Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency has vaccinated 1,400 inmates and 240 prisons’ staff against Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM).
The Chairman of the agency, Mr Adamu Gamawa, made this known in Bauchi State last Thursday in an interview with newsmen.
According to him, the proactive measure is to prevent the occurrence of the disease among prison inmates in view of the congestion in the prisons.
He said that the measure would be replicated in similar public facilities to prevent the spread of the disease.
Borno
The Victims Support Fund (VSF), last Thursday, said it was set to support 17,000 pupils affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State.
The VSF Executive Director, Prof. Sunday Ochoche, disclosed this at the launch of distribution of educational materials in Benisheikh, headquarters of Kaga Local Government of Borno.
Ochoche said beneficiaries would be drawn from 30 primary schools in six local governments devastated by the insurgency, namely Gubio, Chibok, Askira/Uba, Konduga, Kaga and Magumeri.
He added that the distribution and proper use of educational materials such as school bag and others would improve the quality of education not only in insurgency affected areas, but the entire state.
FCT
The Federal High Court, Abuja, last Thursday reserved ruling on whether or not it will reverse its order on witness protection in the ongoing trial of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu to April 25.
Justice Binta Nyako, on March 27, insisted that she would not review her judgment on the issue of protecting the identity of the witnesses as long they were security operatives.
“I will not vary my order on protection of security operatives; It is either they wear a mask or are behind a screen.
“Security operatives need to be protected not because of this case but because of the future, and so as long as the witnesses are security personnel, they will be taken behind a screen,” Nyako said.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) says it would engage no fewer than 25,000 ad-hoc staff, to conduct election into the 23 local government councils in the state.
KAD-SIECOM Commissioner for Public Affairs and Information, Prof. Andrew Nkom, made the disclosure to newsmen last Thursday in Kaduna.
Our correspondent reports that preparations for the local government polls was coming barely two years, after the APC-led administration of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, took over the affairs of the state.
When Governor El-Rufai assumed office in May 2015, he promised to run an autonomous local government system, with funds disbursed directly to the council accounts.
However, the local council areas had so far been run by Interim Committees, appointed after every six months by the state government.
El-Rufai said, recently, that the local government elections would be conducted within the next four months.
Katsina
No fewer than 44,000 children were targeted for immunisation against Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in Katsina State, an official has said.
The Executive Chairman, Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KSPHDA), Dr Maawuyya Aliyu, made this known at Barawa village, Batagarawa Local Government Area at the launch of the immunisation exercise.
He said that immunisation would be conducted in the affected communities of Batsari, Batagarawa, Jibiya, Faskari and Funtua local government areas.
He further said that over 6,000 children would be immunised in Barawa village alone.
“The vaccines are only meant for the affected communities, so as to curtail its spread to other parts of the state.”
Kogi
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has raised alarm over possible outbreak of Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in Kogi State, urging the state government and relevant stakeholders to be proactive.
The state Acting Chairman of NMA, Dr Godwin Tijani, spoke in Lokoja last Thursday, while reacting to the recent reported cases of meningitis in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Technical Assistant (Communication), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Lawal Bakare, had on Monday declared that the Federal Government was making efforts to stop the disease from spreading.
Bakare said the government had activated an Emergency Operations Centre to manage the ongoing outbreak of the disease in five North-West states.
Kwara
The Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, has directed its College of Agriculture to facilitate clearing and allocation of land to all students interested in farming.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, gave the directive on Thursday during his visit to the college as part of his tour of the colleges in the university.
Na’Allah also asked the college to collaborate with the Department of Works and Physical Planning to commence the project in earnest.
He said the initiative was aimed at encouraging students, regardless of academic disciplines, to tap into opportunities abound in the agric sector.
ult
Lagos
A 28-year-old man, Abiola Okanlawon, who allegedly defiled an 11-year-old girl, was last Thursday arraigned in an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
Okanlawon of no fixed address was arraigned on a two-count charge of unlawful sexual intercourse and indecent assault.
The accused entered a “not guilty” plea.
The prosecutor, Insp. Moses Uademevbo, said that the accused committed the offences sometime in March 2016, at No. 158, Railway Line in Mushin, Lagos.
Uademevbo alleged that the defendant had unlawful carnal knowledge of an 11-year-old girl.
Nasarawa
A 17-year-old boy last Thursday appeared before a Mararaba Upper Area Court, Nasarawa State, charged with attacking a trader, Mohammed Bello, and inflicting injuries on him.
Ibrahim, who resides at Nyanya, Abuja, and is facing a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, trespass, mischief and causing hurt, denied committing the offences.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Steve Kwaza, told the court that the accused and one Danhayiya Abu, who is still at large, committed the offences on March 30, at 12.30 p.m.
“The defendant entered the shop of one Mohammed Bello at Ruga Market, Mararaba, destroying most his valuable properties, the cost of which is yet to be ascertained.’’
Ogun
Chancellor, Covenant University (CU), Ota in Ogun State, Dr David Oyedepo, has appealed to intellectuals to ensure they communicate to their listeners in the language they will understand.
Oyedepo stated this last Thursday in Ota at the university’s inaugural lecture series.
A professor of Stylistics, Christopher Awonuga, delivered the lecture tagged: “What does this text mean: Stylistics and the process of interpretation.’’
Oyedepo said that no matter how intelligent and knowledgeable a man is in a particular field, once he could not put his message across to his listeners meaningfully, he could not be said to have communicated to them.
Ondo
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State last Thursday, promised to give scholarships to students of the state who excelled at the recently concluded National Junior Engineers, Technicians and Sciences (JETS) competition.
Akeredolu made the promise during the presentation of trophies won by the students at the 20th edition of the competition in Akure.
He assured that government would continue to monitor the progress of the students.
“This means a lot to the state and we owe you a lot of responsibility. I appeal to you not to rest on your oars, you have just started.
Osun
The Yeyeluwa (queen) of Ife, Wuraola Ogunwusi, has called for the return of brotherly love between the Yoruba and Arewa communities which existed before the recent communal dispute in Ile-Ife.
The queen made the call when she visited the communities in Enuwa and Sabo, Ile-Ife, Osun, on Thursday to commiserate with them on the recent clash in which some persons died and properties were destroyed.
At Enuwa, Wuraola was received by the committee that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, set up to look into the crisis.
“Peace is sacrosanct and we should pursue it with all we have because violence has nothing to be gained from rather, it will destroy what has been laboured to achieve,” she said.
Oyo
Director of Public Health, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr Oyewole Lawal, last Thursday confirmed two suspected cases of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in Ojoo, Akinyele Local Government Area.
Lawal made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan. “Our Surveillance Committee has reported two patients in the Hausa Community of Ojoo area of Ibadan, who manifested some symptoms of CSM.
“The two suspects arrived Ibadan from the Northern part of the country and they manifested some symptoms of CSM.
“We have beefed-up tracking and increased surveillance efforts in all primary healthcare centres at the local government levels, secondary healthcare level and all the private hospitals around Ojoo.
With significant achievements recorded across thematic areas of the Ogoni cleanup programme being executed by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the Project Coordinator of the Project, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has said that all these are enabling pathways to the development of Ogoniland.
This is coming on the heels of milestone achievements in the following areas and their impact on Ogoni communities. They are mangrove restoration which is 94 percent complete; shoreline remediation which stands at 67.1 percent; and the phase 2 land remediation progressing to 36.55 percent.
Moreso, HYPREP has constructed 14 water facilities, providing potable water to 40 communities. With the commissioning of the water schemes in Bane and Gwara communities, the number of communities with access to clean and safe drinking water will be 45. The process of operationalising the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) which is at 92 percent complete, is ongoing. The same for the Ogoni Power Project which is progressing with wayleave compensation and construction works at Bodo and Wiiyaakaara substations ongoing
Similarly, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital and Buan Cottage Hospital are at 76.8 percent and 98.7 percent respectively.
This is alongside other public health interventions and the Human BioMonitoring Survey also in progress.
Under the livelihood
programme, over 7,000 direct jobs have been created for Ogoni women and youths, while over 5,000 have been trained in multiple skills and provided start-up kits, workshops, education grants, scholarships and other empowerment programmes. This quarter, training will commence in other demand-driven skill areas, such as cybersecurity, full-stack development, mud logging, software development, commercial diving, and underwater welding.
Zabbey had reeled out these achievements, during the third quarter interactive session between the Project Coordination Office engagement with Ogoni youths in Port Harcourt on Friday, in line with HYPREP’s strategic stakeholders policy to provide an interface opportunity to abreast Ogoni youths on the Project’s activities, while garnering their feedback.
Zabbey noted that, “This
quarterly engagement was,therefore, designed as an inclusive strategy to ensure that youth voices are heard, concerns are addressed, and progress updates are provided transparently. Also, it reflects our firm belief that a project of this magnitude must be people-centred, accountable, and participatory”.
” I am delighted to inform you that the Project remains on course to achieve its mandate as outlined in the UNEP Report on the Ogoni environment and the official gazette establishing HYPREP. HYPREP is committed to transparency and accountability in the implementation of the cleanup projects and activities”, he said.
He stressed that HYPREP’s achievements are pathways to a better Ogoniland, assuring that the Project’s goals are aimed at benefiting all categories of Ogoni youths, whether in business, farming, advocacy, education, entrepreneurship or community development.
”This Project belongs to all of you, and its success depends mainly on your participation, unity and constructive engagement. And with your support, we are confident that all challenges will be addressed in the overall public interest,” Zabbey said.
The Project Coordinator urged Ogoni youths to continue to support the Project by promoting peace, discouraging misinformation, and collaborating with project teams working in the communities, and address challenges through dialogue, rather than confrontation.
Prof Dinebari Badey, a Professor of Development Sociology in the University of Port Harcourt, delivered the keynote address, linking the nexus between HYPREP and youths in the development of Ogoniland through unity of purpose while Engr Solomon Akere, gave a talk on Ogoni youths in business.
Participants raised questions concerning the maintenance of the water projects, remediation efforts, and compensation for the Right of Way (RoW), among others.
In attendance were management staff of HYPREP who provided responses to the interventions.
Members of the Association of Community Health practitioners of Nigeria (ACHPN),Rivers state Chapter have marked the 2025 Community Health week with a call for the state government to employ more community health practitioners to mann the various health centres across the 23 local government areas of the state .
The theme of one week event “strengthening the Nigerian healthcare system,the role of community health practitioners in reducing maternal and under _five mortality in line with sustainable development goals”attracted community health practitioners across the state.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event held at the conference hall of the state primary healthcare office in port Harcourt, the state chairman of the Association,Dr Justina Onuwa appeal to the state governor,Sir Siminalayi Fubara to approve the employment of more community health practitioners in other to effectively mann the primary health centres in the state.
Onuwa stated that the call become imperative following the decline in community health practitioners in the civil service and the need to ensure that the people in rural communities have more access to primary healthcare services in their localities.
The state chairman of ACHPN averred members of the association were not captured in the employment scheme during last employment of medical health workers by the state government.”our people need to be employed like other health care service providers”
She appeal to the state government to provide vehicles and office secretariat for its association and as well ensure that their members are promoted as at when due.
Also speaking,the state Health Educator,Dr Babbo Diana who represented the commissioner for health and Executive secretary RSPHCMB while congratulating them on their celebrations called them to partner with the state government to build more efficient healthcare services in the state.
She urge them to be passionate with their work, stressing that all hands must be on deck and everyone must play their roles in other to ensure the success of government primary healthcare services in the state.
In his good will message,the representative of the state Director of Health planning Research and statistics, Dietician Buduzhi Gift Oguzor described members of the association as foot soldiers of health services care providers in the state.
He called on them to be more dedicated in their responsibilities especially in the areas of infrastructure development, noting that the state of infrastructure under their custody are in a detoriating conditions despite the huge of resources released to them by the state government.
Earlier in her lecture on the theme “strengthening the Nigerian healthcare system,the role of the community practitioners in reducing the under _five mortality in line with the sustainable development goals”prof Alice Nte urge them to review their association curriculum in other to upgrade their profile and become more relevant and attend to the optimum value in the profession.
She opined that the WHO according to the Nigerian Demography survey didn’t included members of the association as stillbirth attendant, adding that they should restrategise and look into their curriculum and see where it can be updated.
The climax of the week long celebrations ended with road work,free medical care services and church thanks service.
Akujobi Amadi
The President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Bldr. Daniel Abimbola Kolade, FNIOB, has called on Nigerian builders to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship as key drivers for addressing the nation’s housing deficit.
Speaking at the inaugural council meeting of the Institute held at its National Secretariat in Abuja in his speech themed, “Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Key Driver to Housing Delivery,” the NIOB President said the Institute is poised to lead transformative change in the nation’s housing delivery system.
Bldr. Kolade described the meeting as a strategic platform for redefining NIOB’s policy direction for the next two years, stressing that the housing challenge presents both a national problem and a professional opportunity.
“We, as custodians of building production management, must reposition ourselves not only as technical experts but as innovators, entrepreneurs, and national solution providers,” he stated.
He emphasized that innovation must now be embedded in the professional DNA of builders, urging practitioners to embrace sustainable technologies, research-based construction methods, and digital project management tools.
According to him, the Institute will promote innovation through research collaborations, innovation labs, and pilot projects that showcase emerging construction techniques.
On entrepreneurship, Bldr. Kolade noted that competence alone was no longer sufficient, and that builders must evolve into enterprise creators capable of driving employment and economic growth through construction-based ventures.
He further outlined the Institute’s five key policy pillars for the next two years, to include innovation
and research; entrepreneurial
development; professional regulation and ethics; advocacy
and policy influence;
capacity building and youth empowerment.
The NIOB President also paid tribute to past leaders of the Institute for laying the foundation upon which the current administration will build, saying leadership must go beyond preservation to purposeful expansion.
“If we can harness innovation, embrace entrepreneurship, and strengthen our professional unity, we will not only close the housing gap — we will redefine the standards of housing delivery in Africa,” he affirmed.
He called on builders nationwide to view themselves as not only craftsmen but nation builders, visionaries, and entrepreneurs committed to delivering sustainable housing and national development.
The NIOB President earlier led the National Council members to a site visit to the NIOB construction site at Idu, Abuja.