Dennis

  Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, says his administration will continue to support  festivals that promote unity and the cultural heritage of the people across the state. Governor Diri stated this on Saturday when he graced both the Obunem Epie New Yam Festival in Yenagoa Local Government Area and the Odi Ogori Ba Uge International Festival in Odi, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area. He described the Obunem Epie Festival as an avenue to unite the people and to pass on the rich cultural heritage of the kingdom to the youths that do not understand their tradition.   Diri, who assured the people that his administration would embark on more developmental projects in the kingdom, said since the creation of Bayelsa  State in 1996, the area had experienced exponential growth and development. He listed some projects of his administration in the area to include the completed biggest media complex in the country, which is the Ernest Ikoli Media Complex. Other ongoing projects, ac

Reports say gunmen on Saturday attacked a police checkpoint in Bayelsa State, killing a policeman and injuring others. The incident, which occurred at Banga camp, a suburb of Famgbe community in Yenagoa Local Government Area, has heightened fears in the area. Investigations revealed that the gunmen had stormed the Police team which was on a stop and search operation following a spike in violent crimes in the state. The police were said to have engaged the gunmen in a gun battle to repel the attack forcing them to escape through the bush. A police source who confirmed the incident said while one Policeman was killed, another officer and a child that was hit by bullets have been stabilised at the medical facility where they are receiving treatment. According to him, the gunmen escaped into the bush with bullet wounds, and the police have launched a manhunt for them.

The Bayelsa State Government has charged the Nigerian Wrestling Federation (NWF) to bring home at least six gold medals from the forthcoming 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo gave the charge when the President, principal officers and athletes of the NWF paid him a courtesy call in  Government House, Yenagoa. Senator Ewhrudjakpo, in a statement issued on Friday  by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, noted that the wrestling federation had done the country proud in its previous outings in the colours of Nigeria.  The Deputy Governor, however, stressed the need for the Federation to improve on their previous records and performance by winning a minimum of more laurels in wrestling. He noted that Bayelsa was a fortress in sports, especially in wrestling, and had produced a lot of great wrestlers who made their mark at national and international competitions at different times. Senator Ewhrudjakpo, express

  The General Assembly of the Christian Association of Nigeria formally validated Archbishop Daniel Okoh’s election as its new President on Thursday, effectively ending the tenure of Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle.   His selection by an electoral college, which was formed to screen and recommend candidates for the offices of President and Vice President, as presented by the blocs with nomination rights, was in accordance with the provisions of the 2021 CAN constitution as amended.   Okoh, the General Superintendent of Christ Holy Church International, Onitsha, emerged the new leader of CAN after getting a 100% votes of all 259 delegates who participated in its 12th General Assembly and he is expected to serve a single five-year term.   The new CAN President, in his acceptance speech, charged the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to tackle the rising insecurity in the country.   He said, “While thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts to combat terrorism and bandit

  The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has confirmed 133 cases of monkeypox in 26 states.   The NCDC disclosed this in its latest monkeypox situation report released on Thursday.   Monkeypox is a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans that occur sporadically, primarily in remote villages of Central and West Africa near tropical rainforests.   Nigeria is one of the countries in Africa where the disease is endemic.   The agency said from January to July 24, 2022, three deaths were recorded in three states – Delta (1), Lagos (1) and Ondo (1).   The report also showed that there were at least 357 suspected cases of the disease in the country.   The report read in part, “There were 19 new suspected cases reported in Epi week 29, 2022 (July 18 to 24, 2022) from 12 states – Ondo (4), Bayelsa (3), Taraba (2), Lagos (2), Rivers (1), Kogi (1), Kano (1), Imo (1), Delta (1), Anambra (1), Akwa Ibom (1) and Abia (1).   ''Of 19 suspected cases, there were

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has confirmed 133 cases of monkeypox in 26 states.   The NCDC disclosed this in its latest monkeypox situation report released on Thursday.   Monkeypox is a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans that occur sporadically, primarily in remote villages of Central and West Africa near tropical rainforests.   Nigeria is one of the countries in Africa where the disease is endemic.   The agency said from January to July 24, 2022, three deaths were recorded in three states – Delta (1), Lagos (1) and Ondo (1).   The report also showed that there were at least 357 suspected cases of the disease in the country.   The report read in part, “There were 19 new suspected cases reported in Epi week 29, 2022 (July 18 to 24, 2022) from 12 states – Ondo (4), Bayelsa (3), Taraba (2), Lagos (2), Rivers (1), Kogi (1), Kano (1), Imo (1), Delta (1), Anambra (1), Akwa Ibom (1) and Abia (1).   ''Of 19 suspected cases, there wer

  Katsina, Kwara and Gombe State Governments have declared Friday (today) as a public holiday in their respective states to enable civil servants and allied workers to collect their Permanent Voter Cards.   The Director-General, New Media to the Katsina State Governor,, El-Amin Isah, in a statement on Wednesday, said, “The Katsina state government has declared Friday, July 29,2022, a public holiday to enable civil servants in the state register for the Permanent Voter cards.”   The Independent National Election Commission’s Katsina Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Jibrin Zarewa, however told journalists on Thursday that there had been improvement in the number of PVCs collected by residents of the state in recent times.   He said, “As of July 16, 2022, Katsina State was number 23 in the country in registration as against what was obtainable last month.   “Carryover cards from 2019 were 58,178 cards left uncollected and from 2019 leftover cards, we have issued 9,102, and the bala

  The National Association of Academic Technologists has warned the Prof Nimi Briggs-led Committee against any action that negates the principles of collective bargaining as it relates to salaries and allowances in the ongoing industrial action by university unions.   The union said awarding any percentage increase in salary or allowances to NAAT members unilaterally against all negotiations anchored on the principles of collective bargaining as contained in the International Labour Organisation Convention 98 is immoral.   NAAT President, Ibeji Nwokoma, who addressed newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, said the Federal Government has shown no intention of resolving the ongoing strike action by university unions, noting that the government has remained adamant and recalcitrant in addressing the germane issues.   He said, “It is precisely 129 days today that we have been on this needless strike action; if only we have a responsive government that makes education a priority.   “It is also needl

  The immediate past Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, and a group, Incorporated Trustees of Rights for All International, have filed an originating summons before a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order declaring Nwajiuba as the authentic Presidential candidate of the APC.   The plaintiffs are also praying for the cancellation of the votes garnered by the Presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu; and the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.   The first to sixth defendants in the case with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/942/22 are: the APC, the PDP, Tinubu, Atiku, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission.   Nwajiuba, who purchased the APC presidential form for N100m, but polled only one vote at the June 8 primary, accused Tinubu of bribing delegates with dollars.   The plaintiffs also attached as evidence a video recording showing the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi A

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has inaugurated projects executed by chairman of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Chief Kia Nigeria. The projects include the executive chairman’s office complex, a 300,000-litre water scheme, a concrete road as well as a 500-sitting capacity hall at the council’s headquarters in Oporoma town. He also inaugurated another town hall in Amassoma community. Governor Diri had on Tuesday commenced the inauguration of projects executed by councils in the state with completed projects by the chairmen of Yenagoa and Kolokuma/Opokuma local government areas. Speaking at Oporoma on Thursday, Governor Diri described the tenure of the Southern Ijaw Council chairman,  Nigeria Kia, as remarkable, saying he had delivered quality service at the grassroots. He attributed the successes recorded by the council chairmen in the state to the close supervision of his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo as well as the prudent management of council funds. He r

  The Osun State Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has charged the transition committee of the Peoples Democratic Party to come up with innovations that will ensure a smooth take-off by his administration in November.   Adeleke, who spoke at the inauguration of the 37-member PDP transition committee led by Dr. Muyiwa Oladimeji in Osogbo on Thursday, also admitted high expectations of the Osun people from his administration.   He, therefore, expressed readiness to meet their desires, saying he was equipped with the requisite skills and determination to confront the challenges ahead.   He further said, “The people of Osun State expect so much from us as they are passing through very difficult moments. They have entrusted us with the enormous task of reviving our dear state to genuinely serve their aspirations and attend to their needs.   ''We are ready to meet the desires of our people. We are equipped with the requisite skills and determination to meet the challenges ahea