Category: News

The federal government has pledged to support and promote the production of a documentary on Nigeria’s 25 years of uninterrupted democracy.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the updated register of voters in Rivers State, along with the list of registered political parties in Nigeria, ahead of the forthcoming Local Government Council elections.

In a letter dated March 13, 2025, and signed by the Administrative Secretary, Odor Napoleon Emezuiruke, INEC formally notified the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) of the release.

The letter, addressed to the RSIEC Chairman, confirmed that a soft copy of the voters’ register had been provided in response to the commission’s request.

Following this development, RSIEC issued a press release announcing the receipt of the updated register from INEC Headquarters.

The release, signed by the Commissioner in charge of Media & Civic Education, Tamunotonye Tobins, reassured stakeholders and the public of RSIEC’s commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections. The elections are scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 9, 2025.

The list of registered political parties released by INEC includes parties such as the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Labour Party (LP), as well as 15 others.

With the updated voters’ register now in place, RSIEC reiterates its commitment to ensuring a smooth electoral process in Rivers State, as they intensify preparations ahead of the August polls.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has again written to the Rivers State House of Assembly, proposing Wednesday, March 19, 2025, as the new date for the presentation of the 2025 state budget.

A yet-to-be-identified woman has died after jumping into the Lagos Lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge.

The tragic incident occurred around 4:00 p.m. on Thursday near the University of Lagos (UNILAG) waterfront.

Reports indicate that the woman plunged into the water, prompting a swift response from Marine Police stationed in the area.

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the woman’s body was recovered at the UNILAG shore slipway by the Marine Police.

“She was confirmed dead by a team of UNILAG medical doctors in the presence of a police team from the Sabo Division,” Hundeyin said.

Following standard procedures, authorities have transferred the body to the mortuary at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Yaba.

Investigations are ongoing to determine her identity and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

…Sets September 2025 Deadline For Completion

The reconstruction of the Oron Marine Jetty—an aquatic produce commercial hub, ferry terminal, and leisure resort—will be completed by September this year.

The project, aimed at reviving sea trade activities and enhancing marine transport services in the coastal area, was flagged off on Wednesday by Governor Umo Eno in Oron.

Performing the groundbreaking exercise, Governor Eno said the project currently provides daily jobs for over a thousand locals and appealed for support for the initiative.

“You can be rest assured that we will fulfill our part of the bargain with the contractor. We look forward to coming here between August and September because we want to wait for the ferry to arrive so we can commission everything on the same day. I’d like to take that ferry to Calabar and return on that day.”

“We may not have the financial muscle to construct railways without the support of the federal government, but we will develop our waterways, deploy ferries, and make them our pride and joy.”

Governor Eno commended Rear Admiral Etop Ebe, Superintendent of the Naval Shipyard, Port Harcourt, for his commitment to realizing the first passenger cruise ferry for the jetty, adding that the contract for a second ferry would soon be awarded.

The Governor further stated, “The Nigerian Navy will train about 15 engineers to manage the workshop and ensure proper maintenance.”

He described Rear Admiral Ebe’s leadership at the Nigerian Naval Shipyard as a divine arrangement, saying, “As a son of the soil, God has given you the opportunity to etch your name in gold as part of this historic project.”

Governor Eno highlighted the project as a turning point for the economic fortunes of Oron Federal Constituency, in line with his campaign promises.

He also listed other key projects in the federal constituency, including the ongoing 14.5-kilometer Nsit Atai-Okopedi dual carriageway handled by HENSEK, the 11-kilometer Oron-Uya Oro Road handled by Amitec, the Unyenge Road leading to the seaport, Effiong Esang and Ukpong Streets, and the 2.9-kilometer road in Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government Area, which was commissioned last year.

“With your support, we will do more because we are committed to taking development to every nook and cranny of our state. We are determined to curb rural-urban migration.

“That is why we are developing these rural communities. So, I appeal to the youths to continue cooperating with the contractor so we can complete this project on time.”

He further stated, “We are confident that the federal government will continue to support us with railways, highways, and funding for the Ibom Deep Seaport, as well as resources for ecological projects.”

Deputy Governor Senator Akon Eyakenyi, who lauded the Governor for his commitment to her people, recalled that Oron was once an economic nerve center in the country.

Mrs. Eyakenyi maintained that the marine project would restore the area’s past glory.

The project contractor and Managing Director of JMK Construction Company Limited, Mr. Faysal Harb, thanked the Governor for his confidence and promised to complete the project within six months.

The Commissioner for Works, Prof. Eno Ibanga, provided an overview of the project, which will feature steel shore protections, four jetties, a terminal, a cold room and warehouse, a 5,500-square-meter car park accommodating at least 200 cars, an internal road network, and a recreational center designed to attract tourists, with 100% security guaranteed.

Prof. Ibanga thanked the Governor for initiating the project and assured that he was working closely with the Delivery Advisor, Mr. Orman Esin, to ensure timely completion.

Former Commissioner for Transport and Project Delivery Advisor, Orman Esin, alongside the Clan Head of Idua, Chief Asuquo, expressed appreciation to the Governor. Rear Admiral Ebe, who praised Governor Eno for his commitment to statewide development, assured that the passenger ferry would be delivered as required.

The highlight of the event was a unanimous vote of confidence in the Governor, following a motion moved by House of Representatives member for the federal constituency, Hon. Martin Esin, and seconded by Hon. Kenim Onofiok, the House of Assembly member representing the area.

Enugu State governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has said that his governance model was in key alignment with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also known as 2030 Agenda in order to ensure the delivery of the democracy dividends in the state.

Governor Mbah, who said this during the hosting of the Regional Stakeholders Consultation on Nigeria’s 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR), South East, at the Old Government Lodge, Enugu on Thursday, disclosed that in compliance with the SDGs, his administration was committed to ensuring zero poverty headcount index, eradication of hunger through food security, affordability of clean water, hygiene environment and provisions of quality education and healthcare delivery.

Delivering his address, the governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Chidiebere Onyia, at the event themed “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind”, stressed that the SDGs were not just global aspirations—they were a call to action for every region, community, and individual.

He insisted that the South-East, with its abundant human capital resource, entrepreneurial spirit, and resilience, has a vital role to play in accelerating progress on the sustainable development goals in Nigeria.

Noting that while the gathering was a crucial step in assessing progress, identifying challenges, and charting a way forward in achieving the SDGs 2030 agenda in Nigeria, Mbah pointed that the South-East Region had made tremendous progress in areas such as access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. He called for deliberate efforts to ensure that the opportunities cascade to those at the rural areas.

”The Voluntary National Review process provides a unique platform to showcase our achievements while also engaging in honest reflections on the areas that require improvement. This consultation process therefore provides an opportunity for inclusive dialogue for all stakeholders—government, civil society, private sector, academia, development partners, and traditional institutions—to contribute their perspectives, share experiences, and propose practical solutions. Your voices, experiences, and recommendations are essential in ensuring that Nigeria’s VNR reflects the realities on the ground and strengthens our collective commitment to the SDGs.

“As we engage in discussions, let us remain focused on the ultimate goal—building a South-East region, and by extension, a Nigeria, where the sustainable development goals are not just a concept but a lived reality. Let us not only be bold in identifying challenges but also innovative in proposing solutions. Let us strengthen collaborations and partnerships that will drive meaningful change. Most importantly, let us ensure that the voices of the people—especially those at the grassroots who we, as various stakeholders, represent, are heard, respected, and integrated into the overall national report,” he added.

In her keynote address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said that the participation of the South East region in the consultation was a clear demonstration of the commitment of the states to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.

Adejoke, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Dr. Yahaya Umar, asserted that the consultation would see to the reviewing of the Nigeria SDGs Progress Report (2024) through the lenses of institutional frameworks; progress on the 17 SDGs; lessons learnt; implementation challenges and key recommendations, adding that the reflections and feedback were crucial in ensuring Nigeria’s VNR meet global standards.

”Incidentally, this year’s VNR is coming at a time world leaders adopted the ‘Pact for the Future’ during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last September. Through the ‘Pact’, our leaders have collectively reaffirmed their commitment to take bold, ambitious, accelerated, just and transformative actions to fast-track the achievement of the SDGs,” she said.

Speaking earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor of the state on SDGs, Engr. Onyinye Akubuilo, revealed that the Sustainable Development Goals in Enugu State under the administration of Dr. Mbah had witnessed an unprecedented progress as the state had always shown commitment in the establishment of Type-2 primary healthcare centres and smart green schools in the 260 political wards while dedicating over 33% of its budget to education.

According to her, the state government was doing extremely well across all the goals of the SDGs, saying that the review would go a long way to help the state appreciate how it had fared, the challenges facing it and areas to make improvements across the overall 2030 Agenda.

“The SDG implementation in Enugu has over the years seen progress, especially in the administration of Dr. Peter Mbah. You can see the huge progress that has been made towards SDGs, especially in the establishment of smart schools in all the political wards and of course the Type-2 primary health care in the state. That includes other infrastructural facilities, ensuring clean water and sanitation, gender equality, affordable clean energy, among other programmes,” she further underscored.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu articulated, on Thursday, the rationale behind his administration’s economic reforms, saying the primary motive was protecting the interests of future generations.

He made these remarks at the State House in Abuja while receiving a delegation of former National Assembly colleagues from the aborted Third Republic, during which he served as a Senator representing Lagos West.

The President highlighted the challenges faced at the beginning of his administration, especially economic and social issues, and expressed his gratitude for the delegation’s support in addressing these difficulties:

“For 50 years, Nigeria was spending money of generations yet unborn and servicing the West coast of our subregion with fuel. It was getting difficult to plan for our children’s future.

“We faced serious headwinds when I took over, very challenging times. Nigeria would have been bankrupt if we had not taken the actions that we took, and we had to prevent the economy’s collapse”.

President Tinubu declared that the administration had been able to stem the tide and expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their collective support in turning things around.

“Today, we are sitting pretty on a good foundation. We have reversed the problem; the Exchange rate is stabilising. Food prices are coming down, especially during Ramadan. We will have light at the end of the tunnel.”

He said firm adherence to democratic tenets is the best route to economic, social, and political development.

“I am happy that you are holding to your belief in democracy. I thank you for keeping faith and remembering how we started. Some people missed the ball.

“Some leadership failed, but we kept the faith with our democratic beliefs and freedom and the right to aspire to the highest office in the land. I am benefitting from it.”

Senator Emmanuel Chiedoziem Nwaka, who spoke on behalf of the group, expressed his delight at some of the programmes that the Tinubu administration had implemented, especially the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) and at what the two organisations were offering Nigerians.

“I appreciate you for what you are giving to students because the student population is the largest demographic in the country. I’ve spoken with many of them, and many have benefited from it.

“And the next one is the CREDICORP. That’s a major way of fighting corruption. You see a young man, you come out of school, you want to buy a car, you have to put down cash, you want to buy a house, and you are not married, but with the CREDICORP, you can get things done. I’m following their activities; we are delighted,” he said.

Other members of the delegation were Sen. Bako Aufara Musa, Hon. Terwase Orbunde, Hon. Wasiu Logun, Hon. Amina Aliyu, High Chief Obi Anoliefo and Hon. Eze Nwauwa.

…I remain the Legislative Leader except the court says otherwise – Odo

…I have no hands in the impeachment of Nnamdi Odo – Udenu Council Chairman

Doris Ewoh, Enugu

Following the news of his impeachment, the Councillor representing Obollo Afor ward in Udenu local government area of Enugu State, Nnamdi Odo, has stated that he was impeached due to his insistence that the legislators be allowed to carry out their oversight function.

Speaking on his impeachment at a press conference held Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at Top 10 Hotel, Enugu, Odo accused the council chairman, Aka Eze Aka, of sponsoring his impeachment.

He stated that the process that lead to his impeachment began following a letter to the local government’s Head of Department of Works, inviting the Head of the Department to the legislative chambers.

“I’m being witch hunted by Udenu Local Government Chairman, Aka Eze Aka. His plan to impeach me and suspend the chairman committee on works started on the 20th of February, 2025 following a letter of invitation by the House Committee on Works to the Head of Department of Works, inviting him to appear before them for oversight functions in his department.

“The council chairman asked the Head of Department Works not to honour the invitation of the councillors, so as not to carry out their Legislative function. I personally met the chairman at Enugu on the 24th of February, 2025 to plead he allow councillors carry out their oversight functions but according to him, he said we were fighting him.

“I gave him assurance that we were not fighting him except he had things in those documents he didn’t want the public to see.

“He threatened me with impeachment alongside the Committee Chairman on Works, seeking we withdraw the invitation letter. I advised him that that would be counter productive that instead he should invite the councillors and address them but he was adamant and his mind made up that I must be removed”.

The councillor stressed that he became the subject of attack when he and other councillors were summoned to the office of the Local Government Chairman on the 3rd of March, 2025.

“We all thought it was an opportunity for dialogue to de-escalate the tension but instead the chairman threatened that the oversight functions must not take place.

“Those around demanded that we should kneel down and apologize to the chairman for writing to the Town engineer, but a Councillor, Rt. Hon. Daniel asked him if we had erred in carrying out our Legislative functions to apologize. At the end we didn’t reach a truce”.

He insisted that the “purported impeachment” was an attempt to intimidate and silence him from carrying out his duely elected functions which he said was “in line with the charge the governor gave the 260 ward councillors on the 25th of October, 2024 during the onboarding of the 260 ward councillors at old Governor’s lodge”.

Nnamdi Odo promised to challenge his impeachment in court, stating “I remain the Legislative Leader of Udenu LGA, except the court says otherwise and I urge the good people of Obollo Afor ward to remain calm and peaceful.”

When a PACESETTER correspondent reached out to the council chairman, Aka Eze Aka, over the phone to respond to the allegations by Nnamdi Odo, he denied his involvement in the impeachment, stating that the councillors understood the impropriety of Odo’s actions.

“I wasn’t even around at the time of the impeachment”.

He explained that the invitation to the HOD Works didn’t follow due process.

“He [Nnamdi Odo] should answer the question himself, if it is the proper thing that he did, because the 8 or 9 councillors should understand what he did. I think you should ask them this question”, Aka quipped.

Recall that, yesterday, the Leader of the Udenu Local Government Legislative Council, of Enugu State, Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Odoh, was reported to have been impeached by his fellow councillors, who went on to elect Patrick Ugwu as the new Leader of the Udenu Legislative Council.

The full text of Nnamdi Odo’s press conference can be read here.

In line with the directive of the Enugu State governor, Dr Peter Mbah, the state government has commenced the payment of gratuities to workers in the state civil service who retired from January this year.

Confirming the development to newsmen in his office on Tuesday, the State Accountant General, Mr. Anthony Okenwa, said the government began with retirees who had passed through biometric verification mandated by the governor to eliminate ghost workers from the payroll and pensions records.

Mr. Okenwa stated that the backlog of gratuities between 2010 and 2024 had been frozen for verification of workers who retired within the period, assuring Governor Mbah’s determination to clear the arrears of inherited pensions and gratuities for all workers.

“As directed by the governor, we have begun paying gratuities to workers in the state civil service who retired from January this year. The backlog of gratuities for those who retired between 2010 and 2024 will be paid in installments as soon as the verification exercise for the retirees is concluded.

“The governor’s directive is for all retirees to receive their arrears of pensions and gratuities in installments until they are completely cleared”, he stated.

Recall that Mbah, while campaigning for governor in 2023, had promised to clear the arrears of pensions and gratuities inherited from past administrations in the state.

Police operatives attached to Nsukka Urban Division, in collaboration with law-abiding citizens, have arrested two male armed robbery suspects, Ugwu Ejiofor, aged 32, and Sunday Ugwuanyi, aged 26, on March 6, 2025, at about 8:40 p.m. One locally made double-barreled pistol loaded with one live cartridge, an ATM card, two mobile phones, a Yamaha motorcycle used for their criminal operation, and other exhibits were recovered from the suspects.

Preliminary investigations revealed that at about 8:30 p.m. on the same day, the suspects, riding the recovered motorcycle, accosted a female victim at Obukpa Amebo in Nsukka and robbed her of her bag. Upon receiving the report, police operatives, with assistance from law-abiding citizens, swiftly tracked down and arrested the suspects, recovering the exhibits.

The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Tuesday affirmed Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the governor of Ondo State.