The Rivers State Ministry of Transport has warned that commercial vehicles operating without the approved state colours will be impounded from November 1, 2026.
The ministry issued the warning in a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Dr (Mrs) Vera Sam-Dike, and obtained by our reporter on Saturday.
It directed operators of taxis, buses and tricycles, popularly known as keke, to complete the painting of their vehicles in the official state colours on or before October 31. According to the ministry, monitoring and strict enforcement of the directive would commence immediately after the deadline.
“Any commercial vehicle found operating without the approved state colour scheme after the deadline will be impounded, and the operator barred from service until full compliance and payment of applicable fines,” the statement said.
The government explained that the measure was aimed at improving public safety and making legitimate commercial transport vehicles easily identifiable to commuters across the state.
It described the directive as a vital safety measure and urged owners of unpainted or improperly painted commercial vehicles to complete the transition before the enforcement date.
The ministry also advised operators seeking clarification or information on painting workshops offering subsidised rates to contact the Head of the Land Transportation Department, Engr. Andrew Alapuberesisika, through the dedicated telephone lines provided by the ministry. It expressed appreciation to transport union leaders and vehicle owners whose vehicles had already complied with the directive.
The ministry reiterated that operators whose vehicles remained outside the approved colour scheme after October 31 would face impoundment, suspension from service and applicable fines.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seven days to “account for over ₦126.46 billion in public funds appropriated for electoral operations but allegedly diverted, lost, mismanaged or otherwise unaccounted for.”
In a statement signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP Deputy Director, the funds relate to the procurement of ballot boxes, electoral devices and materials, sensitive materials and result sheets, vehicles, accreditation devices, audit and consultancy services, digital archiving and other goods and services required for the conduct and administration of elections.
According to the 2023 audited report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on 7 August 2026, the findings variously covered periods between January and December 2022 and, in some cases, extended to 31 December 2023.
SERAP urged INEC to “account for the over ₦126 billion, including the amounts paid, the beneficiaries of the payments, the contracts and procurement processes, the contractors and suppliers involved, and evidence of delivery, utilisation and the current status of the goods, services and electoral assets concerned.”
SERAP also urged Professor Joash Amupitan and INEC “to refer the alleged diversion, unlawful expenditure, procurement violations and other financial misconduct documented by the Auditor-General to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation, prosecution and recovery.”
SERAP urged Professor Amupitan and INEC “to identify the public officials, contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants responsible and take all necessary steps to recover any of the over ₦126 billion found to have been unlawfully or irregularly paid, lost, diverted, or paid for goods and services not supplied or properly utilised.”
In the letter dated 12 September 2026 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Electoral resources are public resources. INEC must be able to account for every naira, demonstrate that it was lawfully spent and show that it served the purposes for which it was appropriated.”
SERAP said, “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and INEC to comply with our request in the public interest.”
The letter, read in part: “These findings are particularly disturbing given the constitutional importance of INEC and the fact that the expenditure concerns resources appropriated for the administration of Nigeria’s electoral system.”
“These findings suggest a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), national anticorruption laws, and the country’s obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption.”
“According to the Auditor-General, INEC ‘irregularly paid’ over ₦112 billion [₦112,155,597,845.00] ‘for ballot boxes, electoral devices, items and materials without competitive bidding or a BPP Certificate of No Objection.’”
“The Auditor-General found ‘no evidence that the items were procured.’ The ‘contracts were awarded to companies whose competences, experience, capacities, addresses and factory locations were unknown.’ He is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered.”
“INEC also ‘paid over ₦1 billion [₦1,058,925,000.00] for Toyota Prado TXL 2021 Model without advertisement, competitive bidding, bid evaluation or a BPP Certificate of No Objection.’ The Auditor-General fears that the money ‘may have been lost’ and that the contracts ‘may have been inflated.’”
“INEC ‘paid over ₦3 billion [₦3,136,806,050.00] to four contractors for ballot guides, sensitive materials and result sheets before the contracts were awarded, with no evidence of payment.’ The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”
“INEC also ‘paid over ₦9 billion [₦9,245,965,502.60] for 22 contracts for similar goods and services’, with the contracts ‘split to circumvent procurement procedures and awarded on the same day.’ The Auditor-General said the money ‘may have been lost’ and that ‘the payment may have been made for items not supplied.’”
“INEC ‘paid over ₦129 million [₦129,375,000.00] to 19 accounting firms for financial audit services without evidence of utilisation or requests and expenditure by the consultants.’ The Auditor-General raised concerns that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”
“INEC also ‘paid over ₦504 million [₦504,492,641.00] for accreditation devices without due procurement process. The ‘APG had expired before the security licence key was delivered and the software was valid for only four months, raising questions about economy and value for money.’ The Auditor-General also raised concerns that the money ‘may have been diverted.’”
“INEC ‘paid over ₦235 million [₦235,103,000.00] to unqualified contractors for sleeping mats and digital archiving.’ The Auditor-General identified ‘serious concerns regarding the eligibility and capacity of the contractors’, and raised concerns that the money ‘may have been lost.’ He wants the money recovered.”
“INEC should provide documentary and physical evidence that the over ₦112 billion identified as ‘irregularly paid’ was actually used to procure the electoral materials concerned and account for the present location and status of those materials.”
“Nigerians have a right to know every public act, everything that is done in the public interest, by their public institutions including INEC.”
“Democracy requires an informed citizenry. That principle is directly relevant to public expenditure by an electoral management body: citizens are entitled to know how resources entrusted to INEC for the conduct of elections have been used.”
“INEC should also ensure that no electoral equipment, material or other public asset covered by the Auditor-General’s findings is disposed of, transferred, destroyed, written off or otherwise dealt with in a manner that could frustrate accountability or recovery pending completion of the reconciliation and any resulting investigation.”
“Any referral to the EFCC and ICPC should expressly cover the contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants who irregularly received public funds, as well as any INEC officials or other public officials who authorised, processed, facilitated or benefited from the transactions.”
“The recommended investigations should determine, among other things: whether the contracted goods and services were actually supplied; whether payments corresponded with goods and services actually delivered; and whether contracts were deliberately split to circumvent procurement requirements.”
“Where investigations establish that public funds were unlawfully received or expended, INEC should cooperate fully with the EFCC, ICPC, Auditor-General, Attorney-General of the Federation and other competent authorities to secure recovery and remittance of the funds to the appropriate public account.”
“Recovery should extend to all amounts established to have been unlawfully or irregularly paid, together with any other recoverable public loss established through the investigations.”
“SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions including INEC to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on INEC to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.”
“Nigeria’s obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption requires INEC to adopt preventive anti-corruption policies and transparent public procurement and public financial management.”
“Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party protect citizens’ rights to participate in public affairs.”
The Nigeria Police Force has clarified that Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, is not opposed to citizens recording police officers in public, but is concerned about the misuse of such recordings.
The Force New Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, made the clarification in a series of posts on X on Saturday, following criticism of the IGP’s recent comments on Nigerians filming police officers.
Giwa said Disu’s position had been misinterpreted, stressing that the police were not seeking to shield officers from accountability or deny citizens their rights.
“The IGP’s concern is not to shield Police officers from accountability or deny citizens their rights. Instead, it focuses on the misuse of recordings, especially when officers are provoked, ridiculed, filmed for entertainment, or subjected to unnecessary intrusion while performing their duties,” he said.
He said a distinction should be drawn between responsible documentation of police activities and the deliberate exploitation of encounters with officers for social media content.
According to him, legitimate recordings could protect both citizens and police officers, particularly when evidence is needed to establish misconduct or defend officers against false allegations. “As a public institution, the Police must remain open to legitimate scrutiny. Evidence is essential when an officer acts improperly. Similarly, responsible recording can protect officers from false allegations and support investigations,” Giwa said.
He, however, maintained that police officers retained their right to dignity and privacy, despite wearing the uniform.
“However, wearing the uniform does not remove an officer’s right to dignity or privacy,” he added.
The clarification followed an X user’s criticism of the IGP’s position and suggestion that the police should equip officers with body cameras if they were opposed to citizens recording them.
Responding, Giwa said Disu had not rejected the practice of recording police officers generally, but was addressing the misuse of recordings.
“While you are allowed to interpret it as you see fit, the message from the IGP was concerning the misuse of recordings, not a general rejection of legitimate documentation or accountability,” he said.
He also confirmed that body cameras were being considered as part of discussions on accountable policing. “Body cameras are, in fact, part of the broader conversation about modern, accountable policing, and they can protect both citizens and officers,” Giwa said.
“The police need to be accountable and citizens should exercise their rights in a responsible way, we can have that discussion without using insults. The end aim is the same, a more professional Police Force and a safer Nigeria,” he said.
He also rejected the framing of the controversy as a confrontation between the police and the public or between the IGP and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). “Instead, it should focus on balancing accountability with responsibility, transparency with privacy, and citizens’ rights with the professional discharge of Police duties,” he said.
The clarification followed a recent courtesy visit by NBA leadership to Disu at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where the issue of recording police officers was discussed.
Disu had described the filming of police officers, particularly for social media skits, as “very, very demoralising” for members of the Force, while acknowledging citizens’ right to record officers performing their duties in public.
“We are not saying they cannot exercise their rights of recording officers in the public places while doing their jobs,” he had said.
“But they should put restraints and not turn our police officers to content for their skits or anything,” he added.
The comments sparked criticism from lawyers, human rights groups and other Nigerians, who insisted that citizens had a constitutional right to document police officers while they were performing their duties in public.
NBA President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, had also called for a distinction between legitimate recording of police activities and intrusion into officers’ private lives.
The controversy followed a March 17 judgment of the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, which affirmed Nigerians’ right to record police officers while performing their duties in public.
Giwa said the engagement between the IGP and NBA leadership demonstrated that institutions could disagree while still working constructively towards solutions.
“The engagement between the IGP and NBA leadership demonstrates that strong institutions can engage constructively, clarify positions, and collaborate despite differing perspectives,” he said.
He added that the solution was not for either the police or citizens to fear the use of cameras, but to promote responsible technology use and professional conduct.
“In the digital age, the solution is not to fear the camera. Instead, we should use technology responsibly, uphold professionalism, and let truth, rather than social media narratives, define the conversation,” Giwa said.
“The camera should not weaken the institution. Also, institutions should not fear legitimate scrutiny. Both must ultimately serve the truth, justice, and the Nigerian people,” he added.
Dr. Akinwumi Jibola, GM, Health of Renaissance Energy Ltd, receiving promotional materials from Dr. Vetty Agala, ES/CEO of RIVCHPP at the visit.
Renaissance Africa Energy Limited has pledged to strengthen its partnership with the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), following an advocacy visit by the agency’s management to the company’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The company’s General Manager, Health, Dr Akinwumi Fajola, said the proposed partnership would involve the constitution of a joint team comprising representatives of Renaissance and RIVCHPP to deliberate on and develop modalities for deeper collaboration.
Fajola, who spoke during the visit on Friday, September 11, 2026, said the engagement would help strengthen the agency’s operations and advance the attainment of Universal Health Coverage in Rivers State.
He noted that the seeming bottlenecks often associated with government agencies had made some organisations and individuals sceptical about engaging with them. However, he said the leadership style of RIVCHPP Executive Secretary, Dr Vetty Agala, had demonstrated positive changes capable of attracting public and private-sector partners.
According to him, Renaissance Energy Limited would further strengthen its engagement with RIVCHPP, particularly in promoting health insurance within its operational areas.
Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Agala, receiving souvenir from the General Manager, Health, Renaissance Energy Limited, Dr. Akinwumi Jibola at the visit.
Earlier, Agala described RIVCHPP as a legacy project of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, established to ensure that Rivers residents have access to quality and affordable healthcare in line with the administration’s #Health4AllRivers vision.
She said that since the agency became operational in January 2024, it had sustained awareness campaigns across the formal and informal sectors, resulting in steady growth in enrolment. Agala disclosed that RIVCHPP had enrolled more than 160,000 residents across the state’s 23 local government areas, giving them access to healthcare services.
She also said that although Rivers was among the last states in the country to operationalise a health insurance agency, it had risen to 13th position in Universal Health Coverage and was recognised as the most improved state at the Federal Ministry of Health’s 2025 joint annual review meeting.
The Executive Secretary said the agency was implementing comprehensive healthcare plans covering all population groups, including vulnerable residents, to protect households from health poverty and catastrophic health expenditure.
She commended Renaissance Energy Limited for promoting health insurance in its operational areas and congratulated Fajola on his recent promotion. The visit featured the exchange of promotional materials and souvenirs between the two organisations.
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.
