Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government would soon take over the
management of some community schools in the state, the Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu has said.
Speaking on Friday in Bauchi during a meeting with members of the Parent-Teachers-Association (PTA), Zaranda Community Secondary School, Aminu said the take over of the community schools by the government was informed by its decision to ensure smooth running of the schools.
He revealed that the government had earlies posted some teachers to head such schools to ensure that government policies pertaining to education were implemented in those schools and warned that government would not pay compensation for lands where such schools were sited either for expansion or further development.
The commissioner, who told the Zaranda community that their school was among those schools that would be taken over by government, added that a standing committee had been appointed to assess the school to enable it to know its status.
Kano
Kano State Government has solicited for collective ef-S
forts in total eradication of polio in the state, saying it is a social responsibility.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, made the call at a press conference held at the ministry to mark the World Polio Day celebrated annually on October 24.
The commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Dahiru Musa, said that the ministry had organised a rally to celebrate all those committed to the fight against polio.
The Special Adviser to the government on Disabled, Alhaji Usman Yahya, who doubled as a member of the Polio Survivors Association, commended the efforts of the his fellow members.
The Director Primary Health and Disease Control of the Ministry, Dr Nasiru Mahmud, said the state government had spent over N140 million in the past year to strengthen routine immunisation in the state.
Kaduna
The Chief Imam of Nupe Central Mosque, Kaduna,
Malam Muhammad Nafi’u, on Friday urged Nigerians to pray for the success of the 2015 general elections.
Nafi’u who made the call after the Friday congregational prayers in Kaduna, said the prayers would help in restoring the faith of Nigerians, adding, “prayer is the solution to problems; It will also strengthen the country’s unity.’’
He called on politicians to play politics with maturity, shun sectarianism and focus on what would bring unity among the people.
The clergyman said that politicians should see themselves as servants of the people and the youths to shun violence during campaigns.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure free, fair and credible polls in the forthcoming general elections.
Nafi’u reiterated that both Muslims and Christians should pray for the peace, unity and harmony of the country.
Katsina
The Musawa Local Government Council in Katsina State
said it has earmarked N4 million for the rehabilitation of boreholes and semi-urban water schemes in the area.
The Council Chairman, Alhaji Tanimu Kira, disclosed this on Friday while handing over the working tools to the council’s Director of Water and Sanitation, Alhaji Adamu Hussaini-Garu.
Kira said the initiative was aimed at improving potable water supply in the area to safeguard public health adding that boreholes’ spare parts and other tools for the project were supplied through a committee established by the council.
He said the exercise would be handled through direct labour by the water and sanitation department, in collaboration with community water supply voluntary groups.
Kebbi
The Kebbi Command of the National Drug Law Enforce
ment Agency (NDLEA), on Friday promised to collaborate with the state Ministry of Information and Culture to fight drug abuse and human trafficking.
The Commandant of the agency in the state, Mr Okon Ulo, who gave the promise when he visited the ministry said that the command would establish a joint drug abuse control committee with the ministry.
The commandant said the ministry’s role in information dissemination was very vital, which underscored the importance of the partnership stating that the NDLEA would continue to rehabilitate drug offenders to make them fit back into the society.
The state Commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Shehu Sambawa, assured NDLEA of the support of the ministry in the fight against drug abuse and drug trafficking.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Police Command said on Friday it
had arrested 23 suspects and recovered four stolen vehicles, arms, ammunitions, charms and other items recovered from them..
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Ismaila Numan disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Lafia.
Numan said items recovered from the suspects include; “One AK 47 Rifle, eight locally made pistols, two live cartridges and two rounds of live ammunition. “Others are one Hilux bus, one Vectra and two end-of -discussion Honda Accord, cutlass, face mask and police uniform among others.”
He said that five of the suspects were arrested for alleged armed robbery, eight for alleged rape, seven for alleged criminal conspiracy, one for alleged mischief and two arrested for illegal possession of arms.
Numan commended the public for supplying information to the command, saying that was responsible for the achievement it recorded.
Oyo
The Executive Director, Human of Substance Empower
ment Initiative(HOSEI), an NGO, Miss Abiola Abiade, said on Saturday that only youths with different vocational skills would survive economic hardship.
Abiade who said this in Ibadan at the graduation ceremony of 20 youths sponsored by the NGO on a three-month vocational training programme declared that the organisation was ready to contribute its quota toward women and girl child empowerment.
The Chairperson of MAGI, Alhaja Tawa Malik, congratulated the graduands for completing the programme and explained that MAGI was engaged in sensitising women and the girl child against societal ills such as human trafficking.
Plateau
The Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) said it
would commence the installation of speed limiting device in commercial vehicles in the country from June, 2015.
The Sector Commander of the commission in Plateau, Mr Sunday Maku, who made this known on Friday in Jos at the commission’s “ember months” sensitization campaign, said that the measure was among others being taken to minimise road traffic crashes across the country.
Maku also decried the violation of traffic regulations by drivers “who consistently use phones, drive against traffic lanes, and overtake at bends and corners” and warned that offenders would be sanctioned.
In his remarks, Mr Jonah Emor, Chairman, Plateau chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, thanked FRSC for its sustained efforts to minimise road crashes in the country.
Taraba
A group of veteran labour leaders in Taraba on Satur-
day advised members of the Nigeria Labour Congress against engaging in partisan politics.
The spokesperson for the group, Alhaji Faruk Waziri, gave the advice at a news conference organised by the former labour leaders in Jalingo.
According to him, the independence and sanctity of labour union can only be preserved through political neutrality.
“We are compelled to issue a stern warning to labour unions, individuals or organisations against endorsing or aligning themselves with any political candidate,” he said.
Zamfara
The United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF), Kaduna field office, has commended the efforts of Zamfara Government in its fight against poliomyelitis.
UNICEF Communications Officer, Alhaji Rabiu Musa, at an occasion to mark this year’s World Polio Day in the state, described the measures put in place by the state government as “remarkable and worthy of emulation by all”.
He said that if the state government maintained the tempo, the issue of poliomyelitis would soon be history in the state.
In his contribution, the representative of WHO, Alhaji Yusuf Argungu, urged parents in the state to continue to present their children for immunisation against the six child-killer diseases.
Governor Sule Lamido (left) of Jigawa with the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sunusi during Sallah Dutse on yesterday.
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.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced that the mangrove wetlands in Ogoniland have been officially designated a Ramsar Site of International Importance by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The designation, according to HYPREP, underscores the global ecological significance of Ogoniland’s mangrove wetlands and highlights ongoing restoration efforts aimed at addressing environmental degradation in the area.
In a press statement issued by the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, the recognition was described as a major milestone for the agency, the people of Ogoni and other stakeholders working towards environmental restoration in the region.
Zabbey explained that the mangrove wetlands, which cover more than 31,700 hectares, consist of islands, tidal creeks, mudflats and mangrove forests that support a wide range of biodiversity. The ecosystem provides habitat for several species including fin fish, shellfish, crustaceans, crocodiles, turtles and the endangered grey parrot.
He noted that beyond biodiversity conservation, the wetland also provides essential ecosystem services such as fisheries production, flood control, water purification and carbon storage. According to him, the international recognition will further support local livelihoods, promote ecotourism and bring global attention to the region.
The HYPREP coordinator disclosed that the designation followed a meticulous process that began in 2024 when the project submitted a memorandum to the National Council on Environment seeking support for the recognition of the Ogoni wetlands as a Ramsar site.
Following the council’s review and approval, the Honourable Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP’s Governing Council, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, formally wrote to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat requesting international recognition of the wetlands.
After a comprehensive ecological assessment, the Ramsar Secretariat granted the designation, officially recognising the Ogoniland wetlands as one of the world’s sites of international importance.
Zabbey said the recognition would strengthen ongoing environmental restoration efforts in the area and encourage stronger conservation measures and sustainable management of the wetlands for the benefit of present and future generations.
He added that the designation also fulfils a key recommendation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, marking another significant step in the implementation of the report’s recommendations.
The HYPREP project coordinator reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to restoring the Ogoni environment through the remediation of oil-polluted land, shorelines and mangrove ecosystems.
He also called for collective responsibility and stakeholder support to sustain the progress of the Ogoni cleanup programme and facilitate the development of a comprehensive and sustainable management plan for the Ogoni mangrove wetlands.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, has attributed the successes of the 12-day programme organised for adolescent girls aimed at eliminating Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) in some parts of the State to the ability of the respective stakeholders to take ownership of the programme.
Mrs Davies-Dimkpa, who dropped the hint in an interview at the end of the programme in Elele-Alimini Community in Emohua Local Government Area on Saturday, said the event had a buy-in component, an ownership mentality, whereby facilitators, staff, and everyone involved took ownership of the project.
She explained that the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) had packaged a series of training sessions for adolescent girls aimed at ending the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in some communities across the State.
According to her, the initiative was designed to educate young girls on the harmful effects of the practice and empower them to become advocates against it within their communities.
She noted that the programme, which lasted for several weeks, targeted adolescent girls from different local government areas where the practice is still prevalent, stressing that
data collected by UNICEF and the Ministry revealed that Female Genital Mutilation is still practised in some parts of the State, prompting the need for intensified sensitisation and community engagement.
Mrs Davies-Dimkpa explained that the programme adopted a “train-the-trainer” approach where adolescent girls were educated on the dangers of the practice and encouraged to share the knowledge with their peers, families and communities.
“This is a programme by the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation with support from UNICEF and UNFPA to train adolescent girls towards ending Female Genital Mutilation, which is still practised in some local government areas,” she said.
She further explained that each participating local government area had a three-day training session, with the exercise running for a total of 12 days.
The local government areas, where the programme took place, she noted, included Ahoada West, Abua-Odual, and Emohua, adding that the initiative is part of broader efforts by the state government and development partners to eliminate harmful traditional practices and protect the rights and wellbeing of girls.
She revealed that prior to the training of the adolescent girls, the Ministry and its partners had also engaged community facilitators, including older women and men, to sensitise them on the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
According to her, the involvement of community leaders and adults is essential in addressing the cultural and social factors that sustain the practice.
Speaking on the response of the participants, the permanent secretary expressed satisfaction with the level of engagement and enthusiasm shown by the girls throughout the training sessions.
She noted that many of the participants said they were learning about the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation for the first time.
“The girls are between the ages of 12 and 17 and from the interactions we had with them, they were very excited. Some of them are hearing these things for the first time and never knew that the practice is harmful,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the knowledge gained from the training would enable the girls to serve as advocates for change within their communities.
She added that the Rivers State Government, alongside its partners, would continue to intensify efforts and expand community-based interventions aimed at ending the practice across the State.
Meanwhile, the participants for Emohua Local Government Area were drawn from Elele-Alimini, Egbeda, Rumuji, Ibaa, Rumuekpe, Rumuakunde, Eligbarada, and Ogbakiri Communities.
The participants,who spoke in separate interviews described the training as eye-opening, noting that it helped them better understand issues surrounding adolescent health, personal hygiene, reproductive health, and the harmful consequences of Female Genital Mutilation.
Favour Azukwu from Rumuekpe community, said the programme provided a deeper understanding of the dangers associated with the practice, particularly its impact on the health and wellbeing of girls and women.
She explained that the training sessions exposed participants to the medical, social and psychological effects of Female Genital Mutilation, including severe bleeding, infections and complications during childbirth.
She revealed that she personally experienced the practice at the age of 12 and suffered heavy bleeding afterwards, an experience that has strengthened her determination to advocate for its eradication.
According to her, many communities still practise Female Genital Mutilation because it is perceived as a cultural tradition, despite the dangers associated with it.
“I do not support Female Genital Mutilation because there are many dangers involved. I experienced severe bleeding when it was done to me as a child.
Another participant, Glory Ken, a 16-year-old secondary school student from Rumuji community, said the programme broadened her understanding of several important topics affecting adolescents.
She explained that beyond the discussion on Female Genital Mutilation, the training also focused on issues such as personal hygiene, reproductive health, peer education, and self-care.
According to her, the sessions helped participants understand the importance of making informed health decisions and supporting one another as peer educators.
“I learned about many things that affect young people in society and how to take care of myself. I also learned that Female Genital Mutilation is harmful to our health. The message I am taking back to my community is that this practice should stop,” she said.
Also speaking, Goodness Kenjika Nyeche described the programme as very impactful.
She noted that the training equipped participants with the skills and confidence to educate others about the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation.
She said she plans to organise sensitisation among adolescents in her community, particularly girls between the ages of 10 and 19, to ensure they understand the dangers associated with the practice.
“I learned many things from this programme and I feel very good about it. I will educate other young girls in my community and help them understand why Female Genital Mutilation should not continue,” she said.
For Queen Dike from Ibaa community, the programme helped clarify misconceptions surrounding the practice.
She explained that in some communities, the practice is still referred to as circumcision and is viewed as part of cultural identity.
She said the training helped participants understand that Female Genital Mutilation involves the cutting or removal of parts of the female genital organs and that it has serious health consequences.
She stressed that awareness and education are key to ending the practice, especially among communities that continue to uphold it as tradition.
“I think the programme is very helpful because many people still believe it is part of culture. More awareness is needed so people can understand why it should stop,” she said.
Another participant, MyJoy Echika Amadi, said the programme provided critical information about adolescent health and the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
She described the initiative as enlightening and said it encouraged young people to become advocates for change in their communities.
According to her, participants were encouraged to use various platforms such as churches, peer groups, schools and community gatherings to spread awareness about the harmful effects of the practice.
“This programme has enlightened us about the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation. I will do my best to create awareness in my community and encourage people to stop the practice,” she said.
Many of the participants emphasised that the knowledge gained during the programme has empowered them to challenge harmful traditions and promote healthier practices among young people.
They also called on the Rivers State Government, development partners and civil society organisations to sustain the sensitisation campaigns and extend the training to more communities across the State.
According to them, empowering young people with the right information will play a critical role in eliminating Female Genital Mutilation and protecting the rights, health and dignity of girls in Rivers State.
The participants expressed appreciation to the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, UNICEF and UNFPA for organising the programme and for investing in the wellbeing and future of adolescent girls in the State.