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By Young Erhiurhoro The subject of education in Nigeria, and other countries in the world, is usually treated as a national issue because education is seen as a national project and priority of every child in every country. It’s usually in the Exclusive List in the national budget of a country. Even in most advanced countries, education is practically regarded as the fundamental right of every child. But here in Nigeria, education is the fundamental right of every child only in the constitution, and as a legal term. Therefore, when such an important issue comes up for discussion or debate,…

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Thursday, presented the 2025 fiscal year budget proposal of N689.440 billion to the State House of Assembly for consideration and passage. While presenting the appropriation bill christened, “Budget of Assured Prosperity,” Governor Diri stressed that implementing the 2025 budget would require some level of efficiency and synergy in government activities across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). He said the overall outcome of the budget will significantly depend on the level of fiscal and monetary policy coordination. He charged the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to accordingly ensure fiscal discipline, transparency, accountability…

By Our Reporter The Niger Delta region, which constitutes more than 70 per cent of the Nigerian coastline, has enough human and logistics resources to lead the maritime industry. This is because of over 68 years of oil exploration which has taken place mostly in the coastal states and within the waters, thus discovering many locally-made solutions for the associated maritime industry. This position was dropped by the national vice president of the Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji, at the seminar and maritime award event by the Energy Maritime Reporters (EMR) Corp in…

A Bayelsa State High Court has issued an interim injunction, stopping the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) from conducting its state council election scheduled for October 31, 2024. The conference was intended to elect new leadership for the state chapter of the union. The injunction was granted in Suit No: BYHC/YHC/328/2024, where the court, presided over by Justice I.A. Uzakah, ruled in favor of the applicants, restraining the incumbent chairman, Samuel Numonengi, outgoing secretary and chairmanship aspirant Ogio Ipigansi, and another respondent, Kalabo Frank Kalabop, from taking any further actions related to the scheduled election. The court ordered that no…

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) on Wednesday deployed 98 delegates for a boot camp and a refresher course in maritime-related skills as part of its manpower development scheme for the Niger Delta. Addressing the maritime cadets during the flag-off ceremony at the Joemarine Institute of Nautical Studies and Research, Otomewo, Delta State, the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, said that manpower and human capacity development were critical to the economic growth of the region and indeed the country. Otuaro described the deployment of the 98 maritime cadets as strategic and in tune with President Bola Tinubu’s policy on the blue…

By Kelechi Nwaucha Leaders from over 20 communities in five states of the South South and South East met in Port Harcourt on Tuesday to discuss issues of social inclusion and gender equality, with regards to overall community development initiatives and opportunities, such as Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs). Among the chiefs, elders, women and youth leaders were members of boards of trustees, management and advisory committees of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) across Abia, Imo, Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states. The meeting, which was at the instance of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, with support from Oxfam,…

By Godwin Chukwumaechi, Port Harcourt Governorship candidate of the Accord Party in Rivers State in the 2023 general elections, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has said that the high cost of getting quality education in Nigeria is contributing to widening the gap between the rich and poor in the society. Speaking in Port Harcourt at the finals of the Education Champion League Quiz Competition among secondary schools at the weekend Lulu Briggs noted that getting quality education is now very expensive. He lamented that situation has widened the gap between the rich and the poor, calling on well-meaning individuals to support the…

… As EMR, NUJ Seek Improved Reportage of Maritime Sector in Niger Delta The Nigerian Institute of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (NIMENA) has raised alarm over the absence of professionalism and lack of standardization in country’s maritime sector, noting that some certifications were being ridiculed abroad. National Chairman of NIMENA, Dr Daniel Tamunodukobipi, who disclosed these at the ongoing 2024 Energy and Maritime Reporters’ Seminar and Awards in Port Harcourt, lamented the poor certifications of boats, which have led to increased boat accidents in the country. The EMR Seminar and Awards 2024 haf the theme; ‘Understanding the Maritime Subsector…

By Godwin Chukwumaechi, Port Harcourt The coastal city of Ikuru Town in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State is set to enjoy access to potable water by December 2024, following a contract signed by the Ikuru Town Host Community Development Trust HCDT and two contractors. Contract for the N500 million water project was signed at the weekend by the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the HCDT and two contractors Gemark Construction Limited and Peeman Integrated Services. The first phase of the project that will gulp about N150 million has GEMARK construction limited handling two major water drilling, while PEEMAN…

By Ehichioya Ezomon Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s made the world to believe that his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike, is the architect and purveyor of the political crisis in the state. He’s used every opportune moment to drum this narrative for the consumption of a sympathetic public. Fubara struck a similar cord lately, at the heat of the contentious and bloody October 5, 2024, local government council election that’s resisted and boycotted by the Wike faction of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the…