Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

August 11, 2014

Borno

The 7th Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri
on Saturday cautioned residents of Borno State against embarking on street protests, saying such was not allowed under emergency rule, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The division’s spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, in a statement, said, “Some unscrupulous elements, under the guise of (being) concerned indigenes of some parts of Borno, intend to stage a protest in Maiduguri.
“We are calling on these miscreants to stop their plans. We are also reminding all residents that Borno is under a state of emergency declared by the Federal Government.
“Consequently, such protest is unlawful and anyone involved in such acts will have himself to blame.”
Usman said the military was working hard to root out suspected terrorists from the state.
“We wish to assure the good people of Borno and indeed all law-abiding citizens that the military is doing all it could to root out terrorists causing mayhem in the society.
“Therefore, we solicit your continued support and understanding in the fight against insurgency and terrorism in the country,” he said.

Jigawa

The Jigawa State Government has expressed worry
over the rate of rape incidence which stands at seven to 10 cases in recent months.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba, who spoke to reporters in Dutse, the state capital, said the judiciary has mapped out a plan to effect quick dispensation of cases at the courts.
Abdullahi said his ministry in collaboration with the justice sector and law reform commission have embarked on mass enlightenment campaign to reduce their occurrence adding that the state chief judge, in line with the quick dispensation of cases, had ordered the hearings on criminal cases on daily bases.
He said the state government recently organised a stakeholders’ meeting, where security agencies were educated on the state’s laws and how some cases are to be handled.
“We in Jigawa State are making efforts to ensure that justice is done to all parties on any criminal offence,” he added.

Kano

The Kano State Hisbah authorities said on Wednes
day in Kano that they arrested 200 persons for street begging in Kano municipal area.Hisbah is the law enforcement arm of the sharia law. The Deputy Commander, Operations, Hisbah Board, Malam Yusuf Nabahani, told newsmen that preliminary investigations indicated that the beggars were new to the city. Nabahani also said that most of those arrested claimed ignorance of the ban on street begging by the Kano State Government.”We plan to return all of them to their various communities after making inquiries. We will warn them never to return,” he said. One of those arrested said that his community was facing famine, adding that there was not much farm activities for him to undertake. Another batch of 15 beggars, which was arrested by the board, was given assistance by the state government to start their own businesses.

Kwara

Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said yes
terday his administration has redeemed the N17 billion bond obtained in 2009 for infrastructural development projects.
Ahmed, who announced the redemption at a meeting with stakeholders in Ilorin, the state capital, expressed satisfaction that Kwara had met its obligations under the bond.
He said the N17 billion was utilised for the Kwara State University Malete, the International Aviation College, Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre, the Ilorin Township Stadium, Ilorin Water Reticulation Project (Phase One) as well as road and electrification projects.
The governor said information from the capital market indicates that the market is excited and reinvigorated to subscribe to the state’s proposed N23 billion bond for infrastructural development.

Katsina

The Katsina State Government has approved an addi
tional N97 million for securing befitting accommodation for its pilgrims participating in the 2014 Hajj. The state’s Deputy Governor, Alhaji Andullahi Faskari, said this recently at the opening of an enlightenment workshop year’s intending pilgrims at Matazu, in Matazu Local Government Area of the state. Faskari said the state government had earmarked N15 million for the workshop which would be conducted in the 34 local government areas of the state. Represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Development, Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf, Faskari also said the government was making arrangements for the feeding of the pilgrims.

Kaduna

A former Minister of Finance and Agriculture, Mallam
Adamu Ciroma, said in Kaduna on Saturday he lost interest in Nigerian politics because of the insincerity of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party on rotational Presidency. He said rather than abiding by the agreement on rotational presidency, the party leadership scuttled it soon as former President Umaru Yar-Adua died in 2010.
Ciroma, who spoke on the Liberty FM, Kaduna, insisted that somebody from the North should have completed Yar’Adua’s tenure and not President Goodluck Jonathan.
Ciroma said, “I was there when the party was moving the Presidency between the North and the south. And this President was there when General (Olusegun) Obasanjo presided over the agreement in the PDP, which agreed that the movement of the Presidency from North to South should be based on two terms. While assessing the party since 2011 to date, the former minister expressed concern over the current security challenge in the land.

Lagos

Former Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon.
Jokotola Pelumi, at the weekend, decried the treatment being meted to delegates from the state at the National Conference, who he said were not allowed to present Lagosians’ views, declaring that the delagates might refuse to sign the final report of the Confab. Hon. Pelumi said he had the mandates of elders and leaders in the state to speak on the issue noted that similar national conferences occurred under late Sani Abacha and Chief Obasanjo’s administrations, but the opportunities were squandered, Pelumi pointed out that Lagos State had its own delegates at the Confab with a mandate to present the people’s demands that should form part of the new constitution in the making, but that none of them (delegates) were recognised by the Confab secretariat to speak on the floor whenever they moved to do so.

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has criticised
the acquittal of governor, Tanko Al-Makura, saying that the seven-man panel did not exist in the first instance to warrant any verdict.
The House also served notice it was going ahead with the removal of the governor despite the dismissal of the 16 offences levelled against him by the panel.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Security, Baba Ibaku, who announced the rejection of the panel’s verdict in Lafia, said that there was no going back on the impeachment move against the governor.
He said the panel set up by the Chief Judge, Justice Umaru Dikko, to investigate 16-count charge against the governor violated Section 188 Subsection (5) of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, describing its sitting as illegal.

Ogun

The Ogun State Government has urged those hunting
for Wild Life and Games Animals to suspend their activities forthwith in the state as part of measures to curtail the outbreak of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Nigeria. Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun in a statement said such huntings facilitate the outbreak of the disease as they pose some risks.
The Commissioner however assured that the risk of slaughtered animal at the state’s slabs having Ebola Virus is False saying that the rumoured outbreak in slaughtered cattle should be discountenanced.
While noting that transmission is relatively easy through direct contact with bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, sweat and vomit of infected animals commonly monkeys or fruit bats, she advised that domestic pets be screened especially at night in environments that are known to have significant bat populations or areas that serve as migratory routes for bats.

Osun

The Transition Monitoring Group has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for the smooth conduct of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
TMG, which is a coalition of civil society groups, said the Osun election was an improvement on the Ekiti State governorship election, which held in June.
The Deputy Chairperson of TMG, who led the team to observe the Osun election, Hajiya Goroso Giwa, told our correspondent that the conduct of the Osun election was very commendable, except for some hitches in the some parts of the state.

Gov. Sule Lamido of Jigawa State (2nd right), laying foundation stone for the senate building of the State University at Kafin-hausa recently. Photo: NAN

Nation

Sachet Alcohol Fuels Binge Drinking Among Nigerian Youths, Group Warns

Published

1 day ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

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

Nation

HYPREP Unleashes 100 Ogoni Youths Into Maritime Industry …Tasks Them On Discipline, Safety

Published

1 day ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

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.

Nation

Nigerian Society of Engineers Inaugurates 14-Member Executives In Rivers”

Published

1 day ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

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.