Author: Emmanuel Obe

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, has commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for abolishing the illegal Monday sit-at-home order in the state, describing the move as a major step toward restoring economic activities. The union, however, called on security agencies to strengthen protection for traders and residents, especially on Mondays, to ensure the safety of markets, roads and commercial activities across the state. This was part of the resolutions reached at the NUJ Congress held on March 5, 2026, where members deliberated on issues affecting journalists, residents and the development of Anambra State. In a communiqué issued at…

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has warned that the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, could rise to nearly N2,000 per litre if the Federal Government fails to urgently strengthen domestic refining capacity. PETROAN also called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) to accelerate the resumption of production at the country’s government-owned refineries in order to shield Nigeria from the shocks of the volatile global petroleum market. The National President of PETROAN, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, made the call in Port Harcourt while delivering a keynote address titled “Deconstructing…

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has warned that Nigerians may face steeper fuel prices if the country fails to urgently revive its domestic refineries amid rising global oil market tensions triggered by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. The National President of PETROAN, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, made the call while delivering a keynote address at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Port Harcourt during a lecture organised by the Department of Petroleum Economics and Policy Studies. The lecture was titled “Deconstructing Energy Trilemma.” In a statement issued by PETROAN’s National Public…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has expressed its willingness to collaborate with a Nigerian music ambassador, Mr Damini Ogulu, better known as Burna Boy, to drive development in his hometown of Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State and across the Niger Delta region. Speaking during a courtesy visit by the music icon to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to fulfilling its mandate to develop the Niger Delta region. He assured that the Commission would construct the road leading to the artiste’s community and implement other…

The newly appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, Mr. Adeleye Falade, has outlined his vision to sustain the company’s position as a reliable global supplier of Liquefied Natural Gas while strengthening the role of gas in Nigeria’s long-term economic development. Falade, an accomplished energy executive with extensive experience across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Russia and Africa, said his leadership would focus on operational discipline, strong governance, investment rigour, safety and human capital development. “As MD/CEO of NLNG, I am focused on sustaining NLNG’s position as a reliable global LNG supplier while…

Women in Bodo City in Gokana Local Government area of Rivers State have cried out over the suffering they have been subjected to following the collapse of electricity supply to the community for over two months now. The women who made the lamentation at a programme organized by Kebetkache Women Development and Research Centre, a Port Harcourt-based non-governmental organization, to mark the International World Water Day said the lack of electricity has also taken a toll on water supply as many of them depended on domestic water got from boreholes powered by electricity. In emotion-laden voices, the women said the…

The controversy surrounding the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has again brought to the fore the complex interplay of security, economic survival and regional politics in the Niger Delta. At the centre of the latest development is the call by the Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom and Chairman of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSCON) Traditional Leaders and Advisory Council, His Royal Majesty King Obukohwo Monday Whiskey, Udurhie I, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to investigate what he described as “faceless groups” advocating the revocation of Tantita’s pipeline surveillance contract. Speaking at…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, has said the responsibility for selecting the candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Rivers State rests with the Rivers Elders Council led by Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, distancing himself from speculations that he has already endorsed a successor to Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Wike’s position follows weeks of intense political speculation over who he might support for the 2027 governorship race. Several names had been mentioned at different times as possible beneficiaries of his backing, including Boma Iyaye, Felix Obuah, Isaac Kamalu, George Kelly, Kingsley Chinda, and even the incumbent…

Civil society organisation, Social Action, has raised alarm over what it described as severe environmental pollution in Bille community in Rivers State, calling for the inclusion of host communities in the exit plans of International Oil Companies (IOCs) divesting from the Niger Delta. The group disclosed that the land, water and air in Bille have been significantly contaminated by hydrocarbon pollution, posing serious health and safety risks to residents. According to Social Action, laboratory analysis conducted by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on air samples collected from Bille in December 2025 confirmed the presence of…

…says they undermine democracy A former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, has criticised the high cost of political party nomination forms in Nigeria, describing the fees as undemocratic and exclusionary, warning that they could undermine citizens’ participation in governance. Chidoka, in a statement issued on March 28, 2026, expressed concern over recently announced nomination fees attributed to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which placed the cost of the presidential form at ₦200 million, governorship at ₦150 million, Senate at ₦100 million, House of Representatives at ₦70 million, and State House of Assembly at ₦20 million. He, however, noted that…