Rivers Crisis: Governor Fubara Replaces Rivers Council Bosses With Interim Heads

Following the expiration of the three-year tenure of elected chairmen, vice chairmen, and councillors. Rivers state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has directed Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to assume leadership of the 23 Council Areas.

The governor’s directive was given in a statewide broadcast today, Tuesday 18th June 2024.

In the broadcast, the governor said: “Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) are hereby directed to immediately take charge of the councils with renewed vigour and readiness to serve and await further directives as we navigate towards even greater accomplishments together;

Continuing he said, “As we move forward in making sure that the constitution is upheld, and that law and order are maintained as we continue to strive to provide leadership and direction for our people, I hereby direct heads HLGAs to continue to provide leadership in their respective local government areas".

It was reported that youths on Monday, took over secretariats in Degema and Asari-Toru councils, demanding the exit of chairmen and officials.

There were also reports that the gates to the council Secretariats were locked prompting Police to deploy patrol vans to maintain order in the areas

The crisis arose from a court ruling recognizing a three-man House of Assembly, which quashed the tenure extension granted by the 27-member Assembly loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike.

Despite the ruling, the chairmen had insisted that they would remain in office for six more months but Governor Fubara insisted that the chairmen’s tenure expired on June 17.

Comments

NAGAFF Petitions IGP Over Alleged Extortion, Harassment by Maritime Police at Lagos Ports

The 100% Compliance Team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over alleged unlawful conduct, extortion, intimidation, harassment and obstruction of trade by officers of the Maritime Police Command operating around Nigerian seaports. The petition, dated August 14, 2026 and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police at Force Headquarters, Abuja, specifically identified the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa; Tin-Can Island Port and other designated port locations, including bonded terminals, as areas where the alleged misconduct is taking place. In the petition, which was signed by Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, the National Coordinator of 100% Compliance Team, NAGAFF described the situation as a growing impediment to trade facilitation and a factor contributing to the rising cost of doing business in Nigeria. According to the association, freight forwarding practitioners have, over a sustained period, repo...

NCS Seizes 13 Containers of Unwholesome Imports

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command has intercepted 13 containers with over 7.6 tonnes of cannabis sativa, 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup, security-sensitive drones and large quantities of expired consumer and pharmaceutical products. The Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, PhD, MFR, disclosed this during a press briefing held at the Apapa Area Command in the presence of the Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba and heads of other sister agencies earlier today, 10th September, 2026, according to CGC, the seized consignments have a combined duty-paid value of ₦43.59 billion. He said the seizures were made as a result of sustained intelligence-led operations supported by enhanced cargo profiling, risk assessment, documentary scrutiny and targeted physical examination. "The containers behind me are not an isolated event and they should not be reported as one; the Service’s mandate extends beyond revenue c...

Lekki Port Manager Thrilled As AMJON Awards Him Most Resourceful Port Manager ‎

‎"I want to thank the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority and his management team for giving me the opportunity to serve. Working in the kind of environment where I found myself requires great teamwork and as you can see around me now, I have my very efficient team always with me and so I am very proud to have this team. I also give glory to God for everything including the recognition that I got today" ‎ ‎Above are some of the emotions that pervaded the atmosphere as the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) held its 2026 Conference and Awards with the theme: Attaining Ports Efficiency In The Face Of Emerging Technology". ‎ ‎The Conference and Awards took place on Thursday, April 30th 2026 at the Rockview hotels, Apapa with big industry players in attendance. The occasion which was chaired by the cerebral Barr. Jean Chiazor-Anishere delved succinctly into what are required to make the Nigerian Ports more efficient. ‎ ‎In her opening ...

Maritimegistplus

Search This Blog