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By Godwin Chukwumaechi Former militant leaders and key stakeholders from the six states of the Niger Delta met on Saturday at the Okochiri Palace of King Ateke Tom, in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, over efforts to tackle crude oil theft. Sources close to the organisers confirmed that the meeting was convened to discuss ways and strategies needed for overseeing the pipeline surveillance contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Among those present at the meeting convened by HRM Ateke Michael Tom were Alhaji Asari Dokubo, Chief Ajube Bibopiri (Gen. Shootatsight), and Hon.Victor Ben Ebikabowei (Gen…

By Paul Williams Mangroves occupy 75 percent of the world’s tropical coast line. Stretching for several kilometres in the Niger Delta, they noticeably serve as one of Nature’s carbon sinks. This potential for cleansing the Earth and sequestering atmospheric carbon, last Friday in Port Harcourt, became the subject of a capacity building workshop on ‘Mangroves Conservation and Preservation.’ Organised by Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Center, with support from Grassroots International, the training brought together civil society groups, community representatives (from the coastal states in the Niger Delta), members of the academia and media. According to the executive director of…

By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), in conjunction with the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), has commenced a level 3 IOC coaching course for coaches/referees in the federation so as to help develop the sport in the country. According to a statement made available by the secretary general of the NWF, Alh. Mohammed Maigidansanma, the training which commenced in Yanegoa, the Bayelsa State capital on October 15th will last till October 21st, 2023. The wrestling federation noted that the initiative is to enhance the coaching and mentoring skills of Nigeria Wrestling Federation coaches and teams, ensuring they achieve…

By Ehichioya Ezomon When someone does a good job, they deserve our praise, and our honour. Today, that praise, that honour goes to the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for a promise made and a promise kept. He’d pledged on September 7, 2023, that the backlog of applications for 204,000 passports would be cleared in two weeks. But the minister was “laughed out of court” because Nigerians had heard such promises from different Ministers of Interior and Comptroller-Generals of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and they never delivered on those declarations. So, Tunji-Ojo making the assurances to clear accumulated passports…

By Young E. Freeborn The Senate has sat for the first reading of a bill that recommends a fine of N50,000 to parents who default in providing their children with primary and secondary school education. The Red Chamber also recommended free meals for every child in the country. The bill proposed by Senator Orji Kalu titled, ‘Compulsory free Universal Basic Education Act 2004, Section 2’ states that every government in Nigeria shall provide free, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age.” According to the bill, “Every parent shall ensure that his child…

… Launches ‘Operation Eagle Eye’ against Non-Compliance By Amos Odhe The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Rivers Command, has domesticated the quick clearance of passport backlog, assuring that the Minister of Interior’s directive “will be strickly adhered.” According to our correspondent, the directive by the Acting Comptroller General, Caroline Wuraola Adepoju, “with clarification on sensitive cases bothering on need to investigate and clear professionally, cases related to suspicion of identity theft, complete change of data and names, date of birth,” further prompted the Rivers State Command to announce the launch of Operation Eagle Eye “to ensure complaince by its personel with…

… Fixes November 1 for Appearance of Witnesses By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa The Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa on Friday cautioned the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigerian Agrip Oil Company (NAOC) against attempts to delay hearing in the suit filed by an Ijaw youth activist, Comrade Collins Trueman Opumie over his illegal arrest and detention, in an underground facility, in Abuja for 730 days. The presiding judge, Justice Duke Charlie, warned counsel to the DSS, George Obiora Esq, and counsel to Agip, Barr. Sonia, to stop attempts to delay the time of the court, and…

By Young E Freeborn, Warri Indigenes of Unenurhie community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, in conjunction with the community leadership, recently organized a seminar as a step to raise the standard of education in the community. The community also called on the state government to provided the needed support, such as the employment of more teachers and provision of other important educational facilities, especially the fencing of both the primary and secondary schools in the community. The seminar, which was held on Saturday October 14, 2023 at the community town hall, brought together stakeholders, such as the…

By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa The governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said political opponents, talking about industrialisation of the state, have no idea what it takes to achieve it. Diri said rather than politicise it, his administration was laying a solid foundation to position the state for industrialisation by investing hugely in road infrastructure and working towards stabilising power. He said the state government had already gone into a partnership with a private firm to rehabilitate and expand the capacity of the gas turbine at Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area. The Bayelsa governor spoke on Saturday at…

By Amos Odhe The national chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme (Phase 3), general Elaye Slaboh, and his national/state excutives have paid a courtesy visit to the member representing Ahoada West in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Sokari Goodboy Sokari, in his office in Port Harcourt. The purpose of the meeting, our correspondent gathered, was for a “formal familiarisation and to seek partnership in ensuring peace and stability in the Niger Delta region for investors to come in.” Responding, Hon Sokari was overwhelmed and particularly thanked the Rivers State leader, Markson Isere (IJB), for leading the delegation. The Assembly member described I.J.B as a…