Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, has described the late traditional ruler of Egbema Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Eze Ginikanwa Everestus Amuda,  Ezeobi of Egbema, as a great leader whose reign was characterised by peace, unity, inclusiveness and commitment to the welfare of his people.

Prof. Odu stated this during the funeral ceremony of the late monarch at Aggah, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, yesterday.

The Deputy Governor, who expressed pride in identifying with the Egbema people, said she considered it a priority to attend the funeral and personally commiserate with the bereaved family, the people of Egbema and the entire Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

She described the late monarch as a respected traditional ruler who distinguished himself through exemplary leadership and earned recognition beyond his immediate community.

According to her, Eze Amuda was a father figure to all, who carried everyone along during his reign and consistently promoted peace, unity and empowerment among his people.

Prof. Odu said Rivers State had lost one of its illustrious sons, adding that his contributions to the development of Egbema Kingdom and commitment to the welfare of his subjects would remain worthy of remembrance.

She extended her condolences to the immediate and extended families of the deceased, the Egbema people and the entire Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area, praying that God would grant them the strength and comfort to bear the loss.

The Deputy Governor expressed the hope that the late monarch’s legacy of peace and empowerment would be sustained, noting that his transition should inspire renewed efforts towards the progress and development of Egbema Kingdom.

She also appealed to prominent sons and daughters of Egbema in Government and other positions of influence to establish a lasting memorial in honour of the late traditional ruler, in recognition of his place in the history of the kingdom as one of its foremost first-class traditional rulers.

Prof. Odu thanked the church, women, men, youths and other sympathisers who came from far and near to honour the departed monarch and identify with the bereaved family.

She prayed for God’s comfort and strength for the family and the entire community, as well as journey mercies for all who attended the funeral.

In his tribute, Engr. Iboh Justice, a mentee of the deceased, described the late monarch as a father figure, mentor and exceptional personality whose life was defined by hard work, determination and commitment to excellence.

He said he was deeply saddened by the loss, noting that Eze Ginikanwa Amuda was not only a father to many but also a personal mentor who played a significant role in shaping his life.

He disclosed that the late monarch’s mentorship had inspired him to extend the same gesture to the deceased’s son, Dr. Ogorchukwu Amuda, whom he is currently mentoring.

Describing the late traditional ruler as a man who never settled for less, Engr. Iboh Justice said his life exemplified the principle that success could only be achieved through hard work and perseverance.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has directed Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to arrest and prosecute persons involved in the destruction, defacement and unlawful removal of political campaign posters, banners and billboards ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniede, disclosed this in a statement issued  in Abuja, on Wednesday.

The statement noted that the Nigeria Police Force had observed with serious concern the increasing incidents of deliberate destruction of campaign materials belonging to political parties and candidates across the country.

The Police in the statement condemned acts of political intolerance and warned political thugs, hoodlums and other mischief-makers involved in the destruction of campaign materials to desist from such activities or face the consequences.

It further explained that the destruction, defacement or unlawful removal of another candidate’s campaign materials could constitute malicious damage, which is a criminal offence under applicable laws, including Section 451 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 326 of the Penal Code Law.

The Police in the same vein, stressed that political differences or loyalty to a particular party did not confer on anyone the right to destroy another candidate’s property or prevent others from exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right to campaign freely.

According to the statement, all political parties and candidates, irrespective of their affiliations or status, were entitled to equal protection under the law, adding that no individual or group had the authority to determine whose campaign materials should be displayed or destroyed.

“The IGP had directed Commissioners of Police in the states and the FCT to take proactive measures to prevent such incidents, investigate reported cases and ensure the arrest and prosecution of persons found culpable”, it said.

It also warned that political sponsors and individuals who recruit, encourage or facilitate the criminal acts would be held accountable whenever evidence established their involvement.

The police urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct their campaigns peacefully and respect the rights of others, warning that political intolerance, intimidation and criminal conduct must not be allowed to undermine the nation’s democratic process.

The statement noted that the Force would not allow political thugs and troublemakers to turn the nation’s political environment into a theatre of lawlessness, insisting that anyone found violating the law would face its full consequences.

However, the Police Force called on Nigerians to respect the law and uphold the principles of peaceful political participation, particularly as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The police reiterated that the right to campaign and promote political interests must be exercised within the confines of the law, while urging political stakeholders to discourage violence and other acts capable of threatening public peace.

The Force assured Nigerians of its commitment to maintaining law and order throughout the political season, stressing that the protection of all candidates and political parties remained a priority as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

King Onunwor

Electricity generation on Nigeria’s national grid dropped to 3,659 megawatts (MW) as of 3pm yesterday from a peak of 3,996MW recorded on Wednesday, amid worsening power supply across parts of the country.

The Federal Government, however, attributed the decline to gas supply constraints to thermal power plants, reduced water inflows into hydroelectric reservoirs and operational challenges within the power sector.

Data obtained from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed that the decline had affected electricity allocation to Distribution Companies (DisCos), resulting in shorter hours of supply and increased load shedding across distribution networks.

Data on the distribution load allocation dashboard as of 5:39pm yesterday showed that the 11 electricity distribution companies received a combined allocation of 3,031MW.

Abuja Disco received the highest allocation of 669MW, followed by Ibadan Disco with 413MW and Port Harcourt Disco with 338MW. Benin Disco received 279MW, Enugu 267MW, Eko 256MW, Ikeja 249MW, Kano 173MW, Kaduna 167MW, Jos 146MW, while Yola Disco received the lowest allocation of 74MW.

The Federal Ministry of Power, in a statement, yesterday, by the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Minister of Power, Adeola Adelabu, acknowledged complaints by electricity consumers in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo states over worsening supply in recent days.

The Ministry noted that the affected areas had recently experienced noticeable improvements in electricity supply before the latest disruptions.

It, however, ruled out a major or systemic failure of the national grid, explaining that preliminary assessments linked the disruptions to maintenance and operational challenges in parts of the power value chain, alongside declining generation.

Acknowledging the impact of the disruptions on consumers, the Ministry said: “We recognise what every hour without power means for individuals, families and businesses, and we do not take it lightly.”

It added that the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, was working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), NISO and electricity distribution companies to address the challenges and restore normal supply.

According to the Ministry, the Minister had engaged relevant operators to resolve the operational constraints, accelerate ongoing maintenance and keep the public informed about restoration efforts.

In a separate statement, NISO confirmed that limited gas availability had constrained the ability of affected thermal generating stations to operate at their available capacities, while reduced water inflows had affected hydroelectric generation.

The system operator stated: “The limited availability of gas has constrained the capacity of affected thermal generating stations to operate at their available levels, while reduced water inflows into reservoirs have impacted the generation capacity of hydroelectric power stations.”

NISO explained that the reduction in available generation had affected the volume of electricity allocated to DisCos for distribution to consumers, resulting in increased load shedding.

It added that the extent of the impact varied across distribution networks, depending on available generation and the corresponding allocations to individual DisCos.

Acknowledging the impact of the generation shortfall on consumers nationwide, NISO said it remained committed to maintaining grid stability and optimising the dispatch of available generation.

It stated: “NISO remains committed to maintaining grid stability, optimizing the dispatch of available generation, and ensuring the secure, reliable and efficient operation of the national grid within prevailing operational constraints.”

The system operator also disclosed that it was working towards diversifying the country’s energy mix to strengthen security of electricity supply.