From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

The Enugu State Government has trained over 15,000 civil and public servants on e-governance and digitalisation fostering improved productivity, seamless and smarter discharge of duties.

The Enugu State Head of Service (HoS), Dr Godwin Anigbo, told newsmen on Sunday in Enugu that the over 15,000 target was achieved after the completion of the 5th batch of the “Enugu State Civil Servants Digital Literacy Programme”.

It would be recalled that Anigbo, a seasoned technocrat, who assumed office on July 18, 2025, disclosed this while enumerating his achievements in one year.

The HoS said that Gov. Peter Mbah’s administration had given civil and public servants necessary support and innovative-driven vision to meet the state’s economic growth and expansion targets.

He said that training and activities in the one year under review included: participation in the International Civil Service Conference in Abuja and conduct of confirmation/promotion for Clerical Assistants, Messengers, Store Officers etc from Feb. 23  to March 25, 2025.

“Training of Permanent Secretaries on Strategic Policy Alignment and Disruptive Innovation between Feb.10 and Feb. 13, 2026 and a 3-Day Workshop for Directors and Deputy Directors on Fiscal Stewardship, Strategic Oversight and Institutional Integrity in the Era of Disruptive Innovation between March 23 and March 25, 2026.

“Training of Chief Drivers/Mechanics and Plant Operators transferring to Works Superintendent between April 13th and May 6, 2026 and a 3-Day Training of Permanent Secretaries and Directors on Artificial Intelligence (Al) in collaboration with UNESCO between May 26 and May 28,  2026.

“4-Day Training of Administrative Officers on Optimizing Service Delivery and Productivity in a Digital Age between Oct. 28 and Oct. 31, 2025 and a 2-Day Sensitization Workshop for Nodal and Desk Officers SERVICOM service and wide projects.

“Conducted 2025 Senior Management Promotion; Organized 2025 Civil Service Week; documentation of newly-appointed political appointees and newly-employed officers; and monitoring workers attendance Service-wide-MDAs, General Hospitals and Local Government Areas among others,” he said.

Anigbo said that his initiated Public Service Training institute, being established through re-purposing and upgrading of the Staff Development Centre, would not only serve as training institute but also be a policy research, evaluation and think-tank institute.

The HoS noted that the new Staff Clinic at the State Secretariat Complex, which is being established leveraging partnership and corporate social responsibility through the private sector, is close to completion.

“In the period under review, Enugu State participated actively in the 47th Meeting of the National Council on Establishment, Kano 2025 and 48th Meeting of the National Council on Establishment between July 20 and July 24, 2026 in River State.

“My office, through the Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), has maintained the State database by collecting, compiling, analyzing and updating Nominal Rolls from all the MDAs in the state.

“This exercise would, at the snap of the finger, show the total number of the state workforce, where they are posted, and their general status,” he said.

He said that his office is currently coordinating the processing of House Renovation Loans which attract a maximum of N1 million loan with a low single-digit interest rate of 6 per cent from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

Anigbo added that the loan, which would be given proportionately based on one’s salary, had no further attachments to it except that the beneficiary must be a civil or public servant.

“To ensure that every worker justified his/her pay, which the governor has graciously paid above the national minimum wage, we set up a monitoring committee unit in a department.

“The unit is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring of staff attendance in all MDAs in the state; while reports are generated from the field, analyzed and queries are issued to erring officers.

“At other times, their salaries are stopped to serve as a deterrent to others,” he added.

According to him, as Enugu State works towards a $30 billion economy by 2031, we are building a civil/public service that can work faster, use data better, reduce paper-based processes and deliver more efficient public services.

“Under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, we are investing not only in infrastructure, but in the people and institutions required to deliver and sustain Enugu State’s transformation and growth.

“We are building a smarter, resilient, more productive and digital-cum-technological enabled government meant to deliver quality, measurable and impactful services to the people,” he added.

The Nigerian Navy has sustained efforts to disrupt illegal refining activities in Rivers with personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER identifying and deactivating two illegal refining sites.

This was contained in an operational report by the Director of Naval Information, Capt.

According to Folorunsho, the operation was conducted around the Ohaji axis of Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area on Friday.

“The operation resulted in the recovery of approximately 34,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) contained in dugout pits, sacks and reservoirs, alongside other items associated with the illegal refining activities.

“The latest operation forms part of sustained efforts by NNS PATHFINDER to prevent the re-establishment of illegal refining infrastructure in the area”, he said.

He also revealed that the continued interventions had contributed to a decline in the reactivation of such sites within the general area.

He said the identified sites, recovered products and associated items were handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures.

“No arrest was made as the suspected operators fled before the arrival of the naval team,” he added.

Folorunsho reaffirmed the navy’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to disrupt crude oil theft and illegal refining activities.

“The service remains committed to protecting critical national assets and safeguarding legitimate economic activities within Nigeria’s maritime and riverine environment,” he said.

From Ifeanyichukwu Nwannah, Gusau

Troops of Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansan Yamma recorded another operational success in Zamfara State with the recovery and safe disposal of a terrorist-planted Improvised Explosive Device (IED), along a major access route in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Media Information Officer Joint Task Force North-west OPFY, Lt Colonel Aliyu Danja and made available to newsmen in Gusau, the State capital.

According to the statement, acting on credible intelligence, troops of Sector 2 swiftly responded to reports of an IED planted along the Gurusu–Gwashi road.

“Troops identified the explosive device, secured the area to prevent harm to road users and successfully facilitated the safe disposal of the IED by an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team. Following the operation, troops sustained aggressive patrols in the general area to deny terrorists freedom of action”, he added.

“The successful operation underscored the commitment of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to protecting lives, safeguarding critical routes and countering the evolving tactics of terrorist elements across the Joint Operations Area”

“The  Joint Task Force urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious objects or activities to security agencies, as timely information continues to play a vital role in preventing attacks and enhancing public safety”.