From Francis Sadhere, Delta

The Warri, Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency (WUEDA) has urged journalists to strengthen investigative and verification practices in their reportage to prevent misinformation and promote sustainable development in Warri, Uvwie and adjoining communities.

The Director General of WUEDA, Hon.

Prince Okakuro Godwin Eguriase Ejinyere, gave the charge on Monday when the newly inaugurated executives of the Warri Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid a courtesy visit to the agency at its headquarters within the Delta State Development and Property Authority (DDPA), Effurun.

Ejinyere said journalists had a critical responsibility to verify allegations and facts before publication, noting that inaccurate reports could mislead members of the public, damage the reputation of institutions and undermine confidence in government programmes.

He called on members of the Correspondents Chapel to see themselves as partners in development while maintaining the independence and ethical standards of the journalism profession.

According to him, journalists should go beyond reporting announcements by examining government projects, their objectives, implementation challenges and the extent to which they are improving the lives of residents.

The WUEDA boss said the agency was committed to executing quality infrastructure projects in accordance with approved engineering specifications, assuring that contractors engaged by the agency would be properly supervised to ensure compliance with required standards.

He said WUEDA’s interventions in drainage construction, road development and other infrastructure were designed to address some of the critical challenges confronting residents of Warri, Uvwie and their environs.

Ejinyere also reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration to restoring the lost glory of Warri and its adjoining areas, saying WUEDA’s interventions formed part of the broader effort to tackle infrastructural deficits in the Oil City.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Warri Correspondents Chapel, Comrade Akpokona Omafuaire, said the visit was aimed at formally introducing the new executive to the WUEDA management and strengthening the relationship between the media and the agency.

Omafuaire said the chapel would give professional attention to WUEDA’s activities, particularly its intervention projects, while ensuring that such reportage remained objective and guided by journalistic ethics.

He described WUEDA as a performing interventionist agency whose activities had become increasingly visible across Warri, Uvwie and neighbouring communities.

The former Chairman of the Delta State Council of the NUJ, Comrade Michael Ikogwu, commended Ejinyere and his team of engineers for their efforts, but stressed the need for sustained monitoring and supervision of projects to ensure contractors delivered quality work and value for public funds.

Similarly, the immediate past Chairman of the Warri Correspondents Chapel, Comrade Okakuro Okies Victor Okpomor, urged WUEDA to maintain close supervision of its ongoing projects to guarantee their quality and durability.

The visit was also attended by the Vice Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Francis Sadhere; Secretary, Comrade Edeki Igafe; Assistant Secretary, Comrade Samuel Ogude; Treasurer, Comrade Onyekachukwu Menuwa; Financial Secretary, Comrade Success Okuchemiya; and Auditor, Comrade Odeya Ogbetuo.

Also present were the immediate past Chairman of the Chapel, Okies Victor Okpomor, and former Delta NUJ Chairman, Michael Ikogwu.

WUEDA’s Director of Administration and Finance, Ochuko Mofe-Ojeke, and Chief Accountant, Mrs. Roseline Okorigba, were among the management officials present.

The engagement highlighted the need for closer interaction between development agencies and the media, particularly as government interventions increasingly attract public attention.

While WUEDA requires effective communication of its projects and achievements, the media also has a responsibility to independently assess the quality, impact and challenges associated with such interventions.

For residents, the value of such a relationship lies not merely in publicity but in ensuring that accurate information is available about projects that directly affect their communities.

The engagement therefore provides an opportunity for WUEDA and the media to maintain an open channel through which facts can be obtained, concerns can be raised and shortcomings identified without compromising the independence of journalists.

At a time when unverified claims can spread rapidly through social media, Ejinyere’s call for proper verification also underscores the need for journalists to rely on facts and credible sources before publishing reports capable of shaping public opinion.

The partnership, if sustained on the basis of transparency and professional independence, could strengthen development reporting in Warri and its environs while ensuring that government interventions receive both the publicity and scrutiny required to deliver lasting benefits to the people

The Ekiti State Government said on Tuesday that exposing students to civic education played a vital role in preparing them for leadership roles and active citizenship.

The Commissioner for Education, Dr Olabimpe Aderiye, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to promoting civic awareness and democratic values among young people to raise responsible and informed future leaders.

The commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bayode Ogunmola, spoke in Ado Ekiti during the 11th National Secondary School Quiz Competition on the Legislature and Democracy, organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.

She hailed NILDS for sustaining the initiative, describing it as an important platform for deepening students’ understanding of democracy, governance and the legislature.

She added, “An informed and civically conscious young population is essential to sustaining peace, orderliness and good governance. The programme aligns with the state government’s commitment to equipping students with not only academic knowledge, but also the values and civic understanding required to contribute meaningfully to society.”

The commissioner urged the participating students to take advantage of the competition to broaden their knowledge of democratic principles and the workings of government.

She encouraged them to remain good ambassadors of their schools and the state, stressing that “exposure to civic education would prepare them for responsible leadership and active citizenship.”

The NILDS Director-General, Prof Abubakar Suleiman, said democracy could only thrive when citizens, particularly young people, understood the roles and responsibilities of democratic institutions.

The DG, represented by Ibrahim Suleiman, said the legislature, as the people’s assembly, required an informed citizenry that understood its powers, functions and limitations.

Suleiman, who described the competition as a deliberate investment in the future of Nigeria’s democracy, said participating students had, over the years, gained knowledge of law-making, representation and the importance of the rule of law.

Six secondary schools — Banji Akintoye Model College, Ado Ekiti; Alamoye Comprehensive High School, Aramoko Ekiti; St Mary’s Grammar School, Ikole Ekiti; St Michael Secondary School, Ifaki Ekiti; Ujilogun High School, Ilupeju-Ijan Ekiti; and Irepodun Community High School, Ikere-Ekiti — participated in the competition.

The schools performed creditably and received cash prizes and other gifts at the end of the competition.

From Francis Sadhere, Delta

The Delta State Internal Revenue Service (DSIRS) has warned individuals and groups issuing fake tax demand notices and collecting money from taxpayers to desist or face prosecution.

The Chairman of the Service, Hon.

(Chief) Solomon Ighrakpata, gave the warning in a statement issued on Tuesday, describing the activities of the fraudsters as a serious criminal offence capable of causing huge revenue losses to the state and undermining confidence in its tax administration system.

Ighrakpata said the DSIRS had not authorised any individual or agent to issue tax demand notices or collect taxes on its behalf outside the established and approved channels.

He urged taxpayers, businesses and members of the public to be wary of unsolicited tax demands, assessment notices, payment requests and other correspondence purportedly issued by the Service.

According to him, taxpayers should verify the authenticity of such documents with the DSIRS before making any payment.

“The DSIRS wishes to categorically state that it has not authorised any individual or unauthorised agent to issue tax demand notices or collect taxes on its behalf outside established and approved channels,” he said.

The chairman warned that fraudulent tax collection not only exposes unsuspecting taxpayers to financial losses but also results in revenue leakages and disrupts the state’s revenue administration.

He disclosed that the Service was working with relevant law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend persons involved in the issuance of fake demand notices, impersonation of tax officials and fraudulent collection of taxes.

Ighrakpata said those found culpable would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, stressing that the DSIRS would not allow fraudsters to compromise the integrity of the state’s revenue system.

He urged members of the public to report suspicious tax demand notices or anyone claiming to be an authorised tax official to the Service for immediate verification.

The DSIRS chairman further advised taxpayers to make payments only through officially approved government channels and to contact the Service through its recognised communication platforms whenever they are in doubt about the authenticity of any tax-related document.

He assured taxpayers that the Service remained committed to maintaining a transparent, accountable, efficient and credible tax administration system.

Ighrakpata added that legitimate taxes paid to the Delta State Government remained vital to the provision of public infrastructure and essential services, stressing that the Service would continue to take measures to safeguard government revenue and protect taxpayers from fraudulent operators.