Nation
THE STATES
Borno
The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has pre
sented about N30 million cash support to parents of the abducted Government Secondary School (GSS) Chibok students in Borno.
Buhari, represented by the wife of the Borno governor Hajiya Nana Shettima, presented the cash to the parents at a ceremony in Maiduguri.
She explained that the gesture was aimed at assisting the parents with some financial support towards alleviating their sufferings.
Buhari pointed out that the presentation was in fulfillment of her promise to assist the less privileged and victims of insurgency in the North East.
“Today’s presentation was in fulfillment of the promise I made earlier in the year during my book launch in Abuja.
“I made a promise that the proceeds will be used to better the lives of women and victims of insurgency in the North East,” she said.
FCT
Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China have signed
a bilateral agreement of over eight million China’s Yuan (about 400 million naira) for various projects in the FCT.
The projects were feasibility studies of the second phase of the Abuja Solar Powered Traffic Control Signal, Agricultural Demonstration Centre and the 2016 Bilateral Training Programmes.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr James Akpandem, Media Adviser to Minister of Budget and National Planning Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, in Abuja.
“The agreement was signed at the sixth session of the Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation Joint Commission meeting in Abuja.
“The agreement is a prelude to Chinese government’s full involvement in the projects once they are certified feasible.
“The project will be funded through gratis assistance as part of the 2012 Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement between the two governments,” the statement said.
Jigawa
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Jigawa State says it will deploy 1,500 personnel to ensure hitch-free sallah celebration in the state.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Malam Muhammad Durumin-Iya, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.
Durumin-Iya said the officers would be deployed to Dutse, the state capital and other major towns across the state.
He explained that the gesture was to provide adequate security during and after Sallah celebrations across the state.
“As part of plans to ensure hitch-free event, and adequate security, during and after Sallah in Jigawa, we will also deploy about 150 special force, which comprises of Special Armed Squad and Counter Terrorism Squad”, he said.
Kaduna
A mobile court has convicted 49 drivers for violation of
road traffic regulations during a special patrol in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area, Kaduna State, by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
FRSC Legal Officer, Kaduna Sector Command, Mr Ibrahim Tanko, told newsmen that the offenders were convicted by mobile court after their arrest.
The official said that eight of the offenders were convicted for light sign violation, seven for driving with worn out tyres or without spare tyre and four for vehicle licence violation.
Eight others he said were convicted for drivers’ license violation, five for fire extinguisher violation, nine for seat belt violation, three for over-loading and one for number plate violation.
He added that four others were convicted for obstructing marshal on duty, operating vehicle with forged document, caution sign violation and vehicle windshield violation respectively.
Kwara
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Kwara State, says it has deployed 2,500 personnel across the state to ensure protection of lives and property during the Eid-al-fitr celebration.
The Kwara Commandant of the corps, Mr Pedro Ideba, disclosed this in llorin during an interview with newsmen.
He said that the personnel had already been deployed in all the 16 local government areas of the state to ensure a hitch free Sallah celebration.
The commandant said that the corps was collaborating with other security operatives in the state to achieve this.
Ideba said that personnel had been dispatched to all the Eid praying grounds and other sensitive locations in the state to provide adequate security.
The commandant warned residents of the state against taking laws into their hands, adding that any person or group of peoples who constitute security threat would be dealt with.
Lagos
Group Managing Director, Lagos State Water Corpora
tion, Mr Muminu Badmus, said its officials would be visiting residents to verify their complaints toward boosting service delivery.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Rasaq Anifowoshe of the corporation‘s Public Affairs Division.
According to him, the visit is designed to help the corporation improve water services to every home in the state.
‘’Lagos Water Corporation is planning to visit Water Customers for effective Service delivery.
‘’The exercise will start from Surulere Area of the state on July 7, and will be extended to other parts of Lagos metropolis”, he said.
Nasarawa
Nasarawa State Police command says it has deployed
over 2,000 officers to various strategic places in the state in order to ensure a hitch-free Eid-el-Fitr.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, Lawal Shehu, told newsmen in Lafia that appropriate measures were being taken to forestall any breakdown of law and order during the festivity.
He said officers had been placed on surveillance patrol of identified flash points of violence and criminality across the state.
“Hoodlums usually take advantage of festive periods to perpetrate crimes but we are ready for them this time,” he said.
Shehu called on members of the public, especially Muslim faithful, to cooperate with the police to safeguard lives and property.
Ogun
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, says the intro
duction of single currency by West African states would promote economic integration and progress within the region.
Obasanjo said this while playing host to the President, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Commission, Mr Marcel de Souza, at his hilltop estate, Abeokuta.
The former president said it was high time the organisation started using single currency, adding that it would help boost the economy of all members of ECOWAS.
“We have decided that our unit of currency will be ‘eco’, let us now start using eco, let eco become our unit of currency.
“Single currency unit for ECOWAS states will bring about more development and growth among the states”, he said.
Oyo
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has
handed over completed school projects worth 1.3 Japanese Yen (N2 billion) to the Oyo State Government.
JICA handed over the projects to the state government at a ceremony held at St. Luke’s Demonstration School, Molete, Ibadan.
The Chief Representative in the Nigeria office of JICA, Mr Hirotaka Nakamura, said that the sum was expended on 231 classrooms, two staff rooms and 218 toilet booths spread across 30 schools in the state.
Our correspondent reports that the classroom blocks were furnished with desks, chairs and blackboards.
“The completion of this project brings the total number of classrooms constructed in the education sector in Nigeria to 1, 038 classrooms and 999 toilet booths since December 2014 till date”, he said.
Sokoto
Sokoto State Government has purchased 9,000 metric
tonnes of fertiliser and 16,000 water pumps worth about N 1.7 billion to be distributed to farmers in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Alhaji Umaru Nagwari made the disclosure in Sokoto in an interview with newsmen.
According to Nagwari, the assorted fertiliser and water pumps will be distributed to both dry and rainy season farmers across the 23 local government areas of the state.
Nagwari said that the fertiliser, which comprised of Urea and NPK brands, were bought at about N8, 000 per bag but would be sold to the farmers at 75 per cent subsidy.
The commissioner also disclosed that the state executive council had approved the purchase of Faro rice seedlings worth about N392 million for distribution to the farmers free of charge.
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
