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.

Baring any unforeseen circumstances, the body of the late Onyeishi Etche, His Eminence, E.M.B Opurum, may be laid to rest before the end of this year.

According to sources, the late Etche monarch joined his ancestors on the 16th of September, 2026.

It would be recalled that late Opurum was the first first-class and classified traditional ruler in Etche nation and also one of the founding fathers of Rivers State.

The first son of the late monarch, Prince Anufo Opurum, disclosed this during a condolence  visit by the Mba Clan Council of Chiefs at the late King’s palace at Ndashi Etche Local Government Area of Rivers state.

Prince Opurum said the body of his father will be laid to rest before the end of the year.

He called on the people of Etche, especially the traditional institution, to guide jealously the achievements of his late father.

Addressing members of the Mba Clan Council of Chiefs, Prince Opurum said the legacy of his father must never be in vain.

He described his late father as “a great king who came, saw and conquered.”

He said, “They should not allow it (his legacies) to go sour. They should not allow it to be a waste, let the importance of his struggle be embedded in us, our lifestyle, especially when it comes to do with chieftaincy institution in Etche.

“Onyeishi Etche has set a standard, Onyeishi Etche has lifted the institution to the level of envy in the eyes of other people.”

The prince claimed that his father made Etche to be what it is today.

“He had good vision and he also sacrificed all he had to make sure his vision came to pass and that is why the Federal Government recognised him with the award of  MFR and Rivers State Government also recognised him with the award of GSSRS, the award meant for Governors,” he said.

Also speaking, the Ada Etche of Etche Ethnic Nationality, Professor Love Akaja Akonye, said the late monarch left behind many legacies.

“Everybody should bear it in mind that this man was one of the founding fathers of Rivers State.

“One of his legacies is that he made sure that the traditional institution stood firm in Etche land.

“He ensured that the culture of our land is streamlined to maintain a government structure that will create stability among the people,” she said.

Speaking earlier at Okudu Mba, the traditional headquarters of Mba clan, the Acting Onyeishi Agwuru of Mba Clan, Eze Charles O. Nweke, described late Opurum as a great monarch whose legacies will be difficult to erase.

Nweke said the Mba clan aligned itself with the decision by the entire Etche Ethnic nationality to suspend all festivals and chieftaincy coronations in Etche until the burial of the monarch.

He added that all markets would be shut down in Mba during the burial activities of the late monarch, while the constitution of Etche Ethnic nationality will guide the process.

By: John Bibor

Chairman, Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Chinedu S. Maduba, has expressed concern over the continued absence of a substantive Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Rivers State.

He said the situation was having far-reaching consequences on the administration of justice and business activities in the state.

Maduba, who spoke on behalf of the nine NBA branches in the State, stated this during the opening ceremony of the 2026/2027 Legal Year of the Rivers State Judiciary, held in Port Harcourt, recently.

He called on the state government to urgently fill the vacant position due to its importance in the daily running of the administration.

According to him, the absence of a substantive Attorney-General has resulted in the accumulation of applications requiring the consent of the Attorney-General, including applications for fiats and nolle prosequi, thereby affecting the effective administration of justice.

He said the development was not only affecting legal practitioners but was also depriving the state government of valuable revenue and, more importantly, denying members of the public timely access to justice.

The NBA chairman further explained that the situation had also slowed down business activities involving proper land documentation, stressing that the consequences of the vacancy extended beyond the legal profession to the wider economy of the State.

Maduba said the NBA acknowledged the efforts of the State Government in nominating an Attorney-General in the past, but urged the governor to look into the matter and recommend a substantive occupant of the office within the shortest possible time.

He also presented the specific needs of the various NBA branches in the state, saying the Port Harcourt Branch was seeking improved security around the High Court premises and parking areas following reported cases of theft involving vehicles belonging to lawyers and litigants.

He said the Isiokpo Branch was requesting two additional courtrooms each for the Customary Courts in Isiokpo and Rumuji, an additional Magistrate Court, provision of conveniences at the Isiokpo High Court and the raising of the perimeter fence of the court premises.

The Okrika Branch of the NBA, he said, was seeking the construction of befitting Customary Court buildings in Okrika and Ogu/Bolo Local Government Areas, as well as completion of its branch secretariat, while the Okehi Branch required adequate personnel for the Magistrate and Customary Courts in Etche, furniture and fittings for the various Customary Courts and urgent renovation of conveniences and court buildings.

Maduba further disclosed that the newly created Oyigbo Branch was seeking government assistance towards the construction of its secretariat, stressing that the various demands could be effectively addressed if the Judiciary enjoyed full financial autonomy.

He also called for an increase in the number of High Court judges to reduce the workload on the Bench, noting that some judges were handling more than 30 cases on their daily cause lists and over 400 cases in their dockets.

The NBA Chairman urged the Judiciary to deepen the use of technology, strengthen case management, reduce unnecessary adjournments and further improve the electronic filing system, while calling for reforms in criminal justice administration and improved welfare for Law officers, including payment of outstanding statutory allowances and car grants.

Meanwhile, the NBA has commended the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, for reforms in the Judiciary, including the strengthening of e-filing, reduction of Multi-Door Courthouse fees and introduction of the State Plea Bargain Guidelines.

The Association urged the Bar and Bench to continue working together to ensure faster dispensation of justice and renewed public confidence in the judicial system.

By: King Onunwor