Niger Delta

House Decries Poor Finishing Of Contracts

Published

14 years ago

June 27, 2012

Members of the Cross River State House of Assembly, have described the finishing of most jobs in Yala Local Government Council as unsatisfactory and unacceptable.

Inspecting projects in the Council Area, the Members observed that most of the contracts were not executed in accordance with the State standard.

They noted also that, the Chairman’s official residence which was one of the projects visited had very bad windows and doors while the 2600 pupil desks meant for schools in the area were poorly constructed.

The lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction that the contract for these jobs must have been awarded to incompetent contractors and certainly may not have been supervised at all.

At the Legislative site currently under construction, members condemned part of the ceiling and roofing work and called on the contractor to take steps to correct the defect.

An Architect, Mr. Robert Ule who conducted the Members round the project said the delay in the completion of work has been caused by increase in cost of the building materials and the removal of fuel subsidy.

Also speaking, the Director of Works, Engineer I. Ukam said the Chairman’s quarters was commissioned by His Excellency Navy Captain Christopher Osundu since May 19th 1999 when Ntufam Victor Ogar Ndifon was Chairman and has not been inhabited since then.

Other Projects inspected included the generator house, Staff Quarters, the ongoing 611 meter long fence, office of the Paramount Ruler, Chief of General Staff office all in the Council premises.

The State Border Communities Development Commission Project comprising an Office Block and Staff Quarters in Alifokpa were also condemned for poor window and door frames. Members queried the rationale behind the citing of the completed but abandoned Federal Government hospital under the MDGs project at the interior part of the Council Area.

The Members also visited the uncompleted hospital project in Alifokpa, the Lugard wall at Yache Gabu which is threatened by encroachment and deforestation activities of the Tivs in Benue State and also the 6 classroom blocks in South Ukele handled by Pace Surge Nigeria Limited.

Responding, the Supervisor of Works, Hon. Cyprian Uneji, said the speedy completion of the project which commenced in December 2011 was being hampered by lack of access road to convey materials as well as lack of labour.

The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Larry Odey said it was very important that immediate steps be taken to give the people access roads, health facilities, and water to improve on their welfare.

In another development, the State Head of Service, Mrs. Mary-Theresa Ikwen, has called for collaboration between her Office and the Civil Service Commission as a way of fast tracking the reformation of the service.

Mrs. Ikwen bared her mind when the Chairman and members of the civil service commission paid her a courtesy call in her office in Calabar.

She observed the need for a synergy between the two offices in relation to their functions on personnel matters and productivity in the service.

The Head of Service recalled that while on the recent retreat at the Ranch, the issue of collaboration between the two offices addressed and commended the commission for re-emphasising its importance towards the growth of the service.

Niger Delta

NPC Unveils Digital Registration System In Delta

Published

3 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The National Population Commission (NPC), on Friday, launched the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (eCRVS) in Delta State, designed to strengthen data generation and vital statistics management.

The Tide’s source reports that the system was launched by the Delta Federal Commissioner, Mrs. Blessyn Brume-Ataguba, at a news briefing in Asaba.

Brume-Ataguba recalled that President Bola Tinubu formally launched the eCRVS in November 2023 as part of the efforts to modernise Nigeria’s civil registration process.

She said the initiative followed resolutions reached at the Sixth Session of the Conference of African Ministers Responsible for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Addis Ababa in 2022.

According to her, African ministers urged member states to automate civil registration processes and implement the UN Legal Identity Agenda.

“Nigeria responded by developing an electronic, technology-driven system to enhance data generation and improve civil statistics nationwide,” Brume-Ataguba said.

She said NPC, in collaboration with UNICEF, produced an eCRVS Operational Readiness Assessment Report to guide implementation.

She explained that the partnership aims to establish a fully digital civil registration system that converts records of vital events into reliable statistics for effective planning and decision-making.

Brume-Ataguba described the initiative as a complete shift from paper-based documentation to a modern digital platform aligned with international best practices.

She said the system would transform the way births and deaths were recorded, tracked and analysed across the country.

“This process marks a complete departure from the traditional paper-based recording of vital events to a state-of-the-art digital solution that conforms to international best practices.

“This eCRVS promises to revolutionise how vital events are recorded, tracked and analysed in the country.

“This will ensure commitments, and a sustained national, international financial and political investment for birth registration within the CVRS in Nigeria, ” Brume-Ataguba said.

She also said the launch demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening civil registration data capture and processing.

She further said improved vital statistics would support national development planning and help Nigeria achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Brume-Ataguba continued that the state-level launch was necessary to sensitise the media and the public on the significance of the digital registration system.

She described the media as a vital partner in informing and educating citizens about the importance of registering vital events electronically.

She further assured residents that competent ICT personnel were available at the state level to address technical challenges and provide support.

The NPC commissioner emphasised that the eCRVS would overhaul the registration of births and deaths in the country and lay a solid foundation for efficient civil statistics management.

She urged stakeholders to collaborate with the commission to realise its goal of providing accurate and timely vital registration data.

She announced that the current phase of the e-CRVS programme would be concluded in March.

In her remark, the NPC State Director, Mrs. Jane Odigwe, appealed to the Delta Government to support the implementation of the system in the state.

“Your partnership is vital in helping us to reach this goal,” Odigwe said.

She also urged parents to register their children, saying that a birth certificate is essential for access to education, healthcare and other opportunities.

She said that registering children today would secure their identity and future participation in Nigeria’s development.

“To every parent in Delta, I urge you to bring your children forward for birth registration.

“A birth certificate is not just a document but your child’s key to education, healthcare and global opportunities.

“By registering your child today, you are giving them a voice in Nigeria of tomorrow,” Odigwe said.

Niger Delta

Police Uncover Suspects’ Armoury … Recover Weapons In Delta

Published

3 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Delta State has recovered assorted weapons from a criminal hideout in the state.

Spokesman for the Command, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this to newsmen, who on Friday in Warri, said the weapons were recovered on Thursday by the operatives of the Command’s Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), led by ASP Julius Robinson.

He said the feat was achieved following a confession by a suspect handed over to the police team by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Orerokpe Division, for further interrogation.

Edafe said the suspect was alleged to be a member of a criminal syndicate terrorising commuters and residents on the Warri/Sapele Road.

“On February 19, acting on information obtained during interrogation, the suspect led the operatives to a concealed armoury located on the Sapele/Warri Road by the Adheje Community axis.

“A thorough search of the hideout resulted in the recovery of a locally made long gun, a locally made cut-to-size gun.

“Also recovered were a fabricated Beretta pistol loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, 10 live cartridges and a dagger,” he said.

Edafe stated that the investigation into the matter was ongoing.

He, however, quoted the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Command, Mr. Aina Adesola, to have reiterated the command’s resolve in dismantling criminal networks, and mopping up illegal firearms, among others, in the state.

Niger Delta

Police Caution On Lawless Protests On Court Matters In A’Ibom

Published

3 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has cautioned on threats of lawless protests by some members of the public over matters that are already before the courts.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, told newsmen in Uyo on Friday that illegal protests could undermine public peace and order.

“When matters are already in court, let’s follow legal and civil means to seek redress. That is how a civilised society works.

“Although we recognise the constitutional rights of citizens to lawful expression and peaceful assembly, illegal protests are not allowed,” he said.

Azare said the Command would not tolerate threats or acts of nude protests, unlawful occupation of public or private facilities, and disruption of government, economic or social activities.

He said anyone found culpable of engaging in acts or threats of illegal protests would be prosecuted in line with the law.

“As a Command, we are committed to the maintenance of law and order, we are also committed to protecting lives and property”, he stated.