female students.
Plateau
The Plateau Commissioner of Women Affairs, Mrs Rufina Gurumyen, has challenged women to step up and improve their productive worth in the society.
Gurumyen said this at the celebration of the International Women’s Day organised by the Association of Women in Colleges of Education (WICE), North Central Zone.
She described women as mentors, role models, icon of peace and symbols of integrity in the society.
The Head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt’s College of Health Sciences, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive forensic science infrastructure, warning that the nation’s ability to investigate and solve crime is being hampered by lack of scientific data and systems.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Man: Fearfully Different, Wonderfully Made,” delivered as part of the 207th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university, Prof Oladipo highlighted that while no two individuals are exactly the same, the country currently lacks the robust systems needed to collect and manage biological and anthropometric data that could support criminal investigations.
He explained that the natural variations among humans — from fingerprints to physical measurements — form the foundation of personal identification in forensic work. These biological differences, he said, are essential for distinguishing one person from another, especially in the context of criminal investigations where clarity of identity can mean the difference between justice and impunity. Without this scientific foundation, he argued, law enforcement agencies lack a critical tool in the fight against crime.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s forensic science capacity has historically lagged behind needs, with only a few forensic facilities available and many law enforcement agencies struggling to access or use scientific evidence effectively. One review of the state of forensic investigation in Nigeria found that outdated facilities and limited adoption of modern forensic methods have left many cases unsolved or poorly investigated, even as crime rates rise across the country.
In Lagos, efforts to improve forensic capabilities have focused on DNA analysis, with the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre — the first of its kind in West Africa — providing critical support for criminal investigations and helping to identify human remains, link related cases, and assist with paternity testing. However, such initiatives are yet to be replicated at a national scale, leaving many regions without access to these vital scientific tools.
Prof Oladipo’s lecture went beyond academic theory to propose concrete actions. He called for the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Science responsible for creating and managing a nationwide anthropometric and forensic data bank. This repository, he stressed, would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to track crime, assist law enforcement agencies, and improve the administration of justice by providing reliable scientific evidence for investigative and legal processes.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening research and training in forensic science. Many Nigerian universities currently lack the funding and infrastructure to offer complete undergraduate or postgraduate programs in areas such as forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, and crime scene investigation, a gap that forces aspiring experts to rely on collaborations with institutions abroad. By fostering a research-friendly environment and securing greater support from both government and private sectors, Nigerian institutions could produce homegrown experts capable of advancing forensic science in the country.
Awareness of forensic science’s role in criminal justice remains low among the general public and even among some security professionals. Studies have shown that a significant portion of Nigerians are unfamiliar with basic forensic concepts or the existence of tools such as DNA profiling and national forensic databases — tools that are common features of criminal justice systems in countries like South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Oladipo also urged regular training and retraining programs to keep forensic practitioners updated with evolving scientific methods. According to him, continuous professional development is critical in a field where technological advances — from biometric databases to digital forensic tools — are transforming how crimes are investigated and solved.
The lecture was attended by academics, students, and professionals drawn to the intersection of science, identity, and justice, all of whom heard the professor make a compelling case for scientific innovation and institutional reform as central to Nigeria’s effort to contain crime and strengthen its justice system.
The event not only showcased Prof Oladipo’s expertise in human anatomy and forensic psychology but also positioned forensic science as a strategic national priority — one that could bring clarity to investigations, support victims and their families, and ultimately enhance public safety across Nigeria.
The University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) on Thursday staged a vibrant and memorable edition of its Annual Inter-House Sports Competition at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Village, drawing an impressive turnout of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests.
The event, organised by the UPWA International Group of Schools, brought together children from the pre-nursery, nursery and secondary sections in a colourful celebration of youth athleticism, discipline and teamwork. The arena came alive with cheers and excitement as pupils, clad in their various house colours, marched in a ceremonial parade before proceeding to compete in a wide range of track and field events, relays, novelty races and other team-based activities designed to promote physical fitness and healthy competition.
Declaring the competition open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended UPWA for sustaining a tradition that continues to nurture young talents beyond the classroom. He noted that sports remain a critical component of holistic education, helping to build resilience, confidence, leadership skills and social interaction among children.
In her remarks, the President of UPWA, Professor Udeme Georgewill, expressed appreciation to parents, teachers and members of the organising committee for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the success of the programme despite prevailing economic challenges. She described the event as a reflection of unity and collective effort within the school community.
“This is the first time White House is emerging overall winner, and that shows remarkable improvement and great sportsmanship,” she said. “We all had fun. It is not easy putting an event like this together considering the economic situation, but we are grateful to the parents for being part of this journey. The excitement everywhere is truly heartwarming.”
The competition featured spirited participation from the various houses, including Purple House, San Chicago Red House and White House, with pupils demonstrating strength, speed, coordination and teamwork. Parents and supporters filled the stands, cheering enthusiastically and adding colour to the spectacle, while teachers ensured orderliness and safety throughout the proceedings.
Professor Georgewill emphasized that the true essence of sports lies not merely in winning trophies but in participation and personal growth. “Sports is not just about winning. It is an avenue for growth, discipline and opportunity. The fact that a child is able to participate is already a win. Losing this year does not mean you cannot win next year. Keep trying,” she encouraged, urging pupils to see both victory and defeat as stepping stones to greater achievements.
She further observed that while there are many competing interests in the Nigerian sports sector, consistent grassroots investment remains essential for discovering and nurturing future champions.
The colourful ceremony culminated in medal presentations, trophy awards and group photographs, with UPWA executives, including Vice President I, Professor Adedamola Onyeaso, joining the participating teams to celebrate the day’s achievements.
The annual inter-house sports competition continues to stand as one of UPWA’s flagship events, reinforcing its commitment to balanced education, character formation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among its pupils.
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