Niger Delta
COVID-19: Bayelsa Shuts Schools, Restricts Gatherings
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, last Saturday directed the closure of all public and private schools in the state from March 26 as part of the measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Diri in a state wide broadcast, also announced the prohibition of all public gatherings above 50 persons, including in worship centres and clubs in the state from today.
He said the state government had set up a multi-sectoral task force charged with the responsibility of coordinating and implementing the state’s response to the pandemic.
The governor further announced that he had assumed Chairmanship of the state’s special task force on COVID-19 to personally oversee its activities.
He mandated the chairmen of all local government areas in the state to do same in their respective councils.
Diri said that the state government had strengthened its level of preparedness to contain the pandemic through enlightenments, community engagements and training of frontline health workers.
He said no case of coronavirus had been recorded in the state, but however cautioned the residents to adopt the protective measures against the pandemic, including frequent washing of hands under running water and use of hand sanitiser.
He said that the state government had scaled up surveillance and improved isolation facilities at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Yenagoa Local Government Area.
“Members of the public should eschew rumours and panic, and always make inquiries about COVID-19 by using the designated call centres.
“The contact phone lines are 08039216821, 07019304970 and 08151693570,” the governor stated.
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Former Director of Mobilization of the umbrella Ijaw youth group, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Media and Public Affairs, Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli, has picked nomination form to contest for the position of Publicity Secretary in the March 6th, 2026 National Executive Pouncil polls of the apex Ijaw soci-ocultural organisation, the Ijaw National Congress (INC).
In a press statement by his media team, Ikuli said he was vying for the position to create a better and enduring legacy for the Ijaw nation, promising to serve with diligence and respect for the Ijaw nation when elected.
He noted that nobody from any other ethnic nationality in the world can tell the true Ijaw story more than the Ijaw people themselves, saying over the years actions and inactions of the Ijaw nation have been misconstrued and mistaken for something else.
The statement read in parts: “Over the years, we, Ijaws, with the richest history, have allowed others to tell our history. In doing so, they have mutilated and doctored our history.
“They present Ijaws as beggars even when, as the richest tribe in the Nigerian state, we have continued to feed the entire country of over 350 tribes and ethnic groups since 1956, when crude oil and gas were discovered in commercial quantities and quality in Ijaw land.
“In human history, Ijaw people have never been conquered by any of our neighbours, not even the European explorers and adventurers and later colonialists.
“The Europeans were trade partners of Ijaws when civilization was still far from many tribes, yet they portrayed Ijaws as victims and conquered people.
“Ijaws are the most hospitable people. It is only in Ijaw land that visitors feel very comfortable and safe without fear of food poisoning, betrayal, or death. Ijaws treat visitors as families and great assets. Ijaws do not joke or gamble with relationships with outsiders. Yet, they erroneously describe us as unfriendly people.”
Ikuli added that Ijaws are some of the most peaceful humans on earth, yet others portray them as violent and very hostile people, noting that at times people from other tribes deliberately distort and bastardize history and happenings in the Ijaw land so as to gag Ijaws.
“At times people of other ethnic groups want to stop us from telling the story of our contributions to the peace, unity, growth, and development of the country. Despite our immeasurable sacrifices, they make us feel very insignificant and unappreciated.
“Ijaw is the fourth largest tribe in a country of over 350 tribes and ethnic groups that were hitherto independent nations, empires, emirates and kingdoms before the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates, yet they portray us as minority.
“How can the fourth largest tribe in a country of over 350 tribes and ethnic groups be a minority?”, he queried.
The aspirant alleged that the endless balkanization of Ijaw territories were fruitless attempts to weaken the Ijaw nation and destroy her greatness and Ijawness, saying that the Ijaw nation has some of the best brains in the world, yet citizens of the ethnic group are being portrayed as lazy, unproductive, and unsuccessful.
“Oftentimes people from other ethnic groups portray us as very lazy, just to deliberately seek to make us lose our self-esteem and self-confidence. Ijaws have some of the richest cultural heritage, yet they try to portray us as inferior beings.
“As far back as the 12th century, when many were still struggling with the issue of self-consciousness amidst identity crisis, Ijaws were already a very organized and highly formidable people.
“Ijaws can boast of one of the oldest democracies in the world. I call it ‘Ijaw Traditional Democracy’.
“As far back as the 12th century, when the first European explorers and adventurers, precisely Portuguese, arrived Ijaw land, they discovered that Ijaw societies, our great kingdoms, were living well organized lifestyles.
“We had Amanyanabo-in-Council, Ebenanaowei-in-Council, Pere-in-Council, and others who worked in great synergy with community paramount rulers. While our kings served as today’s judiciary, our regular gatherings at town squares, now town hall meetings, served as legislature and executive, while able bodied men and warriors served as army and police.
“So, Ijaws had very organized and prosperous villages, towns, and kingdoms.
“It was the well organized systems in Ijaw land that made the British Crown and their various trade merchants and agents to sign several trade partnership agreements and treaties with many Ijaw kingdoms.
“Before the advent of crude oil and gas, Ijaw communities boasted of sufficiencies in terms of food, timber, palm oil, and others. As a matter of fact, as far back as the 18th century, palm oil from Ijaw land dominated the European market.
“Ijaw Nation, which is one of the oldest and greatest tribes in the African continent, has the richest history, yet they deliberately denigrate, demonize, and portray Ijaws in very bad light in order to destroy our Ijawness.
“Multitudes admire our rich cultural heritage in secret, but condemn and speak against it in public. They deliberately do this to make us hate and even reject our natural endowments and heritage. It is time to tell the Ijaw rich history to the world. It is time to speak naked and undiluted truth to power.
“Throughout my service to the Ijaw Nation as the National Director of Mobilization and Chairman, Action Committee of the most revered Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, and even as Acting President of the IYC Worldwide, there is no record anywhere that I collected a dime from any public office, company or individual in the name of Ijaw struggle. I only fought for employment opportunities, which I shared among the zones.
“At the age of 49, no individual can accuse me of betraying or stealing a dime belonging to another person.
“I have consciously lived a decent, honest, and sincere lifestyle that has never betrayed public trust. I promise and assure the Ijaw Nation that I shall serve diligently to the best of my knowledge and ability as the National Publicity Secretary of the most revered Ijaw National Congress (INC) and I will make the Ijaw Nation proud as its image maker”, he stated.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of military veterans and their families.
Otu, who spoke at the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Calabar, said his administration would not forget the contributions of fallen heroes.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Odey, the Governor described the armed forces remembrance day as a reminder of the sacrifices made by military veterans to keep Nigeria united and peaceful.
“The lesson is to remember our fallen heroes, people who sacrificed for the country, many of them paid with their lives to protect this nation”, he said.
Otu further said that widows of late military officers would continue to be part of his government’s programmes and interventions.
“All widows are being carried along, the Commissioner for Social Welfare ensures their inclusion in every programme”, he said.
Earlier, the Cross River State Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Daniel Ojugbo, said the ceremony was not only an honour for fallen heroes, but a time to reflect on the challenges being faced by military veterans and their families.
Ojugbo said families of fallen military officers faced delayed welfare benefits, limited medical care and unemployment for their widows and other dependants.
He commended Otu for his support, saying that his administration had shown genuine and remarkable concerns for the legion and its members.
Also speaking, the Coordinator, Military Widows in the state, Mrs. Miriam Orok, thanked the Governor for improved treatment and inclusion in welfare interventions.
“We are actually seeing better changes. He has been carrying us along, and we are very grateful. We also thank the governor’s wife for her sense of compassion”, she said.
The Tide’s source reports that the event featured prayers, wreath-laying, and tributes to the fallen heroes.
The Committee for the ‘Actualisation of the Victor Attah Airport’s International Status’ has expressed satisfaction with the level of progress at the airport, saying the April timeline for international operations to resume will be achieved.
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, recently upgraded the Victor Attah Aiport in Akwa Ibom State to an international status, clearing the way for the airport to commence the process of receiving and processing international passengers.
Following a technical assessment visit to the airport led by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the state Governor, Eno, inaugurated the committee with the mandate to commence the process of enabling the airport to achieve international operations standard.
The media unit of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman of the Committee, Prince Enobong Uwah, said the committee is happy with the pace and quality of work at the airport.
The statement explained that the committee’s inspection covered critical infrastructure and operational areas, including the access road, terminal building, apron, taxiway, security perimeter fencing, IP intelligence security cameras, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, vegetation clearing, and the transformer area and medium voltage power panels, among others.
Uwah was quoted as saying, “‘I’m satisfied with the pace and quality of work at the airport, the current level of progress gives confidence that the April timeline for international operations will be achieved.’’
The SSG explained that following the inauguration of the committee by Governor Umo Eno on January 5, the inspection became imperative to assess readiness across key operational areas, identify infrastructure gaps, and ensure timely interventions to guarantee a seamless take-off of international flights.
He assured stakeholders that the committee would maintain continuous oversight through periodic inspections until all components of the project are fully completed.
Uwah commended contractors handling various aspects of the project for the speed and quality of work delivered so far, while urging them to intensify efforts to meet set deadlines.
Addressing the committee during the inspection, Engreer Oliver Ebong of VKS, the firm handling the international terminal, highlighted areas requiring urgent attention to ensure full completion of the facility, adding that work on the terminal would be concluded by the end of March.
Other members of the committee who participated in the inspection are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, SAN; the Commissioner for Finance and Special Duties, Mr. Emem Bob; the Managing Director of the Airport Development Authority, Mr. Uwem Ekanem; the Managing Director of Ibom Air, Mr. George Uriesi; the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Engreer Ephraim Udosen; and the Accountant-General of the State, Pastor Uwem Andrew Essien.
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