Connect with us

Niger Delta

Flood: Imoke Approves Relocation OF Community

Published

13 years ago

on

The Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has approved the relocation of a flood prone Eja community in Obubra Local Government Area to safer grounds.
Mr. Vincent Aquah, the Director General, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) announced this during a meeting with leaders of the community in his office.
Aquah also disclosed that building materials such as zinc, wood, cement, sand, gravel, rods and nails would soon be distributed to the beneficiaries.
The Director-General said that the gesture of Governor Imoke was borne out of his magnanimity to the community who  suffered devastating flooding in 2012 in which the entire village located along the coastline of the Cross River  was completely overwhelmed.
He recalled that over 70 houses were destroyed displacing about 210 families of 1,874 persons.
Aquah further pointed out that based on the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) predictions for higher rainfall pattern this year the community remained highly vulnerable to devastating flood which could put the lives of thousands of persons at risk as well as property including houses and farms that could run into millions of Naira.
The Director-General who expressed satisfaction with the location of the new site said that the land would be allocated on family bases and houses built according to government specifications taking into consideration the topography, wind pass and other developmental issues relating to disaster prevention.
The SEMA boss assured that collaboration with other stakeholders especially the leaders of the community including youths and women, would be on a very high note to guarantee the success of the relocation programme.
He used the opportunity to advise all communities along the fringe of rivers, plains and water channels to be wary of possible high flood this year and be guided so as to avoid unnecessary calamities.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Rt. Hon Fabian Okpa described the Governor as a patriotic and committed Chief Servant of the people who at all times was on the pulse of the less privileged.
He advised the leaders of Eja community and the entire Obubra to give Government the needed support to actualise the relocation programme.
According to him the managerial acumen of the lean resources of the state in vital areas of needs attested to his genuineness of purpose and democratic spirit.
Responding, the village Head of Eja, Chief Livinus Ekpe showered encomium on the State Governor, Senator Imoke for his generosity and sensitivity to the plight of his people pointing out that with the governor’s pragmatism the hitherto disillusioned people are renewed with hope.
The traditional ruler promised that the community would continue to collaborate with the government to bring to fruition the lofty programme.
Hon. Cosmos Ezama, an opinion leader of the community described the Governor’s gesture as one of the democratic dividends of the Imoke led administration.
Eja Community was one of the several communities overwhelmed by flood in 2012 that needed urgent relocation.
Another Community needing similar assistance is Agwagune in Biase LGA which for several years have been experiencing devastating flooding and  landslide which has reduced the habitable land mass to less than 20%.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

2 weeks ago

on

April 10, 2026

By

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State have called for government’s urgent intervention to end the suspected underwater gas eruption in the community.
The groups, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made the call during their advocacy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Port Harcourt.
The Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, said the visit was to seek clarity on the response efforts of the regulators to the development in the community.
Ebiaridor expressed concern over what he described as “inadequate response from regulatory agencies and the government concerning the incident”.
He said discussions with some officials revealed that there was still no clear timeline for action to address the situation.
According to him, in the absence of clear ownership of the facility linked to the incident, companies operating within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 should be held accountable.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had in a statement issued on March 20 by its Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission had commenced an investigation into a gas bubbling incident in Bille Community.
Eyesan said the commission expressed concern over the development and assured residents of its ongoing efforts to address the situation.
Also, the Resource Justice Manager of Social Action, Dr. Prince Edegbuo, warned that the situation could escalate into a public health emergency, if urgent steps were not taken.
Edegbuo called on relevant authorities to release the results of the tests reportedly conducted in the area, stressing that residents had the right to know the condition of their environment.
He also said CSOs were prepared to intensify advocacy on the matter, urging the development of emergency response measures, including possible evacuation plans.
A legal practitioner and community stakeholder, Mr. Commission Deinbo, had, on March 20, said residents had continued to witness unusual signs on the waterways in the area.
Deinbo said the signs included boiling and bubbling from the ground and river, sometimes within residential areas, as well as fire outbreaks, which the residents had always managed to contain.
He appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid and find a lasting solution to the problem.
In a response, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, Mr. Bello Augustin, assured the community that he would relate its concerns to the appropriate quarters.
Augustin also commended the CSOs for their advocacy and concerns to community development in the state.
By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick
Continue Reading

Niger Delta

Police Detain 7, Recover Arms In A’Ibom 

Published

2 weeks ago

on

April 10, 2026

By

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has detained seven suspects and recovered firearms after raiding a criminal hideout in Ndiya Mfia, Ikono Local Government Area.of the State.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, made the disclosure in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday.
John said that the breakthrough which occurred at about 6.00a.m on Wednesday, followed credible intelligence from members of the public.
“We reliably gathered that criminal suspects were hibernating in a compound disguised as worshippers.
“In a decisive operation, our personnel conducted a thorough search of the premises which led to the detention and recovery of arms,” she said.
According to her, the operation was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to decisively combat crime in the country.
The police spokesman further said that two locally made double-barrel guns, five expended cartridges, four motorcycles and three generators were recovered during the operation.
She also listed 10 mobile phones, one police crest, four jungle boots, one peak cap, saw blade, spanner, number plates, machetes, a special force vest as other items recovered.
“We also found bottles of suspected spiritual oil and one enlarged photograph linked to an ongoing investigation,” she said.
John said that preliminary investigation suggested that the location was being used as cover for criminal operations.
She said the State’s Commissioner of Police,  CP Baba Azare, has directed a comprehensive investigation on the matter in order to apprehend the principal suspect.
John expressed the commitment of the Command to rid the state of crime, and urged members of the public to always support the police with timely and credible information.
Continue Reading

Niger Delta

Otu Launches Grassroot Security Network In C’River

Published

2 weeks ago

on

April 10, 2026

By

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has launched a grassroots security intelligence network, named, ”Homeland Safety and Security Agency,” to strengthen community-based surveillance and enhance safety across the state.
Otu, who inaugurated the agency’s office in the Southern Senatorial District of the state on Monday, in Calabar, said similar offices were being inaugurated in the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts.
The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Emmanuel Ironbar, said the officials of the agency would serve as first point of call before matters would be escalated to main security architecture in the state.
He described Homeland Security as an intelligence-driven structure focused on neighbourhood monitoring and early threat detection through coordinated local efforts.
He said the initiative constituted the directors and field operatives, tasked with gathering and forwarding intelligence to relevant security agencies for prompt action.
Otu noted that the network would serve as a first point of contact before intervention by conventional security agencies.
“It is important that we enhance monitoring of movements across our communities, border areas, and riverine zones to identify suspicious activities and enhance security response.
“The state government will provide necessary gadgets and communication tools to improve efficiency and real-time intelligence sharing,” he said.
Otu called for public cooperation, stressing that ‘’security is a collective responsibility requiring timely information from residents.’’
He said, ‘’to ensure that the security outfit works like a model unit, proper screening would be conducted on the volunteers to weed out undesirable elements from the system.’’
The Tide’s source reports that the Governor handed over 14 motor bikes to the agency’s southern Senatorial district office to enhance their efficiency.
On his part, the Director-General, South of the agency, Mr. Michael Nsan, said the volunteers had played key roles in reducing crime through coordinated patrols and intelligence sharing.
Nsan said over 1,300 volunteers currently supported the operations with additional informants providing critical information across communities.
“Crime rates dropped significantly during the last festive period due to our collaboration with law enforcement agencies in the state,” he said.
The Director-General said volunteers would undergo training and screening, with plans underway for formal recruitment through a government employment portal.
According to him, communication tools, including walkie-talkies, and patrol motorcycles had improved rapid response to security incidents.
He commended the governor’s commitment, noting that the initiative would further strengthen security architecture and community safety across the state.
The source reports that some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion were traditional rulers and government officials.
Continue Reading

Trending