News
Community Seeks RSG’s Intervention In Navy’s Detention Of Leaders
The people of Rumuolumeni Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State have called on the state government to come to their aid in what they alleged as illegal arrests and detention of some of their leaders by the authorities of the Nigerian Navy, NNS Pathfinder.
The arrests and detention followed protests by the youths and residents of Rumuolumeni at NNS Pathfinder, which is host to Ocean Marine Solutions Limited, an oil servicing firm over alleged refusal of the company to employ people from the area.
Following this allegation, youths barricaded all entrances and exits to and from the community as early as 5am, yesterday, resulting in what could be described as airtight gridlock in the community.
When The Tide visited the scene, personnel of the Army and Navy had cordoned off the Town Hall of the community where they were said to be dialoguing with the youths of the community.
A youth leader in the community, Felix Chinda, who spoke to The Tide, said the action of the youths was in reaction to the unlawful detention of some of their leaders who had gone into the Naval Command to have peaceful dialogue over the refusal of Ocean Marine Solutions (OMS), to employ youths for over seven years of its operations in the community.
According to Chinda, “the issue is that the Navy, NNS Pathfinder, is a government agency in Rumuolumeni, which is host to them. They (Navy) hosted a company called OMS for over seven years without the consent of the community, without any MoU with the community, without any employment of the youths of the community. Meanwhile, all efforts made to dialogue with the company or the Navy had been abortive”.
He explained further that past and present executives of the Rumuolumeni Employment Bureau (REB), and the Community Development Committee (CDC) of the community had made several efforts, including writing to the company and the Navy to enhance dialogue over the issue, to no avail.
“They (REB and CDC) have written several letters over the years to the Commanding Officer (CO) of NNS Pathfinder and the company, but there had been no response from either the Navy or the company till today.
“Yesterday, the community, out of annoyance, seized two of the coastal buses that convey workers of the company to and from work daily in order to get the attention of the company and the Navy. All the staff in the bus were allowed to go. It was the only option we had left to get necessary attention in order to resolve the issue peacefully”, he said.
He added that the Naval personnel later came, well equipped, and took the buses, after which “they invited the CDC chairman, REB chairman, and their members to a meeting inside the command. They told us they wanted to resolve the matter with the company.
“As our people got to the venue, they arrested them and have detained them until now. That is why we demand for their release. We also demand that the company comes to terms with us and sign an MoU”, he said.
According to Chinda, those in detention include, the CDC Chairman, Barrister Ikechi Williams; the REB Chairman, Comrade Noble Nnamdi Orlu; and Youth President, Bobo Chimo; and other leaders such as Barrister George Ariba; and Uchechukwu Onukwuru.
Chinda used the opportunity to call on the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, to intervene in the matter before it degenerates further.
Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of the Community Employment Bureau (REB), Emmanuel Ikenga, said the development was a show of disrespect for the host community.
Ikenga said, “Our CDC and REB chairmen have been held hostage by the NNS Pathfinder. When the youths heard of it, we came out this morning to block the road until they release our people.
“The protest will continue until they release our people. Our demand is that the company should come out clear and give us employment”, he insisted.
The Secretary of CDC in Rumuolumeni, Henry Amaewhule, threatened that the youths would remain on the road until their leaders were released, while insisting that the marine company come to a roundtable with the community.
He said: “The reason for the protest is that we are demanding the unconditional release of our CDC leaders and others.
“We are demanding employment in Ocean Marine Solutions; they have been there for over 20 years now, and being harboured by the Navy in collaboration with the Commanding Officer.
“Why will they arrest our representatives as if we do not have youths? Why will they come to our community to oppress us?
“We have been in good terms with the Nigerian Navy. We are a peaceful community, hosting a lot of multinational companies, and they have not complained before. We have never been in this mood before, and we want the release of the arrested persons.”
Several of the youths, who blocked the roads for hours, were seen carrying various placards with inscriptions, “Ocean Marine Solutions employ our youths”, “We are a peace-loving community”, “NNS Pathfinder stop intimidating us”, “After the release of our leaders, we want a roundtable discussion for our youths to be employed by OMS”, and “Enough is Enough”.
The protests resulted in traffic gridlock in the area as a result of blockage of the roads at St. John’s Junction and Aker Base Road Junction of Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt.
At time of this report, a joint task force made up of the Nigerian Army, Police and the Nigerian Navy have been deployed to the area to ensure that there was no security breach.
Meanwhile, negotiations to end the protest and resolve the dispute has started with representatives of the Rumuolumeni chiefs, elders, the Navy and other stakeholders at the Palace of Paramount Ruler, Eze Ndubueze Wobo.
The Tide gathered that a representative of the community in the meeting, Collins Wagbara, called for the release of the five members of the community detained by officers of NNS Pathfinder.
Efforts made to get to the commanding officer to comment n the matter proved abortive as at press time.
However, a senior Naval officer, who said he has not been authorised to comment on the development, revealed to The Tide that the Navy has commenced moves to resolve the disagreement.
The source added an official statement would be released to the press in due time.
By: Sogbeba Dokubo
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had lauded the courage and commitment of troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
Abubakar gave the commendation during a morale-boosting visit to the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Borno.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, yesterday, in Abuja.
The CAS said their sacrifices were etched in the history of the nation, and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians who sleep safer because of the troops’ vigilance.
He emphasised that their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity have not gone unnoticed, saying his visit underscored the vital role airpower plays in neutralising threats and protecting communities.
Abubakar pledged continued investment in cutting-edge technology to empower frontline units.
According to him, the NAF remains steadfast in its mission, guided by leadership, strengthened by unity, and driven by the selfless service of its personnel.
The visit comes at a critical moment, reinforcing the importance of public support for military operations and spotlighting the human element at the heart of national defence.
Nigeria’s soft drinks and beverage market continues to show strong growth potential, making it the leading consumer of soft drinks in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association.
A statement by the VDMA disclosed during a press conference held in Lagos ahead of drinktec 2025, that Nigeria consumed over 53 billion litres of soft drinks in 2024, placing it well ahead of other African countries such as Ghana and South Africa.
Despite challenges such as inflation and a weakening naira, Nigeria’s growing population, rising urbanisation, and expanding middle class are key factors driving demand in the beverage sector.
Bottled water led the segment with 48.7 billion litres sold in 2024, a figure projected to rise by 27% to 62 billion litres by 2028.
Carbonated soft drinks followed with 3.4 billion litres, expected to reach 4.4 billion litres by 2028, while energy drinks are forecasted to grow by 30% over the same period. Juices, though relatively small, are also on an upward trajectory.
“The Nigerian beverage market is expanding quickly due to increasing accessibility and affordability,” VDMA stated, citing data from Euromonitor International.
Set to take place in Munich from 15 to 19 September 2025, drinktec is the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry.
VDMA, a key exhibitor and technical partner for the event, revealed that Nigerian participation is expected to be strong, especially as the country anticipates economic recovery.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, describing the development as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.
Abdulkareem had waxed a song titled “Tell Your Papa” which criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, yesterday, Soyinka criticised the action and its wider implications, saying it echoed past attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka said in the piece posted on PM news.
He expressed irony in suggesting that the ban did not go far enough, stating, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is member, should also go under the hammer.”
Soyinka noted that he had not listened to the banned song but stressed that the issue transcends content and concerns a fundamental democratic principle.
“It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic. This is why I feel that we should look on the bright side of any picture and thus recommend the Aleshinloye cartoon – and others in allied vein – as an easy-to-apprehend, easy-to-digest summation of the wisdom of attempting to stifle unpalatable works of art or socio-political commentary,” he said.
He also pointed out the irony that censorship often benefits the targeted artist.
The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he added.
The literary icon warned that such censorship was not only counterproductive but also dangerous to democratic development.
“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” Soyinka said.
He warned that the ban creates “a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power,” where state authorities feel emboldened to clamp down on dissent.
Soyinka’s statement also touched on broader issues of impunity and mob violence in Nigeria, lamenting the recent lynching of 19 youths in Edo State.
“My heart goes out to friends, colleagues and families of victims and traumatised survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.
Referencing the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, Soyinka criticised the culture of impunity, saying, “Identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on the Social Media… in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces.”
He called for accountability, warning that “as long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail.”
Soyinka concluded by urging the relevant regulatory body to reverse what he described as a “petulant irrationality,” warning that any government that only tolerates praise-singers “has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”