Politics
Assembly Plans New Law On Environment
Two major events dominated the activities of the Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA) in Port Harcourt last week.
The events were a two-day Port Harcourt Environmental Summit, and a plenary session.
The summit was held last Tuesday and Wednesday respectively by the Assembly Committee on Environment in conjunction with the State Ministry of Environment and Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) in Port Harcourt.
In his welcome address, the House Committee Chairmen on Environment, Hon. Christian Ahiakwo said the Summit was aimed amongst others to prepare a policy framework that would be presented to the State House of Assembly as a bill for enactment into law.
Ahiakwo also explained that the summit themed: “Our Environment, Our Heritage; Environmental Sustainability in Rivers State, A Right For All”, also aimed at addressing environmental devastation of Rivers Sate, oil and gas pipeline vandalism in Niger Delta.
The lawmaker further explained that the summit would also address the issue of the multinational corporations and the politics of environmental sustainability in Nigeria, the application of environmental laws to the pollution of the Niger Delta, and adapting a working curriculum on environmental safety and sustainable development in Rivers State owned schools.
In his goodwill message, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani had called on participants to direct attention to a multi-dimensional approach to the remediation, preservation and sustenance of environment through safe economic and industrial practices, provision of treatment plants for industrial effluents, legislation and enforcement of appropriate legal instruments and the maintenance of a green environment.
The two-day summit attracted dignitaries including captains of industries, academics, politicians, traditional rulers, multinational companies and diplomats from different communities amongst others.
Last Thursday, the Assembly held a plenary session, where two commissioners and a permanent secretary were invited to explain the activities of abattoirs in the use of tyres for meat burning in the state.
Those who appeared before the house were the Commissioner for Environment, Mrs Roseline Konya, Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Oninim Jack and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Caroline Wali.
Presiding, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani said the commissioners were invited to tell the House their level of implementation of the law on the activities of abattoirs especially the use of tyres in burning meat for consumption.
The Speaker said the meeting was aimed at preparing a frame work that would serve as a bill for the repealing of the law on abattoir in the state.
Also at the plenary, the House declined to attend to the representatives of the Managing Director of Halliburton Energy Services led by one Engr Ferdinald Abarah over the alleged systematic marginalisation of Rivers indigenes in the company.
The Speaker, Rt Hon. Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani, who expressed the level of negligence by company, threatened that the assembly will issue a warrant of arrest on the MD, if he refused to appear in the House by its next plenary.
It would be recalled that the Rivers State House Assembly summoned the managing Director of Halliburton energy services over an alleged systematic marghinalisation of Rivers indigene in the company.
The company’s Chief executive has repeatedly turned down the Assembly’s invitation, sending a representative to appear before it, an act the lawmakers described as insubordination to the State Government.
Enoch Epelle
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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