News

US Marks Terror Attack, Remembers Three Nigerians

Published

14 years ago

September 11, 2011

Americans yesterday commemorated the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

Three Nigerians, who died after al Qaida terrorists slammed passenger jets into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre (WTC) in New York, were also remembered as their names were engraved at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York.

They were; Mr Godwin Ajala, 33, Mr Ignatius Udo Adanga, 62, and Ms Olabisi Shadie Layeni-Yee.

Ajala was a Nigerian lawyer who migrated to the U.S. in 1995. He was working as a security officer at the World Trade Centre and some close associates said he was preparing to take his New York State Bar examination before his untimely death.

Adanga was a staff of the planning department of the Metropolitan Transportation Council at the World Trade Centre. He left Lagos as young man, moved to Liberia and Germany, before migrating to New York some two decades before 2001.

Layeni-Yee, who worked at the World Trade Centre as an assistant manager for International Office Centres, started work there in 1993.

On Sept. 11, she was reported to have phoned her mum, Edith Layeni, who lived in Newark, shortly before the WTC collapsed.

In New York, President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, led the country to observe a moment of silence at 8.46 a.m local time to coincide with the exact time one of the hijacked planes hit the World Trade Centre in 2001.

Additional periods of silence were observed at 9.59 a.m. and 10.28 a.m. to mark the moments that the two towers at the World Trade Centre fell.

At the commemoration ceremony held at the National September 11 Memorial located at the World Trade Centre site in New York, Obama read a passage from Psalm 46.

The scripture affirms: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Former President George W. Bush, who was in charge during the 2011 attack, also attended the solemn event with his wife, Laura.

Relatives of victims who died in the attack read out their names at the ceremony amid tears and outbursts of emotion.

In a related development, a memorial service to honour the victims of the 9/11 attack on the U.S. was held at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr in Moscow.

The U.S. Ambassador to Russia, John Beyrle, in an emotional speech, said “people, for the sake of their children, should join forces to build a world in which terrorists would not be able to justify their actions or to find refuge.

“The U.S. remembers how people were bringing flowers, icons and toys to its embassies all over the world, including Moscow, after the attacks,” Beyrle said.

People in all countries denounced the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, as well as the Beslan and Nord Ost tragedies, he added.

The American ambassador said that the fight against terrorism involved those who believed in tolerance and love and those who were on the side of hatred and fear.

Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, speaking at the sixth session of the Valdai Discussion Club, said: “Russia is mourning the victims of the September 11 attacks, just as we did back in 2001.

“We mourn the victims of the September 11 attacks, just as we did back in 2001. Like no other country. Russia knows what a terrorist act is like. On September 3, we too commemorated those killed in terror attacks in Russia.

“It’s yet another reminder that we have to put aside any differences and join forces in the face of common challenges,” Putin added.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.