Nation

THE STATES

Published

8 years ago

August 25, 2017

Borno
A 16-year-old Internally Displaced Person (IDP) in Maiduguri, Miss Maryam Muhammad has called for upward review of the quantity of foodstuffs provided to IDPs by the government.
Maryam told newsmen at the IDPs camp in Maiduguri that she could hardly feed herself in the camp, as the food ration was not enough.
She said that the food ration given to them was not enough to meet the needs of members of her household.
“My parents were killed when the insurgents sacked my village in Monguno Local Government Area.
“There are six children in the family; two boys and four girls. Presently, we are taking shelter in the camp.
“The food ration given to us is too small to meet our needs. The food is expected to last for 30 days, but it only serves us for about 20 days,” she said.

FCT
The establishment of Police Public Relations School will strengthen the capacity and capabilities of spokespersons of the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris has said.
Idris made the statement in Abuja at the commencement of five-day training for spokespersons of state and zonal commands and the inauguration of the Police Public Relations School.
He said that when fully operational, the school was expected to train officers in the 12 zonal commands, 36 states commands, among others.
The I-G said that the force was making efforts to change public perception of the police by striving to do away with unethical behaviours.

Jigawa
The Jigawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board says it has completed the transportation of the intending pilgrims from the state to Saudi Arabia.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the board Alhaji Ibrahim Hashimmade the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.
He said the last batch of 390 intending pilgrims departed the Dutse International Airport last Tuesday at 12.31 a.m. through Max Air Ltd.
Hashim said with the last transportation, the Airline had transported a total of 1,481 pilgrims from the state to Saudi Arabia in an exercise that began on August 18.
Meanwhile, Governor Muhammad Badaru of the State who bade the intending pilgrims farewell, urged them to shun any act that would contravene the laws of Saudi Arabia, throughout the exercise.

Kaduna
No fewer than 6,205 pilgrims from Kaduna State have been transported to Saudi Arabia for the 2017 Hajj, the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has said.
The board’s spokesman, Yunusa Abdullahi told newsmen last Tuesday in Kaduna that the pilgrims were transported in 17 flights.
He said that 4,349 males and 1,856 females were transported by the two airlines engaged by the board.
Medview Airline, he said, had so far transported 3, 996 pilgrims in 13 flights, leaving the company with 545 more intending pilgrims to complete the exercise.
Abdullahi also said that Max Air had completed the transportation of all the 2,209 passengers allotted to the company.

Kwara
The wife of the Governor of Kwara State, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed last Tuesday said youths, as change agents must strive to acquire the necessary skills that would prepare them as future leaders.
The governor’s wife made the call in Ilorin at the opening of the annual youth camp of the South West Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN).
Ahmed, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Ayinke Saka said youths should never allow themselves to be used as agents of destruction.
The governor’s wife, who commended the organisers of the programme, noted that the forum would serve as platform for moulding and reshaping the minds of youths.

Lagos
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said last Tuesday that lack of scientific Audience Measurement System was responsible for the underdevelopment of the nation’s broadcasting sector.
The minister stated this in Lagos at the third International Summit on Digital Broadcasting in Nigeria organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).
He noted that audience measurement system was key to fostering growth of the broadcasting industry and making Digital Switch Over (DSO) sustainable for all stakeholders.
“We need an objective and scientific audience measurement system that articulates value of the content to consumers, as well as value of the audience to advertisers, particularly in the television sector”, he said.

Niger
The Nigeria Police Force said it had arrested 26 suspects for kidnapping, armed robbery, rape and unlawful possession of prohibited fire arms in Lambata area of Niger State.
The force spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abuja last Tuesday on the arrest.
He named the suspects as Isa Umar, Nuhu Yahaya, Sanda Saleh, Ali Ali, Okechukwu Atama, Mohammed Aliyu, Haruna Adamu, Adamu Bello, Abubakar Iliyasu, Safiyu Mohammed, among others.
Moshood said that the suspects who operated at different areas were arrested between August 8 and 22 in Niger.
He said that items recovered from them include: Four Ak 47 rifles, cutlasses, cell phones, wrist watches, military camouflage and personal effects of their victims.

Ondo
The Ondo State Government has appealed to the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to end the boundary dispute between Ondo and Ogun States.
The state Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi made the appeal last Tuesday in Akure when the NBC officials who were in the state for ethnographic study on boundary crisis between the two sister states, paid him a courtesy visit.
Ajayi appealed to the officials to do justice to the study while he assured them of adequate security, among other logistics for the smooth conduct of the week-long exercise.
The NBC officials were in the state to conduct ethnographic studies on the four local governments involved in the boundary crisis in Ondo State.
The affected councils are Ondo West, Odigbo, Okitipupa and llaje Local Government Areas.
Ajayi, who assured the officials that the state government was ready for a peaceful conduct of the exercise noted that Ondo State is the most peaceful state among the Niger-Delta states .

Oyo
An Oyo State High Court last Tuesday granted bail to an Ibadan-based broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat and four others accused of the murder of a teenager.
Justice M.I. Sule granted each defendant bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.
Sule said one of the sureties must be a civil servant on Grade Level 14 while the other must be a business man.
The case was first heard at an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court on August 1.
It was, however, transferred to the high court as the magistrates’ court had no jurisdiction to hear the case. .
Hamzat , 37; Idowu Ibrahim , 27; Mohammed Bashir, 31; Taiwo Olaronke ,23; and Yusuf Toheeb Ajisafe, 23, were all arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.
The Prosecutor, Insp Sunday Fatola, told the court that the defendants conspired among themselves to commit murder.

Plateau
A former Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Chief Sumaila Makama has urged journalists to promote peace and unity in the country through proper reportage.
Makama gave the advice at the inauguration of the new executive of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Plateau State.
According to him, the press as the fourth estate of the realm has much to do in setting an agenda that would promote the growth and development of Nigeria.
“As the fourth estate of the realm, I have no doubt that you have all it takes to unite this country through your reportage.
“You can set an agenda that will promote peace and unity in this country.
“You can use your pen to defend individual freedom and liberty because the pen is mightier than the sword”, Makama said.

Zamfara
The Zamfara State Government has not paid gratuities to its retirees or death benefits to survivors of its late workers in the last 10 years, according to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Chairman of the state chapter of the NLC, Mr Bashir Marafa told newsmen in Gusau last Tuesday that the state currently owes the retirees N4 billion following its failure to meet the obligations since 2008.
Reports says that the NLC, last Monday, gave the state government a 21-day ultimatum to meet the workers’ demand or risk “an indefinite total strike”.
Marafa wondered why the state government did not deploy the bailout funds and Paris Club refunds to settle the liabilities as directed by the Federal Government.
“Our conclusion is that the monies were either diverted or mismanaged because workers’ annual and promotion increments have not been effected, while pensioners and retirees benefits have remained unsettled” he said.

Nation

Ogoni Cleanup Programme, Enabling Pathways To Development Of Ogoni – Zabbey

Published

3 days ago

October 27, 2025

The Tide

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.

Nation

Community Health Practitioners Marks 2025 Week

Published

3 days ago

October 27, 2025

The Tide

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

Nation

NIOB President Calls For Innovation, Entrepreneurship In Housing Delivery

Published

6 days ago

October 24, 2025

The Tide

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.