Niger Delta

LG Builds Abattoir, Livestock Market In Edo

Published

6 years ago

September 13, 2019

The Esan North East Local Government Council in Edo State has built a modern abattoir and livestock market in the locality to ensure that animals slaughtered for consumption are hygienically fit.
The Local Government Chairman, Mr Austine Okoibhole, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Benin, last Wednesday.
Okoibhole said that this was against the belief in some quarters that the abattoir and livestock market were constructed with a view to relocate the Uromi market.
According to him, the projects were executed strictly for hygiene purpose as well as to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the council.
He said that the council observed that butchers in the locality at times engaged in slaughtering and selling sick and already dead animals to members of the public.
He noted that the situation posed serious health challenge to the residents of the locality if not checked.
“That is why after thinking how best to arrest the situation, we resolved to build a modern abattoir and livestock market, which we have now completed more than four months ago.
“We also observed that the three abattoirs in the locality were grossly unhygienic and unkempt as the stench from them was not only repulsive but you could also see maggots all over the place.
“However even with the good intentions with which we conceived and executed the modern abattoir and livestock market, some persons have introduced political undertone to it.
“A situation which has hindered the commencement of activities at the new place,” Okoibhole said.
He said that old abattoirs had posed security threat to the council as cattle sellers and butchers sleep in the abattoirs after the day’s activities.
He said that the council was not comfortable with the development.
“Some mischievous ones among them can engage in illicit and unwholesome activities unabated and there is nothing we can do because they are not profiled with us.
“With the new arrangement, everybody after his daily business activities will go to his home and on daily basis we can profile every person who comes to the livestock market and abattoir for business,’’ Okoibhole said.
Our correspondent reports that a visit to the old abattoirs namely the Eki Oye abattoir, Eguare near the Onogie’s palace abattoir and the Hausa abattoir revealed very filthy and smelly environment with various forms of debris noticed all round the abattoirs.
Our correspondent who visited the new abattoir and livestock market and observed that 41 shops, a mosque, offices for veterinary doctors, convenience, water, light and a space that could accommodate at least 20 trailers had been provided.
Meanwhile some residents who spoke with newsmen commended the council for the project, saying that it would foster development as well as boost its IGR potential.
Mr Monday Ekpoma, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart and a traditional chief in the locality who simply gave his name as Chief Idemudia responded.
They noted that in spite of the noble intention behind the project, some persons were still reading political undertone to it.

Niger Delta

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

Published

19 hours 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

19 hours 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

19 hours 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.