Niger
Fubara vs Wike: Groups, coalitions pass vote of confidence on Gov Fubara, Ehie

Ten different Associations after a joint Press Conference on Wednesday at NAF Conference Center, Kado District Abuja, have passed a vote of confidence on gov Siminalayi Fubara and Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie the speaker of the Rivers State House Assembly
They also commended the people of Rivers State for defending the mandate they freely gave to the Governor.
The group warn Tinubu against taking a position that will be termed anti Niger Delata that voted for him.
The Joint Press Conference was attended by Niger Delta Nonviolence Agitators Forum (NDNAF), Niger Delta Civil Action Advocacy Group (NDCAAG), Ijaw Wari WorlwideMovemebt for Unity of Northern and Southern Nigeria (MUNSN), Association of Ekpere Women in Diaspora (AED) and Niger Delta Unity Fromt (NDUF)
Others are Coalition of North Central Women Unity and Good Governance (CNCWUGG), Ijaw Renaissance Force (IRF), Association of Waterways Ambassadors of Nigeria (AWAN) and Coalition for Greater and Better Nigeria (CGBN)
The National President of Niger Delta Nonviolence Agitators Forum (NDNAF) and Executive Director, Centre for Peace Advocacy and Social Rehabilitation (CPASR) Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli signed the communique on behalf of all the Groups and coalitions
The Communique reads,
“We are all aware of the ongoing avoidable political impasse in Rivers State which is as a result of one man’s greed and quest to pocket the state thereby resulting to the prevalent crisis that has festered for weeks and also causing unimaginable damages and pains to the great and very hospitable people of Rivers State.
“This Joint World Press Conference is basically put together to PASS A VOTE OF confidence on Gov Siminalayi Fubara and Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie the proactive Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly.
“It is also thank the unique and very courageous people of Rivers State who irrespective of ethnic diversity and political affiliations have united to defend the Mandate they freely gave to Gov. Siminalayi Joseph Fubara KSC on 18th March, 2023 under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“We also wish to use this medium to place on record that Rivers State which was created on 27th May, 1967 and further balkanized into Rivers and Bayelsa States on 1st October, 1996 is basically made up of the Upland and Riverine.
“Since the inception of our contemporary democracy in 1999 till 2023, the people of the upland ruled and held on to power for 24years which covered the 8years of Sir Dr. Peter Otunaya Odili (1999-2007), the Sir Celestine Omehia/Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi 8years administrations (2007-2015) and the Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike 8years (2015-2023).
“So for the 24years of our contemporary democracy, the upland held on to power until the election of Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara who is from the Riverine who has spent only few months in office.
“The people of the geographic Niger Delta region and Nigerians under the various platforms for this Joint World Press Conference therefore deem it necessary to call on all Rivers people irrespective of political parties to support the incumbent Governor whose loyalty first go to the entire state to succeed in his determined quest and bid to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
“We also condemn in very strong terms the rascality of 27 dissident Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who are led by the same Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule who was used 10years ago by Wike the then Minister of State for Education to cause unimaginable crisis in the then State House of Assembly and also destabilize the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi.
“Very importantly, we totally frown and object to the purported Resolutions of the Monday 18th December, 2023 meeting that was convened by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa wherein the Governor of Rivers State was ambushed and treated like a Cockroach in the gathering of Hens, a sad development where the Governor was coerced to accept terms that are totally anti-people of Rivers State and therefore unacceptable.
“Gov. Siminalayi Fubara was elected by millions of Rivers people to govern over ten millions Rivers people thus cannot subject himself to any unfavourable terms and agreements without consulting people of the state.
“Action of the 27 former Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are aberration that are totally unknown to democracy anywhere in the world where members of the Legislature attempt to impeach the head of Executive Arm in the person of the Governor without any allegations of constitutional breaches and infractions according to the dictates of the Constitution which is the Grundnorm.
“We therefore applaud and reemphasize the position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie that the seats of those dissidents remain vacant and we urge INEC to expedite action in conducting by-elections to fill those 27 vacant seats.
“We want President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appreciate the goodwill of the people of Rivers State and other Niger Deltans and Nigerians who freely voted for him and not to throw away this rare goodwill because of his quest to satisfy one individual Mr. Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike who even as a sitting Governor failed at his Polling Unit, Ward and Local Government Area during the just concluded Presidential Election in 2023.
“We want Mr. President to understand the fact that the will of few individuals who hold public offices entrust for the vast majority of the people can never override the overall interest of the Masses and Electorates who voted them.
“Anything contrary to the position of the people of Rivers State shall be vehemently opposed and we shall Mobilize multitudes to occupy Rivers State, the National Assembly and all foreign Missions and Embassies that are domiciled in the Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja.
“Nigeria runs a constitutional democracy and not a Banana Republic where Mr. President will abuse the constitutional powers that are bestowed and entrusted to him by the good people of this great country to direct and humiliate an incumbent State Governor who have same constitutional powers and immunity to surrender all his constitutional rights, powers and privileges to one single individual Mr. Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike former Governor of Rivers State who is causing so much problems everywhere including the FCT where he superintend as the Minister of FCT.
“We join other multitudes of Nigerians who are showing solidarity and support to Gov. Siminalayi Joseph Fubara to tell President Tinubu that he lacks the constitutional powers to direct Gov. Siminalayi Fubara to jettison judiciary judgements and other matters that are already in different courts.
“We wish to re echo our disbelief that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown through his body language and actions that he has placed more premium on Wike that is bent on plunging Rivers State, Niger Delta and by extension the entire country into anarchy than millions of Rivers people and Nigerians from diverse backgrounds that voted for him.
“Finally, we want the Presidency, Service Chiefs and the International Community to hold Chief Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike responsible for any break down of law and order in Rivers State and other parts of the Niger Delta knowing the adverse effects of the above on crude oil and gas production.”
Niger
57,114 Candidates secure 5Credits with English, Maths as NECO Releases 2024 SSCE External Results

57,114 candidates (67.35%) obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics in the results of the 2024 External Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), exactly 62 days after the last paper was written by the National Examinations Council (NECO)
Announcing the results at NECO’s headquarters in Minna on Friday, the Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, revealed that a total of 86,067 candidates registered for the examination, with 84,799 candidates (44,277 males and 40,522 females) actually sitting for the papers.
He indicated that 70,711 candidates (83.39%) secured five credits and above in any subject combination while83,220 candidates (75.62%) earned a credit in English Language and
83,024 candidates (93.93%) obtained a credit in Mathematics.
Prof. Wushishi noted a significant decline in malpractice cases, with 6,160 cases recorded in 2024, compared to 8,518 in 2023, marking a 27.7% reduction.
He attributed this progress to stricter monitoring measures by NECO’s Governing Board, Management, and Senior Staff.
Five supervisors from Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Cross River, and Ebonyi States were blacklisted for poor supervision and aiding malpractice.
14 examination centers (10 in Ogun and 4 in Oyo) were blacklisted for whole-center malpractice in nine subjects.
During the event, Prof. Wushishi also unveiled NECO’s 2025 Staff Annual Posting Calendar, aimed at improving efficiency in staff deployment for national assignments.
Candidates can now check their results online via the official NECO portal.
Niger
2027: Niger APC Chieftain Vatsa Blasts El-Rufai, Babachir Lawal Over Anti-Tinubu Stance

***Says Northerners Opposing Tinubu Don’t Believe in Nigeria’s Unity
Former Niger State Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jonathan Vatsa, has strongly criticized former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over their opposition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s potential re-election in 2027.
Speaking in Minna on Friday, Vatsa dismissed the duo as “self-serving politicians” who no longer have the credibility or influence to speak for the North.
He argued that any attempt to push for power to return to the North in 2027 is a direct threat to Nigeria’s unity, stating that only the South East has a legitimate claim for the presidency after Tinubu’s tenure.
“Both El-Rufai and Babachir Lawal cannot even win their local government areas in a free and fair election in 2027 because the average Northerner is now politically wise and no longer deceived by religious and ethnic sentiments,” Vatsa declared.
He accused El-Rufai of fueling insecurity in Kaduna, particularly in Southern Kaduna, to secure his second term in 2019, an issue he claims is still haunting the region. He praised Tinubu for restoring peace and inclusivity in the area, warning that attempts to turn the people against Tinubu in 2027 would fail.
Vatsa further claimed that the North’s political unity, once solid under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has now crumbled, leaving the region more fragmented than any other in Nigeria. He alleged that past Northern leaders have used religion and ethnicity to manipulate the masses while hoarding power and resources for themselves.
“They always deceive the poor Northerners with religion and ethnicity, but after elections, they corner everything for themselves and their families, leaving the people in hunger and poverty. That era is over. The slogan now is ‘dey for who dey for you,’” he stated.
In a scathing remark, Vatsa referenced the infamous N600 million “grass-cutting scandal” involving Babachir Lawal, suggesting that individuals with corruption-tainted records should not be leading opposition efforts against Tinubu.
“Even if you multiply El-Rufai and Babachir Lawal by 36 in every state, they cannot stop President Tinubu in 2027. Only God and the Nigerian people can decide, not a few individuals who have outlived their political relevance,” he concluded.
As the political landscape heats up ahead of 2027, Vatsa’s comments highlight the deepening divisions within the Northern political elite, raising questions about the region’s unity and influence in future elections.
Niger
Another Gas Explosion Rocks Niger State, Destroys Foodstuff and Vehicle

Less than three weeks after a deadly fuel tanker explosion claimed over 100 lives in Niger State, another explosion has struck, this time at a gas plant in Sabon-Wuse, Tafa Local Government Area.
The latest incident, which occurred late Saturday night, caused significant property damage but, fortunately, no lives were lost.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the explosion, stating it happened around 11:00 PM at Tasiu Gas Plant, located beside Kalasma Filling Station along the Kaduna Expressway.
According to Director of NSEMA, Alhaji Baba Arah, the explosion was triggered during the transloading of gas from a tanker to the plant’s surface tank. This mishandling led to a fire that engulfed both the gas tanker and the plant.
“The gas tanker and the entire gas plant were completely destroyed by the fire,” Arah reported. “A car belonging to Abubakar Yakubu, parked close to the gas station, was also consumed by the flames.”
The blaze further spread to nearby businesses, including the Ngeil Grains Processing Factory, which was completely gutted. Approximately 550 bags of beans and six bags of suya beans stored at the factory were reduced to ashes, compounding the financial losses from the explosion.
Although no fatalities have been reported, the destruction has left a significant impact on the local economy, with business owners counting their losses.
Alhaji Arah confirmed that emergency responders were able to control the fire before it spread further and that efforts are ongoing to clear the site.
“Thankfully, no lives were lost, and the fire has been brought under control. We are continuing to assess the damage and ensure the area is safe for residents,” Arah said.
This incident has reignited concerns over safety practices at gas plants and fuel depots across Niger State. Residents are calling for stricter enforcement of safety regulations to prevent similar disasters in the future.
-
Crime1 year ago
Police nabs Killer of Varsity Lecturer in Niger
-
News1 year ago
FCT-IRS tells socialite Aisha Achimugu not to forget to file her annual returns
-
Appointment1 year ago
Tinubu names El-Rufai, Tope Fasua, others in New appointments
-
Kogi1 year ago
INEC cancells election in 67 polling units in Ogori-Magongo in Kogi
-
Kogi1 year ago
Echocho Challenges Tribunal Judgment ordering rerun in 94 polling units
-
News1 year ago
IPOB: Simon Ekpa gives reason for seperatists clamour for Biafra
-
Metro11 months ago
‘Listing Simon Ekpa among wanted persons by Nigeria military is rascality, intimidation’
-
News1 year ago
Kingmakers of Igu/ Koton-Karfe dare Bello, urge him to reverse deposition of Ohimege-Igu