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Fuel Scarcity: Groups Plan Protest
A group of civil society organizations and social media activists and commercial drivers in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, have said they are ready to embark on mass protest to demonstrate their displeasure over the lingering fuel scarcity in the state.
Specifically the civil society groups said they have collected signatures of Nigerians for ‘Occupy Nigeria’ protest in Port-Harcourt on Thursday, against the unending scarcity of petroleum products and current economic hardship in the country.
One of the facilitators of the proposed protest, Livingstone Wechie, said the action is due to hold on Thursday in Port-Harcourt.
He said the action seeks to draw the attention of the Federal Government on the need to take urgent steps to end the current economic hardship facing Nigerians due to the lingering fuel scarcity across the country, especially Rivers, Lagos states, and Abuja.
Wechie emphasised that the protest in Port-Harcourt also seeks to demand that the Federal Government end the era of blame game and evolve measures that will restore confidence in the citizens.
However, both private and public filling station owners have also called on the Rivers State Government, to extend the mandate of the task force to include the monitoring of the activities of depot owners, and not only filling stations.
In an interview with the dealer of Sky Mint Energy Limited filling station along Iwofe-Wimpey Junction, Mr Onyema Otata, said government should enforce the compliance of filling stations with the regulated pump price of petrol.
He said that this can only be possible if government ensures that private depot owners sell the product to filling stations at government-regulated pump price.
Otata further said that the inability of the task force to force compliance has made depot owners to consistently sell the product to willing filling station owners at very high prices.
According to him, “since we buy at very high prices at private depots, we are also forced to sell to our customers at prices which allow for marginal profit,” admitting that “on Friday, we sold at N300 per litre but today (Saturday), we are selling at N200.”
At Propel Filling Station along Ada-George Road, Miss Juliet Njiedika told The Tide that, “as at yesterday (Friday), we sold N300, but today (Saturday), we are selling N250.”
She admitted that the excruciating hardship was hitting hash blow on both owners of filling stations, motorists and other customers resident in the state.
A motorist, Peter Israel, regretted that the task force set up by the state government has achieved little result as private filling stations sell the product at very high prices, while some major filling stations, which have stock of petrol either concentrate on selling to black market operators or completely hoard to product in order to hike the price when customers become desperate to get it at all cost.
Israel said most private filling stations sell the product at between N250 and N300 per litre, complaining that in spite of announcements by the state Ministry of Environment that many filling stations have received the product for sale, only very infinitesimal number across the state capital are actually open to the public, and are selling at official pump price.
He said that the situation has made queues at the few major filling stations longer than necessary, and customers staying, sometimes, two to three days at filling stations before they are able to buy petrol at government-approved pump price.
Another motorist, Ifeanyi Onyechukwu, said “right now, there is no fuel anywhere, and worst still, if you see to buy, it is very expensive”, adding that high cost of procuring petrol has had ripple effect on transport fares, which he said has skyrocketed by over 300 per cent.
Efforts to talk with the NNPC mega station management proved abortive as few officials seen at filling stations in Port Harcourt declined comments, and rather referred our correspondents to NNPC headquarters for answers to the festering enigma.
The situation which became more serious over the weekend caused most motorists operating in the city to park their auto mobiles as there was no petrol to buy.
Few stations with the product who were besieged by long queues sold at the rate of N200.00 per litre while at the back market, a litre sold for N300 and above.
Black marketers s also sold 10 litres for between N2,500 and N3,000 and 20 litres at between N5, 500 and N7,000.
Transporters increased their charges by 100 per cent.
From Rumuokoro to Mile 3 Park that normally cost N100 went up to N200, from Mile 1 Flyover to Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) that normally went for N50 by taxi went up to N100.
Investigation further revealed that Iloabuchi to UST backgate is now N100 from the former N50, while Port Harcourt to Ahoada is now N600 from the previous N500.
Similarly, Port Harcourt to Andoni is now N900 from N600, Port Harcourt to Omoku N800 from N600, while Port Harcourt to Bori is now N500 from N400, while the fare from Port Harcourt to Okrika which was previously N250, is now N300.
Infact, passengers said, every stop by taxi and bus within the Port Harcourt metropolis is now N100 instead of the usual N50.
Chris Oluoh & Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Eleven outstanding poetry collections are now in the race for the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature, arguably Africa’s biggest and most prestigious literary prize.
The 11 collections were selected from a total of 223 entries received for this year’s competition.
Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Prize, Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, who announced the longlist, said the emergence of the 11 collections marks a significant milestone in this year’s competition and reflects the exceptional quality, creativity and diversity of contemporary Nigerian poetry.
According to her, the longlisted titles, arranged in alphabetical order, are: Adult Love by Tanure Ojaide; Bakandimiya by Saddiq Dzukogi; Black Passport by Paul Akpomuje; 2000 Blacks by Ajibola Tolase; Ceremony For The Nameless by Theresa Lola; Corpus: Animistic Verses by Ayo Oyeku; and Floral’s Love Colony by Tares Oburumu.
Other successful entries are, The Origin of Wounds by Malik Gbolahan; The Years of Blood by Adebayo Agarau; Unbind Me Now by James Ugwu Eze; and Why Does God Need a Gun by Ogaga Ifowodo.
Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo described the announcement as an important stage in the 2026 edition of the prize.
She noted that the collections demonstrate the remarkable capacity of poetry to illuminate human experience through thoughtful reflection, cultural memory and artistic expression.
According to her, the works revisit history while interrogating dominant historical narratives and exposing the forces that shape collective identities and social relations.
She stated that despite their varied emphases, the books share a commitment to exploring the endurance of individuals and communities in the face of violence, oppression and social fragmentation.
On style and language, Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo said the books display an impressive diversity of poetic techniques marked by lyrical intensity, symbolic depth and artistic innovation.
“Many employ densely poetic, allegorical, and elegiac modes that invite multiple layers of interpretation, while others draw extensively on folklore, oral traditions, and contemporary realities to create a compelling fusion of past and present. Their language is generally fluid, evocative, and aesthetically refined, relying on vivid imagery, emotional resonance, and intellectual sophistication to communicate complex ideas. These works demonstrate how poetic language can illuminate social realities; challenge established perspectives and give voice to both individual and collective experiences.
“The next stage will demand a closer reading of each work, with attention to language, form, originality and lasting literary value,” she stated.
The Board chairman commended the judges for their painstaking work and reaffirmed the Advisory Board’s commitment to a credible process, literary excellence and the promotion of a strong reading culture.
With the announcement of the 11-title longlist, the competition now moves to the next phase, with a shortlist of three expected in August and the winner to be announced in October.
Sponsored by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), The Nigeria Prize for Literature carries a cash award of $100,000 for the author of the winning book.
Now in its 22nd year, the prize rotates annually across four genres – prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature – with the 2026 edition devoted to poetry.
The Rivers State Government has applauded the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State Branch, for its steadfast dedication to advancing medical excellence and contributing significantly to healthcare development in the state and the country at large.
Speaking at the 2026 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the NMA held in Port Harcourt last Wednesday, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dagogo Wokoma, described the association as a vital partner in the quest to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.
Wokoma, according to a statement by the Head of Information and Public Relations Unit in his office, Julian Masi, noted that the NMA’s sustained advocacy for professional standards and quality medical practice has continued to impact positively on the healthcare sector and national development.
He said the conference theme, “Medical Practice in Nigeria: The Past, the Present and Quo Vadis,” offers a valuable platform for stakeholders to evaluate the progress made in the health sector, examine present realities, and develop practical solutions for future challenges.
He paid tribute to Nigerian doctors and other healthcare professionals for their sacrifices and unwavering commitment to service despite the challenges confronting the sector.
“We deeply appreciate the immense sacrifices made daily by Nigerian doctors and other healthcare professionals. In the face of numerous challenges, they continue to demonstrate exceptional resilience, professionalism, dedication and commitment to saving lives. Their contributions remain critical to national development,” he said.
In her keynote address, the immediate past Commissioner for Health, Prof. Adaeze C. Oreh, called on participants to critically examine the current state of medical practice in Nigeria and explore innovative approaches that will address emerging healthcare challenges in line with the conference theme.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Rivers State Branch, Dr. (Prof.) Annabel Ureh Oparaodu, expressed gratitude to Governor Siminialayi Fubara for his continued support for the medical profession in Rivers State.
She urged delegates to maximize the opportunities provided by the conference through active engagement and knowledge sharing.
Highlights of the event included the commissioning of the Nigerian Medical Association Doctors’ Lodge and the NMA Water Factory, initiatives designed to improve members’ welfare and promote sustainability within the association.
The National Population Commission (NPC) has announced the commencement of a nationwide digital registration of births and deaths in Rivers State under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, E-CRVS, System, using the new VitalReg platform.
Federal Commissioner, NPC, Rivers State, Prof. Itotenaan Henry Ogiri, announced said this recently during a press briefing in his Port Harcourt office.
Ogiri said the full digital registration of births and deaths took effect nationwide on July 1, 2026, and is now being implemented across Rivers’ 23 Local Government Areas as part of the Commission’s rollout in the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT.
“Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards a modern, technology-driven civil registration system,
“It reflects the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that every birth and every death occurring in our country is accurately captured through a secure, efficient and digitally enabled platform,” he said.
The Federal Commissioner noted that while Nigeria records an estimated five million births annually, coverage remains low.
“Birth registration currently stands at about 57%, while death registration is below 20% nationwide.
“These gaps underscore the urgent need for a more efficient and accessible registration system,” he stated.
To address this, he said the commission has established 4,011 functional registration centres across the 774 LGAs, with plans to expand to about 8,000 centres nationwide.
According to him, in Rivers State, structures have been put in place and personnel are working with health facilities, LGAs and community stakeholders to ensure accessibility.
Ogiri explained that the VitalReg platform offers faster registration, 24-hour access, automated data validation for accuracy, reduced paperwork and waiting time, enhanced record security, and a stronger national database to support other government information systems.
He added that the platform would integrate seamlessly with Nigeria’s national digital identity framework, including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to improve coordination and service delivery.
“The initiative builds on the launch of the E-CRVS System and the inauguration of the National Coordination Committee on CRVS by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on November 8, 2023.
“It also aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on digital transformation and transparency,” he said.
The NPC Commissioner stressed that success depends on partnerships and public participation and listed key collaborators as ALGON, NIMC, UNICEF and Barnksforte Technologies Limited.
“In Rivers State, we will continue to work closely with the State Government, Local Government Councils, healthcare providers, traditional institutions, religious organisations, development partners, civil society organisations and the media to ensure that no child or family is left behind,” he said.
The commissioner called on parents, guardians, healthcare workers and community leaders to ensure prompt registration of every birth and death, noting that a complete civil registration system strengthens governance and supports sustainable development.
He reassured the public that birth registration and birth notification services remain highly subsidised, though specialised administrative services such as record modification, certificate reissuance, attestations and verification will attract approved charges to support system sustainability.
Ogiri appreciated the Rivers State Government for its support, and commended NPC staff in the State, as well as development partners, LGAs, healthcare institutions, traditional and religious leaders for advancing civil registration in the state.
He also urged the media to continue to amplify the message “that every birth counts, every death matters and every Nigerian deserves a legal identity.”
“As we commence this new chapter, let us all work together to build a civil registration system that is modern, inclusive and trusted by all,” Ogiri concluded.