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THE STATES

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Adamawa

Governor Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa
State along with members of his Cabinet,
celebrated Eid el-Kabir with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Malkohi Camp.
Bindow said at the occasion that he would continue to support the cause of humanity, especially the disadvantaged people.
He assured the IDPs of his administration’s resolve to facilitate their prompt integration.
“We will continue to support you and give you a sense of belonging.
“My administration will continue to identify with the disadvantaged in the society.

Borno

Borno State Government has no plans to force
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), whose communities have been liberated by the military to return home, Governor Kashim Shettima, has said.
The governor made the statement while speaking with newsmen shortly after performing the two rakaat Eid prayers in Konduga, headquarters of Konduga Local Government Area.
“I want to say without any fear of contradiction that government has no plan to force any persons back home to his or her community.
“We will not compel individuals to go back to their place,’’ Shettima, who was accompanied by the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari and other top government officials said.
FCT

As schools resume amid economic recession,
parents have canvassed for home-made food for wards.
A cross section of parents who spoke to our correspondent in Abuja said this became necessary due to the inflation in food prices and transportation fares.
Mrs Helen Solomon, a trader, said it was necessary “during this period to find alternative means of surviving in order to cut cost.’’
Solomon said that she had decided to start making meals for her children to take to school, saying home-made food was cheaper and healthier.

Gombe

The Emir of Akko,Alhaji Umar Atiku, has appealed
to Nigerians to pray to God to bring to an end the hardiship in the country.
Atiku said this when he spoke with newsmen in Kumo, headquarters of Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.
“Instead of criticising leaders,we need to seek for God’s intervention through prayer,to bring an end to the current hardship being experienced in the country.
“We should also intensify prayers for our leaders at all levels for wisdom,” he said. He said in this hard time, a lot of people could not afford one square meal, talkless of the three.
Kaduna

The Kaduna State command of the Federal Road
Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has secured 45 convictions of motorists for various traffic offences in Kaduna. The Command’s Legal Officer, Mr Ibrahim Tanko, made the disclosure   in an interview with newsmen. He said the motorists were convicted via a mobile court during Sallah and ember months’ operations, which commenced on September 7.
Kogi

Five top civil servants in Kogi State have been
arrested for allegedly diverting N230 million pension fund to their private uses.
The Accountant-General of the state, Alhaji Yusuf Okala, confirmed the development to newsmen in Lokoja.
Okala, who is also the Chairman of the Staff Screening and Verification Committee, said the alleged fraud was discovered in the course of the committee’s work.
“Yes, it is true. We have been able to recover N20 million from them through the efforts of the police command in the state,” Okala said.

Niger

A former Head of State, Retired Gen. Abdulsalami
Abubakar, has advised Nigerians to stop vandalising infrastructure provided by governments for the development of the nation.
Abubakar gave the advice at the Minna Central Mosque after the two Rakaat prayers for the Eid-el-Kabir.
“The ongoing destruction of our infrastructure in the country is capable of hampering our development if it is not checked,’’ he said.
He appealed to individuals and groups engaged in such act to make their grievances known to government by reporting to the appropriate authorities to address their issues, instead of taking the law into their hands.
The former Head of State said that meaningful development could only take place in a conducive environment.

Osun

The Chairman of the Association of Local
Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun State, Mr Soji Ajayi, has called for social reorientation for the youths.
Ajayi,who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo, stressed the need to make youths more responsible and productive.
He said that the level of social consciousness of the youths was low considering the enormous responsibility of nation-building before them, hence, the need for social reorientation.
The ALGON chairman added that many of the youths were not ready to take up responsibility but rather preferred easy route to success and wealth.

Plateau

Mr Obadiah Samuel of the Centre for Peace and
Conflict Management, University of Jos, says corruption and mismanagement of public funds have posed a serious threat to the corporate existence of Nigeria.
Samuel said this in Jos while delivering a lecture entitled, “The Right to Peace and Security” at a seminar on security. The seminar was organised by the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos.
Samuel said that the diversion of public funds into private pockets had led to the high level of insecurity in the country.
“Corruption, mismanagement and absence of political will have really stagnated a lot of things in this country; they have contributed immensely to our present insecurity situation”.

Yobe

Residents of Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State,
have expressed satisfaction with the tight security in the state during the Eid el-Kabir festival.
They told our correspondent that they felt secure with the presence of the security operatives.
Alhaji Musa Buba said: “it is better to trek and be secured than to allow free movement of vehicles and live in fear.’’
Dr Mohammed Fari, Commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the state, said a special surveillance square was deployed to check movements of persons.

Zamfara

The Acting Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji
Ibrahim Wakkala, has charged the people of the state to be security conscious.
Wakkala stated this when he paid Sallah homage to the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello at his palace.
He said relative peace had been restored in the state which had suffered in the hands of armed bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers in the last three years.
Wakkala advised the people not take chances of the situation by being so free with strangers that might come their way.
He said the state government would remain grateful to the Federal Government for the bold steps it took to address the security issues in the North West particularly in Zamfara.

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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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