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OBALGA CTC Chairman Clears Salary Arrears

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8 years ago

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The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Obio / Akpor Local Govemment Area of Rivers State, Chief Prince Noble Amadi has set the machinery in motion to tum around the fortunes of the local government in accordance with the directives and mandate of the Governor of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Barely one week in office, the council secretariat in Rumuodomaya has once more become a beehive of activities as the CTC Chairman has taken bold steps to put smiles on the faces of the people of the local government including residents of the area.
Already, workers of the Local Government Council are now counting their blessings, as the current administration, going by the Governor’s directive has cleared the backlog of salary arrears owed them.
Besides, the caretaker committee has launched ‘Operation Keep Obio / Akpor Clean’ to ensure that all nooks and crannies of the local government are kept clean and environmentally healthy. And to truly empower the people, the local government boss has constituted an empowerrnent committee and equally ordered the reopening and reactivation of the Rumuepirikom Skills Acquisition Centre for sons and daughters of the area to acquire one skill or the other, particularly those of them who are not engaged in any meaningful venture.
One of the cardinal policies of the present caretaker committee is to rebrand the local government by sanitising the revenue collection mechanism which had in the past seemingly destroyed and tarnished the image of the local government. With dissolution of all functional committees including revenue committees in the local government, the caretaker committee chairman has swung into action to give revenue collection a human face, to the extent that fake revenue agents are now in for serious trouble. Indeed, he is redefining revenue collection in the local government.
The council has already banned illegal street trading, as it is liaising with Community Development Committees (CDCs) in the various communities to assist in this direction.
Already, the Rumuekini Community has provided a piece of land within the market axis of the community for the purpose of relocating those selling liquor around the Obiri Ikwerre axis of the East- West Road. The unwholesome activIties of some businessmen and women operating around this area have often defaced the Gateway local government area.
Moreover, by virtue of the open door policy adopted by the present administration, the caretaker committee is expected to reach out to all spectrum of the Obio / Akpor society with a view to giving all and sundry a sense of belonging, to the extent that at the expiration of its tenure, the people would be glad enough to say that they have never had it so good.
These were some of the insights the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Chief Prince Noble Amadi offered in an exclusive interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt recently. He said the overall vision of his government is to run an open door administration because as he put it, he is a servant of the people rather than a leader. “My appointment is a call to serve the people. I am not a leader. I am a servant of the Obio / Akpor people”.
He also revealed that going by the Govemor’s directive, workers of the council have been paid their salaries up to date.
“If you interview the workers, they will tell you that they are happy with His Excellency. That a caretaker committee chairman has come and carried out what the Governor said. I have told people that I must obey all the directives of the Govemor. I am not owing workers salaries. And I will never owe”, he said.
“On revenue collection, the council chairman noted that those doing business in the local government as well as those who own property are only permitted to pay Tenement Rate as approved by the Rivers State GovemmenL Now, what we intend doing is revenue collection with dignity. You don’t go and begin to beat people. We have said that anybody that rnasquerades as corning from the Chairman’s office or the council should be snapped. What we intend doing is to ensure that touting is reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.
Against thiS~drop, therefore, he directed the people to
send SMS to ~ 5%ia Mld 08Q5:9=7A;:H1e8or contact him as
soon as anybody comes to them to demand revenue, adding that security agents would not hesitate to arrest any fake revenue agent. “I have addressed all revenue officers and contractors of Obio / Akpor because I have dissolved all functional committees and all revenue committees. I have also asked them to apply. We will scrutinise. We will know where they live. They will give us two passport size photographs. And each of the revenue committees must work with the police. The essence of this is to get it right.
We don’t want to tarnish the image of the State,” he said.
Chief Amadi also stressed the need for people of the state to continue to support Governor Wike.
“The Governor has done a lot. If you travel from one local govemment to another, you will see roads, hospitals, bridges and a lot of what the Governor has done including human capacity development. In all the sectors, the Govemor has performed. That is why he has gotten lots of awards. I want to say that all Rivers people should support the Govemor for second term in office because Rivers State is POP. Obio/ Akpor is POP. Everybody should go and get his PVC. PVC gives you a voice in 2019”, he said.

 

Donatus Ebi

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Niger Delta

C’River Bans VIOs From Road Operations 

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5 days ago

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March 9, 2026

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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.
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Niger Delta

A’Ibom Community Seeks Govt Recognition For Elected Village Head

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5 days ago

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March 9, 2026

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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
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Niger Delta

Delta Unveils World Book Day Festival

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5 days ago

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March 9, 2026

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The Delta State government on Saturday unveiled the LightRay! Distortion World Book Day Festival.
The festival, themed “That Which Bends, Transcends,” is a major celebration of literature, storytelling, and cultural advocacy in the state.
It was unveiled at the office of the Head of Service, Mrs. Mininim Oseji, in Asaba.
The event was organised by LightRay! Media, in partnership with the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA) and Unchained Vibes Africa.
Founder and President of the media group, Ejiro Umukoro, described the event as the first large-scale literary festival in the state.
She explained that the initiative aims to engage both marginalised and privileged communities in dialogue on resilience, hope, and social change through literature.
Highlighting the transformative power of storytelling, Umukoro said literature can inspire action, reshape perspectives, and drive social change within communities.
According to her, the festival builds on the impact of the Distortion novel series produced by LightRay! Media, which explores themes of human resilience, personal agency, and renewal.
She noted that the book has supported social awareness campaigns and legislative advocacy, contributing to the abolition of the Osu caste system in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo.
“The novel has also received literary recognition, including the TYB Young Adult Literature Prize in 2024,” she added.
Umukoro further revealed that the Delta Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has approved Distortion as a recommended literature text for students.
She expressed concern over the poor condition of public libraries across the state, noting that many remain inactive or non-functional.
”Urban libraries also struggle with outdated collections, inadequate infrastructure, and limited professional staffing”, she said.
Umukoro urged stakeholders to rebuild libraries, strengthen reading communities, and equip facilities with modern learning resources.
“The three-month festival will feature competitions, workshops, creative showcases, and professional development programmes, Umukoro said.
The Permanent Secretary in the office of the Head of Service, Mr. Wilson Chukwuka, commended the initiative.
The leader of the National Association of Seadogs, Mr. Michael Nwaidei, said the project aligns with efforts to encourage critical thinking and knowledge acquisition among young people.
Nwaidei was represented by a member of the association, Mr. Uche Egbuche.
The Tide’s source reports that guests, educators, creatives, and literary enthusiasts from across the state and diaspora communities attended the festival.
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