Nation
THE STATES
From Left: Senior Special Assistant to President on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Ita Enag, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Yusuf Lasun, President Muhammadu Buhari and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremmadu, after Presentation of address to the joint session of the National Assembly by President Jacob Zuma of South Africa in Abuja last Tuesday
Borno
The Catholic Bishop of Maiduguri, Rt. Rev. Oliver Dashe,
has commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their courage in crushing the Boko Haram insurgents in the North- East.
The Bishop gave the commendation in Maiduguri, during a courtesy visit to Brig.-Gen.Victor Ezugwu, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division Nigerian Army.
A statement signed by Col. Mustapha Anka, spokesman of the Division, said that Dashe noted that the people of the area had lost many souls due to the insurgency.
He noted that the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents had resulted in wanton destruction of lives and property, as well as disruption of socio-economic lives of millions of Nigerians.
“The Boko Haram terrorists have destroyed homes and rendered many people homeless and jobless.
FCT
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the new
Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji Aje Ogungunniso 1 on his coronation.
This is contained in a statement in Abuja by Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president.
According to the statement, President Buhari joins the indigenes of Ibadan, the family of the new Olubadan, the government and people of Oyo State in celebrating Oba Adetunji’s ascension to the ancient throne of his forefathers.
President Buhari urged Oba Adetunji to follow in the worthy and commendable footsteps of his predecessors by working diligently for peace and development in Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria.
The president also called on Oba Adetunji to do his utmost best, in his new role as the chief custodian of the traditions of his people, to preserve and propagate the admirable culture and customs of Ibadan.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Consumer Protection Committee (CPC)
said it had seized no fewer than 238 fake measuring bowls (mudus) from traders in the last few weeks.
The CPC Chairman, Alhaji Faruk Abdullahi, said this while speaking with newsmen in Dutse.
Abdullahi said the items were seized from the traders in six different markets in the state.
He listed the markets to include that of Suletankarkar, Malammadori, Hadejia, Garungabas and Balangu towns.
The chairman said that the gesture was to check lack of uniformity of measuring bowls in all the markets, adding that the gesture would also provide consumers some protection.
Kano
The Director-General, Kano State Zakkat and Endowment
Board, Alhaji Sufiyanu Gwagwarwa, has paid West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees for 104 indigent students who passed their mock qualifying examination.
The benefitting students were selected from Gwagwarwa Quarters in Nasarawa Local Government area of the state.
Gwagwarwa, who presented the receipts to the beneficiaries in Kano said the gesture was aimed at assisting the indigent students from poor families to further their studies.
“The students have passed their mock qualifying examinations conducted in their respective schools, but they don’t have money to register for WAEC examination.
“This is the reason why I decided on my own to assist them because I have been doing it every year,” he said.
Kwara
President, National Council for Women Society (NCWS),
Kwara chapter, Hajia Barakat Atunse, has called for equal opportunity in leadership role for women in Nigeria.
Atunse made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin while marking the 2016 International Women Day celebration.
Represented by Mrs Victoria Moradoye, the Public Relations Officer of the council, the president said that women must partake in policy making of the nation since they were created to nurture the society.
Atunse described the theme for this year’s event, “Pledge for Gender Parity”, as apt as women still undergo discrimination in every sphere of life.
Lagos
The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of
Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Saleh Dunoma, has confirmed that the authority is set for the forthcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Certification Audit.
This is contained in a statement issued by FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr Yakubu Dati, in Lagos.
Our correspondent reports that the audit is slated to hold within the month.
The statement stated that Dunoma gave the assurance during his recent inspection tour of facilities at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in preparation for the exercise.
It stated that in pursuance of safety and security at the airport, Dunoma inspected the newly acquired security patrol vehicles and also the fire service vans to ensure that they met required standards.
Nasarawa
The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Solomon Arase,
appealed to state governments to partner with the Police to provide mass housing for officers and men.
Arase made the appeal in Lafia when he paid a courtesy visit on Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State.
Arase who said that retired officers would also benefit from the mass housing programme, added that the collaboration would boost the well-being and morale of the officers.
Arase commended the governor for the cordial relationship with officers and men in the state command.
Responding, Al-Makura assured the I-G of the state government’s continuous support to the Police.
Niger
The Niger Government has automated the process of
assessing and collecting taxes in order to block leakages and boost the state’s internally generated revenue.
Alhaji Hussaini Ahmed, the Chairman, Niger State Board of Internal Revenue, disclosed this in Minna in an interview with newsmen.
Ahmed, who spoke on the sidelines of the Board’s 2016 budget defence before the Niger House of Assembly Committee on Finance, said the computerisation was in line with best practices.
“We have automated assessing and partially automated collection through Point of Sale (POS), e-payment and other payment channels following dwindling federal allocation.
Osun
A 22-year-old man, Adewole Yomi, has been arraigned in
an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court for contempt.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Ajayi, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on October 16, 2015 as well as January 16 and March 8 by refusing to appear in court for a case.
Ajayi said the offence committed contravened the provision of Section 133(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Volume 11 laws of Osun, 2003.
The defendant, who had no counsel, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Plateau
The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians that
it would protect their lives and property, tackle corruption and diversify the nation’s economy.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this at the 36th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Jos.
He said the existence of any government was to ensure the security of lives and property.
He said the country had faced the challenges of ethno-religious violence, armed robbery, rustling, kidnapping for ransom, militancy and violent agitations.
“The most daunting security challenge that we have faced in the past seven to eight years has been the Boko Haram insurgency.
Sokoto
The Department of State Services (DSS), Sokoto State
Command, has arraigned a 40-year-old man, Abubakar Buba, in the Federal High Court, Sokoto, for alleged abduction of the District Head of Wamakko, Alhaji Salihu Barade.
Buba was alleged to have on April 8, 2015, conspired with three other suspects, who are now at large, and forcefully seized Barade at his farm in Wamakko town in the state.
The charges levelled against the accused and the three other accomplices include abducting and detaining Barade, who is also a member of the Sultanate Council of Sokoto and a kingmaker.
Buba and the three alleged accomplices, who were said to have been invited from Niger, were accused of abducting Barade and releasing him only after the payment of ransom.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
Yobe
A member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji
Sabo Garba, has urged corporate organisations to expand the scope of their corporate social responsibility programmes.
He advised corporate bodies to complement government‘s effort at enhancing living conditions of the people.
Garba, who is representing Potiskum/Nangere Federal Constituency, made the call in Potiskum, Yobe, in an interview with newsmen.
“With increased corporate responsibilities, the lives of Nigerians will be improved especially widows and orphans devastated by insurgency in the North East will have a new hope into the future. “
The lawmaker said the collective efforts of government, corporate organisations and philanthropists in providing facilities and opportunities “will improve lives of Nigerians and a better business environment.”
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that 26,592 public school students failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, raising alarm across the state’s education sector.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during a ministerial press briefing yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja, said that “45.7 per cent of the 58,188 students from public schools who sat for the exams did not pass.”.
This failure rate comes despite the state government’s significant financial backing N1.577 billion was paid on behalf of the students to cover WAEC fees.
“Suffice to say that the sum of N1,577,794,000 only was paid by the state government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for the year 2024 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun announced.
In a bid to tighten accountability and avoid wastage, the Commissioner disclosed that biometric and image registration was carried out to accurately determine eligible students for government sponsorship for the 2025 WASSCE.
“The exercise successfully captured and registered 56,134 students as bona fide beneficiaries of the Lagos state government’s sponsorship for the examination,” he added.
However, the Lagos State Government rolled out a bold educational intervention – the Eko Learners’ Support Programme for WASSCE and NECO candidates – aimed at reversing the tide of academic failure in the state’s public schools.
Launched on January 14, 2025, the initiative is part of a broader commitment by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to equip Lagos students with tools for success.
“This forward-thinking initiative was designed to support and empower young scholars in attestation of the ministry’s commitment to advancing interest and management of the educational system in Lagos State,” Alli-Balogun stated.
Ekiti State Government says it has vaccinated 226,429 eligible girls in the State against the Human Papilloma Virus, an infection believed to be a leading cause of cervical cancer.
The wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, said the HPV immunization exercise, which she flagged off in the State in May 2025 was a great success, noting that it reached targeted communities and protected children against cervical cancer.
The governor’s wife made the disclosure in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on the introduction of Measles Rubella vaccines in Ekiti State.
She said, “The introduction of Measles Rubella Vaccines is a very crucial step towards protecting Ekiti children particularly the target age group of nine to 14 years from diseases.
“I urge all women in the State to regularly scan their breasts. This can be done with the aid of the Mammography machine which is available at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti”.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, noted that the Measles Rubella vaccines would be rolled out nationally in October, 2025.
Filani said that the State was taking proactive steps to sensitise residents of the State before the date to ensure adequate awareness on the vaccines by citizens.
The Acting Ochimba of Ogida in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam, says peace remains paramount in the socio-economic development of Etche land.
Eze Azuatalam, however, called on his people to embrace and eschew violence at all times.
The Onwa Nagbara Oha made the call during the official commissioning of his palace at Ogida recently.
The epoch-making ceremony held at his palace saw the attendance of members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs; the academia; the political class; the clergy ; women as well relevant stakeholders within and outside Etche land.
The Ngbaragida of Azuafor re-emphasised the essence of peace and social harmony which he said open the window for meaningful development to take place.
He also sought the support and collaboration of his people to achieve the desired goals of development, progress and prosperity.
He noted that the peace being witnessed in the area must be sustained through collective effort, saying, contributions and sacrifices need to be made by all concerned to live in peace.
Eze Azuatalam said his aim towards building a better Ogida cannot be compromised as he and his people have no other place called home.
The Acting Ochimba said as part of efforts to build a better Ogida, he has instituted a number of development projects, adding that some of his kinsmen have been empowered through his hard-earned money and resources, saying, he will continue to assist the less- privileged around him.
He reaffirmed his desire to impact positively on the lives of his people as the engagement of the youths will help to reduce social vices in the area.
He thanked members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs for honouring his invitation.
He specifically thanked the Onyi Ishi Etche and Ochie of Etcheland, His Eminence E mmanuel Opurum for leading Etche on the path of prosperity, and described the revered King as a role model to the younger generation.
He said his fatherly role has been a source of hope and inspiration to his subjects.
The palace was unveiled by His Eminence with the assistance of Ochimba of Abara, Eze Jonah Nwala and other prominent Etche traditional rulers and chiefs while the Onyi Ishi Etche was represented by Eze Ken Nwala, Onyi Ishi Agwuru, Ulakwo/ Umuselem Clan.
The Onyi Ishi Etche urged other prominent sons of Etche to emulate the kind gesture of Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam as his magnanimity is being seen and appreciated by his people.
Eze Azuatalam also applauded the efforts of Prof Mekuri Ndimele, former Vice Chancellor of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in the growth of Etche land.
According to him, during Ndimele’ s tenure, a lot of development projects were sited at the institution, including the development of Etcheland and empowerment of Etche people.