Niger Delta

2023: Kwankwaso Visits Warri, Inaugurates Delta South Campaign Office

Published

3 years ago

September 21, 2022

The Presidential candidate of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, has inaugurated the Delta South Senatorial candidate’s campaign office in Warri ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Kwankwaso, who arrived in Warri on Saturday to inaugurate the campaign office, solicited support for retired Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, the party’s Delta South Senatorial candidate.
Noting that official campaign had not started, the NNPP presidential candidate, said the large turnout of party faithfuls to welcome him in Warri attested to the popularity of Commodore Nesiama and the party.
The Tide source reports that Kwankwaso and his entourage were earlier received by Commodore Nesiama and other party faithfuls at the Osubi Airstrip in Okpe Local Government Area.
Before the arrival of Kwankwaso, scores of party supporters had dumped their engagements for NNPP during a “Hope Walk” on Saturday.
The hope walk was organised by Nesiama’s Campaign Organisation as part of the activities lined up for the arrival of Kwankwaso and inauguration of the Delta South Senatorial office of Commodore Nesiama.
The movement began from McDermott Junction in Igbudu Community and traversed Deco Junction, Okumagba Avenue, Estate, Okere Market and terminated at the secretariat of the Nesiama’s campaign office at Odion Road.
The party faithfuls said they were tired of failed promises and that their “former parties were not carrying them along in the scheme of things”.
Addressing them, Nesiama urged the people to have their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), noting that the card was the tool for them to elect candidates of their choice in the forthcoming general elections.
While noting that elections were not a do- or- die contest, Nesiama stressed that the hope of the people had been rekindled with the presence of people like him in the race.
“The movement is to sensitise the people to the need for them to collect their PVC’s because without the card, you cannot vote. In other words, you have forefeited your rights to decide on who you want.
“I encourage people to replicate the zeal they displayed during the voters registration in the collection of their PVCs. They should protect their vote and ensure it counts.
“The people of Delta South have moved out to show that they love the Commodore of hope, they love the NNPP coming with new possibilities for them.
“That is the joyful thing. I am elated. I am overwhelmed and I thank God for that opportunity and for the impetus to do more.
“It’s obvious with the turn out of people that nobody was hired. Nobody was bought. People came out enmasse to support this movement,” Nesiama said.

Niger Delta

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

Published

22 hours 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

22 hours 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

22 hours 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.