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De-Marketing Rivers, Counter Productive -Okah
The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barr. Emma Okah has described the continued presentation of Rivers State as an insecure and unsafe place by those who do not mean well for the state as an ill wind that blows nobody any good.
Barr. Okah made the observation while speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the official presentation of a new tabloid, The Vortex Newspaper, published by a veteran journalist and a former Editor with The Tide Newspaper Dr. Alpheaus Paul-Worika.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim at the event which took place last Friday at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre in Port Harcourt, Barr Okah said that the security challenges experienced in the State were such that were general to all states in the federation and asked those who were struggling to make the situation in the state look worse than it is to have a rethink.
According to the Commissioner, the danger of projecting the State as a place not suitable for residence and business activities is that everybody who lives and does business in the state loses at the end of the day due to the negative confessions and evil reports of those who think they stand to gain some advantage in the hope that they would run the present government down by such damaging publicity.
“Those who are engaged in de-marketing the state do not stand to benefit anything because whatever happens to Rivers State invariably affects them as well.
“If we all join hands together with the government to make Rivers State a secure, safe and prosperous place, everybody in the state will partake in the prosperity and the peace.
“In the same vein, if we run the state down and set it on fire by our activities, nobody will escape the adverse consequences, including those who have assigned to themselves this unwholesome and destructive undertaking”, he said.
Barr. Okah appealed to journalists in the state to do themselves and the state a world of good by objectively reporting happenings, in the state and within the general state of affairs in the country.
He congratulated the publisher of The Vortex Newspaper for his courage to embark on the venture and expressed the hope that the publisher’s experience and knowledge of the terrain would make the paper stand the test of time.
He described the publisher’s gesture of owning a newspaper house as one that would correct some of uses and abuses seen today in newspapers, adding that The Vortex Newspaper should be able to uniquely distinguish itself, from other newspapers as it would help in bringing back real professionalism in the newspaper industry in Rivers State.
The Commissioner charged journalists on changing the negative narrative by enemies of the state who are poised to undermine the noble gestures of the state government in combating crime and criminality in the state, adding that journalists should project the positive image of the state to the outside world.
According to him, “the administration of Governor Wike in the past three and half years had returned the image of the Garden City to its pride of place in terms of culture, infrastructure, education, health, human capital development and total reduction of crime in Rivers State, so ignore those who want to de-market the state for their own selfish interest and gain.”
Speaking also, the former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, George Thompson Sekibo, stated that his expectations were that The Vortex Newspaper becomes a national newspaper that would compete favourably with other national dailies and even The Tide Newspaper.
Sekibo commended the publisher of The Vortex Newspaper, Dr Paul Alpheaus Worika for his vision and advised that the newspaper should bring development, empowerment and restoration of values to the newspaper industry in the state and country at large.
In his paper presentation on the Topic: “Newspapers and Stakeholders’ Identity Crisis In Nigeria,” the guest speaker, and a veteran journalist, Amaopusenibo Bobo Sofiri Brown explained that current stakeholders in the society had shifted completely from productivity to entitlement culture, thereby endangering the newspaper industry
Opaka Dokubo/Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
President Bola Tinubu yesterday celebrated the Nigerian Exchange Group’s breakthrough into the N100tn market capitalisation threshold, saying Nigeria has moved from an ignored frontier market to a compelling investment destination.
Tinubu, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, urged Nigerians to increase their investments in the domestic economy, expressing confidence that 2026 would deliver stronger returns as ongoing reforms take firmer root.
He noted that the NGX closed 2025 with a 51.19 per cent return, outperforming global indices such as the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, as well as several BRICS+ emerging markets, after recording 37.65 per cent in 2024.
“With the Nigerian Exchange crossing the historic N100tn market capitalisation mark, the country is witnessing the birth of a new economic reality and rejuvenation,” Tinubu said.
He attributed the stellar performance to Nigerian companies proving they can deliver strong investment returns across all sectors, from blue-chip industrials localising supply chains to banks demonstrating technological innovation.
The President added, “Year-to-date returns have significantly outpaced the S&P 500, the FTSE 100, and even many of our emerging-market peers in the BRICS+ group. Nigeria is no longer a frontier market to be ignored—it is now a compelling destination where value is being discovered.”
Tinubu disclosed that more indigenous energy firms, technology companies, telecoms operators and infrastructure firms are preparing to list on the exchange, a move he said would deepen market capitalisation and broaden economic participation.
He also cited what he described as a sustained decline in inflation over eight months—from 34.8 per cent in December 2024 to 14.45 per cent in November 2025—projecting that the rate would fall below 10 per cent before the end of 2026.
“Indeed, inflation is likely to fall below 10 per cent before the end of this year, leading to improved living standards and accelerated GDP growth. The year 2026 promises to be an epochal year for delivering prosperity to all Nigerians,” he said.
The President attributed the trend to monetary tightening, elimination of Ways and Means financing, and agricultural investments, which he said helped stabilise the naira and ease post-reform pressures.
Nigeria’s current account surplus reached $16bn in 2024, with the Central Bank projecting $18.81bn in 2026, reflecting a trade pattern shift toward exporting more and importing less locally-producible goods.
Non-oil exports jumped 48 per cent to N9.2tn by the third quarter of 2025, with African exports nearly doubling to N4.9tn. Manufacturing exports grew 67 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter.
Foreign reserves have crossed $45bn and are expected to breach $50 billion in the first quarter, giving the CBN ammunition to maintain currency stability and end the volatility that previously fuelled speculation, according to the President.
Tinubu also highlighted infrastructure expansion in rail networks, arterial roads, port revitalisation, and the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry superhighways, alongside improvements in healthcare facilities that are reducing medical tourism costs, and increased university research grants funded through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.
“Our medicare facilities are improving, and medical tourism costs are declining. Our students benefit from the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, and universities are receiving increased research grants,” he said.
He described nation-building as a process requiring hard work, sacrifices, and citizen focus, pledging to continue working to build an egalitarian, transparent, and high-growth economy catalysed by historic tax and fiscal reforms that came into full implementation from January 1.
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RSG Kicks Off Armed Forces Remembrance Day ‘Morrow …Restates Commitment Towards Veterans’ Welfare
The Rivers State Government has reiterated its commitment towards the welfare of veterans, serving officers and widows of fallen officers in the State.
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?The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, in a statement by ?Head, Information and Public Relations Unit, SSG’s ?Office, ?Juliana Masi, stated this during the Central Planning meeting of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
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?Anabraba thanked the Committee for their contributions to the success of the Emblem Appeal Fund Ceremony recently held in the State and called on them to double their efforts so that the State can record resounding success in the remaining activities.
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?According to him, the remembrance day events will begin with Jumaàt Prayers on Friday, 9th January at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt Township, while a Humanitarian Outreach/Family and Community Day will be hosted on Saturday, 10th January, by the wife of the governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, for widows and veterans.
?”On Sunday, 11th January, an Interdenominational Church Thanksgiving Service will hold at St. Cyprian Anglican Church, Port Harcourt Township while the Grand-finale Wreath- Laying Ceremony will hold on Thursday, 15th January at the Isaac Boro Park Cenotaph, Port Harcourt”, he said.
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?The SSG noted that one of the highlights of the events is the laying of wreaths by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Heads of the Security Agencies.
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The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle in the State Executive Council.
Under the new disposition, Barrister Christopher Green, who until now served as Commissioner for Sports, has been redeployed to the Ministry of Justice as the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
This is contained in an official statement signed by Dr. Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications.
According to the statement, Barrister Green will also continue to coordinate the activities of the Ministry of Sports pending the appointment of a substantive Commissioner to oversee the ministry.
The redeployment, which takes immediate effect, was approved at the last State Executive Council meeting for the year 2025, underscoring the Governor’s commitment to strengthening governance, ensuring continuity in service delivery, and optimising the performance of key ministries within the state.
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