Niger Delta

The Tide Staff Emerges NUPPPPROW National Vice President

Published

12 years ago

March 7, 2014

A staff of the Rivers State
Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The Tide Newspapers, Comrade Godwin S. Williamson, has emerged the National Vice President/Chairman South South Zone of the National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers (NUPPPPROW).
Comrade Williamson who was the former Rivers State Secretary of the union was elected unopposed at the just concluded 4th National Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference held in Calabar, the Cross Rivers State Capital.
The new Vice Presidnet who commended the union members for the confidence reposed in him and promised to sustain the zone as an enviable platform for the pursuit of workers’ welfare.
He appealed for unity and cooperation by the zonal executive members and active followership promising to operate a democratic and an open door policy.
Others elected were, Comrade Olaoye Ayokunle as national president, John Ojela Ushie, Deputy President, while Charles Bassey Gerard emerged National Treasurer.
The rest are, Olajide Odeyemi Rotimi, Deputy Treasurer, Jacob Oluwafemi National Trustee, Lawal Ismail Masanawa, National Trustee II, Edith Esene, National Internal. Auditor, Obanya Kingsley Ife, National Internal Auditor II and Comrade Rifkatu Dewa emerged as Women Leader amongst others.
The conference which took place at Pyramid Hotels Limited, Murtala Mohammed Way, Calabar between 26th and 28th February was declared open by the National President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar.
In his speech, the National Secretary of the union, Comrade F.A. Salami said the union, NUPPPPROW was a product of a merger exercise of the former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha in 1996 at a National Conference held at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt in Rivers State.
“The welfare of members of the union has been our priority both in the public and private sectors. The secretariat ensures regular review of items of conditions of service to members every two years and attend to workers complaints at all times,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to God and the Cross River State Government, and noted that the choice of Calabar as venue was in recognition of the labour friendly disposition of the governor, Senator Liyel Umoke.
A goodwill message delivered by the Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Calabar, Comrade John Ojela Ushie, who is also the Deputy National President of NUPPPPROW said the union had always been known as one of the most peaceful unions in the country, adding that it has produced many credible leaders in many states either as chairmen, secretaries or treasurers of NLC or State Public Service Negotiating Council.
Comrade Ushie charged the new executive members to always potray themselves as leaders of thought who would not put their interest above that of the union or its members.

Chris Oluoh

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (4th left), arriving for the grand civic reception in honour of former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Dele Ezeoba (rtd), in Ibusa, Delta State recently. Photo NAN

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

3 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

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

Niger Delta

Police Detain 7, Recover Arms In A’Ibom

Published

3 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

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.

Niger Delta

Otu Launches Grassroot Security Network In C’River

Published

3 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

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.