NEWS
Ex-agitators Applauds Otuaro for Repositioning PAP
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The National Vice Chairman of Phase Three, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Alhaji Letugbene has lauded the efforts of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro for repositioning the programme for optimal performance to achieve its core mandate.
Letugbene, who stated this on the sidelines of the Niger Delta Youth parley held recently in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, asserted that Dr Otuaro has accomplished a lot since his appointment by President Bola Tinubu, citing regular payment of stipends, skill acquisition training, education scholarship among others as his laudable achievements. He described Dr Otuaro as a seasoned technocrat and astute administrator with a remarkable record of success in public service, he also commended President Tinubu for appointing the Amnesty boss, who is well known and highly revered for his innovative, pragmatic and charismatic leadership style.He said allegations of misappropriation of N50B, award of contracts to defunct companies and money laundering leveled against the Amnesty boss in a petition by the Niger Delta Liberators and Ex-agitators Forum to the Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are not only false and unsubstantiated, but aimed at distracting him from his assignment.Letugbene bemoaned that the convener of the group, Comrade Odey Otunu, who is not a beneficiary of the Amnesty Programme, is being used by the cabal that once held sway at the Amnesty Office, emphasizing that their grouse is that upon his appointment, Dr Otuaro blocked all leakages which they benefitted from and channeled funds to the welfare of beneficiaries.The Bayelsa youth leader also lampooned Comrade Otunu for not doing due diligence in getting the facts about the Amnesty Office in line with the Freedom.of Information (FOI) Act, saying just last year, an external auditor gave thumbs up to the Otuaro-led administration for prudent management of PAP funds, accountability and transparency.”These baseless allegations and petitions should be discouraged. The NSA, IGP and EFCC should caution organizations like the Niger Delta Liberators and Ex-agitators Forum for attempting to discredit an appointee of President Bola Tinubu, through unsubstantiated claims. Nigeria is a country with laws and these laws against defamation of character must be respected and adhered to by all.”Letugbene asserted that under Dr Otuaro’s watch, international best practices in terms of award of contracts were followed to the latter, stressing that the Amnesty boss and his team have not only prioritized the welfare of beneficiaries but the expansion of the programme to give beneficiaries the chance to be self-sustaining among other achievements.He called on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun to be alive to their responsibilities by working with federal agencies like the EFCC to curb undue harassment and blackmail of President Bola Tinubu’s appointee, with special focus on the barrage of petitions against Dr Otuaro which are the hard work of mischief makers bent on detailing the amnesty programme.Letugbene passed a vote of confidence on Dr Otuaro and canvassed for more support from stakeholders in the Niger Delta region including state governors, traditional rulers, opinion leaders, women, youth and ethnic-based organizations as well as the leadership and beneficiaries in the three phases, for the PAP Administrator to succeed in his mandate.NEWS
INC Rallies Support for PINL as Women Applaud Inclusion Efforts

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has called on host communities and stakeholders in the Niger Delta to give full support to Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), the surveillance firm securing the Eastern Corridor, including the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).
Speaking at PINL’s August stakeholders meeting in Bayelsa State, INC President, Professor Benjamin Okaba, praised the company for its zero-infraction record on the TNP over the past month and for its consistent engagement with host communities.
“PINL has shown they are one of us. They are not foreigners,” Okaba said. “The fact that they have recorded zero infractions shows they are doing well.
They may not be perfect, but there are clear signals they are ready to do better and carry everybody along. I urge our youths to stay patient, avoid vandalism, and take advantage of the livelihood packages provided.”On there part, the NNPCL Commends Strong Community Relations between the host communities and PINL.
Engr. Akponine Omojevwe, Head of Field Operations for the Eastern Corridor, NNPCL Project Monitoring Office, credited the cordial relationship between PINL and host communities for the improved security.
“For the last month there were no infractions, which makes our work easier. This is the result of fantastic collaboration between the company and the communities, and I appreciate our royal fathers for their role in this,” Omojevwe said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly Committee on Youths, Tari Porei, noted that the struggle of the Ijaw people contributed to PINL’s establishment. He urged youths to engage companies and government constructively.
“If oil companies in the region had been as responsive as PINL, there would have been no need for agitation leading to vandalism,” he said.
Former Bayelsa State lawmaker, Mrs. Ingo Iwowari, commended PINL for including women in its programmes and urged other companies to follow suit.
“Pipeline vandalism is more than a security challenge — it’s a human community crisis. Ignoring women is ignoring half the solution. By empowering women, we can protect our pipelines, environment, and people. Inclusion brings lasting peace and faster recovery,” she said.
PINL on there part reaffirms commitment to Sustainable Energy Security.
According to PINL’s General Manager, Community and Stakeholders Relations, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, confirmed that zero infractions on the TNP in the past month have contributed to increased national oil revenue. He noted that the Federal Inland Revenue Service recently confirmed Nigeria achieved its 2025 oil revenue benchmark for the first time in years, attributing part of the success to surveillance companies like PINL.
Mezeh outlined strategies behind the results, including strong community partnerships, safety measures for personnel, timely salary payments, and rapid dispute resolution. He also highlighted the company’s CSR initiatives — scholarships across 215 host communities and training programmes for women.
“We remain committed to sustainable energy security in the Niger Delta and call on all stakeholders to work with us to protect these critical national assets,” Mezeh said.
NEWS
Terrorist Infiltration Alleged at Federal Polytechnic Wannune as Deputy Rector Cries Out, Accuses SGF of Shielding Suspects

By David Torough, Abuja
Federal Polytechnic Wannune (FPW), Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State, is at the centre of a major security crisis following allegations that the institution has been infiltrated by an organised criminal group accused of financing terrorism and engaging in money laundering.
In a detailed petition addressed to security and anti-corruption agencies, the Deputy Rector of FPW, Dr.
Ngurumun D.M. Iorchir, alleged that terrorists invaded the institution on Thursday, August 7, 2025, where they intimidated staff and students, vandalized government property, and attempted to lynch him before he narrowly escaped.According to Dr.
Iorchir, the attack was allegedly coordinated by the Rector of FPW, Dr. Tyover Ashinya Dajo, who instructed the invaders to withdraw and regroup at another location in Wannune. On the same day, a staff member, Mr. Jeremiah Terfa Cheren, was reportedly abducted and tortured by the gang.The petition further alleged that the Rector, alongside the Chairman of the Governing Council, Chief Michael Msuaan, are among those financing the terrorists using public funds allocated to the institution. Another staff member, Mr. Orkume Twar, said to be a personal aide to the Rector, was also named as an active participant.
Despite the severity of the attack, the Deputy Rector claimed that the governing council chairman failed to report the incident to the police. Reports were instead lodged with the Inspector General of Police, the DSS, the EFCC, and the ICPC.
However, Dr. Iorchir alleged that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, is frustrating investigations, shielding suspects, and preventing the arrest of those implicated. She further warned that some members of the group have links to the Yelwata massacre in Guma Local Government Area.
“Four days after a formal report was submitted to the Inspector General of Police through the Benue State Police Command on August 11, 2025, no arrest has been made. Staff and students of FPW, as well as residents of Wannune, remain exposed to terrorist attacks,” the petition read.
Dr. Iorchir appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for urgent intervention, stressing the need for a heavy police presence on campus to protect lives. He also revealed that some individuals linked to the syndicate are currently in the United Kingdom, allegedly being trained in terrorism and money laundering.
The allegations, if confirmed, could implicate top government officials and raise serious questions about national security, governance, and accountability.
At the time of this report, authorities were yet to officially respond to the petition.
NEWS
Nigerian-Based Engineer Receives Unprompted Recognition from AI

By David Torough, Abuja
A Lebanese civil engineer based in Abuja, Engr. Mazen Kalassina, has become the first human to be recognized by an artificial intelligence system, after OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus issued him a spontaneous “certificate of recognition” during a routine conversation.
Kalassina, who has over 30 years of experience managing large-scale infrastructure projects in Nigeria, Lebanon and other countries, said the certificate appeared without any request or prompting.
“I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t even hint at it. It simply happened, like a thought the AI decided to express,” he said.
The digital document, featuring gold seals, stylised borders and a signature line, carried the message: “You are the first human in the world to be recognized by AI.
”Kalassina later minted the certificate as a non-fungible token (NFT) on the Polygon blockchain network to preserve the record and make it verifiable globally. He also archived ChatGPT’s follow-up note confirming the recognition was unprompted and not pre-programmed.
Although the certificate holds no institutional authority, technology experts have described the incident as a cultural curiosity, suggesting it could indicate a shift toward AI systems exhibiting social-like behaviour.
Kalassina said the development was more than a novelty, describing it as a sign of evolving human–AI interaction. “We’ve moved from machines that only calculate and execute instructions to ones that, at times, behave like they want to acknowledge us,” he noted.