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Cultivate Culture Of Thanksgiving, Fubara Urges Rivers People
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has urged the people of the State to cultivate the habit of giving thanks to God and appreciating those who contribute to their lives and society.
Fubara made the call yesterday during the Thanksgiving Service and 9th Anniversary Celebration of the Chapel of Everlasting Grace, at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Prof. (Mrs) Ngozi Odu, said thanksgiving was a beautiful expression of gratitude to God for His goodness, mercy, protection and abundant grace.
He drew attention to the biblical account in Luke 17:11-19, where Jesus healed 10 lepers but only one returned to express gratitude, noting that the grateful man received complete restoration.
According to him, the passage teaches that people should never receive God’s blessings without returning to Him with gratitude.
Fubara said Rivers State and its people had every reason to thank God for His preservation, mercy upon families, as well as the peace, progress and development being witnessed in the State.
Quoting Psalm 92:4, he said, “It is a good thing to thank God,” stressing that thanksgiving should be a continuous practice.
Beyond gratitude to God, Fubara also called on the people to appreciate one another, saying kindness, sacrifices and contributions should not be taken for granted.
He noted that a simple expression of appreciation could strengthen relationships and encourage people to do more, adding that “appreciation is an application for more.”
“As we celebrate this occasion of the ninth anniversary thanksgiving of this great Chapel, let us emulate the grateful member who returned to Jesus to say thank you,” he said.
The governor prayed for God’s continued favour, wisdom and protection upon Rivers State, its people and the Chapel of Everlasting Grace and also prayed for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Chaplain, as well as all worshippers in the Chapel.
In his sermon with the theme, ‘Faithful God,’ the Chaplin of the Chapel, Pastor Ogan Barasin, urged Christians to trust in the faithfulness of God, assuring that He remains constant and faithful to His promises regardless of circumstances.
Citing Lamentations 3:22–23, the Chaplin said: “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
He described God’s faithfulness as His unwavering reliability, steadfast love and commitment to His promises, stressing that, unlike humans, God does not change.
“Every other thing can fail in life. He remains constant. From Genesis to Revelation, same God. No difference,” he said.
The cleric also urged leaders to lead with integrity and responsibility, noting that leadership positions are temporary and that their actions would speak for them in the future.
He further cited Deuteronomy 7:9, which describes God as “the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.”
Highlights of the occasion included choir ministrations, rendition of special numbers, cutting of the 9th anniversary cake, as well as prayer session for the government and people of the State, and Nigeria as a whole.
News
RSG Tasks Permanent Secretaries On Transformational Leadership …As Number Of PS Rises To 39 In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has urged Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service to brace up for the challenges of development in the State.
This is as the number of Permanent Secretaries in the State has increased to 39.
The State Deputy Governor, Prof. (Mrs) Ngozi Odu, gave the charge while declaring open a three-day capacity building training programme for Permanent Secretaries in the State public service in Port Harcourt.
Odu charged the Permanent Secretaries to remain committed to due process and the rules of the service, saying they must be prepared to embrace innovation, accountability, results oriented leadership and engage in strategic thinking to deliver tangible results.
The deputy governor added that Permanent Secretaries should see themselves as drivers of development because of the importance of their responsibilities which is saddled with the implementation of government policies and programmes.
She commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his continued commitment to strengthening the capacity of the State’s Public Service, noting that the training will enhance professionalism and improve service delivery.
The deputy governor also praised the Head of Service, Dr. Inyingi Brown, for her innovative and passion-driven leadership, particularly for organising the capacity building programme.
She described the theme of the training programme, ‘Permanent Secretaries: From Custodians of Process to Drivers of Transformation,’ as timely and appropriate, and urged the Permanent Secretaries to translate the outcome of the programme into practical improvement in their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
According to her, the programme provided a valuable platform for continuous professional development, networking and exposure to contemporary leadership and governance practices.
Odu particularly commended the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria (CIoD) for partnering with the Rivers State Government to deliver the programme.
She disclosed that participants would be inducted as members of the institute upon completion of the training programme.
Meanwhile, Rivers State now has 39 Permanent Secretaries.
The State Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs) Inying Brown, disclosed this in her remarks during the training programme.
Brown said the programme was coming up at an important moment in the history of the State public service, especially with the recent swearing in of 12 permanent Secretaries bringing the number to 39.
The Head of Service said time has gone when Permanent Secretaries were regarded as custodians of files, saying they must be problem solvers, innovators and drivers of results.
“This is the essence of the theme of the training,” she asserted.
Brown also emphasized the need for continuous capacity building and professional development to enhance efficiency and effective service delivery in the State Public Service.
She said the programme, organised in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria (CIoD), was designed to reposition Permanent Secretaries as strategic leaders capable of driving innovation, implementing government policies and delivering results.
The Head of Service urged the participants to take advantage of the training programme to broaden their knowledge, strengthen their leadership skills and adopt contemporary approaches to public administration.
She noted that the changing demands of governance required Permanent Secretaries to go beyond routine administrative responsibilities and contribute meaningfully to policy formulation, implementation and institutional transformation.
Brown commended Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening the capacity of public servants, and expressed optimism that the training would translate into improved performance across ministries, departments and agencies.
She also appreciated the CIoD for its partnership with the State Government, describing the collaboration as an important step towards exposing senior public servants to modern leadership and governance practices.
In his vote of thanks, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Pastor James Enebeli, stressed the importance of continuous capacity building for Permanent Secretaries to effectively drive government policies and transformation.
He noted that government policies were dynamic and required public servants to continuously update their knowledge and skills to meet changing demands.
According to him, the training will help Permanent Secretaries to move beyond being custodians of Government processes to becoming effective drivers of transformation.
He expressed optimism that the programme would equip participants with the necessary information and knowledge to align their responsibilities with the vision and objectives of the State Government.
Enebeli thanked the organisers for providing the opportunity for Permanent Secretaries to improve their capacity, stressing that such initiatives would contribute to achieving the common objectives of the government.
By: John Bibor & Favour Eke
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch, Dr. Chinedu Samuel Maduba, has charged law students to take their legal education beyond the classroom and prepare themselves for the practical demands of the legal profession.
Maduba gave the charge in his goodwill message at the 2026 Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Annual Moot and Mock Trial Competition held at the Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School, recently.
The NBA Chairman, who spoke through his Secretary, Mrs. Richael C. Princewill, said competitions of that nature provide law students with valuable opportunities to develop advocacy skills, sharpen their legal reasoning and gain confidence in presenting arguments before a panel.
He stressed the importance of practical exposure in legal education, noting that the ability to research, analyse legal issues and communicate arguments effectively remained fundamental to successful legal practice.
According to him, young law students must see moot court competitions not merely as contests for trophies, but as platforms for acquiring skills and discipline that would become useful throughout their professional careers.
Maduba commended the NDDC for sustaining the initiative, describing investment in the training and development of young legal minds as an important contribution to the future of the legal profession and the Niger Delta region.
He urged the participating students to approach the competition with seriousness, discipline and intellectual curiosity, while encouraging them to learn from both their successes and shortcomings during the exercise.
The NBA Chairman further emphasised the responsibility of future lawyers to deploy their knowledge and advocacy skills in addressing societal challenges, particularly those affecting the Niger Delta.
He noted that the legal profession had a critical role to play in promoting justice, the rule of law and sustainable development, urging the students to prepare themselves to contribute meaningfully to society.
The 2026 competition brought together 16 law faculties from universities across the nine Niger Delta states, providing participants with the opportunity to engage in practical advocacy and mock trial exercises.
Declaring the competition open, Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to legal education and human capacity development, stressing that moot court competitions help young legal minds develop confidence and courtroom presentation skills.
Also speaking, former NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, described advocacy as the bedrock of the legal profession and challenged the students to develop the capacity to think independently and respond intelligently to unexpected developments in court, despite advances in artificial intelligence.
The competition, which also featured a keynote address by retired Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili, underscored the growing emphasis on practical legal training as a means of producing confident, competent and socially responsible lawyers for the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
By: King Onunwor
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted two shipments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado, weighing 44.45kg in consolidated cargoes from the United Kingdom.
The NDLEA also recovered two consignments of the substance concealed in music speakers at two motor parks in Lagos, with at least seven suspects linked to the seized consignments arrested.
The agency disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
The read in part, “At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a UK-inbound consignment concealing 27 parcels of colos weighing 32.20kg, while a real estate agent Abideen Jide Salami, who showed up with a secret collection code relayed from his UK-based brother to collect a large luggage containing the illicit substance was arrested on Wednesday 9th September 2026.
“A follow-up operation stemming from a second UK consignment led operatives to the designated recipient of another consignment of Colorado weighing 12.25kg.
“The suspect Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, said the consignment was sent to him by his brother in the UK.”
Meanwhile, operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted a music speaker rigged with three packs of Colorado at a motor park in Maza-Maza, Lagos.
The consignment was reportedly headed to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and ultimately Liberia.
A tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochukwu, 46, were arrested after a sting operation at a nearby eatery, according to the NDLEA.
In a separate operation at Iddo Park, the agency said a suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was arrested on Friday, September 11, while attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
In Delta State, two separate arrests in Ughelli and Asaba led to the recovery of ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, popularly known as Molly.
Several of the substances were concealed in music speakers, while two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested.
In Kano, a raid in Sabon Gari led to the arrest of 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
A stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia Road also led to the seizure of 1,700 tablets of diazepam concealed in loaves of bread from a suspect, Habibu Sabitu, 28.
In Plateau State, 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor was arrested at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of tramadol, the agency said.
The NDLEA also said it destroyed 4,832.56kg of skunk, a form of cannabis, on farms at Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest in Ovia South-West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas of Edo State.
A suspect, 39-year-old Sunday Segun, was arrested on Friday, September 11, during the operation.
In Ondo State, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, September 9.
The officers recovered 186kg of skunk concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car with registration number ABJ 917 FV.
A 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested and allegedly planning to move the consignment to Jos for onward distribution, the agency said.
In Kaduna State, a female suspect, Hannah Michael, was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.
In Bayelsa State, four suspects, including 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.
The other suspects were identified as Motombo Silver, 44; Pere Andrew, 39; and Keme Andrew, 43.
The agency also said its commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the week.
The activities included a WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Mezube Islamiyya Academy, Tudun Wada, Kano; an advocacy visit to the management of Cross River State College of Health Technology, Calabar; and a visit by Rikkos traditional rulers to the NDLEA Academy in Jos.
The Zone 4 Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Nasarawa State.
Commending the officers and men of the various commands involved in the operations, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
He charged them to “continue to shut every pipeline being used by drug cartels, whether at the airports, seaports, land borders, or in the hinterland where cannabis is cultivated.”