Author: Emmanuel Obe

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olugbenga Adepoju, has visited the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Port Harcourt to express his regret over the recent assault on journalists by police personnel in the state. The commissioner, who was out of state during the incident, said he was shocked to hear about the assault and immediately ordered an investigation. He stated that no evidence was presented to justify the actions of the police officers involved, leading to the immediate removal of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area. “Journalists are a vital part of…

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced the relocation of its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Enugu, citing the unconstitutional declaration of a state of emergency and the subsequent appointment of a Sole Administrator in Rivers State. In a statement released on April 10th, the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN, stated that the association “could not, in good conscience, proceed with the AGC in a state governed unconstitutionally by a Sole Administrator.” The NBA strongly condemned the actions of the Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, who they claimed operated with impunity and disregarded constitutional…

Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to suspended Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State, has filed a N2 billion defamation suit against former Rivers State Head of Service, George Nwaeke, for accusing him of orchestrating the fire that engulfed the state’s House of Assembly in October 2023. Ehie also named a television station that aired the interview in his suit. In a statement released by his legal team, Ehie claims that Nwaeke’s accusation, made in a televised interview on March 29th, is false and has severely damaged his reputation. Ehie seeks an order for immediate retraction of the statement, a public…

The National President of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Dr. Godknows Igali, has expressed serious concerns over the dismantling of democratic institutions in Rivers State by the Sole Administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd). In an open letter addressed to Admiral Ibas, Dr. Igali said the actions taken by the administrator have gone beyond his gazetted mandate and were detrimental to the consolidation of democracy in the state. Dr. Igali, who refrained from congratulating Admiral Ibas upon his appointment due to the “embarrassing aberration” of imposing a state of emergency in Rivers State, stated that the actions of the administrator are…

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.) has appointed sole administrators to run the affairs of the 23 local government areas if the state with effect from Monday, April 7, 2025. A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, did not however list the names of the local government administrators and the new board members. The appointments came after a Courage Nsirimovu filed a case at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt seeking to stop the appointments. The Supreme Court had in 2024 declared that it was illegal to run local governments…

…to set up sports institutes in the region About 500 new talents were discovered at the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival, which just ended in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. The Executive Director of Finance and Administration (EDFA), Alabo Boma Iyaye, disclosed this at the closing ceremonies of the sports festival. Iyaye, who is also the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, Alabo Boma Iyaye, described the festival as the beginning of a new chapter in the sporting history of the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large. He stated, “Eight days ago, we set out to create something…

The Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court has issued an interim order barring the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.) from appointing sole administrators to run the affairs of the 23 local governments of the state. Hon. Justice A.I. Mohammed in ruling on a motion exparte filed by Mr. Courage Nsirimovu of PILEX Center for Civic Education Initiative, restrained Ibas “his agents, and/or anyone acting through him or for him or on his behalf or authority from appointing the sole administrator of whatever name so-called for the 23 local government areas in Rivers State.” Justice…

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has strongly condemned the brutal assault on several of its members by men of the Rivers State Police Command during Monday’s peaceful demonstration by the #GetItBack group in Port Harcourt. In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the Union described the attack as unprovoked, barbaric, inhuman, and a violation of the journalists’ fundamental rights. The statement, which was signed by the Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia and the Secretary, Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia, demanded an apology by the Rivers State Police Command within 14 days over the matter. The affected journalists, including Charles…

Prof. Silva Opuala-Charles, the President of Garden City Premier Business School, has said that oil exploratory and production activities in the Niger Delta are a major threat to the multi-trillion dollar blue economy in Nigeria. Prof. Opuala-Charles, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the 2025 Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents’ Chapel Week, Port Harcourt, described oil pollution as poison to the growth of the blue economy. The 2025 Correspondents’ Week has ‘The Blue Economy: Starting Steps for Rivers State’ as its theme, and ‘Enhancing the Economic Welfare of Journalists in a Period of Economic Crisis.’ Prof Opuala-Charles…

Experts and stakeholders in the blue economy have said that massive investment in key infrastructure and good governance were crucial in unlocking the vast benefits of the blue economy in Rivers State. This was the key takeaway from the opening day of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Week in Rivers State. The theme of the event, “Blue Economy: Starting Steps for Rivers State,” highlighted the state’s rich ocean resources and the untapped potential for economic growth, job creation, and improved livelihoods. The Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, Mr. Amaechi Okonkwo, said,…