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THE STATES

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Bauchi
A non-governmental organisation in Bauchi State,”Save
Bauchi State”, has donated assorted assorted drinks and beverages worth about N200,000 to  the family of Late Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
Delivering the items, chairman of the organization, Alhaji Zaharadeen Baba-Tako, said he and other members of the organisation were in the family house to pay homage.
He said that the late prime minister could not be easily forgotten considering the role he played both in the struggle for the nation’s independence and political development.
He said that the least the sons and daughters of Bauchi could do in appreciation, was to identify with the family of the deceased leader.
Borno
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has assured
that government would reconstruct structures damaged by Boko Haram terrorists in the liberated border community of Damsak to enable residents return to their normal lives.
He made the promise while addressing some residents in Damasak, headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area of the state.
The governor, who expressed sadness over the level of destruction by the terrorists, said “it is sad that the lunatics chose to engage in wanton destruction of lives and property in the guise of religion.
“We will strive hard to ensure that all the structures destroyed are reconstructed within our limited resources.”
He said government would conduct a census of the damaged structures to determine the actual figure before embarking on the reconstruction programme.

FCT
WaterAid, an International Organisation, has reiter
ated its commitment to partner government at all levels, especially the Local Government Areas to provide Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities for Nigerians.
WaterAid made the commitment in its five years strategic plan (2016-2021).
The report stated that the organisation planned to achieve access to WASH for everyone everywhere by 2030,
According to the report, WaterAid works in six focal states of Bauchi, Benue, Enugu, Ekiti, Jigawa and Plateau.
It quoted the organisation’s Country Director, Dr Michael Ojo, as describing the strategy as “ambitious and challenging”, but optimistic about the future.

Gombe
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said that Nigeria
and the North East would be at peace when the internally displaced persons returned to their homes.
Speaking at the 20th anniversary celebration of Gombe State in Gombe, Abubakar, who was also the chairman of the occasion, said that complete peace could only be achieved when the displaced persons returned to their homes, farms and businesses.
“There will be complete peace when hospitals and markets reopen. There will be complete peace when children and women are no longer malnourished or when people no longer in fear or traumatised,” he said.
He said that for peace to be sustained in the region, the unquestionable level of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment must be treated as a national emergency.

Kaduna
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Kaduna State
branch, said on Monday that it would embark on strike over non payment of entitlements to primary school teachers.
State Chairman of the union, Audu Amba, made this known in an interview with newsmen on the side line of the emergency meeting of the NUT National Executive Council, held in Kaduna.
Amba said the union had exhausted all areas of dialogue with the state government, without getting any positive response.
He said that the state government had failed to settle the Leave Transport Grant (LTG) of primary school teachers since 2015 even though it had been deducted from their salaries.
Kano
The Acting Director-General, Bureau of Public Enter
prises (BPE), Dr Vincent Onome, has commended the management of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) for the steps it has taken to reduce loss.
A statement by KEDCO said Onome was impressed by the minimal Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collections Loss (ATC&C).
The statement was signed by the Public Relations Officer of KEDCO, Mr Mohammed Kandi.
Onome, the statement said, also applauded the ongoing Geographic Information System (GIS) based customer enumeration exercise being carried out by the Company.
It added that the BPE boss, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Post-Privatisation Monitoring Department, Mr Balogun Omotunde, led the Bureau’s team on inspection exercise to Kano.

Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government has commended President
Muhammadu Buhari for curtailing insecurity in the North-East.
Governor Atiku Bagudu made the commendation in Birnin Kebbi in a statewide broadcast to mark the 56th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.
Bagudu said this was the first time the nation was celebrating the anniversary devoid of fear and uncertainty.
He said the last six years were characterised by palpable fear and uncertainty due to instances of bomb blasts and explosion in the North-East.
He said determination, commitment, prayers and political will of present Nigeria’s leadership was the factor responsible for decimating the insurgents’ activities in the region.

Kwara

A medical expert in Ilorin, Dr Misbau Lawal,  has ad
vised people to imbibe the habit of regular hand washing to avoid contracting viral and bacterial infection of the eye currently spreading .
Our correspondent reports that the infection, known as ‘conjunctivitis’ in medical parlance and ‘appollo’ in local parlance, is inflammation of the conjunctiva, a thin, filmy membrane that covers the white portion of the eyes.
Lawal advised people to keep their hands away from the eyes and thoroughly wash hands before and after applying eye medications on infected children.

Nasarawa
Governor Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa State has com
miserated with police authority over the death of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in the state, Mr Usman Sabo-Longlong.
In a condolence message signed on his behalf by his Special Assistant, Media, Tukur Ahmed, the governor described the death of the officer as ‘tragic’.
“The death of the late DCP, Operations, is a great loss, not only to the police family, but the people of the state and the country in general.
“Late police officer was a vibrant, committed and dedicated man, who has contributed immensely in ensuring the security and peaceful development of the state.
Niger
Niger Government has flagged off sales of N183 million
worth of grains at 50 per cent subsidy, to reduce people’s hardship in the current economic recession.
Our Correspodent reports that selling at the subsidised rate will be cheaper than the current market price of grains in the state.
Speaking at the occasion recently, Governor Sani Bello of Niger State, said that the intervention was coming against the persistent hike in prices of food items due to the economic situation in the country.
Bello said that the sales of staple food items at subsidised rates were palliative measures toward easing the high costs of foods across major markets in the state.
“Foods and shelter are considered to be very important things in life. A lot of people have problems in buying foods, especially during festive periods.
“`We feel the pains of our people and that is why we made it a priority to embark on the sale of grains across the 25 local government councils”.

Sokoto
Prof. Lawali Abubakar, Director Centre For Agriculture
and Pastoral Research of the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto has called for the diversification of the economy through huge investment in agriculture and mining.
Abubakar told newsmen in Sokoto that diversification of the economy in the two sectors could tackle poverty and the economic challenges bedevilling the county.
He said that the Federal and state governments should make available farm inputs to farmers between April and June every year at affordable rates to enable them access the commodity in time.
He emphasised that this would prepare ground for farmers to plant various crops and ensure massive production with a view to enhancing food security in the country .
He also called for provision of seeds as well as retraining of agriculture extension workers by experts to properly educate farmers on the new methods and techniques of farming.
Taraba

Over 700 cases involving political parties and the Inde
pendent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are pending in various Nigerian courts.
The National Financial Secretary of Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), Alhaji Shuaibu Bobboi, made this known at a press conference in Jalingo.
According to Bobboi, the cases are between various political parties on one hand, and between the political parties and INEC on the other.
He said that IPAC was working assiduously to seek for out-of-court settlement on majority of the cases.
“ We are working to see that majority of these cases are resolved out-of-court for the sake of unity and democratic development,” he said.
Bobboi, who is also the Returning Officer in IPACs executive’s election in the state, said the organisation was playing a key role in achieving a “balanced relationship between political parties.”

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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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