Former Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), now the Department of State Services (DSS), and pioneer Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Chief Albert Korubo Horsfall, has died.
His death was announced by his son, Donald Horsfall, in a statement issued on Friday.
The family described the deceased as a “beloved patriarch” whose life was marked by decades of service to God, his family, community, Rivers State and Nigeria.
It said Horsfall, an illustrious son of the Niger Delta, lived a fulfilled and impactful life, leaving behind a legacy of public service, statesmanship and commitment to national development.
“Chief A.K. Horsfall was an illustrious son of the Niger Delta, a distinguished public servant, statesman, administrator, and one of the most respected figures in the history of Rivers State and Nigeria at large,” the family said.
Horsfall was also described as one of the great statesmen of Rivers State, whose contributions to the development of the state and the country would remain significant.
Horsfall was a pioneering figure in Nigeria’s intelligence architecture, serving as the first Director-General of the NIA, the country’s external intelligence agency, established in 1986 following the reorganisation of the national security system.
He also headed the SSS, the agency responsible for domestic intelligence and national security, during a period when Nigeria’s security institutions were being consolidated.
His career placed him at the centre of some of the country’s most important security and intelligence developments, while his public service further established his reputation as a prominent Rivers State and Niger Delta leader.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has commenced a manhunt for persons responsible for generating and circulating a purported press release announcing the commencement of training for 50,000 newly recruited police constables.
The Force, in a disclaimer issued on the document titled, “IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu Directs Commencement of Training for 50,000 Newly Recruited Police Constables,” said the release was false and neither issued nor authorised by the NPF.
The fake document bears the name and designation of the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, anipr.
The Police said it would take appropriate legal action against those found culpable, warning that the perpetrators would be held accountable for their actions.
The Force advised members of the public, particularly police recruitment candidates, to disregard the contents of the fake release and rely only on information published through the official police recruitment portal and verified NPF communication channels.
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has promised to transform Nigeria within a single four-year term if elected in 2027, saying competent leadership, disciplined spending, economic productivity and decisive action on insecurity would form the foundation of his administration.
Obi, who made the pledge in an exclusive interview with Arise TV on Thursday as part of the station’s presidential campaign series, said four years was sufficient to set Nigeria on a new development trajectory if the right priorities, policies and people were put in place.
The former Anambra State governor said he would take personal responsibility for running the government and would not govern through proxies, stressing that the president must be directly accountable to Nigerians for every decision and expenditure. “I will be in charge and I will not run government by proxy. I will be answerable to the people,” he said.
Obi said his administration would focus on a limited number of clearly defined priorities rather than spreading resources across numerous projects, insisting that Nigerians would begin to see tangible changes within his first term.
“I will not spend one extra day. Four years is enough to engender change and I did it as Governor of Anambra State,” he said.
He identified competent appointments, effective teamwork, economic reforms, infrastructure rehabilitation, security and direct engagement with citizens as key pillars of his proposed four-year transformation agenda.
On infrastructure, Obi said his government would prioritise the rehabilitation of existing roads, schools and other public facilities before embarking on new construction.
“We will not build new roads until we fix the existing ones,” he said, arguing that government should focus on completing and maintaining critical infrastructure rather than continually commissioning new projects.
He also criticised what he described as excessive government spending, arguing that resources deployed to less critical projects could be redirected to healthcare, education and other sectors that directly affect citizens.
Using cancer treatment as an example, Obi said Nigeria needed to invest more in healthcare infrastructure, noting that the country’s limited number of cancer treatment centres required urgent expansion.
Subsidy savings for jobs, production On fuel subsidy, Obi said he would eliminate the corruption and criminality associated with the old regime but ensure that savings from its removal were invested in productive sectors.
He cited the Federal Government’s disclosure that subsidy removal had generated about N15.8 trillion, which he said explained his frequent reference to approximately N16 trillion.
According to him, such resources should be channelled into agriculture, small businesses, manufacturing, skills development and job creation to expand economic opportunities and improve living standards.
“The subsidy regime in Nigeria was enmeshed with corruption and criminality. I have said it clearly that I will remove subsidy and fight that corruption and criminality,” he said.
Obi said lower fuel prices could also be achieved by ensuring regular crude oil supply to domestic refineries and creating a competitive refining environment.
He rejected calls for a return to the old subsidy regime, saying his approach would be to make the economy productive enough to create wealth, employment and opportunities.
“We’re going to make sure that we do the right thing that will make the country productive and create wealth, opportunities and employment, a win-win,” he said.
Agriculture, Northern development Obi said agriculture would be central to his economic transformation programme, particularly in Northern Nigeria, which he described as possessing vast arable land capable of driving food production, industrialisation and exports.
He promised to invest in agriculture while providing education and skills for vulnerable young Nigerians, including almajiris, and revive manufacturing activities across the region.
“The north has an asset. Nobody in this country, none of us, none of the areas, can say they have what the north has. I will deal with that asset, and that asset is agriculture,” he said.
He said the strategy would enable Nigeria to produce more food, provide raw materials for industries, create employment and increase export opportunities.
“I’m committed to their future by tapping into the huge arable land that has remained uncultivated,” he added.
Competence, security On insecurity, Obi promised to take direct responsibility for the country’s security architecture as Commander-in-Chief, beginning with the appointment of competent heads of security agencies and giving them clear mandates to confront terrorism, kidnapping and other threats.
“In the first week, it’s for me to appoint competent heads of security agencies with a decisive instruction: We must deal with this,” he said.
He said he would not remain in Abuja while communities were under attack, promising to personally engage stakeholders and visit states affected by insecurity.
“I’m not going to sit in Abuja if there’s a problem in Zamfara. We’ll call the people in Zamfara and see what this problem is, and deal with it decisively,” he said.
Obi said his government would consider every necessary measure to improve security, including the use of modern surveillance technology and possible state policing arrangements.
He, however, rejected ransom payments to kidnappers, saying technology should be deployed to locate criminals and rescue victims.
Obi faults Tinubu Assessing the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Obi said it had fallen short of Nigerians’ expectations, describing its leadership and spending as reckless.
“I think you should ask the people. But if you ask me, they’ve not done well. They’ve been a bit reckless in what they’re doing,” he said. He also questioned whether Tinubu was fully in control of government, saying: “At times, I believe he’s not in charge.”
Obi said his own presidency would be physically present and directly accountable, with regular engagement with citizens and visits to communities across the country.
“Nobody will talk for Peter. Because I’m the one that’s elected. I’ll be answerable to the people. And for every penny, I’ll be answerable to the people,” he said. He further promised to spend his holidays in Nigeria if elected, saying the president should experience the conditions under which ordinary Nigerians live.
“The Nigerian President must spend his vacation in Nigeria. We cannot continue with this nonsense,” he said. Four-year, one-term presidency Obi reiterated his pledge to serve only one four-year term, saying he would not remain in office beyond the period. “I will not stay a day longer,” he said.
According to him, the purpose of the single term would be to reverse what he described as Nigeria’s wrong direction and establish the foundations for sustainable development. “In four years, people will see the difference,” he declared.
He said his proposed administration would be judged by measurable results rather than rhetoric, with emphasis on productivity, employment, infrastructure, security and improved public services.
Electoral reforms Obi also promised electoral reforms that would strengthen transparency and accountability in elections.
He said he would not establish a parallel electoral commission but would ensure that technology was deployed at polling units to transmit election results in real time to a central situation room. “I won’t set up a parallel INEC but will make sure that in every polling unit we have a system that transmits results in real time to our Situation Room,” he said.
2023 election The NDC candidate maintained that he won the 2023 presidential election but said he would accept the outcome of the 2027 election if it was free, fair and credible.
“If the election is free, fair and credible, I will. That’s it. Because it’s an election. I’m not the one that will say who they want to serve. And I will respect the will of the people. That’s democracy,” he said. Asked why he did not concede the 2023 election, Obi said he remained convinced that he won the poll.
“As long as I live, I will maintain that I won the 2023 presidential election,” he said. He also rejected the argument that Nigeria’s presidency should be determined by ethnicity or religion, insisting that competence should be the primary consideration.
“Our elections should not be driven by tribe or religion. Today, in terms of qualification, I’m qualified to be president of Nigeria. I have the competence,” he said. Obi said his objective, if elected in 2027, would be to use the four-year mandate to demonstrate that Nigeria could achieve meaningful transformation through competent leadership, prudent management of resources and decisive implementation of clearly defined priorities.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command, has called for stronger collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), stressing that closer inter-agency cooperation is essential to combating crime and protecting national assets.
The State Commandant of the NSCDC, Dennis Lesor Reuben, made the call yesterday when he led senior officers of the Corps on a courtesy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.
Reuben, who was received by the Acting Zonal Director, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE1), Hassan Saidu, said the visit was part of deliberate efforts to strengthen operational relationships and ensure effective cooperation between the two agencies.
He said security agencies could not operate effectively in isolation, noting that regular interaction, exchange of ideas and mutual support were necessary to enhance their capacity to respond to emerging security challenges.
“We have decided to make out time from our very tight schedule to ensure that we meet security agencies that we cannot do without in the course of our duties. We must meet, share ideas, and support each other,” he said.
The commandant stressed the need for officers of both agencies, particularly those on the frontline, to develop stronger professional relationships that would facilitate information sharing and improve operational efficiency.
He also pledged the NSCDC’s support to the EFCC while requesting greater cooperation from the Commission, particularly in the areas of capacity building and joint training.
“Our doors are open for anything you think we can do to contribute to your service; please don’t hesitate to call upon us. We are also demanding your support, including capacity building and training, so that we can flow together,” Reuben added.
Responding, Saidu commended the NSCDC delegation for the visit and reaffirmed the long-standing relationship between the two agencies.
He said the partnership was particularly important in the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes, as well as the management and protection of assets recovered from suspected proceeds of crime.
“There is a strong bond between the NSCDC and the EFCC; you cannot talk about one without the other. Our work cannot be complete without the NSCDC,” he said.
Saidu specifically acknowledged the role of the NSCDC in securing assets recovered by the EFCC, including seized vessels and real estate properties, noting that such cooperation helps to preserve the assets pending successful forfeiture to the Federal Government.
He further reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to sustained inter-agency training and cooperation, describing unity among security and law-enforcement agencies as critical to strengthening national security and promoting development in Rivers State and Nigeria.
The meeting underscored the importance of closer collaboration between the two agencies in confronting financial crimes, protecting recovered assets and strengthening the overall security architecture of the state.
NDDC Director of Education, Dr Awele Chukwudifu; the guest speaker, Prof. Joseph Kinanee; the programme Facilitator, Dr Adesina Osho; the NDDC Deputy Director, Dr Josephine Joe-Kinanee; and the NDDC Deputy Director, EHSS, Dr Esther Benibo (middle), posing with participants during World Literacy Day in Port Harcourt.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has pledged to sustain its investment in education across the region, with renewed emphasis on infrastructure, scholarships, digital literacy and skills development.
Managing Director of the Commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, made the commitment yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during activities marking World Literacy Day.
Ogbuku, who was represented by the Director of Education, Dr Awele Chukwudifu, said the NDDC would continue to provide hostels, school facilities and educational equipment to institutions across the Niger Delta.
He said sustained investment in education and literacy remained critical to empowering people in the region to become self-reliant and better prepared for sustainable livelihoods.
According to him, literacy provides access to opportunities and equips individuals with the knowledge and skills required to contribute meaningfully to economic growth and development in the Niger Delta.
Ogbuku also assured Niger Deltans that the Commission would continue to sponsor both local and foreign postgraduate scholarship programmes, enabling beneficiaries to advance their academic and professional careers.
He noted that the growing importance of digital literacy had further expanded opportunities for young people, stressing that education remained a major pathway to economic empowerment.
Speaking on the theme, “Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity,” a facilitator from the Department of Business Administration, University of Lagos, Dr Adesina Osho, said digital literacy had transformed human activities by improving access to information and creating new economic opportunities. Osho called for greater efforts to educate communities across the Niger Delta on the importance of literacy, particularly digital literacy and entrepreneurship.
He said literacy was central to economic development, social participation and the exercise of civic responsibilities, urging individuals and institutions to embrace lifelong learning.
The university lecturer also called on tertiary institutions to establish continuing education centres where adults could enrol in part-time programmes to improve their knowledge and skills.
He urged faith-based organisations, non-governmental organisations and community groups to complement government efforts by supporting literacy initiatives and scholarships as part of their corporate social responsibility.
Osho further stressed the role of parents in promoting literacy, saying education begins at home. He advised parents to cultivate reading habits among their children, encourage curiosity, provide access to books and educational materials, and share educational opportunities within their communities.
Also speaking, the Director, Academic Planning Unit, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph Kinanee, identified several dimensions of literacy to include traditional literacy, environmental literacy, numeracy, cultural literacy, critical literacy, functional literacy, media and information literacy, financial literacy, digital literacy and artificial intelligence literacy.
Kinanee said literacy must be inclusive and accessible to all, irrespective of gender, adding that environmental literacy deserved greater attention because of its implications for human health and wellbeing. Citing UNESCO figures, he said about 739 million people globally lacked basic literacy, while four out of every 10 children did not attain minimum reading proficiency.
Kinanee commended the NDDC for its contributions to improving literacy and education in the Niger Delta, urging the Commission and other stakeholders to strengthen continuous learning through digital platforms.
He said expanding access to different forms of literacy would not only improve individual lives but also strengthen the human capital required for sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has challenged political parties to stop paying lip service to women’s political inclusion and provide concrete support to enable more women to contest and win elective offices in the 2027 General Elections.
The Commission said women’s impressive strength in the electorate had yet to translate into meaningful representation in Nigeria’s political institutions, urging parties to dismantle the financial, structural and social barriers that continue to frustrate female aspirants.
INEC made the call at a high-level engagement with political parties on strengthening women’s political participation ahead of the 2027 elections in Abuja. The forum brought together political party leaders, development partners, women’s organisations, civil society groups and other electoral stakeholders to develop practical strategies for improving women’s representation.
The scale of the challenge was highlighted by the 2023 election figures. Of the 15,331 candidates who contested the election, only 1,556, representing 10.2 per cent, were women. Just three women were elected to the Senate, while 16 won seats in the House of Representatives.
Delivering a welcome address on behalf of the Secretary to the Commission, Dr Rose Anthony-Orianran, the Director, Gender and Inclusivity Department, Mrs Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, said the figures demonstrated the urgent need for coordinated action.
She urged political parties and other stakeholders to use the engagement to identify practical solutions to the barriers preventing women from progressing from voters to candidates and ultimately elected representatives.
Declaring the engagement open on behalf of INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, National Commissioner, Prof (Mrs) Rhoda Habor Gumus, said women accounted for 47.5 per cent of registered voters in the 2023 General Election.
She added that women also constituted the majority of registrants during the final phase of the recently concluded Continuous Voter Registration exercise. Gumus said the figures demonstrated women’s willingness to participate in the democratic process, but regretted that their numerical strength had not been reflected in elective offices.
She challenged political parties to provide female aspirants with equal access to party structures, campaign funding, media visibility, logistics, mentoring, security, fundraising networks and grassroots mobilisation.
“Women must not only be encouraged to contest; they must be given the tools to compete,” she said in substance, stressing the need for gender-responsive party policies and transparent nomination processes.
She identified discriminatory norms, inadequate political financing, structural barriers, violence and harassment as major factors discouraging women from seeking elective office.
Representing the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Mr Adebowale Olorunloshola said Nigeria’s poor global standing in women’s political representation was unacceptable given that women constitute almost half of the electorate.
He called for sustained engagement with party decision-makers, noting that the people with the final authority over nominations must be persuaded to embrace gender-inclusive politics. According to him, improving women’s representation would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic credentials.
The Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, however, rejected suggestions that women’s involvement in the 2027 elections had declined.
He urged stakeholders to examine available data before reaching such conclusions, noting that some women had received support from political parties, while others had relied on personal resources and initiatives to participate.
Earlier, Deputy Director, Gender, Mrs Hembadoon Akaayar, said the engagement was designed to secure firm commitments from political parties to support female candidates and guarantee equitable access to campaign resources.
She said the objectives also included increasing women’s political visibility, strengthening protection against violence and harassment, creating a supportive political environment and sustaining support for women beyond the 2027 elections.
In a keynote presentation, former Director of Voter Education and Publicity and electoral legal expert, Barrister Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, examined global trends in women’s political participation as well as Nigeria’s constitutional and international obligations on gender equality.
Uzzi drew lessons from countries that have successfully improved women’s representation, urging Nigerian political parties to embrace bold reforms capable of creating opportunities for women to emerge as candidates, leaders and decision-makers.
The engagement featured a panel discussion and interactive dialogue focusing on the financial, structural and socio-cultural barriers confronting women in politics.
A draft communique containing proposed commitments and recommendations from the discussions was presented by Samuel Bassey and adopted by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Barrister Sylvester Sly Ezeokenwa, on behalf of IPAC.
The adoption was seen as a significant outcome of the engagement, with participants stressing that putting women on the ballot was only the first step.
In his closing remarks, Chairman of the Outreach and Partnership Committee (OPC), Prof Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, said the emergence of women as candidates must be followed by deliberate efforts to ensure they remain competitive through the general election.
He particularly identified the period between party primaries and the general election as critical, urging parties to provide female candidates with campaign platforms, resources, visibility, political networks and institutional support.
For the stakeholders, the message ahead of 2027 is clear: women’s participation must no longer be measured simply by how many names appear on the ballot, but by how many are given a genuine opportunity to win.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has warned that beneficiaries of flare gas sites risk losing their awards if they fail to demonstrate meaningful progress in utilising the resources.
The Commission Chief Executive, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, gave the warning during a working visit to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, in Abuja on Tuesday.
NUPRC Head of Corporate Communications and Media, Mr Eniola Akinkuotu, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday.
Eyesan, who provided an update on the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP), said the commission would assess the performance of awardees one year after the granting of each award.
“One year after an award has been granted, the Commission conducts an evaluation to determine whether there has been considerable progress,” she said.
She added, “Where there is insufficient progress, the Commission will take appropriate regulatory action, including revocation of the award where necessary.”
The NUPRC boss said that despite initial resistance from some operators, the NGFCP had continued to make significant progress.
According to her, 43 flare gas sites were initially identified for award, while 27 have so far been successfully awarded, with implementation currently ongoing.
Eyesan said Nigeria’s vast gas reserves offered the country an opportunity to accelerate industrialisation, improve power generation and expand its export capacity.
“Nigeria currently has over 215 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of proven gas reserves and an estimated total reserve base of about 600 TCF,” she said.
“These resources provide a strong foundation for power generation, industrialisation, exports and broader economic development.”
She also highlighted progress in the implementation of the Host Community Development Trust framework established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
According to Eyesan, the framework was designed to address longstanding grievances in oil-producing communities and promote sustainable development through greater participation by host communities in petroleum operations. She said available data showed that the implementation of the trusts had contributed to reductions in oil theft and spills while improving relations between operators and host communities.
“To date, 173 Host Community Development Trusts have been incorporated, 147 have been funded, over 1,001 projects are currently ongoing, while more than 200 projects have been successfully commissioned across host communities,” she said.
In his remarks, Ekpo urged stakeholders to pursue an aggressive implementation of the country’s gas commercialisation programme to ensure Nigeria meets its 2030 target of ending routine gas flaring.
He said the focus should be on transforming gas currently being flared into products and services that would contribute to economic growth.
“The core objective is to add value to our gas resources by converting them into critical products and services.
“We must move away from environmental pollution and toward productive resource utilisation,” the minister said.
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has empowered Persons Living with Disabilities, PWDs, in Akwa Ibom State, committing to greater inclusion in its development programmes.
Speaking during the empowerment programme, held in Uyo to commemorate the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, the NDDC Director, Akwa Ibom State office, Engr. Evong Evong, said the Commission was committed to promoting inclusion, empowerment, equality, and improved livelihoods for persons with disabilities and other underserved members of society through advocacy, capacity building, partnerships, and community-based initiatives.
Evong stated: “Disability should never be a hindrance to achieving one’s dreams or goals. Our aim is to equip youths and women with disabilities with the knowledge, skills, resources and confidence they need to become economically independent and contribute meaningfully to their communities.”
He reaffirmed NDDC’s commitment, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, to promote equal opportunities and create sustainable pathways for youths and women with disabilities to participate fully in social and economic development.
The NDDC Director, Culture and Women Affairs, Mrs Imoni Ahunna, emphasised the importance of creating an inclusive society where Persons With Disabilities have equal access to education, entrepreneurship, healthcare, employment and other opportunities.
Imoni explained: “The NDDC organised the empowerment outreach programme to support youths and women living with disabilities through skills development, inclusion, advocacy, and access to opportunities.”
She added: “A nation or region is truly great not only by what it builds for the strong but how it carries the vulnerable people along.”
Imoni acknowledged the Board and Management of the NDDC, eulogising them for the positive impact they have created in the region in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. She promised to transmit the plea from the Special Assistant to the Government of Akwa Ibom State on Persons With Disabilities to the NDDC management for consideration and implementation.
The Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Government on Persons With Disabilities, Hon. Nene Bassey, thanked the NDDC for its efforts in assisting Persons With Disabilities in Akwa Ibom State even before the inception of the International Day for Persons Living With Disabilities in the state.
Bassey pleaded with the Management to employ Persons With Disabilities and give them the opportunity to access the NDDC scholarship without hitch.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Godwin Effiong, expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting that the programme provided valuable opportunities to develop his abilities. He said, “With today’s training, I have learned that I have abilities even with a disability.”
Another beneficiary, Mrs. Helen Jeremiah, said she gained valuable lessons that would improve her livelihood and build her confidence.
The Federal Government has warned that officials and institutions involved in illegal admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions face severe sanctions, including dismissal from service and withdrawal of operating licences.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed that the scale of irregular admissions may be far greater than previously established, with universities alone suspected to have processed more than 200,000 admissions outside approved procedures.
Another 58,000 cases have reportedly been identified in colleges of education, raising fresh concerns over the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary education system and the fate of students whose admissions were not processed through recognised channels.
The government said the affected admissions include those carried out outside the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Central Admission Processing System (JAMB CAPS), the platform established to regulate and authenticate admissions into tertiary institutions.
Alausa warned that the Federal Government would no longer treat the practice as a mere administrative irregularity, stressing that institutions and officials who flout approved admission procedures would face the consequences.
Officials found culpable could lose their jobs, while private tertiary institutions involved in the practice could face the more severe penalty of having their operating licences revoked.
The development could also have serious consequences for students caught in the web of illegal admissions.
Students admitted outside approved procedures risk difficulties with the recognition and verification of their academic records, potentially affecting their graduation, certificates, further studies and employment opportunities.
The Federal Government’s position is that institutions must admit students strictly within their approved carrying capacity and through recognised admission channels.
The crackdown is therefore aimed at ending a system in which institutions allegedly circumvent regulatory procedures to admit students beyond approved limits or through unauthorised channels.
Beyond the sanctions against institutions and officials, the government’s action is expected to force tertiary institutions to comply with admission quotas and ensure that every student admitted into the system has a verifiable and officially recognised academic record.
For students and parents, the warning is a critical reminder that an admission letter from an institution may not, by itself, guarantee the legitimacy of an admission. Verification through the approved system remains essential.
The people of Iwo-Ama Nkoro in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State may soon be connected to the national electricity grid, following a commitment by the council chairman, Hon. James A. James, to end the community’s prolonged dependence on a faulty local generator.
The proposed connection to the national grid is part of efforts by the James-led administration to provide the ancient satellite community of Nkoro Kingdom with a more sustainable and dependable electricity supply.
For more than nine years, residents of Iwo-Ama Nkoro have lived without electricity after the community’s power generator broke down and was abandoned by successive administrations.
The situation has now changed following the intervention of the council chairman, who repaired and restored the generator, bringing electricity back to the community.
Community leaders and youths have welcomed the development, describing it as a significant step towards reconnecting Iwo-Ama Nkoro with economic activities and improving the quality of life of its residents.
Speaking on the restoration, community leaders, including Alabo Wilson Osokor and Hon. Harry Derrick, commended James for reviving the community’s electricity supply after years of darkness.
They said access to electricity would boost small businesses, improve household activities and provide young people with better opportunities to engage in productive ventures.
The residents, however, appealed to the council to ensure regular provision of diesel to keep the generator running pending the proposed connection to the national grid.
According to the Special Adviser to the Chairman on Media, Bestman Silas Dokubo, connecting Iwo-Ama Nkoro to the national grid would represent a more lasting solution to the community’s electricity challenges.
Dokubo said the chairman’s decision to restore the abandoned generator was only an immediate intervention, while the plan to connect the community to the national grid was aimed at securing a more reliable and sustainable power supply.
He said the administration had also facilitated electrical connections from existing poles to individual homes and provided the community with a modern electrical ladder for emergency repairs and maintenance.
The chairman’s commitment, he added, reflected his administration’s concern for the welfare and development of the people of Iwo-Ama Nkoro.
The planned grid connection is expected to reduce the community’s reliance on generator-powered electricity and provide a stronger foundation for economic development.
For residents who have endured more than nine years of darkness, the prospect of joining the national grid could mark the beginning of a new chapter in the community’s development. Oruigoni is the Information/Public Relations Officer, Opobo/Nkoro LGA.
This angle makes the national-grid commitment the main news, while presenting the generator restoration as the immediate step towards that larger objective.
