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THE STATES

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Ekiti

President Goodluck Jonathan, has assured that the
Federal Government will construct an airport and a secretariat in Ekiti State.
The President made the remarks in Ado-Ekiti while reacting to the request by Governor Kayode Fayemi during his one-day visit to the state.
According to the governor, Ekiti State is the only state among the six created in 1996 that is yet to have a Federal Secretariat.
Fayemi also complained that the non take-off of the airport project promised by the Federal Government was slowing down the pace of economic activities in the state.
He urged the President to facilitate the refund of the money spent by the state government on the construction and rehabilitation of some federal roads in the state.

FCT

The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican
Communion), Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, left Abuja last Sunday at the head of Nigeria’s 470-man delegation to Kenya, to attend the second Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), which opened on October 21.
While in Nairobi, Okoh, will join leaders from Anglican Provinces in Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, UK and  the U.S. to discuss the future of the Anglican Communion.
GAFCON was established in 2008 as a result of the strange teaching of western churches of the Anglican Communion, particularly on sexual preferences and homosexuality.
The maiden conference took place in Jerusalem in 2008, the same year Nigerian bishops pulled out from the Lambert Conference, the once-a-decade meeting of all Anglican bishops.
In a prayer and fasting session on October 15 in Abuja, Okoh urged Anglicans in Nigeria to pray for the security and success of the conference in Nairobi.

Kaduna

Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State has released
N710 million for the payment of leave and transport grants to all civil servants in the state.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Director-General on Media and Publicity  to the Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki, in Kaduna last Friday.
It said N195 million had also been released for the payment of scholarships to all indigenes in tertiary institutions.
The statement said that the state government had paid N120 million for the six years arrears of grants owed staff of the Kaduna State Water Board between 2005 and 2011.

Kano

The Kano State Government has promised to recover all
the money involved in the poorly-executed contracts for the construction of classrooms in the state capital.
This is contained in a statement signed by Alhaji Usman Bello, the Deputy Director (Press) in the office of the Deputy Governor, and issued in Kano recently.
It said the Deputy Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje who is also the Acting Governor, made the promise when he visited the schools.
The statement said the schools are the Special Primary Schools at Fagge, Gobirawa and Dandago in Kano State.

Kwara

The Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission
(KWSIEC) last Sunday  expressed  its readiness to conduct Saturday’s local council elections in the state.
The Chairman of the commission, Dr  Uthman Ajidagba, told newsmen  in Ilorin that  necessary machinery had been put in place to ensure a credible exercise.
He said security agencies and other stakeholders had  been contacted  to ensure a successful  conduct of the election.
Ajidagba, however, said only three political parties had signified  intention to participate in the election.
He listed  the parties as Social Democratic Party, Labour Party  and Peoples Democratic Party.

Lagos

A former member of the National Assembly, Mr Ehiogie
West-Idahosa, has lauded Governor  Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, for making kidnapping a capital offence in the state.
West-Idahosa, who represented Ovia North-East and South-West Constituency in the House of Representatives, said this while speaking with newsmen in Lagos.
“I am convinced that death penalty for kidnappers will definitely send the signal that the state is not ready to accept criminality,’’ West-Idahosa said.
He, however, said the law would only be successful if it would be properly implemented by the appropriate security agencies.
In its reaction, a human rights group, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), opposed the law, saying it would not deter kidnapping in the state.

Ogun

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Ogun State
Hospital in Ota, Dr Babatunde Banuso, has called on the State Government to build more male wards in the hospital.
Banuso who made the call while speaking with newsmen in Ota, said the move would help to increase the intake of patients.
He added that there should be deliberate effort by the government to ensure that good amenities were in place to supplement the existing ones.
“The government needs to build additional male wards to avoid the hospital turning down emergency cases.
“We also need adequate facilities to save the lives of patients who require urgent attention in the hospital,’’ the CMD said.
Ondo

A fatal auto crash that happened at Igbara Oke,
Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State has claimed four lives while 14 others sustained injuries.
Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Commander in charge of field operations, in the state, Mr Joseph Ojerinde, confirmed the incident in an interview with newsmen in Akure last Sunday.
The officer said that the accident that happened at 6.30 p.m. was as a result of reckless driving by one of the drivers.
He said that the auto crash involved a Mazda bus, with registration number Lagos KSF 706 XF carrying 18 passengers and a Honda Accord saloon car with number AA 239 GBH.
“The two vehicles involved in the crash had a head-on collision.
Plateau

Medical authorities in Plateau State have confirmed
an outbreak of cholera in Namu village in the Qua’pan Local Government Area of the state.
Namu, a village at  the Plateau and Nasarawa states border, hosts displaced people in the violent crisis that broke out in the Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
“Yes, there has been an outbreak of cholera in Namu village, eight people have been killed while 61 others have been hospitalised,’’ the Plateau State Epidemiologist, Dr Raymond Yuryit, said in Namu recently.
Yuryit spoke when he received the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Alhassan Barde, who had gone to assess the situation.
He said that those hospitalised had been diagnosed with the disease and had been admitted into various health centres.
Sokoto

The Sokoto State Government last Sunday said it
would spend over N2.86 billion on various projects in primary and junior secondary education sub-sectors.
The Secretary of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Ibrahim Dingyadi, said this in an interview with newsmen in Sokoto.
Dingyadi  said  all the projects would be executed under the 2012/2013 FGN/ Sokoto State Government Intervention Funds initiative.
He said N1.95 billion  would be spent on the construction of three model primary schools in Sokoto city and its environs.

Zamfara

The Police Command in Zamfara State says it has
started investigation into the attack on the motorcade of the acting Governor of the state, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, last Saturday.
The Public Relations Officer (PPRO), for the Police Command in the state, DSP Lawal Abdullahi made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Birnin-Magaji .
Abdullahi, who described the attack as “unfortunate”, said that the police would not fold its arms and allow such unbecoming behaviours by the youths.
He said that the police had deployed troops of mobile and regular police to maintain peace in the area.
The police image maker assured that anyone found involved in the attack would face “the full wrath of the law’’.

 L-R: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, wife of the Governor of Benue State, Mrs Yemisi Suswan and  Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, at the Conference of Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (Cowlso) in Lagos,  yesterday Photo: NAN

L-R: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, wife of the Governor of Benue State, Mrs Yemisi Suswan and Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, at the Conference of Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (Cowlso) in Lagos, yesterday
Photo: NAN

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Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

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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.

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THE LAPSES OF THE MEDIA IN ELECTIONS

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

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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

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