Nation
THE STATES
Borno
An NGO, Smile Mission Healthcare, has conducted a hand-washing exercise at the Muna Garage Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, in Borno State, to control the spread of cholera in the state.
Project Coordinator of the NGO, Dr Sale Abba told newsmen last Wednesday in Maiduguri that over 10, 000 displaced children in the camp benefited from the exercise.
According to him, the programme also involved a waste clearance exercise in the camp, as part of environmental sanitation and preventive measures to control the disease.
“Cholera is an orally transmitted disease through the consumption of contaminated water or food resulting from poor hygiene and sanitation.
FCT
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it is determined to put a stop to illegal mining in the country in spite of the myriad of challenges.
The Commander General of the Corps, Abdullahi Gana, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja last Thursday.
Gana said the activities of illegal miners was jeopardising the country’s economic growth in view of the fact that the perpetrators of the act were making billions of naira at the expense of the country.
“It is on record that about five weeks ago we arrested 14 big time illegal miners in Plateau State”, Gand said.
Kaduna
A Non- Governmental Organisation, Connected Development (CODE) is training 60 stakeholders to monitor utilisation of funds released for UBEC projects in 70 primary schools in Kaduna State.
The NGO’s Senior Programme Manager, Mr Chambers Umezulike told newsmen last Wednesday in Kaduna that the goal was to build the capacity of non government stakeholders at the grassroots to effectively monitor the spending.
He said that the training began last Tuesday with 30 representatives from School-Based Management Committees, Community Based Organisations, Parent Teachers Association and Nigerian Union of Teachers.
According to him, the project, supported by MacArthur Foundation, would track the implementation of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) projects in Jema’a, Kajuru, Kudan and Zangon Kataf Local Government Areas.
Kwara
A septuagenarian farmer, James Olatoye, a prophet and two others, who allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl were last Wednesday remanded in Omu-Aran Medium Prison, Kwara State by an Omu-Aran Area Court.
Olatoye of Moba Compound in Aiyedun and his accomplice, Adeyeye Suleiman, 35, Toyin Adesina, 35, who claimed to be a prophet and Ojo Olayemi,20, are facing trial over gross indecency.
They were alleged to have subjected their victim to an act of indecency by raping her at different times between 2016 and 2017 at Aiyedun. Olatoye and Suleiman pleaded guilty to the charge, while Adesina (prophet) and Olayemi pleaded not guilty.
Lagos
President/Founder of an NGO, Guardians of The Nation International (GOTNI), Dr Linus Okorie says the problem confronting the African continent is integrity and leadership.
Okorie, who spoke at the unveiling of GoldClub 3.0 and BMCoin organised by BeepMagnet International Group last Wednesday in Lagos State said that lack of knowledge had prevented the continent from investing in the future.
The GOTNI’s founder, who was the Special Guest Speaker at the occasion urged Nigerians to increase their investments in the future and growth.
He said, “We are in a knowledge-based economy until you know, you can’t invest. Knowledge drives progress. Africa is the most hit continent that lacks leadership”.
Nasarawa
A three- term Senator, Abubakar Sodangi last Wednesday backed the decision of the Nasarawa State Government to sell some of its assets.
Reports indicate that criticisms had trailed the approval by the state Assembly, on September 25, allowing Governor Tanko Almakura to dispose some of the government assets in Lagos, Jos and Kaduna.
Sodangi, who represented Nasarawa West in the Senate from 1999 to 2011, told newsmen that the decision to sell off the properties was in the best interest of the state.
He however said that the proceeds should be invested in areas that would have positive impact on the lives of the people.
Niger
Azza community in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State has appealed to the state government to extend the dividends of democracy to it.
The Chairman of Azza Development Association, Malam Abdulmalik Muye made the call last Wednesday in Azza in an interview with newsmen.
“The infrastructure deficit in our area is massive. The road in our community is an apology, especially during the raining season when villages in the area are difficult to access.
“Also the Sabon Ureyi bridge linking Lapai and Gulu has been swept away by flood.
“And because of that, the journey from Lapai to Gulu is now 7 hours as against 2 hours before.
“So we want to appeal to government to reconstruct the bridge so as to open up that axis and improve the economic fortunes of our people,” he said
Ogun
Commander, Sango-Ota Unit of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC),Sango-Ota, Mr Adekunle Oguntoyinbo last Tuesday said one person died and three others sustained injuries in an early morning accident in Ogun State.
He told newsmen in Ota that the accident happened at about 4.55 a.m. at Toll-Gate, Sango-Ota.
Oguntoyinbo said that the auto crash occurred when the driver of a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number LND 723 XE, heading toward Toll-Gate from Iyana-Iyesi, Sango-Ota lost control due to brake failure and in the process hit the road divider.
”The corpse of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue of the General Hospital, Sango-Ota, while the injured are receiving intensive treatment at the same hospital, “ he said.
The unit commander advised drivers to always maintain speed limit and be cautious of their conduct on wheel to avert road accidents.
Ondo
The Ondo State Police Command has paraded a 20-year-old suspected member of the Boko Haram sect.
Reports indicate that the command had confirmed the arrest of a 42-year-old in Isua-Akoko, Akoko South-East Local Government Area on September 24.
Parading the suspect, Mr Gbenga Adeyanju, the state Commissioner of Police, said the suspect, who was arrested in the same area on Sunday, would be handed over to the army for necessary action.
He lauded the commitment and hard work of the personnel in his command, saying these led to the arrest of the suspect.
Osun
The Osun State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) last Wednesday announced that 16.8 hectares of Indian hemp (Cannabis Sativa) farm located in Ikoyi community in the state had been destroyed.
The Commandant, Mr Samuel Egbeola made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Osogbo on the achievements of the agency in the state.
He said that the farm was destroyed on September 26.
The commandant said that the farm was discovered and destroyed by the NDLEA, following a tip-off by an intelligence source.
Oyo
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has called on the Federal Government to boost local manufacturing of drugs to enhance healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The Chairman, Oyo State Branch of PSA, Mr Abiodun Ajibade, made the appeal recently in Ibadan at a news conference. Abiodun said the press conference was to herald activities lined up to mark the 2017 Pharmacy Week.
According to him, pharmacists occupy a very crucial and important part of the healthcare system, adding that without drugs healthcare is without content.
Taraba
The Taraba State House of Assembly has constituted a three-man committee to coordinate and harmonise its members’ positions on the upcoming amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly.
Its Speaker, Mr Abel Diah, who announced this during plenary last Wednesday, said that the committee, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Mohammadu Gwampo, has Mr Hosea Ibi and Alhaji Bashir Mohammed as members.
He said that the committee was expected to aggregate members’ views ahead of the vote on the provisions of the constitution being altered.
Diah said that the proposed amendment was very crucial to the deepening of the nation’s democracy, and urged the committee to be thorough and strive to capture the true positions of Taraba State people on the issues.
He urged his colleagues to help the committee by consulting with their respective constituencies on the items slated for amendment.
Strategic regulators and other stakeholders have expressed satisfaction with the pace, quality and magnitude of work carried out by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Ogoniland, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In their separate speeches at the 2025 4th quarter key regulators / asset owners meeting held in Port Harcourt, the strategic stakeholders commended HYPREP for the significant milestones achieved with excellent efficiency and transparency, demonstrating capacity and commitment to sustaining collaboration with development partners for the overall success of the Project.
The regulators particularly lauded HYPREP for the landmark success in the implementation of the land and shoreline remediation, mangrove restoration, provision of reticulated potable water, the various sustainable livelihood programmes, donation of ambulances to health facilities in Ogoni, the construction of Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, as well as the ongoing Ogoni Power Project, adding that their independent field reports have shown proofs of HYPREP driving even beyond its mandates.
The goodwill messages were made by representatives of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Centre for Environment and Human Rights Development (CEHRD), Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA), Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), and Federal Ministry of Environment. Others are the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the Rivers State Ministry of Health, the National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Rivers State Ministry of Power, the Rivers State University, the Rivers State Ministry of Water and Rural Development, and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
Following the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit’s presentation on the status of HYPREP projects, participants offered feedback on areas of concern. They reassured HYPREP and the people of Ogoni of their continued support for the Project’s success. They also suggested that the quarterly review meeting be sustained as it enables them to report, evaluate and proffer solutions to areas of concern.
Participants also commended HYPREP for improved community and stakeholder engagement and for adding to what they saw the previous time. “We commend HYPREP for the quality work done at sites. The progress is phenomenal, because HYPREP is scoring good grades, above average,” Prof. Iyenemi Kakulu from Rivers State University said.
In his speech at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who was represented by Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, Director of Technical Services, commended the regulators and asset owners for their cooperation with the Project, and for making themselves available for fieldwork and the regular review meetings.
Prof Zabbey reiterated HYPREP’s commitment to best practice in waste management, particularly waste generation and disposal, calling on the Regulators for adequate logistics support, saying HYPREP’s priority is to focus on the core recommendations by UNEP, especially, remediation(soil, shoreline) mangrove restoration, provision of potable water, interventions in public health care services and sustainable livelihood for the people.
The Project Coordinator further highlighted the status of the Project, the successes achieved across all thematic areas, and assured that HYPREP will soon complete most of the ongoing projects and roll out others. He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review the progress of the Ogoni cleanup, ensure quality control, and foster effective collaboration.
Consequently, the quarterly key regulators/asset owners meeting is HYPREP’s strategic stakeholder management model, further underscoring the Project’s commitment to transparency, partnership for development, and accountability, all of which are harbingers of effective project delivery.
Speaking to newsmen, HYPREP Project Support Lead and representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr Ehioze Igbinomwanhia, described his involvement with HYPREPas an encouraging and insightful experience, saying, the Project is implementing a wide range of projects across Ogoniland, spanning immediate remediation works as well as livelihood support initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of affected communities.
Engr Igbinomwanhia emphasised that Renaissance Africa Energy remains fully committed to supporting the objectives of the Ogoni cleanup project, noting that the company has a long history of collaboration with HYPREP.
He added that the partnership has been characterised by continuous learning, adaptation and a willingness to respond to observations and recommendations aimed at improving outcomes.
He further emphasised the importance of safety in all project operations, particularly given the challenging terrain and operating conditions in Ogoniland.
He noted that safety is treated as a critical priority and that contractors are continually reminded to maintain high safety standards, stressing that lessons learnt from previous operational challenges like the collapse of the water tank in Gwara Community are being applied to strengthen safety practices and overall performance.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
