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Wike Seeks Approval For Law School In PH
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has requested approval for the establishment of a campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt.
The governor said the request is made in view of the fact that the existing six campuses of the Nigerian Law School across the country can only admit 6,000 out of the over 10,000 applicants that seek legal education every year.
Wike made the request during the flag-off of two hostel blocks (450-bed spaces each) and a 1,500 capacity auditorium, being constructed by the Rivers State Government, at the Yenagoa Campus of the Nigerian Law School, last Friday.
According to Wike, Rivers State Government is willing to provide the basic infrastructure required in establishing another law school within six months in order to accommodate more students desirous for legal education.
“Let me throw a challenge to the chairman of Council of Legal Education, to the permanent secretary of Ministry of Justice, and to the Director General of Nigeria Law School. How do we accommodate these extra 4,000 people that are left out since the only capacity the law school can take is 6,000?”
The governor expressed the readiness of states to support the Council of Legal Education and the Federal Government, if they are given opportunity to provide requisite infrastructure for the establishment of more law schools to accommodate eligible aspirants to the legal profession.
“Nobody should play politics with this. As a state government, I am ready to within the next six months give you everything that is required to establish a law school in Port Harcourt. What are the facilities you need? Four hostels; two for men, two for women, an auditorium, multipurpose hall, law clinic, two moot court rooms, vehicles and residences for staff, then, Port Harcourt can host a campus of law school.”
Wike said no person should be surprised that Rivers State Government was intervening in Yenagoa campus of Nigerian Law School because the institution is meant for South-South region.
“So, one of these days, I came here with the DG, and what I saw was not befitting of a law school for legal education. For a school in the South-South, this is where our children come to, we should be able to give support. What Rivers State Government is spending is not less than N5billion to build 900 bed space hostels for boys and girls and then 1,500 capacity auditorium.”
In his remarks, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, described such intervention of the Rivers State Government in improving facility for legal education as a worthy complimentary effort.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General of the Federation, Dayo Apata, the Attorney General of the Federation, said the request for a campus in Port Harcourt can be favourably considered when a formal proposal is received.
“I see clarity of thought about how Nigeria can be better off. I see a man with passion, very passionate about development. Everything you spoke about discussed is about Nigeria to be better off. You are touching life. We see you doing projects. You have written your name in the sands of time.”
The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, represented by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, described the intervention of Wike as remarkable.
According to him, since the Bayelsa State Government donated the land and the few structures, the Federal Government has not made any contribution since 2011 when it was established.
“This project here you’re initiating, today, ought to be a Federal Government project. And since this campus was donated by Bayelsa State Government, we have not seen anything done by the federal government.
“At this point, it is now the duty of those of us in the South-South region to nurture this campus, so, that it will become a reputation. And so, we are very happy for this hand of cooperation and fellowship you have extended to this campus.”
On his part, Director-General of Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, said facilities at the campuses of Nigeria Law School have become insufficient to cater for the needs of legal education.
This is so, he said, because of the increased number of students’ enrolment to study law in Nigeria and in Diaspora.
“Hence the urgent need for interventions and assistance in these critical areas. It is, therefore, instructive, a welcome development and the reason for this happy gathering in our Yenagoa
The Chairman, Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, said the central idea behind these constructions by the Rivers State Government was to address the infrastructural deficits of lecture and accommodation spaces for the ever increasing number of students seeking to acquire vocational legal training in Nigeria.
“It is no secret that since the establishment of the Yenagoa and Yola campuses of the Nigerian Law School in 2011 little or no attention has been made by government or concerned stakeholders to build more hostels and lecture halls to effectively accommodate students adequately.”
Nigerians were among more than 140 residents injured after Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at the United Arab Emirates, at the weekend.
This raised fresh fears for thousands of Nigerians living and working in the Gulf nation.
The UAE Ministry of Defence disclosed last Saturday that its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones fired from Iran, describing the attack as a major escalation in the ongoing regional tensions.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, the ministry said its air defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones during the latest assault on March 14.
It added that the attacks left six people dead and 141 others injured, including foreign nationals.
“The UAE air defence systems on March 14 engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry stated.
“Since the onset of this blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran,” UAE added.
According to the ministry, those killed in the attacks included citizens of the UAE as well as foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
“Although the authorities did not specify the exact locations where the casualties occurred, the ministry said the injured victims were from several countries, including Nigeria.
Others affected include residents from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The list also included Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.
The Tide reports that this development has sparked concern among Nigerian communities in the UAE, where thousands of citizens live and work in sectors such as construction, hospitality, logistics and trade.
Data from Nigeria’s diaspora commission shows that the UAE remains one of the largest destinations for Nigerian migrants in the Middle East, particularly in the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The Nigerian government had in recent years raised concerns over the safety and welfare of its citizens in the country following diplomatic tensions and visa restrictions affecting Nigerians.
Saturday’s attacks have now heightened anxieties within the diaspora community, especially as the Gulf region faces growing military confrontations.
In its statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the country remained fully prepared to confront any threats to its security.
“The Ministry of Defence remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities,” the ministry said.
In a separate update, the ministry noted that its defence systems were still actively intercepting missiles and drones.
“UAE air defences are dealing with Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles and drones,” it said.
Regional media reports indicate that the attacks form part of a wider escalation of hostilities between Iran and Western-backed forces in the Middle East.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran has continued sustained missile and drone strikes across the Gulf despite protests from neighbouring states.
The strikes were said to be in retaliation for military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iranian positions in the region.
Tehran targeted several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, late on Friday and into Saturday.
The attacks also caused infrastructural damage in parts of the UAE.
Meanwhile, Iran’s elite military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that US interests in the UAE would remain legitimate targets.
Iranian state media reported that the group issued the warning after US forces attacked Iranian-controlled islands.
The IRGC specifically mentioned ports, docks and military installations linked to the United States as potential targets.
It also urged residents in the UAE to evacuate areas around ports and military facilities to avoid civilian casualties.
Security analysts say the growing exchange of threats and strike across the Gulf could destabilise the region’s economic and aviation activities if the conflict escalates further.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the five new commissioners sworn-in last Wednesday to put in their best for the development of the State.
Fubara gave the charge during the swearing-in of the commissioners at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
This followed the successful screening of the five commissioners by the Rivers State House of Assembly, last Tuesday.
The five commissioners are Tonye Bellgam, Prof. Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Mr. Lekue Kenneth, and Sir Amairigha Edward Hart.
The Tide reports that the governor had sent nine commissioner-nominees to the Assembly for screening, but the Assembly confirmed only five nominees and rejected the nomination of four over various allegations.
Those rejected by the Assembly are Prof. Dantonye Alasia, Mrs. Charity Demua, Mr. Tamuno Williams, and Otonye Amachree.
The governor congratulated the new commissioners on their appointment, noting that their thorough screening by the Rivers State House of Assembly was a proof of their capabilities.
He urged them to deploy their wealth of experience in various fields and put the State on a fast lane of development.
“Ordinarily, I am supposed to charge you on your responsibilities and how to operate. But that has been taken care of by the screening at the Assembly.
“I believe that going through one of the most rigorous screenings, it is enough to say that for those of you who succeeded, you are fit and ready to deliver to our dear State.
“So there is no further charge. The screening was the charge, so I wish you the best as I don’t expect anything less than the best from you,” Fubara said.
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, destroying a reactivated illegal refinery site in Rivers State and intercepting suspected stolen petroleum products in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Director of Naval Information, Capt Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement released in Abuja, yesterday.
Folorunsho said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH, operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, destroyed a reactivated illegal refinery site at Okolomade Community in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said the action followed credible intelligence that a previously dismantled illegal refining site had resumed operations.
According to him, an Anti–Crude Oil Theft team deployed to the location discovered that the dismantled refining oven had been reconstructed.
“Further exploitation of the area led to the discovery of additional refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO),” he said.
Folorunsho added that the illegal refining infrastructure, including ovens, storage tanks, hoses, connected pipes and newly acquired metal components used for illegal refining, was destroyed in line with operational procedures.
He said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, in another operation, intercepted about 3,950 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products at the Nigerian Ports Authority area in Calabar, Cross River State.
He said the interception was based on credible intelligence on suspected siphoning of petroleum products from vessels berthed at the port.
The naval patrol team, according to him, swiftly deployed to the area and traced the illegally siphoned products to a trailer park within the port facility.
“On sighting the naval patrol team, the suspected perpetrators fled the scene, after which the area was cordoned off and the illegally siphoned products secured,” he said.
Folorunsho said further inspection led to the recovery of about 3,950 litres of Automotive Gas Oil stored in drums and jerrycans, which had been evacuated to the naval base for further necessary action in line with extant regulations.
He noted that the successes aligned with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to intensify operations against crude oil theft and other maritime crimes across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Folorunsho reiterated the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the operational tempo of Operation DELTA SENTINEL through intensified surveillance, patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage.