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Bauchi

 

 The Director-General (DG) of Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), Hajiya Dije Bala, says the Agency was not responsible for the removal of campaign posters in Bauchi metropolis.

Bala told newsmen in Bauchi that no staff of the Agency was officially directed to remove campaign posters.

The DG expressed surprise that people had resorted to using her staff to achieve their political ambitions.

“I did not direct any of my staff to remove any poster in the state, it is unfortunate that some politicians are using my staff unofficially to remove the posters of their rivals.

“We are aware that some politicians are using our staff to peel off posters meant for political campaigns in the metroplis, but is not official,” she added.

 

Ekiti

 

Mr. Dipo Anisulowo, President of Ekiti State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (EKICCIMA) has called on politicians to invest in the economic development of the state.

Anisulowo said at a press briefing  in Ado-Ekiti that the state economic development was still at a very slow pace because the state politicians invest solely on politics. 

He noted that if the huge sum of money being spent on politics could be spend on economic development, the state would have developed tremendously.

 He wondered why politics had become the only major occupation in the state. 

According to Anisulowo, the lack of buoyant members in the state chamber is responsible for the low industries in the state. 

 Besides, he said  businessmen who were willing to invest in the state had been prevented from doing so through petitions by those he described as enemies of progress.

 

 

 

Henceforth, singing of the National Anthem during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting has been ruled out, the Acting President, Dr  Goodluck Jonathan has directed.

 Jonathan gave the directive at the commencement of Tuesday’s NEC meeting, which was attended by 24 governors and eight deputy governors.

The Tide’s source observed that the acting President who presided over the NEC meeting, was initially reminded by some governors on the need to sing the anthem, but he did not yield.

He later explained that the banning of the National Anthem and the National Pledge was informed by the advice he received from his protocol officers.

“I was told by the protocol unit that singing the National Anthem during NEC meeting is wrong,” he said.

 

 

The Gombe State Government spent about N200 million on the construction and equipping of  four skill acquisition centres for women in the three Senatorial Districts in the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Fatima Bello, told newsmen in Gombe that the centres were located in Dukku, Gombe metropolis,  Shongom and Akko.

Bello said the centres were established to cater for the teeming number of school drop-outs, casualties of early marriage, hawkers and those who were not opportuned to attend any school.

“We are concerned with these categories of people because we want them to be self-reliant and also to reduce the number of dependents in the society,” she said.

According to her, those enrolled in the centre are being taught kniting, tailoring, hair dressing and cookery.

 

Kaduna

 

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) recovered more than N21 billion as “operating soplus” from 18 corporate organisations in 2009.

The Commissioner for Strategic Communications, Mr Adewunmi Abitoye, made the announcement  in Kaduna shortly after officials of the commission paid a courtesy visit to Governor Namadi Sambo.

He said the amount was subsequently remitted to the Federal Government’s consolidated account.

Abitoye said that “operating soplus” was the fund generated by corporate agencies outside the budgeted amount for a particular year.

The commissioner, who represents the West geo-political zone on the commission, said the agencies were expected to remit 80 per cent of such fund to the Federation Account.

He said the funds were recovered after the agencies failed to remit the excess funds to the federation account.

 

Kano

 

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, has urged governors of the 36 states not to divert funds voted for development projects to other purposes.

The emir made the call in Kano  when the Peer Review Team of the Nigeria Governors‘ Forum (NGF) Secretariat paid him a courtesy visit.

Bayero said that the call was necessary based on past experience when monies voted for development projects were diverted into private accounts.

He, however, observed that if top government officials were able to shun corrupt practices, the country would be better for it.

This, he said, was because corruption was common among top government officials, adding that unless they were appropriately punished when caught, the vice would continue to thrive.

On the current electricity problem, the emir advised state governors to establish independent power plants, while the Federal Government should find ways of tackling the challenge.

 

Katsina

 

The DIG “A” Department , Nigeria Police Force, Alhaji Uba Ringim, has expressed the police readiness to provide adequate security during and after the 2011 general elections in the country.   Speaking when he visited Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, Ringim said the police force was well prepared to establish peace and order in the country during the 2011 general polls. 

“We are training our personnel so that they would be able to move with the challenges of politics in the country,’’ he added.

 He, however, said the political situation in the North-West Zone was “very peaceful, especially in Katsina State”. 

“The state is very peaceful and the peace situation is due to the state government’s fairness and from the record we receive from the state police command, the state government is all out to protect the life and property of its citizenry,’’ he noted.

 

Kwara

 

The Kwara  Government has inaugurated a task force to facilitate the distribution of potable water in the Ilorin metropolis. Speaking during the ceremony, recently the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Abubakar Kannike, said the committee would be in charge of facilitating the distribution of  water to the various parts of the city.

Kannike, who is also the chairman of the task force, said that 172 water points had been established under the Kwara State Water Support Scheme to ease the water supply problem. He restated the determination Governor Bukola Saraki to make water available to all the nooks and crannies of the state.

According to him, the governor has approved the establishment of 30 additional water points under the Water Support Services.

He said the government had also approved the purchase of two water tankers and the repair of three others, to complement the 10 existing tankers for the smooth distribution of water to the people.

 

Ogun

 

Scores of  widows, artisans and the aged in Odogbolu Local Government of  Ogun  received cash and working tools from the wife of  the state’s governor, Mrs Olufunke Daniel.

Daniel distributed  the cash and tools at Ososa during a forum organised by her pet project, Gateway Front Foundation(GFF).

She appealed to the beneficiaries to use the items and money given to them judiciously.

“It is the intention of  my pet project, Gateway Front Foundation,  to provide succour for the downtrodden and voiceless citizens of this state,” she added.

Daniel urged indigenes of  the state, especially philanthropists,  to assist the state government in  improving  the economic fortunes of citizens.

 “We must all work together to move the needy amidst us to the next level, that is how to be our brother’s keeper.

 

Sokoto

 

The Police  Command in Sokoto State has arrested 12 suspected criminals and embarked on the evacaution of used tyres obstructing the free flow of traffic, a statement said.

 The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Lawal Abdullahi, in a statement in Sokoto said  the exercise would be carried out in all police formations in the state.

The statement also said that it was part of the measure by the police in crime prevention.

“This is to prevent miscreants and other undesirable  elements in the society from taking advantage of such tyres to make bonfires, blockage of the roads or causing havoc in the community.” “It is on record that irate youths on a slight issue take advantage of such tyres as an avenue to cause a total breakdown of law and order,” the statement added.

The statement urged the public to assist the police by removing old tyres from their localities.

 

 

 

The Zamfara State House of Assembly in Gusau has approved a budget of N29.8 billion for the 14 local councils in the state.  The House Leader, Malam Mani Mummini, who moved the motion, said that the proposals were rich enough, as they contained development projects in those areas.

Mummini added that some of the councils also focused on the completion of ongoing projects that had direct bearing on the people.

The motion was seconded by Alhaji Yusuf Ahmad Dogon-koli, a member representing Gusau II.

Mummini said that the councils had submitted their proposals to the House at the right time.

He urged the House to approve the budget for the councils to be able to execute development projects at the grass roots.

The House, after going through the appropriation, passed the budget for the immediate execution of the projects.

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Over 26,000 Lagos Students Failed 2024 WASSCE -Commissioner

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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.

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Ekiti Vaccinates Over 226,000 Girls Against HPV

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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.

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Monarch Preaches Peace As He Unveils Palace

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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.

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