Niger Delta

Diri Tasks Christians On Defence Of Gospel, Faith

Published

5 years ago

August 30, 2021

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has reiterated his call on Christians to rise up in defence of the gospel and their faith in the face of unabating security challenges in the country.
Governor Diri, made the call at separate courtesy visits by the General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Revd Sam Aboyeji and the Senior Pastor of God’s Power Dominion Ministries International, Pastor I.A. Charles, to his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
Represented by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the governor noted that a situation where Christians allow themselves to be overrun and killed with ease by those who see them as enemies is unacceptable.
Senator Diri, who reminded the church of how Christianity was clamped down in the Othman Republic, which is today known as Turkey, urged Christians to guard against a repeat of such fatal mistake anywhere in the world.
He also charged Christian clerics to practise what he calls old time religion by preaching love, morality and the need to uphold the truth.
He enjoined the clergy to hold the political class accountable by speaking truth to power, adding that until the morality of the Church exceeds that of politics, there will be no sustainable peace and progress in society.
The governor, however, expressed gratitude to the church and Christians leaders for their support to his government, promising to continue to identify with them in every way possible.
“The Church here has been very supportive, cooperative and suggestive. And so, we take the issue of church seriously mainly because of our experience. You know there are different types of converts. We have the Bartimeaus converts, the Magdalene converts and the Lazarus converts. As a government, we belong to the Lazarus group where you were dead but called back to life by God”, he said.
“Almost everything was gone. Even hope was on life support. But God showed up and breathed life into us. That is why we are here. And so, we will continue to appreciate Him. In any case, there is nothing we can do to add to His glory. Because His glory is always constant. But I have always said that the Church needs to do more in these troubled times in which our unity and survival is at stake. We should not behave like the people of the Othman Republic.
“That was a Christian republic but it was negligence and religious gentility that led to what we have as Turkey today. Christians should not shy away from defending themselves and their faith”, he added.
In their separate remarks, the General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Revd Sam Aboyeji and the Senior Pastor, God’s Power Dominion Ministries International, Pastor I.A. Charles, commended the state government for working in synergy with the church in promoting peace and harmony in the state.

Niger Delta

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

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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

1 day 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.