Author: Emmanuel Obe

The National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA) and disaster response organisations in Bayelsa have pledged joint efforts to mitigate the impact of the impending flood. The Nigeria Meteorological Service and Nigeria Hydrological Agency had predicted that some 30 states of the federation including Bayelsa were at risk of flood in 2025. The stakeholders strategic coordination meeting on preparedness and response to flood and other emergencies in Bayelsa held on Wednesday at the BYSEMA office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital., The Head of Operations at NEMA’s Port Harcourt Zonal Office, Mr Eric Ebhodaghe, noted that collaboration was…

The former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, shortly before leaving office launched the adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and a suite of new revenue codes. The launch, which took place at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Port Harcourt, was the culmination of a reform initiative designed to align Rivers State with global best practices in public financial management. Vice Admiral Ibas stated that the reforms were necessary to address systemic weaknesses in the state’s revenue architecture. “For too long, our revenue system has suffered from weak or imprecise computation,…

The former Administrator of Rivers State, Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has said that he left a legacy of governance in Rivers State that has become a model for good governance. Ibas, who spoke at a public lecture to mark the end of his tenure as the sole administrator of the state, declared that the state had been successfully stabilised under his stewardship. The Public Lecture themed, “Democracy and Good Governance,” brought together academics, policymakers, and citizens to reflect on Nigeria’s democratic journey and the recent experience of Rivers State. Vice Admiral Ibas recalled that his core mandate was to…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has affirmed its commitment to regional development through inclusive dialogue and transparency in the implementation of projects across the Niger Delta region. The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku stated this during a stakeholders meeting on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Warri, Delta State. Ogbuku, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Environmental Protection and Control, Mr. Oscar Gbayisemore, noted that sustainable development must go hand-in-hand with environmental protection. He called for deeper collaboration with stakeholders during project implementation. The NDDC Chief Executive Officer further highlighted the synergy between the NDDC and the…

Pandemonium broke out on Saturday at the Alfred Diette-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, where thousands of local government workers had gathered for a long-running verification exercise. Frustrated after days of waiting without being attended to, the workers, many of them nursing mothers, pregnant women, and sick persons, resorted to protest, creating a commotion at the venue. The verification exercise, which began more than a month ago, is part of the state government’s reforms to cleanse the payroll of ghost workers. But the slow pace and logistical lapses have left many workers stranded. Several of those at the civic centre said…

Hon. Justice Patience Diri, wife of Bayelsa Governor, has encouraged youths to discipline themselves through reading quality literature. Diri, who spoke at the unveiling of the book, “When Tomorrow Beckons” and the fund raiser for Spelling Bee Bayelsa, commended the author for the courage and discipline she showed in writing the book and her encouragement to young people to be disciplined through reading books. “My father who was a journalist always encouraged us to read newspapers and good literature books during our days when growing up as teenagers. “Books are unique and it shapes memories that live forever than life…

The Boyloaf Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has called for the promotion of peace and values of tolerance, respect and empathy among the youths, especially boys, in the Niger Delta. The foundation, dedicated to non-violence advocacy and the protection of the boy child, in partnership with Miss Peace Organisation and with the support of the Bayelsa Government, brought children and other stakeholders together to celebrate the International Day of peace with a theme, “Little Hands Big Dreams”. The children showcased their talents in arts, poetry, speech-making, Afro dance, drama, catwalk for peace, paintings, music, among others. The event, which brought…

Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo from Rivers State, South-South Nigeria has been re-elected as President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) for a second term of four-years. Sukubo achieved a resounding victory in the highly competitive National Unity Elective Congress of the NYCN, held from Monday to Tuesday in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State. The Returning Officer of the National Elective Congress of NYCN, Dr. Bethel Oko-Jaja, declared that Sukubo garnered 756 votes to defeat his closest rival, Elizabeth Olawande from the South-West, who polled 32 votes, and another opponent Usaini Mohammad Kaoje from the North-West, who secured…

The death has been announced of a female referee in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Miss Happiness Friday. She died on Friday. A message by Secretary of the Eleme Football Referee Society, Rev. Joseph Epobari Oluji, said the society was deeply saddened and shocked by the sudden and tragic loss of Miss Happiness, a Grade Three member of the Eleme Referee Society. Rev. Oluji said, “The untimely departure today has left us with irreparable grief and a sense of irretrievable loss.‎ “Our hearts go out to her family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. We…

The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) has inducted 12 new female journalists into its Report Women! Female Reporters’ Leadership Programme (FRLP), marking another significant step in its commitment to advancing gender equality in Nigerian media. At the induction ceremony held in Lagos, Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director/CEO of WSCIJ, reiterated the Centre’s mission to ensure more women lead newsrooms and influence narratives. Quoting UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Alaka emphasised that “women’s participation in decision-making is not a gift, it is a right.” “We are not just closing a programme; we are celebrating a journey. A journey that has continued…