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2027: The Case for Felix Ngutswen in Kwande/Ushongo

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By Lazarus Zakaa As political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, the race for the Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency is gradually taking shape, with the contest increasingly becoming a battle of personalities, records and perceived capacity, rather than party platforms alone. Among the emerging aspirants is Hon. Felix Terese Ngutswen (FTN), whose supporters are presenting him as a new-generation politician with a combination of business experience, youth mobilisation and political exposure. For constituents who have expressed concerns over the quality and impact of representation in the constituency, the emerging debate is increasingly centred on a fundamental question: Who has the capacity, experience and vision to effectively represent Kwande/Ushongo at the National Assembly? Supporters of Ngutswen believe he deserves serious consideration for several reasons. 1. An educational background rooted in enterprise Ngutswen began his education at LGEA Yi...
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APC Mocks Amaechi Over Mother’s Death, Says He Is ‘Unfit’ for VP

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By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over his reported inability to afford medication for his late mother, describing him as unfit for the office of Vice President. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Sunday, the APC expressed condolences over the death of Amaechi’s mother, Dame Ezinne Mary Oduah Amaechi, while also taking a swipe at the former governor over comments concerning his financial circumstances. Amaechi, who served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, governor of the state and Minister of Transportation, is currently the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections. The APC said it was ironic that a former holder of several high public offices could claim that he was unable to afford medication for his mother’s treatment. The ruling party...
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Udeze Accuses INEC Officials of Secret Suit Against Action Alliance Leadership

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By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), Chief Barrister Kenneth Udeze, has accused some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of allegedly conspiring with one Adekunle Omoaje to institute a secret suit aimed at challenging his leadership of the party. Udeze, in a statement issued on Sunday, described the development as another attempt to undermine the leadership of the party, insisting that the issues raised in the alleged suit are already before a Federal High Court in an ongoing pre-election matter instituted by what he described as the authentic leadership of the Action Alliance. According to him, the latest legal action amounts to a duplication of proceedings and raises questions about the interest of some INEC officials in the leadership crisis within the party. “We have uncovered this hide-and-seek game and we shall not hesitate to expose the rot in the Commission if it continues to disobey the subsisting...
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Used Sanitary Pads in the Open: What Nigeria’s Menstrual Waste Problem Reveals

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It is an uncomfortable sight, but one that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Along some roadsides, behind buildings, in bushes, drainage channels and around poorly maintained public toilets, used sanitary pads are sometimes discarded in the open. In some communities, they are mixed with household refuse; in others, they are flushed down toilets, buried, burnt or simply thrown into the nearest available dumping area. The immediate reaction is often to blame women and girls for indiscriminate disposal. But a closer look reveals a more complicated story. Why are used sanitary pads ending up in public spaces? Are women deliberately ignoring proper waste-disposal practices, or are many communities failing to provide the facilities needed for safe  menstrual-waste management? And what happens to a girl who changes her pad at school when there is no covered bin in the toilet? These questions expose a largely overlooked side of Nigeria's sanitation probl...
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After the COP Flights: What Does Nigeria Bring Home for Its Climate-Vulnerable Communities?

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Every year, when the United Nations Climate Change Conference opens its doors, Nigeria joins nearly 200 countries in sending ministers, government officials, environmental experts, civil society organisations, researchers, business representatives and climate advocates to the global climate negotiations. They arrive with speeches, policy documents, demands for climate finance and promises of stronger action. Photographs are taken. Meetings are held. Side events fill conference halls.  Nigeria presents its priorities and joins negotiations over finance, adaptation, mitigation, technology and the future of the global response to climate change. Then the delegates return home. And for many Nigerians living on the front line of climate change, the question begins: What has actually changed? It is a question that becomes harder to ignore as communities continue to experience flooding, extreme heat, drought, erosion, deforestation and pressure on water and agricultural resour...
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Nigerian Navy Destroys Two Illegal Refineries, Recovers 85,300 Litres of Suspected Stolen Crude in Rivers

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta, dismantling two illegal refining sites and recovering about 85,300 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil in Rivers State. The operation, carried out under Operation DELTA SENTINEL in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni area of Rivers State, resulted in the discovery and deactivation of two illegal refining sites linked to ongoing crude oil theft activities. According to a statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho said personnel uncovered approximately 85,300 litres of suspected stolen crude oil concealed in dugout pits and reservoirs during the operation. The latest development comes only days after security operatives uncovered and deactivated similar illegal refining facilities within the same area, indicating continued efforts by oil thieves to revive illicit operations despite intensified security measures....
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Mokwa Floods Again: 16 Months After Disaster, Residents Ask Where Are the Promised Solutions?

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After more than 200 lives were lost in the 2025 flood, fresh waters have returned to parts of Mokwa. For residents still waiting to rebuild their lives, the new flooding has revived an old question:  what happened to the promises made after the last disaster? MOKWA, Niger State - When the rain began again in Mokwa on Wednesday night, September 30, 2026, the sound of water was not simply the sound of another downpour. For many residents, it was a reminder. A reminder of May 29, 2025, when floodwater swept through parts of the ancient town, destroying homes, businesses, farmland, roads and bridges and leaving hundreds of families displaced. Sixteen months later, residents are once again watching floodwater cover parts of the town. Sections of Rabba Road were submerged following heavy rainfall, leaving motorists and residents struggling to move through affected areas. Residents have expressed fresh fears that continued rainfall could worsen the situation. For a community t...
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