Author: Emmanuel Obe

Elem-Kalabari community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State has raised an alarm over what it described as a worsening environmental disaster caused by persistent pollution and two major oil spills linked to NNPC Eighteen Limited’s operations in OML-18, Cawthorne Channel. In a strongly petition dated December 4, 2025, and addressed to the Director-General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), community leaders said the spills traced to Well 41 and Well 43 have devastated waterways, destroyed livelihoods, and endangered public health across several Kalabari settlements. According to the petitioners, the spill from Well 41 has…

The Rivers State Police Command has rescued five persons abducted by suspected cultists in Emuoha Local Government Area. The victims, Prince London, Azubuike Kelechukwu, Elizabeth Aniete, Onyebuchi Precious and London Sampson, were freed unhurt during a midnight operation carried out around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2025. According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the victims were kidnapped from their isolated residences by yet-to-be-identified cultists before police tactical units, working with sister security agencies and members of Rumudogo 2 community, carried out the successful rescue. The five victims have since been taken…

A human rights lawyer and public interest advocate, Chief Malcolm E. Omirhobo, has strongly criticised a recent suggestion by the Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Bashir Dalhatu, that the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme should serve as a model for addressing banditry in Northern Nigeria. In a public statement issued on Thursday, Omirhobo described the comparison as “deeply flawed, intellectually dishonest, and utterly insulting to the Nigerian people.” Dalhatu had reportedly argued that the Federal Government could adopt a similar amnesty framework for bandits in the North, a proposal that has sparked widespread debate. But Omirhobo insisted that equating…

The Rivers State Government has announced a ten-day schedule for the commissioning and flag-off of major infrastructure projects across the state, beginning December 10, 2025. Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benebo Anabraba, disclosed this on Monday during a media briefing in Port Harcourt, where he said the exercise would run through December 23, covering key sectors including healthcare, housing and road infrastructure. Dr. Anabraba, who also chairs the Projects Commissioning Committee, said the move reflects the administration’s renewed commitment to delivering essential services and development to the people of Rivers State. “As a government elected on the popular mandate…

The 37.9-kilometre Bonny–Bodo Road in Rivers State has been partially opened to traffic, ending decades of isolation for Bonny Island and linking the strategic oil and gas hub to the mainland by road. The commissioning was performed on Monday by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Umahi disclosed that the full inauguration of the project would take place in the first quarter of 2026. Bonny Island hosts critical national assets, including Nigeria’s Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) facilities, the Bonny Petroleum Export Terminal, and several oil, gas and maritime industries, but had never…

Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) has donated microbiology equipment to Niger Delta University to facilitate the accreditation of the Microbiology programmes at the university. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Allen Agih, commended the EDTF for the timely intervention ahead of the visit of the Accreditation Panel of the National Universities Commission (NIC) . He noted that the equipment would enhance the admission quota of the university as more students can now be admitted for undergraduate programmes. Agih thanked the Bayelsa government for the establishment of the EDTF to intervene in critical areas of need at all levels of…

Bayelsa State Government has floated an airline, Bayelsa Air with the inaugural flights of the first two aircraft landing at Bayelsa International Airport on Wednesday. The ATR-72/600 aircraft, took off from the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 09:30hrs with about 50 passengers and crew on board, including Governor Duoye Diri. The immediate past deputy governor of the state, Rear Adm. Gboribiogha John-Jonah, (rtd) members of the state’s National Assembly Caucus, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri were also on board the maiden flight. Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission,…

…says Governor Sim Fubara will seek second t A prominent public affairs analyst, Kingsley Wali, has predicted a highly charged political contest in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 governorship election, insisting that Governor Siminalayi Fubara will definitely seek a second term despite widespread speculation to the contrary. In a strongly worded commentary titled “Run, Sim Will Run,” Wali, also known as Godfather, dismissed claims that Governor Fubara had entered into an agreement with President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to abandon a second-term bid. According to him, such rumours underrate the political…

The organisers of Bayelsa Spelling Bee say their core mission is to create a platform for young people to excel, educationally and otherwise. The organisers said this as winners emerged from the 12th edition of the competition on Thursday. The competition which was held at Davem Mini Hub and Children Music School in Yenagoa had winners going home with cash prizes of N300,000, 100,000, and 50,000 for first, second and third positions, respectively. The competitors who missed the top prizes got other consolation prizes. The event had Superior Ufoma of Jade British International School securing the first position, while Elora…

Communities in Okwale, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest to oppose the proposed resumption of the Bori Highland Palm Plantation Project by Siat Nigeria Limited. Residents of Buagon, Bekpaa, Buale and Koro trooped out with placards, insisting they would not concede any additional land until all outstanding issues of ownership, compensation, and proper documentation are resolved. Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Nwinee Gbenenee said the communities had already released more than 200 hectares out of the 315 hectares formerly occupied by the defunct Risonpalm, leaving them with no further land to…