Business
RSG’s New Approach To Crime:What The People Say
Last week, the Rivers State Government took the
war against kidnapping, cultism and other crimes to a new level by demolishing properties allegedly owned by some kidnappers.
Earlier, Governor Nyesom Wike had offered amnesty to kidnappers and cultists who would submit their arms to security agencies and commit themselves to honest living.
How do Rivers people view this approach to war against crime? Our correspondent, Calista Ezeaku, sought opinions of the public on the burning issue. Our photographer, Ken Nwuieh captured their images
Mr. Martin Nsidebe Philip – Transporters
I think the decision by the Governor to grant amnesty to kidnappers and cultists is a welcome development. Even in the eyes of God, when a sinner repents and comes back to God, God receives him and forgives him. So the governor forgiving the repentant criminals is a good thing. I also think the governor took a right step by demolishing the properties of the criminals because when there is no place for them to hide, they will run away, or they will repent.
Captain Dogood David – Sailor
If Governor Wike is willing to grant them amnesty, that is a good thing for them and I believe that will reduce the high rate of crime in the State. Even in the sea where we work, the crime is on a daily rise. There is no rest of mind for the people that travel by sea. Everybody is scared. Just last Monday, some boats were robbed in the sea. So if the governor is bringing such idea, I think that will be the best thing for them and for all of us.
If the governor is sincere about the amnesty, I believe that will lure the criminals to come out and turn a new leaf because they are human beings. You know some of them are born criminals, but some of them got into it because of hunger, poverty, unemployment. So the amnesty will help this set of people to stop living bad lives and be useful to themselves.
However, I do not think it was proper for the properties of these criminals to be demolished. Since the governor has granted them amnesty, he should first of all see the response of these boys to the amnesty move. If they refuse to turn a new leaf, and continue perpetuating crime, then he can now demolish heir properties. So I will advice that the governor should wait for a little while and see whether the bad boys will turn a new leaf before he goes after them drastically.
Mr. Gab Gbaarabe – Politician
I think in the real sense, the killings in Rivers State is getting out of hand, to the extent that some people are now packing away from the State. People are packing from the rural areas to township. Getting to township, the same problem exists. So, I don’t know exactly what we are going to do. But you see, the governor is trying. The man is really trying. Two, three months ago, the crime rate was very high but now, I think the situation is coming down. But to me, I don’t love the idea of granting amnesty to the criminals. What about the people who are not making any trouble? They will find ways to start their own trouble so that they will benefit from the government too. I don’t love that. The best thing to do is to carry along all these youths, because if you have something doing, I don’t think you can think of anything bad. But when you are idle, you are susceptible to all manner of temptation.
This is Rivers State; we have a lot of things to do here. We have a lot of companies. So the best thing is to provide jobs for these youths. Empower them. If you go to the rural areas you will know that people are suffering because of this hard time. Some of them are even snatching handsets. A handset that the owner bought for N50,000.00, they wouldn’t mind selling it for N500.00.
On the issue of demolishing buildings belonging to kidnappers, I don’t think that is a nice idea because they are going to do the worse. When you drive them away from where they were living, they are going to do the worse. You drive them away, they will go and settle some other place and reorganize themselves.
So, I’m not in support of that action. The best thing is to call all these boys and empower them. Recently, the governor is trying in fighting crime but he should try more. You don’t need to pet all these criminals. He should empower them. And the police should support the governor by doing the right thing, carry out their duties professionally. A situation where a known criminal is arrested with arms, taken to the police station only for the police to grant him bail for highest N50,000.00, does not help matters. And that’s why people say the police helps in promoting crime.
Rev. Austin Benson – Business man
I believe granting amnesty to kidnappers and other criminals that have been making the state hellish is a nice thing. If government can do it, it will reduce the level of criminalities in the state. I believe the amnesty will make these bad boys to stop their evil ways and begin to do good. I also want to commend the governor for taking the bold step in demolishing the properties of these criminals which had been serving as their hideout. I believe that will reduce crime in the state. I therefore, want to appeal to all those involved in kidnapping, killing and all that, to make use of the golden opportunity being given to them by the governor. They should come out, dialogue with the government and use the amnesty programme to re-organise themselves in the right direction. But the amnesty should not be for only the criminals. Let it extend to all the people that are unemployed. Attention should not be paid on criminals alone. The good ones should also benefit.
Mrs Celine Eli – Teacher
In as much as I am worried about the growing crime rate in the state, I do not think granting amnesty to the criminals will bring a lasting solution to the problem. Take for instance the federal government’s amnesty to Niger Delta militants. Has it solved the problem of militancy and agitation in the region? I don’t think so. Rather, a few people, both militants and non-militants used the programme to enrich themselves while the region remains in its pitiable condition. Today, we hear about another militant group called Niger Delta Avengers. They have been blowing up pipelines and causing all sorts of havoc in the region.
So amnesty is not the way out. I mean, we should stop parting criminals at the back all the time. What about the good people, how do you encourage them to remain good? Some of these boys have killed many people, kidnapped many, tortured them, and caused them all manner of psychological trauma; some of them have raped many women and all that. Do you just receive them with a hand shake and tell them to “go and sin no more?” Do you think all the people they have hurt will be pleased with that and be happy seeing them roam freely on the streets and in their communities? I believe we have laws in this country and whoever commits crime must be made to face the consequences of his or her action. That will serve as a deterrent to others.
Having said that, I also think government should take a step further, by getting to the root of these problems. Many of these young ones were used and dumped by politicians during past elections, a lot of them are jobless. Many years after graduating from universities, they could find no job, yet the harsh economic situation of the country keeps biting very hard. So, some of these issues must be addressed and government devices ways of caring for our youths and making them more useful. Otherwise, what we see today might just be a tip of the iceberg.
On the issue of demolishing the properties of criminals, I am not comfortable with that at all. In the first place, we were not told that these people have been arrested, prosecuted and found guilty by competent courts. I think, in as much as drastic measures should be taken to rid the state of criminals, it should be done in accordance with the law. Actions that could make the state seem lawless or make people term the fight against criminals a political vendetta should be avoided as much as possible.
Mrs Paulina Hillary – Businesswoman
I think the amnesty is a good idea because it will make the bad boys to stop all the bad, bad things they do. It will help them repent from their evil ways and become useful to themselves, their parents and the society at large.
Going ahead to demolish these properties was also good because that will really make them know that government is after them. No reasonable person will sit down, fold his hands while his enemy overruns his house. These criminals are enemies of the people and government and Governor Nyesom Wike had said that any of them who does not want to allow him sleep will also not sleep. So it is good as the governor is giving them fire for fire. Any of them who does not want to be caught up in the battle should repent and embrace the amnesty programme.
The daughter of late Nigerian banking executive, Herbert Wigwe has sold her father’s luxury yacht for $6.5 million which is the equivalent of N8.74 Billion following legal proceedings involving her, Otutochi Wigwe, and the company holding the vessel, Grosvenor Marine Ventures Limited.
This was contained in an online report obtained by The Tide Source in Port Harcourt recently.
The Source further clarified that $6. 5 Million dollars or N8.74 Billion was the asking price as at March this year but was unable to prove, if the said amount was exactly what the vessel went for.
The yacht, known as Chitochi, is a 2016 Custom Line 108 superyacht measuring approximately 33 metres (108 feet) in length. The transaction was handled by international yacht brokerage firm IYC, with its sales and charter consultant, Mark Elliott, overseeing the sale.
The disposal of the high-value vessel followed legal steps taken to address the corporate status of Grosvenor Marine Ventures Ltd., the company through which the yacht was held.
Otutochi Wigwe reportedly approached a court in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to secure the restoration of the company to the corporate register, a move that enabled the necessary legal steps towards the sale of the vessel.
The proceedings were central to resolving the corporate issues affecting the company and facilitating the transaction, underscoring the legal complexities that may arise when valuable assets are held through corporate entities in foreign jurisdictions.
The sale is also significant in the context of estate administration, as luxury yachts require substantial financial commitments to maintain, even when they are no longer actively used by their owners or beneficiaries.
Such vessels typically attract considerable expenses, including crew salaries, insurance premiums, berthing charges, routine servicing and other maintenance costs, making their continued ownership a major financial responsibility.
Beyond the recurring expenses, luxury yachts are depreciating assets that may lose value over time. Their disposal can therefore form part of a strategy to preserve estate value, reduce liabilities and convert an expensive asset into liquid funds.
Wigwe, who was the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, died on February 9, 2024, in a helicopter crash in California, United States, alongside his wife, Chizoba; their son, Chizi; and former Nigerian Exchange Group chairman, Abimbola Ogunbanjo.
His death was widely mourned across Nigeria’s banking and business communities, where he was recognised for his contributions to the financial services industry, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
Wigwe’s passing left behind an estate whose administration involves the management of assets and other financial interests, a process that can require legal and financial decisions to protect the interests of the estate and its beneficiaries.
The sale of Chitochi highlights the challenges associated with managing high-value assets held through corporate structures, particularly where the relevant companies and legal proceedings fall under different jurisdictions.
The $6.5 million transaction brings the yacht’s ownership chapter to a close while illustrating how legal procedures, financial considerations and estate management can intersect in the administration of the assets of a prominent business figure.
‘’We determined to get all our equipments and machinery functioning as we progress. For now we’ve about 105 workers, comprising daily paid harvesters and regular staffs. But aside these 105 staffs we also employ daily slashers who for now are about 100.
“During peak periods, hopefully on or before January 2026 we hope to increase our work force for maximum production”, the firm’s management Stated.
King Onunwor
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Some traders at the Rumuwoji Market popularly known as Mile 1 Market have decried the continuous increase in the prices of food stuffs and other items in the ember season.
This was made known by the traders when The Tide visited the market recently.
The traders revealed varying changes in the prices of foodstuffs, with some commodities recording higher increase than others .
A trader Mrs Charity Obinna, at the market, said the price of yam remained the same last week and this week compared to the prices from last month to this month, adding that only a difference of about N100 to N200 was seen.
Another trader, Chukwuebuka Livinus who deals on garri, reported that the prices of some food commodities had been changing frequently.
According to him, the price of a bag of garri increased from N45,000 last week to N58,000 this week, representing an increase of N13,000.
Livinus described the increase as scary and called on the government to do something about it, especially as we get closer to the festive period.
A trader that deals on vegetables, Mrs Joy reported that a significant increase in the prices of pepper rose from N20,000 last week to N40,000 this week.
Similarly, the price of a bag of melon (egusi) increased from N420,000 toN490,000 this week.
In a separate report, Mrs Charity Obinna said that foodstuffs were generally cheaper last month than this month, with price differences ranging from N150 to N200 for some items.
Meanwhile, Giff Okoro reported a decrease in the price of tomatoes. According to her, a quantity of tomatoes that cost N45,000 last month now sells for N25,000, indicating a reduction of N20,000.
Another trader, Usman Ibrahim said the cost of transporting goods from the communities to urban areas where they are sold is one of the major reasons for high cost of goods.
He said transport cost has doubled due to the cost of petroleum products in Nigeria, adding the whole cost is part of the goods because “entrepreneurs must cover their cost and make their gains .
Ibrahim called on the government to help farmers and traders even with little capitals to expand and sustain their business.
Another trader, Mrs Choice Promise a fish retailer said a cartoon which sold at #35,000 last week now sells at #50,000 .
Promise complained that there is no gain or profit because the price has drastically increase and most people cannot afford to buy fish again.
“Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda recognizes that economic ambition requires dependable infrastructure,” Tegbe said.
He added that investments in electricity infrastructure would strengthen the foundations for business expansion, employment and economic growth.
The Kankia substations comprise two 60 MVA, 132/33 kilovolt (kV) facilities designed to strengthen the transmission network serving Katsina State and neighbouring areas.
Tegbe said the infrastructure would improve the network’s ability to distribute available electricity, supporting commercial activities and household welfare.
He also urged residents to protect the facilities against vandalism and other activities that could disrupt electricity infrastructure, asking them to report suspicious activities to TCN or security agencies.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, described the project as a significant investment in the state’s electricity infrastructure.
Radda stated that improved electricity supply could support industrial development, economic growth and public service delivery.
He further commended the President, the Federal Ministry of Power and TCN for completing the project.
It would be noted that the latest projects come amid a broader government’s drive to address bottlenecks in Nigeria’s electricity transmission network, which has constrained the amount of electricity that can be delivered to distribution companies and end users.
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