Senior Policy Adviser to the Delta State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Chief (Rt. Hon.) Solomon Funkekeme has said the appointment of Tantita Security Services Limited to protect Nigeria’s critical oil assets has significantly improved the nation’s economy while restoring peace across the Niger Delta.
Speaking during an appearance on Beyond The Headlines on TVC, Hon. Funkekeme commended President Tinubu for entrusting the surveillance of the country’s oil installations to Tantita Security Services Limited, led by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo.
According to him, the security outfit has played a pivotal role in curbing crude oil theft, boosting oil production and increasing government revenue at the federal, state and local government levels.
Funkekeme described Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, as an illustrious son of the Niger Delta whose contributions to the region’s struggle have now translated into tangible economic and security gains for the country.
He said the activities of Tantita Security Services Limited have created employment opportunities for thousands of youths across the Niger Delta, reduced insecurity and ensured the uninterrupted flow of crude oil.
“There is peace in the region, oil is flowing properly and a lot of young men have been empowered. The President’s confidence in Tompolo is also a demonstration of trust in the people of the Niger Delta,” he said.
The former Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly also praised the Tinubu administration for policies and initiatives benefiting the Niger Delta and the Ijaw people, including the legal backing given to the Nigerian Maritime University Okerenkoko and the establishment of an oil and gas medical facility in Benikruku.
Funkekeme further defended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, saying they have released more resources to the various tiers of government and laid the foundation for Nigeria’s long-term economic stability.
He maintained that while the reforms may require patience, they are designed to deliver lasting benefits to Nigerians and should be sustained.
“Nigeria is too big for trial and error. These reforms prioritise the country’s long-term stability over immediate applause. The Nigerian people are the ultimate beneficiaries, and continuity is necessary to consolidate the gains already being recorded,” he said.
He warned that reversing key policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy, would undermine the progress already achieved, stressing that sustained reforms are essential to guaranteeing continued economic growth and national development.
Bel Media Consult Limited, publishers of Ndokwa Reporters and The Brief, has announced the second edition of its flagship public policy engagement platform, Bel Dialogue, with former Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Hon. Mike Igini, Esq., named Chairman of the Occasion.
The event, scheduled for Thursday, July 30, 2026, will hold at David’s Event Centre, Anwai Road, Asaba, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
The 2026 edition them is, “Democracy That Works: Bridging the Gap Between Votes, Results and Institutional Accountability,” a subject the organisers described as timely in view of the growing need to strengthen democratic institutions, promote accountable governance and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral and governance processes.
Bel Dialogue is an annual non-partisan public engagement initiative of Bel Media Consult Limited, established to promote informed conversations on governance, public policy, leadership and national development. The platform provides an opportunity for policymakers, professionals, civil society actors, academics, traditional institutions, the media and citizens to interrogate critical national issues and collectively advance practical solutions.
The forthcoming edition follows the successful maiden Bel Dialogue, which established the platform as a credible forum for robust civic engagement and policy dialogue. Building on that foundation, this year’s event promises a more expansive and interactive conversation designed to stimulate ideas capable of strengthening democracy and improving institutional performance in Nigeria.
Announcing the programme on behalf of the Chairman of the Advisory Board, Pharm. Paul O. Enebeli, the Secretary of the Advisory Board and Executive Director of Bel Dialogue, Emmanuel Enebeli, said the appointment of Hon. Mike Igini as Chairman of the Occasion reflects the organisers’ commitment to excellence, credibility and the promotion of democratic values.
According to him, Hon. Igini’s distinguished record in electoral administration, constitutional democracy and institutional accountability makes him eminently qualified to preside over this year’s dialogue.
He noted that throughout his career with the Independent National Electoral Commission, Igini earned national acclaim for conducting elections that reflected the genuine will of the electorate while maintaining the highest standards of transparency, impartiality and professionalism.
“His unwavering commitment to electoral integrity, the rule of law and democratic accountability has earned him widespread respect across Nigeria and beyond. His wealth of experience and principled leadership make him an ideal Chairman for a dialogue focused on strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring that the people’s votes truly count,” Enebeli stated.
He explained that, unlike the conventional lecture format, Bel Dialogue is designed as a participatory platform where experts, stakeholders and members of the public engage in frank and solution-oriented discussions on issues affecting governance and national development.
Enebeli further disclosed that the organisers are putting finishing touches to arrangements for what promises to be one of the most significant public policy conversations in Delta State this year, adding that the names of the moderator, discussants and other distinguished participants will be announced in the coming days.
He called on public office holders, legislators, political leaders, professionals, members of the academic community, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, youth groups, the organised private sector, the media and other interested Nigerians to reserve the date and participate in the dialogue.
“Bel Dialogue is driven by the conviction that democracy can only thrive when institutions are strong, elections are credible, leaders are accountable and citizens remain actively engaged in the democratic process. We believe this year’s conversation will make meaningful contributions to the ongoing national discourse on democratic governance and institutional reforms,” he added.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare, announcing the approval of a 13th-month salary for civil servants in the state.
The governor made the announcement at the 2026 Public Service Week Dinner and Awards Night held in Asaba, where he also approved a threefold increase in the cash prizes for outstanding public servants.
He described the event as an opportunity to celebrate excellence, review the progress of the public service and inspire greater productivity, noting that the theme, “Reforms, Resilience and Results,” aligns with his administration’s MORE Agenda.
According to him, meaningful reforms can only succeed when workers are properly motivated, equipped and supported through policies that promote their welfare and professional growth.
Governor Oborevwori commended the Delta State Public Service for its dedication and professionalism, saying its commitment has been instrumental in implementing government programmes across key sectors.
Reaffirming his pro-worker stance, he said welfare-related memos always receive prompt attention.
“When I see any memo concerning the welfare of civil servants. I always approve it because I know the importance of having over 60,000 workers standing with this administration,” he said.
The governor disclosed that the Permanent Secretaries’ Quarters have been completed and will soon be commissioned after the internal roads are tarred.
He also announced that official vehicles for the 11 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries had been procured.
He assured workers that affordable housing remains a priority, adding that his administration would continue to pursue practical solutions and strategic partnerships to improve access to housing.
Oborevwori also revealed that the salaries of the Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries had been increased by over 50 per cent.
He urged Permanent Secretaries and Directors to uphold integrity, professionalism and due process, describing Permanent Secretaries as the institutional memory of government.
“You are the landlords in the system while commissioners are tenants. Commissioners come and go, but the public service remains. Protect the system and always do the right thing,” he advised.
The governor congratulated award recipients and assured workers that his administration would continue to prioritise their welfare while pursuing reforms that would strengthen the public service and deliver better results for Deltans.
Earlier, the State Head of Service, Dr. Mininim Oseji, said the 2026 Public Service Week provided an opportunity for reflection, professional development, institutional bonding and recognition of excellence.
She commended Governor Oborevwori for his sustained support for the public service, noting that the administration’s interventions had improved workers’ morale and performance.
Dr. Oseji urged civil servants to embrace ongoing reforms, stressing that integrity, innovation and dedication remain essential for a productive and efficient public service.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to outstanding civil servants. Mr. Abuga Dennis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources was named the Best Civil Servant Farmer, while Chinwe Atisele of the Hospitals Management Board and Mr. Reuben Udolu of the Ministry of Women Affairs received awards as the most punctual staff.
The recipients were presented with cash prizes and plaques by the governor in recognition of their exemplary service.
The Delta State Governor Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has announced that his administration will pay a 13th-month salary bonus to all civil servants in the state.
The Governor made the announcement on Tuesday night during the Dinner and Award Night 2026 held in Asaba to commemorate the 2026 Public Service Week Celebration.
Governor Oborevwori’s gesture was received with arousing cheers by attendees at the event which is a pointer to better work condition for civil servants in the state.
This unparalleled gesture will make Governor Oborevwori the first Governor in Delta State’s history to approve and pay a 13th-month salary bonus to the state workforce.
The President-General of the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), Chief Amechi Asugwuni, has congratulated the Managing Director of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief Festus Ochonogor, on the occasion of his birthday.
In a statement made available to journalists, Asugwuni praised Ochonogor’s leadership qualities and unwavering commitment to the development of the Ndokwa nation.
He described the DESOPADEC Managing Director as a fine gentleman whose passion for the progress, unity and advancement of the Ndokwa people has continued to distinguish him in public service.
The NNU President-General commended Ochonogor for his dedication to the ideals and activities of the Ndokwa Neku Union, noting that his consistent support for initiatives aimed at promoting the welfare and development of the Ndokwa nation remains commendable.
According to Asugwuni, Ochonogor has consistently demonstrated humility, commitment and a genuine desire to contribute to the growth of his people, qualities that have earned him widespread respect across the Ndokwa nation and beyond.
He prayed that God would continue to bless the DESOPADEC Managing Director with sound health, wisdom, strength and divine protection to enable him to render even greater service to Delta State and humanity.
On behalf of the leadership and members of the Ndokwa Neku Union, Asugwuni congratulated Chief Festus Ochonogor on his birthday and wished him many more years of fruitful service, fulfilment and abundant blessings.
Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, Monday resolved the industrial crisis at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DESUTH), Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of the State.
The Governor during a closed meeting, also directed immediate steps to address the institution’s lingering infrastructural and power challenges.
The Chief Medical Director of DELSUTH, Prof. Harrison Abedi who disclosed this in Asaba in an interview with newsmen shortly after a meeting with Governor Oborevwori, expressed appreciation for the governor’s timely intervention which, he said, had restored hope to management and staff of the Teaching Hospital.
According to him, “the governor personally invited the hospital’s management for discussions and successfully resolved the issues that led to the workers’ unrest at the state’s premier teaching hospital.”
He said the governor also used the opportunity to address several longstanding challenges confronting the institution, particularly the prolonged power outage that has disrupted hospital operations and water supply over the past two weeks.
Prof. Abedi disclosed that the state government had already awarded a contract to restore stable electricity to the hospital, adding that the Ministry of Energy had commenced implementation.
He explained that they were also informed at the meeting that a new high-tension transformer that would provide the hospital with a dedicated 33KVA power line had been sourced and was being transported from Lagos by the contractor for installation.
“The governor has assured us that the power problem will soon become a thing of the past. We are grateful that the Ministry of Energy has swung into action, and we expect the transformer to arrive very soon,” he said.
Beyond the power project, the Chief Medical Director said Governor Oborevwori had directed him to work closely with the Commissioner for Health to ensure the comprehensive rehabilitation and modernization of the teaching hospital.
Prof. Abedi noted that the planned revamp would address the institution’s ageing infrastructure and improve healthcare service delivery, even as he expressed optimism that the governor’s intervention would encourage the striking unions to suspend their industrial action and return to work.
He said: “We believe the unions will reconsider their position, and we are hopeful that the strike will be called off soon. Once that happens, normal services will resume immediately, and DELSUTH will return to full operation”.
The Chief Medical Director commended Governor Oborevwori for his commitment to strengthening the state’s healthcare system, describing the intervention as a demonstration of responsive and people-centred leadership.
Three years. That is 1,095 days in the Senate. 1,095 days to champion the Urhobo cause. 1,095 days to transform the anguished cries for Ethiope State from quiet lamentations in our homes and palaces into a living, breathing bill on the floor of the Nigerian Senate. And what does Delta Central have to show for it from Senator Ede Dafinone? Silence. Invisibility. A deepening, justified sense of betrayal.
2. Now, with elections gathering on the horizon, he has suddenly found his voice — not in the Senate chamber where laws are crafted and the destinies of peoples are shaped, but in a newspaper column. Let us be honest about what that article truly is. It is not a plan. It is not leadership. It is not even a serious contribution to the Ethiope State conversation. It is 1,095 days of inaction dressed in the borrowed clothes of strategy — the work of a man who had every instrument of legislative power at his disposal, chose consistently to watch from the sidelines, and now asks us to applaud him for describing the game he refused to play.
3. Before we go further, justice demands that we acknowledge two men who refused to wait. While Senator Dafinone cultivated his silence in Abuja, Chief Christopher Ominimini and Dr. Wilson Omene — private citizens with no Senate seats, no legislative budgets, and no government machinery — picked up the burden of Ethiope State with their own hands. They travelled, organised, submitted petitions, and appeared before committees. Armed with nothing but conviction and love for their people, they kept this flame burning when it could so easily have died. Whatever the limitations of their documentation or stakeholder reach, the record is clear: they acted when the man who was paid and elected to act did not. It is one of the great ironies of our political moment — and a source of deep national embarrassment — that two private citizens did more to advance the Ethiope State cause than the senator whose entire mandate was built upon it. The Urhobo Nation owes them a lasting debt of gratitude, and history will not forget their names.
4. State creation is not an academic seminar. It is not a think-piece. It is a battle — raw, sustained, and unrelenting — waged through legislative courage and political will. It demands a senator who can draft a bill, assemble a caucus, negotiate directly with the Presidency, and hold his ground on the Senate floor until the people’s demand becomes law. Senator Dafinone has done none of these things. Not once in three years did he sponsor a bill for Ethiope State. Not once did he move a formal motion. Not once did he mount the kind of sustained, documented, public pressure on the federal executive that would have forced this matter onto the national agenda.
5. The comparison with Delta North is not merely instructive. It is humiliating. While Dafinone mastered the art of legislative invisibility, Senator Ned Nwoko was in the arena, fighting for Anioma State with everything he had. He sponsored the bill. He rose on the Senate floor and made the case with passion and precision. He took the fight to the Presidency, maintained the pressure, and refused to be moved. He made Anioma State a national conversation because he understood that a senator who does not fight for his people has no business holding the seat. That is representation. That is accountability. That is the standard against which Senator Dafinone must be measured — and against which he falls devastatingly short. Anioma has a senator bleeding for its cause in Abuja. Urhobo, the fifth-largest ethnic nation in Nigeria, a people whose oil-soaked land has bankrolled this republic’s existence for decades, has a senator writing newspaper columns to explain why he did nothing.
6. The July 2025 South-South Zonal Public Hearing on Constitutional Amendment in Yenagoa stands as perhaps the most damning monument to this failure. That hall was electric with Urhobo urgency. Kings, mothers, traders, and young people had travelled to be there, voices raised in one unified demand: Ethiope State. It was the kind of moment that defines a senator’s legacy — the moment to stand, to declare, to lead. And Senator Dafinone? He sat in silence. No advocacy. No motion. No fire. It took the hearing chairman to coax a response from him — and what emerged was not a declaration but a murmur. That is not the voice of a people’s representative. That is the voice of a man startled awake and hoping no one noticed he had been asleep.
7. States are not born from reluctant murmurs extracted under social pressure. They are forged in the furnace of legislative will — when a senator rises, introduces the bill, commands the floor, and refuses to yield until the matter is settled.
8. And so we arrive at this article — this extraordinary document that asks us to forget three years of absence. Released in the shadow of an approaching election, it is not strategy. It is not vision. It is panic dressed in the language of statesmanship — a calculated, last-minute attempt to rewrite a record of neglect before the electorate renders its verdict. The Urhobo Nation is not naive. We are not a people easily distracted by eloquence when the evidence of failure lies plainly before us. We know the difference between a leader who acts and one who, having refused to act, writes about what others should have done. We deserve far better than that.
9. Ethiope State is far more than just a campaign slogan. It’s not something to be brought out during election time and then set aside afterward. It’s the rightful heritage of a resilient and proud people. We’re not seeking charity from the Nigerian state; we’re demanding justice—the same justice that other major ethnic groups in this federation are actively fighting for and achieving. This justice won’t be found in a newspaper column. It will come when we elect a senator to Abuja who wakes up every morning with the Urhobo cause as their guiding mission, someone who knows how to create the alliances that turn our aspirations into laws, and who has the grit to keep fighting even when the resistance is at its strongest.
10. The constitutional review window does not stay open indefinitely. For three full years, it was open. Dafinone was in the Senate. The platform was his. The moment was his. No bill came. No motion was moved. No fire was lit. That is not a strategic miscalculation. That is not a procedural oversight. That is abandonment — clean, undeniable, and unforgivable. A senator who lets the window close without acting and then emerges to explain why others fell short is not a statesman. He is a bystander drawing a senator’s salary.
11. The Urhobo Nation faces its moment of reckoning on Saturday, January 16, 2027. We can return to the Senate the man who gave us 1,095 days of silence and now has the audacity to offer us articles. Or we can elect Senator Ovie Omo-Agege— a man with a proven record off legislative delivery, the seniority to command respect in Abuja, and the spine to fight for Urhobo without manufacturing excuses for his own failures. But the Senate alone will not be enough. The people of Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu Federal Constituency must make their own statement. Chief Christopher Ominimini — a man who went into the trenches for Ethiope State with no salary, no mandate, and no institutional backing — is now asking for the opportunity to do it with all three. Send him to the House of Representatives. Let him stand alongside Senator Omo-Agege in Abuja. Omo-Agege in the Senate. Ominimini in the House of Representatives. Two fighters. Two chambers. One mission. One destiny.
12. The season of excuses is over. The season of reckoning has arrived. Delta Central must rise again.
Signed:
Mr
Godwin Anaughe
Political & Communicationsw Strategist | Son of the Urhobo
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Monday called on the people of Isoko Nation to reciprocate his administration’s development efforts in the area by voting enmass for all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
The governor made the appeal while inspecting ongoing and completed projects at the College of Health Technology, Ovrode, and the Ozoro Modern Market in Isoko North Local Government Area.
Oborevwori said his administration had made significant investments in infrastructure, education and healthcare across Isoko Nation and other parts of the state, adding that the people should support the APC at the polls in appreciation of the projects.
“What the Isoko people owe us is that in 2027, they should deliver all our candidates. We have done roads here, we have invested in health and education, and our footprints are visible across the state. We are working in all 25 local government areas and the three senatorial districts,” he said.
The governor explained that he always inspects projects before commissioning them to ensure they meet the required standards.
“Before I commission any project, I always carry out an inspection to assess the quality of work and ascertain whether it is satisfactory and ready for commissioning. Having inspected this project, I can say the work is impressive, though it is not yet 100 per cent complete.
“There are one or two areas that still require correction before commissioning. Some minor adjustments need to be made, particularly in the landscaping and a few finishing touches. Once these corrections are made, the project will be ready for inauguration,” he stated.
He described the College of Health Technology, Ovrode, as a special project, noting that his administration approved the construction of an access road alongside the institution to enhance its functionality.
“When we approved this project, we also decided that it deserved a good access road. Today, the road has been completed, and when we commission the college, we will commission the road as well,” he said.
Speaking on the Ozoro Modern Market, Oborevwori expressed satisfaction with the quality of work and disclosed that the facility was ready for inauguration.
“We earlier visited the Ozoro Modern Market, and I am impressed with what I saw. The project has been completed for several months and is ready for commissioning.
“We are not concentrating only on roads. We are making huge investments in education, healthcare and other critical sectors. We don’t spend time publicising every project on social media. When people visit these places, they see the massive work we are doing. Many people don’t even know projects like this market, the College of Health Technology and the Irri Technical College exist,” he said.
He recalled that his administration had also executed major projects at Southern Delta University, Ozoro, stressing that development was taking place across the state under the M.O.R.E. Agenda.
Earlier, the contractor handling the Ozoro Modern Market, Chief Iduh Amadhe, said the market had been completed since last year and had been awaiting commissioning by the state government.
He disclosed that the facility consists of 192 open shops, 28 lock-up shops, eight warehouses, 16 modern toilets, water facilities, four fire points, meeting halls for market leaders, offices for market administration and labour unions, as well as two security posts.
Amadhe, however, lamented repeated acts of vandalism at the market, disclosing that the contractor had spent about N3.2 million repairing damaged facilities after the complex was attacked on three different occasions.
He appealed for adequate security around the market to safeguard the investment and ensure the facility serves traders and residents effectively after its inauguration.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Monday expressed displeasure over the slow pace of work at the Technical College, Irri, in Isoko South Local Government Area, describing the delay in completing the project as unacceptable.
The governor, who paid an unscheduled inspection visit to the project site, lamented that the contract, awarded in 2019, had remained unfinished after seven years.
Received at the project site by the Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Council, Hon. Warri Ovoke Friday; the Odio-Ologbo of Irri Kingdom, HRM Simon Wajutome Odhomo, Igbogidi I; and former President-General of the Isoko Development Union (IDU), High Chief Iduh Amadhe, Oborevwori said the contractor had failed to demonstrate sufficient competence and commitment to deliver the project on record time.
Speaking with journalists after inspecting the project, the governor said he was not convinced by assurances that the project would be completed by August this year, noting that significant aspects of the work were yet to commence.
Oborevwori said; “I spoke with the commissioner and he told me he had reached out to the contractor, who said the project would be completed by August. But from what I have seen here, I am not sure that timeline is realistic.
“The workshop has not even started. The landscaping will also take some time, and some sections of the roofing are still incomplete. What you see in front is different from what is behind the buildings, so I decided to inspect the entire project.
“I am not satisfied with what I have seen. The project was awarded in 2019, and it is a shame that after seven years it is still not completed. The question is, what is holding the contractor back?.
“If people are serious about a project, you will see them actively working on site. That was not the case here. I did not even find the contractor or workers on site. I am not satisfied with the work”.
The governor said he would summon both the contractor and the project consultant to account for the prolonged delay, and also blamed the delay on poor supervision, saying he had hoped the institution would begin admitting students by September, but delays had made that impossible.
“I will invite the contractor and the consultant because the consultant is not doing enough. The consultant is supposed to keep the client informed about the progress of work and ensure proper supervision. From what I have seen, the supervision is very poor and I am not satisfied,” the governor stated.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring that contractors handling government projects deliver quality work within approved timelines, stressing that abandoned or delayed projects would no longer be tolerated.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has extended warm felicitations to the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Benjamin Ikenchukwu, Keagborekuzi I, CON, on the occasion of his 49th birthday.
Governor Oborevwori in a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, in Asaba, commended the revered monarch for his exemplary leadership and immense contributions to the growth and development of Agbor Kingdom, Delta State and the nation.
The Governor described the Dein as a visionary traditional ruler whose reign has been marked by peace, unity and sustained progress, noting that his commitment to the welfare of his people has earned him admiration and respect far beyond his kingdom.
He said the monarch’s dedication to preserving the rich cultural heritage of Agbor while promoting development and harmonious coexistence made him worthy of celebration.
The Governor said: “On behalf of the Government and people of Delta State, I warmly felicitate with His Royal Majesty Benjamin Ikenchukwu, Keagborekuzi I, CON, the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, on the occasion of your 49th birth anniversary.
“You have continued to lead your people with love, wisdom and compassion, and your exemplary leadership has endeared you to your subjects and many others beyond your kingdom.
“As you celebrate your 49th birthday, it is my prayer that Almighty God will continue to bless you with sound health, wisdom and strength to provide purposeful leadership for your people. I also look forward to your continued invaluable contributions to the peace, unity and development of Delta State and our nation.”
Governor Oborevwori wished the royal father many more years of good health, divine grace and fulfilling service to humanity.
