Nation
THE STATES
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.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Port Harcourt zonal command has held a one-day capacity workshop with some selected media organisations and civil society organisations in the state
The one-day capacity workshop was aimed at strengthening existing relationships among the media and the civil society organisations in the state with a view to improving the existing relationships among the graft agency and the media.
Speaking at the event the zonal commander of EFCC, MR. HASSAN SAIDU, said the
initiative is part of the Commission’s ongoing commitment to strengthening collaboration with key stakeholders, particularly the media and civil society, in our collective fight against economic and financial crimes , adding that the decision to organize this workshop underscores the strategic importance the EFCC places on the roles of the media and the CSOs as watchdogs of the society.
According to him,all over the world, the partnership between anti-corruption agencies, the media, and civil society has been instrumental in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance, noting that the collaboration is even more imperative in Nigeria given the scale and sophistication of economic crimes we contend with.
“Let me take this opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the invaluable support you have given to the EFCC over the years.
Your consistent focus on our work through reporting, advocacy, and public engagement has helped to sustain the momentum of our preventive and enforcement efforts.”
The EFCC’s mandate is both engaging and arduous. I say this because the landscape of economic crime is dynamic and your duty to report and interpret these developments requires diligence, patriotism and integrity.”
He posted that It is in recognition of these challenges that the Commission introduced a Specialized Workshop Series on Economic and Financial Crimes Reporting for journalists, adding that the commission has expanded this initiative to include civil society organizations to further demonstrate their belief in an inclusive and collaborative anti-corruption framework.
“As you are aware, Port Harcourt remains Nigeria’s treasure base of the Nation and a fertile ground for various forms of economic and financial crimes, ranging from pipeline vandalism, foreign exchange scams and business email compromise to investment and property fraud, and crude oil theft.”
The EFCC zonal commander averred that the 2025 edition of the workshop is Understanding Cryptocurrency Fraud and other Emerging Financial Crimes and Prosecution of Financial Crimes: Issues, Challenges and Way Forward , adding that
It is imperative for us to note that the surge of Cryptocurrency Fraud and other related offences in the Nigeria’s Cyberspace is becoming alarming hence, as part of the efforts of the EFCC to nip this menace and eradicate these crimes from Nigeria Cyberspace there is need for synergy with relevant Stakeholders, that is the reason why the Commission has chosen these topics to educate, create awareness and discuss arising issues that will yield more significant results as the EFCC tackles the spate of these crimes.
“We must work together to intensify public sensitization. Your platforms- print, broadcast, digital, and community-based- are essential in equipping Nigerians with the knowledge to make informed decisions and avoid falling prey to scammers. ”
He reiterated that the fight against economic and financial crimes is not the sole responsibility of the EFCC or other anti-corruption agencies. It is a collective national duty, meaning all hands must be on deck , stressing that
We owe it to our country and, indeed, the global community to expose and confront corrupt practices wherever they exist.
“The media must continue to hold public institutions accountable, while civil society must deepen civic engagement and promote transparency at all levels.
The EFCC remains committed to building a stronger and more effective partnership with all stakeholders in the fight against corruption. he stated.
Earlier In his presentation on cryptocurrency-related crimes, CSE Coker Oyegunle, Head of Advanced Fee Fraud, explained that digital assets are increasingly being used for money laundering, identity theft, phishing, malware attacks, and ransomware, most of which involve untraceable crypto payments.
He noted that Nigeria now has a coordinated regulatory framework involving multiple agencies. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) serves as the lead regulator under the Investment and Securities Act 2025, defining digital assets as securities and licensing virtual asset service providers.
Our correspondent reports that other topics presented during the workshop include prosecuting Financial crimes: Issues, challenges and the way forward and the role of CSOs and media in driving a preventive frame work.
Nation
RSU Blames Poor Funding for Failure to Meet Academic Targets as 1,356 Set for Combined Convocation on Saturday”
The management of Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt, has stated that poor funding has hindered the institution’s ability to meet its expected academic targets.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, made this statement during a press briefing held at the institution on Monday in Port Harcourt, ahead of the week-long 37th and 38th combined convocation ceremony scheduled for Friday and Saturday this week.
Prof. Zeb-Obipi emphasized that poor funding continues to be a major challenge limiting the institution’s ability to meet its targets, adding that they trust the state governor, Sir Fubara Siminalaye, who is the visitor to the university, will continue to strengthen and support them.
He noted that the state governor has demonstrated his commitment to supporting the university, recently approving N700m for the ongoing NUC accreditation.
The Vice-Chancellor stated that the university faces deficits in classrooms, staff accommodation, and student hostels, with the infrastructure gap widening, and existing lecture halls and laboratories requiring renovation.
“We are prioritizing phased upgrades based on program needs,
He added that the university is short-staffed, having lost staff to retirement, death, and changes in job or place of work, and that new programs, departments, and faculties have been created to meet the contemporary needs of society.
Mean while,a total of 13,242 students are set to graduate in the combined convocation, with 10,648 undergraduates, 1,356 Master’s degree students, 700 postgraduate diplomas, and 538 Doctors of Philosophy.
The Vice-Chancellor also used the opportunity to list some achievements of his administration, including the creation of new directorates, completion of abandoned laboratories, and upgrades in the faculty of sciences, made possible with support from the Tertiary Education Technology Fund (TETFund).
He expressed appreciation to the governor and visitor to the university, Sir Siminalaye Fubara, for approving his appointment and promised to justify the confidence placed in him.
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has decried the neglect of communities in Obolo Nation and others in the Niger Delta Region
MOSIEND also called on the stakeholders to empower the youths in skill acquisition and other meaningful ventures to better their lives
This call was on Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Radio program, Talk of the Town, by MOSIEND Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn, alongside Asarama Clan Chairman, Comrade Amos Zebedee Udu, and Unyeada Clan Chairman Comrade Owen Wilson Ngere monitored by our correspondent
The spokepersons underscores the urgent need for government agencies and development partners to respond decisively to the dire state of basic amenities in the area.
MOSIEND leaders in Obolo Nation lamented the absence of potable water, electricity, access roads, and other functional public infrastructures in the clans
“What is troubling is that these complaints continue to echo without corresponding action from the Rivers State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission, and the oil companies operating in and around the area”.
According to the MOSIEND leaders, the situation has reached a point where community members, particularly youths and women, require deliberate intervention to rebuild livelihoods and restore hope.
They also emphasised the need for empowerment programmes, vocational training, and investments in local economies that depend heavily on fishing and trade.
The Clan leaders call for provision of small engine boats for fishermen and the construction of proper market spaces for the communities
Asarama Clan Chairman, Comrade Udu noted that the community participates fully in electoral processes yet continues to live without clean water or electricity.
He insisted that the clan is not benefiting as they ought to from any MoU with oil companies nor from NDDC projects, raises concerns about the fairness and inclusiveness of development planning in the state.
Equally troubling is the account from Unyeada Clan Chairman, Comrade Owen Wilson Ngere, who highlighted the alarming state of Unyeada Primary School, where children are forced to learn on bare floors without desks, chairs, or basic sanitation facilities.
” For a region that hosts oil and gas activities, such conditions are unacceptable and should concern all stakeholders”.
The Unyeada Clan Commended NDDC for the installation of solar lights in the communities, noting that the project is not enough for the entire community as they
appeal for more of the solar project in the area
While the leaders expressed appreciation to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the ongoing construction of roads in the area, and to the local council Chairman for the provision of potable water in some communities, .
“Obolo Nation has shown remarkable restraint and continues to maintain peace, as noted by the MOSIEND Coordinator”.
“The issues highlighted are not demands for luxury,but are basic necessities that every community in the Niger Delta deserves.
“The time for promises has passed; what Obolo communities need now is visible, sustained, and inclusive development.
Chinedu Wosu
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