Niger Delta

N850bn NDDC Funding Deficit Hampers Dev

Published

10 years ago

July 15, 2016

The Niger Delta Develop
ment Commission (NDDC) has expressed concern that the N850billion Federal Government’s funding deficit was slowing down the impact of the commission on the people of the region.
Disclosing this in a welcome address at the official inauguration of the Rivers State Office of the commission on Olu Obasanjo Road in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the Director, NDDC, Rivers State Office, Benson Udo-Asubop, said that the Federal Government’s inability to release the backlog of funding deficits was responsible for the poor performance of the commission in certain developmental indices, and called for urgent action to remedy the situation.
The commission also regretted that it has yet to receive any money from the Ecological Fund while irregular payments by oil companies and other contributors have negatively affected the operations of the development agency.
While promising to pay contractors its debt of N450 billion, the commission noted that the payment would depend on the quick response of government and other financial contributors to its coffers.
Acting Managing Director of the commission, Ibim Semenitari, the inauguration of the edifice was a testimony to what the people of the region can achieve if they work together in unity, saying that the feat would enable to commission exit rented apartments for staff and save huge resources expended on rents.
Semenitari noted that the project, which commenced in May 2014 following the demolition of the old structure in March of the same year, contains four floors with a total area of 2.755m2 provided for office accommodation and a basement floor of 670m2 for archiving and parking.
The acting managing director explained that the first to third floors provide offices for directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, managers and other staff, including provisions for state representative and state director, adding that 120 staff already have office accommodation within the complex.
Noting that CCTV cameras have been installed at strategic locations within and outside the building to capture all activities around the vicinity, Semenitari said that all necessary national building requirements were met and modern facilities provided for such huge edifice.
She added that the complex includes a large reception, conference hall for 250 persons, staff canteen, sick bay, and offices for drivers, all on the ground floor.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike charged the management of the commission to work closely with the government to meet the yawning needs of the people of the state, especially the youth.
Represented by Special Adviser on NNDC Affairs, Barrister Aribitonye Okiri, the governor stated that the state government does not play politics with the development of the state, and has done everything within available resources to meet the needs of the people of the state.
According to him, “we believe that collectively, we have a duty to create wealth in order to reduce poverty and bring good life to the people of Rivers State,” just as he further challenged NDDC to seek collaboration with the state government in efforts to improve the livelihoods of the people of the state.
He insisted that NDDC must brace up and do the needful by ensuring that it provides employment opportunities for Rivers people on grade level 1-6, saying that such action would help reduce unemployment burden, ensure peace and reduce poverty while also toning down crime rate in the state.
Meanwhile, the commission has said that the multi-billion naira Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State will be inaugurated later this month to drive development in that part of the region.
The commission also confirmed that for the first time, the quarterly report of NDDC has been forwarded to the Presidency as provided for in the extant law establishing the development agency.
Among other issues, the commission further pointed out that it now hold regular management meetings while processes for the award of contracts and payment of contractors have become transparent.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

2 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

2 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

2 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.