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Bauchi
Some patients suffering from tuberculosis have advocated for measures to check social stigma against them that would also enhance treatment and control the spread of the disease.
A cross-section of the patients in Bauchi made the call on Thursday, while speaking with The Tide’s source on their plight.
Malama Safiya Usman, a TB patient, said the call was imperative in view of the growing stigma against sufferers in some communities in Bache.
Sofia said that the trend had made it difficult for them to access treatment and check high prevalence of the disease.
“Many people are afraid to go for tuberculosis test because of stigma. People in the community and even your immediate family members are developing feelings of indifference and show no sympathy toward TB patients.
“Many of them stopped talking, eating or sharing anything with you because you have TB. A great number of TB patients preferred to remain silent and die from the disease”, Sofia said.
The Benue House of Assembly has passed a resolution calling on FERMA and the Federal Controller of Works to hasten repair work on federal roads in the state.
The Assembly directed the Chief Maintenance Engineer (CME) of FERMA and the Resident Federal Controller of Works to appear before its Standing Committee on Works.
The resolution followed a motion on a matter of urgent public interest by the member representing Okpokwu Constituency, Solomon Onah.
Onah, drew the attention of the assembly to the slow pace of construction work on the Otukpo-Enugu road which, he said, passed through his constituency.
He said because of the excavation of the Otukpo-Enugu road, cars, heavy duty vehicles have diverted traffic to the Ike-Ugbokolo road.
According to him, the use of the road by many vehicles had caused an increase in cases of hit-and run by motorists.
The AU Commission says it is ready to intensify its campaign against human trafficking in the continent in a bid to curb the menace.
Ms Cisse Mariama, Coordinator, Department of Stoical Social Affairs, AU Commission, told The Tide’s source in Abuja recently that there was the need to increase campaign and enforcement of the various action plans and charters.
Mariama, who was participating in the AU-ECOWAS Workshop Initiative against Human Trafficking, said: “As you are aware, the AU has adopted the charter on the Right and Welfare of the Child in a bid to combat human Trafficking in Africa”.
She called on member-states and regional economic communities (RECs) to ensure the implementation of the charters and protocols on trafficking and migration.
Mariama said the Commission was putting in place mechanism to rehabilitate children “who are victims of trafficking, and punish perpetrators of the crime”.
Jigawa
The Jigawa government has selected 17 science students who had good results in their Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) to study medicine in Cairo, Egypt.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufia addressed the students in Dutse on Thursday before they departed for Cairo.
She advised the students to be well-behaved and pay attention to their studies.
Rufai said government had confidence on the students and urged them to work hard and not to betray the confidence and government’s investment on them.
She advised them to come back to contribute their quota to the development of the state.
Jos
Troops of the Special Task Force (STF) on the Jose Crisis have averted a renewed violence in Bukuru, Jos.
Three persons including the Divisional Police Officer of ‘B’ Division, Bukuru, were injured while four suspects were arrested during the aborted violence.
A statement from the Task Force signed by Brig. Gen. Donald Oji in Jos said the violence which started about 5.30 p.m. involved two persons who started fighting after a game of football.
This developed to a situation in which youths started blocking the major roads and thereby attacking passers-by.
The STF therefore, appealed to public, especially youths to desist from taking the laws into their hands and causing a breach of peace.
Kaduna
Prof. Ephraim Okon, World Bank Consultant on ‘STEP-B’ project has urged the Federal Government to ensure adequate funding of the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT) to enhance research.
He made the call recently in an interview with The Tide’s source after inspecting facilites at NARICT, Basawa, Zaria.
Okon said that adequate funding was fundamental to research and development, hence the need for government to redouble efforts.
The consultant applauded the institute for focusing attention on innovation and new findings relevant to the needs of the society.
He said, “NARICT is credibly doing well in terms of research and development.
“Though, it is a research institute, it is also an economy driven establishment if supported.
“The World Bank is satisfied with activities of the institute which is directed toward national development”, Okon added.
The Kwara Government has inaugurated a nine-member task force to curb the menace of deforestation, desertification and their adverse effects on climate change.
Chief James Ayeni, the Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, who inaugurated the task force in Ilorin, said that the team was to prevent revenue losses arising from illegal exploitation of forest resources.
He, however, commended the contributions of chainsaw/plank operators in the state to the feats of the forestry department in revenue generation.
Ayeni congratulated the task force members for their appointment and urged them to carry out their assignment diligently and complement government’s efforts to improve the revenue generated in the sector.
He also charged them to regulate the activities of chainsaw/plank operators.
The commissioner stressed the need to promote honesty, teamwork and cooperation among the members in efforts to standardize the activities of the operators and ensure the safety of the environment.
Lagos
Mr. Shola Tinubu, the Managing Director of Scib Insurance Brokers has urged stakeholders to evolve a structure that would make micro-insurance take root in the country.
Tinubu told The Tide’s source in Lagos that a perfect structure was vital for easier collection of premiums from rural dwellers.
He said that most insurance companies and brokers had not been able to develop products and market them because of that shortcoming.
According to him, micro-insurance marketing is more of retail thing and it has to be done in a most cost efficient way.
Yobe
The Yobe Fadama III Project is to disburse N100 million to its user groups before the end of July.
The state’s Fadama Coordinator Malam Musa Garba, told The Tide’s source in Damaturu recently that the project was targeting more than 2.2 million users as direct beneficiaries.
Garba said more than N18 million was disbursed to 10 farmer groups in five local governments in September 2009 during the first phase.
“Now, we have commenced the second phase of the project and as at March 2010, we had disbursed N10 million while the remaining N72 million will be disbursed before the end of July 2010.
“The total package for the state under Fadama III from the World Bank is 7.852 million dollars and the counterpart fund from both state and the 17 local government is N450 million.
Zamfara
The exit of credible personalities from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has marked the “death of the party beyond resurrection”, Gov. Mahmud Shinkafi of Zamfara said in Gusau.
Shinkafi, who spoke at the formal defection of ANPP federal and state lawmakers to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, said the ANPP could no longer provide a credible platform for the actualisation of genuine political dreams.
“A dream party should be one that has a national outlook in terms of membership, structure, as well as an articulated agenda for development and progress”, he said.
The governor noted that the exit of respected personalities such as retired Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari from the ANPP was an attestation of its final collapse as a leading opposition party in the country.
He said the PDP in the state had mapped out strategies to ensure victory in the 2011 general elections.
Eminent personalities who graced the occasion included Gov. Sule Lamido of Jigawa and the deputy governors of Katsina, Niger and Sokoto States.
The PDP National Chairman, Mr. Vincent Ogbulafor; Senate President David Mark and House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole were represented at the event.
The Standard Bearers (SB) Islamic Organisation has raised concerns over the growing rate of binge drinking among Nigerian youths, attributing the trend largely to the widespread availability of sachet alcohol.
The group’s position follows the recent move by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce a ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Dr. Nurudeen AbdulRaheem, and National Secretary, Malam Qaasim Adegbuyi, the organisation declared its full support for NAFDAC’s decision, describing it as a timely and necessary public health intervention.
AbdulRaheem noted that sachet alcohol, often sold for as little as ?100, has made excessive drinking more accessible, particularly to young people and minors. According to him, the affordability and small packaging of such products have worsened binge drinking, youth addiction and community insecurity.
He explained that binge drinking involves consuming multiple alcoholic drinks within a short period, typically within two hours, a practice that can lead to severe physical and mental health complications as well as legal and social problems.
The SB National Coordinator cited global health data indicating that alcohol is responsible for more than three million deaths annually worldwide and remains a major contributor to road accidents, violence, liver disease and mental health disorders.
While acknowledging concerns from industry stakeholders over the economic implications of the ban, AbdulRaheem maintained that public health considerations must take precedence.
“Public health and the protection of young lives must come first,” he stated, adding that Islamic ethical values, like many societal norms, emphasise the protection of life, intellect and family stability.
The organisation urged NAFDAC and the Federal Government to remain resolute in implementing the policy while also providing transition support for businesses that may be affected by the ban.
According to the group, the enforcement of the ban represents a significant step toward promoting a safer and healthier society.
By Favour James
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has successfully concluded its Seafarers Training Programme for 100 Ogoni youths, positioning them for opportunities in the competitive global maritime industry.
The beneficiaries, who underwent four months of intensive training at Charkin Maritime Academy, Port Harcourt, received their certificates during a close-out ceremony held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The event was attended by top management staff of HYPREP, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning of Charkin Maritime Academy, the Head of the Seafaring Department, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, and other dignitaries.
Addressing the graduates, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, described the ceremony as a celebration of hard work, dedication, and the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the young beneficiaries.
He said the graduation symbolises vision, resilience, and hope — hope translated into skills, certificates, and tangible opportunities for a better future for Ogoni youths.
According to him, the passing-out ceremony marks an important milestone in HYPREP’s mandate to restore livelihoods and promote sustainable development in Ogoniland. He urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the skills and certifications acquired.
“These skills and achievements should not end here but serve as a springboard for self-reliance, dignity of labour, and long-term economic empowerment for the good of Ogoniland and Nigeria,” he stated.
Prof. Zabbey noted that the seafaring programme is significant not only to the beneficiaries but also to HYPREP’s broader livelihood restoration strategy and the Federal Government’s blue economy agenda.
He explained that by equipping the youths with globally relevant maritime skills, HYPREP is opening alternative income opportunities while discouraging oil theft, artisanal refining, re-pollution, and other environmentally harmful practices. He added that the initiative aligns with the directives of the 2016 HYPREP Establishment Gazette and reinforces the Project’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
Commending Charkin Maritime Academy as a dependable training partner, Zabbey described the institution as one of the foremost maritime training centres in the country.
“This partnership has delivered high-quality results today, and we intend to expand it as we intensify efforts to provide sustainable alternative livelihoods for the Ogoni people,” he said.
He expressed confidence in Ogoni youths as drivers of unity, peace, and progress, noting their resilience and commitment to peace in the area. He reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to supporting the aspirations of youths and women in Ogoniland.
The Project Coordinator likened knowledge and certificates to fuel in a vehicle, stressing that they are meant to propel the graduates toward greater heights.
“We hear your voices calling for restoration, and today, environmental and livelihood restoration are gradually unfolding before your eyes, bringing renewed hope. We continue to lay brick upon brick, building pillars of Ogoni development, as evidenced by the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), which is 93 per cent completed,” he added.
He emphasised that HYPREP’s approach integrates all projects and interventions toward achieving environmental sustainability and long-term development in Ogoniland.
Also speaking, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr. Ehioze Igbinomwahia, said the graduates had gained not only technical maritime skills but also discipline, resilience, and confidence to compete globally.
He described their graduation as the beginning of a new journey and noted that the UNEP Report emphasised that environmental restoration must be complemented by sustainable livelihoods, capacity building, and youth empowerment.
“Without empowering people, restoration cannot be complete. Programmes such as this maritime training represent practical steps toward creating employment pathways, dignity, and long-term community stability,” he said.
Engr. Igbinomwahia added that Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited remains committed to supporting environmental recovery, human capacity development, and sustainable economic opportunities in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta.
Highlighting the importance of discipline and safety, he urged the graduates to be ambassadors of professionalism and integrity.
“The sea you are about to enter is vast and sometimes challenging, but it is also full of opportunity. Let discipline guide your actions, let safety remain your constant companion, and let your character speak for you wherever you go,” he advised.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning at Charkin Maritime Academy, Captain Joseph Awodeha, who represented the Chairman, Dr. Charles Wami, emphasised discipline and safety as critical to career success in the maritime sector.
The Head of the Seafaring Department, Captain Jonathan Hammond, urged the graduates to remain humble and disciplined, noting that such virtues are essential for career growth.
In his remarks, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, Barrister Dornu Baridan, commended the beneficiaries for successfully scaling through the
rigorous selection process and completing their training as seafarers.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Port Harcourt Branch, Rivers State, has elected 14 member executives to lead the organization for the 2025/2026 year. Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, is the 23rd chairman.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Engr. Ishmael A. Branch Secretariat, 3 Benard Carr Street (Waterworks Yard), Port Harcourt, attracted members of the engineering profession from within and outside the state.
Other elected executives include:
Engr. Samuel H. Kwelle, MNSE – Vice Chairman
Engr. Dr. Promise Jumbo, FNSE – General Secretary
Engr. Priye P. K. Lawson, MNSE – Assistant Secretary
Engr. Patrick O. Udegbunam, MNSE – Treasurer.
Others are Engr. Hilda D. Batubo, MNSE – Financial Secretary
Engr. Bowei M. Dauseighe, MNSE – Technical Secretary
Engr. Charles O. Okwakpam, MNSE – Assistant Technical Secretary
Engr. Agnes Komolafe, MNSE – Membership Secretary
Engr. Dike N. Livingstone, MNSE – Publicity Secretary
Also elected are Engr. Ayebaye Daniel Wanatoi, MNSE – Welfare Secretary
Engr. Oribiokpomari I. Comfort, MNSE – Internal Auditor
Engr. Dr. Idaeresoari Harriet Ateke, FNSE – Immediate Past Chairman
Engr Dr Hachimenum Amadi, FNSE (Ex-Officio)
In his a goodwill message, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon. Frederick Anabraba, urged the new executive to maintain high ethical standards and move the association forward.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, promised an inclusive administration and teamwork, focusing on collaboration with stakeholders. He had begun building partnerships with Rivers State University and the University of Port Harcourt.
The highlight was the inauguration lecture, “Engineering Solution for Security, Energy Access and Sustainable Development,” delivered by Engr. Victor Bandele, Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater Assets, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited.
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