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Bayelsa Exco Approves Nembe-Brass Road Project

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4 years ago

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The Bayelsa State Executive Council has approved the construction of Phase One of the Nembe-Brass road in Bayelsa East Senatorial District of the state.
This was disclosed on Wednesday at a joint press briefing after the 70th session of the executive council in Government House, Yenagoa.
Speaking with newsmen, the state Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ayibaina Duba, accompanied by his counterparts of the Ministries of Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, and Health, Dr Pabara Igwele, stated that the first phase will cover a distance of 21 kilometres with 10 bridges.
Duba said the Governor Diri’s administration inherited two senatorial road projects from the previous administration and promised to embark on the third one, which is the long-awaited road from Nembe to Brass.
”We are pleased to announce that the State Executive Council has given approval for the award of contract for phase one of the Nembe-Brass road. It covers 21 kilometers with 10 bridges.
“The construction will start soon. The procurement board is directed to facilitate the process in a manner that there would be no delay in the award of the contract to a very competent contractor.
“Due to the amount of work required on the road, it is divided into three phases. Phase one will be from Nembe to the Saint Nicholas River,” he said.
The Works and Infrastructure Commissioner, Moses Teibowei, further explained that six of the 10 bridges have a 30-metre span each, one is 60-metre, another one is 90-metre while two have 120-metre span each,just as he said the ground-breaking ceremony would take place early next month.
The state exco also approved a weekly jogging exercise for members to be led by the governor and his deputy every Thursday morning.
Describing the decision as a means to keep fit and prevent heart-related ailments, the Health Commissioner, Dr Igwele, said the exercise would commence from the Berger Junction to the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa.
Also speaking at the briefing, the Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chief Collins Cocodia, cautioned against aspirants for elective positions sponsoring protests to advance their interest.
Cocodia noted that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who have electoral value, know the procedure to achieve their goals but not through protests.
“Lately, people sponsor protests from behind the scene to call on them to contest for political offices or protest against other aspirants.
“The governor has directed that such action should stop because it is an internal party matter and whoever is aspiring knows the procedure to follow.
“They should also be informed that there is a party disciplinary committee already inaugurated and if it is discovered that such protests are sponsored, we will make sure that they face the disciplinary action of our party.
Our party is one big united party”, he said.
In another development,the state governor on Wednesday,signed into law the Multi-Door Court Bill as well as the Customary Court of Appeal and the Customary Court Bills that were passed by the House of Assembly.
The three bills were signed in the presence of the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, and other principal officers of the legislature.
Governor Diri noted that the new laws would enhance the administration of justice in the state, adding that the Multi-Door Court Law provides the option of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to resolve disagreements outside the courts, which he noted have been inundated with cases.
According to him, the Ijaws have customs that have been in existence for generations but have not been documented, adding that the customary court laws would address such issues.
The governor, who commended the assembly for passing the bills, assured the legislature that both arms of government would continue to synergise to engender good governance and development.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Abraham Ingobere, said the laws would fast-track the administration of justice in the state, explaining that the Customary Court Law was aimed at protecting the rights of widows and the girl child amongst other customary issues that relate to the Ijaw people.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

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CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

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5 days ago

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April 10, 2026

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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
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Niger Delta

Police Detain 7, Recover Arms In A’Ibom 

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5 days ago

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April 10, 2026

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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.
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Otu Launches Grassroot Security Network In C’River

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5 days ago

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April 10, 2026

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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.
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