By George Mgbeleke

Wife of the Governor of Rivers State, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara has disclosed that about 6,800 families have so far, benefitted from the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) programme in Rivers State.

Fubara made the disclosure on Thursday during the distribution of food items to vulnerable groups at Government House, Port Harcourt. The gesture is part of the Social Investments Programme of the Renewed Hope Initiative, the pet project of Sen Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Wife of the Governor of Rivers State, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, at the podium delivering her address at the occasion on Thursday.

In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara,the First Lady of Rivers State said that beyond the distribution of food items, the programme has supported the people of the state through the provision of local and foreign scholarships as well as funding for agriculture and social investments.

The Renewed Hope Initiative, Fubara said, has stood with the people of Rivers State via women empowerment programmes, assistance to petty traders , support for persons living with disabilities, elderly care initiatives and other interventions.

According to her, these interventions have positively touched thousands of lives across communities in Rivers State, as over 1,800 families benefitted directly from Thursday’s food distribution scheme.

“Today’s outreach programme is another practical demonstration of compassionate leadership and people- centred governance. At a time when many families are facing economic challenges, initiatives such as this reminds our people that they are not forgotten. Beyond the distribution of food items, this programme represents hope, care, dignity, and support for vulnerable households across Rivers State.

“As a government, we remain committed to initiatives that directly improve the lives of our people, especially women, youths , the elderly, and vulnerable households. We believe that true development is not only measured by infrastructure, but also by the extent to which lives are positively impacted,” she said.

Fubara expressed profound gratitude to the First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Sen Oluremi Tinubu for conceiving the Renewed Hope Initiative and rendering assistance to the needy and vulnerable in the society. She also extended her appreciation to the Renewed Hope Initiative Office in Rivers State as well as the Wives of Governors from about 20 States who graced the occasion.

Meanwhile, the First Lady Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen Oluremi Tinubu has commended the First Lady of Rivers State, Her Excellency Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara for her commitment to the success of all the Renewed Hope Initiative programmes in Rivers State.

Tinubu who was represented at the occasion by a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Betta Edu, stated that the Food Outreach Scheme under the Renewed Hope Initiative Social Investments Programme was launched in March 2024 to provide food items to persons with disability and other vulnerable groups in order to support them and their families.

According to Tinubu, the act of kindness has been made possible through the generous support of two donors who have committed to supplying two truckloads of food items to the Renewed Hope Initiative every month.

“Our goal at the RHI is to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR which aims to support all Nigerians to thrive and fulfil their goals irrespective of their condition or status,” she said.

Tinubu said that the scheme had successfully distributed food items to 25 states including the Federal Capital Territory, making Rivers State, the 26th beneficiary.

By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Tinubu administration of running a “Ponzi economy” following the Federal Government’s move to seek another fresh $1.25 billion World Bank loan, despite Nigeria’s rising debt profile of about N159.28 trillion.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the government was taking new loans to service old debts while Nigerians continue to suffer rising food prices, unemployment, insecurity, business closures, and worsening inflation.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is deeply alarmed by the Tinubu administration’s latest move to seek another fresh $1.25 billion World Bank loan, coming barely weeks after the National Assembly approved yet another round of external borrowing running into billions of dollars.
At this point, Nigerians must ask a simple question: if this government keeps borrowing trillions of naira every few months, why are Nigerians getting poorer, and why is life getting harder for the majority?

Today, Nigeria’s total public debt has risen to about N159.28 trillion, yet food prices continue to rise daily, electricity tariffs are increasing, the naira remains weak, businesses are shutting down, insecurity is spreading, and millions of young Nigerians remain unemployed. Families are cutting down on meals, manufacturers are struggling to survive, and small businesses are collapsing under the weight of inflation and poor economic conditions.

This is why the ADC says the Tinubu administration is running a Ponzi economy, where new loans are constantly being taken to service old debts and cover fiscal failures, while ordinary Nigerians are left to carry the burden.

It is noteworthy that President Bola Tinubu himself has declared that Nigeria will spend about $11.6 billion, over N15 trillion, on debt servicing alone in 2026. In simple terms, trillions of naira that should have gone into roads, hospitals, schools, electricity, security, agriculture, and job creation will instead go into paying creditors and servicing old loans.

Even more disturbing is the speed and scale of the borrowing. Since assuming office in May 2023, the Tinubu administration has pursued or secured multiple World Bank facilities and external loans running into several billions of dollars.

Each time they want to borrow money, this government invents a new acronym. From ARMOR to RESET, HOPE, or SPIN, these are merely different labels for the same pretext to continue borrowing without any recourse to measurable impacts on the lives of Nigerians.

The government removed fuel subsidy, devalued the Naira, increased electricity tariffs, and imposed painful economic policies on citizens, promising that temporary sacrifice would lead to long-term recovery. Some of the loans are ostensibly obtained to cushion the impacts of these harsh policies. Instead, Nigerians have continued to suffer one of the worst cost-of-living crises in recent history, while the government continues to pile on more debts.

A serious government borrows to build industries, stabilize power, create jobs, expand exports, improve transportation, and grow the economy in ways that citizens can actually feel. But after all this borrowing, Nigerians cannot point to any measurable improvement in their daily lives that matches the scale of the debt being accumulated in their name.

The ADC is equally concerned that the National Assembly, which should serve as checks on executive excesses, has been reduced to a mere rubber stamp, approving massive borrowing requests with little resistance or serious public scrutiny, even as debt servicing continues to consume an increasingly unsustainable portion of government revenue.

Nigeria cannot continue mortgaging the future of unborn generations simply to keep the present administration politically afloat. At some point, somebody will pay for all this borrowing, and sadly, ordinary Nigerians are already paying through hunger, inflation, unemployment, business closures, and a collapsing standard of living.

What Nigeria needs right now is the ADC’s leadership, which is focused on production, security, industrialization, agriculture, stable electricity, support for local businesses, and real job creation.

By George Mgbeleke

Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara on Wednesday, broke his silence over widespread speculations that he had defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the ongoing realignment of political forces ahead of the 2027 General Elections..

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi,Governor Fubara made the clarification during an inspection tour of the newly constructed General Hospital and the fully remodelled Neuropsychiatric Hospital, both in Rumuigbo, Obiakpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Fubara said that contrary to the erroneous reports in a section of the media in the last couple of days, suggesting that he had joined another political party, he remained a member of the ruling party and will continue to work for the overall interest of the party.

“I know that there have been a lot of drama in the media; one story or another. I am a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and nothing has changed. People should stop using whatever situation that they pick up from the social media or their own interpretation of any situation to present me wrongly.

“I’ve not gone anywhere; I’m still a member of the APC and I remain a member. Whatever happens, what is important is supporting the overall interest of the party,” he said.

Governor Fubara was conducted round the facilities by the Director of Medical Services in the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, who led him through the hospital wards, a conference hall, ICT centre, students hostel, staff quarters, and other critical sections.

He expressed delight at the completion of the two projects which according to him, were conceived to address critical needs in the health sector in the state. He recalled that the while the rehabilitation of the Psychiatric Hospital became necessary at some point, the administration also discovered that the area had no General Hospital to take care of the basic health needs of the people.

“This very project, if you could remember, when we came in we had an issue that required our sudden visit and it had to do with mental health. So when we came here for the inspection of the Rehabilitation Centre that the board was trying to put together, we found out that we had more issues than even the mental health issue.

“We didn’t have a General Hospital to serve the people within this area. The closest medical center that they had here was the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital ( UPTH) which is very far from here. We felt that with the space we have in this compound, it will be proper for us to also have a General Hospital situated in this particular facility to take care of the neighboring communities up to Rumuola, Rumuolumeni and all the surrounding areas.
“Today, to the glory of God, we can see that the project is already completed. It is not 95 percent complete, it is a hundred percent completed.

“We’re happy because, it is a promise made and a promise fulfilled. Like I’ll always say, what is important is doing what will touch the life of our people. Our people should be first and that is how important this project is for us in this administration,” he said.