News
Amaechi Commissions Okrika Projects, Lauds Chairman
Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has commended the Chairman of Okrika Local Government Council Barrister Tamuno Williams and President of NUPENG, Comrade Achese Igwe for empowering and bringing development projects to the people of Okrika in the State.
Amaechi spoke on Saturday when he flagged-off the Tricycle Empowerment Scheme initiated by the NUPENG President, Comrade Achese Igwe and Commissioning of Okrika Local Government Council Development Projects in Okrika.
While Commissioning the Divisional Police Headquarters in Okrika in the company of the Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ndabawa, the Kalio-Ama road project, ATC road and other projects, Governor Amaechi advised Barrister Tamuno Williams to make proper use of funds allocated to the Council by government to the benefit and welfare of the people of Okrika and also urged the people to pay their taxes for the smooth running of the council.
“We congratulate the Okrika council Chairman, Barrister Tamuno Williams for proper use of the council resources that come from government to improve the welfare of the people, but we must urge our people to pay their taxes to run the council, your councillors too must begin to evolve ways of raising revenue for the council, because the taxation process is all about optimum utilization of the peoples’ resources and funds to improve their welfare, if the people see what you are doing with their taxes, they will be encouraged to pay more”, Amaechi said.
Speaking further, Governor Amaechi assured the people of Okrika that all road projects embarked upon by the state government in the area would be completed soon.
He explained that even as his administration focuses attention in providing portable drinking water to the people of Port Harcourt, Eleme and Tai Local Government Areas, efforts would be made to ensure the problem of portable drinking water in Okrika is solve.
“Earlier this year, I was embarking on water project in Okrika before the federal government came that they will handle the project, so the Rivers State Government pulled out, even UNEP didn’t include Okrika and Eleme but my administration did and for the reason that you so desire to have water”, Amaechi said.
On the tricycle empowerment scheme initiated by the President of NUPENG, Comrade Achese Igwe, Governor Amaechi commended the efforts of NUPENG and contribution made so far in awarding scholarship to students of higher institution in Okrika.
“What impresses me most is the scholarship scheme you to indigenes of this place, just like what the Rivers State Government has been doing, I congratulate you”, Amaechi said.
Responding, the Chairman of Okrika Local Government Council, Barrister Tamuno Williams said, the commissioning of the Divisional Police Station in Okrika was to indicate the peaceful disposition of Okrika people in complementing the efforts of Governor Amaechi’s administration in bringing peace to the people of the state.
Barrister Williams stated that, the Divisional Police Station was burnt down during the militancy insurgence in the past administration, saying that, the project was started by the former Chairman, Hon. Tammy Datoru.
He further expressed his administration’s commitment in providing one hilux patrol van to assist the police in monitoring and checking crime in the area.
Also speaking, President of NUPENG, Comrade Achese Igwe said, the union has awarded scholarships to ten students of higher learning, including the provision of borehole water project to the people of Ogoloma in Okrika, as well as the building of Craft Centre to train indigenes on vocational skills and other empowerment programmes.
Comrade Igwe thanked Governor Amaechi for creating peaceful atmosphere for investors and citizens of the state to go about their legitimate duties without fear, saying further that, the road construction projects by his administration was a welcome development.
News
FG Ends Passport Production At Multiple Centres After 62 Years

The Nigeria Immigration Service has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this yesterday while inspecting Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
He said the centralised production system aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for better service delivery.
News
FAAC Disburses N2.225trn For August, Highest In Nigeria

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has disbursed N2.225 trillion as federation revenue for the month of August 2025, the highest ever allocation to the three tiers of government and other statutory recipients.
This marks the second consecutive month that FAAC disbursements have crossed the N2 trillion mark.
The revenue, shared at the August 2025 FAAC meeting in Abuja, was buoyed by increases in oil and gas royalty, value-added tax (VAT), and common external tariff (CET) levies, according to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting.
Out of the N2.225 trillion total distributable revenue, FAAC said N1,478.593 trillion came from statutory revenue, N672.903 billion from VAT, N32.338 billion from the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), and N41.284 billion from Exchange Difference.
The communiqué revealed that gross federation revenue for the month stood at N3.635 trillion. From this amount, N124.839 billion was deducted as cost of collection, while N1,285.845 trillion was set aside for transfers, interventions, refunds, and savings.
From the statutory revenue of N1.478 trillion, the Federal Government received N684.462 billion, State Governments received N347.168 billion, and Local Government Councils received N267.652 billion. A further N179.311 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) went to oil-producing states as derivation revenue.
From the distributable VAT revenue of N672.903 billion, the Federal Government received N100.935 billion, the states received N336.452 billion, while the local governments got N235.516 billion.
Of the N32.338 billion shared from EMTL, the Federal Government received N4.851 billion, the States received N16.169 billion, and the Local Governments received N11.318 billion.
From the N41.284 billion exchange difference, the Federal Government received N19.799 billion, the states received N10.042 billion, and the local governments received N7.742 billion, while N3.701 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the oil-producing states as derivation.
News
KenPoly Governing Council Decries Inadequate Power Supply, Poor Infrastructure On Campus
The Governing Council of Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, has decried the inadequate power supply and poor state of infrastructural facilities and equipment at the institution.
The Council also appealed to the government, including Non-Governmental Organisations, agencies, as well as well-meaning Rivers people to intervene to restore and sustain the laudable gesture, dreams and aspirations of the founding fathers of the polytechnic.
The Chairman of the newly inaugurated Council, Professor Friday B. Sigalo, made this appeal during a tour of facilities at the Polytechnic, recently.
Accompanied by members of the team, Prof Sigalo emphasised the position of technology, technical and vocational education in sustainable development.
He noted that with the prospects on ground, and the programmes and activities undertaken in the polytechnic, there is no doubt that the institution would add values to the educational system in our society and foster the desired development, if the existing challenges are jointly tackled.
This was contained in a statement signed by Deputy Registrar, Public Relations, Kenpoly, Innocent Ogbonda-Nwanwu, and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt.
The chairman who restated the intention of his team of technocrats to ensure that KenPoly enjoys desirable face-lift, said the Council would deliver on its core mandates, accordingly.
Earlier, the Rector, KenPoly Engr. Dr. Ledum S. Gwarah, commended the appointment of Professor Friday B. Sigalo as Chairman of the KenPoly Governing Council.
He described him and his team as seasoned technocrats and expressed confidence in their ability to succeed.
The Rector pledged the management’s support to the Council to ensure that KenPoly resumes its rightful place in the comity of polytechnics in the country.
Facilities visited by the Governing Council include KenPoly workshops, laboratories, skills acquisition centre, library, hostels and medical centre.
Chinedu Wosu
-
Sports3 days ago
CAFCL : Rivers United Arrives DR Congo
-
Sports3 days ago
FIFA rankings: S’Eagles drop Position, remain sixth in Africa
-
Sports3 days ago
NPFL club name Iorfa new GM
-
Sports3 days ago
NNL abolishes playoffs for NPFL promotion
-
Sports3 days ago
Kwara Hopeful To Host Confed Cup in Ilorin
-
Sports3 days ago
NSF: Early preparations begin for 2026 National Sports Festival
-
Sports3 days ago
RSG Award Renovation Work At Yakubu Gowon Stadium
-
Sports3 days ago
RSG Pledges To Develop Baseball