Nation

THE STATES

Published

8 years ago

October 30, 2017

Borno
The Federal Government is to register about five million Nigerians in the ongoing National Social Register (NSR) for the Poor and Vulnerable Households.
NAASCO Coordinator, Mr Peter Papka disclosed this at the inauguration of the Community Base Target (CBT) teams in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Represented by the Head of Monitoring and Evaluation, Atiku Abubakar, Papka said that about 1 million poor and vulnerable families would be captured in the exercise this year.
Papka said that about four million poor families would also be covered in subsequent years across the country.

FCT
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris says Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) lost over N500 million to activities of vandals in Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger States and Abuja from January to date.
Idris made this known while inaugurating the Anti-Electricity Vandalism Response Squad (AEVRS) in Abuja, recently.
He said that 233 cases of vandalism were recorded in the area during the period.
He, however, said that over the years, the police did a lot to prevent vandals from destroying electricity installations across the country.
“With the worsening state of the situation, it has become expedient to urgently develop an improved strategy to better protect the nation`s critical electricity infrastructure,” the police boss said.

Kaduna
The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) branch has said that it will take necessary actions to ensure that all entitlements of its members are paid.
Alhaji Abdulmuminu Ibrahim stated this shortly after he emerged new chairman of the union in an election held at the ABU main campus, Samaru, Zaria.
In his acceptance speech, Ibrahim said the new executives would continue to fight for the interest of ABU pensioners with the assistance of the national body.
“With the assistance of the national headquarters, we shall ensure that all pensioners’ entitlement is paid on time”.
“When we fully assume office, we shall swing into action to ensure that the arrears of 33 per cent are paid without further delay,’’ he assured.

Kogi
The Kogi StatePolice Command has confirmed the killing of two police officers and the abduction of an expatriate by unknown gunmen at a construction site in the state.
Spokesman of the state police command, ASP William Aya told newsmen in Lokoja that Insp. Ezekiel Negedu and Sgt. Gini John were killed while on guard duty on Obajana – Oshokoshoko – Kabba road.
Aya said that John died on the spot while Negedu died on arrival in hospital.
According to the police spokesman, about 15 gunmen emerged from a nearby bush and attacked the construction site of A .G. Dangote Company currently handling the rehabilitation of the 45-kilometre Obajana – Kabba Road.
He said that the abducted expatriate, Mr Jose Machada, a Portuguese civil engineer, along with other expatriates and Nigerians were inspecting the project when the gunmen struck.

Kwara
A clergyman, Rev. Joseph Agboluaje has attributed the present challenges facing Nigeria to leadership failure.
Agboluaje made the assertion in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.
According to him, the role of a leader in a society cannot be over emphasised as there is already leadership failure both in the church and the society at large.
“The nation is in dire need of leaders who will talk less and act more, leaders who will make our society better to live in.
“We need godly, visionary, humble and practical leaders who can help us achieve the Nigeria of our dreams”, he said.

Lagos
A confessional statement tendered before an Ikeja High Court has exposed how Pastor Nsikakabasi Akpan-Jacobs voluntarily confessed defrauding the wife of former Vice-President Abubakar Atiku Mrs Titi Atiku, of N918 million.
A retired detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Dickson Graymond insisted on the voluntariness of Akpan-Jacob’s alleged confessional statement while giving evidence during a trial – within – trial.
While being led in evidence by the EFCC prosecuting counsel, Mr Babatunde Sonoiki, Graymond said: “There are so many things that he confided in me that he refused to put into writing”.
“He admitted to me that Florence Doregos was Titi Atiku but he refused to put that into writing”.

Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Government has sacked the Rector, Registrar and Bursar of the state Polytechnic, Lafia with immediate effect.
A statement by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Malam Mohammed Abdullahi, issued to newsmen in Lafia also said the government would investigate activities at the institution since 2014.
The government directed the Rector, Silas Gray, Registrar, Labani Joseph and Bursar, Abdullahi Akya, to proceed on compulsory leave.
“The government has taken the decision in pursuant to its desire to reposition the state-owned tertiary institutions.
“And in compliance to the relevant laws establishing all the state owned tertiary institutions and as a Visitor to all the tertiary institutions in the state,” he said.

Niger
Herdsmen and farmers in Gurusu community of Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State have signed an agreement to promote peaceful co-existence among them.
The meeting that produced the agreement was held at the Emir’s Palace in Bosso, with the herdsmen, farmers and other stakeholders within the council area in attendance.
The forum was aimed at reconciling the parties over a portion of land between a Gbagyi man Malam Audu, and a Fulani man, Malam Bello, who had lived on the land belonging to Audu for 15 years in Gurusu village.
District Head of the council area, Malam Mu’azu Laka, commended the concerned parties for reporting the matter to the appropriate authority rather than taking the law into their hands.
Laka also lauded the parties’ agreement that led to the peaceful resolution of the matter, noting that the reconciliation had prevented the dispute from escalating.

Osun
The proposed M. K. O Abiola International Airport in Ido-Osun, Osun State would cost N69 billion under concession arrangement with AWOL International company, a state government official said.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mr Nurudeen Adeagbo said at a meeting with members of the state House of Assembly in Osogbov that the concession agreement would be to the advantage of the state government.
Adeagbo said the concession agreement was not in any way detrimental to the economy of the state, saying that it would be on ‘Build-Operate-Transfer” basis.

Plateau
The Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) has sacked 150 workers in what its management said was part of a re-organisation aimed at optimum performance.
Among those sacked across its four states of Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi and Benue were marketers, linesmen, network engineers, cable joiners and electrical fitters.
Their sack letters signed by Head, Human Resources and Support Services, Abubakar Mohammed simply told the workers that their services were no longer required.
The letters said that they would be paid one month’s salary in lieu of notice, and warned them against impersonating as workers of the company.

Sokoto
Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal has advised the Federal Government to handover federal roads to states’ government for effective management of the roads.
Tambuwal gave the advice when he received the Senate Committee on Works led by its Chairman, Sen. Kabiru Gaya in Sokoto.
He said: “There is the need for the federal government to handover the roads to states, because state governments are closer to the people and we have more efficient methods of supervision.
“If this is done, it will go a long way in ensuring that the vast majority of major roads and highways in the country are well maintained.’’

Taraba
Taraba State University has gone into partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to train Taraba youths on skills needed to work under the Mambilla Hydro Power Project.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Vincent Tenebe disclosed this in Jalingo lrecently at a workshop on Effective Leadership organised by the university for elected local government chairmen and councillors in the state.
He stated that the youth would be trained as security guards, drivers, bricklayers, masons, mechanics, and facilities managers among others to enable them key into the project.

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.