Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has pledged his administration’s support for the newly developed Ijaw Language App code-named Dayama Demo.

Senator Diri made the commitment on Monday at the Ijaw Language Awareness Summit with the theme: “Reviving The Izon Language: Heritage, Our Identity, Our Future,” at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, as part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of the state’s creation.

Governor Diri, who expressed concern that the language was gradually becoming extinct, urged his kinsmen and all Bayelsans to make conscious effort to revive it in order to preserve their identity as a people for the younger generation.

He commended popular Ijaw music act, Asu Ekiye, for convening the summit and for being a true ambassador of the Ijaw nation.

He said the summit would henceforth be an annual event in the state.

He also lauded a former Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs in the state, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, Ijaw language presenter, Erema Yanga, among others for ensuring that the Ijaws do not lose their heritage.

He called on private organisations and individuals to join government in supporting the creative talents that have been at the forefront of promoting the language.

The state’s helmsman urged the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to work with government on the Ijaw revival project as well as reactivate the Prof. Kay Williamson Centre at Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.

He directed the Commissioner for Education to ensure that quizzes and debates in Ijaw language were organised in primary and secondary schools in the state.

The governor explained that the move to resuscitate Ijaw language was started by his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson, in 2018 when Kolokuma dialect was adopted as the official language in the state.

His words: “The responsibility of teaching our children our language lies squarely with parents. So every family should strive to communicate always in their mother tongue.

“My predecessor started the move to revive the language when he sent a bill to the House of Assembly and on February 25, 2018, Kolokuma dialect was adopted as the central language and 200 teachers were recruited to teach the language in every public school.

“This celebration will not end today. It is going to be an annual Izon Language Awareness Day and it will be anchored in the Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs.

“Next year, we will have this Ijaw Awareness Day in an open field at the sports complex where all our families, all our mothers and fathers will converge.

“What we are doing today is about the preservation of our language, mode of dressing as well as the cuisine that make up the sum total of our culture and tradition as Ijaws.”

In his keynote address, Dr. Felix Tuodolo identified challenges affecting the survival of the Ijaw language, noting that parents no longer communicate with their children in their mother tongue.

He also identified the preference for other indigenous languages at the detriment of their mother tongue and the removal of Izon language by the Federal Government as one of the official languages in the country.

Tuodolo enjoined Ijaw people to begin to express themselves more in their language at home, ceremonies and other engagements towards preserving their identity.

Also, the convener of the summit, Asu Ekiye, said the survival of the language rests on the choices and actions of the people.

He stated that Ijaw language stands at a critical threshold where its every day usage was declining at an alarming rate, particularly among the younger generation and that the time to act was now.

Ekiye appealed to the state government to make immediate actionable interventions for the formal recognition of the Ijaw Language Resuscitation Initiative and appointment of a state focal unit.

He also recommended the systematic audio-visual documentation of oral histories, songs, proverbs and stories, launch language champions network and school language clubs in pilot communities among others towards resuscitating the language.

Ekiye and his compatriot, Barr. Smooth, received award for promoting the Ijaw language and tradition through music while veteran journalist, Asu Beks, was also honoured in recognition of his contribution to Ijaw values and traditions through the journalism profession.

Artistes that performed at the event included B2S Tare Oge Master, Trace Ailies, Dr. Gesiere Ebizimor-Nicholas, Erema Yanga, and Pastor Amange BE Amange.

By Uthman Baba -Naseer,Minna

Niger state Christian leaders have disclosed that out of the Seven million, four hundred and seventy eight thousand, four hundred and seventeen (7,478,417) population projected, Christians are three million, four hundred and seventeen thousand, six hundred and thirty six (3,417,636) representing 45.7 per cent.

While citing insecurity and displacement as factors that have altered the distribution of Christian communities, Chairman of the Christian Statistics Committee set up by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger State chapter, Evang. Marcus Salka said the essence of the data was to correct what it described as inaccurate projections of the Christian population, particularly those circulating on social media.

Speaking during a press conference on Sunday in Minna, Salka who is also Chairman of Nigeria Christian Youths in Politics, Niger state Chapter alongside his Secretary Barde Jesse said after gathering all data, Christians are 45.7 per cent, compared with approximately 46.1 per cent and 8.2 per cent for the other two religious categories in the State.

It should be recalled that the 2006 census population of 3,950,249 for Niger State, comprised 2,032,725 males and 1,917,524 females.

Salka noted that Nigeria’s last official population census however did not include religious affiliation, making the 45.7 per cent figure an estimate based on available demographic projections, surveys and research carried out since 2025.

Accordingly, he said “the estimation was derived from the 2025 projected population of 7,478,417 for Niger State by the Niger state Bureau of Statistics, thereby putting the Christian population at approximately 3,417,636.

“The size of the Christian population should not be judged by the level of participation in active politics.

“That some Christians do not participate in active politics does not mean we do not have the number. Christians make up a significant population in Niger State.

“We cannot, and we will never keep quiet and then allow those who do not know our population to project or assume figures for us for selfish interests”.

Salka also linked changes in the distribution of Christian communities to prolonged insecurity in parts of the state.

The group chairman specifically mentioned Shiroro, Munya, Paikoro, Rafi, Wushishi and Magama, alleging that attacks had led to deaths and displacement of residents from communities with significant Christian populations.

He alleged that some Christians had been forced to relocate while others were killed, describing the development as a factor that had affected the demographic distribution of Christians.

“Following the incessant insecurity in Christian-dominated local government areas, especially Shiroro, Munya, Paikoro, Rafi, Wushishi, Magama and others, majority of our people were killed, others relocated,” he said.

He further alleged that the displacement was part of a deliberate attempt to reduce the Christian population in affected communities.

The group said, despite the displacement, Christians remained present across both rural and urban communities in the state.

He said the population had increased substantially, citing the 2025 state projection of 7,478,417, comprising 3,790,197 males and 3,688,220 females.

The chairman stated that Christians were spread across the state’s 25 local government areas and represented by Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, Evangelical and African Instituted churches, among others.

The Christian blocs identified by the group included the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Christian Council of Nigeria, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Organisation of African Instituted Churches, TEKAN and ECWA-related fellowships.

He then vowed that the Committee would continue to challenge what it considers inaccurate representations of the Christian population in Niger State.

BY UTHMAN BABA-NASEER,MINNA

Sequel to the constitution of the Judicial commission of inquiry by the governor Mohammed Umar Bago, to investigate the death of the 37 alleged illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),the eleven member of the commission will commence their inaugural sitting Tuesday,29th, September 2026.

This was contained in a statement issued to Journalists in Minna by the Secretary of the Commission Mohammed Aliyu Kutigi Esq.

According to the statement,the inaugural sitting is expected to commence by 10 o’clock in the morning at the hall of the Teachers Professional Institute,along F.flayout by Tayi Junction in Minna Niger State

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry which is headed by a Minna High Court Judge,Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed of the Minna High Court ,number four,the statement requested member of the public to attend urging member of the public to submit their memo to the commission.

Governor Umar Bago,while inaugurating the Judiciary Commission of Inquiry charged members of the Commission to discharge their duty with all sincerity and the fear of God.

He reminded them that the task ahead of them is enomouse and herculious urging them to put the fear of God in the discharge of their duty.

Governor Bago stated that the Commission which is saddled with the responsibility of getting to the root course of the incident has four weeks to operate and conclude it’s findings.

He informed members of the Commission that is not vested with the powers relating to look into the administrative conduct and possible punishment of the officers but rather to look into the act that was committed within the purview and powers of government of Niger State.

The Commission’s terms of reference,according to governor Bago,include to look into the arrest and essential legality of the of the custody and treatment of the victims while in custody and the circumstance of their deaths.

It is also to look at the responsibility and accountability of officers,medical foresenic investigation and evidence,and make it’s findings and recommendations.