Niger Delta

NGO, Govt, Others Brainstorm On Causes, Effects Of Oil Spill

Published

5 years ago

July 14, 2021

With the rising cases of oil spills and its attendant consequences to lives of the people of the Niger Delta region and its environment, an NGO, the Stakeholders Alliance for Corporate Accountability (SACA) has said it would in no distant time facilitate the sending of petitions by children of the region to the British, Dutch and other Embassies in Nigeria for their swift reactions.
The Executive Director of SACA,Mr Kingsley Ozegbe, disclosed this yesterday at a two-day programme, tagged: ‘Child Safeguarding Policy Development Forum’ organised by the NGO in partnership with the Bayelsa state Ministries of Education, Environment and Health as well as the Catholic Education Board and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Ozegbe noted that the adverse effect of spillages in the Niger Delta region cannot be overemphasized, reiterating that children are the most affected victims of oil spills.
He identified vandalism as major cause of oil spillages, just as he said equipment failure on the part of oil majors cannot be over ruled, describing poverty as another contributing factor to vandalism and oil-caused environmental hazards.
The Tide reports that the ‘Child Safeguarding Policy Development Forum’ would be rounded off today, just as the Bayelsa State Chairperson of NAPPS, Dr Christiana MacDonald, doubling as chairman of the SACA’s project management committee (PMC), represented by the secretary of NAPPS, Mr Ugosough Richard, thanked the NGO for the partnership, saying it would yield the expected results.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Environment, Gbaranbiri Iselema, represented by the Director, Climate Change of the Ministry, Mr Wakedei Ere, promised government continues partnering the NGO, assuring that government was desirous of achieving a hazard-free environment, especially from spills.
High points of the event were seminar topics, entitled ‘Understanding Child safeguarding’, delivered by Mr Okusaga Raphael, Child Safeguarding Officer, St Patrick’s Missionary Society, West Africa and the representatives of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health, Dr Wilcox Izibeya, Mr Jeremiah Dangana, assistant Director Pollution, Ministry of Environment.
The duo identified child abuse and neglects as key factors which exposed children to environmental pollution caused by oil spills.
Izibeya, who also consults for the NGO, stated that medical investigations carried out by SACA during a recent study of some oil spill affected communities in the state revealed that the rate of ailments had been on the increase since the spill occurred, in comparison to their health status before the spillages.
“Studies on the health statuses of some communities affected by oil spills showed that diseases and rate of illness were on the rise since the occurrence of the spillages, compared to before the spillages”, SACA said.
“Diseases and other abnormalities associated with oil spill, apart from the discovered increase of about 38%, neonatal mortality rate are, chest infections, slurred speech, headaches, cough, watery stool, vomiting, breathlessness, miscarriages, premature labour and allergic reactions”,
“Congenital heart defect, hydrocephalus, Omphalocele, anencephaly, anaemia, cancer and chronic obstructive airways”, SACA added.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

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

Published

5 hours 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

5 hours 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

5 hours 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.