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An indigenous language advocate and linguist, Josiah Egbilika, has called on the federal and state governments to prioritize indigenous language development as a national problem. Egbilika lamented the continuous neglect towards language development from both national and states’ budgets. According to him, there is no way the about 527 languages in Nigeria can be truly developed and properly documented without money. He pointed out regrettably that the N28.7 trillion budget passed by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration did not cover the development of indigenous languages in Nigeria, adding that “the main reason for this continuous neglect is because government after…

… Decries ‘Lack of Federal Roads’ By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa The Bayelsa State Government has set up a 10-member Road Safety Advisory Council to work with other appropriate government agencies to ensure safety on the roads in the state. Inaugurating the advisory council at Government House, Yenagoa, on Thursday, the deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said the council was set up in line with the Road Safety Act which made provision for the statutory body in every state of the federation. Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who emphasized that the safety of passengers and vehicles plying the roads was the primary responsibility of…

By Amos Odhe Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has warned political appointees against corruption and abuse of office in their various ministries and agencies. He handed down this warning at the 2024 prayer programme of the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he was endorsed as the governorship flag bearer of the party for 2026 guber polls. Addressing party stakeholders and top officials of the state government, Governor Adeleke said “from the outside, we are inside as officials of the government. Those yet to be reached will soon get accommodated. Those already appointed should be mindful of public…

By Mandy Tina As the hot and dry weather condition continues, a medical expert and chairman, Nigerian Medical Association Rivers State, Dr Ebbi Robinson, has advised the public to stay hydrated and avoid direct sunlight. Dr. Robinson, who disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Port Harcourt, explained that the recent hotness in weather, which is caused by the ozone layer depletion, can be very harmful to the body. According to him, when the temperature rises above 45°c people can have heatstroke which may result to death, loss of consciousness or loss in vital functions of part of…

By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa Foropa, a fishing settlement along the Atlantic coastline in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has reported a ‘mystery’ oil spill that left the coastline polluted. Mystery spills refer to crude oil leaks from unknown sources where there are many oil firms operating near each other. According to a January 8 notification letter signed by Pastor Olabai Olozulu, traditional ruler of Foropa, the oil leak along the coastline was noticed on January 3. The letter was addressed to the head of Bayelsa Office of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) in…

By David Owei, Yenagoa Operatives of the Anti-Kidnaping Squad of the Bayelsa Police Command have launched investigation into the Tuesday night abduction of a 40 years old woman by gunmen along the Opolo axis of Yenagoa, the state capital. The incident, which took on Tuesday night caused shock waves around the state that had enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere with which residents celebrated the Christmas and New Year. The kidnappers, who arrived the business outlet of their victim in a patrol vehicle of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Central Zone, whisked her away to an unknown destination. While Police authorities claimed…

By Young E. Freeborn, Warri The Urhobo World United Union (UWUU) in the United Arab Emirates has again demonstrated the strength and vibrancy of its culture and community. The 2023 End of Year Party/Urhobo Day was nothing short of a spectacular event that celebrated the Urhobo heritage with pomp, colour and grandeur. The UWUU, UAE 2023 celebration was particularly remarkable, not just for the Urhobo community but for the spirit of unity and camaraderie that it fostered among diverse Nigerian ethnic groups. The event, graced by representatives from the Edo, Itsekiri, Igbo and Yoruba communities, was a beautiful tapestry of…

… Says Firm’s Operation Deserve Commendation   A Niger Delta group, Warri Urban Security Network (WUSN), has dismissed the call on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), by a group known as National Awareness Forum (NAF), for the termination of pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Pipeline Infrastructures Nigeria Limited (PINL), describing the reasons adduced for the call as “false, uninformed irresponsible and laughable.” WUSN, in a statement said the operation of PINL in all it corridors have yielded positive results in curbing illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism thereby leading to the increase in the nation’s oil output. In the statement,…

…As Commission gets N300bn for development of N’Delta in 2024 budget Emma Ovundah, Port Harcourt The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has revealed that it has a total of 953 abandoned projects in Rivers State alone. Rivers State Representative on the Board of the NDDC, Chief Tony Okocha made the revelation on Tuesday during an interactive session with traditional rulers in the state, at the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers (RSCTR), Port Harcourt. Okocha said they were at the Council to notify the traditional rulers of their plans and also receive royal blessings from the monarchs. He said the…

By Gesiye Salo Angaye In 2002, Nigeria’s population was estimated around 216.7 million and a total of 88.4 million, comprising 44.7 million men and 43.7 million women who lived in extreme poverty. Poverty means insufficient income, leading to lack of food, shelter, education, health-care, security, etc. Poverty persists partly because of mass unemployment, underutilization of available natural and human resources, non-diversification of the economy, endemic corruption and inequalities. Therefore, any poverty alleviation programme should aim at engaging the unemployed poor in production activities in secure peaceful environment. Nigeria needs a comprehensive, multisectoral, community-based, bottom-up, peace and prosperity programme (PPP) to alleviate poverty.…