News
Garri Theft: Rivers, Bayelsa Police In Blame Game
The Rivers State Police Command and its Bayelsa State counterpart have disagreed over which command should be held responsible for the theft of four bags of garri (cassava flakes) by policemen attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS).
The operatives were said to have snatched the goods from two traders in Mbiama Market, penultimate Tuesday, and fled with them in a white Hilux van.
The Tide reports that Mbiama is located in Ahoada-West Local Government Area of Rivers State, a border town between the state and Bayelsa State.
A Facebook user, Mashak Uyi, had posted a picture of two FSARS operatives at the back of a Hilux van with the bags of garri.
A woman and two men were seen running after the cops as their van zoomed off.
Uyi, who expressed shock over the conduct of the operatives, said the goods were snatched from the victims at gunpoint.
He added that some soldiers at the scene laughed while the impunity went on.
He wrote, “I was completely bewildered to see men of the FSARS cart away four bags of garri from two traders at the popular Mbiama Market at about 12.21pm today (Tuesday).
“Three of them jumped down from the white Hilux van in a commando style, charging at the two traders in the guise of clearing the road. Rather than clear the road, it was the traders’ four bags of garri that they hurriedly “cleared” to their van.
“Not knowing what their intention was, the traders ran to them to demand money for their goods, but the FSARS men warned them not to come closer than they had or they would be dealt with accordingly. ‘Una no dey fear!’ ‘Woman, you won challenge us abi?’ They charged and zoomed off!
“Sadly, there were soldiers at the spot where this incident happened. All they could do was to laugh.
“I managed to capture them at a distance before their vehicle zoomed off with their loot…it is really shameful,” he stated.
Uyi, an environmentalist, who later spoke with newsmen on the telephone, said the FSARS men headed for Rivers State after snatching the goods.
He said, “I went for an assessment of the flood impacted communities in the Ahoada-West LGA on Tuesday. I was on my way to the local government secretariat on a motorcycle, and on getting to a bridge near Mbiama Market, the Hilux stopped, and three of the FSARS men alighted in a commando style and charged at some traders by the roadside.
“Each of them helped themselves to a bag of garri and a policeman went to pick one more. The traders – a woman and a man – thought they were buying the goods. They rushed to meet them (cops), but they were intimidated.
“When I saw what was happening, I asked the motorcycle rider to stop. I was with a camera and was already taking pictures of the environment before I got there. As they were zooming off, I managed to take some shots.
“Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) officials were on the road to manage traffic. There was no need whatsoever for what they (FSARS men) did. Foodstuffs at that market are sold at giveaway prices because flood had ravaged the market. If they had begged the traders, they could have even got more than enough for free.”
Commenting on the incident, one Grace Eke, lamented the brazen extortion of residents by FSARS operatives on a neighbouring road.
“At Oyigbo Junction, they are there collecting money from motorists, thereby causing traffic,” she added.
In his comment last Wednesday, Okerhe Ogheneruemu, who also condemned the stealing, said the police authorities could disown the men.
He wrote, “What you will hear in response to this is, ‘They are not our men.’ What a shame!”
While responding to the allegation last Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers State Command, Nnamdi Omoni, disowned the policemen, saying men of the command could not have engaged in such an unethical conduct.
He said, “That allegation is neither here nor there. How can policemen steal garri? It is not possible. Such an allegation is wrong. Our men are trained and we ensure that they observe professionalism in all they do.”
In his reaction, Bayelsa State PPRO, Butswart Asinim, also absolved the state command’s FSARS of any wrongdoing.
He said, “Mbiama is not in Bayelsa; it is in Rivers. Our men won’t go to Mbiama to operate; we don’t cover the area. Get in touch with the Rivers Command. Even if they are not Rivers policemen, it happened in their (Rivers command) jurisdiction.”
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has called for renewed commitment, transparency, and collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector in the State.
The deputy governor particularly urged synergy between the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) and the Primary Health Care Management Board towards improved healthcare delivery in the State.
?Prof. Odu made this call during the 2026 First Quarter Review Meeting of the Task Force on Primary Health Care at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.
?She stressed the importance of honesty and urged all parties to be truthful and open in addressing challenges within the system.
?According to her, transparency remains critical to identifying and resolving underlying issues affecting healthcare delivery, noting that “if we are not truthful, we will not cure the disease, but merely cover it up.”
The deputy governor recounted a personal experience at a Primary Health Center where a patient, despite being duly registered under the RIVCIPP scheme with completed biometric capture, was still asked to make payment for services.
According to her, intervention by relevant authorities later confirmed the patient’s eligibility, exposing a communication gap between the scheme and healthcare providers.
Odu warned that such incidents could discourage community members from enrolling in the scheme, thereby undermining its objectives.
“When this happens, we are disenfranchising our people. The message that goes back to the community is that even when you register, you are still made to pay,” she stressed.
?While commending the leadership and staff of the Primary Health Care Management Board, Ministry of Health, Development Partners as well as other supporting units, for their efforts, ty deputy governor stressed that performance should not lead to complacency.
She urged stakeholders to continuously strive for improvement, raise standards, and leave lasting positive impacts within the system.
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the opening of examination slip printing for candidates registered for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
JAMB made the announcement yesterday, urging candidates to visit its website to download their slips ahead of the examination.
“Examination Slip Printing is now available. The slip contains details of the venue, date and time of your examination and gives you access to the examination hall,” the board said.
Candidates are to visit jamb.gov.ng and click on “2026 Slip Printing” to print their slips.
The development comes after JAMB dismissed a viral press release falsely claiming the examination had been postponed.
The board described the notice as “malicious and fake” and urged candidates to disregard it.
The 2026 UTME is scheduled to hold from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The examination follows a mock test conducted on Saturday, March 28, which recorded technical difficulties at some Computer-Based Test centres.
Of the 224,597 candidates who registered for the mock, 152,586 sat for the test across 989 CBT centres nationwide.
JAMB said over 20 centres were delisted for technical inadequacies.
The board also warned candidates against fraudsters on WhatsApp claiming to facilitate score inflation, describing such claims as “false and criminal”, and threatening cancellation of registration or withholding of results for any candidate found involved.
Over two million candidates, according to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, registered for this year’s UTME.
News
RSU Unveils Five-Year Strategic Dev Plan …Calls For Collective Commitment To Institutional Excellence
In a decisive step towards redefining its future, the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has formally unveiled its Third Five-Year (2026-2030) Strategic Development Plan.
The development plan is a comprehensive roadmap designed to strengthen the university’s position as a leading institution in Nigeria and beyond.
The unveiling took place during a high-level engagement with the Governing Council, Principal Officers and the university congregation, at the Convocation Arena, recently.
Delivering his remarks at the unveiling ceremony, the Pro-Chancellor of the university and Chairman of Council, Hon. Okey Wali, SAN, charged all members of the university community to align their activities with the strategic direction of the institution, emphasizing that the success of the plan depends on collective commitment.
He noted that the plan is not merely a document, but a working framework that requires discipline, accountability and unity of purpose.
According to the Pro-Chancellor, only through coordinated efforts from all stakeholders can the university fully realize its vision.
“I hereby invite the Visitor to the University, donor agencies, friends and well-wishers, and all stakeholders to support and fund the implementation of this strategic plan. We are confident that this plan will take RSU to greater heights in the comity of higher institutions,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, described the Strategic Development Plan as a document that would enhance the university’s corporate strengths, mitigate current weaknesses, leverage its corporate opportunities and address perceived existential threats.
“This Five-Year Strategic Plan sets out RSU’s goals, strategic objectives, expected outcomes and impact, including intervention strategies,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of the Strategic Development Planning Committee, Prof. Emeritus Joseph A. Ajienka, noted that the 2026-2030 Strategic Development Plan represents a bold reaffirmation of the university’s founding ideals of excellence, creativity, innovation and inclusivity, aimed at positioning the institution to respond effectively to contemporary challenges in higher education.
Prof. Ajienka, who is also a member of the Governing Council, disclosed that the plan was developed through an extensive and inclusive consultative process, which he said reflects contributions from Faculties, Departments, Satellite Campuses and Administrative Units.
At its core, the plan seeks to advance the university’s vision of becoming a “unique and uncommon” institution that is structurally and philosophically oriented towards solving practical societal problems and ranking among the top ten universities in Nigeria.
The strategic framework identifies six key challenges confronting the university, including funding constraints, infrastructure deficits, limited research collaboration, and service delivery inefficiencies.
A statement by the university’s Acting Director, Corporate Affairs, Victor G. Banigo, further stated that the university has articulated four broad strategic goals supported by eight targeted objectives.
A central priority of the plan, according to him, is the strengthening of governance and administrative systems, alongside deliberate efforts to expand the university’s funding base. Others include enhanced alumni engagement, strategic partnerships and innovative fundraising initiatives aimed at ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
“Equally significant is the commitment to upgrading physical infrastructure across all campuses. Plans are underway to modernize lecture halls and laboratories, expand student accommodation, improve campus security and deploy advanced ICT systems to support teaching, learning and research.
“Recognizing that human capital is the backbone of institutional success, the university has placed strong emphasis on staff development, recruitment and productivity enhancement. Through targeted training programmes, mentorship initiatives and performance management systems, the plan aims to foster a highly skilled and motivated workforce.
“In addition, the university is poised to deepen its focus on research, innovation and entrepreneurship. By reviewing academic curricula, strengthening industry partnerships and establishing innovation incubation centers, Rivers State University seeks to translate research outputs into practical solutions that address societal needs and drive economic growth,” he said.
The PRO disclosed that the implementation of the strategic plan is projected at ?110 billion, reflecting the scale of transformation envisioned.
“While the university is committed to funding a significant portion internally, additional resources will be mobilized through government support, donor agencies, alumni contributions, and public-private partnerships.
“This multi-channel funding strategy aligns with the university’s broader goal of building a resilient and self-sustaining financial model capable of supporting long-term development,” he explained.
To ensure effective implementation, he said, “the plan incorporates a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework, complete with performance and impact indicators. A mid-term review is scheduled within the first two years to assess progress and make necessary adjustments.
“Furthermore, the establishment of a dedicated Strategic Planning Office will provide oversight, coordination and accountability in executing the plan across all units of the university.”
According to the statement, “As the university embarks on this transformative journey, the message from leadership is clear: the Strategic Development Plan is a collective mandate.
“For staff, students, alumni and stakeholders, it represents an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the growth and advancement of the institution. For the university, it is a pathway to consolidating its legacy while embracing innovation and global relevance.
“With a clear vision, defined priorities and a united community, Rivers State University stands poised to translate this strategic blueprint into measurable progress, advancing knowledge, empowering people and shaping the future of higher education in Nigeria.”