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Amaechi Re-Affirms Fight Against Criminals In Rivers

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14 years ago

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Rivers people have been assured of a better secured state as the State government heightens its fight against criminals in the State capital, Port Harcourt and its environs.

The Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi gave the assurance at the 2nd Port Harcourt Diocesan Synod of the Catholic Church held at the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA) in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.

Amaechi recalled the recent success recorded against the gang of armed robbers that specialised in robbing around banks and customers leaving or going to bank premises and some big business centres in Port Harcourt; and stated that the state government would ensure that those who escaped would be hunted down and brought to book.

“When we found out that some of those who were robbing were actually from Rivers State, they robbed again few days ago. They didn’t know that we had started preparing for them and as soon as they entered GRA, the police cornered them and they had a shootout with the police and two of the robbers died, two escaped and we are looking for the two. Inside their vehicles, we recovered ammunitions, explosives, AK47 riffles and pistols. Out of the two that escaped, one is a woman and she was one of those who pulled the trigger on a policeman at Rukpokwu, when the same gang attempted to rob a bullion van conveying cash to a bank. The security agencies are on their trail and by the grace of God, we are going to get them. Government will hunt them down,” Amaechi said.

He however lamented that people easily forget how much his administration tried to protect them, but insisted that with the cooperation of the people, his administration would not relent in its responsibilities to the State.

“I’m sure if they ask you to assess the government now, you may be very critical of the government. You would say no roads, no jobs. In the past, you were not even looking for roads. You’ve forgotten that before, for you to take your phone and make a call on the road, you see a young boy with a gun waiting for you by the side of the road to finish and you would just hand over your phone out of fear. You’ve forgotten that by the time I became governor, there was a curfew, 6pm to 6am. But we did everything to bring back peace and security to the State.”

“So, the state tries to provide security for you, in such a way that you have the confidence to go about your business.”

On education, Governor Amaechi lauded the church for being in the forefront of providing education all over the world while restating his administration’s resolve to continue with its free education programme.

He acknowledged the church for praying for leaders and urged them to continue in their strides.

“You are praying for the Bishops, President, Governors, etc, but that is not enough, because if I don’t manage your resources very well and the Lagos State Governor manages resources of Lagos State very well, by the time I leave office, I would have underdeveloped you up to 8 years behind Lagos. So, you need to pray to God not only to give you a good Governor, but that when the Governor emerges, he must apply your resources in such a way that you will be proud to say I am from Rivers State.”

The Governor also urged members of the church to ensure they fulfill their civic responsibility by paying their taxes, thereby setting a good example for others to follow.

“You pay your tax, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also to satisfy your conscience. We discover that some of you don’t pay…pay all your taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due and honour to whom honour is due,” he said.

Responding, the Catholic Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, Most Rev. Camillus Etokudoh thanked the Governor for his presence, describing him as a committed Catholic.

He urged the Governor to continue in his developmental strides, saying, “whatever you can do to help the church, do it…you are there for us and we are here for you.” He prayed for God’s divine support to the Amaechi led administration in Rivers State.

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Business

NCDMB, Jake Riley Empower 250 Youths On Vocational Skills 

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5 days ago

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February 2, 2026

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 As parts of efforts to promote self-reliance and job creation, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, in collaboration with Jake Riley Academy, has trained 250 Lagos youths in different vocational skills.
The month-long intensive training programme aimed at equipping them with full range of skills was also designed to enable them become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to the industrial development of the country.
The programme was conceived and conducted under the FAST Selling Skills Training Programme, to sharpen the skills of Nigerian youths and equip them with business starter packs that enable them launch out into commercial services.
Speaking at the event, the Director, Capacity Building, Directorate of the Board, Abayomi Bamidele, challenged Nigerian youths to embrace skills acquisition as a viable pathway to self-reliance and national development.
Bamidele, who was represented by the Supervisor, Marine Vessel Categorization and Technical Assistant to the Director, John Barigha, urged the graduands to take full advantage of the opportunity, stressing that their success would largely depend on how effectively they apply the skills acquired.
He cautioned the beneficiaries against trivialising the programme, noting that discipline, dedication and commitment would determine how far they progress in their chosen fields.
He also disclosed that the Board is concluding plans to introduce a new training programme targeted at youths aged 35 years and below, particularly those with engineering backgrounds, to enhance participation and create more opportunities within the oil and gas sector.
He urged beneficiaries to utilise their starter packs effectively, cautioning against selling the equipment provided.
“We are not giving you fish; we are teaching you how to fish.“What we have given you today is the net. It is now left for you to make meaningful use of it,” Bamidele said.
He stressed that the Board invested heavily to ensure the programme delivered lasting impact.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer, Jake Riley Ltd, Mrs Funmi Ogbue, described the graduation as a defining moment for 250 young Nigerians.
Ogbue said the programme reflected NCDMB’s expanding role in local content development, with youth empowerment central to economic transformation.
She described the programme as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future, noting that NCDMB continues to demonstrate that human capital development is central to national growth.
“Today celebrates not just achievement, but a national vision positioning young people as drivers of Nigeria’s economic future,” Ogbue said.
Ogbue described the initiative as a strategic human capital investment aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s inclusive growth agenda adding that the training prioritised market-ready skills capable of generating immediate income across growth sectors.
“What these graduands have received is not charity, but capability,” she said.
Ogbue noted that beneficiaries underwent transparent selection and intensive foundation training before advancing into seven specialised skill tracks of solar installation, fashion design, catering, digital freelancing, textile and Adire making, electrical installation and GSM phone repair.
“These skills were chosen to meet market demand and expand employment opportunities nationwide,” Ogbue added.
She commended NCDMB leadership, especially Director of Capacity Building, Bamidele Abayomi, for championing demand-driven training.
Ogbue also praised trainers, facilitators and Jake Riley Academy for blending technical excellence with entrepreneurship.
A beneficiary, Anuba Chidera, a solar installation trainee, described the training as life-changing with strong real-world focus.
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Business

NUJ Partners RSIRS On New Tax Law Education 

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1 week ago

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January 28, 2026

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ,Rivers State Council has reiterated its commitment to interpreting new Policies  to empower citizens, not just report them.
The Chairman of Council Comrade Paul Bazia -Nsaneh made the  commitment while responding to the Executive Chairman of the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, Sir Israel Egbunefu when his team paid a courtesy visit to the Council.
Comrade Paul Bazia -Nsaneh emphasized the media’s  role in interpreting policies for citizens in crucial economic changes like the new tax reforms .
He stressed that educating  journalists about the New 2025 Nigerian Tax Laws by conducting trainings and workshops is paramount, focusing on how these reforms affect Journalists and the public.
According to the NUJ Chairman ” journalists are trained to look at the facts, if we must look at the facts , it will come from authorities like yours, hence it is very important that we are trained so we can properly inform members of the public”
” If journalists are properly equipped, they will in turn ensure that the people are educated” he added.
The Chairman who asked them to send their personnel to the upcoming Congress to speak to members assured them that the NUJ will play it’s role to ensure that the people are educated on the new tax law .
Earlier , the Executive Chairman of Rivers State Internal Revenue Service who was represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Dr Emmanuel Legbosi said the Agency is poised to educate the citizens on the operations of the tax laws.
Dr Emmanuel Legbosi who stated that the visit to the Council is necessitated by Agency’s ongoing advocacy, said they are willing to partner with NUJ to ensure that the people are educated on the New Tax Regime, to ensure they get the information to the common man.
He noted that the new tax law signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in 2025 came with worries in the mind of the citizens, stating that their mission is to douse tension.
According to him, part of their mandate and with law that  established the body is to ensure that the people are not duped by people who will pretend to be tax collectors ” we notice that people come from neighbouring states to harass citizens in the name of tax collectors”
” Our people need to identify what the law is and what the law is not, identify what is tax clearance and what is not a tax clearance”
” We want to work with you to see that all these are forestall, with  NUJ being the forth estate of the realm , the news will be closer to the people” he added.
Dr Legbosi however, used the opportunity to commend the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for tying projects such as the Port Harcourt ring road and the trans kakabari road to internally generated revenue.
[1/22, 5:01 PM] King Onunwor: Council Chairman Bars Street Trading At Oil, Its Environs
The Chairman of ObioAkpor Local Government Area had banned  all forms of market and street trading within and  the Rumuokwurusi Market popularly known as Oil Mill Market.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Council Chairman, Dr. Gift Worlu and made available to the public  in Obio /Akpor Local Government Area within the week.
The statement stressed that the  ban was  total and applied at all times, being enforced 24 hours, day and night, Monday through Sunday, including weekends and public holidays.
” There will be no exceptions, waivers, or designated trading periods within the affected areas. No one is allowed to trade in the affected areas at any time”, it said.
This decisive action, according to the statement,  became necessary following persistent disregard for Council directives by some individuals who have continued to engage in illegal trading activities within this corridor.
Their actions have rendered the area unconducive, obstructed free vehicular and pedestrian movement, posed safety and security risks, and caused undue inconvenience to residents and commuters who make daily use of this important roadway.
Consequently, all traders, hawkers, and roadside vendors operating within the affected areas are directed to vacate immediately.
It also warned that any defaulter will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law, without exception.
“All security agencies within Obio/Akpor Local Government Area are hereby mandated to enforce this ban strictly, in collaboration with the Council Task Force, to ensure full compliance and restore order to the area. No individual or group is exempt from this directive”, it said.
The Chairman through the statement, called on members of the public to cooperate with the Council in maintaining a clean, safe, and orderly environment that reflects the dignity of the LGA  and promotes the collective well-being of all residents.
The statement further revealed that the ban takes immediate effect and should be treated as bithyfinal notice and warning.
By: King Onunwor
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Transport

Nigeria Rates 7th For Visa Application To France —–Schengen Visa

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2 weeks ago

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January 28, 2026

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Nigeria was the 7th country in 2024, which filed the most schenghen visa to France, with a total of 111,201 of schenghen visa applications made in 2025, out of which 55,833, about 50.2 percent submitted to France
Although 2025 data is unavailable, these figures from Schengen Visa Info implies that France is not merely a preferred destination, but has been a dominant access point for Nigerian short-stay travel into Europe.
France itself has received more than three million Schengen visa applications, making it the most sought-after Schengen destination globally and a leading gateway for long-haul and third-country travellers. It was the top destination for applicants from 51 countries that same year, including many without visa-exemption arrangements with the Schengen Zone, and the sole destination for applicants from seven countries.
Alison Reed, a senior analyst at the European Migration Observatory said, “France’s administrative reach shapes applicant strategy, but it also concentrates risk. If processing times lengthen or documentation standards tighten in Paris, the effects ripple quickly back to capitals such as Abuja.”
The figures underline that this pattern is not unique to Nigeria. In neighbouring West and Central African states such as Gabon, Benin, Togo and Madagascar, more than 90 per cent of Schengen visas were sought via French authorities in 2024, with Chad, Djibouti, the Central African Republic and Comoros submitting applications exclusively to France.
“France acts as the central enumeration point for many African and Asian applicants,” said Manish Khandelwal, founder of Travelobiz.com, which reported the consolidated statistics. “Historical ties, language networks and established diaspora communities all play into that concentration. But volume inevitably invites scrutiny, and that affects refusal rates and processing rigour.”
That scrutiny is visible in the rejection statistics. Of the more than three million French applications in 2024, approximately 481,139 were denied, a rejection rate of about 15.7 per cent. While this rate is lower than in some smaller Schengen states, the sheer volume of applications means France contributes significantly to the total number of refusals within the zone.
For Nigerian applicants and policymakers, one implication is the need to broaden engagement with other Schengen consular hubs. “Over-reliance on a single consulate creates what one might call administrative bottleneck effects,” said Jean-Luc Martin, a professor and expert in European integration and mobility law at Leiden University. “If applicants from Nigeria default to France without exploring legitimate alternatives in countries like Spain, Germany or the Netherlands, they expose themselves to systemic risk
Martin added that the broader context of Schengen visa policy is evolving, with the European Commission’s preparing roll-out of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) aimed at harmonising pre-travel screening across member states.
For Nigerians seeking leisure, business or educational travel to Europe, these trends suggest that strategic planning and consular diversification could become as important as the completeness of documentation and financial proof. Governments and travel consultancies in Abuja, Lagos and beyond are already advising clients to explore alternative consular pathways and to prepare for more rigorous screening criteria across all Schengen states
By: Enoch Epelle
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