The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed seized fake and substandard products valued at N2.6bn in Rivers State, warning that more confiscated goods would be destroyed as part of efforts to rid the country of unsafe products.
The products, which included medicines, expired tomatoes, cookies and chemicals, were intercepted and seized by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Onne Port between 2025 and 2026.
The Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Nigeria, Dr Martins Iluyomade, disclosed this on Friday at the destruction site in Port Harcourt, on behalf of NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.
Iluyomade, who is also the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, described the exercise as a demonstration of NAFDAC’s commitment to protecting public health and eliminating counterfeit medicines and other unwholesome products from the Nigerian market.
He said the destruction marked the first phase of the exercise, adding that more seized products would be destroyed in the coming days.
The NAFDAC official commended the collaboration between the agency and the NCS, noting that cooperation between the two organisations had been instrumental in ensuring the safe disposal of the seized goods.
According to him, the process leading to the destruction began in 2025, following collaboration between the agencies, which had signed memoranda of understanding to strengthen their joint efforts against the importation of prohibited and substandard products.
He, however, acknowledged that the process had encountered some challenges but said the commitment of personnel from both agencies had helped overcome the obstacles.
“This gesture corroborates the existing good relationship we have between NAFDAC and Nigeria Customs Service. We have an MoU signed, but we have people who have to work behind the scenes to make sure that the MoU works.
“The willingness of the officers of the two agencies to make the MoU work is what has led to what we are doing today,” he said.
Iluyomade also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs for facilitating the collaboration that culminated in the handover and destruction of the seized products. “On this note, I want to thank the Comptroller-General of Customs, who made it a point of duty for us to come together, personally, to come and hand over this container,” he said.
He explained that the seized items included expired food products, medicines and chemicals considered unsuitable for human consumption or use.
While describing the destruction as a significant step in the fight against counterfeit and substandard products, the exercise also raises questions about how such consignments entered the country and the measures being taken to prevent similar seizures in the future. The planned destruction of additional confiscated goods is expected to form part of the agencies’ continued enforcement efforts.
However, beyond destroying seized products, sustained surveillance at ports of entry, stricter screening of imported goods, improved intelligence-sharing between regulatory and security agencies, and prosecution of those responsible for importing prohibited products remain critical to addressing the problem.
The effectiveness of the exercise will ultimately depend on whether the joint efforts of NAFDAC and the Customs Service can prevent dangerous products from reaching markets, pharmacies and households.
Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara receiving the trophy won by the Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt during their recent football tour of the United Kingdom.
Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has rewarded the student-players and coaches of Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt, with the sum of N50 million for making the State proud during their recent football tour of the United Kingdom.
Governor Fubara announced the reward on Friday while receiving the management and students of the Football Academy at Government House, Port Harcourt.
The Governor commended the team for their discipline and exemplary conduct throughout the tour, noting that despite the challenges encountered on the trip, they returned victorious without any case of misconduct or embarrassment to the State.
He said the Academy, initiated by his predecessor, was designed to groom young talents for whom football could become a lucrative full-time career, stressing that the football economy is even bigger than many conventional corporate organisations.
Fubara said the purpose of sponsoring the UK tour was to expose the students to football at the international level, and expressed delight that some of them were already attracting the attention of foreign football clubs who have reportedly started poaching them for greater opportunities abroad.
While emphasizing that intelligence without character amounts to nothing, the Governor said his administration is not only committed to building their football skills but also moulding their character to become responsible citizens and the pride of Rivers State.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara (middle) in a group photograph with the students and officials of the Real Madrid Football Academy during the courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.
He assured that the State Government will address the complaints of poor facilities, insufficient accommodation and all other challenges confronting the Academy, to ensure they study and conduct their trainings in a conducive environment
Governor Fubara also thanked the local and foreign consultants who led the tour for their efforts, and charged the students to take their academics seriously alongside their football career.
He noted that for many of the students who had never travelled beyond Port Harcourt Local Government Area, the UK tour was a life-changing exposure, making them true ambassadors of Rivers State. “What we just did here is to give you the opportunity to see what is in football beyond the walls of Real Madrid Academy, Port Harcourt. It is meant for you to see football at the international level.
“You have made us very proud. On our own part, we will ensure that we give you every support needed for you to excel. I am really proud of you all, not just because of the trophy that you won but your conduct throughout the tour,” Governor Fubara said.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma lauded the Governor for sponsoring the tour, describing it as historic and a pacesetter in the country.
Earlier, the Principal of Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt, Dr (Mrs) Prudence Isaac-Harry, had expressed profound appreciation to Governor Fubara for his vision and “unparalleled magnanimity” in sponsoring the 61 students-athletes and 12 officials on the football tour to the United Kingdom.
The Principal noted that the trip provided the students with their very first taste of international football exposure. According to her, the students did not just participate in soccer duels but displayed tremendous skills that left a great impression on the entire community of Southampton, London.
“We were given a silver trophy for our students’ performances. Thank you, Sir, for showcasing Rivers State’s raw talents to the global stage. This landmark trip has successfully opened windows for further international tournaments, as several top-tier clubs are already extending invitations to the Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt,” Isaac-Harry said.
She pledged that the management and students of the Real Madrid Football Academy will continue to bring honour and glory to Rivers State to justify the massive investment the State Government has made on the soccer academy.
…Call for environmental justice, infrastructure, community ownership as scholars lament slow pace of oil pollution recovery
Environmental experts and scholars have called for a comprehensive cleanup and restoration of the Niger Delta, warning that decades of oil exploration have devastated ecosystems, disrupted traditional livelihoods and deepened socio-economic challenges across the oil-producing region. The experts made the call during an international webinar, “Politics of Power,” organised by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)-CIFAL Nigeria in collaboration with Rivers State University (RSU).
Ogoniland, one of the most prominent examples of the environmental and socio-economic consequences of petroleum extraction in the Niger Delta, featured prominently in discussions on pollution, remediation, environmental justice and sustainable development.
The speakers stressed that while efforts to clean up Ogoniland were necessary, remediation should not be confined to the area, insisting that other oil-producing communities facing similar environmental challenges also deserved urgent attention.
They called on the Federal Government, oil companies and relevant institutions to intensify cleanup operations, restore degraded ecosystems, provide basic infrastructure and empower host communities to participate meaningfully in decisions concerning the resources extracted from their land.
Speaking at the webinar, Professor Augustine Ikein, Professor Emeritus of Management Sciences, described the Niger Delta as a region endowed with tropical wetlands and rich ecological resources that have been severely affected by oil exploration and spills.
He said environmental degradation had remained a major source of conflict between oil companies and host communities over the years, adding that the region needed practical development interventions beyond its contribution to Nigeria’s oil and gas revenue. According to Ikein, Rivers State occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, yet the Niger Delta continues to bear the environmental consequences of resource extraction.
He argued that remediation should extend beyond the physical treatment of contaminated land to include the restoration of essential services and economic activities.
“The environmental university can only provide data but cannot help in the physical remediation of the land,” he said, stressing the need to restore basic amenities such as potable water and electricity, alongside agricultural systems, rivers, creeks and degraded ecological zones.
Ikein also called for the preservation of Nigeria’s petroleum history, using Oloibiri in Bayelsa State, where commercial oil production began, as an example of the disconnect between resource extraction and community development. He argued that Oloibiri should not merely be preserved as a historical site but developed into an economically viable community capable of offering opportunities to its people and future generations.
Drawing a comparison with first oil-producing location in Texas, United States, he questioned why Nigeria’s historic petroleum community-Oloibiri had not received comparable industrial and infrastructural development. The professor urged oil companies to align their operations with a broader vision of environmental sustainability and inclusive economic growth.
“We must not only see the Niger Delta as an oil hub but also as Nigeria’s transition capital. We must be ready to transit the Niger Delta,” he said.
Ikein called for a new social contract that would give people living in resource-producing communities a meaningful stake in the ownership and management of the resources extracted from their environment. He maintained that a transition towards a green economy would require strategic planning, infrastructure investment and the active participation of host communities.
In a presentation titled “From Pollution to Restoration: Assessing Three Decades of Environmental Recovery,” Professor Kingsley Okpara of Rivers State University examined the scale of environmental contamination in Ogoniland and the challenges confronting ongoing remediation efforts.
Okpara recalled that commercial petroleum production began in Ogoniland in the late 1950s, making the area part of the foundation of Nigeria’s petroleum industry and national revenue generation. He cited the 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) assessment of Ogoniland, which documented extensive contamination of groundwater, agricultural soils and fragile mangrove ecosystems.
According to him, the report identified benzene, a carcinogenic substance, at levels reportedly reaching 900 times the World Health Organisation’s guideline value in some locations. It also documented the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals. He said the UNEP assessment revealed that the ecological damage was more extensive and systematic than previously understood, warning that full environmental recovery could take up to 30 years.
Okpara expressed concern about the pace of remediation, stating that only 30 of the 65 sites identified for cleanup in Ogoniland had been remediated, according to the figures he presented.
He urged the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to ensure that its operations remained consistent with the scientific recommendations contained in the UNEP report.
The professor also called on UNEP to provide long-term technical audits to independently verify that remediation activities met the original scientific standards and recommendations.
He stressed that effective environmental recovery required more than the commencement or completion of cleanup activities, insisting that independent verification was necessary to establish whether contaminated sites had been restored to acceptable environmental standards.
Also speaking, Dr Eleraobari Nworgu Efe-Inotu of the Federal University of Environment and Technology, Rivers State, highlighted the wider social consequences of oil-related conflicts and environmental degradation across the Niger Delta, adding that, people died in oil wars all over the Niger Delta, not only in Ogoniland.
She said the disruption of traditional occupations had affected communities throughout the region,leaving many residents struggling to sustain their livelihoods. Efe-Inotu described the establishment of the Federal University of Environment and Technology as timely, given the region’s longstanding environmental challenges.
She said the institution could help bridge the gap between environmental research and practical community development by transforming environmental challenges into real-world learning opportunities.
According to her, tailoring the university’s curriculum to the local economy would help connect academic training with community needs, create employment opportunities and improve the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen.
She added that the institution could serve as a platform for collaboration among the Federal Government, host communities, oil companies and non-governmental organisations to develop practical solutions to environmental problems. Such collaboration, she maintained, would enable research findings to translate into interventions that directly benefit communities affected by pollution.
Professor Onyeka Mbalisi of the University of Port Harcourt also called for increased funding for environmental remediation, arguing that the resources devoted to cleaning up Ogoniland were inadequate compared with the scale of the damage and the investments required for effective restoration. He urged the Federal Government to provide additional funding to HYPREP, while emphasising that the cleanup should not end with Ogoniland.
“Ogoniland is not an island,” he said, arguing that the environmental crisis confronting the Niger Delta required a regional response. Mbalisi cited persistent gas flaring in Okrika and other oil-producing areas as evidence of the need for wider remediation and ecological restoration across the region.
Describing the environmental situation as pathetic, he called for environmental justice and greater public awareness of the dangers posed by illegal refineries and other activities that further degrade the environment.
He also urged governments to support research, generate real-time environmental data and train young people in environmental management.
According to him, restoring the Niger Delta’s mangrove ecosystems and other natural resources could create opportunities for ecotourism, attract visitors and generate revenue while improving the livelihoods of local communities.
The experts’ contributions underscored the need to approach the Niger Delta’s environmental crisis as both an ecological emergency and a development challenge.
They maintained that sustainable recovery would require coordinated action involving government institutions, oil companies, universities, environmental agencies and affected communities.
Beyond cleaning up contaminated sites, they argued, meaningful restoration must include the rehabilitation of water sources, agricultural land, rivers and creeks, alongside measures to revive traditional livelihoods and strengthen local economies.
They also emphasised that communities whose lands and waters have sustained Nigeria’s petroleum industry must have a stronger voice in decisions concerning environmental recovery, resource ownership and the region’s economic future.
For the Niger Delta, the central challenge remains how to translate decades of resource extraction into tangible improvements in the lives of its people.
The experts said a comprehensive cleanup, backed by adequate funding, independent scientific monitoring and sustained investment in infrastructure and human capital, would be essential to restoring public confidence and securing a more sustainable future for the region.
Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to step down, citing concerns about his health and capacity to lead the country.
Okonkwo made the call while reacting to Tinubu’s announcement that he would not campaign in every state ahead of the 2027 presidential election, saying he needed to concentrate on governing the country.
The president, however, promised to address Nigerians directly during the campaign. Reacting in a post on X, Okonkwo said the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council had exposed what he described as Tinubu’s inability to participate effectively in campaign activities.
He argued that Nigeria needed a president capable of combining the demands of governance with the rigours of a presidential campaign. “The launch of the APC Presidential Campaign Council has finally shown that Tinubu is not physically able to handle the difficult work of a presidential campaign,” he wrote.
Okonkwo also referred to comments by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who reportedly suggested that Tinubu would concentrate on governing while party leaders conducted campaign activities on his behalf.
According to him, the arrangement raised questions about the president’s health and ability to discharge his responsibilities. He said the APC’s position amounted to an indirect suggestion that Tinubu should prioritise his health rather than expose himself to the demands of campaign events.
“Tinubu said he won’t be taking part in the campaign but will talk to Nigerians from his office. I agree that the President should leave his position as President because he is not well, so that Nigeria can be led by a healthy and suitable leader,” Okonkwo said.
He further called for Tinubu’s removal from office, arguing that the country required a leader capable of effectively addressing its challenges.
Okonkwo urged Nigerians to support Atiku in the 2027 presidential election, saying his emergence would help address the rising cost of living and make essential goods and services more affordable.
Tinubu has maintained that his decision not to visit every state during the campaign is informed by the need to focus on governance, while promising to communicate directly with Nigerians.
The president’s position comes as political parties begin preparations for the 2027 general election, with the APC and opposition parties positioning themselves for what is expected to be a keenly contested presidential race.
The Senate has ordered an investigation into the death of Etimbuk Daniel, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who reportedly died at the orientation camp in Enugu State following complications from a minor headache.
The upper chamber directed its committees on Police, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Youth Development, and Health to investigate the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s death in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The decision followed a motion raised by Senator Aniekan Bassey (APC, Akwa Ibom North-East) during plenary on Thursday, in which he expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the corps member’s death and called for a thorough investigation.
Bassey said the Senate received the news of Daniel’s death with shock and profound grief, describing the deceased as an outstanding student leader who had served as president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of Akwa Ibom State University before proceeding for national service.
He expressed concern over reports that Daniel died after experiencing complications from a minor headache, allegedly following delays in receiving adequate medical attention at the camp’s clinic.
The senator said the incident had raised serious questions about the quality of healthcare services available at NYSC orientation camps, particularly the availability of qualified medical personnel, functional medical facilities and effective emergency referral systems.
According to him, the circumstances surrounding the death underscore the need for a comprehensive review of healthcare delivery in orientation camps to prevent similar incidents and protect the lives of corps members.
Bassey stressed that the government had a constitutional responsibility to protect the welfare of citizens, adding that young graduates undertaking national service deserved adequate medical care throughout their participation in the programme.
He noted that Daniel’s death had plunged his family, the Akwa Ibom State University community and Akwa Ibom State into mourning.
Seconding the motion, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North) supported the call for an investigation, stressing the need to establish the facts surrounding the incident and ensure accountability where necessary.
The Senate subsequently called for a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances that led to Daniel’s death and establish whether negligence or lapses in medical care contributed to the tragedy.
The lawmakers also observed a minute of silence in honour of the deceased and prayed for God to grant his family the strength to bear the loss.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, commended Bassey for bringing the matter before the chamber and urged the relevant committees to conduct a comprehensive investigation.
The probe is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s death, including the medical attention available at the orientation camp and the response to his reported health emergency.
Here’s a quick summary of the conversation: The Senate has called for a thorough investigation into the death of Etimbuk Daniel, a National Youth Service Corps member who died at an orientation camp in Enugu State after reportedly suffering complications from a minor headache and delays in receiving medical care. Senator Aniekan Bassey raised the motion, highlighting concerns about healthcare services in NYSC camps, including the availability of qualified personnel and emergency referral systems.
The Senate directed relevant committees to work alongside security agencies to examine the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s death and assess potential negligence.
Lawmakers observed a minute of silence for the deceased and emphasised the government’s responsibility to safeguard corps members’ welfare, urging improvements in healthcare delivery at orientation camps.
Capital Portfolio & Investment Systems (CAPIS) Limited has introduced the CAPIS Commonwealth Card (3C), a platform designed to connect eligible individuals with commercial projects and financing opportunities across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The company said the initiative, which operates under the tagline, “Your Passcard to Economic Participation,” is aimed at widening access to commercial ventures in agriculture, renewable energy, transportation, technology and commercial infrastructure, among other productive sectors.
Under its Individual Plan, CAPIS said eligible clients could access the platform for a one-time fee of ₦35,000, with a financing voucher of up to ₦30 million, subject to the programme’s terms and conditions.
The company, however, clarified that the voucher does not represent cash paid directly into a beneficiary’s bank account but provides financing capacity that may be applied to qualifying commercial projects available through the platform. It also cautioned that obtaining the card or accessing the voucher does not automatically guarantee financing approval, selection for a project or income.
According to CAPIS, one of the programme’s major pathways is Commercial Project Bidding, through which participants identify eligible projects, review their requirements and commercial terms, and submit bids for consideration.
The company explained that submitted bids would be assessed against applicable selection criteria, which could include enrolment seniority, timing of bids and project-specific requirements.
Where a bid is successful and the relevant conditions are fulfilled, CAPIS said it would facilitate the financing required for participation in the selected project.
The company added that the process was designed to establish a structured link between prospective participants and commercial opportunities, from project identification and bidding to financing facilitation and eventual participation.
On returns, CAPIS said earnings would depend on the performance of the underlying projects and the contractual terms governing each participant’s involvement.
It explained that participants might receive distributions where a qualifying project generates a commercial surplus, in line with the agreed distribution ratio and other applicable contractual arrangements.
However, the company stressed that the financing voucher itself does not generate income, noting that commercial projects remain exposed to operational, market and other business risks.
Beyond financing opportunities, the CAPIS Commonwealth Card ecosystem is designed to offer additional benefits, including health coverage, a Zenith Bank-powered electronic wallet and virtual card, as well as discounts of up to 10 per cent at participating partner outlets.
CAPIS said access to these benefits, including the scope of coverage and eligibility requirements, would be determined by the programme’s terms and arrangements with the relevant service providers.
The platform also offers a Contract Financing pathway for clients whose needs are better suited to contract-related financing opportunities, alongside its Commercial Project Bidding option.
The company advised prospective participants to familiarise themselves with the requirements, obligations and risks associated with the available financing pathways before making commitments.
CAPIS describes itself as a Nigerian financial services company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria as a Venture Capital Manager. It said its broader objective was to develop structured financing mechanisms that connect individuals with qualifying commercial activities across productive sectors of the economy.
The introduction of the Commonwealth Card comes amid growing interest in alternative financing arrangements and initiatives aimed at expanding access to commercial opportunities.
However, prospective participants are advised to carefully examine the contractual terms, financing approval conditions, applicable fees and potential business risks before committing funds to the programme.
….Centuries-old harvest celebration reinforces cultural identity, creates jobs and provides platform for community development
The Azumini Isiokpo community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria has celebrated its 2026 New Yam Festival, reaffirming its commitment to preserving a cultural tradition spanning more than 200 years while promoting unity, economic growth and community development.
The festival, held on Saturday, October 10, at the palace of Eze Kingsley Chukwunyere Ogundu (JP), OYO VIII, attracted distinguished sons and daughters of Rivers State, and Nigerians at large, traditional stakeholders and lovers of culture who gathered to celebrate the community’s rich heritage.
Held under the message, “Tradition Lives On,” the annual celebration highlighted the enduring significance of indigenous customs and the need to transmit cultural values to younger generations in the face of changing social influences.
Beyond its significance as a harvest celebration, the Azumini New Yam Festival has evolved into an important platform for community bonding, economic empowerment and reflection on traditional leadership and development.
A cross section of dignitaries at the event.
For the people of Azumini Isiokpo, the festival represents more than the harvest of a major staple crop. It is a celebration of their collective identity, a demonstration of gratitude for the fruits of agricultural labour and an opportunity to renew their commitment to communal harmony and progress.
The significance of the festival was further captured in the message, “Our Yams, Our Pride, Our Heritage, Our Isiokpo,” which underscored the community’s attachment to its traditions and cultural identity. The accompanying theme, “Culture, People, Heritage, Together,” also emphasised the importance of collective participation in sustaining the customs inherited from previous generations.
Traditionally, New Yam festivals among communities in southern Nigeria mark thanksgiving for a successful farming season and the beginning of a new agricultural cycle. Yam, widely regarded as a symbol of prosperity, productivity and dignity of labour, occupies a prominent place in the cultural and social life of many communities. In Azumini Isiokpo, the celebration provides an opportunity for residents and indigenes living outside the community to return home, reconnect with their roots and strengthen relationships across families and generations.
The gathering also reinforces the values of hospitality, solidarity and shared responsibility that have sustained the community over the years.
Beyond cultural preservation, the festival offers significant economic opportunities. Its ability to attract visitors, corporate organisations and financial institutions creates a platform for local businesses, traders, artisans and other service providers to generate income.
The increased commercial activities associated with the celebration also offer opportunities for young people to secure temporary employment and develop entrepreneurial skills through the provision of goods and services.
For a community seeking sustainable growth, such activities demonstrate how traditional festivals can serve as instruments of local economic development while preserving cultural identity.
The festival also provides an opportunity for community leaders to assess their stewardship and reflect on the challenges confronting the people.
Through the traditional institution and the Oha na Eze, the community’s traditional leadership structure, the gathering offers a forum for introspection, reconciliation and the correction of identified shortcomings where necessary.
Such opportunities for self-appraisal can strengthen confidence in traditional institutions and encourage a leadership culture that places the collective interests of the people above individual considerations.
The annual celebration also provides an avenue to promote agriculture, encourage improved farming practices and stimulate interest in cultural tourism. With appropriate planning and investment, the festival’s historical significance and cultural attractions could further enhance the visibility of Azumini Isiokpo and create additional opportunities for development.
For younger members of the community, the celebration serves as a living classroom where inherited customs, traditional values and communal responsibilities can be experienced rather than merely recounted.
As modernisation continues to reshape communities, the preservation of such traditions remains important in ensuring that cultural identity is not lost to changing lifestyles.
The 2026 edition of the Azumini Isiokpo New Yam Festival therefore reaffirmed the enduring relevance of the celebration as a symbol of gratitude, unity and cultural continuity.
After more than two centuries, the festival remains a testament to the resilience of the Azumini people and their determination to preserve their heritage while embracing opportunities for economic advancement and social development.
Ultimately, its greatest significance lies not only in celebrating the harvest but also in strengthening the bonds that unite the community, encouraging responsible leadership and ensuring that the traditions of the past continue to inspire future generations.
The member representing Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante, has appealed for calm and restraint following a clash between youths of Nkoro and Asarama communities in Rivers State over a lingering land and boundary dispute.
Abiante, in a statement issued on Tuesday, expressed sadness and concern over the confrontation, which reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday.
He condemned violence and lawlessness, urging youths, community leaders, elders and other stakeholders in the two communities to embrace dialogue and pursue a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
The federal lawmaker who is also the NDC Candidate for Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the upcoming 2027 elections said Nkoro and Asarama shared a rich history, culture and brotherhood that should not be sacrificed over disagreements concerning territorial boundaries.
According to him, violent confrontations only bring hardship, destruction and lasting divisions among communities that have coexisted peacefully for generations.
“Violence has never resolved a boundary line; it only breeds further animosity and retrogresses our collective developmental goals,” he said.
Abiante disclosed that he was engaging relevant security agencies, traditional rulers and local authorities to maintain law and order and activate appropriate mechanisms to address the underlying issues through peaceful and legal channels.
He also urged residents of both communities to refrain from circulating unverified information capable of escalating tensions and triggering further violence.
The lawmaker reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that justice, fairness and lasting peace prevailed across the Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency.
He called on the youths to resist attempts to draw them into destructive activities, urging them instead to channel their energy towards constructive dialogue and the socio-economic development of the constituency.
Abiante stressed that the relationship between the two communities should take precedence over their disagreements, noting that no land dispute was worth the loss of human lives or the endangerment of residents.
“Let us remember that we are one people, and no land dispute is worth the blood or safety of our brothers and sisters,” he said.
He urged the communities to work together to restore peace and prevent further escalation of the dispute.
….Rivers governor pledges continued support for police as IGP seeks cooperation ahead of 2027 elections
Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara (right), presenting a plaque to the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu (left),during the courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has attributed the elevation of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to the professionalism, dedication and commitment to duty he demonstrated while serving as Commissioner of Police in the state.
Fubara spoke on Tuesday when Disu paid a courtesy visit to the Government House in Port Harcourt, describing the police chief’s appointment as a recognition of his effective handling of security challenges during a turbulent period in Rivers State.
The governor said he was particularly pleased to receive Disu, who served in Rivers at the height of the political crisis, noting that his conduct during the period demonstrated a commitment to his constitutional responsibilities despite the prevailing tensions. “I feel very happy that somebody who left here in a very difficult situation, in a very trying time, is here today visiting us in a higher capacity,” Fubara said.
He commended the IGP for maintaining a balanced and professional approach while discharging his duties, despite the political difficulties confronting the state during his tenure as commissioner of police. “While he was here as Commissioner of Police, it was at the peak of a crisis, but I can tell you that he did his work not minding the situation. He tried as much as he could to balance all areas,” the governor said.
Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara (middle ) in a group photograph with the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu and members of his entourage during the courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Fubara added that Disu’s performance in Rivers State had contributed to his elevation to the highest office in the Nigeria Police Force.
Describing the IGP’s visit as a homecoming, the governor said anyone who served a community meritoriously would remain part of its history. He expressed confidence that Disu’s role during the political crisis would be remembered when the history of his administration was written.
The governor, however, noted that the IGP had assumed office at another challenging period for the country, particularly with the 2027 general elections approaching.
He expressed hope that the police chief would successfully navigate the security challenges associated with the elections and other national concerns.
“You are taking this new office at a very difficult time too, considering the challenges we are already facing in this country and the one we are about to enter into, which is the election. I strongly believe that God will give you the grace to surmount that challenge,” he said.
Fubara assured the police chief of the Rivers State Government’s continued support and cooperation in maintaining law and order.
He also prayed for Disu’s success, expressing confidence that his tenure would bring further progress in his policing career.
Earlier, the IGP said his visit was an opportunity to express appreciation to Fubara and the people of Rivers State for their cooperation during his tenure as commissioner of police.
Disu also disclosed that he was in Port Harcourt to attend the book launch of Dame Stella Okuyiga, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police and one of the first 20 women to join the Nigeria Police Force.
He described Okuyiga, who is 94 years old, as a living monument whose contributions to the police institution deserved recognition. The police chief commended Rivers residents for supporting peace and thanked Fubara for the assistance extended to him during his tenure as commissioner and the continued support being given to his successor.
He stressed that cooperation between the state government and security agencies was essential for effective policing, noting that the absence of such collaboration would make the task more difficult.
Disu added that other security agencies in the state had also asked him to convey their appreciation to the governor for his support to the security sector.
Dr. Vetty Agala, Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, addressing the management meeting of the agency.
The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) has raised its enrolment target under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) from 84,054 to 111,865, as it prepares to expand health insurance coverage across the state.
The programme said it would conduct a mop-up enrolment exercise across the 23 local government areas in October and November 2026 to meet the revised target set by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Information and Public Relations Unit of RIVCHPP on Friday, following the agency’s third-quarter management review meeting in Port Harcourt.
The planned mop-up exercise is expected to expand access to health insurance by identifying and enrolling more eligible residents, particularly those who have yet to benefit from the state’s contributory health protection scheme.
RIVCHPP urged eligible residents to obtain their National Identification Number (NIN), which it identified as a key requirement for enrolment, to facilitate their registration and access to essential healthcare services. In a related development, the agency has expressed concern over the low utilisation of healthcare services by retired Rivers State Government workers already enrolled in the programme.
An analysis presented at its third-quarter management review meeting reportedly showed that retirees were not accessing medical services under the scheme as expected.
The agency consequently urged verified retirees to take full advantage of their health insurance coverage by visiting their designated healthcare facilities whenever they require medical attention.
It noted that the programme was designed to improve access to healthcare and reduce the financial burden of medical expenses on beneficiaries, warning against allowing the benefits of enrolment to remain unused.
RIVCHPP also advised retirees who were unsure of their assigned healthcare facilities or wished to change their existing facilities to contact its call centre on 08085315664 or 09046962204 for clarification and assistance.
The agency reiterated that effective utilisation of the scheme by enrolled retirees, alongside the enrolment of more eligible residents, remained important to achieving broader healthcare coverage across Rivers State.
