Nation
THE STATES
Borno
A non-governmental organisation, Centre for Develop
ment and Democracy (CDD) , has trained 80 clerics in Borno State on de-radicalisation and counter-violence.
Programme Officer of CDD, Mr Ikponmwosa Omaigiade, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri, said the training was to equip the clerics with the knowledge they could use to curtail violent extremism in the country.
“Today we have successfully trained 80 clerics in Borno state as part of the larger programme that aims at training 200 clerics on de-radicalisation and counter insurgency.
“We identified those that we need to speak to, who will in turn speak to the larger community; we think religious leaders are important stakeholders in the communities.
A cleric in polo area of Maiduguri, Malam Abdullahi Muhammad, said the workshop was commendable as its promoted peaceful co-existence among Muslims and Christians.
FCT
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
has called for thorough investigation of fake result sheet production in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, ahead of December. 10 legislative rerun elections in the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Oyekanmi also urged security agencies handling the matter to ensure that suspects already arrested in connection with the matter and their sponsors were prosecuted.
“The commission has heard the news about the arrest of nine people with fake result sheets in Port Harcourt.
Jigawa
The University of Abuja says it has concluded plans to
establish a Distance Learning Centre in Hadejia, Jigawa State, to enhance access to university education at grassroots.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration of the university, Prof. Sani Abubakar, stated this at a stakeholder’s forum for the distance learning programme, in Hadejia, Jigawa.
Abubakar said that the centre would be established in Hadejia, noting that the university had already commenced the sale of admission form for the 2016/2017 academic session.
He explained that the centre would offer undergraduate courses in six disciplines, which include Business and Public Administration; Banking and Finance, Economics, Sociology and Political Science.
Abubakar said that the gesture was to enhance access to university education to farmers, traders and women in rural communities.
Kogi
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has expressed shock
and sadness over the death of Lt. Col. Abu Ali, an indigene of the state, who was killed in an ambush by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno last Friday.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mrs Petra Akinti-Onyegbule, in Lokoja, the governor described the death of Ali as ” unfortunate and a monumental loss to Kogi and Nigeria “.
He commiserated with his father , the Etsu Bassa Nge Kingdom, retired Brig.-Gen. Abu Ali, and prayed God to give him and the entire people of Bassa the fortitude to bear the loss.
Late Ali died at about 10 p.m. of Friday, when suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked 119 Battalion, Nigerian Army location at Mallam Fatori area of Borno.
The governor commended Ali’s gallantry as an officer , saying that he served the nation with dedication and commitment and paid the supreme price by laying down his life for the peace of the country.
Lagos
The Embassy of Spain in Nigeria has said that its
Economic and Commercial Department had in last five years organised 25 Spanish trade missions to Nigeria.
The Embassy’s Chief Economic and Commercial Counsellor, Mr Pablo Segrelles, told newsmen in Lagos that there was a growing interest of Spanish companies in Nigeria.
Segrelles, who said that the Spanish companies’ interest in Nigeria had been quite encouraging, however, said that the number of trade missions had reduced this year due to economic recession.
“We have had quite some useful business delegations between Nigeria and Spain in the last few years.
“In the last five years, we have had 25 trade missions coming from different parts of Spain to Nigeria, just as we had invited Nigerian businessmen and women to Spain”, he added.
Nasarawa
The Vice-Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof.
Mohammed Akaro-Mainoma, has urged the state government to release the N200 million Earned Academic Allowance owed lecturers of the institution, to avert strike.
Akaro-Mainoma made the appeal when members of the state Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology paid an oversight visit to the institution.
He said the university had in May signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to pay the remaining 20 per cent of the allowances by December.
The vice chancellor said that the MoU made the lecturers to suspend their three-month- old strike on May 31.
“Another disturbing matter is the review of the law setting up the university, to conform to the 2003 Act, as obtained in other public universities.
Niger
A Minna-based legal practitioner, Mr Taidi Jonathan has
said the rescue of another Chibok school girl demonstrated the commitment of the Nigerian Army to national security.
Jonathan said in an interview with newsmen in Minna that the effort also reinforced the determination of the Federal Government to safeguard the lives and property of all Nigerians.
He said that the Nigerian military have demonstrated professionalism and rare commitment to ending Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.
The legal practitioner expressed confidence that the remaining school girls would also be rescued alive soon.
He said that the effort of the security personnel has strengthened the hope of parents and all Nigerians that the ordeal of the schools girls and other hostages would soon be over.
Ogun
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander
in Ogun State, Mr Clement Oladele has said that Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, will temporarily close a section of the Ibadan/Lagos corridor by Sagamu Interchange to effect repair.
Oladele, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abeokuta, said that Julius Berger Nigeria Plc had informed the FRSC that the reason for the closure was to effect repairs on the section from November 3 to November 12.
He urged motorists, especially commercial vehicles operators, to exercise caution and adhere to traffic rules.
Oladele advised motorists to cooperate with the FRSC and other traffic officers who would ensure minimal discomfort of motorists during the period.
Ondo
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in
Ondo State has hailed the suspension of the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr Timi Frank, by the National Working Committee of the party.
Frank was suspended for allegedly putting the party’s image in public odium.
Speaking with newsmen in Akure, the APC Publicity Secretary in Ondo State, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya said, “the action of the NWC is long overdue because Timi has really embarrassed the party in recent times.
“He has shown that his character does not possess the quality required of him to occupy such exalted position.
Osun
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has urged youths
to do things differently in order to make their mark quickly in the society.
Aregbesola gave the advice in a statement by his media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, made available to newsmen in Osogbo.
Aregbesola said his administration had provided different avenues for youth engagement in governance.
According to him, such avenues include the creation of Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and Youth Empowerment Scheme -Technology (OYESTECH).
He said his administration had also established the Osun Job Centre, as a way of creating a data base of unemployed youths across the state, so as to train them to be employers of labour.
The governor urged youth in the state to take advantage of the opportunities to develop themselves.
Oyo
The police command in Oyo State has rescued a 10-year-
old girl, who was allegedly unlawfully imprisoned by her father, the spokesman for the police, SP Adekunle Ajisebutu, said.
Ajisebutu told newsmen that the victim was allegedly locked up in a room for three days without food by her father, who was currently at large.
He said that the girl was rescued by policemen from the Challenge Police Station.
He said that the victim had been properly fed and taken to the police clinic for medical attention.
Ajisebutu said that the case was under investigation and that efforts had been intensified to apprehend the suspect, who was at large.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State House of Assembly has called on the
state government to immediately relieve the Commandant of the State Marshalls Corps, Mr Sa’idu Madawaki, of his appointment.
The call followed the recommendation of a special committee set up by the assembly to investigate alleged disrespect of the government institutions and the assembly by officials of the corps.
Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Abdullahi Garba (APC- Gwadabawa North), while presenting report of their findings to the house, said that the recommendation for disengagement of the commandant was reached after extensive consultation.
Yobe
Vice Chairman, Presidential Committee on North East
Initiative, Alhaji Tijjani Tumsa, said the Victims Support Fund (VSF) would provide more interventions to support educational development in communities liberated from insurgency.
Tumsa disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen in Damaturu, the state capital.
He said, “the VSF, which is a key component of the Presidential Committee on North- East Initiative, will recover public institutions through reconstruction and provision of instructional materials to fast track education in the affected areas.”
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that 26,592 public school students failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, raising alarm across the state’s education sector.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during a ministerial press briefing yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja, said that “45.7 per cent of the 58,188 students from public schools who sat for the exams did not pass.”.
This failure rate comes despite the state government’s significant financial backing N1.577 billion was paid on behalf of the students to cover WAEC fees.
“Suffice to say that the sum of N1,577,794,000 only was paid by the state government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for the year 2024 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun announced.
In a bid to tighten accountability and avoid wastage, the Commissioner disclosed that biometric and image registration was carried out to accurately determine eligible students for government sponsorship for the 2025 WASSCE.
“The exercise successfully captured and registered 56,134 students as bona fide beneficiaries of the Lagos state government’s sponsorship for the examination,” he added.
However, the Lagos State Government rolled out a bold educational intervention – the Eko Learners’ Support Programme for WASSCE and NECO candidates – aimed at reversing the tide of academic failure in the state’s public schools.
Launched on January 14, 2025, the initiative is part of a broader commitment by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to equip Lagos students with tools for success.
“This forward-thinking initiative was designed to support and empower young scholars in attestation of the ministry’s commitment to advancing interest and management of the educational system in Lagos State,” Alli-Balogun stated.
Ekiti State Government says it has vaccinated 226,429 eligible girls in the State against the Human Papilloma Virus, an infection believed to be a leading cause of cervical cancer.
The wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, said the HPV immunization exercise, which she flagged off in the State in May 2025 was a great success, noting that it reached targeted communities and protected children against cervical cancer.
The governor’s wife made the disclosure in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on the introduction of Measles Rubella vaccines in Ekiti State.
She said, “The introduction of Measles Rubella Vaccines is a very crucial step towards protecting Ekiti children particularly the target age group of nine to 14 years from diseases.
“I urge all women in the State to regularly scan their breasts. This can be done with the aid of the Mammography machine which is available at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti”.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, noted that the Measles Rubella vaccines would be rolled out nationally in October, 2025.
Filani said that the State was taking proactive steps to sensitise residents of the State before the date to ensure adequate awareness on the vaccines by citizens.
The Acting Ochimba of Ogida in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam, says peace remains paramount in the socio-economic development of Etche land.
Eze Azuatalam, however, called on his people to embrace and eschew violence at all times.
The Onwa Nagbara Oha made the call during the official commissioning of his palace at Ogida recently.
The epoch-making ceremony held at his palace saw the attendance of members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs; the academia; the political class; the clergy ; women as well relevant stakeholders within and outside Etche land.
The Ngbaragida of Azuafor re-emphasised the essence of peace and social harmony which he said open the window for meaningful development to take place.
He also sought the support and collaboration of his people to achieve the desired goals of development, progress and prosperity.
He noted that the peace being witnessed in the area must be sustained through collective effort, saying, contributions and sacrifices need to be made by all concerned to live in peace.
Eze Azuatalam said his aim towards building a better Ogida cannot be compromised as he and his people have no other place called home.
The Acting Ochimba said as part of efforts to build a better Ogida, he has instituted a number of development projects, adding that some of his kinsmen have been empowered through his hard-earned money and resources, saying, he will continue to assist the less- privileged around him.
He reaffirmed his desire to impact positively on the lives of his people as the engagement of the youths will help to reduce social vices in the area.
He thanked members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs for honouring his invitation.
He specifically thanked the Onyi Ishi Etche and Ochie of Etcheland, His Eminence E mmanuel Opurum for leading Etche on the path of prosperity, and described the revered King as a role model to the younger generation.
He said his fatherly role has been a source of hope and inspiration to his subjects.
The palace was unveiled by His Eminence with the assistance of Ochimba of Abara, Eze Jonah Nwala and other prominent Etche traditional rulers and chiefs while the Onyi Ishi Etche was represented by Eze Ken Nwala, Onyi Ishi Agwuru, Ulakwo/ Umuselem Clan.
The Onyi Ishi Etche urged other prominent sons of Etche to emulate the kind gesture of Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam as his magnanimity is being seen and appreciated by his people.
Eze Azuatalam also applauded the efforts of Prof Mekuri Ndimele, former Vice Chancellor of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in the growth of Etche land.
According to him, during Ndimele’ s tenure, a lot of development projects were sited at the institution, including the development of Etcheland and empowerment of Etche people.