CrossFire Interrogator

The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has again raised the alarm over the safety of journalists in the country. A press release jointly signed by Musikilu Mojeed, President, IPI Nigeria on Tobi Soniyi, Legal Adviser/Chair, Advocacy Committee, IPI Nigeria on Saturday, 4 April, 2024 said this follows the report of the abduction of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ). According to reports, Ojukwu was abducted by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police and is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti in Lagos. "IPI NIGERIA strongly condemns the abduction and calls on the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, order the release of Mr Ojukwu. "Coming at about the period the world is celebrating the freedom of the press, the action of the Nigeria Police Force speaks volumes of the attitude and commitment o

The newly appointed Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education, (NCAOOSCE), Dr Muhammad Idris has charged workers of the commission to be dedicated to duty. Idris made this known during his maiden meeting with the staff of the commission in Abuja on Friday . He said the task of solving the problem of Almajiri and out-of-school children is a collective responsibility of all citizens especially considering its security implications. The executive secretary assured the staff of his commitment to their welfare for optimal productivity. Idris also reiterated his determination to taking millions of Nigerian children off the streets in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu's administration. Meanwhile, the members of staff of the commission pledged to cooperate with the Executive Secretary in the task ahead

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA), University of Abuja Chapter has dissociated itself from the ongoing strike  by the university branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The Chairman, CONUA, University of Abuja Chapter, Prof. Abdul Buba, said this when the group paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah in Abuja on Friday. Buba said the University system could not be grounded because it had no Governing Council, a decision that informed the industrial actions. “We believe in stable academic calendar and that’s why we believe that there are other ways of handling labour issues rather than strike actions. “CONUA addresses issues and not personalities. We also respect opinions of our members and not a predetermined objective of the leadership. ”We address issues without sentiments and meet with the right stakeholders in the pursue of our objectives. “We are conscious of the negative effects of strikes, and we

As public outcry trailed the mass failure in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the President’s Schools Debate Nigeria (PSDN) has pledged to promote a reading culture and academic excellence among Nigerian students. The Chairman, PSDN, Usman Mohammed made this known at a news conference on Friday in Abuja. Mohammed, represented by the National Coordinator, PSDN, Dare Oritu said that the organisation’s 24th edition of democracy debate, scheduled to hold in July would feature participation across all public primary and secondary schools in the country. He pointed out that national debate would also promote harmony and inter-regional unity amongst the youth as well as advance democratic values in them at an early age. “With over 70 per cent of candidates who sat for the just concluded UTME scoring less than 200 out of 400 obtainable scores, some analysts have attributed the cause on the dying reading culture among young ones,’: he said. Mohammed urged Nigerian stu

The Edo State Government has said that the long-term impact of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s projects cannot be appreciated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) because they have always thrived on subversive politics which imperil the people for the gains of a few. The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Nehikhare, who said this in a statement, noted that it was regrettable that the APC would find the commissioning of the new Labour House and the construction of Temboga road as distasteful. According to him, “It is curious to learn that the All Progressives Congress (APC) finds the building of a Labour House and the construction of an access road in the Temboga area in bad taste just because they want to play politics.  “But we are not surprised by their lack of understanding because they have always been used to subversive politics that have never placed the people at the center of development. In their reasoning, projects should only be constructed for the benefi

...Approves Land For FG Project Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said affordable housing for people of the state will be accorded top priority in his second term. Senator Diri disclosed this on Friday when the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, and the  management team paid him a courtesy visit in Government House,  Yenagoa. The governor, who expressed his administration's commitment to collaborate with the federal government to attract more development in the housing sector, approved the provision of land for the FHA to actualise President Bola Tinubu's housing vision for people of the state. He said: “In our first term, we focused more on infrastructure development to open up the state. We saw road construction as our number one priority. But, this time around, we are prioritising housing for our people. Our focal person in the sector will liaise with you to ensure that President Bola Tinubu&#

  The University of Abuja branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared an indefinite strike over some unresolved issues between the management and the union. Some of the issues include the illegal Advertorial for vacancy of the position of Vice Chancellor by the current vice chancellor of the institution and illegal recruitments without due Process. A statement by the Chairperson of the ASUU University of Abuja chapter, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh says the decision to embark on the indefinite strike was reached after the congress of the Chapter with approval by ASUU National.  Ugoh said after following due process in line with ASUU procedures, the Trustees and Principal Officers granted the branch the permission to proceed on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike until the issues in contention were addressed. He said other issues include the refusal to conduct the election to the positions of Deanship into various faculties and Provost College of Health Sciences

National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) have unveiled an assessor e-learning training platform, aimed at institutionalising the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). Prof. Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, speaking in Abuja on Thursday, said the platform would help in fast tracking the training of assessors for global best practices. He explained that the Quality Assurance Assessor (QAA) e-learning platform would offer quality certification and as well raise the standards of the country in the area of quality assurance. “This is a major milestone because at the moment we have very low number of assessors and skills trainers’ required proper assessment. “Even those in the informal sector that have to be given the Recognition Prior Learning (RPL) of assessment will also require the training. “Three years ago, Nigeria has only 1,400 assessors, today we have just 3,000. Our counterpart in Africa like Ethiopia h

Says NFF Went For Merit   Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has congratulated Bayelsa-born newly appointed Head Coach of the Nigerian national football team, Finidi George.  Governor Diri also commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for appointing the new Super Eagles tactician based on merit.  He stated this on Thursday during the draws for the 2024 Bayelsa Governor’s Cup Tournament, christened “Prosperity Cup,” after the weekly Prosperity Walk at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa.  His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, in a statement, quoted the governor as having commended the NFF for appointing a son of the soil for the prestigious job.  He said that the governor disclosed that the NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, who visited him on Wednesday, asked why he did not lobby for Finidi to get the job like some of his colleagues did, and that he responded that his disposition was always to allow merit play a major role in such situations.  Governor Di

Results of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) recently released BY the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has continued to generate mixed reactions from the Nigerian public.  Expectedly, mixed emotions are the hallmark moments of every examination results or outcomes. While many thanked their stars for achieving the cut off marks required for admission into the nation's tertiary institutions, others gave thanks to the Almighty for outstanding performances of their wards in the recently concluded 2024 UTME which results are now officially in the public domain.  Bayelsa-born Jason Tamaraefiye  Amaduobogha produced an outstanding UTME score of 347 to wow thousands of Nigerians with his scintillating performance. The breakdown of the score of 347 is as follows : English 69, Math 95, Physics95, Chemistry 88. Although the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board JAMB did not reveal the candidate with the highest score on the 2024 UTME, a score of 347 i

  By Pius O. Ughakpoteni Across the Niger Delta, where dark mangroves intertwine with winding waterways, a wondrous transformation is taking place. Spearheaded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), under the visionary stewardship of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director, a staggering 56,786 solar streetlights ascend like quiet guardians. Their soft glow heralds a new era across the region, signalling the NDDC's ambitious "Lighting Up the Niger Delta" project. This change is rippling across the region, fuelled by the immediate and tangible benefits of solar lighting. "The solar streetlights have brought a sense of security we didn't have before," remarks Mr. Okejoto Gochua, a community elder and retired public servant in Delta State. "Before the solar lights, my shop would close when night comes," explains, Mr. Chike Okechukwu a Yenagoa, Bayelsa State market vendor. "Now, I can serve customers long into the evening. It is like

By Willie Etim When the idea was first muted, a number of cynics dismissed it, typical of naysayers in our society.  They thought that all the effort will end in futility. The resilience of Chief Samuel Ogbuku, (PhD), Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who nurtured the birth of the Niger Delta Chambers of Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA), came to bear when all other such chambers in the region put up a resistance against the registration of NDCCITMA, a battle that lasted over nine months. As the initiator and benefactor of the NDCCITMA, the management of the NDDC, established a management committee for the chambers to midwife it to solid take off point. After the design of an implementation plan which was carefully followed, the committee terminated its engagement and set the stage for the official inauguration of the Chamber’s Board The eventful registration and inauguration of the Board of the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industr

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has pledged to collaborate with Rotary International to enhance the delivery of services and the execution of development projects in the Niger Delta region. Mr. Pius Ughakpoteni, NDDC's Director, Corporate Affairs in a signed press statement on May 1, 2024. said the  NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, made the promise when a delegation from Rotary International District 9141, led by the Governor-Elect, Mr. Chinedu Ikegwuani, paid him a courtesy visit at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt. The delegation included a former Acting MD of NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari. Ogbuku emphasised the need for partnerships in fast-tracking the development of the Niger Delta region, noting that the NDDC found it expedient to introduce new policies to drive the development process. He said: “One of the new policies we introduced is the "Rewind to Rebirth" initiative, a strategic vision designed to recalibrate engagement with N

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Election Peter Obi, has written to Nigeria Workers saluting their resilience and doggedness to ensure a better Nigeria. Obi said in the letter to mark the Worker's Day that he stands in solidarity with the Workers in all their struggles. "As we come together to celebrate Workers' Day, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of pride and admiration for each and every one of you who continue to stand tall and steadfast in your commitment to building our great nation, even in the face of adversity and challenges. "Today, as we honor the hard work, dedication, and resilience of workers across the country and beyond, I am reminded of the incredible strength and spirit that defines us as a people.  "Despite the countless obstacles and hurdles that may stand in our way, you, the backbone of our society, remain unwavering in your resolve to contribute to the growth and development of our beloved nation. &q

...Promises To Build Another Secretariat For Civil Servants Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has set up a committee to work out modalities for  implementation of a new minimum wage for workers in the state civil service. The committee is headed by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, while the Head  of Service, Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, the Commissioner for Finance, Maxwell Ebibai, his Labour, Productivity and Employment counterpart, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai and the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe, are members. The committee has the end of May 2024 to submit its report. Senator Diri made the pronouncement on Wednesday at the 2024 Workers Day celebration at the Peace Park in Yenagoa. The governor assured that his administration would implement a new minimum wage once the committee submits its report and he makes a pronouncement on wage increase, saying that the state workers always had emoluments as their federal counterparts. He st

...Launches N2.4bn Projects ...Gov. Diri Commends Support Of European Countries The Danish government, on Wednesday, launched a programme in support of  the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) crime prevention and enhancement of community-based security projects in Bayelsa State. The European nation has earmarked the sum of 1.19 million Danish Krone (about N2.4 billion) for the community-based security and vocational skills projects. The initiative, which is in furtherance of ongoing UNODC projects in the state and the Niger Delta region, will be implemented in five communities across, empowering them through joint security committees to manage their security environment proactively as well as helping to address the root causes of crime and violence. It will also enhance collaboration between communities and law enforcement agencies building trust and fostering lasting partnerships. The Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria/Cameroon/Equatorial Guinea/Republic of Congo/Central Af

…says 70, 000 new minimum wage a proof of govt’s commitment to rewarding hard work … ‘Edo best public service State to work on the African continent’  The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has hailed the outstanding contribution of workers in the state to the growth of the state’s Gross Domestic Products in the past seven and half years of his administration, noting that their commitment, and dedication in transforming the state deserves praise. The governor said this in commemoration of Workers’ Days, a celebration of the working class promoted by the International Labour Movement, marked every May 1. In a statement, the governor said, “This is my last year in office and I dare say that I have had the best of time working with workers in Edo State. The experience has been exhilarating. I am happy that working with you all, we grew the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by over 140 percent. For me, that is rewarding.” He noted, “It has indeed been enriching journey working and I am glad