Nation
THE STATES
Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State (middle), inspecting the drawing for construction of Nyanya-Gwandara motor park, in his effort to decongest Abuja/Keffi highway in Lafia recently. With him are the Project Consultant, Mr Shehu Tukur (left) and others.
Adamawa
The Adamawa State Commissioner for Health, Dr Fatima
Abubakar, has promised to use her experience in the private sector to improve the state’s health sector.
Abubakar gave the assurance in Yola yesterday while addressing staff of the ministry on her assumption of office.
Abubakar, a daughter of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, said she had been informed about staff constraints and shortage of skilled manpower in the ministry.
She gave assurance that her office would collaborate with development partners to address such inherent challenges confronting the sector.
“I have been briefed by the Permanent Secretary on some challenges being faced by the ministry.
“These challenges include dilapidated and ill-equipped health infrastructure across the state.
Benue
The Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Mr Terkimbi
Ikyange, has assured the people of the state that the current assembly would produce quality legislation that would enhance quality healthcare delivery in the state.
Ikyange gave the assurance yesterday while interacting with heads of both federal and state governments owned health institutions in the state.
He stated that the assembly through its legislation and oversight function would ensure that health providers in the state deliver effective, efficient and timely services to the people.
He stressed that the assembly would not accept anything short of quality health delivery, adding that a healthy nation is a wealthy one.
FCT
An Abuja-based Pharmacist, Mr Osa Egwebe, has advised
against indiscriminate use of herbal medicines, saying the action can cause liver cirrhosis.
Egwebe said in an interview with newsmen in Abuja that some herbal medicines in use in Nigeria were not scientifically tested.
According to him, herbal drugs just like other medicines if not clinically tested, can be potentially poisonous and harmful to the body.
Egwebe said if drugs were not clinically assessed, they had a high risk of causing adverse reactions.
He said consuming such drugs was harmful to the body as the practice posed the risk of toxicity to the kidney, liver and other organs.
Gombe
Seven United Nations (UN) agencies on Monday
promised to support Gombe State in addressing its challenges to enable it move forward.
Madam Ratidzai Ndhlovu, United Nations Funds for Population Activities (UNFPA) Resident Representative in Nigeria, made the pledge on behalf of other agencies during a meeting of the agencies in Gombe.
“I wish to reiterate the commitment of the seven UN agencies, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, UNHCR, UNDP, IOM and OCHA to support Gombe in addressing the humanitarian crisis in the state,” she said.
According to her, the UN agencies will facilitate effective growth and empowerment of all citizens, by ensuring that the state reaped from areas it had comparative advantage.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government has disbursed more than
N3.3 million to 249 persons affected by flood disaster in Guri Local Government Area of the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Special Services, Alhaji Babandi Sale, made this known, when he visited the affected families at Musari village in Guri.
Sale said that the amount was distributed to families whose houses were ravaged by flood in the area.
He explained that some 60 families received N20, 000 each, while 186 other victims were given N10, 000 each.
Sale added that the state government had also donated N30,000 to families of one person, who lost his life in the disaster.
Kaduna
The Council of Imams and Ulama in Kaduna State, says
the effort by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in recovering stolen wealth from past corrupt officials, was commendable.
The resolution was passed in Kaduna after the council’s annual conference.
The Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Baban Tuni and the Secretary-General Yusuf Arrigasyyu, presented the resolution.
Kano
A former Councillor in Wudil Local Government in Kano
State, Alhaji Salisu Utai, has advised Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to resuscitate the various irrigation sites located in different parts of the state.
Speaking to newsmen in Kano on Tuesday, Utai said rehabilitating the irrigation sites was necessary in order to create job opportunities for the teeming number of unemployed persons in the state, especially rural dwellers.
Kogi
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Kogi State has
demanded the immediate payment of N32 billion salary arrears owed teachers in public primary schools in the state.
The state NUT Chairman, Mr. Suleiman Abdullahi, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Lokoja yesterday.
Abdullahi said that N23 billion was the outstanding arrears of the new minimum wage, while N8.7 billion was unpaid leave grants for four years.
The NUT chairman decried the development, and said that it was already taking a heavy toll on the education sector.
Kwara
A Zoologist at the University of Ilorin, Prof Uade
Ugbomoiko, has cautioned people to beware of contacting pubic lice through sexual intercourse.
Ugbomoiko gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin yesterday.
He explained that contagious parasite such as Amoebae, Trichomonas, Giardia, Scabies and Pubic lice were parasites contacted through sexual process.
“Pubic lice are parasitic insects found primarily in the public or genital area of human beings and this pubic lice is found worldwide and occurs in all races, ethnic groups, and all levels of the society,” he said.
Lagos
The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), has commended
President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing its member, Mr. Babachir Lawal, as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
This is contained in a statement issued by NCS President, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, in Lagos yesterday.
It stated that Lawal, an engineer, was a committed member of the society and a professional to the core.
The statement stated that that SGF had immense experience in the private and public sectors before he established his own consulting firm in 1990.
Nasarawa
The traditional ruler of Agwada Community, Nasarawa State, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, has urged farmers and herdsmen in the community to ensure continued peaceful co-existence and not to disrupt the farming season.
He said that peaceful co-existence between farmers in the area and Fulani herdsmen will go a long way to boost food production in the state.
Sadiq, who is the Osu Agada, told newsmen in Agwada, Kokona Local Government Area on Tuesday that the people were mainly farmers and herdsmen.
He said their continued peaceful co-existence would boost their farming activities to the benefit of the state.
Ondo
The Provost of Adeyemi College of Education, Prof.
Olukoya Ogen, Ondo State, has assured its graduates that steps are being taken for their mobilisation for National Youth Service Corps.
Ogen made the promise when he addressed the graduates who gathered at the gate of the institution in Ondo recently.
“The management of the college will do everything possible to find solution to the problem.’’
He commended the students for their peaceful conduct and urged them to exercise patience while effort was being made to address the situation.
Oyo
Some aggrieved pensioners of Union Bank Plc have
appealed to stakeholders in the industry to prevail on the bank to complete the actuarial valuation of its pension legacy assets.
The Coordinator, Mr. Augustine Onun, Aggrieved Pensioners of Union Bank Plc, Ibadan Zone made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
Onun said that their members had been facing serious financial challenges due to the slashed monthly pension allegedly caused by the bank’s inaction on the valuation of its pension legacy assets.
Plateau
The National President of Government Secondary School,
Shendam, Old Students Association, Mr. Philip Gompang, has blamed the infrastructural decay in secondary schools in Plateau on government’s takeover of schools.
He told newsmen in Jos that the facilities in the schools were not maintained after the takeover.
Gompang said that most of the schools did not cultivate a maintenance culture after they were taken over by the government.
He also said that the standard of education in the state consequently fell as most public schools did not have the enabling environment to impart knowledge to students.
“How can you teach effectively when your buildings are dilapidated, your roof leaks and there are no library materials or computer facilities?
“The standard of education must surely decline, “ he said.
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.