Niger Delta

Bayelsa Revenue Chief Commends, Tasks CITN Members On Professionalism

Published

4 years ago

December 20, 2021

The Executive Chairman, Bayelsa State Internal Revenue Service, Dr Nimibofa Ayawei, has charged members of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) to continue practising their profession in consonance with the ethics of the profession.
Ayawei who scored the professional body high on their partnership and services to the state, handed down the charge at the 2021 annual dinner and investiture of the new executives of the CITN, Yenagoa and District society in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The Bayelsa Internal Revenue Service boss who spoke as chairman of the occasion, noted that the state revenue service under his leadership has benefited immensely from the expertise and professional services of the CITN.
He acknowledged the contributions of the institute’s members, saying that through the professional practice of members, more and better experience would be achieved for societal growth by members.
He commended the out-gone Chairman of the Yenagoa and District society of the organisation, Mr Nengimote Ayerite for his exemplary and sacrificial leadership qualities put in the organisation, just as he noted that the state through the revenue service office has shored up its revenue base due to the CITN fruitful partnership.
“I thank each and every member of the CITN for your services to the state.My office have a large number of your members rendering services to the state.
“The Bayelsa internal revenue service is one agency that has benefited and has continued to reap from the partnership with the CITN.
“But one thing I must say is that it’s not just enough to say that you’re in an organisation just for the sake of socialisation. You must practise, and practise your profession professionally so that you can benefit from the gains in it.
“I thank the outgoing executive for the services rendered to our state. I charge you to continue in this direction as we look forward to even a better and greater partnership in the years ahead”, he said.
Also speaking, the out-gone Chairman, Mr Nengimote Ayerite enumerated some of the achievements of the out-gone executive as the acquisition of land for the building of the CITN permanent secretariat in the state as well as the granting of approval by the national body of the organisation for the Yenagoa and District society study centre, amongst others.
Those invested as executives were Sir Robert Lokoson, chairman, Mr Azebi Bestman, vice chairman, Akpe Oyinkarebai, deputy Vice chairman and Mr Raphael Opuofoni, general secretary.
Others are Mrs Ebiware Esther, honorary treasurer, Diete Filatei, assistant general secretary, Nengimote Ayerite, ex-officio one, Adeniyi Arepo, social/publicity secretary, Tonye Apiri, ex-officio two and Mr Ayebaenemi Jumbo as financial secretary, respectively.
Highpoints of the event included awards bestowed on various individuals by the CITN, among whom were the Sole Administrator, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Effiong Okon Akwa and the Director of Finance and Personnel Management, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Isaac Yalah, among others.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

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.