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NDDC promises speedy intervention on damaged road in Rivers, partners with Gbaramatu Kingdom on projects completion
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has assured the people of Akinima community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State of its speedy intervention on the damaged and unmotorable road linking the community with Joinkarama.
The NDDC Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, gave this assurance on Friday when he led some members of the Commission’s management committee on an inspection tour of the Akinima – Joinkarama road, which has been greatly damaged by erosion.
Ogbuku sympathized with the commuters and residents of the area and promised to provide a temporary alternative route while the permanent solution to the erosion problem was being worked out.
He said: “This is a major road linking many communities in Ahoda West LGA of Rivers State, as we can see there is no way people can access this road because of the damage caused by erosion. We are going to immediately provide temporary alternative route while the permanent solution to this problem is ongoing.”
The NDDC boss also reiterated the Commission’s resolve to collaborate with stakeholders of the Niger Delta region in every step of its mandate, as he stressed the motive of his Management’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) drive which he described as essential to the completion of ongoing projects of the Agency, as well as initiation of new ones.
He made this known when he visited the palace of the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, King Oboro Gbaruan II, at his palace in Oporoza, Warri, Delta State.
According to Ogbuku, even though his administration prioritizes the completion of ongoing projects, however, the resources at their disposal are meager and cannot see them through such a feat, appealing that, it is against this backdrop that they adopted the PPP to serve as an alternative source of funding for the Commission.
He said: “Even though we have prioritized the completion of ongoing projects, however, we do not have enough funds to achieve this. That is why the current Management adopted Public-Private Partnership as an alternative source of funding, believing that with fruitful partnerships, we can complete all our projects and even initiate new ones.”
Ogbuku also informed that his administration has made deliberate moves to ensure all stakeholders are carried along in the distribution and execution of the Commission’s mandate, exposing that the Agency’s 2024 budget has already assembled representatives from various categories, as the budget aspires to be all-inclusive.
He said: “As we are all aware, the 2023 budget is not ours. It was prepared before we came. But the next year’s budget is currently being prepared and will capture every stakeholder’s priority. It is going to be a stakeholders budget and State Governors, IOCs, our State liaison directors, and board representatives have all sent in liaison personnel.”
Ogbuku also inspected some ongoing projects in Gbaramatu Kingdom, including the canalization of Oporoza Creek and the Warri-Amadino-Okerenkoko Road. He noted that these projects would provide easy access and navigation for the communities and the oil company operating in the area.
He said: “We have reached out to Chevron Nigeria Limited and other stakeholders, seeking partnership on this and other projects. We chose the Public Private Partnership, PPP, model as an alternative source of funding for the Commission. So, we have been going about seeking funding partners to complete our current projects and also start new ones.”
Receiving the NDDC team, King Oboro Gbaruan II praised the Commission’s Management for the PPP initiative as he promised to do his call of the bid.
The monarch, however, registered his unhappiness over the cancellation of projects by the NDDC, stating that no awarded project deserves to be canceled, as every project has its unique impact on Niger Deltans.
He said: “The report of projects cancellation did not sit well with us. No project deserves to be canceled instead, if you have a project that is not progressing well, sanction the contractor and re-award the project to another contractor. Niger Deltans are making demands for new projects; canceling old ones does not add up. Meanwhile, your administration should also prioritize jetties, roads, and canalization projects in this part of the region.”
The traditional ruler also urged the NDDC to ensure that none of its projects was abandoned, noting that the non-completion of projects was responsible for the slow pace of development in the Niger Delta region.
He said: “As traditional rulers, we are worried that development is not moving as fast as we expected. We have played our own role by ensuring that there is peace in the Niger Delta region. Having provided a peaceful environment, there should be no excuse for not developing our region.”
A cleric, Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, has raised alarm after another child was reportedly abandoned at his residence on April 23, 2026.
According to him, the incident occurred earlier in the day when the young boy was discovered at his gate. He stated that he has immediately notified the police and is making arrangements to hand the child over to the appropriate authorities.
The cleric explained that he is unable to take in new children at the moment due to ongoing registration processes with the Ministry of Social Welfare. He stressed that accepting the child would violate existing legal requirements guiding child care and protection.
He further disclosed that his facility is already accommodating over 500 children, making it necessary to strictly adhere to regulations before admitting more.
Chinyere also expressed appreciation to the Federation of International Women Lawyers and the Ministry of Social Welfare for educating him on proper legal procedures.
He reiterated that the child would be transferred to the custody of the Ministry, emphasizing that compliance with the law remains his top priority.
Adewole Emmanuel, a 400-level medical student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has died after reportedly collapsing moments before his final session examination.
Emmanuel’s death was announced on Thursday in a statement by the Ife University Medical Students Association.
The association lamented the sudden departure, describing Emmanuel as a solid pillar of his class.
The statement read in part, “Under the cover of dark clouds, we write to you with the heaviest of hearts to inform you of the passing of one of our own, an integral part of the association and a solid pillar of his class.
While describing the deceased as “a colleague, friend, roommate, and a Part 4 medical student with an undeniably bright future until the time of his passing”, the association added that “This incident is not only sad, but crucially painful as we lost a rising star and a loving member of the IFUMSA family.”
“In honoring his dearest memories, we kindly ask the general public to do without speculations and respect the privacy of the family during this vulnerable period.”
Speaking under condition of anonymity, a senior member of the association said the student died on Wednesday without an underlying ailment.
“He died yesterday. But he hadn’t been sick. He just collapsed and couldn’t be resuscitated,” the source said.
“We were about to write our final exam for the session. And during the process of waiting for the exam, he suddenly collapsed in the college and died.
“It’s just unfortunate as he didn’t have any underlying medical condition. We have contacted his family already.”
..As court srikes out charges against CEO, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Ogbuanu, 3 others, Awards N1m cost against her
An Enugu State Magistrate Court has struck out a four-count criminal charge brought against a Lagos-based cleric and Chief Executive Officer, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Basil Ogbuanu, and three of his workers.
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The court also awarded a N1m cost against Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo, the wife of a former governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, for her failure to prosecute the case.
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The ruling, delivered by His Worship D.K. Ekoh at the Enugu South Magisterial District, followed the persistent absence of the complainants since the inception of the matter in January 2026.
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The defendants, Ezeh Patrick Muoneke, 46; Arinze Onoja, 26; Sedro Theodore, 28; and Basil Ogbuanu, 56, were arraigned on January 20, 2026, on charges bordering on conspiracy, deprivation of liberty, and assault.
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The four- count charge levelled against them read:
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“That you Eze Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Only a ‘m’, on the 16th day of January, 2026 at about 1300hours at Patin-Son Estate, Ozubulu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu within Enugu Magisterial District did conspire among themselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: Deprivation of Liberty and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 496(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count 11: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Mrs Patricia M. Nwobodo ‘f’ against her will from 11hours to 13hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State 2004.
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Count 111: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ against his will from 1100hours to 1300hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count IV: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’ Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assault Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ by beating him all over his body and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 252 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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However, during the proceedings on April 15, 2026, the police prosecutor, B.C. Nnadozie, admitted that he had not seen the complainants since the matter started.
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Nnadozie told the court that he could not “manufacture oath” or serve witness statements on the defence as he had no contact with the nominal complainants.
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Counsel for the defendants, Emeka Oko, urged the court to dismiss the charge, noting that his clients, who are busy artisans and a Lagos resident, had suffered by traveling to Enugu for a case the complainants were not interested in pursuing.
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Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Ekoh lambasted the conduct of the complainants, describing it as a clear indication of their lack of desire to prosecute the matter.
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“A complainant whose complaint was investigated and to her knowledge is aware of the charge proffered against the defendants decides to stay in her luxury home without prosecuting her complaint, should as well pay damages to the person(s) she wrongfully complained against”, he said
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The court subsequently struck out the charge and ordered that the defendants must not be re-arrested on the strength of the same complaint.
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The trial Magistrate also granted the application for N1m cost against the complainant to be paid to the defendants.
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