Nation
THE STATES
Borno
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), said it has trained 24 health workers in Borno State, on measures to prevent malnutrition among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Mr Walton Beckley, said this on Thursday at the closing of a workshop on malnutrition for health workers in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Maiduguri.
Beckley explained that the training was to teach mothers and caregivers ways to utilise their meagre resources to provide adequate nutrition for the children.
He said also that the objective was to sensitise health workers in IDPs camps so they in turn could use the information to educate mothers on how to prevent malnutrition in their children or wards.
Ekiti
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) is collaborating with the six states in the South West to improve healthcare delivery in rural areas.
The partnership manifested at the commencement of a three-day workshop on Tuesday at Ilupeju Ekiti for healthcare workers from Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti and Edo states.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the Social Mobilisation Technical Committee for UNICEF Assisted Programmes in Ekiti State, Mr Sunday Aribatise, explained that the objective of the workshop was to develop Nutrition Briefs for Primary Healthcare workers.
According to him, the collaboration was also aimed at promoting exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding at all levels.
FCT
Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) arrested 33,327 persons and secured the conviction of 4,406 persons for violating environmental laws between 2012 and 2016.
Head of Information and Outreach Unit of AEPB Mr Muktar Ibrahim, disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
The information officer, however, said that the exact figure of persons who were arrested in 2013 could not be made available because of some factors.
Ibrahim said that the board had been educating FCT residents on the dangers of street hawking as well as other environmental violations.
He said that the board had collaborated with the Social Development Secretariat (SDS) of FCT Administration (FCTA) to effect the arrests.
Jigawa
The Comptroller, Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Jigawa State Command, Alhaji Magaji Ahmad, has commended the state government for renovating a satellite prison in Babura Local Government Area of the state.
Ahmad made the commendation on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir.
A statement issued by Alhaji Isma’il Ibrahim, media aide to the SSG, quoted Ahmad as also lauding Gov. Muhammad Badaru for the construction of a juvenile centre for rehabilitation of minors involved in criminal offences.
The statement said the comptroller had during the visit also acknowledged the allocation of a piece of land for the relocation of Birnin Kudu Satellite Prison in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of the state.
Kano
The Kano State government has strengthened surveillance after recording cases of cerebral spinal meningitis (CSM) and Lassa fever in some local government areas (LGAs), an official said Thursday in Kano.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Getso, told newsmen that this has also led to government taking urgent measures to ensure proper control.
He said 20 suspected cases of meningitis were reported in eight LGAs, with only four of the cases being confirmed.
The commissioner listed the LGAs as Dala, Tarauni, Municipal, Tudun Wada, Gwale, Bebeji, Ungogo and Kumbotso. Getso further revealed that the state has also recorded two confirmed cases of Lassa fever in Tudun Wada LGA.
Katsina
Katsina State Government says it will collaborate with NGOs and Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) to sensitise its people on the dangers associated with the disease.
The Governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari stated this on Monday during the anniversary and book launch by the state Chapter of the DAN in Katsina.
“Government will partner with the organisations to carry out aggressive enlightenment campaign on how to curb the spread of diabetes disease in the state.
“The state government is ready to lead the organisations to embark on education of the citizens to be conscious of this killer disease.
Kebbi
Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State has called on the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the menace of Almajiri and the clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
The governor made the appeal when he received a delegation from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons led by its Federal Commissioner, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq in Birnin Kebbi. He also called for a lasting solution to the Almajiri system of education and ways of living.
According to the governor, the almajiri problem is a systemic problem that needs continuous attention of the Federal Government.
Kogi
Sen. Ahmed Ogembe, representing Kogi State Central, on Thursday, said he had trained to empower no fewer than 200 women and youths from five local governments in the Central Senatorial District of the state.
Ogembe told newsmen in Okene that the training for empowerment was intended to reduce poverty among the people in his district.
“It is my utmost desire to see that my people are happy and comfortable, especially in this period that our country is facing economic challenges. “This empowerment training is meant to make you independent, be job providers, rather than job seekers.
Lagos
Eight women believed to be sex workers, who allegedly solicited sex at a public place, were on Thursday brought before a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
They were, however, released on N400, 000 bail.
The eight women,Jessita Nelson, 25; Chinyere Elon, 25; Cynthia Nwoke, 38; Taiwo Ali, 45; Abigal Moses, 29; Ifeanyi Okoro, 30; Chiwendu Anah, 40; and Ivie Osasa, 25 are facing a charge of soliciting for immoral purpose.
They all denied the charge. The Prosecutor, Sgt. Christopher Okoliko told the court that Nelson and Elon committed the offence on March 27 at about 12.30 a.m. on Babs Animashaun Road, Surulere, while the six others committed the offence on March 27 at about 12.00 .a.m. along Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere.
Niger
The Federal Government has been urged to build water treatment plants in perennial rivers in rural areas to avert water borne diseases.
Dr Samuel Ibrahim, a senior lecturer in Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, made the call on Thursday in Lapai in an interview with newsmen.
Ibrahim, an expert in domestic water resources, Department of Geography and Regional Planning said that such treatment plant would be able to solve water problem among the rural dwellers.
“Rural dwellers are more vulnerable to epidemics because of poor quality of water at their disposal, “he said.
He explained that the water treatment plant would be veritable if built close to perennial rivers as a preventive measure against water borne diseases.
Oyo
An Oyo State Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, has remanded two men, Uba Opara, 35; and Tunde Adepoju, 27; in prison for alleged armed robbery.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Kehinde Durosaro, Tijani, said the accused should be remanded in Agodi Prisons and the case file sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
Durosaro-Tijani adjourned the case till May 22.
The accused, whose addresses were not given, are facing a two -count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Adewale Amos, had told the court that the accused committed the offences with others still at large on January 14, at about 2 .p.m. at Taye Soyege Street, New Bodija, Ibadan.
Plateau
The Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has inaugurated 285 newly constructed classes in primary and junior secondary schools, as part of efforts to improve the quality of education.
SUBEB Executive Chairman, Prof. Mathew Sule, while inaugurating some of the classes in schools located in the Northern Senatorial Zone, on Thursday, said that government was out to “balance quality and quantity”.
“We want to improve access to education without compromising quality,” he said.
The chairman said that adequate facilities were being provided to schools to improve the learning environment, and admonished teachers to always put in their best.
Yobe
Suspected cases of Cebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) have been reported in Fika and Nguru Local Government Areas of Yobe State.
Dr Bello Kawuwa, the state Commissioner for Health, confirmed this to the newsmen in Damaturu , saying that the cases are under investigation.
“We are still investigating the cases to determine whether they are CSM; the outcome of the investigation will provide us with the true position,” he said.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has inducted and given orientation to 100 Ogoni youths for training on Creative Arts. The beneficiaries were drawn from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The induction and orientation ceremony, which took place at the CRAB of the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, was a prelude to the training proper, billed to commence next Tuesday.
As usual, HYPREP issued undertaking forms to the trainees, for them to complete and submit as a guarantee that they would subject themselves to the requirements of the programme as well as be of good behaviour throughout the four-month duration of the training.
HYPREP also announced that it would pay N150,000 to each of the beneficiaries monthly, as transport and feeding allowance, stressing, however, that only those who fully participate in the training would be entitled for the allowance.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, welcomed the trainees to the programme, saying, HYPREP’s projects are evolving and that one thing that is happening today is that the Project has gotten leadership right, by making promises and keeping those promises.
According to him, the Project had equally promised to move away from rudimentary skills acquisition to high impacts acquisition levels, which it has kept today by sponsoring the training on Creative Arts.
He noted that in planning its livelihood programmes for Ogoni youths, HYPREP has taken time out to look for skills that would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
Zabbey, who was represented at the event by the Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi said by packaging the Creative Arts training, it was expected that the Ogoni people would have their own version of Nollywood known as Ogoniwood just as Nigerians are familiar with Hollywood, Bollywood, Kannywood and Nollywood.
To achieve this goal, the Project Coordinator explained that it was the reason for choosing a reputable establishment like Halibiz Consult Limited, to partner with the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt, which he described as one of the most prestigious in the Niger Delta, for the training of the beneficiaries.
He also indicated that in doing this, HYPREP was desirous of going for talents that would help the Ogoni people grow in the film industry, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
Zabbey equally enjoined the trainees to put in their best so that in the next three to five years, they would carve a niche for themselves and become forces to reckon with in the film industry.
On her part, HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee said HYPREP does what it says it will, stressing that the process of training Ogoni youths on specialised skills started three years ago.
According to her, the selection process for the training was rigorous and transparent, and was carried out by renowned actors actresses.
She disclosed that the training consists of three major aspects, which include acting, script writing and make-up, while Nollywood actors like Charles Nnoje, Ngezu J. Ngezu and award-winning make-up artist, Jude Odo would be on hand to drill and groom the beneficiaries.
Mrs Nzidee noted that the programme is a specialised training that does not have anything like starter packs but that it is purely a professional certification programme that would launch the beneficiaries into the Nollywood industry in Nigeria.
According to her, the Creative Arts training is one of the four specialised trainings organised by HYPREP to ensure that the Ogoni people are well positioned in vital industries like Aviation, Maritime, Creative Arts and Mechatronics.
She said the last of such trainings on Mechatronics would take place in the coming months, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously so as to put the Ogoni people on the Nollywood map.
She further indicated that while Charles Nnoje and Ngezu J. Ngezu would take the beneficiaries on the practical aspects, Jude Odo would take them on the make-up aspects.
Also speaking, the External Relations Manager of Halibiz Consult Limited, Alabo Experience Douglas said his company gives much premium to standard and quality, and assured that the firm would give the trainees value for the money spent on the programme.
While charging the beneficiaries to be dedicated and punctual, he stressed the need for them to approach the programme with the mindset of being empty so that at the end of the day, they would benefit maximally.
On his part, the Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo said the CRAB is an acronym for Creative Review of Arts and Books, stressing that it was named by renowned playwright, Prof Ola Rotimi.
According to him, the CRAB had nurtured, groomed and produced Nollywood actors and actresses like Bobmanuel Udokwu, Ejike Asiegbu,Francis Duru, Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda, Julius Agwu, and a host of others, assuring the beneficiaries that they were on fertile environment to hone their talents.
He noted that symbolically, the crab is a nutritious seafood common in the Niger Delta, and reiterated the need for the beneficiaries to come empty for the training, as it were.
Ihunwo disclosed that the theory classes of the programme would run for three weeks while the fourth week would be for the master classes, and urged the trainees to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a difference by telling the Ogoni story, which he described as inexhaustible by themselves, in order to put Ogoni on the map.
A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.