News
…Explains Why Abia, Benue’re Denied CBN Loans
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has threatened to expose some persons who had surreptitiously stopped the release of the loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Abia and Benue states.
Wike stated that the motive was to punish Governors Samuel Ortom and Okezie Ikpeazu for standing with him to demand for the resignation of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
The Rivers State governor, spoke at the 58th birthday celebration of the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, in his country home of Umuobiakwa community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, last Tuesday.
“I will tell you very soon, how money that was supposed to come to Abia State for my friend to use to develop Abia State was stopped recently by those who think they own this country, by those who think Ikpeazu did not support them. Because Ikpeazu supported me, they went and stopped Abia State from getting the money they are supposed to get to develop Ariara market.
“Okezie Ikpeazu is just governor of Abia State. He is not the owner of Abia State. He is just a symbol of Abia State. Anybody who fights Abia State, you’re not fighting Okezie, you are fighting the people of Abia.”
Wike, who was the special guest of honour at the event, was accompanied by former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Ayodele Fayose.
The Rivers State governor explained that the CBN loan was a facility that was made available to every state of the federation.
According to him, Rivers State Government had accessed and secured the loan already.
“I will tell all of you, how Abia and Benue states were denied of their money that every state had gotten from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“I got it (CBN loan). And anybody who dares to stop my money, they know, I will not take it from them. You can see how people are wicked, they are not in office yet, but they are fighting people, stopping state’s money.
“Even as we have criticised President Muhammadu Buhari, he has never stopped our money any day, never.”
Wike frowned at some Nigerians who always carry on as if they were masters over others, and would stop at nothing in daring to treat people as slaves.
The governor stated categorically that nobody can treat him as a slave because, as a Nigerian, he had equal citizen’s status like every other Nigerian.
“Let me tell all of you here, let me use this opportunity and Nigerians will hear. I never told him I will say this. Why would some people think some of us are not Nigerians; some people think some of us are slaves. We would never be slaves. I will never be a slave to anybody.”
Speaking further, Wike, who restated his position on the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said his allies demand inclusivity, wherein every region has a sense of belonging.
Wike emphasised that it would then mean when decision is taken, nobody would see or consider it to be sectional but representational, because neither the North nor the South would be excluded from such process.
“So, I have told Ikpeazu to continue to be quiet and be a professor of proverbs. When we went to London, he told the person who called us to the meeting in London; you see this thing happening to PDP now is like that ship that wanted to capsize carrying Jonah.
“So, as the ship was going down, they went to Jonah, who said it’s me, it’s not the ship, and they took Jonah out of the ship. Jonah did not die. The ship stabilised. So, why not throw this Jonah out so that the ship can stabilise.”
In felicitating with Ikpeazu, Wike lauded the courage and foresight of the celebrant to establish a library that would serve as a resource centre for scholars.
He inaugurated the library and donated N200million.
Wike stated his love for any form of contribution that was made to promote issues of education, and expressed delight in what Ikpeazu had done in immortalising his parents.
“Part of the problem we have in our country is no documentation. We don’t document events. Like he (Ikpeazu) said, if he does not tell his story, some other people will tell it in a wrong way. So, let him rather tell the story.”
He reiterated that he does not associate with people who don’t mean well for their people.
In his remarks, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, expressed joy that on the occasion of his 58th birthday, he was able to formally inaugurate a library in honour of his late father.
The Pa Ishmael Ikpeazu Library, he said, among others, would house the Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Scientific Leadership Institute which has kick-started the enrollment of 50 students on fellowship, and a small family museum that had a collection relics of the family’s blacksmith heritage.
“Here, today, I am standing before the Pa Ishmael Ikpeazu Memorial Library. This library is supposed to reflect the ideals of my late father who was a teacher, who said that it is good to provide books for children as toys. If they read them, it’s okay. If they tear some in the course of play, no problem, but always keep a book in the environment of growing child.”
On his part, former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, noted how enduring the library built by Ikpeazuwas because it would stock records of knowledge of the past, and serve as centre for research, while also connecting people across generations.
A Coalition of civil society organisations has urged the Federal Government to take proactive steps towards addressing the persistent gas eruptions in Bille, Rivers.
The coalition, made up of the People’s Assembly and Bille Working Group, made the call in an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, and read to journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Reading the letter, the coalition’s convener, Dr Isaac Osuoka, said that the persistent gas eruption in Bille had led to serious environmental and public health challenges.
Osuoka, also the Executive Director, Social Action, urged Tinubu to establish a presidential task force to investigate and contain the gas leak in Bille.
He also called for the immediate relocation of residents to safe shelters, provision of clean water, food and healthcare services.
Dr Emem Okon, the Executive Director, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, stated that gas had been bubbling from the ground, creeks, boreholes and hand-dug wells in the community since October 2025.
Okon said that the gas had triggered several fires and explosions, and that residents of the community had reported respiratory problems, vomiting and other illnesses associated with exposure to the emissions.
According to her, preliminary investigations by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have yet to identify the source of the gas.
Mr Kentebe Ebiaridor, the Coordinator, Oilwatch International, called for the publication of results from preliminary soil and water tests conducted in Bille for the residents to know the nature and extent of the contamination.
Ebiaridor urged the Federal Government to deploy medical teams to screen and treat affected residents, and immediately commence an independent study on the health impacts of the leak.
He further called for the suspension of oil and gas operations around OML 18 and 24 until the source of the gas leak was identified and the affected areas declared safe.
Ebiaridor urged the government to hold current and former operators of the oil leases accountable for environmental damage on the community.
Another speaker, Dr Bieye Briggs, urged the National Assembly to fast-track the NOSDRA Amendment Bill, 2025 to provide the agency with statutory funding and stronger enforcement powers.
Briggs urged the Federal Government to activate the regional Spill Command Centre, and make the Upstream Remediation Fund accessible for the Bille crisis and other affected communities in the Niger Delta.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has banned drone operations and fireworks in Uyo and announced temporary traffic restrictions ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the State today.
The state Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, announced the measures yesterday while briefing journalists at the Police Headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo.
He said the restrictions were part of security arrangements to maintain public order, protect strategic locations and ensure the smooth movement of the President’s convoy during his engagements.
“There will be total restriction on the operation and flying of drones within Uyo metropolis throughout the period of the visit. Members of the public, drone operators and service providers are advised to strictly comply with the directive,” he said.
The police commissioner also announced a ban on fireworks, knockouts and other explosive sound-producing devices within the state capital during the visit.
He said the measure would prevent panic and allow security personnel to respond effectively to genuine security threats.
The command also announced temporary restrictions on public access to designated routes and locations in Uyo to facilitate the movement of the presidential convoy.
The affected areas are Airport Road, Shelter Afrique Junction, Oron Road, Nung Oku Junction, Mbierebe Junction and Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
“Motorists are urged to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the corridors.
“Members of the public are advised to avoid the routes during the restriction and use alternative routes,” Azare said.
He also urged residents to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the affected corridors.
The commissioner said the command, working with other security agencies, had put in place security arrangements to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free visit.
He appealed to residents to understand that the temporary restrictions were necessary security measures and not intended to cause hardship.
Azare urged members of the public to remain law-abiding, avoid restricted areas and report suspicious movements to the nearest police station or through police emergency channels.
Tinubu’s visit to Akwa Ibom is a working visit during which he is expected to inaugurate major infrastructure projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration under its ARISE Agenda. The projects cut across aviation, road infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, land administration and security.
Among the projects scheduled for inauguration are the international terminal building and airport hospital at Victor Attah International Airport, Aviation Village, ARISE Palm Resort, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, Ring Road 3, the Command and Control Centre and the AkwaGIS building.
The state government had earlier announced plans for the President to inaugurate projects as part of activities marking Akwa Ibom’s 39th anniversary in September.
The airport projects are particularly significant to the state’s ambition to expand aviation, tourism and investment.
The international terminal is expected to strengthen the airport’s capacity to handle international operations, while the Aviation Village is intended to provide accommodation for aviation workers. The airport hospital is also among the facilities lined up for inauguration.
The road projects are also expected to improve connectivity. The 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road links communities in the two local government areas, while Ring Road 3 is designed to improve movement within Uyo and ease pressure on existing roads. The Command and Control Centre, meanwhile, is intended to strengthen security surveillance and coordination in the State.
The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.
He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.
He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.
“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.
Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.
The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.
On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.
Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.
With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.
He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.
Kevin Nengia
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