News

Rivers Sports Ministry, Council Resolve To Perform Better

Published

5 years ago

June 9, 2021

The Rivers State Ministry of Sports and one of its parastatals, the Sports Council, have resolved to work and take more efficient steps towards improving performance at the next National Sports Festival in Delta State, in particular and sports as a whole in the state. This was part of the fall outs of an interactive session organised by the ministry between it and the council, particularly, the coaches and organising secretaries.
The session, in which the coaches and secretaries bared their minds on the factors that affected the state’s overall performance at the recently concluded Edo 2020 National Sports Festival in Benin City was held last week at the VIP Hall of the Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex, Port Harcourt. Series of issues and recommendations came to light at the interactive session.
Speaking to news men at the end of the meeting, Commissioner for Sports in the State, Hon Boma Iyaye, said that the meeting was convened to interact and review what transpired at the last National Sports Festival and the way forward. According to him, “we did not do well, we did not live up to our usual standards and we needed to find out the reasons and chart the way forward. Most of the secretaries and coaches have said what went wrong, we as a ministry will take those factors into consideration and see how we can make progress”.
Iyaye disclosed that the state would henceforth hold mini competition in various sports, such as swimming, wrestling, boxing, athletics, etc, from time to time in order to start the process of harnessing talents that would replace aging athletes in the state. He also said that coaches and organising secretaries would as a matter of importance, be made to do their duties of discovering, weaning tatlents and overseeing events. Towards this, the commissioner said, “we’ll send our coaches and secretaries to the nooks and crannies of Rivers State to search for talents, we have abundant talents everywhere and we must discover them”
The commissioner, who pronounced the donation of two coaster buses to the sports council noted that the issue of transportation has become a problem for the council and its coaches and athletes, especially, now that it has moved to its permanent site at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex.
He further revealed that the state’s sports festival, the idea of which is on the table waiting for approval, may hold any moment from now. This, he believes would help to unearth talents and keep others in competitive mood. “Also, some of our athletes that left us in anger just before Edo 2020, we want to see how we can bring them back because they belong to us, we have spent a lot of money on them”, he added.
Funding, according to the commissioner would be a challenge in realising most of the set goals. But he said, “we’ll see how we can partner and market our brand to companies around us and see if they can support us to take sports in the state to the next level.
When you do that, you’ll see that you’re not only engaging the youths or saving lives but putting food and opportunities on someone’s table”.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Sir Honour Sirawoo, Who was part of the session had thanked Iyaye for his vision in convening the meeting, noting that his drive and the commitment of the governor would certainly take sports to where it deserves to be in the state and country.

By: Gabriel Nwanetanya

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

4 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

4 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

4 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.