Niger Delta

Chancellor Seeks TETFUND’s Support For Private Universities

Published

3 years ago

September 14, 2022

The Chancellor, Wellspring University, Benin, Mr Ituah Ighodalo, has called for Federal Government’s support through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TeTFUND) for private universities in Nigeria.
Ighodalo made the call while speaking with The Tide’s source on the sidelines of the third combined convocation ceremony of the university.
According to him, the call became very important because these universities and institutions are solving national problems.
Without capacity, education, skilling and up-skilling, the Chancellor said, Nigeria could not be great, stressing that the critical problems in the country today bothered on ignorance, lack of education and unskilled people.
“We really want the government through Tetfund and all its other agencies committed to education to also put private universities in their budget for support.
“It is very important because these universities and institutions are solving national problems. Without capacity, without education, skilling and up-skilling, we cannot have a great country.
“One of the big problems in Nigeria today is ignorance, lack of education, unskilled people; that is causing terrorism, banditry, herdsmen and so on and so forth.
“If our people can be educated and people are willing to invest their money in education, the least they can do, apart from being licensed, is to get all the supports that come from government,” he said.
Ighodalo said government should put in place a process where private institutions should be able to apply for funding.
“So, whatever criteria they want to use, whatever process they want to use and whatever thing they want to fund, they should be willing to give funds to those universities.
“So, the government may say I will build for you your department of capacity building; I will build for you your capacity of skilling or technical knowledge; I will build for you your department of ICT, or whatever it is that government wants to emphasis.
“Every year, we will do one project for each of these private universities. They put it in their budget and they can say maximum N50 million; maximum N100 million or N200 million, whatever they want to do.
“But each one of those things would provide some kind of encouragement and support for the universities.
“It can even be the way of government directing the universities in the areas they want them to specialise in and they can have different universities in different parts of Nigeria specialising in different things,” he said.
The Chancellor also urged the Federal Government to make available research grant for the lecturers in those private institutions in order to help solve the national problem and nation building.
“The other thing they can do is to also make available for them grants for research.
“Grants for teachers; grants for education so that if government wants research in certain area, any university that qualifies will be given grant to do the research in animal husbandry, in agriculture and even weapon building.
“That way, they will be able to encourage universities; that way, they will be able to direct universities in their own area of emphasis; they will be able to ensure universities are well run and competitive; and they will be able help solve the problem of education and nation building,” he said.

Niger Delta

Navy Pledges Improved Patrols, Welfare Boost For Personnel

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has pledged to ensure improved welfare for personnel and more patrols on the maritime corridors of the nation.

He disclosed this during an on the spot assessment of things at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Calabar, on Wednesday.

According to him, there is the need for officers to always be ready, by improving on their welfare, in a bid to keep the country secured.

“I am here for an on the spot assessment of our operations and like you have seen, I have also gone round to check the ongoing buildings.

”These are welfare issues and for us to be able to have our men ready and keep us secured, their welfare needs to be catered for.

“So, we are here to kill two birds with one stone, which are basically operations and welfare issues.

”I am happy with what the command is doing; it is doing well in terms of keeping the maritime environment safe.

“We will continue doing what we are doing and improve on that, which is patrol of the waters and increase in the area of surveillance”, he stated.

As part of his visit, Abbas commissioned the 12×1 Junior Rates Accommodation Block A and B, at the Navy Barracks at Atimbo in Calabar.

The naval chief also inspected other ongoing projects in the Akim Barracks, 1006 flats and the Navy hotel, all within Calabar.

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Uromi Junction Flyover Construction

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State Government says it has began construction work on the long-awaited Uromi Junction Flyover Bridge in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

Director-General (DG) of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, confirmed the development to newsme in Asaba.

According to him, heavy-duty construction equipment have arrived the site, a project which is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, one of the country’s leading construction firms.

Oghenesivbe, described the flyover as a massive infrastructure project with far-reaching socio-economic benefits for the area.

He said the project would significantly transform the Agbor metropolis by easing traffic congestion, improving the city’s aesthetics, and boosting commercial activities within the local government area.

He described the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as a promise-keeper and pragmatic leader whose administration remains committed to infrastructure development and economic growth across the state.

The DG expressed confidence in Julius Berger’s capacity to deliver the project within record time and according to the highest construction standards.

“The Uromi Junction serves as a major link between different parts of the country but has recently been plagued by severe traffic congestion, making vehicular movement increasingly difficult”, he noted.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and safeguard construction materials and equipment to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Rejects Ekid Ownership Claim Of Stubbs Creek

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims by the Ekid People’s Union that it owns land within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, describing such assertions as “false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

In a recent statement, signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, the state government said it was compelled to respond in the “overriding public interest,” despite a pending court case instituted by the same group.

The government stated that contrary to claims circulating in the media, the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak vs. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land in any ethnic group or community.

“The final judgement merely dismissed the claims before the court and granted title to no party whatsoever”, the government stated, adding that “any assertion to the contrary is false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

According to the statement, the land was lawfully reserved by the colonial government under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, later amended in 1941, 1955 and 1962, with “the principal rights of the land forfeited to the Government upon the change of status.”

It said the area has since been administered under applicable laws by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which “has at all times acted within its lawful authority in the management and allocation of land in the area for legitimate public and economic purposes.”

Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, the government stated that all land in the state is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the common benefit of Nigerians, noting that claims of absolute ancestral ownership are subject to existing laws.

The government “categorically denies allegations of fraud or misrepresentation” regarding Stubbs Creek or investments there and warned it would take “appropriate legal steps” against any individual or group publishing false or defamatory material capable of undermining public confidence or discouraging investment

The statement also assured the federal government of “full access and Right of Way” for the proposed Coastal Highway through any part of the state.

The government statement followed an earlier report in which the Ekid People’s Union accused Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State of making comments that allegedly linked the community to terrorism, while he was defending the Coastal Highway project passing through the Stubbs Creek.

Ekid People’s Union maintained that the people of Ekid are the original owners of the land known as Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, arguing that their ancestral ownership predates colonial rule.

The group cited historical occupation, customary ownership and a 1918 Privy Council case, which it claimed affirmed Ekid rights over the territory.

The union also accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of misrepresenting history to justify taking over the land for commercial interests and the proposed Coastal Highway, an allegation the state government has denied.

The group rejected any suggestion linking the Ekid people to criminality or terrorism, insisting they were peaceful citizens defending their ancestral land through lawful and civic means.