Niger Delta

DG Harps On High Quality Projects

Published

11 years ago

October 3, 2014

The Director General,
Cross River State Border Communities Development Commission, Elder Ogban Ebock, has reiterated State Government’s resolve on standard projects execution.
Elder Ebock stated this while inspecting Border Commission’s projects spread across border communities in the Northern Senatorial District of the State.
Ebock who was accompanied by his Departmental Heads and some Technical Staff of the Commission, said the inspection was to give them first hand information on the level of work done by each contractor and quality in terms of standard as approved by the State.
He advised contractors who were yet to complete their projects to do so, adding that the present administration would not leave any uncompleted project as provisions had been made to ensure all standard completed jobs were paid and handed over to benefiting border communities.
According to Elder Ebock, the State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, has the interest of border communities at heart and is doing everything possible to give them a sense of belonging, considering the long neglect and abandonment they had suffered from previous administrations in the State.
Inspecting a completed Police Staff Quarters and a Solar Power Driven Borehole at Ipuole, the Director General advised the Contractor handling the borehole to ensure the replacement of the pumping machine which had been removed, to enable the Commission hand over completed project to the community.
At Busil Obanliku Local Government Area, Elder Ebock also urged the borehole contractor to work on the surface of the area for water collection, by removing the wood and re-enforcing it with a small gutter for easy drainage in order to avoid flooding
The Director of Projects, State Border Communities Development Commission, Hon Sunday Achinekang who represented the Director General at Obudu, remarked that contractors had done good jobs, adding, that the inspection had accorded the Commission an opportunity to meet with the contractors in the field and hoped that areas that needed to be improved upon would be worked on to meet approval standard.
In a chat, the contractor handling a borehole project at Busi II, in Obanliku Local Government Area, Ada Peters Nig Ltd, explained that he had worked according to the approved design and that to ensure quality work is delivered, he had to liaise with Water and Sanitation Agency and promised that his project will stand the test of time.
One of the Chiefs at Obanliku, Chief Ijah James, expressed joy at the provision made for them and thanked Governor Imoke for his effort in making life meaningful to the people at the grassroots.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

L-R: Chief Medical Director, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Prof. Etete Peters; Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom, Lady Valerie Ebe, Health Director, Imabridge Africa, Christine Charington, Pdp National Vice Chairman, South East, Retired Col. Austin Akobundu and Minister of Niger Delta, Mr Steve Oru, at the Inauguration of Community Health Centre Donated By Imabridge Africa to Owot Uta, Ibesikpo Lga, Akwa Ibom, recently.

Niger Delta

Okpebholo Assures Corps Members Of Improved Welfare

Published

14 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured corps members deployed to the state of improved welfare and a supportive service year.

Okpebholo gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members last Friday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada.

The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, safety and entrepreneurship.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mrs. Charity Amayaenvbo, the Governor urged corps members to embrace innovation, community service and self-reliance rather than wait for white-collar jobs.

“Edo is committed to supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and incentives that turn ideas into enterprises.

“Do not wait for jobs, create value. Wherever you are posted, serve your host community with humility, dedication and compassion.

“Have a positive footprint and let your service contribute to unity, productivity and progress,” he said.

Okpebholo assured the corps members that the state government was attentive to their welfare and had started addressing key concerns raised by the NYSC leadership.

“On behalf of the state government, I assure you of our support in terms of safety, an enabling environment and a rewarding service year.

“I listened carefully to the requests highlighted by the state coordinator, and I am glad to inform you that some of them have already been captured in the 2026 budget, which has been approved and signed into law,” he said.

The Governor noted that provisions for accommodation, meal subsidies, logistics and the construction of a multipurpose hall at the camp were included in the budget.

Earlier in her address, the Edo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, described the ceremony as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to youth development and national integration.

Ben-Ushie said as of midnight on Thursday, a total of 1,235 prospective corps members, comprising 531 males and over 700 females, had been duly registered.

She congratulated the corps members on their enlistment into what she described as a “noble scheme,” urging them to embrace discipline, learning and active participation throughout the orientation course.

“The NYSC platform provides a unique avenue to meet people from diverse backgrounds, build lifelong friendships and create networks that can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.

Ben-Ushie also highlighted the contributions of the NYSC to the state’s development, noting that the scheme had consistently provided skilled manpower, promoted labour mobility and strengthened national unity.

She cited initiatives such as the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as key interventions benefiting communities across the state.

The NYSC coordinator commended the state government for its support, including the provision of buses for corps members, and appealed for further intervention to address lingering operational challenges at the orientation camp.

She expressed confidence that resolving the issues would enhance the effectiveness of NYSC programmes in the state and thanked the Governor for prioritising the welfare, security and growth of corps members.

Niger Delta

PDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority

Published

15 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.

The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.

The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.

Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.

“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.

He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.

According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.

He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.

“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.

Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.

He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”

He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.

Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.

“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.

He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.

“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.

He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.

Niger Delta

Students Protest Non-indigene Appointment As Rector in C’River

Published

15 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, have protested to the Governor’s Office in Calabar over an alleged plan to appoint a non-indigene as Rector for the institution.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the students demanded respect for catchment area policy, local content, and the appointment of an indigene of the state as Rector of the institution.

Speaking on behalf of the students in Calabar, Stephen Etem said the protest sought to alert the Federal and Cross River State Governments to an alleged deviation from the established rectorial selection process.

Etem said a Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, was constituted by the Federal Government to conduct the Rector selection exercise.

“The screening, which began last year, reportedly produced a Cross River State indigene as highest scorer and recommended candidate.

“Information available to us suggests that the alleged recommended candidate’s name might be substituted at the Federal Ministry of Education.

“We urge the Federal Government to uphold the council’s recommendation because altering the process could threaten peace in the institution,” he noted.

Responding at the Government House, Mr. Goddie Akpama, the Special Adviser on Intelligence to the State Governor, Bassey Otu, appealed for calm, saying the Governor was away but would be briefed.

Akpama advised the students to submit written petitions through appropriate channels, avoid inflammatory language, and engage authorities to ensure stability and uninterrupted academic activities.