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THE STATES
Adamawa
The National Business and Technical Education Board (NABTEB), has decried the low enrolment of students from the North East region into technical schools in the country.
The NABTEB North East Zonal Coordinator, Mr Gabriel Yalamu, said this in an interview with newsmen in Yola last Monday.
Yalamu, who described the situation as “worrisome”, said that the development was among the major factors hindering the economic growth and contributed to the security challenges in the zone.
He attributed the development to the lack of commitment by some state governments, organisations and wealthy individuals from the region.
FCT
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, last Monday urged Nigerians to speak less on the planned amnesty for Boko Haram to allow the committee to perform its responsibilities.
Enang spoke in Abuja ahead of Tuesday’s resumption of the Senate from a two-week Easter recess and said it was necessary for Nigerians to avoid comments capable of escalating the lingering insecurity in the country.
“This is to allow the committees and persons saddled with these responsibilities to concentrate on their jobs and contact the appropriate persons and extract the appropriate commitments.
“Lets us allow those saddled with these responsibilities to work. We should be positive and optimistic on the expected outcome,’’ he said.
Enang said the conference of four Senate Committees on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) had the responsibility to determine the modality for the public hearing on the bill.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Haruna Wakili, has approved the immediate removal of Malam Abba Ibrahim as Principal of Government Secondary School, Maigatari.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, Malam Ismail Ibrahim, and made available last Tuesday in Dutse, directed the principal to hand over the administration of the school to the Vice-Principal (Administration), Malam Sabiu Tsmaiya, pending the appointment of a new principal.
The former principal was also directed to report to the ministry for further directives.
Meanwhile, the state government has approved the re-appointment of Prof. Garba Goje as Rector of the Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse, for a second term.
The statement explained that the appointment was with effect from April 25. According to it, Goje’s re-appointment is based on performance.
Kano
Kano State Refuse Management and Sanitation Board said last Tuesday it would collaborate with the ward development associations in the state to ensure cleanliness of the environment.
Director of Solid Wastes of the board, Alhaji Ismail Bello, said in Kano that the partnership had resulted in appropriate waste disposal and evacuation of refuse within the metropolis.
He said “we have community associations that liaise with us. We have established a rapport that ensures that when they want to embark on sanitation, our staff are notified, so as to apportion a day for the exercise. “
Bello also said that the board was already working toward evacuation of drains to allow for free flow of water during the forthcoming rainy season.
“Our men are already engaged in 24-hour service in clearing of refuse across the city .
Kebbi
The Chairman, Northern Houses of Assembly Speakers’ Forum, Alhaji Habibu Musa, has commended the Federal Government’s proposed amnesty to Boko Haram.
Musa, who is the Speaker of Kebbi House of Assembly, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi last Monday that amnesty was a major step toward solving the security challenges in the country.
He said dialogue was the potent means adopted the world over to resolve conflicts, stressing that amnesty would provide the required avenue for issues to be resolved peacefully.
Kogi
Kogi State Water Board says it will soon embark on the disconnection of pipes illegally connected to offices, business premises and residential houses in Lokoja and its environs.
The General Manager of the board, Mr Vincent Abakpa, said in Lokoja on Tuesday that this measure had become necessary due to the refusal of water users to heed several warnings from the board.
He said that those found guilty of the illegal connection would be made to face the law as staff of the board had been mandated to go round and identify culprits.
Kwara
An Ilorin Area Court last Tuesday dissolved the five-year-old marriage between one Aminat Tunde and her husband, Jimoh, over lack of a child in the union.
The 43-year-old house wife had approached the court to dissolve the marriage over the lack of a child in the marriage.
The petitioner, a resident of Fate area of Ilorin, also told the court that her husband was too harsh and fond of placing curses on her.
According to her, their marriage was contracted in 2008 and was yet to produce any child. She prayed the court to end the marriage, saying her husband was making life difficult for her.
Her husband did not object to the prayer of his wife, saying, she was free to go. “My wife’s wayward life style has forced me not to have any pity for her situation,” he said.
Ogun
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, has warned residents of Ado-Odo in Ado-Odo/Otta Local Government Area to shun violence or risk imposition of curfew in the area.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Mr Muyiwa Oladipo.
The youths were protesting the alleged refusal of Akanni to visit one of his rivals to the throne who was in the hospital following an auto crash involving the monarch and the man.
The action resulted in a reprisal attack by supporters of the monarch resulting in violence in various parts of the town.
Amosun, however, cautioned the residents against violence to avoid the wrath of the state government and assured the people that the government would set up a committee to investigate remote and immediate causes of the crisis.
Osun
The Osun State House of Assembly has warned road contractors handling road projects across the state against low quality work.
The Chairman, House Committee on Works, Mr Abiodun Awolola, gave the warning during the committee’s oversight visit to Ede North and Iwo Local Government Areas of the state.
Awolola, who particularly condemned the work done on Iyalode road in Iwo, ordered the contractor in-charge to stop work on the project due to poor quality of work.
Oyo
A former governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayo Fayose, last Tuesday said his political opponents were behind the rumour making the rounds that he was a murderer.
Speaking against the backdrop of the renewed political violence in Ekiti State, Fayose told newsmen on phone that the rumour was part of a smear campaign ahead of the 2014 governorship election in the state.
He said: “ my popularity in Ekiti ahead of the 2014 governorship election is a dilemma to my opponents and that is why they are looking for any opportunity to blackmail. I am not a murderer as they claimed. Nobody or court has arraigned me for murder in the last seven years. Are we saying that the system is not working?’’
Fayose, a PDP governorship aspirant in the election, said his political opponents had nothing to use in campaigning against him. “It is all political gimmicks and intrigues. They are running a failed propaganda,’’ he said.
Fayose appealed to his supporters to remain resolute and shun acts capable of heating up the polity.
Plateau
The Plateau State Government has threatened to blacklist non-performing contractors, saying that it is no longer prepared to tolerate “unserious people’’.
The state Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Solomon Maren, gave the warning while inspecting ongoing projects in Langtang on Monday.
“We are tired of revoking contracts and will soon start collecting a data of non-performing contractors to shut our doors against them,’’ he said.
Maren warned contractors handling government projects to improve in delivering quality jobs and on scheduled time.
He warned that government would not tolerate a situation where some firms frustrate its desire to improve the living standards of the populace.
Maren decried the slow pace of work on the five- kilometer Langtang Road and declared that the job was being delayed.
According to him, this road has taken too much time. I can’t see how a five kilometer road will take you more than two years to finish.
Sokoto
The Chairman, Sokoto North Local Government, Sokoto State, Alhaji Hassan Abdullahi last Monday urged the three-tiers of government to empower youths to check restiveness in the country.
Abdullahi said in Sokoto that proper investment in youths would prevent them from being used as agents of destruction, noting that the lingering insecurity in the country would be resolved if government produced policies and programmes aimed at providing jobs to the teaming unemployed Nigerians.
He also called on the Federal Government to work out modalities that would revamp the nation’s ailing companies.
Abdullahi called on wealthy Nigerians to complement government’s efforts by setting up companies to create jobs, and identified poverty and unemployment as factors responsible for the insecurity situation in the country.
The Standard Bearers (SB) Islamic Organisation has raised concerns over the growing rate of binge drinking among Nigerian youths, attributing the trend largely to the widespread availability of sachet alcohol.
The group’s position follows the recent move by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce a ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Dr. Nurudeen AbdulRaheem, and National Secretary, Malam Qaasim Adegbuyi, the organisation declared its full support for NAFDAC’s decision, describing it as a timely and necessary public health intervention.
AbdulRaheem noted that sachet alcohol, often sold for as little as ?100, has made excessive drinking more accessible, particularly to young people and minors. According to him, the affordability and small packaging of such products have worsened binge drinking, youth addiction and community insecurity.
He explained that binge drinking involves consuming multiple alcoholic drinks within a short period, typically within two hours, a practice that can lead to severe physical and mental health complications as well as legal and social problems.
The SB National Coordinator cited global health data indicating that alcohol is responsible for more than three million deaths annually worldwide and remains a major contributor to road accidents, violence, liver disease and mental health disorders.
While acknowledging concerns from industry stakeholders over the economic implications of the ban, AbdulRaheem maintained that public health considerations must take precedence.
“Public health and the protection of young lives must come first,” he stated, adding that Islamic ethical values, like many societal norms, emphasise the protection of life, intellect and family stability.
The organisation urged NAFDAC and the Federal Government to remain resolute in implementing the policy while also providing transition support for businesses that may be affected by the ban.
According to the group, the enforcement of the ban represents a significant step toward promoting a safer and healthier society.
By Favour James
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has successfully concluded its Seafarers Training Programme for 100 Ogoni youths, positioning them for opportunities in the competitive global maritime industry.
The beneficiaries, who underwent four months of intensive training at Charkin Maritime Academy, Port Harcourt, received their certificates during a close-out ceremony held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The event was attended by top management staff of HYPREP, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning of Charkin Maritime Academy, the Head of the Seafaring Department, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, and other dignitaries.
Addressing the graduates, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, described the ceremony as a celebration of hard work, dedication, and the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the young beneficiaries.
He said the graduation symbolises vision, resilience, and hope — hope translated into skills, certificates, and tangible opportunities for a better future for Ogoni youths.
According to him, the passing-out ceremony marks an important milestone in HYPREP’s mandate to restore livelihoods and promote sustainable development in Ogoniland. He urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the skills and certifications acquired.
“These skills and achievements should not end here but serve as a springboard for self-reliance, dignity of labour, and long-term economic empowerment for the good of Ogoniland and Nigeria,” he stated.
Prof. Zabbey noted that the seafaring programme is significant not only to the beneficiaries but also to HYPREP’s broader livelihood restoration strategy and the Federal Government’s blue economy agenda.
He explained that by equipping the youths with globally relevant maritime skills, HYPREP is opening alternative income opportunities while discouraging oil theft, artisanal refining, re-pollution, and other environmentally harmful practices. He added that the initiative aligns with the directives of the 2016 HYPREP Establishment Gazette and reinforces the Project’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
Commending Charkin Maritime Academy as a dependable training partner, Zabbey described the institution as one of the foremost maritime training centres in the country.
“This partnership has delivered high-quality results today, and we intend to expand it as we intensify efforts to provide sustainable alternative livelihoods for the Ogoni people,” he said.
He expressed confidence in Ogoni youths as drivers of unity, peace, and progress, noting their resilience and commitment to peace in the area. He reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to supporting the aspirations of youths and women in Ogoniland.
The Project Coordinator likened knowledge and certificates to fuel in a vehicle, stressing that they are meant to propel the graduates toward greater heights.
“We hear your voices calling for restoration, and today, environmental and livelihood restoration are gradually unfolding before your eyes, bringing renewed hope. We continue to lay brick upon brick, building pillars of Ogoni development, as evidenced by the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), which is 93 per cent completed,” he added.
He emphasised that HYPREP’s approach integrates all projects and interventions toward achieving environmental sustainability and long-term development in Ogoniland.
Also speaking, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr. Ehioze Igbinomwahia, said the graduates had gained not only technical maritime skills but also discipline, resilience, and confidence to compete globally.
He described their graduation as the beginning of a new journey and noted that the UNEP Report emphasised that environmental restoration must be complemented by sustainable livelihoods, capacity building, and youth empowerment.
“Without empowering people, restoration cannot be complete. Programmes such as this maritime training represent practical steps toward creating employment pathways, dignity, and long-term community stability,” he said.
Engr. Igbinomwahia added that Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited remains committed to supporting environmental recovery, human capacity development, and sustainable economic opportunities in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta.
Highlighting the importance of discipline and safety, he urged the graduates to be ambassadors of professionalism and integrity.
“The sea you are about to enter is vast and sometimes challenging, but it is also full of opportunity. Let discipline guide your actions, let safety remain your constant companion, and let your character speak for you wherever you go,” he advised.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning at Charkin Maritime Academy, Captain Joseph Awodeha, who represented the Chairman, Dr. Charles Wami, emphasised discipline and safety as critical to career success in the maritime sector.
The Head of the Seafaring Department, Captain Jonathan Hammond, urged the graduates to remain humble and disciplined, noting that such virtues are essential for career growth.
In his remarks, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, Barrister Dornu Baridan, commended the beneficiaries for successfully scaling through the
rigorous selection process and completing their training as seafarers.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Port Harcourt Branch, Rivers State, has elected 14 member executives to lead the organization for the 2025/2026 year. Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, is the 23rd chairman.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Engr. Ishmael A. Branch Secretariat, 3 Benard Carr Street (Waterworks Yard), Port Harcourt, attracted members of the engineering profession from within and outside the state.
Other elected executives include:
Engr. Samuel H. Kwelle, MNSE – Vice Chairman
Engr. Dr. Promise Jumbo, FNSE – General Secretary
Engr. Priye P. K. Lawson, MNSE – Assistant Secretary
Engr. Patrick O. Udegbunam, MNSE – Treasurer.
Others are Engr. Hilda D. Batubo, MNSE – Financial Secretary
Engr. Bowei M. Dauseighe, MNSE – Technical Secretary
Engr. Charles O. Okwakpam, MNSE – Assistant Technical Secretary
Engr. Agnes Komolafe, MNSE – Membership Secretary
Engr. Dike N. Livingstone, MNSE – Publicity Secretary
Also elected are Engr. Ayebaye Daniel Wanatoi, MNSE – Welfare Secretary
Engr. Oribiokpomari I. Comfort, MNSE – Internal Auditor
Engr. Dr. Idaeresoari Harriet Ateke, FNSE – Immediate Past Chairman
Engr Dr Hachimenum Amadi, FNSE (Ex-Officio)
In his a goodwill message, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon. Frederick Anabraba, urged the new executive to maintain high ethical standards and move the association forward.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, promised an inclusive administration and teamwork, focusing on collaboration with stakeholders. He had begun building partnerships with Rivers State University and the University of Port Harcourt.
The highlight was the inauguration lecture, “Engineering Solution for Security, Energy Access and Sustainable Development,” delivered by Engr. Victor Bandele, Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater Assets, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited.
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