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Rivers VGN Appeals To Wike For Assistance

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5 years ago

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The Rivers State Command of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), has passionately appealed to the Executive Governor of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike to come to the aid of the command to enhance its operations and performance. The command has also thanked the Governor for being supportive of other security agencies in the state.
The Acting Commander of VGN in Rivers State, Commander Chukwuka Osumah, who made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt said the command is in dire need of logistic support from the Governor to make it one of the most effective in the country, adding that Hilux vans and other security equipment and facilities which the para-military outfit in the state is currently lacking would go a long way to enhance its operations if provided by the State government.
He reiterated that the outfit has been assisting other security agencies in the state to fight criminality in the state, particularly in the areas of intelligence and information gathering as well as dissemination of same to other security agencies, and assured that if the Governor extends his usual magnanimity to the command, the security outfit would do more in promoting peace and security in the state.
While thanking Governor Wike for supporting the police and other security agencies in the State, Osumah said VGN in the state would be most grateful to him if it is remembered in a similar manner, stressing that there is only one VGN in the state under his leadership.
The VGN Commander said it would be a thing of joy if Governor Wike follows the footsteps of his counterparts in Delta and Abia States, who he said had fabulously assisted the outfit in those states in various ways, contending that both in the South-South and South-East geo-political zones, Rivers State prominently stands out as Governor Wike’s name rings a bell across the country, going by the good works of his administration.
He said states in the North have also been supportive of VGN, stressing that states like Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina and Niger, among others, for example, had donated Hilux vehicles and motorcycles to the security outfit.
According to him, the Commander General of VGN, Dr Usman Mohammed Jahun recently visited Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who also supported the outfit.
Osumah used the medium to appeal to members of the outfit to close ranks and assist the state government to fight crime and criminality in order to make the state, which he said the Wike administration has transformed into a destination of choice to be safer for all residents.
He thanked Governor Wike for ensuring that the Rivers State Neighbourhood Watch takes off in the state.
Also lending his voice, the Deputy Commander of VGN in Rivers State, Commander Elijah Okere said Governor Wike is a man of projects, who is making the state proud, and pleaded with him to extend his good works to VGN in the state by providing vehicles and other security gadgets to the outfit to enable its operatives do their work more effectively.
According to him, VGN in the state needs adequate support, as its operatives are the frontiers in the fight against insurgency and criminality in the country.
On his part, the Assistant Commander of VGN in charge of Training, Com-mander Joseph Har said the request for Governor Wike to come to the aid of VGN in the state is timely and necessary, as he (the Governor) does not take the issue of security for granted having demonstrated this by giving full support to other security agencies in the state.

He appealed to the Governor to extend his magnanimity to VGN, which he described as a grassroots security outfit by providing its operatives with Hilux vans as well as security boats to patrol the riverine areas.

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RSG Ready For 2030 Digital Transformation

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2 weeks ago

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October 27, 2025

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The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State  Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Department, Mrs. Elizabeth Akani, has said the State Government was set to meet up the 2030 target of the Federal Government towards the actualization of digital economy.
Akani said this at the Rivers State Sensitization Workshops on The Adoption of Nigeria Start-up Act and National Digital Literacy framework (NDLF), in Port Harcourt, weekend.
She noted that the State was ready for both the adoption and domestication of the Act.
According to her, up to 90-95% preparation have been fully covered by the state in readiness to welcoming the digital economy Act.
“Stakeholders talked about adoption and domestication of the Act, it was fruitful. The draft has been sent to the government”, she said.
She also noted that the move was in line with the digital transformation plan of the state and the country at large.
The Convener, Start South, Mr. Uche Aniche, who made case for full ICT Ministry for the state, said such will command the needed growth in the system.
Aniche stated that until they attained the lofty height, all about Tech-knowledge and growth may not fall in place as expected.
Other tech-operators, such as the Code Garden Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wilfred Wegwu, who welcomed the idea, said it must be done in the nearest future.
Wegwu noted that technology has taken over the world at present, adding that government at all levels needed to key into the system.
He also stated that the system play major roles in various spheres of life, including relationships and collaboration.
He also revealed that the system now was up to forth Industrial Revolution (4IR), according to global shift ranking.
It will be recalled that the State Government has recently ordered to construct ICT centres across the 23 Local Government Area of the state in order to meet up the yearnings of the technology world.
By: King Onunwor
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Industry Braces For Glut And Investor Demands

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1 month ago

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September 29, 2025

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The oil and gas industry is in for a tough year ahead, as it must balance financial discipline, shareholder returns, and long-term investments in the sustainability of the business—while navigating a hypothetical glut.
The warning comes from Wood Mackenzie, which said in a new report that the industry was faced with conflicting trends over the next year that would make decision-making challenging. Among these is an expectation that the market would tip into an oversupply, pressuring prices, while the demand outlook for oil over the long term brightens up, motivating more investments.
“Oil and gas companies are caught between competing pressures as they plan for 2026. Near-term price downside risks clash with the need to extend hydrocarbon portfolios into the next decade. Meanwhile, shareholder return of capital and balance sheet discipline will constrain reinvestment rates,” Wood Mackenzie’s senior vice president of corporate research, Tom Ellacott, said.
The executive added that investors would also influence decisions, as they continue to prioritize short-term returns over long-term investments. This last part, at least, is not unusual in the current investment environment across industries. It could, however, make life even more difficult for oil and gas companies for a while.
The glut that Wood Mackenzie analysts expect is the same glut that the International Energy Agency has been expecting for a while now. Yet that very same International Energy Agency earlier this month issued a warning on the longer-term security of global oil supply, saying the industry needed to step up investment in new production because natural depletion at mature fields was progressing faster than previously assumed.
Per the report, if the industry has to maintain current levels of oil and gas production, more than 45 million barrels per day of oil and around 2,000 billion cu m of natural gas would be needed in 2050 from new conventional fields. It’s worth noting that this is maintenance of current production levels, assuming demand will not rise, which is a risky assumption.
Even with projects ramping up and new ones approved for development and not yet in production, a large gap still exists “that would need to be filled by new conventional oil and gas projects to maintain production at current levels, although the amounts needed could be reduced if oil and gas demand were to come down,” the IEA said.
However, demand could just as well increase, heightening the degree of uncertainty in the industry and making long-term planning even more challenging—especially for companies with higher debt-to-equity ratios. Wood Mackenzie expects those with gearing of above 35% would prioritise resilience over long-term growth, while those with better debt positions would turn to divestments and asset acquisitions to improve the quality of their portfolio.
Share buybacks will also remain on the oil industry’s table as a favorite tool for making shareholders happy, although, Wood Mac notes, these tend to dry up when oil slips below $50 per barrel. Interestingly, the analytics company does not seem to factor into its analysis a scenario where prices might go up instead of down, especially now that President Trump has signaled he would be willing to step up pressure on Russia to bring a swifter end to the war in Ukraine.
If prices do rise, for whatever reason, including failure of the massive 3-million-bpd glut that the IEA predicted to materialize, then the immediate outlook for the oil and gas industry becomes different—but not too different. Companies have already demonstrated they would not return to their old ways of splurging when times were good and tightening belts when times were bad. They would likely stick to spending caution and shareholder return prioritization, regardless of prices.
By Irina Slav
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City Crime

ECN Commences 7MW Solar Power Project In AKTH

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2 months ago

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September 22, 2025

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As a landmark intervention designed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply, the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), has commenced a 7MW solar power project at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH)
The project is the outcome of ECN’s comprehensive energy audit and strategic planning, which exposed the unsustainable cost of diesel and the risks associated with AKTH’s dependence on the national grid.
Working in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology under the coordinating leadership of Chief Uche Nnaji, the ECN planned and executed this critical project to secure the hospital’s energy future.
The Director – General, ECN, Dr. Mustapha Abullahi, said “the timing of this intervention could not be more crucial” recalling that only days ago, AKTH suffered prolonged power outages that tragically claimed lives in its Intensive Care Unit.
“That painful incident has strengthened our resolve. With this solar installation, we are ensuring that such tragedies are prevented in the future and that critical medical services can operate without fear of disruption”.
Abdullahi stated that the project is a clear demonstration of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in action and reflects ECN’s commitment to making Nigeria’s energy transition people-centered, where hospitals, schools, and other essential institutions thrive on reliable, clean, and sustainable power.
The ECN boss further reaffirmed ECN’s commitment to continued deployment of innovative energy solutions across the nation.
“This is not just about powering institutions; it is about saving lives, restoring confidence, and securing a brighter future for Nigerians”, he stated.
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