Author: Emmanuel Obe

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has licensed 83 refineries across the country, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to transform its oil sector under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). According to a press statement released by the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), the newly licensed refineries possess a combined refining capacity of 1,124,500 barrels per day. The licenses comprise eight refineries granted Licenses to Operate (LTO), 30 with Licenses to Construct (LTC), and 45 issued Licenses to Establish (LTE). At a recent event in Abuja marking his 65th birthday, PETROAN…

The Administrator of Rivers State, retired Vice-admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has called on the Christian community to play a central role in restoring peace and unity amid ongoing political and security challenges in the state. During a meeting with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rivers State Chapter, held at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the Administrator stressed the importance of the Church’s moral influence in rebuilding trust and fostering reconciliation. Extending Easter greetings, Admiral Ibas said the season serves as a reminder of sacrifice, hope, and unity, all of which are essential for the state’s…

The Rivers State Police Command has announced a major breakthrough in the investigation into the kidnap and murder of Hope Georgewill, CEO of HMG Attitude Ltd, who was abducted on March 26, 2025, along the Cawthorne Channel in the Bakana River. In a press statement released by the command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, four suspects linked to the incident were fatally wounded during a gun battle with operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua, on April 3. The operation, carried out in a creek off the Bonny Waterway, was based on intelligence obtained from two earlier arrests made in Yenagoa,…

The suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has called on the people of the state to embrace the spirit of Easter by fostering unity, peace, and good governance as the nation journeys towards renewal and transformation. In his Easter message titled “Renewed by the Resurrection: Advancing Peace, Unity, and Good Governance,” Fubara extended heartfelt greetings to the citizens, emphasizing the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as a powerful symbol of hope and restoration. “Easter is a sacred season of reconciliation and unity,” the Governor said. “It is a time when the peace of Christ dwells richly…

As Christians around the world mark the Easter celebration, the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has extended warm greetings to the Christian faithful across the state, calling for renewed commitment to peace, unity, and compassion. In an Easter message released from Government House, Port Harcourt, Vice Admiral Ibas described the season as a sacred reminder of the triumph of hope, love, and redemption through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “Easter is a time for deep reflection on the sacrifices of our Lord Jesus Christ and a renewal of our faith in God’s boundless grace,” the…

The Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has pledged to implement strategic interventions to restore the Songhai Integrated Farms to full functionality, as part of efforts to drive food production and create job opportunities for youths across the state. Speaking during an inspection tour of the farm’s facilities at Bunu/Ban-Ogoi in Tai Local Government Area on Saturday, Ibas said the project holds the potential to significantly impact the state’s agricultural sector and overall economy. He was accompanied by the Farm Coordinator, Dr. Tammy Jaja, and the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr.…

Tensions surrounding the state of emergency in Rivers State continue to escalate as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and a coalition of former labour leaders have issued scathing condemnations of the Federal Government’s actions, describing them as unconstitutional and a threat to democratic governance. In a joint press statement signed by the Chairmen of all eight NBA branches in Rivers State, the lawyers decried the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly, as well as the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as Sole Administrator. The move, initially justified by the Federal…

Journalists have been called upon to stand with the people in their coverage of the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. Pastor Omolara Joseph made the call in a sermon she delivered at a special Thanksgiving Service by the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council at the Redemption Hall Model Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Elelenwo, Port Harcourt. The service marked the conclusion of the 2025 Correspondents’ Week. Pastor Joseph, emphasizing the crucial role of journalists as “watchmen of the nation,” urged them to adhere to God’s principles and…

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has said that the N300 million naira it received from Rivers State Government was a gift, and not it collected for the hosting of the 2025 Annual General Conference of the association. A statement issued on Monday by Emeka Obegolu, chairman of the NBA AGC planning committee, said NBA did not sell the hosting rights for the conference. The sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, had asked the NBA to refund the N300 million it collected from the state government after the association relocated the conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu because of the…

Tensions within the Rivers State judiciary and political establishment intensified on Monday following the voluntary retirement of a senior magistrate and a demand by the state government for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to refund N300 million previously allocated for its now-relocated 2025 Annual General Conference. In a strongly worded resignation letter, Magistrate Ejike King George announced his retirement from the state judiciary after 16 years of service, citing unease with the “quasi-military administration” currently governing Rivers State under a federally appointed Sole Administrator. “This difficult and regrettable decision is informed largely by my discomfort with the recent appointment of…