Senate on Wednesday has suspended its session and postponed the debate on the State of Emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, shifting it to Thursday.

The decision came after the Senate’s plenary, originally scheduled to start on time, was delayed for nearly two hours due to the absence of many senators from different political parties.

Although the debate was briefly rescheduled for 3 p.m., Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), who had sponsored the motion, eventually requested its postponement, citing Order 1(b) of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended).

His request was seconded by Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), and the chamber quickly moved on to other matters without further discussion.

Bamidele’s motion had raised concerns about the deteriorating security situation in Rivers State.

“Worried that there is a clear and present danger of the crises as some militants had threatened fire and brimstone, with security reports indicating disturbing incidents of vandalization of oil pipelines.

“Convinced that there is the need to provide adequate and extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order, and security in Rivers State,” the motion read in part.

For the emergency rule to be ratified, at least two-thirds of the Senate—73 out of 109 senators—must vote in favor. However, there were concerns that reaching this threshold on Thursday could be challenging.

Ultimately, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the postponement to a voice vote, and the majority of senators agreed.

The emergency rule declaration by President Tinubu on Tuesday night led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

In a national address, Tinubu attributed the decision to ongoing political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats that had disrupted governance in the oil-rich state.

The crisis stems from a bitter power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

To restore order, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator of Rivers State.

Ibas previously served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

ROAMAN NEWS

Federal Government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has launched a project to upgrade 58 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) across Nasarawa State.

This initiative aims to enhance medical services and ensure better healthcare access for residents.

As part of the project, the Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency has announced that these facilities will now operate 24 hours a day.

The agency’s Executive Secretary, Usman Iskilu-Saleh, shared this update during a meeting with journalists from the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Lafia on Wednesday.

According to Iskilu-Saleh, the original plan was to upgrade at least one PHC in each of the state’s 147 electoral wards.

However, the government has chosen to begin with 58 centers, with the expectation that the work will be completed by June.

He emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system, saying, “The Nigerian government has shown commitment to revitalise these healthcare facilities across the 147 electoral wards by the end of this year, 2025. So far, we have 58 facilities in Nasarawa State that we have already commenced revitalisation, and then it is expected to be complete by June this year. When I say revitalisation, I simply mean that the facilities will work for 24 hours a day. There is no time that the facilities will be closed for any reason.”

The Executive Secretary also reaffirmed the dedication of the Nasarawa State government, under Governor Abdullahi Sule, to delivering high-quality healthcare to residents.

Expressing his appreciation for the journalists’ visit, Iskilu-Saleh assured them that his leadership would be transparent and inclusive.

He encouraged media professionals to organize health outreach programs that would benefit the local population, promising his agency’s full support for such initiatives.

In response, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, NUJ Nasarawa State, Isaac Ukpoju, explained that their visit was to formally congratulate Iskilu-Saleh on his appointment and wish him success.

“We are here basically to congratulate you on your appointment as the Executive Secretary of this Agency. Your appointment did not come to us as a surprise due to your track records,” Ukpoju stated.

He further assured the agency of the media’s commitment to providing widespread publicity for its healthcare initiatives, ensuring that both residents of Nasarawa and the wider Nigerian population remain informed.

ROAMAN NEWS