Latest news with #RiversState
BBC News
6 days ago
- 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.
BBC News
22-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Viral video catch wia pipo dey beat Rivers LGA Sole administrator, police take action
Rivers state police don condemn di attack on di sole administrator of Ahoada-East Local goment area, Goodluck Iheanachor and invite im chief of staff to come answer kwesion on di matter. Police claim say Hector Ekakita, wey be di chief security officer and di Chief of staff to di sole administrator allegedly storm di council secretariat wit 30 jaguda pipo, wey attack oga Iheanacho. Di attack happun on Friday 20 June for di council secretariat according to police. During di attack, di jaguda pipo beat di Sole Administrator, tiff im mobile phones, force am to sign im letter of resignation, den go away vital documents, including official and personal documents from im office, police tok. Dis incident dey happun few months afta im appointment by Vice Admiral Ibot-Ete Ibas di Sole Administrator of Rivers State. Police say Iheanacho dey hospital wia im dey currently collect medical treatment sake of di injuries wey e get during di violent attack. Im dey stable condition. Meanwhile di commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, visit di scene of attack wit heads of oda sister security agency for di state and vow to take action. Viral video For di viral video, Honourable Iheanacho wear grey native sitdom for ground surrounded by di Jagudu pipo. Di jaguda pipo flog di sole administrator of Ahoada and shout on am to sign di document wey dem give am. Rivers state emergency rule Na March 18, 2025, President Bola Tinubu declare state of emergency for Rivers state and suspend di governor, im deputy and all lawmakers for di state parliament for six months. For one nationwide broadcast on Tuesday evening Tinubu say im receive "disturbing security reports wia im detail incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militants without di govnor taking any action to curtail them". Im add say im no allow di "grave situation" to kotinu. But lawyers and opposition politicians dey kwesion di legality of di president decision. Tinubu bin make di announcement afta one of di kontri highest producing crude oil pipelines, di Trans-Niger Pipeline, bin suffer significant damage sake of blast. In di past criminal gang or militant don carry out attack on pipelines wey, halt production and exports. At current prices, the oil flowing through the affected pipeline fetches around $14m (£11m) a day, according to the online publication Africa Report. But against the backdrop of the blast, there has been a political rift in Rivers state that has reached boiling point. Govnor Siminalayi Fubara na member of di People Democratic Party wey dey face serious wahala. PDP na di main opposition party to di president's All Progressives Congress. Tinubu say politicians no bin fit work togeda effectively sake of di wahala. Im allege say Fubara allies bin threaten "fire and brimstone" against di govnor enemies and dem no "disown" dis comments. Rivers state lawmakers bin threaten to impeach di govnor and im deputy. Tinubu say dis political crisis don leave Rivers state im "standstill" im add say dis im move dey based on di need to restore peace and order for di state. Fubara react to di state of emergency, im say na "political disagreements, but good governance dey kotinu". "Rivers state dey safe, secure and peaceful under our watch," im tok. Di state of emergency allow di goment to run di state in di interim and dem go send security forces if needed.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'Wetin we want na make goment clear dem, no be pardon' – Reactions follow presidential pardon for Ogoni 9
Esther Kiobel, wife of one of di Ogoni Nine, Barinem Kiobel say she thank President Tinubu say e don take di first step to give justice to di 'Ogoni 9'. She tok dis one afta Nigeria president Bola Tinubu for im independence day speech, grant presidential pardon to di famous Ogoni nine wey dem execute under di military rule of Lat e General Sani Abacha. Her tok follow di many reactions wey don follow di National honours and Presidential pardon wey Oga Tinubu grant grant on Thursday. Kiobel say e don reach many decades wey she don dey fight for justice for her husband and she believe say dis tin wey di President don do na a way forward. "I don dey fight for am [my husband] to dey exonerated becos di Abacha goment in collaboration wit Shell Oil kill dem. So I know say e don take long but I believe say justice go surely come to pass." Madam Kiobel say she go like make di Nigerian goment retry dat case as dem as families of di Ogoni 9 go through a lot and survive by di grace of God. "I dey alive becos na God dey keep me and my husband spirit sef dey help to keep me to make sure say we get justice becos e no commit any crime. Dat tin na injustice but we need justice." Kiobel widow say many nights she don shed tears for her bed wen she remember how most of di women die, plenti pipo die for dis cause and her husband life wey also bin dey cut short bifor im time. So justice to clear dia name naim dem want. 'Ogoni 9' na a group of nine activists from di Ogoni region of Rivers State for southern Nigeria, wey opposed di operating practices of di Royal Dutch Shell oil corporation for di Niger Delta region. Di military goment for Nigeria bin arrest and set up a special tribunal against dem for murders of four Ogoni chiefs - Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage and Theophilus Orage, wey dem kill for Gokana. R. Boele, Ogoni. Social activist and head of di Movement for di Survival of di Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ken Saro-Wiwa, alongside eight of im fellow leaders - Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine—bin dey on trial under accuse say na dem incite di murder of di four Ogoni chiefs and na on 10 November 1995 di Nigerian Goment execute dem by hanging for Port Harcourt Prison. On democracy day June 12, 2025, Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a speech to a joint session of di National Assembly, grant Presidential pardon on di Ogoni Nine and confer on dem Posthumous National awards. 'Dem dey pardon pesin wey dey innocent?' Ogoni activist, Fegalo Nsuke say di act by di President na di first time any Nigerian President don acknowledge say a crime bin dey committed against di Ogoni Nine and so e praise di action of di President in giving dem such acknowledgement and granting dem a presidential pardon and national honours. "President Tinubu make a bold step wey I think suppose dey help us towards achieving a good healing process. Since 1995 when dis executions take place, no Nigerian President don admit say a wrongdoing bin happen. I must admit say yesterday President Tinubu don admit say dat na injustice and e go further to grant a state pardon." Fegalo Nsuke say while dem appreciate di goodwill of di president, a state pardon na sometin wey dem dey give pipo wey commit an offense and from all available information, di Ogoni Nine dey innocent as such dem wonder wetin di state pardon dey for. Oga Nsuke say wetin dem dey ask for na say beyond giving National honours on di Ogoni Nine, dem go like make di federal goment commission an enquiry into the trial process as dem insist say di decision to kill Ken Saro-Wiwa bin dey taken even bifor dem establish di tribunal. "Dat tribunal bin dey established primarily to kill Ken Saro-Wiwa becos im challenge di system wey bin dey exploit di Ogoni pipo and oda parts of di Niger Delta at di time and so di goment decide to kill am and in dat process, eight odas come fall victims. Also, environmental rights defender Celestine Akpobari say a pardon dey given to somebodi wey commit an offense. "Wetin di Ogoni pipo and human rights community dey ask for na exoneration. So I bin dey expect Mr President to set up a judicial panel of enquiry to do a review of dat kangaroo trial wey sentenced Ken to death. I bin dey expect say dat go happen and from dia dem go dey exonerated completely."
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Fubara meeting wit Tinubu na sign say peace don dey near for Rivers politics?
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu meeting wit suspended Governor of Rivers State for im Lagos residence dey fuel speculations say di State of emergency declared for Rivers State and suspension of di fit dey lifted soon? Dis meeting wey hold bypass di Minister of di Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for di political tok-tok, wey dey fuel speculations wey dey make many pipo dey feel say di suspended governor fit dey reinstated soon. Di meeting, wey hold behind closed doors for di President private Bourdillon residence for Ikoyi, Lagos, mark di second known meeting between Tinubu and Fubara in recent times. Di first meeting na a four-hour meeting wey happun for London. E hold while di President bin dey recover from medical treatment in Germany. One tin wey dey noticeable from both meetings na di absence of Nyesom Wike, di political godfather and critic of Fubara, wey don also admit say e bin no dey aware of di President plan to declare a state of emergency for di State wey happen on 28 March 2025, more than two months ago. Wike later confam for one media chat say e no bin dey consulted bifor di suspension of democratic institutions in Rivers State. Di imposition of emergency rule for Rivers State, wey President Tinubu announce after prolonged political unrest, lead to suspension of all elected institutions and di appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd) as sole administrator—a move wey don draw sharp criticisms from civil society groups, legal scholars, and opposition politicians. 'Handshake no mean anytin until di State of emergency dey lifted' - Ann Kio Briggs' One of such pesins wey don criticise dis imposition of di State of emergency and a elder for Rivers State na Ann Kio Briggs, a notable Niger Delta rights activist. She tell BBC Pidgin say a handshake between Governor Fubara and President fit mean a lot of tins but until di State of emergency dey lifted and democratic rules reinstated for di State, e no make sense. Ann Kio Briggs say di State of emergency for Rivers still no dey acceptable and wen she see di picture of di handshake between Fubara and Tinubu, e still no remove di reality of di impact of di state of emergency on di State and di pipo. "No be about a handshake wit di President but na about weda di President understand wetin dey go on for Rivers State. Na about di President listening to di pipo of Rivers State and more critically, na about wetin Governor Siminialayi Fubara dey prepared to do for di pipo of Rivers State and to realise say just becos pesin dey prepared to do somtin no mean say dat na di best tin for di pipo, if di pipo no agree wit am. Foto dem wey di presidency release afta di meeting show Tinubu and Fubara dey smile, a gesture wey many pipo feel say fit signal say negotiations dey progress behind di scenes. 'Na good sign for Rivers State' - Henry Ekine For Henry Ekine wey be lawyer and di National legal adviser, Committee for Human Rights, say di handshake between Fubara and Tinubu na good signal as govnor Fubara wey still be di elected govnor of Rivers State get right to visit and interact with di President. E tell BBC Pidgin say e dey okay to speculate say such visit fit give an indication of a possible truce and lifting of di suspension on di Governor. Ekine say Section 305 of di Constitution wey President Tinubu rely on to declare di State of emergency na to di effect say di State of emergency fit dey lifted at any time, even a day after di proclamation. So e no mean say e must complete di six months wey bin dey declared bifor di emergency fit dey lifted. "E dey possible say about three months into di State of emergency di President fit exercise dat discretion or power again to even lift di State of emergency, but e dey important to note say di President fit lift a part of dat State of emergency e declare. "Di possibility dey say di President fit lift di suspension of di Governor of Rivers State and di House of Assembly while di State of emergency go continue until di six months end. "I bin don tok bifor say di State of emergency fit dey declared without suspending di governor or di House of Assembly. So e mean say di governor fit dey called back to office and di State of emergency continue for di remaining three months. "Seeing di President and di govnor of Rivers State in dat very cordial posture for di picture na clear indication say peace fit dey very close, especially as di Governor sef don tok say discussions dey go on. Dat na di best for Rivers State." E tok. Any end in sight? Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Ibas Rtd still dey kontinu to act as usual, wey dey raise concerns say di emergency rule fit dey extended or institutionalized. On Tuesday, e announce di appointment of 11 new permanent secretaries for Rivers State, wey e swear in on wednesday and dis action dey further deepen fears say di interim arrangement fit become permanent. Despite public silence from both di presidency and di governor media teams regarding di meetings, political observers note say di timing, wey dey come just few days to Democracy Day, dey suggest a calculated effort to restore normalcy while managing di internal gbege within di PDP and di broader political implications for 2027. Wetin Wike don tok so far? For media chat on Monday, Wike say e no get any personal grudge against Fubara but insist say di govnor go align imself wit individuals e describe as "enemies of di State," wey include former PDP National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus, former Transportation Minister Dr. Abiye Sekibo, and former lawmakers Austin Opara, Lee Maeba, and Celestine Omehia—eey hin be former allies but now don turn rival. Wike tok and contradictions don further shake di political waters for Rivers becos as e dey call for loyalty to President Tinubu leadership, e also dey lament say e dey sidelined from critical decisions regarding im home state. Wetin Governor Fubara don tok so far? Meanwhile, Governor Fubara dey mainly silent since all dis tins dey happun. Wen e handover of state affairs to di sole administrator, Fubara urge im supporters to remain calm and avoid divisive actions. During Late Pa Edwin Clark night of tributes, e lambast some of di pipo wey dey protest about di State of emergency and criticise to dey careful with wetin dem dey tok and to ask am weda eem don check with am to see if e gree with dem? E say im spirit don comot for Goment House but e still dey committed to di peace process and to work in di best interest of di State but say e for good if pipo no use dia actions and toks to spoil di peace process Wey dey ongoing. For im Democracy Day massage on 29 May, e praise Tinubu for intervening in di political crisis and tell di pipo of di State to keep hope alive. As June 12 dey approach, all eyes dey on di presidency to see weda President Tinubu go lift di emergency rule and restore democratic governance in Rivers - or e go kontinu to play di long game for di political gameboard? Na wetim di pipo dey wait to see.
