Nation
THE STATES
President Muhammadu Buhari (5th right), Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (5th left), Chairman, Centenary City Board, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (4th right) and Board members of Centenary City, during their meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja recently. Photo: NAN
Bauchi
Some disengaged staff of National Identity Management Commis
sion (NIMC) resident in Bauchi, have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene for them to be paid their complete entitlements.
Making the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi, their spokesperson, Malam Idris Balarabe, said following the controversy surrounding the manner of their disengagement, the then National Assembly, under the leadership of David Mark and Waziri Tambuwal intervened.
“After joint consultation between House of Representative and Senate, an agreement was reached in 2013 that each disengaged staff be paid one year salary as take home severance allowance.
“Up till now, we are yet to be settled or reinstated.
“We believe that the Almighty God, would guide Mr President and give him the gracious mind to consider our plight , as well as give it the urgent attention it deserves,” said Balarabe.
Ekiti
An Ikole Magistrates’ Court in Ekiti State yesterday sentenced two
landlords, Omoniyi Ajayi and Ola Olowolafe to five and seven months jail term respectively, for violating environmental sanitation laws.
The Magistrate, Mrs A.S. Okunbule, however, gave the landlords option of N5,500 and N7,000 fines respectively.
Our correspondent reports that the convicts first appeared in court on Aug. 25 on charges bordering on failure to provide toilets, indiscriminate defecation, among others.
Mr Tunde Famuyisan, prosecuting officer, Environmental Health and Sanitation, Ikole Local Government, said the landlords owned houses located at No.101, Oke-Owa St. and No. 2, Ilado St. Odo Ayedun Ekiti, respectively.
FCT
The Head Teacher, FCT School for the Blind, Mrs Regina Dung,has
decried the high cost of learning materials for blind students in the country.
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Dung said that these materials were not available in the open market and cost a lot of money to order them from the specialised stores.
“Their learning materials is on the high side — braille machines, braille paper, a slate and stylus — they are not just in the open market where you just walk into and buy anything.
“All these are materials that we use in teaching the blind, even the stylus, which is used for mathematics, is not in the open market.
“You have to place order in designated stores which are located only in Jos and Lagos.
“For example, their biro costs N1, 000; but if it is foreign, it goes for N1,500 compared to the N20 biro of the regular students.’’
Gombe
Hope Spring International, an NGO, said it has spent over N6million
to construct boreholes to provide water for some communities in Gombe South and Central Senatorial Districts.
Mr Rambi Ayala, Director of Operations of the NGO, stated this on Thursday in Ladongor-Lawampe and Powishi-Amtadwang villages of Billiri Local Government Area where two boreholes were declared open.
Ayala, who is currently the member representing Billiri East Constituency at the Gombe State House of Assembly, said 15 boreholes were constructed by the NGO in three years.
He said that the boreholes were part of the humanitarian services of the organisation.
“We are preparing to do more in the coming months,” he said.
Jigawa
Association for the Advancement of Women in Nigeria (ASSAWIN),
yesterday organised a one-day sensitisation workshop for pregnant women, nursing mothers and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), in Birninkudu local government area, Jigawa.
The Programme Manager of the NGO in the state, Miss Chinelo Amechina, told newsmen in Birninkudu that the programme was aimed at promoting safe motherhood and safe delivery among women in the area.
She said the effort was also to improve on the livelihood of women and children in the council.
The manager explained that the beneficiaries were drawn from Chiako, Birninkudu and Babaldu towns, respectively.
According to her, the beneficiaries include 80 pregnant and nursing women, 15 men (husbands) and 15 TBAs.
Kaduna
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has called on
stakeholders to support the efforts at standardising vocational training in line with global best practices.
This call is contained in a statement signed by the board’s Public Relations Officer, Suleiman Gwarzo, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna yesterday.
The statement stated that the standard in skills acquisition and vocations could be achieved through the National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF).
According to the statement, NVQF is an instrument for the development, classification and recognition of skills, knowledge and competence acquired by citizens through various trainings and skills acquisition.
Katsina
Katsina State Government has ordered that all structures on water
ways and grave yards encroaching on the road across the state should be demolished.
Chairman of the Special Sanitation Taskforce in the state, Alhaji Aminu Danarewa, announced the directive yesterday during a visit to Dandutse grave yard and waste disposal centres in Funtua.
Danarewa said that the visit was part of the ongoing three-day special sanitation exercise embarked upon by the state government.
He directed the Director of Finance and Administration of Funtua Local Government Council, Alhaji Bishir Maikano, to compile the lists of ‘’offensive’’ structures which would be demolished in the area
Danarewa, who is also the Special Assistant to the state governor on Sports Development, said that his committee had the mandate to carry out the demolition.
Kogi
A Lokoja-based legal practitioner, Mr Joel Usman, has commended
the anti corruption posture of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Usman, who gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Lokoja yesterday, said that the effort had positive influence on all the sectors of the nation’s economy.
He said that the gains of the government’s anti-corruption crusade could be seen in improved power sector.
Usman said that the effort had also paid off as ‘’everyone is sitting up including the anti-graft agencies.”
“In NNPC, some of the refineries that were not working for some years have started working at almost optimum capacity without any major repairs,’’ he said.
Lagos
Gov.ernorAkinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has promised to sup
port massive investment in modern medical equipment to meet the health challenges of residents of the state.
Ambode, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, made the promise at the inauguration of Clinix Healthcare, an Ultramodern Diagnostic Centre in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
He said that private sector participation in healthcare delivery, had complemented efforts of government and yielded tremendous dividends through qualitative healthcare.
“We are delighted that the private sector partnership has yielded another state-of-the-art health facility, with the opening of this ultramodern diagnostic centre.”
Nasarawa
The Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof.
Mohammed Mainoma,has commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for providing funds for educational advancement in the institution.
Mainoma lauded the fund in an interview with newsmen in Keffi yesterday.
He said that the special intervention from TETFUND and Presidential intervention fund had not only changed the physical structure of the university positively, but the academic activities of the institution through staff training and execution of infrastructural development.
He said: “The university management is working tirelessly to ensure that it lifted up the institution to a world class standard, that is why the university is embarking on projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the students and staff for the benefit of all.
“All these efforts of infrastructural development is geared towards achieving academic excellence and to create more conducive environment so as to uplift the university to international standard and to enhance teaching and researching, among others.
Niger
The Niger State Government says it has commercialised
the services of the state’s cultural troupe.
The Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Mr Kabir Danasabe, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Minna yesterday.
Danasabe said that the action was taken in order to expand the scope of the troupe as well as increase internally generated revenue.
“The state cultural troupe before now entertained people with little or no fee while government invests huge amount of money to keep them going. This cannot go on forever.
“We made the hiring of the state troupe a full commercial venture in order to attract revenue for government.
Ogun
No fewer than 14 persons were yesterday confirmed dead
in two separate accidents at Ogunmakin on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Our correspondent reports that the accidents occurred on Wednesday and Thursday in the early hours of the morning.
The first one, which occurred on Wednesday at about 4:05 a.m., involved two vehicles and claimed 10 lives.
Eyewitnesses said a trailer with registration number LSR 392 SB loaded with cows and more than 27 passengers collided with another trailer marked XE 444 KTU.
The eyewitnesses said a total of 30 people were involved in the crash with 20 injured while 10 were confirmed dead at Ifeoluwa hospital in Ogunmakin.
Osun
An Osogbo High Court has fixed September 15 for definite
hearing in the suit filed by Justice Folahanmi Oloyede against the Speaker of Osun Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam, and 10 others.
Justice Aderibigbe Adebayo adjourned the matter for definite hearing in a short ruling yesterday.
He ordered counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Lukman Ogunsetan, to serve the defence counsel with the petition personally before the adjourned date.
Earlier, counsel to the respondents, Messers Adewole Afolabi, Surajudeen Ajibola and Adedapo Adeniji had told the court that Ogunsetan did not serve their clients petition personally.
Zamfara
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),
has expressed its readiness to forcibly evacuate over 2,000 household in Gangare, Zamfara, to avoid casualty in case of flood.
The NEMA’s Coordinator in-charge of Sokoto Operations Office, Mr Thickman Tanimu, made the disclosure in Gusau, in an interview with newsmen.
He explained that the household would be evacuated from Gangare area near river Gusau, in the state capital.
Tanimu said that the agency had organised training for stakeholders in disaster management on the importance of waste management and flood mitigation.
“Based on the report we received from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) the state government had over ten years ago directed the people to vacate the area.
The Head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt’s College of Health Sciences, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive forensic science infrastructure, warning that the nation’s ability to investigate and solve crime is being hampered by lack of scientific data and systems.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Man: Fearfully Different, Wonderfully Made,” delivered as part of the 207th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university, Prof Oladipo highlighted that while no two individuals are exactly the same, the country currently lacks the robust systems needed to collect and manage biological and anthropometric data that could support criminal investigations.
He explained that the natural variations among humans — from fingerprints to physical measurements — form the foundation of personal identification in forensic work. These biological differences, he said, are essential for distinguishing one person from another, especially in the context of criminal investigations where clarity of identity can mean the difference between justice and impunity. Without this scientific foundation, he argued, law enforcement agencies lack a critical tool in the fight against crime.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s forensic science capacity has historically lagged behind needs, with only a few forensic facilities available and many law enforcement agencies struggling to access or use scientific evidence effectively. One review of the state of forensic investigation in Nigeria found that outdated facilities and limited adoption of modern forensic methods have left many cases unsolved or poorly investigated, even as crime rates rise across the country.
In Lagos, efforts to improve forensic capabilities have focused on DNA analysis, with the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre — the first of its kind in West Africa — providing critical support for criminal investigations and helping to identify human remains, link related cases, and assist with paternity testing. However, such initiatives are yet to be replicated at a national scale, leaving many regions without access to these vital scientific tools.
Prof Oladipo’s lecture went beyond academic theory to propose concrete actions. He called for the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Science responsible for creating and managing a nationwide anthropometric and forensic data bank. This repository, he stressed, would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to track crime, assist law enforcement agencies, and improve the administration of justice by providing reliable scientific evidence for investigative and legal processes.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening research and training in forensic science. Many Nigerian universities currently lack the funding and infrastructure to offer complete undergraduate or postgraduate programs in areas such as forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, and crime scene investigation, a gap that forces aspiring experts to rely on collaborations with institutions abroad. By fostering a research-friendly environment and securing greater support from both government and private sectors, Nigerian institutions could produce homegrown experts capable of advancing forensic science in the country.
Awareness of forensic science’s role in criminal justice remains low among the general public and even among some security professionals. Studies have shown that a significant portion of Nigerians are unfamiliar with basic forensic concepts or the existence of tools such as DNA profiling and national forensic databases — tools that are common features of criminal justice systems in countries like South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Oladipo also urged regular training and retraining programs to keep forensic practitioners updated with evolving scientific methods. According to him, continuous professional development is critical in a field where technological advances — from biometric databases to digital forensic tools — are transforming how crimes are investigated and solved.
The lecture was attended by academics, students, and professionals drawn to the intersection of science, identity, and justice, all of whom heard the professor make a compelling case for scientific innovation and institutional reform as central to Nigeria’s effort to contain crime and strengthen its justice system.
The event not only showcased Prof Oladipo’s expertise in human anatomy and forensic psychology but also positioned forensic science as a strategic national priority — one that could bring clarity to investigations, support victims and their families, and ultimately enhance public safety across Nigeria.
The University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) on Thursday staged a vibrant and memorable edition of its Annual Inter-House Sports Competition at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Village, drawing an impressive turnout of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests.
The event, organised by the UPWA International Group of Schools, brought together children from the pre-nursery, nursery and secondary sections in a colourful celebration of youth athleticism, discipline and teamwork. The arena came alive with cheers and excitement as pupils, clad in their various house colours, marched in a ceremonial parade before proceeding to compete in a wide range of track and field events, relays, novelty races and other team-based activities designed to promote physical fitness and healthy competition.
Declaring the competition open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended UPWA for sustaining a tradition that continues to nurture young talents beyond the classroom. He noted that sports remain a critical component of holistic education, helping to build resilience, confidence, leadership skills and social interaction among children.
In her remarks, the President of UPWA, Professor Udeme Georgewill, expressed appreciation to parents, teachers and members of the organising committee for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the success of the programme despite prevailing economic challenges. She described the event as a reflection of unity and collective effort within the school community.
“This is the first time White House is emerging overall winner, and that shows remarkable improvement and great sportsmanship,” she said. “We all had fun. It is not easy putting an event like this together considering the economic situation, but we are grateful to the parents for being part of this journey. The excitement everywhere is truly heartwarming.”
The competition featured spirited participation from the various houses, including Purple House, San Chicago Red House and White House, with pupils demonstrating strength, speed, coordination and teamwork. Parents and supporters filled the stands, cheering enthusiastically and adding colour to the spectacle, while teachers ensured orderliness and safety throughout the proceedings.
Professor Georgewill emphasized that the true essence of sports lies not merely in winning trophies but in participation and personal growth. “Sports is not just about winning. It is an avenue for growth, discipline and opportunity. The fact that a child is able to participate is already a win. Losing this year does not mean you cannot win next year. Keep trying,” she encouraged, urging pupils to see both victory and defeat as stepping stones to greater achievements.
She further observed that while there are many competing interests in the Nigerian sports sector, consistent grassroots investment remains essential for discovering and nurturing future champions.
The colourful ceremony culminated in medal presentations, trophy awards and group photographs, with UPWA executives, including Vice President I, Professor Adedamola Onyeaso, joining the participating teams to celebrate the day’s achievements.
The annual inter-house sports competition continues to stand as one of UPWA’s flagship events, reinforcing its commitment to balanced education, character formation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among its pupils.
