Niger Delta

Assembly Approves N50bn Loan For Akpabio …As Gov Hails S’Court Judgment

Published

14 years ago

June 6, 2012

Akwa Ibom House of Assembly says its approval of N50 billion loan from the capital market for the state government has been provided for in the 2012 budget.

Mr Samuel Ikon gave the explanation in Uyo while briefing newsmen on the activities lined up for the celebration of the end of the first legislative session of the 5th Assembly inaugurated on June 6, 2011.

The State House of Assembly had given approval a week ago to the state executive to borrow N50 billion for its projects following a request by Gov. Godswill Akpabio.

Ikon said that the 2012 Appropriation Estimates of N394.7 billion had a deficit expenditure of N65 billion, hence it was needful to borrow to complete most of the road projects executed by the state government.

“It is clear that the projects for the year were in excess of the expected revenue, hence the balance is to be financed through borrowing.

“This is even the first time in five years that this administration is borrowing, I want to commend the state government for fiscal discipline, the borrowing is justifiable,” Ikon said.

He said that if the state government should refuse to borrow, then the construction of dual carriage way from Ekom Iman to Etinan and Etinan to Eket respectively would be suspended.

Ikon said that he was sure that the state government would repay the loan within the life span of the current administration.

The speaker added that the 5th Assembly had passed five bills into laws as well as 13 resolutions.

He announced the donation of 10,000 exercise books to the State Ministry of Education for distribution to selected schools.

Some of the highlights of the celebration are thanksgiving service slated for June 3, special plenary session of the Assembly with legislators from other states, members of the National Assembly, a get-together party and a joint session slated for Rivers House of Assembly complex.

Meanwhile, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom has hailed the Supreme Court judgment upholding his re-election in April 2011.

In a statement issued the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Anietie Ukpe the governor thanked God for the victory and also the people for supporting him.

The governorship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, Sen. James Udoedehe had dragged Akpabio to court challenging his re-election in April 2011 election.

’’I thank all of you and I give glory to God that each time they stand to challenge the will of God, God uses the court to make sure that His will is maintained.

‘’I give glory to God that you are celebrating the judgment of the Supreme Court and finally God has brought the issue of the 2011 Governorship Elections to an end.

“The election of 2011 was lost and won. That means that Godswill is done again in Akwa Ibom State, ‘’ Akpabio said.

Niger Delta

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

Published

4 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

4 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

4 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.