Dennis

  Bayelsa State Government has called on federal agencies such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to support the state in the funding of research projects by its tertiary institutions. Governor Douye Diri, who made the call at the second public lecture of the University of Africa Toru-Orua (UAT) on Thursday, also charged the state-owned institutions of higher learning to redouble their efforts to tap research funds lying idle at the NCDMB and other public-spirited corporate bodies. Represented by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Governor emphasised the importance of research in tertiary education and the overall development of society, noting that what makes an educational institution to stand out is the quality of its research works. He said contrary to some misgivings that the state-owned universities in Bayelsa were too many, the state still needs more to effectively fight against ignorance as

Bayelsa State Governor,Senator Douye Diri, has restated that the State is ready and safe to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in different areas of business. Governor Diri, who is leading a team to the United States of America for both trade and cultural events in the leading commercial cities of New York and New Jersey, said Bayelsa State is rich beyond oil and gas resources and that his government is desirous to tap the huge agriculture potential of the State. The Governor who was addressing Nigerians in Diaspora at a dinner hosted in his honour by the Consul-General, Amb. Lot Egopija and the Nigeria’s Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, Amb. (Prof.)Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, at the Nigerian Consulate, New York, said Bayelsa International Airport, which has since commenced commercial operations to Lagos and Abuja, remains very strategic to the investments drive. In a statement issued by the Director, New Media to the Governor, Dr. Kola Oredipe, the Governor informed

Revenue allocation to federal, state and local governments has declined from a peak of N970.57bn in July 2021 to N680.783bn in May 2022, representing a 30 per cent reduction over the period.   The decrease in allocation to these levels of government reveals the fiscal challenges facing various levels of government in Africa’s biggest economy.   “It is obvious that with this outlook, state governments will not be able to execute capital projects, pay salaries and meet other needs. This is time for states to look inwards,” said Professor of Economics at Covenant University, Jonathan Aremu, in a telephone interview last night.   Nigeria earns its biggest revenue from crude oil, but it has paid N2.1tn in the first six months of the year and could pay another N4tn by the end of the year, according to the International Monetary Fund estimates.   The opaque and fraudulent subsidy regime has made it nearly impossible for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to make remittances to the go

A High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has sentenced a dismissed police sergeant, James Imhalu, to death by hanging for the murder of a commercial driver in 2015 over his refusal to pay a bribe of N100.   Justice Elsie Thompson, while delivering her judgment, said evidence before the court showed that the sacked sergeant intentionally fired a shot at the commercial driver, Legbara David, at Whimpey Junction, Port Harcourt.   Justice Thompson described Imhalu as a serial trigger-happy policeman who should not be allowed to remain in the society.   The prosecution counsel, Kingsley Briggs, said the judgement would serve as succour to the deceased’s family.   “Although the will of justice grinds slowly, surely justice will come.   “For the family of those that lost their breadwinner, it is quite unfortunate. But I believe this judgement will serve as succour to the family,” he stated.   On his part, a representative of the Legal Aid Council in Rivers State, who defended the sergeant

  The controversial National Water Resources Bill, 2020, re-emerged on the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday amidst suspicions from members.   The leadership, however, assured the lawmakers that the new version of the legislation would capture all the interests of the states.   Chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources, Sada Soli, said the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), as well as commissioners for justice and attorneys-general of the 36 states of the federation had been consulted and the opinions received would be attached to the bill and distributed to all members.   A member of the House from Benue State, Mark Gbillah, had raised the alarm when the bill was to be taken for the first reading.   Only the short title of a bill is written on the Order Paper for first reading, while a long title, which has more details, is written when listed for second reading.   Gbillah said, “I am aware that the matter liste

The impeachment process against the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan, has been halted by an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan.   Justice Ladiran Akintola gave the order on Wednesday when the case filed by the deputy governor came up for hearing before him.   He ordered that status quo antem be maintained until the determination of the suit filed against the lawmakers by the embattled deputy governor.   The court then adjourned the matter to July 5 to allow the House to file its reply to the claims of the deputy governor.   Olaniyan was represented by his counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashani (SAN) while the lawmakers were represented by the Director of Legal Services, O Olabanji.   Following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, the PDP-dominated House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Olaniyan, with 23 of them signing the impeachment notice. The House accused the deputy governor of financial irresponsibility, gross

  Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Wednesday accused the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, of failing to honour the democratic choice in the selection of his running mate.   Ortom also noted the failure of Atiku to reach out to the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike,  and some other aggrieved members of the party after picking Governor Godwin Okowa of Delta State as his vice-presidential candidate.   Ortom spoke in an interview on Arise TV as former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, demanded southern presidency.   But loyalists of Okowa and Wike disagreed over Ortom’s statement on how Atiku picked his running mate.   Okowa’s aides and loyalists, who spoke in separate interviews with journalists, said the party had gone beyond the blame game and was focused on winning the 2023 elections.   Wike’s loyalists, in their reactions, in an interview with journalists, backed Ortom and faulted the process that led to the choice of Okowa.   Bayelsa Dai

  American singer R. Kelly was found guilty  of all counts of racketeering and sex trafficking against him at his Brooklyn federal trial last year, and was on Wednesday sentenced to 30 years in prison. According to Rolling Stone, Kelly’s conviction carried a minimum of 10 years in prison, but also the potential of life behind bars.  Prosecutors earlier said that the RnB singer deserved at least a 25-year sentence but Kelly’s lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, had pushed back, for a sentence of under 14 years. Judge Ann M. Donnelly, who presided over his case, said that her sentence is one “I would have imposed regardless of the guidelines.” She gave a rundown of his crimes that were cited during the trial and noted that the singer taught his victims love is enslavement and violence. Kelly was charged with, and found guilty of, nine counts in the New York federal case last year. The trial lasted six weeks and the jury, after deliberating for nine hours, handed  down their verdict. Kelly was char

Report reaching Bayelsadailyonline desk has it that a  Nigerian pilgrim, Hajiya Aisha Ahmad, has reportedly  died of illness in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Aisha Ahmed, from Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa state, died after a brief illness according to Executive Secretary, Nasarawa State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board,  Alhaji Idris Al-Makura , Al-Makura said on Wednesday in Makkah, Saudi Arabia that the deceased had no record of ailment before departing from Nigeria. “The deceased had no medical history as at the time of departure to the Holy Land and we are together in Madinah. The pilgrim took ill two days ago. “She was first taken to the National Hajj Commission’s Hospital in Makkah and later transferred to the King Abdulaziz Hospital where she passed on. The family was duly informed of the death. “We sent the family a video recording of the process of her death confirmation, to the funeral rites and finally, the burial,’’  he said.

The Senate, on Wednesday at plenary, screened and confirmed the seven ministerial nominees sent by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 21. President Buhari had in a letter that conveyed the names of the ministerial nominees to the Senate, explained that the confirmation request was in accordance with the provisions of Section 147 subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.  Bayelsa Dailyonline reports that out of the seven nominees screened and confirmed by the upper chamber,  three were excused from taking questions from lawmakers. This was because of their legislative background and experience, in line with the tradition of the Senate, while four of the nominees answered questions from the lawmakers. The nominees who were asked to take a bow were Goodluck Nana Opiah, Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub and Ademola Adewole Adegoroye. Those who responded to questions included Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh, Umana Okon Uman, Ekumankama Joseph Nkama and Odum Odi. Respond

  Special Adviser on communication and strategy to national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Simon Imobo-Tswam, has dismissed reports suggesting that his principal, Iyorchia Ayu, was suspended by the party.  Reports in some media outlets had claimed that Ayu was suspended during an emergency meeting of the party’s national working committee. According to the reports, the Deputy National Chairman (North), Amb. Umar Damagun, had been appointed as National Chairman of the PDP, in an acting capacity. But reacting to the development in a statement on Wednesday, Imobo-Tswam said, “Even though we do not wish to dignify falsehood with a response, an official reaction is necessary in order to stem the tide of misinformation.” This was contained in a statement, titled, ‘Ayu still PDP National Chairman,’ read in part, “Dr Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP National Chairman remains the PDP National Chairman. “Dr Ayu took a well-deserved, two-week leave on 21st June 2022. He will be back next we

  Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has assured people of the state of his administration's irrevocable commitment to complete Phase One of the Nembe-Brass Road Project before the end of his first term in office. Governor Diri, who gave the assurance on Wednesday  at the 79th State Executive Council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, said his administration was poised to prove naysayers wrong with the timely completion of the multi-million naira project. Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Governor thanked Bayelsans, especially the chiefs and people of Nembe and Brass areas for  turning up en masse to accord him and his entourage a rousing welcome at the flag-off ceremony last week. He pointed out that the Nembe-Brass Road is very important not only to the people of the state but also the entire country because of the strategic national assets and resources domiciled in that part of the state.  Governor Diri remarked that when he said his admin