An explosion has rocked a section of the Trans Niger Pipeline in the Bodo Community in the Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was learnt that the explosion occurred late on Monday night near the Bodo-Bonny Road under construction.

A trending video showed thick black smoke in the atmosphere with a raging inferno spreading fast into the mangrove.

Unknown militants had threatened to attack oil facilities in the state following the ongoing political crisis.

The post Explosion rocks Trans-Niger pipeline in Rivers appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

As part of the implementation, the governor directed all sacked chairmen of the state’s 23 local government areas to immediately hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs).

Recall that on Friday, February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court, in a ruling delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, declared the October 5, 2024, local government elections invalid, nullifying the emergence of 23 chairmen and 319 councillors.

The court also recognised Martins Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, alongside 26 other lawmakers as the authentic members of the legislature.

Additionally, the apex court voided the state budget and ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation to halt further fund disbursement to the Rivers State government until Governor Fubara re-presents the budget before the duly recognized House of Assembly, led by Speaker Amaewhule.

Addressing the state in a broadcast on Sunday, Governor Fubara reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the rule of law and immediately directed Heads of Local Government Administration to take charge of council affairs pending the conduct of fresh elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

Fubara said: “I have had a meeting with my team of lawyers, and they have assured me that the certified true copy of the judgments may be available to them by Friday, 7th March 2025.

“I assure you that upon the receipt of certified judgments, we shall study their ramifications and implement them without reservations to move the State forward.

“I further direct the outgoing local government chairmen to formally hand over the levers of power to the Heads of Personnel Management by Monday, 3rd March 2025.”

The governor noted with regrets the trying times the state had been plunged into but urged everyone to remain calm and peacefully go about their legitimate daily activities and be sure that his administration would continue to do everything in meeting their aspirations.

Fubara said: “We are all aware of the recent Supreme Court judgments and pronouncements regarding aspects of the lingering political disputes in our dear State.

“Although we disagree with the judgments, we are bound to obey the orders made therein as a law-abiding government.

“Since inception, we have conducted the affairs of government within the framework of our Constitution, due process and the rule of law.

“While we are not above mistakes because we are humans, we believe that we have not, as a government, done anything deliberately to trample on the rule of law or the hallowed principles of constitutional governance.

“Accordingly, I have had a meeting with my team of lawyers, and they have assured me that the certified true copy of the judgments may be available to them by Friday, 7th March 2025.

“I assure you that upon the receipt of certified judgements, we shall study their ramifications and implement them without reservations to move the State forward.”

The post Fubara Bows To Supreme Court’s Judgment, Directs Implementation appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

This decision comes as a result of what the court described as the state’s flagrant disobedience to court orders.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which challenged the validity of the Rivers State House of Assembly presided over by Martin Amaewhule as the Speaker.

The court ruled that Martin Amaewhule should immediately resume sitting with all other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The Supreme Court emphasized that Governor Fubara’s action of presenting an appropriation bill before a four-member House of Assembly was an aberration, depriving 28 constituencies of proper representation and violating a court order that mandated the governor to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill before a validly constituted Assembly under Amaewhule’s leadership.

The court further condemned Governor Fubara’s actions regarding the alleged defection of 28 members of the Rivers Assembly, describing it as an act of “brigandage and dictatorship,” aimed at obstructing the Assembly from carrying out its legitimate duties under the leadership of Amaewhule.

The judgement also criticised the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex by Governor Fubara, calling it an excessive use of executive power to frustrate the functioning of the Assembly.

In a separate judgment, the Supreme Court declared the local government election held on October 5, 2024, by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) invalid.

Justice Jamilu Tukur, delivering the ruling, found that the election violated the Electoral Act, with RSIEC continuing voter registration even after announcing the election date. The court ruled that the electoral process had been abridged in clear violation of Section 150 of the Electoral Act, rendering the election void for lack of substantial compliance with the law.

The post Supreme Court Orders CBN to Halt Funds to Rivers State Govt, Directs Amaewhule to Resume appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

The Chief Election Officer of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, made this known on Saturday in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

While declaring the results, Enebili said the announcement is suspended in Etche Local Government Area because the results collation is ongoing. He stated that the results for Etche LGA will be declared alongside that of the 319 councillorship seats at a later date.

The post Breaking: APP Wins 22 Out of 23 Chairmanship Seats in Rivers LG Poll appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

Some of the employees of the company confirmed the release of Rogers on Friday night saying he had been reunited with his family.

Reports say the state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, was instrumental to the freedom of the reporter.

Rogers was reportedly whisked away to an unknown place by the gunmen at about 9pm on Thursday in front of his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt.

The reporter was driving his official Channels Television branded car when the hoodlums accosted him, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.

The post Abducted Channels TV Reporter Regains Freedom In Port Harcourt appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, made this announcement during a press conference on Thursday morning.

Recall that Nigeria recorded five new cases of coronavirus with cases in the country rising to 51 and Rivers State, south-south Nigeria recording its first case.

Lai in his speech said the FG is: “considering tougher measures to enforce compliance, stop the exportation of the disease to states that do not have it and minimize spread. Possible measures include:

– Stopping inter-state/inter-town travels, except for essential services– Closing all motor parks and inter-state rail stations. Already, all train movements nationwide have been stopped.

– Using fire fighting and other adaptable vehicles and personnel to fumigate
cities and towns.

We will be considering and announcing new measures from time to time, but rest assured that whatever decisions we take will be in the best interest of Nigerians.

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