The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has sensitised 100 staff members of the Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI), Maiduguri, Borno State, on the need to uphold integrity, accountability and transparency in public service.

The Commission disclosed this via its X account on Monday, following a one-day anti-corruption education workshop organised at the institute’s conference hall.

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The programme, themed “Promoting Integrity, Accountability, and Transparency in Public Service: The Role of Staff in Combating Corruption,” was aimed at equipping the institute’s workforce with knowledge of ethical standards and corruption prevention strategies.

Speaking during the programme, the Executive Director of the Lake Chad Research Institute, Professor Babagana Kabir, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to transparency and collaboration with anti-corruption agencies.

Kabir urged staff to embrace professionalism and integrity, warning that corruption undermines institutional effectiveness, research development and public confidence in government institutions.

The Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Mr Linus Gubbi, highlighted the strategic importance of the Lake Chad Research Institute to Nigeria’s socio-economic development, particularly its contributions to agricultural research, crop improvement and land-use strategies that affect food security across the Lake Chad Basin.

Gubbi warned that vital public research could not thrive in an environment affected by corrupt practices.

He noted that when public resources, research grants or administrative processes are compromised through favouritism, procurement irregularities or financial opacity, citizens who depend on the institute’s innovations ultimately suffer the consequences.

The RACC stressed that the fight against corruption is not the sole responsibility of anti-corruption agencies but a collective duty that begins with individual public officers.

A lead paper titled “Anti-Corruption and Work Ethics in Organisations” was presented by ACS Abba Dzikwi.

The presentation examined the legal framework for combating corruption, various forms of corrupt practices in public institutions and the consequences of unethical conduct.

It also emphasised the importance of strong work ethics to organisational efficiency, effective service delivery and national development.

Participants subsequently engaged the ICPC team during an interactive question-and-answer session, seeking clarification on reporting mechanisms, whistleblowing procedures and the Commission’s mandate.

The ICPC team reiterated the importance of confidentiality in handling corruption reports.

Gubbi also encouraged the institute to strengthen its internal controls and transparency mechanisms, assuring the management of the Commission’s readiness to provide guidance and support for institutional integrity initiatives.

In his concluding remarks, he urged participants to go beyond merely receiving the sensitisation and instead put the lessons into practice by challenging unethical practices and promoting a culture of service that reflects the highest standards of the Nigerian Public Service.

The Kano State Government has announced the completion of 867 projects across the state under the administration of Governor Abba Yusuf.

The Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Nura Maaji, disclosed this during a media briefing in Kano on Sunday.

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Maaji said the completed projects represent 55.68 per cent of the 1,557 projects undertaken by the administration since its inception, while about 42 per cent of the projects are still ongoing.

According to him, the projects have a cumulative contract value of N996.29 billion, with N695.20 billion approved through Notices of No Objection and N444.75 billion in payment certificates vetted by the ministry.

He said the projects cut across several sectors, including urban infrastructure, rural development, mass housing, roads, bridges, healthcare, education, traffic management and other public infrastructure.

The commissioner disclosed that the eight metropolitan Local Government Areas accounted for 598 projects valued at N299.36 billion, while the 36 rural LGAs accounted for 653 projects valued at N287.90 billion.

He added that cross-cutting projects covering more than one LGA were valued at N159.50 billion, while statewide and other interventions amounted to N249.54 billion.

Maaji listed some of the major projects as the approximately N113.19 billion mass housing scheme at Rijiyar Gwangwan in Dawakin Kudu, N24.77 billion Katsina Road expansion in Fagge and Dala LGAs, and the N21.90 billion Modern Cities infrastructure programme.

Others include the N27.74 billion Madobi-Yako-Kafin Maiyaki-Kiru Road intervention and the N22 billion Rural Model City Project covering the 36 rural LGAs.

However, Maaji said the Dawakin Kudu Mass Housing Project and the Rural Model City Housing Project were among high-value projects still awaiting relevant due process procedures.

On financial oversight, he said N444.75 billion in payment certificates had been vetted, representing 44.64 per cent of the cumulative contract value and about 63.97 per cent of the N695.20 billion approved through Notices of No Objection.

The commissioner said the ministry would continue to monitor project implementation, address bottlenecks and strengthen certification processes to ensure value for money.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if the country obstructs efforts to reach a deal with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump made the threat on Monday during an interview with Fox News journalist Trey Yingst, amid ongoing discussions between Oman and Iran concerning control and navigation through the strategic waterway.

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“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them,” Trump told Yingst, referring to the talks between Oman and Iran while the United States pursues its own discussions with Tehran.

Iranian and Omani officials have been negotiating for weeks over future maritime navigation arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign ministry said on Monday that both sides were working towards a joint declaration.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a major flashpoint amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Iran effectively restricted traffic through the waterway at the beginning of the war on February 28, while Trump has repeatedly insisted that the strategic route should be under US control.

On Friday, Trump said he could even declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory. Iran rejected the position, insisting that the crucial waterway would “remain Iranian.”

Before the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran, the Strait of Hormuz was regarded as an open international waterway. The route is critical to global energy supplies and carries significant volumes of oil and other commodities.

Iran has used its control over the strait as leverage against US-led efforts to weaken its military capabilities and force Tehran to abandon its controversial nuclear programme.

Trump also called on Iran to surrender, saying Tehran should “put up the white flag of surrender.”

Despite the growing tensions and the political pressure surrounding the conflict ahead of the November midterm elections in the United States, Trump said he was not in a hurry to reach a deal.

He further disclosed that his administration maintains a direct back-channel with officials of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

“They’re good poker players, but they’re dying,” Trump was quoted as saying.