
News
NDDC seeks amendment of Commission’s Act 2000, to prioritize infrastructure, education, health, agriculture
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has been urged to prioritize key sectors that would have huge impact on the standard of living of the people of the Niger Delta, namely: infrastructure, education, health and agriculture.
Participants at the just-concluded Board/Management Retreat organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who made the resolution at end of the parley, also asked the Commission to pay particular attention to the security of lives and property and the protection of the poor and weak in the society.
The resolutions came after series of presentations, group discussions and deliberations on critical topics relevant for ensuring the Board is abreast of the imperatives of its role, its relationship with the Ministry and Public Service Provisions in handling Government business in addition to repositioning the Commission for effective service delivery.
They further resolved that the NDDC should consider implementing legacy projects that have the potential to benefit the people of the region, reduce poverty and improve the conditions of living of the people.
In a communique issued at the end of the four-day retreat was held at the Ibom ICON Hotel & Golf Resort in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from 19th-22nd January, 2023, the participants at the retreat were of the view that the NDDC should improve its youths and women empowerment programmes.
The retreat equally resolved that in its determination to take the Region to greater heights, the NDDC “shall engage in Public Private partnership arrangements with State Governments, International Oil Companies (IOCs) as well as International Donor Agencies with a view to executing mega projects for the Region.”

To achieve all these and even more, the retreat resolved that the Presidency should initiate the process of amending the NDDC (Establishment etc) Act 2000 to bring it in line with current challenges and realities.
The rest of the communique, issued by the Governing Board reads:
“The Niger Delta regional Masterplan should be revisited and reviewed having expired in 2020, to provide sustainable focus for the region.
“There should be a clear definition of roles and responsibilities according to the Establishment Act of both the Ministry and the Commission.
“There should be effective, strategic, timely communication and feedback between the Ministry and the Board.
“There should be due adherence to all extant Rules and Regulations, especially the NDDC Act and other Government Circulars as applicable to MDAs.
“There should be continuous orientation and training on standards, procedure and guidelines regulating the relationship between Ministries and statutory Boards.
“That statutory thresholds and due process requirements regarding Procurement processes should be strictly complied with, to ensure improvement in the Commission’s procurement process.
“That Board, Management and Ministry relationship requires effective and intentional stakeholder engagement to eliminate suspicion and grey areas.
“That proper NEEDS assessment should be carried out through consultation with relevant stakeholders to reflect the real and actual needs of the communities.
“The Board should prioritize transparency and accountability in the activities of the Commission by publishing regular reports on the Commission’s activities as well as being open to public scrutiny.
“There is a need for strategic stakeholder Management, effective communication and Conflict Management Plan respectively to facilitate the required stakeholder collaboration and synergy imperative for sustainable development of the region.
“There is a need for a well-articulated actionable Strategic Plan aimed at moving the NDDC forward in pursuit of its mandate
“The Commission should ensure the establishment and empowerment of a healthy and robust Risk Management Unit, which would provide Management with an impartial and unbiased picture of the Commission’s state of affairs at all times.
“The NDDC should put in place a system that ensures that statutory revenues due to the NDDC in accordance with the Act are collected.
“The NDDC needs to strengthen monitoring and evaluation of its projects to ensure programmeeffectiveness and efficiency.”
News
Security guard kidnaps employer’s two children, demands ransom
A private security guard has escaped with two kids from his employer in Minna, with the police suspecting abduction.
The security guard, named Sani Abdulrahaman, a Fulani by tribe, on Sunday, reportedly took Umaru and Anas, both six years old, on Sallah picnic without the knowledge of their father, Alhaji Danjuma, a businessman, and failed to bring them back home.
The father of the children raised the alarm asking the public and security agencies to help him locate the fleeing security guard and his children.
Danjuma said someone called him on Sunday evening and said he was in Erena forest in Shiroro Local Government Area with the children.
According to him, the caller asked for undisclosed ransom before his children who were in their custody would be released.
When contacted, Niger State Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, which he said occurred about one o’clock on Sunday, May 31.

Abiodun explained that the security man pretended that he was taking the children for Sallah celebration in the town, but did not return.
He said the police suspected abduction but disclosed that “investigation has commenced and efforts to locate the children are ongoing.”
News
Police arrest suspect behind AI-generated Tinubu voice note
The Nigerian Police Force has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis, the man identified as the originator of an AI-generated voice note that was widely circulated online as a leaked recording of President Bola Tinubu.
Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the arrest on Thursday in a post on his official X account.
“The IGP crack team has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis who originated the fake voice that he passed on to his gullible targets as President Tinubu’s voice,” he said.
The arrest closes a week-long controversy that began on May 27, 2026, when a video of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, went viral.
In the clip, an AI-generated voice resembling Tinubu’s was heard making inflammatory statements — including that insecurity in the South-East was deliberate, that he had pressured Peter Obi to step down ahead of the 2023 election, and that he was indifferent to Nigerians’ suffering.
Investigations by multiple news organisations, however, established that VDM had not posted the doctored audio.

An unidentified individual had extracted footage from VDM’s original Instagram video and superimposed the AI-generated voice notes before recirculating the manipulated version online.
Despite this, the Presidency had initially called for VDM’s prosecution.
Onanuga had described the incident as “a clear case of egregious abuse of the social media platform,” drawing criticism after fact-checkers confirmed VDM’s original video contained none of the fabricated audio.
Further details on the circumstances of Dennis’s arrest and the charges he may face were not immediately available at the time of filing this report.
News
Five abducted Kwara worshippers killed, one escapes, others still held
Terrorists have killed five out of the eight worshippers abducted at ECWA Church Omugo in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state, says one escaped abductees.
Rev Sunday Omole had urged federal government to expedite action on the release of the abductees from the captivity of the terrorists.
The clergyman said government intervention had become necessary after the community paid the terrorists N20 million and provided additional items worth more than N300,000, yet the abductors refused to release the worshippers and instead demanded an additional N300 million ransom.
He added that from the action of the terrorists it was clear that they just wanted to be exploiting the community.
Recall that eight of the worshippers including the Pastor’s wife were kidnapped in the morning of March 22,2026 during a Sunday service.
The death of the five worshippers including the Pastor’s wife was disclosed in a statement issued by the Pastor of the church, Rev Sunday Omole, Wednesday evening.

The statement reads:
“It is with deep pain in my heart that I inform the church, families and individual concerned in regard to the 8 people that were abducted from ECWA OMUGO on 22nd of March, 2026.
“We received one of our son’s, Mr Sunday Bakare also abducted over a month ago, he escaped and brought the following news that only 3 out of 8 of our people are remaining with the kidnappers. The remaining 5 have gone to be with the Lord.
“They are; Elder Chief David Omopariola,
Chief Joseph Ibitoye Afariogun,
Mrs Iyabo Aniyi,
Elder Joshua Akanbi Adeyemi and
Mrs. Rachel Oluwaremilekun Omole(his wife).
“Brethren, let’s know that God knows why He allows this to happen. The great comforter will comfort us in Jesus name, amen.
“The prayers of the saints in the beginning of the church also worked and answered still they had martyrs. John 16:33 says (NIV) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace . In this world you will have trouble . But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Heaven is our home and Gain. Let’s reason as child of God as we navigate this moment. God bless you, and comfort you all in Jesus name, amen.”concluded the statement.
It was also gathered that the three remaining worshipers are in terrible health condition, while a member of church who escaped from the terrorists captivity is currently receiving an urgent medical attention in a private hospital in OmuAran.
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