From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The much awaited 60 megawatts Gas Turbine embarked upon by the administration of Governor Douye Diri has been commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday 10th April 2026.

Other projects commissioned by the president includes, the 630 metre Angiama-Oporoma which has given access roads to over 60 communities in Southern Ijaw consistency 3 and 4 and also the commissioning of the dualized road linking the New Yenagoa City.

Speaking during a Stakeholders meeting at state Banquet Hall after the commissioning ceremony, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended the hos governor Senator Douye Diri for his laudable infrastructural projects in the state.

“You have done a great job, I have commissioned some projects, very transformative projects, creating opportunities and jobs and hope of our nation. Thank you for that commitment and thank you for being a very progressive governor.

“Diri has demonstrated the power of very purposeful leadership and I am here standing before you promising that the challenges that we face , the memory of those who led this country face the battles and challenges of security. We will work hard, we will continue to train our men of the armed forces, we will defeat terrorism and banditry, regardless of their shenanigans.

“In our party APC, we believe that the people deserve to see governance translated into roads, bridges, power, jobs and real opportunities that affect human beings. The projects that I commissioned today demonstrate and testify to growth and development when the state and federal government work in partnership in shared purpose.

“The IPP is a blessing and I thank you for embarking on it. There can be no industrialization and skill development and empowerment without power, that is a vision. I assure Nigerians that we will have electricity to power our growth.

“I thank you and I will encourage you, and I will support you to do more . The spirit of partnership that you mentioned is there . You are the goose that lays the golden egg, and we will continue to partner to make it a golden Niger Delta, that is my assurance to Bayelsa State and Nigeria, that we will continue to focus on development that make our nation grow. It is very important that we are transparent and honest with our people.”

While speaking, the host governor Senator Douye Diri, prayed the president to extend the same gesture he extended Nembe/Brass road to the Sagbama-Ekeremor – Agge Road and the Yenagoa – Oporoma – Ukubie Road.

“We also respectfully implore Your Excellency to direct the relevant authorities to re-imburse the State for the phases already completed by the Bayelsa State Government.

“With Bayelsa’s extensive coastal assets, we fully align with the Federal Government’s initiative to develop the blue economy. The global marine and blue economy, estimated to generate at least US$2.5 trillion annually, is a vast opportunity, and as the first state to establish a dedicated Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, we are grateful for the Federal Government’s encouragement and support.

“Equally significant is the iconic 630-metre Angiama-Oporoma Bridge – a project promised by the federal government more than six decades ago, long predating your administration but left to gather dust in bureaucratic files. We are delighted that the modest effort of the Government of Assured Prosperity has finally addressed this pain. It has righted a historical injustice against one of Nigeria’s top oil-producing Local Government Areas.

“Your Excellency, I am pleased to inform you of the far‑reaching benefits of this initiative. Over 60 communities and kingdoms in Constituencies 3 and 4 in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, as well as Constituency 3 in Brass Local Government Area, will enjoy significantly reduced travel times and lower transportation costs. This project will act as a catalyst for local development, stimulating economic activity, and strengthening the socioeconomic fabric of these zones”.

Diri speaking further said, the newly commissioned projects, together with the 30,000-seat international stadium, the nine-storey state secretariat under construction, as well as roads and bridges connecting rural communities otherwise separated by water, constitute a coherent and strategic suite of investments anchored in the Assured Prosperity agenda of our government.
 
“The Yenagoa/Oporoma/Ukubie, Nembe/Brass, and Sagbama/Ekeremor/Agge roads we are aggressively pushing form a trio of senatorial causeways that terminate at the Atlantic Ocean and open up significant prospects in the blue economy.
 
” With Bayelsa’s extensive coastal assets, we fully align with the Federal Government’s initiative to develop the blue economy. The global marine and blue economy, estimated to generate at least US$2.5 trillion annually, is a vast opportunity, and as the first state to establish a dedicated Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, we are grateful for the Federal Government’s encouragement and support.
 
” Permit me to acknowledge the strong partnership between Bayelsa State and the Federal Government — a partnership forged by common purpose and strengthened by co‑operation. Your Excellency’s facilitation of waivers for the importation of turbines and related equipment for our Independent Power Plant and the award of phase two of the Nembe/Brass Road, among others, exemplify that partnership in action”.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The University of Lagos Alumni Association, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), chapter on Thursday, awarded scholarship to about 28 Senior Secondary school students in 6 Area Councils.

The scholarship award covers school fees, levies, West African Examinations Council, (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO), exams.

Vice Chairperson of the Association, the FCT branch.

Mrs. Julia Davis, while speaking to journalists said, 28 brilliant students from the six Area Councils, on Abuja, were carefully selected for their performance.

She said, “And these 28 students, that we were given the award today were the ones that came top”.

She noted that among those that were selected were children with special needs, and the association is very proud of them.

She said, “So it’s our joy that we are seeing this kind of improvement in our society, that even though they have this impairment, you know, they are still able to stand with their pair.

“And so we are happy to make them also recipients of this. Well, the amount that we have given to each of them is to take care of their NECO exams, their WAEC and school fees for the year . As a matter of fact, I didn’t tell you at the start that this scholarship award that we’re here giving today, it’s a yearly event for my alumni association”.

Dr. Danlami Hayyois the Mandate Secretary for Education who was represented at the occasion by Director/Secretary, FCT secondary Education Board, Hajiya Fatima Gambo Babba, commended the kind gesture of the association and noted that lots of students cannot afford to pay their fees but these scholarship would cushion some of challenges of their parents.

She lamented, “Some students finds it difficult, to pay their school fees, and this gesture will go a long way in alleviating the suffering of some parents”.

She therefore urged other non governmental organizations and individual to replicate what UNILAG Alumni just did and take up some of the challenges, that some students have, it would go a long way.

Emmanuel Emele, the Chairman of scholaship commiittee, of the association streesed that their focus is on indigent students.

He added that for now the association is concentrating on only SS3 students.

And this scholarship award has been on, for the past 3years and it will continue.
[7:26 PM, 4/9/2026] +234 805 422 4497: Good evening dear, how is your day going, please darling help me use this story

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), said Lassa fever fatalities have risen sharply in 2026, in spite of a decline in new confirmed cases in the latest reporting week.

The NCDC in its Epidemiological week 13 report on Thursday in Abuja, disclosed that 167 deaths have been recorded so far within the year.

The Nigerian Public Health Institute says the case fatality rate (CFR) is 25.

2 per cent, significantly higher than the 18.5 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.

According to the report, 26 new confirmed cases were recorded in week 13, a decrease from 51 cases reported in the previous week.

The cases were reported across seven states Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Benue, and Kaduna.

However, the agency noted that the overall burden of the disease remained high, with a total of 663 confirmed cases out of 3,831 suspected cases reported across 22 states and 93 Local Government Areas in 2026.

”The number of suspected and confirmed cases has increased compared to the same period in 2025,” the report stated.

The NCDC identified Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, and Benue as the most affected states, accounting for 85 per cent of all confirmed cases.

It added that young adults between the ages of 21 and 30 remained the most affected group, with a median age of 30 years.

The report also highlighted persistent challenges driving the high fatality rate to include late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour, and high cost of treatment.

Other factors the report said include poor environmental sanitation and low awareness levels in high-burden communities.

In spite of these concerns, no new infections among healthcare workers were recorded during the reporting week.

In response to the outbreak, the NCDC said it had activated a multi-partner Incident Management System to coordinate national response efforts.

It also said that the agency in collaboration with partners such as WHO, UNICEF, and MSF, had intensified surveillance, contact tracing, and public awareness campaigns.

It added that targeted interventions, including healthcare worker protection plan and infection prevention strategies, were being implemented in high-burden states.

The agency urged state governments to strengthen year-round community engagement and called on healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever to ensure early detection and treatment.

Public health experts are of the opinion that rising fatality rate in spite of improved response efforts, underscore the urgent need to address systemic gaps in early diagnosis and access to care.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus and is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodents.

Nigeria records cases of the disease annually, particularly during the dry season when human exposure to infected rodents increases.

Health authorities say early detection, prompt treatment and strict infection control measures remain critical to reducing mortality and preventing outbreaks.