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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) to produce and circulate disinformation poses a serious threat to the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
The commission also disclosed that it was conducting a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology infrastructure and considering a mock presidential election to test its preparedness ahead of the polls.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, who raised the concerns on Wednesday in Abuja, said electoral technology and communication could no longer be treated as separate aspects of election management.
Amupitan spoke in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by a National Commissioner, Sani Adam, SAN, at the 13th Annual International Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN).
The conference, themed, “Media, Technology and Elections in Africa: Navigating Digital Disruption and the New Dynamics of Electoral Communication,” brought together media professionals, academics, technology experts and other stakeholders.
In a statement signed by INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, the chairman said the credibility of the electoral process increasingly depended not only on the integrity of the ballot, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result sheets, but also on how electoral information was understood and trusted by citizens.
He explained that the deployment of BVAS and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) was designed to address longstanding concerns over electoral transparency by enabling citizens to view polling-unit results before their movement to collation centres.
However, he acknowledged that the 2023 general elections demonstrated how technological failures could themselves fuel public suspicion and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
“Legitimacy is earned only when systems perform reliably, are well understood, and are explained honestly when they fall short,” he said.
On preparations for the 2027 elections, Amupitan said the commission was auditing its electoral technology systems, with particular attention to system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms.
He added that INEC was considering a mock presidential election to test voter accreditation, result transmission and result viewing under conditions designed to replicate election-day realities.
The INEC chairman expressed particular concern over the emergence of generative AI, which, he said, had made it cheaper and increasingly easier to create synthetic audio, video and images capable of deceiving voters.
According to him, manipulated political content had already featured in recent electoral cycles in parts of West and East Africa, making the threat one that Nigeria could no longer afford to ignore.
He said the challenge extended beyond fabricated content to algorithmic microtargeting, through which political actors could deliver different, and even contradictory, messages to narrowly defined segments of the electorate.
“The danger lies not only in outright fabrication but also in algorithmic microtargeting, which allows conflicting messages to reach narrow segments of the electorate without a shared factual foundation,” he said.
Amupitan warned that AI-generated falsehoods could reach millions of social media users within minutes, potentially spreading faster than fact-checkers, journalists or electoral authorities could verify and debunk them.
He also disclosed that INEC had proposed a substantial budget for technology and election operations, including the procurement of new accreditation devices to replace those lost or damaged during the last electoral cycle.
The chairman said the commission was awaiting the full release of the funds, while its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) team had commenced engagements with manufacturers.
He added that preparations for the technology audit and proposed mock election were continuing alongside the budget finalisation process. Amupitan outlined a five-point strategy for strengthening INEC’s response to emerging electoral communication challenges.
The strategy includes integrating technology and communication planning; establishing a rapid-response mechanism capable of countering falsehoods within the same news cycle; proactively communicating known vulnerabilities and safeguards; deepening collaboration with media scholars, fact-checkers and technology platforms; and investing continuously in public media literacy.
He said INEC could no longer afford to regard technology and communication as separate components of election management.
The chairman therefore urged media professionals, technology experts, scholars, fact-checkers and other stakeholders to work closely with the commission to improve public understanding and strengthen trust in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.
On Wednesday August, 26, 2026, the world watched Nepal as glacial collapse sent a wall of water tearing through the Nepal-China border mountain villages, swallowing homes, schools, roads, bridges and hydropower plants and causing significant loss of lives. All these were gone in minutes.
According to reports, the first indication that something was amiss came at 8.37 am local time,when the earth started shaking along the Nepal-China border, north of Kathmandu.
Scientists later established the fact that an enormous chunk of glacier sheared off from high on a mountain.This plunged into the river below. The section of the glacier that fell was approximately 2,000 feet wide.
A Professor of Hydrology at the Imperial College, London, Wouter Buytaert said, “this is the type of event that is triggered by climate change. Global warming strinks glaciers making it more likely for them to break apart.”
So far, more than 1000 people are found dead, 4,267 individuals rescued. As at Tuesday, 1st September, 2026, more than 4,400 people still reported missing and and more than 65,000 people affected in Nepal and Tibet. There are fears that the numbers of dead may still rise exponentially.
That disaster in the Himalayas feels far from the Niger Delta. But climate science tells us it is connected. The ice that melts in the Antarctica, Arctic, Andes, Himalayas,Alaska,Alps,Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya does not stay there. It flows into our oceans, and our oceans decide what happens to the Niger Delta.
For a proper understanding, we need to put this in perspective. What are glaciers
Glaciers and ice sheets are large masses of ice that form when fallen snow is compressed and recrystallised over the course of thousands of years. The two types of glaciers are the continental glaciers and the alpine (mountain)glaciers. The glaciers exist on all the world’s continent except Australia.These glaciers hold about 68-70% of the world’s freshwater. Together, they cover approximately 10 percent of the Earth’s total land mass.
For 10,000 years they were relatively stable. That changed in the 1900s. Since 1990, glaciers have lost over 9 trillion tonnes of ice. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the World Glacier Monitoring Service confirms that global glacier mass loss has accelerated, and 2022-2024 were the 3 largest loss years on record.
All 19 of the world’s major glacier regions reported a net annual loss of ice mass, though, year 2023 set an individual annual record for single-year water loss with glaciers shedding approximately 600 gigatons of water.
In October of 2023, during a visit to the Everest region in Nepal, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres called on the world to “stop the madness” of climate change, warning that the disappearance of glaciers altogether looms even larger.
However, researchers in recent projections show that mountain glaciers will lose one quarter to one half of their mass by 2100 for global temperature change scenarios. A third of glaciers in the World Heritage sites are set to disappear by 2050.
Also, many mountain regions have already witnessed radical glacier loss with many low elevation and small glaciers around the world, including all of Africa’s remaining glaciers at risk of disappearing within this century.
The ice is melting because global temperatures have risen to almost 1.4°C since pre-industrial times. The extra heat turns ice to water. As a result, the gradual disappearance of glaciers contributes to rising sea levels, increased risk of drought in densely populated plains and atmospheric pollution,where ancient greenhouse gases like methane trapped deep beneath the ice are released.
Glaciers in Greenland, Antarctica, Alaska and the Himalayas melt into rivers into the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific Oceans. The meltwater adds volume to the ocean. Thermal expansion of warmer seawater adds more water. Global mean sea level has risen from 21-24cm since 1900, and the rate has doubled since 2006. All this add up to the pressure in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, which over the years has witnessed severe flooding.
The Niger Delta Coast of Nigeria has 853km of coastline facing the Atlantic Ocean along the Gulf of Guinea.It stretches to a total of nine states including Rivers,Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Ogun and Ondo. The coastline comprises inshore waters, coastal lagoons, estuaries and mangroves especially in the Niger Delta. The Niger Delta is a low-lying, sediment-based delta. Bonny, Brass, Okrika, Warri and Lagos Island generally sit across low-lying coastal terrain. .
So the meltwater from thousands of kilometers away ends up pushing against the shorelines of the Niger Delta, raising tides, and pushing saltwater into our creeks and groundwater.
The impact of the melting glaciers are enormous on the Niger Delta.The glacier melt may not cause a Himalayan-style flood, but may cause slow, compounding damage.
This is mainly due to the fact that higher sea levels mean king tides which now reach further inland. Communities in Okrika, Nembe, and Lagos Bar Beach already lose land yearly. With 0.5m rise by 2050, 30-50% of the Delta could face annual inundation.
Furthermore, as sea level rises, salt pushes into coastal aquifers and surface water. This is critical for the Niger Delta where people depend on shallow hand-dug wells and boreholes 10-20m deep for drinking water. Salinity ruins drinking water and kills agricultural crops.
Also, it will lead to worsened flooding and extreme rainfall. Climate change makes rains heavier. When high tides meet heavy rain with poor drainage in most Niger Delta communities and urban cities, floodwater has nowhere to go.
The critical impact will be the loss of livelihoods in the area. Fishing and farming in the Niger Delta area depend on brackish water balance. More salt from floods results to fish migration, and also crop failure.
The massive inflow of water may lead to Infrastructural damage: roads, refineries, industries and businesses at the coastal line are affected, while repeated flooding corrodes and disrupts production.
With the continuous melting of the glaciers, the next five years and beyond for people of the Niger Delta region is ominous.
By 2031, scientists evisage more “nuisance flooding” during high tide with 10-15cm additional sea level rise globally. And by 2050, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projects 0.28-0.55m sea level rise even if countries cut down on emissions. This will translate to more flooding and moderate coastal flooding will happen 10 times more often than it does today.
High tide will routinely flood coastal streets, damaging local infrastructure and threatens fresh water supplies. For the Niger Delta, that means displacement of communities and billions in damage.
What is worse? By 2100, if emissions continue, 1-2m sea rise is possible and this will make parts of the Niger Delta to become uninhabitable, if there are no massive defenses put in place.
While the rest of the world are preparing to abate disasters, the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole seem to be asleep to the reality that is beckoning.
The rest of the world are developing early warning systems for disasters, community evacuation drills and placements.
The UN 2025 report shows that 119 countries are now covered by a multi- Hazard Early Warning System. Launched in 2022 by United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, Early Warning for All is a ground breaking initiative to ensure that every one on Earth is protected from hazardous weather, water or climate events through life saving early warning systems by the end of 2027.
In the Netherlands the government used a technique known as Delta Works. They have built a country below sea level. The Delta Works is a massive network of dams, slluices, locks and storm surge barriers built to protect the Southern part of the Netherlands from catastrophic flooding after the 1953 floods.
The Dutch also use a system to strategically open and close dams that redirect massive volumes of river water to flush salt water back into the North Sea.
The United Nations (UN) and IPCC have begun the Global Stocktake-monitoring and inventory of climate issues of countries.
There is the Loss and Damage Fund under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change agreed at the 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai 2023 to help vulnerable developing countries facing climate-induced impacts.
It is important to commend the African Union for the Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy which it is delivering on African goal for inclusive and sustainable development. Aslo, the Great Green Wall project to combat land degradation, desertification and climate change across the Sahel region. They must find a way to bridge the funding gap for the projects, which is huge.
Nigeria has to wake up from its deep slumber on these issues. What Is The solution? If we cannot build Dutch sea walls tomorrow, we can do “smart adaptation”.
Research is key in this direction. Research institutes and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) must monitor sea levels, salinity in boreholes, and map vulnerable communities.You cannot adapt what you do not measure.
We must return to nature-based solutions, such as restoration of mangroves in the Niger Delta. Thick mangrove forests act as natural wall against storms, hurricanes and rising sea levels One hectare of mangrove absorbs waves better than concrete and costs less. It also stores carbon.
Another solution is Water Safety,thereby investing in rainwater harvesting, deeper boreholes >40m above saltwater intrusion, and household water treatment for communities. This tackles Sustainable Development Goal 6.
We must adopt early warning. SMS flood alerts for communities like what Nepal is doing. Recently, the Federal Government of Nigeria issued alerts that over 2000 communities would face flood risk across 30 states. Seven states were identified as critical hot-spots.
In a statement, the Director of the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, Mr. Usman Bokani said Akwa Ibom, Delta, Kogi, Benue, Rivers, Bayelsa and Ebonyi states could be critical areas during the forecast period. Also, Adamawa, Kwara,Taraba and Kebbi states had been categorised as high risk locations. Some communities in Borno, the FCT, Plateau, Nasarawa and Yobe states are expected to experience moderate flooding during this period. This is a good start.
Nigerian government must do all it takes to access funds in the area of foreign policy and finance and use it appropriately.
Government should access the United Nations Loss and Damage Fund. Also, integrate climate into the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) Masterplan and push for “polluter pays” from oil companies to fund adaptation.
Communities ought to be involved in this through information and education. Let them be enlightened about the consequences of their actions that lead to climate change. Government must mobilze communities in this regard. Climate adaptation works when people own it.
In conclusion, it is important to stress that the ice in Greenland and the water in the Niger Delta are linked by one ocean. Nepal’s glacier burst was a warning. Our warning may be slower, salt in our wells, water in our streets, people moving from their ancestral homes, and more.
But we still have time. If Nigeria invests now in monitoring, growing mangroves, and community resilience, we can reduce the damage. Climate change is global. The response must be local.
By: Ibinabo Ogolo
Dr. Ibinabo Ogolo is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Geosciences and Environmental Management, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
The Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) 2026 has unveiled its official award categories, with filmmakers from Africa and across the world competing for honours in documentary, feature film, animation, acting, technical craftsmanship, international cinema and film tourism.
The festival, scheduled to hold from October 29 to November 1, 2026, on Bonny Island, Rivers State, said the awards were designed to recognise excellence in filmmaking while promoting cultural storytelling and the use of cinema as a tool for tourism and economic development.
According to the festival organisers, RIFF 2026 received 3,021 film submissions, from which 356 films were selected, while 136 films earned nominations. The submissions represented filmmakers from 182 countries, underscoring what the organisers described as the festival’s growing international reach. The theme of this year’s festival is “Film Tourism: A Pathway to Economic Development.”
Among the major awards are Best African Film, Best International Film, Best Film for Tourism Promotion, Overall Best Film – Feature Length, Overall Best Documentary and Overall Best Animation.
The festival will also honour outstanding performances with awards for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
In the technical and creative categories, awards will be presented for Best Props, Best Make-up/Special Effects, Best Film Location, Best Costume, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Sound Design, among others.
The documentary section features awards for Best Documentary Title, Best Documentary Story, Best Sound Design – Documentary, Best Cinematography – Documentary, Best Editing – Documentary, Best Director – Documentary and Overall Best Documentary.
For feature films, the categories include Best Story – Feature Length, Best Sound Design – Feature Length, Best Cinematography – Feature Length, Best Editing – Feature Length, Best Director – Feature Film, Best Short Film and Overall Best Film – Feature Length.
Animation filmmakers will compete in categories including Best Animator Director, Best Animated Short Film, Best Animated Feature Length Film, Best Animated Story/Screenplay, Best Voice Performance in Animation, Best Character Design and Overall Best Animation. The international cinema section includes Best International Film and Best Narrative Film.
The organisers said the wide range of categories reflects RIFF’s determination to recognise not only filmmakers and performers but also the creative, technical and cultural elements that contribute to successful cinema.
“From powerful documentaries and compelling feature films to innovative animation, exceptional performances, technical craftsmanship and films that inspire people to discover new destinations, RIFF 2026 celebrates the many dimensions of filmmaking,” the festival said.
The organisers added that the awards were intended to recognise filmmakers “not only for the stories they tell, but also for the creativity, technical excellence, cultural identity and vision behind those stories.”
They described film tourism as an important component of the festival’s vision, stressing the potential of cinema to showcase destinations, stimulate tourism, create economic opportunities and connect cultures.
“From Africa to the world. From stories to destinations. From film to economic opportunity,” the festival declared.
RIFF urged members of the public and film enthusiasts to visit its RIFF Festivals Facebook page and TikTok handle @riffestivals for details of nominated films and the various award categories.
The festival director, Osunwa Kenneth Chigozie, congratulated the selected filmmakers and nominees and commended the jury for its work throughout the selection process.
Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) 2026 Theme: Film Tourism: A Pathway to Economic Development Date: October 29 – November 1, 2026 Venue: Bonny Island, Rivers State, Nigeria RIFF 2026 — Celebrating Cinema. Connecting Cultures. Promoting Destinations.
The North Peace and Stability Forum (NPSF) has commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for what it described as significant gains in the ongoing battle against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities across the country.
The forum said the recent successes had strengthened national security and renewed public confidence in the capacity of the military to confront criminal groups, particularly in the North-West.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Chairman, Aminu Daura, the NPSF specifically praised the military for eliminating a notorious bandit kingpin in Katsina State and rescuing hundreds of kidnapped victims during coordinated operations conducted in August.
The group described the neutralisation of the bandit leader as a major blow to criminal networks operating across the North-West, where communities have suffered years of attacks, abductions and destruction of livelihoods.
According to the forum, the operation underscores the growing effectiveness of intelligence-led military offensives targeted at dismantling criminal enclaves and restoring stability to affected communities.
The NPSF also hailed the rescue of 610 kidnapped victims, describing the operation as a significant humanitarian achievement that had reunited hundreds of families with their loved ones.
It singled out the rescue of 15 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) abducted by criminal elements, saying their safe return had brought considerable relief to their families, colleagues and the wider public.
Daura said the successful operations demonstrated the commitment, courage and professionalism of Nigerian troops who continue to risk their lives in defence of the country despite challenging operational conditions. The forum also commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the service chiefs for sustaining military pressure on criminal groups and strengthening joint operations across various theatres.
While welcoming the latest successes, the NPSF urged the security agencies to sustain the momentum and intensify efforts to track down fleeing terrorists, bandits and kidnappers until they no longer constitute a threat to communities.
It further called on citizens to support security agencies by providing credible and timely information capable of assisting ongoing operations, stressing that the fight against insecurity requires sustained cooperation between security forces and local communities.
The forum expressed optimism that the recent military gains would encourage displaced residents to return to their communities, revive economic activities and deepen public confidence in government’s efforts to protect lives and property.
“On behalf of the North Peace and Stability Forum, we congratulate the Nigerian Armed Forces on these outstanding accomplishments. The elimination of dangerous criminal elements and the rescue of hundreds of innocent citizens, including NYSC members, are clear indications that the fight against insecurity is yielding positive results.
“We encourage our gallant troops to remain steadfast as Nigerians continue to support and appreciate their sacrifices,” Daura said.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to ensure the direct payment of funds allocated to Nigeria’s 774 local government councils if elected president in 2027. Atiku, a former vice president, made the pledge in a statement issued by his official spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, and posted on X on Tuesday. He said an ADC-led administration would uphold the rule of law, respect court judgments and guarantee the constitutional independence of the three tiers of government, including local councils. Atiku also accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing to implement the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment affirming the financial autonomy of local governments. The former vice president alleged that the Federal Government’s failure to enforce the judgment was politically motivated, arguing that the administration was reluctant to confront state governors who had historically exercised control over local government funds. “My administration will respect court judgments, protect local government autonomy, ensure that public funds reach the people for whom they are meant, and restore true federalism,” Atiku said. He argued that direct access to their statutory allocations would strengthen local councils and accelerate development at the grassroots. According to him, financial independence would enable local governments to address poverty, improve basic services and strengthen their capacity to tackle insecurity, including crime and terrorism, within their jurisdictions. “This move will ensure that development is brought to the grassroots, reduce poverty at the level of government nearest to the people, and guarantee financial independence to the local governments which will increase their capacity to fight crimes and terrorism at that level,” he said. Atiku further alleged that the Tinubu administration’s position on local government autonomy was being shaped by political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential election. He claimed that state governors were being allowed to retain control over local government funds as an incentive to secure their support for President Tinubu’s re-election. “This is not the Nigeria we should accept,” the ADC presidential candidate declared. The Supreme Court had, in July 2024, ordered the Federal Government to pay allocations meant for local governments directly to democratically elected local government councils, in a landmark ruling aimed at strengthening the financial independence of the third tier of government. However, implementation of the judgment has remained contentious. PUNCHONLINE reported in July that, two years after the Supreme Court ruling, implementation of the financial autonomy judgment remained stalled, despite N10.48 trillion reportedly having been allocated to local governments within the period.
