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Rivers Govt Reveals ₦302 Billion Spent During Ibas’s Tenure.
The Rivers State Government has revealed that over ₦302 billion was spent during the period Ibok-Ete Ibas served as the state’s sole administrator.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The disclosure was made by the Rivers State Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning before the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, in response to a Freedom of Information lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The case, PHC/4153/CS/2025, is before Justice S.H. Aprioku.
According to a counter-affidavit dated March 10, 2026, the state received over ₦253.48 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025. Including other revenues, total funds amounted to roughly ₦298.35 billion. Supporting documents, including bank statements and capital expenditure records, were submitted as Exhibits DTI and DT2, spanning 49 pages.
The affidavit revealed that although ₦28 billion had been approved for the installation of CCTV cameras at Government House, no funds were spent on the project. “Our records show that ₦28 billion was approved for the installation of CCTV at the State House, but no expenditure was incurred,” it stated.
The government also affirmed it did not contest SERAP’s right to access information under the Freedom of Information Act, noting that all requested documents had been compiled and provided.
SERAP is currently reviewing the documents, with Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare confirming that the records detail spending of over ₦302 billion during the period. According to the records:
- ₦112.41 billion was spent on salaries, pensions, and overheads.
- ₦163.44 billion went to ministries, departments, and agencies, with more than ₦106 billion disbursed in August 2025 alone.
- ₦26.01 billion serviced loans, while ₦491.59 million covered bank charges.
- Over ₦2.5 billion was released for Government House quarters, though about ₦1.1 billion was spent.
- ₦2.67 billion was allocated for office building repairs, with ₦404 million spent.
- ₦350 million went to canteen and kitchen equipment, and over ₦463 million to rehabilitation projects.
- One project initially budgeted at ₦800 million was later increased to ₦1.56 billion.
The records also showed a closing account balance of ₦19.93 billion as of August 2025.
SERAP filed the suit on October 31, 2025, seeking a court determination on its right to the information under the Constitution and the Freedom of Information Act. Justice Aprioku adjourned the case to May 19, 2026.
The emergency administration began on March 18, 2025, after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all state assembly members for six months. Retired naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed sole administrator.
The emergency rule ended on September 17, 2025, with Governor Fubara directed to resume office the following day. After the state assembly reconvened, lawmakers sought to investigate financial management during Ibas’ tenure, but Ibas rejected the resolution.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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