Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Former Adamawa Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Aliyu Marafa, on Friday lost his bid to return to the House at the PDP primaries held in Mubi town.
Marafa (Mubi-North constituency), who is the junior brother to the Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Isa Ahmadu, polled 66 votes as against 87 votes scored by a clergyman, Rev. Illiya Aguwa.
Our correspondent, who monitored the primaries reports that nine candidates contested in the election, which was held under tight security.
Other candidates including a housewife, Hajiya Maryam Babangida and Alhaji Sulaiman Yahaya, polled six and 33 votes, respectively.
The Returning Officer, Mr Aliyu Bakari, said that more than 240 delegates and party executives drawn from the 11 wards in the area participated in the election.
He added that the election was conducted in accordance with the party’s guidelines.
Bauchi
Bauchi State Police Command says that it will deploy 5,000 policemen to provide security during the voter registration beginning tomorrow.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Alhaji Muhammad Indabawa, made this known in Bauchi yesterday, while fielding questions from newsmen.
Indabawa said that he had held meetings with all the divisional police officers in the state and put in place strategies to ensure the success of the exercise.
He warned that the police would arrest any prospective voter, who might want to make double registration or cause chaos at registration centres, during the exercise.
Indabawa urged the electorate to actively participate during the voter registration and report any incident during the exercise to the police for prompt action.
FCT
Mr Nduese Essien, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, says no effort will be spared in addressing the housing needs of Nigerians.
Essien made the pledge on Tuesday in Abuja when he received Mr Jong Hak-SE, the Ambassador of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, who visited him in his office.
“I want to assure you that no effort will be spared in addressing the 17 million housing deficit in the country.
“We have developed a number of programmes to actualise the vision and in the next couple of months, the ministry will begin to roll out the houses,’’ Essien said.
According to him, the Ministry will collaborate with Korea in the area of housing development because of the similarities in the two countries’ housing programmes aimed at addressing their housing needs.
Gombe
Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, a former director with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, has been nominated as the governorship candidate of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Gombe State.
Aliyu polled 55,254 votes during the party’s governorship primaries to defeat two other aspirants, Mohammed Daudu and Abubakar Danburam, who scored 1,545 and 231 votes respectively in the contest.
Announcing the result on Wednesday, the Chairman of the party’s primary election committee, Mr. Musa Bishara, said the election was conducted without any hitch.
He, however, said that the election took place in 112 of the 114 wards in the state, adding that it could not hold in Pantami and Burok wards in Shangom Local Government area.
Jigawa
The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Jigawa, on Tuesday elected a former member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Farouq Aliyu, as the party’s flag bearer for the April general elections.
The Chairman of the election panel, Prof. Mohammed Bello, who announced the results of the primaries in Dutse, said the party adopted option A4 method, whereby all its registered members participated in electing candidates for various positions.
Bello said that Aliyu polled 368,999 votes to defeat his opponent, Dr Lawal Hadejia who scored 114, 885 votes.
Kebbi
Health workers in Kebbi State have suspended their indefinite strike “on principle”.
The Chairman of the workers’ union, Dr Tanko Sununu, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi yesterday that the state government had assured its members that their demands would be met.
“We have been assured that the demand for reduction on taxation of our members and implementation of policies that would reduce the exodus of medical workers and better conditions of service would be met.
“The union and the negotiation committee will sign an agreement while a circular will be issued to formalise the implementation of our demands,” Sununu said.
Kano
The Kano State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has asked the state government to implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) for its members or face industrial action.
A statement issued on Wednesday in Kano by the union’s Chairman, Dr Dayyabu Ibrahim and Secretary, Dr Kabir Abubakar, gave the government 21 days within which to effect CONMESS.
“We give a 21-day ultimatum effective from January 10, 2011, to the Kano State Government to fulfill its promise, failing which the NMA would have no option but to commence immediate withdrawal of services of its members,” the statement said.
Katsina
The Katsina State Government has released N1.3 billion for the payment of 2011 leave grant to its civil servants.
A statement in Katsina yesterday by Alhaji Nasiru Abdul, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Public Relations, said the payment was in continuation of Gov. Ibrahim Shema’s commitment to pay the grant early in the year.
The statement noted that of the amount, N434.2 million was for the workers in ministries, departments and agencies.
It added that N493.4 million was for the workers in the 34 local government councils while the balance of N429.7 million was for primary school teachers.
“This is the fourth year running Gov. Ibrahim Shema’s administration effected the payment of leave grants to all workers in the state at the beginning of each year,” it added.
Lagos
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos has called on Mr Hafiz Ringim, the Inspector General of Police, to prosecute political thugs and their sponsors.
Mr Adebamigbe Omole, the chairman, NBA, Ikeja Branch made the call at a press briefing ahead of its 7th Annual Gani Fawenhinmi Lecture/Symposium scheduled to hold tomorrow in Lagos.
Omole said the call was imperative following the incessant violence which has characterised the primaries of the various political parties across the country in the past few weeks.
“Let the Inspector General of Police take the advice of President Goodluck Jonathan and go ahead to prosecute all of them and their sponsors to set an example that nobody is above the law.
Oyo
Amidst tight security, PDP delegates in Ibadan on Wednesday voted Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala to re-contest the state’s governorship election in April.
Alao-Akala, in the governorship primary election held at Obafemi Awolowo (Liberty) stadium, Ibadan, scored 1,239 votes to defeat a former Minister of Special Duties, Elder Wole Oyelese, who got one vote.
The PDP National Electoral Panel, headed by Alhaji Buhari Bala, declared 66 votes void.
However, members of the PDP faction to which Oyelese belongs, were not present at the venue of the congress.
Our source recalls that Oyelese had on Tuesday instituted a legal action at the Federal High Court, Ibadan, seeking an order to stop the conduct of the governorship primary election.
Plateau
Police and military personnel are to begin joint special patrols to boost the security situation and restore confidence in Jos residents.
Mr Abdulraham Akano, the Plateau Commissioner of Police, told newsmen on Wednesday in Jos that the initiative would reduce the mistrust against the two security forces by residents
“We have resolved to patrol the streets together. While the Hausa/Fulani community trusts the soldiers to maintain peace, the natives have shown some preference for the police.
“To put an end to that, the two forces have decided to work jointly in the interest of peace,’’ he said.
He advised Jos residents to ignore text messages being circulated that six more villages would be attacked.
Sokoto
The Shagari local government of Sokoto State spent N310 million to provide basic infrastructure in the area in 2010.
Alhaji Abdullahi Maigwandu, the Chairman of the Council, told newsmen in Sokoto yesterday that the council executed the projects because of their importance.
He said that about N140 million was used in building 30 units of houses for sale to members of staff of the council on owner/occupier basis.
Maigwandu also said that about N100 million was used to drill 10 motorised boreholes in each of the 10 wards of the council to boost water supply.
Yobe
The Gudi Emirate Council in Yobe State has organised a cultural festival to mobilise its people to participate in the forthcoming voter registration exercise.
Declaring the festival open, the Emir of Gudi, Alhaji Isa Ibn Khaji, said yesterday in Dazawa in Yobe that “traditionally, the Kanti festival is used to celebrate the harvests and to give thanks to Allah.
The emir charged the people to suspend farming and grazing activities during the exercise to ensure they registered.
Khaji advised the people against abstaining from the exercise, and said, “many communities have cried of disenfranchisement in the last census.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has inducted and given orientation to 100 Ogoni youths for training on Creative Arts. The beneficiaries were drawn from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The induction and orientation ceremony, which took place at the CRAB of the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, was a prelude to the training proper, billed to commence next Tuesday.
As usual, HYPREP issued undertaking forms to the trainees, for them to complete and submit as a guarantee that they would subject themselves to the requirements of the programme as well as be of good behaviour throughout the four-month duration of the training.
HYPREP also announced that it would pay N150,000 to each of the beneficiaries monthly, as transport and feeding allowance, stressing, however, that only those who fully participate in the training would be entitled for the allowance.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, welcomed the trainees to the programme, saying, HYPREP’s projects are evolving and that one thing that is happening today is that the Project has gotten leadership right, by making promises and keeping those promises.
According to him, the Project had equally promised to move away from rudimentary skills acquisition to high impacts acquisition levels, which it has kept today by sponsoring the training on Creative Arts.
He noted that in planning its livelihood programmes for Ogoni youths, HYPREP has taken time out to look for skills that would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
Zabbey, who was represented at the event by the Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi said by packaging the Creative Arts training, it was expected that the Ogoni people would have their own version of Nollywood known as Ogoniwood just as Nigerians are familiar with Hollywood, Bollywood, Kannywood and Nollywood.
To achieve this goal, the Project Coordinator explained that it was the reason for choosing a reputable establishment like Halibiz Consult Limited, to partner with the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt, which he described as one of the most prestigious in the Niger Delta, for the training of the beneficiaries.
He also indicated that in doing this, HYPREP was desirous of going for talents that would help the Ogoni people grow in the film industry, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
Zabbey equally enjoined the trainees to put in their best so that in the next three to five years, they would carve a niche for themselves and become forces to reckon with in the film industry.
On her part, HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee said HYPREP does what it says it will, stressing that the process of training Ogoni youths on specialised skills started three years ago.
According to her, the selection process for the training was rigorous and transparent, and was carried out by renowned actors actresses.
She disclosed that the training consists of three major aspects, which include acting, script writing and make-up, while Nollywood actors like Charles Nnoje, Ngezu J. Ngezu and award-winning make-up artist, Jude Odo would be on hand to drill and groom the beneficiaries.
Mrs Nzidee noted that the programme is a specialised training that does not have anything like starter packs but that it is purely a professional certification programme that would launch the beneficiaries into the Nollywood industry in Nigeria.
According to her, the Creative Arts training is one of the four specialised trainings organised by HYPREP to ensure that the Ogoni people are well positioned in vital industries like Aviation, Maritime, Creative Arts and Mechatronics.
She said the last of such trainings on Mechatronics would take place in the coming months, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously so as to put the Ogoni people on the Nollywood map.
She further indicated that while Charles Nnoje and Ngezu J. Ngezu would take the beneficiaries on the practical aspects, Jude Odo would take them on the make-up aspects.
Also speaking, the External Relations Manager of Halibiz Consult Limited, Alabo Experience Douglas said his company gives much premium to standard and quality, and assured that the firm would give the trainees value for the money spent on the programme.
While charging the beneficiaries to be dedicated and punctual, he stressed the need for them to approach the programme with the mindset of being empty so that at the end of the day, they would benefit maximally.
On his part, the Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo said the CRAB is an acronym for Creative Review of Arts and Books, stressing that it was named by renowned playwright, Prof Ola Rotimi.
According to him, the CRAB had nurtured, groomed and produced Nollywood actors and actresses like Bobmanuel Udokwu, Ejike Asiegbu,Francis Duru, Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda, Julius Agwu, and a host of others, assuring the beneficiaries that they were on fertile environment to hone their talents.
He noted that symbolically, the crab is a nutritious seafood common in the Niger Delta, and reiterated the need for the beneficiaries to come empty for the training, as it were.
Ihunwo disclosed that the theory classes of the programme would run for three weeks while the fourth week would be for the master classes, and urged the trainees to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a difference by telling the Ogoni story, which he described as inexhaustible by themselves, in order to put Ogoni on the map.
A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.