Niger Delta

A’Ibom Promises Libya Returnees Adequate Welfare Package

Published

8 years ago

January 12, 2018

The Akwa Ibom State Government yesterday promised to cater for the welfare of the eight returnees from Libya into the state.
The state Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo gave the promise when he received the returnees who were rescued from Libya by the Federal Government.
The returnees, who arrived the country through the Port Harcourt International Airport last Monday, wore forlorn faces.
They said that they were very happy to return to their state of origin after months of incarceration in Libya.
Ekpo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary; Deputy Governor’s office, Mr Nkopuruk Ekaiko, commended the Federal Government for coming to the rescue of the returnees.
The deputy governor charged them to learn from the lessons of their travel and reintegrate themselves into the society, advising that there is no place like home.
“I believe you have learnt your lessons through your travel to seek greener pastures where they do not exist.
“Thank God for your safety, we have received you back into the state. Government will take charge and cater for your welfare.
“Be of good conduct to benefit from state government’s welfare package,” Ekpo said.
Speaking to the
One of the returnees , Victoria Sampson, told newsmen that she travelled to Libya in 2016 when she lost her husband.
Sampson , a mother of three children, said that after the death of her husband, a woman took her to Libya on condition that she would work to offset the transport expenses incurred on her.
“I work for 10 months in Libya and paid the madam her N600,000. Unfortunately, when I started to work for myself I was arrested and thrown into prison where I was living on a meal of Macaroni once daily.
“I was arrested and put in an underground prison for nine months. The Libyans tortured us every day while in prison.
“One of us from this state by the name Eno died in prison as a result of the torture,” Sampson said.
Another returnee, Isonguyoh Patrick, a 2012 Banking and Finance graduate from one of the Nigerian universities said he travelled to seek job in Europe.
He said he was trapped in Libya and imprisoned for four months.
“After my graduation from the university in 2012, I tried to look for job in the country, but it was not forthcoming.
“My friend facilitated by travelling to Europe in search of the greener pastures but I could not get to Europe before I was arrested and thrown into prison for four months.
“Travelling to Europe by land is the worst venture anyone can undertake,” Patrick said.
He appealed to governments to make policies and programmes that would create jobs for the teeming youths to discourage illegal traveling.
Our corrrespondent reports that the eight returnees were made up of five males and three females.

Niger Delta

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

Published

2 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

2 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

2 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.