Nation
THE STATES
Benue
Federal Public Complaints Commissioner of the Federation, overseeing Benue State Alhaji Abubakar Tsav,has written to President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing Governor Samuel Ortom of “executive recklessness” and privatisation of the state.
The 10-page letter dated May 16th titled “ Whistleblowing: Stagnation of Benue State” was addressed to Governor Ortom and made available to newsmen Makurdi. Copies were also sent to all the anti-graft agencies in the country.
Tsav in the letter accused Governor Ortom of “corruptive nepotism and executive recklessness” by placing his family business, Oracle Business Limited above the state. He said this represents a conflict of interest.
“On 12th July, 2015, your brother who is the CEO, Oracle Business Ltd, Mr. Michael Ortom wrote a letter congratulating you on your electoral victory as Governor of Benue state.
FCT
Deputy Whip, House of Representatives, Rep. Pally Iriase, has called on the Federal Government to declare state of emergency on insecurity as killings, kidnappings and raping continue unabated across the country.
Iriase made the call in Abuja on Sunday while speaking with newsmen.
He appealed to the government and security operatives to check the activities of the bandits killing, raping and kidnapping innocent people in Edo State.
The lawmaker, who refused to call the bandits Fulani herdsmen, said that residents of Owan East and West, Etsako and Akoko local government areas were under siege by the bandits.
He said that the bandits carried sophisticated weapons like AK47 and machine guns.
Gombe
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon.Yakubu Dogara, last Saturday, urged minority tribesmen in the country to devise ways of preserving their languages to guard against extinction in future.
Dogara gave the advice in Lubo community of Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of Gombe state during the launch of New Testament Bible, which was translated to ‘Tera’ language.
He commended the effort of Tera speaking people for taking a bold step to translate the Bible into their dialect, adding that the move would go a long way in preserving their language.
“Language that is not preserved may likely go into extinction and this will affect the unity of the people.
Jigawa
The Igala Cultural Group from Jigawa State in Dutse last Sunday emerged winner of the 2017 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Batch ‘A’ Stream One Dance Carnival, organized by Jigawa NYSC.
Reports have it that the Yorubu group came second while the Igbo group came third, with each of the groups carting away a trophy.
Ten groups, which represented different tribes of the country, featured in the event.
Speaking at the occasion, the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Muhammad, said the competition had further strengthened the unity of the country and brotherhood of the corps members.
Katsina
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has called on elected officials, agencies and other initiators of empowerment support schemes to allocate not less than 60 per cent to women.
Masari made the call in Bakori last Sunday while launching distribution of 30 cars, 100 motorcycles, 70 sewing machines and 20 generating sets as empowerment items donated by the representative of Bakori/Danja Federal Constituency, Rep. Amiru Tukur.
The governor explained that women faced enormous challenges, especially in the rural areas, where they were mostly bread winners, sponsoring children’s education and other burdens.
He said women always ensured that their earnings went to family upkeep more than men.
Kogi
Senator Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi) has said that the ongoing move by the electorate in his constituency to recall him from the Senate will fail.
Melaye, who is representing the Kogi West Senatorial District in the Senate, made the statement in Kabba, Kogi State, last Sunday, when he addressed his supporters.
He said his achievements in the Senate were enormous and as such the people of the constituency were solidly behind him.
Melaye, who later led his supporters on a peaceful march round Kabba town, alleged that the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was behind the move to recall him.
Kwara
The Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board last Sunday said it had fixed Friday, June 16th, as deadline for the completion of payment of 2017 Hajj fare by all prospective pilgrims travelling through the board.
Alhaji Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh, the Executive Secretary of the board, announced this while speaking with newsmen in llorin.
He therefore advised all intending pilgrims to pay up their balance on or before that date, or forfeit their seats, warning that there would be no extension of the deadline
Tunde-Jimoh said the fixing of the deadline was necessitated by the directive of the National Hajj Commission that all state Muslim pilgrims welfare boards should submit all travelling documents of their intending pilgrims.
Lagos
A veteran journalist and poet, Mr Akeem Lasisi, has called on journalists to write books to enable a large number of people to benefit from their knowledge.
“It shouldn’t be about covering events. The news reporting that we do everyday largely flows with the wind.
“Where were the stories you and I wrote five years ago or six years ago.
“You can only find them in one archive or library somewhere people don’t get to talk about them again,’’ Lasisi said in Lagos at a launch of a book he co-authored.
Lasisi, a poet for more than 25 years, said that some journalists developed ideas that could form books, but did not produce books out of them.
Nasarawa
Secretary, Nasarawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abubakar Nalarabe, has appealed to the Federal Government to subsidise hajj fare.
He made the appeal last Sunday, in Lafia, during orientation programme organized by the board for prospective pilgrims from the state.
He urged the government to come to the aid of intending pilgrims in view of the high exchange rate and the economic situation in the country.
Nalarabe noted that those who participated in the 2016 pilgrimage paid N1, 050, 000 (one million, fifty thousand naira) as fare, adding that the fare had gone up to N1.5 million.
Sokoto
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State says the current recession in the country has hindered his zeal to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
Tambuwal stated this in Sokoto, on Sunday, at the quarterly stakeholders’ meeting of All Progressives Congress (APC) party in the state.
“ We came with the zeal to work, but the unfortunate situation we found ourselves, has slowed us down.
“ Yet, we have been promptly paying salaries and other workers’ entitlements, as well as pensions and gratuities.
“ We have also completed most of the inherited projects; some are ongoing, while we have initiated additional projects.
“ The present administration will not abandon any projects, which would be evenly spread across the state,” the governor said.
Oyo
Senate President Bukola Saraki last Saturday, said Nigeria would only attain greatness in unity.
Saraki told newsmen in Ibadan, last Saturday, that Nigerians, irrespective of political, ethnic and religious affiliations, must shun calls for disintegration.
Report that Saraki, in company with Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari(APC-Oyo North), was in Ibadan for the wedding ceremony of the daughter of APC chieftain, Chief Bisi Akande.
The senate president was reacting to the ultimatum issued by some northern youths to Igbos to quit the north by October 1 and the counter threats by some other ethnic groups.
But Saraki said that the unity of the country was not negotiable, adding that Nigerians must come together to achieve peace and progress.
“ Leaders from the various regions of the country should preach unity to their youths”, he said.
Plateau
The Federal University of Technology, Minna, has donated 148 titles with 458 volume of books worth over N1 million to the University of Jos.
The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs Lydia Legbo, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Minna, last Saturday.
She said that it was part of the university decision to assist the institution in rebuilding process after the fire incident that razed the university’s library at the permanent site in September, 2016.
The donation was made by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Musbau Akanji, who was represented by the University Librarian, Dr Jubril Alhassan.
Speaking at the occasion, Prof. Akanji expressed FUT, Minna, heartfelt sympathies with the university over the colossal loss of its library books and equipment that were destroyed during the inferno.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has inducted and given orientation to 100 Ogoni youths for training on Creative Arts. The beneficiaries were drawn from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The induction and orientation ceremony, which took place at the CRAB of the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, was a prelude to the training proper, billed to commence next Tuesday.
As usual, HYPREP issued undertaking forms to the trainees, for them to complete and submit as a guarantee that they would subject themselves to the requirements of the programme as well as be of good behaviour throughout the four-month duration of the training.
HYPREP also announced that it would pay N150,000 to each of the beneficiaries monthly, as transport and feeding allowance, stressing, however, that only those who fully participate in the training would be entitled for the allowance.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, welcomed the trainees to the programme, saying, HYPREP’s projects are evolving and that one thing that is happening today is that the Project has gotten leadership right, by making promises and keeping those promises.
According to him, the Project had equally promised to move away from rudimentary skills acquisition to high impacts acquisition levels, which it has kept today by sponsoring the training on Creative Arts.
He noted that in planning its livelihood programmes for Ogoni youths, HYPREP has taken time out to look for skills that would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
Zabbey, who was represented at the event by the Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi said by packaging the Creative Arts training, it was expected that the Ogoni people would have their own version of Nollywood known as Ogoniwood just as Nigerians are familiar with Hollywood, Bollywood, Kannywood and Nollywood.
To achieve this goal, the Project Coordinator explained that it was the reason for choosing a reputable establishment like Halibiz Consult Limited, to partner with the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt, which he described as one of the most prestigious in the Niger Delta, for the training of the beneficiaries.
He also indicated that in doing this, HYPREP was desirous of going for talents that would help the Ogoni people grow in the film industry, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
Zabbey equally enjoined the trainees to put in their best so that in the next three to five years, they would carve a niche for themselves and become forces to reckon with in the film industry.
On her part, HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee said HYPREP does what it says it will, stressing that the process of training Ogoni youths on specialised skills started three years ago.
According to her, the selection process for the training was rigorous and transparent, and was carried out by renowned actors actresses.
She disclosed that the training consists of three major aspects, which include acting, script writing and make-up, while Nollywood actors like Charles Nnoje, Ngezu J. Ngezu and award-winning make-up artist, Jude Odo would be on hand to drill and groom the beneficiaries.
Mrs Nzidee noted that the programme is a specialised training that does not have anything like starter packs but that it is purely a professional certification programme that would launch the beneficiaries into the Nollywood industry in Nigeria.
According to her, the Creative Arts training is one of the four specialised trainings organised by HYPREP to ensure that the Ogoni people are well positioned in vital industries like Aviation, Maritime, Creative Arts and Mechatronics.
She said the last of such trainings on Mechatronics would take place in the coming months, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously so as to put the Ogoni people on the Nollywood map.
She further indicated that while Charles Nnoje and Ngezu J. Ngezu would take the beneficiaries on the practical aspects, Jude Odo would take them on the make-up aspects.
Also speaking, the External Relations Manager of Halibiz Consult Limited, Alabo Experience Douglas said his company gives much premium to standard and quality, and assured that the firm would give the trainees value for the money spent on the programme.
While charging the beneficiaries to be dedicated and punctual, he stressed the need for them to approach the programme with the mindset of being empty so that at the end of the day, they would benefit maximally.
On his part, the Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo said the CRAB is an acronym for Creative Review of Arts and Books, stressing that it was named by renowned playwright, Prof Ola Rotimi.
According to him, the CRAB had nurtured, groomed and produced Nollywood actors and actresses like Bobmanuel Udokwu, Ejike Asiegbu,Francis Duru, Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda, Julius Agwu, and a host of others, assuring the beneficiaries that they were on fertile environment to hone their talents.
He noted that symbolically, the crab is a nutritious seafood common in the Niger Delta, and reiterated the need for the beneficiaries to come empty for the training, as it were.
Ihunwo disclosed that the theory classes of the programme would run for three weeks while the fourth week would be for the master classes, and urged the trainees to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a difference by telling the Ogoni story, which he described as inexhaustible by themselves, in order to put Ogoni on the map.
A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.