Niger Delta

PUAN Finally Inaugurates Bayelsa Exco

Published

4 years ago

June 3, 2022

A non-governmental organisation, Polling Unit Ambassadors of Nigeria (PUAN) has inaugurated its Bayelsa State Executives after years of delay.
The inauguration ceremony which took place in Yenagoa, the state capital amidst heated arguments as to who was credible and more qualified to hold the organisation’s State’s top position, saw a Director at the State’s Envirimental Sanitation Authority, Mr Ebi Appah, being sworn in as the State Ambassador, the nomenclature for the PUAN’s highest state office.
It would be recalled that the inauguration of the Bayelsa State executive of PUAN, which was earlier billed to take place last Tuesday, was said to have been postponed due to what they called “unforeseen circumstances”.
The Tide reports that the group’s members who were earlier reported to have expressed their dismay over the Tuesday’s postponed inauguration, were later seen on Wednesday in their best behaviour.
About 90 percent of them were inaugurated either as State, Zonal or Senatorial District executive members.
The Tide further gathered that PUAN, which would most likely play a major role in the forthcoming, 2023 general elections, was borne out of the desire to educate Nigerians on credible, free and fair elections, voter education, and sensitisation and creating awareness on electoral matters for the Nigerian electorates.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the inauguration, the NGO’s national leader, Amb. Capt. Dabbas Suleiman, expressed delight over the ceremony, noting that the NGO was founded on the notion of ensuring that Nigerians were properly educated and enlightened on free, fair and credible elections and how to ensure that their votes count before, during and after every elections.
He cautioned against vote-buying, describing it as the greatest menace on the nation’s electoral system.
Stating PUAN’s commitment towards protecting the sanctity of the electoral system, inconjunction with the Independent National Electoral Commissioner and other agencies in the electoral system, he lauded the State Chapter of the organization for keeping faith with the body.
Speaking with The Tide, a cross section of members said with the inauguration, the PUAN South-South zonal leadership, headed by Amb. Mfon Peter, popularly refered to as Deputy Ambassador General (DAG), it has proven to the public that the NGO was made up of people with substance and integrity.
“We’ve been traveling round this country inaugurating various states and zonal executives of PUAN. The inauguration of the Bayelsa State executive makes 29 excos that we’ve since inaugurated.
With the inauguration of the Bayelsa state executive, we can now say that our work here has finally started. PUAN has three Cs which guide our dealings with the public. They are: Commitment, Competence and Character.
“We don’t have money as an organization, but as members of PUAN, we’ve integrity, we’ve competence and we’ve character”, the AG said.
Also speaking, the duo of the PUAN Secretary General, Amb. Prince Osas Osagie and the Deputy Ambassador General (DAG), South-South zone, Amb. Mfon Peter, reemphasized the need for hard work and commitment, noting that the NGO does not attach any renumeration to the functions of its members.
The duo advised the newly Inaugurated executive to function for the betterment of the NGO in the State and he country at large.
In his acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated SA, Amb. Ebi Appah, assured that the State Executive under his leadership would “continue to function collectively to ensure that citizens of the State and residents were properly and adequately sensitized on the need to hold their elective office holders accountable before and after elections.

Niger Delta

C’River Bans VIOs From Road Operations

Published

3 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has banned the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from road operations across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Out, who made the announcement in Calabar on Saturday, restricted activities of the VIO to office duties.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Linus Obogo, the directive followed protests by commercial bus drivers and tricycle operators over high tickets, excessive fines and alleged harassment by enforcement teams.

The Governor, who made other announcements in the sector, said the measures were approved after a meeting with key transport stakeholders.

According to the statement, other announcements made was the reduction of daily ticket fee from N850 to N500, while the penalty for failure to purchase the ticket had also been reduced to N10,000.

“All traffic-related fines be slashed by 50 per cent and must be paid only into designated Cross River State Government accounts.

“Daily ticket for tricycle riders have been reduced from N1,200 to N500. However, every activity of commercial tricycle operators ends at 6 p.m. daily, night operations are permanently banned,” Otu asserted.

He said the review was aimed to ease the burden on drivers and restore order in the state’s transport system.

Speaking further, the Governor said the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA) would now focus on vehicle registration and sale of tickets at approved rates.

He noted that enforcement officers must operate only in proper uniforms and with verifiable identification.

He directed the Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (TRAMRA) to restrict its activities to statutory traffic management duties.

In addition, the Governor announced that “commercial bus drivers and tricycle riders will no longer purchase tickets on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

“These directives will take effect from March 9, and I urge all residents and transport operators to cooperate with relevant authorities.”

Speaking to The Tide’s source, some commercial drivers said the statement did not address some activities of TRAMRA such as the illegal “no parking order” for drivers who only pick and drop passengers.

For Johnson Ade, a commercial driver, there should be an official release stating the traffic infractions in the state and the fine for each of them.

He said slashing the fines by 50 per cent was ambiguous, adding that the amounts to be paid for each crime should be clearly stated to prevent criminal elements who posed as government traffic regulatory officials from abusing the directive.

On his part, Mr. Sunday Dennis, Metropolitan Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), said they would convene a meeting immediately to critically look at the governor’s statement.

It would be recalled that series of protests by commercial bus drivers and tricycle operators had led to the suspension of all forms of transport tickets in the state by the government.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Community Seeks Govt Recognition For Elected Village Head

Published

3 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Some indigenes of Mbiabong Ikpe Village, in Ikpe Annang Clan, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have called on the State Government to recognize Chief Samuel James Udo as the authentic Village Head of the community by according him a Certificate of Recognition.

According to them, the call is necessitated by the fact that Chief Udo has won the first and second election processes on 1st May, 2021 and 15th July 2025.

The indigenes said in addition to his emergence after the two election processes, Chief Udo’s emergence has been confirmed by Chief Akpan Akpa Inyang (Okuku Ikpa Isong Annang), who has handed him (Udo) to “UDAK” as stipulated by the custom and tradition of Annang Land.

They said Udo’s emergence marked the end of every struggle by individuals or groups of persons on the issue of headship of Mbiabong Ikpe Village, Ikpe Annang Land, in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

According to them, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Frank Archibong, should call for the recognition of the Village Head-elect of Mbiabong Ikpe Village in accordance with the Traditional Rulers Council Law of Akwa Ibom State, CAP 134.

This, they said, is because he has been duly and rightly selected by the kingmakers as the village Head-elect and have satisfied all requirements in the extant law for the said selection.

“We are informing the Akwa Ibom State Government of the development, because any imposition of any other name to the Governor will not be accepted by the community”, they said.

Meanwhile, they have alleged that some “enemies of progress are causing problem over the Chieftaincy issue after the winner has emerged and accepted by the entire Kingmakers.”

When contacted the Village Head-elect, Chief Samuel James Udo, advised the people not to cause any crises, saying that their mandate will not be denied.

“I will continue to respect the law. My people are law abiding citizens and God will surely stand for true justice and the certificate will be given to me, not through fighting, causing unrest, or violence, but by our faith in God, and the belief that the relevant authorities will do the needful”, he said.

By: Christopher Tom, Uyo

Niger Delta

Delta Unveils World Book Day Festival

Published

3 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State government on Saturday unveiled the LightRay! Distortion World Book Day Festival.

The festival, themed “That Which Bends, Transcends,” is a major celebration of literature, storytelling, and cultural advocacy in the state.

It was unveiled at the office of the Head of Service, Mrs. Mininim Oseji, in Asaba.

The event was organised by LightRay! Media, in partnership with the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA) and Unchained Vibes Africa.

Founder and President of the media group, Ejiro Umukoro, described the event as the first large-scale literary festival in the state.

She explained that the initiative aims to engage both marginalised and privileged communities in dialogue on resilience, hope, and social change through literature.

Highlighting the transformative power of storytelling, Umukoro said literature can inspire action, reshape perspectives, and drive social change within communities.

According to her, the festival builds on the impact of the Distortion novel series produced by LightRay! Media, which explores themes of human resilience, personal agency, and renewal.

She noted that the book has supported social awareness campaigns and legislative advocacy, contributing to the abolition of the Osu caste system in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo.

“The novel has also received literary recognition, including the TYB Young Adult Literature Prize in 2024,” she added.

Umukoro further revealed that the Delta Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has approved Distortion as a recommended literature text for students.

She expressed concern over the poor condition of public libraries across the state, noting that many remain inactive or non-functional.

”Urban libraries also struggle with outdated collections, inadequate infrastructure, and limited professional staffing”, she said.

Umukoro urged stakeholders to rebuild libraries, strengthen reading communities, and equip facilities with modern learning resources.

“The three-month festival will feature competitions, workshops, creative showcases, and professional development programmes, Umukoro said.

The Permanent Secretary in the office of the Head of Service, Mr. Wilson Chukwuka, commended the initiative.

The leader of the National Association of Seadogs, Mr. Michael Nwaidei, said the project aligns with efforts to encourage critical thinking and knowledge acquisition among young people.

Nwaidei was represented by a member of the association, Mr. Uche Egbuche.

The Tide’s source reports that guests, educators, creatives, and literary enthusiasts from across the state and diaspora communities attended the festival.