Rivers

Withdraw Your Men From Our Councils, Yobana Tells IGP

Published

2 years ago

July 24, 2024

The Caretaker Committee (CTC) Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Ambassador Marvin Yobana, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to withdraw his men from all the 23 Local Government secretariats in Rivers State.
Amb. Yobana made the call while playing host to members of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Bori Branch, and Khana Lawyers Forum at Khana, on Friday.
The council boss, according to a statement by his media team, urged the IGP not to be partisan in the political crisis rocking the State, saying the Police have a duty to protect, and not to prevent workers from accessing their offices.
He said the salary paid to local government workers can only be justified if they are allowed to access their offices and work.
“Imagine a situation whereby Khana Council pays N200 million salary to its workers on monthly basis, yet the Police do not allow them to work. We as CTC members had to hire drivers and other aides to do their work. We are trying to stop bottlenecks to achieve effective working council.
“We are using this opportunity to appeal to the IGP, so that the Council can be open for workers to resume work. I don’t see any reason why the Council should be under lock and key.
“He (IGP) is a professional and should not be seen as being partisan by calling his men to leave our Council secretariat”, he said.
Yobana described the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminilayi Fubara, as a man of peace who is poised to deliver good governance and dividends of democracy to the people of the State.
“The Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, is a mantra that has people’s face and has gone through the ranks and files; he has the mandate of the people, so he should be allowed to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Rivers State.
“The people of Khana today can testify to the fact that they are one of the first beneficiaries of the dividends of democracy under Governor Fubara led-Government.
“His administration has started working on the Bori Zonal Hospital as well as deploying enough doctors to work in the hospital”, he noted.
The Chairman commended lawyers in the State for standing firm on the side of truth and justice.
He, however, charged lawyers and the Police on how to decongest the prisons using the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) method to stop more people from going to court on every little issue.
He promised to support the NBA, Bori Branch, towards enabling them to go for their annual conference in Lagos.
The leader of the NBA delegation, Idris Abayomi Shehu, had earlier thanked Yobana, for appointing some NBA members into his cabinet.
He said the NBA members were in the Council to partner with the Chairman on on how to develop the area as well as to seek for financial support to enable 200 members of the Bori Branch attend their annual conference holding in Lagos between August 23 and August 28, 2024.
Shehu appealed to the Khana CTC boss to look into the security issue confronting lawyers in Bori, adding that more security personnel are needed to man the two courts in Bori so that the environment is made friendly for their members to stay and work.
The NBA members commended Yobana for developmental projects he has put in place within a short period in office, saying it will be their joy to see him elected as the Khana Local Government substantive chairman.
They commiserated with the CTC chairman over the death of his mother and prayed God to grant the departed eternal rest.
Also speaking, the Khana Lawyers Forum’s Chairman, Dr. Dusor Ambrose, urged the people of Ogoni to support Yobana in his efforts to deliver the dividends of democracy to his people, describing him as a worthy ambassador of Ogoni.

Rivers

LANGUAGE BARRIER :STAKEHOLDERS URGES NSC TO FUND MULTILINGUAL STAFF AT BORDER STATIONS

Published

7 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has urged the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) management to fund multilingual personnel to tackle language barriers at border posts, particularly among traders in the ECOWAS corridor and other frontiers.

Stakeholders, during a meeting held on Wednesday in Badagry, Lagos, also hailed the economic port regulator as Africa’s top Shippers’ Council, citing its sustainable facilities across the region.

Speaking at the event, Alhaji Salami Nasiru Alasoadua, Special Adviser to NACCIMA’s National President and a stalwart of the West Africa Road Transport Union (WARTU), noted that language remains a major barrier for cross-border traders.

He added that the NSC has the capacity to address this if it funds personnel fluent in multiple languages.

Alasoadua stressed the need for the council to hire staff who can speak Yoruba, Hausa, French, and Fulani effectively to resolve these challenges.

Apparently determined to assist in tackling this deficiency, the trader explained that cross-border traders are eager to engage NSC officials at border posts, but many businessmen and women cannot speak English fluently, creating a significant obstacle to getting things done.

Cross section of Stakeholders and staff of NSC at the meeting held in Badagry Lagos on Wednesday

Alasoadua, who also serves as Vice President of the West Africa Cross Traders and Managing Director of Alsana Global Ventures, commended the council for sustaining its officers at Nigeria’s border posts., while adding that funding multilingual personnel would boost trade across international frontiers.

He lamented that most traders lack awareness of Border Information Centre (BIC) requirements.

According to him, “For the council to maintain its relevance in the borderless alliance, I want to thank the Nigerian Shippers’ Councilit’s number one across Africa, from East to North and West Africa.

“None of the other Shippers’ Councils have working border officers except Nigeria’s; most have been abandoned.”But the NSC needs to source funds.

“If you have a BIC at Seme border post and the manager cannot speak French, English, Egun, Fulani, or Yoruba, it’s a problem.”We need to resolve the challenges facing SMEs, and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has a critical role to play,” he added.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Rivers

Experts Urge Youth To Harness Talents For Global Success

Published

7 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The convener of the Fasthire CareerFest 2026, Richard Okiasi, has called on Nigerian youths to transcend local limitations and harness skills, visibility and innovation to thrive globally.

Okiasi made the call on Saturday during a career development and job creation event in Port Harcourt.

The event, held at the Celebr8 Event Center, Olu Obasanjo Road, attracted 944 participants, including 131 Corps members, five career coaches, aspiring entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts and career builders under the theme, “Borderless – Empowering Talents to Compete, Create, and Collaborate Globally.”

The visionary lead of Fasthire said in a world where borders are increasingly irrelevant for ambitious professionals, it is important for young talents to transcend local limitations and harness skills necessary to compete and thrive globally.

“If you want to provide value globally, start locally, don’t be idle while dreaming of Apple,” he advised.

Okiasi said the Fasthire CareerFest 2026 was organised with a view to equiping the youth with the mindset and tools to compete, create, and collaborate without boundaries.

“Our goal is to equip the next generation with the mindset and tools to compete, create, and collaborate without boundaries,” he said.

He emphasized how the festival bridged the gap between Nigerian potential and international opportunities.

The event featured a stellar lineup of resource persons, each bringing decades of expertise to inspire and educate.

Keynote speaker and Chief Executive Officer of Silicon Africa Technologies, Ajah Excel, delivered a compelling presentation on “Building Careers and Businesses Without Borders.”

Excel, who is also the convener of SMfest, and founder of the World Scholarship Forum, stressed the importance of proactive positioning.

“You must be willing to step out and meet opportunities,” he told the participants at the event.

He stated that ideas travel freely without visas, urging participants to let their names precede their passports through online visibility.

Excel said the youth could relocate financially without physical relocation by building bridges early and positioning as a global entity from the start.

The Managing Director of Xavina Consulting Limited, Catherine Kadiri, who delivered a lecture on “Building the Mindset to Create, Compete, and Collaborate on the Global Stage”, advocated intentional actions and curiosity as the foundation of creativity.

“You can never be fully ready, start before you are ready,” she advised.

Kadiri urged attendees to build connections with cultural intelligence, humility, and align applications with genuine skills and embrace slow but intentional growth.

The recruitment section had Airtel Nigeria, Xavina Consult, Elasot, Toppearl, Vodina West, and Aidela Africa in attendance.

The festival’s interactive depth shone through two panel sessions, fostering dialogue on practical strategies for borderless success.

The first panel session touched on “Positioning for Global Opportunities”, featuring the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aidela Africa, Atat Charles, as lead discussant, and Group Managing Director/CEO of Arrowconn Group, High Chief Emeka Ezekwe, as co-discussant.

While Charles warned of the power of social media and advised meticulous profile management, Ezekwe defined strategic positioning as “deliberate engineering of relevance,” cautioning that opportunities often appear disguised.

“What you post can build you up or pull you down,” Charles warned.

“Your certificate is just paper, skills and know-how differentiate you,” Ezekwe said.

The second panel session, which centered on “Work Smarter, Not Harder – Using AI Tools to Thrive in a Borderless Workplace”, explored AI’s role in enhancing productivity and global competitiveness.

Founder and Lead Consultant at Marach Consul Limited, Amarachi Stanley-Duru, who led the panel discussion, encouraged maximizing current opportunities through foundational skills.

“Learn and leverage AI to remain relevant,” she urged.

The Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge Money University (KMU), Mr. Emeka Nobis, who delivered a paper on “From Skill to Income: Turning What You Know into Value”, advised identifying God-given gifts and translating them into buyable services.

“Start with what you have, where you are, and your unique story,” he advised.

Rivers

NUJ Frowns At Appointment Of Non-Journalists Into Media Related Offices

Published

7 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has strongly rejected the appointment of non-journalists and unqualified individuals into media-related positions in the state, describing the development as inimical to professionalism and detrimental to democratic governance.

This position was part of resolutions adopted at the State Congress held at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Port Harcourt, recently.

It was part of the communiqué drafted by a committee headed by Comrade Giadom Martins, which had Dr. Boma Waribor as Secretary, and Comrade Tonye Nria Dappa as Member.

The communique was co-signed by the State Chairman and Secretary of NUJ, Comrade Paul Bazia-Nsaneh, and Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia, respectively.

Congress, through the communique, expressed concern over what it described as increasing infiltration of unqualified individuals into strategic media offices at state and local government levels.

It also noted the engagement of non-communication professionals in the media units of the 23 Local Government Councils and directed that such appointments be reviewed within seven working days.

According to the statement, only trained and practising media professionals should occupy sensitive communication roles in government establishments.

The Council stated that the presence of unqualified individuals in the media space has contributed to declining public trust, misinformation and unethical practices, warning that the trend poses dire implications for good governance and national security.

The NUJ, via the statement, also frowned at the appointment of Chief Press Secretaries from outside Rivers State who are largely unknown to the Council, stating that such actions undermine the competence of seasoned media practitioners within the state.

The Union further condemned unprofessional conduct, including mud-slinging and cyberbullying on social media under the guise of journalism and noted that such practices violate ethical standards and tarnish the image of the profession.

Going forward, Congress resolved that the appointment of non-practising journalists and non-public relations professionals as Commissioner for Information, Chief Press Secretaries and Press Secretaries is unacceptable, stressing that such offices require demonstrable professional competence and ethical standing.

It also clarified that only the Office of the Governor is structured to have a Chief Press Secretary, while other public offices should designate Press Secretaries or Press Officers.

On capacity building, the Council urged the State Government and relevant institutions to institute regular professional training programmes for media and press assistants to strengthen strategic communication and uphold ethical standards in public information management.

By: King Onunwor