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Fubara consults Tinubu on Rivers peace sustenance

Published

7 months ago

September 23, 2025

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday in Abuja said he is at peace with his political benefactor.

He also noted that “proper peace” has returned to the state after a months-long feud that triggered an emergency rule in March.

Speaking to journalists after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, Fubara stressed that he had resumed his duties in an atmosphere of peace and cooperation.

“As far as I’m concerned, we have made peace. Fubara and his principal are working together,” the governor said, referring to his estranged predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Fubara also revealed that his visit to Tinubu was a courtesy call and an opportunity to seek direction following the expiration of the six-month emergency rule that saw his suspension and those of key political leaders of the state.

“Ideally, it’s proper for me to see Mr. President and to tell him that I’m back, and I’ve also resumed my responsibility as the governor of Rivers State,” he said, adding, “It’s not much. It’s a father-son discussion, telling him thank you, and the areas where, if at all, there should be any issue for him to guide me properly so we don’t get in any situation of crisis.”

Tinubu lifted the emergency rule on September 17, restoring the offices of governor, deputy governor and the House of Assembly after a political impasse between Fubara and Wike that had crippled governance.

The Supreme Court had earlier declared that “there was no government in Rivers State,” citing the collapse of relations between the loyalists of both men in the assembly.

The crisis threatened governance in the oil-rich state as vital pipelines came under attack in the days leading to Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule.

Meanwhile, Fubara on Monday lamented the huge economic opportunities lost due to the underutilisation of the state’s two seaports, warning that unless their capacities are optimised, both Rivers and Nigeria will continue to miss out on jobs, investments, and industrial growth.

The governor stated this when he received a delegation of the Nigerian Ports Authority Board and Management, led by its Chairman, Senator Adeyeye Adedayo Clement, on a courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, the governor said seaports remain critical to national development, noting that world-class ports and airports drive prosperity in many countries.

He stressed that despite being strategically blessed with the Port Harcourt and Onne seaports, Rivers had yet to fully harness their potential.

“We are blessed with the Port Harcourt and Onne seaports, but the truth is they are underutilised. Imagine if Onne Port was working at full capacity—the level of activities around Eleme, Tai, and the surrounding areas would transform the entire state’s economy. It will drive employment, create opportunities in manufacturing, and expand clearing and forwarding operations,” he said.

Fubara explained that maximising the capacity of both ports would attract industries seeking proximity to export facilities, reduce logistics costs, and boost investor confidence. He added that the ripple effects would include job creation, business growth, and higher tax revenues.

He also highlighted the relatively peaceful environment in Rivers under his administration, which, he noted, had fostered smoother relations between host communities, government, and the port authority compared to the disruptions seen elsewhere.

On infrastructure, the Governor decried the poor federal roads linking the ports, describing them as a major hindrance to operations. While acknowledging that road repairs were a federal responsibility, he pledged state support through traffic management, discipline among trailer drivers, and complementary measures to ease congestion.

Fubara further promised to enhance security within the port precincts by establishing a new police station. He linked insecurity to unemployment, stressing that reviving port activity would reduce youth restiveness and crime.

“Most of these societal issues stem from unemployment. If activities pick up at the ports, nobody will want to be a criminal when there are genuine opportunities to make a living,” he said.

The Governor also cautioned against encroachment on port lands, warning that such practices undermine development. He urged the NPA Board to provide details of encroachment cases for immediate government intervention.

On flooding, he explained that poor access roads and drainage were the major causes and assured that the state would collaborate with the NPA on remedial works once the problem areas were identified.

Commending the board for partnering with the state before embarking on intervention projects, Fubara said such collaboration would ensure community buy-in and sustainability. “When government is part of your programmes, it means you have already succeeded, because the government represents the people,” he noted.

He pledged his administration’s full support to the NPA, urging the Board to transform the seaports into engines of economic growth rather than “monuments of neglect.”

In his remarks, NPA Board Chairman, Senator Adeyeye Adedayo Clement, said Nigeria’s littoral states are endowed with rich marine resources that are veritable catalysts for growth. He pledged the Board’s commitment to reviving operations at the Port Harcourt and Onne seaports and sought the state government’s support in rehabilitating access roads, ensuring environmental cleanliness, curbing illegal truck parking, and establishing a police post to tackle insecurity.

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Photos: Jonathan Visits Tinubu At Presidential Villa

Published

4 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday met former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa.

It was reports that this was disclosed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

A reason for the meeting has not been disclosed as at the time of filing this report.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan meets President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Former President Goodluck Jonathan meets President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Meanwhile, Jonathan has responded to erstwhile Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his submission on his competency during his time in office.

It was reports that Atiku, during a live television interview, claimed that Jonathan made many mistakes while he was President because he was inexperienced.

“I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but also inexperienced, and I believe that contributed to his inability to manage the affairs of the country, particularly when he was faced with challenges,” he said.

Reacting to Atiku’s statement during the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria awards ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Jonathan said no one who becomes a governor or president would say he did not make mistakes.

He defended his administration, adding that he did his best while in office.

Jonathan said: “So not too long ago, a very senior politician said, ‘Oh, Jonathan was too young and probably that’s why he made mistakes.’

“If I made mistakes, yes, nobody who becomes a governor or a president will say you did not make mistakes. Even when you promote yourself to the level of a god, you become a deity.

“All human beings must make mistakes. I became president in 2010 at the age of 53. I left in 2015 at the age of 58, and they say I was too young. Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?”

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Alleged coup plot: DSS moves detained Islamic cleric, Zaria to court for trial

Published

5 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Sheik Abdukadir Sani Zaria, the Islamic scholar arrested by Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, in connection with the alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu has been moved to the Federal High Court in Abuja for prosecution.

He was brought to court with a retinue of security escorts and his personal associates.

Sani who has been in the detention facility of the DIA and later the Department of the State Service, DSS, since December 2025, was named among the six coup plotters on the charge sheet filed by the Federal Government and billed for arraignment in court today, Wednesday.

He is to be put on trial by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, along with five others, including military officers accused of plotting to wage war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Islamic cleric was named in counts 1, 2, 3,4, 6 and 7 of conspiring with others to commit felony while he was separately charged on count 9 of the 13-count charge.

Among the accusations against him were that he conspired to bring down a legitimate government, concealed information on the coup plot and rendered support to the coup plotters.

In count 9, the cleric was accused of retaining a sum of N2 million in his account with number 0005620270 domiciled at Jaiz Bank and transferred into the account by a Company, “A & A Express Link Concept” whose ownership was traced to one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji, said to be the arrow head of the coup plot.

His offense of terrorism financing was said to be contrary to section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and punishable under section 18 (3) of the same Act.

Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Monday ordered immediate unconditional release of the Islamic scholar from the custody of the
DIA and later the DSS.

The judge had imposed a fine of N2 million each on DIA and DSS to be paid to the cleric for breaching sections 35 and 36 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution in the ways and manners the 75 year old man was hauled into detention for more than four months without trial.

In a judgment on the fundamental rights suit instituted against DIA and others by the detained Islamic cleric,

Justice Lifu ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Jaiz Bank to pay N1 million each as compensation to him for freezing his bank account without order of any law court.

Besides, the Federal High Court directed the DIA and DSS to tender a public apology to the detained islamic scholar for the breach of his fundamental rights.

Sheikh Sani Abdulladir Zaria was hauled into detention without order of court for allegedly associating with one of coup plotters against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Justice Lifu had lambasted the DIA for its refusal to subordinate itself to civil rule and rule of law by refusing to produce the detained man in court when ordered to do so.

He said that as agency established by law, the DIA should not place itself above the laws of the land in the discharge of its statutory functions.

The judge held that the provisions of Section 36(1)(5) and (6) of the 1999 Constitution avail him and “for all citizens.”

He noted that Nigeria, being a signatory to different international conventions on human rights, cannot afford to be held behind on such issues.

The judge noted that since December 11, 2025, the applicant was kept in “safe custody” without access to family and associates after an investigation was opened about him, on grounds described as security reasons.

Justice Lifu ordered the AGF to ensure immediate compliance with the judgment of the court.

The cleric had been hauled into the DIA custody since December last year following the discovery of N2 million in his Jaiz Bank account paid by one of the indicted coup plotters.

Although he agreed to forfeit the amount to the Federal Government to regain his freedom, the security agency held him to determine the level of his complicity in the alleged coup plot.

The Islamic cleric claimed innocence of the alleged crimes adding that the person who transferred the money into his account was just one of his disciples.

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IGP Disu meets NAPTIP DG, pledges stronger action against human trafficking

Published

5 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has pledged stronger collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, in efforts to tackle human trafficking and organised crime.

The development was disclosed in a statement shared on April 22, 2026 on the official page of the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the statement, the commitment was made when the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, paid a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on April 21.

Discussions during the meeting focused on improving cooperation between both agencies, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing, joint operations and capacity building.

The NAPTIP boss sought increased technical support and operational collaboration to strengthen the agency’s ability to address human trafficking and related crimes.

In his response, Disu assured that the police would support NAPTIP through intelligence-led strategies and coordinated operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks.

“The Force will deploy its operational and intelligence capabilities to support NAPTIP’s mandate,” the statement said.

Disu noted that specialised units, including the Intelligence Response Team and the police cybercrime unit, would provide technical assistance, while training programmes would also be expanded for NAPTIP personnel.

The two agencies agreed to sustain regular engagements to monitor progress and strengthen efforts against trafficking and organised crime across the country.

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