Niger Delta

Dickson Signs Appropriation Bill Into Law

Published

13 years ago

March 25, 2013

Hon. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has signed into law, the state’s 2013 appropriation bill ofN304.05billion. According to the law as passed by the State House of Assembly, recurrent expenditure stood at N142.1billion while N161.9billion is for capital expenditure.

Governor Dickson had in December 2012 presented a budgetary proposal of N285.9billion to the State House of Assembly for approval. However, after sectoral review, the Assembly increased the budget by N19billion before passing it into law. However, after sectoral review, the Assembly increased the budget by N19bn before passing it into law.

Singing the bill into law, the Governor attributed the delay in its presentation to last year’s flooding that ravaged the entire communities in the state and the ill-fated Helicopter crash that claimed the lives of the former National Security Adviser, General Owoye Azazi and late Governor of Kaduna State, Sir Patrick Yakowa.

He commended the efforts of the lawmakers for their commitment towards the actualisation of the Restoration Agenda, saying that his economic team would soon commence the preparation of the 2014 Appropriation bill, adding that this would ensure its early presentation and passage in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Law.

According to him, ‘we are not only going to partner with the House of Assembly as we have always done but also specifically (on this issue of appropriation) work to ensure that by the grace of God, we comply with the fiscal responsibility law which obliges us to submit an appropriation bill earlier than we did last year. ‘

On the implementation of the newly signed appropriation bill, the governor said, ‘on our part, we intend to follow this budget scrupulously. We intend to implement it to the latter as you have passed it. Where there are difficulties and shortfalls or any area we need to work with the Assembly, we will not hesitate to bring that to your notice because (after all) a budget is only a statement of intent, it is a broad policy financial document.”

“I want to request you and members of your House to also support Government as you have always done by exercising the full ambit of your oversight powers over all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, so that we can all work together to ensure that set goals and targets are achieved to enable us bring prosperity, development and security to the good people of this state, he added.

Earlier, the Speaker of the House of Assembly; Rt. Hon. Friday Kombowei Benson attributed the increment in the budget to the present administration’s drive for development.

“The increase is because of your (Governor) ambitious drive for project and well-being of the people of Bayelsa state,’ the Speaker said. .

Meanwhile, a former President of Christian Association of Nigeria AN),Bishop Mike Okonkwo has said that for the society to grow, both the church and government should act in unionism in fight societal norms.

Bishop Okonkwo who is also the General Overseer and Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), stated this in Government House, Yenagoa when he paid courtsy call on the Bayelsa State governor, Hon Seriake

Niger Delta

Navy Pledges Improved Patrols, Welfare Boost For Personnel

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has pledged to ensure improved welfare for personnel and more patrols on the maritime corridors of the nation.

He disclosed this during an on the spot assessment of things at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Calabar, on Wednesday.

According to him, there is the need for officers to always be ready, by improving on their welfare, in a bid to keep the country secured.

“I am here for an on the spot assessment of our operations and like you have seen, I have also gone round to check the ongoing buildings.

”These are welfare issues and for us to be able to have our men ready and keep us secured, their welfare needs to be catered for.

“So, we are here to kill two birds with one stone, which are basically operations and welfare issues.

”I am happy with what the command is doing; it is doing well in terms of keeping the maritime environment safe.

“We will continue doing what we are doing and improve on that, which is patrol of the waters and increase in the area of surveillance”, he stated.

As part of his visit, Abbas commissioned the 12×1 Junior Rates Accommodation Block A and B, at the Navy Barracks at Atimbo in Calabar.

The naval chief also inspected other ongoing projects in the Akim Barracks, 1006 flats and the Navy hotel, all within Calabar.

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Uromi Junction Flyover Construction

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State Government says it has began construction work on the long-awaited Uromi Junction Flyover Bridge in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

Director-General (DG) of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, confirmed the development to newsme in Asaba.

According to him, heavy-duty construction equipment have arrived the site, a project which is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, one of the country’s leading construction firms.

Oghenesivbe, described the flyover as a massive infrastructure project with far-reaching socio-economic benefits for the area.

He said the project would significantly transform the Agbor metropolis by easing traffic congestion, improving the city’s aesthetics, and boosting commercial activities within the local government area.

He described the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as a promise-keeper and pragmatic leader whose administration remains committed to infrastructure development and economic growth across the state.

The DG expressed confidence in Julius Berger’s capacity to deliver the project within record time and according to the highest construction standards.

“The Uromi Junction serves as a major link between different parts of the country but has recently been plagued by severe traffic congestion, making vehicular movement increasingly difficult”, he noted.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and safeguard construction materials and equipment to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Rejects Ekid Ownership Claim Of Stubbs Creek

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims by the Ekid People’s Union that it owns land within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, describing such assertions as “false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

In a recent statement, signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, the state government said it was compelled to respond in the “overriding public interest,” despite a pending court case instituted by the same group.

The government stated that contrary to claims circulating in the media, the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak vs. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land in any ethnic group or community.

“The final judgement merely dismissed the claims before the court and granted title to no party whatsoever”, the government stated, adding that “any assertion to the contrary is false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

According to the statement, the land was lawfully reserved by the colonial government under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, later amended in 1941, 1955 and 1962, with “the principal rights of the land forfeited to the Government upon the change of status.”

It said the area has since been administered under applicable laws by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which “has at all times acted within its lawful authority in the management and allocation of land in the area for legitimate public and economic purposes.”

Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, the government stated that all land in the state is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the common benefit of Nigerians, noting that claims of absolute ancestral ownership are subject to existing laws.

The government “categorically denies allegations of fraud or misrepresentation” regarding Stubbs Creek or investments there and warned it would take “appropriate legal steps” against any individual or group publishing false or defamatory material capable of undermining public confidence or discouraging investment

The statement also assured the federal government of “full access and Right of Way” for the proposed Coastal Highway through any part of the state.

The government statement followed an earlier report in which the Ekid People’s Union accused Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State of making comments that allegedly linked the community to terrorism, while he was defending the Coastal Highway project passing through the Stubbs Creek.

Ekid People’s Union maintained that the people of Ekid are the original owners of the land known as Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, arguing that their ancestral ownership predates colonial rule.

The group cited historical occupation, customary ownership and a 1918 Privy Council case, which it claimed affirmed Ekid rights over the territory.

The union also accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of misrepresenting history to justify taking over the land for commercial interests and the proposed Coastal Highway, an allegation the state government has denied.

The group rejected any suggestion linking the Ekid people to criminality or terrorism, insisting they were peaceful citizens defending their ancestral land through lawful and civic means.