Author: Emmanuel Obe

Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) has donated microbiology equipment to Niger Delta University to facilitate the accreditation of the Microbiology programmes at the university. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Allen Agih, commended the EDTF for the timely intervention ahead of the visit of the Accreditation Panel of the National Universities Commission (NIC) . He noted that the equipment would enhance the admission quota of the university as more students can now be admitted for undergraduate programmes. Agih thanked the Bayelsa government for the establishment of the EDTF to intervene in critical areas of need at all levels of…

Bayelsa State Government has floated an airline, Bayelsa Air with the inaugural flights of the first two aircraft landing at Bayelsa International Airport on Wednesday. The ATR-72/600 aircraft, took off from the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 09:30hrs with about 50 passengers and crew on board, including Governor Duoye Diri. The immediate past deputy governor of the state, Rear Adm. Gboribiogha John-Jonah, (rtd) members of the state’s National Assembly Caucus, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri were also on board the maiden flight. Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission,…

…says Governor Sim Fubara will seek second t A prominent public affairs analyst, Kingsley Wali, has predicted a highly charged political contest in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 governorship election, insisting that Governor Siminalayi Fubara will definitely seek a second term despite widespread speculation to the contrary. In a strongly worded commentary titled “Run, Sim Will Run,” Wali, also known as Godfather, dismissed claims that Governor Fubara had entered into an agreement with President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to abandon a second-term bid. According to him, such rumours underrate the political…

The organisers of Bayelsa Spelling Bee say their core mission is to create a platform for young people to excel, educationally and otherwise. The organisers said this as winners emerged from the 12th edition of the competition on Thursday. The competition which was held at Davem Mini Hub and Children Music School in Yenagoa had winners going home with cash prizes of N300,000, 100,000, and 50,000 for first, second and third positions, respectively. The competitors who missed the top prizes got other consolation prizes. The event had Superior Ufoma of Jade British International School securing the first position, while Elora…

Communities in Okwale, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest to oppose the proposed resumption of the Bori Highland Palm Plantation Project by Siat Nigeria Limited. Residents of Buagon, Bekpaa, Buale and Koro trooped out with placards, insisting they would not concede any additional land until all outstanding issues of ownership, compensation, and proper documentation are resolved. Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Nwinee Gbenenee said the communities had already released more than 200 hectares out of the 315 hectares formerly occupied by the defunct Risonpalm, leaving them with no further land to…

Community Environment and Development Network (CEDEN) and Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI) have joined forces to combat adverse effects of oil exploration and climate change in Oloibiri communities of Bayelsa State. The two Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) collaborated on a capacity building workshop on Effective Eco-Management Enhancement and Biodiversity Promotion Communication. The workshop which was held on Friday dwelt on restoring lost species and promoting sustainable ecological livelihoods in the Niger Delta. The workshop featured a technical session by Menidin Egbo, emphasizing the restoration of the raffia forest ecology in Ekpadio swamp forest, Otuabagi community, in Ogbia Local Government…

The people of Die-Ama Community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have given a one-month ultimatum to Federal and Bayelsa State governments to include them in the Memorandum of Understanding for the ongoing Nembe/Brass road project. According to the community, they are the most impacted community in the course of the project. The Amanyanabo of Die-Ama, HRH Baratuaipre Eketei Amaene Ikaba XI, said from Western side of Saint Nicholas Rivers to the other side of the bush, “We are the most impacted, the whole mangrove areas fall within our side. “Now a road construction is being undertaken by…

The police in Rivers State are investigating a case in which a woman allegedly killed the seven-year old daughter of her friend and later died herself. The girl, Alicia Olajumoke, was allegedly killed in the Agip Estate area of Rumueme, Port Harcourt. Police said the incident occurred on 25 November at the child’s residence at 21 Okabia Street, where she lived with her mother, Glory Joseph. Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Grace Iringe-Koko, said the child’s mother reported that a woman known as Success, who was familiar to the family, went to Alicia’s school, took her home, and fatally attacked…

The Ogale Graduates Association (OGA) and other stakeholders have called for an urgent investigation into the status of water projects funded by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), following claims that the Ogale Water Scheme is functional. In a statement signed by its Executive President, Engr. Aleyla-Obari Sam Nwanje, OGA dismissed a recent report by a Port Harcourt radio station alleging that the facility had been commissioned and was supplying water to residents. According to the group, the project “remains inactive, abandoned and not functional,” despite the severe hydrocarbon pollution affecting Ogale and surrounding communities. “It is gazzetted in the…

A fresh rift has emerged in the ongoing national debate over the creation of Anioma State, as the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), and legislators from Delta North Senatorial Zone have firmly opposed suggestions to relocate the proposed state capital away from Asaba or align the new state with the South-East geopolitical zone. The opposition comes amid mounting concerns that political manoeuvres could undermine decades of development and the historical identity of the Anioma people. Speaking against what he described as “poorly considered proposals,” the Asagba warned that removing Asaba as the capital would threaten…