Niger Delta

Degema Monarchs Drum Support For LG Boss

Published

8 years ago

December 4, 2017

Impressed with her performance in office so far, traditional rulers under the auspices of Degema Local Government Area Council of Traditional Rulers have called on all indigenes of the communities that make up the local government to give maximum support to the administration of the current Caretaker Committee Chairman of the LGA, Hon. (Mrs) Okorite Carrie Adiele.
This is even as the council boss has in line with the directives of the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike financially empowered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Apex Caucus in the local government area with a sizeable chunk of funds, a gesture which has generated pleasant ripples within the top hierarchy of the PDP, as the party prepares for its National Convention billed for Saturday, December 9, 2017.
The traditional rulers who made the call during an interative meeting recently, presided over by the Chairman of the DELGA Council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of Bakana, King O. Odum, commended the council boss for her outstanding leadership qualities, which they said she has copiously demonstrated ever since she assumed office.
Speaking through the spokesman of the Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH, King Stephens J. Tobins Alex, the monarchs noted with delight Mrs Adiele’s giant strides in the area of constant supply of electricity in several communities within the local government, particularly in Bukuma community, a development they attributed to the good governance of the CTC chairman.
Describing the council boss as an action lady, the traditional rulers expressed their desire for the state government to extend her tenure, because of her empowerment programmes, constant electricity supply, great improvement in security, restoration of aesthetic beauty of Degema Consulate and its environs, among other positive developments whereby she has impacted the lives of the average Degema person.
Responding to the security concerns raised by the traditional rulers, during the interactive meeting, the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Hon (Mrs) Okorite Carrie Adiele assured them that she remains totally committed to maintain and enhance security in the local government area.
She hinted that because of her commitment to the collective security of the people of the local government, she makes outstanding contributions to the common pool of neighbouring LGAs in order to take care of the people’s safety.
The council boss decried the widespread scourge of poverty in the local government, and assured that in keeping with the mandate given to her by Governor Wike, she would not relent in financially empowering the women, men and youths of the local government area.
In view of the logistic arrangement she has put in place, Mrs Adiele assured the people of Bakana community that they would enjoy constant electricity from the national grid before the Christmas festivities.

Niger Delta

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

Published

5 days 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

5 days 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

5 days 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.