News

Mitte Drags FG To Court Over East-West Road

Published

8 years ago

August 21, 2017

The deplorable state and continued neglect of the Eleme–Onne section of the East-West Road in Rivers State is now a subject of litigation at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt.
The immediate past President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr. Ledum Mitee said he was suing the Federal Government for gross neglect, violation of his fundamental human rights, and the attendant carnage on the road.
In a five paragraph affidavit pursuant to Order II, Rules I and 3 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 and sections 40, 41 (1) and 42 (1) (B) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mitee, sued the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs on behalf of himself and the indigenes, residents and communities of Eleme, Ogoni, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo, Opobo, Andoni and Akwa Ibom State, including other commuters of the Port Harcourt–Onne Junction section of the East-West Road.
Mitee filed the motion on notice for an order for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights in Suit No: FHC/PH/FHR/158/2017, dated August 18, 2017.
According to Mitee, who is also a human and environmental rights activist, the action and or inaction of the Federal Government in failing to reconstruct or put the affected area of the East-West Road in good condition violated his constitutional rights to freedoms of movement and association.
The former MOSOP president insisted that the death trap which the Eleme–Onne Junction section of the East-West Road has been turned into was occasioned by the insufficient provision of resources by the Federal Government to complete the section of the road and the imbalance in allocation and disbursement of funds and resources by the concerned agencies of government across the country for similar road projects.
He said that such actions further violated his constitutional right to freedom from discrimination.
Mitee, therefore, demanded that the Federal Government be directed forthwith to complete or fund the completion of the axis of the East-West Road from Onne Junction on Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway by providing adequate funds and resources to effectively repair, fix and put to good commutable state the collapsed parts of the Eleme–Onne Junction section of the East-West Road.
The United Nations adopted defender of human rights argued that the Federal Government’s action accounts for, among others, the fact that he can no longer practise his profession in the courts in Eleme and Bori, all in Rivers State due to the sorry state of the portion of the road leading to loss of income.
He also alleged that because of the situation, he could no longer travel to his village to associate with his family members and attend to their needs.
Mitee further alleged that the condition of the road has led to incessant motor accidents, which have claimed scores of lives.
“Allocating and providing more funds to similar projects in other parts of the country and making very meagre and hopeless inadequate allocation of fund and providing no disbursement for the completion of the Eleme–Onne Junction section of the East-West Road amounts to discrimination which is an infringement of my fundamental rights”, Mitee further contended.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

5 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

5 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

5 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.