Niger Delta

Bayelsa Community Hails Oil Firm Over Projects

Published

4 years ago

February 25, 2022

Oshie, a host Communitiy to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in the Ahoada West Council area of Rivers State has commended the multinational company over the provision of internal access roads, and an ongoing electrification projects in the community.
Speaking to newsmen on a tour of ongoing infrastructural projects in selected communities of the area, Paramount Ruler of Oshie, HRH Bright, Friday Dede, said but for the multinational firm operating in the community which occasionally considers the community in the award of infrastructural projects, they have not felt the impact of successive administrations both at the local, state and federal governments levels.
He enumerated some of the projects carried out by Agip in the community as, the construction of internal roads,building of a health centre which he alleged was destroyed during an inter communal crisis with a neighbouring Communitiy and an ongoing reelectrificationproject,amongst others, noting that these infrastructure projects have a direct impact on the community and its neighbouring towns.
The monarch challenged the government and the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), to renovate the dilapidated health centre in the community and put it to good use as well as construct a bridge to link the community with its sister Engenni speaking communities, saying, that alone could compensate them for the huge deposit of oil in their communitiy from which government has earned so much revenue for the development of other parts of the state and country in general.
“In this communitiy we have over eight (8) oil wells. Infact, Agip’s major flow station is located very close to us here and because the first Agip oil well in this area was discovered here,the flow station was named after this Communitiy, Oshie.
“For Agip, they have really tried. They’ve constructed internal paved roads for us, they also built a health centre which the Government later took from them and furnished it with equipment and manpower,but when an inter-communal crises broke out between us and some of our neighbouringEkpeye communities in 2012, the health centre became a target and was touched and so since then we have not had a new health centre.
“Another major problem of this communitiy is the absence of a bridge constructed to link this communitiy with our neighbouring, AkinimaCommunitiy which is the headquarters of the Ahoada West LGA.
“So many people have died trying to ferry across this river. Government and NDDC should please come to our aid in order to forestall these ugly incidences of untimely and avoidable deaths”, the monarch said.
Also speaking,the trio of the community’s General Secretary, Pastor, Eshimuvie Isaiah Dodo, the CDC chairman,MrAwainGonimasele and the Youth President, Comrade, Mark ObuenemOnyinwo lamented the level of underdevelopment in the community, saying it was due to deliberate marginalization.
They called on the Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission to look into their yearnings,saying the community gives too much to the government to deserve any form of maltreatment in terms of Infrastructural projects.
“As you can see,even in the electrification projects the Ahoada West LGA has done in some Communities of this LGA too we’ve been marginalized. It’s only Agip that is now trying to connect us to power and even that project has not been completed”, the trio said.

By: AriweraIbibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Navy Pledges Improved Patrols, Welfare Boost For Personnel

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has pledged to ensure improved welfare for personnel and more patrols on the maritime corridors of the nation.

He disclosed this during an on the spot assessment of things at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Calabar, on Wednesday.

According to him, there is the need for officers to always be ready, by improving on their welfare, in a bid to keep the country secured.

“I am here for an on the spot assessment of our operations and like you have seen, I have also gone round to check the ongoing buildings.

”These are welfare issues and for us to be able to have our men ready and keep us secured, their welfare needs to be catered for.

“So, we are here to kill two birds with one stone, which are basically operations and welfare issues.

”I am happy with what the command is doing; it is doing well in terms of keeping the maritime environment safe.

“We will continue doing what we are doing and improve on that, which is patrol of the waters and increase in the area of surveillance”, he stated.

As part of his visit, Abbas commissioned the 12×1 Junior Rates Accommodation Block A and B, at the Navy Barracks at Atimbo in Calabar.

The naval chief also inspected other ongoing projects in the Akim Barracks, 1006 flats and the Navy hotel, all within Calabar.

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Uromi Junction Flyover Construction

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State Government says it has began construction work on the long-awaited Uromi Junction Flyover Bridge in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

Director-General (DG) of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, confirmed the development to newsme in Asaba.

According to him, heavy-duty construction equipment have arrived the site, a project which is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, one of the country’s leading construction firms.

Oghenesivbe, described the flyover as a massive infrastructure project with far-reaching socio-economic benefits for the area.

He said the project would significantly transform the Agbor metropolis by easing traffic congestion, improving the city’s aesthetics, and boosting commercial activities within the local government area.

He described the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as a promise-keeper and pragmatic leader whose administration remains committed to infrastructure development and economic growth across the state.

The DG expressed confidence in Julius Berger’s capacity to deliver the project within record time and according to the highest construction standards.

“The Uromi Junction serves as a major link between different parts of the country but has recently been plagued by severe traffic congestion, making vehicular movement increasingly difficult”, he noted.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and safeguard construction materials and equipment to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Rejects Ekid Ownership Claim Of Stubbs Creek

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims by the Ekid People’s Union that it owns land within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, describing such assertions as “false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

In a recent statement, signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, the state government said it was compelled to respond in the “overriding public interest,” despite a pending court case instituted by the same group.

The government stated that contrary to claims circulating in the media, the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak vs. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land in any ethnic group or community.

“The final judgement merely dismissed the claims before the court and granted title to no party whatsoever”, the government stated, adding that “any assertion to the contrary is false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

According to the statement, the land was lawfully reserved by the colonial government under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, later amended in 1941, 1955 and 1962, with “the principal rights of the land forfeited to the Government upon the change of status.”

It said the area has since been administered under applicable laws by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which “has at all times acted within its lawful authority in the management and allocation of land in the area for legitimate public and economic purposes.”

Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, the government stated that all land in the state is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the common benefit of Nigerians, noting that claims of absolute ancestral ownership are subject to existing laws.

The government “categorically denies allegations of fraud or misrepresentation” regarding Stubbs Creek or investments there and warned it would take “appropriate legal steps” against any individual or group publishing false or defamatory material capable of undermining public confidence or discouraging investment

The statement also assured the federal government of “full access and Right of Way” for the proposed Coastal Highway through any part of the state.

The government statement followed an earlier report in which the Ekid People’s Union accused Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State of making comments that allegedly linked the community to terrorism, while he was defending the Coastal Highway project passing through the Stubbs Creek.

Ekid People’s Union maintained that the people of Ekid are the original owners of the land known as Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, arguing that their ancestral ownership predates colonial rule.

The group cited historical occupation, customary ownership and a 1918 Privy Council case, which it claimed affirmed Ekid rights over the territory.

The union also accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of misrepresenting history to justify taking over the land for commercial interests and the proposed Coastal Highway, an allegation the state government has denied.

The group rejected any suggestion linking the Ekid people to criminality or terrorism, insisting they were peaceful citizens defending their ancestral land through lawful and civic means.