Editorial
Appraising The Garden City Corporate Awards
One of the driving forces of any
economy is a vibrant private sector
involvement in employment and employment creation, since it is widely believed that most governments are not good business people. This much desired private sector imput is often taken for granted by companies doing business in Rivers State.
It is perhaps to blow the whistle as a wake-up call and indeed power such vibrant private sector involvement and engineer healthy competition that the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, recently announced the Garden City Corporate awards, which premiers today at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt.
The Tide welcomes the Ministry’s initiative as it will serve as a constant reminder to companies operating in the state of their corporate social responsibility to host communities and indeed the state.
It is truly sad that some companies even evade tax at these challenging times while, a negligible few are indeed sensitive to their responsibility to the revenue needs of the host state and also go the extra mile to partner with the state on job creation. The Awards therefore, should separate the tax evaders from the responsible corporate citizens that shall be celebrated today.
We understand that 10 corporate citizens have already been shortlisted for the honours, out of which one will will emerge overall Best Corporate Citizen of the year 2014. The successful ones were drawn from an initial shortlist of 35 companies by a team of seasoned mass media practitioners.
Chairman of the Committee, who is also the General Manager of Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, Ms Medline Tador, was quoted as saying that all arrangements have been concluded and that Award recipients will be unveiled during the event, today. She explained that the awards are in three categories and cover large, medium and small scale organizations, with a Special bias for excellent business ethics, community and human resource development.
In each category, we understand, three Awards will be presented, with key considerations bordering exemplary environment and corporate social responsibility in the business sector through polices, plans and activities and corporate contribution to employment and employment generation which ultimately grow the economy of the state.
The other yardsticks are, corporate innovative services which foster sustainable partnership between the public and private sectors, with a measurable impact on community while the over-all winner must have displayed excellent performance, exemplifying extraordinary leadership resulting in tremendous social progress.
Beyond these expectations, all selected companies must have been registered with Rivers State Government and taxpaying; must be doing business in the state; must have operational headquarters in the state and must enjoy appreciable recognition by the people of the state. The rest are: High quality of work in the state; Good relations with host community; must have been in business for a minimum of 10 years in the state and must have an outstanding employer/employee relations.
One problem with such innovative ideas is that they die after the maiden experience. This why while The Tide commends the State government for its ingenuity in inventing the awards we find it instructive to advise that the honours be bestowed annually, if they are to make the desired impact.
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Addressing Unruly Behaviours At The Airports

It began as a seemingly minor in- flight disagreement. Comfort Emmason, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, reportedly failed to switch off her mobile phone when instructed by the cabin crew. What should have been a routine enforcement of safety regulations spiralled into a physical confrontation, sparking a national debate on the limits of airline authority and the rights of passengers.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wasted no time in condemning the treatment meted out to Emmason. In a strongly worded statement, the body described the incident as “a flagrant violation of her fundamental human rights” and called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the airline staff. The NBA stressed that while passengers must adhere to safety rules, such compliance should never be extracted through intimidation, violence, or humiliation.
Following the altercation, Emmason found herself arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court and remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, a location more commonly associated with hardened criminals than with errant passengers. In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government later dropped all charges against her, citing “overriding public interest” and concerns about due process.
Compounding her woes, Ibom Air initially imposed a lifetime ban preventing her from boarding its aircraft. That ban has now been lifted, following mounting public pressure and calls from rights groups for a more measured approach. The reversal has been welcomed by many as a step towards restoring fairness and proportionality in handling such disputes.
While her refusal to comply with crew instructions was undeniably inappropriate, questions linger about whether the punishment fit the offence. Was the swift escalation from verbal reminder to physical ejection a proportionate response, or an abuse of authority? The incident has reignited debate over how airlines balance safety enforcement with respect for passenger rights.
The Tide unequivocally condemns the brutal and degrading treatment the young Nigerian woman received from the airline’s staff. No regulation, however vital, justifies the use of physical force or the public shaming of a passenger. Such behaviour is antithetical to the principles of customer service, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Emmason’s own defiance warrants reproach. Cabin crew instructions, especially during boarding or take-off preparations, are not mere suggestions; they are safety mandates. Reports suggest she may have been unable to comply because of a malfunctioning power button on her device, but even so, she could have communicated this clearly to the crew. Rules exist to safeguard everyone on board, and passengers must treat them with due seriousness.
Nigerians, whether flying domestically or abroad, would do well to internalise the importance of orderliness in public spaces. Adherence to instructions, patience in queues, and courteous engagement with officials are hallmarks of civilised society. Disregard for these norms not only undermines safety but also projects a damaging image of the nation to the wider world.
The Emmason affair is not an isolated case. Former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, once found himself grounded after arriving late for an Air Peace flight. Witnesses alleged that he assaulted airline staff and ordered the closure of the terminal’s main entrance. This is hardly the conduct expected of a statesman.
More recently, a Nollywood-worthy episode unfolded at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, involving Fuji icon “King”, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1. In a viral video, he was seen exchanging heated words with officials after being prevented from boarding an aircraft.
Events took a dangerous turn when the aircraft, moving at near take-off speed, nearly clipped the 68-year-old musician’s head with its wing. Such an occurrence points to a serious breach of airport safety protocols, raising uncomfortable questions about operational discipline at Nigeria’s gateways.
According to accounts circulating online, Wasiu had attempted to board an aircraft while he was carrying an alcoholic drink and refused to relinquish it when challenged. His refusal led to de-boarding, after which the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, imposed a six-month “no-fly” ban, citing “unacceptable” conduct.
It is deeply concerning that individuals of such prominence, including Emmason’s pilot adversary, whose careers have exposed them to some of the most disciplined aviation environments in the world, should exhibit conduct that diminishes the nation’s reputation. True leadership, whether in politics, culture, or professional life, calls for restraint and decorum, all the more when exercised under public scrutiny.
Most egregiously, in Emmason’s case, reports that she was forcibly stripped in public and filmed for online circulation are deeply disturbing. This was an act of humiliation and a gross invasion of privacy, violating her right to dignity and falling short of the standards expected in modern aviation. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such degrading treatment.
Ibom Air must ensure its staff are trained to treat passengers with proper decorum at all times. If Emmason had broken the law, security personnel could have been called in to handle the matter lawfully. Instead, her ordeal turned into a public spectacle. Those responsible for assaulting her should face prosecution, and the airline should be compelled to compensate her. Emmason, for her part, should pursue legal redress to reinforce the principle that justice and civility must prevail in Nigeria’s skies.
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