Niger Delta

Nigeria, Cameroon Plan Joint Military Patrol For Bakassi

Published

11 years ago

October 27, 2014

The Chief of Naval
Staff, Vice Adm. Usman Jubrin, said on Friday that Nigeria and Cameroon would establish joint military patrol and intelligence sharing to combat increasing militancy at the Bakassi Peninsula.
Jubrin, who made the disclosure Friday while on tour of naval formations in Port Harcourt, Rivers, said that the partnership was aimed at checkmating piracy and oil theft in both nations’ territorial waters.
He said that the United Nations’ designation of the area as “demilitarised zone” was partly responsible for the militants’ continued perpetration of illegal acts in the peninsula.
“We are facing challenges in the area due to the United Nations designation of Bakassi as a demilitarised zone because it is a disputed area between Nigeria and Cameroon.”Nigeria handed over Bakassi to Cameroon; however, there are some militant groups that believe that peace cannot unfold within the channel,” he said.
Accounting to him, so we are making efforts to check it by discussing with the Cameroonian navy for a joint patrol of the channel.”The Cameroonian Chief of Naval Staff will soon arrive in Nigeria for us to work out modalities to checkmate the illegalities and place adequate troops within the channel.
Jubrin disclosed that the Federal Government recently acquired two warships and several gunboats, and sponsored the training of officers and ratings to improve the navy’s proficiency in policing the nation’s territorial waters.
The CNS said that the warships which were built in China and United States would arrive in the country before the end of 2014 “to complement other security agencies’ efforts to combat security challenges facing the nation.
The naval Chief said that navy’s deployment of new strategies on the nation’s maritime had drastically reduced the spate of attacks on oil and gas installations.
He disclosed that from January, 2014 to date, naval personnel impounded 70 foreign and local ships suspected to be involved in illegal oil bunkering and piracy and also seized several boats laden with stolen crude.
“The seized vessels and boats, together with suspected oil thieves and pirates, are currently facing different levels of prosecution to act as deterrent to others. This is an indication of the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling the menace,” he said.

Onye Ishi Agwuru, Igbo-Kingdom, HM Eze Dr. Amaechi Ndiwe Samuel (JP) (left) having a handshake with team leader student of the National Defence College Course 23 Geostrategic, Abuja, Brig Gen. Muhammad Aliyu (right) during the student courtesy visit to the Council of Traditional Rulers, recently. Photo: Chris Monaynaga

Niger Delta

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

Published

4 days 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

4 days 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

4 days 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.