Niger Delta

Soku Oil Wells: RSG Celebrates Court Victory

Published

6 years ago

December 23, 2019

The ruling, last Monday, by a Federal High Court in Abuja that Rivers State owns the disputed Soku Oil Wells/Fields located in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, against the claims by Bayelsa State, opened the curtain for several critical events in Government House, Port Harcourt, last week.
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, in his reaction to the victory, expressed happiness that justice has, at last, been done.
He said: “ We are happy for what happened today. We don’t believe in fighting. We believe in following due process.
“ Thank God the Federal High Court has affirmed and they should pay us our money which they have collected. The revenue derivation should continue to be paid into Rivers State coffers. We are happy.”
He reiterated the determination of his administration to continue the fight towards ensuring the protection of whatever that is the interest of the state.
Soku Council of Chiefs, political leaders, women groups, and youth leaders celebrated the victory and commended Gov Wike for leading the state to victory .
Another major event in Brick House in the week under review , was the presentation of the 2020 Appropriation Bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly for consideration and passage into law.
The Governor presented a proposal of N530, 813, 357, 619.00. for the year 2020.
The budget which is christened: “ Budget of Reassurance, Profound Impact for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity “ , has N156, 659, 436, 569.00 as Recurrent Expenditure while the Capital Expenditure is N374, 153, 920, 743.00, making up nearly 70 per cent of the budget.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi Ibani, said that budget is critical to the development process and assured the Governor that the Assembly will diligently consider and pass the budget.
The Speaker commended Governor Wike for his commitment to the development of the state and promised continued cooperation of the House.
Another major ethnic group in Rivers State, the Ogoni Ethnic Nationality paid a solidarity visit to Governor Wike last Monday in Government House.
The Gbenemene Tai and Chairman, Supreme Council of Ogoni Council of Traditional Rulers, King Godwin Giniwa, lauded the Governor for his support to the Ogonis and pledged unflinching support of Ogonis to his administration.
The Governor, while addressing the delegation, used the opportunity to declare his position on the next Governor of the state.
Wike explained that he has not promised any ethnic group in the state, the position of governor, noting that only God has the capacity to make the next governor and not him or any man.
He equally explained the decision of the state government to acquire the Shell interest in the OML11 and expressed disappointment that the Ogonis allow criminals to speak for them on the issue.
Another major event last week in Government House was the courtesy visit by the World Health Organisation, Country Representative for Nigeria, Dr Peter Lasuba.
Governor Wike disclosed that he increased budgetary allocation for the health sector in 2020 because of his administration’s strong commitment to universal health coverage in the state.
He announced that the Contributary Health Insurance Scheme of Rivers State will now be compulsory.
The Country Representative, Dr Peter Lasuba commended the Rivers State Governor for the huge investments of his administration in the health sector and for supporting the organisation.
The State Chief Executive , last Thursday, commissioned the first branch of Globus Bank in Port Harcourt, with a charge to the management to consider employment of qualified Rivers people in the bank so as to earn the support of the state government.

Niger Delta

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

Published

12 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

12 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

12 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.