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6,000 Youths To Benefit From C’River Empowerment Scheme

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8 years ago

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About six thousand Cross River youths are to benefit from the state social intervention scheme initiated by the governor of the state as one of the measures to kick poverty troubling the lives of so many youths out of the state.
Governor Ben Ayade made the announcement at two separate events tagged: grand reception, organized in his honour by stakeholders of his senatorial district in Ogoja Local Government of Cross River State (headquarters his senatorial districts)
The governor stated that the creation of 6, 000 new jobs for indigenes in the central and northern senatorial districts of the state will help in reducing the level of poverty among youths.
Stakeholders both senatorial district charged the governor to with no delay seek re-election in 2019, citing job creations, prompt payment of salaries, ongoing construction of cocoa processing factory at Ikom and rice mill at Ogoja, completion of Garment Factory in Calabar, among other projects as his achievements.
Ayade who was being given a rousing welcome by the people of his senatorial district by the mammoth crowd at the Ogoja township stadium a situation that made it very difficult for security agencies who were at the event to control the crowd because of the population density of about 4000 individuals who had come from far and near to grace the ceremony.
The academic don turned politician, who acknowledged that the crowd was huge, stressed that it was the first time the people from the northern senatorial district would be gathering in that number.
“This is the first time that the people from the northern senatorial district are gathering in this huge number for one purpose. I feel touched by this act,” Ayade said.
In his words the governor said,”I want to announce the creation of 3, 000 new jobs for unemployed youths in the northern senatorial district. I have also announced the same number of jobs for unemployed youths in the central senatorial districts.
“The heads of local government administrations in the various local government areas are to compile the lists of the unemployed youths, especially those of you that have come to honour me.”
Earlier, Chairman for the Central Planning Committee for stakeholders in the northern district, Mr. Idi Yakubu, called on the governor to with no further delay seek another term in office to enable him complete the various programs and projects initiated by his administration.
Speaking also at the grand reception ceremony, chairman for the event, Brig.-Gen. Anthony Ukpo (Rtd), maintained that as the first governor from the northern senatorial district it was pertinent for the governor to do his two terms stressing that Ayade’s  goodwill had endeared him to not only the people of the senatorial district but also to the  people of Cross River State.
In his good will message Representative of  the Bekwarra stakeholders, Mr. Emma Enamhe, averred that  nobody could fault the strides made by governor Ben Ayade’s led administration since he assumed the office as governor of the state in May 2015.
Also speaking at the event, member of the Board of Trustees of the Ayade Ethical Group, Mr. John Abuo, called on Gov. Ben Ayade to focus in the empowerment of young people particularly in his senatorial district so as to reduce unemployment to it barest minimum.
Chairman for the occasion and the event/Ex-Milad of Bayelsa State, Col. Pam Ogar, (Rtd.) eulogized the governor on the giant strides made since he came on board and charge the governor to seek for re-election.

 

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

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Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

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2 weeks ago

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April 10, 2026

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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
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Niger Delta

Police Detain 7, Recover Arms In A’Ibom 

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2 weeks ago

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April 10, 2026

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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.
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Niger Delta

Otu Launches Grassroot Security Network In C’River

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2 weeks ago

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April 10, 2026

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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.
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