New Delta Police Commissioner Moves to Strengthen Security Partnership With Army

By Ese Brume, Asaba

The newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Yemi Oyeniyi, has pledged to deepen cooperation among security agencies as part of efforts to improve public safety across the state.

Mr Oyeniyi made the commitment during a courtesy visit to the Commander of 63 Brigade/Sector 1, Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE, Brig.-Gen. Moronfolu Shonibare.

He said the visit was aimed at building stronger operational understanding between the police and the military, especially in intelligence sharing, joint planning and coordinated security response.

The police commissioner noted that effective collaboration among security agencies remained vital to tackling crime and maintaining peace in Delta State.

He also drew attention to the peculiar security concerns in riverine and coastal communities, stressing that such areas require close monitoring and sustained cooperation among agencies.

Responding, Brig.-Gen. Shonibare welcomed the commissioner and assured him of the brigade’s willingness to continue working closely with the Nigeria Police Force and other security formations in the state.

He said the military would support efforts targeted at crime prevention, protection of lives and property, and maintenance of law and order.

According to him, inter-agency partnership remains a key pillar of successful security management, particularly in a state with diverse security challenges.

The brigade commander further promised continued engagement and sensitisation to consolidate the existing security framework in Delta State.

Gwamna, ex-KEDCO boss, declares for the Gombe governorship race under APC.

By Umar Ahmad, Gombe

Dr Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, a former Managing Director of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), has declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Gwamna formally submitted his Letter of Intent on Wednesday at both ward and local government levels, in line with the party’s nomination procedures.

Speaking at a brief ceremony at the APC state secretariat in Gombe, the governorship aspirant said his decision was driven by a development agenda he described as a “New Vision for Continuity and sustainability.”.

He said the plan is aimed at consolidating ongoing development efforts while introducing reforms and policies that would ensure long-term economic growth and improved living standards.

“Our focus is to build on what has been achieved and introduce innovative ideas that will guarantee sustainable development and inclusive growth for all,” he said.

Mr Gwamna added that his administration, if elected, would prioritise transparent governance, economic expansion, infrastructure development, and empowerment programmes targeting youths and women.

He also appealed to party members and residents of the state to support his ambition, saying collective commitment would be required to move Gombe forward.

Responding, the APC chairman in Gombe State, Mohammed Dantata Ndus, commended the aspirant for adhering to due process and wished him success in the race.

Mr Ndus, however, stressed the need for unity among party members, urging stakeholders to work together to secure victory for the APC in the 2027 general elections.

Digital Shift in Classrooms: FG, NEDC Train 100 Teachers to Revive Northeast Education

In a renewed push to transform learning outcomes in Nigeria’s conflict-affected Northeast, the Office of the Vice President, in collaboration with the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), has equipped over 100 teachers with digital literacy skills to enhance classroom delivery.

The initiative was unveiled on Tuesday during an Academic Support and Skills Enhancement Programme held in Yola, where key stakeholders highlighted the urgency of modernising teaching methods in the region.

Speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Regional Development Programmes, Dr Mariam Masha, said the training focused on teachers handling Science, Technology, Mathematics and Agriculture in senior secondary schools across the six Northeast states—Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Gombe and Taraba.

She explained that the programme forms part of the Federal Government’s broader reform drive under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at closing learning gaps and preparing educators with relevant digital competencies.

According to her, the training is designed to help teachers incorporate technology into their teaching processes, making lessons more engaging and aligning education delivery with global standards.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of NEDC, Mohammed Alkali—represented by the commission’s Adamawa State Coordinator, Khalifa Lawan—said the prolonged insurgency in the region had severely disrupted the education sector, making targeted interventions inevitable.

He noted that limited access to quality education had contributed to deeper socio-economic challenges in the Northeast, stressing that rebuilding the sector was critical to long-term stability and development.

Mr Alkali revealed that the commission had already rehabilitated schools across 112 local government areas, while lamenting that more than half of the region’s teaching workforce was lost during years of conflict.

He added that ongoing efforts were focused on strengthening teacher recruitment, training and retention, especially at the foundational level, to ensure sustainable recovery of the education system.

In his remarks, Adamawa State Commissioner for Education, Dr Umar Pella, represented by Permanent Secretary Aisha Umar, praised the intervention, describing continuous teacher development as essential to improving the quality of instruction in schools.

He said enhancing teachers’ skills in key subject areas would ultimately translate into better academic performance among students across the state and the wider region.

On his part, Prof. Augustine Okoronka of Modibbo Adama University described the programme as a strategic investment in the future, noting that education remains central to national growth and development.

He encouraged participants to embrace continuous learning, adopt innovative teaching strategies and abandon outdated practices in order to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving digital world.

One of the participants, Kieran Godiya, said the training came at the right time, noting that it introduced modern tools such as artificial intelligence and inclusive teaching methods to better address the needs of learners, especially in challenging environments.

The programme is expected to strengthen education delivery across the Northeast by equipping teachers with practical skills needed to navigate today’s technology-driven classrooms.