Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday launched the $500 million Niger Delta Agricultural Investment Fund, describing it as a strategic intervention to restore agriculture as a pillar of Nigeria’s economy, strengthen food security and reposition the Niger Delta as a leading food production hub.

The fund was unveiled at the Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Summit in Abuja, jointly organised by the Office of the Vice President and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Speaking at the summit, Shettima said the initiative would mobilise private and public investments across the agricultural value chain, transforming the oil-rich Niger Delta into a thriving centre for agricultural production.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President said Nigeria’s economic prosperity before the discovery of crude oil was built on agriculture, stressing that no nation could guarantee lasting prosperity without securing its food supply.

“Agriculture is not only the foundation of civilisation but also the first guarantee of political stability. Before a people raise cities, they must learn to feed them, and before a state earns the loyalty of its citizens, it must secure their daily bread,” Shettima said.

He noted that the investment fund would operate as a commercially driven, returns-oriented financing vehicle targeting critical agricultural value chains, including aquaculture, palm oil, cassava, cocoa, rice, horticulture, livestock and marine resources.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s agricultural heritage, Shettima recalled that the groundnut pyramids of the North, cocoa plantations of the West and palm produce from the East and the Niger Delta financed the country’s early development, including the construction of schools, hospitals and other key public institutions.
He, however, lamented that the discovery of oil shifted national attention away from agriculture, fostering dependence on food imports instead of local production.

“The Niger Delta has instead chosen to return to an identity older than crude itself, for the palm oil of these creeks fuelled the commerce of continents long before the first barrel was drilled. It has chosen to transform this region, feed the nation and attract the world,” he said.

The Vice President disclosed that the newly inaugurated Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Council, which he chairs, would provide policy direction for the initiative, while the NDDC would serve as its secretariat.

Shettima said President Bola Tinubu had placed food security at the heart of his administration’s economic agenda from the outset, recalling the declaration of a state of emergency on food security in July 2023 to boost agricultural production, stabilise food markets and improve access to affordable food.

He highlighted several interventions under the administration, including the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, which aims to deploy 10,000 tractors over five years, the establishment of local tractor assembly plants, the John Deere Tractorisation Programme, the Greener Hope Project and the Green Imperative Programme.

According to him, the interventions are beginning to yield positive results, with the prices of several staple food items dropping significantly, some by as much as 50 per cent.
Calling for greater collaboration, Shettima urged investors, development partners and state governments to seize the opportunities presented by the fund.

“The fund is launched, the commitments are aligned, the council is constituted, and the pipeline awaits your conviction,” he said.

Earlier, the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, described agriculture as central to the Tinubu administration’s economic transformation agenda because of its potential to create jobs, stimulate investment and improve livelihoods.

He said the National Regional Development Policy recognised the comparative advantages of Nigeria’s regions and called for stronger collaboration among governments, development partners and the private sector to unlock the country’s vast agricultural potential.
Delivering the keynote address, Chairman of Origin Group, Prince Samuel Joseph, said the NDDC had been repositioned under the Tinubu administration to drive economic transformation in the Niger Delta.

He commended the Federal Government’s commitment to initiatives aimed at unlocking the region’s economic potential and improving the livelihoods of its people.

The Managing Director of the NDDC described the summit as the beginning of a long-term partnership to unlock the Niger Delta’s vast agricultural resources through strategic investments, innovation and collaboration.
He urged stakeholders to forge enduring partnerships capable of mobilising investment, creating jobs, strengthening food security and expanding economic opportunities across the region.

Also speaking, Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Chiedu Ebie, said the Niger Delta could no longer afford to remain a region of untapped potential.

According to him, the region’s young population deserves greater access to finance, technology, infrastructure and markets, while host communities must benefit from inclusive, sustainable and measurable development initiatives.

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, will headline this year’s Wole Soyinka Annual Lecture in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as eminent Nigerians gather to examine the country’s democratic journey and the quest for a just society.

The event, scheduled for Friday, July 31, 2026, at the Palaccio Event Centre, GRA, Port Harcourt, will focus on the theme: “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage.”

Organised as part of the annual lecture series and featuring the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) Martyrs’ Day, the forum is expected to bring together policymakers, academics, civil society leaders, legal practitioners and members of the public to deliberate on issues of governance, accountability and national development.

Soyinka, the Guest of Honour, is expected to lead discussions on strengthening democratic institutions and promoting justice and civic responsibility as essential pillars of nation-building.

The keynote address will be delivered by former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Chief Osita Chidoka, OFR, who is expected to provide insights into the role of accountable leadership and active citizenship in rebuilding public confidence in governance.

Key officials of the Rivers State Government are expected to attend the event, underscoring the state’s commitment to promoting dialogue on democratic governance, justice and institutional reforms.

Organisers said the annual lecture remains a platform for robust national conversations on contemporary socio-political challenges and practical pathways to deepening democracy, the rule of law and responsible leadership in Nigeria.

The event will begin at 12 noon and will also be streamed live on the organisers’ YouTube channel, @NASTV1952, to enable wider public participation.

Prof. Wole Soyinka is one of Africa’s foremost literary icons, playwrights, poets, essayists and human rights advocates. In 1986, he became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in recognition of his outstanding contributions to world literature.

Over the decades, Soyinka has remained a leading voice on democracy, justice, accountability, human rights and good governance in Nigeria and across Africa.

He has consistently spoken against military dictatorship, corruption, abuse of power and violations of civil liberties, earning both national and international acclaim.

Beyond his literary achievements, Soyinka has taught at several universities around the world and has received numerous honorary degrees and prestigious awards. His interventions in national discourse continue to shape conversations on governance, civic responsibility and the rule of law.

The Atlantic Bell reports that his participation as Guest of Honour at the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) Martyrs’ Day Lecture underscores his longstanding commitment to promoting justice, accountability and civic courage, values that align with the theme of this year’s lecture, “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage.”

The Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, His Majesty King Charles Douglas Jaja, has inaugurated 21 sub-committees to commence preparations for the coronation of the sixth King and Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, while warning the public against misinformation surrounding the event.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony held on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, King Jaja dismissed social media reports claiming that dates had already been fixed for the coronation, describing the publications as false and misleading.

He urged members of the public to disregard the fake reports and await official communication from the appropriate authorities.

“The kingdom has not announced any date for the coronation. I urge everyone to ignore the false information circulating on social media and wait for the proper authority to make the proclamation,” the monarch said.

Charging members of the newly inaugurated committees, King Jaja stressed that the coronation would attract global attention and, therefore, must be organised to the highest international standards.

“The membership of the committees was deliberately and carefully selected by the Alapu Council of Opobo Kingdom. The council therefore expects nothing but the best from you all,” he said.

Describing the assignment as a historic responsibility, the monarch reminded the committee members that the success of the coronation would shape the kingdom’s legacy for generations.

“The coronation is a global affair. History will not forgive us if we do not surpass the standards already set in this direction,” he stated, adding that the appointments should be seen as a call to uphold the rich traditions and enduring heritage of the Opobo Kingdom.

King Jaja directed the various committees to begin work immediately and submit their programmes of activities and budgets to the Alapu Council and the Central Planning Committee within two weeks for consideration and approval.

The committees inaugurated include the Central Planning Committee, Finance Committee, Fundraising/Sponsorship Committee, Cultural and Traditional Rites Committee, Contact Protocol, Diplomacy and Government Relations Committee, Media, Publicity and Digital Archives Committee, Literary, Documentation and Digital Archive Committee, Special Committee for Opobo Women Welfare, Church Committee, Sanitation Committee, and the Medical and Emergency Response Committee, among others.

Responding on behalf of the committee members, Professor Kennedy Wariso of the Medical and Emergency Response Committee expressed appreciation to the monarch and the Alapu Council for the confidence reposed in them.

He assured the king of the committees’ commitment to delivering a coronation ceremony that would set a new benchmark for excellence.

“We appreciate this confidence and assure His Majesty and the Alapu Council that we will work diligently to ensure that this coronation becomes the best ever in the history of the kingdom,” Wariso said.

The Governing Council of Rivers State University (RSU), Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, has approved the appointment of Dr. Idanyingi I. Daminabo as the substantive Registrar of the institution.

A statement issued on Monday by the Acting Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Victor G. Banigo, said the appointment was approved by the university’s 15th Governing Council and takes retrospective effect from June 11, 2026.

Before her confirmation, Daminabo had served as Acting Registrar since December 15, 2025.

The new Registrar holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Sociology, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Human Resource Management.

She began her administrative career at the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, where she was employed as an Administrative Officer II in 1988. In 1994, she transferred her service to Rivers State University as an Administrative Officer I and steadily rose through the ranks to become a Director in 2017.

Daminabo is a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration and the Institute of Policy Management and Leadership Development (FIPLD). She is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and the Association of Nigerian University Professional Administrators (ANUPA).

Her appointment is expected to strengthen the university’s administrative leadership as the institution continues to pursue reforms aimed at enhancing academic excellence, institutional governance and service delivery.

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, has urged employers of corps members in Rivers State to provide conducive work environments that will enable them to enjoy productive and rewarding service years.

Nafiu made the call on Tuesday at the 2026 NYSC/Corps Employers’ Workshop held at the Port Harcourt City Council. The workshop, themed “Fine-tuning Stakeholders’ Collaboration to Enhance Corps Members’ Welfare and Workplace Experience,” brought together public and private sector employers and other stakeholders.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Certification and Mobilisation, NYSC South-South Area Office II, Port Harcourt, Mrs. Faustina Ilora, the Director-General described the workplace as the primary platform where corps members acquire practical experience, develop professional competence and contribute meaningfully to national development.

According to him, the quality of the workplace experience has a significant impact on corps members’ productivity, morale, personal development and overall perception of the NYSC scheme.

He therefore charged employers to assign corps members duties that align with their academic qualifications, while providing effective mentorship, proper supervision and opportunities for professional growth.

In his welcome address, the NYSC Rivers State Coordinator, Mr. Moses Oleghe, urged corps employers to regard the welfare of corps members and the provision of a conducive working environment as a sacred responsibility.

He expressed optimism that the workshop would equip participants with new strategies for strengthening collaboration and improving the implementation of the NYSC scheme in the state.

Delivering the keynote lecture, Dr. Sabastine Nwankwo Jr. of the Department of Political Science, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, called on employers to be deliberate in harnessing the talents and potential of corps members by creating workplaces that encourage innovation, productivity and personal development.

The workshop attracted a large turnout of stakeholders, including employers from government ministries, agencies, educational institutions and private organisations, all committed to enhancing the welfare and workplace experience of corps members in Rivers State.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strict compliance with the Public Procurement Act, declaring that adherence to due process remains central to ensuring transparency, accountability and value for money in project execution across the Niger Delta.

Speaking at a capacity-building workshop on public procurement for the Commission’s executive management and directors in Port Harcourt, the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said the training was designed to deepen the understanding of procurement procedures among senior officials and strengthen institutional governance.

Ogbuku said the Commission had taken significant steps to reform its procurement system, including the digitisation of contract award letters to eliminate the circulation of fake documents that had previously exposed directors and contractors to investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He noted that the introduction of an electronic procurement (E-procurement) system was part of broader efforts to curb corruption, improve accountability and eliminate delays associated with manual procurement processes.

According to him, the Commission has reached a stage where strict compliance with government policies and procurement regulations is essential to achieving sustainable development in the Niger Delta.

The NDDC chief executive urged directors to ensure that all procurement requests align with approved procurement plans and annual budget provisions, stressing that procurement decisions must be guided by the region’s needs assessment.

He also advised management staff to develop a sound understanding of procurement procedures and subject vendors’ proposals to rigorous scrutiny in line with established priorities and due process requirements.

Ogbuku further called for prudence and selflessness in the management of public resources, describing sacrifice and accountability as indispensable qualities in public service.
Earlier, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, underscored the importance of continuous capacity building for public officials entrusted with the management of government funds.

Also speaking, the Director of Procurement, Dr Chuks Osuji, said the training was organised to strengthen the knowledge, skills and competencies of procurement professionals, project managers, finance officers and other stakeholders involved in the procurement value chain.

He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to investing in capacity development initiatives that promote integrity, transparency and professionalism while enhancing service delivery and good governance.

Delivering an overview of public procurement in Nigeria, the pioneer Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Engr. Emeka Eze, observed that procurement systems are designed primarily to prevent corruption rather than merely combat it.

He described public procurement as one of the areas of government most vulnerable to corrupt practices and urged participants to strictly adhere to established rules to avoid sanctions.

Eze identified transparency, integrity, openness, fairness, competition and accountability as the guiding principles of public procurement, while commending the NDDC for embracing E-procurement, which he described as a transformative step towards a more transparent and efficient procurement system.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has threatened to invoke its constitutional powers against Heirs Energies Limited over what it described as the company’s persistent refusal to honour legislative invitations concerning a petition filed by the Omuohia Community in Igwuruta Town, Ikwerre Local Government Area.

The Assembly directed the company’s Managing Director and management team to appear before lawmakers on Monday, July 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters, where plenary is temporarily being held, warning that failure to comply could attract sanctions under the 1999 Constitution.

The summons was conveyed in a letter dated July 7, 2026, signed by the Clerk of the House, Dr. Emeka Amadi, and addressed to the Managing Director of Heirs Energies Limited. A copy of the correspondence was obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday.

The Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly said the directive followed the consideration and adoption of the report of its Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions during the Fourth Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session of the 10th Assembly.

Lawmakers expressed strong displeasure over what they termed the company’s “wilful refusal” to appear before the committee despite several invitations, describing the conduct as unacceptable and disrespectful to the legislative institution.

Consequently, the House warned that it would not hesitate to activate the enforcement provisions contained in Section 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), should the company fail to honour the latest summons.
Section 129 of the Constitution empowers a House of Assembly to compel the attendance of witnesses, require the production of documents and, where necessary, impose sanctions for non-compliance with legislative directives.

The petition before the Assembly was filed by the Omuohia Community in Igwuruta Town against Heirs Energies Limited, although details of the community’s grievances were not disclosed in the summons.

Part of the letter reads: “At the Fourth Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Tenth Assembly, the House considered the report of the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions on the petition by Omuohia Community in Igwuruta Town against Heirs Energies Limited and resolved to register its displeasure and condemn, in strong terms, the wilful refusal of Heirs Energies Limited to appear before the Committee despite several invitations to this effect.

“The House further resolved to invite you to appear before it with your management team on Monday, July 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters and warns that it will not hesitate to invoke its powers, in consonance with Section 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), should you fail to appear accordingly.

“You are requested to treat this invitation as a matter of utmost priority.”

More than 10,000 people died across Europe during the record-breaking heatwave that swept through the western part of the continent in June, with the overwhelming majority of the victims being elderly people, according to new mortality data.

Figures released by EuroMOMO, a mortality monitoring network supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), showed that 10,650 excess deaths were recorded across 27 European countries during the week of June 22 to 28, when temperatures peaked in France, Spain, the United Kingdom and several other nations.

Of the total, more than 9,000 deaths occurred among people aged 65 years and above, underscoring the devastating impact of extreme heat on older populations.

EuroMOMO said the excess mortality was far above seasonal expectations, noting that the combined mortality across the same countries had, in the preceding eight weeks, averaged about 500 fewer deaths per week than normal.

Chief Physician at Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut, which hosts EuroMOMO, Lasse Vestergaard, described the mortality surge as highly unusual.

“To have this kind of excess at this time of year is unusual. It’s really high,” Vestergaard said, adding that it was difficult to attribute the spike in deaths to anything other than the extreme heat.

Health experts explained that extreme heat can prove fatal by triggering heat stroke or worsening cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, with older people among the most vulnerable.

Scientists also linked the unprecedented heatwave to human-induced climate change, saying such an event would have been “virtually impossible” without global warming, which has made heatwaves more frequent, longer-lasting and more intense.

The data covered deaths from all causes rather than only those directly linked to heat. However, researchers said there were no major concurrent events, such as COVID-19 outbreaks, that could explain the sharp increase in mortality.

The late-June heatwave crippled parts of Europe, disrupting electricity supplies, forcing school closures and shattering temperature records in France, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Although EuroMOMO does not publish country-specific mortality figures, it reported that France and Belgium recorded “very high excess” mortality during the final week of June. Belgium’s public health institute, Sciensano, said the country’s excess mortality was the highest recorded during any heatwave since records began in 2000.

In a separate study published on Monday, researchers from Imperial College London, the UK Met Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimated that about 2,700 people died from heat-related causes in England and Wales during the May and June heatwaves.

The study further found that 42 per cent of those deaths were attributable to the additional heat generated by human-caused climate change, reinforcing growing concerns over the escalating human cost of global warming across Europe.