Niger Delta

Bayelsa Assembly Scores Self Pass Mark

Published

15 years ago

October 15, 2010

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly in what looks like self appraisal, said over 20 bills have so far been passed into law since the commencement of the present legislative year in 2007.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information and Culture, Mr. Kombowei Friday Benson, told newsmen in Yenagoa that the lawmakers were committed to the development of the state.

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has always been under criticism for alleged non-performance and romance with the executive arm.

But the House leadership through the Committee Chairman on Information and Culture, Mr. Kombowei Benson, said the lawmakers had been up and doing since they were sworn-in in 2007 in ensuring rapid transformation of the state.

He made it clear that over twenty bills had been passed relating to various sectors with direct impact on the people of the state.

Mr. Benson,stated that debates were on-going on a number of the bills including that of the Child Rights, which has gone through the second reading.

The lawmaker, representing Southern Ijaw Constituency IV ,said that different motions and resolutions had equally been passed urging government and other stakeholders to take actions on certain issues.

“ As an Assembly, it has been this vibrant. We look at issues based on their placement. There is no sentiments. And by that, I understand that we have been able to pass into law, twenty bills. If we have done this in this regime, and some other ones on-going, I believe we have done creditably well. The last one we are taking on is the Child Rights bill”.

Mr. Benson, stated that the lawmakers were complementing the efforts of the state government through their various constituency projects.

According to him, about eight communities in Southern Ijaw Constituency IV have benefited from different constituency projects involving electricity project in Kasama, school’s renovation in Ologbonbiri and renovation of unity bridge in Fropa community.

Mr.Benson, said he had initiated some developmental projects in his own community, Krokorose, with construction of a new six class room blocks to improve education standard in the area.

Answering question on re-election bid of most members of the House, the lawmakers, said he had indicated interest to return to the House to attract more development to the area.

“ For me, I am going back to the Assembly. And to that, my people have been calling on me to continue and I have responded to their call by accepting to run again. I have the support and mandate of my constituents to represent them again in the House of Assembly and I am very confident of the re-election under the PDP”.

Mr. Benson, could not give the exact number of members seeking re-elections into the House of Assembly.

The House of Assembly spokesman, however, said all the lawmakers had done their beats through useful contribution to legislative functions and wish those seeking re-election and others contesting for higher offices well in their political endeavours.

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.