News

Dakuku Visits Opobo Council Of Chiefs …Says Its Time To Thank Amaechi

Published

15 years ago

March 9, 2011

The immediate past Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Warisenibo (Hon.) Dakuku Adol Peterside, has formally presented himself as his party’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate for Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency.

In an event that took place at the hallowed chambers of King Jaja’s Palace, Opobo Town, Peterside used the occasion to drum support for the re-election of the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in the 2011 general elections.

In what appeared to be a father-and son meeting with the Amanyanabo, His Majesty, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V and Chiefs of the Kingdom, Peterside called on them, as repositories of wisdom and knowledge, not to let the indigenes of Opobo vote irresponsibly in the coming April polls.

“We are enjoying the benevolence and support of Governor Amaechi; It will not always be so; at the end of his tenure, another person will take over,” Peterside warned.

Continuing he said: “This is the time to return the goodwill and benevolence the governor has shown and is still showing to Opobo Kingdom since coming into office in 2007 by ensuring that all the votes of Opobo people are for the Governor.

Dakuku Peterside also used the occasion to give a progress report and answer questions concerning the ongoing Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road.

“Your Majesty, you know that before we came on board the alignment of the Unity Road was different and by the grace of God, we changed the alignment on assumption of office,” Peterside stated.

Continuing he said: “I changed the span age of the bridges on Andoni and Opobo-Nkoro portions of the road at the point we met it.”

“I am aware that they have paid Trevi to start the piling work on the road leading to Kalaibiama and it is about 500 metres. Now Trevi will need to fill sand substantially to be able to move in their equipment for the piling.,” Peterside revealed.

Speaking further, he ascribed the delay in completing the road to paucity of funds.

“The Unity Road requires about 12 billion Naira to complete; the truth is that government cannot cough out that kind of money at one go because of other pressing responsibilities it has to carry out; money is a challenge because government is doing schools, free education, health, energy and so on,” Peterside said.

He expressed the belief that the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration would do its best to complete the road to alleviate the suffering of the people of the area.

Dakuku Peterside expressed his sadness over the low voter registration in the kingdom during the last registration exercise by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

In his response, His Majesty, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V, the Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, wished Dakuku Peterside well in his quest to represent Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives come April, 2011.

The Royal Father, on behalf of the Opobo Alapu Council, expressed his appreciation to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for the exceeding commitment he has shown so far towards the completion of the Unity Road. King Dandeson Jaja also expressed the hope that if the Unity Road gets to Opobo it will assist indigenes come home to register en mass in the next registration by INEC.

“I believe that come the next voters registration, if this road (Unity Road) is through to Opobo, we will not struggle the way we did this time. And I can bet you, that at that time, there will be competition and we shall have a real boost in our electoral growth,” the Royal Father prophesied.

News

HYPREP Tightens Security At Project Sites

Published

5 hours ago

November 30, 2025

The Tide

Following the rupture of the ground tank of its water facility in Ebubu Community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has tightened security across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

HYPREP, which dropped this hint in a statement signed by its Head of Communications, Dr Enuolare Mba-Nwigoh, said the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey had given the directive for security to be tightened across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

Mba-Nwigoh noted that the tightening of security across the project sites has become necessary to forestall interference with the facilities.

He further disclosed that following the rupture of the ground tank of the Ebubu water facility, a team led by HYPREP’s Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi has visited the scene of the incident to assess the situation, stressing that the water facility has been cordoned off for public safety.

The statement indicated that following the incident, HYPREP has henceforth barred non-project personnel and non-facility staff from gaining access into any of its active project sites in Ogoniland without authorisation.

While appealing to residents of Ebubu Community and the public to remain calm, the Head of Communications assured them that the Project is taking prompt steps to restore water to the community, saying, the cause of the unfortunate incident is being investigated.

He equally noted that the Chief Security Officer of HYPREP has been directed to immediately tighten security across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

The statement said HYPREP is deeply concerned about the incident, stressing that despite the setback, the Project reiterates its commitment to delivering sustainable cleanup in Ogoniland.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

1 week ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

1 week ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa