Author: Helen Okechukwu

In the bold step to reduce the increasing rate of neonatal and maternal death in the state, the Rivers State Government has vowed to upscale its services to zero reoccurrence. Out of 172 Local Government Areas (LGAs) nationwide, over six LGAs were said to have witnessed the cases of increments, says the publication shared on Tuesday. The affected LGAs include Etche, Akuku-Toru, Andoni, Ahoada West, Bonny, and Emohua. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, made this disclosure during a 5-day maternal and neonatal mortality reduction workshop scheduled from 26 to 30 January, conducted in Port Harcourt, the state capital.…

The naira appreciated to N1,488 per dollar in the black market from N1,495 per dollar on Friday, according to data from the Aboki Forex exchange platform. However, the naira depreciated to N1,418 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM). Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the indicative exchange rate depreciated  to N1,418 per dollar from N1,421 per dollar on Friday, reflecting a 3 kobo depreciation of the naira. Meanwhile, the margin between the parallel and official markets narrowed to N67 per dollar from N77 per dollar on Friday. For More Details, Visit New Daily…

The Rivers State Police Command on Monday confirmed an attack on a traditional ruler His Royal Majesty, King Mene Baridam in Khana Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. It was revealed in the statement distributed by the Force spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko that the monarch sustained a gunshot injury. New Daily Prime earlier reported that the incident occurred on 25 January, at about 5:30pm, when King Baridam, the Paramount Ruler of Bangha Community, was returning from Okwale Community where he had attended a meeting. Police said that while the monarch’s convoy was navigating Tekar Sogho Road leading to the East–West…

The Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF) has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to security agencies to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible for a foiled assassination attempt on His Royal Majesty, Mene Baridam, the revered Monarch of Bangah Kingdom. The details in the statement shared to New Daily Prime revealed that the incident occurred on Sunday, and has been condemned as a brazen assault on the monarch and the dignity of Ogoniland. Speaking on behalf of the Ogoni youth, Engr. Legborsi Yamaabana, President-General of OYF and Spokesman of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum, described the incident as “unacceptable, provocative,…

The Nkpolu Police Division, Mile 3 Diobu, under the Rivers State Police Command, has commenced investigation into the alleged defilement of two minorsan 11-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy by a man identified as Pasca, said to be about 45 years old. It was gathered that the investigation followed separate formal complaints lodged at the division by the parents of the two children. The complainants are Mrs Ada, mother of the 10-year-old boy, and Mr Alex, father of the 11-year-old girl. The suspect is reported to be a resident of the Pipeline axis of Egbelu in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.…

The Bayelsa State Police Command has described as false and misleading a circulated report claiming that four dead bodies of women were discovered in an uncompleted building in Akenfa, Yenagoa. In a statement shared on Tuesday by the Command’s spokesperson, Musa Mohammed, the police said no death was recorded or reported at the Akenfa Police Station or any other part of the state metropolis. The spokesperson explained that following a distress call received at about 1530 hours, operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit arrested a suspected male ritualist, Ogbe Joseph, over an alleged attempted ritual practice. According…

One person has been confirmed dead while eight others sustained injuries following a shooting incident in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (LGA)of Rivers State. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, 19 January 2026, along Sambo Street, during a masquerade procession by local youths. According to the Rivers State Police Command spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko on Tuesday, a confrontation broke out around 1:30 a.m. involving members of the masquerade group, a legal practitioner identified as Barrister Akpudi Ikechukwu, and personnel of the Nigeria Forest Guards Security Service (NFSS). The force spokesperson disclosed that nine members of the masquerade group…

The Rivers State Police Command has ordered a full investigation into a tragic shooting incident in Port Harcourt that led to the death of a serving Police Inspector and left another injured. The incident occurred on Sunday, 18 January, 2026, at a commercial facility in the Trans-Amadi area of the state, where police officers were deployed on joint security duty alongside military personnel. The Force spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko on Monday confirmed that Inspector Ibrahim Sani, attached to 14 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Yola, lost his life after he was allegedly shot by a fellow officer, Inspector Victor Okus, who is…

Following the fresh political rift that began in January 2026 in Rivers State, the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara has once again been confronted with an impeachment plot after his reinstatement, alongside his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and 27 lawmakers. Recall that President Bola Tinubu halted the suspension levelled against Fubara, his deputy, and the lawmakers after a declaration on 18 March 2025. The six-month emergency rule was eventually called off on 18 September 2025, following the governance paralysis witnessed in the state. Earlier, the Rivers State House of Assembly had asked the Rivers Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, to…

The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) has described the health insurance initiative of Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a life-saving intervention that is steadily transforming access to healthcare across the state. This position was made known on Wednesday, January 14, 2025, when the management of RIVCHPP, led by its Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Vetty Agala, paid a courtesy visit to the Head of Service of Rivers State, Dr. (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, at the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt. Dr. Agala said the operationalisation of the state health insurance scheme has eased the financial burden of…