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Rivers: Fubara hits back over allegations in Tinubu’s broadcast, lists Wike’s ‘faults’
The suspended governor of Rivers State, Similanayi Fubara, has responded to some of the allegations made by President Bola Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast on Tuesday night.
During the broadcast, Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in the state.
The President also suspended Fubara and members of the Rivers House of Assembly for six months.
Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as sole administrator of the state.
Fubara, in a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, denied some of the allegations made in the broadcast.
According to him, the Rivers State House of Assembly complex was not abandoned after it was demolished, but was under 80% completion.
The statement read in part, “First, it is important to clarify that Governor Fubara has nothing to do with the threats by militants and also did not in any way “telegraph” the reported attacks on any oil facility in the State.
”Fubara also claimed that some developments in Rivers State were owing to a controversial remark made by Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister, about the Ijaws.
“It is on record that the reaction of stakeholders in the Niger Delta, especially elders, chiefs, women, Ijaw National Congress, its youth wing, IYC, as well as militants, among others, were triggered by remarks by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, in a live media chat, during which he dismissed Ijaws as a minority of the minorities and powerless in the Nigerian polity, saying that Ijaws are not the only ones that are militants and can blow up pipelines; that Ogonis, Ikwerres, and others are also militants and can as well blow up pipelines.
“Most of the Ijaw groups and leaders even demanded an apology from the FCT Minister, which he rebuffed,” he said.
Fubara “made it clear that his administration was committed to the peace, security, and safety of oil facilities in the State.“
He often recalled his pivotal role as a member of the Presidential Committee on the Protection of Oil Installations in the Region, and repeatedly emphasized the need to protect oil pipelines and other facilities in the State, urging his supporters and the people of the State to avoid acts capable of destabilizing the State or sabotaging the nation’s economy.”
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Nigerian Press Urges FG, NASS to Act Swiftly Against ‘Big Tech Threat’
Major Nigerian media and journalism organizations have issued a strong call to the Federal Government (FG) and the National Assembly (NASS) to take immediate legislative and regulatory action against what they describe as an existential threat posed by Big Tech companies to the country’s information sovereignty and media industry.
In a joint statement released recently, leading press bodies—including key associations representing publishers, editors, and journalists—warned that unchecked dominance by global technology giants such as Google, Meta, and others is eroding Nigeria’s control over its digital information ecosystem.
They highlighted how these platforms dominate digital advertising revenue, divert traffic from traditional news sources, and increasingly use Nigerian-generated content to train artificial intelligence models without fair compensation or permission.
The groups emphasized that the situation risks surrendering Nigeria’s information sovereignty to foreign entities, potentially undermining national security, cultural values, and the economic viability of local media houses.
They pointed to declining revenues for publishers, with some facing up to 90% drops in traffic due to AI-generated summaries and algorithmic changes on search and social platforms.
The press bodies urged lawmakers to enact robust regulations, including frameworks for content remuneration, data usage restrictions, algorithmic transparency, and mechanisms to ensure fair competition in the digital space.
They called for urgent collaboration between the executive and legislature to address these challenges before irreversible damage occurs to Nigeria’s media landscape and democratic discourse.
This appeal comes amid broader global debates on Big Tech accountability and follows Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its digital economy governance, including recent pushes toward comprehensive AI and data regulations.
Stakeholders view the statement as a pivotal moment for protecting indigenous media in an era of rapid technological disruption.
The Federal Government and National Assembly have yet to issue an official response, but the call aligns with growing concerns over digital monopolies and their impact on developing economies.
Media experts anticipate intensified discussions in the coming weeks as Nigeria navigates its position in the global tech landscape.
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US sends troops to Nigeria
The top commander made the confirmation during a press briefing, yesterday, but did not provide further details about the size and scope of their mission.
The general in charge of the U.S. command for Africa (AFRICOM), General Dagvin Anderson, confirmed that United States has sent troops to Nigeria.
The top commander made the confirmation during a press briefing, yesterday, but did not provide further details about the size and scope of their mission.
He emphasised that the decision to send troops to Nigeria was after both countries agreed that more needed to be done to combat the terrorist threat in West Africa.
“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small US team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States,” General Anderson said.
According to Reuters, Nigeria’s Defense Minister, Christopher Musa, confirmed that a team was working in Nigeria but did not provide further details.
The development is the first acknowledgment of U.S. forces on the ground since US airstrikes targeting terrorists in Nigeria’s North-West on Christmas Day, 2025.
President Donald Trump, who announced that he ordered the airstrikes on what he described as Islamic State targets, had said there could be more U.S. military action in Nigeria.
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