Author: Emmanuel Obe

The management of Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC) has warned its staff against responding to inquiries from the press over the controversial shutdown of the old Refinery plant for repairs due any moment from now.The management announced a scheduled shutdown of its Area 5 Plant for routine turnaround maintenance aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and performance.According to an internal memo signed by Leo Njoku, HCM Lead for the O&M PHRC Project, the staff are also not to attend to any stranger found within the vicinities of the refinery complex during the period that the shutdown maintenance will last.Njoku noted…

A groundswell of opposition is rising against the federal government’s proposed toll gate on the Eleme axis of the East-West Road, with concerned citizens describing it as an unjust financial burden on the already impoverished people of the Niger Delta. In a strongly worded statement, local advocate Samuel O. Onungwe criticized the move as a betrayal of long-standing agreements and a continuation of systemic neglect of the Eleme community. He recalled that during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, a deal was struck with the Nigeria Labour Congress to dismantle all toll gates nationwide in exchange for an increase in…

Rivers State Government has announced the commencement of a phased rehabilitation of the State Secretariat in Port Harcourt, in a move aimed at revitalizing the public service and improving the welfare of civil servants across the state. The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, disclosed this at the closing ceremony of a four-day Transformational Leadership Training Workshop organized by the state government in collaboration with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). The event, which brought together Permanent Secretaries, Directors, Local Government Administrators, and senior officials, was held to sharpen leadership skills and bolster governance…

Justice Tienabeso has been announced as the new Head of Corporate Communications of Indorama Eleme Chemical and Fertilizer Company Limited.The outgoing Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Jossy Nkwocha , who introduced Tienabeso to journalists at the Indorama complex at Eleme, said, “At the end of this month, Dr. Jossy Nkwocha, will be exiting Indorama. My very good friend, Justice Tienabeso, will be stepping into my shoes.” Nkwocha urged journalists to extend the cooperation they had with him to Tienabeso. Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Rivers State Council, Paul Bazia, thanked the management of Indorama for the good relationship…

Operations at Sterling Global’s dredging site in Obienga, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, were brought to a halt on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, following a mass protest by residents of five fishing settlements who accused the company of neglect and violation of a General Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU). The protesting communities — Otuoyo, Oboloiluk, Utoon Obolo 1, Utoon Obolo 2, and one other — comprised men, women, youths, and children, who barricaded the company’s site demanding a halt to all activities until their grievances were addressed. According to reports obtained by @ConnectAndoni, the protest followed multiple failed attempts…

A coalition of prominent Rivers State citizens has issued a strongly worded letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, condemning his recent declaration of a state of emergency in the state and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the State House of Assembly. In a letter addressed to the President and copied to the National Assembly and the international community, the signatories – comprising seasoned journalists, legal minds, human rights advocates, and civil society leaders accused President Tinubu of committing a “blatant disregard for the constitutional rights of the people of…

Bua Sogho and Ueken communities in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State have rejected alleged land sales and grazing rights to Fulani herdsmen in their area. At an emergency townhall meeting held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Eete Barakaani in Bua Sogho, community leaders, stakeholders, and over 1,000 residents declared that no land had been sold to herdsmen and demanded their immediate withdrawal. The meeting, convened by King Frank Nule Nam, Mene Bua of Sogho, was prompted by protests from the Zor-Sogho sub-community over alleged destruction of farmlands by cattle grazing. The herders reportedly claimed to have purchased…

The Sole Admin-istrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, is battling hard to gain legitimacy more than six weeks after assuming duties in Port Harcourt. Ibas, who served as Chief of Naval Staff between 2015 and 2021, took charge of affairs in Rivers State on March 18 following the declaration of a State of Emergency in the state by President Bola Tinubu on March 18th. But six weeks down the road, the retired naval chief has not been able to win the hearts of both the people and the political class. The state of emergency was called to resolve the political…

The Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) has built an ultra-modern Police station for the Ugborikoko Divisional Police Headquarters in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta. The new facility, equipped with state-of-the-art gadgets, was officially inaugurated on Friday amid celebration. The Chairman of TSSNL, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo was represented at the ceremony by the company’s Managing Director, Chief Kestin Pondi. Tompolo said that the gesture was the company’s shared commitment to safety, security, and community development, emphasizing the place of peace and security in the development of any society. “This occasion is not merely the unveiling of…

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) has been named Major Oil Company of the Year for 2024 by Energy Times. The publication said the award is in recognition of SNEPCo’s contributions to deep-water oil and gas development and the industry generally. According to a statement by Mrs Gladys Afam-Anadu, Communications Manager at SNEPCo, Energy Times also awarded the title of Amazon of Nigeria’s Oil Sector for 2024 to Mrs. Elohor Aiboni, a former Managing Director of SNEPCo now on international assignment in Brunei. The awards were presented to SNEPCo’s Senior Operations Manager, Bolanle Odunayo-Ojo, who represented the Managing Director,…