Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning
in Bauchi State, Alhaji Shehu Ningi, said the state intended to raise N1 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in 2016.
Ningi told newsmen in Abuja that the projected amount in the 2016 budget would be used to enhance socio-economic development of the state
“We are targeting more than N1 billion in 2016; our IGR is usually between N200 and 300 million annually, so it is very low compared to other states.
“It is low because of lack of industries, backwardness in commercial activities, but we are trying to get out of the problems.
“We are getting out of the problems by encouraging farming, establishing small scale industries and introducing some reforms in the Land Use Act in the state”.
Borno
The Borno State Commissioner for Finance, Budget
and Planning, Alh. Mohammed Kauji said the state was now safe for local and foreign investors.
Kauji told newsmen in Abuja that economic activities were picking up in the state after years of battling with insurgency.
“There is improvement in the economy of the state; I am assuring investors that there is peace in the state now.
“Anybody who wants to see things for himself is free to do so.
“ Security personnel on ground are working hard to protect lives of the citizens, including investors,’’ he said.
The commissioner said the state had been facing security challenges which had impacted negatively on the economy of the state, including its Internally Generated Revenues.
FCT
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),
has called on the Federal Government to stop private ownership of electricity in the country.
Dr Nasir Isa, President of ASUU, who made this call at a news conference, explained that private ownership of electricity sector had jeopardised economic development and national security.
“It is obvious that the power sector epitomises the massive fraud that characterised the privatisation process.
“At the onset, there were official campaigns on how committed and experienced investors were going to inject funds to turn around the comatose power sector.
“In spite of spirited efforts by patriotic Nigerians, particularly in the labour movement, the ruling class forced the bitter pill down the throat of the helpless workers and citizens.
“Three years down the line, provision of uninterrupted electricity has remained a mirage and the story of power sector has changed for the worse.
“Nigerians now pay higher bills for less hours of brightness than they did in 2012 or earlier”, he said.
Kaduna
The Medical Director, National Ear Care Centre (NECC), Kaduna, Dr Aminu Bakari, has advised parents to take their wards for routine check-up on ear and nose diseases.
Bakari gave the advice when members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kaduna State council, visited him in Kaduna.
The medical director said a large number of children were being killed by ear, nose and throat diseases due to ignorance.
He said that most parents were ignorant of ear discharge or ear, nose and throat ailment and urged them to always take their children with ear, nose and throat problems for check up and treatment.
He noted that Nigeria has less than 200 Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists.
“Lack of adequate man power is our major challenge in West Africa because presently Nigeria has less than 200 ENT specialists across the country.
Kano
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) in Kano State says it has launched an operation tagged ‘Operation Clean Kano of Hard Drugs Users’.
The Commandant of the agency in the State, Alhaji Hamza Umar, disclosed this to newsmen in Kano recently.
Umar said that the operation was in collaboration with some neighborhood vigilance groups in the state.
He said this was part of the command’s effort to clean the state of drug abuse.
“These vigilance groups are within the communities, therefore we think they are in the position to assist us in fishing out anyone involved in hard drug abuse ,“he said.
“Other substances intercepted include Tramadol, Codene, Rochi, Pentazoline and Diazapam,” he said.
Kogi
The Nigeria National Population has commenced the
Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) in Kogi State in preparation for the 2017 population and housing census.
Alhaji Mohammed Aikoye, the state’s NPC Federal Commissioner, said at the event in Lokoja that the exercise formed the entire foundation on which the entire 2017 census would stand.
The commissioner urged traditional rulers, religious leaders and other critical stakeholders to ensure the success of the exercise.
Aikoye assured that the exercise would be professionally handled to avoid on lapping EADs, oversized enumerations areas, under sized enumeration areas and non- existent enumeration areas in 2017 census.
The commissioner said that the ongoing EAD will be the last that the NPC will conduct before a full scale census, saying that further exercise would only require updating of the EADs.
. Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has urged chemists to play active roles in solving Nigeria’s challenges in the areas of healthcare, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and agribusiness.
Ahmed made the call in Ilorin when he received the 2016 Award of the America Chemical Society and Nigeria International Chemical Societies Chapter.
Ahmed, who is a graduate of chemistry, noted that the prevailing economic challenges in the country and the quest for the diversification of the economy provide ample opportunities for chemists to play critical roles in that regard.
“At a time like this, when the country is diversifying its economic base, it is expedient that chemists increase research into areas such as agro-processing, and solid Minerals Development.
Niger
The Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna,
would tomorrow graduate 34 first class students at its 25th convocation ceremony.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Musbau Akanji, made the disclosure on Tuesday at a pre-convocation press briefing in Minna.
He said the institution would also graduate 3, 505 students in various classes for the 2014/2015 academic session.
“We shall be graduating a total of 3,505 students. Out of this, 2, 787 will be graduating with first degrees, 220 with Post Graduate Diplomas, 464 Masters and 34 Doctorate degrees.
Ogun
Ogun State House of Assembly has ordered the imme
diate probe of Mr John Mark, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Sagamu Division, over alleged extortion.
The Speaker, Mr Suraj Adekunbi, gave the order at plenary after the submission of the House Majority Leader, Mr Mafe Adeyinka.
Adeyinka had accused the DPO of large scale corruption, including demanding huge sum of money before granting bail to accused persons.
Osun
A 39-year-old man, Kazeem Ariyo has been docked at
an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court for allegedly pouring ‘strange’ water on a prophetess.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Ajayi told the court that the accused committed the offense on Feb. 19 at about 11:00a.m, along Sabiatu Street, Osogbo.
Ajayi said that the accused was having a misunderstanding with the complainant before he poured the liquid substance on her, and caused a breach of the peace.
He said that the offence contravened section 249(d) of the Criminal Code cap34 Volume.11 laws of Osun, 2003.
Oyo
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Prof. Olatunde
Fawole, has urged key players in the economy to invest more in the country’s education sector.
Fawole spoke at the inauguration of a 350-seater lecture hall donated to the institution by Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
The rector urged professional bodies with affiliation to the education sector to come up with proposals to support tertiary education in the country, particularly with reference to provision of infrastructure.
Plateau
Mr Dickson Onuoha, Director of Procurement at the
Industrial Training Fund (ITF), has taken over as Acting Director General of the organisation.
A press statement given to newsmen in Jos said this followed a handover ceremony which took place in Abuja.
The statement, signed by Dr Felix Otuwarikpo, Head of Public Affairs Unit of the ITF, announced the change in leadership.
According to the statement, ITF is among 26 parastatals and agencies whose chief executives were recently relieved of their appointments by the Federal Government.
“In the handing over ceremony at the ITF Corporate Office in Abuja, the outgoing Director General, Mrs Juliet Onaeko urged the Acting DG to focus on consolidating the gains and achievements recorded by the fund under her leadership.’’
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.