Niger Delta

COVID-19: Edo Deploys 200 Policemen To Enforce Protocol

Published

5 years ago

January 20, 2021

The Edo State Government, on Monday, deployed a total of 200 constabularies to three major local government areas of the state for strict compliance of COVID-19 safety protocol.
The Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu, who addressed the constabularies, urged them to discharge their duties professionally.
According to him, “You are going for a very important assignment, which is the enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocol in Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba -Oka local government areas of the state.
“You must ensure that all the eateries have hand washing facilities and encourage social distancing.
“All eateries and banks in the council areas must not be crowded, while customers must be on queue for easy entry into those places.
“All the drivers, both private and commercial, and their passengers must also wear face mask.”
Shaibu said that any driver or passengers found not wearing face mask should be arrested and prosecuted.
“You, as enforcers, must show good example by wearing your own face mask properly and you must not allow any gathering of more than 50 persons,” he said.
The deputy governor expressed the regret that the second wave of COVID-19 had claimed more lives than the first.
“That is why you have more work to do; don’t forget that you must show good examples in enforcing the law; don’t harass anybody but you must do your work professionally,” he said.
The Tide reports that Shaibu himself conducted a stop-and-search on some vehicles, with those found not wearing face mask ordered to be arrested and taken to testing centres.
In another development, the village head of Obagie Community in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, Dr. James Igbinadolor, has called on the inhabitants of the area to respect the constituted laid down order of selecting a head of a community to avoid anarchy.
He said when such a laid down procedure is not followed, it could lead to unnecessary power tussle, rancour and conflict among the inhabitants and this can slow down development.
The village head of the community made the call at the end of a-one-day peace conference aimed at building peaceful relationship among all members of the community.
Igbinadolor said there can not be two village heads in one community and that the current rumour making the rounds that one Mr Stephen Osaretin is parading himself as the Odionwere is not giving the community a good name.
He said the said Stephen is not an elder in the community because he has not been initiated into the elder’s grade let alone an odionwere.
He said he wondered why he sees himself as the acting Odionwere designate, adding that such is an abomination because there cannot be two Odionwere in Obagie community.
“There is an urgent need for all members to come together and ensure the peace, harmony and progress of Obagie and as such, all hands must be on deck to work towards it
“ We must all come together to make Obagie great. Any person who knows his/herself as a native of Obagie community should join hands with us and move the community to a greater height”, he said.

Niger Delta

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

Published

16 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

16 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

16 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.