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Emergency Rule: Over 10,000 Jobs Lost In Rivers, Says President Of Ijaw National Congress

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Emergency Rule: Over 10,000 Jobs Lost In Rivers, Says President Of Ijaw National Congress

President of the Ijaw National Congress, (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, has disclosed that at least 10,000 jobs were lost in Rivers State due to to the imposition of emergency rule in the oil-rich state.

Okaba made the claim on Wednesday, while responding to questions on Arise Television.

“Six months of emergency rule in Rivers State, spanning from March 18th to the present, has resulted in significant losses across multiple sectors.

With the suspension of the governor, deputy governor, and legislature, a form of dictatorship was effectively put in place, represented by the sole administrator appointed,” he said.

It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State in March, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and the state’s legislators.

However, on Wednesday September 17, President Tinubu through a statement by the Presidency announced the end of the six-month emergency rule in Rivers State.

Tinubu Lifts Emergency Rule In Rivers … Governor Fubara, Dep, Legislators To Resume Duties, Thursday

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Tinubu Lifts Emergency Rule In Rivers … Governor Fubara, Dep, Legislators To Resume Duties, Thursday

The six months state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu has ended.

Tinubu in a statement released on Wednesday by the Presidency announced the end of the six-month emergency rule, declaring that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly will return to office from Thursday, September 18, 2025.

“It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today. The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the deputy governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from 18 September 2025,” the statement read.

The state of emergency, first proclaimed on March 18, 2025, was necessary to arrest the “total paralysis of governance” that had gripped Rivers at the time.

The president recalled the bitter conflict between the governor and 27 lawmakers loyal to the House Speaker which had left the state without a functioning government, with the Supreme Court even affirming in one of its rulings that “there was no government in Rivers State.”

Here is the full statement

 

STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY, BOLA AHMED TINUBU, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, ON THE CESSATION OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE

My Fellow countrymen and, in particular, the good people of Rivers State.

I am happy to address you today on the state of emergency declaration in Rivers State. You will recall that on 18th March, 2025, I proclaimed a state of emergency in the state. In my proclamation address, I highlighted the reasons for the declaration. The summary of it for context is that there was a total paralysis of governance in Rivers State, which had led to the Governor of Rivers State and the House of Assembly being unable to work together. Critical economic assets of the State, including oil pipelines, were being vandalised. The State House of Assembly was crisis-ridden, such that members of the House were divided into two groups. Four members worked with the Governor, while 27 members opposed the Governor. The latter group supported the Speaker. As a result, the Governor could not present any Appropriation Bill to the House, to enable him to access funds to run Rivers State’s affairs. That serious constitutional impasse brought governance in the State to a standstill. Even the Supreme Court, in one of its judgments in a series of cases filed by the Executive and the Legislative arms of Rivers State against each other, held that there was no government in Rivers State. My intervention and that of other well-meaning Nigerians to resolve the conflict proved abortive as both sides stuck rigidly to their positions to the detriment of peace and development of the State.

It therefore became painfully inevitable that to arrest the drift towards anarchy in Rivers State, I was obligated to invoke the powers conferred on me by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to proclaim the state of emergency. The Offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and elected members of the State House of Assembly were suspended for six months in the first instance. The six months expire today, September 17th, 2025.

I thank the National Assembly, which, after critically evaluating the justification for the proclamation, took steps immediately, as required by the Constitution, to approve the declaration in the interest of peace and order in Rivers State. I also thank our traditional rulers and the good people of Rivers State for their support from the date of the declaration of the state of emergency until now.

I am not unaware that there were a few voices of dissent against the proclamation, which led to their instituting over 40 cases in the courts in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa, to invalidate the declaration. That is the way it should be in a democratic setting. Some cases are still pending in the courts as of today. But what needs to be said is that the power to declare a state of emergency is an inbuilt constitutional tool to address situations of actual or threatened breakdown of public order and public safety, which require extraordinary measures to return the State to peace, order and security. Considered objectively, we had reached that situation of total breakdown of public order and public safety in Rivers State, as shown in the judgment of the Supreme Court on the disputes between the Executive and the Legislative arm of Rivers State. It would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have made that proclamation.

As a stakeholder in democratic governance, I believe that the need for a harmonious existence and relationship between the executive and the legislature is key to a successful government, whether at the state or national level. The people who voted us into power expect to reap the fruits of democracy. However, that expectation will remain unrealizable in an atmosphere of violence, anarchy, and insecurity borne by misguided political activism and Machiavellian manipulations among the stakeholders.

I am happy today that, from the intelligence available to me, there is a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding, a robust readiness, and potent enthusiasm on the part of all the stakeholders in Rivers State for an immediate return to democratic governance. This is undoubtedly a welcome development for me and a remarkable achievement for us. I therefore do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer than the six months I had pronounced at the beginning of it.

I take this opportunity to remind the Governors and the Houses of Assembly of all the States of our country to continue to appreciate that it is only in an atmosphere of peace, order, and good government that we can deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. I implore all of you to let this realisation drive your actions at all times.

I thank you all.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

NBA Pledges Support For EFCC Anti-corruption Crusade

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NBA Pledges Support For EFCC Anti-corruption Crusade

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ilorin branch has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the collective fight against corruption.
The Chairman of the association, Mr Sulyman Kosemani, said this when he led union executives on a courtesy visit to the Zonal Director of the EFCC, Mr Daniel Isei, in Ilorin on Wednesday.

Kosemani commended the existing synergy between the EFCC and legal practitioners in Kwara, saying there was the need for deeper collaboration.
He urged the commission to intensify its scrutiny of politically exposed persons, particularly public office holders, to ensure accountability in the management of funds accruing to the state in the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal.

The NBA chairman also encouraged the EFCC to maintain its focus on economic and financial crimes, while leaving civil matters to the appropriate courts.
He further called for increased involvement of members of the Bar in EFCC activities, noting that such collaboration would foster a seamless and productive relationship between both institutions.

Isei appreciated the visit, while describing lawyers as indispensable allies in the nation’s anti-corruption efforts.
The director cautioned against undue interference in ongoing investigations and urged lawyers to support the commission with credible intelligence, particularly in high-profile cases.

He reminded legal practitioners of their duty as ministers in the temple of justice, advising them to provide sound counsel to their clients and refrain from filing frivolous applications aimed at frustrating trials.
“Lawyers and law enforcement agents cannot do without each other. We can achieve more together through synergy.
“As far as we are concerned, our gates are open to lawyers and other stakeholders for collaboration.

“We remain committed to professionalism and integrity in the discharge of our duties”, he said.

IPOB/ESN Commander ‘Gentle De Yahoo’ Apprehended in Imo – Army

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IPOB/ESN Commander ‘Gentle De Yahoo’ Apprehended in Imo – Army

The Nigerian Army says troops of Operation UDO KA have arrested a notorious IPOB/ESN commander, Ifeanyi Eze Okorienta, also known as Gentle de Yahoo in Imo.

A credible source at the Army Headquarters said that the success was recorded during a raid in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo.

He said the operation was carried out on Sunday, following credible intelligence on the hideouts of the criminal kingpin.

The source said troops recovered an English pistol, 120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 25 rounds of 7.62 NATO ammunition, a live cartridge, six mobile phones, as well as police and military uniforms.

He added that the troops also uncovered a criminal workshop used for dismantling stolen vehicles of kidnapped victims, where 10 motorcycles were destroyed.

According to him, the operation dealt a major blow to the activities of IPOB/ESN elements involved in kidnapping, arms possession, impersonation and sale of stolen vehicle parts in the South East.

The source further said the Nigerian Army remained committed to dismantling terrorist and criminal networks threatening peace and security in the region.

He urged residents to continue to support troops with timely and credible information to help rid the South East of criminal elements.

Schoolgirls In Kogi Benefit As Govt. Rolls Out ₦534.3m AGILE CCT Grant

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Schoolgirls In Kogi Benefit As Govt. Rolls Out ₦534.3m AGILE CCT Grant

AGILE: Kogi Govt. Commences Disbursement of N534.3m CCT Grant To Schoolgirls

 

The Kogi Government on Wednesday commenced the disbursement of N534, 360,000 Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project to schoolgirls in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the disbursement was inaugurated by Gov. Ahmed Ododo on July 28, and 13, 359 adolescent girls are expected to benefit with each receiving N40,000 only.

The initiative is aimed at enhancing school enrollment, retention, and transition for adolescent girls, thereby strengthening their contribution to the state’s social and economic development.

At the commencement of the disbursement exercise at the GYB Model Science Secondary School (GYBMSSS), Lokoja, the AGILE team issued preloaded ATM cards to parents and guardians of beneficiaries.

Speaking at the event, the Kogi State Project Coordinator, Mr Ahmed Oricha, commended the state government for keeping to his promise of ensuring that ATM cards were distributed across the state to all beneficiaries.

Oricha explained that the disbursement was not a one-off, but a follow-up activity towards the governor’s pledge that the AGILE-CCT initiative will be sustained as a continuous intervention under the AGILE project.

According to him, it is a goal is to dismantle financial and socio-cultural barriers that prevent girls from attending school.

Oricha urged schoolgirls to maintain regular school attendance, while calling on parents to ensure that the funds were used strictly for their children’s education.

Similarly, the Lead Consultant, Mr Richard Alabi, reiterated that the account linked to the ATM card was a dedicated wallet for AGILE fund disbursement and must not be diverted for other uses.

Alabi emphasised that beneficiaries must sustain at least 70 per cent school attendance to continue enjoying the scheme.

He cautioned parents against paying any form of processing fees, as the government had fully covered the costs.

The CCT Lead, Mr Kunle Musa, explained that the disbursement was being carried out in batches until all 13,359 beneficiaries receive their funds.

UBA Branch Manager, Ms Jennifer Efe, lauded the state government’s commitment to prioritising education through the AGILE-CCT programme, noting that Kogi was among the first states to begin actual implementation.

She encouraged parents to use the funds appropriately for their children’s education and advised them to consider opening a separate savings account for future planning.

The Principal of GYBMSSS, Chief Godwin Yakubu, commended the state governor for making education a priority and ensuring that girls were not left behind.

He expressed appreciation to stakeholders for their support in making the project successful.

Parents and beneficiaries also expressed their gratitude.

Mrs Mariam Paul, a parent, said she received the N40, 000 on behalf of her daughter through the ATM card that was given to her.

“We are grateful to the government, AGILE, and all stakeholders for this support,” she said.

Federal Airports Fully Insured — FAAN MD

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Federal Airports Fully Insured — FAAN MD

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Wednesday says
all federal airports managed by the authority are fully insured.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, gave the clarification while responding to claims that the airports were not insured.

Kuku also clarified that the insurance were up-to-date, with available records to back it up.

She said “de-rubberisation and runway hygiene has been done; infact, records are available to show.

“Other areas I will concur are habitation and community issues that have impacted the wildlife and bird strikes and we have been working closely with relevant stakeholders to control.

“The historical runway issues based on structural and engineering issues on some of the runways, along with those exceeding their lifespan are being corrected gradually with complete overhauls and maintenance.”

De-rubberisation is the process of removing rubber deposits on the runway to enhance landing grip of aircraft tyres.

In other words, it is aimed at better landing on the runways.

Tinubu Ends Vacation, Arrives Abuja

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Tinubu Ends Vacation, Arrives Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after cutting short his working vacation ahead of schedule.

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‎The President’s aircraft touched down at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport around 6:50 p.m. on Tuesday.
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‎He was welcomed by top officials, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa among others.
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‎Tinubu had departed for France on Sept. 4, for part of his annual holiday, with plans to also visit the United Kingdom.
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‎Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga in a statement had said that the vacation will last 10 working days.
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‎While in Paris, Tinubu held a private luncheon with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace.
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‎Both leaders reviewed key bilateral issues and pledged to deepen cooperation for mutual growth and global stability.

RIVCHPP Records Over .1m Registrations Across 23 LGAs … Set To Unbundle Secondary Care With Universal Health Coverage

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RIVCHPP Records Over .1m Registrations Across 23 LGAs … Set To Unbundle Secondary Care With Universal Health Coverage

The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Program, RIVCHPP, says it will ensure that every Rivers citizen is covered under the scheme with the help of universal health coverage.

Chairman of RIVCHPP, Professor Princewill Chike, made this known while briefing newsmen at the end of the board inaugural meeting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. He stated that over one hundred and ten thousand people have enrolled in the program across the 23 local government areas of the state.

He disclosed that the board is set to unbundle secondary care with the help of universal health care coverage.

Prof. Chike disclosed that RIVCHPP is set to expand its scope to private health care facilities and assured citizens of the state of providing the best of facilities.

‘We the members of RIVCHPP board have just had our inaugural meeting and retreat , we are trying to inform the public, those residing in Rivers State that we have hit the ground running from last week when the board was officially inaugurated. We in this board have decided to make sure that the universal health coverage is covered and anybody living in Rivers State benefits from it. As we speak to you, over one hundred and ten thousand enrollees have been recorded across the 23 local government areas in the state and with the help of executive Secretary and management, RIVCHPP has been going round all the 23 local government areas.

“Of course, you know the new act has been signed involving the universal health coverage, and every person is expected to be covered. We are also going to expand the scope of private facilities that we have engaged in this health insurance program.

“We want to assure the people of Rivers State and all the people doing business in the state that they will all be given the best of facility. We have checks and balances because we have personnel we will send to all the nooks and crannies of the state to make sure the necessary things are done.

“The National health insurance agency which is partnering with us is all insisting that your national Identification Number NIN will be used for proper registration and we expect that all of us will key into it,” Prof. Chike stated.

The Chairman called on Rivers people to enrol in the program through the Nationa Identification Number (NIN) and other relevant documents.

“We will also partner with Local Government chairmen because we are trying to see how we can get NIN office across the 23 LGAs because that is the requirement from our partners. and of course we are spreading our tentacles, we will ensure health professionals who are working with us are well taken care of so that they can in turn render the best care to the public,” Prof. Chike noted.

FG Introduces Single-window Platforms For Land Registration, Agricultural Credit

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FG Introduces Single-window Platforms For Land Registration, Agricultural Credit

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu’s administration is introducing single-window platforms for land registration, strengthening agricultural credit systems, expanding irrigation infrastructure, and scaling mechanisation.
Shettima said this in Abuja on Tuesday during the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) National and Subregional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum.

He announced fresh incentives to boost agricultural investment under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, it is part of ongoing reforms to unlock Nigeria’s vast food production potential through new policies that serve as a game-changer for agriculture and infrastructure investments in the country.

He stated that hunger poses a global security issue, adding that Nigeria must mobilise its strengths to secure a future of abundance.
“Nothing unifies humanity as much as hunger. It is the great equaliser that reveals our vulnerabilities and the shared fragility of our existence.

“Food is not merely a matter of survival, it is a matter of global security. We must facilitate access to land and resources for serious investors.
“We must drive mechanisation to reduce drudgery and enhance productivity. We must strengthen the agricultural credit system to ensure capital flows to where it is needed most,” he said.

Shettima, who described irrigation as a game-changer, observed that Nigeria has river basins and aquifers capable of irrigating over three million hectares but currently uses less than ten per cent.
“Strategic investment in irrigation alone could triple yields, free us from seasonal dependency, and fortify our resilience against climate shocks,” he added.
The Vice-President also assured investors that Nigeria’s policies are being re-engineered to attract capital through regulatory reforms, public-private partnerships, and agri-tech innovation.
“Nigeria is open for business, and we are ready to partner with you.
“Let us work hand-in-hand to build a Nigeria and a subregion where no one goes to bed hungry, where rural communities are hubs of wealth creation, and where agriculture is the true foundation of our prosperity,” Shettima said.

According to him, Nigeria is open for business and ready to partner with relevant stakeholders and investors in implementing its national blueprint targeted at creating 21 million full-time jobs in rural and agrarian communities.
“While securing national food and nutrition sufficiency, the vehicle to this future is the quality of policies we have chosen to prioritise. At the top of these interventions stands our National Development Plan (2021–2025), which has set forth ambitious but achievable targets.

“This blueprint seeks to lift 35 million Nigerians out of poverty, create 21 million full-time jobs in rural and agrarian communities, and secure national food and nutrition sufficiency through deliberate and strategic investments in agriculture,” he added.

Earlier, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, highlighted key challenges and potential for investment across the agribusiness value chain.

He said a combination of Nigeria’s domestic market, large arable land, clement weather and fast growing digital economy, presents unique opportunities for investment across the agribusiness ecosystem.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, said the economic potential of Nigeria remained largely untapped especially in agriculture and irrigation.

According to him, irrigation holds significant promise for economic diversification and transformation.
He noted that agriculture, particularly agribusiness, remains a pivotal component of Nigeria’s national development plan in the medium and long term, as well as the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

For his part, Dr Demba Sabally, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security of The Gambia, commended the FAO for hosting the event and Nigeria’s leadership in agriculture.

He highlighted the country’s success stories in the rice and cassava value chains as worthy of emulation by countries in the sub-region and beyond.

He emphasised the need for peer review among countries in the West African sub-region because of their common challenges and opportunities for growth and transformation.

The representative of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Hussein Gadain, said the Hand-in-Hand Initiative is FAO’s “evidence-based, country-led, and country-owned flagship programme.

“The programme is designed to accelerate agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development. It is squarely aimed at eradicating poverty, ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition, and reducing inequalities.”

He commended Nigeria’s clear agricultural development priorities and described them as catalysts for transformative and sustainable growth within Africa’s agri-food systems.

He hailed the Vice-President Shettima’s genuine commitment and visionary leadership in transforming Nigeria’s agri-food systems.

NDDC Charges Youths On Sustainable Peace In The Region

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NDDC Charges Youths On Sustainable Peace In The Region

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has charged youths across the nine states of the commission to be ambassadors of peace building initiatives.

This move is to sustain the existing peace to propel development across the region.

The NDDC managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, gave the directive while declaring open a capacity building program for Niger Delta stakeholders on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and inclusive peace for sustainable development organised by the department of dispute and conflict resolution ( DCR) of the commission held in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday.

The program which is part of activities to mark the silver jubilee celebration of the birth of the commission has the theme: fostering lasting peace through ADR; lessons from the past, building future opportunities to advance the renewed hope agenda.

The NDDC managing Director/chief executive officer represented by his chief of staff, Rev Omeya Oworibo advised the youths of Niger Delta region to be vanguards of peace and avoid actions that could jeopardize the existing peace achieved in the region.

He emphasised that sustainable development can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace devoid of rancour and acrimony, stressing that as critical stakeholders in the region, they are to seen themselves as agents of development and to build frontiers with the commission to advance the developmental needs of the people of Niger Delta region.

He averred that the various developmental achieved by the commission was associated to the prevailing peace and stability noticed in the region.

He opined that the essence of the workshop is to brainstorm with the various stakeholders in the region, especially the youths, on how best to ensure that the existing peace in region is sustained and how we can best manage ourselves without being confrontational.

According to him,the commission is open for positive and constructive engagement, adding that dialogue and meditation remains the key to finding a lasting peace in the society.

” I am excited on the level of people in this workshop and our core mandate is how to build and sustain the existing peace in the region. How do we keep and maintain this peace already achieved.”he stated.

The NDDC managing Director and chief executive officer urged them to carry the message of peace and stability to their various communities and villages so as to assist the commission achieve it’s core mandate of development in the Region.

Earlier in his welcome of address, the acting director, Dispute & Conflict Resolution (DCR), Ogedegbe Ayewumi Godwin (Esq), said the gathering is with shared commitment to harness the power of alternative dispute resolution (ADR)as a critical instrument for sustaining peace, unlocking development and advancing the renewed Hope Agenda across the Niger Delta and beyond.

He stated that we stand at a consequential moment in our national journey, noting that the theme for the workshop “fostering lasting peace through ADR: lessons from the past, Building future opportunities to advance the renewed Hope Agenda”calls us to reflect deeply on what has worked, what must be reinforced and how we can leverage ADR to translate policy intentions into tangible, peaceful, and prosperous outcome for communities that have borne the brunt of conflict for too long.

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