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Rivers: Mile One, Fruit Garden Markets Set For Commissioning …Traders Hail Wike

As the newly constructed Rumuwoji (Mile One) Market and the Fruit Garden Market in Port Harcourt get set for commissioning, a cross section of traders in both markets have hailed the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for delivering on his promise to complete the projects on schedule.
The traders spoke during a Government House press tour of the facilities in Port Harcourt, last Monday.
The traders, who described Wike as a high-performing administrator that fulfils all his promises, thanked him for the markets.
The Rumuwoji (Mile One) Market is an architectural masterpiece, with very modern facilities to aid trading in a very conducive environment.
It has quality security infrastructure, water sprinklers to fight fire, fire station, cold room, clinic and storage facilities.
Speaking to newsmen, General Manager of SPG Construction, Bassam Dahdah, said that construction work on the project started in August, 2017, with all facilities in the market completed around February, 2019.
He said that the market was ready for commissioning.
SPG Construction is the construction company handling the Rumuwoji (Mile One) Market project.
A trader, Kate Ako described the governor as a wonderful leader who heard the cry of the traders and intervened when they needed him most, adding that the market was one of the best in the country.
Another trader, Chuks Emenike said that the traders were happy that the Rivers State governor kept his promise to deliver an international market.
He said: “We, the entire traders of Mile One Market earnestly thank our amiable governor for building the best market for us. He promised he will do it, and he has done it”.
The Chairman of Rumuwoji (Mile One) Market Union, Mr Eze Ndubueze said the governor would always be appreciated by Rivers traders for his commitment to their welfare.
“The effort of Governor Wike as far as this market is concerned is excellent. This is the best market around. On behalf of the traders, I am telling the Rivers State governor, thank you. God will bless and keep him”, he said.
Also speaking, another trader, Mrs McDonald Ngozi said that Wike cannot be compared to any other leader because of his truthful nature and love for the delivery of quality projects, stressing that the Mile One Market was a testament of the governor’s commitment to his people.
Denibo Briggs said all traders were solidly behind the governor for delivering an amazing market to them.
Meanwhile, the Fruit Garden Market at D-Line in Port Harcourt has taken shape with key facilities now in place.
The market has open and lock up shops.
It also has a perimeter fence, a car park, warehouses and security features for the protection of the market.
The Chairman of Fruit Garden Market Traders Union, Mr Chigozie Nnodim praised Governor Wike as the best thing to have happened to Rivers traders.
He said: “Since the market got burnt, the governor has carried us along. He empowered us with money to re-start our businesses after the loss. He promised to reconstruct the market, and he has delivered a wonderful structure. We are looking forward to occupying the market”.
The Task Force Chairman of Fruit Garden Market, Abubakar Kebbi, expressed happiness that the governor has delivered the market to the traders.
A trader at the market, Nkechi Amadi said the construction of the Fruit Garden Market was a wonderful achievement, and praised the Rivers State governor for living up to his promise.
Also speaking, Austina Achomadu said that the leadership style of Governor Wike was unique.
“I have seen different governors, but Nyesom Wike is the best. This market is a great effort”.
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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
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