News

PH, Abuja, Lagos Airport Worst In 2015

Published

10 years ago

October 21, 2015

The Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, has been named the worst international airport in the world for the year 2015.
A report published by CNNMoney and released by The Guide to Sleeping in Airports, also listed airports from Asia, Europe and the Middle East, among the worst.
The survey, which had qualifying responses from 26,297 well-travelled respondents, put Cape Town International Airport, South Africa, as the best airport on the continent.
It said Nigerian airport is riddled with unpleasant and unhelpful staff, alleged corruption, a severe lack of seating, broken air-conditioning and the fact that the arrivals hall is located inside a tent.
The website said the good news, however, is that “some areas of the terminal have been recently renovated, meaning you can expect actual walls, floors and windows. Though it is a far cry from reasonable, improvements being made.”
The publication listed the worst airports to include Port Harcourt International Airport (Nigeria), King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu, Nepal), Tashkent International Airport (Uzbekistan), Simon Bolivar International Airport (Caracas, Venezuela), Toussaint Louverture International Airport (Port au Prince, Haiti), Hamid Karzai International Airport (Kabul, Afghanistan), Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), Benazir Bhutto International Airport (Islamabad, Pakistan), and Beauvais-Tille International Airport (Paris).
The best airports are, Changi International Airport (Singapore), Incheon International Airport (Seoul, South Korea), Haneda International Airport (Tokyo, Japan), Taoyuan International Airport (Taipei, Taiwan), Hong Kong International Airport, Munich International Airport (Germany), Helsinki International Airport (Finland), Vancouver International Airport (Canada), Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Malaysia), and Kloten International Airport (Zurich, Switzerland).
It also listed the worst airports in Africa in 2015 to include, Port Harcourt International Airport (Nigeria), Khartoum International Airport (Sudan), Kinshasa N’djili International Airport (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Juba International Airport (South Sudan), Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport (Djibouti), Mombasa Moi International Airport (Kenya), Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (Nigeria), Luanda Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport (Angola), Douala International Airport (Cameroon), Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Nigeria).
However, moved by the plight of air travellers in the state, the Rivers State Government, has begun talks with the Federal Government for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.
The Secretary to the State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani, told newsmen in Port Harcourt, that the government is concerned over the delay in completion of the renovation works at the airport.
In his words: “Our hands are tied, and it is not true that we are not concerned or that we don’t feel the pain of people using the airport, but the problem is that the airport is not directly under us.”
It would be recalled that the airport was among other airports undergoing renovation and expansion under the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, but was later abandoned in the heat of the political campaigns.
But Kobani promised that the state government would work with the Federal Government to ensure that the airport rehabilitation work is completed as soon as possible, and pleaded with airport users to bear with the government.
He pledged to encourage investors in the state with reasonable tax concessions.
The Secretary to the State Government said the plan is to make the state a tax haven for investors, as he warned local government councils against threatening or impounding properties of companies in the course of their revenue drive.
Kobani said, “We have made it absolutely clear that nobody in any local government should use force or threat, or try to impound properties belonging to companies, they have no authority to do that, they have been warned.”

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

12 hours 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

13 hours 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

13 hours 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.