Author: Eileen Peters

ARMED thugs have invaded polling units in Southern Ijaw and Sagbama local Government Areas of Bayelsa State and hijacked elections materials. The thugs first struck at Agorogbene unit 6, 7 and 8 in Ward 11 of Southern Ijaw where they destroyed election materials. Attempts by some voters to challenge the armed men were replied with heavy gunshots. They also stormed the Registration Area Center and carted away election materials of five out of the seven polling units. At Ogiadiama ward 9 in Unit 14 of Southern Ijaw Local Government area, gunmen stormed the unit but were repelled by security men.…

FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to make laws that prohibit off-season elections in Nigeria. The ex-Nigerian leader spoke on Saturday after he cast his vote in the November 11, 2023 governorship poll at Ward 13, Polling Unit 39, at Otuoke in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Like Bayelsa, governorship elections are held in Imo and Kogi on Saturday. Earlier in March, governorship elections were held in 28 out of the 36 states of the Federation. This was so because the governorship elections of eight states (Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Osun…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Supervising Presiding Officer (SPO) assigned to registration area 06 in Ossioma, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has been abducted. The INEC official, whose identity was not known as at the time of filling this report was said abducted at Amassoma Community in Southern Ijaw LGA while waiting to board a boat at a jetty in the area. Also, a boat carrying election personnel to registration area 17 in Koluama Community, Southern Ijaw LGA capsized and election materials. including result sheets, got lost. INEC Head of Department, Voters Education and Publicity in Bayelsa…

THE Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC has commenced a Computer-Based Test, CBT, for 5,000 thousand applicants from the Niger Delta region for its Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship programme, as part of its efforts to provide more opportunities for the youths. Speaking at the Information and Communication Technology Centre of the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, where the tests are being conducted, the NDDC Director, Education, Health and Social Services. Dr George Uzonwanne, said that over 20,000 graduates registered on the Commission’s portal for the Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship programme, out of which the 5,000 applicants were selected for the test. He observed…

RIVERS State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Thursday said his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike remains his principal. The governor stated this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the rededication service of the 2023/2024 Legal Year of the Rivers State Judiciary that was equally attended by Wike. The event was held at the Saint Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Hospital Road in the state capital. He described the recent political crisis in the state as a thing of the past, calling again for peace in the oil-rich state. Fubara noted that Rivers State can if the actors and…

THE Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, says it will work with International Oil Companies, IOCs, and other development partners to increase investments in renewable energy projects to reduce the impact of climate change in the Niger Delta region. Speaking during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the TotalEnergies Nigeria Limited at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Commission’s Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, reaffirmed the importance of sustainable partnerships in driving the development process. He observed: “Climate Change is real and the oil companies should help by reducing gas flaring and other forms of pollution. We need to…

THE leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have summoned what the unions described as an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting. The National Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, made this known in an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday afternoon. The aim of the meeting, according to him, is to review the modalities of the planned strike following the brutalisation of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, review the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal Government and the Organized Labour on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the subsidy on Premium…

THE Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, has urged Niger Delta stakeholders to forge stronger bonds and collaborate to pave way for a brighter future for the oil-rich region. Speaking during a reception in honour of Dr Samuel Ogbuku by Yiba-Ama (Oruma) Community at Yiba-Ama School Field in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the in-coming NDDC Chairman said that the event was an endorsement of the collective commitment of Niger Deltans to realising the full potentials of the region. Ebie, who was represented as Chairman of the occasion by the Executive Director Projects…

FOUR officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are feared dead following an ambush by gunmen, suspected to be sea pirates, in Bakana community in Rivers. A resident of the community who spoke on condition of anonymity told the this newspaper on Saturday that the incident happened in the early hours of Friday. The resident said the officers were shot dead on Bakana River in Degema Local Government Area by sea pirates. “Two of the victims who are Muslims have already been buried according to Islamic rites,” the eyewitness added. Reacting, the Spokesman of NSCDC in Rivers,…

A RIVERS State High Court in Isiokpo Division in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state has issued an interim order restraining the Rivers State House of Assembly and Speaker, Martin Amaewhule from carrying out any actions concerning the impeachment of the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. The motion ex parte was filed by Governor Sim Fubara through his lawyer, Damian Okoro (SAN), earlier on Wednesday. Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi were also served the restraining order. Presiding Judge, Justice Ben Whyte issued the order following…

RIVERS State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday, expressed optimism that the political crisis, involving himself and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, will be resolved. He said there is nothing wrong for a father and a son to have problems, stressing that all issues, if any, will be resolved. The governor spoke when the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, led a military delegation to the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital. Fubara restated President Bola Tinubu’s resolve for peace and security in the country, especially during the off-season elections this month. The governor said, “For our dear state,…

THE Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has restated its determination to establish collaborative relationships and focus on governance, as part of its commitment to transformative change in the Niger Delta region. Speaking during a meeting with representatives of the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, at the United States Embassy in Abuja, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, stressed the need to rebuild public trust and enhance service delivery in the Niger Delta region. The NDDC delegation, led by Ogbuku, included the Director of Information Technology and Innovation, Engr. Emeka Ani; NDDC Consultant on Public-Private Partnership, PPP, Dr.…

THE Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has weighed in on the crisis rocking Rivers State amid the plot to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the oil-rich state. Receiving South-South leaders at his office on Tuesday, Wike, a former Rivers State Governor, emphasised the importance of holding his base to maintain his political relevance. He maintained that once he loses his base as a politician, he has lost his relevance politically. Wike explained that no amount of calumny levelled against him would make him lose sleep, adding that the right thing must be done. “All of us want…

THE Court of Appeal, Abuja, has reversed the nullification of the candidacy of Chief Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Justice Binta Zubairu, who delivered the lead judgement held that Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, was wrong in ordering the sack of Sylva as a candidate of the APC in the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State. According to the court, the trial court was erred in having assumed jurisdiction in the matter on grounds that the plaintiff at the Federal High Court lacked the necessary locus standi to initiate the suit in the…

FRESH twist emerged in the Rivers state Assembly crisis Monday afternoon as former majority leader of the House and Pro-Fubara lawmaker, Edison Ehie emerged the new Speaker of the state Assembly. This is also as the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Simeon Amadi was suspended. See full statement below: Official Statement from the Office of the Speaker, 10th Assembly, Rivers State House of Assembly Dear Fellow Rivers People, I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. Today, I stand before you as the newly elected Speaker of the 10th Assembly of Rivers State House of Assembly,…

A FRESH crisis has engulfed the Rivers State House of Assembly amidst rumours of an impending impeachment procedure against the state Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the House on Monday removed its leader and governor Fubara’s loyalist, Edison Ehie. News Point Nigeria reports that the governor stormed the Assembly Complex while House members fled for safety as gun shots and tear gas were fired outside the Complex. A protest is also ongoing outside the Complex as of the time of filing this report. The development comes hours after a fire broke out at the Assembly Complex on Sunday night. It is…

THE chamber of Rivers State House of Assembly has been set ablaze. The development comes as plot to impeach Governor Siminilayi Fubara Fubara thickens. Sources said the arsonist gained entry into the chamber on Sunday night and set it ablaze. Our reporter further learnt that the quick intervention of the men of fire service stopped the fire from spreading to the entire Assembly complex. Efforts made to speak with the Rivers State Police Command Public Relation Officer, SP Grace Iringe Koko proved abortive at the time of filing this report. Security was beefed up at the complex while firefighters…

THE Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has inaugurated an Aquaculture Training Centre in Elugwu-Umuntu, Olokoro community in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, as part of its efforts to boost agriculture in the Niger Delta region. Speaking during the commissioning, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, stated that agriculture was one of the key agendas of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, noting: “This initiative is a strategic alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically targeting the eradication of poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2). “The Centre is poised to become a cornerstone in…

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited said it recorded 149 incidences of crude oil theft across the Niger Delta in one week. In a statement on Tuesday, the Company said in one of the incidents, an oil bunkering site was uncovered in Osuobodo between two ANTAN flow stations south of Oguta naval base in Imo state. It stated, “Far from the regular, these criminals have taken their activities a notch higher. In this camp, CCTV cameras have been installed on trees by the thieves to look out for security operatives. Mortar launchers and defence systems were also mounted by the…

THE Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, says it will partner with financial institutions to assist women to access finance to enhance their livelihood. Speaking during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Union Bank Nigeria at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Commission’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, pledged to partner on Women Empowerment in the Niger Delta Region. He said: “We are looking at providing single digit loans to support the women. That is why we are supporting the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce to build entrepreneurs. The Chamber of Commerce will help us to share the…