From Francis Sadhere, Delta

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has urged Nigerians to embrace sacrifice, patriotism, courage and resilience in their collective efforts to build a nation that reflects the aspirations of its citizens.

Oborevwori made the call on Sunday at the 66th Independence Thanksgiving Service held at Living Faith Church, Ibusa Road, Asaba.

The Governor, who paid tribute to Nigeria’s founding fathers for their sacrifices and contributions to the country’s independence, urged citizens to demonstrate their love for Nigeria by continually praying for the peace, unity and prosperity of the nation.

He said the Church had a crucial role to play in the nation’s progress through sustained prayers and intercession.

“Praying for the nation is a powerful investment that pays huge dividends. I urge us, therefore, not to relent in the place of prayer, because men ought always to pray and not to faint,” he said.

Oborevwori also called on public servants, politicians and other leaders to place the interests of the people above personal considerations, stressing that every public position was held in trust.

“At this juncture, I want to remind those of us in public service, politicians and civil servants alike, to make service to the people our number one priority. After all, it is called public service.

“Whether you are a civil servant or a politician, whether you are appointed or elected, you are serving the people. Every position you hold is held in trust for the people, not just for you and your immediate family,” the Governor said.

He further reminded public officials that they would ultimately give account of their stewardship to God, urging them to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, accountability and commitment to the common good.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s 66 years of independence, Oborevwori said the occasion provided an opportunity to appreciate God for the country’s journey and achievements, particularly its progress in democratic governance.

He noted that Nigeria had, despite challenges along the way, recorded 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule.

“On May 29 this year, we celebrated 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule. That is something to celebrate and thank God for. Yes, there have been bumps and twists along the way, but overall, we are making steady progress, and the future remains promising and exciting,” he said.

The Governor also called on the Church to continue supporting efforts to sustain peace and stability in Nigeria, citing the biblical injunction in Jeremiah 29:7, which urges believers to seek the peace of the city and pray for it.

According to him, the peace and security enjoyed by citizens were dependent on the peace of the nation.

He attributed the relative peace being experienced in Delta State to the contributions of traditional rulers, Presidents-General, community leaders and other stakeholders, as well as the wisdom granted by God.

The Presiding Pastor of Living Faith Church, Ibusa Road Branch, Asaba, Pastor Samuel Johns, urged Nigerians to remain committed to the country, stressing that nation-building required faith, patriotism and collective responsibility.

Johns expressed optimism that Nigeria was experiencing an awakening that would enable the country to unlock its vast potential and reclaim its rightful place among nations.

He identified civic responsibility, sacrifice, meaningful contribution, love for the nation and positive impact on communities as some of the responsibilities expected of citizens, noting that no nation attained greatness by accident.

The pastor also used the occasion to pray for wisdom and divine guidance for leaders at all levels, with Governor Oborevwori as a point of contact, urging them to responsibly manage the nation’s resources and serve the common good.

The thanksgiving service was attended by the Governor’s wife, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori; President of the Delta State Customary Court, Justice Catherine Ojugbana-Oritsedere; Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, and other lawmakers; Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State, Elder Moses Iduh; top government officials and traditional rulers, among others.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Federal Government has approved the comprehensive modernisation and upgrade of the Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar ports as part of efforts to expand Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and reduce the concentration of cargo traffic in Lagos.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this in a statement posted on his official X account on Sunday.

According to Oyetola, the approval builds on the earlier authorisation for the modernisation and upgrade of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos, describing the move as part of efforts to develop a balanced, efficient and globally competitive national port system.

He said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on infrastructure renewal and economic diversification.

“Modern and efficient ports are critical to this vision because they facilitate trade, support industry, attract investment and create jobs,” the minister said.

Oyetola explained that extending the modernisation programme beyond Lagos would complement ongoing investments in the state while easing the concentration of cargo traffic around the country’s commercial hub and creating additional gateways for international trade.

He said the upgrades are expected to improve cargo handling, reduce vessel turnaround times and strengthen regional connectivity.

“Upgraded infrastructure and improved operational efficiency at Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar Ports will enhance cargo handling, reduce vessel turnaround times, strengthen regional connectivity and make the movement of goods more predictable and cost-effective,” he said.

The minister noted that the four ports play strategic roles in Nigeria’s trade, industrial and regional development, stressing that the government was committed to equipping them to meet the demands of a growing economy.

He added that the approval forms part of a broader expansion of Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure, including plans for the development of the Ibom, Bakassi, Agge, Gateway, Ondo and Bonny deep seaports.

“Our approach is comprehensive. We are modernising existing ports while facilitating the development of new deep seaports. Together, these investments will expand Nigeria’s maritime capacity, create stronger economic corridors and position our country as a major maritime and logistics hub in Africa,” Oyetola said.

He said the ministry would work with state governments, terminal operators, investors, shipping companies and other stakeholders to ensure the projects deliver tangible improvements to the marine and blue economy.

According to the minister, the government’s broader vision is to establish an integrated maritime and logistics system in which ports, roads, railways, inland waterways and other transport infrastructure work together to facilitate the seamless movement of cargo.

Oyetola said the government was also seeking to reduce the time and resources businesses spend moving goods while creating an environment that supports investment and job creation.

The latest approval follows an announcement on April 3, 2026, that the Federal Government had commenced procurement processes for the modernisation of the Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne and Calabar ports, alongside the previously approved upgrades of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, as part of efforts to strengthen maritime infrastructure nationwide.

By David Torough, Abuja

Spokesman of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Ima Niboro, has said President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms have halted years of deepening structural problems and laid a stronger foundation for sustainable growth and renewed investor confidence in Nigeria.

Niboro, a former Presidential Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan and former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, spoke during an interview on News Central Television at the weekend.

He said successive administrations had largely postponed difficult decisions on fuel subsidy, foreign exchange, and other structural problems, allowing the burden on the economy to accumulate over the years.

According to him, Tinubu chose instead to confront the problems despite the political and social costs associated with the reforms.
“From the Tinubu government going forward, they will have a foundation to stand on because Tinubu has secured that. So, we will end this whole business of digging ourselves deeper and deeper,” Niboro said.

“From the Obasanjo government, we were doing fuel subsidy, we were subsidising the naira. The more we dug ourselves in, the more we sank. When a new government came, this continued.
“Now, Tinubu has stopped this digging — digging ourselves into fuel subsidy debts, digging ourselves into foreign exchange crisis. This was a surgery that was impossible to avoid by any responsible government.”

Niboro said the administration’s fiscal and foreign exchange reforms were beginning to produce results, arguing that the improved external position had helped restore international confidence in the Nigerian economy.

He recalled that there was a period when Nigerians faced severe restrictions using their bank cards outside the country because of foreign exchange constraints, contrasting that situation with what he described as the stronger external position today.

“These are the foundations already built. This is a new nation. The President could have come and continued with the whole mess that was there,” he said.

Niboro also attributed what he described as Nigeria’s recurring cycle of disappointment with successive governments partly to the failure of leaders to confront inherited structural problems.
“You need courage to do that. When President Tinubu removed fuel subsidy, were there no protests? But he stood his ground as President,” he said.

Comparing the Tinubu administration with that of former President Jonathan, Niboro said both leaders operated under significantly different political circumstances.

He described Jonathan as “decent” and “very brilliant,” but said his political base became fragmented, limiting the administration’s ability to pursue some of its objectives.
“President Jonathan was decent, very brilliant, and you cannot get better than him, but his political base was splintered,” he said.

Niboro argued that Tinubu had drawn lessons from previous administrations by building a broader political coalition around his government.
On insecurity, the APC PCC spokesman said the nation’s security forces were receiving substantial support from the administration and expressed confidence that sustained operations and investment in security would progressively reduce the threat across the country.