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Why We No Longer Block East-West Road -Ex-Agitators
Ex-agitators of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) have explained that they stopped blocking the East-West Road for protests following reforms introduced by the Interim Administrator of the scheme, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd).
They said Dikio won their hearts through prompt payment of their stipends, effective communication, and introduction of the Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM) training strategy.
The ex-agitators made their position known in a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last Monday, signed by the National Secretary of the First Phase Amnesty, Pastor Dumale Kieghe.
They also highlighted Dikio’s frequent visit to the region and his regular meetings with stakeholders as another milestone that had brought relative peace to the Niger Delta.
Kieghe said since Dikio came on board, he had demonstrated his capacity to run the programme, and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing him at a time the PAP was beginning to lose its value.
The ex-warlord also commended Dikio for not compromising his standards despite the pressures and blackmail by some persons, who were part of the endemic rot that had stalled the development of the amnesty programme for years.
The statement said: “We want to let the Niger Delta people know that there is hope with this administration. One of the things we have taken with high note is that Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) has not apportioned blame to his predecessors, and that shows a high sense of responsibility on his part.
“Before this time, we had delegates who went for training and have not been engaged or employed, and this made the amnesty programme look as though it had failed.
“But since the assumption of Dikio, he made up his mind not to award contracts that will not get delegates engaged. Dikio initiated the Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM) scheme in order to engage capable vendors to implement his vision for the PAP beneficiaries.
“Today, we have ex-agitators in different training facilities in the Niger Delta undergoing the TEM scheme, and we look forward to the success stories of these trainees. We also have ex-agitators going through agricultural entrepreneurship training. The training is to help us become employees of labour. It is the first of its kind”.
The ex-agitators appealed to the ministries of environment, petroleum resources and Niger Delta affairs to work in synergy with the amnesty office to meet the demands of the Niger Delta region.
The ex-warlord urged the people of the region and key stakeholders to throw their support behind Dikio to enable him achieve his overall plans for the programme.
He said: “Over the years, we have been blocking roads and protesting, it has not yielded any result. Each time we block the road, it is our people and their businesses that suffer. We end up frustrating the businesses of our people.
“We are used to pulling down our leaders and those at the helm of affairs, can we for a change show support to Dikio? Our hope and wish is for other government parastatals involved in the Niger Delta recovery plan to learn from Dikio to sustain peace in the Niger Delta and attract meaningful development to our region.”
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.