Niger Delta

Yenagoa Law School: Ijaw Group Commends Wike’s Magnanimity

Published

5 years ago

June 9, 2021

The Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), has joined others in commending the Rivers State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike, on the flag- off of construction works for hostel blocks and the 1,500 seat auditorium at the Yenagoa law school campus.
The group said the Rivers governor has once again proved himself to be a man who matches words with action.
Recall that Governor Wike, made a pledge on 29th August, 29, 2020 and nine months down the line, he has fully redeemed his pledge to build a 900-student hostel and the 1500 capacity auditorium.
Speaking on behalf of the National President, the Chairman MOSIEND, central zone, Comrade Taribolou Ogboriyo, noted that the revival of MOSIEND was to raise the level of clamour for purposeful infrastructural and human capital development of our people, in the Niger Deltan region.
MOSIEND fully shares the ideals of Governor Wike who has developed infrastructure to a point where he is nicknamed Mr Project and we can all attest to the fact that Governor Wike’s drive for developmental projects knows no bound as he has crisscrossed into his sister state in Bayelsa to showcase the importance he attaches to education in the Niger Delta.
He continued that, “In so doing, MOSIEND is using this auspicious occasion to whisper to the Governor that our Elders council, National and Zonal leadership have already come to firm conclusion that Your Excellency has naturally distinguished yourself as the spokesman of the Niger Delta, similar to the hard work the governor has put in place, that earned him the Mr Project title.
Accordingly, MOSIEND is consulting with other ethnic nationalities on the need to confer a befitting title on him in order to fully establish and authenticate his natural emergence as the voice for the Niger Delta.
MOSIEND also used the opportunity to bring up the NDDC board issues that is hitting up the polity and threatening to conflagrate the entire Niger Delta.
The group stated that amongst other things, the constitution of the Board of NDDC is the responsibility of the president with advice from the governors
“The importance of the appointment cannot be over emphasised, as it is the only prescribed legal body that can always be held accountable by the people of the Niger Delta”.
Furthermore, the zonal chairman, said that the NDDC Act Part III, Section 11(1) also prescribes a Standing Committee made up of the Governors of the NDDC States, known as the Advisory Committee, whose appointment and functions are statutory and beyond the powers of the president. As a matter of fact Section 11(3) states in part:
“The Advisory Committee is charged with advising the board and monitoring the activities of the commission, with a view to achieving the objectives of the commission”.
This section is the key to the expected success story of the NDDC. It has therefore become very necessary to appeal to His Excellency to, without delay, liaise with the South-South Governors, forum chairman to constitute a delegation to once again, visit Mr President, to impress it on him to constitute the board so that the governors can also play their role on the NDDC in ensuring it functions lawfully.
The law requires the governors to advise and monitor the board and not a sole administrator. The people of the Niger Delta will henceforth not allow politicians to toy with the development of the area.
Comrade Ogboriyo, used the occasion to extend hands of fellowship to Wike and also craved his indulgence to grant audience to the Eastern Zone MOSIEND leadership which is domiciled in Rivers State and the National Executive headed by a Rivers State indigene for purposes of working out areas of cooperation on the issue of security.

By: AriweraIbibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

20 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State have called for government’s urgent intervention to end the suspected underwater gas eruption in the community.

The groups, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made the call during their advocacy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Port Harcourt.

The Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, said the visit was to seek clarity on the response efforts of the regulators to the development in the community.

Ebiaridor expressed concern over what he described as “inadequate response from regulatory agencies and the government concerning the incident”.

He said discussions with some officials revealed that there was still no clear timeline for action to address the situation.

According to him, in the absence of clear ownership of the facility linked to the incident, companies operating within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 should be held accountable.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had in a statement issued on March 20 by its Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission had commenced an investigation into a gas bubbling incident in Bille Community.

Eyesan said the commission expressed concern over the development and assured residents of its ongoing efforts to address the situation.

Also, the Resource Justice Manager of Social Action, Dr. Prince Edegbuo, warned that the situation could escalate into a public health emergency, if urgent steps were not taken.

Edegbuo called on relevant authorities to release the results of the tests reportedly conducted in the area, stressing that residents had the right to know the condition of their environment.

He also said CSOs were prepared to intensify advocacy on the matter, urging the development of emergency response measures, including possible evacuation plans.

A legal practitioner and community stakeholder, Mr. Commission Deinbo, had, on March 20, said residents had continued to witness unusual signs on the waterways in the area.

Deinbo said the signs included boiling and bubbling from the ground and river, sometimes within residential areas, as well as fire outbreaks, which the residents had always managed to contain.

He appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid and find a lasting solution to the problem.

In a response, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, Mr. Bello Augustin, assured the community that he would relate its concerns to the appropriate quarters.

Augustin also commended the CSOs for their advocacy and concerns to community development in the state.

By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Niger Delta

Police Detain 7, Recover Arms In A’Ibom

Published

24 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has detained seven suspects and recovered firearms after raiding a criminal hideout in Ndiya Mfia, Ikono Local Government Area.of the State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, made the disclosure in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday.

John said that the breakthrough which occurred at about 6.00a.m on Wednesday, followed credible intelligence from members of the public.

“We reliably gathered that criminal suspects were hibernating in a compound disguised as worshippers.

“In a decisive operation, our personnel conducted a thorough search of the premises which led to the detention and recovery of arms,” she said.

According to her, the operation was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to decisively combat crime in the country.

The police spokesman further said that two locally made double-barrel guns, five expended cartridges, four motorcycles and three generators were recovered during the operation.

She also listed 10 mobile phones, one police crest, four jungle boots, one peak cap, saw blade, spanner, number plates, machetes, a special force vest as other items recovered.

“We also found bottles of suspected spiritual oil and one enlarged photograph linked to an ongoing investigation,” she said.

John said that preliminary investigation suggested that the location was being used as cover for criminal operations.

She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, has directed a comprehensive investigation on the matter in order to apprehend the principal suspect.

John expressed the commitment of the Command to rid the state of crime, and urged members of the public to always support the police with timely and credible information.

Niger Delta

Otu Launches Grassroot Security Network In C’River

Published

1 day ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has launched a grassroots security intelligence network, named, ”Homeland Safety and Security Agency,” to strengthen community-based surveillance and enhance safety across the state.

Otu, who inaugurated the agency’s office in the Southern Senatorial District of the state on Monday, in Calabar, said similar offices were being inaugurated in the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts.

The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Emmanuel Ironbar, said the officials of the agency would serve as first point of call before matters would be escalated to main security architecture in the state.

He described Homeland Security as an intelligence-driven structure focused on neighbourhood monitoring and early threat detection through coordinated local efforts.

He said the initiative constituted the directors and field operatives, tasked with gathering and forwarding intelligence to relevant security agencies for prompt action.

Otu noted that the network would serve as a first point of contact before intervention by conventional security agencies.

“It is important that we enhance monitoring of movements across our communities, border areas, and riverine zones to identify suspicious activities and enhance security response.

“The state government will provide necessary gadgets and communication tools to improve efficiency and real-time intelligence sharing,” he said.

Otu called for public cooperation, stressing that ‘’security is a collective responsibility requiring timely information from residents.’’

He said, ‘’to ensure that the security outfit works like a model unit, proper screening would be conducted on the volunteers to weed out undesirable elements from the system.’’

The Tide’s source reports that the Governor handed over 14 motor bikes to the agency’s southern Senatorial district office to enhance their efficiency.

On his part, the Director-General, South of the agency, Mr. Michael Nsan, said the volunteers had played key roles in reducing crime through coordinated patrols and intelligence sharing.

Nsan said over 1,300 volunteers currently supported the operations with additional informants providing critical information across communities.

“Crime rates dropped significantly during the last festive period due to our collaboration with law enforcement agencies in the state,” he said.

The Director-General said volunteers would undergo training and screening, with plans underway for formal recruitment through a government employment portal.

According to him, communication tools, including walkie-talkies, and patrol motorcycles had improved rapid response to security incidents.

He commended the governor’s commitment, noting that the initiative would further strengthen security architecture and community safety across the state.

The source reports that some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion were traditional rulers and government officials.