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Even Dev In Rivers, My Goal – Wike …Says APC Has No Message For The People …Assures Rivers’ll Remain PDP
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has reassured all local government areas in the state that they will benefit from critical development projects targeted at reviving the economy of the state.
Wike also stated that the people of the state are ready for the December 10 rerun elections, declaring that nobody will rig the rerun elections despite the illegal plot to use security agencies to sabotage the will of the people.
The governor spoke last Saturday during a special edition of Viewpoint on Rhythm FM, Port Harcourt.
He said: “There will be projects in every local government area. We cannot execute all the projects at a time, but we shall reach all communities.
“Because this government is working, nobody wants to be left out. Everybody wants to be remembered. I don’t blame them, but I can assure them that everybody will be remembered.”
He noted that the administration has judiciously used the resources of the state for massive development, which has confounded the opposition in Rivers State.
“They (opposition) are dumbfounded. They cannot believe the massive infrastructural development taking place. Even the blind can feel our developmental projects”, he said.
The governor pointed out that the superlative performance of the administration is at variance with the prediction of former governor Chibuike Amaechi that there will be no funds for salaries and projects for the Wike administration.
He said: “We are not only doing projects, we are doing major projects despite the economic recession”.
He noted that no project will be abandoned by his administration, adding that the Saakpenwa-Bori road which serves six local government areas, including the four Ogoni LGAs will be completed.
According to him, the project was initiated in line with his pledge to the Ogoni people and not for the senatorial electioneering campaign.
He said: “The Ogoni people supported me and they deserve government patronage. The Saakpenwa-Bori road is 16-kilometre-s in length and it will be completed.”
On the Amnesty Programme, Wike said that the security in the state has improved because of the success of the exercise.
He said the next phase of the Amnesty Programme will be focused on rehabilitation and training of those who embraced the exercise.
“Those who submitted their arms and embraced Amnesty will be rehabilitated. They will be trained on different skills, some will be sent to School to further their education. Nobody will be paid monthly”, he said.
The governor added that the weapons retrieved during the Amnesty programme are with the military and they would be publicly destroyed.
He said that his administration funds all security agencies in the state, provides logistics and fuels vehicles for operation.
He said as a result of the relative peace in the state, most investors are returning to the state, and noted that the state will intensify the creation of conducive atmosphere for economic growth.
According to him, the return of relative peace in the state has led to the improvement of the internally generated revenue from N4billion to N7billion.
On agriculture, he said that the state government was partnering with private investors to enhance commercial agriculture , which will create jobs for the youth.
On the rerun elections, the governor said that he has continued to solicit for the votes of the people because he believes that power resides with them.
He, however, regretted that APC leaders and politicians have placed their confidence in the rigging assurances given to them by INEC and security agencies, hence they are not campaigning.
He explained that he was revealing the rigging plots of the APC because the world needs to know those generating tension that may lead to violence.
“We are very prepared for the elections. We have the capacity to resist what is going on”.
On the claim by the defeated APC governorship candidate, Dr Dakuku Peterside that he has not seen major projects, the governor said that the politician was yet to recover from the political defeat he suffered in 2015.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has stated that after inflicting hardship and hunger on Nigerians, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was scared of campaigning, hence their recourse to rigging.
The governor also stated that he received credible information from his competent APC sources that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris met APC leaders two days ago where he assured them that three other commissioners of police will be deployed to help the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies manipulate the electoral process.
Flagging-off the rehabilitation of the General Hospital, Abua on Saturday, Wike said the APC Committee of Governors set up for the Rivers rerun will be in the state for a one-day jamboree, which will have in attendance imported crowds from other states.
He said that Rivers State was not like other states where APC governors and security agencies were used to intimidate the populace to pave the way for rigging.
He said: “The APC has nothing to campaign with, that is why they have arranged a one-day jamboree. Is it the hunger across the country? Or the lack of projects or the worsening exchange rate? Or is it the fact that Rivers APC members have done nothing to attract any project to this state? There is nothing for them to campaign with.
“I have approved the Liberation Stadium for their jamboree on Wednesday. The visitors will dance and after that leave the state for Rivers people to vote overwhelmingly for PDP candidates”.
He said in line with the Inspector General’s directive, almost all the Divisional Police Officers in the state have been transferred, while the police have deployed officers they believe will help the APC carry out the illegal plot.
The governor further noted that the APC Rivers South-East Senatorial District candidate, Senator Magnus Abe had met with senior police officers between 2am and 4am last Friday, where he requested that they support his rigging agenda in exchange for N10million each.
He urged youth to vehemently defend all polling units and vote collation centres, where the police plan to assist INEC to manipulate polls results.
Similarly, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the state will remain a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite the intimidation of the people by security agencies.
The governor said that the support the state government enjoys stems from the performance of his administration which had touched the lives of the ordinary people , positively .
The governor spoke during a church service to dedicate the PDP Campaign of Ikwerre /Emohua Federal Constituency to God, yesterday.
Represented by his Chief of Staff , Engr Chukwuemeka Woke , the governor commended the people of the state for their support to his administration and the PDP .
The governor said: “As we prepare for the rerun elections, members of the PDP in Emohua/ Ikwerre Federal Constituency resolved to dedicate their campaign to God.
“We won before and we are going to win again. This state is a PDP state. No amount of manipulation or federal might will take the will of the people from them.
“See the level of excitement and support for the PDP shows that the election has been won,” he said.
Wike added: “For those who are not preparing, who are busy forging result sheets, we will resist them. They cannot use such result sheets because they don’t have the people.
“If you have the people that will vote for you, you will not look for fake result sheets .
The people will cast their votes and their votes will count. Come December 10, PDP will conclude the remaining elections in victory by God’s grace, “ he added.
Ikwerre Local Government Area Caretaker Committee Chairman Nwanosike Samuel said: “We decided to dedicate our Federal Constituency campaign to God because we require God’s blessing, wisdom , favour and protection to win again . “
He said the will of the people will prevail despite the attempts at manipulation by some persons using security agencies .
Caretaker Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, John Wokoma said the PDP leadership in Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency has handed their campaign to God, urging the people to come out in their numbers to vote for PDP.
He said that PDP members should be law-abiding, adding that they must monitor the electioneering process from the beginning to the end.
President Bola Tinubu yesterday signed into law four tax reform bills aimed at transforming Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework.
The four bills include: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
They were passed by the National Assembly after months of consultations with various interest groups and stakeholders.
The ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.
The ceremony was witnessed by the leadership of the National Assembly and some legislators, governors, ministers, and aides of the President.
The presidency had earlier stated that the laws would transform tax administration in the country, increase revenue generation, improve the business environment, and give a boost to domestic and foreign investments.
“When the new tax laws become operational, they are expected to significantly transform tax administration in the country, leading to increased revenue generation, improved business environment, and a boost in domestic and foreign investments,” Special Adviser to the President on Media, Bayo Onanuga said on Wednesday.
Before the signing of the four bills, President Tinubu had earlier yesterday, said the tax reform bills will reset Nigeria’s economic trajectory and simplify its complex fiscal landscape.
Announcing the development via his official X handle, yesterday, the President declared, “In a few hours, I will sign four landmark tax reform bills into law, ushering in a bold new era of economic governance in our country.”
Tinubu made a call to investors and citizens alike, saying, “Let the world know that Nigeria is open for business, and this time, everyone has a fair shot.”
He described the bills as not just technical adjustments but a direct intervention to ease burdens on struggling Nigerians.
“These reforms go beyond streamlining tax codes. They deliver the first major, pro-people tax cuts in a generation, targeted relief for low-income earners, small businesses, and families working hard to make ends meet,” Tinubu wrote.
According to the President, “They will unify our fragmented tax system, eliminate wasteful duplications, cut red tape, restore investor confidence, and entrench transparency and coordination at every level.”
He added that the long-standing burden of Nigeria’s tax structure had unfairly weighed down the vulnerable while enabling inefficiency.
The tax reforms, first introduced in October 2024, were part of Tinubu’s post-subsidy-removal recovery plan, aimed at expanding revenue without stifling productivity.
However, the bills faced turbulence at the National Assembly and amongst some state governors who rejected its passing in 2024.
At the NASS, the bills sparked heated debate, particularly around the revenue-sharing structure, which governors from the North opposed.
They warned that a shift toward derivation-based allocations, especially with VAT, could tilt fiscal balance in favour of southern states with stronger consumption bases.
After prolonged dialogue, the VAT rate remained at 7.5 per cent, and a new exemption was introduced to shield minimum wage earners from personal income tax.
By May 2025, the National Assembly passed the harmonised versions with broad support, driven in part by pressure from economic stakeholders and international observers who welcomed the clarity and efficiency the reforms promised.
In his tweet, Tinubu stressed that this is just the beginning of Nigeria’s tax evolution.
“We are laying the foundation for a tax regime that is fair, transparent, and fit for a modern, ambitious Nigeria.
“A tax regime that rewards enterprise, protects the vulnerable, and mobilises revenue without punishing productivity,” he stated.
He further acknowledged the contributions of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, the National Assembly, and Nigeria’s subnational governments.
The President added, “We are not just signing tax bills but rewriting the social contract.
“We are not there yet, but we are firmly on the road.”
The Senate has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over its failure to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts probing alleged financial discrepancies amounting to over ?210 trillion in its audited reports from 2017 to 2023.
Despite being summoned, no officials or external auditors from NNPCL showed up yesterday.
However, representatives from the representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Department of State Services were present.
Angered by the NNPCL’s absence, the committee, yesterday, issued a 10-day ultimatum, demanding the company’s top executives to appear before the panel by July 10 or face constitutional sanctions.
A letter from NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, dated June 25, was read at the session.
It cited an ongoing management retreat and requested a two-month extension to prepare necessary documents and responses.
The letter partly read, “Having carefully reviewed your request, we hereby request your kind consideration to reschedule the engagement for a period of two months from now to enable us to collate the requested information and documentation.
“Furthermore, members of the Board and the senior management team of NNPC Limited are currently out of the office for a retreat, which makes it difficult to attend the rescheduled session on Thursday, 26th June, 2025.
“While appreciating the opportunity provided and the importance of this engagement, we reassure you of our commitment to the success of this exercise. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”
But lawmakers rejected the request.
The Committee Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada, said NNPCL was not expected to submit documents, but rather provide verbal responses to 11 key questions previously sent.
“For an institution like NNPCL to ask for two months to respond to questions from its own audited records is unacceptable,” Wadada stated.
“If they fail to show up by July 10, we will invoke our constitutional powers. The Nigerian people deserve answers,” he warned.
Other lawmakers echoed similar frustrations.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) insisted that NNPCL’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, must personally lead the delegation at the next hearing.
The Tide reports that Ojulari took over from Mele Kyari on April 2, 2025.
Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North) said the two-month request suggested the company had no answers, but the committee would still grant a fair hearing by reconvening on July 10.
Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) warned the NNPCL against undermining the Senate, saying, “If they fail to appear again, Nigerians will know the Senate is not a toothless bulldog.”
Last week, the Senate panel grilled Segun and other top executives over what they described as “mind-boggling” irregularities in NNPCL’s financial statements.
The Senate flagged ?103 trillion in accrued expenses, including ?600 billion in retention fees, legal, and auditing costs—without supporting documentation.
Also questioned was another ?103 trillion listed under receivables. Just before the hearing, NNPCL submitted a revised report contradicting the previously published figures, raising more concerns.
The committee has demanded detailed answers to 11 specific queries and warned that failure to comply could trigger legislative consequences.
The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) said over 17 million Nigerians travelled out between 2023 and 2024.
This is as the association announced that it would be organising a maiden edition of Eastern Travel Market 2025 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital from 27th to 30th August, 2025.
Vice Chairman of NANTA, Eastern Zone, Hope Ehiogie, disclosed this during a news briefing in Port Harcourt.
Ehiogie explained that the event aims to bring together over 1,000 travel professionals to discuss the future of the industry in the nation and give visibility to airlines, hospitality firms, hospitals and institutions in the South-South and South-East, tagged Eastern Zone.
He stated that the 17 million number marks a significant increase in overseas travel and tours.
According to him, “Nigerian travel industry has seen significant growth, with 17 million people traveling out of the country in 2023”.
Ehiogie further said the potential of tourism and travel would bring in over $12 million into the nation’s economy by 2026, saying it would be a major spike in the sector, as 2024 recorded about $4 million.
“The potential of tourism and travel is that it can generate about $12 million for the nation’s economy by 2026. Last year it was $4 million.
“In the area of travels, over 17 million Nigerians traveled out of the country two years ago for different purposes. This included, health, religious purposes, visit, education and others,” Ehiogie said.
While highlighting the potential of Nigeria’s tourism, he said the hospitality industry in Nigeria has come of age, saying it is now second to none.
The Vice Chairman of NANTA, Eastern Zone further said, “We are not creating an enabling environment for business to thrive. We need to support the industry and provide the necessary infrastructure for growth.”
He said the country has a lot of tourism potential, especially as the government is now showing interest in and supporting the sector.
Ehiogie emphasized that NANTA has been working to support the industry with initiatives such as training schools and platforms for airlines and hotels to sell their products.
He added, “We now have about four to five training schools in the region, and within two years, the first set of students will graduate. We are helping airlines sell tickets and hotels sell their rooms.”
Also speaking, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NANTA, Stephen Isokariari of Dial Travels, called for more support from the industry.
Isokariari stated, “We need to work together to grow the industry and contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
“With the right support and infrastructure, the Nigerian travel industry has the potential to make a significant contribution to the nation’s economy.”