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The Chairman of the South South Governors’s Forum, and Governor of Bayelsa State, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, on Tuesday led his colleagues to condole with the family of late politician, Chief Tony Anenih, in Abuja. The Chief mourner and first son of Anenih, Tony Anenih, and his widow, Justice Mary Anenih, received the governors. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Mr.  Fidelis Soriwei , said in a statement on Tuesday that Governor Dickson was accompanied by the Governor òf Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Governor òf Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and their Akwa Ibom State state counterpart, Barr. Emmanuel Udom. The Governor òf Bayelsa State who spoke on behalf of the South South Governors Forum, said that they visited the residence of the late astute politician to condole with the members and encourage them on the demise of their father. He said that the governors’ visit was representative of the good people of the respective states and

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State in his bid to invest in human capacity development and to reward excellence, has signed into law, the yearly automatic employment of Bayelsa State First Class graduates. The Governor has given the beneficiaries the opportunity to make a choice of working in the public service or academia. Details later.

Late Chief Tony Anenih Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, has said Nigeria lost a political colossus in the late Chief Tony Anenih. Governor Dickson, in a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said he received the news of Chief Anenih's passing with shock.  He described Anenih as an astute politician and elder statesman whose vacuum will be difficult to fill. The governor, who is also chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the South -South geo-political zone and the entire country will miss Anenih for his selfless contributions to the growth of PDP,   development of the region and Nigeria in general. "Chief Anenih will be remembered for his immense contribution to the growth of PDP, development of the South-South region and Nigeria in general. Mr.   Fix It, as he was fondly called, was a political icon, a nationalist and a great leader of me

Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson, yesterday, approved an additional N100 million for the provision of relief materials and the resettlement of flood victims across the eight local government areas of the state. Governor Dickson had earlier approved N50 million towards ameliorating the plight of victims of the disaster. The governor announced the approval when members of the Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA) led by chairman of its Board of Trustees, Gen. Paul Alaowei Toun (retd), paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa. A press release by his Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as having directed the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Kemela Okara, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Rt. Hon. Talford Ongolo, and other senior government officials to coordinate the process of ensuring that displaced persons returned to their homes. He commended members of the IPA for establishing a platform ai

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday visited communities affected by the recent devastating floods in both Rivers and Bayelsa States. The visit was to enable him make a first-hand assessment of the situation and also to deliver the Federal Government’s message of hope and solidarity. Professor Osinbajo visited the camp of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Igbogene area of Bayelsa State and Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers where over 71 communities have been submerged, he promised to resettle the residents back to their various homes. He said, “The Federal Government will give all the support and all the succour that is necessary to ensure not only that you are as comfortable as possible in the circumstances here, but more importantly that you are resettled properly when in the next few weeks, by the grace of God, you are able to go back home.” The Vice President further assured the people that the Federal Government would work with the state government to

Three oil producing states of the Niger Delta on Wednesday got a landmark judgment at the Supreme Court of Nigeria against the multinational oil firms operating in the country. The three states namely Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa-Ibom states, had approached the Supreme Court for interpretation of Section 16(1) of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act in suit number SC964/2016 filed on their behalf by their lead Counsel, Mr. Lucius Nwosu, (SAN). The particular Section requires the Federal Government to adjust the shares of the revenue accruable to the Federation whenever the price of crude oil exceeds 20 Dollars per barrel. The judgment delivered by Justice John Inyang Okoro mandated the Federal Government to embark on an upward adjustment of the shares of revenues accruing to the government whenever the price of Crude Oil exceeds 20 Dollars per barrel. The Governor of Bayelsa State, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, celebrated the verdict he desc

Against the backdrop of the forthcoming 2019 General Elections and Nigeria’s sordid electoral history which has for the most part been marred by violence over the years, a frontline NGO, SING Foundation on Wednesday launched the #voteAMust Campaign, aimed at driving civilized campaigns that enable the people to make informed choices as they cast their ballots come 2019. In his welcome address at a press conference held at the Foundation’s Headquarters in Abuja, Mr. Olufemi Lawson, SING’s Director of Policy stated that the #voteAMust Campaign was not just a call on the people to be part of the electoral process but also to take possession of it. According to Lawson, “Nigerians have shown a lack of interest in the electoral process due to the lack of confidence in the system. We must give the people assurances of the safety of their lives and properties during the electoral process. We will call government to task on this”. Olufemi Lawson, Director of Policy, SING Founda

• COMMENCEMENT OF CAMPAIGN BY POLITICAL PARTIES FOR PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY *18TH NOVEMBER 2018* • COMMENCEMENT OF CAMPAIGN BY POLITICAL PARTIES FOR GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY *01ST DECEMBER 2018.* • LAST DAY OF SUBMISSION OF FORMS CF001 AND CF002 AT INEC HQ (FOR ALL ELECTIONS) PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY *18TH OCTOBER 2018.* • GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY *02ND NOVEMBER 2018.* • PUBLICATIONS OF PERSONAL PARTICULARS OF CANDIDATES (CF001) PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY *25TH OCTOBER 2018* • GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY *09TH NOVEMBER 2018.* • LAST DAY OF WITHDRAWAL BY CANDIDATES/REPLACEMENT BY POLITICAL PARTIES. PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY *17TH NOVEMBER 2018* • GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY *01ST DECEMBER 2018.* • LAST DAY OF SUBMISSION OF NOMINATION FORMS BY POLITICAL PARTIES. PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY *03RD DECEMBER 2018* • GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

The Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah on Tuesday declared N4.4 billion as balance of funds available to the state as at 30th September, 2018. The Deputy Governor announced this, while presenting the income and expenditure financial statements for the months of August and September in Government House, Yenagoa, in line with the administration's policy of accountability and transparency. He explained that, the amount consists of a N3 billion balance brought forward from the month of August, while N1 billion represented the balance of funds at the end of September. According to the Deputy Governor, gross inflow from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), for last month, stood at N14 billion, comprising a 13% derivation of N10.7 billion, statutory allocation N3 billion and Value Added Tax of N1 billion. He said total FAAC deductions gulped N1.6 billion, including, restructured commercial bank loans, N741 million; bond obligati

Details later

Capital market operators from Rivers and Bayelsa states are to hold a two-day   sensitization workshop which is being convened by the Hon Chairman/CEO of the Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST) Hon Siaka Isaiah Idoko-Akoh, as part of the ongoing public enlightenment programme on the functions and importance of the tribunal in maintaining stability within the investors and business communities. This forum is specially put together to assist stakeholders in the industry especially towards matters of adjudicating in cases of disputes and grievances in the capital market. The Executive Governor of Rivers State Dr. Nyesom Wike will deliver the keynote address while the Honourable Minister of Finance Hon. Zainab Ahmed is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour. The Chief Judge of Rivers State and that of Bayelsa State Hon. Kate Abiri will also be in attendance as well as other members of the bar and bench from both states. Stakeholders will be treated to ma

Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson, has congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer in the 2019 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, saying the former Vice President of Nigeria has the requisite experience and knowledge to tackle the challenges bedevilling the country. Governor Dickson stated this on Sunday when he spoke to journalists at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Atiku's emergence as the PDP presidential candidate after the party's elective national convention. He polled a total of 1,532 votes out of 3,221 accredited delegates to emerge winner. The Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the Bayelsa Governor as describing the primaries that produced Atiku as the freest and best election ever conducted in the history of the country. His words: "Let me congratulate the former Vice President and now the presidential candidate of our great party for the next presid

The United States’ First Lady Melania Trump arrived Ghana’s capital Accra on Tuesday on her first solo international trip in Africa, during which she will visit child health facilities, orphanages and meet caregivers. The stop is Mrs Trump’s first on a four-country tour that will include visits to Kenya, Malawi and Egypt. A welcoming ceremony of drums and dancing by men and women dressed in traditional attire followed. Trump clapped her hands and waved at a group of school children waiting for her at the airport. Trump then visited child health facilities and met caregivers during her stay in the capital. She has focused on children as her signature issue and plans to promote child well-being during her four-country tour, which will include stops in Kenya, Malawi and Egypt. President Donald Trump has not visited Africa since taking office in 2017, but he has reportedly said immigrants from Africa came from “shithole countries”. He denied making the remark. More recent

His Excellency Umaru Tanko Almakura has disclosed the postponement of the Nasarawa APC Senatorial Primaries till Wednesday 3rd October 2, 2018 , from information received from the National Secretariat of the Party due to logistics in bringing materials . Governor Almakura will disclosing the postponement as he spoke to party supporters and delegates at the City Hall Lafia, where he commended them for the beautiful conduct of the just concluded APC Governorship Primaries which produced Engr. A.A. Sule as the party’s flag bearer in the 2019 general elections. He lauded the participation by all especially the contestants who supported the process and stood by the results. Stating that it has made the Nasarawa APC the envy of other state for its smooth rancor free , transparent exercise . The Governor gave prayers for the souls of some APC delegates lost their lives in an accident Monday , requesting for added prayers for those that were injured . stating that he had directed t

Barr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Bayelsa State's indefatigable Commissioner of Works and close confidant of state Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has emerged as the preferred candidate to represent  Bayelsa West Senatorial District in what pundits describe as an easy victory in the just concluded PDP Primary Election held in the state. Barrister   Ewhrudjakpo won the contest with 247 votes roundly beating Sen. Foster Ogola who scores a megre 2 Votes. Details later.

  Bayelsa State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Ebipate Apaingolo, has assured flood ravaged communities of government’s assistance.     He gave this assurance during an on-the-spot assessment of affected communities in Yenagoa, Ogbia and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of the state.     In Yenagoa LGA, the team visited Agbura community which was heavily impacted by the flood.     In Ogbia, most communities visited had been submerged by the flood. They include Ayakoro, Otuedu, Ayama, Otuobhi and Ologoghe while Ologi was moderately impacted.     In Southern Ijaw, Ozezebiri, Kainyabiri, Ofonibiri, Oporoma, Angiama and Amassoma communities were all heavily flooded while Opuama, Pulo-Obubo, Ekowe, Oloma and Otuan were moderately affected.     The commissioner urged victims of the disaster in Agbura, Otuogori, Otuedu, Anyama and Ologoghe communities where property worth millions of naira were destroyed not to despair as the government is determined to bri