Niger Delta

Community Cries Out Over Poor Road, Seeks Wike’s Intervention

Published

6 years ago

November 18, 2019

The people and residents of Bundu Ama in Port Harcourt City have cried out over the deplorable condition of their only road and appealed to the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike to rescue them.
Speaking to our correspondent, Chairman of Bundu Ama, Chief Tamunokonbia Sunday, said the condition of the road as at present is terrible.
He said taxi drivers that ply the route have shunned the route because of the condition of the road.
“ Taxis are very low and the potholes are about six feet deep, so they can no longer pass through them freely”, he said.
The chairman, who lamented that people of the area are suffering daily on the road, appealed to the state government to help them fix the road.
Chief Sunday said during sanitation days the community organise youths in the area to fill some of the potholes with blocks and stones, but lamented that with little rainfall, all such efforts were washed away because of the nature of the drainage.
“Bundu is a PDP community with over 63,000 voting strength. It is Ward five, which is regarded as the political armament that decides the vote of Constituency 1 in Port Harcourt City.
“We are calling on our Governor, the Mr Project, to come and help us. He can come or delegate people for sight seeing and know what we are passing through on daily basis”, the Chairman said.
Also commenting on the issue, the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), through the Vice Chairman of the Union, Mr Eugene Mbachu, said the condition of Bundu road has been of great concern to its members.
“Each time the community would ask us to contribute money to repair the road. We are appealing to the state government to help us.
“Bundu is part of Rivers State. Let the Governor, the Mr Project, come and help us because we all voted for him”, he said.
A taxi driver , Godwin Peter , who plies Bundu- Lagos Bus stop route, lamented that the little gain they make goes for maintenance of their vehicles.
Peter, who stated that he has operated on the route for over four years, disclosed that most of their members have left the Bundu route because of the terrible nature of the road.
Another taxi driver, Pastor Yeme Johnson, said for the past two years the situation of the road has worsened such that taxi drivers are shunning the route.
He therefore called on the State Government to come to the aid of the people.
A businessman and resident of the area, Chief Maxwell Bassy, said the major problem affecting any resident of the area is the deplorable condition of the road.
“Each time you are returning to your residence and call taxi drivers for a drop to Bundu, they will look at you as if you want them to take you to hell.
“If you are lucky and they accept to go, they will charge you so high and if you are carrying any load, sorry for you.
“The road is terrible and it is as if Bundu is not part of Port Harcourt. Let Governor Wike, our Mr Quality Project, hear the cry of Bundu residents and help us “, he said.

By: Chris Oluoh

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Uromi Junction Flyover Construction

Published

2 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State Government says it has began construction work on the long-awaited Uromi Junction Flyover Bridge in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

Director-General (DG) of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, confirmed the development to newsme in Asaba.

According to him, heavy-duty construction equipment have arrived the site, a project which is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, one of the country’s leading construction firms.

Oghenesivbe, described the flyover as a massive infrastructure project with far-reaching socio-economic benefits for the area.

He said the project would significantly transform the Agbor metropolis by easing traffic congestion, improving the city’s aesthetics, and boosting commercial activities within the local government area.

He described the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as a promise-keeper and pragmatic leader whose administration remains committed to infrastructure development and economic growth across the state.

The DG expressed confidence in Julius Berger’s capacity to deliver the project within record time and according to the highest construction standards.

“The Uromi Junction serves as a major link between different parts of the country but has recently been plagued by severe traffic congestion, making vehicular movement increasingly difficult”, he noted.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and safeguard construction materials and equipment to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Rejects Ekid Ownership Claim Of Stubbs Creek

Published

2 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims by the Ekid People’s Union that it owns land within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, describing such assertions as “false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

In a recent statement, signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, the state government said it was compelled to respond in the “overriding public interest,” despite a pending court case instituted by the same group.

The government stated that contrary to claims circulating in the media, the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak vs. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land in any ethnic group or community.

“The final judgement merely dismissed the claims before the court and granted title to no party whatsoever”, the government stated, adding that “any assertion to the contrary is false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

According to the statement, the land was lawfully reserved by the colonial government under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, later amended in 1941, 1955 and 1962, with “the principal rights of the land forfeited to the Government upon the change of status.”

It said the area has since been administered under applicable laws by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which “has at all times acted within its lawful authority in the management and allocation of land in the area for legitimate public and economic purposes.”

Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, the government stated that all land in the state is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the common benefit of Nigerians, noting that claims of absolute ancestral ownership are subject to existing laws.

The government “categorically denies allegations of fraud or misrepresentation” regarding Stubbs Creek or investments there and warned it would take “appropriate legal steps” against any individual or group publishing false or defamatory material capable of undermining public confidence or discouraging investment

The statement also assured the federal government of “full access and Right of Way” for the proposed Coastal Highway through any part of the state.

The government statement followed an earlier report in which the Ekid People’s Union accused Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State of making comments that allegedly linked the community to terrorism, while he was defending the Coastal Highway project passing through the Stubbs Creek.

Ekid People’s Union maintained that the people of Ekid are the original owners of the land known as Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, arguing that their ancestral ownership predates colonial rule.

The group cited historical occupation, customary ownership and a 1918 Privy Council case, which it claimed affirmed Ekid rights over the territory.

The union also accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of misrepresenting history to justify taking over the land for commercial interests and the proposed Coastal Highway, an allegation the state government has denied.

The group rejected any suggestion linking the Ekid people to criminality or terrorism, insisting they were peaceful citizens defending their ancestral land through lawful and civic means.

Niger Delta

Diri Mourns Ex-Federal Lawmaker, Brambaifa

Published

2 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed sadness over the demise of former federal lawmaker, Senator John Kojo Brambaifa.

The late Senator Brambaifa, who represented the State’s West Senatorial District in the 5th National Assembly between 2003 and 2007 died on Saturday in a hospital in Abuja at the age of 81.

In a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the Bayelsa Governor described Senator Brambaifa, popularly known as JKB, as an illustrious son of the state.

Governor Diri stated that the late former lawmaker was an astute politician, who distinguished himself in public service.

“Bayelsa and Nigeria have lost an elder statesman, amiable gentleman, astute politician and a great community leader.

“Brambaifa left a legacy of unblemished and committed service to Nigeria, the old Rivers State, Bayelsa and indeed his community.

“On behalf of the Government of Bayelsa State, I extend sincere condolences to the Brambaifa family and the Agbere community in Sagbama Local Government Area, where he hailed from”, Diri said.

The Governor urged his family and community to be comforted by Brambaifa’s meritorious service and remarkable public and political career.

The Tide gathered that until his death, Senator Brambaifa was the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the fledgling Federal University of Agriculture, Nembe-Bassambiri, in the Nembe Local Government Area of the state.

He was also a past chairman of Sagbama Local Government Council in the old Rivers State as well as a former chairman of the Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa