NEWS
Plateau Govt Flags-off Rehabilitation of 60 Motorised Boreholes, 300 Hand Pumps in Jos

From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Plateau State government has flagged-off the rehabilitation of 60 motorised boreholes and 300 hand pump boreholes within Jos South and Jos North Local government areas of the state as part of its quick intervention to address the lingering water scarcity in the metropolitan state capital.
The Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Hon.
Lawandi Datti flagged off the commencement of work on Sunday at Angwan Clinic Tudun Wada in Jos Plateau State capital.He assured that the rehabilitation of the boreholes and hand pumps will go a long way in reducing the incidence of water-borne diseases, improving the health and well-being of citizens and promoting economic development in the communities.
“I am honoured to stand before you today to mark the rehabilitation of 60 motorised boreholes and 300 hand pump boreholes in Jos South and Jos North Local Government Areas.
“This project is a significant milestone in our efforts to improve access to clean water and sanitation for our people. The Ministry of Water Resources and Energy through its Agency PLAMWASSA is committed to providing sustainable access to safe and sufficient water to meet the cultural, social, and economic development needs of the people of Jos North and South.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the state government, our Agency PLAMWASSA and our partners (TASTE), and the people of Plateau State for their support and collaboration in making this project a reality.
“We shall continue to work together to ensure that our people have access to the resources they need to thrive. This intervention is just another starting place as we are going to sustain this strategy until all the broken down boreholes that can be redeemed are completely rehabilitated across the state.” Mutfwang emphasized
Datti stressed that the rehabilitated facilities will be in the custody of communities and urged them to guard jealously, use and maintain them effectively. “It is on this note that I wish to flag off the rehabilitation of these projects to the glory of God and to the benefit of the people of Plateau State, especially the people of Jos North and South who are the beneficiaries of this phase of the intervention,” he stated.
The General Manager of Plateau Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (PLAMWASSA), Jelkyes Dakat disclosed that the interventions is to address the immediate water needs of the people this year while awaiting the completion of various protocols for a comprehensive water interventions across the state by the French Development Agency (AFD) next year through a $50 million dollars loan facility secured by the state.
The Council Chairmen of Jos North LGC, Hon. John Chris and that of Jos South Hon. Patrick Dung both expressed gratitude for the intervention by the state government adding that it will complement their little efforts at the grassroot for the betterment of their people.
The Country Director of the Transfer of Appropriate Sustainable Technology and Expertise (TESTE) Mr. Nuhu Yakubu disclosed that the organization is determined to complete the entire work in four weeks.
According to Yakubu, “By tomorrow, our team of workers will start work on four different points in Tudun Wada, and by Tuesday they will increase in their numbers and we are looking at completing the work in four weeks. This is not something different from what we have been doing and we promised to deliver just that by the grace of God.” He assured
Community leaders of Angwan Clinic Tudun Wada, Comrade Yusuf Dusu among others both expressed joy for the intervention adding that the community has been battling with water problems for over two decades.
Environment
First Lady Seeks Lasting Solution to Eradicate Environmental Pollution

The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has called for a lasting solution to eradicate environmental pollution caused by plastic wastes.
In her message to mark the year 2025 World Environment Day, with the theme ‘Ending Plastic Pollution’, in Abuja on Thursday, the first lady also advised people to curtail the way they consume food and drinks packaged in plastics.
“I join millions of Nigerians and the world in calling for urgent and united action to safeguard our environment.
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, affecting our health, our environment, and our future.“In Nigeria, we must rise to this challenge by changing how we consume packaged food items and how we dispose of plastic containers and bags.
“I particularly want to speak to our youths, the leaders of tomorrow, be it in schools or within our neighborhoods, each of you has a role to play in creating a cleaner, healthier and greener Nigeria,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu had recently promised to introduce environmental solutions clubs to schools through her NGO, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
“I want to use this opportunity to introduce our students to two programmes that the RHI will be launching soon.
“First is the Environment Club for Secondary School Students and the Environment Society for Students in Tertiary institutions nationwide to help us clean up our environment and grow more trees.
“Second is the “Flow with Confidence” for our girls in rural communities.
“This programme is to provide one year’s supply of disposable sanitary pads to our adolescent girls to support them to remain in school during their menstrual cycle,” She said.
NAN further reports that some of the functions of RHI environmental clubs in schools would include raising environmental awareness; fostering social and life skills; empowering students to take action and promoting sustainable behaviours.
The clubs can also enhance critical thinking and creativity, encourage healthy lifestyles, and strengthen communities.
The club would encourage students to participate in various environmental projects, like tree planting, recycling, and garden projects, gaining practical experience and deeper understanding.(NAN))
Foreign News
Trump Bans Citizens of 12 Countries from Entering U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation on Wednesday evening banning citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States.The countries affected are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Nationals from these countries will be “fully” restricted from entering the U. S., according to the proclamation. Similarly, the entry of nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela will be partially restricted.The proclamation is effective on June 9, 2025 at 12:01 am EDT (5:01am Nigerian time).Trump said the move was needed to protect the U.S. against “foreign terrorists” and other security threats.“We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,” Trump said in a video posted on X.The U.S. President said the list could be revised and new countries could be added.He said the countries subject to the most severe restrictions were determined to harbour a “large-scale presence of terrorists”.He alleged others failed to cooperate on visa security and had an inability to verify travellers’ identities, inadequate record-keeping of criminal histories and high rates of visa overstays in the U.S..“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States,” Trump said.Trump’s directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and “anywhere else that threatens our security”.Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the U.S. to detect national security threats.That order directed several cabinet members to submit a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their “vetting and screening information is so deficient.”During his first term in office, Trump had announced a ban on travellers from seven countries, a policy that generated so much controversies before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.However, former President Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump, repealed the ban in 2021, calling it “a stain on our national conscience.” (NAN)NEWS
Otuaro Lauds King Ateke Tom’s Contribution to Peace in Niger Delta
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro has congratulated the traditional ruler of the Okochiri Kingdom in Rivers State, His Royal Majesty, King Ateke Tom on the occasion of his 61st birthday.Otuaro was among prominent guests that graced the colourful birthday celebration of King Ateke at his palace in Okochiri, Okrika Local Government Area, on Monday.
He described the Rivers monarch as “a respectable leader whose reign has brought about unity, peace, progress and development around his community. ”He stressed that King Ateke, who is also the ‘Sekuro of the Niger Delta’, was a great asset who had contributed immensely to the peace, stability, security and development of the region.Otuaro expressed his utmost regard for the traditional institution and the vital role of traditional rulers in the peace and development of communities in the Niger Delta.He noted that traditional rulers were among the critical stakeholders that the PAP was collaborating with to strengthen the programme’s peace-building process in the region.He reiterated that the programme was in safe hands, and strongly motivated by President Bola Tinubu to bridge the region’s human capital development gap through formal education scholarships and vocational training in aviation, maritime, agriculture, and other relevant trade areas.Otuaro said his policy of inclusivity had ensured the involvement of Niger Delta women in the programme’s initiatives, stressing that there were plans designed for their empowerment and contribution to the region’s socio-economic growth.He emphasized that he was focused on rendering quality service to the people of the region, and not distracted by the shenanigans of his detractors.Otuaro called on all stakeholders of the region to remain steadfast in the effort to sustain the prevailing peace in the region so that socio-economic and developmental activities could thrive around the communities.While expressing appreciation to King Ateke for his unwavering support to the programme, the PAP boss prayed to God to grant him long reign, longevity and good health.