Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa House of Assembly says it has set up a committee on how to generate 30 megawatts of electricity for the state.
The committee chairman, Mr Wafari Theman (ACN, Hong) told newsmen in Yola that the low power supply to the state was worrisome.
Theman said that the committee had visited PHCN and other stakeholders because power supply to the state was fluctuating between 20 and seven megawatts.
He said that the committee had visited the state Special Energy Department and the Gongola Basin Energy Development Commission
He said that the panel had also visited Laddo Dam in neighbouring Cameroon Republic and Kiri Dam in Adamawa.
He said that the purpose of visiting the establishments was to ensure they generate additional electricity power to the state.
Bauchi
Bauchi State has detected three new cases of Polio Virus between January and March.
The WHO Consultant in-charge of Gamawa, Zaki and Itas Gadau, Mr Emmanuel Katuga, disclosed this on Saturday in Kari-kacaf, in Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Katuga told newsmen that one case each was recorded at Kari-Kacaf, Dagaleri and Taranka, all in Gamawa Local Government Area.
He explained that the case of Kari-Kacaf and Taranka had been confirmed to be the “Wild Polio Virus” while that of Dagaleri had been sent to Maiduguri Laboratory for test.
Katuga attributed the new cases to uncompleted dosage of Polio immunisation within the affected areas.
The consultant said that his team had introduced weekly immunisation in spite of the routine ones within the affected areas to ensure that the virus was eradicated in the area.
Borno
The wife of Borno State Governor, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, has called on traditional and community leaders to work collectively to wipe out the polio virus from the country.
Shettima, who made the call in Maiduguri when she launched the National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs), urged wives of the Chairmen of Local Government Caretaker Committees to ensure mass mobilisation of parents at the grass roots for the exercise.
She said that the state government had instituted an award for best local government council in immunisation coverage to encourage better performance.
“I want the wives of the caretaker committees chairmen to compete with one another in the area of mass mobilisation of parents on polio immunisation.
“Each one of you must strive hard to ensure that her council becomes the best so you can win the state government award for the best performing council in immunisation coverage,” she said.
FCT
Chairman House Committee on Gas Resources Rep. Bassey Ewa, says stopping gas flaring in the country requires the political will of the Federal Government.
Ewa told newsmen in Abuja that there was also the need for the Federal Government to collaborate with multinational oil companies to end gas flaring.
He said the committee was determined to ensure that the gas master plan was implemented to the letter.
“On the issue of gas flaring, my committee is putting necessary things in place to ensure the issue is finally put to rest.
“The Federal Government has a gas master plan and as the chairman of the committee on gas resources, it is my desire to ensure that the plan is implemented to the letter,’’ he said.
Gombe
President Goodluck Jonathan has condoled with Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe over the death of his four-year-old daughter, Hajara.
The president who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Mike Oghiadome, said in Gombe on Saturday, that he (Jonathan) and the good people of Nigeria sympathised with the family of Dankwambo.
Jonathan noted that death was inevitable and called on the governor to take it as an act of God because “every soul must pass through it.”
“This is because God gives and takes, we have no right to question Him,’’ he said.
Kano
Kano State Government has concluded plans to construct 56 new courts in the 44 local government areas of the state, our correspondent reports.
The Public Relations Officer of the state High Court, Malam Baba Jibo made this known to newsmen in Kano.
Jibo said that the government had kick- started the construction of 23 of the courts in its first phase, pointing out that the second phase would be inaugurated soon.
He said the project was part of the government’s determination to ensure that the people of the state had access to justice by bringing justice to their door steps.
Katsina
Herdsmen in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State have called for increased government commitment to animal vaccination.
Alhaji Ardo Abubakar, the leader of herdsmen, made the call during the launch of the 2012 animal vaccination.
Abubakar expressed the appreciation of the herdsmen to the state government for its policies on animal production, saying that the “huge investment ” would ensure the good health of animals.
He noted that many nomads had been mobilised to submit their animals for the vaccination, adding that the exercise would improve the health of cows and other domestic animals in the area.
According to him, not less than 6,000 cows have been targeted for vaccination in the two-week programme.
Kebbi
Kebbi Governor-elect State Alhaji Saidu Dakingari, has said that the fresh mandate he received in Saturday’s election was an indication of his acceptance by the people of Kebbi.
The Media Adviser to Dakingari, Malam Alhassan Musa, told newsmen that the new mandate was an indication of the popularity of the governor-elect’s policies and programmes over the years.
He promised to bring the opposition on board in efforts to develop the state.
“In this election, there is no victor or vanquished. The PDP will carry everyone along in major decision making and progarmme implementation,’’ he said.
Dakingari urged the people to expect development, especially in the areas of agriculture, rural development, education and health.
Lagos
Five-time World Boxing Champion, Evander Holyfield, is visiting Badagry, Lagos State, to reconnect with his African roots and seek the possibility of investing in the country’s tourism industry.
The Alabama, U.S.-born retired pugilist believes he is of African descent.
He visited the historic town of Badagry on the invitation of Mr Yomi Ajose, a former Senior Special Adviser to the Badagry Local Government Council.
Holyfield, who visited the traditional ruler of the town, Wheno Aholu Meno Toyi I, the Akran of Badagry, said that he was visiting to trace his African roots.
Niger
The Niger House of Assembly has approved the appointment of Alhaji Abdullahi Kagara as its new Clerk.
Members of the Assembly had unanimously approved the appointment of Kagara following his recommendation by the Assembly Service Commission.
Majority Leader Mohammad Dada moved the motion for the approval and it was unanimously adopted by members.
The Speaker, Alhaji Mohammed Tsowa, commended Kagara’s contribution to the legislative activities of the Assembly, especially the committees assignments.
He directed the acting clerk to convey the approval to the Assembly Service Commission for it to issue a letter of appointment to the new Clerk.
Kagara, who was born in 1964 in Kagara, obtained a degree in Mass Communication from Bayero University Kano, 1988.
He started his career as a reporter with the Newsline newspaper in 1990 and joined the Assembly service in 1992 as its Public Relations Officer.
Ondo
The Ondo State House of Assembly has called for the establishment of “Obafemi Awolowo Academy of Ideology’’ to promote political and economic ideals of the late premier of the defunct Western Region.
The Majority Leader of the House, Mr Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, who moved the motion in Akure, said, the proposed academy would immortalise Awolowo and facilitate access to his political ideas and leadership qualities.
“The late sage, a nationalist, in his books and essays propounded a robust ideology for governance, which, he called, “Social Democracy”.
“Late Awolowo, who was described as the best president Nigeria never had, came up with major tenets of his political ideology in his books, publications, lectures for our political emancipation,’’ Akinsoyinu said.
The majority leader pointed out that the Yoruba leader’s approach to politics was devoid of violence and that the idea had distinguished his character as far as the game of politics was concerned.
Mr Victor Akinwe, representing the people of Odigbo Constituecy I, said the academy would serve as an instrument of reconstruction for prospective and serving politicians in the country.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Urban and Regional Planning Board on Thursday began the demolition of illegal structures in Sokoto and its environs.
Our correspondent reports that the board demolished illegal structures in Sokoto old market and the state’s School of Developmental Studies, an arm of the state university.
The Permanent Secretary of the board, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, said the action was to rid the state capital and its environs of all illegal structures.
‘’We will not allow any person or group of persons to tinker with the master plan of the state capital, no matter how highly placed the person is.’’
Mohammed said the owners of the illegal structures were given a month notice to remove them or face sanctions but they allegedly refused to comply.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has inducted and given orientation to 100 Ogoni youths for training on Creative Arts. The beneficiaries were drawn from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The induction and orientation ceremony, which took place at the CRAB of the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, was a prelude to the training proper, billed to commence next Tuesday.
As usual, HYPREP issued undertaking forms to the trainees, for them to complete and submit as a guarantee that they would subject themselves to the requirements of the programme as well as be of good behaviour throughout the four-month duration of the training.
HYPREP also announced that it would pay N150,000 to each of the beneficiaries monthly, as transport and feeding allowance, stressing, however, that only those who fully participate in the training would be entitled for the allowance.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, welcomed the trainees to the programme, saying, HYPREP’s projects are evolving and that one thing that is happening today is that the Project has gotten leadership right, by making promises and keeping those promises.
According to him, the Project had equally promised to move away from rudimentary skills acquisition to high impacts acquisition levels, which it has kept today by sponsoring the training on Creative Arts.
He noted that in planning its livelihood programmes for Ogoni youths, HYPREP has taken time out to look for skills that would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
Zabbey, who was represented at the event by the Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi said by packaging the Creative Arts training, it was expected that the Ogoni people would have their own version of Nollywood known as Ogoniwood just as Nigerians are familiar with Hollywood, Bollywood, Kannywood and Nollywood.
To achieve this goal, the Project Coordinator explained that it was the reason for choosing a reputable establishment like Halibiz Consult Limited, to partner with the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt, which he described as one of the most prestigious in the Niger Delta, for the training of the beneficiaries.
He also indicated that in doing this, HYPREP was desirous of going for talents that would help the Ogoni people grow in the film industry, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
Zabbey equally enjoined the trainees to put in their best so that in the next three to five years, they would carve a niche for themselves and become forces to reckon with in the film industry.
On her part, HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee said HYPREP does what it says it will, stressing that the process of training Ogoni youths on specialised skills started three years ago.
According to her, the selection process for the training was rigorous and transparent, and was carried out by renowned actors actresses.
She disclosed that the training consists of three major aspects, which include acting, script writing and make-up, while Nollywood actors like Charles Nnoje, Ngezu J. Ngezu and award-winning make-up artist, Jude Odo would be on hand to drill and groom the beneficiaries.
Mrs Nzidee noted that the programme is a specialised training that does not have anything like starter packs but that it is purely a professional certification programme that would launch the beneficiaries into the Nollywood industry in Nigeria.
According to her, the Creative Arts training is one of the four specialised trainings organised by HYPREP to ensure that the Ogoni people are well positioned in vital industries like Aviation, Maritime, Creative Arts and Mechatronics.
She said the last of such trainings on Mechatronics would take place in the coming months, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously so as to put the Ogoni people on the Nollywood map.
She further indicated that while Charles Nnoje and Ngezu J. Ngezu would take the beneficiaries on the practical aspects, Jude Odo would take them on the make-up aspects.
Also speaking, the External Relations Manager of Halibiz Consult Limited, Alabo Experience Douglas said his company gives much premium to standard and quality, and assured that the firm would give the trainees value for the money spent on the programme.
While charging the beneficiaries to be dedicated and punctual, he stressed the need for them to approach the programme with the mindset of being empty so that at the end of the day, they would benefit maximally.
On his part, the Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo said the CRAB is an acronym for Creative Review of Arts and Books, stressing that it was named by renowned playwright, Prof Ola Rotimi.
According to him, the CRAB had nurtured, groomed and produced Nollywood actors and actresses like Bobmanuel Udokwu, Ejike Asiegbu,Francis Duru, Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda, Julius Agwu, and a host of others, assuring the beneficiaries that they were on fertile environment to hone their talents.
He noted that symbolically, the crab is a nutritious seafood common in the Niger Delta, and reiterated the need for the beneficiaries to come empty for the training, as it were.
Ihunwo disclosed that the theory classes of the programme would run for three weeks while the fourth week would be for the master classes, and urged the trainees to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a difference by telling the Ogoni story, which he described as inexhaustible by themselves, in order to put Ogoni on the map.
A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.