Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
A philanthropist, Mr Richard Daniel, has renovated
the General Hospital, Garkida in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa, at the cost of N65 million.
He told newsmen that the gesture was informed by his desire to ignite community responsiveness in the people as well as restore the lost glory of Garkida community.
Daniel, who is a native of Garkida, regretted that the community was becoming a ghost of its former status as essential services such as medical care, potable drinking water and quality education were lacking.
He advised the people to imbibe the spirit of self-help and endeavour to maintain and safeguard facilities provided for them.
The philanthropist said that his vision to empower women and youths in the area was also sacrosanct.
Bauchi
A vigilante group in Bauchi, Peace and Vanguard
Committee, said it had assisted in curtailing activities of about 300 miscreant groups popularly known as ‘Sara Suka’ in the state.
The Commander of the group, Alhaji Isa Madaki, disclosed this in Bauchi during a grassroots mobilisation and sensitisation campaign organised by the group.
Madaki said that the group, had in the past five years, tried to nip in the bud activities of these miscreants who daily terrorised innocent people in the state.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government has inaugurated a 19-
member committee to organise a mass wedding for widows and divorcees in the state.
This is contained in a statement issued by Malam Ibrahim Isma’il, the Public Relations Officer, Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Dutse.
The statement disclosed that the SSG, Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir, while inaugurating the committee, said the gesture was to checkmate social vices in the society.
The statement said that the Committee was to identify the total number of widows and divorcees in each of the 27 local government areas of the state.
According to the statement, the committee was to also obtain the beneficiaries’ consent for the marriage and trace and establish trade or profession of the male beneficiaries.
Kaduna
The Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of the
Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has advocated institutional reforms to shield security votes from abuse.
Makarfi, a former Governor of Kaduna State, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna.
He said it was important to set up a machinery for an institutional reform on how security votes should be managed.
“This affects not only the federal government, because if you come down to the states, you are going to find similar happenings.
“Even local government chairmen have security votes and you are going to find that their expenditure follows a similar pattern.”
Kano
Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Kano
State has advised farmers to register with the association to enable them benefit from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) anchor borrower programme.
The Chairman of the association in the state, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, made the call while fielding questions from newsmen in Kano.
Aliyu said the advice was necessary as the Federal Government was committed to ensuring success of the programme.
“Those who have not been able to register for the wet season farming, can do so for the dry season farming because the federal government is serious about the programme.”
Kogi
A Lokoja-based agriculturalist, Mr Ademola Oladoyin
has advised youths in Kogi State to embrace small scale farming like fishery and poultry to earn a living.
Oladoyin gave the advice in Lokoja in an interview with newsmen recently.
He said youths should be encouraged to embark on fishery and poultry and other farming activities that would not require big capital to establish rather than seeking white-collar jobs.
Oladoyin also appealed to government at all levels to create empowerment programmes for youths in order to reduce restiveness and unemployment in the country.
Ogun
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ota Unit
Command, Ogun State, has confirmed the death of a truck driver in an auto- accident at the Lagos-Ogun border toll-gate.
The unit commander, Mr Leye Adegboyega, who confirmed this to newsman said the accident occurred around 12 midnight.
Adegboyega, who blamed the accident on the deplorable state of the roads, said the truck with registration number XN 233 LSD was fully loaded.
According to him, the truck was heading to Lagos from Sango-Ota when it ran into a pothole at the toll-gate and lost control.
Ondo
The Ondo State Ministry of Education has released
the results of the Common Entrance examination conducted for candidates from its public primary schools.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Steve Awosika, and made available to newsmen in Akure.
According to the release, 64,000 candidates sat for the examination in 874 centres across the 18 local government areas of the state.
It said that the ministry’s releasing the results of the examination within a week after its conduct was in conformity with its established tradition.
Osun
The Federation of Informal Workers Organisation
of Nigeria (FIWON) has charged the three tiers of government to adopt best practices from other countries in the implementation of social schemes toward poverty elimination.
The Osun State Coordinator of FIWON, Mr Olayinka Ibrahim, made the call in an Interview with newsmen in Osogbo.
He said that the government needed to consider variables if poverty in the country must be reduced to its minimal level rather than implementing policies that would not benefit the masses.
According to him, the gap between the rich and the poor has continued to widen and the government needs to quickly address the predicament before it becomes more problematic.
Plateu
Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, has
condemned the killing of Mr Lazarus Agai, the Saf Ron-kulere and First Class traditional ruler of Bokkos in Plateau State by unknown assailants.
The 76-year-old monarch, who reigned for 42 years, was attacked on his way to Bokkos after visiting his farm in Sha District of the chiefdom.
Also killed along with him were his police orderly, his wife, and his son.
Lalong, in a reaction in Jos, described the murder as “very gruesome, babaric and sad”.
“I received the news (of the killing) with a heavy heart. The cold blooded murder is despicable and cowardly,’, Lalong said in a statement signed by Mr Emmanuel Nanle, Director of Press Affairs.
He said that the people and government of Plateau were pained by the unfortunate wave of killing of traditional rulers in Bokkos Local government Council, and reiterated his determination to end the trend.
Sokoto
A former Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association
(NBA) in Sokoto State, Mr Mustapha Abubakar, has advised the Federal Government to adopt stringent security measures to curb the increasing menace of Niger Delta Avengers.
Abubakar said in an interview with newsman in Sokoto that the group’s activities posed serious threat to Nigeria’s corporate existence.
He advised President Muhammadu Buhari to adopt the same security measures taken against cattle rustlers and insurgents in dealing with the militants.
He noted that the ongoing fight against cattle rustling and insurgency in North East and some parts of North West had made it possible for residents to feel safe.
Yobe
The Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria
(IMAN), an NGO, has advocated a psychological therapy for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Kukareta camp in Yobe.
Chairman of the association in the state, Dr Abdullahi Nur, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
Nur said the appeal became necessary following an evaluation and discovery by the association of three cases of insanity among the IDPs in the camp.
He said that two ladies and a man were diagnosed to have suffered mental insanity among the IDPs from careful evaluation of members of the medical team who visited the camp.
“I am calling for urgent psychological therapy for the IDPs for the shock suffered from the attacks on their communities.’’
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing the safety of the seafaring profession and upgrading maritime institutions to international standards.
Speaking at the 2025 World Seafarers’ Day celebration in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, organised by NIMASA, with the theme, “My Harassment-Free Ship.
He said that this year’s theme “speaks to our collective duty to make every ship a safe and respectful workplace noting that harassment and bullying have no place in our maritime industry.
The Minister further emphasised the importance of continuous training and retraining to ensure seafarers remain competitive and employable.
Also speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari, emphasised that seafarers are the backbone of international trade, facilitating the smooth transportation of goods and services across the globe.
He stressed the need to eliminate all forms of violence, harassment, and bullying against seafarers.
In his welcome address, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, emphasised the need for the maritime community to prioritise the welfare, safety of seafarers and maintain zero tolerance for harassment.
According to the DG, “Today provides opportunity for the Maritime Community to honor seafarers globally for their immense contribution to both domestic and international trade, powering the blue economy and connecting nations across oceans”.
He said that this year’s theme was particularly apt, as it was a call to action to “ensure that our seafarers feel safe, are valued and protected while at sea because the ship is not just their place of work; it is their temporary home. It must therefore reflect the highest standards of dignity and professionalism fostering zero tolerance for harassment”.
He declared that NIMASA must continue to play its part in ensuring that Nigeria contributes effectively to regulations affecting seafarers, as Nigeria remains the highest contributor of seafarers in Africa. “Our men and women sail on vessels in our domestic waters and also globally. This will continue to grow through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) and the effort of our Maritime Training Institutions.
‘At the recently concluded 113th session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, seven (7) amendments to the MLC 2006 code addressing a broad range of issues affecting seafarers, including the recognition of seafarers as key workers, improved protection against ship board violence and harassment, enhanced access to shore leave and repatriation and updated medical and occupational safety standards were approved by an overwhelming majority.
These seven (7) amendments reflect collective global effort to align maritime Labour standards with the evolving landscape of global shipping.
I, therefore, call on shipowners, operators and crewing agencies to begin to review their operational manuals to align with these amendments ahead of the expected entry into force in December 2027. Our seafarers must be able to report grievances without fear of retaliation, while also ensuring protection against vexations or malicious complaints.
He added that NIMASA will play its role by establishing clear policies and procedures for preventing and addressing harassment on Nigerian-flagged vessels, ensuring confidential reporting channels for incidents of harassment and that reports are thoroughly investigated and addressed.
“Today is a clear reminder to us all – government, employers, unions, shipowners, and civil society- that seafarers should not be left alone in their struggles. They look up to us to help them foster a culture of zero tolerance on ships to protect their dignity”, he stated.
He also assured that under his leadership, NIMASA will ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, particularly the renewal of entries into force by ship owners, operators, and relevant agencies come December 2027.
Stakeholders drawn across the four local government areas of Ogoniland in Rivers State, have expressed delight over the excellent performance of the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof Nenibarini Zabbey within the past two years, describing him as a true patriot, who has been showing leadership in delivering service to the people.
The stakeholders, who gave the indication in their separate goodwill messages during the mid-term stakeholders engagement and scorecard presentation organised by HYPREP in Port Harcourt, scored the Project Coordinator high on the Ogoni cleanup and the overall implementation of the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
The President of KAGOTE and Board member of the Ogoni Trust Fund, Hon Emma Deeyah, particularly commended Zabbey for turning around the fortunes of the Ogoni people, as they are now having value for the money earmarked for the cleanup project, describing the Project Coordinator as “one of our best.”
He noted that Zabbey has done well on the saddle, working very hard, being an administrator and leader with listening ears, striving assiduously to meet the yearnings and expectations of the people.
He said the Ogoni cleanup is a journey that has just begun, stressing that he was happy that the Project Coordinator is not on the saddle to amass wealth but to deliver and achieve results, and appealed to the Ogoni people to continue to give him their support.
On his part, member representing Gokana/Khana Federal Constituency in the National Assembly and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Rt Hon Dumnamene Dekor, said HYPREP under the watch of Zabbey is working with renewed vigour, and thanked the Project Coordinator for driving the Ogoni cleanup project with passion.
He noted that the funds dedicated and earmarked for the project are running out, disclosing that he was working on an Executive Bill, to facilitate the work of HYPREP.
While stressing the need for the people to take full responsibility of all the projects sited in their communities, Dekor regretted that some beneficiaries had sold the starter packs presented to them by HYPREP, while the water facility provided in his Bierra community has been vandalised.
The King of Tai Kingdom, King Samuel Nnee, said HYPREP under Zabbey as Project Coordinator has been delivering on its mandate, describing him as a square peg in a square hole, who has given hope to the Ogoni people.
The monarch urged the Ogoni people to give the Project Coordinator the necessary support.
The Paramount Ruler of Barako Community and member of the Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt, Mene Kadilo Kabari, said Zabbey has always demonstrated that he is a true patriot by carrying along Ogoni people from all strata of the society, describing him as a performing Project Coordinator.
He noted that the bane of HYPREP before now had been the conflict between the Project Coordinator and the Minister of Environment, saying, under Zabbey, Ogoni people can now see what unity of purpose can achieve.
He expressed delight that the water facility which was the first commissioned by HYPREP in his community is functioning optimally following the solar-powered system installed by the Project.
The King of Eleme Kingdom, King(Dr) Philip Osaro Obelle thanked HYPREP’s management team for all that it is doing in Ogoniland, stressing that the Project was built on the graves, bellies and blood of Ogoni sons and daughters who lost their lives during the Ogoni struggle.
He, therefore, advised HYPREP “not to deviate from the expectations of our heroes but to do those things that would benefit Ogoni people for the betterment of Ogoniland.”
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Netherlands, Hon Oji Ngofa said HYPREP has been like the government of Ogoniland, and harped on the sustainability of all the projects.
According to him, Zabbey has been giving HYPREP a human face.
Former Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof Barineme Fakae applauded Zabbey for the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, and stressed the need for the implementation of the recommendations of its technical committee which recently submitted its report.
According to him, if the project succeeds, Ogoni people are going to succeed.
Chief Priscillia Vikue, on her part, thanked Zabbey for his outstanding performance, saying, the women of Ogoni are very happy with what he is doing in Ogoniland.
While scoring the Project Coordinator highly on his performance, she said the women are happy because Zabbey knows what he is doing with HYPREP.
“You went to school.You did not cut corners.You are a square peg in a square hole.You have engaged women and the youths. We have seen what you have done. And we give you A1”, she said, and challenged Zabbey to see how more women would participate in the project and also how to sustain it.
In his remarks, the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey said the mid-term engagement is important because “it allows us to present tangible evidence of progress in the Ogoni cleanup effort, reinforce accountability, deepen transparency, and most importantly, enables HYPREP to interact directly with the communities and stakeholders who are the heartbeat of this project.”
He noted that the scorecard presentation is designed to show what HYPREP has achieved across key thematic areas, what challenges it is currently grappling with, and what the road ahead looks like, saying, “it is a moment for stocktaking and for re-affirming our shared commitment to the success of the Ogoni cleanup project”.
According to him, HYPREP has recorded commendable progress in the implementation of its core mandates in line with UNEP recommendations and the directives in the official gazette establishing HYPREP.
Donatus Ebi
The South-South representative of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Board, Rt. Hon. Aboh Uduyok, has concluded his one-day official visit to Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Rumuola, Rivers State, with the unveiling of the Mass Communication Department classroom building. The project was executed under the 2021 TETFund intervention project.
During the unveiling of the project, Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rt. Hon. Uduyok commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to the educational sector and praised the polytechnic’s management for utilising TETFund resources judiciously.
He noted that the quality of ongoing projects met approved specifications, and expressed satisfaction with the institution’s progress.
The TETFund representative stated that his visit was aimed at familiarising himself with beneficiary schools, assess fund utilization, and identify challenges.
He assured the school management that he would convey their requests for constructing engineering works and hostel accommodations to the board and notify them of any approval.
Rt. Hon. Uduyok explained that the TETFund Board is not initiating new projects this year, except where necessary, due to presidential directives. However, he commended the institution for the commendable quality of both completed and ongoing projects.
In his welcome address, the Rector of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Dr. Moses S. Neebee, thanked the TETFund representative for visiting, and highlighted the institution’s successes and challenges. He requested support for hostel accommodations and engineering works, emphasising that a higher institution without hostels is akin to a glorified secondary school.
Dr. Neebee while briefing the visitor on the institution’s progress, noted that it currently runs 21 National Diploma programme and five Higher National Diploma courses. He disclosed that the school accessed the 2021 TETFund release in full but faced challenges with the 2023 fund due to harsh economic conditions and bid process delays, which increased project costs. The Rector pleaded for assistance in securing additional funds for the 2023 intervention release.
Akujobi Amadi