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All Eyes On Miss World 2026 Crown As FG, RSG Delegations Land In Vietnam To Back Karibi-George

The Atlantic Bell
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All roads lead to Nha Trang, Vietnam, on Saturday as Nigeria’s representative at the 2026 Miss World Festival, Queen Tamunosoye Karibi-George, takes centre stage in the competition’s grand finale, with a high-powered Nigerian delegation mobilising support for the Rivers State-born beauty queen.

The finale has generated excitement among Nigerians in Vietnam following Karibi-George’s impressive run in the competition, which has seen her secure a place among the Top 40 contestants and emerge as one of the African contestants attracting significant attention.

Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye, earned her place in the Top 40 after navigating the preliminary stages of the competition, strengthening Nigeria’s hopes of recording a strong finish at the global pageant.

Her campaign has also been built around the Miss World philosophy of “Beauty With a Purpose,” with her advocacy and public engagements helping to position her as more than a contestant competing for a crown.

A high-powered Federal Government delegation is in Nha Trang to support the Nigerian representative. President Bola Tinubu is represented by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who is leading the delegation.

Rivers State is also strongly represented, with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honor Sirawoo, mni, representing Governor Siminalayi Fubara and leading the state delegation.

Among other prominent Nigerians in Vietnam is Prof Steve Azaiki, former Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government and former member of the House of Representatives, who also serves as Chairman of Miss World Nigeria.

Also present is Engr Udengs Eradiri, a Bayelsa-based activist and politician, while the Silverbird Group delegation is led by the National Director of Miss World Nigeria, Guy Murray-Bruce.

Karibi-George’s family has equally travelled to Vietnam to stand behind her, with her parents, Barrister Karibi and Mrs Ebitari George, joined by her uncle, Dr Dawari George, a former member of the House of Representatives, alongside other members of the Prince George Group of Houses from Buguma, Rivers State, and the Aganaba Royal Family of Odi, Bayelsa State.

The TeamSoye lead, Prince Iwefa Aganaba, described the finale as a “coronation ceremony” celebrating beauty, purpose and national pride.

The strong African solidarity behind the Nigerian contestant has further heightened expectations, with supporters describing the level of continental backing for Soye as unprecedented in the history of the competition.

Karibi-George’s journey to the Miss World stage has been closely followed in Nigeria since she was crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026. Her emergence has particularly resonated in Rivers State, where her success has been celebrated as a source of pride for the state and the wider Niger Delta.

With the grand finale now upon the contestants, attention is focused on whether the Nigerian beauty queen can convert her strong preliminary showing into a place among the finalists and ultimately challenge for the coveted Miss World crown.

For the Nigerian delegation in Nha Trang, however, the message is unequivocal: Nigeria is ready, Nigeria is here, and the day belongs to Soye.

Rivers Assembly Opens Fresh War With PAMO, Probes N6bn Funding

The Atlantic Bell
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The Rivers State House of Assembly has opened a fresh front in its dispute with PAMO University of Medical Sciences, constituting a seven-member ad hoc committee to probe funds released to the institution by the state government since its establishment in 2017.

The investigation, approved by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, is being conducted under Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The seven-member committee is chaired by Dumle Maol. Other members are Silvanus Nwankwo, Lemchi Nyeche, Henrietta Loolo, Peter Abbey, Napoleon Ukalikpe and Emilia Amadi.

The committee is expected to establish the total amount of public funds released to PAMO University over the years and determine whether the money was utilised for the purposes for which it was provided.

It will also investigate the university’s scholarship scheme, including the number and identities of beneficiaries, if any, alongside other issues relating to the management and utilisation of government funds.

The development is likely to deepen the controversy surrounding the university and the Assembly, coming shortly after the legislature declined to approve the N6 billion allocation proposed for PAMO University in the state’s 2026 budget.

The Assembly’s latest action also comes against the backdrop of a legal threat issued by PAMO University to the Speaker.

The university, through its solicitors, had demanded the retraction of what it described as malicious and defamatory comments attributed to Hon. Amaewhule concerning the institution, as well as a public apology.

The university warned that failure to meet its demands could result in legal action against the Speaker.

With the Assembly now launching a formal probe into the university’s funding, the dispute appears set to assume a broader financial and constitutional dimension.

The committee is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the House on or before September 30, 2026.

FG Mobilises Nigerians For Soye As Miss World Final Beckons

The Atlantic Bell
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The Federal Government has rallied Nigerians to support Nigeria’s representative at the 73rd Miss World contest, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye, as she advances towards the grand finale of the global pageant.

Minister of Arts and Culture, Hannatu Musawa, urged Nigerians to throw their weight behind the Rivers State-born beauty queen, who has distinguished herself at the ongoing competition in Vietnam.

Karibi-George recently emerged Africa’s Top Model and secured a place among the Top 40 contestants, strengthening Nigeria’s hopes of reclaiming the Miss World crown.
The grand finale of the 73rd Miss World contest is scheduled for September 5.

Musawa, in a post on X, praised Karibi-George for her performance and urged Nigerians to participate actively in the ongoing voting process.

“Dear Soye, seeing you carry Nigeria’s name with such grace, confidence and purpose on the Miss World stage has made us incredibly proud,” the minister said.

She described Karibi-George’s emergence as Africa’s Top Model and qualification for the Top 40 as a remarkable achievement, adding that her participation had provided an opportunity to project Nigeria positively before a global audience.

According to Musawa, the contestant had also used the international platform to highlight issues of importance and inspire young people.

She said only a few hours remained for Nigerians to vote, urging them to mobilise friends and family members to support the Nigerian contestant.

“Soye needs every vote and every point matters for the stages ahead,” Musawa said, while directing Nigerians to the voting platform.

“Please, let’s come together, vote, share and encourage others to do the same. Queen Soye, Nigeria is behind you.”

Karibi-George was crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026 on June 5 after defeating 36 other contestants in the national competition.

Her impressive run at the international pageant has rekindled hopes that Nigeria could produce another Miss World winner, 25 years after Agbani Darego made history in 2001 as the first Nigerian—and so far the only Nigerian—to win the coveted title.

2027: 30 APC Governors Can’t Guarantee Tinubu’s Victory, Kwankwaso Warns

The Atlantic Bell
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The presidential running mate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has warned that the support of 30 state governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot guarantee President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2027 presidential election.

Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, said the performance of many APC governors had been so poor that their numerical strength could not translate into electoral advantage for the President.

He spoke on Thursday during a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he cautioned the ruling party against assuming that control of more than 30 states would automatically secure victory for Tinubu.

According to him, Nigeria’s political history has shown that the number of governors backing a presidential candidate does not necessarily determine the outcome of an election.

“Jonathan was the sitting president, and he lost the election. Those who think that because they have more than 30 governors, they cannot lose are making a very big mistake,” he said.

Kwankwaso argued that the performance of the governors and their respective governments remained a critical factor that could undermine the APC’s electoral prospects in 2027.

“The trend is that those governors and their parties have performed woefully. It is difficult for many of them to even come out and campaign because, from top to bottom, they did absolutely nothing,” he added.

The NDC presidential running mate said the 2027 contest would therefore be determined by the electorate’s assessment of the performance of the incumbent administration and the alternatives presented by opposition parties.

PAMO University Demands Retraction, Apology From Rivers Assembly Speaker Over Alleged Defamatory Remarks

The Atlantic Bell
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PAMO University of Medical Sciences in Rivers State has demanded the immediate retraction and apology from the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, over alleged defamatory comments concerning the institution’s management of scholarship funds.

The demand was contained in a letter dated Thursday, September 3, 2026, signed by the university’s solicitor, Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN.

The university took exception to comments allegedly made by Amaewhule while presenting the 2026 Rivers State Appropriation Act to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for assent at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

According to the letter, the Speaker stated that the Assembly’s committee had considered a proposal of N6 billion for PAMO University in the 2026 budget but found that the institution had not been transparent in its management of funds allocated to it over the years.

The university’s legal counsel quoted Amaewhule as saying that the state could not ascertain what had happened to taxpayers’ money allocated to the institution.

The Speaker was also alleged to have said that the university was invited by the House committee but failed to appear, and that it did not present any records or reports to the Assembly.

However, PAMO University described the allegations as “totally false and unfounded”, insisting that it had never been invited by the Rivers State House of Assembly or any other body to account for funds provided by the state government under the scholarship scheme for Rivers students.

The institution further maintained that it had, since the commencement of the scholarship programme, applied the funds strictly and judiciously for the purpose for which they were provided.

The university said the comments had left its management “thoroughly embarrassed, maligned and defamed”, particularly the allegation that it had not been transparent in managing the scholarship funds.

Its lawyers argued that the statements, as understood by an average person, portrayed the University as an irresponsible and fraudulent institution that had mismanaged or diverted funds provided by the Rivers State Government for the education of students.

Consequently, the university demanded the immediate retraction of the alleged defamatory statements and an apology from the Speaker.

The institution gave Amaewhule 24 hours from notification of the letter to comply with the demands.

The letter warned that failure or refusal to meet the demands within the stipulated period would lead to the commencement of legal proceedings against the Speaker before a court of competent jurisdiction, without further reference to him.

Fubara Signs 2026 Rivers Budget, Hails ‘New Era’ Of Cooperation …Pledges People-focused Implementation, Commends Wike, Assembly

The Atlantic Bell
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Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara signing into law the Appropriation Act, while the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martins Amaewhule, watches at Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on Thursday signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, describing the development as “a breath of fresh air” and the beginning of a new era of cooperation, unity and progress in the state.

Fubara signed the bill at a brief ceremony held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, shortly after it was presented to him by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The governor expressed gratitude to God and stakeholders, particularly members of the legislature, for what he described as their diligence and speed in considering and passing the budget at a critical period in the state’s history.

“First of all, we want to thank the Almighty God for making this day a reality. I strongly believe that it is a breath of fresh air and a healthy relationship moving forward,” Fubara said.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the “Rivers First” mantra, assuring residents that the implementation of the 2026 budget would prioritise their welfare, while driving the progress and development of the state.

“I want to assure you that our intention will still remain the progress and development of our dear state,” he said.

In a significant acknowledgment of the role played by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, in the process leading to the passage of the budget, Fubara thanked his predecessor for facilitating the meeting and process that culminated in the signing.

“Let me also thank our leader, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Wike, for facilitating this meeting and this process that we are all signing into,” the governor said.

Fubara also thanked his family and other stakeholders for their support, stressing that governance was a collective responsibility.

He pledged to sustain a cordial and cooperative relationship with the legislature and other arms of government, saying: “Let me thank everyone for this moment and assure you of our most cordial and cooperative relationship going forward.”

Earlier, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Major Jack, presented the Rivers State Appropriation Bill No. 1, 2026, to the governor for assent.

Jack said the lawmakers passed the budget with the best interests of Rivers residents in mind, expressing the expectation that its implementation would translate into greater development across the state.

“It is the expectation of the Honourable Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly that this budget will usher in the desired growth and development of the state,” he said.

Also speaking after the signing, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, commended the governor for provisions contained in the budget, describing them as evidence of the administration’s readiness to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

“We took time to look at the budget and from what we saw, we want to tell you that it shows that you are willing to move forward and ensure that this democracy is actually what will get to Rivers people,” Amaewhule said.

The ceremony was attended by members of the State Executive Council, principal officers of the House of Assembly and other government functionaries.

The signing of the budget signals a new phase of cooperation between the Rivers State Executive and Legislature, following months of political tensions that had affected the state’s governance and budgetary process.

Rivers: Four NYSC Corps Members Die in Service As 12 Ordered to Repeat Year

The Atlantic Bell
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Vice Chancellor, Rivers State University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi (left) addressing the corps members, while the Rivers state coordinator of NYSC, Moses, watches.

Four members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have died in the course of their national service, while 12 others have been ordered to repeat the service year for various infractions in Rivers State.

The disclosure was made on Thursday during the low-key passing-out ceremony for 2,538 members of the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Corps Members who served in the Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Area (PHALGA) zones of Rivers State.

The ceremony was held at the Convocation Arena of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt.

Giving a breakdown of the Corps Members’ final service status, the Rivers State NYSC Coordinator, Moses Oleghe, said 48 Corps Members, comprising 28 males and 20 females, had their service extended, while 12 others, five males and seven females, were directed to repeat the national service year.

Rivers State NYSC Coordinator, Moses Oleghe presenting a certificate to a corp member.

He also disclosed that four Corps Members paid the supreme sacrifice during the service year.

Oleghe urged the outgoing Corps Members to uphold the values acquired during their national service and apply the skills they had learnt to build productive careers and contribute meaningfully to society.

“Do right at all times to all men and women, and activate fully the skills that you learnt in the course of the service year,” he advised.

He cautioned the Corps Members against the growing obsession with getting rich quickly, urging them instead to embrace hard work, discipline, dignity in labour and the fear of God.

The NYSC coordinator encouraged the graduates to remain responsible citizens and use their experiences and skills from the service year to positively impact their communities and the country.

The Special Guest of Honour and Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, also charged the Corps Members to maintain high ethical standards after leaving the NYSC scheme.

Zeb-Obipi urged them to “continue to promote ethical values that will project their personal image and family name, positively.”

Cross section of Youth Corps members at the passing out held at the Convocation Arena of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.

The Vice-Chancellor further assured Corps Members interested in pursuing postgraduate studies that Rivers State University would warmly welcome them and provide the necessary assistance to facilitate their integration into the institution.

The passing-out ceremony marked the completion of national service for the 2,538 Corps Members, even as the deaths of four members and the sanctioning of others underscored the risks and responsibilities associated with the one-year national service programme.

Rivers Assembly Finally Passes ₦1.85trn 2026 Budget After Months Of Delay, Political Tension

The Atlantic Bell
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Rivers Assembly Finally Passes ₦1.85trn 2026 Budget After Months Of Delay, Political Tension

The Rivers State House of Assembly has finally passed the 2026 Appropriation Bill of ₦1.854 trillion, bringing to an end months of uncertainty and delays that had stalled the state’s spending plans.

The budget, christened the “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,” was passed after extensive consideration by the various committees of the House and legislative deliberations on the proposals presented by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The development comes against the backdrop of the prolonged political crisis that engulfed Rivers State and disrupted the normal legislative process, raising concerns over the state’s ability to implement its 2026 development programme on schedule.

The approved budget stands at ₦1,854,248,734,475.76, representing an increase of about 24.5 per cent over the state’s revised 2025 financial projections.

The passage is expected to pave the way for the Fubara administration to commence full implementation of its 2026 programmes, particularly capital projects and other development initiatives that had been affected by the delay in securing legislative approval.

The delay in passing the budget had also fuelled uncertainty over the implementation of new projects, recurrent obligations and other government programmes requiring appropriations for the 2026 financial year.

The latest development is particularly significant coming only days after Governor Fubara held a meeting with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, as part of efforts to consolidate the reconciliation process between the two political camps.

The meeting followed months of political confrontation between Fubara and Wike, which had profound implications for governance and the relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government in the state.

Although no direct connection has been officially established between the reconciliation meeting and the Assembly’s action on the budget, the passage represents a potentially important step towards restoring greater political stability and normal legislative-business relations in Rivers State.

With the appropriation now approved, attention will shift to implementation, particularly whether the administration can recover lost time and deliver the capital projects and development programmes contained in the ₦1.85 trillion spending plan.

The Assembly’s approval also places renewed focus on the government’s ability to translate the ambitious budget into tangible infrastructure, social and economic development outcomes for residents of the state.

37 Feared Dead, Several Missing As Suspected Oil Thieves Inhale Toxic Product In Rivers

The Atlantic Bell
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At least 37 persons have reportedly died after inhaling a toxic petroleum product while allegedly loading illegally tapped “Indorama fuel” at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area of Rivers State.

Several others were said to be missing following the incident, which reportedly occurred around midnight on Thursday, September 3, 2026.

It was gathered that more than 200 persons, mostly youths from neighbouring communities, had stormed the jetty in locally made boats to load the product from an illegally tapped point.

A community source, who spoke in confidence, said the pungent odour from the petroleum product filled the atmosphere during the illegal loading operation, causing several people to collapse.

According to the source, some of the victims fell into the river, while others who escaped the scene developed severe respiratory complications and were rushed to hospital for treatment.

The source said 37 bodies had so far been identified as indigenes of Okrika, while six others were yet to be identified. He added that several persons remained missing.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the incident, saying its network of youth volunteers and human rights defenders in Okrika Local Government Area had reported the deaths.

The Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said no fewer than 37 persons suspected to be involved in oil theft died after inhaling what is locally referred to as “Indorama fuel.”

He said the incident occurred at Okari Jetty while a vessel was loading the product and suspected oil thieves were simultaneously filling their boats from an illegal tapping point.

According to him, the victims allegedly connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline conveying products from Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels that reportedly arrive periodically to load the product for export.

Fyneface said the product was being pumped at high pressure when those involved in the illegal loading operation inhaled the fumes, resulting in the deaths.

He added that some corpses had reportedly been sighted floating on the river but had yet to be recovered, while several others remained missing.
Fyneface called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the scene to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He also urged the companies whose facilities were allegedly vandalised to strengthen security around their pipelines to prevent further incidents.

The YEAC-Nigeria director condemned the alleged sabotage, warning youths involved in oil theft to stay away from petroleum infrastructure because of the dangers associated with high-pressure pipelines and toxic hydrocarbon products.

He, however, called for government intervention through alternative livelihood programmes, including the promotion of modular refineries and the legalisation of artisanal refining.

Fyneface advocated the establishment of the proposed Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI) and the Niger Delta Industrial Park as measures to create alternative economic opportunities for displaced artisanal refiners in the region.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in Rivers State, ASP Agabe Blessing Karbalo, confirmed the incident.

She, however, said investigations were ongoing to establish the actual number of casualties and determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Rivers Police Dismiss Three Officers Over Killing Of UNIPORT Graduate, Declare Inspector Deserter

The Atlantic Bell
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The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed three police officers linked to the killing of a University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) graduate, Anthony Obodo, in the Ada George area of Port Harcourt last Thursday.

The command also declared an Inspector of Police, who allegedly fled the scene after the shooting, a deserter, as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the killing continue.

The State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this on Wednesday in Port Harcourt while parading the three dismissed officers before journalists.

Adepoju said the disciplinary action followed the conclusion of investigations and the establishment of the culpability of the officers in the incident.

“The Command has taken appropriate disciplinary action against the police personnel involved, and the officers being paraded today have been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force and will be charged to court,” he said.

The commissioner did not disclose the identities of the officers or provide further details on the specific roles each of them played in the incident.

Obodo, a graduate of the University of Port Harcourt, was reportedly killed along the Ada George axis of Port Harcourt last Thursday, triggering public outrage and renewed concerns over alleged police excesses and accountability in the state.

The incident had heightened calls for a transparent investigation and appropriate sanctions against any security personnel found responsible for the shooting.

The latest action by the police command represents a significant development in the case, with the three officers now facing criminal prosecution following their dismissal from the force.

Adepoju said the Inspector who allegedly fled after the shooting had also been declared a deserter, signalling that the command was taking disciplinary measures against all personnel found to have breached professional standards in connection with the incident.

The commissioner assured the public that the command would continue to uphold discipline and accountability within its ranks, stressing the need for police personnel to operate within the law and respect the rights of citizens.

The case is expected to proceed to court following the dismissal of the three officers, where the circumstances surrounding Obodo’s death and the extent of the officers’ culpability will be subjected to judicial scrutiny.

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