Niger Delta

11, 000 Youths Denounce Cultism …As Dickson Reads Riot Act

Published

13 years ago

June 10, 2013

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson said over 11,000 youths from the eight local government areas in the state have denounced cultism, even though there seem to be raging war among different gangs in the state.

Speaking during a parley with youth representatives at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Yenagoa, the Governor described the willingness and acceptability of the affected youths to jettison cultism as a product of his administration’s restoration agenda which is centred around youths.

Warning the youths against involving themselves in crimes and criminality, the Governor said no state or nation thrives in an atmosphere of chaos.

He condemned the killing of security operatives at Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw local government area, adding that Bayelsa was gradually becoming the centre of attraction and will not tolerate any incident that would breach the existing peace in the state.

The Governor disclosed that a youth summit would soon be organised for repentant cultists as a first step towards reintegrating them back into the society as well as contribute their quota to the development of the state and the country.

Dickson, therefore warned the youths against being used by selfish and position seeking politicians to foment trouble in the state, stressing that era of politicking is over for now.

On the Subsidy RE-investment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, Governor Dickson, explained that the programme was targeted at young people who do not have a means of livelihood.

He noted that the funds from the SURE-P were the first batch of payment and everybody cannot benefit from it and appealed for understanding since it was an ongoing exercise.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser on Youths Mobilization and Empowerment, Hon. Timi Ogoriba, said the SURE-P funds were strictly meant for people residing in the local government areas pointing out that in the first batch, 300 forms were distributed amongst the 105 wards in the state and assured that nobody would be shortchanged.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Youth Empowerment, Mr. Akpoebide Alamieyeseigha hailed Governor Dickson for identifying with the youths and urged them to maximise the opportunity.

He noted that the idea of disbursing the SURE-P funds to the rural dwellers was for such people to have a sense of belonging.

In their separate responses, Chairman of the National Youth Council, Mr. Bright Igrubia as well as youths from Southern Ijaw and Sagbama local government areas, Oyinkarina Ebidou and Godfrey Alagoa, spoke on the need to establish a Peace and Discipline Corps in the state.

They also appealed for increment in their allowances and logistics to enable them carry out their duties of mobilizing other youths to key into the restoration agenda of government.

Niger Delta

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

Published

5 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

5 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

5 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.