Niger Delta

2023: Tinubu Pledges Infrastructure In Delta

Published

3 years ago

November 28, 2022

The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, says he will address the infrastructure deficit in the riverrine communities in Delta State.
Tinubu gave the assurance, last Friday, while addressing the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of the State.
The former Governor of Lagos State and his entourage were hosted by the King of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oboro Gbaraun II (Aketekpe Agadagba) Pere of Gbaramatu.
Tinubu addressed the crowd of party leaders and supporters at the pavilion in Oporoza, Administrative Headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom.
The APC presidential candidate said he would not be far from the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom as President of Nigeria, promising that they would be carried along.
“You mentioned the roads, Sea ports, the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU), Industrial Park. I assured you that all these and more will be taken care off.
“As promised, we will not be far away from you; we will carry you along and consult with you regularly; we will encourage you and keep to our promises.
“Our brothers here, we will embrace them for the development of the area; the community of Gbaramatu and other associated communities,” he said.
Describing himself as the renewed hope for Nigerians, Tinubu said his administration would be premised on economic development, progress and jobs creation for youths.
He urged his opponent in the presidential race, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to go and rest noting that he had ran for the position for too long.
“There are few of us left running the presidential race. One said he is Atiku. How many times has he been running?
“He is always on the run and he is tired, tell him to go and sit down, enough is enough,” Tinubu said.
He urged the King of Gbaramatu Kingdom to ensure that oil facilities in his kingdom were well protected from vandalism.
“Please pay attention to the dangers of the destructions of pipelines and petroleum facilities.They are dangerous to our health, the fish and everything you do,” he said.
Also, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, the APC Gubernatorial candidate in Delta, said one of the greatest challenges in the Gbaramatu Kingdom was lack of access roads to the mainland.
Omo-Agege promised to address it when he becomes the governor.
“I allude to the king when he said that the greatest challenges they face was access to the hinterland, that we need to have the kingdom bridged to the mainland.
“It is request that I will pursue as incoming governor with the incoming President, Tinubu, by the grace of God.
“I am familiar with this kingdom; the issue of the full implementation of the NMU.
“We know what the challenges are and I have undertaken those challenges with the National Assembly dealing with the enabling framework.
“Before the election, the enabling framework will be passed and signed by President Muhammadu Buhari into Law.
“We are also addressing the issues of funding with response to NIMASA,” he said.
Omo-Agege urged the people to vote for all the APC candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
Earlier, Tinubu and some members of his entourage were conferred with chieftaincy titles by the King of Gbaramatu Kingdom.
Tinubu was conferred with the title of “Eyeilaowei” of Gbaramatu Kingdom, meaning “man of high esteem” while Omo-Agege was conferred with the “Ebeikiowei” of Gbaramatu Kingdom, meaning one who remembers the kingdom.
Other beneficiaries of the chieftaincy titles were: Timipre Sylva, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment.
Others were: Abdullahi Ganduje, the Governor of Kano State; Mai Buni, Governor of Yobe, among others.

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

8 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State have called for government’s urgent intervention to end the suspected underwater gas eruption in the community.

The groups, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made the call during their advocacy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Port Harcourt.

The Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, said the visit was to seek clarity on the response efforts of the regulators to the development in the community.

Ebiaridor expressed concern over what he described as “inadequate response from regulatory agencies and the government concerning the incident”.

He said discussions with some officials revealed that there was still no clear timeline for action to address the situation.

According to him, in the absence of clear ownership of the facility linked to the incident, companies operating within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 should be held accountable.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had in a statement issued on March 20 by its Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission had commenced an investigation into a gas bubbling incident in Bille Community.

Eyesan said the commission expressed concern over the development and assured residents of its ongoing efforts to address the situation.

Also, the Resource Justice Manager of Social Action, Dr. Prince Edegbuo, warned that the situation could escalate into a public health emergency, if urgent steps were not taken.

Edegbuo called on relevant authorities to release the results of the tests reportedly conducted in the area, stressing that residents had the right to know the condition of their environment.

He also said CSOs were prepared to intensify advocacy on the matter, urging the development of emergency response measures, including possible evacuation plans.

A legal practitioner and community stakeholder, Mr. Commission Deinbo, had, on March 20, said residents had continued to witness unusual signs on the waterways in the area.

Deinbo said the signs included boiling and bubbling from the ground and river, sometimes within residential areas, as well as fire outbreaks, which the residents had always managed to contain.

He appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid and find a lasting solution to the problem.

In a response, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, Mr. Bello Augustin, assured the community that he would relate its concerns to the appropriate quarters.

Augustin also commended the CSOs for their advocacy and concerns to community development in the state.

By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Niger Delta

Police Detain 7, Recover Arms In A’Ibom

Published

12 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has detained seven suspects and recovered firearms after raiding a criminal hideout in Ndiya Mfia, Ikono Local Government Area.of the State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, made the disclosure in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday.

John said that the breakthrough which occurred at about 6.00a.m on Wednesday, followed credible intelligence from members of the public.

“We reliably gathered that criminal suspects were hibernating in a compound disguised as worshippers.

“In a decisive operation, our personnel conducted a thorough search of the premises which led to the detention and recovery of arms,” she said.

According to her, the operation was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to decisively combat crime in the country.

The police spokesman further said that two locally made double-barrel guns, five expended cartridges, four motorcycles and three generators were recovered during the operation.

She also listed 10 mobile phones, one police crest, four jungle boots, one peak cap, saw blade, spanner, number plates, machetes, a special force vest as other items recovered.

“We also found bottles of suspected spiritual oil and one enlarged photograph linked to an ongoing investigation,” she said.

John said that preliminary investigation suggested that the location was being used as cover for criminal operations.

She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, has directed a comprehensive investigation on the matter in order to apprehend the principal suspect.

John expressed the commitment of the Command to rid the state of crime, and urged members of the public to always support the police with timely and credible information.

Niger Delta

Otu Launches Grassroot Security Network In C’River

Published

12 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has launched a grassroots security intelligence network, named, ”Homeland Safety and Security Agency,” to strengthen community-based surveillance and enhance safety across the state.

Otu, who inaugurated the agency’s office in the Southern Senatorial District of the state on Monday, in Calabar, said similar offices were being inaugurated in the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts.

The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Emmanuel Ironbar, said the officials of the agency would serve as first point of call before matters would be escalated to main security architecture in the state.

He described Homeland Security as an intelligence-driven structure focused on neighbourhood monitoring and early threat detection through coordinated local efforts.

He said the initiative constituted the directors and field operatives, tasked with gathering and forwarding intelligence to relevant security agencies for prompt action.

Otu noted that the network would serve as a first point of contact before intervention by conventional security agencies.

“It is important that we enhance monitoring of movements across our communities, border areas, and riverine zones to identify suspicious activities and enhance security response.

“The state government will provide necessary gadgets and communication tools to improve efficiency and real-time intelligence sharing,” he said.

Otu called for public cooperation, stressing that ‘’security is a collective responsibility requiring timely information from residents.’’

He said, ‘’to ensure that the security outfit works like a model unit, proper screening would be conducted on the volunteers to weed out undesirable elements from the system.’’

The Tide’s source reports that the Governor handed over 14 motor bikes to the agency’s southern Senatorial district office to enhance their efficiency.

On his part, the Director-General, South of the agency, Mr. Michael Nsan, said the volunteers had played key roles in reducing crime through coordinated patrols and intelligence sharing.

Nsan said over 1,300 volunteers currently supported the operations with additional informants providing critical information across communities.

“Crime rates dropped significantly during the last festive period due to our collaboration with law enforcement agencies in the state,” he said.

The Director-General said volunteers would undergo training and screening, with plans underway for formal recruitment through a government employment portal.

According to him, communication tools, including walkie-talkies, and patrol motorcycles had improved rapid response to security incidents.

He commended the governor’s commitment, noting that the initiative would further strengthen security architecture and community safety across the state.

The source reports that some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion were traditional rulers and government officials.