News
Wike Gets SCAHSA Global Award …Banigo, Obuah Hail Gov On Award
In recognition of his outstanding achievements in the area of urban renewal, sustainable cities and provision of basic amenities to the residential areas of low-income earners, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has been honoured with the “Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award”.
Nigeria’s moment of glory peaked in New York City, United States, last Monday night when the Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards (SCAHSA) presented the international award to the governor in the presence of international diplomats, development professionals, high-level administrators and leaders of international non-governmental organisations.
Speaking at the award ceremony in New York, last Monday night, a representative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Mara Murillo said that the organisation salutes Global Forum on Human Settlements & Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements for having developed the awards and the constituency for which it has been organized.
The UNEP representative congratulated the 23 awardees who were selected for their positive achievements and leadership.
Murillo stated: “The awards recognise their feats which inspire and encourage others to innovate and replicate similar feats”.
The Vice Chairman of Global Forum on Human Settlements & Sustainable Cities, Dr Taj Hamad said all the awardees have made great achievements that merit the awards.
Permanent Representative of The Gambia to the United Nations, Mamadou Tangara urged all awardees to continue to work for sustainable cities across the world.
Ms Mara Angelica of the United Nations Environment Programme lent her voice to the calls for collaboration in developing habitable cities.
In an acceptance speech after receiving the award, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike pledged that he will continue his landmark projects to improve the living condition of the Rivers people.
He said: “Let me on behalf of the government and people of Rivers State sincerely thank the organisers of this award for the recognition.
“I would also like to commit ourselves to progressively provide infrastructure and social services that will enhance the living standards of all Rivers people on a sustainable basis”, Wike added.
The Tide gathered that there were 23 awards in six different categories.
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike received his “Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award” under the “Individual Initiatives to Advance Sustainable Development Category”.
The award was presented to the Rivers State governor by the Vice President of Global Forum on Human Settlements & Sustainable Cities, Dr Taj Hamad.
The governor was accompanied to the international award ceremony by his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, two of his children, Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyaye-Lamikanra, member representing Port Harcourt Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ken Chikere, Edo State PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, the former Minister of Sports, Dr Tammy Danagogo, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barrister Emma Okah, elder statesman, Prince Emma Anyanwu, and member of the House of Representatives, Mrs Betty Apiafi, among others.
The 12th Global Forum on Human Settlements & Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards Ceremony (GFHS XII) was jointly organised by the Permanent Mission of The Gambia to the UN, the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the UN (AU), the Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the University Peace Federation (UPF), the World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (WANGO) and the Better Cities Institute (BCI).
A video footage explaining the premise upon which Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike received the award lauded him for reducing urban slums and bridging poverty gaps.
The footage further praised the Rivers State governor for his positive leadership, provision of infrastructure and basic amenities.
The 23 awardees were drawn from different countries of the world, including Nigeria, China, Bulgaria, Germany, USA, India and Indonesia.
The event was beamed live on different platforms by dedicated international broadcasters.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo and the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bro Felix Obuah have hailed the “Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award” given the Governor Nyesom Wike by the Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements (SCAHSA) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, describing the state chief executive as an enigma who has continued to surprise his detractors, with his ever rising profile.
In a statement in Government House, Port Harcourt, Banigo said “while the All Progressives Congress (APC) is dissipating its energy in the failed bid to hoodwink Rivers people into believing that the governor was not working.
Wike has continued to dwarf whatever achievements the APC may have claimed to have achieved in the past”.
Banigo said “Governance is about the people and the present administration has positively touched the Rivers people where it matters most, with our lean resources we have been able to deliver top notch infrastructures to our people which, has earned us accolades nationally and internationally, to God be the Glory”.
According to her, Wike’s winning of the “Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award” under the “Individual Initiatives to Advance Sustainable Development Category” is no mean feat, and congratulated the governor for making the Rivers people proud, while calling on the opposition to join the wining team.
Also speaking, Chairman of PDP, Felix Obuah said the conferment of Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award on Wike by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (CDGs) in far away United States of America was a proof of the governor’s leadership qualities.
Obuah, in a statement in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital said Wike does not deserve anything less because he has worked hard to ensure that the economy of the state was turned around from the mess it was plunged into by the previous administration.
According to the PDP boss, the good governance and sense of belonging being enjoyed by all strata of the Rivers people are not a happenstance, but a product of self-sacrifice and sound knowledge of management of human and material resources by the state chief executive.
Obuah, however, noted that the joy was not only the award per se, but the fact that the dispassionate world has been watching and has confirmed the landmark achievements of the PDP-led government in Rivers State in just two years in office in spite of the lean financial resources available to the state.
The state PDP chairman while congratulating the governor for the well-deserved award, also enjoined the good people of the state to remain focused and steadfast in their support for Wike and discountenance the snares and deception of the enemies of progress who were not happy that they have been dislodged from lording it over the people for their own self-enrichment.
The Defence Headquarters has placed troops on nationwide alert ahead of the Easter celebrations, assuring Nigerians of tightened security.
The DHQ also reaffirmed that ongoing support from the United States is strengthening counter-terrorism operations, with a visible impact expected in the coming weeks.
Addressing journalists during the end-of-the-month briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Michael Onoja, assured citizens of heightened vigilance by troops during the Easter celebrations.
Onoja said the Armed Forces had already placed personnel on alert nationwide to prevent any security breach during the holiday period.
He added that similar measures were implemented during previous festive seasons, including Christmas and Eid-el-Fitr, and would be sustained.
“We know that festive seasons usually have heightened security activities. The military command gives instructions to ensure all personnel are on alert. This time will not be different,” he said.
He emphasised that security agencies would not relax despite the celebrations, noting that adversaries often attempted to exploit such periods.
“I can assure you that we will always be on alert, particularly at this period of festivities, because we know that the threats expect us to relax.
“But we are not going to relax. Everything will be okay for this Easter,” he added.
Speaking on the ongoing collaboration with the US forces, Onoja said the impact of the collaboration may not be immediately visible due to the nature of military engagements, but expressed confidence that the benefits would become evident in the coming weeks and months.
He said the U.S. support to Nigeria’s operations had been significant, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing and training, noting that the assistance was being provided on favourable terms to strengthen ongoing counter-threat operations.
According to him, “You are aware that they are bringing intelligence and training support to us, which we need. They are giving that to us on very favourable terms. There are lots of things I cannot say because of confidentiality.”
He added that the intelligence being provided included information on the location of threats and hostile elements, stressing that Nigerian troops would act accordingly.
“All we can say is that these things take time. There is a gestation period when we are conducting military operations.
“You will not see it immediately, but in the next few months or weeks, you will feel the difference in the impact of the assistance that the U.S. is providing,” Onoja stated.
On February 16, 2026, DHQ confirmed the arrival of approximately 100 US military personnel and equipment at Bauchi Airfield.
According to the military high command, the personnel, who are not combat troops, were in Nigeria strictly for technical assistance, training, and advisory roles in counter-terrorism efforts.
However, insecurity has continued to surge in several parts of the country since their deployment, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the collaboration.
News
RSG Pledges Support For Youth Initiative …As Youth Dev Advocate Seeks Policies On Transformational Leadership
The Rivers State Ministry of Youth Development has restated the State Government’s commitment towards supporting initiative that will empower youth socially and economically in the State.
Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Youth Development, Mrs Ruhoma Kejeh, stated this during the launching of a book titled: ‘A-Z Nuggets of Goal Setting: Discover Winning Ways To Set And Achieve Goals Like a Pro’, in Port Harcourt.
Kejeh said the State Government was committed towards supporting initiative that will empower youth socially and economically in the state.
The Permanent Secretary, represented by the Head of Department, Youth Education and Counseling, Rivers State Ministry of Youth Development, Mrs. Veronica Oborolor, described the book as a practical guide that will serve as a source of inspiration for youths.
According to her, the book is not only timely and commendable, but comes at a time when many youths face uncertainty in life.
In his remarks, the author of the book and a youth development advocate in Rivers State, Mr. Ibeleogute Emmanuel Ibodeng, called for policies that will promote transformational leadership in the country.
He said transformational leadership comes when the right policies are in place, and described the book as his contribution to human capacity development in Nigeria.
“This is my book launch. This will serve as my own contribution to human capacity building in this country,” he said.
Ibodeng added that the book will serve as a coaching template and model for emerging leaders, readers and passionate nation builders to coach themselves into excellence and patriotic citizens.
According to him, reading the book and imbibing its message has the capacity to make one a nation builder as it is tailored towards mind transformation and community development.
“My major target is to see that the leaders who come after this set will have their minds tuned after transformational leadership, and not just the kind of leadership we are used to today,” he said.
Also speaking, the guest speaker, Mrs. Uche Etiaba, said rather than relying on false hope and partisan politics, Nigerian youths should set clear goals and work out ways of achieving them.
Etiaba also described the book as a masterpiece, adding that vision without structure is like a mere dream.
She, however, blamed systemic failure as Nigeria’s major problem, arguing that the nation is experiencing high youth unemployment because the nation’s education system does not align with the job market.
According to her, there must be an alignment across all levels of our national life.
The event attracted people across all works of life.
John Bibor
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to safeguarding lives and property, following a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping in the State.
Adepoju said this in a statement by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko which was made available to the Press in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday.
The police boss, in the statement, noted that the recent operation underscores the resolve of the command to intensify intelligence-driven policing and dismantle criminal networks operating within the State.
“Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command recorded the success after foiling an attempted abduction in Port Harcourt, leading to the arrest of a suspected gang member and recovery of arms and ammunition”, it said.
The incident, according to the statement, occurred in the early hours of March 20 when a 35-year-old resident, Fadi Nasser, raised the alarm over an invasion of his residence along Orogbum Crescent, Woji Road, in the Government Reserved Area of the state capital.
According to Police sources, the armed assailants attempted to abduct the victim and opened fire during the attack, creating panic in the neighbourhood.
“The victim, however, managed to escape unhurt, an outcome described by security operatives as both fortunate and instrumental in enabling a swift response by the police”, it said.
Investigations gained momentum after a mobile phone suspected to belong to one of the attackers was recovered at the scene, providing a critical lead for operatives.
Acting on the intelligence, officers of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit based in Aluu deployed technical resources to track the device, which led to the arrest of one Joseph Abibo, identified as a member of the gang.
During interrogation, the suspect, the statement revealed, reportedly confessed and provided useful information that guided operatives to the gang’s hideout within the State.
Police sources also disclosed that upon arrival at the location, the operatives came under heavy gunfire from other members of the gang, prompting a fierce exchange.
The Police team, however, overpowered the criminals, forcing several of them to flee, with about six suspects escaping into a nearby river with gunshot wounds.
The police revealed that a search of the hideout led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, four magazines and 108 rounds of live ammunition, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover more weapons.
King Onunwor
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