Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Coordinator of Subsidy Reinvestment and Em
powerment Programme (SURE-P) in Adamawa State, Alhaji Salihu Yunusa, said that the Federal Government had allocated 3,000 slots to the state in the Graduates Internship Scheme of SURE-P.
Yunusa said this in Yola while speaking at a one-day sensitisation session organised by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
He said that the session was organised for the invited and registered companies and organisations that were based in Adamawa to educate them on how to participate in the scheme.
“The Federal Government has allocated 3,000 slots to unemployed graduates in the state under the SURE-P scheme,’’ he said.
Borno
The Joint National Association for the Physically Chal
lenged Persons (NAPCP) has appealed to Borno State Government to appoint one of its members as a special adviser in the state.
The Chairman of the association, Malam Umar Mohammed, made the appeal at a news conference in Maiduguri recently.
Mohammed said the gesture would create a better environment for members of the association in the state.
“We wish to thank the state government for its assistance to the less privileged, especially during festivities like the month of Ramadan and Sallah.
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV and
AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) says it will train 30 laboratory scientists on malaria control measures.
The Executive Chairman of the agency, Dr Abdulazeez Manga, told the newsmen in Bauchi that the training would further ensure that the various tests were designed to identify different mosquitoes that caused malaria.
Manga said that plans were on to set up an insectory at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi.
He said that the agency would also distribute 3.5 million Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets in 2014 to further protect residents against the disease.
Benue
The Benue State House of Assembly has ordered Mr
Simon Iwar, a former Chairman, of Gwer Local Government, and two other officials to refund N1 million to the coffers of the council.
The order followed a report of the House Committee on Public Accounts which considered the interim report of the Auditor General for Local Government on the council’s accounts from 2008 to 2012.
The other affected officers of the council are Mrs Regina Odangla, the Director General, Service and Administration, and the Protocol Officer, Mr Joseph Orya.
The House of Assembly, at a plenary in Makurdi, directed the affected officers to refund the money within three weeks and tender evidence of payment to the committee.
Ekiti
Two men, Ojo Omoniyi and Segun Fadipe, aged 25
years each, appeared before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court charged with stealing satellite television decoder and laptop.
Police prosecutor Sgt. Ebenezer Ewuola told the court that the accused committed the offence on October 25 at Adebayo Street, Ado-Ekiti.
Ewuola said the accused broke into the house of one Adeleye Akingbaso and stole the items which also included one cell phone, one tin of Glucose D, one tin of Nescafe and N130,000.
He added that the offence contravened sections 390 and 411 of the Criminal Code, cap C 16, Vol. 1, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
FCT
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre
(CISLAC), an NGO, has urged Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals (MDAs) to implement budgets as approved by the National Assembly to avoid breach of Procurement Act.
The Executive Director of CISLAC, Malam Auwal Rafsanjani, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
“ We call on various MDAs to implement their budgets as approved by the National Assembly and released by the Federal Ministry of Finance to avoid breach of the procurement act.
“ We have to learn to go by the Medium Term Strategy which clearly spells out how the MDAs are supposed to implement their budgets, ‘’ Rafsanjani said.
Kwara
The Kwara State House of Assembly has passed the
Kwara Signage and Advertisement Agency Amendment Bill.
The bill, which was sent to the House by Gov. AbdulFattah Ahmed , was passed after the House adopted the report of its Committee on Development, Youths, Sports and Information.
The committee, in its report, recommended that a new agency be put in place and should be supervised by the state Ministry of Information and Communications for effective performance.
The report also recommended that members of the agency should meet once in two months on how to carry out its assignment.
Katsina
Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State says 5,000
unemployed youths have received skills training at the Katsina Youth Crafts Village, since its establishment in 2009.
Shema said this in a message delivered by his Deputy, Abdullahi Garba to the 2013 graduation ceremony of trainees of the centre.
The governor said the centre was established by the state government to train unemployed youths on various skills to be self employed and address the problem of youth restiveness.
He said that youths from the 34 local government areas of the state as well as Borno and the neighbouring Niger Republic benefitted from the training.
Nasarawa
A Director in the Nasarawa State Ministry of Agricul
ture and Natural Resources, Dr Emmanuel Sunday, has urged veterinary experts to embark on regular monitoring of abattoirs.
Sunday made the call in Lafia during the inauguration of new officials of the Nigeria Association of Animal Health and House-Boundary Technology from all the local government areas of the state.
He said that constant monitoring of abattoirs would ensure the sale of wholesome meat in the state.
“If every member of the association would sit up and discharge his duties properly, it would go a long way in restoring the lost confidence of meat consumers in the state.’’
Niger
The Niger State Development Company (NSDC) says
it will partner with the Federal University of Technology, Minna, in the areas of Agriculture and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
The company’s Head of Investment Services, Malam Ahmed Kuta, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Musbau Akanji in Minna.
Kuta said the company was making efforts towards strengthening the state economy through key investment initiatives and strategic partnership.
He said the company was collaborating with the university based on its track record in research and academic excellence.
Osun
The police in Osun State have arraigned a 32-year-old
woman, Ganiyat Ogunride, before an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court for alleged theft of N15,000.
The prosecutor, Insp Abiodun Fagboyinbo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Thursday at about 10.00 a.m. at Agunbelewo area of Osogbo.
Fagboyinbo said the accused entered the house of one Adeleke Sakirat without her consent and stole N15, 000 from her room.
He said the offence committed contravened sections 412 and 390 of the criminal code, Cap 34 Vol. II, Laws of Osun, 2003.
Oyo
A 35-year-old man, Moses Ogah, was arraigned be
fore an Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting at Iyaganku over a N1.25 million fraud.
Ogah was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and fraud.
The prosecutor, Insp Aliu Samad, told the court that Ogah and others now at large conspired among themselves to commit the crime.
Samad alleged that Ogah fraudulently obtained the sum from one Michael Idowu.
He said the accused obtained the money under the pretence of selling a 2012 model Sienna bus to Idowu, adding that the accused converted the money to his own use.
Plateau
The Commissioner for Information and Communication in Plateau State, Mr Abraham Yiljap, said the state government had mapped out strategies to prevent further spread of cholera in the state.
Yiljap, while briefing newsmen in Jos, said the measures would assist in the prevention of further spread and outbreak of other communicable diseases.
“Since the unfortunate incident in Namu village, more steps had been taken to mitigate the spread of the disease and ensure that those who were hospitalised received appropriate medical attention.
“We have decided to provide clean and safe drinking water in Namu and other parts of the state to check the spread of the disease.

Vice President Namadi Sambo (middle), laying the foundation stone for International Institute of Journalism in Abuja, yesterday. With him are National President, Nigerian Union of Journalist, Malam Mohammed Garba, Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, NUJ Deputy President, Mr Rotimi Obamuwagun and Chairman, Building Committee and Board of Trustees, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe
Nation
Over 26,000 Lagos Students Failed 2024 WASSCE -Commissioner
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.
Nation
Ekiti Vaccinates Over 226,000 Girls Against HPV
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.
Nation
Monarch Preaches Peace As He Unveils Palace

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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