General
Bayelsa Kicks Off New Yenagoa Project August 7
By Adedapo Adesanya
Bayelsa State government has described the proposed launch of the New Yenagoa City project next week, August 7, as a pragmatic step to ensuring controlled development of the state capital.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the state, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, made this known during his address on Wednesday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the 109th State Executive Council meeting held in Yenagoa alongside his environment, trade and investment counterparts as well as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security.
“One of the things we must bring to the fore regarding the launch of the New Yenagoa City is the fact that we are going to have controlled development. As much as possible, the City as being envisaged will be one that will compare favourably with any of its kind anywhere in the world, given the amenities that have been provided there already,” he said.
Mr Iworiso-Markson also noted that there would be issuance of Certificates of Occupancy by the State Governor to those who have already been allocated plots of land in the new city.
“C of Os’ will also be issued for most of the plots on the day of the launch. We have over a thousand plots there. So, it is another way of generating revenue for our state. But more importantly, we have created a GRA that we all will be proud of.”
He further said that the government was doing everything within its reach to enable Bayelsans and friends of the state who acquired plots in the envisioned area develop their landed property with ease.
According to the state’s spokesman, the event would attract people from all walks of life, with adequate security guaranteed.
He said the council totally condemned the killing of the two soldiers by criminals at Azagbene Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area and the consequent sacking of the community by the military in a reprisal attack.
The Special Adviser on Security, Chief Boma Spero-Jack also condemned the Azagbene killing but noted that the military should have adopted a professional means of seeking justice in line with global best practices rather than sack the community.
Mr Iworiso-Markson called on all leaders and the media to partner with government in sensitizing the youths on the need to shun criminal activities and their attendant consequences in the interest of peace and development.
“We all have our roles to play as religious leaders, community leaders, political or opinion leaders and even youth leaders by talking to our people. Because it is our people, the innocent ones, that suffer colossal loss whenever such senseless actions are taken by few criminal elements. The Odi incident is still very fresh in our memory.”
He said the state government had already dispatched a committee to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the level of destruction in Azagbene as well as provide some relief to the people of the community.
On his part, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ebipade Apaingolo who also graced the occasion noted that Council extensively discussed the flood alert issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), which had flagged Bayelsa as one of coastal states that will likely be flooded this year.
Mr Apaingolo urged the people not to panic over the alert as government is putting proactive measures in place to mitigate the impact of the flood as predicted by NIMET.
The Environment Commissioner, who called on those living in flood prone areas to make preparation for early evacuation, assured that government would soon embark on opening up drains and canals in the state capital and its environs to enhance the free flow of water.
Also briefing the press, the Special Adviser on Trade and Investment, Mrs Funkazi Koroye-Crooks stressed that all Bayelsans are eligible to apply for land in the new Yenagoa City as there is no partisan consideration in the allocation of the plots.
According to her, the large expanse of land is situated between the Epie Creek and the famous River Nun could also be assessed through the new Onopa Bridge close to Government House which is billed for commissioning in September this year.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Young bloggers, online content creators and digital influencers have been charged to embrace ethical journalism, responsible storytelling and fact-based reporting as they shape public opinion in the digital age.
This task was given by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, during the Niger State Bloggers, Online Publishers and Content Developers Forum on Monday in Abuja.
In a statement on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Rabiu Ibrahim, the Minister said digital platforms offer enormous opportunities for innovation and civic engagement but must be used responsibly to promote truth, national unity and constructive public discourse.
He urged bloggers and content creators to verify information before publication, reject misinformation and disinformation, avoid sensationalism, and use their platforms to educate, inspire and promote national development.
Mr Idris also encouraged young Nigerians to see digital content creation not only as a source of income but also as a tool for civic engagement and nation-building, stressing that ethical communication is essential to strengthening democracy and public trust.
He further encouraged aspiring bloggers and digital entrepreneurs to continue developing their skills and uphold professional standards that will strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s online media ecosystem.
“There is no democracy that can thrive without a responsible media. You cannot carry freedom and abandon responsibility,” he stated, adding that the government remains committed to protecting press freedom while encouraging ethical journalism.
The Minister also highlighted the establishment of the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI), the world’s first UNESCO Category 2 Institute dedicated exclusively to Media and Information Literacy, describing it as a major step in promoting digital literacy and responsible online engagement.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Rabiu Kwankwaso, disclosed that Mr Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, signed agreements committing himself to serving only one four-year term if elected in 2027.
Mr Kwankwaso explained that the documents comprised a formal agreement involving the political party and a separate personal accord between himself and Mr Obi.
According to Mr Kwankwaso, the deal stipulates that the presidency will return to Northern Nigeria in 2031 upon the completion of an Obi-led administration’s four-year tenure, if elected next year.
“We have agreed to formalise it in writing,” Mr Kwankwaso stated. “We have executed one document for the party and another between the two of us,” he revealed during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today late on Monday.
He reiterated that Mr Obi would honour his pledge and resist pressure to seek a second term, expressing confidence in the former Anambra State governor, noting that his interactions had convinced him that he would respect the agreement.
“I personally believe him, and, based on what I now know about him, I do not believe he will change his mind when the time comes,” he said. “We are all gentlemen.”
Mr Kwankwaso added that he and Mr Obi would continue to collaborate after the proposed administration completes its term.
“The agreement is that after four years, we will continue to work together as a group, as a party, and as friends and brothers,” he said. “After our four-year term, from 2027 to 2031, power returns to the North. That is the consensus.”
The former defence minister did not state that he would be the NDC presidential candidate in 2031; his comments referred broadly to the presidency returning to the North, rather than to his personal political ambitions.
Mr Obi has repeatedly pledged to serve only one term if elected; however, he has yet to publicly confirm the specific details of the documents described by Mr Kwankwaso.
In the 2023 Presidential polls, Mr Obi was the Labour Party presidential candidate while Mr Kwankwaso contested on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over 1.14 million hectares of degraded land have been restored by the Nigerian government, with more than 1.5 million trees planted across the country in the past year.
This information was revealed by the Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Abbas Lawal, at the 2026 Top Management Retreat and National Tree Planting Campaign in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He said these achievements were made through initiatives of the federal government like the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project and the National Agency for the Great Green Wall.
According to him, the restoration of the land and the planting of trees demonstrate a clear national commitment to securing environmental sustainability while advancing economic growth.
The Minister reemphasised that the environment is not an abstract concept, pointing out that “it is the air we breathe, the land that feeds us, the rivers that sustain communities, and the climate that shapes the future.”
He praised Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State for his giant strides in the environment sector in the state, urging other state governors to emulate him by providing sponsorship for their students to the various Federal Colleges of Forestry Resources Management institutions located across the six geo-political zones of the country to encourage and boost Forest education in the country.
He described the decision of Mr Zulum to sponsor 540 indigenes of the state to a forestry college in Maiduguri as commendable.
Mr Lawal also informed the participants of the programme that the Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025, is a key policy instrument under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying it protects Nigeria’s forest resources, curbs illegal logging, and encourages tree planting as a national duty.
He pledged the Federal Ministry of Environment’s continued partnership with state governments on afforestation, ecosystem restoration, and other interventions tailored to their needs.
“Nigeria’s environmental future can be secured by protecting natural heritage, strengthening climate resilience, and advancing inclusive and sustainable development for present and future generations,” he declared.
