Connect with us

Nation

THE STATES

Published

on

Adamawa

Adamawa Deputy Governor James Ngillari said on Friday that 504 prospective Christian pilgrims from the state were set to perform the 2012 pilgrimage in Israel.

Ngillari stated this at the orientation and farewell service for the intending pilgrims at the Church of Brethren in Nigeria, EYN, in Yola.

The deputy governor, who is also the leader of the state government’s delegation, called on the prospective pilgrims to consider their journey as a religious obligation.

“I call on the intending pilgrims to marry what they have read from the Bible and what is obtaining at the religious site,” Ngillari said.

 

Ekiti

The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, last Friday ordered the release of 27 inmates who have been on awaiting trial list for a long time.

He gave the order during an official visit to Ado-Ekiti Federal Prison in Ado-Ekiti.

Daramola, who also granted bail to seven inmates, expressed dismay at the congestion in cells in the state.

He criticised the inadequate facilities in all the prisons.

“Today we have attended to 292 cases awaiting trial; 27 were released outright and seven others were granted bail, based on unfounded claim of offence, health condition and long stay in detention without any evidence to try them,’’ Daramola said.

 

FCT

President Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with the family of the former Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye, who died early last Friday.

Jonanthan also sent his message of condolence on the death of the patriarch to the Anglican Communion.

In a condolence message, signed by Dr Reuben Abati, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, the President described late Adetiloye as a great man of God who would be missed, not only by members of the Anglican Communion, but all Nigerians.

Jonathan said that Adetiloye would be long remembered for his zeal and passion for evangelism and planting of churches and his interest in not only the spiritual life of church members but also their education, health and economic well-being.

 

Jigawa

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said last Friday it arrested 30 alien herbal drug hawkers in Dutse, the Jigawa capital.

The Director of the agency in the state, Mr Kenneth Azikwe, told newsmen in Dutse that the drug hawkers were arrested with support from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

“In recent times, foreign nationals have been coming to Jigawa State to hawk herbal drugs; my men, in collaboration with the immigration service, have cleared all of them away and those herbal drug dealers from outside Nigeria are no longer there.

“And even the drug dealers that relocated to Dutse because of the clampdown on them in Kano, have been cleared; so Jigawa Dtate is free of drug hawkers.

 

Kaduna

Alhaji Kabir Shema, a junior brother to Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State is dead.

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Press Matters, Alhaji Abdulhamid Danjuma, said in Katsina that the deceased died at Katsina General Hospital last Thursday night at the age of 46, after a brief illness.

Until his death, he said, Kabir was a staff of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Katsina State Command.

He said Kabir had since been buried in Katsina town in accordance with Islamic injunctions, and that he was survived by one wife and four children.

 

Kano

Kano-based business mogul, Aliko Dangote, has pledged support for Kano State Government in health, education and other sectors.

Dangote made the pledge while launching the polio immunisation in Kano where he personally vaccinated his granddaughter.

He said it was “indeed very embarrassing” that Nigeria was still one of the three countries with persistence of polio virus.

“It is a point of concern to us because the other two countries still having the virus are war zones. That is Pakistan and Afghanistan,” Dangote said.

 

Kebbi

Health officials in Birnin Kebbi Local Government and Ambursa /Kardi Development Area in Kebbi State said they discovered 37 fresh cases of measles in rural communities.

The discovery came two weeks after seven children died of the disease.

The Director of Health in the area, Malam Yusuf Sani, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the disease was discovered in Runtuwa,Gawasu in Ambursa/Kardi development area.

He said treatment and isolation of the affected children as well as provision of drugs had begun.

 

Kwara

An Islamic Scholar, Sheik AbdulAzeez Shitu, on Saturday said the adoption of the death penalty by the National Assembly would be helpful in fighting terrorism and kidnapping in Nigeria.

Shittu told newsmen in Omu-Aran, Kwara, that the adoption was a bold step and commitment by the assembly in curtailing the menace of terrorism and kidnapping.

Shittu who is also the chief missioner of the Islamic Development Association (IDYON), observed that terrorism and kidnapping had done much to damage the image of the country.

“It is not enough for the two arms of the National Assembly to adopt the bill on death penalty for the act of terrorism, kidnapping and other related offences.

 

Lagos

The late Abiodun Adetiloye, the second Archbishop and Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), was a faultless and humble Nigerian, some clerics said in Lagos.

The clerics made the submission in separate interviews with newsmen on the death of Adetiloye.

The late primate died at 1.30 a.m last Friday, few days to his 83rd birthday at Odo-Owa, his country home in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti.

Rev. Femi Asiwaju, Vice-President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos State Chapter, expressed surprise over the death of Adetiloye, saying he would be fondly missed by Nigerians.

 

Niger

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State Saturday inaugurated the state’s chapter of the Association of Jerusalem Pilgrims, charging the body to bring peace and development to Niger.

Aliyu made the call in Minna after inaugurating the association and receiving an award from the state’s chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for contributing positively to the Christian Community in Nigeria.

He urged Jerusalem Pilgrims to use the teaching of Jesus Christ to bring peace and development to the state.

“If you go on pilgrimage no matter your sins or bad ways when you come back we expect you to be a better person in your family and the society at large.

 

Ogun

The Ogun House of Assembly on Friday urged the Ministry of Education to provide resources for the building of model schools and maintenance of existing ones.

The Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr Olusola Bankole, made the call in Abeokuta at the ministry’s defence of its 2013 budgets before the committee.

Bankole said government needed to renovate some schools in the state and build new ones.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Segun Odubela said the ministry planned to generate N293 million as revenue in 2013 and that N8.4 billion had been budgeted as total expenditure.

 

Oyo

British American Tobacco (BAT) Nigeria said that the company would continue to support Federal Government’s initiative on the promotion of agriculture through the provision of strategic inputs.

The Demand Chain General Manager of the company, West Africa Area, Mr Hugo Norman, gave the assurance on Friday during the company’s scholarship award ceremony in Ibadan.

Norman, who stressed the need for stakeholders to support government’s effort to restore agriculture to its leading position as a critical sector, said time had come for subsistence farms to expand into large scale mechanised ones.

This, he explained, would enable agriculture practitioners to design and implement sustainable methods that would revolutionise the sector.

 

Plateau

Plateau Government and a Brazilian firm, EBS Fedeta de Fedates, State on Friday signed a Memoranda of Understanding for the establishment of a cassava processing factory in the state.

Gov. Jonah Jang signed on behalf of the state government, while the President of EBS Fedeta de Fedetes, Mr Waldfried Schurt, signed for the firm.

Jang said agreement was a dream come true for the state as it would stimulate economic growth in the state.

The governor said the state produced large quantities of cassava, yam and potatoes which would be used by the factory to boost the revenue base of the state.

Continue Reading

Nation

Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Nation

THE LAPSES OF THE MEDIA IN ELECTIONS

Published

on

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.
Continue Reading

Nation

RSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Holds Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria

Published

on

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

Continue Reading

Trending