Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Federal Government is to tackle poverty in the North East and North West geopolitical zones through agriculture by releasing a new variety of high-breed sorghum that will increase the yield of farmers in the regions.
Dr Adewumi Adesina, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, made this known on Friday, while speaking with journalists in Yola. He said that the high-breed sorghum variety, which would be released next year, would increase sorghum yield per hectare for farmers in the regions from 0.5 tonne to 2.5 tonnes, reflecting a 500 per cent increase.
The minister stressed the sorghum cultivation’s transformation project would generate more earnings for farmers in the regions, while enabling the government to utilise the surplus soghum yield for beverages’ production and its school feeding programme, among others.
FCT
More than three million Naira was realised at the launch of three books on wealth creation written by renowned personal finance coach and motivational speaker, Tayo Ayinla. The books are Building Lasting Wealth, Wealth Capsules and The Pathway to Wealth. Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Dr Jerry Agada, a former Minister of Education and Chairman of the occasion, described the publications as a creative work. The former minister who is the current President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), said the books would impact on the lives of Nigerians in the area of personal finance. Agada also said the books were a collection of non-fiction literature which drew inspiration from biblical references to guide readers on personal finance.
The guest speaker at the launch, Mr Ayo Arowolo who is a motivational speaker/journalist, urged Nigerians to determine what their potentials were and strive to maximise them.
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Gombe
Children totalling 840,850 in Gombe State would benefit in the next round of polio immunisation, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Usman Bello, has said.
Bello said at the flag-off of National Immunisation Days in Gombe last Friday, that the ministry had concluded preparations for the successful execution of the exercise.
He stated that special focus would be placed on nomadic Fulanis by the more than 3,136 health and technical personnel that would conduct the immunisation. The Permanent Secretary who was represented by a director in the ministry, Alhaji Salisu Waziri, appealed to parents and all stakeholders to support government in the fight to eradicate wild polio virus in the country. He said the support of traditional and religious leaders since 2009 had helped in curtailing the problem of rejection of polio vaccines by some households.
Bello however, noted that there were still areas with high cases of rejection, but he assured that government and other stakeholders would ensure total coverage in this exercise.
Jigawa
Alhaji Sabo Guri, the Managing Director of Jigawa State Broadcasting Corporation, has described Jigawa as the most peaceful state in the country. Guri made the observation in Dutse on Friday when the executive members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) came to congratulate him on his appointment as the head of the broadcasting outfit. He urged CAN to support the state government in its efforts to promote peace and understanding among the diverse religious groups in the state.
He also implored the association to sensitise their members to the need to promote peace in the society, noting that peace was one of the central tenets of Islam and Christianity, the two major religions in the country.Guri reiterated the need to always work for peace, saying that no society could develop in an atmosphere of chaos and disharmony.
Kaduna
Dr Abubakar Nuhu-Danburan, the Kano State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, has described unity schools as symbols of national unity.
Nuhu-Danburan said this while receiving an award during a reception organised by the Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA) ‘Class of 1978 form 1’ held at the college in Zaria on Sunday.
He observed that unity schools played host to different classes of people from different parts of the country with aim of knowledge seeking.
He recalled with nostalgia the good old days and called on the old boys to maintain the close relationship with a view to taking the country to greater heights.
In his speech, the guest speaker and former principal of the college, Alhaji Isiyaku Nuhu, lauded the efforts of the old boys in keeping themselves together.
Katsina
The district head of Malumfashi in Katsina State, retired Justice Mamman Nasir, has enjoined immunisation workers to report parents who reject administration of polio vaccine on their children.
Speaking while launching the 5th round of National Immunisation Campaign in his palace on Saturday, Nasir, former Court of Appeal president, insisted that safeguarding children’s health is the collective responsibility of parents and leaders.
He likened rejection of immunisation vaccines to subjecting of public health to preventable dangers.
He called on parent to submit their children for vaccination during national immunisation campaigns and routine vaccination at the various health care centres in the area.
Malam MusaNaduna, WHO facilitator for Immunisation against poliomyelitis and other child-killer diseases in Malumfashi, said that 105, 677 children were targeted for immunisation in the area.
Naduna said no case of polio had been reported in Katsina State since 2010, and urged parents to sustain the feat by submitting their eligible children for vaccination.
Kano
Malam Habibu Yaro, an elder in Na’ibawa area of Kano Municipality has called on the people to consider environmental and personal hygiene as part of their religious belief.
He decried the situation where people had to be sanctioned before participating in the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
Yaro, who said all Muslims must be mindful of the fact that cleanliness is part of their religion, advised heads of households to make their people to comply with the directive on the monthly exercise.
Lagos
Mr Ziakede Akpobolokemi, the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency,said in Lagos on Saturday that a joint anti-piracy patrol of Benin Republic’s waters would start immediately.
Akpobolokemi told newsmen that the Federal Government gave directive for the patrol about a month ago.
“What is happening in Benin Republic is also affecting us economic-wise. When attacks in Benin Republic became so severe, the president of the country met our president and asked us to assist,’’ the director-general said.
He disclosed that the patrol would start immediately with some patrol boats, adding that the Navy was also involved in the exercise.
Ondo
Mr Oludare Fadayomi, the Supervisor of the Skills Acquisition Centre at Igbekebo, Ese-Odo Local Government of Ondo State, has called on the council administration to create more awareness on the importance of the centre.
Fadayomi told newsmen in Ese-Odo that the centre was crucial to the nation’s industrial growth.
“ I believe that supporting the skills acquisition centre in Ese-Odo Local Government Area will usher in an era of industrial revolution that will make Ese-Odo a council to emulate,’’ he said. Fadayomi stressed the need for the council to create more awareness by mobilising indigenes of the local government area to make good use of the centre.
He commended the council for its human capital development programmes, adding that it was one of the few councils that had a permanent structure for its skills acquisition programme. “Because we have a befitting and modern structure for this programme; I want to seek the support of Ese-Odo Local Government to encourage all young school leavers to take advantage of the programme.
Osun
The Osun House of Assembly has urged the state Ministry of Youth and Sports to strive to generate funds from sporting activities in the state. Chairman, House Committee on Youth, Sports and Special Needs, Mr Ajibola Olanrewaju, made the call on Friday at Osogbo, when meeting with the officials of the ministry. Olanrewaju said youths should be physically and mentally developed for them to be better leaders tomorrow, noting that their talents and interest in sports will enhance the state’s progress.
The legislator said the House committee would work together with the ministry in promoting sports and development among the youths from primary schools to tertiary institutions.
Residents of Omugo Community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have deserted their homes due to persistent bandit attacks.
The Tide’s source reports that the once lively community has turned into a ghost town with only a few domestic animals left.
Reports indicate that the recent bandits’ attack on the Omugo ECWA Church via Oro-Ago, led to the abduction of eight worshippers including the wife of the pastor in charge.
Three persons escaped out of the eight abductees with a N1billion ransom placed on the remaining victims in captivity. The community could only gather N1million which was rejected by the bandits.
Last week, the armed bandits invaded Oro-Ago community, killed one vigilante man identified as Baba Ibeji and injured his younger brother known as Ajere.
A Point of Sales, PoS, shop directly opposite the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Divisional office, was broken into by the bandits.
The gunmen also attacked the NSCDC office and sprayed bullets on the facility, though no casualty was recorded.
In earlier attacks on Oro-Ago environs, armed bandits ambushed a convoy between Oro-Ago and Oke-Ayan in Ilere district of Ifelodun Local Government Area and killed two local hunters on escort duty.
On Saturday, there was tension in Oro-Ago following a security alert that armed bandits were regrouping to launch fresh attacks on the community.
All security formations were, however, placed on ‘Red Alert’ to forestall the planned attack.
The Acting Provost of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Peace Chigozirim Amadi has refuted claims circulating in the media suggesting that laboratory equipment went missing from the college.
In a recent statement, Dr. Amadi described the reports—particularly those attributed to certain publications—as false and misleading. She emphasized that all laboratory equipment at the college remain intact.
“I am here to set the record straight. No laboratory equipment disappeared from my college. Nothing is missing,” Dr. Amadi said, challenging anyone with contrary claims to provide evidence, including the names of the equipment and their supposed locations.
She further noted that the college recently underwent an accreditation exercise, during which significant investments were made in laboratory equipment. According to Dr. Amadi, these items are fully accounted for, and the college maintains a robust security system to protect its assets.
“Everything is intact. Nothing disappeared. The information being circulated is false and should be discarded,” she reiterated.
Beyond addressing the allegations, Dr. Amadi also called on media practitioners to exercise professionalism and verify stories before publication. “I want to plead with journalists to always verify their stories. Junk journalism does not help anyone. No matter the information you receive, it is important to hear the other side before publishing,” she said.
While social media posts have occasionally raised concerns about various issues in the region’s health education sector, including extortion and examination malpractice at related institutions, there is no independent evidence from credible news sources confirming that equipment went missing from Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology.
The college, a public tertiary institution based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is accredited to offer a variety of health-related programs, including Nursing, Midwifery, Laboratory Technology, and Environmental Health. It has consistently emphasized integrity, safety, and transparency in its operations.
Dr. Amadi’s statement seeks to reassure the public, students, and stakeholders that the college remains secure, well-managed, and free from the alleged equipment losses, while urging journalists to prioritize accuracy in reporting.
As the world commemorates World Water Day, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing potable water across Ogoni communities, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the Ogoni Environment.
In a statement issued by its Project Coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, on March 22, 2026, HYPREP noted that this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” alongside the campaign slogan, “Where Water Flows, Equity Grows,” underscores its resolve to extend potable water supply beyond oil-impacted communities to all Ogoni communities.
Zabbey emphasized that access to clean water is a fundamental human right, adding that HYPREP remains committed to ensuring inclusive and equitable water access across the region.
He disclosed that the agency has successfully provided potable water to over 43 communities in Ogoni, while ongoing Phase 3 water projects are expected to benefit an additional 17 communities. He also highlighted steady progress on windmill-powered water projects in less populated areas, particularly in Khana Local Government Area.
According to him, the K-Dere Water Project, which is over 99 percent complete, will be commissioned in the coming weeks, even as work continues on other water schemes across Ogoni.
Zabbey further noted that HYPREP’s interventions are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
To ensure sustainability, he explained that the agency has adopted a joint management model involving host communities, the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, and the Rivers State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RSSTOWA). He added that Water Consumers’ Associations have been established in communities such as Nchia and Eleme, alongside training programmes conducted in collaboration with non-governmental organisations.
The Project Coordinator stressed the importance of community ownership and protection of water facilities, echoing the call by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, for residents to safeguard the infrastructure provided in their areas.
Zabbey expressed optimism that the ongoing efforts will significantly improve access to safe drinking water, reduce waterborne diseases, and enhance public health outcomes across Ogoni communities.
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