News
Group tells Wike to stop injustice, advocates equity in road infrastructure in Rivers

A social justice group, Kengema Unity Forum has faulted Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike in the award of road contracts in the State which he claimed were in the interest of Kalabari people.

Commending the governor for embarking on strategic road construction, the group noted that the road linking Krakrama up to Mina-Ama was no near in the interest of Kalabari people, neither was it meant to uplift their socio-economic fortunes.

In a statement by the group’s leader, Sobomabo Jackrich on Tuesday and which was made available to journalists, he called for equity in road and other infrastructure in Rivers State.
The statement noted: “While We commend the Rivers State Government for awarding this very important and strategic project aimed at improving the socio-economic fortunes of Kalabari land and its people, it is worrisome that the overall description of the said contract by the Rivers State Government does not in any way align or reflect the reality of what the Trans-Kalabari road ought to be.
“Constructing a road to link up Krakrama, Omekwe-ama, Angulama, Omekwe Tari-Ama, Sangama, Mina-Ama and others known as central group, can best be described as Asari-Toru internal link roads.
“Just as we have the Isiokpo internal roads, Bolo Internal Roads, Okrika Internal roads and others. Will our people board a boat to Krakrama or the 1st phase will be Pontoon to convey the cars over in order to have access to the roads?
“If Rivers State Government is sincere about the Trans Kalabari road project, it would have been convincing when the 1st phase commences from Tema, Ifoko and Sangama so to be able to connect those rural communities at the central group to be able to drive from port harcourt through Tema down to there various towns.
“Alternatively, the Trans Kalahari road should have started from Abonnema town crossing over to Krakrama through the rest communities, that also one can consider.
“As it affects project funding, the state government said the projected cost of the road is N13.48 billion and will be funded at N1 billion monthly by an irrevocable standing payment order against the state’s internally generated revenue.
“How did the Rivers State Government arrive at the said N13.48 billion contract sum for the project? Which firm carried out the bill of quantities survey?
“Which medium was a capital project like the Trans Kalabari road bid advertised that brought about the contract being awarded to Lubricks Construction Company?
“The Okoro-Nu-Odo, Rebisi and Rumuogba flyovers at Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor awarded to Julius Berger was at the cost of N21 billion according to the government, and seventy percent of the contract sum as and that of the rest flyovers were paid upfront, flouting the law of the state restricting down payment of contract sum to thirty percent (that was yet to be reviewed at the time).
“Yet these were projects not previously captured in the 2020 budget of the state, but were only introduced into the fiscal document while reviewing the performance of the 2020 budget during presentation of the 2021 budget estimate on the floor of the State Assembly last December.
“If projects of such magnitude not previously captured in the budget of the state would be given such prompt attention, why earmark less than fifteen percent monthly payment for the Trans-Kalabari road that had been captured twice in the fiscal documents of the state even after review of the Rivers State Public Procurement law which allows advance payment of up to seventy percent of contract sum as mobilization fee.
“More worrisome is the fact that despite recent Seventy Eight Billion Naira federal government refund, with our contributions to the socioeconomic sustenance of the state, why do we have to depend on monthly IGR to complete our projects?
“Meanwhile, award of the construction of the second phase of the Sakpenwa – Bori road by the Rivers State government has vindicated us on our earlier position that the road was commissioned only at forty percent completion.
“It is however worrisome that despite the budgetary provisions for the full funding of the project to its completion stage as provided for in the 2020 budget, the road project was only forty percent executed.
“There was no provision of the construction of a second phase of the road in the 2020 budget which it was originally captured, neither was it mentioned as a project to be embarked upon in the 2021 budget.
“By implication, the road construction ought to have been one hundred percent completed and fully funded in the 2020 revised budget.
“Our state revised appropriation law number twelve of 2019, section six, states that the money granted by this law is intended for the services in respect of which money will become payable within the financial year ending on the 31st day of December, 2020, and no part of the amount set out in the consolidated revenue fund shall be issued after the end of the 2020 financial year.
“If this is anything to go by, it means that the Rivers State Government arbitrarily appropriates funds for capital projects otherwise not captured in the state’s annual financial plan, without any attempt to give account to citizens of the state on how our collective resources are expended.
“This is to say that major ethnic nationalities of the state, Kalabari and Ogonis who carry the burden of the socio-economic sustenance of Rivers State on their shoulders deserve more than being treated as second class citizens.
“There is no gainsaying that ninety percent of all annual budgets of the state are funded through proceeds of oil explorations mined from the Kalabari soil and that of our Ogoni counterparts, yet we are the most impoverished part of the state.
“No part of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor has a substantial oil mineral deposit, yet all proceeds derived from oil mining operations in our area and in the Ogoni land are used to transform Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor to the imaginary ‘Houston Texas’ of the Rivers State Government.
“It is high time this injustice stopped.
“Recall that the Niger Delta struggle for resource control emanated from gross injustice meted to the Niger Delta people by the federal government who took away all proceeds generated from oil explorations in our region to develop other regions leaving us to wallow in abject poverty till date.
“It is a big shame for the likes of the Secretary to the state government, Dr Tammy Danagogo and other representatives of the Rivers State government of the Kalabari extraction to betray their ancestral land by choosing to wage a media war against their kinsmen in order to score cheap political point to please their principal.
“If Dr Tammy Danagogo the Secretary to Rivers State Government is a true son of Kalabari land, what was his problem with the collaborative meeting of Kalabari people soliciting for the support of their Ogoni brothers and sisters to enable them have a slot at the brick house in 2023, that would have warranted his verbal attacks on worthy ambassadors of our land, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo and High Chief Ambassador Sobomabo Jackrich?
“In the said publication, Dr Danagogo described Alhaji Asari Dokubo and Sobomabo Jackrich as criminal elements, miscreants and self seeking militants who are seeking relevance, and that they lacked the capacity to speak for the Kalabris.
“May we remind Tammy Danagogo that it is on record that these same persons he describes as irrelevant were the same people he ran to, to desperately solicit their help to get the support of the Kalabari people which brought about the bulk vote of our people, resulting to the victory and enthronement of Governor Nyesom Wike in 2015.
“That being said, there is nothing wrong with evenly spreading development to all parts of the state by citing critical infrastructure in other local government areas other than Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor, in order to ease the pressure on the infrastructure in the state capital and its environs, as well as decongest both cities and halt rural/urban migration.
“The narrative on the lips of all representatives of the state government that everyone in the state resides in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor, hence the need to deprive or starve those providing economic sustenance of the state of development, is the height of deceit, wickedness and deliberate marginalization of the Kalabari and other parts of the state.
“We therefore call on the Rivers State Government to stop the perpetuation of these injustices against the Kalabaris, Ogonis and other ethnic nationalities of the state”, the statement concluded.

News
Natasha uncovers arrest plot after reported Akpabio to IPU in New York

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has uncovered plot by security agents to arrest her upon arrival to Nigeria from Interparliamentary Union, IPU where she reported alleged sexual harassment against Nigerian Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio.

Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District was suspended for six months for flouting the purported Senate Rules and Order, after which she claimed sexual harassment and proceeded to the IPU.

She revealed that she faces arrest by Nigerian government as Nigerian security officials are planning to arrest her upon her return to Nigeria, claiming that the planned arrest was like ked to her participation in the IPU meeting in New York on March 11, 2025
On Sunday the Kogi female Senator was quoted as saying
that she was aware of plots.
“I’m aware there are plans underway to have me arrested as soon as I arrive Abuja,” Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is still in the US after the IPU meeting, said.
Though she didn’t disclose details of the planned arrest by 2hich of the security agencies, her participation has however considered an embarrassement to the Nigerian government and since her appearance at IPU on March 11, 2025, things were no longer at ease within the government circles.
A source within security domain confirmed that a probe has been launched into Natasha’s participation at IPU.

News
Biggest cocaine, opioid shipments meant for US, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland seized in NDLEA’s 2 weeks raid [Pictorials]

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in raid across states in last two weeks led to the seizure of biggest multiple illicit drug consignments bound for the United States, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates.

The drugs, including cocaine, tramadol, loud, and molly, were concealed in various items such as prayer beads, board game packs, and female clothing.

This was made known in a statement signed by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi on Sunday.
The statement read, “Desperate bids by some drug trafficking organisations (DTO) to move illicit consignments such as Cocaine, Tramadol, Loud, Molly and others concealed in prayer beads, packs of board games, female cloths to the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and United Arab Emirates through logistics firms and the Lagos airport have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
“At least, two suspects behind some of the aborted missions at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos have already been arrested. One of them is a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor Egware May, who was nabbed at the Gate ‘C’ departure hall of the Lagos airport while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy on Saturday, 8th March 2025.
“When she was searched, 190 parcels of tramadol 225mg and another parcel of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were recovered from her luggage. In her statement, she claimed that she bought the drugs herself, with the intention to resell them in Italy.
“At the export shed of the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers on Tuesday, 11th March arrested a 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, while attempting to ship a cargo containing cloths used to conceal 400grams of skunk going to New York, United States of America.
“At some logistics companies in Lagos, efforts by drug traffickers to export over two kilograms of Loud, Molly, Tramadol 365mg, 225mg hidden in Vitamin C bottles and female cloths to the US were frustrated by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI. “Other shipments of 230grams of cocaine concealed in prayer beads, soles of locally made shoes and packs of board games heading to Saudi Arabia, Poland and UAE were equally intercepted between Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th March.”
In a separate operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives arrested 40-year-old Hassan Haruna at Chalawa and recovered 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479 kilograms.
In Kogi State, officers intercepted 58,300 pills of tramadol along the Kabba-Obajana highway in a commercial bus traveling from Lagos to Abuja.
Additional raids in Kachia, Kaduna State, led to the arrest of 21-year-old Idris Hamza, who was found in possession of 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg.
Another raid in the Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North LG resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji, from whom 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were seized.
The statement added, “In Kano, a total of 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg were recovered from a 40-year-old suspect Hassan Haruna who was arrested by NDLEA operatives at Chalawa area of the state on Wednesday 12th March, while no fewer than 58,300 pills of tramadol were intercepted along Kabba-Obajana highway, Kogi state in a commercial bus coming from Lagos enroute Abuja on Tuesday 11th March.
“Raid operations in Kachia, Kaduna state on Thursday 13th March led to the arrest of Idris Hamza, 21, with 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg seized from him, just as a similar exercise in Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North LGA, on Friday 14th March resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji from whom 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered.”
In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives intercepted 40,200 tramadol 225mg tablets from two suspects, Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan.
A separate seizure of 21,700 tramadol capsules was made along Eiyenkorin expressway in Ilorin, leading to the arrest of a suspect identified as Salisu Usman.
In Taraba State, officers arrested 35-year-old Polycarp Adeku and seized 15.77 kilograms of skunk from him. In Osun State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a commercial bus carrying 48.7 kilograms of Ghanaian loud, Colorado, and Canadian loud, all potent strains of cannabis.
The statement added, “While a total of 40, 200 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from the duo of Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along Ilorin – Jebba expressway, Bode Saadu, Kwara state on Friday 14th March, NDLEA operatives equally seized 21,700 capsules of same opioid from a suspect Salisu Usman along Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin on Thursday 13th March.
“In Taraba State, NDLEA officers on Friday 14th March arrested Polycarp Adeku, 35, at Bente road, Kurmi LGA, with 15.77Kg skunk, while in Osun state, operatives on Thursday 13th March, intercepted a commercial bus marked SGB 564 YS coming from Idumota, Lagos Island in front of King University, Ode-omu, with a total of 48.7kg Ghanaian Loud, Colorado and Canadian Loud, all strains of cannabis. Not less than nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure in Osogbo and Ile-Ife during follow up operations.”
In Abuja, NDLEA officers arrested 58-year-old Ade Esan, also known as Pastor, along the Gwagwalada expressway with 27,800 tramadol 225mg pills in his possession.
Another suspect, 26-year-old Usman Mohammed, was nabbed with varying quantities of skunk and cocaine.
In Abia State, a raid in the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LG, resulted in the arrest of 34-year-old Chinaza Nwogu, also known as Young Money.
The statement added, “A 58-year-old suspect Ade Esan (aka Pastor) was on Tuesday 11th March arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, FCT Abuja with 27,800 pills of tramadol 225mg, while another suspect Usman Mohammed, 26, was nabbed same day with various quantities of skunk and cocaine at Wuse zone 3 area of Abuja.
“In Abia state, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 15th March raided the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LGA, where a 34-year-old suspect Chinaza Nwogu (aka Young Money) was arrested with 274grams of heroin, 141grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis sativa, 4grams of cocaine and Seven Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand, Fifteen Naira (N753,015.00) monetary exhibit.”

News
Rivers Crisis: Wike taunts Fubara, accuse governor of sharing money belonging to State

The former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has accused the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara of sharing Rivers State with those he surrounded himself with who cannot help him.

Speaking at a civic reception in his honor at Abalama Town in the Kalabari Kingdom, organized by NEW Associates, Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, blamed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Tammy Danagogo, for instigating the political crisis in the state.

The former governor who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT stated that Rivers State House of Assembly led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule who recently won their case at the Supreme Court would not be stopped from doing their constitutional duties.
Wike stated this while addressing the large crowd that gathered to receive him, Wike said he attended the event despite threats from certain individuals, emphasizing that the occasion proved the opposition was merely making “radio noise.”
“I heard some people say I wouldn’t come here. Who are they, and how many are they? What you’ve done today shows the world that all the noise on the radio is not the reality. If you are from Kalabari and the Ijaw nation and you are receiving me today, God will continue to bless you. I will always stand by you and support you.”
Wike also denied reports that he described the Ijaw people as a minority in Rivers State, stating that his words were taken out of context.
“Some people have deliberately misinterpreted my interview. However they choose to twist it is their business. I simply said we all worked together, and without unity, it would have been difficult to produce the governor. Chief Alabraba did not allow me to rest during the decision-making process; he nearly fainted when we were choosing the candidate.
“Himself, OCJ Okocha, Sergeant Awuse, and Celestine Omehia were present when we met. On the day of the primary, the current governor initially refused to run, saying my Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu, should be the candidate instead. Celestine Omehia insisted that Kamalu should run because he believed the governor couldn’t effectively carry out the responsibilities of the office.”
Wike alleged that those surrounding the governor advised him to withhold the salaries and allowances of Assembly members for over a year. He stressed that he would not interfere with the Assembly’s constitutional functions.
“They told you to seize the salaries and allowances of Assembly members for over a year, leaving them without income to feed their families or pay school fees. You were jubilating, and people encouraged you, assuring you that nothing would happen.
“Now, something has happened. I am not going to stop the Assembly from performing its constitutional duties. The Assembly should be allowed to do its job. People who love peace do not threaten others.
“I told you that the House of Assembly members would not lose their seats. I told you that the local government shenanigans would not stand. I don’t need to be a governor to know that what is illegal is illegal. We fight it constitutionally, following due process. What did we do wrong?
“We simply said that the Assembly members, local government chairmen, and National Assembly members worked hard to make you governor—do not abandon them. But they claimed I was asking for money. Has the money come? Those you are sharing money with, how far?
“Yesterday, I was a bad man, a crook, and a criminal. But it was that same ‘bad man’ who made you governor against all odds. If I hated the Ijaw people, I wouldn’t have done that, and nothing would have happened. I believe in the principle of ‘live and let live.”
Wike also criticized those surrounding the governor, labeling them “natural ingrates” and warning that money is not everything.
“Anyone who is not an ingrate would not associate with what is happening. I told the governor to enjoy what God had given him in peace and not to engage in unnecessary conflicts. But his advisers told him, ‘You are the governor, you have money.’ I agree, but money is not everything. These people have nothing to offer. Now, look at where we are. How far?”
Meanwhile, the chairman of the occasion, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, praised Wike for his political acumen and unwavering support for the Ijaw people.
“Wike has worked to resolve the political crisis in Rivers State by following the dispute up to the Supreme Court. We pray that peace will return to the state through this process.
“We will continue to support you at all times and uphold collaboration as a powerful force for advancing the interests of all parts of the state. Your contributions to Kalabari land will remain indelible for generations to come.”

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