Arise With Renewed Hope Initiative has appointed Obong Nsima Ekere as its Patron. Ekere is the former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State. He also previously served as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The group announced the appointment on Friday. The event took place at the Ikot Abasi council secretariat. Specifically, the group held it during their local chapter inauguration. President General of the initiative, Engr. Uwem Okoko, made the announcement. The former governorship candidate of the APC in 2019, Ekere will take office officially on April 18, 2026. The group will hold the event at…
Author: Ofonime Honesty
The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS), has criticised the Abia State Government headed by Dr. Alex Otti over its bottom ranking in the 2025 Subnational Audit Efficacy (SAE) Index. It described the outcome as a reflection of deep fiscal accountability gaps. The index, released by the Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative, placed Abia 36th among the 36 states of the federation. CEHRAWS Executive Director, Okoye Chuka Peter, said the ranking pointed to structural weaknesses in public financial management and transparency frameworks. “Without equivocation, CEHRAWS affirms that the reported outcome reflects persistent structural weaknesses in public financial management…
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has approved and released ₦123.5 billion to contractors handling road projects across the state, the government announced on Friday. The funds cover mobilisation fees, right-of-way compensation, and outstanding Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) for both newly approved and ongoing projects. Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, disclosed this in a press release in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. He said the State Executive Council had earlier approved the new road projects alongside the continuation of existing ones. According to Umanah, the projects span over 167 kilometres and include the Ikwe–Odio Road, the six-lane…
It was a vibrant celebration of the rich cultural heritage of the Niger Delta region as the nine mandate States of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) assembled in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, on Monday, for the Niger Delta Arts and Culture Expo. The Niger Delta Arts and Culture Expo bore the theme “Rhythms of the Niger Delta: Music, Dance, and the Heartbeat of our People.” It pulsed with vibrant energy in Uyo. Cultural enthusiasts flocked from all nine mandate states. The event celebrated the region’s soul through immersive displays. Traditional music filled the air with rhythmic drums…
A bitter family feud has erupted over the late former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’ s sprawling properties across Nigeria, the UK, and the United States. Alao-Akala passed away in January 2022 leaving behind a vast portfolio of valuable assets. The family now contests these assets fiercely without a publicly confirmed will to guide division, WahalaUpdate understands. The dispute covers the former governor’s Ibadan residence at No. 1 Oba Akinyele Avenue in Old Bodija Estate. A guest house in Agodi GRA also features in the dispute alongside Plots 1 through 4 in Aerodrome GRA Samonda. A massive seven thousand acres of land…
At least two people were killed as two devastating gas-related explosion rocked southern Nigeria on Saturday, and several others were injured. It also caused the destruction of properties worth millions of naira. The incidents, which occurred in Lagos and Calabar on Saturday, have reignited urgent concerns regarding safety compliance. Fatal Collision in Lagos In Lagos, a tragic chain of events unfolded in the early hours of the morning along the bustling Lekki-Epe Expressway in the Sangotedo area. A tipper vehicle struck the stationary, gas-laden truck around 2:00 am, WahalaUpdate gathered. The impact of the collision caused an immediate and massive…
What is happening in Uruamudhu in Ozoro Kingdom, Delta State, is more than just a news story. It is an abomination. A stinking abomination that has forced the Southern Delta University (formerly Delta State University of Science and Technology) host community into global spotlight. NDDC MD’s Wife Amaba Ogbuku Graces Event as Guest Yours truly was listening to the English Service of Radio France International (RFI) when the issue came up for discussion. Damn! I had to cover my ears in shame. Ozoro should always be alive with the boisterous nature of a typical university host community. It should be…
Vivacious Development Initiative (VIDI) strongly condemns, in the clearest possible terms, the brutal sexual assaults perpetrated against women in Ozoro, Delta State. These acts are criminal, violent, and utterly unacceptable. That this incident occurred right on the heels of International Women’s Day makes it a national disgrace. Women’s Day Joy Shattered by Ozoro Horror While the nation and global community celebrated women’s achievements and rights on International Women’s Day, Ozoro women faced horror. Harassers targeted them in broad daylight. Public spaces turned into zones of violation. The stark irony exposed deep cultural contradictions. Violent men stripped women naked amid festival…
Apostle Abasiandikan Nkono, Akwa Ibom’s rep on the NDDC Governing Board, addressed CNG Autogas Conversion Training graduates with a powerful charge. He urged the first set of completers to embrace their vital roles boldly in Nigeria’s shifting energy landscape. Nkono Urges CNG Grads: Be Solution Providers, Tackle Challenges Nkono challenged them to view themselves as true “solution providers,” ready to tackle national challenges head-on. These graduates now stand as key players, driving innovation and sustainability in the evolving CNG energy sector. Apostle Nkono delivered his charge on Wednesday in Uyo, speaking directly to journalists after the training’s closing ceremony. The…
A former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State and prominent stakeholder in the Eket Senatorial District, Obong Nsima Ekere, has declared that Senate President Godswill Akpabio must not only return to the Senate in 2027 but must also be supported to retain his position as President of the Senate. Obong Nsima Ekere spoke over the weekend at the Eket Senatorial District Stakeholders Meeting in Eket LGA. Eket City Hall Hosts Influential Leaders’ Key Event The key event unfolded at the bustling Eket City Hall, drawing influential local leaders together. Ekere described Godswill Akpabio’s rise to Nigeria’s number three citizen as…