Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared himself “number one” in the state following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor made the remark after receiving his APC membership card on Friday, December 12, 2025. Expressing satisfaction with his new political affiliation, Fubara said he was pleased to formally join the ruling party.

He pledged to work towards ensuring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory in Rivers State during the 2027 presidential election.

“I am not just a member of the All Progressives Congress; I am the number one,” he said. “I have collected my membership card, and the form is 001.”

It’s Spiritual Assignment, Says Fubara on Defection to APC

He described his decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a “spiritual assignment,” insisting that the move aligns the state with the political direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Fubara, who earlier in the week formally severed ties with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the remarks on Friday at Government House, Port Harcourt, shortly after receiving his APC membership card from the state chairman, Chief Tony Okocha.

Declaring himself “number one” in the party’s hierarchy in Rivers State, the governor said he was delighted to obtain the card, which he noted bears the registration number 001.

According to him, his defection was guided by the need to ensure harmony between the state and the presidency, particularly ahead of the 2027 elections.

“As you have said, this is indeed a spiritual assignment because it concerns the safety, progress, and growth of Rivers State,” he said. “We cannot pursue a different direction when the President is pursuing another. Joining the APC is part of our commitment to ensure a seamless working relationship and to contribute meaningfully to his re-election efforts in Rivers State.”

Fubara added that aligning with the ruling party would strengthen the state’s political stability and development agenda.

He expressed appreciation to the APC leadership for what he described as a warm and open reception, pledging to support the party structure and ensure it becomes fully functional across the state.

“This is now your home, Mr Chairman. You are welcome here anytime,” he said. “We will keep the APC active and fully functional in Rivers State, and every need of the party will be taken care of.”

The Tony Okocha-led All Progressives Congress (APC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has officially issued a membership card to the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Fubara went through the documentation process on Friday to become a member of the party, few days after he announced his defection to the APC.

Okocha, who led the executive committee of the party in the state, presented the card to Fubara during a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who was in the state for project inauguration and flag-off witnessed the registration process.

Details shortly…

In a bid aimed at improving its internally generated revenue, the University of Port Harcourt on Thursday, 12 December 2025, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Giolee Global Resources Limited, an indigenous company, for the full operation and revitalization of the University’s Bottling Company, which had previously performed below expectations. The signing ceremony took place at the Vice Chancellor’s Committee Room.

In a press statement signed by Dr. Sammy Kpenu, Head, Information, Publications and Public Relations, University of Port Harcourt, and made available to The Atlantic Bell, the agreement represents a significant step in the institution’s efforts to strengthen its business ventures and boost internally generated revenue.

Signing on behalf of the University, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgewill emphasized that the partnership aligns with the University’s drive to develop sustainable business models and revive dormant assets.

“This partnership is a testament to our determination to reposition and enhance the productivity of University-owned enterprises,” Prof. Georgewill said. “We believe that Giolee Global Resources Limited has the capacity and expertise to transform the Bottling Company into a profitable and efficient facility that will serve the university community and beyond.”

The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Giolee Global Resources Limited, Chief Leesi Mao, expressed appreciation to the university for the confidence placed in the company and assured that Giolee is committed to transforming the facility.

“We are honoured by this opportunity and fully committed to delivering excellence,” Chief Mao said. “Our goal is to introduce modern processes, enhance product quality, and ensure that the Bottling Company becomes a competitive and sustainable enterprise.”

Earlier, the Chairman of the University of Port Harcourt Investment Limited, Mene Kadilo Kabari, described the partnership as a strategic intervention that will enhance the University’s investment portfolio.

“This collaboration is a major milestone in strengthening the University’s investment portfolio,” Kabari noted. “We are confident that this agreement will yield meaningful economic benefits and set a strong precedent for future partnerships.”

The MoU establishes a framework for improved operational efficiency, increased production capacity, and expanded market reach for the revitalized Bottling Company.

The Federal Government has clarified that all taxable Nigerians will be required to present a Tax Identification Number (TIN) or Taxpayer Identification Number before operating a bank account, as part of new fiscal reforms taking effect on 1 January 2026.

Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this in a post on his X account on Thursday, noting that the requirement derives from Section 4 of the Nigerian Tax Administration Act (NTAA), which comes into force next year.

Oyedele explained that the provision—first introduced in the Finance Act 2020—now has a firmer legal backing under the NTAA, making it compulsory for all taxable persons to obtain a tax ID. He added that the rule applies only to individuals and entities that earn income through trade, business, or other economic activities.

According to him, students, dependents and others without taxable income are exempt and will not be required to obtain a tax ID to maintain or operate a bank account.

“A taxable person is anyone who earns income through trade, business, or any economic activity. So banks must request a tax ID from taxable persons,” he said, adding that existing TIN holders will not need to apply for a new number.

Oyedele warned that taxable individuals or entities who fail to secure a tax ID “may have difficulty running their bank account in the near future.”

His comments come amid rising public anxiety that bank accounts without linked tax IDs could soon face restrictions.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2025 signed into law a suite of new tax reforms scheduled for rollout in January 2026.

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has pledged to strengthen and expand the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project to create over 38,250 new entrepreneurs and boost participation across key agricultural value chains.

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, gave the assurance during a one-day workshop on Scaling Up Youth Agripreneurship for Food Systems Transformation at the Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The workshop, hosted by the LIFE-ND project, focused on the theme: “Scaling Up Youth Agripreneurship in Nigeria for Food Systems Transformation.”

In a statement signed and issued by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director, Corporate Affairs of the NDDC,
Ogbuku, who was represented by the Acting Director of the NDDC Liaison Office in Abuja, Mrs. Mary Nwaeke, highlighted the immense agricultural potential of the Niger Delta and Nigeria, while also acknowledging the challenges of food inflation, fragmented value chains, ageing farming populations, climate-related vulnerabilities, and limited access to finance and modern technologies.

The NDDC Chief Executive Officer noted that these challenges presented opportunities to nurture a new generation of agripreneurs capable of revitalising rural economies and transforming Nigeria’s food systems.

He reaffirmed NDDC’s commitment in partnering with all stakeholders to create an enabling environment where youth-led agribusiness can thrive.

According to him, “We are not just building farms; we are building futures. We are not just cultivating crops; we are cultivating prosperity.”

Ogbuku, reiterated the Commission’s strong commitment to scaling up the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project, describing it as a transformative platform capable of unlocking economic opportunities for thousands of young people across the region.

He observed that the NDDC’s US$30 million counterpart funding underscores the Commission’s unwavering support for youth agripreneurship as a strategic tool for promoting peace, stability, and economic growth in the Niger Delta.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening food security nationwide.

He urged stakeholders to deepen collaborations with government and development partners to ensure a stable and effective food supply system across the country.

In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, expressed appreciation to the NDDC, LIFE-ND, and other stakeholders for supporting government initiatives aimed at achieving national food security.

The Minister commended the National Project Coordinator of the LIFE-ND project for his dedication to ensuring the programme’s sustainability.

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has proposed a university system that prioritises problem-solving and de-emphasises awarding degrees.

Delivering the keynote address at the 2nd Convocation Lecture of the Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Ogbuku wondered how our universities had become more degree-awarding than problem-solving institutions.

He spoke on the theme: “From Degree-Awarding to Problem-Solving Institutions: Retooling University Education for Nation-Building.”

The NDDC Chief Executive Officer affirmed that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Ogbuku lamented: “We have built an academic culture where promotion is often tied more to the number of papers published in journals, many of which have minimal bearing on local problems, than to the impact of research on society.”

He expressed worry over the disconnect between universities and the productive sectors of the economy, noting that “employers repeatedly complain that graduates lack critical thinking, creativity, digital skills, and practical experience.”

“We have witnessed a gradual decline in funding and infrastructure in the education sector. A system that is underfunded struggles to be innovative. When laboratories lack basic equipment, when libraries are outdated, when classrooms are overcrowded, and when staff are poorly motivated, the easiest thing for a university to do is to default to theory-heavy, exam-driven education.”

“We can change this by deliberately inserting “problem-solving contents” into our programmes. For instance, every final-year student, regardless of discipline, could be required to undertake a ‘capstone project’ that addresses a real, identified problem in a community, industry, or government institution.”

The NDDC boss stated that “another strategic step is to build and strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems within our universities. Many universities, including the Federal University Otuoke (FUO), have started entrepreneurship centres, but some are treated as peripheral units.”

He observed that environmental and climate-related problems in the Niger Delta region were critical issues to resolve. “We need to deal with oil spills, gas flaring, flooding, biodiversity loss, and land and water degradation,” he said.

Ogbuku observed: “In a world driven by technology, Nigeria cannot afford to be a passive consumer of other people’s innovations. What can we do to develop local manufacturing capabilities to reduce dependence on imported goods? What can we do to leverage digital technologies?

“We need to retool University Education for Sustainable Nation-Building. This means redefining the university, in our laws and in our practice, as a problem-solving and future-shaping institution. To retool, our universities must focus on research and knowledge production. If we are serious about sustainable nation-building, university research must be more than a personal promotion ladder.”

Ogbuku charged the graduands to leave the university seeing themselves not just as certificate holders, but as problem-solvers. “The degree in your hand is not a trophy; it’s a tool.”

“You must embrace the charge to learn and adapt continuously. The world you are entering is changing faster than any generation before you. Do not treat your degree as the end of learning.”

Addressing developmental issues, the NDDC boss, remarked that as an intervention agency, the Commission had been repositioned from being transactional to a transformational development commission.

He announced that the NDDC had awarded a contract for the construction of a five-kilometre internal road network inside the university campus. We will also build a modern convocation arena and a five-star Corpers’ Lodge inside the university,” he said.

In his personal capacity, Ogbuku promised to sponsor two professorial chairs in the university, one for my late father and the second for cancer research.

The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Otuoke, Professor Teddy Charles Adias, thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing a new Chancellor for one of the country’s youngest Federal Universities.

He charged the graduating students to note that as they leave the university, they must continue to learn, stating: “Learning never ends.”

The convocation lecture witnessed the installation of the Paramount Ruler of Idoma Worldwide, Dr Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji, as the Chancellor of the Federal University, Otuoke.

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, slumped on Thursday afternoon while he was working in his office and was immediately rushed to a hospital in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

The Deputy Governor was said to have been in a meeting on Thursday which had in attendance some community leaders and stakeholders involved in pipeline surveillance. The meeting was said to be heated and Ewhrudjakpo was said to have left the conference room of his office, where the meeting was held, and was climbing the staircase when he slumped at about 1.30pm.

His aides and top government functionaries who were with him when the incident occurred were said to have rushed him to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Yenagoa, where doctors confirmed that he had passed.

He was initially taken to the emergency unit of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, before being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit for closer monitoring before he gave up the ghost.

The deputy governor collapsed in serious condition before being transported to the hospital’s emergency unit, where he died.

Chaos erupted at the Government House as aides and staff scrambled in disbelief during the evacuation. Security forces swiftly secured the FMC, where Governor Douye Diri’s team gathered in solidarity.

Word of the tragedy spread rapidly through Yenagoa and social media, eliciting waves of shock, tributes, and prayers.

Details surrounding the circumstances of his death are still emerging, and the Bayelsa State Government is expected to release an official statement soon.

Born on September 5, 1965, Senator Ewhrudjakpo was 60 years old at the time of his death.

Sources claim he had overtime maintained a demanding work schedule and had described him as a “workaholic” who rarely found time to rest.

As of the time of filing this report, the Bayelsa State Government had yet to issue an official statement, leaving residents and members of the public anxiously awaiting for an official pronouncement.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo had served as Deputy Governor since February 2020 and previously represented Bayelsa West in the Nigerian Senate.

Born September 5, 1965, in Sagbama Local Government Area, Ewhrudjakpo was a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) mainstay. Holding a PhD in Human Rights Law and admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 2009, his career spanned roles as Works Commissioner, Senator for Bayelsa West in the 9th National Assembly, and Deputy Governor since February 2020.

Under Governor Diri, he drove initiatives in infrastructure, policy stability, and human rights, earning acclaim for his erudition and integrity.

No formal statement has emerged from the state government or family yet, but condolences flood in from political allies and foes alike.

Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State has said he would ensure that everyone supports President Bola Tinubu.

This was as Fubara declared that he would work with any group to ensure that Tinubu wins in 2027.

He spoke during the commissioning of the Egbeda-Omerelu link road on Thursday.

According to Fubara: “Our position is to ensure that everyone supports Mr President. We will support every other group to ensure that we deliver for Mr President come 2027.”

This comes as Fubara and some legislators in the state dumped the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Fubara had claimed that he moved to the APC because the PDP dumped him during his political crisis.

The reconstructed Egbeda-Omerelu Link Road, today, Thursday December 11, 2025.

The Egbeda-Omerelu Link Road fully reconstructed by the administration of Sir Siminalayi Fubara is a significant development for Rivers State as it unveils government’s commitment to infrastructure renewal at the rural area.

This road provides an alternative route for travelers from from Ahoada, Omoku and Egbeda axis going to the Eastern hinterlands through Owerri, bypassing Elele. The road no doubt enhances trade, ease movement, and boost economic activities in the region.

Details coming soon…