Author: Emmanuel Obe

There’s money beyond Oil and Gas in the Niger Delta “Without hospitality, there will be no investment; and domiciled in the Niger Delta is a rich culture, heritage and a people searching for a way to express themselves through the arts and monetize everything they have there,” Koko, who is also the Director General of Rivers State Tourism Development Agency revealed. He said for too long the narrative of insecurity had been falsely promoted about the region and nobody had cared about the good things outside oil and gas that the region has in abundance. “It’s like when I am…

Concerns are mounting in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector over the potential fallout from the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks by Dangote Refinery. Stakeholders have warned that while the initiative aligns with the global shift toward cleaner fuels, its execution could undermine livelihoods, threaten small businesses, and distort competition in the downstream petroleum industry. In a report presented by Dr. Joseph Obele, stakeholders outlined far-reaching economic and social consequences that could follow Dangote’s direct distribution model. They argue that the approach, particularly the free deployment of CNG trucks, poses “an aggressive, ballistic approach to competition” that risks edging…

The Rivers State Elders Council has called on political stakeholders in the state to embrace peace and reconciliation following the end of emergency rule and as Governor Siminalayi Fubara resumes full democratic governance alongside his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the House of Assembly led by Hon. Martins Amaewhule. In a statement signed by its chairman, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, the council described the transition as an opportunity for reflection, healing, and renewed commitment to the unity and development of Rivers State. “We urge all stakeholders, without exception, to embrace the peace and reconciliation that has now returned to our dear…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has stressed the imperativeness of alternative dispute resolution in promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in the workplace. The Managing Director of the commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who was addressing an in-house sensitisation seminar on ADR, said ADR is a critical tool in fostering trust at the workplace. The theme of the seminar was, “Promoting Transparency and Due Process in the Workplace: Deploying Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Approaches in Building a Culture of Accountability and Integrity.” It was organised by the commission’s Department of Dispute and Conflict Resolution in Port Harcourt. The Chief of Staff…

Bayelsa State Government has pledged to collaborate with the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) for the training and certification of underwater welders. The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewrudjakpo, who made the pledge during a courtesy call on him by the Director General and other top officials of NACETEM in Yenagoa, said the training would make the trainees employable in the oil and marine sectors of the economy. He however enjoined NACETEM to also extend its collaborative network to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and other agencies on…

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…