City Crime

Foundation To Host National Conference on Value Reorientation In Port Harcourt

Published

1 day ago

August 15, 2025

The Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education, a non-governmental organization based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has said that foundation is set to host a one-day national conference on reviving Nigeria’s value system.

The conference which has the theme”Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria,” will take place on November 13, 2025, at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt.

Speaking with newsmen at the foundation’s corporate office in port Harcourt, Tuesday,the chairman of the Board of Trustees, Emeritus prof Otonti Nduka disclosed that the conference is being held in collaboration with Rivers State University (RSU) and aims to bring together professionals from across the country to discuss the nation’s values landscape and collectively reset the compass of the society’s ethical and values system.

The emeritus professor hinted that the conference will be chaired by HRM King Diete Spiff, the Amanyanbo of Twon Brass, Bayelsa State while the key note speakers include Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and Bishop Matthew Kukah, all known for their integrity and service.

According to him, the nation’s value system has deteriorated, and concerted efforts are needed to reverse the trend and restore sanity to society , stressing that the conference is designed to chart a new course based on national values and ethical leadership.

Prof. Nduka called for support from governments, public, and private individuals to achieve the program’s objectives.

He noted that the foundation was established in 2006 to revitalize the moral fibre of Nigerian society through the enunciation, inculcation, propagation, and dissemination of positive values.

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the conference, prof Hillary Wordu urged the media to partner with the foundation to create the necessary sensitization and awareness for the success of the event.

He assured that the conference would address nagging national values issues, including insecurity, corruption, election malpractice, and injustice.

City Crime

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Published

5 days ago

August 11, 2025

TheTideAdmin

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City Crime

Nigeria Unveils 90,000km Fibre Optic Network Boost Nationwide

Published

5 days ago

August 11, 2025

The Tide

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has launched a 90,000 km fibre optic infrastructure, tagged “Project Bridge”, to accelerate connectivity across the country.

Announcing the completion of the project on Friday at a stakeholder event in Lagos, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, stated that the newly built fiber optic is the largest digital fibre backbone investment in any developing nation.

“Project Bridge is currently the largest digital fibre backbone investment in any developing nation. It is a bold and strategic effort to lay a 90,000km wholesale, open-access fibre network across the country.

“It is designed to deliver high-speed, resilient, and equitable broadband connectivity to every corner of Nigeria – from major urban hubs to remote communities”, the Minister said in an update on his X handle.

He said the project marks a major step forward in the Federal Government’s mission to build an inclusive and future-ready digital economy for Nigerians.

The project is a central part of Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan (2020-2025), which aims to boost internet penetration to 70 per cent by 2025 and 80 per cent for underserved populations by 2027.

Project Bridge, which is expected to create more jobs, will operate under a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to ensure efficiency and accountability.

The connectivity project cost the government $2 billion, and it is being funded by DFI loans and private equity, with the government holding a minority stake of 25–49 per cent in an independently run SPV.

The project targets 20,000 direct and 150,000 indirect jobs, and 1.5 per cent GDP growth. It aims to contribute from $472.6 billion to $502 billion GDP in four years.

According to the digital economy minister, Project Bridge is structured to support the needs of both large and small Internet Service Producers (ISPs), and offers scalable access through core, metropolitan, and middle-mile layers.

He promised that the digital fibre optic will accelerate fixed broadband growth nationwide by enabling healthy competition and network sharing.

The project is also billed to give an additional 90,000km to the existing 35,000km network of fibre optic cables, thereby deepening the country’s digital backbone.

The Minister explained that the project design possesses seven regional backbone rings, which interconnect Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and Lagos.

These rings, he said, will form a resilient national framework of 125,000km of fibre that ensures redundancy, minimises latency, and supports seamless data flow across the country.

According to Mr. Tijani, the structure is critical to meeting growing national demand for high-capacity digital infrastructure.

He further stated that each region is covered by a dedicated fibre ring to connect urban centers and enhance regional connectivity.

“Each region is covered by a dedicated fibre ring (Lagos, South West, South South, South East, North Central, North East, and North West), strategically planned to connect urban centres and enhance regional interconnectivity.

“This regional design supports economic activity, governance, education, and digital access across all zones”, he stated.

Additionally, the network extends to all 774 Local Government Area (LGA) headquarters to establish Points of Presence (PoPs), which serve as key distribution points.

The presence of PoPs is to integrate remote regions with national digital frameworks, which are determined by population density and demand to accommodate future expansion.

The Minister explained that Project Bridge will extend to linking the country’s administrative wards to close the distance gaps of networks in rural communities.

“From each LGA PoP, fibre links will extend to Nigeria’s administrative wards, particularly targeting schools and healthcare facilities.

“These ward-level nodes function as mini PoPs, enabling further last-mile distribution and helping close the access gap in rural communities. The average LGA-to-ward distance is ~6km, guiding deployment estimates.

“The last mile remains essential and will involve linking service providers to homes, offices, and institutions using fibre or other technologies.

“This final layer will be supported by the foundational middle-mile network, enabling broader internet access across Nigeria”, Mr. Tijani said.

The stakeholder event was hosted in partnership with the Association of Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ATCON).

City Crime

RSG Tasks Federal Government On Maternal Deaths

Published

4 weeks ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers state Government has urged the Federal Government to address the high rate of maternal deaths in the country.

Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Mekele Comfort Igwe, made the call while declaring open a four-day capacity building workshop in Port Harcourt, recently.

The workshop, which was organised by the State Ministry of Health with support from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, was aimed at developing realistic and effective operational health plans for 2026 that will shape the state’s health budget and improve public health outcomes.

Themed “Realistic and Effective 2026 Annual Operational Plan That Informs Health Budget for the People of Rivers State,” the training brought together selected health managers across the State to enhance their capacity in evidence-based health planning under Nigeria’s Sector-Wide Approach.

Igwe stressed the need for the country to address the issue of maternal mortality, describing the present ranking of Nigeria as the global capital for maternal deaths as a poor assessment of the nation’s health sector.

He described the workshop as a critical step in addressing the state health challenge through strategic planning and collaborative problem solving.

“Today marks another step in our journey towards effective health planning for the people of Rivers State. This workshop builds on the foundation laid by the Master Trainers’ training held in Abuja from June 30 to July 4. We are here to cascade that knowledge to ensure more people are equipped for the tasks ahead,”she said.

She reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative and praised development partners for their continued support.

“I thank all our development partners for their unwavering commitment and financial support under the new funding arrangement.

“Their intervention has been crucial in helping us survive our worst health challenges,” she added.

Also speaking at the event, Dr. Dozie Nwokedi, a representative from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming the health sector through the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Nwokedi stated that the ongoing reforms are aimed at reducing physical and financial burdens on Nigerians seeking healthcare, increasing health insurance coverage, and promoting the local production of medical consumables and equipment.

“We are here to support Rivers State in strengthening the capacity of its health workforce.

“The goal is simple: save lives, reduce pain, and provide quality healthcare for all Nigerians. These reforms are built on a strategic blueprint that includes four pillars, three enablers, 27 priority initiatives, and 265 interventions,” he said.q

Also speaking at the workshop, the Director of Health Planning, Research, and Statistics in the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Juhanne Woke, explained the rationale behind holding the workshop in July, noting that it aligns with the national health planning framework.

“This program is a vital part of preparing for the 2026 health sector budget. By Quarter 3 of each year, we are expected to begin planning using data and evidence generated within the current year,” Dr. Woke said.

She called on participants not to lose faith in the system despite past frustrations.

“I know some of us may be weary with the thought of ‘same old garbage in, garbage out.’ But I urge you to believe that meaningful change starts small. Let us all pull in one direction towards better health outcomes,” she added.

John Bibor