Niger Delta

Bayelsa Harps On Industrial Harmony

Published

4 years ago

March 30, 2022

The Bayelsa State Government has appealed to members of the Higher Institutions Joint Action Committee (HIJAC) to shelve their planned street protest in the state on Wednesday.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the appeal at an emergency meeting held with the leadership of HIJAC at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Mr Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor was quoted as having commended the leadership and members of the union for their patience and understanding so far.
The state Deputy Governor was said to have apologized for the seeming delay on the part of the state government Special Committee on Higher Institutions in turning in its report to enable government take appropriate steps in addressing the issues holistically,pointing out that although the action of HIJAC may be justified, embarking on a street protest at this time to press home their demands would be counter-productive, as government is doing everything possible to tackle their demands.
While assuring the union of the state government’s preparedness to fully engage the HIJAC in the next couple of days to resolve the issues in the best interest of the state, Ewhrudjakpo said government was not unmindful of the sacrifices they had made, just as he thanked the Chairman, the Secretary and other executives of HIJAC for showing a high sense of responsibility and patriotism by honouring the invitation to the meeting at a very short notice.
Speaking shortly after the meeting, the State Chairman of the Higher Institutions Joint Action Committee (HIJAC), Mr Aduba Okilo, said the Union was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.
He, however, said the union leadership had to report to their Congress to enable them decide whether the protest would hold as planned or not.
Okilo said the state government’s Committee on Higher Institutions had been mandated to expeditiously complete its report and submit same to government within two days for approval and immediate implementation.
Also speaking, the State Secretary of HIJAC, Mr. Brambaifa Lucky described the meeting as very fruitful, saying government had shown commitment towards paying attention to the legitimate demands of the union.
He said government would still meet with the unions by Monday next week, when its committee on Higher Institutions should have submitted its report to government for further action.
Present at the meeting were the Chairman, Bayelsa State House of Assembly Committee on Labour Matters, Hon. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai; the Information Commissioner, Hon. Ayiba Duba; and Technical Adviser to the Governor on Accounts and Revenues, Mr Timipre Seipulou.
Others included a member of the State Government Review Committee on Higher Institutions and former Head of Service, Dr Josephine Igodo; State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade John Ndiomu; and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Comrade Laye Julius.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

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

Published

6 days 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

6 days 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

6 days 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.