Nation
THE STATES

Chairman, Transition Committee, Prof. Sonni Tyoden (left), presenting the committee’s report to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, in Jos on Wednesday (12/8/15). Photo: NAN
Bauchi
Some operators of Cyber Café in Bauchi engage in sharp
practices by down-loading fake police recruitment forms and extorting money from unsuspecting applicants.
Spokesman of the Bauchi Police Command, DSP Haruna Mohammed, revealed this in a statement made available to newsmen recently in Bauchi.
“It has come to the knowledge of Bauchi State Police Command that some Cyber Cafes have started down-loading police recruitment forms for applicants and extorting money from them under false pretense.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no recruitment going on at the moment in the Nigeria Police Force.
“The Command, therefore, wish to use this medium to advise members of the public, to disregard any recruitment adverts, in order not to fall victims of such extortionists,” he said in the statement.
Borno
The Borno State Government has said it has purchased
a recycling plant that could convert polythene wastes into positive use.
The Coordinator of the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA), Alhaji Nasiru Surundi, told newsmen in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State.
Surundi said that the decision was imperative as thousands of tons of waste were being generated by the increased population without a dump site to keep them.
“In the absence of an approved dump site, the recycling machine will come handy in ensuring that the streets of Maiduguri will no longer be littered with heaps of garbage that have continued to constitute environmental nuisance.”
Surundi attributed the annual flooding in most parts of Maiduguri to the wrong attitude of people toward waste management.
FCT
The National Peace Committee has dismissed reports
that it was lobbied by former President Goodluck Jonathan to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from probing his administration.
A member of the committee chaired by retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah dismissed the report while answering questions from State House correspondents after the committee’s closed-door meeting with Buhari in Abuja.
According to him, though everybody is free to contact the committee to intervene in promoting peaceful coexistence in the society, the former president never talked to the committee for any form of intervention.
“Anybody is free to come to our committee, but President Jonathan never by telephone or by any other means sought to see the committee.
“We went to see him, but that was after we had already seen members of the political parties; we saw a few members of the civil society; we plan to see the speaker.
Gombe
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
has asked the Gombe, State Government to promptly complete work on the state’s waste recycling project to facilitate the conversion of waste to wealth.
In a communiqué after a one-day workshop organised by NEMA to seek out ways to mitigate flood, the agency said waste conversion would equally help in averting the risk of flood.
Our correspondent reports that the workshop, held in Gombe on Tuesday, focused on flood risk and the management of solid and liquid waste.
The communiqué expressed the need for the state government to hold sanitation twice a month, with an effective restriction of movement from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Kaduna
Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State has appointed
new Accountant-General for the state and announced the retirement of three Permanent Secretaries from the civil service.
The new Accountant-General is Malam Umar Waziri.
A statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor Mr Samuel Aruwan, in Kaduna described the changes as part of ongoing reorganisation of the state’s public service for greater performance.
The statement listed the retired permanent secretaries as Adamu Makadi (Local Government); Ibrahim Balarabe Musa (Youth, Sports and Culture) and Ishaku Shekari (Accountant-General).
Kano
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has enjoined
residents of the state to register for their National Identity Cards.
Ganduje spoke when members of the National Identity Management Commission presented him with his national identity card at the Government House, Kano.
The governor, who explained that efforts were being made to make registration easy for the people, revealed that 10 centres had been established across the state.
He said that the government would soon inaugurate a sensitisation committee to enhance registration of people for their identity cards.
Earlier, state Coordinator of the commission, Hajiya Bilkisu Dalhatu, promised to sensitise the people of the state to enrol and collect their cards.
Katsina
The Katsina House of Assembly has approved the re
quest of Governor Aminu Masari to secure N2billion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to develop Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the state.
This followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Alhaji Lawal Isa (Charanchi), which was seconded by Abubakar Yahaya, (Kusada).
The Majority Leader said the state government and the CBN had earlier explained to the House the importance of the loan to the state.
“We were convinced by the explanations because the loan would assist to boost socio-economic activities and eradicate poverty in the state.”
Isa further said that 60 per cent of the loan would be disbursed to women, while 40 per cent would be for males.
Kogi
A political group, Transparency Group, has advised the
leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to disqualify persons with pending corruption cases from contesting its forthcoming governorship primary in Kogi.
The Coordinator of the group, Mallam Ibrahim Ocholi gave the advice in Lokoja at a press conference.
He said the party swept the polls during the last general elections based on the integrity and honesty of its leadership.
He added that the message of hope the party had been selling to Nigerians must be maintained by preventing any politician already charged to court for corruption by the EFCC from contesting election.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is known by Nigerians as an incorruptible individual.
Lagos
The Lagos State Government has denied sponsorship of
pilgrims for the 2015 Hajj as being speculated in some reports.
The Amirul Hajj and Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on 2015 Hajj, Alhaji Abdul Lateef Abdul Hakeem, said in a statement in Lagos that the state has not sponsored any pilgrim for the 2015 Hajj operations.
He also said that the state had no plan to sponsor any pilgrim for the 2015 hajj operations, but was only interested in making sure that state pilgrims were taken care of.
AbdulHakeem was reacting to reports that some pilgrimage forms allocated to key officials of the state government had been hijacked.
Niger
Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Niger State
has, impounded 482 vehicles in Minna and Mokwa town for non compliance to road traffic rules and regulations, State Sector Commander Susan Ajenge, has said.
Ajenge made the disclosure in Minna in an interview with newsmen.
She said: “We made the arrests through our operation `Good Morning Minna’ which I introduced on my arrival to Niger State in July, 2015.
“The operation is aimed at checking the validity of drivers’ license and the state of vehicles using the roads in order to reduce road traffic crashes.
“We impounded 190 vehicles when we commenced the operation in July followed by 208 and 49 vehicles, respectively.
Oyo
The Muslim community in Ibadan has held special
prayers for the peace and progress of the country..
The Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdul-Ganiyy Agbotomokekere, who led the prayers, stressed the need for all Muslims to promote efforts geared at promoting peace in the country.
“As Muslims, it is our duty to pray for the peace of our nation because this is our father land; we must come together and ensure unity in the fight against insecurity.
“We should realise that the challenges facing the country cannot be tackled with human knowledge but only through the help of God.
“ When we seek God’s face, He would hearken to our prayers,” he said.
Plateau
The Transition Committee set up by Governor Simon
Lalong of Plateau State says the immediate past administration of former governor David Jang left a debt of N222.3 billion for the Lalong administration.The Plateau Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Committee Prof. Sonni Tyoden,made this known when he submitted the report of the committee to the governor.
Tyoden explained that the committee was made up of 12 members of the central committee, 188 other members were broken into 27 sub-committees, each handling a particular aspect of government operations.
The deputy governor said that government records showed that between May 2007 and May 2015, the state received a total income of N525.35 billion.
“The sum of N747.65 billion was said to have been expended on Plateau citizens in the last eight years.
“The hand-over notes received from the previous government stated that the level of indebtedness of government was N103.9 billion as at May 2015 but our findings put the figure at N222.3 billion.
`
Zamfara
Zamfara State Radio Station has gone off the air follow
ing a lightning that destroyed the transmitter of the state.
The Managing Director of the station, Malam Nuhu Anka,told newsmen that the station’s power generation plant, was also affected.
The managing director however gave assurance that the station would soon resume full transmission of its programmes.
He said the state government had already supplied a new power generation plant and the destroyed spare parts of the transmitter, saying they were now being installed.
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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