Nation
THE STATES
FCT
President Goodluck Jonathan, ministers and senators met on
Tuesday night in Abuja on the way forward for the country.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press
Secretary to David Mark, Mr Paul Mumeh, on Wednesday in Abuja.
It said that at the meeting, which took place at the Apo
Mansion, the official residence of the Senate President, the executive and
legislature agreed that they must work together in the interest of the
citizenry.
The statement quoted President Jonathan as saying that
although the presidential system of government prescribed separation of powers
“our goals and interests are the same.’’
“This interest has to do with the welfare of our people and
the development of our country, adding that the president called for regular
social interactions between the two arms of government to cement the accord and
erase grey areas or misconceptions.
Jigawa
Dabi, a community in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa
State, has contributed N2 million to construct culverts and drains as a measure
to tackle flooding in the area.
Malam Muhammad Sa’idu, the Commissioner, Public Complaints
Commission in Jigawa State disclosed this to our correspondent in Dutse on
Thursday.
Sai’du, who hails from Dabi, said that the community had set
up a committee to take census of the affected areas ravaged by flood and
address the problems, adding that members of the committee were expected to
construct culverts and drainage systems in every nook and crannies of the
village to facilitate water passage.
The commissioner said that “lack of drains and culverts are
the main causes of flooding in Dabi which would soon be a thing of the past.”
Kano
The House of Representatives Committee on Works has ordered the contractor handling the
construction of Kano Western by-pass to return to site or face sanction.
The Tide reports that the contractor abandoned the site in
December 2011, shortly before its delivery date, following the deterioration of
security situation in Kano metropolis.
The committee’s Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Ali, gave
the order in Kano during the committee’s oversight tour of Federal Road
projects in Kano State.
“There is need for you to resume work immediately since the
security situation in Kano has improved.
On the expansion of Kano-Wudil- Shuwari Road, legislator
charged the contractor to expedite action and complete the job on schedule,
according to specifications, within one year.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government says it will fund the corrective
surgery of 70 persons living with physical disabilities as part of efforts to
give them a sense of belonging.
The Senior Special Assistant Alhaji Abdulnasir Argungu, on
Disabled Matters to Governor Saidu Dakingari, said this in an interview with
The Tide in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.
He said that the surgery would be performed at the state
owned Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital.
“The corrective surgery of the 70 people living with
disability is expected to commence next month,’’ he said, adding that would
undergo the surgery to enable them to either use crutches or walk with walking
aids.
Kogi
The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, has
expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its immediate intervention
and release of N17.5 billion as support for flood affected states.
Awoniyi’s appreciation is contained in a statement issued
through his Press Secretary, Mr Michael Abu, in Lokoja on Thursday.
The deputy governor, who was on a visit to flood displaced
persons in Ofu Local Government Area of the state said that the Federal
Government’s intervention was timely.
He also said that the intervention would go a long way in
assisting the state and the flood victims, adding, “though the damage wrecked
by the flood is enormous, we are glad the Federal Government has helped us’’.
The Deputy Governor said that women and children were most
affected by the flood.
Lagos
Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Archbishop Alfred Martins on
Thursday urged the faithful to pray for justice, peace and unity in the
country, as the Catholics begin to celebrate the year of faith.
Martins said this in his homily at the opening ceremony of
the year of faith, held at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos.
The Tide reports that Catholics in Nigeria are joining their
counterparts worldwide to celebrate the “Year of Faith’’ to renew their
confidence in the gospel.
The year of faith offered the faithful opportunity to
rediscover the truth of the faith.
Martins urged all Catholics to use the period to pray
specially for God to intervene in the violence in some parts of the country.
Niger
The Niger State College of Education Wednesday matriculated
249 students under its Long Vacation Student programme (LSVP) for 2012 contact
session.
The Provost, Prof. Farouk Haruna, who made this known during
the matriculation in Minna, urged the students to be disciplined and focus on
their studies as no act of examination malpractice would be condoned.
Haruna, who was represented by the Deputy Provost,
Academics, Dr Mohammed Isah-Chado in his matriculation speech, urged the
students to be law abiding and focus on their studies.
He said that 150 cell phones used in examination malpractice
by students in 2011 contact session were confiscated and burnt by the school
authority.
“I urge you to be studious and disciplined as this college
has zero tolerance for examination malpractice, any student caught will be
expelled and shown the way out.
Ogun
The Ogun State Assembly Committee on Local Government last
Wednesday in Abeokuta warned council chairmen against diverting funds meant for
capital projects.
The chairman of the committee, Mr Olakunle Oluomo, gave the
warning during the committee’s oversight visit to Ewekoro, Ifo and Ado Odo/Ota
councils.
He said that any money received from federal allocation
through the state government should be used in developing the local government
areas and advised the chairmen to embark on aggressive revenue drive to
increase their internally-generated revenue and avoid depending solely on
federal allocation.
He also advised them to be prudent and transparent in
running the affairs of their councils, and endeavour to carry along councillors
in conducting the affairs of the councils.
Ondo
The Ondo State Government on Wednesday engaged 100 youths in
tractor operation as part of efforts to reduce unemployment.
Governor Olusegun
Mimiko stated this during a training programme for the operators and mechanics
in Akure.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Ademola Olorunfemi, who
represented the governor, said that the government was collaborating with
private sector operators to strengthen and improve demand for tractor
operators.
Mimiko said that the empowerment would deepen tractor
service delivery to enhance job creation.
The Federal Director of Agriculture, Mr. Rufus Omakinwa, who
represented the Minister for Agriculture, Adewumi Adesina, said that the
programme was organised to equip the youths with appropriate skills in handling
the tractors.
The Chairman of the Agricultural Mechanic and Machinery
Operators Training Centre, Mr Ladeinde Mabayomije, said the training and
empowerment would boost job creation efforts.
Osun
The Osun State House of Assembly has condemned the kidnap
of wife of the Speaker, Alhaja Muibat
Salam, by gunmen at Ejigbo in Ejigbo Local Government area of the state.
In a statement signed by Media Secretary to the House, Mr
Goke Butika, the members expressed the fear that the incident could disrupt the
prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the state.
According to the statement, for some gun-wielding men to
waylay a woman on her way home from her shop was unfortunate, nauseating and
uncalled for.
It called on security operatives to investigate the incident
to determine whether or not it was politically-motivated.
When contacted for comments, the speaker said he would not
comment on the incident until the circumstances surrounding the kidnap are
known.
Plateau
The Plateau State Government on Thursday said plans were
underway to build an ultra-modern digital library in the state.
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Abraham Yiljap,
said this on Thursday in an interview with our correspondent in Jos.
The commissioner said that the issue was extensively
discussed at the last state executive council meeting.
“Governor Jonah Jang has directed that the information
ministry should forward a proposal on the project to his office for
consideration.
“Right now, we are working on that and I am assuring you
that as soon as the proposal is ready, the governor would give his consent in
view of the passion he has for the project,’’ he said.
Taraba
The Taraba State Commissioner for Education, Mr Yakubu
Agbaizo has commended the initiative of a youth corps member, Miss Patience
Toyin, for donating standard library materials to Government College, Jalingo.
The Tide reports that the corps member also donated 50 desks
and constructed a toilet at Government Science Secondary School, Jalingo.
“It is amazing that these donations are coming from a corps
member. Toyin has demonstrated a high sense of patriotism.
Earlier, the state Coordinator of the National Youth Service
Corps, Mr Tumba Freeman, pledged to support any corps member that initiated
projects with direct bearing on the lives of the people.
Earlier, Toyin, said that she initiated the project to
support efforts at imparting quality learning to the students as her
contribution to the growth and development of the community.
Zamfara
A 45-year-old man, Malam Ahmad Kawaye, whose two wives gave
birth to five babies in three days on Thursday received assistance from the
Zamfara State government to enable him take care of the babies.
Making the donation on behalf of the state government in
Gusau, the acting Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala, said the deliveries were
“wonderful and an act of God, who never gives His servants what they cannot
bear”.
Wakkala said the five children, comprising four females and
one male, were blessings from God and an increase in the number of Muslims in
the state.
He said that the state government would continue to support
the family to cater for the babies until they grew older.
On behalf of the government, he donated N100,000, five rams,
20 brocades and five bags each of rice, maize, guinea-corn and millet to the
family.
Receiving the items, Kawaye thanked the government for the
gesture, and said, “we do not have enough words to express our gratitude but we
will continue to pray for this administration for being sensitive to the
yearnings of its people.”
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.
-
Sports23 hours agoWorld Relays: Chinese Embassy replies ‘inconsistent’ AFN
-
Oil & Energy16 hours agoTight Now, Loose Later: Oil Futures Flash Warning
-
News23 hours ago15 Pipeline Vandals Convicted In N’Delta -Ribadu
-
News17 hours agoHYPREP Solicits Regulators, Asset Owners’ Support
-
Niger Delta23 hours agoC’ River Repeals Essential Drug Programme Law 2002
-
Politics16 hours agoTinubu’s Visit To Anambra Healing, Reconciliation Message To Igbo – Arthur Eze
-
Sports23 hours agoNasarawa intensify training ahead of National Sports Festival
-
Oil & Energy16 hours ago“Renaissance Energy, NNPC JV Donate ICU Equipment To RSUTH