Latest news with #RiversState
BBC News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Planned Rivers state local government election na sign of return to democratic rule?
After more dan two years of political crisis for di oil rich State for Southern Nigeria, Rivers State political landscape don begin stabilize wit di local goment elections wey dem reschedule. Dis na as di Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) release a revised timetable for di election. Dis one na sign to show say dem wan restore democratic governance for di State. RSIEC officials meet wit "critical stakeholders" wey include leaders of political parties, traditional rulers, security agencies, civil society groups, religious leaders, academics, and media pipo on Monday to finalize preparations for di local goment elections. Na di newly appointed RSIEC Chairman, Dr Michael Ekpali Odey, call di meeting. Na for dia e conclude wit di announcement say elections into di 319 wards and 23 local goment councils go now hold on 30 August 2025, wey be 21 days later dan di original date of August 9 wey di former RSIEC Chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli Rtd bin announce. According to di new timetable, political parties dey expected to express interest in di elections between July 28 and 30, while party primaries for chairmanship and councillorship positions suppose hold on 2 August 2025. Campaigns go start on 20 August 2025, ahead of di 30 August election day. How Political parties react to di new LGA Council election date? Different political parties react differently to di announcement by RSIEC as some dey ready to cooperate and work wit di new timetable while odas say dem no go participate. Dem say na sake of some legal issues wey surround recent developments, even as odas say dem go review di situation and take a decision later. For di Peoples Democratic Party PDP, di State Chairman Aaron Chukwuemeka say di party dey ready to swing into action to conduct primaries wey go produce candidates for di election. While for di APC, di Tony Okocha led faction dey ready for di polls, but di one led by Emeka Beke say dem no go follow for dis illegal exercise. But tok tok pesin for Rivers APC, Darlington Nwauju tell BBC Pidgin say, "dis na a continuation of di illegality wey don dey happen for Rivers State and we no go be a party to continue am." "If Inec wey be di baba of election for di kontri say sake of di emergency rule wey dey Rivers State, dem no go fit conduct bye elections for Khana Constituency 2 for di Rivers State House of Assembly, [wey di member wey bin dey represent am, Dinebari Loolo die for 2023], den on wat grounds wey RSIEC dey stand to conduct local goment elections for di State? "So we as APC no go participate for dat kain illegality." E tok. For di Action Peoples Party (APP) wey bin win 22 of di 23 LG seat for di last local council elections wey di Supreme Court nullify, di coming elections dey pose some serious legal kwesions wey dem dey ready to ask both di Commission and di law courts. Dis na becos di legal adviser of Action Peoples Party APP, Henry Ekine observe say di chairman of RSIEC bin don justify di postponement of di local goment election from 9 August sake of di State of emergency wey dey Rivers State. "So di fundamental kwesion now na if di situation wey Rivers State dey today, dat is di State of emergency, na di reason to postpone di election from 9 August, dem mean say by if by di 30th of August 2025 di State of emergency still dey dem go postpone di election again?" How di mata reach dis point? Di rescheduling of di Rivers Local Goment elections dey follow di Supreme Court ruling on February 28, 2025, wey nullify di October 5, 2024, council elections wey govnor Siminialayi Fubara bin conduct, citing violations of di 2022 Electoral Act. Di Supreme court rule say di process, wey di former RSIEC Chairman Justice Adolphus Enebeli Rtd carry out, bin dey wrong and lack legal basis. E also bar di Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing dia voters register to RSIEC at di time. Although di Court of Appeal bin don overturn di lower court decision, di All Progressives Congress (APC) pursue di matter to di Supreme Court, wey uphold di original judgment. Dis ruling effectively dissolve all 23 local councils. Following dis judgement, govnor Fubara say e go abide by di decision of di Supreme Court and call all di former local goment chairmen wey bin dey under di Action Peoples Party APP to step aside and handover to do Head of Local Government Administration. Sake of di political crisis wey bin dey di State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declare a state of emergency in Rivers State on 18 March 18, 2025, for an initial six months. E suspend di elected govnor, deputy govnor Prof Ngozi Odu, and di House of Assembly and den appoint Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas Rtd as Sole Administrator to manage di State during di emergency period. Now di e don reach di fifth month, as di emergency rule dey expected to expire on September 18, 2025. As part of di transition back to democratic governance, Ibas dey oversee preparations for di local elections, even though many pesins dey challenge di Rivers State emergency rule for both federal and State High Courts. Controversy around di RSIEC chairman Di appointment of Dr Michael Odey, a retired INEC official as di RSIEC Chairman bin spark some controversy. Dis na becos particular Dr Odey no be Rivers prsin, e come from Cross River and e come without any consultation wit di suspended state leadership. However, after a conciliatory visit to di National Assembly, tensions reduce and di National Assembly approve im appointment. For di meeting on Monday, Dr Odey assure all political stakeholders and di pipo of Rivers State say di commission go deliver a free, fair, peaceful, and credible local goment elections. As di countdown now officially dey on, di coming weeks go dey critical to determine how fast Rivers State fit return to democratic normalcy after months of federal intervention and emergency rule.
Zawya
23-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria's Lekoil to Showcase Expansion Plans, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)-Driven Growth Strategy at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025
Edward During, Chief Financial Officer, and Sam Olotu, Chief Technical Officer of Africa-focused oil and gas company Lekoil, will join the lineup of industry leaders speaking at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies in Cape Town. Their participation comes as the Nigerian independent continues to make headlines with its rapid project execution, growing investments and increasing involvement in national development and energy transition initiatives. Lekoil holds interests in a diverse portfolio of marginal and offshore assets across Nigeria, with a track record that reflects both technical achievement and rapid project execution. The company was part of the consortium that drilled the Ogo-1 and Ogo-1 ST wells in the OPL 310 license offshore Lagos in 2013 – one of the largest offshore discoveries in Nigeria in recent history, with estimated recoverable resources exceeding 700 million barrels of oil equivalent. Building on that early success, Lekoil later acquired a majority stake in the Otakikpo field in OML 11, Rivers State, and brought it into production within just 18 months – setting a new benchmark for speed and efficiency among indigenous operators. Today, the company continues to build momentum at Otakikpo as part of a wider expansion plan to boost output and optimize existing infrastructure. Lekoil has also reinforced its commitment to ESG principles, with the company publicly advocating for stronger integration of environmental, social and governance practices across Africa's energy industry. In January 2025, Lekoil announced a strategic partnership with the Akwa Ibom State Government aimed at unlocking investment across the oil and gas value chain, with additional collaboration in agriculture and community development. The partnership reflects Lekoil's long-term vision of integrating energy production with local economic empowerment, creating jobs and enabling broader development benefits. Lekoil's leadership has made clear that it aims to serve as a model for how indigenous energy companies can lead the way in delivering tangible socioeconomic impact while meeting national production goals. The independent operator has targeted 250,000 barrels of oil per day in the long term, aligning this ambition with a strategy centered on marginal field development, local partnerships and integrated investment in infrastructure, job creation and regional growth. 'At AEW 2025, the company's participation will offer valuable insight into how indigenous firms are not only accelerating field development, but also shaping policy, investment and sustainability discourse across the continent. Lekoil is expected to provide updates on its expanding project pipeline, strategic partnerships and its approach to navigating both legacy challenges and the demands of a just and pragmatic energy transition. As Nigeria looks to scale up production and unlock the potential of its untapped reserves, Lekoil's trajectory serves as a compelling example of what's possible when local capacity is matched with focused leadership and collaborative investment,' says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber. About AEW: Invest in African Energies: AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit for more information about this exciting event.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- BBC News
Pregnant student allegedly set boyfriend on fire for Uniport
Police don begin investigate di fire incident wey lead to di death of 29 year old Sunny Amadi for Choba, Rivers State Pipo shock wen tori burst say Sunny Amadi die from severe burn wey e suffer from di fire im supposed girlfriend allegedly cause. BBC Pidgin gada from a relative of di girlfriend say di incident hapun for Ogbogoro road for Choba, near di University of Port Harcourt campus for di girlfriend off-camp apartment, and e leave her in a condition wey dey very severe as she sef suffer serious burn injuries. "According to wetin she tell us, on di day di tin happen, she bin comot go buy somtin. Wen she return she see say candle dey on for her house. "She surprise becos though light bin no dey, she no light any candle for her house. Wen she reach she she her former boyfriend inside di house wit a gallon of fuel." Di relative explain say she and di boyfriend bin don break up and she don tell am make e no call her or come near her again, but e dey beg her but she no gree. "E say dem come begin argue as she tell am to comot from her house and in di process di fuel come pour and catch fire from di candle na so di fire burst cover di two of dem. "So she try run comot from di house but already di fire don also burn her bodi. "Na one neighbour call me say make I come see wetin don hapun, na so I rush come from village amd we carry dem go hospital. "Unfortunately di boyfriend don die from di injuries wey e get but she sef dey critical condition too as she suffer second degree burns wey cover her bodi." Police begin investigation to know wetin cause di fire Police tok tok pesin, SP Grace Iringe-Koko confam say her boyfriend die for hospital while she dey receive medical treatment. Police tok say dem neva know di cause of di fire but pipo dey alledge say na di Cynthia Chukwundah, wey 300-level female undergraduate student of di University of Port Harcourt set her boyfriend on fire. Dem tok say dem dey torchlight di mata and dey pray for di lady so she go dey strong enough to tok wetin really hapun between dem as her condition also dey very critical from di burns she suffer and she also dey pregnant for di boyfriend wey don die. "Di police don locate Cynthia, wey dey receive medical treatment for hospital due to injuries she wey she sustain during di incident. She dey heavily pregnant wit di deceased pikin. Due to her critical condition, she no fit provide detailed account of di incident, but she go do so wen her condition dey stable," di police tok-tok pesin tok. "We neva ascertain di cause of di fire, and we don launch thorough investigation to know di circumstances wey dey surround di incident."
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
‘No more acrimony, peace don come' - Wike tok afta e meet wit Tinubu and Fubara
'No more acrimony. Peace don finally come to di state.' Na wetin FCT Minister Nyesom Wike tok at di end of a peace meeting between im and Rivers State Govnor Siminialayi Fubara wit President Bola Tinubu for Aso Rock. Photos of smiles and handshake between Govnor Fubara, di State Assembly members with Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike and President Tinubu don raise hopes of a possible end to di emergency rule for di state. Govnor Fubara alongside Wike and Martins Amaewhule, speaker of di Rivers State House of Assembly and oda Assembly members meet with President Tinubu to broker a peace deal wey dey expected to return democratic governance to di state. Dis meeting dey expected to be a crucial part of di peace building process since President Tinubu declare a state of emergency wey suspend elected state executives and di House of Assembly on 18 March 2025, over three months ago. Afta di meeting, di FCT minister and Govnor Fubara say peace don return as dem don finally reconcile. Wike say dem don agree to work togeda wit di govnor and di govnor too don agree to work with dem. E say dem be members of di same political family wey dey disagree sometimes but now, dem don settle and dem come togeda to inform Mr. president. Photos from di meeting suggest a breakthrough in efforts to resolve di political crisis for di state as one photo show di president with Govnor Fubara and FCT minister all dey smile and shake hands. Oda photos show di FCT Minister and di govnor dey waka side by side with di Speaker Amaewhule and oda state lawmakers dey follow dem. Govnor Fubara say e happy say dis day of reconciliation don come to be as e dey necessary and important for di peace and progress of Rivers State. 'With di help of di president and di agreement of di leaders of di state, peace don return to Rivers State. We go do evritin within our power to make sure say we sustain am dis time around.' Govnor Fubara tok. How we reach here? All dis crises arise from disagreement between Govnor Fubara and di FCT Minister Wike with many reactions wey include: Many pipo don criticise di emergency rule wey see di appointment of a Sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas Rtd, from Cross River State to oversee affairs for di state. E lead to many court cases wey dey challenge am for Federal High Courts both for Port Harcourt and Abuja as dem insist say a tsate of emergency no require di president to suspend di elected govnor and Assembly members and impose a non-indigene on di state to oversee affairs. Even di appointment of sole administrators for di 23 LGAs for di State na anoda issue wey many criticize as dem say e no dey known to law and e only favour one party for di crises. Odas also criticise di dissolution of boards and agencies for di state and even di one wey National Assembly don approve, over N1trillion 2025 state budget as well as clearing some officials for some boards. Di approval of anoda Cross River State indigene, Michael Ekpai, to head di Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission RSIEC wey dey expected to conduct local goment elections also spark criticism. But di main questions na weda dis reconciliation moves go bring an end to di emergency rule soon? Wetin go happen to di court cases wey challenge di emergency rule wey di Federal High Courts never begin proper hearing for most of dem? Wetin go happen to di recent appointments wey di Nigerian Senate approve, dem go still hold or dem go dey suspended? All dis na wetin pipo dey wait to see how e go all play out.
Zawya
24-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Green Energy International Starts Operations at Nigerian Onshore Terminal
Nigerian energy company Green Energy International has lifted its first crude cargo from the recently-completed Otakikpo onshore terminal, situated near Port Harcourt in Nigeria. The facility received its maiden cargo via a vessel chartered by energy major Shell in June 2025. Crude was transported from the Otakikpo marginal field – located in Rivers State and operated by Green Energy International – signaling the start of operations of the onshore terminal. Green Energy International is a Diamond Sponsor of this year's African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference – taking place September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town. The Otakikipo facility represents the first indigenous onshore terminal constructed in the country in five decades. Construction started in 2023, with the terminal completed in June 2025, six-months ahead of schedule. Green Energy International began injecting crude in March 2025, with production averaging 5,000 barrels per day. Since March, the company has received regulatory approval to boost production to 30,000 bpd under a revised field development plan. This aligns closely with ambitions by the company to scale-up Nigerian crude production, supporting African energy development. AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit for more information about this exciting event. The Otakikpo facility aligns closely with national goals of increasing crude storage and production to two million bpd, as it is expected to play a major role in processing crude from marginal fields. The state-of-the-art facility has a storage capacity of 750,000 barrels, with plans underway to increase capacity to three million barrels, dependent on market demand. The terminal also features an export capacity of 360,000 bpd, with crude transported via a 23-km 20-inch pipeline, connecting to a single point mooring system in the Atlantic Ocean. This way, the terminal is capable of receiving crude from several marginal fields, allowing operators to significantly reduce transport costs by reducing the reliance on costly offshore floating stations. The terminal is also expected to unlock previously-stranded crude resources from more than 40 marginal fields across the region, with a capacity to receive up to 250,000 bpd from third-party producers. As such, the terminal offers a domestic solution to producing, storing and exporting crude, supporting national development goals. The milestone comes as Nigeria strives to increase production through diversified field developments. Marginal fields have been designated as a priority area for the country, with the government implementing mechanisms to attract investment and development across these assets. Notably, in 2020, the government launched a marginal field bidding round to entice operators – both indigenous and international – to invest in these fields. The bid round drew over 591 companies seeking to develop 57 oilfields, with 161 companies shortlisted. Most of these firms represented indigenous operators, highlighting both the commitment by indigenous companies to invest in Nigerian oilfields and the level of opportunity in the company's offshore market. Green Energy International's Diamond Sponsorship of AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 reflects the company's long-term vision for the Nigerian oil sector. Uniting the entire African energy sector and its value chain in Cape Town, AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 takes place under a mandate to make energy poverty history, facilitating dialogue and dealmaking and driving projects forward in Africa. The event showcases major projects while connecting operators and financiers, with a view to unlocking new development across the continent. The Otakikpo facility is a critical step towards improving domestic storage and production solutions in Nigeria and serves as a strong example for other indigenous operators in regional markets. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
