The Rivers State Government has declared that it draws its confidence from the assurance that God is more than sufficient to guide its leaders, strengthen its institutions, and sustain its communities in peace and progress.
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‎Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, made this declaration during the 2026 Holy Ghost Rally organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, on Sunday, 25th January 2026.

‎Speaking through his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, the Governor stated that “with the Almighty God on our side, our challenges are surmountable and our future remains hopeful,” noting that the theme of this year’s rally, “The All-Sufficient God,” is both timely and reassuring.
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‎According to Governor Fubara, the theme serves as a powerful reminder that in a world filled with uncertainty, God remains our unfailing source, sufficient in wisdom, strength, provision, and grace. He stressed that when human ability reaches its limit, God’s sufficiency prevails.
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‎The Governor commended the Redeemed Christian Church of God for its consistent spiritual impact and unwavering prayers for Rivers State and the nation, expressing appreciation for the Church’s contributions to promoting moral values, unity, and faith in God.
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‎In his sermon, drawn from Genesis 17:1, the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, described the Almighty God, whose name is above every other name, as all-sufficient and capable of meeting every human need.
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‎He noted that the God who created all things also has the power to repair and restore them.
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‎Pastor Adeboye explained that while human effort, including medical intervention, may reach its limits, there comes a point where only God steps in to turn situations around, bringing hope where none seemed possible.
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‎In his address, the Pastor in charge of the Rivers Family of the RCCG, Pastor Adesoji Oni, stated that the Port Harcourt Holy Ghost Rally, which began in 2015 and has now become an annual event, has been a tremendous blessing to the people of the State.
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‎ Pastor Adesoji noted that the rally has drawn thousands of souls to God while impacting lives spiritually and physically.
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‎He further disclosed that the Church has gone beyond preaching the Gospel to actively engage in impactful initiatives through its Christian Social Responsibility programmes.
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‎These include skills acquisition centres, maternity centres across the State, a rehabilitation centre for persons battling substance abuse, and an Innovative Mind Hub.
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The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr Chiedu Ebie, has expressed optimism that talents discovered at the Niger Delta Games will represent the country at international sporting events such as the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and the All-Africa Games.

Speaking during a strategic retreat organised by the consultant for the 2nd Niger Delta Games, Dunamis Icon Limited, in Benin City, Edo State, Ebie endorsed the idea of holding sessions to review and project plans for successful games.

He stated: “The Board of the NDDC wants to make the games our legacy project, such that there will come a time in the future when we can have athletes from the Niger Delta Games representing Nigeria at international events such as the Olympics.”

Addressing members of the Main Organising Committee and the Local Organising Committee, the NDDC Chairman commended the leadership of Dunamis-Icon Limited, noting: “When you want to institutionalise an event such as the Games, you have to hold such reviews to ensure that gaps are closed.”

Ebie also commended the Edo State Government for its proactive leadership in sports development and expressed confidence that the second edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival would exceed expectations.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, reaffirmed Edo State’s readiness to host the second edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival.

He commended the NDDC under the leadership of Ebie for sustaining the initiative, describing sports as a powerful tool for unity, peace, and socio-economic development in the region. According to him, the Commission’s continued support reflects a clear understanding of the long-term benefits of sports development.

Reaffirming Edo State’s preparedness, the Sports Commission Chairman assured that facilities, logistics, and technical structures were in place to ensure a smooth and successful event. He added that Edo State was working closely with the NDDC and organisers to deliver a festival that would set new standards in organisation, athlete welfare, and competitive excellence.

In his welcome address, the Managing Consultant at Dunamis-Icon, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, explained that the retreat was the second to be organised to review the past games in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and correct mistakes for improvement.

“We are working to connect the dots, ask ourselves hard questions and see how we will organise a richer Games”, Ikpokpo said.

The 2nd edition of the games will be held from February 20-27 for the nine states that make up the Niger Delta region.

Residents and stakeholders in the Niger Delta have commended the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, for sustaining operations against oil theft and illegal refining, describing the effort as crucial to boosting national revenue and addressing long-standing environmental challenges in the region.

The commendation followed rallies organised on Thursday and Friday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by the Niger Delta Peace & Security Forum, where community leaders and concerned residents voiced support for ongoing military actions targeting crude oil theft and artisanal refining.

Speaking at the rallies, the Forum’s Convener, Inko-Tariah Micheal, praised the CDS and the Armed Forces for what he described as their unwavering commitment to protecting critical oil and gas infrastructure and restoring order across the Niger Delta.

Micheal said the renewed anti-oil theft campaign had led to a noticeable reduction in crude oil losses, improved government revenue, and mitigated environmental pollution associated with illegal bunkering activities.

“The renewed commitment of the Chief of Defence Staff and the Nigerian military is yielding positive results,” he said. “Beyond boosting oil production and revenue, these operations are helping to keep the Niger Delta environment cleaner and safer for our people.”

Participants at the rallies observed that declining incidents of oil spills and soot pollution in some communities were early signs of the environmental benefits of the operations. They stressed the need for sustained collaboration between host communities and security agencies to ensure lasting peace and environmental protection.

The Niger Delta Peace & Security Forum reaffirmed its support for the Nigerian military, urging continued professionalism, community engagement and inclusiveness to consolidate the gains recorded in the fight against oil theft and environmental degradation in the region.

The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Chibuzor Simeon Amadi, has declined a request by the State House of Assembly to constitute a seven-member panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu, citing subsisting court orders restraining such action.

In a letter dated January 20, 2026, addressed to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, Justice Amadi said he was legally barred from receiving, processing or acting on any request to set up an investigative panel on the matter.

According to the Chief Judge, two separate court orders, served on his office on January 16, 2026, expressly restrained him from taking any steps in furtherance of the Assembly’s request. He noted that the orders remain valid and binding.
Justice Amadi stressed that adherence to constitutionalism and the rule of law demands strict obedience to subsisting court orders by all authorities and persons, regardless of personal views about their propriety or correctness.

He cited judicial precedents to support his position, recalling a similar incident in 2007 in Kwara State where the Chief Judge was faulted for disregarding a restraining court order and proceeding to constitute an investigative panel. That action, he noted, was subsequently nullified by the Court of Appeal.

The Rivers Chief Judge also observed that the Speaker of the House of Assembly has already approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the restraining orders, a development which, he said, further underscores the need for restraint pending the outcome of the appeal.

Justice Amadi’s decision adds a fresh layer to the unfolding political and legal crisis in Rivers State, as the dispute between the executive and the legislature continues to play out in the courts.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Rolegherighan Agala, has underscored the central role of quality data in driving effective decision-making and improving health outcomes in the state.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day fourth-quarter 2025 data validation meeting and training workshop on Wednesday, January 20, 2026, in Port Harcourt, Agala said completeness, timeliness and accuracy of data remain critical to the agency’s ability to deliver on its mandate.

According to her, “it is only when correct and verifiable data is available that the right decisions can be made,” noting that RIVCHPP has continued to rely on data-driven strategies to strengthen service delivery and expand access to quality healthcare across the state.

She explained that the quarterly data validation exercise not only ensures the integrity of information generated by the scheme but also serves as a continuous capacity-building platform for focal persons across the state. Agala expressed optimism that the process has improved steadily with each quarter, reflecting the growing competence of the agency’s workforce.

“The more we engage, the better we become. This validation and training exercise is an opportunity for participants to sharpen their skills and deepen their understanding of how to input verifiable data that supports sound decision-making,” she said.

Agala reiterated that while RIVCHPP’s core responsibility is to provide enrollees with access to quality healthcare services without exposing them to financial hardship, the success of the scheme is largely dependent on reliable data generated through healthcare providers under the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board and the Hospitals Management Board.

She, however, expressed concern over data indicating that some enrollees—particularly pregnant women—still seek delivery services outside accredited health facilities, despite having access to free, prepaid care under the scheme.

According to her, such trends underscore the need for continuous data interrogation to better understand health-seeking behaviour and address gaps in service utilisation.

“Why are pregnant women still going to traditional birth attendants and churches to deliver their babies? These are the questions the data is raising, and these are the issues we must resolve if we are to achieve better health outcomes,” Agala said.

She disclosed that the validation meeting would interrogate data on deliveries outside health facilities, strengthen the agency’s referral system, address challenges around the National Identification Number (NIN), and review other benefit packages under the scheme.

Agala added that achieving expanded universal health coverage in Rivers State would require the agency to look beyond the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which targets only a segment of the population, and intensify efforts around other insurance packages designed to bring more residents into the scheme.

Earlier, the facilitator of the workshop and Team Lead for Monitoring and Evaluation at RIVCHPP, Dr MacMoses Isaiah, urged participants—particularly focal persons from the 23 local government areas—to actively engage in the training and improve the quality of their outputs.
Isaiah, who also heads the Statistics Unit of the agency, said new data collection and computation approaches approved by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) had been introduced for state health insurance agencies, making it imperative for participants to stay updated.

Also speaking, the Head of Quality Assurance at RIVCHPP, Pharm. Bona Jonas Vopnu, charged staff to exercise diligence and professionalism in handling data, stressing that “an agency is only as effective as the quality of data it possesses.”

The participatory meeting also drew representatives from the Rivers State Hospitals Management Board and the Primary Health Care Management Board, reinforcing RIVCHPP’s collaborative, data-driven approach to achieving improved healthcare delivery and universal health coverage in the state.

The Federal Government has announced the disbursement of ₦152 billion to contractors with verified claims, saying the payments followed due process designed to safeguard public funds and ensure accountability.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Federal Ministry of Finance said all contract payments are subjected to multiple layers of verification in line with extant laws and regulations, stressing that the measures are necessary to protect taxpayers’ money and promote transparency in government spending.

“The process of payment for contracts goes through various verification processes in line with extant laws and regulations, to protect taxpayers’ money and ensure accountability and transparency,” the ministry said.

While acknowledging the financial strain delays have placed on contractors, the ministry appealed for continued engagement and dialogue as a means of resolving outstanding issues.

“We also plead for continuous dialogue and engagement for effective resolution of all conflicts,” the statement added.

The ministry further assured contractors of its commitment to open communication, urging them to respect laid-down procedures and officials responsible for processing payment requests.

“We assure all contractors of our continuous support and openness to constructive dialogue and urge all contractors to respect the process and the personnel of the Federal Ministry of Finance, who have had to endure different levels of intimidation and harassment,” it said.

According to the ministry, outstanding payment requests would continue to be processed in line with due process and handled in a “timely and consistent manner.”

As part of broader efforts to address contractors’ concerns and restore confidence among local firms, the Federal Government has proposed setting aside ₦1.8 trillion in the 2026 budget to clear outstanding payments for capital projects executed under the 2024 fiscal year.

Of this amount, ₦100 billion is earmarked specifically for indigenous contractors.

The proposed provision follows renewed protests by members of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), who have drawn attention to mounting debts, liquidity challenges and prolonged payment delays.

AICAN President, Jackson Nwosu, said the protests were driven by growing desperation among contractors grappling with loan defaults and the risk of losing personal assets after borrowing to execute government projects.

“The government has failed to honour the agreement to pay contractors whose project details had been submitted and verified.

Payments finalised before the closure of the payment portal at the end of December never reflected in our accounts,” he said.

The United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs has condemned the abduction of 166 worshippers from two churches in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna state, describing the attack as part of a pattern of violence against Christians in northern Nigeria.

In a statement posted on X, the committee cited former US president Donald Trump’s past declarations on religious freedom, saying Washington would not “stand by” in the face of continued killings and kidnappings carried out by what it described as Islamic terrorists.

“This past Sunday, Islamic terrorists in Nigeria raided churches and kidnapped more than 168 Christians,” the committee said.

“President Trump made it clear: we cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria. The United States will not tolerate the massacre of innocent Christians.”

The attack occurred on 18 January, when gunmen stormed Cherubim and Seraphim Church 1 and Cherubim and Seraphim Church 2 in Kurmin Wali community, abducting worshippers during services. Security sources said 11 of those taken later escaped, leaving 166 people — including women and children — still in captivity.

Kaduna state police and the state government have confirmed the abductions and said security agencies are working to rescue the victims.

The leadership of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has also called for the immediate release of those held, urging federal and state authorities to intensify efforts to secure their freedom.

Nigeria has faced persistent attacks by armed groups across its northern and central regions, with churches and rural communities frequently targeted for mass kidnappings, despite repeated assurances by authorities that security has improved.