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Pragmatics Association of Nigeria (Pran), recently held her 9th international conference/workshop at Ignatins Ajuru University of Education with the theme: Pragmatics of silence. ‎Speaking at the university auditorium, the National President of the Association, Prof. Pius Akhimien, admonished people never to take silence at its face-value and that silence, though golden in itself, conveys message in every human communication to the concern parties. ‎According to him, the essence of the conference is for scholars of like minds to come together, brainstorm, think and intellectually analysis strategically how silence could be a good tool in communication. ‘’Speech is a silver; but…

As the political wave in the country builds up for the reelection of Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for second tenure, Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, a political pressure group, has held an emergency meeting to finetune and strategize towards next year’s elections. ‎Addressing members in the Port Harcourt Office of the organisation, the Coordinator of RTIFN, High Chief Jasper Johnson, disclosed that the reason for the meeting is to kick-start contacts and mobilization of the electorate at the grassroot. ‎According to him, since all politics is local and as such, bulk of the voters reside at…

By: Amb. Ozimede Izuagbe Peter With static checkpoints gone, Rivers can dominate highways through “Smart Check” — a fluid, intelligence-driven model. Roving tactical teams move like shadows across key routes in marked and unmarked vehicles, never staying long enough to be predicted. They stop only vehicles that signal danger: no registration, suspicious tinting at night, erratic driving, or overload. Law-abiding citizens flow through while threats are pulled aside. Technology leads. Handheld scanners read plates from a distance and flag threats in seconds. Body cameras record every interaction, protecting both citizens and Officers. CCTV coverage along highways strengthens investigation and evidence.…

By: Amb. Ozimede Izuagbe Peter There are moments when leadership ceases to be paperwork and becomes presence. When a Commissioner does not just sit in an office, but walks the streets, feels the pulse of the people, and forces discipline into the system by example. That moment is now in Rivers State. The name written across is the Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju Adewale PSC, MNIPS. Under his watch, the Rivers State Police Command has become a movement. A movement forged on steel resolve, human dignity, and a police force that finally feels like it belongs to the people. Rivers…

By Mandy Willy The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, has called on the Nigeria Police Force to fully implement Police Force Order 20 and the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme (PDSS) to promote accountability, transparency and speedy justice for suspects. Justice Amadi made the call during a one-day capacity-building programme on the strategic implementation of the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme in Rivers State. The training, themed “Implementation of Police Force Order 20: Strengthening Access to Justice, Protection and Promotion of Rights of Suspects and Detainees,” was organised by the Federal Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) in…

By Paul Williams A coalition of civil society groups have called on the Federal Government, the Nigeria Police Force, the National Assembly and other security institutions to prioritise the welfare of the country’s first responders through policy reforms and better budgetary provisions. In a joint statement dated June 27, 2026, Relief International Africa, Civil‑Military Police Paramilitary Relations (CIMPARR‑NIGERIA) and COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peacebuilding said frontline personnel — including police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Armed Forces — continue to operate under difficult conditions that undermine effectiveness and morale. “Officers who are physically, mentally and…

By Paul Williams The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has called for an urgent, independent probe and comprehensive integrity assessment following a crude‑oil pipeline explosion in Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government Area, Abia State. FENRAD’s Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, in a statement on June 27, 2026 said the blast exposes risks from Nigeria’s ageing oil infrastructure. He said the incident — which Abia State officials have blamed on a pipeline reportedly installed in the late 1950s — underlines the need for a transparent, scientific inquiry rather than headline speculation. Nwafor called for a Joint Investigation…

By Paul Williams A Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved ruling until July 1 on the bail application of Ugochukwu Ibekwe, an alleged oil thief and suspected economic saboteur whose arrest followed intelligence gathered by PINL and other security agencies along the Eastern corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline. Ibekwe is facing charges of conspiracy, tampering with oil pipelines, unlawful dealing in petroleum products, operating unlicensed refining sites and money laundering. The Federal Government, through its prosecution team, opposed his application for bail at the resumed hearing. The prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN),…

The International Union of Tenants (IUT) a global umbrella union of tenants has urged the Rivers State Government to take practical steps to stop the escalation of rent cost in the state especially Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government areas. ‎The IUT urged the government to immediately introduce measures to halt unlawful conversion of residential buildings; address excessive rent increases and restore affordable housing supply through effective regulation. ‎The IUT action is in response to a letter by the National Union of Tenants of Nigeria,  Rivers State chapter, calling the attention of the Rivers State Government to the need to…

By: Emmanuel Kanayo ‎Motorists and pedestrians plying St John/Car Wash Road along Ogbogoro in Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State have alleged that a local vigilante group is extorting money from road users in broad daylight. ‎The road, a busy link route in Obio/Akpor LGA, has reportedly become a collection point where members of the group stop vehicles and demand payment. ‎Several commuters who spoke on condition of anonymity said the practice has persisted for days. They allege the vigilantes operate close to Elioparanwo Police Station, with officers at the station allegedly observing without intervening. ‎“They stand at…