FocalPoint Reports

PAP: Leave Otuaro Alone, Allow Delta Enjoy Its Turn of Representation – IPDI Warns Detractors Prominent Ijaw leaders, civil society organisations, and youth stakeholders in Delta State have called for an end to what they described as unnecessary attacks and distractions against the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), High Chief Dennis Otuaro, PhD. In a statement signed by the President of the Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI), Comrade Ozobo Austin, the group said the Niger Delta, particularly Delta State, deserves stability and uninterrupted support while one of its sons Dr Otuaro occupies a strategic federal position as administrator. According to the statement, Otuaro's appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu provides Delta State with a rare opportunity to contribute meaningfully to federal policies and programmes in the post-amnesty era. "High Chief Dennis Otuaro is more than an individual; he represents Delta Ijaw, the Niger D...

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, has berated Nigerians over the attacks on First Lady, Remi Tinubu, after encouraging Nigerians to consider small-scale ventures such as selling akara, roasted corn, and kuli-kuli. Remi made the remarks while speaking with journalists following the second-quarter meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative with wives of state governors at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday. Speaking on the activities of the Renewed Hope Initiative, the First Lady said the programme had been providing grants, rather than loans, to vulnerable Nigerians to help them start businesses and improve their livelihoods. She said, “We’re trying to give hope, and to start Akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant. “So we’ve encouraged Nigerians as best as we could. What is within our hands, I have given, and I keep gi...

... Says State Open For More Investments  Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Wednesday inaugurated the Osubi branch of Zenith Bank Plc in Okpe Local Government Area, describing the development as a strong endorsement of the state's economic potential and investor-friendly environment.  Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Governor Oborevwori said the opening of the bank's 19th branch in Delta State demonstrated growing confidence in the state's economy and the success of efforts by his administration to create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.  He said: "This is more than just a banking facility coming on stream. It is a strong vote of confidence in the future of Delta State and in the opportunities that lie before us".  He commended the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Adaora Umeoji, and the bank's management team for fulfilling their promise to establish a branch in Osubi...

The Niger State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended plenary indefinitely over what lawmakers described as “unresolved issues” with the executive arm of the state government. The decision followed a motion moved by the member representing Chanchaga Constituency, Mohammed Abubakar-Kabir, popularly known as Ustaz, who urged the House to halt legislative proceedings until the pending issues with the executive were addressed. Moving the motion during plenary, Abubakar-Kabir said the House could no longer continue with normal proceedings while unresolved matters between the legislature and the executive remained unattended to. Although he did not disclose the specific issues, the lawmaker warned that history would not be kind to the lawmakers if they allowed matters affecting the independence of the House to be ignored. He said the current Assembly had a responsibility to defend the autonomy and integrity of the legislative arm. According to him, posterity would judge members ...

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has denied any form of complicity in the delay in establishing State Police in Nigeria. The clarification was made by the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, at a stakeholders’ security meeting in Awka, Anambra State. He explained that the process is entirely dependent on constitutional amendments, and the creation of state police remains a legislative matter that falls within the powers of the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly. IGP Disu, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the South-East, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, appealed to stakeholders to remain patient, noting that lawmakers were already working toward establishing state police through the required constitutional procedures. “The power to create the state police is a constitutional issue that resides with the national and state assemblies. “When the National Assembly makes provision to amend the law establishing the NPF an...

By David Zipamone  The Ijaw Publishers' Forum (IPF) has called on the governors of the six South-South states to urgently reactivate and adequately fund the BRACED Commission as part of efforts to address the growing security threats confronting the region and the country. In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Secretary, Tare Magbei, the Forum urged the governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta states to treat the worsening security situation across Nigeria as a warning signal and move swiftly to strengthen regional cooperation on security matters. The group expressed concern over the increasing spread of kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes beyond their traditional hotspots, noting that criminal activities are gradually extending into new parts of the country. According to IPF, recent reports indicate that kidnapping-for-ransom and related criminal activities have expanded southward, prompting growing national concerns a...