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20 Monarchs Due For King Jaja’s 70th Birthday
Over 20 traditional rulers from within and outside Nigeria are due in Rivers State, next week to participate in the 70th birthday Anniversary celebration of the Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Dandeson D. Jaja.
Among the monarchs expected at the celebrations include the Amanyanabo of Kalabari and chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, King (Prof) T.J.T. Princewill, the Obong of Calabar and the Oba of Lagos. Others expected include the Obi of Onitsha, Emir of Kano, Sultan of Sokoto and the Gbong Gwon, Jos.
Alabo, Prince Charles D. Mac Pepple Jaja, a member of Opobo Alapu council dropped the hint in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt, Monday.
The Chief, who is chairman of the sub-committee on Dance groups/costumes for King Dandeson Jaja’s 70th birthday celebration, also announced events outlined for the celebration.
According to him, the celebration will commence on the 24th of April with a choral evening at the auditorium of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
This will be followed with a book/endowment fund lunch for the less privileged and prostate cancer patients on the 26th of April at the Rivers State House of Assembly Auditorium.
Alabo MacPepple-Jaja said the celebration will shift to Opobo Town where on April 27th, guests will be entertained to the Siri (Tiger) Masquerade Performance.
On April 28, which is King Dandeson’s birthday, a special Egbelegbe Masquarade performance is expected to thrill the audience.
In the evening of both 27th and 28th April there will be Ngunume dance performance in the King Jaja’s Palace.
Also on Saturday April 28, the King’s Jaja flagship Kweni, will lead Long John, the Mac-Pepple House gig and those of Kalaomuso and Fubarakworo sections on a regatta performance on the Opobo River as part of the celebration.
A special thanksgiving service at the St Paul’s Anglican Church, Opobo Town and a civic reception at the King Jaja’s palace will bring Saturday’s events to a close as well as mark the finale of the celebration.
Alabo Mac-Pepple himself a younger brother of the King, invited all to participate in the celebration.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
