RIVERS GOVT TARGETS YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT WITH JANUARY 22 GRADUATE JOB FAIR

By Our Reporter

The Rivers State Government has scheduled a statewide Graduate Job Fair for January 22, 2026, as part of a broader tactical push to bridge the unemployment gap and stimulate the state’s economy.

Commissioner for Employment and Empowerment Generation, Dr. Chisom Kenneth Gbali, disclosed the plans during a press briefing in Port Harcourt.

He stated that the initiative, funded by the Governor Siminalayi Fubara administration, will offer immediate employment, internships, and vocational training to qualified graduates.

Dr Gbali said to facilitate the programme, the state government has entered a formal partnership with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association …
[8:59 am, 12/01/2026] Chief Precious Newspaper CEO: State News
[8:59 am, 12/01/2026] Chief Precious Newspaper CEO: MISLEADING ACCOUNT ON COAS VISIT TO PORT HARCOURT, A FUTILE ATTEMPT AT BLACKMAIL

The attention of Army Headquarters has been drawn to an outright misrepresentation of facts on the recent visit by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, to 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt Barracks. The submission by Sahara Reporters with the headline “Nigerian Army Chief Raises Alarm over Rising Pipeline Vandalism in Niger Delta” is misleading, malicious and should be disregarded. It is also important to unequivocally state that the COAS did not express concern nor raise any alarm in any quarter on alleged rising cases of pipeline vandalism as portrayed in the misleading account.

For the record, the COAS, while addressing troops on Friday, 9 January 2025, at 6 Division, Port Harcourt, said: “Your job here is very key to protecting critical national infrastructure, and once you do that job very well, it will impact positively on the economy of the country.” The Army Chief stressed that, “So you need to take your job very seriously, be disciplined, committed and dedicated to the mandate of this Division. While you do that, be assured I will take care of your welfare issues, which are topmost priorities.

“Some of the challenges raised by your commanders were addressed immediately; for instance, the issue of accommodation. We have approved the construction of additional accommodation, the renovation of certain quarters and the completion of some ongoing projects.” He added, “Once this is done, it will go a long way in mitigating some of the accommodation challenges that are here.” He maintained that, “In terms of quality education for your children, that is all being looked into, and in turn, we expect you to do your job conscientiously. So listen to your officers; they will guide you and lead you right.”

He said “Normally, I go round various Divisions to see officers and men, interact with them, and ensure their combat readiness. So I am here in the 6 Division area of responsibility for my maiden operational visit to see what the troops are doing, to look at their challenges and see how we can address them so that they can go about doing their jobs seriously.”

The COAS further assured the troops that some of the challenges raised during the visit would be promptly addressed.
“I have looked at some of the challenges they have raised; some were addressed immediately, while others will be addressed immediately we get to Abuja.” He further said, “I want you to continue to do your jobs conscientiously. Your jobs around here involve the protection of critical national infrastructure, which impacts our economy, so once you do your job very well, everything will be fine.”

Furthermore, it is important to restate that media houses whose stock in trade is to arm-twist narratives to project their adversarial posture are hereby enjoined to check the veracity of their facts before placing them in the public domain. For clarity, the COAS did not raise alarm over rising cases of pipeline vandalism, as all parameters on ground, security-wise, indicated a commendable security effort at checking the menace of oil theft and pipeline vandalism across the region. These efforts have significantly led to sustained exploration activities in the oil and gas sector, in the interest of the nation’s economy.

Members of the public are called upon to disregard such subtle but futile attempts at downplaying security efforts that are yielding positive results across the region. Additionally, the good people of the region are urged to continue to provide credible intelligence on the activities of economic saboteurs in their domain to security agencies for prompt response.

APPOLONIA ANELE
Colonel
Acting Director, Army Public Relations
11 January 2025
[8:59 am, 12/01/2026] Chief Precious Newspaper CEO: National News
[8:59 am, 12/01/2026] Chief Precious Newspaper CEO: NDDC Constitutes Project Verification and Payment Committee

The Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, led by Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has constituted a Project Verification and Payment Committee.

This followed one of the resolutions reached at the 9th meeting of the 7th Governing Board of the Commission held on December 8, 2025.

The Board approved the constitution of a Project Verification Committee by Management to verify all infrastructure, electrification, desilting, environmental, and water projects for the purpose of capturing them in the Commission’s Directorate of Finance and Accounts’ Digitised platform for payment purposes.

The setting up of the Committee was sequel to the Federal Government’s directive that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government digitalise their operations and go paperless by December 31, 2025.

It was therefore imperative for the NDDC Management to conduct a comprehensive verification of all completed projects to capture the necessary information in the Commission’s Directorate of Finance and Accounts’ electronic database for payment purposes.

The Project Verification and Payment Committee would undertake a comprehensive verification of all completed projects in the region from inception to January 2023, to capture them in the Digitised database of the Directorate of Finance and Accounts for E-payments.

The projects to be verified include infrastructural, electrification, environmental, desilting, and water supply projects.

Members of the Committee are as follows: the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, Chairman; the Executive Director of Projects, Sir Victor Antai, member; the Director of Legal Services, Mr. Victor Arenyeka, Secretary; the Director of Project Monitoring and Supervision. Gbenga Omowanle, member; Director Finance and Accounts, Mrs Kunemofa Asu, member; and the Director Internal Audit, Mr. Lucky Ogbuji, member.

Seledi Thompson-Wakama
Director, Corporate Affairs
January 11, 2026.