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Monarchs, MOSOP Hail Tinubu Over Ogoni Varsity Approval 

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Stakeholders in Ogoniland, Rivers State, including the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), and traditional rulers, have lauded President Bola Tinubu for signing the bill establishing the University of Environment and Technology, Tai, in Ogoni.

The President signed the bill at a ceremony at the State House, Abuja, on Monday, in the presence of key officials, including the senator representing Ogoniland, Mpigi Barinada; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa; and Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Speaking after signing the bill, Tinubu acknowledged the historical challenges faced by the Ogoni people.

“Ogoni has been at the forefront of our development and agitation and has suffered environmental degradation… To bring knowledge into that environment, in that area, to me, is the most significant thing from the Ministry of Education,” he said.

The approval followed a recent meeting between Tinubu and Ogoni leaders at the State House, during which the President also expressed his intention to resume oil exploration activities in the region.

He directed Ribadu to lead negotiations with all stakeholders.

Reacting to the development, the Paramount Ruler of Bagha Kingdom in the Khana Local Government Area, Suanu Baridam, who was part of the Ogoni delegation that met with the President, welcomed the move but emphasised the need for immediate funding.

“One of the items on the table during our meeting with the President was the signing of the bill into law. Now that it has been done, the next step is the release of funds for the university to commence operations. It is a significant step in the right direction, and for the first time, a President has made a promise to the Ogoni people and fulfilled it,” he said.

A MOSOP leader, Fegalo Nsuke, praised Tinubu, stating that his name would be remembered in Ogoni history.

“This is something we expected long ago. It will contribute to the development of Ogoni, but we still expect more from the President. The Ogoni people are critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s economy, and while we appreciate this gesture, we urge the President to do even more.

“In Ogoni history, he (Tinubu) has written his name in gold. The people will always appreciate this action and never forget what he has done,” Nsuke said.

However, activist and Team Lead at the People’s Advancement Centre, Celestine Akpobari, cautioned against linking the university’s approval to the immediate resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.

“President Tinubu has shown courage by taking this step where others hesitated. However, the university’s approval should be seen as the beginning of restitution for the years of oil extraction and environmental damage suffered by the Ogoni people.

“The government should not assume that establishing a university—a facility other ethnic groups have without any sacrifices—justifies opening up the oil wells. Over 2,000 innocent people were killed, and livelihoods were destroyed. The university is merely the start of restitution, not a bargaining chip for oil extraction,” he said.

Meanwhile, oil-bearing communities in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State have threatened mass action over their alleged exclusion from negotiations on oil resumption in Ogoniland.

The affected communities—Mogho, K-Dere, B-Dere, Bera, Bodo, Kpor, and Gbe—stated that while they were not opposed to oil production resumption, they rejected being sidelined in discussions.

A communiqué issued after a meeting on Saturday, signed by traditional rulers from the affected areas, expressed concern that those most impacted by oil exploration had not been consulted.

The signatories included the Paramount Ruler of Mogho, Stephen Kpea; Paramount Ruler of B-Dere, Kadilo Sooh; Acting Paramount Ruler of K-Dere, Chief Isaac Gbeetee; Paramount Ruler of Bodo, John Berebon; Paramount Ruler of Kpor, Avalobari Ntaoh; Paramount Ruler of Gbe, Friday Dimkpa Gia; and Paramount Ruler of Bera, Magus Dekor.

While expressing cautious optimism about the Federal Government’s move, they warned that farmers and fishermen—who had previously suffered from oil pollution—must be part of negotiations.

“As stakeholders, farmers and fishermen must have a leading role in further discussions on oil resumption. We will not allow a process that ignores or sidelines the real landlords of these lands,” the statement read.

The communities further threatened to make their lands inaccessible if they continued to be excluded.

“We note with interest the Federal Government’s call for a negotiated return of oil operations in Ogoni after over three decades of closure. However, as highly impacted communities, we will vehemently oppose any process that sidelines us.

“As a gateway to the Bonny Export Terminal, any negotiation that does not actively involve us will be rejected,” the communiqué stated.

With the signing of the university bill and renewed discussions on oil exploration, Ogoni remains at a critical juncture. The Federal Government now faces the challenge of balancing developmental commitments with historical grievances as the region seeks justice and progress.

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Fubara Attends PDPGF Meeting In Asaba …..Back Court Verdict On National Secretary Position

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, last Friday, attended the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

 

The Rivers State Governor, who is the Vice Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, attended the meeting, alongside 10 other Governors of the party’s controlled states across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

 

The first PDPGF meeting in 2025, was held at the Government House in Asaba, at the end of which a seven-point resolution was reached.

 

Reading the communique at the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Forum, and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to put every machinery in place to ensure a hitch-free NEC meeting on March 13, 2025.

 

The communique stated:

“The Forum, having examined all the notices required by law to be given to validly convoke NEC, advised NWC to reschedule NEC to the thirteenth (13Th) of March 2025.”

 

The Forum further noted the Court of Appeal judgment affirming Udeh Okoye as the National Secretary of the party, saying that as a party that believes in the rule of law, it will respect the position of the Appellate Court on the matter.

 

“The Forum noted with delight the ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis in the National Working Committee, NWC, on the position of the National Secretary, and has reaffirmed its support for the Court of Appeal judgment; consequently, the Forum advised the NWC to set up the machinery for the effective implementation of the court judgment.

 

“While commending the country’s valiant and patriotic Armed Forces and Security Agencies for maintaining the frontline in securing the country and the gains of our gallant personnel against bandits in parts of the country, the Forum viewed with deep concern, the resurgence of brazen non-state actors. It, therefore, calls for the strengthening of the nation’s security architecture.”

 

Governors in attendance include: H.E Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed (Bauchi State); H.E Sir Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers State) – Vice Chairman; H.E Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State) – Host; H.E Dr. Agbu Kefas (Taraba State); H.E Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa State); and H.E Dr. Dauda Lawal (Zamfara State).

 

Others are H.E Senator Ademola Adeleke (Osun State); H.E Senator Douye Diri (Bayelsa State); H.E Pastor Umo Eno Ph.D (Akwa Ibom State); H.E Dr. Peter Mbah (Enugu State); H.E Barr. Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau State);

and H.E Bayo Lawal (Deputy Governor, Oyo State), who represented Governor Seyi Makinde.

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NGO Implants Free Pacemakers Into 22 Cardiac Patients In PH

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A United States based Non Governmental Organisation, Cardiovascular Education Forum, in collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), has successfully implanted free pacemakers into 22 patients with different cardiac cases in Port Harcourt.

 

This is in a bid to save lives and encourage patients with low heartbeats to live longer.

 

The implantable device, which costs $20,000 each, was inserted free of charge on the selected patients.

 

Speaking during a Special Hospital Ground Rounds at the UPTH with its Theme, “Recent Advances in Cardiac Pacing,” a cardiac Physiologist, Dr Neil Grub, said the NGO was in Nigeria to  improve training and learning on cardiac issues and help patients with cardiac problems.

 

Accompanied by a team of experts comprising a cardiologist and cardiac device implanter, Dr Jagdeep Siagh, and  UPTH interventional cardiologist, Dr Edafe Emmanuel, Dr Grubb said pacemakers were inserted on patients with low heartbeats to boost their heart rates.

 

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director, UPTH, Prof Henry Arinze Ugboma, said each of the implantable devices cost over $20,000.

 

Ugboma, represented by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, UPTH, Prof Datonye Alasia, said the partnership between UPTH and the foreign NGO was to build networks, and improve services in terms of healthcare delivery, training and learning.

 

According to him, there is now a ray of hope in terms of treatment of patients with cardiovascular cases in the hospital.

 

He said the UPTH started the collaboration with Cardiovascular Education Forum in 2018 to boost health, training and learning on cardiac health.

 

He assured that, “in coming years, the scale of our collaboration with the mission will be higher.”

Chinedu Wosu

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FG Unveils National Broadband Alliance To Drive Internet Access 

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The Federal Government has unveiled the National Broadband Alliance, a new initiative aimed at transforming the nation’s digital infrastructure and boosting connectivity across the country.

The initiative was unveiled yesterday in Lagos by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, who was represented by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Aminu Maida.

In his address, Tijani stated that NBAN would significantly enhance broadband penetration, which has grown from just six per cent in 2015 to approximately 42 per cent as of October 2024.

To support this agenda, he said the government was leveraging a Special Purpose Vehicle to deploy 90,000 km of fibre backbone across the nation, connecting underserved and rural communities to high-speed internet.

According to him, the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises innovation, technology, and collaboration as key drivers of national prosperity.

Tijani stated that the expansion would not only improve access to reliable broadband but also empower Nigerians, particularly in rural areas.

“While the progress made in broadband penetration is commendable, we recognise that much more needs to be done to ensure every Nigerian can enjoy the benefits of reliable, high-speed internet,” Tijani said.

The minister also emphasised the importance of strategic partnerships with donors, investors, and other key stakeholders in achieving the goals set out in the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025).

He said these collaborations would be essential in overcoming infrastructure development challenges and making broadband affordable and accessible for all Nigerians.

“These targets reflect our unwavering commitment to ensuring that broadband is accessible, affordable, and inclusive for all Nigerians. However, we are also aware of the challenges ahead,” he added.

Tijani stressed that achieving the government’s targets—70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025, a minimum internet speed of 25 Mbps in urban areas, and broadband access for 80 per cent of the population by 2027—will require sustained efforts.

“Achieving these goals will require more than just the efforts of the private sector. It will require a holistic approach that includes strategic partnerships with donors, investors, and other key stakeholders in accelerating the rollout of critical infrastructure,” he said.

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