Niger Delta

Bayelsa Gets New Head Of Service

Published

11 years ago

August 26, 2015

Members of Local Organising Committee (LOC) of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Rivers State chapter, during a press briefing on the association’s 2015 National Full Council Meeting in Port Harcourt on Monday. From right to left are the Secretary, Olaleka Ige, Publicity Secretary, Gabriel Nwanetanya, Chairman, Honour Sirawoo, Chairman, Venue/Protocol Committee, Udede Jim-Opiki, Chairman, Transport Commitee, Anderson Hart and Chairman, Contact/Security Committee, Mike Mbonye Photo: Chris Monyanaga

The Bayelsa State Gover
nor, Hon Seriake Dickson, has appointed a new Head of Service, Dr Peter Singabele, a former Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Health.
Speaking at the swearing in ceremony of the Head of Service and a member of the state Civil Service Commission, Dr Boumakuma Kpokiri in Yenagoa, Dickson stressed the need for public servants to uphold the principles of neutrality and absolute loyalty to the government in power.
He deplored a situation where some civil servants involve themselves in partisan politics, noting that, the development is not only against the ethics of the profession, but also negatively impact on efficiency and effectiveness of the public service.
Describing the public service as the most important sector in service delivery in a government, Dickson vowed not to allow political considerations to determine who becomes head of the state civil service.
He expressed continued commitment to promoting workers’ welfare within limits of available resources, pointing out that apart from regular payment of salaries and pension entitlements even in the face of the current economic meltdown bedevilling the nation, his administration has, to a very large extent, addressed the issue of office accommodation for workers.
Similarly, the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has approved another set of political aides to according to him, help spread the gospel of the Restoration Agenda of his administration.
Swearing-in the aides, a commissioner and four special advisers, Dickson urged all political appointees to redouble their efforts at re-connecting with the people, particularly at the grassroots in a bid to spread the positive message of restoration irrespective of the lean financial resources.
According to the governor, as active members of the Restoration Government, assembly and executive council members as well as other political appointees have a duty to identify with the challenges of their constituents towards making life more meaningful for them.
While applauding the restoration team for its efforts and contributions over the various support groups, Dickson said the gesture would go a long way in boosting the welfare policies that were already in place.
Those sworn-in were Mr Perekiye John Buruboyefe, as commissioner for sports development, while the special advisers were, Hon. Graham Ipigansi for Federal Projects and Liaison, Barr. Belemu Nemine in charge of Special Duties, Barr. Peter Oku Afagha to oversee government properties, while Chief Abednego Don-Evarada is on Public Affairs.

Niger Delta

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

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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

1 day 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.