Nation
THE STATES

Adamawa
Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla of Adamawa State has
directed local government council chairmen in the state to account for the salaries of their workers.
The governor also asked the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Gazali Mohammed, to investigate four acting local government council chairmen over alleged misappropriation of money meant for workers’ salaries.
Jibrilla gave the directive recently after an emergency meeting with the acting chairmen of the 21 local government councils of the state over problem of salaries.
The affected local governments are Lamurde, Jada, Shelleng and Demsa.
The governor said that his administration hinged on transparency and accountability, adding that public funds must be adequately accounted for.
Borno
The Nigerian Army said that its troops in Borno State
have killed a top Boko Haram commander known as Ameer Abubakar Gana and 18 other fighters.
A statement issued by army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman said several arms, ammunition, vehicles and other items were recovered during the operation.
Usman said in the statement that the commander and his men were killed during a clearance operation on the terrorists’ stronghold at Chukungudu by troops from various army battalions with support from Air Force aerial surveillance.
Usman said the operation was conducted following intelligence report about the activities of the insurgents in the area.
“Following credible information on the presence of Boko Haram terrorists at Chukungudu, a carefully planned operation comprising troops of 22 Brigade Garrison and 153 Task Force Battalion as well as Nigerian Air Force Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaisance, was conducted.
Ekiti
A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has re
manded a 19-year-old man, Seyi Oluwafemi, for alleged rape of a 13-year old girl.
The police prosecutor, Sgt. Caleb Leranmo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 26 at Efon-Ekiti.
He alleged that the accused, on the said date, unlawfully defiled the girl, which led to a serious injury on her.
Leranmo said the offence contravened section 218 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
He said he had duplicated the case file and forwarded It to the Office of Director for Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.
FCT
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
has secured three million dollars grant from the Government of Japan to accelerate the recovery and stability of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East.
A statement by Mr John Nwankwo, Information official of the Embassy of Japan, said the sum would be used to implement two new projects in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
Nwankwo said the two projects are “Support for Early Recovery and Social Cohension” and “De-radicalisation, Counter –terrorism and Migration”, which would be implemented over a 12 months’ period.
According to him, the Ministry of Budget and National Planning will coordinate the implementation of the two projects.
He explained that the support to early recovery and social cohesion would contribute to ongoing recovery interventions in the region, devastated by more than five-year-long insurgency.
Kaduna
A staff of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Joy
Enobong-Akpan, and her daughter, Akon Iyene, have been arraigned before a Chief Magistrates’ Court, Chediya GRA, Sabongari, Zaria for criminal conspiracy and offering false information..
The two were said to have connived and falsely accused six staff of the university of kidnapping the second accused, Iyene, a student of Human Anatomy Department of the institution.
Kano
The Kano State Government has approved N1 billion for
the construction of 348 classrooms in secondary schools across the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Muhammad Garba, announced this when he briefed newsmen on the outcome of the state’s Executive Council meeting in Kano.
He said that the gesture was part of Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s promises to embark on projects that would have impact on the people of the state.
Garba added that the new classrooms would not bear any inscription or name of individuals on them.
He noted that the Council had also approved N90.7 million for the conversion of Mariri orphanage home into boarding primary school in the state
The Council approved another N125 million for the construction of drains in Kano State University of Science Technology, Wudil, he said.
Kwara
The Chief Imam of Markaz Al Adaby Mosque in Ilorin,
Malam Abdulmumin Apaokagi, has urged Muslims to be spiritually prepared during Ramadan fast by moving closer to Allah and be steadfast in prayers.
Apaokagi made the call in Ilorin while delivering lecture as the last Friday preceding the Holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is the month which Muslims fast for 29 or 30 days as prescribed for them in the Holy Qur’an chapter 2 verse 183
as “O ye who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may (learn) self-restraint.”
The cleric said Muslims should not only prepare for Ramadan by stocking their homes with foodstuff but by purifying their hearts to usher in the holy month.
Lagos
No fewer than eight suspected fake optometrists have
been arrested in Lagos by the Registrar of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police.
Our correspondent reports that the board members, the Ministry of Health and the police raided some areas in Lagos Island, including Tinubu Square, to make the arrests.
The Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Optometrists Association, Lagos State chapter, Dr John Sedi, who confirmed the number of arrests to newsmen, said that some eye glasses and some equipment for optometrists were recovered from the suspects.
He said that the raid was one way to protect the eyes of many Nigerians from being damaged, and to also enlighten the public on the dangers in patronising quacks.
Nasarawa
Maichibi Widow of Hope Foundation, an NGO, has ap
pealed to parents and guardians to ensure good education for their female children/wards before giving them out in marriage.
The Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Mr Bitrus Maichibi, made the appeal in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, during an awareness campaign on girl-child education.
He explained that the campaign organised by the foundation for public and private school female students in Akwanga Local Government Area, was aimed at stressing the importance of girl-child education.
Maichibi said that sexual abuses, lack of proper education for the girl-child, were reasons for the sensitisation exercise, adding that parents should send their female children to school.
Ogun
The Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE)
in Ota, Ogun State has urged companies to retrain their drivers to cope with the challenges of driving during the rainy season.
The TRACE Zonal Commander, Mr Adekunle Ajibade, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Ota.
Ajibade said he would love to see the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) assisting the agency in spreading the campaign, especially now that the rainy season had started.
He said that retraining was needful because the rainy season was more prone to accident than the dry weather.
According to him, the slippery nature of roads during the rainy season had often contributed enormously to road crashes.
Plateau
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has inaugurated
the first ever Primary Health Care (PHC) Clinic in his own village, Ajikamai, in Shendam Local Government Area.
Inaugurating the N13 million facility, the governor described the event as “historic”.
“It is the first time my people are seeing an edifice like this in this village,” he said.
The governor said that the centre was built under the Community and Social Development Programme (CSDP) of the state.
He expressed satisfaction with the quality of the work as well the speed with which it was completed, stating that the project would address the health needs of the people.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency (PWA) says it
hasso far remitted over N1.6 billion to the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) for the 2016 Hajj.
The Director-General of the agency, Alhaji Ibrahm Umar made the disclosure in Sokoto during the payment of N159 million as refunds to 4,997 pilgrims from the state who performed the 2015 hajj.
According to the Umar, the remittance was for 50 per cent of the 4,948 hajj seats allocated to the state by NAHCON for the forthcoming exercise.
“All the seats had been allocated to the 23 local governments in the state, while efforts are on to collect the balance and remit same to the commission,’’ Umar added.
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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