Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency
(ADSEMA) says no fewer than 2,000 school-aged children of Internally Displaced Persons, have enrolled into the Safe School programme in the state.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Mr. Haruna Furo, who disclosed this to newsmen in Yola, said the initiative was part of the Federal Government’s special education package for the children of IDPs nationwide.
According to him, the programme is a collaboration between State Universal Basic Education Board, National Emergency Management Agency, and UNICEF.
He disclosed that the main objective of the programme was to ensure that the education of the affected children did not suffer any setback while living in the camps.
“Presently, the Safe School programme for children of IDPs in both primary and secondary schools had commenced in six designated camps across the state.
“Over 2000 children have enrolled in the programme and about 165 of them, already admitted into various Unity Schools and Colleges across the country.” Furo said.
Bauchi
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the North
East Zone has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to be fair to all Nigerians without religious prejudice or ethnic sentiment.
The Chairman of the association in the zone, Rev. Shuaibu Byal, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi.
Byal said that the generality of Nigerians from different walks of life and without prejudice to religion and ethnicity voted for the president.
He said that it would be fair for the Buhari administration to consider every part of the country for appointment into the various political offices irrespective of religion, regional or ethnic differences.
“Appointments into political offices have always been based on ethnicity and religion in this country.
“Now that the long awaited change has come, Nigerians expect a shift from such predispositions.
“As Nigerians, we expect fairness and equity in appointments into political offices, particularly by ensuring a balance between the two major religions, to strengthen trust and confidence among us,’’ he said.
Ekiti
Former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr.
Olufemi Bamitile, said the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would restore Nigeria’s lost glory.
Bamitile said this in his country home, Kuta in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State when he addressed a gathering of party faithful to celebrate the inauguration of President Buhari.
He commended the courage of APC supporters in the state and urged them to continue working for the success of the party.
FCT
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria
(HURIWA), an NGO, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to pay attention to police reforms and to wage total war against corruption and mass poverty.
National coordinator, HURIWA, Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, made this call in a signed statement made available to journalists in Abuja.
Onwubiko described the smooth civilian -to-civilian transition programme that took place on May 29 as unprecedented and successful.
He urged the new Federal Government to begin without further delay the comprehensive overhaul of the anti-graft machinery by appointing tested, trusted, fearless, incorruptible and competent persons to his cabinet.
The HURIWA boss stressed the need to appoint competent and qualified persons to head the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission (ICPC).
He said HURIWA believed that the current leadership of the two anti corruption agencies have compromised in very unpleasant dimension.
Gombe
Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has
pledged to continue to pursue probity, transparency and accountability in running the affairs of the state.
He spoke while taking oath of office for a second term in office in Gombe administered by the State Chief Judge, Justice Akila Heman at the Pantami Stadium Gombe.
The governor promised to carry all stakeholders along to give them a sense of belonging.
He said the sporadic attacks from insurgents and the hosting of internally displaced persons from the neighbouring states affected by the crisis had negative impact on the lean resources of the state.
The governor, however, said his commitment and stringent fiscal management had led to the transformation of the state into a modern metropolis for other states to emulate.
Jigawa
Some persons displaced as a result of the Boko Haram
insurgency, have resorted to begging in major streets of Hadejia town in Jigawa, to fend for themselves.
Sources said that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), comprising of women and children, roam the streets, offices, market places and other strategic locations, to beg for alms.
According to sources some of the IDPs were taking refuge in unoccupied stalls at Hadejia market, due to lack of approved camp in the area, while others, who migrated from Yobe and Borno states, as well as Niger Republic, were staying with relations in Hadejia town.
Hauwa Bakari, one of the displaced persons, said she was forced to beg to fend for herself and her three children.
Kano
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, said that his
administration would employ female sanitary Inspectors to strengthen personal hygiene in many homes in the state.
Ganduje announced this in Kano while launching a campaign on “Keep Kano Clean” at the Gyadi-Gyadi dumping site in Tarauni Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the present administration would focus more on strengthening personal and environmental hygiene with seriousness, to keep Kano clean.
The female inspectors, he said, would go into houses to ensure that children and everyone in the house observed personal and environmental cleanliness, as it used to be.
He further said that sanitary inspectors would be posted to all markets and slaughter houses in the state, to oversee their activities, stressing that the new administration would not tolerate negligence in sanitation issues.
Kwara
An economist, Mr. Babatunde Salami, has blamed poor
economic management and unjustifiable high debt profile for the country’s failing economy.
Salami made the remark while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin.
According to him, it is pitiable that it may take about four or more years to offset the over N14 trillion loan borrowed by government.
He stressed that it was unimaginable that the level of development was not commensurate with the country’s debt profile.
Lagos
The Women Advocates Research and Documentation
Centre (WARDC) has urged the Federal Government to establish an Independent Electoral Offences Tribunal to address issues of electoral violence in the country.
The Executive Director of the centre, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, made the call at a joint media briefing with the International Foundation for Electoral System and the European Union on “Issues and Challenges of Post 2015 Election’’.
Plateau
Elder statesman and All Progressives Congress (APC)
chieftain in Plateau, Alhaji Yahaya Kwande, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to resort to the use of internal mechanisms in fighting corruption.
He told newsmen in Jos last Saturday that corruption was not a new thing in Nigeria as it predated the colonial era.
Kwande however said that the scourge of corruption escalated because institutional mechanisms for fighting it such as checks and balances in the various Ministry’s Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were relegated to the background.
He lamented that, in recent time, even commissioners and deputy governors were mere figures heads who acted on issues, including corruption among their staff, only on the directives of either the president or the governors.
Sokoto
Former VC Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, Prof. Shehu
Riskuwa, has expressed confidence that the present administration would weed out Boko Haram insurgency.
Riskuwa told newsmen in Sokoto that President Muhammadu Buhari, being an army general, would come out with stringent security measures that would end the killings of innocent souls.
He said that Buhari had the political will to end the activities of the insurgents, hence the decision to relocate the military central command to Maiduguri showed that the administration was committed to tackling the insurgency.
He explained that ‘’ it has been part of his campaign to bring to an end the activities of the insurgents.
Secretary, Nuj, Fct, Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche (left), presenting a nomination form for the post of the Nuj President to the National Secretary of the union, Mr Shu’Aibu Leman, on behalf of Mustapha Lamidi of the News Agency of Nigeria (Nan), during the submission of the form for Nuj Election in Abuja recently. With them are the contestant, Mr Mustapha Lamidi (2nd-right) and Chairman, Nan Chapel, Mr Felix Ajide.
As the world marked the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child on Sunday, October 11, 2026, a non-governmental organisation, Stand Up for Women Society (SWS) has intensified its campaign against child marriage, urging schoolgirls to prioritise education, protect their rights and develop skills for a better future.
The organisation joined the global observance of the day under the theme, “International Day of the Girl Child: End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” with a sensitisation programme at Government Girls Secondary School, Oromenike, D-Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Led by its Vice Chairperson, Daba Benebo, the group engaged the students in discussions on the dangers of early marriage, teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse and other challenges that threaten the education, safety and development of the girl child.
Speaking during the programme, Benebo urged the students to reject early marriage and remain focused on their studies, stressing that education would empower them to make informed decisions about their lives and future.
She cautioned the girls against allowing anyone to deprive them of their right to education and dignity, advising them to report cases of harassment, abuse and other violations of their rights to the appropriate authorities.
Benebo assured the students that SWS remained available to support them whenever they encountered violations of their rights.
She also encouraged them to maintain discipline and responsible conduct while avoiding behaviours that could expose them to negative influences and jeopardise their future.
Beyond formal education, the SWS vice chairperson urged the students to acquire vocational skills that could provide additional opportunities for economic independence and help them navigate future challenges.
The sensitisation programme, enlivened by singing, dancing and to share their views and experiences on issues affecting the girl child interactive sessions, provided an opportunity for the students to share their views and experiences on issues affecting the girl child.
One of the major issues raised during the discussion was the appropriate age for marriage. While some participants maintained that 18 years was the constitutionally approved age, the discussion highlighted the need to consider not only age but also the maturity, preparedness and responsibilities associated with marriage.
The speaker stressed that marriage required adequate mental and emotional preparation, as well as the capacity to shoulder its responsibilities.
She therefore advised the students to concentrate on acquiring a sound education before considering marriage, noting that education would equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to make responsible decisions and manage family life.
The issue of teenage pregnancy also featured prominently during the question-and-answer session.
In addressing the subject, the speaker explained that pregnancy could occur even at the age of 12, using the example to underscore the vulnerability of young girls to the consequences of early sexual activity.
She advised the students to avoid sexual intercourse and prioritise their education, personal safety and future aspirations.
The discussion also examined the difficulties some girls encounter when living with hostile spouses, relatives or guardians.
Benebo encouraged the students to cultivate patience, humility and diligence, noting that these qualities could help them navigate difficult situations and build a brighter future.
However, she warned that patience and humility should never be interpreted as an obligation to endure violence, abuse or degrading treatment.
She urged girls experiencing hostile or abusive living conditions to seek help from their parents, trusted adults or appropriate support services rather than remain in environments that could expose them to physical or emotional trauma.
“When such happens, please return to your parents and engage in petty trade or learn a skill to support your education rather than stay in a hostile environment,” Benebo stressed.
The programme also underscored the importance of protecting girls from early marriage and other harmful practices that can disrupt their education, compromise their well-being and limit their opportunities in life.
It also reinforced the need for families, schools, communities and relevant organisations to work together to ensure that girls have access to education, vocational training, protection and the support they need to realise their potential.
For SWS, the message was clear: empowering the girl child begins with protecting her rights, investing in her education and equipping her with the confidence and skills to make informed choices about her future.
Stories by Kevin Nengia
The Egberipapa Foundation has unveiled a mass transit scheme aimed at easing transportation difficulties and improving connectivity among communities in the three Kalabari local government areas of Asari-Toru, Degema and Akuku-Toru in Rivers State.
The initiative, established by former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Council, High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich, popularly known as Egberipapa, is designed to make transportation more accessible and affordable for residents across the Kalabari area.
The scheme was launched on Monday, October 12, 2026, and is expected to address longstanding transportation challenges confronting residents, particularly those in riverine and hard-to-reach communities.
Communities expected to benefit from the initiative include Krakrama, Minama, Angulama, Sangama, Omekwe-Tariama and Omekwe-Ama.
The project is expected to ease movement within and beyond the Central Group area, while providing residents with a more convenient means of transportation for their daily activities.
For decades, transportation difficulties have posed significant challenges to several Kalabari communities, making movement between settlements both cumbersome and expensive. These challenges have also affected commercial activities, social interactions and access to essential services.
The introduction of the mass transit scheme is therefore expected to provide relief to residents, strengthen inter-community connections and stimulate economic activities across the benefiting communities.
Beyond improving mobility, the initiative could contribute to community development by facilitating the movement of people and goods, supporting local businesses and enhancing social and economic interactions within the Kalabari area.
As the scheme gets underway, attention will be focused on its implementation, accessibility and sustainability, as well as its capacity to deliver lasting transportation benefits to the target communities.
The initiative represents a potentially significant step towards addressing transportation challenges and promoting grassroots development across the Kalabari Kingdom.
The Amaewhule family of mbodo Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State has cautioned members of the public against entering into any land transaction involving a disputed property known as “Ada Oro Fam Land,” located behind the OPM Church along Airport Road.
The family, through its legal counsel, Barrister Ndubuisi Agumagu, issued the warning amid an ongoing legal dispute over the ownership and control of the property, which is said to comprise more than 900 plots of land.
The matter is currently before the Isiokpo High Court of Rivers State in a suit numbered IHC/246/CS/2026, presided over by Justice Sobere Biambo.
The claimants in the suit include Chief Green Amaewhule and others, while Fabulous Amaewhule and Odibola Properties are listed among the respondents.
Counsel to the Amaewhule family, Barr Ndubuisi Agumagu, advised prospective land buyers and members of the public to exercise caution and refrain from purchasing any portion of the disputed property pending the determination of the case by the court.
According to the legal counsel, the property is a family estate belonging collectively to the Amaewhule family, and no individual member of the family has the authority to unilaterally dispose of portions of the land.
The counsel specifically maintained that Fabulous Amaewhule, one of the respondents in the suit, does not have the legitimate authority, according to the family’s position before the court, to sell portions of the disputed property.
The family further warned that anyone who proceeds to purchase land from the respondents while the matter remains before the court would be doing so at their own risk.
It stressed that such buyers could potentially lose their investments should the court eventually deliver judgment against the validity of the transactions.
The legal team said the warning became necessary to prevent unsuspecting members of the public from committing their resources to a property whose ownership and right of disposition are currently the subject of judicial determination.
The family also urged prospective investors, developers and land buyers to conduct proper legal inquiries and obtain independent verification of the status of the property before committing funds to any transaction relating to it.
The Amaewhule family said its position was intended to protect members of the public from possible financial losses and further legal complications while the case remains sub judice, stressing that interested parties should await the final determination of the court.
Akujobi Amadi