Nation
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 Head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt’s College of Health Sciences, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive forensic science infrastructure, warning that the nation’s ability to investigate and solve crime is being hampered by lack of scientific data and systems.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Man: Fearfully Different, Wonderfully Made,” delivered as part of the 207th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university, Prof Oladipo highlighted that while no two individuals are exactly the same, the country currently lacks the robust systems needed to collect and manage biological and anthropometric data that could support criminal investigations.
He explained that the natural variations among humans — from fingerprints to physical measurements — form the foundation of personal identification in forensic work. These biological differences, he said, are essential for distinguishing one person from another, especially in the context of criminal investigations where clarity of identity can mean the difference between justice and impunity. Without this scientific foundation, he argued, law enforcement agencies lack a critical tool in the fight against crime.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s forensic science capacity has historically lagged behind needs, with only a few forensic facilities available and many law enforcement agencies struggling to access or use scientific evidence effectively. One review of the state of forensic investigation in Nigeria found that outdated facilities and limited adoption of modern forensic methods have left many cases unsolved or poorly investigated, even as crime rates rise across the country.
In Lagos, efforts to improve forensic capabilities have focused on DNA analysis, with the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre — the first of its kind in West Africa — providing critical support for criminal investigations and helping to identify human remains, link related cases, and assist with paternity testing. However, such initiatives are yet to be replicated at a national scale, leaving many regions without access to these vital scientific tools.
Prof Oladipo’s lecture went beyond academic theory to propose concrete actions. He called for the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Science responsible for creating and managing a nationwide anthropometric and forensic data bank. This repository, he stressed, would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to track crime, assist law enforcement agencies, and improve the administration of justice by providing reliable scientific evidence for investigative and legal processes.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening research and training in forensic science. Many Nigerian universities currently lack the funding and infrastructure to offer complete undergraduate or postgraduate programs in areas such as forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, and crime scene investigation, a gap that forces aspiring experts to rely on collaborations with institutions abroad. By fostering a research-friendly environment and securing greater support from both government and private sectors, Nigerian institutions could produce homegrown experts capable of advancing forensic science in the country.
Awareness of forensic science’s role in criminal justice remains low among the general public and even among some security professionals. Studies have shown that a significant portion of Nigerians are unfamiliar with basic forensic concepts or the existence of tools such as DNA profiling and national forensic databases — tools that are common features of criminal justice systems in countries like South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Oladipo also urged regular training and retraining programs to keep forensic practitioners updated with evolving scientific methods. According to him, continuous professional development is critical in a field where technological advances — from biometric databases to digital forensic tools — are transforming how crimes are investigated and solved.
The lecture was attended by academics, students, and professionals drawn to the intersection of science, identity, and justice, all of whom heard the professor make a compelling case for scientific innovation and institutional reform as central to Nigeria’s effort to contain crime and strengthen its justice system.
The event not only showcased Prof Oladipo’s expertise in human anatomy and forensic psychology but also positioned forensic science as a strategic national priority — one that could bring clarity to investigations, support victims and their families, and ultimately enhance public safety across Nigeria.
The University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) on Thursday staged a vibrant and memorable edition of its Annual Inter-House Sports Competition at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Village, drawing an impressive turnout of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests.
The event, organised by the UPWA International Group of Schools, brought together children from the pre-nursery, nursery and secondary sections in a colourful celebration of youth athleticism, discipline and teamwork. The arena came alive with cheers and excitement as pupils, clad in their various house colours, marched in a ceremonial parade before proceeding to compete in a wide range of track and field events, relays, novelty races and other team-based activities designed to promote physical fitness and healthy competition.
Declaring the competition open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended UPWA for sustaining a tradition that continues to nurture young talents beyond the classroom. He noted that sports remain a critical component of holistic education, helping to build resilience, confidence, leadership skills and social interaction among children.
In her remarks, the President of UPWA, Professor Udeme Georgewill, expressed appreciation to parents, teachers and members of the organising committee for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the success of the programme despite prevailing economic challenges. She described the event as a reflection of unity and collective effort within the school community.
“This is the first time White House is emerging overall winner, and that shows remarkable improvement and great sportsmanship,” she said. “We all had fun. It is not easy putting an event like this together considering the economic situation, but we are grateful to the parents for being part of this journey. The excitement everywhere is truly heartwarming.”
The competition featured spirited participation from the various houses, including Purple House, San Chicago Red House and White House, with pupils demonstrating strength, speed, coordination and teamwork. Parents and supporters filled the stands, cheering enthusiastically and adding colour to the spectacle, while teachers ensured orderliness and safety throughout the proceedings.
Professor Georgewill emphasized that the true essence of sports lies not merely in winning trophies but in participation and personal growth. “Sports is not just about winning. It is an avenue for growth, discipline and opportunity. The fact that a child is able to participate is already a win. Losing this year does not mean you cannot win next year. Keep trying,” she encouraged, urging pupils to see both victory and defeat as stepping stones to greater achievements.
She further observed that while there are many competing interests in the Nigerian sports sector, consistent grassroots investment remains essential for discovering and nurturing future champions.
The colourful ceremony culminated in medal presentations, trophy awards and group photographs, with UPWA executives, including Vice President I, Professor Adedamola Onyeaso, joining the participating teams to celebrate the day’s achievements.
The annual inter-house sports competition continues to stand as one of UPWA’s flagship events, reinforcing its commitment to balanced education, character formation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among its pupils.
-
Politics5 days ago
2027: NIGERIANS FAULT INEC ON DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP REGISTER DIRECTIVE
-
Politics5 days ago
LP Crisis: Ex-NWC Member Dumps Dumps Abure Faction
-
Politics5 days agoUmahi Dismisses Allegations On Social Media, Insists On Projects Delivery
-
Environment5 days agoLAWMA Director Says Sweeping Reforms Have Improved Waste Collection
-
Politics5 days ago
NATASHA ELECTRIC VEHICLES INITIATIVE IN KOGI CENTRAL
-
Sports5 days agoAbia Not Sure To Secure continental Ticket
-
Politics5 days ago
IT’S A LIE, G-5 GOVS DIDN’T WIN ELECTION FOR TINUBU – SOWUNMI
-
Sports5 days ago
La Liga: Yamal Records First Career Hat-trick