Daily South Nigeria

Port Harcourt, Rivers – In a landmark development poised to reshape Nigeria's energy landscape and the fortunes of the Niger Delta, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed immediate high-level negotiations to greenlight oil exploration in Ogoniland, Rivers State. The directive was issued on Wednesday, following the presentation of the report by the Presidential Committee on the Ogoni Consultations, chaired by Professor Don Baridam, at the State House in Abuja. Governor Siminalayi of Rivers State led the Ogoni delegation to the ceremony. The directive mandates the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to convene talks between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), representatives from Ogoni communities, and key stakeholders. Daily South Nigeria understands that the president also used the occasion to confer the posthumous national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on four members of Ogoniland who died in the struggl...

Akure, Ondo – In a passionate appeal echoing the global call for sign language recognition, members of the deaf community in Ondo State have urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and key stakeholders to prioritize their welfare through targeted empowerment programs and inclusive employment opportunities. The plea came during the opening ceremony of the 2025 International Day of Sign Language and the 2nd Deaf Awareness Week Celebration, held at the Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Akure. Organized by the Ondo State Association of the Deaf (ODSAD), the event highlighted the ongoing struggles of hearing-impaired individuals in accessing education, jobs, and basic services, framing their demands as essential steps toward a more equitable society. "This is a clarion call for our voices—silent to some, but loud in resolve—to be heard," said Patricia Akinyemi, Chairperson of ODSAD, in a statement delivered through a Nigerian Sign Lan...

Agbarho, Delta – In a gut-wrenching spectacle of savagery that shatters any illusion of civilized society, an enraged mob in Agbarho community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, descended upon a woman accused of attempting to kidnap a 7-year-old boy on Wednesday afternoon, beating her into unconsciousness before dousing her with petrol and setting her ablaze in broad daylight. The inferno, captured in harrowing videos circulating online, reduced the unidentified victim – reportedly from nearby Ughelli town – to a charred corpse on a public street, her screams drowned out by the bloodthirsty cheers of her attackers. This grotesque act of "jungle justice," as it is euphemistically termed, is not justice at all – it is the barbaric unraveling of the rule of law, a descent into anarchy where presumption of guilt overrides due process, and human life is snuffed out on the altar of mob hysteria. The tragedy unfolded around midday, September 24, when th...

Ibadan, Oyo – The ancient city of Ibadan is poised for a momentous occasion as former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja prepares to be crowned the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland tomorrow, Friday, September 26, 2025. The Oyo State Government, under Governor Seyi Makinde, has reaffirmed its commitment to hosting the event with unparalleled pomp, deploying over 2,000 security personnel and unveiling a weeklong program blending tradition, culture, and modernity. The coronation, set at the iconic Mapo Hall, marks a significant chapter in Ibadan's storied chieftaincy system, which follows a unique linear succession. Ladoja, 81, emerges as the new monarch following the passing of his predecessor, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, on July 7, 2025. Governor Makinde approved Ladoja's nomination during a courtesy visit to his Bodija residence on August 20, 2025, describing the ascension as "a journey guided by the wisdom of our ancestors." Makinde highlighted Ladoja's...

Calabar, Cross River – In a groundbreaking move to enhance educational record-keeping and tracking, the Government of Cross River State has announced that starting in 2026, every child from kindergarten to Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3) will be assigned a unique index number. This initiative is part of a broader set of transformative education policy reforms unveiled on September 22, 2025, by the Ministry of Education aimed to revolutionize the educational landscape across both public and private primary and secondary schools in the state, ensuring a holistic implementation of improvements. The unique index number system is expected to streamline administrative processes, improve student monitoring, and provide a robust framework for educational data management. In addition to the index number initiative, the Ministry has introduced several other significant changes. All schools must strictly adhere to the approved academic calendar for opening and closing. Non-compliance ...

Benin, Edo – In a heartening display of compassion and fiscal responsibility, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has approved the immediate release of the first tranche of a N4.6 billion settlement package to 714 disengaged staff from the Colleges of Education in Ekiadolor and Igueben. This pivotal intervention addresses the lingering hardships faced by these dedicated educators and administrators, who were unceremoniously sacked under controversial circumstances by the previous administration of Godwin Obaseki, leaving families in financial limbo and casting a shadow over the state's education sector. The disbursement, amounting to N1,164,507,285.17 for the initial phase, targets 682 pensioners from the College of Education, Ekiadolor, and 32 from its counterpart in Igueben. As part of a structured four-tranche plan, this payment adheres strictly to the provisions of Nigeria's Pension Act, ensuring that long-serving public servants receive the dignified exit the...

Akure, Ondo – In a renewed push to restore discipline and elevate the state's education sector, the Ondo State Government has issued a stern warning to students, urging them to cease roaming the streets during school hours. The directive comes amid intensified monitoring efforts just one week into the new 2025/2026 academic session, with officials vowing to enforce strict measures against truancy. The announcement was highlighted by Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, the state's Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, during ongoing school inspections in the Southern Senatorial District. Speaking on the first day of the session, Ajibefun emphasized the government's zero-tolerance policy, stating, “We will bring back the good old days; we will instill discipline in our schools. It is not negotiable. We won’t condone our students roaming the streets; any student caught after 8 a.m. will face the full wrath of the law.” He called on parents and guardi...

Port Harcourt, Rivers – In a significant move toward revitalizing Nigeria's aging petroleum infrastructure, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has enlisted Honeywell UOP, a renowned U.S.-based multinational, to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Port Harcourt Refinery. The assessment, aimed at paving the way for potential private investments, was announced by the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) in a statement released over the weekend. PETROAN, a key industry body representing retail fuel outlet owners, described the engagement as a "strategic step" toward restoring the refinery's functionality, which has been plagued by years of underperformance and maintenance challenges. The refinery, located in Rivers State and with a capacity of 210,000 barrels per day, was shut down for routine maintenance in May 2025 but has yet to resume full operations despite a $1.5 billion rehabilitation effort...

Ifaki, Ekiti – In a move poised to bolster technological and environmental education in Nigeria, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences (FUTES), Iyin Ekiti, Prof. Gbenga Aribisala, has revealed that the institution will commence operations with academic programs across four specialized faculties.Prof. ‎ ‎Aribisala made the announcement during a reception organized in his honor by the 1979 set of the Ifaki Grammar School Old Students Association (IGSOSA) in Ifaki Ekiti on Sunday. ‎ ‎The event celebrated his recent appointment as the university's pioneer Vice Chancellor, highlighting his journey from a local alumnus to a national academic leader. ‎ ‎"We are set to lay a solid foundation for academic excellence by running a fully residential institution that will produce disciplined graduates and 21st-century leaders capable of solving Nigeria’s most pressing challenges, particularly unemployment," Aribisala s...

Yenagoa, Bayelsa – In a fervent call for national dialogue, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has reignited the debate on local government administration and true federalism in Nigeria. ‎ ‎Speaking at a forum in Yenagoa, the state capital, Governor Diri emphasized the need for a reevaluation of the current structure of local government areas (LGAs) across the country, arguing that the existing framework perpetuates injustice against oil-producing states like Bayelsa. ‎ ‎Governor Diri, addressed a gathering that included state officials and community leaders, asserting that Bayelsa's contribution to Nigeria's oil and gas production is disproportionately underrepresented by its mere eight local government areas. ‎ ‎"We cannot persist with a scenario where a Bayelsa that produces oil and gas for Nigeria has only 8 LGAs, while others would have 40 and 44 LGAs. It is injustice," he declared, his voice resonating with urgency. ‎ ‎The governor's remarks co...

Asaba, Delta – In a move that has ignited a firestorm of condemnation across Nigeria's media and human rights landscape, prominent investigative journalist and anti-corruption activist Fejiro Oliver remains incommunicado detention in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, five days after his dramatic arrest in Abuja. The 42-year-old whistleblower, known for his unflinching exposés on government malfeasance, was allegedly snatched by police operatives on direct orders from Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, in what critics are calling a brazen retaliation for highlighting the state's crumbling healthcare infrastructure. Daily South Nigeria understands that the ordeal began on Thursday, September 18, when plainclothes officers from the Nigerian Police Force's elite Force Intelligence Department (FID) stormed Oliver's office in Abuja's bustling Garki district. Witnesses described a scene straight out of a thriller: no warrant presented, no explanation given, just a s...

Ekpoma, Edo – The Edo State Government has announced the appointment of Professor (Mrs.) Eunice Eboserehimen Omonzejie as the new Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, effective immediately. The appointment, approved by His Excellency, Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State, was made from a shortlist of three candidates recommended by the University’s Governing Council. Professor Omonzejie, a distinguished scholar of French and Francophone African Literatures, brings a wealth of academic and administrative experience to the role. A long-serving academic in AAU’s Department of Modern Languages, she is renowned for her prolific research and editorial contributions to African and Francophone literary studies, gender studies, and cultural studies. The Edo State Government, in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, congratulated Professor Omonzejie on her appointment, expressing confidence in her ability to advance AA...

Benin, Edo – On Monday marks a seismic shift in Edo's local governance landscape, as a cascade of resignations, unanimous impeachments, and rapid endorsements reshapes leadership across four key Local Government Areas (LGAs). Amid the broader turbulence gripping the state's 18 councils—fueled by transitions under Governor Monday Okpebholo's APC administration—these moves signal a push for alignment, unity, and renewed focus on development. While some transitions unfolded amicably, others carried echoes of the factional clashes that have defined Edo's LG politics since early 2025. In Uhunmwode LGA, Acting Chairman Hon. Benjamin Osas Iredia has been unanimously impeached by the full legislative council. The vote, executed by all nine councillors during an emergency session at the Ekiadolor secretariat, cites "irregularities in financial management and failure to align with state priorities" as grounds for removal. Iredia, who earlier this year champi...

Uburu, Ebonyi – In a stark revelation highlighting Nigeria's escalating public health crisis, at least 24 million citizens are grappling with some form of visual impairment, according to Professor Jesse Uneke, Vice Chancellor of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS). ‎ ‎The expert in medical parasitology and health policy made the disclosure during a high-profile press briefing marking the official unveiling of the university's groundbreaking Free Eye Care Initiative and Eye Research Programme. ‎ ‎The event, held at the newly established Institute for Eye Health and Visual Sciences Research (IEHVSR) on the DUFUHS campus, underscored the institution's bold commitment to reversing the tide of avoidable blindness in one of Africa's most underserved regions. ‎ ‎"This is not just a statistic—it's a call to action," Uneke declared, emphasizing that 84% of blindness cases in Nigeria stem from preventable causes like untreated ...