Author: Emmanuel Obe

A Nigerian Army officer, Maj. Isreal Nyananyo, has been remembered by his family 34 years after he died in the ill-fated Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft crash. Nyanyanyo died on September 26, 1992, in the crash involving the C-130 military aircraft, alongside several other Nigerian military personnel. Ironically, the day of his death was also his birthday. In a tribute marking the 34th anniversary of his death, his sister, Ruby Iwoyefa Nyananyo, described the late officer not only as a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country but also as a loving brother and friend. She said Nyananyo…

…coronation unites traditional rulers across South-South, South-East King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja was on Saturday formally installed as the Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom in Rivers State, taking the traditional title of Jeki VI. The colourful coronation ceremony, held at the King Jaja Square in the heart of Opobo, attracted prominent traditional rulers, political leaders, former public office holders and other dignitaries from across the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones. Among the royal fathers at the ceremony were the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, Chairman of the South-South Council of Traditional Rulers; the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe…

President of KAGOTE, Chief Lesi Maol, has called on the people of Ogoniland to put aside their differences and unite in the interest of peace, development and the collective wellbeing of the area as plans for the resumption of oil activities gather momentum. Maol, in a message titled, “A New Beginning for Ogoni,” said his organisation’s earlier concerns over the proposed resumption of oil production were not intended to frustrate the process or seek control of it. He said the intervention was aimed at ensuring that the process was transparent, fair, inclusive and capable of earning the confidence of the…

Energy expert and lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Dr Joseph Obele, has called on the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to urgently restart the government-owned refineries to address the rising cost of petroleum products. Obele said restoring domestic refining capacity remained an immediate and practical response to the increasing prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), urging the government to maximise all viable refining capacity in the country. “The immediate approach to the recent rise in petroleum prices is to restart the government-owned refineries,” he said.…

…Obele calls for caution, inclusiveness By Emmanuel Obe Tension is mounting in Ogoniland, Rivers State, over the planned resumption of oil production, with groups and youths demanding firm commitments from the Federal Government on issues they consider critical to the interest of the Ogoni people. For two consecutive days, protests were held in Bori and other parts of Ogoniland, with youths demanding, among other things, the creation of a state for the Ogoni people and greater opportunities for Ogoni indigenes in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The protesters also raised questions about the activities of the Ogoni Dialogue…

The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared an indefinite strike over the non-payment of some salaries and outstanding responsibility allowances owed its members. The union also alleged that its members had been excluded from the monthly payment of responsibility allowances being received by members of other unions for more than two years. The ASUU branch Secretary, Tarila Amakoromo, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists on Thursday. Amakoromo said the decision followed the failure of the university management to resolve the union’s demands despite a meeting with the administration…

Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has returned to site to remediate a badly damaged section of the Port Harcourt Ring Road at Alesa in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, which had become a nightmare for motorists and pedestrians. The affected section, which reportedly deteriorated after work was suspended during the period of emergency administration in the state, had become difficult to navigate, with motorists complaining of damage to their vehicles and pedestrians struggling to pass through the area. The spot is located directly in front of the country home of Senator Olaka Nwogu, who was recently elected to represent…

The Nigeria Customs Service, Port Harcourt II Area Command, has reconstructed and equipped the vandalised and abandoned Primary Healthcare Centre in Ebubu, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. The facility, which had reportedly been looted, vandalised and left abandoned for several years, was commissioned on Tuesday by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. Speaking at the commissioning, the Executive Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Chief Hon. Obarilomate Ollor, commended the Customs Service for intervening to restore the health facility. Ollor, who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Hon. Virtue Joseph Ekee, described the project…

By Emmanuel Obe The Opobo Kingdom will witness a major traditional event on Saturday, September 26, 2026, when His Majesty, King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja, is formally crowned Jeki VI, Amanyanabo and Treaty King of Opobo Kingdom. The Opobo Council of Chiefs announced the forthcoming coronation at a press briefing in Opobo on Monday, describing it as a significant moment in the history of the kingdom. According to the Council, the coronation will mark the continuation of the historic throne associated with King Jaja of Opobo and open a new chapter in the life of the kingdom. The Council said…

…vows to grow state’s economy from $20bn to $200bn in 15 yearsThe governorship candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Rivers State, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has said political conflicts can no longer be allowed to define the state, promising to redirect government attention towards economic development, job creation and improved public services. Lulu-Briggs said Rivers State had suffered the consequences of prolonged political disputes, with governance, businesses, infrastructure projects and opportunities for young people adversely affected. In a statement titled, “Why I Am Running,” he said the state needed a fundamental reset that would move it from what he…