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Fresh Tension In Rivers
Rivers State had been embroiled in political turbulence for nearly two years, owing mostly to a power struggle between Wike and Fubara, which resulted in a prolonged governance crisis.
The Rivers Assembly has launched a probe into state finances during Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas’ six-month emergency rule
Rivers state received over N254bn from FAAC between March and August 2025, mostly from oil derivation, but failed to publish its 2025 Budget Implementation Report.
However, the immediate past Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has rejected a move by the Rivers State House of Assembly to probe the state’s expenditure over the last few months under his administration.
Ibas concluded his role as the administrator of the oil-rich state on September 17, coinciding with the termination of the six-month emergency rule.
This transition followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the reinstatement of the suspended state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, along with his deputy and the members of the state House of Assembly, who were instructed to resume their offices from the preceding Thursday.
The Rivers State House of Assembly, presided over by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, during its first plenary after the end of emergency rule, said it would investigate the state expenditure during the six months of emergency rule.
According to the resolutions of the House, “To explore the process of knowing what transpired during the emergency rule with regard to spending from the consolidated revenue fund for the award of contracts and other expenditure.”
It was gathered that Rivers State received at least N254.37bn from the Federation Account Allocation Committee between March and August 2025 under the tenure of the sole administrator.
This figure is based on an analysis of FAAC data from the National Bureau of Statistics and other sources.
While the NBS has released official breakdowns up to June, the figures for July and August were collated from documents presented at FAAC meetings obtained
NBS records show Rivers earned N44.66 billion in March, N44.42 billion in April, N42.80 billion in May, and N42.30 billion in June.
According to the papers reviewed, the state received around N38.42 billion in July and N41.76 billion in August.
These raised total net allocations for the six months to N254.37 billion, with a monthly average of N42.40 billion.
If September follows the same pattern, Rivers’ inflows might total about N297 billion in seven months.
However, the pattern of these allocations demonstrates the state’s substantial reliance on the 13% derived from oil revenue.
According to the breakdown, oil extraction accounted for 13% of total income.
Between March and August, Rivers got N133.24 billion in derivation, accounting for approximately 52.4 percent of its FAAC allocations.
The state collected N18.24bn in March, N21.02bn in April, N14.56bn in May, N19.76bn in June, N17.62bn in July, and N16.58 billion in August.
Rivers also benefited from inflows under the Electronic Money Transfer Levy, environmental funds, and exchange gains, which combined to increase its net receipts despite significant deductions.
Despite these significant allocations, Rivers State has yet to release its 2025 Budget Implementation Report, a required document that details revenues, internally produced money, and spending trends.
Residents and civil society have been unable to establish how the billions have been spent on capital projects, salaries, pensions, or recurring costs because this report has not been released.
Rivers State had been embroiled in political turbulence for nearly two years, owing mostly to a power struggle between former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Fubara, which resulted in a prolonged governance crisis.
In response to the situation, Tinubu announced a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, suspending Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for six months.
This came after he declared an emergency in the oil-rich South-South state.
He stated that the decision was made to restore stability to the state, which has been in political instability due to a disagreement between the state governor and the state legislature.
Tinubu cited Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, claiming that the emergency measure was required to restore peace.
He noted that the proclamation has been published in the Federal Gazette and delivered to the National Assembly.
Two days later, on March 20, both the House of Representatives and the Senate approved the President’s announcement, officially suspending Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly for forced holidays, despite massive public outrage.
Objecting to what they saw as an unconstitutional move, 11 PDP governors filed a petition in the Supreme Court, SC/CV/329/2025. However, there has been no public update on the situation since then.
Rivers’ political climate has improved as a result of Wike and Fubara’s reunion.
The state’s local government elections were held on August 30, with the ruling All Progressives Congress winning 20 seats and the PDP taking the remaining three.
Meanwhile, civil society organizations in Rivers State have demanded accountability from the single administrator for the funds received from FAAC.
Enefaa Georgewill, chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Rivers State, called the process that brought the sole administrator to power unlawful and questioned how he has collected and used public cash since March.
Georgewill stated that the total sum received by the state merely added to the allegation of mismanagement.
He explained that despite the large inflows, most significant projects in the state, including the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex, have stopped.
As a result, Georgewill requested that Fubara convene an investigative panel to determine both federal allocations and internally generated money, as well as to investigate how the funds were spent.
He went on to say that financial regulatory institutions must also have a role in investigating the state’s finances under Ibas, emphasizing that civil society suspects wrongdoing and would not back down in demanding accountability.
Georgewill said, “We will be calling on the Rivers State Governor to set up a panel of inquiry to ascertain how much he received both in terms of federal allocation and internally generated revenue and how he expended it. This is because we suspect corruption.
“The reason being that almost all the major projects are stalled, even the House of Assembly Complex, which he tried to touch; he couldn’t even finish it. So, we will be calling on the governor and financial regulatory agencies to make sure that they question how the funds of Rivers State were expended.”
Emma Obe, the spokesperson for the Civil Liberties Organisation in Rivers, expressed similar worries, claiming that the current situation in the state amounted to an illegitimate emergency administration that failed to follow constitutional prescriptions.
Obe emphasized that the National Assembly enacted the 2025 budget without going through the necessary processes, such as public hearings, denying Rivers residents the opportunity to learn what was being allocated in their name.
Obe said, “It has always been our position that the government in Rivers State under this emergency rule has been operating illegally because it didn’t follow what the Constitution prescribes. And so whatever they have been doing is founded on this basis, and we have always asked for accountability.
“There is no government without accountability. We all know what has happened so far. The budget of the state, for instance, was passed by the National Assembly without them going through all the necessary processes, including public hearings, where the people ought to know what is going into the budget and all that.
“But this government must give an account of what they have received so far. It is not enough for them to come and stay for six months and go away without telling the people of the state what came in, how they spent the money, and all that. If this is not done, of course, the remedies are open to us and open to every citizen of Rivers State to ask for it. And whoever spends public money without accounting for it will pay for it, if not today, sometime to come. We are not just going to rest.”
In response to the House of Assembly’s decision to investigate expenditures during his term, Ibas stated that the parliamentarians lacked the authority to investigate him, citing the fact that they did not appoint him as Administrator of the State.
Ibas, while responding to questions from our reporter via his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubu, on Sunday, said it was understandable that, having been away from the business of legislation for a while, lawmakers were simply attempting to discharge their duties.
He did, however, describe the parliamentarians’ commitment as critical, adding that the attempt to investigate the former administrator was comparable to investigating the president, who selected him, as well as the National Assembly, which oversaw Ibas’ operations as state administrator at the time.
According to Igbikiowubu, while no one can stop the Assembly from investigating what they believe to be their functions within the state, attempting to investigate the state’s immediate previous administrator would be a “fool’s errand.”
“When you say they were going to probe the tenure of the administrator, was it the Assembly that appointed the administrator?
“You see, the point to note is that commentary is free. You can’t stop people from running commentary. The House of Assembly has been on break for a very long time, and you will appreciate that they have not been able to discharge their functions for such a long time,” Igbikiowubu said.
“Now that they have resumed, they have to make an effort to carry out their functions. So, it will seem their right to probe what has gone wrong in the state. Nobody can stop the lawmakers from carrying out a probe of what they perceive to be their functions within the state.
“But like I asked earlier, were they the ones that appointed the administrator? So, if you didn’t appoint the administrator, it goes to reason that you have certain limitations. When you also realize that the administrator was appointed by the president, it goes without reason that the administrator acted for and on behalf of the president.”
He added, “When you also reason that the administrator was supervised by the National Assembly, it goes without reason that when you decide to probe the administrator, you’re invariably saying that you will be probing the administrator and the National Assembly.
“So, I wish them good luck with their plan and their probe. But you and I know that such an enterprise amounts to a fool’s errand.”
Recent developments regarding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), have raised concerns following the arrest of his brother and lawyer.
Both individuals are currently in custody after being arraigned in court.
On Monday, human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, led a protest in Abuja demanding Kanu’s immediate release. Kanu has been held in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021.
Political and public affairs analyst Barrister Darlington Agomuo has commented on the situation, suggesting that the Igbo community should hold Sowore accountable for any repercussions Kanu may face. He emphasized that it is unlikely that any government would respond to such protests to secure the release of an individual.
He said, “If anything should happen to Nnamdi Kanu now, we should blame Sowore. He’s the one who already told us that the government had already taken a position to convict Nnamdi Kanu. He said it himself. So, when you know about this, why are you doing what you are doing? I have never seen any government in the world that was forced to do certain things.
You don’t force the government to do things, you don’t. The courts are there if you are fighting for your rights, but to wake up and say I want this person to be released, or the country will nobody will listen to you. It has never happened, and it will not happen under Tinubu. I was telling Sowore to stop this prank he was playing.
He knows very well that this protest will not yield any fruit. The efforts Igbos have been making would have been more possible if it were allowed to sail through, but Sowore has carried his rascality to spoil our show. In fact, if anything should happen to Kanu now, we should blame Sowore,” he concluded.
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The Department of State Service (DSS) has raised a fresh tension as it revealed an imminent terrorist attack in some communities in Kogi and Ondo states, which was planned by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), according to Legit.
The secret police police the plan of the terrorist group in a secret memo, which was dated October 20, 2025, and addressed to the Brigade Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, Owena Cantonment, Akure.
Vanguard reported that the DSS explained that credible intelligence has confirmed the plan of the terrorist group, which was to launch coordinated assaults in several communities in the two states.
Ondo communities ISWAP plans to attack
The memo was signed by the director of security of the DSS Ondo State Command and listed Oyin Akoko and Eriti Akoko in the Akoko North local government area of Ondo and Owo town in the Owo local government area, saying those are the potential targets of ISWAP.
According to the secret police, the terrorist group has started surveillance on soft targets in the mentioned areas and called on the military to heighten its security operations to stop any impending attack. The secret police urged the military to scale up the level of security in the areas to protect lives and property.
This security alert came three years after the killing of over 40 worshippers in June 2022 at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo state, by some suspected ISWAP members. The killings happened during a morning service.
The Owo attack was one of the significant killings of the terrorist group, as it happened outside the region where ISWAP and other groups have dominated, the northeast. It shook the country and has continued to raise tension in the southwest.
When terrorists gained prominence in Nigeria
Since the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the activities of the terrorists have spread across northern Nigeria, beyond the wall of the north-east, where it started with banditry and kidnapping in the north-west and north-central.
The menace continued in the eight years of Buhari’s administration, and the current president, Bola Tinubu, has also inherited the challenges. One major problem caused by the insurgency was food security, as most of the foods in the country are produced in the north, and farmers have been unable to access their farms for over a decade.
Legit.ng
Top private secondary schools now charge fees as high as private universities.
But behind each modern campus, fancy facilities, and international programs is a story of hard work, vision, and money.
From pioneering educators to embassy-backed schools, find out who is turning expensive schooling into big business in Nigeria’s largest city.
- Greensprings School
Visionary Founder: Mrs. Lai Koiki
Starting as a small nursery in 1985, Koiki transformed Greensprings into a tri-campus British-style institution serving over 2,000 students. Today, day pupils pay about ₦3.8 million per term, while boarding spots go for around ₦7.1 million testimony to her decades-long commitment to high-quality, holistic education.
- Grange School
Nonprofit Legacy: Grange Education Limited
Launched in 1958 by British expatriates to educate children of West African Airways staff, Grange is run by a parent-and-stakeholder board. With term fees near ₦4.5 million for day students and ₦6.5 million for boarders, its nonprofit status means every naira is reinvested into campus expansion and teacher development.
- Lekki British International School
Family-Led Enterprise: The Idehen Siblings
Founded by the late Dr. Abiodun Laja in 2000, LBIS now thrives under the stewardship of her children, Francis and Christian Idehen. They uphold a rigorous UK National Curriculum for roughly 350 pupils, charging about ₦4.6 million per year for day schooling and ₦6.8 million to board.
- British International School, Lagos
Global Backing: British Schools Foundation
Part of an international network, BIS Lagos blends Cambridge and British curricula on its Lekki Peninsula campus. With termly fees climbing above ₦5 million for day scholars and ₦7.5 million for boarders, it attracts a truly cosmopolitan student body and overseas-trained faculty.
- Meadow Hall School
Educational Innovators: The Hansotia Family
Since its 2002 inception, Meadow Hall has championed inquiry-based learning across two campuses. Their upscale campus in Lekki features science labs, art studios, and green play spaces. Day students pay around ₦4 million per term; boarders hover near ₦7 million.
- Atlantic Hall
Alumni-Driven Council: Former Students & Parents
Atlantic Hall established in 1989 operates under a vibrant alumni and parent board committed to continuous improvement. Known for its A-Level program and expansive sports facilities, it charges close to ₦3.9 million per term for day pupils and ₦6.3 million for boarders.
- Corona Day Secondary School, Lekki
Heritage Brand: Corona Schools
With roots stretching back to the 1950s, Corona remains a household name. The Lekki branch offers the Nigerian curriculum alongside international enrichment programs. Fees are roughly ₦3.7 million per term for day students; boarding isn’t offered here, keeping costs slightly lower.
- Lycée Français Louis Pasteur
Diplomatic Mission: French Embassy
Operated by France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this school delivers the French national curriculum from primary through lycée. Its bilingual immersion and international accreditation command term fees of about ₦5 million reflecting its elite pedigree and embassy support.
- Charterhouse Lagos
Tech-Minded Founders: The Petkauskas Family
Charterhouse, birthed in 2000, has built a reputation for coding and robotics labs alongside classical academics. Day scholars invest roughly ₦4.2 million per term; boarding which includes weekend hackathons runs nearly ₦6.7 million.
- American International School of Lagos
Consortium Ownership: American and Local Partners
AISL, part of a global network, follows an American curriculum with Advanced Placement options. Situated in Victoria Island, it caters to expatriate and Nigerian families, charging around ₦5.2 million per term for day schooling and ₦7.8 million for its residential program.
Business Elites Africa
Kashim Shettima Mustapha GCON, the 15th and current vice president of Nigeria, served as senator for Borno Central from 2019 to 2023, and as the governor of Borno State from 2011 to 2019.
Shettima possesses a remarkable level of intelligence, which is highly regarded, much like the vast population of citizens in Nigeria.
Vice President Kashim Shettima temporarily handed over his office to 14-year-old Joy Ogah, a passionate advocate for girl-child education, for a symbolic one-day tenure on Monday.
This move highlights the Tinubu administration’s commitment to advancing education and empowerment, especially for girls.
As the ceremonial Vice President, Ogah delivered a compelling address, calling for inclusive education, protection of girls’ rights, and improved school amenities like sanitation and nutrition.
“When girls are protected, peace becomes possible,” she declared, captivating her audience. She added, “I may be the Vice President for a day, but the struggles I represent cannot end in a day. They must continue in our policies, our classrooms, our conversations, and our budgets.”
Before passing the torch, Shettima reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to girl-child education, citing initiatives like the school feeding program.
He also lauded First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu as a champion of female empowerment, noting her impactful contributions to girl-child education debates during her time in the Nigerian Senate.
The event occurred during a meeting with a PLAN International delegation, led by Helen Mfonobong Idiong, focused on advancing girl-child education in Nigeria.
The organization has supported over 11 million Nigerian children through interventions in education and entrepreneurship.
Ogah’s brief tenure as Vice President sent a resounding message, urging leaders and citizens to prioritize sustained investment in girl-child education for a brighter, more equitable future.
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It is no longer news that things have fallen apart between the distinguished 64-year-old Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ned Nwoko, and his heartthrob, Regina Daniels, due to allegations of domestic violence and drug abuse.
Regina had accused her husband, Senator Nwoko, of domestic violence in a video making the rounds, an allegation he already countered.
In 2021, there were allegations that Regina Daniels was using Jaruma’s product, ‘Kayamata’, on her husband, Ned Nwoko, and his former wife, Laila Charani. Rumors circulated online suggesting that Regina expressed her affection solely for Ned and not for his co-wives. Some claims even suggested that Regina had enchanted Laila, who had recently divorced Ned.
Following the recent marital scandal involving the couple, Regina has faced a wave of criticism regarding her association with the Kayamata product, which has brought attention back to this incident.
Meanwhile, on November 3, 2021, as reported by Daily Post, an online publication, the popular Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels has denied allegations that she used Jaruma’s Kayamata product to secure her marriage to billionaire, Ned Nwoko.
Regina in a post on her Instagram page said she has never used Kayamata and was only told by Jaruma to influence the product.
In a statement on her Instagram, the mother of one called out Jaruma for trying to mislead the public.
Sharing a post where someone said she used Kayamata to secure her husband, Ned Nwoko, Regina said she was only contracted to raise awareness for the Jaruma Brand and she has and will never use Kayanmata products.
Her post reads, “This is for clarity sake here, I have and will never use any kayamata product. Jaruma paid me to help make random posts for her. I personally gave my terms concerning the kind of posts to be made, I was very mindful with my choice of words so as not to mislead the public, I was simply creating awareness for her brand and along the line, we became friends.
“I was warned severally to keep her at arms length and mind my association with her but it is not in my nature to judge a person from another’s perspective but in her case I should have known better. She constantly uses every opportunity to create contents to profit off my person and my brand even after our payment deal expired.
“I tolerated this because I believed I understood her person and felt I should give her the benefit of doubt and maintain a cordial friendship. But this time, I will not tolerate Jaruma using this issue that practically portrays me as a bad person for her selfish desires knowing fully well, that I have NEVER AND WILL NEVER USE whatever she sells as I have no reason to.
“And this is a notice to my fans and the general public, I and my brand As Regina Daniels has no business/association with Jaruma and her products, Thank you.”
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori will on Tuesday depart for Germany on an official working visit aimed at strengthening the state’s partnership with construction giant Julius Berger, according to the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu.
Aniagwu, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Asaba, said the Governor would be accompanied by himself and the Technical Assistant to the Governor.
Flanked by the Chief Press Secretary ( CPS) to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, and the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Public Enlightenment, Projects and Policies, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, Aniagwu explained that the visit was strictly a working mission designed to deepen technical collaboration and secure more favourable project terms for Delta State.
“The purpose of this visit is to strengthen our ongoing partnership with Julius Berger. His Excellency is known for his negotiation skills, and this trip will help us secure better deals and concessions that will benefit the state,” Aniagwu added.
He emphasized that the visit was not for leisure, but rather part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to enhance project delivery and cost efficiency.
Recalling the state’s previous engagement with China, Aniagwu noted that it led to the award of major contracts, including the ₦59 billion Agbor flyover and the ₦39 billion Otovwodo Junction, Ughelli flyover on the Warri–Patani Expressway.
The Commissioner also announced that the forthcoming 2026 budget, estimated at ₦1.5 trillion, would prioritize capital projects, social welfare, and infrastructure expansion.
He said: “Following the approval of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, ministries are fine-tuning their submissions before presentation to the State Executive Council”.
Aniagwu added that the Governor had directed that all upcoming empowerment programmes, scheduled to begin next month, must be transparent and inclusive across all 25 local government areas.
He said key ministries and agencies would coordinate the initiative to create sustainable livelihoods and boost productivity.
According to him, the state would, in the coming weeks, perform several groundbreaking ceremonies for new projects worth billions of naira, including the Otovwodo Junction Flyover, underscoring the government’s determination to sustain momentum in infrastructure development.
He assured that Governor Oborevwori’s administration would not allow political timelines to slow governance, insisting that contractors had been instructed to maintain steady progress on all ongoing projects.
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