Niger Delta

Uduaghan Urges Speedy Trial Of Kidnap Suspects

Published

14 years ago

September 19, 2011

Delta State Governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has expressed concern over the delay in the trial of kidnap suspects explaining that such delay has the danger of being counter-productive to the battle against kidnapping.

Dr Uduaghan who said this when Judges in the State led by the Chief Judge, Justice Abiodun Smith paid him a courtesy call in Asaba, appealed to the Judiciary to cooperate with other stakeholders and speed up the trial of kidnap suspects.

He said the slow speed with which kidnap suspects were being tried has increased the tempo and emboldened kidnap criminals who now strike anywhere and at any time.

According to the Governor, kidnappers are vicious and mindless and not only strike at will but exhibit such force that anybody could become a victim.

His words “there is no sacred cow in the face of kidnap suspects. They strike at will, so whether you are in the Judiciary arm, Legislative or even the Executive, you can be a victim of kidnap”.

Dr. Uduaghan therefore enjoined the Judges to help the society by playing their own side of the game promptly and with great sense of duty so that the incidence of kidnapping would be drastically reduced.

The Governor promised to continue to guarantee the independence of the Judiciary so that Judges in the State would have the courage to be fair and firm in the dispensation of justice.

He also promised to religiously attend to the welfare of judicial officers and provide the necessary tools with which they would work with.

Assuring that his administration would construct new High Court buildings in the State, Dr Uduaghan said the High Court buildings in Warri and Asaba would be given priority attention.

He praised the State Judiciary for holding its head high in the face of criticisms trailing the Judiciary in some quarters.

The Governor who was optimistic that courts in the State would continue to be the last hope of the common man said “the Judiciary is the last hope of the common man. I know you will continue to uphold this so that you dispense justice courageously and without fear or favour.”

The Chief Judge of the State, Justice Smith commended the Governor for the special attention given to the Judiciary.

Justice Smith however requested the Governor to look into the issue of abandoned projects in the Judiciary and help to complete them.

He specifically cited court halls and quarters and requested for vehicles for those who do not have.

His words “we are grateful to the Governor for all he has done but we still want more. We want more court halls and we want more vehicles.”

He recalled that the Delta state police command paraded several kidnap suspects who had made the state uncomfortable to residents, especially the affluent.

The state commissioner of police, Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe had therefore called on members of the public to report suspicious incidences to the law enforcement agencies operating within the state.

Niger Delta

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

Published

3 days 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

3 days 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

3 days 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.