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By Amos Odhe The Commissioner for Sports Development in Bayelsa State Chief Baraladei Daniel has lauded the state chess team and described the team as astute. The commissioner made the statement on Tuesday in his office while receiving them on behalf of the State Governor Senator Douye Diri. The team comprising of leader of delegation Coach Bomo Kigigha,14 year old prodigy Goodness Ekunike, as well as others, were in the Commissioner ‘s office to present the trophy won by a member of the team master Ekunike to the Commissioner following his outstanding performance at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz…

The Bayelsa State Government has reaffirmed its zero tolerance for corruption in governance and cautioned residents against writing frivolous petitions to anti-graft agencies. Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, stated this on Tuesday when he received the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, in charge of Bayelsa and Rivers States, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Yenagoa. Akpe said the general perception of those in politics has always been that of corruption, but noted that the position of the Governor Douye Diri-led Prosperity Administration is non-tolerance for corruption. The deputy governor, who…

By Paul Williams   Freight forwarders and truckers at Onne Port in Rivers State have threatened to shut down operations over the poor condition of the port’s access roads and the manner in which the e-call-up system recently introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is being implemented. Six associations operating at the port, along with the Onne Youths Congress, the umbrella body for youths in Onne Community, noted that despite the huge resources accruing from Onne Port, the access roads leading to the port had become a death trap. The associations on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, issued a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Nigerian Ports Authority to suspend the e-call-up system until facilities such as loading bays are provided and dilapidated access roads are repaired. Chairman of ANLCA, Onne Seaport Chapter, Chief Ifeanyi Isikaku, while reading a communique, expressed the associations’ deep concern and frustration over worsening operating conditions for members and the host community. The unions said NPA rolled out the e-call-up system without first providing adequate holding bays, prompting “the unabated illegal parking of trucks on Onne roads that has choked traffic, damaged goods and exposed workers and residents to danger.” They also described the port’s internal access roads as “deplorable” and a “death trap,” blaming the road condition for container-fall incidents, injuries and loss of life. Isikaku said, “We can no longer tolerate unfulfilled NPA commitments and roads that endanger lives and destroy goods. If holding bays had been provided before the e-call-up rollout, this crisis would have been avoided.” He pointed out that the situation is unfortunate for a port that has contributed up to N487 billion in Customs revenue alone to the federal coffers. Isikaku said Customs revenue from Onne Port Command between January and July 2026 was approximately N439 billion, with an additional N48 billion from the Oil and Gas Free Zone — a combined N487 billion over seven months. He called on the Federal Government, through the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, to allocate a portion of that revenue to fix and maintain internal roads and port facilities. “Onne contributes significantly to national revenue; a fraction of the N487 billion collected between January and July should be used to repair our roads and protect workers and the host community,” he said. The unions, among other things, demanded an immediate end to illegal parking on Onne roads to restore free traffic flow, urgent maintenance and repair of all internal access roads to prevent container falls and safeguard lives, and a ban on members’ participation in arbitrary or bogus payments associated with the e-call-up system and port transport. Chairman of the Maritime Union of Nigeria, Eastern Port, Uche Ogbu, whose union bears the brunt of the dilapidated roads, said, “Our members will not be compelled to make arbitrary payments for a system that lacks the infrastructure to work.” He noted the unions’ resolve on the suspension of the e-call-up system from Monday, August 17, 2026, until adequate holding bays are constructed to accommodate current truck volumes; the suspension will remain in place until all listed challenges are addressed. Ogbu stressed that, “The suspension takes effect on August 17 and will remain until our safety and operating conditions improve.” He said, “We are the people carrying the burden of the e-call-up levies. We the maritime workers in collaboration with other stakeholders and Onne communities are going to down tools from Monday. “We want to draw the attention of government to the poor state of the facilities where we do our businesses. We are not saying that NPA should take action that is beyond their capacity. But they should know how to reach out to the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, reach out to the Managing Director of NPA and through that channel they can get to the Presidency about our plights. “None of them are ready to live up to their responsibility. They are only interested in the e-call-up. We know that if we stop the e-call-up they will sit up and do something about our plights,” the MWUN chairman said.

By Paul Williams Inspector‑General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu has warned political parties, candidates and supporters against acts likely to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026. Disu, in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniedu, on August 12, 2026, said anyone who attempts to disrupt the electoral process through violence, intimidation or thuggery would face the full weight of the law. The IGP warned that recurring electoral offences — such as ballot‑snatching, voter intimidation, vote‑buying and clashes between rival supporters — would not be tolerated…

By Emma Sunday  Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has denied reports of a fresh disagreement between the Executive and Legislative arms of the state government over the 2026 Appropriation Bill. The government, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, described the reports published in some national dailies and online platforms as misleading. According to the statement, Governor Fubara is not at loggerheads with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly but is rather working closely with them in the interest of Rivers people. “We wish to make it abundantly…

…Harps on Collaboration with Stakeholders By Amos Odhe The newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, has formally assumed duty, vowing to wage a decisive war against cultism, armed robbery, maritime crimes, illegal firearms, drug trafficking and other forms of criminality in the state. CP Adewale, who takes over from AIG Iyamah Daniel Edebor after his elevated to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police, arrived the Bayelsa State Police Command headquarters in Yenagoa on Wednesday and immediately outlined his policing agenda to journalists. In his maiden address, the CP assured residents of his commitment…

By Emma Sunday  Operatives of the Rumuolumeni local vigilante group known as OSPAC, have arrested one suspect in connection with the shooting of a 100-level student at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, IAUE, as cult violence on the Rivers State-owned campus continues to escalate. The suspect, identified as Mr. Smith, was apprehended by OSPAC operatives led by Commander Kenneth Olumeni on Wednesday. A Toyota Corolla allegedly linked to the suspects, with registration number BAYELSA NEM-425AE, was also recovered. The arrest came hours after gunmen reportedly shot the student, simply identified as Somina, on the main campus at Rumuolumeni, barely 48…

By Amos Odhe Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has again identified the absence of justice, equity and fairness as the three pillars responsible for Nigeria’s tottering democracy. The Bayelsa governor also stated that without the practice of fiscal federalism and the preponderance of the rule of law, democracy would continue to struggle in the country. Delivering a goodwill message at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue at the International Conference Centre, Bauchi, on Tuesday, Senator Diri contended that having long taken the wrong turn in its democratic journey, Nigeria needed to correct some of its structural imbalances…

By Amos Odhe Persons Living With Disabilities in Bayelsa State have poured encomiums on Bayelsa-born legal practitioner, Toinpre Elliona Crawford, for her kind gestures towards the group. In commemoration of her forthcoming 27th birthday, Crawford through her C.T.E Foundation organized a charity outreach for PWDs, widows and widowers in the oil-rich state. The event which was held in the state capital, Yenagoa, saw the distribution of bags of rice, food items, as well as cash gifts to the scores of beneficiaries who were drawn from the 8 local government areas of the state. Leading the commendations for the celebrant, Mr.…

The Head of the Women’s Wing of Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER), Sophie De Sylvie Djoufa Tiemagni, popularly known as ‘The Captain of the Blue Future’, has paid glowing tribute to Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, Convener and Chief Executive Officer of ABER, describing him as a visionary leader shaping the future of Africa’s Blue Economy. In a statement issued from the ABER Women’s Wing Secretariat, Duoula – Cameroon, Barr. Djoufa Tiemagni said Dr. Kiyaramo embodies a new generation of leadership focused on action, inclusion, and impact. “There are leaders who manage, and there are leaders who inspire, transform, and unite. Dr.…