News

FG Targets April 2023 To Conduct National Census …May Pardon 159 Convicts …Bestow National Honours On 434

Published

4 years ago

April 15, 2022

The Federal Government has said it is targeting to hold a national census on April, 2023, after the general election, slated for February and March, 2023.
The National Population Commission (NPC) is to conduct a Pilot Census in June after political parties’ primary elections.
The last census was held in August, 2006.
The Director-General of Nigeria Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa-Kwarra, made the disclosure at the end of the Council of State meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday.
The NPC boss disclosed that the commission will deploy high technology in conducting the National Census.
He said through census data is generated for planning, noting that the data currently being used are mere projections and obsolete.
Isa-Kwarra said: “It is very crucial because I have highlighted that the census is a very important exercise for the nation. Because through census we generate the data that we use for policymaking, planning, for development, by the three tiers of government, and the private sector, they all need this.
“If you are a private sector, you’re producing something; certainly, you need to know the population of an area if you want to create a market there.
“So, census data is very crucial, very important. Because, the data we’ve been using are just projections and estimation and are sort of obsolete, we need the actual census data to use for our planning.”
The Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru, on his part disclosed that Buhari would meet security chiefs next Tuesday over the worsening security situation following recommendations and comments by the Council of State.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on his part said the Council of State approved 159 out of 162 applications presented for consideration for the prerogative of mercy for convicts and inmates in correctional centres.
The council, he said, rejected a proposal to grant a pardon to one of the prisoners sentenced to 120 years for stealing over N25billion.
The reason for seeking pardon was because of a life-threatening illness.
Although the AGF didn’t mention the name of the convict, a source privy meeting said, the person in question is the former MD of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche.
The second person was converted for forgery, sentenced to 14 years and has stayed in prison for a year and six months.
The third person was obtaining money by false pretence and was sentenced to seven years.
The Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, on his part, said the council approved the conferment of the National Honours Award on 434 Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavours.
Earlier, the meeting observed a minute silence in honour of the former head of the Interim Government, Ernest Shonekan who died on January 11, 2022.
This is the fourth time the president will preside over the meeting, with the first being held on October 21, 2015, and the second on September 7, 2016, and the third was held virtually in August, 2020.
The Council of State is an organ of the Federal Government saddled with the responsibility of advising the executive on policy-making matters.
Members of the council include the vice president, past presidents, Senate president, House of Representatives speaker, Chief Justice of Nigeria, serving and past.
Others are the Attorney General of the Federation, all state governors and the minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Those in attendance at the meeting were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari.
Former heads of state physically in attendance were Gen Yakubu Gowon, Gen Abdusalami Abubakar and Goodluck Jonathan.
Others attended the meeting virtually from their various locations.
State governors in attendance are Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), and Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), amongst others.
Other governors attended virtually.

News

Arrest Arise TV Crew Attackers Or Face Boycott, Journalists Tell Rivers Police

Published

4 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Port Harcourt based media practitioners under the aegis of Port Harcourt Press, have urged the Rivers State Police Command to arrest and prosecute all suspects involved in the recent attack and harassment of Arise TV crew in Port Harcourt.

The media practitioners, at a World press conference in Port Harcourt, described as dangerous the continuous harassment of journalists by various political actors in the ongoing political crisis in the State.

The text of the briefing which was read by a former State Commissioner for information and Communications and federal lawmaker in the State, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, described as condemnable the attack on the Arise TV crew by suspected political thugs in Port Harcourt, while conducting an interview with Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa, a former commissioner in the State.

According to him, “That harrowing event of Friday, January 2, where the Arise TV crew were brutally attacked by armed men in a hotel in Port Harcourt while conducting interview with Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa, former Honourable Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, smacks of nothing but act of intimidation, threat to both the Nigerian media and human lives especially in the forceful carting away of broadcast equipment.”

The group further noted that the attack was not only an insult on the press freedom but on the larger society.

The group regretted the inability of the Police to arrest and bring to book the perpetrators of the act till date, warning that it may be forced to boycott police activities if those involved are not arrested and brought to book.

“From all indications, the police appear to be playing to the gallery. While the broadcast equipment were reportedly recovered, no definite arrest have been made. This body, therefore, demands an urgent and thorough investigation of this matter and those find culpable brought to justice within two weeks.

“Failure to address this issue with the urgency it requires and not carrying out satisfactory actions as required in their prosecution will attract sanctions such as withdrawal of coverage of all police activities in Rivers State by media organisations and journalists as we stand in solidarity with the NUJ,” the group warned.

John Bibor

News

Be Patient With Us, Diri Tells Bayelsans … Inspects New 60mw IPP …Expresses Confidence In Technical Partners, BECL MD

Published

1 week ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has sued for patience on the ongoing installation of the state’s new independent power project.

The Tide gathered that the 60-megawatt gas turbine project, which installation commenced in October this year, was earlier scheduled to be completed by December but suffered logistics related delays.

The governor called on people of the state to have an open mind about the project, which he said now requires a new completion date due to unforeseen challenges.

?The Tide further reports that the State’s Chief Executive who undertook an on-the-spot-assessment of the project at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area on Wednesday, said like other citizens of the state, he was also disappointed that the December completion deadline could not be met.

However, he stated that his reaction to the delay had been that of understanding rather than being angry as had been noticed, particularly on the social media.

?”You can see I’ve gone round the whole facility. It was based on the working agreement and information available at my disposal that I gave the December date. But as it is with every human endeavor, we must all have an open mind, when it comes to issues, particularly technical matters like this.

?”I am as disappointed as any other Bayelsan because I believed that we were going to celebrate the 2025 Christmas with our own independent power, but it turned out not to be so.

?”I call on Bayelsans to have an open mind. These technical experts are working virtually 24 hours, but delays like this will certainly come”, he said.

He implored the people 9f the state to appreciate the work of the engineers, stressing that a minor mistake was capable of jeopardising the millions of dollars expended on the project.

?”For 29 years Bayelsa has been in darkness or has endured epileptic power supply. Now that we are getting close to the day of liberation, some people have become impatient.

“Let us not behave like the proverbial tortoise in the prison for years that asked to be released immediately as the place was smelling the moment he knew it would regain freedom the next day”, the governor added.

?The Bayelss Governor gave a thumps up to the technical partners, Jampur Group, and its team on ground as well as the Managing Director of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Ltd, Engr. Olice Kemenanabo, saying they were working round the clock to ensure the job was completed.

?”Those who have been following me on this inspection would know that work has not stopped even for one day since it started. I am sure the job is more than 90 per cent complete. So let us hold our fire.

“Engineer Olice, I am not putting you under any pressure. From the reports I have, Olice is one of the best electrical engineers in Nigeria”, governor Diri said.

The governor, however, hinted that the government was looking at inaugurating the project during its sixth anniversary in February.

The MD of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited, Kemenanabo, who also spoke, said the state was on the right track towards actualising the project and assured that the alignment of the entire system, including the gas generator and alternator were on course.

He also stated that the remaining two turbines would be delivered to the project site in a few days.

?Speaking on behalf of the Jampur Group, Mr. Sherrif Abu-Anif said the company was in good position to meet its own end of the bargain and appreciated the state government for playing its part very well.

By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

News

Akpabio Withdraws All Defamation Suits After Priest’s Sermon

Published

1 week ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.

Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.

He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.

“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”

In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.

In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.

Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.

Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.

The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.

With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.