Niger Delta

Imo’s Amnesty Doesn’t Cover Don Waney’s Gang Members – Wike

Published

8 years ago

February 9, 2018

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared that the amnesty granted by the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to cultists who killed 23 persons in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, will have no impact in Rivers State.
Speaking during bills’ signing ceremony at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike said that the wanted cultists, who are kingpins of the Don Waney gang, would be brought to justice.
He declared that the N20million placed on their heads still stands, adding that the security agencies would be empowered to bring the criminals to account for their crimes.
Wike said that the action of Governor Rochas Okorocha was a proof of the intelligence available to the Rivers State Government that the All Progressives Congress (APC) planned to grant amnesty to wanted cultists for political reasons.
The governor berated the APC and her officials for politicizing security to the disadvantage of the rest of the country.
He said: “just yesterday, the governor of Imo State granted amnesty to the cultists we declared wanted. These are cultists of the Don Waney gang who killed 23 persons on New Year Day.
“These are cultists, who have been killing security agents. That amnesty offered by Governor Okorocha cannot cover Rivers State. These criminal cultists are still wanted for their crimes against Rivers State and her people”, Wike emphasised.
He stated that it was wrong to introduce politics into security affairs because nobody knows what the outcome would be in future.
“There is no need playing politics with the security of lives and property. Before Governor Rochas Okorocha granted amnesty to those who killed our people, he did not deem it fit to call me.
“They should always weigh the implications of these actions to the security of the region. Whether you are in Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) or APC, there is no need to politicise security”, Wike said.
The Rivers State governor said despite the obvious political sabotage against the security infrastructure of the state, the government will continue to work towards improved security in the state.
RSG Wades Into Afam, PHED Power Crisis
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The Rivers State Government has reiterated its position in ensuring conducive environment for private investors to thrive, saying that the lingering disagreement between Afam community in Oyigbo Local Government Area and Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) over power supply and alleged failure to pay for consumed energy was unacceptable.
The state Commissioner for Power, Hon Shedrack Chukwu, made this known during a meeting with power Generating Company (GenCo) and Distributing Company (DisCo) as well as representatives of the Oyigbo Youth Assembly (OYA) and host communities in the Oyigbo Local Government Area at the Ministry of Power, in Port Harcourt.
A statement signed by the Press Officer to the Ministry of Power, Sele May, quoted Chukwu as saying that the Rivers State Government was taking necessary steps to ensure that both parties reach mutually beneficial agreements.
He urged all stakeholders in the crisis to ensure their presence at the rescheduled meeting, where far reaching decisions will be reached to avoid breakdown of law and order in Afam and Oyigbo LGA at large.
The commissioner, however, expressed displeasure over the absence of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and General Electric (GE) in the meeting, stressing that their further absence in subsequent meetings will send a negative signal to the effect that they were sponsoring the looming crisis in the host communities.
Also speaking, the member representing Oyigbo Constituency at the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Chisom Dike, who was present at the meeting, sued for peace in the local government while urging companies in Oyigbo to fulfill promises they had made to host communities.
On their part, spokespersons of the Oyigbo community, Comrade Light Nwankwo and Prince Ejike Dike lauded Rivers State Government’s effort in wading into the matter to forestall further crisis in the area.
They assured the state government and the companies that all barricades will be removed forthwith while expressing confidence in the ability of the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration to sustain the development momentum in the area.

Niger Delta

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

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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

1 day 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.