News
FG Mulls 3,000-Capacity Prison In Ogoni …MOSOP Threatens To Resist Move
The Federal Government has concluded plans to construct a 3000-capacity maximum prison in Bori, traditional headquarters of Ogoniland in Rivers State, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau has said.
Disclosing this last Friday, during a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike in Government House, Port Harcourt, Dambazau, said that the move was part of efforts of the Federal Government to decongest the prisons.
The minister explained that the Federal Government’s proposed prison project would be carried out on a land that was allocated to the Prisons Service in 1979 in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of the state.
He pointed out that the Port Harcourt Prison, which was built for 804 prisoners, currently accommodates 4,204 inmates, noting that the strategy was to reduce the pressure on the already congested facility in Port Harcourt.
The minister told the governor that the Stakeholders Panel on Prison Decongestion had recommended Rivers as one of the states from the six geopolitical zones for the construction of a 3,000-capacity prison.
In his remarks, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike promised to provide the necessary support and cooperation towards the commencement and completion of the new prison project.
Wike further called on the Federal Government to complete the ongoing construction of a prison in Omoku so that it could decongest other prisons in the state.
Also speaking, the Controller General of Prisons, Ja’afaru Ahmed told the governor that the contractor handling the Omoku Prison had been contacted to hasten the project for early completion, and promised to do everything humanly possible to decongest the Port Harcourt Prisons and make it a more humane centre of correction and rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, the President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr Legborsi Pyagbara has kicked against the Federal Government’s plan to build a maximum security prison and modern cemetery in Ogoniland.
MOSOP alleged that the plan involves the seizure of over 41 hectares of land in Bori, where Pyagbara claimed that arable land had been conspicuously difficult to find.
The MOSOP president, therefore, threatened that Ogoni people in the four local government areas of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme would resist, with the last drop of their blood, the plan to build a maximum security prison and modern cemetery in the area.
Pyagbara told The Tide, last Saturday, in Port Harcourt, that they was urgent need for the Federal Government to jettison the plan at a time clean-up of the polluted Ogoni environment had not been done despite presentation of the report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the environmental assessment of Ogoniland to then President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on August 4, 2011, and the ceremonial flag-off of the exercise by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in June, 2016.
Pyagbara said: “Ogoni people are opposed to this plan being hatched by the Federal Government against the Ogoni people.
“This action is a demonstration of crass insensitivity and a total disdain for the Ogoni people by the Buhari-led administration”.
“We want to stress that this plan to build a maximum security prison facility and modern cemetery in Ogoni will never be acceptable to our people because we see this as a broader attempt to suppress Ogoni people and forcefully begin oil and gas exploration in the area, without any constructive engagement and discussion with the Ogoni people,” Pyagbara argued.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.