General
Rivers APC Congratulates Newly Elected Ward Executives
By Nwaorgu Faustinus
Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the unprecedented success and peace recorded during its ward congresses of 5th May, 2018 in the 319 Wards of the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State as an act of God, the beginning of the collapse of the fascist regime of Governor Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike and redeeming the State from further downward slide.
The party leadership in a statement circulated to journalists by Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the Media Consultant to Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, State Chairman of Rivers APC on May 6, 2018 further described the positive outcome of the Ward Congresses as good prevailing over evil, light shining out darkness. With this success, we are convinced that Governor Wike and his agents in APC will not only be ashamed but counting their loses, adding the party expects Wike to start preparing to account for the evil he and his agents envisioned against Rivers State and her people.
The APC noted that considering the unprecedented vandalization of its State Secretariat by well-known elements of the party induced by Governor Wike of Rivers State, the party have set up a Stock-Taking Committee to ascertain the level of damage of the property of the party vandalised and stolen which the culprits of this heinous crime will pay.
The committee under the chairmanship of Barr Amachree the party Administrative Secretary with Chief Emeka Bekee the party’s Secretary as its secretary will assist the police in her investigation of this evil plot envisaged to ruin our party and cast aspersion on the party’s leadership” Chief Davies said.
The statement reads: “The party describes those behind the vandalization of her Secretariat as cowards and enemies of democracy and urges the Police to ensure that the law takes its full toll on all those implicated in the wanton vandalisation of the party’s secretariat situated at old GRA Port Harcourt.
“The Chairman reiterated that no party member found culpable in this heinous crime no matter how highly placed he or she may be, will go scot free in this regard.
“The party admonishes her members who are dancing, dining with Governor Nyesom Wike a PDP Chieftain to endeavour to join him instead of acting as moles and stooges of a retrogression person. The party emphasized that enough is enough for the acts exhibited by these double faced elements.
“The APC congratulates the newly elected Ward Leaders and urge them not to relent until the evil administration of Governor Wike is rooted out from Rivers State. The party explains to the newly Ward leaders to be prayerful, watchful and committed towards the ideals and vision of the party and to be good Ambassadors of the party at their various Wards as we collectively march to reclaim our State come 2019.
“The party assures Rivers State and her people that with the collapse of the evil plot of Governor Wike and his misguided elements to truncate the Congresses, our envisaged plan to redeem the State is now closer than before.
“The APC also reassured her leader, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi the erstwhile Governor of Rivers State and the incumbent Minister of Transportation that the party will collaborate and assist him in rebuilding the party to the enviable status envisioned by the founding fathers of the party in the State . The party maintained that those who want to pull down the party structure in the State will live to regret their actions.
“The party emphasised that anyone who evaluates today’s Congresses that took place in the 319 Wards of the party as not peaceful, credible, free and fair must be operating from outside the State or have a different agenda as the event was applauded by the International, Local Independent observers, INEC and APC National Leadership that supervised and conducted it.
“The party concluded by commending the Police and other security agencies for ensuring a peaceful congress in the State and averting the blood bath that Wike and his agents have plotted against the state and her people.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved a $4.5 billion arrangement for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited aimed at strengthening the country’s external reserves and freeing up funds for infrastructure.
This is part of the refinancing of the $3.3 billion Project Gazelle Pre-Export Finance Facility through a new $4.5 billion facility named “Project Gazelle 2”.
The approval allows NNPC Limited to refinance the outstanding balance of approximately $1.5 billion under the original 2023 facility, while unlocking an additional $3 billion in liquidity to strengthen the country’s external reserves and support ongoing fiscal and infrastructure priorities of the government.
NEC’s approval followed a presentation by the Minister of Finance, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, which was presented by the Chairman of the Council, Vice President Kashim Shettima, underscoring the importance of the project.
NEC observed the significance of unlocking additional liquidity to the federation, among other benefits, pledging its support for the actualisation of the initiative.
The Finance Minister explained that the refinancing has been structured on more favourable terms than the original facility, including a reduction in the volume of pledged crude oil from 90,000 barrels of oil per day to approximately 78,750 barrels of oil per day – a 12.5 per cent reduction.
He noted that under the new arrangement, an additional 11,250 barrels of oil per day for the federation will be released, while there will be a reduction in the pledged crude volumes by the state oil company.
Mr Oyedele added that while accessing additional liquidity on improved terms, the arrangement is freeing up resources for strategic national priorities while strengthening the country’s financing structures.
“The arrangement is freeing up resources for strategic national priorities while strengthening the country’s financing structures,” he said.
VP Shettima called for a responsive, scalable, and data-driven social protection policy to tackle multidimensional poverty in Nigeria.
According to Mr Shettima, government policies are often heard before they are seen, speak through the price of food, condition of hospitals, records in schools, strain on families, the confidence of those who invest their labour in the nation’s future, and, very importantly, the ambitions of state governments.
He implored members of Council to ensure that every decision they make assure the citizens “that their government is paying attention to the pulse of the nation and is resolved to respond with competence, compassion and purpose.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Members of the public have been invited to submit memoranda and policy proposals on the proposed National Policing Bill.
The Chairman of the Working Group, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, announced this on Monday after the team’s meeting at the State House in Abuja.
The group, headed by the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, is calling for input from Nigerians as part of efforts to establish a comprehensive legal and operational framework for state policing.
It is reviewing the Police Act 2020, the Police Service Commission framework, police regulations, and other relevant laws to support the development of an effective, modern policing system.
The proposed framework will set national minimum standards, define state readiness and grant certification, clarify jurisdictional responsibilities, ensure independent oversight, uphold human rights, and guarantee sustainable funding. It would also spell out an orderly transition to a dual-policing structure.
The call for memoranda will run for two weeks, allowing citizens, professionals, civil society, security agencies, state and local governments, academics, and other stakeholders to contribute. Submissions will be reviewed and integrated into the draft bill, which will then be subject to further national consultation before being finalised and sent to the National Assembly.
The Working Group has adopted a seven-week work programme running from July 27 to September 14, 2026. The draft Executive Bill is scheduled for presentation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3, 2026, with national consultations to follow before the final approval.
The new National Policing Bill will set out requirements for recruitment, training, oversight, funding, and transition arrangements to ensure credible, effective, and accountable policing nationwide.
“A proposed State Police Service must demonstrate that it has credible arrangements for recruitment, vetting, training, pay, pensions, equipment, custody, complaints, discipline, data, firearms control, independent oversight and financial sustainability before it begins policing,” Mr Gbajabiamila said.
The representative of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, who described State Police as a landmark reform, described the initiative as one of the defining reforms of President Tinubu’s administration.
Responding to concerns about federal overreach, he clarified that there is no Federal attempt to control State Police. He added that the proposed legislation is intended to provide an operational framework rather than centralise control.
Prince Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, said the proposed National Policing Bill is designed to guarantee the security of lives and property while ensuring that the establishment of state police does not become a tool for political persecution.
The Attorney-General added that states not immediately ready to establish their own police services would continue to benefit from the presence of the Federal Police until they meet the required standards.
Other participants at the meeting included the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu; President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe; Chairman, Policy Advisory Committee, Justice Abdullahi Liman (rtd); Professor Olu Ogunsakin, Head, Nigeria Police Reform Secretariat; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research, Nnadubem Moghalu; and Brigadier General Olutayo Muyiwa Adesuyi, representing the National Security Adviser.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says it recorded a 30 per cent reduction in gas imbalance on the country’s Western Network following the conclusion of its first-half 2026 Nigerian Gas Network Reconciliation (NGNR) Workshop.
The workshop brought together gas transporters, suppliers, shippers and off-takers to reconcile gas volumes traded between January and June 2026, while introducing a Network Entry/Exit Point Measurement Infrastructure Audit Template aimed at improving metering accuracy and accountability across the gas transmission network.
In a communiqué issued after the workshop, the authority said participants also reviewed the performance of the Nigerian Gas Transmission Network, assessed progress on major pipeline infrastructure projects, and received updates on the ELPS Gas Shrinkage Factor and Hydraulic Modelling Project.
Discussions focused on addressing metering gaps, improving network visibility through Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) integration, and enhancing system reliability ahead of the commissioning of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Pipeline System.
The workshop adopted key resolutions, including the execution of outstanding Network Exit Agreements, mandatory submission of measurement audit templates and closer collaboration among industry stakeholders to improve network pressure management.
Speaking at the closing session on behalf of the authority’s chief executive, Mr Rabiu A. Umar, the Director of Transportation Systems and Networks, Mr Joseph G. Musa, said the biannual reconciliation exercise had become critical to promoting equitable gas transactions, transparency, investor confidence and efficient network operations.
Mr Musa noted that since the NGNR process was introduced in 2023, it had significantly improved gas measurement, strengthened regulatory compliance through consequence management, reduced operational imbalances and contributed to a more reliable domestic gas supply.
The workshop concluded with participants adopting the reconciled H1 2026 gas volumes, reaffirming the authority’s commitment to a transparent, efficient and reliable domestic gas market.
