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NDDC: Buhari Should Inaugurate Board To Douse Tension In N’Delta, Group Urges
President Muhammadu Buhari has been told to listen to the voice of reason from all well-meaning Niger Deltans, and the elected governors of the region, the true representatives of the people, and inaugurate the Senate confirmed Board of NDDC, which the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, had promised will be inaugurated on April 1, 2021.
The National Chairman, Niger Delta People’s Forum, Chief Boma Ebiakpo, stated this in a statement in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Ebiakpo said that beyond the well-stated and established case of the illegality of interim managements, not known to the law establishing NDDC, but which have been superintending over the affairs of the commission since November, 2019, there was also the urgent need to douse the rising tension in the region, which has reached fever pitch.
The statement reads in part, “The patient but long-suffering people of the Niger Delta are beginning to lose their cool over an unending forensic audit that has been used as guise in the past 18 months to hold down development of the region despite a whopping approved budget of N799.5billion that has been squandered with no single project to justify this humongous amount.
“Notable groups kicking against the continued stay of the Interim Administrator and demanding the immediate inauguration of the Senate-approved substantive Board include the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Urhobo Progressives Union (UPU), Pan Niger-Delta Forum (PANDEF), and the Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND). Like the governors of the South-South, the groups had insisted on the inauguration of NDDC board by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, April 1, in accordance with the Act setting up the intervention agency.
“Mr. President, these groups, the IYC, PANDEF, MOSIEND, and UPU have said that anything short of inauguration would amount to an aberration, and ‘would be resisted by Niger Delta people’.
”We also wish to remind President Buhari that during their March 8 meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, the South-South Governors’ Forum (SSGF) chaired by Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State also advised that apart from payment of workers’ salaries, NDDC funds should be reserved in an escrow account, pending the inauguration of the board.
“We recall that the Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio, had assured Niger Deltans in October, 2019, that no contract will be awarded and no contractors will be paid pending the conclusion of the Forensic Audit which he stated will be completed within six months, to terminate by April, 2020.
“The expectation was that he would quickly conclude the forensic audit within the stipulated timeframe without expending the resources of the commission and then inaugurate the substantive board with representatives from the nine constituent states in line with the Act establishing the commission.
“Sadly, it has taken one year and six months for an audit that should not last longer than six months. In this intervening period rather, there have been established cases of misappropriation, kleptomania, fleecing of the commission’s treasury and gross underdevelopment in the region as was revealed in the Senate probe of May, 2020, which report was adopted at plenary in July and subsequently submitted to the Presidency.
“We are also further saddened that the Federal Government had approved and released N799.5billion for the 2019 and 2020 budgets of the commission with no tangible projects that the Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio, can lay hand on as his initiatives under the period in view.
“Matter of fact, reports detailed in the National Assembly probe of the Interim Management Committee and other revelations by whistleblowers have indicated that several billions of naira have been squandered by the Interim Managements with nothing to show on ground.
“Billions have been frittered away by the interim management committees over the last 18 months with no visible projects apart from N10billion expended on the headquarters building which was already 70% completed! We are also aware that billions of Naira have been spent by the various Interim Management arrangements at the NDDC since November, 2019, for unverified contracts.
“During this time not one single project has been commissioned.
“These payments are not unconnected to illegal emergency contracts.
“As we stated earlier, tension is rising in the region and President Buhari should listen to the voices of the Niger Delta people and put a halt to management charade at the NDDC by putting in place the Governing Board for the NDDC comprising the representatives from its nine constituent states in line with the NDDC Act.
“We recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had in exercise of his constitutional powers forwarded to the Senate for confirmation, the appointment of a 16–member board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) via a letter dated 18th October, 2019, personally signed by him.
“Specifically, President Buhari, in the letter, sought the Senate’s confirmation for Dr Pius Odubu, former Edo State deputy governor as chairman of the NDDC, Chief Bernard Okumagba as managing director and 14 others as members of its board.
“Accordingly, the written request, which was read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, by its President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, was given expeditious consideration by the upper legislative chamber, which directed its Standing Committee on Niger Delta, to screen all the nominees and report back within a week.
“The Senate screened and confirmed the appointments of 15 out of the 16 nominees on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, based on the report tabled before it by the Committee on Niger Delta. We, therefore, call on President Buhari to be sensitive to the complexities and sensibilities of the Niger Delta people.
“Moreover, NDDC is a creation of the law which the President swore to abide by, protect the constitution and the law.
“It is in the best interest of the region and country, for the President to activate the spirit and letters of the extant laws by inaugurating the Board,” Ebiapko added in the statement.
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JAMB Registrar resolves over 5,000 pending complaints in five days
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.
News
RIFF 2026: RIFF Takes Film Tourism To Bonny Island
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.
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147 structures to be affected by coastal highway service lane
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.
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