Niger Delta

Adeboye Predicts Bright Future, Good Prospects For Bayelsa

Published

4 years ago

January 28, 2022

General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said Bayelsa State will continue to make good progress as God has something special for the state.
He made the prophetic declaration on Tuesday when he was received at the Government House, Yenagoa, by Governor Douye Diri, his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, top government officials and some Christian leaders in the state.
The globally acclaimed cleric, popularly known as Daddy G.O, is in the state for a two-day “Light Up Bayelsa Holy Ghost Rally” holding in selected cities across the country to commemorate his 80th birthday in March this year.
Pastor Adeboye said his visit was in fulfilment of the promise he made earlier to hold a crusade in Yenagoa, stating that he was happy to see it come through this year, which he described as a year of “double blessings.”
He noted that year 2022 is peculiar as the last time the world had similar figures was over a thousand years ago.
While pronouncing blessings for the year, he said it gladdened his heart to note that God had something special for Bayelsa.
The RCCG General Overseer proclaimed that the state would witness a great and positive turnaround in its development.
He prayed God to double the blessings, testimonies and joy upon the land, people and government of the state.
”I am happy because I made a promise the last time I was here that I will be here at least to hold a Holy Ghost Rally. When I was making that promise, I did not know the extent that the demand of my time had grown.
“By the special grace of the Most High God, I am here to fulfill that promise. I am particularly happy that God has made it possible for me to come because this is a very special year.
“This year is very peculiar because the last time we had its kind was in 1011. That was more than a thousand years ago. The next time would be in 3033. That is 911 years from now. A year like this comes once in anybody’s lifetime.It is a year of doubles; a year when God is going to double your blessings, testimonies and joy.
“So when God opened the door for me to come, particularly in the month of January, I was delighted. It gladdens my heart that God has something very special in store for Bayelsa. I am not a prophet but I am a pastor who hears from God occasionally. You can mark my words. As a result of this visit, Bayelsa will never remain the same again”, the Cleric said.
Responding, Governor Douye Diri said when fathers and prophets speak, they do so lightly but the spoken words come with power from God, which was the reason God ordered Adeboye’s footsteps to Bayelsa.
The governor said it was a privilege to have the RCCG General Overseer in the state, particularly at the beginning of the year.
He expressed the belief that Adeboye’s prophetic pronouncements would manifest greatly on the people and land of Bayelsa, saying there is so much to gain listening to and believing the words of the cleric.
“On behalf of the Deputy Governor, members of the State Executive Council, our government that we have tagged Prosperity Government and the people of Bayelsa, I wholeheartedly welcome you to your state. We receive you as our father to this state.
“It is indeed a privilege for this state and in particular for the Prosperity Government to see you at the beginning of the year in the month of January here in Yenagoa. That you stepped on this land, who knows that the conclusion of your statement will certainly impact on the people and the land of Bayelsa.
“For this two days that you will be in Bayelsa, I like to call on all Bayelsans to be part of this visit, which is not ordinary. The opportunity to host a man of God of national and international repute comes once in a lifetime.
“There is so much we can gain from listening to him and believing the words that come out from him. I believe it will impact our lives as a people, as a state and as a country, Diri said.
He recounted how the title “Miracle Governor” came about, saying it was the result of his encounter with Adeboye in Lagos when all hopes seemed lost before his miraculous emergence as governor.
He stated that his government was a product of the pastor’s divine intervention alongside other anointed clerics.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

17 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

21 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

21 hours 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.