Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara has declared that amidst glaring challenges, his administration has remained determined and focused to dispense good governance and put in place the needed development in the State.

The governor disclosed this while addressing the 123rd and 124th combined quarterly general meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers at the Council Secretariat on Monday.

Fubara who commended the traditional rulers for their supports and efforts in promoting peace and development in the State, urged them to live up to their roles as custodians of peace by becoming alert and more vigilant in their domains to tackle the menace of insecurity especially in boundary communities.

He advised the traditional rulers to work with local government chairmen and security agencies to safeguard lives and properties in their domains.

“Let me thank everyone of you from the bottom of my heart, I met you in Government House to say a big thank you, because the royal fathers stood as fathers in our most trying moments.

“I say thank you again for your support, for understanding that your role is fatherly role, and one of the reasons you were elected or selected to be head is to bridge the gap in terms of crisis, and to play fatherly role when called upon. Thank you for ensuring that peace reigns in Rivers State,” he said.

The governor reaffirmed his commitment towards the protection of lives and property in the State.

“Our vision is to ensure that Rivers State is safe, our vision includes the provision of good health care services, which we are doing, the records are there, people from the south east are witnessing what is happening in the Zonal Hospital in Bori, presently. I’m sure that before the end of this year, the Omoku and Ahoada Zonal Hospitals will be commissioned while Degema is 80% completed, we’re not just talking, we’re doing it,” he said.

Fubara, however, dismissed speculations making the rounds on the issue of 10,000 jobs, urging the public to discountenance the false information.

He assured that employment will be carried out in the state based on needs, and not on political considerations.

He disclosed that the 2026 budget will make provision for job creation and the refurbishment of schools in the State which, he noted, are currently in deplorable conditions, having given due consideration to roads and the health sector.

“Let me use this medium to address an issue, I saw some people sending messages to my WhatsApp, they want to protest against 10,000 jobs, they claim was included in the budget, which budget? We are going to employ based on the needs of the state, I’m not going to employ politically to please anybody,” he assured.

The governor promised to address the requests of the traditional rulers, and charged them to ensure that their meeting brings out a strong position that will make the State stronger.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, and Eze Oha Apara 1V, of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Amadi Worlu-Wodo, thanked the governor for personally attending the meeting.

The royal father restated the support of the traditional rulers to the State Government, and presented some requests of the Council to the governor.

“Your Excellency, the news that we have received all over the State is quite cheering and symbolic of the peaceful life and developments that Rivers people yearn for in the State. You have brought back those glorious old days of harmonious living and peaceful coexistence the way it was. May the Almighty  God bless you and help you to sustain this laudable feat,” the royal father prayed.

In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs , Egnr.Charles Amadi, expressed gratitude to the governor for his developmental strides in the State, and also commended the traditional rulers for their unwavering commitment towards promoting peace in the State.

?President Bola Tinubu, yesterday swore in retired Gen. Christopher Musa as the new Minister of Defence.?
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?The president administered the oath of office on Musa in his office
at the State House, Abuja.
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?Tinubu had described  Musa as a “fine gentleman” whose track record in service positions him to drive a more integrated national security response.”
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?The new defence minister’s appointment comes less than 48 hours after the resignation of his predecessor, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar.
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?Musa, 58, served as the Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 to Oct. 2025, during which he oversaw broad counterterrorism operations and inter-agency coordination efforts.
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?His nomination was transmitted to the Senate on Tuesday and was swiftly confirmed after rigorous screening on Wednesday, a development Tinubu praised as an evidence of legislative support for his security vision.
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?With the swearing-in now complete, Musa assumes full ministerial duties as the Tinubu administration pushes to consolidate recent gains and accelerate reforms aimed at delivering lasting peace and national stability.
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?The brief ceremony was attended by top government officials including Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu and thd Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris
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?Musa told State House Correspondents after the event that he would ensure better synergy among the Armed Forces to tackle terrorism and all forms of insecurity in the country.
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?”My immediate priority is to make sure that defence takes its place fully in the country.
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?”The synergy between the armed forces and other security agencies and all Nigerians being carried along as we have always said, that security is everybody’s responsibility.
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?” It is that synergy that we need to build on and work on it, and that’s what we’re going to and I can assure you, within the shortest possible time, Nigerians will see results.
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?” I want to use this medium to appreciate all Nigerians. Nigerians have shown me love, and I will guarantee them that I am going to work whatever it takes to ensure that Nigeria is secured,” he said.

The five students of the Rivers State University (RSU), Emohua satellite campus in Emohua Local Government Area of the state who were recently kidnapped, have regained freedom from their captors.

The students spent three days in the hands of their abductors before being rescued through the combined efforts of the police and other security agents in the state.

In a statement by the police spokesperson in the state, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, yesterday, the police rescued the five students unhurt from their abductors at the early hours of yesterday.

The statement listed the rescued victims as: Prince London ‘M’, Azubuike Kelechukwu ‘M’, Elizabeth Aniete ‘F’, Onyebuchi Precious ‘M’, and London Sampson ‘M’.

The police further disclosed that the victims had been taken to the hospital for medical examination, while efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing cultists/abductors.

According to the police, the students were abducted by yet-to-be-identified cultists from their isolated residences but were later rescued unhurt.

The statement read in part; “The rescue operation was conducted at Rumudogo 2 Community in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State by the Command’s Tactical Teams, in collaboration with other sister security agencies and with the support of the community.”

The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, warned the perpetrators that the police would not relent until all those involved are apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.

He also urged continued collaboration from sister security agencies, community stakeholders, and the general public to enhance policing efforts across the State.

Adepoju also advised residents to go about their lawful activities without fear, assuring them that “their safety is our priority.”

Meanwhile, the authorities of the university have suspended academic activities in the Emohua campus following persistent security challenges in the area.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, disclosed this while addressing students of Emohua campus following the kidnapping of the five students on Tuesday morning.

The students had, among other demands, urged the school authority to suspend all academic activities in the campus and relocate them to the main campus.

However, the Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, has appealed to the management of the university not to shut down the Emohua Campus, promising to provide the necessary logistics to strengthen security of lives and property within the institution.

Akujobi Amadi & King Onunwor