Entertainment
Swell Time For Fun Lovers …As Wike Commissions PH Pleasure Park Cinema
It is boom time for movie buffs and other fun lovers in Port Harcourt,capital of Rivers State and environs following the return of the cinema culture to the garden city as the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike commissions the Port Harcourt pleasure park cinema as part of activities to mark his 100days in office.
The event which took place on Wednesday September 11th 2019 attracted top government functionaries which included Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry Banigo and chairman, Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, among others.
The event also attracted dignitaries from the movies, music and comedy industries as well as showbiz personalities.
Commissioning the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park Cinema, Governor Wike said that Rivers people should expend their funds on relaxation and entertainment facilities in the state capital.
Governor Wike said: “This time, there is no need to travel to Dubai, United States or United Kingdom to relax or be entertained.
“We now have such facilities here in Port Harcourt. We have provided entertainment facilities to stop our people from travelling out for that purpose. Spend your money in our State. There is no need for you to go to Abuja”.
The Governor said that the new cinema though built by the Rivers State Government, would be administered by a private investor for sustenance.
He added that high level security had been provided in and around the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park to protect the serene and beautiful facility.
He assured that the Rivers State Government will continue to work to satisfy Rivers people and create the right environment for them to live comfortably.
Governor Wike reiterated that the leadership of the State will not succumb to blackmail and negative propaganda.
Earlier in his post on social media, the governor stated that the park was born out of the vision to have a world class recreation center and the cinema was a valued addition.
Also speaking in an interview with The Tide, the former chairman Performing Musicians, Employers, Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Mr Robin Maja, (The farmer) described the new cinema as the harbinger of a new dawn in the entertainment industry in the state.
He said it will also help to reduce tension in the society as it provides the needed avenue for fun and relaxation.
Also speaking, Port Harcourt based movie star and publisher of Nollywood Magazine, Mr Innocent Okereke, noted that the pleasure park cinema will soon become a centre of attraction for all movie lovers in the State which would go a long way in reviving the cinema culture which had suffered decline in the past as a result of the advent of home videos in the country.
It would be recalled that the pleasure park was commissioned by Chief (Barr) Nyesom Wike on Friday, 26 May,2017 in a grand style that attracted thousands of Rivers people from all walks of life.
It is a public recreational park located at Rumuola town along Aba road near the 2nd amphibious brigade barracks also known as Bori Camp, Port Harcourt. Apart from providing fun, excitement and relaxation, the park also serves as a tourist destination and a revenue generators for the State.
The Tide Entertainment reports that International stars Busta Rhymes and Gunna topped the bill, while the festival showcased a powerhouse roster of African talent including Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Shenseea, Phyno, Fave, Juma Jux, Qing Madi, and Diamond Platnumz, among others.
The festival launched December 7 with an eye-catching opening ceremony featuring aerial ballet performers, establishing an elevated artistic vision for the weeks ahead. That first night brought Nigerian heavyweights Wande Coal, Young Jonn, Ice Prince, Darey, Fola, Shoday, and Jerry Shaffer to the stage.
The Federal Ministry of Art and Culture partnered with the festival, with Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa acknowledging Detty December Fest as a vital force in Nigeria’s cultural landscape. She emphasized its impact on amplifying the country’s creative presence internationally and driving holiday tourism.
The 2025 edition raised the bar for live entertainment in Lagos, building on Detty December’s established reputation as a catalyst for tourism, entertainment, and economic growth during the year-end season.
The milestone was confirmed on Monday by FilmOne, the movie’s distributor, who announced that the film is now the fastest title in West Africa to cross ?1 billion. The achievement further cements Akindele’s dominance in the Nigerian film industry.
Since its release, Behind the Scenes has shattered multiple records. It posted the highest single-day box office gross ever on Boxing Day, earning an impressive ?129.5 million. It is also the highest-grossing film of 2025 so far, and remarkably, it marks Akindele’s third movie to cross the ?1 billion mark, a feat no other director has achieved.
The Tide Entertainment reports that with this latest success, Akindele has strengthened her position as Nollywood’s highest-grossing producer of all time, becoming the first filmmaker to deliver three billion-naira blockbusters within a single calendar year.
Reacting to the achievement, the actress and filmmaker expressed heartfelt gratitude to her supporters, collaborators, and distributors, while also revealing the film’s growing international reach.
“Over the years, I’ve always valued my fans, because without God and you, I am nobody,” she wrote.“Thank you all for coming out to watch this movie and for supporting my brand through the years.Thank you to the distributors, my colleagues—especially those not in the movie who still came out to meet and greet my fans.Big love to the cast and crew. This is only the beginning; let’s take Behind the Scenes even further.”
She also disclosed that the film is currently screening in cinemas across two European countries and the United States, signaling its expanding global appeal.
Akindele’s box office dominance has been nothing short of historic. In 2023, Battle on Buka Street became Nollywood’s highest-grossing film with ?640 million. She raised the bar again in January 2024 when A Tribe Called Judah became the first Nigerian movie to hit ?1 billion. Later that year, Everybody Loves Jenifa broke another record, grossing ?1.6 billion to become the highest-earning film in West African history.
Nigerian singer Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Face, has revealed his former bandmate Faze’s position in the long-running rift between him and their other ex-bandmate, Blackface.
The Tide Entertainment recalls that Blackface and 2Face have been involved in an on-and-off feud over the years, with the former repeatedly accusing the latter of intellectual property theft, allegations 2Face has consistently denied.
Addressing fans midway through his performance at the Made in Benue Festival in Makurdi recently, 2Face said Faze has maintained a neutral stance in the dispute between him and Blackface.
He stressed that the rift does not involve Faze in any way.
“You all know that Plantashun Boiz consisted of Blackface, 2Face and Faze. But due to some unforeseen circumstances, Blackface is not with us right now.
“However, no matter the beef wey me and Blackface get, nothing concern Faze inside. So, Faze is right here with me and we will represent Plantashun Boiz,” he said.
The rift between Blackface and 2Face began after Plantashun Boiz disbanded in the 2000s.
Following their split, Blackface blamed 2Face for the breakup and accused him of song theft.
The relationship between the duo has remained strained over the years despite several attempts at reconciliation, with peace efforts often short-lived.