Niger Delta

C’River Assembly Passes State Produce Bill …Approves Five New SAs

Published

8 years ago

June 4, 2018

The Cross River State House of Assembly has passed a Bill for a law to establish the State’s produce which seeks to provide for enforcement of grade and standards of quality
The Bill, sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources and member representing Akamkpa II State Constituency, Hon. Charles Ekpe Okon, seeks to harmonise all amendments into the principal law of 2012 which will improve significantly the internally generated revenue of the State.
According to Okon, “the appropriate provisions needed to enhance and sustain performance in the agricultural sector are aptly captured in the Bill.”
In his remarks, Governor Ayade lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for not signing the African Trade agreement in Kigali and commended him for making consultation with the people of Nigeria and the zone who suddenly gave a nod to Mr. President to go ahead with the endorsement.
The governor went further to encourage President Muhammadu Buhari to go ahead with the signing of the trade agreement saying that Nigeria stands a chance to benefit immensely from the endorsement of the trade agreement.
In his words the Governor said: “He indeed charged the country to go all out, using her sheer strength to bolster her influence and trading opportunities since much of Africa depended on her.
“This is the time for Nigeria to exert her giant-hood in all spheres in Africa since there is an unfair global trade against many African countries.
“The president should proceed immediately to sign that agreement. We stand to gain much. The success and wealth of Africa lie on Nigeria’s shoulders.
“We should not necessarily intervene militarily but economically and commercially in many African countries. There is so much wealth in Africa and Nigeria which time has come to harness them to enable us stand tall and proud”.
The forum conferred an award of Africa free trade symbol to Governor Ben Ayadel for leading the vanguard for Nigeria’s international trading opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Cross River State House of Assembly has approved the appointment of five new Special Advisers (SAs) in the State
The approval was granted during plenary following a correspondence sent to the House by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barr. Tina Banku Agbor requesting the Assembly to grant Governor Ayade, “consequential approval for the appointment of five additional Special Advisers in the State Public Service’’.
Members, in their separate contributions noted that the appointment was a way of expanding governance to benefit Cross Riverians.
Meanwhile, the House referred a request from the State Government seeking approval to, “draw down the sum of Two Billion Naira (N2bn) from the Cross River Reserve Fund for intervention in the Education Sector’’, to its committee on Finance and Appropriation.
In a letter the SSG disclosed that the State Executive Council had given consent for withdrawal of the funds which will be used for the “development and construction of Teachers’ Continuous Training Center (TCTC), Biase and upgrading of the State University, CRUTECH to enable the school offer/award Medical Science Degree’’
In separate remarks, Members observed that the purpose of the loan is “clear and laudable’’ adding that the idea of teacher’s retraining institution as well as the upgrading of CRUTECH to offer/award Medical Science degree is laudable.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

Niger Delta

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

Published

4 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

4 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

4 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.