Niger Delta

Dikio, CBN Controller, Others Bag Awards As Monarch Renders Account Of Stewardship

Published

4 years ago

December 31, 2021

The interim Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio(rtd), branch controller, Central bank of Nigeria,Calabar, Mr Chuks Sokari and former caretaker committee (CTC) chairman,Ahoada West Council area of Rivers state, Karibo Wilson, during the week received awards from their home town,Mbiama Communitiy.
Presenting the awards during a reception held by the communitiy in honour of her illustrious sons and daughters, the paramount ruler, HRH Otovie Smith Sylvanus, noted that the recipients deserved the awards following their track record of achievements and support towards the growth and development of the community.
The royal father, who also relived his achievements in the past one year mentioned some of his achievements as, restoring peace and curbing insecurity to the barest minimum, naming of streets after illustrious sons and daughters of the community, solving the problem of near total power blackout and monthly compulsory environmental sanitation as well as reinventing football competition which he said the community was noted for, amongst others.
The Tide reports that the presidential Amnesty coordinator was represented by his brother who himself was an award recipient, Professor Ezekiel Dikio of the Niger Delta University, just as the CBN branch controller, Chuks Sokari and the ex-CTC chairman, Karibo Wilson were among nine illustrious sons and daughters of the fast urbanising communitiy noted as the commercial nerve centre of the Ahoada West local government area.
The awards ceremony which was held as part of events to commemorate the first anniversary of the reign of the Mbiama monarch was christened ‘meritorious award of achievements and excellence/support for community growth and development’.
In his opening remarks, chairman of the occasion, ESV Ogah George, lauded the community for their harmonious living, stating that Mbiama is a good example and worthy of emulation by other Engenni speaking communities.
He added that reports at his disposal show that the feat the community has achieved was made possible by the consultative leadership they have in the person of Sylvanus as paramount ruler, supported by a committed Community Development Committee (CDC) membership as well as a peaceful and loyal youth leadership.
Also speaking, the Guest of Honour, an awardee and CBN Branch Controller, Calabar, Mr Chuks Sokari, thanked the leadership of the community for finding him and others worthy for the awards.
Sokari restated the need for continuous unity and peace in the community, noting that even before he was born decades ago the community has been a melting point of commerce where people from all walks of life had lived peacefully, eking out a living irrespective of tribe and languages, emphasising that the awards would spur the recipients to do more for the community.
Others who bagged awards were, Professors Ezekiel Dikio of the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island,Amassoma, Bayelsa State,and Amalo Dibofori-Orji of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education,Port Harcourt, Comrade Inime Karibo Wilson, CEO, Chris-Nime Global Services Ltd.
Also receiving awards were, Hon. Ayanate Dikio, former councilor,Ahoada West LGA,Ward two, who also doubles as the chairman, Mbiama Communitiy revenue generation committee, Mr Simon Boma, Mr Tayo Olu, as well as football stars who garnered various categories of award after an inter-street football competition which was held earlier.
Meanwhile,in a welcome address presented by the community through their CDC chairman, Engr. Moore Sokari,the community have called on the Government and other interventionist agency to help fast track the pace of the community’s Development through the construction of pave roads, development of manpower and the provision of other social amenities to improve on their living conditions.
The community hinted that the absence of infrastructure has impeded its quest for genuine transformation from a semi-urban nomenclature to an urban centre.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Okpebholo Assures Corps Members Of Improved Welfare

Published

11 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured corps members deployed to the state of improved welfare and a supportive service year.

Okpebholo gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members last Friday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada.

The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, safety and entrepreneurship.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mrs. Charity Amayaenvbo, the Governor urged corps members to embrace innovation, community service and self-reliance rather than wait for white-collar jobs.

“Edo is committed to supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and incentives that turn ideas into enterprises.

“Do not wait for jobs, create value. Wherever you are posted, serve your host community with humility, dedication and compassion.

“Have a positive footprint and let your service contribute to unity, productivity and progress,” he said.

Okpebholo assured the corps members that the state government was attentive to their welfare and had started addressing key concerns raised by the NYSC leadership.

“On behalf of the state government, I assure you of our support in terms of safety, an enabling environment and a rewarding service year.

“I listened carefully to the requests highlighted by the state coordinator, and I am glad to inform you that some of them have already been captured in the 2026 budget, which has been approved and signed into law,” he said.

The Governor noted that provisions for accommodation, meal subsidies, logistics and the construction of a multipurpose hall at the camp were included in the budget.

Earlier in her address, the Edo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, described the ceremony as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to youth development and national integration.

Ben-Ushie said as of midnight on Thursday, a total of 1,235 prospective corps members, comprising 531 males and over 700 females, had been duly registered.

She congratulated the corps members on their enlistment into what she described as a “noble scheme,” urging them to embrace discipline, learning and active participation throughout the orientation course.

“The NYSC platform provides a unique avenue to meet people from diverse backgrounds, build lifelong friendships and create networks that can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.

Ben-Ushie also highlighted the contributions of the NYSC to the state’s development, noting that the scheme had consistently provided skilled manpower, promoted labour mobility and strengthened national unity.

She cited initiatives such as the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as key interventions benefiting communities across the state.

The NYSC coordinator commended the state government for its support, including the provision of buses for corps members, and appealed for further intervention to address lingering operational challenges at the orientation camp.

She expressed confidence that resolving the issues would enhance the effectiveness of NYSC programmes in the state and thanked the Governor for prioritising the welfare, security and growth of corps members.

Niger Delta

PDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority

Published

12 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.

The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.

The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.

Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.

“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.

He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.

According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.

He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.

“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.

Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.

He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”

He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.

Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.

“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.

He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.

“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.

He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.

Niger Delta

Students Protest Non-indigene Appointment As Rector in C’River

Published

12 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, have protested to the Governor’s Office in Calabar over an alleged plan to appoint a non-indigene as Rector for the institution.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the students demanded respect for catchment area policy, local content, and the appointment of an indigene of the state as Rector of the institution.

Speaking on behalf of the students in Calabar, Stephen Etem said the protest sought to alert the Federal and Cross River State Governments to an alleged deviation from the established rectorial selection process.

Etem said a Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, was constituted by the Federal Government to conduct the Rector selection exercise.

“The screening, which began last year, reportedly produced a Cross River State indigene as highest scorer and recommended candidate.

“Information available to us suggests that the alleged recommended candidate’s name might be substituted at the Federal Ministry of Education.

“We urge the Federal Government to uphold the council’s recommendation because altering the process could threaten peace in the institution,” he noted.

Responding at the Government House, Mr. Goddie Akpama, the Special Adviser on Intelligence to the State Governor, Bassey Otu, appealed for calm, saying the Governor was away but would be briefed.

Akpama advised the students to submit written petitions through appropriate channels, avoid inflammatory language, and engage authorities to ensure stability and uninterrupted academic activities.