Author: Eileen Peters

THE newly sworn-in Governor of Edo State, Sunday Okpebholo has announced the dissolution of executives of all boards in Edo State. A statement by his Chief Press Secretary on Wednesday said the governor has also sacked all political appointees, adding that permanent secretaries appointed from outside the state’s public service have equally been relieved of their appointments. “It is hereby announced for the information of the General Public that the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo has approved the dissolution of Executives of all Boards, Agencies and Parastatals in Edo State Public Service with immediate effect. “In…

Reaffirm Commitment To Democracy, Press Freedom ARISING from the three-day All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has called on the federal government to urgently mitigate the negative impact of fuel subsidy removal and the exchange rate volatility on the economy. Noting the economic constraints and rising operational costs, the Guild also urged the federal government to consider subsidies or tax relief to help media houses cope with the current challenges. In a communique signed by the NGE President, Eze Anaba and the General Secretary, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the professional…

MONDAY Okpebholo has been inaugurated as the governor of Edo, marking an end to the eight-year stint of Godwin Obaseki at the helm of affairs in the South-South state. News Point Nigeria reports that the ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the state capital, two months after the All Progressives Congress (APC) clinched the ticket to the Dennis Osadebay House. Okpebholo took his oath of office alongside his running mate Dennis Idahosa. The ceremony was attended by some dignitaries including the Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, a former governor of the Edo Adams…

GOVERNOR Godwin Obaseki of Edo state on Friday dissolved the state executive council ahead of Monday Okpebholo’s inauguration as the new governor of the state. Obaseki, who was sworn in on November 12, 2016, is due to hand over to Okpebholo on Tuesday, 12 November. Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in the September 21, 2024, governorship election. Obaseki dissolved the cabinet shortly after a valedictory at the Government House in Benin, the Edo State capital. Speaking, the governor commended members of the council for helping him in…

THE flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) from the the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Bonny Finima, Rivers State, have been recovered. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) disclosed this in a statement on Friday by Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Oladeji. On October 24, the ill-fated aircraft, operated by East Wind Aviation and hired by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, nosedived in Port Harcourt, the state capital. Two weeks after the tragic incident, NSIB spokesperson, said the black box was retrieved early…

MEDIA owners, editors, and other stakeholders have called on President Bola Tinubu to save the nation’s media industry amid the ongoing economic hardship in the country. This came as President Tinubu urged media managers to focus on factual reporting and uphold professional integrity. The stakeholders spoke at the All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with the theme: “Economic Growth and Development Strategies in a Resource-Rich Country.” The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Eze, highlighted that the unavailability of resource materials is one of the biggest threats to the media industry. He said: “We…

IN pursuant as well as his persistent and spirited effort towards the actualization of the ‘Project Development Agency Bill’ sponsored by the calm but calculating  Distinguished Senator Patrick Ndubueze(FNSE) representing Imo North Senatorial district of Nigeria,the Senate Committee on Science and Technology under the Chairmanship of Senator Abbas, today, (Monday 4th November 2024)held a well attended and successful “Public and Stakeholders Interactive Session” towards the eventual passage of the Bill by the Nigerian Senate. It is interesting to note that the ceremony attracted a cross section of all key stakeholders in the science and technology industry, whose interest have been…

THE Edo State Government says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s invitation of its Accountant General, Julius Anelu, and four others is a plot to destabilize the state. Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency invited Anelu and four officials of the Edo State Treasury Office to its Benin City officer in a letter titled “Loans and Agricultural Interventions Granted to Edo State Government from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) from 2018 to date”. However, the Edo State Commission for Communication and Orientation Chris Nehikhare said the agricultural facility “has since been repaid…

THE Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation and Aerospace Technology, have reaffirmed government’s commitment to a transparent and thorough inquiry into the accident involving the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter (5N BQG) to improve transport safety in Nigeria. The chopper carrying oil workers crashed last Thursday after leaving Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Officials said five bodies of the eight passengers and crew members have been recovered so far. In an update statement by the Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Bimbo Oladeji, the Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Nigerian Safety…

LESS than 11 days to the handing over to the Governor-elect, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, by the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the State Accountant General, Mr. Julius O. Anelu, and four other officials said to be signatories to the state government accounts. It was gathered that the five state government officials, reportedly arrested on Thursday, were being held at the Benin office of the agency. It was also gathered that the officials were arrested apparently to forestall last minute withdrawal from the state account following thee budget allegedly approved by the Edo…

THE Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) says its team has located the wreckage of the helicopter that crashed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. This is according to the NSIB Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance Bimbo Oladeji. “The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) announces that the allied team and partners leading the charge for the search and recovery efforts of the ditched Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registration 5N BQG, have located its wreckage,” she said late Thursday statement. “The helicopter, operated by Eastwind Aviation, carried eight individuals onboard and ditched in the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima on October 24,…

THE Rivers State government has debunked a social media report that Governor Siminalayi Fubara shut down the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and other oil companies in the state. In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, the Rivers government said the report is not only false but a concocted propaganda. The statement reads, “The attention of Rivers State Government has been drawn to a spurious news item circulating on social media on “Gov. Siminalayi Fubara shutting down NNPCL and all oil companies in Rivers State”. “The report was not only false, but…

THE federal government through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has sounded the alarm on a ‘cartel’ manipulating market prices nationwide, inflating costs for goods and services despite government stabilisation efforts. Addressing stakeholders during a one-day engagement on exploitative pricing in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, FCCPC Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tunji Bello, revealed that the commission’s investigations in major cities have uncovered troubling practices. In the poultry sector, Bello highlighted how influential players are dictating prices, severely impacting smaller producers. “Small poultry owners previously sold a day-old chick for between N480 and N590 and still made a profit. However,…

THE Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed the recovery of five bodies following the helicopter crash last Thursday. “NSIB has mobilised two vessels equipped with side-scan sonar to broaden the search range. Four additional side-scan sonar units are en route from Port Harcourt and will be deployed tomorrow morning to enhance search coverage,” NSIB spokesperson, Bimbo Oladeji, said in a statement on Wednesday. “A total of five bodies have been recovered so far, though the fifth body recovered today requires specialised handling due to its decomposed state before being transported to the morgue.” The Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, carrying oil…

JUSTICE Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court Abuja has stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further releasing monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State Government. Justice Abdulmalik held that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January this year by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was a breach of the Constitution and an aberration that must not be allowed to continue. The judge held that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Fubara before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the constitutional provision. Justice Abdulmalik specifically said that the governor’s action…

THE United Nations Association of Africa (UNAA) says it is proud to announce the First Africa Peace and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Dinner in recognition of the contributions of leading Africans to peace and the realisation of the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. The event is billed to hold in Abuja on Saturday 7th December 2024 at Frazer Suites, Central Area, Abuja. A statement signed by the Chairman Board of Directors of the association Amb. Emmanuel Nkweke said  the  momentous event will bring together leaders, peace advocates, and stakeholders committed to fostering peace and advancing sustainable development across…

THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has summoned judges involved in conflicting rulings on political cases in Rivers State. A panel of the national judicial council will probe the judges, just as the CJN has ordered that the report be submitted this week. The panel will be headed by a former court of appeal justice and two heads of courts. A panel of the national judicial council will probe the judges, just as the CJN has ordered that the report be submitted this week. The panel will be headed by a former court of appeal justice and two…

THE Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the post-election violence that led to the bomb attack of some local government secretariats in the state has summoned some allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to appear before it. This was contained in a statement issued by the Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Justice I. R. Minakiri, in Port Harcourt on Monday and sent to newsmen. Among those summoned by the Justice Minakiri-led panel are the immediate past Chairman of Ikwerre local government area, Dr Samuel Nwanosike, as well as his counterparts in Eleme and Ahoada…

THE Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on Sunday said the fourth body of the Port Harcourt crash victim has been recovered. NSIB spokesperson Bimbo Oladeji, in a statement on Sunday, said, “A floating body was retrieved from the water and was escorted by the Cameroonian Navy to NUIMS Antan, for safe transit through their territorial waters. “Field operations identified the body by confirming the T-shirt worn matched the description provided. Although it took time, photographic evidence confirmed the identity as the fourth victim.” The aircraft, with registration 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation, was engaged by the Nigerian National…

A NIGER Delta militia group, the Niger Delta Development Force, has threatened to shut down oil installations in the Niger Delta region. The group stated it would destroy the facilities if President Bola Tinubu fails to caution the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over alleged attempts to undermine the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State. In a statement signed on Sunday by its spokesman, Justin Alabraba and made available to News Point Nigeria, the group expressed particular anger over an alleged plan by Wike to use a friendly judge to secure a ruling in his…