Author: Emmanuel Obe

The Executive Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr. Onengiyeofori George, has dissolved the Electoral Committee constituted to conduct the Krakrama youth elections, following allegations of bias and compromised integrity. According to a press release, issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the council, Mrs. Winnie Morganson, Dr. George announced the decision in Buguma, the council headquarters, stating that it was based on “irrefutable evidence of vested interest and predilection” against members of the committee set up by the outgoing youth leadership. He said the action became necessary after receiving complaints from aspirants and key stakeholders, who…

The planned takeover and rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries by Chinese firms has drawn mixed reactions from industry stakeholders and host communities, with operators hailing the move as strategic while community leaders express concerns over lack of inclusion. The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) for what it described as a bold step toward revitalising the nation’s refining sector. The association specifically lauded NNPC Ltd under its Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, for signing a Memorandum of…

Stakeholders in the media industry have called for a shift towards peace-building journalism that promotes conflict resolution, social responsibility, and national cohesion. The call was made during a forum organised by the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to commemorate this year’s World Press Freedom Day in Port Harcourt. Delivering the keynote address, Professor Christopher Ochonogor if the University of Port Harcourt urged journalists to embrace what he described as “peace journalism,” a model that prioritises conflict resolution and discourages reports capable of escalating tension, violence, and criminality. “Focus on solutions, not just the problems,” Ochonogor…

The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof. Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, has commended the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, for sustaining and revitalising the long-standing relationship between the Warri and Asaba kingdoms. Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Olu of Warri to his palace in Asaba, Delta State, Asagba Azinge praised the monarch for preserving the cordial ties established between his late father, Olu Atuwatse II, and the 13th Asagba of Asaba, the late Prof. Joseph Chike Edozien. “I am happy about the relationship between your father and my predecessor. I also enjoyed a similar relationship with him.…

Indications have emerged that civil servants in Rivers State may soon receive an upward review of their allowances, as the state government considers measures to further improve workers’ welfare. The Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, dropped the hint on Friday during the 2026 May Day celebration held at Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt, where she represented Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Prof. Odu said the administration remains committed to policies that stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities, and enhance the standard of living of residents. She noted that the state’s Small and Micro Enterprise Fund has continued to support entrepreneurs and…

The Nigerian Navy on Thursday concluded the 2026 Exercise Obangame Express, a multinational maritime security simulation involving navies from the Gulf of Guinea and partner nations in Europe. Speaking with journalists aboard NNS Kada at the Bonny Anchorage, the Chief of Naval Operations, Rear Admiral Patrick Effah, described the exercise as a resounding success marked by professionalism and strong international collaboration. Effah said the exercise featured 10 naval ships, two helicopters, several boats, and a Spanish merchant vessel, demonstrating the collective readiness of participating forces to tackle maritime threats across the region. According to him, the operation underscored the capacity…

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said the ongoing reconstruction of the Creek Road Market in the old Port Harcourt Township will be completed by January. The governor gave the assurance during an inspection of the project site, expressing satisfaction with the pace and quality of work by the contractor. Fubara explained that the decision to prioritise the market project followed the discovery that traders had extended their activities onto adjoining roads due to inadequate space, thereby hindering ongoing road construction in the area. He noted that although his administration had earlier planned to rehabilitate roads within the Township,…

Mr. Raynus Henry Ebiegberi, an environmental advocate from the Niger Delta has emphasized the need to protect the mangroves, ecosystem as well as shorelines in the region. This is as Raynus revealed that his foundation, Safe Earth Foundation, planted 50,000 mangroves on the Claridon Island by the Nun River in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa to protect the environment. Through a Facebook post on Friday, Raynus disclosed that the plants are now flourishing and progressing well in growth. He noted that the move seeks to protect the environment and shoreline from erosion as well as to support biodiversity. He…

For six days, the ancient kingdom of Gbaramatu in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State opened its doors to the world, as Oporoza, its traditional headquarters, played host to the 2026 Amaseikumor Festival—an event that transcends ritual, embodying identity, unity, and cultural continuity. An ancient tradition, the Amaseikumor Festival remains one of the most revered cultural and spiritual observances among the Ijaw people. It is far more than an annual rite of purification; it is a living theatre of tradition expressed through masquerades, music, costumes, and communal life. That is why Ijaw people from all over the world…

The family of the late Mr. Albert Badey on Saturday in Port Harcourt marked his 90th posthumous birthday, using the occasion to call for peace as the foundation for progress in Ogoniland. Badey, a former Secretary to the Government of the old Rivers State, was killed by a mob on May 21, 1995, alongside three other Ogoni leaders—collectively known as the “Ogoni Four”—at Giokoo, Gokana Local Government Area, during a meeting to address Ogoni issues. The killings occurred at the height of the Ogoni crisis, which later led to the trial and conviction of writer and environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa…