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Governors of the South-South geopolitical zone convened in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Tuesday to address pressing economic and security challenges affecting the region.

The meeting, hosted by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, was attended by Governors Bassey Otu (Cross River), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom). However, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, was absent and did not send a representative.

In his opening remarks, Governor Diri emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in addressing key issues, including security, agriculture, education, power, environment, tourism, and youth empowerment through sports, ICT, and entrepreneurship.

“The rapidly changing landscape of our country and the world underscores the urgent need for enhanced regional collaboration,” he stated.

He decried the environmental impact of oil exploration and the inadequate benefits accruing to the region despite its role as Nigeria’s economic hub. “Everywhere we turn, it seems that the proverbial curse of oil wealth has held us hostage,” he lamented.

Governor Diri called for the revitalization of the BRACED Commission, a regional think-tank established in 1999, urging his counterparts to move beyond policy statements and take concrete actions to drive economic growth.

He highlighted key development proposals, including a regional flight connection, a South-South railway network, and the completion of the East-West Road, which links all states in the region.

On security, he referenced recent violent incidents in Okuoma, Okoloba, and Igbomotoru, stressing the need for region-specific security measures. “By pooling our collective wisdom, experiences, and resources, we can devise strategies to prevent and mitigate future security threats,” he said.

Governor Diri also called for greater collaboration between the South-South states and federal agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to ensure alignment with local priorities.

He expressed appreciation to the attending governors and stakeholders, urging them to seize the opportunity to drive meaningful development. “May this meeting mark a turning point in our collective journey towards realizing our true potential,” he concluded.

No fewer than 5,144 Nigerians are at risk of deportation in the initial phase of the ongoing immigration crackdown by the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration.

The affected individuals include non-U.S. citizens of Nigerian origin listed in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) non-detained docket with final orders of removal, as well as those already in ICE detention.

Efforts to obtain a response from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs were unsuccessful as of press time. However, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) confirmed to Vanguard that the Federal Government has established an inter-agency committee to address the situation should large-scale deportations occur.

According to ICE data, as of November 2024, a total of 1,445,549 non-U.S. citizens from various nationalities were on the non-detained docket with final orders of removal, including 3,690 Nigerians. An additional 1,454 Nigerians are currently in ICE detention awaiting deportation.

Of those in custody, 772 were arrested for criminal convictions or pending charges, while the rest face deportation for immigration violations such as visa overstays. ICE records also indicate that 417 Nigerians were deported as of November 2024, while 884 were removed between 2019 and 2024.

The crackdown follows the Trump administration’s renewed immigration policy aimed at expelling undocumented immigrants. Nearly 3,000 “criminal aliens” have been arrested in the early days of the operation.

While the initial phase of arrests and deportations targeted individuals with criminal records, concerns are growing that enforcement may soon extend to other undocumented immigrants, particularly those on the non-detained list with removal orders.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has emphasized the need for Nigeria’s Population and Housing Census to be conducted this year, warning that delaying the exercise until 2026 could be impractical due to preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by officials of the National Population Commission (NPC), Abbas commended President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to a biometric-based census, stressing its potential to eliminate reliance on outdated population estimates.

“We must ensure the census takes place this year because, by 2026, election campaigns will take precedence. Many believe Nigeria’s population is overestimated, given low voter turnout and school enrollment figures that contradict existing projections,” Abbas stated.

Expressing concern over delays in conducting the census, he highlighted the resulting data gaps and pledged to engage with President Tinubu to prioritize the exercise. He noted that as a former legislator, Tinubu respects the National Assembly, expressing optimism that such engagement would facilitate the census this year.

The Speaker also underscored the importance of securing adequate funding for the NPC, assuring the Commission of the House of Representatives’ support. While acknowledging that the 2025 budgetary allocation for the NPC may be insufficient, he expressed confidence that alternative funding sources could be explored with the necessary political will.

NPC Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, appealed to the National Assembly for financial support to ensure the successful execution of the 2025 Population and Housing Census. He reaffirmed that the upcoming census would be biometric-based, aligning with international best practices and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Kwarra outlined the Commission’s progress in preparations for the census, originally scheduled for 2023. Key achievements include the completion of Enumeration Area Demarcation across all 774 local government areas, development of a National Enumeration Area Frame, launch of a digital recruitment platform for ad-hoc staff, and procurement of 760,000 Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) for data collection. Additionally, a Census Situation Room has been set up for real-time monitoring of census activities.

Security operatives, including soldiers, police officers, and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have taken control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat following a leadership clash between Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye over the position of National Secretary.

The confrontation began when Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye arrived for a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting. Tensions escalated after an aide to Anyanwu forcibly removed Ude-Okoye from a closed-door session, leading to an altercation between their supporters. Security personnel intervened to restore order.

The dispute over the National Secretary position arose after Anyanwu vacated the role to contest the Imo State governorship election, which he lost. In his absence, the South East caucus of the party endorsed Ude-Okoye as his replacement. Anyanwu’s attempt to reclaim the position after the election loss has since deepened the crisis.

On December 20, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Enugu upheld a High Court ruling that removed Anyanwu and affirmed Ude-Okoye as the legitimate PDP National Secretary. However, Anyanwu has filed for a stay of execution and an appeal. Meanwhile, PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, has nominated Dr. Musa (SAN) as the party’s legal counsel to handle the matter.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has urged the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court to deny the bail application of activist and politician Omoyele Sowore.

During proceedings on Tuesday, the police argued that Sowore would evade trial if released on bail. The case, presided over by Justice Musa Liman, involves a cybercrime suit filed against Sowore by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Justice Liman temporarily stood down the matter until 3 p.m. following an oral bail application by Sowore’s counsel, Abubakar Marshall. However, the police prosecution opposed the request, insisting that granting bail could obstruct the trial.

In a deposition, Fred Ameh, a police officer from the Force Intelligence Department at the Force Headquarters, FCT, stated:

“Given the antecedents of the defendant and the nature of the offenses, I believe he would not be willing to stand trial if granted bail. Additionally, he could influence or intimidate witnesses, as he has associates both overseas and within Nigeria.”

Sowore was arraigned for allegedly describing Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun as an illegal IGP.