Nelson Ugwuagbo

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday praised the National Assembly for its approval of the State of Emergency proclamation in Rivers State, describing it as a crucial step toward restoring stability in the crisis-hit region.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu commended lawmakers for their decisive action in addressing the prolonged political crisis that has disrupted governance in the oil-rich state for over 15 months and posed risks to national economic security.

The President acknowledged the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and other lawmakers for prioritizing the security and welfare of Rivers residents above partisan considerations.

He emphasized that the National Assembly’s review of classified security briefings underscored the urgency of intervention to prevent further escalation.

“The crisis in Rivers State was at a perilous tipping point, threatening vital oil and gas installations and undermining the national economy and the progress achieved since our administration began in May 2023,” Tinubu said.

He reiterated that the emergency measure was necessary to protect livelihoods, secure critical infrastructure, and restore democratic governance.

The President stated that the six-month emergency period would allow the newly appointed Sole Administrator to stabilize the state, address governance breakdowns, and facilitate reconciliation among stakeholders.

Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to collaborating with the National Assembly to promote peace, economic stability, and national development.

“This decision demonstrates what can be achieved when leadership is guided by unity and patriotism,” he said, urging all stakeholders to support efforts to restore peace in Rivers State.

The United Kingdom has announced plans to introduce new passport application fees effective from April 10, 2025.

In a statement on Thursday, the UK Home Office said the proposed fee adjustments, subject to parliamentary approval, aim to support a self-sustaining system and reduce reliance on general taxation.

Under the new structure, the fee for a standard online application within the UK will increase from £88.50 to £94.50 for adults and from £57.50 to £61.50 for children. Fees for postal applications will also rise, from £100 to £107 for adults and from £69 to £74 for children.

Applicants using the premium one-day service within the UK will see an increase from £207.50 to £222 for adults and from £176.50 to £189 for children.

For overseas applicants, standard online application fees will increase from £101 to £108 for adults and from £65.50 to £70 for children. Standard paper applications made from overseas will rise from £112.50 to £120.50 for adults and from £77 to £82.50 for children.

The Home Office stated that passport fees contribute to processing costs, consular support overseas, and border control, emphasizing that the government does not profit from the charges.

Applicants were advised to submit their applications well ahead of their travel plans. The Home Office noted that in 2024, 99.7% of standard UK applications were processed within three weeks, provided no additional information was required.

Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state, describing it as a “brazen attempt at power grab.”

On Tuesday, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers due to the ongoing political crisis and instability. As part of the proclamation, he suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the state assembly. The president also appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the administrator of the state.

The decision has sparked mixed reactions across the political spectrum.

In a statement on Wednesday, Amaechi, a former presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleged that the crisis in Rivers was being “orchestrated” to serve the interests of certain individuals attempting to impose control over the state.

He called on politicians and lawmakers to reject the suspension of elected officials and urged the National Assembly to intervene.

Residents of Akure took to the streets on Wednesday to protest the killing of five farmers by suspected armed herdsmen in Aba Oyinbo, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The aggrieved protesters marched to the Governor’s Office in Alagbaka, demanding urgent action from the state government to address the rising attacks on farmers in the region.

The victims were reportedly shot dead during an invasion by armed herdsmen, marking another violent incident in the area. The protesters displayed the bodies of the casualties at the government office as they expressed their outrage.

The latest attack comes barely two weeks after a similar incident in which 20 farmers were killed across four farm settlements in the same local government area.

Agriculture experts have advised local farmers to exercise caution in planting due to inconsistent rainfall patterns across the country.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos, the experts urged farmers to rely on weather forecasts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) before commencing cultivation this season.

Dr. Ismail Olawale, a strategic agriculture communication expert and fellow at the National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), warned against careless planting.

“Farmers need to be very careful this year and closely monitor weather forecasts, particularly those from NiMet in collaboration with NAERLS,” Olawale said.

He noted that NAERLS has disseminated weather predictions through its zonal offices, following NiMet’s annual forecast.

“Even in the South-South, where early rains are expected, strong winds pose a significant risk. For instance, Edo State experienced heavy winds last week, making it unsafe for farmers to be on the field,” he added.

He advised farmers to secure their seeds and avoid premature planting.

“This is not the time for blind planting based on traditional methods, as climate change has altered weather patterns. Farmers must be strategic and follow weather updates consistently,” Olawale said.

Similarly, Mr. Uche Ikenga, a crop farmer and agriculture consultant, noted that the erratic rainfall had delayed the planting season, which could impact crop yields.

“We are closely monitoring water patterns, and due to the inconsistencies in rainfall, planting cannot commence as usual,” Ikenga said.

He explained that the delay would reduce the number of planting cycles for some crops, such as potatoes, which typically have four planting seasons annually but may only have three this year.

Ikenga emphasized the need for irrigation farming to mitigate the effects of unpredictable rainfall, calling on the government to support irrigation initiatives.

“If irrigation is encouraged, farmers can cultivate during the dry season and ensure year-round production,” he said.

A coalition of concerned civil servants in Rivers State, alongside the Rivers Solidarity for Good Governance, has issued a deadline to the state House of Assembly, demanding the immediate receipt of the 2025 budget from the executive arm by Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

At a media briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the coalition condemned what it described as “reckless inaction and obstruction of governance,” warning of mass resistance if the delay persisted.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Opu-Oyibo Lilly-West criticized the state assembly for its continued failure to receive the budget, stating that the delay has created economic uncertainty for thousands of workers, market traders, and residents.

“Your blatant disregard for the urgent needs of our state has placed critical contracts and salaries at risk. By choosing spectacle over service, you have endangered the future of our public institutions and betrayed the trust of every citizen who depends on a stable, functioning government,” Lilly-West said.

The coalition insisted that the budget be submitted without further delay and fully presented before the Assembly by March 19, 2025, in accordance with the request made by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the federal government fails to remove 10,699 Indian expatriates employed by Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Limited.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, PENGASSAN President, Comrade Festus Osifo, accused the company of violating Section 32 of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Act by employing an excessive number of expatriates. He alleged that the Ministry of Interior, along with other government officials, facilitated the allocation of the expatriate quota, thereby limiting job opportunities for Nigerians.

Osifo warned that the association would shut down the company’s plants if the government failed to act.

“We will engage all stakeholders, but if the government does not take action, those plants will be shut down. We will declare a nationwide strike, and once our members withdraw, upstream operations will be grounded,” he said.

While he did not specify a timeline for the planned strike, Osifo stated that PENGASSAN had already instructed its members within the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to take action, affecting lifting operations.

“As of today, their operations are already under lock and key. They cannot lift,” he added.

PENGASSAN, which represents about 90 percent of workers in the upstream oil sector, maintains that it can effectively disrupt activities in the industry through industrial action.