Headline

NDDC: Akpabio Has Caused Huge Damage To N’Delta, He Should Be Sacked – Monarch

Published

4 years ago

November 29, 2021

Agitation heightened in the Niger Delta, weekend, over the Federal Government inability to constitute a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

This is as the traditional ruler of Idjerhe kingdom, Delta State, HRM Obukowho Monday Whiskey, demanded the immediate sack of Godswill Akpabio, Minister of the Niger Delta

The monarch who hinged his call for the sack of the minister to what he described as the none performance of the intervention agency the in region, also decried the litany of abandoned NDDC projects in the region.

He told newsmen that all efforts to speak out against the ills of the commission against the region and to draw the attention of President Mohammedu Buhari to their plight has not yielded any result.

He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue the Niger Delta, adding that all multi-national organisations operating in the region should relocate their headquarters to where the resources is sourced.

He said: “I believe the happenings in the NDDC are not new to anybody in this region. President Muhammadu Buhari must come to the rescue of the Niger Delta people at this critical time. If giving agencies to ministries is to make it more effective, then the intention to domicile NDDC with the ministry of Niger Delta has failed completely.

“Because we have come to notice that it was domiciled in the Ministry of Niger Delta for political reasons, so that one individual can dictate the pace of development or economic empowerment of individuals and organisations in the entire oil and gas producing states of the country.

“The honourable minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, has done a lot of damage to the region of the oil producing communities, and as a result of that I have no hesitation to tell Mr.President to sack the minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio now.

“Looking into what he has done in the past three years, we have a enough reasons to believe that the common wealth of the people of the Niger Delta is what individuals are squandering and we cannot continue on that path.

“If you recall, the NDDC Act 2000 have no place for sole administrator or interim management committee. We left the stage of interim management committee to the stage of Sole Administrator. You are all aware that Distinguished Nigerians, notable sons and daughters of the oil producing communities were nominated by Mr.President.

“They were screened and confirmed by the National Assembly. It behoves on Mr. President to live up to his constitutional responsibilities by inaugurating the already screened and confirmed board of the NDDC under the chairmanship of His Excellency, Dr. Pius Odubu and Olorogun Bernard Okumagba.

“What is happening here in the NDDC is a shame. As I speak ,there are notable projects that are supposed to be ongoing in the Idjerhe kingdom, a notable oil and gas kingdom in the Niger Delta region and nothing is happening.

“Some many NDDC projects scattered all over the kingdom that are abandoned. In the face of this, I cannot preside over a kingdom where all projects are abandoned and I go to one corner and be clapping for one individual,” he concluded.

Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.

Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.

Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.

He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.

According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.

The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.

“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.

Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.

The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.

Headline

Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

Headline

US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.