Nation
THE STATE
Adamawa
The Community-Based Agriculture and Rural Development Programme (CBARDP) has distributed N15.6 million agricultural inputs to farmers in Adamawa, the State Project Coordinator, Mr Musatafa Raji, has disclosed.
Raji, who disclosed this during the inauguration of the agriculture exhibition in Mubi last Thursday said that the project had also initiated a N200 million project for the procurement of 30 hand pumps.
According to him, 135 knapsack sprayers and 81 hand pumps were distributed to dry season farmers in the last three months.
He further said that 54 hybrid cattle, 100 rams, 32 goats, 28 pigs, 12 oil milling and four grinding machines were also distributed to farmers cooperative societies to encourage agricultural activity, reduce poverty and enhance wealth creation among the rural farmers.
“Under irrigation programme, 40 hectares of land have been put to use for cultivation of perishables such as onions, pepper, tomato, lettuce and cabbage.
Bauchi
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Bauchi State has appealed to passengers to assist in the fight against overloading by commercial vehicle drivers.
Making the plea in Bauchi while speaking to newsmen, the Public Enlightenment Officer of the commission in the state, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam, noted that overloading was a problem not only to the passengers and vehicles, but also contributes to the deplorable road conditions.
According to him, overloading means excess weight on the roads, and damage of the highways.
He said passengers could assist by ensuring that only the stipulated number of passengers per vehicle was carried for safety and well-being of passengers.
“Vehicles are constructed to carry particular weight and overloading them can cause accidents, damage to the vehicles, as well as the road itself.
“One can see that a vehicle carrying stipulated number of passengers lasts longer than the one that carries heavy goods,” he said.
Borno
The Deputy-Governor of Borno State, Mr Zanna Mustapha, says the state will collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Environment to actualise and achieve renewable energy.
Mustapha said this in Abuja on Thursday in an interview with newsmen after a meeting with the National Coordinator, Renewable Energy, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs Bahijahtu Abubakar.
However, the National Coordinator, Renewable Energy noted that all the comments at the meeting were encouraging, adding that she was excited at the new phase of the development in Borno.
Abubakar listed the frontline states in renewable energy development in the country, including Kaduna and Cross River.
A stockebroker, Mr Emma Ndidi, explained that the unimpressive dividend announced by some companies contributed to the lull experienced in the market.
FCT
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has signed a N363 million contract with two indigenous firms for the 2009 to 2011 Oil and Gas and the 2007 to 2010 Solid Minerals audit.
Sada, Idris & Co, was hired to audit Oil and Gas sector while Haruna Yahaya & Co would audit Solid Minerals sector.
At the signing ceremony of the contract, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, charged the firms to ensure integrity and professionalism on the project.
She explained that the signing of the contract was part of plans to make NEITI’s audit regular and comprehensive in order to fast track the transparency process in the sector.
Ahmed said the agency would soon begin to automate its audit process and data gathering methods in line with its development plan.
Kaduna
North West zonal office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has begun the campaign against Lassa fever which has claimed at least 40 lives in 12 states.
A statement issued in Kaduna and signed by NEMA’s zonal coordinator, Musa Ilallah said the campaign was aimed at curtailing the spread of the disease.
“A survey by NEMA showed that 12 states have recorded cases of Lassa fever and this prompted our quest to sensitise the populace to the danger and likelihood of the disease spreading to other parts of the country.”
NEMA said that researches conducted by experts had revealed that people were infected by consuming food or drinks contaminated with rat excreta or urine.
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.
Kwara
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday inaugurated Disaster Risk Reduction clubs in some schools in Kwara.
The NEMA Zonal Coordinator, Mr Ishaya Chonoko, explained that the Federal Government inaugurated the clubs to prepare youths for Disaster Risk Reduction programme.
He told newsmen on the sidelines of the inauguration that the exercise would be carried out throughout the federation in both primary and secondary schools.
Members of the club, he said, would become agents in the manaement of basic emergency situations occasioned by fire, flood, epidemic and windstorm disasters.
Lagos
Chief Executive Officer of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Lagos, Mr Oladele Amoda, says the company has invested more than N1 billion in new projects.
Amoda, who spoke at an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos, said that the company had embarked on several projects to boost electricity supply to its customers.
He said that the company had constructed a new 15 KV injector sub-station in Yaba to reinforce supply to numerous customers in that area.
Ogun
A former Commonwealth champion in long jump, Yusuf Ali, has called for a four-year budget plan for sports in Nigeria, to enhance its development.
Ali told newsmen that inadequate funding had continued to slow down the development of sports generally, and athletics in particular.
“Until we have a special budget for sports in Nigeria, we will continue singing the old song,” said the former Olympian.
According to him, other countries have continued to be ahead of Nigeria because of the peculiar manner they fund sports.
Ondo
The Police in Akure has arraigned a 28-year-old woman, Folashade Babatunde before an Akure Senior Magistrates’ Court for allegedly pouring faeces on a female banker.
The accused, a trade and HND student at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo in Ondo State was docked before Mrs Rabi Abdulahi on a two-count charge of act likely to cause breach of the peace and unlawful assault.
Babatunde was accused of pouring faeces on one Agnes Olasehinde, a 27-year-old banker with the First Bank Plc, Alagbaka branch, Akure.
The offence, according to the Police Prosecutor, ASP Ayodele Atandeyi, was allegedly committed on Feb. 24, at about 12.30 p.m. at the First Bank Plc, Alagbaka branch, Akure.
Osun
The Osun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Temitope Ilori, has expressed optimism that the Lassa fever epidemic would not spread to the state due to the premium placed on hygiene.
The commissioner spoke to newsmen in Osogbo while reacting to the prevalence of the epidemic in some parts of the country.
The state conducts an environmental sanitation exercise twice in a month.
Ilori, who explained that Lassa fever is a rat-borne disease due to dirty environment, lamented that the infection had already recorded casualties in some states.
Sokoto
Chairman Ansaruddeen Society of Nigeria, Sokoto State chapter, Sheik Bilyamu Ajani, has called on Christians to use the current lent period to pray for the political stability of the nation.
Ajani, who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Sokoto on Tuesday, said prayers would also help to guarantee God’s protection for the citizens.
He said that lent was a time for the Christians to be close to their creator just as the Muslims usually observed the Ramadan fast.
He explained that the country was in dire need of prayers for God’s guidance, peace, progress and political stability.
Ajani also called on Nigerians to physically demonstrate the teachings of the two major religions in their day-to-day activities.
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
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