Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

February 26, 2014

Adamawa
The National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA), has presented relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Gulak town of Madagali Local Government in Adamawa State.
No fewer than 10,000 people displaced from Izge, Bitiku and Waga Chakawa villages attacked recently by insurgents are taking refuge in Gulak the headquaters of Madagali Local Government.
Presenting the materials, the chairman of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) who is also the state Deputy Governor, Mr Bala Ngilari, commended the Federal Government and NEMA for the assistance.
Ngilari said the assistance would go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the displaced people.

Bauchi

The South African Government is to partner with the
Bauchi State Government to develop the tourism potential in the state, its High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Lulu Mnguni, has said.
Mnguni announced this when he visited the state governor, Alhaji Isa Yuguda, at the Government House, Bauchi.
He said he was in Bauchi to see how his country could partner with the state to develop the tourism sector of the state.
“The Yankari Game Reserve and Resort has huge tourist potential; we want to see how we can help you developed them to a world class resort to maximise it revenue generation.
Ekiti

The Anglican Bishop of Ekiti Oke Diocese, Most Rev.
Isaac Olubowale, has called on politicians to always render selfless service to humanity to have a glorious end.
The cleric gave the advice at the burial service in honour of a former Acting-Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Friday Aderemi, at Ayetoro-Ekiti, Ido/Osi Local Government Area.
He urged politicians to be modest in their lifestyles, build a legacy of trust and good conduct that could serve as a guide to the coming generations.
The Bishop reminded the living that “as there is life after death, one should also keep good records that will make people not to forget such a person easily.”

FCT

The Desk Officer for Global Environment Facility
(GEF), Mrs Halima Mohammed, has advised state governments to key into the GEF grants to implement environmental projects in their states.
Mohammed told newsmen in Abuja that the biggest challenge the project was facing was the inability of the states to tap the available resources.
She said that the states would always want the Federal Government to initiate ideas and projects for them in spite of the sensitisation on the grants.
“They (state governments) always want the Federal Government to initiate projects for them, which is not fair, that is a big challenge we are facing”, she said.

Gombe

Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd),
has urged all Nigerians to continue to pray for peace and unity of the nation.
Gowon, who is Convener of the Nigeria Prays, said this in Gombe when he visited the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Mr Tha’anda Rubainu.
The convener said that the Nigeria Prays project was initiated in order to pray for the leadership, people and lasting peace in Nigeria as part of the members’ contribution to the development of the country.
“This is our contribution to see to the peace and wellbeing of Nigeria.

Jigawa

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged
all tiers of government to fight the current security challenges in the country.
Abubakar made the call during the closing ceremony of the National Qur’anic Recitation Competition in Dutse recently.
He said that the spate of violence, killings and destruction of property in the North East was disturbing, hence the urgent need of more intervention by the government.
The Sultan said that he would continue to appeal until the insecurity problem was addressed.
He urged the government to renew negotiations with all the nation’s aggrieved citizens.

Kaduna
The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Min
ister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has challenged accountants to address leakages in government revenue and wastages in expenditure pattern.
Okonjo-Iweala, represented by her Permanent Secretary, Mrs Nwobia Daniel, gave the charge at the opening of a two-day retreat in Kaduna.
The retreat was for Directors of Finance and Accounts and Heads of Internal Audit in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The minister said the retreat was to remind them on the importance of their roles in the government’s transformation agenda.
Katsina

Widows numbering 3,583 in the Katsina South Sena
torial District of Katsina State have received skills acquisition and empowerment tools from a philanthropist, Alhaji Umar Abdullahi-Tata.
The empowerment tools included 10 buses, 20 motorised tricycles, 72 motorcycles, 144 deep freezers, 144 drums of kerosene and 227 knitting machines.
Others included 1,020 sewing machines, 1,200 spaghetti-making machines, 260 vegetable-grinding machines, 200 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 200 bags of beans and 1,200 bags of flour.
Kwara
Three mobile courts sitting at different locations in
IIorin, Kwara State, have prosecuted 55 persons arrested during the state’s monthly sanitation exercise.
The Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Alhaji Abubakar Mora, disclosed this to newsmen in IIorin, recently.
Mora said the increase in number of suspects was as a result of the nonchalant attitude of some residents to the exercise.
He said the ministry would embark on more sensitisation to enable more stakeholders to embrace the exercise.
Lagos

Road users in Lagos State have commended the Fed
eral Government for the ongoing construction of two pedestrian bridges in the Iyana Ipaja area, on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
They, however, appealed for speedy completion of the project to reduce accidents on the road.
The road users, in separate interviews in Lagos, told newesmen that the foot bridges would check gridlock and ensure safety of both pedestrians and motorists.
Our correspondent reports that pillars for the pedestrian bridge at Cement Bus Stop on the Lagos-bound side of the carriageway have been completed.
Also, on the Iyana Ipaja end, concrete filling of earthwork on a pillar in the road median is ongoing.

Ondo

The International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD) in conjunction with the Ondo State Government plans to empower 100 entrepreneurs in the state, an official has said.
The State Programme Officer of IFAD, Mr Alex Olusola, disclosed the empowerment programme plan to newsmen in Akure recently.
Olusola said the programme would be carried out under the Rural Agro Business Investment Scheme Empowerment (RAISE) basically designed for women and youths.
He said that Ondo was among the states in the Niger Delta included in the programme because of its performance in the organisation’s Community-Based Natural Resource Management Programme (CBNRMP).

Osun

L-R: Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu, Chairman,Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Rtd Gen. Martin Agwai and Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, at the Budget defence session of Senate Special Adhoc Committee on SURE-P in Abuja, last Tuesday. Photo: NAN.

Preparations for a house-to-house Oral Polio
Immunisation (OPI) for infants whose ages are between one day and five years have begun in Osun State, an official has announced.
The Director, Primary Health Care and Disease Control, Osun Ministry of Health, Dr Kayode Ogunniyi, made this disclosure during an advocacy visit to religious leaders in Osogbo.
Our correspondent reports that the immunisation is scheduled to begin on Saturday, March 1 and will last for four days.
“I call on all nursing mothers, parents and wards to co-operate with the health workers so that they will benefit from the free services for the children,’’ he said.
The health official said the exercise was planned to eradicate polio disease from the state.

Nation

Kwara Community Residents Flee Over Persistent Bandits’ Attacks

Published

3 hours ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

Residents of Omugo Community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have deserted their homes due to persistent bandit attacks.
The Tide’s source reports that the once lively community has turned into a ghost town with only a few domestic animals left.
Reports indicate that the recent bandits’ attack on the Omugo ECWA Church via Oro-Ago, led to the abduction of eight worshippers including the wife of the pastor in charge.
Three persons escaped out of the eight abductees with a N1billion ransom placed on the remaining victims in captivity. The community could only gather N1million which was rejected by the bandits.
Last week, the armed bandits invaded Oro-Ago community, killed one vigilante man identified as Baba Ibeji and injured his younger brother known as Ajere.
A Point of Sales, PoS, shop directly opposite the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Divisional office, was broken into by the bandits.
The gunmen also attacked the NSCDC office and sprayed bullets on the facility, though no casualty was recorded.
In earlier attacks on Oro-Ago environs, armed bandits ambushed a convoy between Oro-Ago and Oke-Ayan in Ilere district of Ifelodun Local Government Area and killed two local hunters on escort duty.
On Saturday, there was tension in Oro-Ago following a security alert that armed bandits were regrouping to launch fresh attacks on the community.
All security formations were, however, placed on ‘Red Alert’ to forestall the planned attack.

Nation

Acting Provost Dismisses Alleged Missing Equipment Claims at Rivers Health College

Published

12 hours ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

The Acting Provost of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Peace Chigozirim Amadi has refuted claims circulating in the media suggesting that laboratory equipment went missing from the college.

In a recent statement, Dr. Amadi described the reports—particularly those attributed to certain publications—as false and misleading. She emphasized that all laboratory equipment at the college remain intact.

“I am here to set the record straight. No laboratory equipment disappeared from my college. Nothing is missing,” Dr. Amadi said, challenging anyone with contrary claims to provide evidence, including the names of the equipment and their supposed locations.

She further noted that the college recently underwent an accreditation exercise, during which significant investments were made in laboratory equipment. According to Dr. Amadi, these items are fully accounted for, and the college maintains a robust security system to protect its assets.

“Everything is intact. Nothing disappeared. The information being circulated is false and should be discarded,” she reiterated.

Beyond addressing the allegations, Dr. Amadi also called on media practitioners to exercise professionalism and verify stories before publication. “I want to plead with journalists to always verify their stories. Junk journalism does not help anyone. No matter the information you receive, it is important to hear the other side before publishing,” she said.

While social media posts have occasionally raised concerns about various issues in the region’s health education sector, including extortion and examination malpractice at related institutions, there is no independent evidence from credible news sources confirming that equipment went missing from Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology.

The college, a public tertiary institution based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is accredited to offer a variety of health-related programs, including Nursing, Midwifery, Laboratory Technology, and Environmental Health. It has consistently emphasized integrity, safety, and transparency in its operations.

Dr. Amadi’s statement seeks to reassure the public, students, and stakeholders that the college remains secure, well-managed, and free from the alleged equipment losses, while urging journalists to prioritize accuracy in reporting.

Nation

HYPREP Reaffirms Commitment to Safe Water Supply In Ogoni

Published

1 week ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

As the world commemorates World Water Day, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing potable water across Ogoni communities, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the Ogoni Environment.

In a statement issued by its Project Coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, on March 22, 2026, HYPREP noted that this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” alongside the campaign slogan, “Where Water Flows, Equity Grows,” underscores its resolve to extend potable water supply beyond oil-impacted communities to all Ogoni communities.

Zabbey emphasized that access to clean water is a fundamental human right, adding that HYPREP remains committed to ensuring inclusive and equitable water access across the region.

He disclosed that the agency has successfully provided potable water to over 43 communities in Ogoni, while ongoing Phase 3 water projects are expected to benefit an additional 17 communities. He also highlighted steady progress on windmill-powered water projects in less populated areas, particularly in Khana Local Government Area.

According to him, the K-Dere Water Project, which is over 99 percent complete, will be commissioned in the coming weeks, even as work continues on other water schemes across Ogoni.

Zabbey further noted that HYPREP’s interventions are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

To ensure sustainability, he explained that the agency has adopted a joint management model involving host communities, the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, and the Rivers State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RSSTOWA). He added that Water Consumers’ Associations have been established in communities such as Nchia and Eleme, alongside training programmes conducted in collaboration with non-governmental organisations.

The Project Coordinator stressed the importance of community ownership and protection of water facilities, echoing the call by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, for residents to safeguard the infrastructure provided in their areas.

Zabbey expressed optimism that the ongoing efforts will significantly improve access to safe drinking water, reduce waterborne diseases, and enhance public health outcomes across Ogoni communities.