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Tension Mounts As UN, Cameroon Annex More Nigerian Villages

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11 years ago

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A team of United Nations and Cameroon officials backed by Nigerian troops have recently resumed the demarcation of the Nigerian border with Cameroon in Boki Local Government Area even as protesting youths in the community were over-powered by soldiers.
The Tide learnt that the officials arrived Danare and Bijuna at 9am last weekend and resumed the border demarcation exercise which was suspended in March this year following protests by the chiefs and youths of the two communities which the demarcation exercise will likely cede to the Cameroons.
Consequently, the Senate Leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP-Cross River), has alerted the Senate on renewed moves by the UN Demarcation Committee to cede more territories of Nigeria to Cameroon.
Speaking under Order 42 of the Senate Standing Rules, Ndoma-Egba told the Senate that border demarcation between Nigeria and Cameroon was currently ongoing, adding that the exercise was generating anxiety in his constituency.
“The exercise is going on in my constituency and it is causing a lot of anxiety among my constituents.
“They fear that at the end of the exercise, we will be losing communities to Cameroon,’’ Ndoma-Egba said.
He later told journalists that he would get details of the exercise, adding that the matter was a motion before the Senate to be discussed when it resumes from recess.
“I have information that right now, pursuant to the Green Tree Agreement that resulted in the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon that some boundary adjustment exercises is going on.
“They are right now in a place called Danarre in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River, and it is in my constituency.
“And there is a lot of anxiety among the people that the exercise will result in loss of territory to Cameroon.
“I don’t have the details, but I am going to the constituency now and when I get home, I will get more details and bring a formal motion on the floor,’’ he said.
Ndoma-Egba said the Green Tree Agreement extended beyond Cross River to establish international borders in Borno and Adamawa states.
“The Green Tree Agreement was not all about Bakassi; it involved well established international borders from Borno.
“We have borders with Cameroon from Borno state through Adamawa and down to Cross River,’’ Ndoma-Egba said.
Earlier in his ruling, Senate President David Mark stated emphatically that Nigeria would never “under whatsoever guise, cede any portion of her territory to any country’’.
“This country must never, never under any circumstance surrender one millimeter of her land to any country irrespective of who is supervising it, whether it is the United Nations or African Union,’’ Mark said.
Mark ruled that the matter would be discussed on June 24 when the Senate is expected to return from recess.
However, Mr. Cletus Obun, a community leader in the area said the UN and Cameroonian officials are using the wrong map and voided Anglo – German Treaty in the demarcation exercise which will lead to loss of parts of Cross River State.
“Why the rush to demarcate the border when they have not been able to trace beacon 113A which is missing”, he said.
Obun, a cone-time member of the state House of Assembly, stated that if the officials are allowed to trace the border without locating the missing beacon, four local governments areas in Cross River State will be ceded to Cameroon.
“Tension is mounting in the community because we cannot understand why the demarcation of our border while the state is still grieving the loss of Bakassi to Cameroon recently”, he said.
But, the Cross River State Attorney general and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Attah Ochinke said that the demarcation exercise “does not pose any potent threat to the land people of the two communities but the youths are protesting based on anxiety which the Cross River State Government is appropriately handling to avoid any crisis”.
He said the demarcation is not new but an exercise which has been going on for quite some time to retrace the Cameroon and Nigerian border following the Anglo – German Treaty of 1913.
“That demarcation is not new but has been going on for sometime to establish the border between the two countries as contained in the Agreement between the colonial masters, Britain and Germany in 1913”, he noted.
Ochinke said the protest by the youths in based on the fear and anxiety that some part of their land will be ceded to Cameroon, which is not the case.
“The border line passes directly behind the Primary School in Danare 2, so there is anxiety by the people that their land will be ceded to Cameroon but I can say with authority that no part of Cross River land or its people will be ceded to Cameroon or vice versa”, the commissioner explained.

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Group Doles out N13m To Market Women In Isiama 

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6 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The peaceful Town of Isiama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State was at the weekend agog with activities following the donation of over N13million to market women by Engr. Justus Ngerebara in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiatives, a non-governmental organization, as part of its first phase empowerment programme.
According to Justus Ngerebara, who is also the Executive Director of the organization, the women, numbering 108, will receive various sums based on their business proposal.
He stated that the organization will carry out an annual review of the performances of the beneficiaries, with a view to rewarding those who put the money into good use.
According to him, the initiative was a collaborative effort between himself and his wife, Dr. Unyime Ngerebara, in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiative (FDI), an organization committed to youth capacity building and community development.
He said the family believe deeply in the transformative power of women’s empowerment as a catalyst for economic growth, especially in rural communities.
“As the saying goes, when you empower a woman, you empower a community. This truth resonate strongly with us, knowing that empowered women uplift households and inspire generational change”, he stated.
Ngerebara described the programme as the beginning of more things to come and urged the beneficiaries to view the gesture “as a reflection of our deep love for the community and our commitment to easing the burdens of economic hardship.
“We encourage you to invest wisely, channel these resources into your business not frivolities.
“We will continue to follow up with each participant to monitor progress and Offer guidance.
“It is our goal to see thriving business, creative solutions to households hunger and a ripple effect of prosperity through Isiama.
“We also call on the men to stand beside their spouses, offering support and encouragement to ensure these resources are maximized for growth”, he said.
In an interview, Ngerebara said the second phase of the empowerment programme will start very soon, stressing that since inception the organization has done so much for the community.
He listed some of the programmes carried out by the group in the community to include the installation of solar powered lights, and solar powered water.
While declaring the event open, a former coymmissioner for Works in Rivers State, Engr. Sampson Ngerebara, described the event as the first of its kind in the community.
Engr. Ngerebara said the programme will go a long way to improve the conditions of not only the beneficiaries, but also the entire Isiama Community.
He also charged them against wasting the resources on frivolities, adding that their success will attract more of such empowerment programme to Isiama community
Giving a brief talk on women empowerment, a lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Dr. Awajimogobo Felix MacLean, warned the beneficiaries to justify the effort of the donor by avoiding wastages.
Dr. MacLean also urged them to be consistent in their line of business as well as avoid unnecessary competition.
She also stressed the need for them to network among themselves, while working out ways of helping the community to develop.
Guest of Honour at the occasion, Professor Uriah Oboada Alafonye, said Engr Justus Ngerebara, the initiator of the programme, has set a standard for present and future generations of leaders both in the community and the rest of Andoni to follow.
Prof Alafonye who is of the department of Arts Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, also appealed to the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity provided by the programme to reduce poverty in the community.
Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Hebron Mercy Fyneface, a crayfish seller and an interior designer, said it was the first time she was receiving such gesture from any organization or government.
She thanked Engr Justus Ngerebara for remembering the women of Isiama and urged others to emulate him.
By: John Bibor
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Fubara’s Return Excites NCSU … As Hope Rises For Civil Servants 

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6 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The umbrella body of civil servants in Rivers State, the Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has expressed delight over the lifting of emergency rule in the State and the return to office of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu and members of the State House of Assembly, saying, the development portends good omen for workers, the people and the State.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the return of the Governor to office portends good omen and better days for civil servants in particular, stressing that the union heartily welcomes the Governor back to office, to resume his good works in the State, after six months of the emergency rule, as well as his deputy and members of the House of Assembly.
He noted that civil servants in the State are not only elated over the development but are also full of hope that the Governor would start from where he stopped in attending to their welfare needs.
He contended that the political crisis that recently engulfed the State and the six-month emergency rule had for over one year pulled the State backwards, but expressed delight that a permanent solution has been found to stem further political upheavals in the State, and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making this possible; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and leader of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike; Governor Fubara; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule; members of the House; and other stakeholders for agreeing to amicably resolve all contending issues.
The labour leader said this is the right time for all political gladiators in the State to bury the hatchet, work together and embrace peace and genuine reconciliation in the overall interest of the State.
He described as too hasty the resolution of the House, mandating the Governor to present a supplementary budget to it, and pleaded with members of the House to be calm, to tread with caution, and harmoniously work with the Governor.
He said the return of democratic governance in the State would fast-track progress and development in the State, and enjoined the people of the State, particularly civil servants to continue to give their support and cooperation to the Fubara administration.
Osumah expressed optimism that Governor Fubara would give prompt attention to challenges facing civil servants in the State, being a former civil servant himself, stressing that the workers truly have hope, now that the Governor has returned to office, and knowing the kind of Governor he is.
According to him, he is going to look into the controversial and contentious contributory pension scheme; rehabilitation of the State Secretariat Complex; recruitment into the state civil service; extension of service and retirement years for civil servants; provision of vehicles to industrial unions; as well as provision of befitting staff quarters for civil servants; among others.
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NDDC Organizes ADR Capacity Building for Staff

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6 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has organized a one-day sensitization program for its personnel on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches to promote workplace compliance on transparency and due process.
The workshop, themed “Promoting Transparency and Due Process in the Workplace using ADR Approaches in Building a Culture of Accountability and Integrity,” aimed to equip staff with the skills to resolve disputes effectively.
Declaring the event open on thursday in port Harcourt,The NDDC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized the importance of using ADR mechanisms to resolve conflicts in the workplace.
Dr. Ogbuku  represented by his chief of staff,Rev Omeya Oworibo,noted that ADR approaches can encourage a culture of honesty, fairness, transparency, trust, and reduce conflicts among staff, ultimately promoting efficiency and productivity.
He averred that those disputes and quarrels if not proper resolved can derail the vision and objectives of the commission to the people, noting that the commission must as a team and unity as service provider in order to render a profitable service delivery to the people.
 “ADR approach will encourage culture of honesty,fairness, transparency ,trust  and reduce back bitting and the workforce, noting that such tendency would in turns promote efficiency and increase results in workplace.
 when integrity and honesty becomes the operandi of an organisation and employees begins to trust that their matters will be handled with fairness it will breed team work and increase in productivity.”he stated
He commended the department of DCR for organising the workshop and urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity and imbibe the culture of tolerance, integrity and teamwork in workplace.
Also speaking,the NDDC acting director of DCR ,Mr Godwin Ayewumi Ogedegbe noted that the theme of the captures the core of what the commission seeks to achieve a workplace where every action is expected to be guided by openness, fairness, and a steadfastness commitment to due process, where conflicts are not merely resolved, but prevented through structured,principled processes , and where accountability and integrity are not aspirational ideals but every day practice.
In his  keynote presentation on the theme “workplace Ethics and alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation,
Prof. Sylvester Odion Akhaine of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, delivered a keynote presentation on “Workplace Ethics and Alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation.” He stressed the importance of due process, transparency, integrity, and accountability in the workplace, noting that these values are essential for productivity and organizational goals.
The workshop aimed to promote a culture of accountability and integrity in the NDDC workplace. By equipping staff with ADR skills and promoting transparency and due process, the commission can build a more efficient and productive work environment.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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