Connect with us

News

King Ateke Breaks Silence On Rumoured Clash With PAP Boss, Otuaro

Published

on

Paramount ruler of Okochiri, Rivers State, His Royal Majesty, King Ateke Tom, has debunked the reports making the rounds that he clashed with the Administrator of the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Otuaro.

Recall that some platforms had reported earlier that King Ateke Tom had publicly humiliated the amnesty administrator during his birthday celebration in Okochiri, Monday, and that the development sparked tension during the event.

But in a statement signed and made available to newsmen by Ifeanyi Ogbonna, Media Assistant to King Ateke, the Amanayabo of Okochiri, while describing the report as false, emphasised that he has never had any form of misunderstanding with the amnesty boss.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Birthday: Otuaro Felicitates King Ateke Tom, Lauds His Contribution To N’Delta Peace

He further stated that his interest has remained in the development of the region.

King Ateke noted that such a report was misleading, fabricated and nothing but a figment of the writer’s imagination, laced with mischief and aimed at stirring unnecessary controversy in the region.

Advertisement

The statement stated: “Contrary to the claims in the concocted report, King Ateke Tom’s birthday celebration held seamlessly, peacefully, and in high spirits. The celebration witnessed an influx of respected leaders, dignitaries, friends, and well-wishers from across the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.

“We state that there was no time during the birthday event that confrontation, rebuke, or embarrassment, as alleged by the mischievous reporters, ensued between His Majesty and the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

READ ALSO: Otuaro Repositioning PAP; Detractors Steer Clear – Rivers Monarch, Ateke Tom Cautions

Advertisement

“The allegation that King Ateke Tom rejected monetary gifts from Dr. Otuaro and labelled him as insincere is not only baseless, but an insult to the intelligence of all who were present at the event.

“This falsehood seeks to sow seed of discord, damage reputations, and derail ongoing peace-building efforts in the region. We urge the public to disregard this cooked up narrative designed to mislead and misinform them.

“However, it is important to state that His Majesty is deeply interested only in the peace and development of Niger Delta and would not derail any event that would strengthen it.”

Advertisement

Ateke, however, cautioned media practitioners and commentators against the dissemination of unverified and sensational information that threatened the peace and unity in the region, even as Ateke urged well-meaning Niger Deltans to focus on the bigger goal of regional development and transformation.

News

NiMet Predicts Three-day Rain, Thunderstorms From Monday

Published

on

Continue Reading

News

JUST IN: Ooni Visits Olubadan-designate Ladoja In Ibadan

Published

on

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Sunday, paid a visit to the Olubadan designate, Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The PUNCH reports that Oba Ladoja will be installed as the 44th Olubadan on Friday, September 26, 2025, following the demise of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who joined his ancestors on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of 90 years.

READ ALSO:Ladoja Coronation Date As 44th Olubadan Revealed

Advertisement

The two paramount rulers are currently exchanging pleasantries.

Details later…

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

JUST IN: FG Revokes 1,263 Mineral Licenses Over Unpaid Fees

Published

on

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has announced a fresh revocation of not less than 1,263 mineral licenses.

These licenses, which will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.

The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the revocation announcement in a statement issued by his special assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.

Advertisement

The minister explained that the directive was issued due to the companies’ failure to comply with the requirement of paying their annual service fees.

The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3, 794 including,619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year.

READ ALSO:FG Introduces Chinese Language Into School Curriculum

Advertisement

By opening up the areas formerly covered by these licenses, the revocation is expected to spur fresh applications by investors looking for fresh opportunities.

The statement read, “Not less than 1,263 mineral licenses will be deleted from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, MCO, following their revocation by the Federal Government.

“These include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.”

Advertisement

Approving the revocation following the recommendation of the MCO, the Minister said applying the law to keep speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector would make way for diligent investors and grow the sector.

The era of obtaining licences and keeping them in drawers for the highest bidder, while financially capable and industrious businessmen are complaining of access to good sites, is over.

READ ALSO:FG Gives Mining Firms Deadline For Community Agreements

Advertisement

“The annual service fee is the minimum evidence that you are interested in mining. You don’t have to wait for us to revoke the license because the law allows you to return the license if you change your mind,” the minister said.

He warned that the revocation does not mean the Federal Government has pardoned the annual service debt owed by licensees, adding that the list will be forwarded to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that debtors pay or face the wrath of the law.

This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities.”

Advertisement

In the recommendation to the minister, the Director-General of the MCO, Simon Nkom, disclosed that there were 1,957 initial defaulters when the MCO published the intention to revoke licences in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.

He informed the minister that the gazette was distributed to MCO offices nationwide to sensitise licencees and encourage them to comply within 30 days in compliance with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and relevant regulations.

READ ALSO:FG Gazettes New Tax Reform Laws

Advertisement

He observed that the delay in the final recommendation was due to complaints of several licensees who claimed to have paid to the Federal Government through Remita and had to be reconciled.

Earlier this month, the DG MCO had hinted that more mining licences would be revoked as part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector and protect investors from fraudsters.

According to Nkom, the clean-up exercise, which covers expired, speculative, and inactive titles, is necessary to make room for genuine investors and ensure compliance with the law.

Advertisement

This is part of ongoing efforts at sanitising the sector since the inception of the Tinubu administration, and the salutary effects of the reforms are massive and manifest despite the attempts to push back by defaulters and their agents.

Continue Reading

Trending