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THE STATES

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Adamawa
The Federal Government has donated three trucks-load
of grains to returned Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Madagali Local Government Council of Adamawa State.
The NEMA Camps Coordinator in charge of Adamawa and Taraba Mr Sa’ad Bello, presented the items in Gulak town, Headquarters of Madagali.
Bello said the gesture was part of Federal Government’s humanitarian intervention to assist returnee communities affected by Boko Haram insurgency.
He explained that the three trucks were, however, not sufficient, considering the large number of the people but that more assistance would soon reach the community.
He added that “this is the first time grains relief material meant for the returnees through NEMA directly reached Madagali Local Government Area.

Bauchi
Accidental leak of a chemical substance suspected to
be chlorine from a cylinder in Bauchi, endangered the health of some students of a private school, Rainex Hallmark International College, who were attending classes.
It was gathered that the cylinders, presumably empty, and owned by some businessmen from Kano, were kept in premises close to the College, located in Fadaman Mada Area of Bauchi.
A woman who described herself as the ‘Director of the School’ said in a telephone interview Saturday that the incident occurred at about 10 am on Friday.
Contacted for his comment, Bauchi Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mahmoud Mohammed, said he would issue a statement on the matter at a later time.

Benue
The Benue State Sector Command of the Federal Road
Safety Commission (FRSC) has inspected over 2000 commercial vehicles for compliance with installation of the speed limiting device.
The state Sector Commander, Mr, Chidiebere Nkwonta, gave the figure in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi.
FRSC began advisory enforcement of installation of the device in commercial vehicles on October 1.
He said that the corps would collaborate with transport unions and other relevant stakeholders, including the media, religious leaders and traditional rulers, to ensure compliance.
He refuted a claim by some motorists that the speed limiter installation deadline had been extended to February, 2017.
Borno

The Chief of Army staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, says the
army would establish additional Forward Operation Bases to support increasing military operations across the country.
Buratai stated this while fielding questions from newsmen after the inauguration of a new Forward Operation Base in Buratai, in Borno State.
He revealed that already provisions had been made in 2017 budget for construction of more operational bases across the country.
According to him, the increasing operational activities in the fight against insurgency and terrorism in the North East, had necessitated the establishment of the Forward  Operation Base in Buratai.
He stated that the base, which had accommodation and other facilities, would support operational activities in the area.
Ekiti

The regent of Orin Ekiti, in Orin, Mrs Bola Dada, has
appealed to the Federal Government and the National Assembly to hasten work on the proposed dam project in the town in Ido Osi local government area of Ekiti State.
In an interview with newsmen on the sideline of the annual “Orin Day’’ celebration, Dada said that adequately funding the dam would aid irrigation and improve farming in the area.
She recalled that the Owena River Basin Development Authority had already carried out feasibility studies on the project, and confirmed that it would boost irrigation farming in the area.
The regent, however, identified lack of effective follow-up, as well as funding, as the major factors hindering the commencement of the project.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has earmarked N11.4 billion
for township road projects in the 2017 budget estimate sent to the State House of Assembly for approval.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai had on October 12 sent a budget proposal of N215.9 billion for the 2017 financial year.
The budget breakdown shows that the N11.4 billion was part of the N24 billion earmarked for the ministry of works, housing and transport for capital projects.
The document indicates that N3.4 billion was set aside for trunk roads, N400 million for ring roads and N250 million for box culverts.
It also shows that N500 million will be spent on the supply and installation of street lights while N150 million was for street naming and house numbering.

Nasarawaa
The Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Mr Silas Agara,
has been praised by some Lafia residents and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for consistently obeying traffic rules.
They made the commendation in Lafia in separate interviews with newsmen.
Sector Commander of FRSC in Nasarawa State, Mrs Faustina Alegbe, expressed delight with the deputy governor’s conduct, within Lafia, the state capital.
A commercial motorcycle operator Mr Yusuf Adamu, who saw the deputy governor obey traffic rules on Shendam Road in Lafia, said he was touched by the deputy governor’s action.
A Lafia resident,Mr Hassan Usman also praised the deputy governor for his exemplary conduct.

Niger
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that one
person was killed and another  seriously injured  following a misunderstanding between two transport unions at  the Abdulsalam Abubakar Motor Park, Minna.
The misunderstanding was between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW) and Road Transport Employers  Association of Nigeria.
Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Bala Elkaina confirmed the death in an interview with newsmen in Minna.
He said that the injured person was currently receiving treatment at Minna General Hospital.
Elkaina said that the police had invited the two leaders of the union for thorough investigation in order to bring the culprits to justice.

Ogun
Former Vice Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota, Prof. Charles
Ayo, has urged the Federal Government to invest more in the health sector to reduce capital flight.
Ayo spoke at the 7th Inaugural Lecture of the institution titled, “Deconstructing the National Development Agenda : The Role of Information and Communications Technologies.”
He said the nation lost N1.5 trillion annually to health tourism due to poor infrastructure in the sector.
The don said that there was an average of 1,700 persons per hospital bed and the ratio of physician to the populace too wide..
The Chancellor of the institution,  Dr David Oyedepo, said Federal Government should look at education as a core requirement in achieving changes as well as solving nation’s challenges.
Oyo
An advocacy group, Partnership for Advocacy in Child
and Family Health (PACFAH), has called for increased budgetary allocation to health sector in 2017 to boost the nation’s economy and productivity.
The Programme Coordinator of PACFAH, Ms Anu Rotimi, made the call at the end of a three-day stakeholders and advocacy meeting in Ibadan.
The meeting also featured a Validation Workshop for trend analysis of the 2006 to 2016 budgetary allocations to health sector in Oyo State.
Rotimi described the sector as the major driver for economic development which should be given priority in the nation’s budgetary allocation.
According to her, health and economic performances are inter-linked, and health sector is a viable avenue to revive the economy.

Plateau
The District 9125 of Rotary Club International has immu
nized no fewer than 2,000 children against polio in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The state Representative of Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee of Rotary in Plateau, Ms Gloria Thomas, said that the gesture was aimed at ensuring complete eradication of polio in Nigeria.
Thomas said that the exercise was in fulfillment of the pledge made by the club in 1985 to ensure that children enjoy a polio-free world.
“At least, children who missed the last exercise during the just concluded Polio plus Day would certainly have benefited from the one we just administered to them.
“Every Polio plus Day, Rotarians always come out en mass to support and ensure that every child gets immunised; to protect and boost their immune system against diseases,’’ she said.

Taraba
Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku has commiserated
with the people of Gashaka Council Area of the state over the death of Lamdo Gashaka, Alhaji Hammangabdo Sambo.
Sambo, 81, died at the National Hospital Abuja on Saturday night during a protracted illness.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Hassan Mijinyawa, Ishaku said that the death was a huge loss to the government and people of Taraba.
He described Sambo as a courageous and sincere monarch whose wisdom and honest counselling would be missed.
He was survived by about 70 children and many grandchildren.

Sokoto
Sokoto State Government says only five malaria-related
deaths were recorded at the Kofar-Kade Primary Health Centre in Sokoto North Local Government Area in the last one month.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Al-mustapha Othman, made the clarification while briefing newsmen in Sokoto shortly after he led officials of the ministry on assessment visit to the centre.
Othman said that no fewer than 390 patients were admitted at the facility during the period under review.
The permanent secretary said that the drugs were distributed to all health facilities across the state.
According to him, the drugs were being dispensed free to all categories of patients across the state.

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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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