Category Nigeria News

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has called on Rivers people to rally behind President Bola Tinubu, stressing that the state stands to benefit more when there is cooperation between the federal and state governments.

He said his administration is willing to work with all pro-Tinubu groups and stakeholders committed to the President’s re-election, noting that stability at the national level is vital for sustained development.

Governor Fubara made the appeal on Thursday during the commissioning of the 12km Egbeda–Omerelu link road connecting communities in Emohua and Ikwerre Local Government Areas.

He described the newly completed road as another fulfilled promise, recalling his earlier assurances to residents while inaugurating road projects in the area last year.

READ ALSO: Fubara Denies Rift With Rivers Lawmakers, Seeks Support For Tinubu

The governor reiterated that inclusive development remains a central priority of his administration, assuring that every part of Rivers State will feel the impact of government projects.

He said no community—whether urban or rural—will be left behind as his administration continues to roll out people-oriented infrastructure.

Governor Fubara explained that his administration has adopted open commissioning of projects to provide visible proof that the government is working.

He noted that although public inaugurations are not a global requirement, they help strengthen public trust at a time when political tensions have created doubts and misinformation.

He appealed to Rivers people to maintain peace, stressing that progress cannot be achieved in an environment driven by conflict.

Despite the tribulations and political pressures his administration has faced, the governor said he remains focused on delivering the dividends of democracy and improving the welfare of the people.

The House of Representatives on Thursday asked the Federal Government to grant immediate tax waivers to airlines in a bid to reduce flight fares during the Yuletide season.

Lawmakers also called for a 50 percent reduction in auxiliary charges within the aviation industry.

The resolution came after a debate on the soaring cost of flight fares. However, the lawmakers rejected proposals to subsidize airline tickets.

On Tuesday, the Senate summoned the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and other stakeholders over rising flight tickets.

READ ALSO: Senate Summons Aviation Minister Over Surging Airfares

Senator Buhari Abdulfatai from Oyo State, who led the debate, told lawmakers that Nigerians have been complaining about the rising cost of domestic flight tickets in recent months.

Abdulfatai disclosed that a one-way ticket from Abuja to Lagos now costs between N400,000 and N600,000, an amount many citizens can no longer afford.

“We need to invite stakeholders of our airline agencies to interact and interrogate the issues. Immediate steps must be taken before the festive period,” he said during plenary.

Other lawmakers, including Senator Adamu Aliero, echoed a similar sentiment.

The University of Jos (UNIJOS) community has been thrown into mourning following an accident that claimed the lives of eight students of the institution.

The crash, involving a trailer and a bus conveying eleven students, happened around 2:30 a.m. opposite Unity Bank along Zaria Road, Jos, Plateau State.

According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Plateau State Sector Command Public Education Officer, Peter Longsan, seven students were found dead when responders arrived at the scene.

READ ALSO: One Killed, Others Injured As Armed Criminals Attack Church In Anambra 

Another victim died in the hospital, bringing the total fatalities to eight.

The remaining three students, all male like the deceased, are receiving treatment.

An eyewitness told Channels Television that the bus was travelling at high speed and attempted a wrongful overtaking.

This caused the driver to lose control before colliding with the trailer.

FRSC Sector Commander, Corps Commander Olajide Mogaji, said a detailed investigation was underway.

Mogaji urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to avoid night journeys, speeding, dangerous driving, and driving when fatigued or under the influence.

A member of the House of Representatives, Clement Jimbo, has said that Nigerians who desire additional security personnel should not be denied access to such protection, insisting that the privilege must not remain exclusive to government officials.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, the Lawmaker representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency said “every single Nigerian is a VIP,” therefore, citizens who want security escorts or guards for their homes, travel, or events should be able to obtain them.

Jimbo anchored his argument on the Constitution, explaining that Section 14(2)(b) places welfare and security at the core of governance, while Section 214 establishes the Nigeria Police Force and Section 217 creates the armed forces, all designed to operationalise that mandate.

He said that in situations where government security resources are insufficient to cover the entire country, the President has the constitutional latitude to engage private security structures to support citizens who are willing to pay for personal protection.

According to him, many Nigerians, especially during the festive period, want to travel to their hometowns with properties and desire security personnel to accompany them.

He added that some citizens are ready to pay, but the federal government currently lacks the manpower.

Jimbo argued that with rising unemployment, the government has an opportunity to recruit able-bodied Nigerians into a special security pool that citizens can legally hire from.

He proposed the recruitment of 15,000 personnel, placed on a ₦150,000 monthly salary, saying Nigerians would subscribe to the service and generate over ₦2.2 billion monthly revenue, which he believes could fund police retraining, welfare, and broader reforms.

He noted that there were no immediate replacements for the security personnel who were withdrawn due to the large insecurity in the country. 

“What gave rise to the withdrawal of some of these security personnel from some of us? 

“It wasn’t because the country was totally safe, that okay, since the country is totally safe, we don’t need these personnel attached to you, again.” 

“It is actually because of insecurity, and now you’ve withdrawn these people, and there is no immediate replacement. “

He urged the President, as Commander-in-Chief, to send an executive bill to the National Assembly to formalise the process, emphasising that no additional appropriation would be needed.

Jimbo concluded that Nigerians who want additional security attached to them should not be denied that responsibility, stressing that the right to personal protection belongs to all citizens, not only those in public office.

VIP Police Escort Withdrawal

His comments follow President Bola Tinubu’s reiteration of his order, on Wednesday, that police officers currently attached to prominent individuals be withdrawn and redeployed to areas ravaged by insecurity.

Addressing concerns raised over the security implications of the withdrawal, Tinubu directed the Minister for Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to work with the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to replace the affected police personnel with NSCDC officers.

“The Minister for Interior should liaise with the IGP and the civil defence structure to replace those police officers who are on special security duties so that you don’t leave people exposed.

“NSA and DSS to provide further information and form themselves into a committee and review the structure,” he stated.

The Cross River State House of Assembly has removed the Chairman of Bekwarra Local Government Council, Honourable Theresa Ushie, after adopting the report of its Committee on Judiciary and Public Petitions.

Her removal was upheld during Tuesday’s plenary, where 19 of the 25 lawmakers voted in favour.

The process began on June 10, 2025, following a petition submitted by eight councillors of the Bekwarra Legislative Council, which led to her 90-day suspension and the appointment of Vice Chairman Hon. Egbung Odama as Acting Chairman pending investigation.

Presenting the committee’s findings, Chairman of the Committee, Honourable Davies Eta (Abi State Constituency), said the petition dated May 19, 2025, raised serious concerns about council administration.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Meets Osun APC Governorship Aspirants, Harps On Party Unity

The councillors had accused the chairman of corruption, abuse of office, unlawful stoppage of their salaries, and running the council without due process.

After engaging the petitioners, the suspended chairman, and other stakeholders in Abuochiche, the committee concluded that the allegations were weighty and substantiated.

“The conduct of the chairman fell below the expectations of her office, and the evidence before us supports her removal,” Eta stated.

Following the adoption of the committee’s recommendations, the House resolved to remove Honourable Ushie for gross misconduct and directed that a bye-election be conducted to fill the vacancy.