Niger Delta

FCFMT Resumes Academic Activities, Next Year

Published

3 years ago

September 26, 2022

Academic activities will resume next session at the Ngo campus of the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government, through the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, had recently granted provisional approval for the establishment of a campus of the college at Ngo, headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The approval was contained in a letter titled: “Provisional approval for the establishment of a campus of the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Ngo, at Andoni Local Government Area Rivers State”.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday at Ngo, the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Professor Garba Hamidu Sharubutu, said the council was satisfied with facilities at the Ngo campus of the college.
He said normal academic activities would resume in the campus from the next academic session.
Sharubutu commended the member representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, Hon. Awajinombek Abiante, for his effort towards the establishment of the college campus at Ngo.
He said the institution would bring development to the community as well as improve its economic conditions.
The Executive Secretary also urged the people to protect facilities at the new campus.
Also speaking, the Provost of the college, Dr. Chuks Onuoha, said the campus which is the only one in the South South part of the country would assist the college in the training of the huge manpower required in the fishery and marine technology.
Dr. Onuoha said the campus would also assist management to save the cost of moving ex-militants to the Lagos campus for training, as well as improving the skills of local fishermen in the area.
Onuoha also described the college as the foremost fishery institute in the country, noting that since its establishment in 1969, it has graduated people that dominate the fishery and maritime industry.
He said the college awards both OND and HND certificates.
Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Barrister Erastus Awortu, said the campus would place Andoni on the map as far as educational institutions are concerned.
“It will bring manpower and oil companies will not have any excuses of lack of manpower, “he said.
Meanwhile, the member representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, Hon. Awajinombek Abiante, has promised to pay the tuition fees of the first one hundred students who will enroll into the college.
He said the campus being the first of such in the entire South South would be beneficial not only to Andonis but the entire South South region.
He said he had donated parts of his property to facilitate the take-off of the college at Ngo.
Meanwhile some groups in the local government area have commended the Federal Government for the approval.
The groups, which include the Ngo Professionals Forum and the Amango Youths Assembly, said the establishment of the new institute in Ngo would help in the development of the community and the entry Andoni Local Government Area.
President of Ngo Professionals Forum, Monday Oboada, said the campus was long overdue, stressing that it was in line with the yearnings of the people.
According to him, “without much words, all of us know the importance of education in the development of every society.
“The approval of this divine institute to be sited at Ngo is a much welcome and strategic development”, he said.
Monday said the campus would create educational opportunities for sons and daughters of Ngo and Andoni.
He praised Hon. Abiante, for championing the siting of the institution at Ngo.
Also speaking, Vice President of Amango Youths Assembly, Mr Arong Brown, said the campus would attract investors into the community.
He said, “The siting of the Federal College of Fisheries Research and Marine Technology in Ngo Town is a great feat and it’s unprecedented as its presence would beckon investors within and beyond Nigeria for business purposes.
“It will attract road construction and other social amenities in the area including lodges, hotels and hostels for students and business owners, especially those outside Ngo and Andoni and Rivers State, and perhaps, Nigeria.
“Furthermore, not only will it thrive economic activities in Ngo Town but those of its environs by over 500% comparatively thereby, bringing Ngo and Andoni into the economic world”.

By: John Bibor

Niger Delta

IYC Ex-Mobilization Director Picks Publicity Scribe’s Form … Pledges Diligence

Published

4 minutes ago

January 23, 2026

The Tide

Former Director of Mobilization of the umbrella Ijaw youth group, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Media and Public Affairs, Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli, has picked nomination form to contest for the position of Publicity Secretary in the March 6th, 2026 National Executive Pouncil polls of the apex Ijaw soci-ocultural organisation, the Ijaw National Congress (INC).

In a press statement by his media team, Ikuli said he was vying for the position to create a better and enduring legacy for the Ijaw nation, promising to serve with diligence and respect for the Ijaw nation when elected.

He noted that nobody from any other ethnic nationality in the world can tell the true Ijaw story more than the Ijaw people themselves, saying over the years actions and inactions of the Ijaw nation have been misconstrued and mistaken for something else.

The statement read in parts: “Over the years, we, Ijaws, with the richest history, have allowed others to tell our history. In doing so, they have mutilated and doctored our history.

“They present Ijaws as beggars even when, as the richest tribe in the Nigerian state, we have continued to feed the entire country of over 350 tribes and ethnic groups since 1956, when crude oil and gas were discovered in commercial quantities and quality in Ijaw land.

“In human history, Ijaw people have never been conquered by any of our neighbours, not even the European explorers and adventurers and later colonialists.

“The Europeans were trade partners of Ijaws when civilization was still far from many tribes, yet they portrayed Ijaws as victims and conquered people.

“Ijaws are the most hospitable people. It is only in Ijaw land that visitors feel very comfortable and safe without fear of food poisoning, betrayal, or death. Ijaws treat visitors as families and great assets. Ijaws do not joke or gamble with relationships with outsiders. Yet, they erroneously describe us as unfriendly people.”

Ikuli added that Ijaws are some of the most peaceful humans on earth, yet others portray them as violent and very hostile people, noting that at times people from other tribes deliberately distort and bastardize history and happenings in the Ijaw land so as to gag Ijaws.

“At times people of other ethnic groups want to stop us from telling the story of our contributions to the peace, unity, growth, and development of the country. Despite our immeasurable sacrifices, they make us feel very insignificant and unappreciated.

“Ijaw is the fourth largest tribe in a country of over 350 tribes and ethnic groups that were hitherto independent nations, empires, emirates and kingdoms before the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates, yet they portray us as minority.

“How can the fourth largest tribe in a country of over 350 tribes and ethnic groups be a minority?”, he queried.

The aspirant alleged that the endless balkanization of Ijaw territories were fruitless attempts to weaken the Ijaw nation and destroy her greatness and Ijawness, saying that the Ijaw nation has some of the best brains in the world, yet citizens of the ethnic group are being portrayed as lazy, unproductive, and unsuccessful.

“Oftentimes people from other ethnic groups portray us as very lazy, just to deliberately seek to make us lose our self-esteem and self-confidence. Ijaws have some of the richest cultural heritage, yet they try to portray us as inferior beings.

“As far back as the 12th century, when many were still struggling with the issue of self-consciousness amidst identity crisis, Ijaws were already a very organized and highly formidable people.

“Ijaws can boast of one of the oldest democracies in the world. I call it ‘Ijaw Traditional Democracy’.

“As far back as the 12th century, when the first European explorers and adventurers, precisely Portuguese, arrived Ijaw land, they discovered that Ijaw societies, our great kingdoms, were living well organized lifestyles.

“We had Amanyanabo-in-Council, Ebenanaowei-in-Council, Pere-in-Council, and others who worked in great synergy with community paramount rulers. While our kings served as today’s judiciary, our regular gatherings at town squares, now town hall meetings, served as legislature and executive, while able bodied men and warriors served as army and police.

“So, Ijaws had very organized and prosperous villages, towns, and kingdoms.

“It was the well organized systems in Ijaw land that made the British Crown and their various trade merchants and agents to sign several trade partnership agreements and treaties with many Ijaw kingdoms.

“Before the advent of crude oil and gas, Ijaw communities boasted of sufficiencies in terms of food, timber, palm oil, and others. As a matter of fact, as far back as the 18th century, palm oil from Ijaw land dominated the European market.

“Ijaw Nation, which is one of the oldest and greatest tribes in the African continent, has the richest history, yet they deliberately denigrate, demonize, and portray Ijaws in very bad light in order to destroy our Ijawness.

“Multitudes admire our rich cultural heritage in secret, but condemn and speak against it in public. They deliberately do this to make us hate and even reject our natural endowments and heritage. It is time to tell the Ijaw rich history to the world. It is time to speak naked and undiluted truth to power.

“Throughout my service to the Ijaw Nation as the National Director of Mobilization and Chairman, Action Committee of the most revered Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, and even as Acting President of the IYC Worldwide, there is no record anywhere that I collected a dime from any public office, company or individual in the name of Ijaw struggle. I only fought for employment opportunities, which I shared among the zones.

“At the age of 49, no individual can accuse me of betraying or stealing a dime belonging to another person.

“I have consciously lived a decent, honest, and sincere lifestyle that has never betrayed public trust. I promise and assure the Ijaw Nation that I shall serve diligently to the best of my knowledge and ability as the National Publicity Secretary of the most revered Ijaw National Congress (INC) and I will make the Ijaw Nation proud as its image maker”, he stated.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Otu Reiterates Support For Military Veterans, Families

Published

4 minutes ago

January 23, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of military veterans and their families.

Otu, who spoke at the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Calabar, said his administration would not forget the contributions of fallen heroes.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Odey, the Governor described the armed forces remembrance day as a reminder of the sacrifices made by military veterans to keep Nigeria united and peaceful.

“The lesson is to remember our fallen heroes, people who sacrificed for the country, many of them paid with their lives to protect this nation”, he said.

Otu further said that widows of late military officers would continue to be part of his government’s programmes and interventions.

“All widows are being carried along, the Commissioner for Social Welfare ensures their inclusion in every programme”, he said.

Earlier, the Cross River State Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Daniel Ojugbo, said the ceremony was not only an honour for fallen heroes, but a time to reflect on the challenges being faced by military veterans and their families.

Ojugbo said families of fallen military officers faced delayed welfare benefits, limited medical care and unemployment for their widows and other dependants.

He commended Otu for his support, saying that his administration had shown genuine and remarkable concerns for the legion and its members.

Also speaking, the Coordinator, Military Widows in the state, Mrs. Miriam Orok, thanked the Governor for improved treatment and inclusion in welfare interventions.

“We are actually seeing better changes. He has been carrying us along, and we are very grateful. We also thank the governor’s wife for her sense of compassion”, she said.

The Tide’s source reports that the event featured prayers, wreath-laying, and tributes to the fallen heroes.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Airport Committee Okays April Date For Operation

Published

5 minutes ago

January 23, 2026

The Tide

The Committee for the ‘Actualisation of the Victor Attah Airport’s International Status’ has expressed satisfaction with the level of progress at the airport, saying the April timeline for international operations to resume will be achieved.

The Federal Government, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, recently upgraded the Victor Attah Aiport in Akwa Ibom State to an international status, clearing the way for the airport to commence the process of receiving and processing international passengers.

Following a technical assessment visit to the airport led by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the state Governor, Eno, inaugurated the committee with the mandate to commence the process of enabling the airport to achieve international operations standard.

The media unit of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman of the Committee, Prince Enobong Uwah, said the committee is happy with the pace and quality of work at the airport.

The statement explained that the committee’s inspection covered critical infrastructure and operational areas, including the access road, terminal building, apron, taxiway, security perimeter fencing, IP intelligence security cameras, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, vegetation clearing, and the transformer area and medium voltage power panels, among others.

Uwah was quoted as saying, “‘I’m satisfied with the pace and quality of work at the airport, the current level of progress gives confidence that the April timeline for international operations will be achieved.’’

The SSG explained that following the inauguration of the committee by Governor Umo Eno on January 5, the inspection became imperative to assess readiness across key operational areas, identify infrastructure gaps, and ensure timely interventions to guarantee a seamless take-off of international flights.

He assured stakeholders that the committee would maintain continuous oversight through periodic inspections until all components of the project are fully completed.

Uwah commended contractors handling various aspects of the project for the speed and quality of work delivered so far, while urging them to intensify efforts to meet set deadlines.

Addressing the committee during the inspection, Engreer Oliver Ebong of VKS, the firm handling the international terminal, highlighted areas requiring urgent attention to ensure full completion of the facility, adding that work on the terminal would be concluded by the end of March.

Other members of the committee who participated in the inspection are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, SAN; the Commissioner for Finance and Special Duties, Mr. Emem Bob; the Managing Director of the Airport Development Authority, Mr. Uwem Ekanem; the Managing Director of Ibom Air, Mr. George Uriesi; the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Engreer Ephraim Udosen; and the Accountant-General of the State, Pastor Uwem Andrew Essien.