All arrangements have been concluded for the formal unveiling of the Albert Badey Centre for Development (ABCD), scheduled for Saturday, April 25, at the E.U.I. Event Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Dignitaries, associates and admirers of the late Ogoni leader have begun arriving in the city ahead of the ceremony, which will also feature a posthumous 90th birthday commemoration in his honour.

A statement issued by Blessing Wikina
Head, Media Sub-Committee for ABCD Unveiling stated that the centre, conceived as a legacy project, will house an Institute for Peace and Policy named after Sir Gabriel Toby, former Deputy Governor of Rivers State. Both men served the state in earlier years as Permanent Secretaries.

The statement also indicated that a former Commissioner in the old Rivers State, Dr Emmanuel Denenu, is billed to deliver the keynote address at the event.

The ABCD is established in recognition of Badey’s contributions to the development of Ogoniland, where he played a pivotal role in the creation of four local government areas from the former Ogoni Division. He is also credited with facilitating the siting of the state’s first polytechnic in the area.

The unveiling is expected to draw stakeholders from across Rivers State and beyond, in celebration of a life widely regarded as instrumental to the advancement of the Ogoni people.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has thrown his weight behind the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing the need for continuity to consolidate ongoing reforms and development strides.

Fubara made the declaration on Thursday in Port Harcourt while hosting members of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council, drawn from the 17 southern states, at a meeting focused on unity, security, and economic growth.

The governor acknowledged prevailing economic and social challenges but maintained that the current administration has made measurable progress in stabilising the economy and advancing infrastructure, pointing to flagship initiatives such as the coastal road project.

“It is not ideal to change the goalposts in the middle of the game,” Fubara said, stressing that policy consistency and leadership continuity are critical to sustaining reforms.

He called on stakeholders across the southern region to close ranks in pursuit of shared development objectives, emphasising that unity remains indispensable for long-term progress.

Fubara also highlighted the significance of the high-level gathering, noting that the presence of traditional rulers underscored the relative peace in Rivers State and its capacity to host national engagements.

Earlier, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who chairs the council, said the forum was convened to deepen unity and promote peaceful coexistence across the region. He described the council as a reflection of Nigeria’s rich diversity, with over 400 dialects spoken in the southern states.

According to Ogunwusi, the Port Harcourt meeting marks the fourth in the series, following previous sessions in Imo, Ogun, and Lagos states, and serves as a platform for traditional rulers to deliberate on shared values and collective interests.

He added that the council would explore avenues to support the federal government in tackling security and economic challenges, noting that participation, though voluntary, is vital for national development.

The meeting was attended by prominent monarchs from the South-South, South-East, and South-West, including co-chairman Cletus Illomuanya and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.

The Rivers State Government has reiterated its commitment to deepening collaboration with private medical practitioners as part of efforts to improve healthcare delivery across the state and the country.
Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu restated the position on Thursday at the 48th Annual General Meeting and International Scientific Conference of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, held at the Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre.

Odu commended members of the association for their resilience and vital contributions to healthcare delivery, noting that private practitioners cater to between 60 and 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population. She described the conference theme, “Enhancing Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria: The Role of Private Medical Practitioners,” as both apt and timely.

Highlighting the growing role of the private sector in addressing emerging health challenges, the deputy governor also drew attention to the risks faced by practitioners, including kidnapping and violent attacks, describing their sacrifices as critical to sustaining healthcare services nationwide.

She reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to policies that promote quality healthcare, attract investment, and create an enabling environment for medical professionals to thrive. According to her, sustained synergy between public and private actors remains essential to building a resilient and inclusive health system.

Odu further spotlighted the state’s health insurance scheme, the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme, which partners with private health facilities to expand access to care. She disclosed that the initiative has funded several medical procedures, including surgeries, through such collaborations.

She urged participants to utilise the conference as a platform for meaningful engagement, knowledge exchange, and the development of practical solutions to challenges confronting the healthcare sector, expressing optimism that deliberations would yield actionable outcomes.

In his remarks, National President of the association, Adesola Adekunle Kayode, said the body had, over the past four years, achieved key reforms, including a new tariff structure and strengthened institutional frameworks to enhance the dignity of private practitioners.

Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion, Innocent Ekwem, decried the state of the nation’s health system and challenged participants to generate ideas capable of revitalising healthcare institutions.

The conference attracted stakeholders from across the health sector, underscoring renewed calls for collaboration to reposition Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system.

Improved statutory revenue performance boosted distributable funds in March 2026, with the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) sharing a total of N2.036 trillion among the three tiers of government at its April meeting in Abuja.

Data released by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation showed that the allocation comprised N1.320 trillion in statutory revenue, N515.391 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT), and N200 billion as augmentation to cushion disbursements.

A communiqué issued after the meeting stated that “a total sum of N2.036 trillion, being the March 2026 Federation Account Revenue, has been shared among the Federal Government, states, and local governments.”

The statement further indicated that gross revenue available for the month stood at N2.364 trillion before deductions. From this, N81.084 billion was deducted as cost of collection, while N246.872 billion was allocated for transfers, refunds, and savings.

Statutory revenue remained the dominant contributor to the pool, rising to N1.699 trillion in March from N1.561 trillion recorded in February—an increase of N137.914 billion.

In contrast, VAT collections recorded a marginal dip. Gross VAT revenue for March stood at N664.425 billion, slightly lower than the N668.450 billion generated in the preceding month.

From the total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received N789.159 billion, states got N657.596 billion, while local government councils were allocated N468.826 billion. Oil-producing states received N120.759 billion as derivation revenue.

A breakdown of statutory revenue showed the Federal Government received N632.260 billion, states N320.691 billion, and local governments N247.239 billion, alongside the N120.759 billion shared as derivation.

From VAT proceeds, the Federal Government got N51.539 billion, states N283.465 billion, and local governments N180.387 billion, reflecting the growing dependence of subnational governments on consumption-based taxes.

The N200 billion augmentation was also distributed, with the Federal Government receiving N105.360 billion, states N53.440 billion, and local governments N41.200 billion.

On revenue performance, the communiqué noted increases in Companies Income Tax (CIT), Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Stamp Duties (SDT), and excise duty. However, it reported declines in Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Hydrocarbon Tax (HT), oil and gas royalty, import duty, and CET, while VAT recorded a slight decrease.

FAAC meets monthly to distribute revenue accrued into the federation account in line with constitutional provisions, with allocations reflecting fluctuations in oil receipts, tax collections, and other revenue streams.