Rivers

Rep Empowers Nwebiara, Barako Communities

Published

3 years ago

May 20, 2022

The member representing Khana/Gokana Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor, has promised to provide educational support to additional eight indigenes of Nwebiara and Barako communities in Gokana Local Government Area, following the reign of peace between the once warring communities.
A statement signed and made available to The Tide by the Rt. Hon. Dekor’s Media Team, announced a special novelty football match between the two communities last Sunday, May 15, 2022, noting that the benefits of peaceful coexistence cannot be quantified.
The federal lawmaker, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, performed the kickoff of the match and re-emphasised his commitment to ensuring that the hard-earned peace, which has come between both communities, is sustained.
Dekor, who had earlier given educational support to two indigenes of both communities upon the return of peace to their land, also pledged to support eight more indigenes of both communities, which, according to him, will be used to remember the return of peace in both communities.
“At the town square in Nwebiara, I made a promise and I want to reinforce that promise because all we can do, instead of buying guns for our people, is to promote education because those who are educated will have opportunities.
“Most importantly today, to sustain this peace, I have spoken to my brother here, Hon. Dumle Maol, and the Paramount Rulers, but I’m moved to also improve a bit. You know we have one person each in higher institutions.
“I was asking if the strike is affecting them or not, that the second tranche is supposed to be ready now.
“But while we are going to do the second tranche, we also want to ask that the Menebon Barako should give us four additional persons from Barakpo, and the Menebon Nwebiara should give us four additional persons”, he said and urged them to be gender sensitive in choosing the beneficiaries.
The former Deputy Speaker in the Rivers State House of Assembly and former Works Commissioner in the State, explained that five persons from Nwebiara will get N100,000 each annually to support themselves educationally, and same will be done for Barako to also support themselves educationally.
He commended the sponsor of the tournament and member representing Gokana Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Dumle Maol, for a job well done, saying that the people are proud of him.
Rt. Hon. Dekor also commended the two communities of Nwebiara and Barako, their paramount rulers and the Executive Chairman of Gokana LGA, Hon. Confidence Deko, for their efforts in sustaining peace in the area.
“If we didn’t come out, we’ll not sustain this peace. This football match is in furtherance of the peace process and I believe that more and more programmes and projects like this will come up so that we can sustain this peace.
“You have also seen that peace is what we all need for development to come. There was nothing standing between us except the devil that didn’t want us to move forward. But today, God has brought the devil to shame”, he said.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

Rivers

NDDC Inaugurates Ultra-Modern Market In Rivers Community

Published

6 mins ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has inaugurated an Ultra-Modern International Market in Ibaa Community, in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, as one of its projects to impact lives across the region.

The Rivers State Representative on the NDDC Board, Chief Tony Okocha, who was also at the event, said the project would improve local commerce and uplift economic activities in Ibaa and its environs.

Okocha commended the contractor for executing a quality job and appreciated the people of Ibaa community for their cooperation towards the timely completion of the project.

The Rivers NDDC representative said he was inspired to build the market after his visit to Ibaa community in 2024, where he witnessed women trading in makeshift stalls.

The Delta State NDDC representative, Mr. Monday Igbuya, said the market was one of its kind.

He urged the community to maintain and utilise the facility effectively.

The Traditional Ruler of Ibaa, Dr. Wobodo Jonah, the youths and the entire community presented traditional food items to Okocha as a mark of honour and appreciation.

Also, the Student Union President presented an Award of Excellence to the Rivers State Representative in recognition of his commitment to community development.

The ultra-modern market had a storey building with 20 lock-up shops, 126 open stalls, modern toilet facilities, a 12,000-gallon potable water tank, and two office rooms, fully fenced with a secured gate.

The inauguration was attended by dignitaries, including the North Central Representative, Mr. Nicholas Wend, among others.

Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso

Rivers

ASALGA Community Debunks Reports On Ownership Of Land Its Settlements

Published

6 mins ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

The Minama Community in the Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State has condemned new media reports by some persons from the Bille community that claim ownership of some settlements belonging to Minama, including Dabara.

A statement signed by the King of Minama Clan, HRH. Iboroma T. Pokubo, notes that the repeated media assault of the Bille people should be checked by the Rivers State Government and the security community to avert any act of provocation around an active oil and gas area in the State.

He was particularly troubled by what he chrsitened the “brazen challenge of the Kalabari ethnic Nationality by the Bille people and the disrespect for the person of the Amayanabo of Torusara-Piri, King Mujaheed Dokubo Asari whose contributions they are trying to frustrate”.

According to the statement, “the Minama Community had taken enough from the Bille people and hopes that the Rivers State Government would issue the White Paper on the Ke/Bille crisis, especially as it concerns the interest of the peace loving people of Minama.

“Minama is one of the earliest natives of the lower Niger Delta and acquired and controlled more than 30 settlements, the highest area to be owned by a single group.”

He said the scope of authority of the Minama Clan is confirmed by its pioneering roles in the area, adding that its territory began from “Obule-Bebe in Minama-Toru, currently referred to as Buguma Creek, to Egenegene, down to Pambaduaye, bursting out to Kalabari-Toru, and also connecting Kumbulu Creek to Dabara, down to Obu-Toru.”

The statement continued that, “Dabara settlement that is being claimed by the Bille people is on the same Island with Elem-Kalabari and Elem-Minama and could not be owned by Bille that is deep in the Creek.”

He called on the people of Bille to revisit their history and as much as possible stay on their lane and avoid crisis.

“The desire of all well-meaning people is peace and development. I hope that Bille people will take a cue”, he concluded.

Rivers

Okrika Administrator Seeks To Connect Okujagu Ama To National Grid … Donates 30 Life Jackets To Okujagu Ama Boat Drivers

Published

42 mins ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

The Okrika Local Government Council has disclosed plans to link Okujagu-Ama Community to the national grid.

The council also donated 30 life jackets to the Okujagu-Ama Boat Drivers Union.

Sole Administrator of the Council, Engr Tamunobipiboye Thompson Isodiki, disclosed this during an unscheduled visit to the community.

In a press release signed by the council’s Press Secretary, Omoni Ayotamunu, Isodiki also said the council will link the community to the national grid within the next few weeks.

According to him, Engr Isodiki, who spoke at the project site where the tower is being mounted, said the council is desirous of ensuring that the community is connected to the national grid.

In his words, “on assumption of office, I saw that the project was embarked upon by the past administration and because of its vital importance to the people, I decided to give it a priority attention.”

The administrator, who made few observations on the construction of the gigantic tower to connect power from Port Harcourt, advised the contractor to make sure care was taken to do a quality work.

“This project, when completed, will bring development to the Okujagu-Ama Community and its neighboring communities”, he stated.

On sabotage by some criminal elements in the community, he said “evil will not over shadow light”.

He urged the people to rise up and defeat such evil-minded people for the even development of the community.

Sir Isodiki impressed on the contractor handling the project to make sure it was completed and delivered on the scheduled time, saying “I have given all the necessary support to complete the project”.

Speaking, the Project Engineer of the Okujagu-Ama Electricity Project, Engr. Femi Bipilaka, assured the Administrator that the project would be delivered on schedule and a quality job would be done.

Meanwhile, a total of 30 Life Jackets have been donated to the Okujagu-Ama Boat Drivers Association by the Okrika Local Government Council.

Presenting the Life Jackets, the administrator of the Council said the Jackets are donated to ensure the safety of passengers passing through the route.

Isodiki said with time more life jackets would be made available to the community.

Receiving the life jackets jointly, the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman of Okujagu-Ama and Ojimba-Ama, Mr. Blessed Elijah, and the Vice Chairman of the Boat Drivers Association, Mr. Lassor Rogers, thanked the administrator for his kind donation and pledged to safeguard the life jackets.