Connect with us

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Sensitises Citizenry On Disaster Management

Published

9 years ago

on

The government of Akwa Ibom State has held a two- day workshop to sensitise the citizenry on tips to mitigate disaster in their offices, homes and environments.
The two-day workshop, which drew participants from the security and other relevant stakeholders across the state and beyond entitled, ‘enhancing disaster management in Akwa Ibom state’, was organised by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) under the office of the Deputy Governor.
Declaring the workshop open, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, frowned at National Emergency Management Agency-(NEMA) for not intervening in disaster mitigation in the state for over a year despite several distress calls to the agency to assist in critical moments.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, the governor assured of his preparedness to continue to support office of the deputy governor in series of programmes to enlighten residents of the state on how to keep their offices, homes and environments free from disasters of any kind and how to manage disasters should they eventually occur.
The governor, who thanked his deputy, SEMA and staff of the office of the deputy governor for organising the workshop, used the opportunity to list disasters that had occurred in the state in the past two years and how he had responded to them, assuring the residents that his administration would not abandon any section of the state in moment of disaster.
The deputy governor who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Nkopuruk Ekaiko, said his office has the core mandate to mount the workshop on the subject matter to create awareness among the various stakeholders in the state.
He called for partnership among the stakeholders, saying that issues of disaster management is not a responsibility of government alone.
Also speaking, the Director-General of NEMA, Engr. Mustapha, represented by Deputy Director, Ben O. Oghenah, said Akwa Ibom state has blazed the trail again as the first to hold the workshop which he described as very important and called on other states of the federation to follow suit.
To the representative of ExxonMobil, the co- sponsor of the workshop, Mr. Chinedu Emeka, described the workshop as a commendable initiative that his company would continue to identify with.
The workshop featured no fewer than sixteen presentations by various ways to mitigate disaster around our offices, homes and environments by experts and professionals on disaster management.
Some of the paper presenters included Engineer Uwemedimo Umoumoh whose presentation centred on general safety, Dr Enobong Essien, commissioner for environment who drilled the participants on general environmental awareness andcauses of building collapse and mitigation – The Akwa ibom state experience by commissioner for housing and special duties, Mr. Akan Okon.
The workshop which was chaired by a disaster management expert and commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong had vote of thanks moved by the permanent secretary, Nkopuruk Ekaiko, while the commissioner for information and strategy, Mr. Charles Udoh and chairman communique’ drafting committee read the communique’ which was later adopted but no copy was made available to the press.

Akaiso Akaiso, Uyo

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Niger Delta

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

Published

6 days ago

on

March 2, 2026

By

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.
Continue Reading

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

6 days ago

on

March 2, 2026

By

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.
Continue Reading

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

6 days ago

on

March 2, 2026

By

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.
Continue Reading

Trending