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THE STATES

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Bauchi

The Bauchi State Rapid Response Team on Lassa Fever is to liaise with private and public health institutions in the state for quick identification of cases of lassa fever in the state.

The Chairman of the team, Dr Robinson Yusuf, told newsmen in Bauchi that there was the need to be proactive in combating the disease.

According to him, health personnel must be tutored on the signs and symptoms of the disease for easy identification and isolation of affected persons.

“We will use the primary healthcare units in all the local government areas to ensure that information on the disease are passed to the grassroots, just as we are doing in the case of wild polio virus.’’

Yusuf listed the symptoms of the disease to include fever, nausea, sore throat, back pain, abdominal pain and vomiting of blood.

 

Ekiti

Authorities of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti have announced fees payable by students of the institution for the 2011/2012 session.

The Public Relations Officer, Mr Adeyemi Adejolu, told newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday that “the display of fees payable in the institution had become necessary in order to avoid misinformation and mutilation of facts by students”.

He said HND I and ND I students of the School of Business Studies, except Office Technology and Management, would pay N20,350.

He also said that HND I and ND I students of the Department of Office Technology and Management, including those in the schools of Engineering; Environmental Studies and the School of Science and Computer Studies would pay N21,350.

 

FCT

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Mike Omeri, has described the current bombing in some parts of the country as the biggest threat to the nation’s security after the civil war, which ended in 1970.

He made observation on Tuesday in Abuja at a news conference organised by the Homeland Secure, a non-governmental organisation, on the strategy to combat and prevent terrorism in the country.

Omeri, who was represented by an official of the agency, Mr John Tagwai, said that since 1999 the country had passed through many crises, adding that no democracy could thrive in crises.

Omeri said dialogue was the best option to resolve contending issues, and described as timely, the proposed conference on how to combat and prevent terrorism scheduled to take place between May 28 and May 30.

 

Kaduna

Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State on Tuesday said the state government would work with Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) towards maintaining peace and ensuring women and youth empowerment.

Receiving members of I-Care Women and Youth Initiative, led by the initiator and wife of the Vice-President, Hajiya Amina Sambo, Yakowa said the government would cooperate with other stakeholders to bring about permanent peace in the state.

The delegation was headed by the the wife of Kaduna State Governor, Mrs Amina Yakowa, representing the wife of the Vice president and the Initiator of the NGO.

The I-care NGO was established to complement government’s effort at empowering women and youths.

 

Katsina

The Katsina State Senior Magistrates’ Court III has fixed March 26 for mentioning of a charge of rape levelled against a former police corporal.

Abutu Joseph is alleged to have raped a cripple and her daughter inside the Katsina Central Market Police Post on December 16, 2011 while on night duty.

The prosecution said the woman and her daughter, who came from a nearby village, were lured by Joseph to spend the night at the station to avoid being harassed, while searching for accommodation in the town.

The accused person allegedly raped the duo in the night and appealed to them not to reveal the matter.

At today’s proceedings, the police prosecutor, Insp. Hashimu Musa, told the court that the accused person was charged for rape and act of indecency, offences contrary to Sections 283 and 285 of the Penal Code.

 

Lagos

Some clerics have voiced their concerns over the total removal of roadblocks on the nation’s highways, saying that criminals were already taking undue advantage of the situation.

In separate interviews with newsmen in Lagos, the clerics said that the checkpoints should not be removed completely for security reasons, in view of frequent robbery incidences on the highways.

Mr Femi Asiwaju, Lagos State Vice President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, said that the Lagos-Ibadan expressway has recorded many armed robbery incidents in the past one week.

“The Inspector General of Police (IGP) meant well for Nigerians by dismantling the checkpoints, but that is not the solution; it is like abandoning the highways to the armed robbers again.

 

Nasarawa

The Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lafia, Alhaji Usman Bello, has identified Nasarawa as one of those with viable economy among the 36 states of the federation.

He stated this when members of the State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation, led by its Chairman, Mr Philip Gyunka, paid him a courtesy visit in Lafia.

Bello said that “between May 2011 and this February, the Lafia branch of the apex bank has mobilised N16.4 billion from the bank deposits in the state”.

He said the branch has also paid N2.3 billion to 17 deposit banks, which translated to N69 million withdrawals per week.

According to the CBN Branch Controller, the deposits have grown to N480 million per week.

 

Ogun

The wife of Ogun Governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, has advocated a paradigm shift to entrepreneurship education as an essential ingredient in accelerating economic growth and national development.

Mrs Amosun made the call on Tuesday in Abeokuta at the launch of Nigeria’s chapter of the Federation of Business Women Entrepreneurs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

According to her, most developed countries always encourage small and medium scale enterprises leading to increase in their Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

“Our youths and women should be encouraged to acquire one vocational skill or the other, irrespective of their educational qualifications.”

“Most of our children and women may not necessarily hunt for white collar jobs if they can acquire a vocational skill in order to earn a living.

 

Sokoto

A lecturer in Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, Dr Shehu Sidi, has called on the Federal Government to initiate policies and programmes that will modernise farming methods in the country.

Sidi told newsmen in Sokoto that the use of modern farming inputs would ensure massive food production in the country.

He said that the country was blessed with vast land needed to produce various crops for local consumption and export.

He pointed out that, the current security challenges facing the country would be a thing of the past if government invested in Agriculture.

 

Taraba

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administra-tion and Control (NAFDAC) in Taraba says it will henceforth register water-sachet factories within 48 hours, its Coordinator, Mr Nnaja Nnaja, has said.

Nnaja said this in Jalingo on Tuesday at a news conference.

He said the accelerated registration was aimed at encouraging the people to invest in water manufacturing.

The coordinator explained that most of the brands of sachet water consumed in the state were manufactured outside Taraba, adding that the agency could only monitor the production of foods and drugs within the state.

“So, it is risky to buy sachet water produced in other states because we cannot monitor the production. Our mandate is Taraba and that is why we are encouraging citizens to produce water locally.”

 

Yobe

The Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, said on Tuesday that his administration has awarded N19.7 billion worth of contracts for the construction of road networks across the state in the last nine months.

He made this known in Damaturu at an interactive meeting with state’s elders, saying that the session was to inform the stakeholders about government activities.

Gaidam said that government also awarded N1.1 billion contract for the completion of Damaturu Regional Water Scheme as a panacea to water scarcity in the metropolis.

“The construction of 200-bed hospital in Damaturu has been completed. Similarly, the construction of 40-bed capacity amenity ward at the Specialist’s Hospital, Damaturu, has been completed at the cost of N140 million.”

The governor said that N700 million had been expended on school fees while all outstanding bursary allowances have been settled.

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Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.

Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

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THE LAPSES OF THE MEDIA IN ELECTIONS

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The media is supposed to be a platform through which people express their thoughts, beliefs, and opinions on issues of public interest. Unfortunately, it has often failed to live up to its role as the fourth estate of the realm.During the 2023 elections, the media recorded several lapses that deserve critical examination in academic and professional spaces. Before discussing these failures in detail, it is important to briefly explain the meaning, role, and duties of the media. In simple terms, the media refers to the main channels of mass communication, including broadcasting, print publishing, and the internet.
It is a collective term for all means through which information reaches the public. The media is often called the fourth tier of government because of the popular saying, “No media, no society.” This is not an exaggeration. Scholars have shown that the media plays an integral role in society, since political, economic, religious, and academic activities all depend on information flow through the media.
The word MEDIA can be broken down to reflect its core functions:  M – Meeting the People  E – Educating the People  D – Discussing with the People  I – Involving the People  A – Accessing the PeopleSpecifically during elections, the media is expected to provide accurate and timely information to the public by reporting and updating citizens on government and electoral activities. This responsibility is central to keeping the electorate informed.The media also strengthens democracy by engaging citizens on critical issues affecting the electoral process. When the media effectively disseminates relevant information, the public can see through the failures of government, hold leaders accountable, and propose solutions that serve the common good.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram play a vital role in democratic societies because they allow mass participation. Unlike radio and television, social media is accessible to anyone with a smartphone and data bundle, making it the most inclusive platform for political discourse. Despite these roles, the media must not abandon its ethics or promote partisan agendas that mislead the public. In many schools of thought, the media is described as closely related to the judiciary.
People often see the media as a place to voice grievances and seek justice.However, it is fair to say that the media has lost ground by failing to fulfill its duties during elections. Below are ten key lapses observed in the February 2023 elections.Lack of coordination among journalists. Many press personnel who covered different polling units were poorly equipped and unprepared. Some lacked functional cameras and modern technology needed to carry out professional reporting.
Partisanship and breach of ethics. Media personnel, who are supposed to remain non-partisan, openly violated professional ethics by taking political sides and favoring certain candidates in their reporting.Commercialization of coverage. Some journalists prioritized money over news. It was disappointing to see professionals from reputable stations engaging in what I call “Oga, find me something syndrome” begging politicians for money in exchange for favorable coverage or interviews.Loss of independence and self-censorship. On election day, some journalists took instructions from politicians on what to report and what to suppress. This compromised the independence of the media and reduced public trust.
Poor post-election reporting. Few media outlets reported what actually happened at the polling units. Incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and irregularities were either underreported or ignored entirely, while praise was lavished on politicians instead of amplifying the voices of the people.Spread of misinformation and unverified claims. In the rush to be first, some media houses published unverified results and rumors from social media without fact-checking. This fueled confusion and tension among the electorate.Inadequate coverage of rural and marginalized areas. Media attention was concentrated in urban centers, leaving rural polling units underreported. The experiences and challenges of rural voters were largely absent from mainstream coverage.
Sensationalism over substance. Some outlets prioritized sensational headlines and conflict-driven stories over factual analysis of policies and candidate manifestos, leaving voters uninformed about real issues. Failure to hold INEC accountable in real time. While INEC faced logistical failures and delays, many media houses were slow to question officials or demand explanations on air, missing opportunities for live accountability.
Neglect of voter education. Beyond reporting results, the media did little to educate voters on procedures, rights, and what to do in case of irregularities. This left many citizens uninformed and vulnerable on election day.These lapses weaken public trust and undermine the credibility of the electoral process. For the media to regain its role as a watchdog of democracy, it must return to the principles of accuracy, impartiality, and public service.
The media must be informed to follow its ethics as the 2027 elections approaches. This is encourage electorates rely on the authenticity and objectivity of media practice.Failure to uphold media standards will further make the country plunge into political apathy, electoral violence and disgust for those in the media practice.
By KRUKRUBO, NYE TAMUNODIKI.
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RSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Holds Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria

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Rivers State University and the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education jointly hosted a two-day National Conference on 8 and 9 May 2026 to examine the state of values in Nigeria.

The two days conference held at Rivers State University convocation arena brought together academics, policymakers, legal experts and education leaders under the theme _“Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria.”_

The gathering focused on policy gaps, curriculum reform, and the role of ethics in public service and education.

The event opened on Friday with remarks from Vice Chancellor Prof. Chief Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who stressed the need to address declining moral and civic values across Nigeria’s education and public sectors. A book of abstracts for the plenary sessions was also presented to participants.

Key speakers included former Attorney General Chief Dr Kanu Agabi, SAN; NERDC Executive Secretary Prof. Shehu Salisu; Prof. Hauwa Imam, FNAE, of the University of Abuja; former Rivers SUBEB Chairman Ven Dr Fyneface Akah, ; former NIMASA DG Dr Hon. Dakuku Adol-Peterside; and RSU Director of ICT Prof. Sunny Orike.

Discussions centered on integrating values education into schools, tertiary institutions and public institutions, alongside the impact of technology on moral development among young Nigerians. Panel and plenary sessions produced practical recommendations for curriculum and policy reform.

On Saturday, the foundation marked its centenary with the unveiling of the book _Otonti Nduka in History_, launched by Chief Engr. Grant Offor, FNSE. The Nigerian Academy of Education held a ceremonial procession led by its President Prof. Olu Jegede and the Ikwerre Professors Forum.

In a communiqué, participants called for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and academia to mainstream values education nationwide. They recommended reviewing teacher training curricula and expanding digital platforms to promote ethical civic engagement, with the foundation pledging to share the outcomes with education authorities for implementation.

Dignitaries present included Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide as Chief Host, Prof. Emeritus Chief T. Uzodimma Nwala, the Ikenga 1 of Mbaise and first philosophy student of Prof. Otonti Nduka, alongside scholars and community leaders.

 

Amadi Akujobi

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