Connect with us

Nation

THE STATES

Published

on

Benue
The Society for Gender and Child Advancement recently told the Federal Government to invest more in the training of teachers to engender development.
The Director of the group, Mrs Eva Kyaagba, who made the call at Aliade in Benue State, said that investing in teachers’ training would accelerate the development of basic education nationwide.
Kyaagba was speaking at the opening ceremony of a five-day teachers’ training workshop, at the Mount St. Michele’s Secondary School in Aliade.
The workshop was organised by the society in collaboration with the school.
She said that, the training would expose teachers to various teaching techniques and skills.

Ekiti
A housewife, Adedoyin Babatunde,  recently told an Ikole-Ekiti Customary Court that her love for her husband ceased when  she discovered  he had  three other wives and children.
Reports indicate that the 35-year-old mother of three said she did not know she would be the fourth wife  to bear children for  her  husband .
She said that her husband, Mr Olusola Babatunde, first  proposed to her seven years ago.
Adedoyin  also told the court that, her husband only told her that he had  a child from another woman when they met.
The estranged wife also said  that she confessed to him too that she  too  had a child already.
The plaintiff  said that she discovered in 2015 that her husband, a commercial driver, already had three other women who bore him four children.

FCT
The Senate has urged, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure credibility in Saturday’s bye-election in Osun West Senatorial District.
The call followed the adoption of a motion by Sen. Duro Faseyi (PDP-Ekiti) at plenary last Thursday.
Moving the motion earlier, Faseyi had said that, there were series of allegations and counter-allegations of plot to manipulate the outcome of the election.
He said that, there was tension in Osun West ahead of the Saturday poll for the replacement of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, who died on April 23.
Faseyi said that, INEC must ensure equity, fairness and transparency in the bye-election to enhance its credibility.

Kaduna
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), recently, assured investors in the agricultural sub-sector of adequate security from cattle rustlers and vandals.
A statement by the Kaduna State Command of the corps, said that the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Abdullahi Gana gave the assurance when he visited Golden Acres Farm located on Kaduna-Abuja Express Way.
The statement, signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Orndiir Terzungwe, quoted the commandant-general as saying that, the establishment of Agro-Rangers unit of the corps was to provide security  to agricultural investments.
“Providing physical security for agric investments and investors has become necessary in supporting the Federal Government’s plan towards diversifying the economy from over dependence on oil to agriculture,” Gana was quoted as saying.

Katsina
Katsina State Government has allocated 10,382 bags of fertilizer to Zango Local Government Area for the 2017 wet season farming.
Senior Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor, Aminu Masari, Alhaji Usman Zango, announced the figure while launching the sale of the commodity in Zango last Wednesday.
Zango is also the Chairman of the Committee on sale and distribution of fertilizer in the local government.
He said that, the commodity would be sold to interesting farmers at the cost of N5,500 per bag at the 98 polling units in the council area.
The chairman said that, each polling unit would be allocated 109 bags of the Urea and NPK.

Kwara
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered 18, 000 voters in Kwara State since the beginning of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) on April 27.
The INEC’s Administrative Secretary in the state, Mr Paul Atser, made this known in Ilorin last Thursday while answering questions from journalists during an inspection tour of registration centres.
Atser said that, the commission had also created six additional registration centres in the state.
The administrative secretary said that, the six new centres were spread across the three senatorial districts of the state.
According to him, the centre are Oro Ago, Ajase I, Oke Oyi, Pake, Bani and Malete.

Lagos
The Lagos State House of Assembly, last Monday moved to assess the mid-term performance of the state’s 2017 budget to ascertain how Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state were faring.
The House decided to take the step after the Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Rotimi Olowo, harped on the need for such review.
According to Olowo, reviewing the budget performance in the last six months will help give direction for the 2018 budget estimates, which he noted, could hit the N1trillion mark.
“The exercise will help scrutinise how the MDAs are doing in terms of  the revenue generated, as well as their level of compliance with their capital and recurrent expenditure,” he said.

Nasarawa
The 13 local government areas in Nasarawa State, have shared N1.65 billion for the payment of staff salaries for the month of June.
Mr Haruna Illiya-Osegba, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, made this disclosure to newsmen last Wednesday in Lafia, after the state’s Local Government Joint Account Committee and stakeholders’ meeting.
He explained that, the LGAs in the state got N1.5 billion from the federation account for the month of June.
“The wage bill of the council areas stood at N2.2 billion, making the current allocation insufficient to pay full salaries to the workers.

Niger
A Minna Magistrates’ Court, last Thursday in Minna ordered the remand  of a 33-year-old cleric Paul Aderinwa,  in prison for allegedly raping a minor.
Aderinwa was arraigned on a count charge of rape, contrary to section 283 of the penal code law.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp Gunduma Ibrahim, told the court that, one Oluwatoyin Joseph of Gurara reported the matter at Kpakungu Police Station on June 28.
Ibrahim told the court that the defendant, also a resident of Gurara, invited the  daughter of the  complainant to his house under the pretext of sending her on an  errand.

Osun
Two persons were last Wednesday remanded in custody at the Ilesa Prisons by an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court over the alleged possession of Canniabis Sativa, otherwise known as Indian hemp, and some charms.
The accused persons were Adeleke Nurudeen, 17, and Adeleke Lukman, 16.
They are facing a three-count charge bothering on conspiracy and unlawful possession.
The Magistrate, Mrs Olubukola Olowolagba, gave the order that the accused be kept in prison custody, due to the magnitude of the offences committed.

Plateau
The Plateau State Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals, Mr Abudullahi Abbas, last Wednesday said indiscriminate human activities were responsible for flooding in the state.
Abbas, in an interview with newsmen in Jos, noted that the state was blessed with an excellent topography which facilitated free flow of water.
He, however, identified building houses along water ways, dumping of waste in drainages, erection of houses without drainage and poor drainage among the major factors leading to flooding in the state.\
“We, on the Plateau are not meant to be afraid of flooding, because of our topography, if only we avoid the dumping of waste in drainages.

Sokoto
The Zonal Commanding Officer, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Sokoto State, Mr Ayobami Omiyale, has warned personnel of the commission to steer clear of extortion or be ready to face the consequences.
Omiyale, gave the warning on Thursday, in Sokoto at the opening of a retreat on the executive order on the Ease of Doing Business, signed recently by acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Reports that, the retreat has as its theme,”Actualisation of Presidential Order, 001 On Transparency in Doing Business: FRSC Perspective.”
Omiyale said, “you should not receive or demand for bribe; on no occasion should any officer extort money from the motoring public.

Yobe
The Yobe State Government, says it has cleared 1,000 hectares of land to re-engage over 500 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into farming.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Mustapha Gajerema, said this on Thursday in Damaturu, while inspecting newly procured farm implements.
He said that, the government had procured tractor spare parts, tyres, plough discs, thrashers and other equipment worth N38 million to boost agricultural production in the state this cropping season.
Gajerema said that, the government would provide the IDPs with improved seeds and fertiliser to support their efforts to engage in food production, so as to boost the state’s food security and economic recovery.

Continue Reading

Nation

Rumuaholu Community Denies Land Grabbing Allegations, Accuses Obio/Akpor Chairman of Interference in Land Dispute

Published

on

The Ekeanyanwu family of Rumuaholu Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has strongly refuted allegations of land grabbing levelled against it, describing recent media reports as false, misleading, and deliberately fabricated.
The family made its position known during a press briefing held on Wednesday at the residence of Dr. Colonel Ogwumerum Eke in Rumuaholu. The briefing was attended by community leaders, stakeholders, and family representatives.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Dr. Eke dismissed claims attributed to the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Gift Worlu, which allegedly labelled the family as land grabbers. He described the allegations as baseless, frivolous, and lacking any factual foundation.
According to Dr. Eke, the Ekeanyanwu family remains the legitimate owner of the parcel of land known as Ohia Agbada, comprising approximately 6,000 plots situated along the Obiri-Ikwerre Airport Road corridor. He further maintained that Victory Estate, located within the disputed area, belongs exclusively to the Ekeanyanwu family and not to the Rumuosi Community as claimed by the council chairman.
Dr. Eke stated that ownership of the land had been affirmed by the courts, citing Case No. CCC/22/2015 at the Choba Customary Court. He explained that while the suit was instituted against another family in Rumuaholu, the Rumuosi Community sought to be joined in the matter but their application was rejected by the court.
He further disclosed that the family currently holds 15 subsisting court judgments in its favour relating to the disputed land, including judgments from the Customary Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal.
The family spokesman alleged that the Obio/Akpor council chairman, in collaboration with the local Anti-Land Grabbing Committee, was attempting to undermine the court decisions and dispossess the family of its land through what he described as “backdoor means.”
Dr. Eke accused the chairman of assuming the role of an appellate authority over matters that had already been conclusively determined by competent courts.
Expressing concern over recent developments, he alleged that individuals acting under the influence of the council chairman had destroyed properties worth millions of naira within Victory Estate. He described the action as a direct affront to existing court judgments and the rule of law.
Displaying copies of court judgments during the briefing, Dr. Eke questioned the rationale behind branding judgment creditors as land grabbers, insisting that those challenging the court rulings were the real offenders.
He called on members of the public to disregard what he termed misleading radio announcements purportedly made by the council chairman and urged government institutions and security agencies to uphold the sanctity of court judgments.
Also speaking at the briefing, Elder Prince Ndaokani, Principal Oji Owhor of Rumuaholu Community, supported the Ekeanyanwu family’s claims. He maintained that the disputed land originally belonged to Dr. Eke’s late father, who, according to Ikwerre native customary law, acquired ownership through the clearing and development of the land.
However, the allegations were dismissed by the Chairman of the Obio/Akpor Anti-Land Grabbing Committee, Chief Alex Wali, who responded on behalf of the local government council.
Chief Wali declined to engage directly with the claims made by Dr. Eke, stating: “That man cannot be gifted with our valued response to his tirades. People like that should not be in public but should be rotting in jail for heinous crimes against humanity.”
He maintained that nothing would prevent the council chairman from carrying out his constitutional responsibilities as the chief executive and chief security officer of the local government area.
According to him, the protection of lives and property remains a fundamental responsibility of government at all levels, and the council would continue to discharge its duties in that regard.
The dispute is the latest chapter in a long-running land ownership controversy in the area, with both sides maintaining opposing claims over the disputed property.
By Akujobi Amadi
Continue Reading

Nation

Asarama Kingdom Condemns Gruesome Murder of A Commercial Vehicle Driver

Published

on

The Asarama General Assembly in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State has condemned the gruesome murder of a commercial vehicle driver by some identified criminal elements in the community.
It would be recalled that on Thursday the 28th of May  2026, the kingdom was thrown into mourning, following the gruesome murder of a commercial vehicle driver by some criminal elements
The Assembly which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt also called for the establishment of a Mobile police and police anti cultism departments  at the Asarama Police Division.
The Okangh Ama /Paramount Ruler of Asarama kingdom HRM king Appolus J Nteijaewaye who read the text for the briefing onbehalf of The Asarama General Assembly at the briefing said the community condemned in totality the gruesome incident.
He said the kingdom also extends its condolences to the bereaved family of the murdered driver, stressing that as a kingdom it would leave no stone unturned to ensure that such an incident never occur within it’s territorial space again.
The General Assembly also commended the prompt intervention of the Nigerian police Force which led to the arrest of some members of the criminal gang, adding that even though the crime was committed at Asarama, some of those allegedly involved were not indigenes of Asarama kingdom.
“As a kingdom we use the sober moment of this unfortunate incident to further commend the prompt reaction of the leadership and men of the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers state that led to their effective results aimed at eliminating criminality and deterring the evil ones in our society “
The Community also described the incident as a pointer to the level of vulnerability of not only Asarama kingdom but the entire society, against the background that the sanctity of life ought to be sacred and protected by individuals, groups, communities and governmental institutions”
Meanwhile ,The Asarama General Assembly has called for the establishment of a Mobile Police  as well as police anti cultism departments at the Asarama Police Division
It said this has become necessary inview of the strategic location of the kingdom as a gateway to the rest of Andoni communities and Opobo -Nkoro Local Government Area.
“Owing to the peculiarity of our geographical location especially the amphibious nature of Asarama kingdom, intricately linked with its neighbouring inter ethnic Ogoni and Opobo -Nkoro Local Government Areas in general and intra Andoni communities in particular, the relevant authorities should urgently approved special mobile police force,Anti cultism and Marin units to be attached to the Asarama Divisional headquarters”
The kingdom also decried the continuous neglect of the Asarama police Division, since it’s establishment adding that the division up till date,does not have a single firearm as well as enough personnel
It said this situation has exposed the community to activities of criminal elements.
“The sordid state of the only security outfit that ought to police our territory and beyond now seems to complicate the delicate insecurity that we are already exposed to, first as a nation and second as a people inhabiting an intricate amphibious gateway kingdom
“Consequently we hereby cry to the appropriate authorities to urgently equip the Asarama Divisional Police headquarters with adequate men arms and ammunition “the Community said.
John Bibor
Continue Reading

Nation

Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

Published

on

The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.

Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

Continue Reading

Trending