Author: Helen Okechukwu

The political battle between pro-Wike allies and Governor Siminalayi Fubara continues to escalate following the Supreme Court judgment, causing significant setbacks to the economy and development of Rivers State, with residents bearing the brunt of the turmoil. Since December 2023, Governor Fubara and 27 lawmakers, including Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA), Martins Amaewhule, have been locked in a prolonged political crisis. The conflict stems from allegations of defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), disputes over state fund allocations, and impeachment threats. This unrest has severely impacted the state’s economy…

Another explosion has reportedly occurred at an oil facility in Okwawriwa, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (LGA), following the Trans-Niger Terminal pipeline explosion that happened in Bodo, Gokana LGA of Rivers State. The exploded pipeline is said to be a federal pipeline that transports crude oil to Imo State and Brass in Bayelsa State. It was gathered that the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday. An eyewitness disclosed that the explosion affected strategic points belonging to Seplat, Agip, and Shell. Meanwhile, due to the location of the manifold, reports indicate that no casualties were recorded. However, the explosion caused…

Nigeria’s Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has called for urgent measures to address Africa’s water security and sanitation challenges, citing slow progress toward the Africa Water Vision 2025. According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Utsev made the appeal at the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) West Africa sub-regional meeting and consultation on the post-2025 Africa Water Vision and Policy in Abuja on Tuesday. Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Richard Pheelangwah, the minister expressed concerns over the region’s water and sanitation situation. “Africa remains off track in realising the Africa Water Vision 2025,” he…

The Rivers State Police Command has strongly refuted reports circulated online, alleging that violent riots erupted in the state, resulting in setting the residence of Nyesom Wike, incumbent Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ablaze. In a press statement issued on Monday to journalists, Grace Iringe-Koko, the police spokesperson described it as “deliberate report , false and baseless” with the intent of inciting unrest and fear among Rivers residents. She stressed that there is no record of any such incident and assured the public that normalcy prevails across the state. “The general public is urged to disregard these unfounded…

Nigerian authorities have frustrated the plans of some Drug Trafficking Organisations (DTOs) attempting to traffic hard drugs to the United States of America (US), Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In a document shared on the agency’s website on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy, stated that drugs such as cocaine, tramadol, loud, molly, among others, were concealed inside prayer beads, packs of board games, and female clothing. The drug dealers attempted to ship the consignment via logistics firms and Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. Two suspects have reportedly been arrested after…

The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has commended the boldness of Ushie Uguamaye, the Lagos State corps member who alleged threats to her life after criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s governance. Uguamaye made headlines after her video gained widespread mixed reactions from netizens. Abubakar, in a statement shared via his X page on Sunday, expressed support for the corps member, praising her boldness and wisdom. He described her as part of a new generation of women who champion the ideals of popular participation and unwavering advocacy in the political sphere. Read Also: Hoodlums beat corps member to death…

Ushie Uguamaye, a youth corps member serving in Lagos State, has urged citizens to hold the Nigerian government accountable if anything happens to her. She made this call after criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the economic hardship resulting from inflation via her TikTok page bearing talktoraye on Saturday. In the video, she highlighted the effect of the economy on her as a National Youth Service Corps member while lamenting that the financial strain has dragged her into a depressed state. She described Tinubu as a terrible leader while calling for his urgent intervention in the suffering of Nigerians and…

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has declared that more challenges await the enemies of Rivers State. Speaking during a Thanksgiving ceremony held at Abalama in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, organized by Ijaw stakeholders under the aegis of New Associates Kalabari, Wike reflected on the current political crisis in the state and his role in it. The minister revealed that he had warned his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, about impending challenges before leaving office, cautioning him against certain individuals whom he described as “bad eggs” seeking power. He criticized Governor Fubara for withholding the salaries of 27…

Kaduna State is set to enhance its Primary Healthcare (PHC) system by reinforcing the implementation of its Task-Shifting and Task-Sharing (TSTS) policy. It is a strategy designed to address workforce shortages and improve service delivery at grassroots levels. Dr. Aisha Abubakar-Sadiq, Permanent Secretary of the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, made this known during a stakeholders’ meeting on the TSTS policy implementation. She reiterated the state’s commitment to optimizing its human resources for health (HRH) before initiating new recruitments. She highlighted that before health sector can be cleared for recruitment, its focus is to enhance the capacity of our existing…

Several Nigerian nurses in the United Kingdom are facing deportation following an ongoing investigation into alleged exam malpractice linked to a test center in Ibadan, Nigeria. The UK Home Office has revoked their visas, instructing them to leave the country despite pending appeals. The probe, initiated by the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), focuses on suspected fraud at Yunnik Technologies Test Centre, says The Hope Newspaper. In 2023, the NMC detected irregularities in the computer-based test (CBT) results, a mandatory exam for foreign-trained nurses seeking UK registration. The council subsequently declared all results from the center invalid. According to…