NEWS
Uzodimma Urges Comprehensive Audit of Abandoned Projects in NDDC

From Marcel Duru & Charity Wins, Owerri
Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma has called for a comprehensive audit of all abandoned projects that litter the nooks and crannies of the States that make up the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The governor made the call on Tuesday when he received an audience at the Government House Owerri, the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr.
Apart from the call for a comprehensive audit of all abandoned projects in the Ministry of Niger Delta and NDDC States, Governor Uzodimma further suggested that the Amnesty Programme of the Ministry be strengthened to enable the people, particularly the youths of the region, to have commensurate value from the programme.
Governor Uzodimma requested the Minister to mop up all federal allocations meant for the region and deploy them appropriately to ensure that the area is given what is due and appropriate to it in terms of infrastructure.
He promised to continue to support and partner with the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, the NDDC and other Agencies under the Ministry, to achieve the expected goals.
He called on the youths of the Nigerian Delta region to desist from vandalising NDDC projects or federal government assets in the region, appealing to the Federal Government to intensify efforts at creating employment and other opportunities that will make life more meaningful for the teeming youths of the region.
Uzodimma challenged the Ministry and the NDDC to take serious interest in the documentation and completion of the abandoned projects in the region, noting that, “where all the abandoned projects are completed the region will be more than 80 per cent developed.”
He expressed delight to receive the Minister and his team in Imo State and commended Engr. Momoh on the changes he has so far initiated in the Ministry since he assumed office.
The Governor however sympathised with the Minister on the shoddy nature some projects were implemented in his Ministry before now as well as the ubiquitous abandonment of projects which the Minister has met on ground on assumption of office, and encouraged him to remain as focused today as he was on assumption of office.
Earlier while informing the Governor on why they were in Imo State, Engr. Momoh said that they came “to inspect ongoing projects of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development area and the Niger Delta Development Commission and to solicit greater partnership and cooperation of the Governors of the nine States of the region.”
The Minister maintained that “the Ministry of Niger Delta Development and the NDDC are never in competition with the States rather they are in partnership for the progress and development of the region.”
He acknowledged the existence of many challenges, especially in the area of abandoned projects, but promised that his Ministry and the Commission are on course to change the narrative.
The Minister used the opportunity to inform the Governor of the scheduled meeting of the National Council on Niger Delta Affairs that will be held between April 16 and 18, 2024 where the progress and prosperity of Niger Delta Region would be discussed.
Concluding, he thanked the Governor for the good works he is doing in Imo State, commending him, especially, on road infrastructure and other legacy projects.
Engr. Momoh also made particular mention of the ongoing flyover project which the 3R government of Governor Uzodimma has recently embarked upon in Imo State.
The Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie and other top Government functionaries joined the Governor in receiving the minister.
Also present were the Member Representing Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta/Oru West Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Eugene Dibiagwu who is also the House of Representatives Chairman of Niger Delta and Amnesty, the Federal Commissioner representing Imo State at the NDDC, Dr. Kyrian Uchegbu, former minister of State Science and Technology, Chief Henry Ikoh, the Chairman Imo State Council of Elders, HRM Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, former Imo State APC Chairman, Barr. Malcolm Nlemigbo among others.
The Minister was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary and Directors in the Ministry of Niger Delta Development.
Education
ICPC, COREN Working to Curb Quackery in Engineering – Don

Former Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Prof. Adisa Bello said the council is collaborating with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), to curb quackery in Nigeria.
Bello stated this in Bauchi on Monday during a public lecture and launching of a magazine by the final year students of Engineering Department, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.
According to Bello, COREN has an Engineering Regulatory Monitoring Unit visible and working in 29 states of the country.
“If the unit finds anyone culpable of quackery, the person will be handed to the ICPC for further prosecution.
“COREN with the council for regulation of Engineering in Nigeria started in 1970, and its laws were amended in 1992, 2004 and 2018.
“The specific one I’m referring to is the amendment in 2018, which categorically gave COREN the mandate to prosecute offenders of engineering,” he said.
He warned that anybody that was not a registered practitioner in engineering and practicing engineering would be prosecuted by COREN.
“And COREN is doing everything humanly possible to ensure that this is done. COREN currently has a memorandum of Understanding with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, and this commission is doing everything possible to ensure that offenders are prosecuted,” he said.
Bello, also a lecturer in the department of Mechanical Engineering, ATBU, recounted how a multi-billion Naira 21 storey building collapsed in Lagos, where COREN did investigation, after which some engineers were found wanting and handed over to the ICPC for prosecution.
“COREN has an investigative panel and once this panel establishes that someone is culpable, it takes you to the ICPC and then straight to the court.
“In my day, we normally write examinations for qualifications.
”We have a situation currently where an individual came with a fake result and we called on the ICPC and they have done all their investigations, and found the person culpable and right now he is under prosecution,” he said.
The don called on higher institutions and academics to ensure that all engineering programmes were properly accredited by the National University Commission (NUC) and COREN.
In a paper entitled: Smart Cities and the role of Engineering and Technology in building the Urban future, Dr. Ibrahim Ikara, Head of Department, Civil Engineering, ATBU, said engineers played a critical role in smart cities.
Ikara said that this could be through the design of modern infrastructure, disaster resilient systems and eco-friendly neighborhoods.
Represented by Muhammad Suleiman, the don listed some of the challenges of building smart cities in developing nations to include infrastructure deficit, limited funding, and low level of digital literacy among citizens.
He urged policymakers to prioritise Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), to achieve the set goals.
Education
Afe Babalola Canvasses Better Education Sector to Check Insecurity

Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola, has identified Nigeria’s declining educational standards as a key driver of the country’s escalating crime rate.
The legal luminary spoke recently during a courtesy visit by a delegation from Ekiti State University (EKSU), led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof.
Joseph Babatola Ayodele.According to him, “half education is more dangerous than no education.
Many of those engaged in criminal activities today are products of a failing educational system. We must urgently rewrite Nigeria’s educational narrative to foster national development and security.”Babalola challenged policymakers, institutions, and stakeholders to prioritise research grants, innovation, and academic excellence as critical tools for national progress.
In her welcome address, ABUAD’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, lauded Babalola’s visionary leadership, crediting him for establishing the university as a trailblazer in agriculture, pharmaceuticals and quality healthcare education and delivery.
She spotlighted the peerless and paperless ABUAD Multi-System Hospital, which leading healthcare stakeholders have endorsed as the “Well-equipped hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa” as the nation’s antidote to medical tourism.
Taking cognisance of the under-representation of women in the visiting EKSU delegation, the Vice Chancellor canvassed greater gender balance in leadership, just like in ABUAD, where the Vice Chancellor, Registrar and the Librarian are ladies among several leaders in the 15-year-old university.
Responding, the visiting VC praised Babalola as “an unrepentant philanthropist and proud alumnus, who constantly adds value to society.”
He expressed admiration for ABUAD’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, and called for deeper collaboration between the two institutions in agriculture, research and student exchange programmes.
“We have much to learn from ABUAD Farm. With 14 hectares of tomato farms at EKSU ready for harvest, we recognise the need to deepen expertise in agriculture, a vital sector for Nigeria’s future,” Ayodele remarked.
Education
JAMB Inaugurates Special Committee on Examination Infraction

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has inaugurated a special committee to investigate cases of technology-driven malpractice detected during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Inaugurating the 23-member committee in Abuja yesterday, JAMB’s Registrar, Prof.
Ishaq Oloyede, expressed concerns over the rising sophistication in perpetrating exam fraud.Oloyede revealed that the results of 6,458 candidates remained under investigation for alleged involvement in high-tech cheating.
“This year, we came across a number of strange things and we felt that it would be better if we expand our resources.
“We believe that God has endowed this nation with a lot of resources that we can tap from,” Oloyede said.
He noted that malpractices had evolved beyond traditional schemes into “technologically sophisticated forms,” including multiple cases of biometric and identity fraud by some accredited CBT centres and candidates.
Oloyede stressed the need for urgent action to protect the credibility of examinations.
“Examination malpractice is something that we must fight with every pinch of blood in our veins.
“This is because unchecked fraud could harm several sectors and tarnish Nigeria’s image,” he said.
The registrar disclosed that while 141 cases of “normal” exam malpractice had been sent to JAMB’s disciplinary committee, the committee would handle the “extraordinary infractions,” such as image blending, albinism falsification, finger pairing, and attempts to breach some CBT centres’ Local Area Network.
He listed the terms of reference of the committee to include: Investigate all the cases of image blending, finger blending, false claim of albinism and result falsification in the 2025 examination.
“Identify the methods, patterns, tools, and technologies used to perpetrate this infraction.
”Review current examination and registration policies and recommend improvements,” he said.
Other terms of reference, he said, are to determine the culpability or otherwise of each of the 6,458 suspected candidates whose results, excluding the albinism group, are still being withheld, among others.
“We have chosen three weeks because justice delayed is said to be justice denied.
“In about four weeks, admission will close. And we believe that those who are found not to be guilty should have the opportunity,” he added.
Responding, the committee chairman Dr. Jake Epele, thanked Oloyede’s leadership and pledged the committee’s commitment and dedication to the assignment.
“Examination malpractice is not just a breach of rules. It is a direct assault on integrity, merit, and the future of our nation’s youth.
“The task before us is therefore a sacred one. I believe that everyone in this committee, you don’t have a committee job. You have a call from God Almighty.
“The call is to defend the credibility of our examination, restore public confidence, and ensure that diligence and honesty remains the true pathway to opportunity,” he said.
Members of the committee include Prof. Muhammad Bello, Prof. Samuel Odewummi, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, Prof. Ibe Ifeakandu, and Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni (rtd.)
Others are: Dr Chuks Okpaka of Microsoft Africa, and the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, among others.