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Insecurity: RSG Vows To Wipe Out Cultism …As CP Declares War On Criminals On East-West Road, Others
The Rivers State Government has reiterated its determination to stamp out cultism and gangsterism in all institutions of learning across the state.
The state Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo stated this during a familiarisation visit by the Council of Student Union Government Presidents (SUG) at the Government House in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
Banigo urged the student leaders to continue to maintain their peaceful disposition in their institutions and work against anything that could short change them as students.
She said as critical stakeholders, they have important roles to play by preaching the peace and providing mentorship for their followers.
“This government is totally committed to stamp out cultism in our tertiary institutions. We are also not going to condone it in our communities. We have zero tolerance for it, and all the vice chancellors and rectors are committed to it in line with the governor’s passion for zero tolerance for cultism”, Banigo stressed.
According to her, cultism has destroyed our youths and children, even down to the primary schools, noting that it was not fair at all because it destroys destinies.
“God created everyone to be good but some persons deceive and initiate others through false promises in order to destroy them; we must speak against it in order to have a more prosperous Rivers State”, Banigo further stressed.
She assured them that Governor Nyesom Wike’s promise to carry the young people along in his second tenure remains sacrosanct, stressing that his second tenure would herald more infrastructural and human capital development.
In his remarks, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone B Co-ordinator, David Bariereka, who congratulated the governor and his deputy on their successful re-election, informed the deputy governor that they were at the Government House to discuss the welfare of students and chat the way forward.
Meanwhile, the new Commissioner of Police in the Rivers State Command, Mustapha Dandaura says he would declare total war against violent crimes in the state and ensure that criminals terrorising the East-West and the Omagwa-Elele-Omerelu roads are decimated within a short period of time of his administration in the state.
The CP also said he came to the state to fight crime to a stand-still in line with the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu’s directives through the establishment of Operation PUFF ADDER in the commands across the country, noting that even though the operation has not been fully operational in the state, he has the mandate to crush the monsters of cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery, murder and pipeline vandalism bedevilling the state.
Dandaura made these assertions during his maiden press briefing with newsmen held at the Police Officers’ Mess in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He disclosed that he was going to tackle crimes headlong and bring them to tolerable level, adding that the state would no longer be conducive for criminals, and urged them to repent or relocate to other states or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law.
According to him, the state was strategic to the economic wellbeing of the country, and therefore, much efforts was needed to curtail and minimise the security challenges that would naturally crop up, given the peculiar socio-economic environment of the state.
“I have come to change the narrative in policing strategy and rekindle the public trust in the police”, Dandaura said.
The state police helmsman said his administration would focus on five cardinal areas, including intelligence-led policing, constructive engagement and community partnership, recovery of illegal firearms, zero tolerance for corruption, and respect for sanctity of human lives as well as the provision of credible leadership.
“I shall engage the communities in my policing strategy and bring policing to the people. I will put in place some proactive measures aimed at preventing crimes. These include: visibility policing with my men dominating the security space stationed at strategic locations. We shall embark on regular raids of identified criminal hideouts and black spots, thereby taking the war to miscreants with a view to dislodging them”, he stated.
He promised to be apolitical and professional in the discharge of his responsibilities, and used the opportunity to call on all political gladiators in the state to join hands with the police and other security agencies to move the state forward.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a Federal Executive Council committee to move swiftly on measures to further reduce food prices across the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this in Abuja, on Wednesday.
According to him, the directive focuses on ensuring safe passage of farm produce across transport routes to cut logistics costs.
“The President has given a matching order with a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” Abdullahi said at a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents.
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Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced worsening food insecurity since the removal of fuel subsidy, high transport costs, and insecurity on major highways disrupted the movement of goods.
Despite government interventions, food remains largely unaffordable for millions.
The minister said the plan is tied to Tinubu’s broader vision of food sovereignty—beyond availability to ensure affordability, accessibility, and nutrition on a sustainable basis.
To back this up, he revealed that government is set to roll out a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to boost productivity and a revamped cooperative reform initiative to mobilise resources and empower rural farmers.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members,” Abdullahi added.
The event, with the theme, “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities,” also featured Senate Media Committee Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; ex-presidential aide, Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and NILDS DG, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
The Federal Government has warned contractors, including foreign firms, that any breach of regulations in road projects awarded to them may lead to arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, issued the warning during an inspection of the ongoing dualisation of the East-West Road (Section IIIA) from Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction in Rivers State.
The section is being executed by Reynolds Construction Company (Nigeria) Limited.
Responding to questions from journalists, Umahi commended the quality of work on the project but expressed displeasure over the slow pace, stressing that the December completion deadline remains sacrosanct.
On the project, he said:“The quality of the work is excellent, but the pace of work is totally unacceptable. Let me make it very clear to the contractor that this project will neither be reviewed nor varied in price or claims.
“I’m sure we have issued over 10 warning letters to them. If they fail to comply with the completion deadline of December 15, we will not extend it.”
He added that the ministry had already put measures in place to enforce compliance
“The comptroller has negative certificates to issue, and I will recover the money from any of their other projects. All those letters are on record, and when the time comes, they will be invoked. Any contractor who refuses to abide by regulations will have the EFCC and ICPC to contend with,” he said.
Umahi further disclosed that the Federal Government had directed that road projects valued below N20bn would no longer be awarded to expatriate companies, in line with its “Nigeria First” policy aimed at strengthening indigenous capacity in the construction sector.
“This is part of the Nigeria First policy of the Federal Government. Henceforth, no expatriate firm will be awarded any project valued below N20bn. Such projects must go to indigenous companies, while expatriates focus on higher-value projects requiring more technical capacity,” he said.
The minister also noted that the Federal Ministry of Works had adopted a funding prioritisation framework to sustain road projects initially financed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
He stressed that President Bola Tinubu had directed that none of such projects should be abandoned, adding that priority would be given to critical economic corridors.
Umahi also decried the indiscriminate parking of heavy-duty vehicles on highways, saying it was damaging the pavements of completed sections of the road.
He said letters would be sent to state governors and the Inspector-General of Police to enforce punitive measures against defaulters.
Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Mrs Enwereama Tarilade, said RCC had completed 15km of the right carriageway and commenced work on the left carriageway, with one kilometre already laid in Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement.
The Rivers State Government says it will ensure the smooth and successful takeoff of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), in Ogoniland.
This commitment was made yesterday by the Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), during a courtesy visit by the university’s Governing Council and Management team at the Government House, in Port Harcourt.
The high-level delegation was led by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Professor Don Baridam and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedu Mmom.
In his address, Administrator Ibas warmly congratulated the pioneer council and management on their appointments, describing their task as both a recognition of individual accomplishment and a historic call to duty.
“This is not just a recognition of your personal achievements but also a call to history to shape an institution that will have a profound impact on Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and indeed our country,” he stated.
The Administrator commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of the specialized university in Ogoniland, describing the initiative as “timely and strategic.”
He emphasized that the university’s presence offers a critical opportunity to drive research, innovation, and community-focused solutions to the region’s pressing environmental and developmental challenges.
He further noted that the university’s core focus aligns perfectly with the priorities of his administration.“We consider this university not merely as another institution of higher learning but as a strategic partner in our collective effort to rebuild Rivers State under the ongoing state of emergency and beyond,” he affirmed.
Responding to specific requests presented by the delegation, Administrator Ibas assured the university of immediate support in critical areas essential for the its commencement.
These include the provision of operational vehicles, key facilities, and the completion of the access road to the campus, adding that other vital needs, such as perimeter fencing, refuse disposal, and the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, would be addressed within the framework of the state’s broader infrastructure and support programmes.
To ensure swift action, the Administrator directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to work closely with the university’s Governing Council to prioritize the sequence of requests, particularly those tied to the commencement of academic activities in September 2025.
“Let me assure you that Rivers State Government will stand as a dependable partner to the Federal University of Environment and Technology. We see this university as part of our long-term investment in knowledge, innovation, and the future of our youths,” he emphasized.
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Don Baridam, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community development.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has directed the institution to formally commence its academic session in September 2025, adding that preparations are in full swing to ensure a smooth take-off with adequate infrastructure and resources in place.
“Today’s meeting marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between the Rivers State Government and FUET, envisioned to establish the university as a premier hub for research, innovation, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta”, he said.