Niger Delta

Delta Donates 35 Pick-Up Vans To Police, Others

Published

6 years ago

February 24, 2020

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has donated 35 pick-up-vans to security agencies in the state to strengthen their operations.
Okowa presented the vehicles to the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Hafiz Inuwa during a ceremony at the Government House, Asabam yesterday.
The governor urged the security agencies to work together and share intelligence to ensure effective security in the state.
He said that the donation was informed by the general insecurity being experienced in the country.
He added that crime rate had gone down in the state and the situation being effectively managed by the security agencies.
“We have been doing quite a lot as a state, working with security agencies to enable us have peace in Delta State and realising that as the year goes by, the various vehicles are beginning to go bad.
“We thought it necessary to begin a process of replacement and improving their ability to move from one point to the other.
“This morning for a start, we are providing 35 Pick Up Vans for various security outfits and we hope we will be able to have a few more in the next few weeks.
“I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the work that you have been doing.
“ I do know that we still have insecurity; headers/farmers clashes, cultism, armed robbery and kidnapping which incidences have grossly reduced in the last few months,” Okowa said.
He said though, adopting the “Amotekun” model of the Western Region was not an option, the South South governors would soon converge to look at the challenges of ; security, economy and the unity of the region.
“Every state government is working hard to ensure improved security in the region, I don’t think I need an ‘’Amotekun’’ for us to get things working in Delta State.
“We already had a meeting with the Local Government Council chairmen and the security outfits to improve on what we have.
“I am aware that most states have vigilance groups or what you call neighborhood watch and they are working hard to strengthen that and that is the direction the Inspector General is towing,” he said.
He noted that those who would be part of the neighborhood watch (community policing) would be properly enlisted and documented to ensure that they work in harmony with security agencies to ensure efficiency.
The governor, however, condemned the recent headers/farmers clash, while calling on the Federal Government to come up with a strong statement to strengthen the security agencies to do their jobs.
“I think on the part of federal government, a lot really needs to be done; we need strong statement on what should be done, so that the security agencies can further do their jobs.
“If you are going into any community for grazing, it’s only just fair that you don’t just walk in there and take seisure of the place.
“And for anybody who carries arms as herdsman, it is obviously wrong and those who carry arms among the herdsmen are criminals,’’ he said.
Receiving the vehicles, Inuwa, said that the contributions of the traditional rulers and the state government towards fighting crimes were well appreciated.
“The governor has demonstrated government’s commitment by his donation of additional 35 security vehicles to boost the morale of security men in the state,” he said.
He noted that with the vehicles the police was poised to providing effective services and security in the entire state.

Niger Delta

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

Published

2 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

2 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

2 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.