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 Fubara Reaffirms Commitment To Human Capital Dev In Rivers

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara,  has reaffirmed its commitment towards human capital development, particularly education, as a foundation for sustainable development and national progress.

Fubara gave the assurance on Tuesday while declaring open the 85th Plenary Meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee on Education (JCCE), at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt.

The four-day plenary hosted by the State Government, brought together education policymakers, technocrats and stakeholders from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

The session, with the theme ” Infrastructural Development and Teacher Motivation: Panacea for Improved Learning Outcomes”, focused on critical issues affecting the education sector and developing policies to improve teaching and learning outcomes.

Fubara, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor, said the meeting provided an important platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, harmonise policies and address emerging challenges confronting the nation’s education system.

The governor said his administration placed human capital development at the centre of its governance philosophy, with deliberate investments in the construction, rehabilitation and upgrading of educational infrastructure across the state.

He, however, noted that infrastructure alone cannot guarantee meaningful educational outcomes, emphasising the need to prioritise the welfare, training and continuous professional development of teachers, whom he described as central to the success of the education system.

Quoting former South African President Nelson Mandela’s observation that education is a powerful instrument for changing society, Fubara said teachers and infrastructure must be treated as complementary components of educational development.

Acc to him, sustained investment in teachers will strengthen the entire education system.

The governor acknowledged the challenges confronting Nigeria’s education sector, including inadequate funding and infrastructure deficits, and called for stronger collaboration between the Federal and State Governments, and other stakeholders to address the problems.

He urged participants to ensure that resolutions reached at the plenary did not end as policy documents but translated into measurable improvements in classrooms, schools and the lives of teachers and learners across the country.

In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, represented by the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Dr Folake Olatunji-David,  commended the Rivers State Government for the hospitality and arrangements put in place to host the plenary.

Alausa highlighted Federal Government’s initiatives aimed at transforming the education sector, including the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative, Renewed Hope Energised Education Programme, Next-Generation Student Hostel Projects and the National Digital Learning Initiative, among others.

The minister urged delegates to go beyond identifying challenges and develop pragmatic and actionable recommendations on infrastructure, teacher capacity development and innovative financing.

He said that the outcome of the plenary would be consolidated and forwarded to the National Council on Education, the highest policy-making body in the sector, for consideration and further action.

Akujobi Amadi

 

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FG Offers 30-Day Petrol Discount Through NNPC …Sets N1,350 Ceiling Per Litre

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The Federal Government has announced a 30-day discount on petrol sold by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), with public transport operators to receive priority under the arrangement.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this yesterday during a press briefing on petrol prices and subsidy-related issues in Abuja.

Oyedele said the measure was designed as a margin discount at NNPC stations and was not a return to petrol subsidy.

“We are offering a discount on petrol dispensed by NNPC Limited for the next 30 days in the first instance with priority for public transporters nationwide. So, it’s not a subsidy; the government is just saying we sell to you at cost,” he said.

The minister said the government was also negotiating a ceiling of N1,350 per litre on the ex-gantry or landing cost of petrol in an effort to reduce sharp fluctuations in pump prices.

Under the proposed arrangement, refiners and importers would absorb any shortfall when costs rise above the ceiling and recover it when crude prices or the exchange rate become more favourable.

Oyedele said the ceiling would be reviewed monthly and the figures published for transparency.

The government is also pursuing other measures to ease the impact of higher fuel prices, including increased cash transfers to vulnerable households, subsidised credit for small businesses and consumers, and a faster rollout of compressed natural gas vehicles.

The minister said the Federal Government had already granted a full waiver of taxes and duties on petrol, which he said was worth more than N3.3tn for the year up to September 30, 2026.

Oyedele stressed that the measures being introduced were not intended to restore a blanket fuel subsidy.

“To be perfectly clear, none of these measures restores a blanket subsidy. To do so would amount to creating longer term harm for a short-term cure. Each measure is designed to reach the people who need help, without putting the wider economy at risk,” he said

The announcement comes as petrol prices at NNPC stations vary across the country.

NNPC’s latest reported price list puts the pump price at N1,355 per litre in Lagos and Rivers, while Abuja is listed at N1,370 per litre.

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Aluu Community Warns Against Ada-Oro Land Transactions

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The Amaewhule family of Mbodo Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State has cautioned members of the public against any transaction on a disputed property known as Ada-Oro Farm Land, located behind Omega Power Ministries (OPM) Church, Airport Road.*

Counsel to the family, Barr. Ndubuisi Agumagu, gave the warning while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, over the ownership tussle involving over 900 plots.*

The matter is before Isiokpo High Court, presided over by Justice Sobere Biambo, in suit No. IHC/246/CS/2026.*

Claimants in the suit are Chief Green Amaewhule and others, while Fabulous Amaewhule and Odibola Properties are respondents.*

Agumagu said the property is a family estate belonging collectively to the Amaewhule family, and no individual member has the authority to unilaterally dispose of any portion.*

He said Fabulous Amaewhule, according to the family’s position before the court, lacks the legitimate authority to sell portions of the land.*

The family warned that anyone who purchases any portion of the land while the matter is pending does so at his own risk and could lose his investment should judgment go against the transaction.*

The warning, he said, was necessary to prevent unsuspecting members of the public from committing resources to a property whose ownership is subject to judicial determination.*

 

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Insecurity: NSCDC Warns Against Misinformation, Fake Videos

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has warned Nigerians against spreading misinformation and propaganda that could worsen insecurity and trigger attacks on innocent citizens.

The Commandant of the NSCDC Federal Capital Territory Command, Dr Olusola Odumosu, gave the warning during a nationwide roadshow organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in Abuja ahead of the 2026 World Public Relations Forum.

This was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Chairman of the NIPR FCT Chapter, Stanley Ogadigo.

Odumosu said the spread of unverified information, particularly on social media, could create panic, heat the polity and encourage criminal activities such as banditry and kidnapping.

He said, “In combating insecurity, it is very germane that we create this awareness because there is so much misinformation and miscommunication and various forms of propaganda that are not good for our collective well-being.

“Somebody would just wake up from somewhere, bring out a video that is as old as 20 years, where maybe a crisis happened, target happenings now in places like Kano State and start dishing out instructions like ‘Everybody, if you are going to Kano, please take a detour.’ Such irresponsible communication can heat the political climate.

“And, of course, because our people don’t always go to the extent of verifying this information, many just jump to a conclusion that it is true. This has resulted in a lot of chaos and attacks on innocent citizens.”

According to him, many Nigerians often fail to verify information before sharing it, resulting in panic, confusion and, in some cases, attacks on innocent people.

He urged Nigerians, particularly young people who are active on social media, to communicate responsibly and avoid content capable of provoking violence, banditry and kidnapping.

“So, the essence is for us to learn to communicate responsibly, especially in this age of social media. People ought to know that it is not too good to send out information that can heat the polity or things that can make people start attacking themselves and encourage banditry, kidnapping and all of that.

“This is why I find the theme of this World Public Relations Forum very apt. So, I am saying this so that we can send out a message loud and clear that we should endeavour to communicate responsibly, especially to our youth in this age of social media. People should use social media responsibly,” he stated.

The Chairman of the National Planning Committee for the WPRF, Dr Suleiman Haruna, also called for greater responsibility in the use of social media, particularly with the growing influence of artificial intelligence.

Haruna said the forum’s theme, “Responsible Communications: Voice of the World,” was designed to address growing concerns over information integrity and the misuse of communication platforms.

Also speaking, Ogadigo described Nigeria’s hosting of the forum as a major reputation-building opportunity for the country.

The NIPR chairman urged Nigerians and corporate organisations to support the event, saying it would provide an opportunity to reshape Nigeria’s image before the international community.

He said, “Today is a very remarkable day because Nigeria is hosting the World Public Relations Forum. This project is very significant to Nigeria because, for us, it’s a reputation project for the country. Nigeria has fought very hard to win this hosting right. This is the first time the World Public Relations Forum will be hosted in Nigeria. For the entire continent of Africa, this is the second time.

“We are very glad to say that the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, is doing his best to give it the attention that it deserves. We want to call on every responsible Nigerian and corporate entity, and whoever is a stakeholder in this project, to come together. Let us redefine Nigeria before the global community.”

He added that Dangote had committed to attending and supporting the event, while the World Bank, United Nations and World Customs Organisation were also expected to participate.

The forthcoming World Public Relations Forum is expected to attract about 3,000 delegates from 126 member countries of the Global Alliance.

The forum is being organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and the NIPR.

The Presidency had, on August 20, assured the organisers of its support for the event.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, gave the assurance when he received members of the WPRF Abuja 2026 Planning Committee at the State House.

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