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Militants Warn North Against Sabotage Of Osinbajo
A militant group, Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders (NDRC), has warned that it would resist, with the last drop of its members’ blood, further oil exploration and exploitation in the Niger Delta, if the North executes its alleged agenda of sabotaging the acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
The group warned that if the North thwarts the demand for restructuring of the country and implementation of policies and laws to promote fiscal federalism, its members may be forced to return to their trenches.
In a statement by its spokesperson, WOI Izon-Ebi, the NDRC said: “For those with this sinister motive, because they feel President Muhammadu Buhari is debilitated, we advise them to keep the money to fund their junta government because NDRC will resist, with their last blood, the use of revenue from oil extracted from the Niger Delta to fund their greed and perfidy.”
Underscoring its readiness to stop the flow of oil from the region, the group said: “We call on all oil workers in the Niger Delta to vacate all oil facilities for their own safety. We also call on the operators of the Bonga Oil Field, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Port Harcourt Refinery and Warri Refinery to stop all forms of operation because our strike and defence team will be coming to hoist our flag of freedom as a people in all our critical infrastructure and assets of the Niger Deltans.
“We reiterate, in strong terms, the need for the restructuring of the country and enthronement of fiscal federalism before October 1, 2017.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let it be known that the NDRC and other agitators are aware of the plan by a section of the country to carry out a coup to truncate the leadership of Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo as Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari, is currently in London for medical treatment. There will be no exploration or exploitation of oil in the Niger Delta, if a coup occurs before the October 1, 2017 date.
“NDRC and the amalgamation of all freedom fighters with the 21st century youth of the Niger Delta from the South-South region of the country stand in solidarity with the people of the South–East.
“We will no longer accept the born-to-rule mentality of an ethnic group, which exploits others for the benefit of a few, and reiterate that fiscal federalism with power devolved to the regions is the only panacea for peace in the country.
“The NDRC and the people of the Niger Delta can no longer tolerate vituperations of people like Ango Abdullahi and Junaid Mohammed, who are beating the drums of hatred and war.
“Our advice to the government and so-called owners of Nigeria is that there is no slave/master relationship in the Nigerian federation, and there is no recorded Nigerian history where Usman Dan Fodio conquered the people of the Niger Delta, and as such made the Niger Delta become inferior to the people of the caliphate.
“The NDRC states categorically that societies are built on justice and equity, and as such, come September 31, 2017, we will prove that this is the 21st century and that the renaissance of the Niger Delta has begun.
“If our fathers in their benevolence, love and sacrifice are seen as cowards, we, the Niger Delta youth of this 21st century are not cowards, and we can prove it,” the group warned.
The group called on all Ijaws and Niger Deltans scattered across Nigeria and West Africa “to immediately come back to their fatherland,” saying: “It has been made known openly by one Alhaji Usman Bagagi of the Northern Elders and Leaders Forum that the North owns the oil and the Niger Delta region because of their landmass and population.
“It is also known by all in Nigeria and the world that the northerners under the guise of Arewa youth had asked all Igbos living in the Northern part of the country to vacate the North in three months,” the group added, and advised the Federal Government to do the needful by taming all drummers of war and hate before it would be too late.
The Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina, has resolved more than 5,000 pending complaints within five days, in a bid to improve service delivery to candidates.
?This is disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocol, JAMB, Fabian Benjamin.
?Benjamin said the development followed Aina’s decision to strengthen the Board’s Service Compact with All Nigerians (SERVICOM) Unit to ensure the prompt resolution of outstanding complaints.
?He said the Registrar had relocated his seat to the SERVICOM Unit to gain first-hand knowledge of the nature of services being sought by candidates and other clients and to facilitate the resolution of pending cases.
?According to him, the move is in line with the Registrar’s Five Enduring Pillars, particularly the second pillar, “Service at Heart”.
He added that the Registrar’s move was to ensure his commitment to leveraging strategic communication to reposition the Board and deliver services commensurate with the fees paid by candidates.
?He noted that Aina had directed SERVICOM Desk Officers to address complaints holistically and promptly.
?Benjamin said the directive had already begun to yield positive results, with more than 5,000 pending and unresolved complaints addressed within five days.
?He said the complaints covered a wide range of issues, including difficulties in creating profile codes by candidates who had previously registered with telephone numbers to which they no longer had access.
?He added that biometric verification challenges were also addressed, including genuine cases of biometric failures encountered during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration or examination.
?He further said that the Registrar also scrutinised the operations of the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), where issues relating to lost phones and SIM cards, candidates who converted from Direct Entry (DE) to UTME, and candidates omitted from the National Matriculation List after graduation were identified and addressed.
?He also noted that some previously unresolved payment-related issues were swiftly resolved, alongside complaints concerning inappropriate examination venues, e-PINs, technical challenges and difficulties with the uploading of documents.
?According to him, other recurring complaints relating to changes of name, date of birth, state and local government of origin were also addressed.
?The acting director said the initiative underscored the Registrar’s commitment to placing candidates and other clients at the centre of the Board’s operations.
?He said JAMB would continue to strengthen its complaint-resolution mechanisms to ensure that candidates received timely and efficient services.
The Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) 2026 is set to make a significant impact on Nigeria’s creative and tourism landscape as filmmakers, industry professionals, cultural enthusiasts and international guests converge on the historic and culturally rich Bonny Island, Rivers State, for the fourth edition of the festival.
Scheduled to hold from 29 October to 1 November 2026, RIFF 2026 is expected to bring together creative talents from Nigeria and across the world for four days of film screenings, industry conversations, masterclasses, networking opportunities, cultural experiences and celebrations of cinematic excellence.
The festival is being organised around the theme, “Film Tourism: A Pathway to Economic Development,” highlighting the powerful relationship between the film industry, tourism and the wider creative economy. This is with the view to promote cultural preservation, youth empowerment and economic development.
Speaking on the forthcoming fourth edition of the festival, the founder, Rivers International Film Festival/National Chairman Film Festivals Association of Nigeria, Kate Ezeigbo, said that the efforts of RIFF in conjunction with the Rivers State Government have not gone unnoticed.
According to her, “The growing significance of the Rivers International Film Festival has received commendation from the Honourable Minister for Arts, Entertainment , Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, who acknowledged the important role being played by the Rivers State Government and RIFF in advancing the creative sector.
The Minister stated: “I am aware that the Rivers State Government, backed by the Rivers International Film Festival, partnered with Entertainment Stakeholders, encourages the use of film and art for cultural preservation and youth empowerment. This really will make Nigeria the cultural and creative hub of Africa and Rivers State is taking a huge step in claiming that position.”
The commendation is seen as a major recognition of the festival’s vision and its commitment to using the creative industry as a vehicle for cultural development, youth engagement, tourism promotion and economic growth.
A total of 147 structures in Lagos will be affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway service lane.
President Bola Tinubu made this known on Sunday at a stakeholder engagement and flag-off of repair works on Eko Bridge and Marine Bridge in Lagos, and the flooded section of Lagos- Ibadan Expressway.
The president said that, of the 147 structures, five would be cut fully and the others minimally.
Tinubu was represented by Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The President noted that Eko Bridge was one of the oldest bridges constructed after Nigeria’s independence, adding that Marine Bridge provided access to the seaports in Lagos State.
He urged Lagos State Government to remain on a trajectory of irreversible development in every nook and cranny of this state.
”Today, in particular, is a day on which we have had extensive stakeholder engagement. We are truly happy with the turnout,” he said.
Tinubu said that the Federal Government had undertaken extensive renovation works in Lagos State.
“As a government, we must acknowledge and appreciate the efforts that have been made. This is about recognising the real work on ground.”
He thanked the stakeholders, saying they had always turned out to discuss with the government anytime needed.
Tinubu praised the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, for his efforts in road infrastructure development.
“For all of us to enjoy the full benefit of infrastructure, we have to shift a bit, so that it becomes an asset that will outlive all of us.”
He said that the stakeholder engagement was aimed at seeking support of the people toward implementation of the projects.
He gave the assurance that the Federal Government would make compensations where necessary.
“It will be given to you at the right time.
” There are days when we accept criticism for us to do better, but there are days when things have been done and they have been done right, and we need to give recognition and support where it is most deserving.
“It is my honour to flag off all of these projects to the benefit of mankind, to our citizens in Lagos, to the benefit of all our people across the country,” Tinubu said.