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Don’t Victimise Anyone, Promote Peace, Fubara Tasks Monarchs …As Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre Kings Receive Staff Of Office,
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has admonished traditional rulers not to use their privileged positions to victimise their opponents and those who did not support them during the process of ascension to their ancestral thrones but see themselves as fathers and kings to all without prejudice.
The Governor urged the royal fathers to work with all sections of their subjects on their domains with fatherly heart in order to promote peaceful coexistence, harmony and enduring development.
He, therefore, urged them to discard feelings of animosity, and resist the inclination to undo anybody for whatever reason in their domains but rather courageously carry everybody along with a heart of forgiveness.
Governor Fubara also challenged the monarchs to partner with the State Government to ensure peace and accelerated development in the State and their communities.
The Governor gave the counsel while presenting certificates of recognition and staff of office to two first class traditional rulers in Ikwerre and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of the State in Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday evening.
The first-class traditional rulers are His Majesty, King Marcus Oduma Woyike, Nye Nwe-Ali Elele Okinali/Elele-Alimini in Ikwerre Local Government Area, and His Majesty, King Ndamzi Nsirim, Nye Nwe-Eli Rumueme Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
He stated that what the Government was doing was officially recognising what their communities had done through the traditional process of selection and installation, adding that the stools were already recognised by law in the State.
The Governor urged the two monarchs to see their recognition as an opportunity to play their role in supporting good governance in the State while protecting the interest of their people, emphasising the need to forgive those who may have offended them in the past, and ensure that all stakeholders are carried along in the scheme of things.
Governor Fubara said, “What we are doing here is just a fulfilment of what is already existing. The stool of Nye Nwe-Ali Elele has already been gazetted and existing. And the process for selection is already done. What we just did here is official government recognition”.
He advised the Nye Nwe-Ali Elele Okinali/Elele-Alimini, His Majesty, King Marcus Oduma Woyike, to work with all stakeholders in the kingdom to ensure peace and security in the communities, while urging him to synergise with other traditional rulers in the State to ensure that the State Government succeeds in the delivery of good governance, and protection of lives and property of the people of the State.
The Governor added, “On that of His Majesty, King Ndamzi Nsirim, fortunately, the stool that you are occupying was also recognized and gazetted by the previous administration. What we are also doing here is that after the process of selection of the new head (king), it is the duty of government to officially give you a letter of recognition and staff of office.
“So, what we are doing is not a new thing or creating a new stool, but recognizing what already exists. (We are only) bringing you into the Council of Traditional Rulers recognized by the government,” he stressed.
He appealed to the monarchs to be fair and just to all, and ensure that they always relate with their subjects so that they can appreciate the people’s needs better and work with the Government to address them.
Noting that the positions they occupy should be used to do good and serve the people selflessly, Governor Fubara emphasized that, “It is an opportunity that God has created for you. It is not for you to use it to undo your people”.
He noted that, “In the process of this selection, you might have had one issue or the other. People might have been against you, but in the end, what is important is that you are there now. Carry everybody along. Have the heart of forgiveness. As a traditional ruler, everybody belongs to you. So, work with them.
“Let me wish you a successful reign. Let your reign be remembered for good. Let your reign be a testimony that at this particular time that you ascended this throne, it is for a purpose. Rule well, and God will be with you”, he admonished.
He reminded the traditional rulers that the people come first in his administration, and assured them of his government’s support to enable them to succeed in carrying out their responsibilities.
The Governor further reminded the monarchs that their recognition has brought them into the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, and advised them to bring their wealth of experience to the service of the State while mobilizing their people to contribute meaningfully to the peace and sustainable development of the State.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Engr Charles Amadi, introduced the two traditional rulers to the Governor for the presentation of their certificates of recognition and staff of office.
He noted that the monarchs had successfully gone through the required traditional selection and installation processes, and have been found worthy to be so recognised by government, and therefore, fitting for staff of office and certificates of recognition.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 1.63 million pills of tramadol concealed in two long trailers heading for Kano as it intensified efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria corridor.
The agency also arrested an 80-year-old suspected drug dealer in Rivers State, a businesswoman linked to cannabis shipments from Canada, a Chadian woman, a couple and other suspects in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Kogi and Rivers states.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.
According to the statement, the latest intelligence-led operation came barely one week after NDLEA operatives recovered 558,900 pills of tramadol concealed in the false-bottom compartment of a truck that entered Lagos through the Togo-Benin Republic route.
Babafemi said, “Ongoing efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria have yielded another success with the interception of two long trailers used to move One Million Six Hundred and Thirty (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in fabricated compartments of the trucks across multiple borders into Lagos.”
He added that one of the two trailers was intercepted on July 2 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where operatives recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor.
Babafemi said, “One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver Jabir Kabiru.”
He further disclosed that another trailer was intercepted two days later on the same route.
“Two days later, 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver Muhammed Nuhu arrested,” the statement read.
According to Babafemi, investigations established a link between the three intercepted consignments.
He said, “Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis.”
The agency also intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Babafemi said, “Two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The cargoes, which arrived the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them, came aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on 24th June and 3rd July respectively.”
He said two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, were initially arrested in connection with the shipments, while another suspect, Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, was apprehended after arriving at a logistics company to take delivery of the consignments.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has denied claims that it has commenced registration for a purported ?50,000 National Support Allowance.
The ministry, in a public notice posted on its official X handle, yesterday, described messages, links and websites advertising the alleged programme as fraudulent.
It urged Nigerians to disregard such claims and verify information only through official government channels.
“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has NOT commenced registration for any ?50,000 National Support Allowance,” the ministry said.
It added, “Disregard fraudulent messages, links and websites claiming otherwise. Verify any info only through official govt channels.”
The alert is in response to a circulating scam flyer that falsely claims the program is ongoing under President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
The fake advertisement, which includes text in Hausa and English, directs victims to a suspicious website (kluspz.com) for applications.
The ministry’s warning comes amid heightened concerns over digital fraud targeting vulnerable populations seeking social support.
Similar scams have previously surfaced around programs like N-Power, prompting questions from citizens in replies to the official post.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its preparedness for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, hinted at this while making his remarks at the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.
Ajaero said it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
He advised workers and pensioners to get prepared for the ideological and economic battles that lie ahead.
According to the NLC president, “The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement.
“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
“However, let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
“Accordingly, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension. It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.”
Ajaero noted that the cost of living has risen astronomically as food, healthcare and transportation have become increasingly unaffordable.
“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” he said.
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He said the completion of the project should serve as a clarion call to all workers and lovers of the masses.
“We must not only build physical structures but also build a strong movement capable of compelling government to honour its commitments,” he said.
Ajaero further stated: “We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security.
“Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve.”
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