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Port Harcourt Ring Road Will Connect Our People -Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that the inherent individual differences occasioned by the diverse ethnic groupings notwithstanding, the Port Harcourt Ring Road will serve as a bold effort taken in connecting Rivers people together and fostering greater unity among them.
Fubara made this known at the UTC Junction in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, venue of the flag-off of the Ring Road project.
Pointing out that other previous administrations have attempted to execute the project but could not, he commended the immediate past governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for initiating the New Rivers Vision that is serving as the building template to the radical development of the State as being consolidated by his administration.
The governor said: “Today, we are here to put mortar to brick to that contract signing. Some of you had doubts when we signed the contract whether we will start it.
“But we did not just sign it, we have paid for it and we are here to commence the job. The importance of this road is not just connecting Eleme to Etche, Etche to Ikwerre local government areas but connecting our people.”
Fubara, who emphasized that there is no meaningful development without road accessibility, urged the various communities that the project will traverse to cooperate with the contractor without sabotaging it. He assured them of timely payment of determined compensations.
Immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who performed the flag-off, recalled how the administration he served as Chief-of-Staff, had set money aside but could not muster the political will as demonstrated by Fubara’s government to Kick-start the Port Harcourt Ring Road project barely weeks after assuming office. That bold initiative shows leadership.
Wike commended Fubara for the courage and political will to embark on the landmark project, describing him as a man of few words but with the utmost capacity to deliver great development to the people of Rivers State.
On his part, the Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly Dakorinama Alabo explained that the Port Harcourt Ring Road project is 50.15km long and has varied widths of between 7.6m and 29.2m where there are service lanes with 6 flyovers and one river crossing bridge.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Dr. Lars Ritcher applauded the Rivers State Government for embarking on the Ring Road project which will be quite significant to the collective prosperity of the people. He added that the project is a shining example of modern infrastructural development designed to connect people to communities and to opportunities.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the suit filed by the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to March 25, 2025.
The adjournment followed a submission by the respondents, who informed the court that they had not been served with the necessary documents.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had approached the Federal High Court, seeking an order restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges from investigating her.
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Delivering a ruling on the application on March 5, 2025, the trial judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, barred the committee from proceeding with the probe.
Details shortly…
The Delta State Police Command has arrested two suspected gun runners and recovered a cache of firearms and ammunition.
The arrests were made during stop-and-search operations along the Warri/Benin Road and Asaba/Benin Expressway on separate dates.
On 3rd March, operatives intercepted a Toyota Camry driven by one Peter James, 55, from Akwa Ibom State.
Upon searching the vehicle, they discovered three AK-47 rifles, 2,080 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition, and 1,040 rounds of 5.1mm ammunition.
State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, who confirmed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri on Monday, said that the suspect was arrested near Western Delta University, Oghara, after operatives intercepted a blue Toyota Camry with registration number PHC 257 NT.
Police arrest 2 suspected gun runners in Delta, recover arms
Police arrest 2 suspected gun runners in Delta, recover arms
“The driver was asked to open the trunk of the vehicle, during which it was observed that the trunk of the said Camry, popularly known as ‘big daddy,’ was unusually small. This aroused the suspicion of the men who were convinced that the vehicle had been modified for malicious purpose.
“The policemen then proceeded and removed the seat of the vehicle, only to discover three (3) AK-47 rifles, Two Thousand and Eighty (2,080) rounds of 7.62 mm AK-47 ammunition, one thousand and forty (1,040) rounds of 51mm ammunition loaded in four boxes.
“The exhibit has been recovered, the suspect is in custody, and investigation is ongoing,” he added.
In a separate operation on 6th March, police arrested Yahuza Magaji, 69, and Abba Sani, 17, from Kaduna State, and recovered seven pump-action guns and 1,600 rounds of live cartridges.
Edafe said that operatives attached to Dragon Patrol Team 02 arrested the suspects while on stop-and-search duty along the Asaba/Benin Expressway by the National Open University, Onicha-Ugbo.
He said that police had intercepted a navy blue Sharon space bus with registration number DKA 408 LM, driven by one Yahuza Magaji, in the company of one Abba Sani, both of Lere LGA in Kaduna State.
“They disguised as traders transporting palm oil and garri, but the police, who insisted on a thorough search of the vehicle, recovered seven (7) pump action guns, five (5) cartons containing one thousand six hundred (1,600) rounds of live cartridges concealed under the back seat of the vehicle.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects bought the arms from Onitsha and were transporting them to Kaduna State. The suspects are in custody, and investigation is ongoing,” he added.
Commenting on the development, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, expressed delight that the marching orders he gave to all tactical commanders, area commanders, and DPOs to up their game were yielding results.
“We are determined to flush out all criminal elements in the state,” said CP Abaniwonda.
“I commend the effort and determination of our men for going the extra mile to detect the hidden firearms,” he said.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a warrant for the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), to appear before it.
The Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly issued the arrest warrant on Monday during plenary, after the expiration of its 72-hour ultimatum for the electoral chief to appear before the House.
Enebeli had fixed August 9, 2025, to conduct a fresh Local Government (LG) poll in the state following a Supreme Court verdict that annulled the October 5, 2024 local government poll conducted in the state.
The Amaewhule-led Assembly had vowed to probe the conduct of Enebeli regarding the conduct of the annulled LG poll last year.
Over the weekend, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, invited members of the Assembly to a dialogue on the implementation the Supreme Court’s verdict.
The Supreme Court had also barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation and other agencies from releasing funds to the government of Rivers State until it purges itself of what the court described as flagrant disobedience to court orders.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel of the court had unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Amaewhule as the Speaker.
In dismissing Fubara’s appeal, the court ordered Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.