Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
An Adamawa-based NGO, Mana Foundation for Grassroots Development, says it donated sporting facilities to youth centres in Adamawa to enhance sports development in the state
The Director of the foundation, Miss Amina Gadzama, said in Yola on Saturday that it donated volleyball, table tennis and scrabble facilities to youth centres in the 21 local government areas.
Gadzama said that the donation would ensure development of the games.
She said that the gesture was to encourage the youth to develop their sports talents and to enable them make a living through sports.
Gadzama said the foundation had also concluded arrangements to organise inter-school football competition for girls in junior and senior schools in the state.
“A football competition will be organised for girls schools, the competition will be conducted at local government and state levels. ’’
Gombe
Farmers in Gombe State are hopeful that 2012 farming season will yield good results in the agricultural sector.
Some of the farmers, said the weather signs had indicated that the season would bring a lot of blessings.
One of the farmers, Alhaji Mohammed Bula, said that from all indications, this year’s farming season would be a successful one.
“Like our forefathers told us that if there is a serious hammattan and too much heat in the year, we are going be blessed with a good farming season and we have observed it this year,” he said.
He said that he had been farming for over 20 years, adding that every year he realised about 300 to 500 bags of Sorghum or Millet.
Bula urged the State Government to ensure early supply of fertiliser to farmers at subsidised rate.
Malam Adamu Babawuro, also a farmer, predicted that Gombe would be among the states that would produce large quantities of grains, which the country would benefit from.
Babawuro expressed the belief that the loans given to farmers by the government in collaboration with the Bank of Industry would help in ensuring success during the farming season.
Another farmer, Musa Ajiya, advised the government to accept farm produce as repayment of the loan given to the farmers.
Kano
The new President of the Kano State Chapel of National Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ), Hajiya Amina Usman, has pledged to wage war on the rampant cases of rape in Kano State through advocacy.
Usman made the pledge in Kano on Saturday while being sworn-in as President of the chapel.
She said that her administration would ensure massive support of NAWOJ members, adding that she would operate an open-door policy.
“We hope to follow the foot steps of our predecessors who worked tirelessly to see that NAWOJ awakened from its long slumber,” she stated.
Usman said that NAWOJ would collaborate with the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the training and re-training of its members.
“We are willing to assist and organise social gatherings and offer assistance to children at the orphanage homes in the state so they can feel the impact of our organisation,” she said.
Kogi
The Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, on Saturday in Lokoja reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing an improved working environment for its civil servants.
Awoniyi spoke after being decorated with the state’s new identity card by the Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Moses Atakpa.
The Deputy Governor who solicited the continued support of workers said an improved working environment would help the state in the attainment of its transformation agenda.
“Only a virile and well co-ordinated civil service will help in implementing government policies for the attainment of set-goals,’’ he said.
Awoniyi pointed out that the state government would provide every facility and working tool needed for effective service delivery by the civil servants.
“This is because government is committed to securing an improvement in the well-being of the citizenry,’’ he said.
The Deputy Governor commended the state’s civil servants for living up to their official responsibilities since the inception of the present administration in the state.
Kwara
A Nigerian-born American Preacher and President for the World Revival Mission, Pastor Sam Aweda, says that only righteousness will bring the nation back to the path of sanity and prosperity.
Aweda, who spoke with newsmen said “we have found ourselves a highly religious nation in crises of moral laxity.”
The clergyman, who came into the country to organise a one-day conference tagged: “A Day of Commitment to Godliness and Nation”, said he would reach out to many stakeholders during the religious endeavour.
The event is slated for Ilorin, the Kwara capital, on May 5.
Aweda said: “If we remove poverty in the land, those things which people list as problems, for which they sleep nights in places of worship, will disappear.’’
“Poverty is the root cause of many illnesses that afflict many people. How will someone not be sick, when he cannot get balanced diet to eat?.
Lagos
A Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, has advised youths to be more committed to sports.
Oladunjoye said in Lagos that the Lagos State Government was planning to engage the youths through sports.
“Sports is to encourage young players, and give them a sense of belonging; in essence, making them responsible citizens,” he said.
Oladunjoye said the Lagos State Government would scout for up-and-coming sports talents at the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF), scheduled for November 27 to December 9 in Lagos.
He said such talents would be groomed to become professionals in their chosen sports and thus make a living through sports.
“We want to take advantage as the host state to engage Lagos youths and athletes to take whatever sports they participate in, to the next level,” Oladunjoye said.
Ogun
The police last Sunday foiled a robbery attempt at a branch of Guarantee Trust Bank in Kuto, Abeokuta, a statement said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement that the attempted robbery took place at 5 a.m.
It said the robbery suspects had stormed the bank, carrying different equipment, such as hammers, a gas cylinder, chisel and others, for the operation.
Adejobi said the suspects engaged the State Anti Robbery team in a gun duel, adding that the team, supported by the Quick Response Squad, forced the robbers to flee.
He said that the suspects left with bullet wounds and were forced to abandon their tools.
“‘The Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, has ordered immediate investigation combing of the vicinity and investigation into the attack.
Sokoto
Sokoto State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) begind a 16-day tour of the 23 local governments of the state to assess development at the grassroots.
A statement signed by its chairman, Labaran Dundaye and secretary, Bashir Mani, said in Sokoto on Sunday that the tour was sequel to the approval granted by Governor Aliyu Wamakko .
According to the statement, the monitoring tour is aimed at assessing the achievements of the state and the local governments in the last five years.
“It is also aimed at boosting the rural coverage by the working journalists in the state, as well as enhancing the entrenchment of democracy,’’ it added.
The six chapels of the NUJ in the state, as well as the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and Veteran Journalists, would all be represented on the tour.
Taraba
Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State has charged the State Tourism Development Board to live up to expectations of marketing the tourism potential of the state.
He warned that failure to do this would compel government to withdraw its sponsorship of the annual Nwonyo Fishing and Cultural Festival.
Suntai gave the charge last Saturday at Ibi in Ibi Local Government Area of the state at a ceremony to mark the 2012 Nwonyo Fishing and Cultural Festival
He observed that a situation where people were invited for a jamboree using government resources to enjoy themselves and go away without any revenue accruing to government was no longer to be encouraged by his administration.
He complained that “four years after the board came into being we are yet to see if tourism in Taraba State can be turned into a revenue generating venture. “
He noted that this had remained a great challenge for members of the board.
“In the next two years if you cannot change your ways of handling the tourism issue in the state I will quietly withdraw from this unprofitable venture because Nwonyo Fishing Festival would have to be transformed to a revenue generating festival,” Suntai said.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Board, Prof. Sa’ad Abubakar, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, said that progress was being made in the tourism sector in the state.
He said that the board had been working relentlessly to involve the private sector in the tourism sector of the state.
Abubakar noted that the level of involvement of MTN, Zain and Zenith Bank among others in this year’s edition of the festival was a major breakthrough.
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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