Nation
THE STATES
Benue
Makurdi Magistrates’ Court has remanded five accused
persons, including two brothers, in prison custody for allegedly killing a herdsman, Dahiru Idris.
Those remanded were Adah Effeche, Gabriel Ejeh, Daniel Ugwueke, Sunday Ugwueke and Boniface Onoja of various addresses in Edumoga, Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue.
They were arraigned on a two count-charge of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
They were charged with punishable under Sections 97 and 222 of the Penal Code of Benue, 2004.
Prosecutor Terzungwe Kajo told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Okpokwu to State CID on December 28, 2015 via a letter for investigation.
Ekiti
Ekiti State Government said that it had recorded one case
of the dreaded Lassa Fever.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olurotimi Ojo, made this known at a Stakeholders Forum on Lassa Fever in Ado-Ekiti.
Ojo said that the patient was discovered at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti at the weekend.
“The state has confirmed a Lassa Fever case that is being managed at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti.
“The patient is stable and has commenced treatment,” he said.
Meanwhile, the government has said that no fewer than 500,000 children will be immunised against measles in all parts of the state between January 28 and February 1, 2016.
FCT
Tourists and guests have called on hotel owners in Abuja
to provide better security and improve their facilities to justify the high charges on services.
The respondents made the call in separate interviews with newsmen.
Mr Franklin Andrew, a tourist from Canada said that he was visiting Africa for the first time and decided to start with Nigeria, adding his experience in terms of security was not too pleasant.
“I have been to other countries where people use encoded keys to protect their rooms; it was only at the Protea and Transcorp Hilton hotels that I used a card to open my room doors.
“When I wanted to experience a close-to-nature-touch, I went to another hotel; here in Abuja, where the experience was nothing to write home about.
Jigawa
The Sole Aministrator of Malammadori Local Government
in Jigawa State, Alhaji Ali Alkali, said the council had adopted measures to control soil erosion in the area.
Alkali stated this in an interview with newsmen recently in Malammadori.
He said that the council had implemented steps to control erosion at Maudachi burrow pit which he said, was threatening road and adjourning farmlands.
He said that the council had sought for the intervention of the state’s Ministry of Land for boundary definition of the pit site.
“We called for clear demarcation of boundary between Malammadori and Hadejia local government areas on the eroded land, this will facilitate effective management of the pit,” he said.
Kaduna
The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and
Non-Formal Education (NMEC) says it is targeting a literacy-target of five million people in 2016.
Its Executive Secretary, Alhaji Jibrin Paiko, said this in Kaduna at the opening of a two-day workshop on coordination and management of non-formal education in Nigeria.
Our correspont reports that the workshop was jointly organised by NMEC and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
It was for executive directors of agencies for mass education from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
According to Paiko, the workshop is designed to provide the managers with skills and schemes that will serve as a guide in achieving the set target.
Katsina
Sheikh Dayyib Haruna-Rasheed, National Leader, Madinatul
Ahbab Waltalmiz Islamic Schools, has called on parents and community leaders to support teachers on inculcating moral training in children.
Haruna-Rasheed made the call at the graduation of 23 students who mastered the reading of the Holy Qur’an from the Fayamasa Malumfashi branch of the Madinatul Ahbab Waltalamiz Islamic Schools.
He said the school was set up to provide moral training and education on Islam, including inculcation of the right ideologies and knowledge on interpretations of the Holy Qur’an.
He, therefore, urged parents to support the schools in promoting religious ideals and morality in their children.
The cleric disclosed that the organisation had established 474 schools in 450 communities located in Nigeria and Niger Republic.
Kwara
An Indian philanthropist, Mr Naranbai Patel, has pledged
a donation of N25 million to support researchers at the University of Ilorin.
This is contained in the university’s bulletin, according to the bulletin, Patel, who was impressed by the collaboration between the University of Ilorin and Uka Tarsaida University (UTU), Bardoli, India, sent a letter to the University of Ilorin’s Vice Chancellor.
The bulletin said that in the letter, Patel, promised to redeem his pledge in five equal installments of N5 million over a period of five years.
It said the philanthropist expressed confidence in the ability and visionary skills of the university administration under the leadership of Prof. Ambali.
Lagos
A 70 -year-old man, Mutairu Afolabi, has sought the
dissolution of his 36 years marriage to Monsurat, 60, over alleged bleaching and conversion of his wife to Christianity.
Afolabi told the court that as an Imam his wife’s conversion from Islam to Christianity had brought him shame.
He said that the marriage was consummated in 1980 and produced four children, from age 20 to 33.
“The smell of her body since she started bleaching is not good for my health, why should she be bleaching at her age, she now a grandmother.
“Her name is Monsurat before I married her, my wife is now known in the whole Celestial Churches in Lagos; I’m an Imam how do I explain that.
“She goes out at will, without my permission, she curses a lot and I can see that her curse is coming to pass in the lives of my children.
“I told my wife that I have diabetes the next day she started singing that God should add honey and sugar to her life.
Nasarawa
The police have arraigned a 29-year-old trader, Agbo
Michael, in a Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada, over the alleged theft of his neighbour’s generator.
The accused, who resides behind the Catholic Church, Aso, Mararaba, is standing trial on a two-count charge of house breaking and theft.
According to the Prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Adaji, one Itodo Leonard of same address with the accused reported the matter at the Aso Pada Police station on January 18.
Adaji said on the same date at about 2 p.m., the accused broke into the complainant’s house and stole the generator, valued at N31, 000.
“The accused also stole the sum of N10, 000 which the complainant left at home, when he went to work.
Ogun
A 39-year old man, Emeka Uboh, has appeared before an
Ota Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ogun, for allegedly damaging a gate and other items worth N100,000 belonging to one Boniface Ibeh.
Uboh, who resides at No. 11 Banjo St., Ishaha, Ota, Ogun, is facing a two-count charge of malicious damages and threat to life.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Itaita Ebibomini, told the court that the accused committed the offences on October 11, 2015 at about 12:00pm at No. 3, Agbala Itura, Ishaha in Ota.
Ebibomino said that the accused damaged a building gate and other items worth N100, 000, property of Ibeh.
He said that the accused also threatened the complainant with a broken bottle.
Osun
The Osun State House of Assembly has directed the state
Ministry of Health to suspend the proposed increment in tuition fees of state-owned schools of nursing, health technology and midwifery.
Mr Kamil Oyedele, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, gave the directive in Osogbo when the management of the ministry appeared before the committee for the defence of its 2016 appropriation bill.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Temitope Oladele, in her defence had told the committee that one of the ways the ministry could boost its revenue generation for the year was by increasing its tuition fees.
Plateau
An elder statesman, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, has
commended the success so far recorded in the fight against corruption and challenged the judiciary and the police to “play their roles effectively”.
“The Federal Government’s fight against corruption is gaining the right momentum and is in line with the cardinal goal for which President Muhammadu Buhari was voted into office.
“What remains is for the judges and police to play their own roles, so that the suspects would be convicted if culpable, to serve as a deterrent and also rid the nation of this canker-worm,” Kwande told newsmen in Jos.
According to him, the constitution is clear on how to tackle the menace.

Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, arriving the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory where he is standing trial over alleged misappropriation of N32billion arms fund in Abuja on Friday. The case was adjourned till February 4 for the hearing of the Ex-NSA’s application for stay of proceedings.
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.
-
Business4 days ago
USTR Criticises Nigeria’s Import Ban On Agriculture, Others
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
DELSU Spends N720m On Electricity Annually -VC
-
Rivers4 days ago
Perm Sec Tasks NUJ Leadership On Unity
-
Opinion4 days ago
Respecting The Traditional Institution
-
Politics4 days ago
Nasarawa PDP Sets Up Reconciliation Committee
-
Rivers4 days ago
SEEPCO Initiates Blood Donor Club in Nigeria
-
Nation4 days ago
Gunmen Abduct 14 Passengers In Benue
-
Rivers4 days ago
Police Investigate Officer’s Suicide In PH