Mr Moses Siasia, the Founder of the Niger Delta Young Professionals (NDYP) says Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) remain critical to job creation and sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.

Siasia stated this in a statement on Tuesday, on the forthcoming 5th Niger Delta MSME Summit scheduled to hold in Yenagoa on December 9.

He said the summit, expected to host more than 1,000 young entrepreneurs and business owners, would focus on equipping MSMEs with the skills, mentorship and support needed to expand and create employment opportunities across the region.

“The event aims to strengthen MSMEs as a major engine of job creation and economic diversification in the Niger Delta and the wider Nigerian economy.

“The summit will feature exhibitions, keynote presentations, panel sessions, mentorship engagements and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs aged between 20 and 45.”

According to him, this year’s theme, “Enhancing the Role of MSMEs as Drivers of Sustainable Growth and Innovation”, highlights the increasing importance of small businesses in addressing unemployment and reducing economic exclusion.

Siasia noted that previous editions of the summit had assisted participants in accessing grants, funding and business support systems, including the NIRSAL Intervention Loan, which benefited more than 400 entrepreneurs in 2021.

He said the Niger Delta and the country at large must embrace a future driven by innovation, technology, agriculture, renewable energy and the knowledge economy, adding that MSMEs would remain the backbone of such transformation.

Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa will serve as Chief Host of the 2025 edition, while the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, is expected as Guest of Honour.

Other invited guests include Mr Usoro Akpabio, Managing Director, South South Development Commission (SSDC); Dr Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director, Bank of Industry; Mr Ayodeji Sotinrin, Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture and business executive, Mr George Omoraro.

The Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos of the Nigerian Navy says it has deactivated five illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadino Community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta.
FOB Escravos Commanding Officer, Navy Capt. Ikenna Okoloagu, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Warri.

Okoloagu said that, cumulatively, about 13,050 litres of stolen crude oil concealed in 30 dugout pits and three polythene sacks were seized during the operations.

He said the illegal refining sites were deactivated between Nov. 5 and Nov. 19 following a series of coordinated operations guided by credible intelligence.

Okoloagu said the exercise was carried out under the ongoing Operation DELTA SANITY II.

The naval chief also said the operations were in line with the strategic directives of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, which focused on maintaining sustained pressure on economic saboteurs.

“Specifically, on Nov. 5, 2025, operatives, acting on actionable intelligence, dismantled two illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadino Community with about 4,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
“Subsequently, on Nov. 14, an additional site was dismantled at the same community with about 3,850 litres of stolen crude oil recovered.
“Additionally, on Nov. 19, two illegal sites were deactivated at the same riverine community and about 5,200 litres of stolen crude oil seized,” he said.
The naval boss warned criminals to desist from sabotaging the nation’s economic assets or face the full wrath of the law.
Okoloagu expressed the Base’s unwavering commitment to stemming illegal activities in the maritime domain and safeguarding the nation’s critical assets from saboteurs.

The United Nations Health Organisation (WHO) has issued its first guideline on the use of a new class of weight-loss medicines, marking a significant shift in global health policy as obesity rates continue to rise.

The guidance focuses on GLP-1 therapies – medicines such as liraglutide, semaglutide and tirzepatide – and offers conditional recommendations on how they can be used safely as part of long-term treatment.

WHO, in a statement on Monday stated that more than one billion people worldwide livewith obesity, which was linked to 3.7 millideaths in 2024.

Without stronger action, WHO warns the number of people affected could double by 2030, placing immense pressure on health systems and pushing global economic losses to an estimated $3 trillion a year.

As the world’s foremost public health authority, WHO’s statement is expected to influence national policies, insurance coverage and clinical practice, particularly as demand for effective weight-loss treatments continues to surge.

“Obesity is a major global health challenge,” Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said.

He added, “Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care.

“While medication alone won’t solve this global health crisis, GLP-1 therapies can help milions overcome obesity and reduce its associated harms.”

WHO stressed that obesity is not simply the result of lifestyle choices, but a complex, chronic condition involving genetics, environment, biology and social circumstances.

It is a major driver of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers, and can worsen outcomes for infectious diseases as well.

For many people, losing weight and keeping it off is extremely challenging without medical support.

GLP-1 therapies work by mimicking a natural hormone that helps regulate appetite, blood sugar and digestion.

For people with obesity, these medicines can lead to significant weight loss and health improvements.

WHO added them to its Essential Medicines List in 2025 for managing type 2 diabetes in high-risk groups, and its new guidelines now recommend their long-term use for adults living with obesity, except during pregrancy.

The recommendation is conditional due to limited long-term safety data, uncertainty about maintaining weight loss once treatment stops, high costs, and significant concerns about unequal access across countries.

WHO emphasised that weight-loss medicines must ne used alongside other support.

The most effective treatment combines medication with healthier diets, increased physical activity, and long-term guidance from health professionals.

The organisation highlighted that obesity cannot be resolved by individuals alone and requires broad action from governments and industry to create healthier food environments and ensure early intervention for those at risk.

Demand for GLP-1 medicines already far exceeds supply. Even with increased production, WHO estimates fewer than 10 per cent of eligible people will have access by 2030.

It warned that without deliberate policies these treatments may widen existing health inequalities.

The organisation urged governments to consider tools such as pooled procurement, fair pricing and voluntary licensing to expand access.

The political standoff in Rivers State intensified this week, but Governor Siminalayi Fubara used the moment to reinforce his administration’s unwavering commitment to rebuilding key public infrastructure—especially in the education sector—despite persistent attempts by political detractors to undermine his efforts.

The most recent controversy arose after comments by the factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, in a video circulated by Viable TV. Amaewhule had raised alarm over the condition of Township School 2 in Port Harcourt following an oversight visit by the House Committee on Education. He described the school’s state as a troubling reflection of deeper systemic decay, warning that facilities in rural communities could be in even worse condition.

However, Governor Fubara countered the claims, dismissing them as exaggerated and politically orchestrated to distort public perception. He stated that while the education sector faces undeniable challenges, his administration has already initiated a phased, methodical rehabilitation of schools across Rivers State.

According to Fubara, the Amaewhule-led faction is more interested in generating political drama than contributing to constructive governance. He argued that the assessments being circulated fail to acknowledge the years of neglect inherited by his administration—neglect he is now addressing through a clear developmental blueprint.

The governor outlined key steps already taken under his education renewal agenda, including a comprehensive audit of school infrastructure, mobilization of contractors for renovation projects, and the launch of targeted interventions to upgrade classrooms, laboratories, and sanitation facilities. He noted that several schools have already undergone repairs, while others are in various stages of rehabilitation.

Fubara reiterated that his government’s approach prioritizes lasting solutions over media sensationalism. He encouraged Rivers people to remain patient and focused on the progress already unfolding, assuring them that every part of the state urban and rural will benefit from his infrastructural renewal drive.

Beyond education, the governor emphasized that his broader development agenda also includes improved healthcare, rural road expansion, youth empowerment, and enhanced service delivery. He expressed confidence that, despite political distractions, his administration will continue to deliver tangible results.

Political observers say the exchange highlights the deepening rift between the governor and the Amaewhule faction of the Assembly, but many believe Fubara’s insistence on staying focused on development rather than confrontation—positions him as a leader committed to moving Rivers State forward.

Nigeria’s defence minister, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned his appointment, with immediate effect.

In a letter dated December 1, sent to President Bola Tinubu, Abubakar said he was quitting on health grounds.

A statement signed by Bayo Onanuga,
Special Adviser to the President,
(Information and Strategy), said President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and thanked Abubakar for his services to the nation.

President Tinubu will likely inform the Senate of Badaru’s successor later this week.

Badaru Abubakar, 63, was a two-term governor of Jigawa state from 2015 to 2023. He was appointed as a minister on August 21, 2023, by President Tinubu.

His resignation comes amid President Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency, with plans to elaborate on its scope in due course.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, says his policy focus on employment is strictly on a needs-basis and will not be used for political patronage.

The Governor stressed that recruitment would be targeted at filling critical gaps in essential sectors like teaching and medicine.

This has been so decided following a planned massive overhaul of the education sector outlined in the forthcoming 2026 budget.

Governor Fubara made the commitment on Monday while declaring open the 123rd and 124th Combined Quarterly Meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers at their Secretariat Council in Port Harcourt.

Emphasising the state’s focus on essential services, the Governor argued that employment must wait for infrastructure improvements in education and health sector.

“Do you employ people to go into school where there is no classrooms? Employment will be based on the need of the state,” he stated firmly, insisting that the primary need is for teachers and health personnel.

He cited the progress made on the Bori Zonal Hospital as evidence of his administration’s commitment, noting that similar projects in Ahoada and Degema are nearing completion and set to follow.

Governor Fubara expressed profound gratitude to the traditional rulers, thanking them for their “fatherly role” in mediating the state’s recent political crisis and ensuring the return of peace.

He also promised to soon resolve the decades-old issue of the Council’s official vehicles, which he noted has lingered for 10 years.

The Governor urged all traditional rulers to be extra vigilant.

He asked them to collaborate closely with local government chairmen and security heads to safeguard life and property, particularly in communities bordering other states.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty Eze Chike Amadi Worlu-Wodo, commended Governor Fubara for his sustained support and for maintaining the tradition of quarterly meetings.

Eze Worlu-Wodo appreciated the Governor’s responsiveness despite economic constraints, observing significant improvements in peace and stability across the state under his leadership.

He, however, reiterated the Council’s long-standing request for official vehicles, including buses, a Hilux vehicle, and cars for principal officers, to assist traditional rulers in carrying out their crucial oversight duties.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Engr. Charles Amadi, highlighted the vital role traditional rulers play in conflict resolution and maintaining community stability, encouraging them to deliberate sincerely on progress and challenges.