Connect with us

News

NPC Holds Stakeholder Engagement On Trial Census In Okochiri

Published

on

The National Population Commission (NPC), Okrika Local Government Area, has held stakeholder engagement with the relevant stakeholders in Ancient Okochiri Kingdom, as part of the commission’s strategic engagement and collaboration in ensuring a smooth and successful conduct of the forthcoming Trial Census and the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
Okrika was amongst the nine LGAs selected for the exercise in Rivers State, and Okochiri Kingdom was mapped out for the trial census in the area.
In her opening speech, the Comptroller, National Population Commission in Okrika, Mrs. Ayibia Asuefien Eli, appreciated the stakeholders for granting them audience.
She stated that they were in the area on the mandate of the commission in preparation for the upcoming trial census, which is to be carried out in order to evaluate all aspects of census operation.
Speaking during the stakeholders’ meeting, the state Director of the National Population Commission, Rivers State, Ms. Barika Glory Nwineh, applauded the magnanimity of the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Micheal Tom; for his visionary drive in bringing development and sustained peace to his kingdom and Okrika at large.
Barika appreciated the concerted effort of the Okochiri Traditional Council of Chiefs for their disposition and commitment in supporting NPC programmes in the area.
She stated that the trial census was a dress rehearsal to evaluate all aspects of the census operation before the main census on a limited scale, which would kick-start on July 11, 2022.
She urged the stakeholders to give support to the commission to carry out the trial census successfully.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Okrika Local Government Council, Hon Akuro Tobin, who was represented by Hon.Temaso Benjamin Sekibo, applauded the National Population Commission for choosing Okrika in Rivers State for the trial census.
Tobin reiterated his commitment and readiness to give support to the commission for the success of the exercise.
Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of Okochiri Traditional Council of Chiefs, Chief Emmanuel, on behalf of the Chairman, Okochiri Traditional Council of Chiefs, Chief. Jackson Tom Adoki Ibiteinbo, and the Okochiri chiefs, appreciated the commission’s mandate to carry out the trial census in their kingdom.
“We will support you to the fullest and ensure that exercise comes out successful”, he added.
In a thank you message, Barika appreciated King Ateke Micheal Tom, the Okrika Local Government, Okochiri Traditional Council of Chiefs, CDC in Okochiri, the women and youths for providingnecessary support to the commission.
Others in attendance were:HoD, Public Affairs Department, Mr. Ipalibo George, staff of the Public Affairs Department, Mrs. Eno Attah, and a staff of the commission in the LGA, Miss. Marian Daka, chiefs of Ancient Okochiri Kingdom, CDC, women and youths.

By: Nelson Chukwudi

Continue Reading

News

FG Ends Passport Production At Multiple Centres After 62 Years

Published

on

The Nigeria Immigration Service has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this yesterday while inspecting Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja.

He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.

“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.

He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.

“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.

 “We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.

“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.

He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.

Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.

He said the centralised production system aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for better service delivery.

Continue Reading

News

FAAC Disburses N2.225trn For August, Highest In Nigeria

Published

on

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has disbursed N2.225 trillion as federation revenue for the month of August 2025, the highest ever allocation to the three tiers of government and other statutory recipients.

This marks the second consecutive month that FAAC disbursements have crossed the N2 trillion mark.

The revenue, shared at the August 2025 FAAC meeting in Abuja, was buoyed by increases in oil and gas royalty, value-added tax (VAT), and common external tariff (CET) levies, according to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting.

Out of the N2.225 trillion total distributable revenue, FAAC said N1,478.593 trillion came from statutory revenue, N672.903 billion from VAT, N32.338 billion from the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), and N41.284 billion from Exchange Difference.

The communiqué revealed that gross federation revenue for the month stood at N3.635 trillion. From this amount, N124.839 billion was deducted as cost of collection, while N1,285.845 trillion was set aside for transfers, interventions, refunds, and savings.

From the statutory revenue of N1.478 trillion, the Federal Government received N684.462 billion, State Governments received N347.168 billion, and Local Government Councils received N267.652 billion. A further N179.311 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) went to oil-producing states as derivation revenue.

From the distributable VAT revenue of N672.903 billion, the Federal Government received N100.935 billion, the states received N336.452 billion, while the local governments got N235.516 billion.

Of the N32.338 billion shared from EMTL, the Federal Government received N4.851 billion, the States received N16.169 billion, and the Local Governments received N11.318 billion.

From the N41.284 billion exchange difference, the Federal Government received N19.799 billion, the states received N10.042 billion, and the local governments received N7.742 billion, while N3.701 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the oil-producing states as derivation.

Continue Reading

News

KenPoly Governing Council Decries Inadequate Power Supply, Poor Infrastructure On Campus

Published

on

The Governing Council of Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, has decried the inadequate power supply and poor state of infrastructural facilities and equipment at the institution.

The Council also appealed to the government, including Non-Governmental Organisations, agencies, as well as well-meaning Rivers people to intervene to restore and sustain the laudable gesture, dreams and aspirations of the founding fathers of the polytechnic.

The Chairman of the newly inaugurated Council, Professor Friday B. Sigalo, made this appeal during a tour of facilities at the  Polytechnic, recently.

Accompanied by members of the team, Prof Sigalo emphasised the position of technology, technical and vocational education in sustainable development.

He noted that with the prospects on ground, and the programmes and activities undertaken in the polytechnic, there is no doubt that the institution would add values to the educational system in our society and foster the desired development, if the existing challenges are jointly tackled.

This was contained in a statement signed by Deputy Registrar, Public Relations, Kenpoly,  Innocent Ogbonda-Nwanwu, and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt.

The chairman who restated the intention of his team of technocrats to ensure that KenPoly enjoys desirable face-lift, said the Council would deliver on its core mandates, accordingly.

Earlier, the Rector, KenPoly Engr. Dr. Ledum S. Gwarah, commended the appointment of Professor Friday B. Sigalo as Chairman of the KenPoly Governing Council.

He described him and his team as seasoned technocrats and expressed confidence in their ability to succeed.

The Rector pledged the management’s support to the Council to ensure that KenPoly resumes its rightful place in the comity of polytechnics in the country.

Facilities visited by the Governing Council include KenPoly workshops, laboratories, skills acquisition centre, library, hostels and medical centre.

 

Chinedu Wosu

Continue Reading

Trending