Niger Delta

Nigeria, Signs IDPs Return Pact With Cameroon

Published

9 years ago

March 24, 2017

To ensure the safe return of over 65,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) currently in Cameroon, Nigeria has signed a tripartite agreement with the UN and Cameroon, an official has said.
The Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Hajia Sadiya Umaru-Farouq, disclosed this in Calabar while inaugurating the distribution of food and non-food items to Bakassi IDPs.
Umaru-Farouq explained that the agreement was signed to ensure the protection and assistance of Nigerian nationals in Cameroon on their voluntary return to Nigeria.
According to her, the 65,000 IDPs consist of Boko Haram victims and the displaced people of Bakassi.
“We have about 65,000 Nigerians in Cameroon. The number consist of Boko Haram victims and the displaced people of Bakassi.
“This agreement is voluntary for those willing to return to Nigeria and for those who wish to stay in Cameroon.
“We will profile them and see the numbers that want to return home and those that want to remain in Cameroon.’’
Meanwhile, the Federal Commissioner distributed 40 bags of rice, 10 wheelbarrows, 40 cartons of indomie noodles, 14 kegs of groundnut oil, 12 kegs of palm oil, bedsheets and dozens of wrappers among others, to the IDPs.
Our correspondent reports that over 40 households were beneficiaries of the food and non-food items.
The Director-General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Mr John Inaku, said that the issue of IDPs in the state started when the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula was ceded to Cameroon in 2008.
According to Inaku, the Bakassi camp has over 3,720 IDPs, adding that the people had continued to suffer untold hardship because they no longer engaged in fishing, which is their main occupation.
He pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the plight of Bakassi IDPs, with a view to resettling them permanently.
Earlier during a courtesy visit, Governor Ben Ayade, told the Federal Commissioner that the IDPs had been dislocated from their ancestral homes.
Ayade said the IDPs had been reduced to what he called ‘elements’, adding that some of them were greatly affected by the displacement.
‘‘The Bakassi IDPs can no longer afford adequate feeding per day; they can no longer fish or farm to earn a living.
‘‘They have been taken away from their source of livelihood.”
The governor then requested the president, through the commissioner, to permanently resettle the Bakassi people, whom, he said, had lost touch with the true meaning of life.
In a remark, Mr Etim Okon-Ene, the Camp Leader of the Bakassi IDPs, thanked the Federal Government for the show of love to them.
Okon-Etim used the opportunity to appeal to both the federal and state governments to provide them with adequate security at the Akwa-Ikot Eyo-Edem camp.
A cross section of the beneficiaries who spoke with newsmen, commended the Federal Government for the gift items.

Niger Delta

Delta Approves N34bn For 25 Divisional Police Headquarters, Other Projects

Published

17 minutes ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State Executive Council (DELSEC), on Friday, approved N34 billion to build Police Divisional Headquarters across the 25 LGAs, ahead of the proposed State Police.

The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, disclosed this at a news briefing on some of the decisions reached at the DELSEC meeting, presided over by the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, at the Government House, Asaba.

Aniagwu said government approved over N400 billion to address sundry projects, including the Divisional Police Headquarters, roads, hostels for the nine state-owned tertiary institutions, rural electrification projects, and social intervention programmes in the state.

He said the approval covered the construction and rehabilitation of over 50 road projects across the state.

He described the approval as a watershed, adding that the government had presented a lead, particularly with regards to the State Police infrastructure in readiness for its creation.

The Commissioner said: “Governor Oborevwori, in line with his M.O.R.E. Agenda, has been able to lead us to approve several projects that touch the lives of our people across different sectors in the state.

“But principal among the decisions that were reached at today’s State Executive Council (SEC) meeting hinged on the number one function of the government, which is the security of the people.

“Ahead of the Federal Government policy on State Police, the State Government today approved the construction of the state-of-the-art Divisional Police Headquarters in the 25 LGAs and a Special Police Protection Unit at the cost of about N34 billion.

“This is because we want to advance the security of our people even when, today, Delta ranks as one of the most secured and safest states to live in Nigeria,” Aniagwu said.

According to him, the decision has become necessary since the Federal Government is most favourably disposed at this time to allow state police across the country.

Aniagwu said government was partnering the Rural Electrification Agency, adding that the EXCO also approved N5 billion to boost electricity supply in the state.

“Government also approved N1.5 billion for the Ministry of Economic Planning to execute the second phase of its social investment intervention in the state,” he said.

Also, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, further disclosed that the State Government approved the construction of 10 units of residential quarters for Judges; comprising five at Osubi, in Delta Central, and five in Asaba.

He said government, in its bid to ensure a state-of-the-art conducive working environment, gave approval for the renovation of 16 Customary Courts and 26 Magistrates’ Courts across the state.

He also said the government had a work plan in place to ensure better welfare package for the Magistrates, particularly with regards to mobility and housing.

On his part, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Johnbull Tonukari, explained that government’s approval to construct one male and one female hostel in each of the nine state-owned tertiary institutions would help to address their accommodation needs.

Tonukari said when completed, the hostels would provide accommodation for at least 960 students in each of the institutions, including four universities, three polytechnics and two Colleges of Education.

According to him, the four universities alone have over 45,000 students, so, building new male and female hostels in each institution will be a huge relief for students and their parents.

The Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Godknows Angele, said the ministry was ready to deliver all the projects for the state police, judiciary and higher institutions in good time and on specification.

Niger Delta

C’River Bans VIOs From Road Operations

Published

6 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has banned the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from road operations across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Out, who made the announcement in Calabar on Saturday, restricted activities of the VIO to office duties.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Linus Obogo, the directive followed protests by commercial bus drivers and tricycle operators over high tickets, excessive fines and alleged harassment by enforcement teams.

The Governor, who made other announcements in the sector, said the measures were approved after a meeting with key transport stakeholders.

According to the statement, other announcements made was the reduction of daily ticket fee from N850 to N500, while the penalty for failure to purchase the ticket had also been reduced to N10,000.

“All traffic-related fines be slashed by 50 per cent and must be paid only into designated Cross River State Government accounts.

“Daily ticket for tricycle riders have been reduced from N1,200 to N500. However, every activity of commercial tricycle operators ends at 6 p.m. daily, night operations are permanently banned,” Otu asserted.

He said the review was aimed to ease the burden on drivers and restore order in the state’s transport system.

Speaking further, the Governor said the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA) would now focus on vehicle registration and sale of tickets at approved rates.

He noted that enforcement officers must operate only in proper uniforms and with verifiable identification.

He directed the Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (TRAMRA) to restrict its activities to statutory traffic management duties.

In addition, the Governor announced that “commercial bus drivers and tricycle riders will no longer purchase tickets on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

“These directives will take effect from March 9, and I urge all residents and transport operators to cooperate with relevant authorities.”

Speaking to The Tide’s source, some commercial drivers said the statement did not address some activities of TRAMRA such as the illegal “no parking order” for drivers who only pick and drop passengers.

For Johnson Ade, a commercial driver, there should be an official release stating the traffic infractions in the state and the fine for each of them.

He said slashing the fines by 50 per cent was ambiguous, adding that the amounts to be paid for each crime should be clearly stated to prevent criminal elements who posed as government traffic regulatory officials from abusing the directive.

On his part, Mr. Sunday Dennis, Metropolitan Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), said they would convene a meeting immediately to critically look at the governor’s statement.

It would be recalled that series of protests by commercial bus drivers and tricycle operators had led to the suspension of all forms of transport tickets in the state by the government.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Community Seeks Govt Recognition For Elected Village Head

Published

6 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Some indigenes of Mbiabong Ikpe Village, in Ikpe Annang Clan, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have called on the State Government to recognize Chief Samuel James Udo as the authentic Village Head of the community by according him a Certificate of Recognition.

According to them, the call is necessitated by the fact that Chief Udo has won the first and second election processes on 1st May, 2021 and 15th July 2025.

The indigenes said in addition to his emergence after the two election processes, Chief Udo’s emergence has been confirmed by Chief Akpan Akpa Inyang (Okuku Ikpa Isong Annang), who has handed him (Udo) to “UDAK” as stipulated by the custom and tradition of Annang Land.

They said Udo’s emergence marked the end of every struggle by individuals or groups of persons on the issue of headship of Mbiabong Ikpe Village, Ikpe Annang Land, in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

According to them, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Frank Archibong, should call for the recognition of the Village Head-elect of Mbiabong Ikpe Village in accordance with the Traditional Rulers Council Law of Akwa Ibom State, CAP 134.

This, they said, is because he has been duly and rightly selected by the kingmakers as the village Head-elect and have satisfied all requirements in the extant law for the said selection.

“We are informing the Akwa Ibom State Government of the development, because any imposition of any other name to the Governor will not be accepted by the community”, they said.

Meanwhile, they have alleged that some “enemies of progress are causing problem over the Chieftaincy issue after the winner has emerged and accepted by the entire Kingmakers.”

When contacted the Village Head-elect, Chief Samuel James Udo, advised the people not to cause any crises, saying that their mandate will not be denied.

“I will continue to respect the law. My people are law abiding citizens and God will surely stand for true justice and the certificate will be given to me, not through fighting, causing unrest, or violence, but by our faith in God, and the belief that the relevant authorities will do the needful”, he said.

By: Christopher Tom, Uyo