The Rivers State government has denied a story about her reaction to an obnoxious court ruling baring the Federal Government from releasing her monthly allocations by shutting Nigeria’s Oil production facilities within her territory.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt under the signature of Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communications, Rivers State, Warisenibo Joe Johnson.

Recall that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop disbursing Federal Allocations to Rivers State until the issue of proper passage of the 2024 budget is resolved.

ALSO READ: Internet Fraud: EFCC Arrests Seven Suspects In Abuja

However, Johnson vehemently denied what he described as “spurious news item circulating on social media”.

Under the subject ‘Re: Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara Shuts Down NNPCL’, he maintained that “The report was not only false, but a concocted propaganda from the imagination of the author and enemies of the State.”

The statement reads, “The attention of Rivers State Government has been drawn to a spurious news item circulating on social media on “Gov. Siminalayi Fubara shutting down NNPCL and all oil companies in Rivers State”.

“The report was not only false, but a concocted propaganda from the imagination of the author and enemies of the State. The story was also circulated by an inconsequential and unverified medium.

“Governor Siminalayi Fubara is committed to the rule of law and does not rely on unconventional and crude approaches to respond to matters of governance.

“We therefore enjoin Rivers people and well-meaning Nigerians to discountenance the spurious and fake report as Governor Fubara at no time contemplated and/or directed such needless order of shutting down the economy for any reason.”

Senior U.S. officials are set to meet their Israeli counterparts on Thursday to negotiate a potential agreement aimed at stabilizing Israel’s northern border and reducing the escalating conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

This high-stakes visit comes amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza, where the Palestinian militant group Hamas has rejected multiple ceasefire proposals as Israeli strikes persist.

ALSO READ: Nollywood Legend, Charles Olumo “Agbako” Passes Away At 101

Just days before the U.S. presidential election, American envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk are expected to arrive in Israel.

Their mission focuses on securing a framework that could see Hezbollah withdraw approximately 20 miles (30 kilometers) north, beyond the Litani River.

In exchange, Israeli forces would pull back from Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese army, supported by UN peacekeepers, to manage border security.

Under this arrangement, Lebanon would be responsible for preventing Hezbollah from rearming, while Israel would retain its right to self-defense under international law, according to Israeli media reports.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope on Wednesday that a ceasefire could be reached “in the coming hours or days.”

Newly appointed Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has indicated that the group would consider a truce under certain conditions, saying Hezbollah could sustain its resistance but remains open to negotiation.

Qassem’s appointment follows the assassination of his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike last month.

In parallel, U.S. and Qatari mediators are attempting to negotiate a brief humanitarian pause in Gaza, where Israel’s campaign against Hamas is ongoing.

However, on Thursday, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu reiterated the group’s stance against a temporary ceasefire, stating, “The idea of a temporary pause in the war, only to resume aggression later, is something we have already expressed our position on.

Hamas supports a permanent end to the war, not a temporary one.”

This proposed pause would have allowed essential humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and opened up negotiations for a longer-term resolution, but Hamas’s rejection of the offer dims prospects for an immediate breakthrough.

As a result, attention remains firmly fixed on Lebanon, where efforts for a ceasefire along Israel’s northern front are likely to take precedence.

Last week, Israeli Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi spoke to the growing potential for resolution in Lebanon, saying, “In the north, there’s a possibility of reaching a sharp conclusion.”

Israel’s military has since intensified its strikes, particularly in southern Lebanon, where it issued evacuation orders in areas such as the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidieh, warning of imminent action following previous strikes.

The Nigerian government has announced a significant boost to its Artificial Intelligence (AI) talent development efforts, securing a N2.8 billion support grant from Google to equip a new generation of AI experts in the country.

The announcement was made by ‘Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, at an event in Abuja, organized in collaboration with Google on Thursday.

READ MORE: JUST IN: Building Collapse In Ibadan Leaves 10 Dead, 7 Injured

The minister revealed that the funding is part of Google’s broader $5.8 million commitment to digital skills initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa.

He emphasized that this support will help bridge Nigeria’s unemployment gap and address economic challenges by enhancing AI expertise among its youth.

“This support from Google is a testament to our commitment to positioning Nigeria as a leader in AI innovation,” Tijani said.

“By leveraging Google’s expertise and resources, we are creating opportunities to equip Nigerians with the skills they need to thrive in the global digital economy. This is a major step forward in our journey towards a more inclusive and innovative future for all Nigerians.”

According to Matt Brittin, President of Google EMEA, the grant will contribute to Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) program, aiming to equip 20,000 Nigerians with AI skills.

Brittin explained that the partnership will provide 125,000 educators with training, further impacting over 125,000 young learners in AI fundamentals.

“I’m pleased to announce that Google.org is providing N2.8 billion (or approximately $1.7 million) in funding to the Data Scientists Network Foundation, supporting the Honourable Minister’s vision for AI growth in Nigeria,” Brittin said.

He highlighted that Google will empower 10 emerging Nigerian AI startups with a funding package of N100 million, along with $3.5 million in Google Cloud Credits, mentorship, and technical support.

The Experience AI Program, developed with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, will also play a vital role, targeting Nigerian educators to inspire and educate young learners in AI.

Through these initiatives, the Nigerian government and Google aim to build a skilled AI workforce that can contribute to the digital economy, pushing Nigeria closer to its ambition of becoming an AI innovation hub in Africa.