Nation

Rivers 1 HCDT presents #20.7m Bursaries to students in Alga West, Alga East,Abua/Odual maiden AGM

Published

2 weeks ago

December 22, 2025

Rivers 1 Host Community Development Trust (R-1-HCDT) has presented a cheque of #20.7 million as bursaries to 61students in higher institutions from Ahoada West, Ahoada East and Abua/Odual local government areas.

Chairman Board of Trustees,Rivers 1 Host Community Development Trust,Dr Monday Ihuowo Alabo made the presentation on behalf of the board at the 2024 Annual General Meeting( AGM) at Ahoada headquarters of Ahoada East local government area.

He said the move was to boost human capacity development in the host communities.

According to him, the board program include infrastructural and non infrastructural, stressing that scholarships and bursaries falls under non infrastructural

A breakdown of the amount shows that those running PhD program will receive #500k, Masters #400k, while undergraduates will get #300 and #250k respectively.

Meanwhile Chairman Board of Trustees Rivers 1 Host Community Development Trust R-S-1-HCDT Dr Ihuowo Monday Alabo has charged Communities in the area to guide against pipeline vandalisation.

He said this was necessary inorder to avoid the situation where the sum of twenty one billion naira was deducted from from all trust under Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited in the 2022 and 2023 financial year.due to sabotage and thefts which negatively affected Rivers 1 HCDT

“We are encouraged that since we came on board no case of sabotage has been brought to our knowledge by the host Communities neither Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited”he said.

He said the AGM was to demonstrate the board of trustees beliefs in transperancy and accountability to stakeholders and described Rivers 1 HCDT which spread over 55 Communities in Ahoada East, Ahoada West and Abua Odual local government areas as the largest in Rivers state.

Dr Ihuowo commended the Communities for their patience and support, adding that the board is working hard to improve their conditions.

Also speaking a member of the board of trustees, Rivers 1 Host Community Development Trust, Barrister Mrs Ukel Oyaghiri said the board has touched every community in terms of projects and empowerment.

Mrs Oyaghiri who was a former commissioner in Rivers state said she was elated over the large turned out at the meeting and called on the Communities to continue to give support to the Trust.

Also speaking High chief Mbadiwe Allen Ewoh also a former commissioner and member of the BOT said the board has improved the conditions of its host

He said every Community within the board catchment areas will have projects commissioned next year.

He said what is required of them is continuos support and also guide against sabotage.

Across sessions of stakeholders at the meeting thanked the BOT for the meeting , assuring them of support

The event was attended by traditional rulers,youth leaders, women leaders and others stakeholders in the community.

[12/21, 7:53?AM] Mr. Done Tide: Council Chairman’s Wife Hosts Christmas Party For Children

As part of activities marking the end of the 2025 Christmas season, the wife of the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council of Rivers State, Mrs Flora Gift Worlu, has hosted a colourful Christmas party for thousands of children from across the local government.

The event, which held at the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council headquarters in Rumuodomaya, attracted a massive turnout of children accompanied by their parents and guardians. From as early as noon, the council premises was filled to capacity as families gathered to celebrate the season of goodwill in a joyful and festive atmosphere.

Children from different communities within the LGA, particularly those between the ages of 10 and 15, thrilled guests with energetic dance performances and cultural displays, drawing loud cheers and admiration from the audience. The celebration featured music, games, entertainment, and the distribution of gifts, all aimed at putting smiles on the faces of the children.

Speaking at the event, the Vice Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. (Mrs.) Gloria Joyce Nyeche, who represented the Executive Chairman, Hon. Gift Worlu, commended Mrs. Worlu for her commitment to the welfare and happiness of children in the area.

Hon. Nyeche emphasized the important role parents and guardians play in shaping the future of children, noting that proper upbringing, discipline, and moral guidance are critical to raising responsible citizens. She encouraged parents to take active interest in their children’s education and overall development, stressing that the society’s progress depends largely on how well children are nurtured today.

She further described the Christmas fête as a demonstration of the local government’s child-friendly policies and its determination to promote unity, love, and inclusiveness among residents, especially during the festive season.

In her remarks, Mrs. Flora Gift Worlu expressed gratitude to God for a successful event and thanked parents for bringing out their children in large numbers. She reaffirmed her passion for children’s welfare and promised to continue supporting initiatives that promote their happiness, education, and well-being.

The event came to a joyful close with renewed calls for peace, love, and responsible parenting as Obio/Akpor residents usher in the New Year with hope and optimism.

By; John Bibor

Nation

Firefighters battle New Year Day inferno in Abuja, several states

Published

18 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Federal Fire Service FFS entered the New Year on full operational alert, tackling multiple fire outbreaks across the country from midnight into the early hours of January 1, 2026, in what officials described as one of the busiest festive-season deployments in recent years.

The intensified nationwide response followed a December 2025 directive issued by the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, who had ordered that no firefighter should proceed on leave throughout the holidays.

According to a statement by the National Public Relations Officer and Head of Corporate Services of the FFS, DCF Paul Abraham, the no-leave policy proved critical as the Service moved swiftly to contain fires in several states.

The Federal Capital Territory FCT recorded its first fire incident of the year barely twenty-three minutes after midnight when flames erupted at Cake Hot Restaurant located within River Plate Park, Wuse, Abuja.

Abraham said fire crews from the Federal Fire Service and the FCT Fire Service arrived promptly and were able to stop the blaze before it could spread through the popular recreational centre.

While a section of the garden area was destroyed, no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded.

Officials said property worth an estimated ?1.5 billion was saved, although losses were placed at about ?500 million.

“Preliminary findings suggested that the fire was triggered by objects thrown during New Year celebrations, reinforcing long-standing warnings over the dangers posed by fireworks during the harmattan season”, the Service said.

The Controller General had repeatedly urged Nigerians to avoid fireworks, candles and open flames indoors, warning that the dry winds characteristic of the season allow fires to spread rapidly.

He also warned the public about electrical faults and power surges and advised that electrical appliances be switched off and unplugged when not in use or when occupants leave their homes, stressing that overloading sockets and extension boxes remains a significant cause of domestic fires.

Nation

Enugu North LG chairman presents ?10.8bn 2026 Budget, prioritises roads …Security, Healthcare, Human Capital Development

Published

18 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area in Enugu State, Dr. Ibenaku Harford Onoh, has presented a Ten Billion Eight Hundred Million Naira (?10.8bn) 2026 budget to the legislative council of the local government.

The budget, tagged “Budget of Continued Growth and Consolidation,” was presented on Wednesday during a plenary session attended by councillors, department heads, and other stakeholders.

Dr. Onoh explained that the 2026 budget is designed to consolidate achievements recorded in 2025 while scaling up development across the council’s 13 wards. Priority areas include road infrastructure, grassroots security, healthcare delivery, youth empowerment, and digital governance.

He also reviewed the 2025 budget performance, highlighting significant revenue growth and successful completion of key projects. Notably, the council’s internally generated revenue more than doubled, attributed to the introduction of digital revenue collection platforms and other innovative measures.

Among the 2025 achievements, Dr. Onoh mentioned the reconstruction of major roads at European Quarters, Hilltop, Coal Camp, and Ukwa Street, Ihewuishi, as well as the upgrade of the local security architecture through the reorganisation of the neighbourhood watch into “The City Watch.”

On the 2026 budget, the chairman stated that projected revenue would come from statutory allocations, VAT, internally generated revenue, and counterpart funding through public-private partnerships.

He noted that capital expenditure would take the larger share of the budget, with over half allocated to the economic sector. Planned projects include:

Completion of transport terminals at Aria Market

Construction and reconstruction of urban roads

Establishment of two sports centres

Healthcare interventions

Youth skills development programmes.

Dr. Onoh emphasised that the projects, policies, and programmes outlined in the budget are aimed at complementing the initiatives of Governor Peter Ndubisi Mbah, who is setting standards for local government councils to follow.

Responding, the Leader of the Legislative Council, Rt. Hon. Chizoba Nnamani, said the budget would be carefully scrutinised in the interest of residents before its passage.

Nation

Christians Convert To Islam or die As ISWAP burns down Christian village

Published

18 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Christians in Adamawa have been asked to Convert to Islam or die as commanded by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

.The ISWAP forcedly burnt down Christian village in Adamawa Nigeria as reported on January 1, 2026.

The Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP, has continued to wreak havoc on Christian communities in the Northeast, Nigeria.

This comes as ISWAP burned down a Christian village in Adamawa State.

A security expert, Brant Philip, disclosed this on Thursday in a viral video released by the terrorists.

“ISWAP released an image of one of the Christian villages in Adamawa State burning, alongside a statement saying that all Christians in Nigeria are legitimate targets, and they have an opportunity to “spare their blood” by converting to Islam or paying the jizyah tax to ISWAP,” Brant Philip wrote on X.

The move is perceived as retaliation for recent joint airstrikes by the Nigerian and United States military against a terrorist enclave in Sokoto, Nigeria.

Recall that five days ago, United States President Donald Trump announced that the US military launched airstrikes against terrorists in Sokoto State.