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Surrender Explosives, Anti-Bomb Squad Tells Militants

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The Commissioner of Police in-charge of Anti-Bomb Squad, Mr. Chris Olakpe has urged the Federal Government’s Amnesty team to extend its operations to the recovery of explosives in illegal possession.

Mr. Olakpe, who made the call Friday, during a courtesy call on Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, described explosives as a most devastating instrument which must be recovered from illegal use to ensure the safety of the environment.

The Commissioner said already men of the Anti-bomb unit have been dispatched to Maiduguri to detonate explosives recovered from the Boko Haram sect, while efforts were been made to recover and detonate those from Bauchi State and other parts of the country.

On the new charge to fish out and detonate explosives in Rivers State, the Anti Bomb Police Commissioner said the disarmament process would soon commence and called for the cooperation of the people of the state in ridding the environment of explosives.

The Police Commissioner said the state got two brand new tiger 4×4 vehicles, equipped with explosive antidote configuration, while his visit is also part of effects to beef up all aspects of EOD unit in the state to meet present realities.

The Police Commissioner said he had already visited the Port Harcourt Refinery to educate workers on steps to be taken in an event of explosion and how to envisage dynamite or a bomb.

The Anti Bomb Police boss said he is also using part of his visit to launch an awareness campaign in the state and thanked the state government for its assistance to the unit, particularly for the provision of brand new pick up vehicle to ease its job.

Responding, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi assured the Police Commissioner in-charge of Explosive Ordinance Dispcsal (EOD) that members of the Amnesty Committee would be reminded to request those surrendering arms to also hand over explosives in their possession.

“Thank you for drawing our attention to the issue of explosives, having reminded me, I will bring it to the attention of the Amnesty Committee to also request them to surrender their explosives like dynamites etc” Governor assured.

He congratulated the Police EOD Unit for benefitting from the new equipment, noting that Nigerians have started taking the lives of her citizens seriously, and reminded the Police of their responsibility to maintain law and order in the society.

In a related development the police commissioner in charge of anti Bomb squad, Mr Chris Olakpe, has said that Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Unit of t~ State Police Command has been strengthened for better performance.

Mr Alakpe who disclosed this Friday during a courtesy call on the State Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi at Government House, Port Harcourt, said the State Anti Bomb Unit benefitted from the 28 new vehicles fully equipped with accessories provided by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The Police Commissioner said the state got two brand new tiger 4×4 vehicles equipped with explosive antidote configuration while his visit is also part of effects to beef up all aspects of EOD unit in the state to meet present realities.

According to him, Rivers people would begin to see more Anti bomb vehicles parading the streets because they have instruction to fish out those involved in illegal use of explosives and to get them disarmed as well as render the area safe.

He used the opportunity to appeal to the State Governor to remind the Amnesty Committee through the Federal Government that while the Committee is looking for guns they should also look for the most devastating instrument which is the explosives to ensure safe environment.

Mr Alakpe said already his men from Lagos has gone to Maiduguri to demolish over 20 explosives recovered from the Boko Haram while work is going on in Bauchi State to demolish those recovered from the sect in the state.

The Police Commissioner said he had already visited the Port Harcourt Refinery to educate workers on steps to be taken in an event of explosion and how to envisage dynamite or a bomb.

The Anti Bomb Police boss said he is also using part of his visit to launch an awareness campaign in the state and thanked the state government for its assistance to the unit particularly for the provision of brand new pick-up vehicle to ease its job.

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Association Woos Govt, Coys On  Boat Operators  Employments

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4 days ago

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June 12, 2026

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The leadership of Bonny Maritime Boat Association has called on Rivers state Government and oil companies operating in the state to provide sustainable employment to unemployed boat Operators.
The Association also want the government, companies and other relevant employers of labour to provide trainings for boat Operators to enhance their skills
Safety Officer of the Association, Comrade Kingdom Kingsley made this known in  a  telephone interview with  The Tide.
He noted that most of the boat Operators and owners plying Bonny route lacks jobs due to the fleets of boats introduced by Bonny Road Transport that had taken over the passengers to the Island
He noted that passengers are no longer patronizing boats owned by the Association, thereby rendering the operators redundant
“Most of our operators can not afford to feed their families due to no jobs, we don’t want to indulge in crime, government should fix our members with  sustainable jobs to take care of their immediate needs”
He called on oil companies operating in the state to engage their skilled boat Operators in their companies to reduce the sufferings faced by the Association.
The Safety Officer called on the state government  to made funds available to unemployed youths in the state to start up business than roam the streets.
He noted that provision of funds to youths would reduce crime rates and reposition their mindsets for a better life
“The  youths of Rivers state are suffering, have no job to feed their families, thereby indulging in criminality daily”
“The youths need empowerment,  jobs,  recreational facilities and better things of life as citizens of this Nation”, Kingsley said.
CHINEDU WOSU
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FG Approves $1 Bn AFCFTA Credit Facility For Nigerian Exporters

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4 days ago

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June 12, 2026

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The Federal Government has approved a whooping $1bn credit facility to support Nigerian exporters and small scale businesses to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in order to boost production, competitiveness and intra-African trade.
The $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility is also expected to address some of the financing gap being faced by Nigerian exporters and enhance the competitiveness of African businesses within the continental market.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed this  during the second quarter 2026 meeting of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee held in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Obilor-Duru Okechi, Oduwole said the financing facility represented a major opportunity for Nigerian businesses seeking to expand operations, modernise production processes and increase exports to African markets.
The statement partly read, “?The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s export-led growth agenda under the African Continental Free Trade Area, unveiling opportunities for businesses to access a US$1 billion AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility aimed at boosting production, competitiveness, and intra-African trade.”
She noted that despite the progress Nigeria had made in implementing the continental trade agreement, many local businesses continued to face obstacles that limited their ability to take advantage of the single African market.
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“Many businesses still face challenges relating to export documentation, certification, standards compliance and market access,” the minister said.
She explained that the Federal Government was addressing these bottlenecks through enhanced trade facilitation measures, simplified AfCFTA guidance tools, stakeholder engagement programmes and stronger collaboration with institutions such as the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
Oduwole stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework by domesticating key AfCFTA protocols, particularly the Digital Trade Protocol, to position the country as a major player in Africa’s growing digital economy.
The minister also highlighted some of the gains recorded in Nigeria’s AfCFTA implementation efforts.
According to her, the expansion of Nigeria’s Air Cargo Corridor Initiative to Rwanda, increased collaboration with development partners and private sector players, as well as sustained engagement with state governments, were helping to deepen awareness and participation in the continental market.
In her welcome address and first-quarter update, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mrs Patience Okala, provided details of the financing initiative.
Okala said the $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility was targeted at large African businesses with a minimum financing capacity of $10m.
She revealed that the National AfCFTA Coordination Office was working closely with fund managers to facilitate access for eligible Nigerian companies and had begun assembling a pilot group of businesses to ensure that Nigeria maximised the opportunities provided by the facility.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NIWA Harps On  Avoidance Of Leaking Boats

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4 days ago

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June 12, 2026

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The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has advised Nigerians against boarding boats that require constant bailing of water in the interest of their safety.
 NIWA Area Manager for Cross River and Ebonyi, Mr Stanley Onuoha gave this warning in an interview with Newsmen in Calabar.
Onuoha who spoke on waterway
safety, said that passengers should take responsibility for their safety by inspecting boats before embarking on any journey.
According to him, repeated scooping of water from a boat is a clear indication that the vessel may be leaking.
“If you are entering a boat and see people using a bailer to remove water, it is the first signal that the boat is leaking,” he said.
He urged passengers to check the integrity of boats, including seating arrangements and other visible safety features.
The Manager restated the importance of using safety jackets, saying that damaged jackets may fail during emergencies.
He further said that passengers should ensure that safety jackets were appropriate for their body sizes in order to guarantee effective flotation.
 Onuoha reiterated the need for passengers to fill manifests before departure to aid accountability during emergencies.
The NIWA official further advised travellers to monitor weather conditions and avoid boarding boats when the weather is unfavourable.
According to him, poor weather conditions can trigger strong tidal waves capable of affecting small boats commonly used on inland waterways.
He said that waterway journeys should be embarked upon between 6.00a.m and 6.00p.m for clearer visibility.
Onuoha said  the Authority had continued to sensitise riverine communities to the need for safety precautions during waterway journeys.
He stated that sustained awareness campaigns and enforcement measures had contributed to safety waterway safety in Cross River.
CHINEDU WOSU
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