Author: Eileen Peters

SEVEN persons were rescued when a three-storey building under construction at Aboga along the Igwuruta-Etche Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State caved in. Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred at about 1:30 pm on Saturday while workers were on the site. Though no life was lost, it was said that seven of the nine workers who were working in the building were rescued with various degrees of injuries, while two of them jumped off the building. One of the eyewitnesses said, “Getting here, I saw the building collapsing. While some of the workers were able to jump out,…

OIL marketers have started loading Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), and Kerosene from the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company. Dealers confirmed this to this newspaper on Friday, as they demanded Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) from the recently rehabilitated plant. WRPC, under the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, came on stream on December 30, 2024, after the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, announced its resumption of operations during a tour of the facility. Speaking with one of our correspondents on Friday at the refinery, the Chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers…

THE crisis in the Edo State local government councils took a different dimension on Thursday. Several persons were wounded as gunmen allegedly invaded the Uhunmwode Local Government Council headquarters in Egor. The chairman of the council, Kenneth Adodo, alleged that the people involved in the shooting were policemen from the Edo State Government House. This followed reports of impeachment of the chairmen of Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon local government councils by the elected councillors. Their Owan East counterpart; Prince Aminu Okodo-Kadirihas, reacted swiftly to his impeachment. He maintained that his purported impeachment and that of his Vice, Hon Clement Ojebuovbo was…

RIVERS Governor Siminalayi Fubara has boasted that nobody or group of persons will stop his government in the State. The Governor in an obvious chide at FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike also assured that with the strong support of the pillars and frontiers of the political class and leaders, particularly those who built the foundational structures of Rivers politics, his administration would not allow any detractor take the state and its people for a ride. Fubara in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, spoke at a 2025 New Year State Banquet in Government House, Port Harcourt, on…

THE Senate President and Chairman of the 10th National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has said the country was on a “life support” as at the time President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023. Speaking at his 2024 Constituency Briefing and Empowerment Programme held at the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium, Akpabio, who represents Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District, he called on Nigerians, particularly the people of Akwa Ibom State, to continue supporting President Tinubu as he works to address Nigeria’s economic challenges. “Nigeria Was on Life Support,” he said. His stance comes following ongoing major reforms such as the introduction…

THE 125, 000 barrels per day Warri Refinery is now operating at 60 per cent capacity. This was revealed by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited during the tour of the facility on Monday. A breakdown shows that 60 per cent of 125, 000 barrels per day production draws down to 75, 000 barrels of crude oil per day being processed by the facility. Before the tour of the facility began, Kyari was seen addressing the team, saying “We are taking you through our plant. This plant is running. Although it is not 100…

MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has fired back at the former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, saying that “an elder statesman should not be a political trader and a sycophant all the time.” Wike, who was speaking at the Special Thanksgiving Service organized by Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Oro-Igwe/Eliogbolo Archdeaconry Church of the Holy Spirit, Eliozu Parish, Port Harcourt on Sunday, said it was unfortunate that somebody who is supposed to be seen as an elder statesman and called…

THE 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, says its troops have dismantled 20 illegal refining sites, deactivated 21 boats used for the crime and recover over 90,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in the ongoing anti bunkering operations in the Niger Delta region. A statement issued in Port Harcourt at the weekend by the Division’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah, said eight suspects were arrested in the operations carried out from 23-29 December 2024. Lt. Col. Jonah said following a tip-off on illegal activities around Buguma general area in Asari-Toru LGA, troops responded effectively leading to…

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stated why he had no regret for supporting President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general elections. Prior to his ministerial appointment, he governed the oil-rich Rivers State for eight years under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He was later called by Tinubu to serve as FCT Minister in the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government. Speaking during a thanksgiving service in Ochigba by the PDP in Ahoada East and West Local Government Areas of the state, he thanked President Tinubu for believing in him. Wike said that he…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Mrs. Joy Enwa, the Accountant General of Delta State, as part of investigations into the alleged misappropriation of N1.3 trillion linked to former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. The anti-graft agency has also questioned other officials, including a former Director of Finance and Administration and a senior Government House official. According to EFCC sources, the funds in question reportedly include portions of the 13 percent derivation allocation meant for oil-producing states. In November, former Governor Okowa was detained at the EFCC’s Port Harcourt office over allegations of using his office to divert state…

RIVERS State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the sum of ₦100,000 for civil servants, public servants, and pensioners in the state. The approval was communicated in a statement that was signed and released by the States Head of Service, George Nwaeke, on Tuesday. Dr. Nwaeke said the approval, which was given on Monday, is to enable the workers and senior citizens have a fulfilled Christmas celebration. This is the second time within the administration of Fubara that civil servants in the state will be receiving Christmas bonus, to the tune of one hundred thousand naira, an amount which is above…

THE Delta State Police Command has arrested a 48-year-old man, Mr Efe Onoetiyi, for killing his best friend, Paulinus Okon, after collecting over N50m from the deceased. The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, disclosed this on Monday while parading the man alongside four other killers. He said, “I welcome you to this briefing which is particularly painful. It involves the murder of one Paulinus Okon by his bosom friend, one Efe Onoetiyi. “Paulinus was reported missing on September 8, 2024, by his brother after he went out with his friend, Efe Onoitiyi, 30. The suspect, Efe Onoitiyi, who…

SOME alms seekers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have lost their lives in a stampede. The stampede occurred on Saturday morning during an event for the distribution of Christmas rice and other palliatives at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Maitama area of Abuja. This newspaper’s correspondent who was at the scene observed the heavy presence of security personnel. It was gathered that the church had made it a point of duty to give back to the society every year. Victims of the stampede are mostly women and children. Confirming the incident, the FCT Police Command said ten individuals…

LESS than a month after the Port Harcourt Refining Company appeared to have resumed production, the facility has stopped working. Our correspondent, who visited the refinery on Thursday, December 19, 2024, observed that the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) had stopped. This newspaper gathered that the lifting of petrol actually stopped last Friday, December 13, as the 18-arm loading bay of the new Port Harcourt refinery was empty. While about 18 trucks littered the stretch of the busy road leading to the refinery itself, nine trucks were spotted inside the parking yard, while the loading bay was empty. The…

A BAYELSA State High Court has convicted the Senior Special Assistant on General Duties to Governor Douye Diri, Mr Prudent Oguruguru, on a two-count charge bordering on assault. Oguruguru was arrested for inflicting harm on one Ubong Effiong Ubek, which led to the latter being unconscious at Agudama-Epie on February 20, 2024. He was subsequently arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder, assault occasioning harm, serious assault, and malicious damage before Justice I. A Orukari. During the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and the prosecution called six witnesses and tendered seven exhibits…

THE Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has ordered a thorough investigation into the deaths of two Okuama community leaders, Pa James Oghoroko and Dennis Okugbaye, while in Army custody. Oghoroko, the President-General of the Okuama community, and 81-year-old Okugbaye, the community’s treasurer, reportedly died six days apart after being detained by the military. The duo along with four others — Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mrs. Mabel Owhemu, and Mr. Dennis Malaka — were arrested during a military operation conducted between August 18 and 20, 2024. The arrests followed the killing of 17 soldiers on March 14,…

THE Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) has restored power supply to the Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River after 15 years of perpetual darkness. The people commended the Sen. Bassey Otu led administration for keeping to his campaign promise of restoring power supply to the council when elected. Innocent Inaku, PHEDC Branch Manager for Cross River North and Central, particularly commended Governor Otu for the feat. He said that the area was thrown into darkness for such a long period due to vandalism and obsolete power infrastructure. “The whole of Bekwarra has been in darkness for more than…

THE Appeal Court Abuja has set aside all orders restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing funds to the Rivers State Government. The Three-member panel, presided by Justice Hamman Barka, held that the subject matter was not within the jurisdiction of the court relating to the revenue of the state. While allowing the appeal of the Rivers State government, the appellate court also set aside all the orders made by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, stating that it was unconstitutional for her to make orders restricting Rivers State government to receive funds due…

THE governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Bayelsa governorship election, Udengs Eradiri, and his running mate, Commodore Benjamin Nathus (retd.), have announced their resignations from the party. It was gathered that most of the local government chairmen of the Labour Party in Bayelsa State also joined Eradiri and Nathus in leaving the party. Eradiri, who was recently conferred a fellowship by the Nigerian Society of Engineers, submitted his resignation letter to the state chairman of the party in Yenagoa. In the letter dated December 8 and titled Letter of Withdrawal as Labour Party Member, Eradiri explained that…

EDO North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, said his son, Cyril, is qualified to occupy the office of the Commissioner of Health in the South-South state. Oshiomhole, former Edo governor, was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday. In November, Oshiomhole’s ally, Governor Monday Okphebolo, appointed Cyril as health commissioner just after the new governor was sworn in. The appointment of the United States-trained medical doctor has attracted a barrage of criticisms from persons who described the act as a state capture and a reward for the senator’s support for the governor’s election. Asked whether he endorsed the appointment…