Nation
THE STATES

Borno
Three teenage female suicide bombers were last Wednesday night killed in Maiduguri, Borno State, when they attempted to attack a military outpost popularly called “Gontanamo” along Muna Garage.
According to a press statement by the spokesman of the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), Abdulkadir Ibrahim, the three teenage female bombers detonated the explosives strapped on them so as to avoid being arrested.
Ibrahim said a security officer, who was among those who intercepted the three teenagers, was injured.
The statement read,“Yesterday (Wednesday) night 3/5/2017, at 10:05pm, three female teenage suicide bombers attempted to attack military outpost popularly known as ‘Gontanamo’ along Muna garage.
“They were sighted, trying to gain access to the premises and were shot by the securities leading to the detonation of their concealed explosives, which killed all three of them and injured one of the security personnel.”
FCT
A Bill for a law, to provide N100, 000 fine for people who distort the country’s national flag, passed second reading at the House of Representatives last Thursday.
Sponsor of the bill, Rep. Sam Onuigbo (Abia-PDP), in the debate, said the bill sought to amend Flag and Coat of Arms Act 2004 and would make further provisions to preserve the country’s national heritage.
He said, there had been surreptitious effort to change the national flag as many public and private offices constructed the Coat-of Arms on it.
Onuigbo said that, the offices even included official photographs of governors, ministers, and even national assembly members in the designs.
According to him, it is important to declare that any addition, subtraction or superimposition outside the version designed by Pa Michael Akinkunmi in 1959 is not the Nigerian flag.
Kano
Former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr Maitama Sule has called on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption.
Sule, made the call last Thursday, during the unveiling of NIPOST Anti-Corruption stamps at the Coronation Hall, Kano.
He said that, the anti-graft crusade launched by the present administration should be seen as a collective aspiration by all Nigerians and not necessarily Buhari’s individual struggle.
“The fight against corruption is a collective one. We are grateful to have a courageous president who said enough is enough,” Sule noted.
The one-time UN envoy expressed the hope that the Buhari administration would change Nigeria’s battered image abroad and curb corruption.
Katsina
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, has accused senior civil servants in the state of sabotaging government activities.
Masari, made this known at a special dinner organised for labour leaders in Katsina State last Monday, to mark the May Day.
“Some senior civil servants have been indulging in acts that are against the progress of government programmes and policies.
“We are aware that some of the senior civil servants that we inherited from the previous administration have not been assisting the present government to implementing certain programmes.
“The present government believed that, civil servants are the engine room of the government but some senior civil servants are sabotaging our efforts.
Kebbi
The Senate has called on the Federal Government to assist Ngaski Local Government in Kebbi State, which recently lost 26 people in a boat mishap in River Niger, to blast stones and fell trees that hinder safe navigation.
This followed a motion by the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, at plenary on Thursday.
The senate urged the government to assist the affected communities in the area with modern 50-seater boats to alleviate the transportation needs of the communities.
The Upper Chamber, also urged the Ministry of Transport through the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), to immediately conduct a survey into the stretch of River Niger in the area to put navigational aids in place.
Kogi
The Vice-President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Alhaji Mohammed Chapi-Emgali, has called on government at all levels to evolve deliberate policies to promote cashew production, processing and marketing in the country.
Chapi-Emgali made the call at a forum of stakeholders on Cashew and the association’s Dinner/Award Night at Anyigba in Dekina Local Government of Kogi last Saturday.
He called on the need for a revolution in the agriculture sector through cashew production and processing in the country.
He said that the product had impacted on the economy of Kogi East Senatorial District resulting in an urban to rural migration.
Chapi-Emgali urged Nigerian farmers to seize the advantage of the high exchange rate, and return the country to the era of agricultural boom and massive youth employment.
Also speaking, Mr Gabriel Aduku, former Minister of State for Health, called for greater attention to the agriculture sector in view of its multi-dimensional importance to national growth and development.
Lagos
The Catholic Archbishop Emeritus, Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Okogie has advised the country’s leadership to give special attention to the security of Nigerians.
Okogie in Lagos last Thursday, urged the government to have the courage and the political will needed to protect Nigerians.
He said in a statement that, a sizeable percentage of the budget was officially allocated to security.
“We have the security and intelligence agencies but the simple fact is that, they are not established to protect the people.
“They are established and operated to protect political actors. If the state does not protect us, can we truly say we have a nation,’’ he said.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has pledged to work with the executive arm to ensure even distribution of development projects at the grassroots.
Mr Mohammad Odege-Okpoku, Chairman, House Committee on Works and Transport, made the promise while inspecting projects in Akwanga Local Government Area of the state, on Thursday.
Odege-Okpoku, who led members of the committee on the exercise, lauded Governor Tanko Al-Makura for releasing funds, for the construction of culverts and bridges across local government and development area councils in the state.
Ogun
Over 700 pensioners in Ogun State, were screened during the first day of physical verification of pensioners conducted by the government, Babatunde Agbaje, Permanent Secretary, Bureau of State Pensions, has said.
Agbaje, who made the disclosure last Thursday in Ijebu-Ode, said the exercise would help to save funds for the government.
He said that, the exercise was also aimed at establishing credible and authentic data base of pensioners in the state.
The permanent secretary added that, the exercise was conducted to update the record of the pensioners in the state and restore payment of monthly pension to genuine pensioners.
Ondo
The Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH), Okitipupa last Thursday, warned that, it would no longer tolerate disobedience to the rules and regulations of the university by the students.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Sunday Ogunduyile, gave the warning in Okitipupa, during the institution’s 7th matriculation ceremony where 706 students were matriculated for the 2016/2017 academic session.
Ogunduyile listed ills such as cultism, examination malpractice, indecent dressing, hooliganism and willful destruction of the university properties in which the institution would exercise zero tolerance.
Sokoto
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), last Thursday said, it had received 2,000 doses of meningitis vaccines donated to it by Sokoto State Government.
The state’s Coordinator of the scheme, Alhaji Musa Abubakar, disclosed this in Sokoto at the passing out ceremony of the 1,697 corps members deployed to the state under the 2016 batch “A”, stream two.
Abubakar said, the scheme had consequently commenced mass vaccination of corps members across the state, as well as its staffers. He said, “vaccination started on May 1 and we plan to vaccinate more than 5,000 corps members and staffers.
Nation
HYPREP Reaffirms Support For Ogoni Youths …Organises Workshop For Undergraduates

In pursuit of its strategic human capacity development initiatives, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has restated its commitment to supporting Ogoni youths to maximally benefit from its projects and programmes that align with their visions and aspirations.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who gave this indication during the second edition of the international career enhancement and employability workshop organised by the Project for undergraduates and fresh graduates of Ogoni ethnic nationality in Port Harcourt, assured the participants of its commitment to continually initiate programmes that support their visions and aspirations.
He noted that the workshop reaffirms the Project’s commitment to inclusiveness and continuous skills development, as strategic pillars in its efforts to restore and improve livelihoods in Ogoniland.
He said the workshop was aimed at equipping the Ogoni youths with relevant career skills and empower them with employability tools, to ensure that HYPREP’s gains extend beyond remediation into long-term transformations, stressing that the Project is committed to supporting their dreams.
”HYPREP is committed to supporting your dreams through targeted initiatives, such as this workshop and we will explore ways to empower you with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed.
I want to emphasise that this workshop is not just about enhancing your career prospects; it is also about building a community of young people and equipping you to make a positive impact in your communities. As you benefit from HYPREP’s interventions (and the experiences of the facilitator), I challenge you to take the message of peace and constructive engagement to your communities and live accordingly,” he said.
Zabbey further assured that HYPREP would continue to stand with Ogoni youths by supporting their aspirations through targeted workshops and broader livelihood initiatives that prioritise their development, noting that the Project believes in them and remains committed to creating platforms where their potential can be nurtured and realised.
The Project Coordinator enjoined them to continue to contribute to the success of HYPREP.
The second edition of the career enhancement and employability workshop had Dr Akanimo Odon and Dr Chioma Okonkwo as facilitators, while the participants were drawn from the four Ogoni local government areas.
Among other modules, participants at the two-day workshop were provided with tips on ways to explore opportunities in seemingly challenging situations, discover themselves, convert hobbies and interests into passion and profits through three career e-routes and understand the power of networks and partnerships.
Participants were also given useful nuggets, career resources of time and skills, and career resources of funding, especially how to access foreign scholarships and funding.
At the closing, HYPREP’s Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, urged the participants to earnestly pursue their passions and commit to their dreams.
Meanwhile, the participants expressed gratitude to HYPREP for organising the workshop, which they described as impactful and transformative.
HYPREP has continued to be intentional in its efforts to prioritise human capacity development in Ogoni through such workshops and trainings. This year, the Project will be rolling out trainings in high demand skill areas like mechatronics, underwater welding, commercial diving, full-stack development and GIS, targeting the youths as major beneficiaries and giving them a fair head start and comparative advantage in a highly competitive environment.
Nation
NIPR Practitioners Urge To Go Beyond Traditional Media Relations To Strategic Leadership Functions
The Public Relations practitioners across Nigeria have been charged to go beyond the perceived roles of media relations and protocol services to strategic leadership functions that is crucial to shaping and transforming the nation.
In his message at this year’s (2025) World Public Relations Day, with the Theme: ” Building Bridges, Navigating Polarisation” In Port Harcourt, The National President of the Nigeria Institution of Public Relations Dr. Ike Neliaku expressed delight to address members and guests on this special day, pointing out that the day offers a an opportunity to reflect on the journey over six decades since Public Relations formally birthed in Nigeria.
He maintained that this year’s world Public Relations day gives opportunity to members to reflect on the actions and inactions towards the development of the profession and to boldly develop new frontiers for a greater institution.
The NIPR president explained that the values of Public Relations particularly in areas of fostering relationship, strengthening leadership and advancing good governance remain a key -through effective and goal- oriented communication.
Earlier, The Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, (RSU) Prof. Isaac zep-Obipi being represented by the Deputy VC admin Prof. Victor Akujuru throw challenge to NIPR members to rebranding and portray the state in good light, standing that RSU remains a state owned institution that have not witness any strike in the passed fifteen years.
Also in his speech, the state chairman NIPR Rivers Chapter Rev. Francis Asuk described world Public Relations day as a day set aside to pay attention to the works of public relations globally indeed that relationship is important that the world is crying about in rebuilding relationship due to the collapsed of the value systems at family, society and world level of human existence.
” At the highest level of human existence relationship has become imperative for all practitioners to come together and build bridges to navigates those Polarisation” he said.
In a related development,the keynote speaker Rev (Fr.) Prof. Walter C.Ihejirika, said the media has a lot to do especially on its role of enlightenment to the public about the role and function as a key element in the development of a better society.
Prof. Ihejirika who is the Dean faculty of Communication and Media Studies , University of Port Harcourt, stressed that when media practitioners navigate on the area of strategic communications with a goal, then the public will be better informed and know that they have a responsibility for the large society, “because if the large society is not good, the organization cannot function effectively.”
Nation
Alumni, Others Launch Campus Care Initiative In Port Harcourt
The Madonna University Alumni Association Rivers State Chapter in partnership with Rotary Club of Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt Downtown and Nigerian Immigration Service have launched Campus Care Initiative at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic Rumuola Port Harcourt.
Speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in the inaugural edition of the Campus Care Initiative, at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic the Chairman of Madonna University Alumni Association Rivers State Chapter (MUAARIV) Dr Iheanyichukwu Wopara said that the program is aim to empowered the youth of Nigerians and also to give them the right direction in life.
He said Campus Care Initiative is a testament to the association commitment to giving back to the society and empowering the next generation of leaders.
According to him the program is designed it demands across all sectors, physical health, mental health, sexual health and even the environment adding that the focus of the Association is to give back to the society the best way they can.
” We have been carrying out different humanitarian activities and outreach which includes medical outreach and the girl child campaign.
” We gave academic support to three students and also three international passports, free medical outreach, pads to girl child and condoms to the boy child and there is also introduction to ICT training that will commence soon in the campus, “he said.
Kiadum Edookor
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