Author: Emmanuel Obe

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has described the fire incident that gutted a section of the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt on Monday evening as unfortunate but said it would accelerate his administration’s plans to rehabilitate the entire complex. Governor Fubara stated this, when he visited the scene to assess the level of damage caused by the fire, which affected a creche facility used by civil servants. The governor, who was received by jubilant workers, the Head of Service, and some Permanent Secretaries, including the newly sworn-in Mr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, expressed gratitude that no life was lost and…

…Bayelsa Electricity Company says 60MW gas plant 85% complete Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited (BEC Ltd) has assured residents of Yenagoa and its environs that uninterrupted, 24-hour power supply will become a reality before the end of December 2025. The Director of Operations, Mr. Steve Bubagah Jnr, gave the assurance on Wednesday during a media tour of the company’s 60-megawatt (MW) gas-powered electricity plant currently under installation at Elebele, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Bubagah disclosed that the project, which is 85 percent completed, is progressing according to schedule and specifications. “We are making steady progress. At this stage,…

At least 1,000 women in Rivers State have received financial empowerment grants under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and the Rivers State Government. The beneficiaries, comprising small-scale traders and entrepreneurs, were each given ₦50,000 to boost their businesses at a ceremony held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Government House, Port Harcourt. While the RHI and TEF provided grants to 500 women, the Rivers State Government, led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his wife, Lady Valerie Fubara, extended the gesture to an additional 500 women,…

…As Bayelsa marks 2025/2026 Legal Year Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has called on Nigerians to allow the judiciary to perform its duties independently and in accordance with the dictates of conscience and the rule of law. Diri made the appeal on Friday during the 2025/2026 Legal Year Thanksgiving and Valedictory Court Session held at the Bayelsa State High Court complex in Yenagoa. The governor described the judiciary as the “hope of the common man,” urging citizens to respect and support its role in upholding justice and fairness in society. “It has become an annual ritual, but we all…

…commends Ogbakiri community Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has resumed inspection of projects he left after he was suspended by President Bola Tinubu as part of the state. At the end of the inspection, the governor interacted with members of the communities where the projects are sites and commended Ogbakiri for creating a friendly atmosphere for the contractor.” The governor said, “We also inspected two important projects that are sure to facilitate ease of movement and connect the people. “The projects are the Emohua–Ogbakiri–Egbelu Road and the Tema-Buguma–Degema–Abonnema Road. “With the contractor now remobilized to site, God willing, the projects…

Being Press Statement from Government House, Port Harcourt from the Thanksgiving Service held for the former Sole Administrator, Rivers State Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.) on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at the Ecumenical Centre, Port Harcourt Port Harcourt, Nigeria, September 14, 2025. The Administrator of Rivers State, His Excellency Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has issued an appeal to the people of Rivers State, urging them to transcend bitterness, political rivalry, and self-interest to forge a united path toward peace and sustainable development. The Administrator made the call today during an Inter-Denominational Church Thanksgiving Service held at the Ecumenical Centre…

A mysterious fire burnt part of the basement of the Podium Block of the Rivers State Secretariat complex today. The fire, which sent workers scampering for safety caught just as workers were closing from work. Intervention of Rivers State Fire Service and other emergency agencies helped to put out the fire after about an hour of continuous burning. The Head of Service of the state, Dr. Inyingi Brown, however attributed the fire to electrical fault. The incident attracted a large crowd of sympathisers to the scene. The state government had promised to rehabilitate the complex for many years now. Lavatories…

The Niger Delta Progressive Women Worldwide has praised the Presidential Amnesty Coordinator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, for the peace and security that the impacted communities model he adopted for inclusiveness is achieving in the Niger Delta. The concept of impacted communities is a model adopted by the Presidential Amnesty Administrator to ensure that its programmes also accommodate oil impacted communities and not only the oil producing host communities. According to the National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Progressive Women Worldwide, Comrade Andakuro Miebi, other government agencies, IOCs and development partners should adopt that model. We commend the support of an experienced…

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…