Niger Delta

Diri Tasks Ijaws On Culture Preservation

Published

3 years ago

April 12, 2023

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has stressed the need for the people of the Ijaw ethnic nationality to preserve and promote the positive aspects of their culture to enable them command honour and dignity.
Senator Diri stated this while speaking as Special Guest of Honour during the public lecture of this year’s Sagbama Ebila-Oge celebration in Sagbama Town, headquarters of Sagbama Local Government Area.
Represented at the occasion by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Diri noted that a people without a culture were a people without an existence and future.
Underscoring the need for every community in the state to regularly organize festivals to promote the Ijaw culture, the Bayelsa Chief Executive, however, expressed concern that many children born in Ijaw communities in recent times could not speak the Ijaw language.
He stressed that language was the vehicle of culture, and as such, when a people’s language fades away, their culture automatically takes its leave as well.
He advised the people of Sagbama to be their brother’s keeper always and to continue to use their festival to unify the community, assuring that the State Government would continue to support and identify with communities that organize festivals for cultural promotion.
”Culture is the pride of a people. A people without culture is a people without existence.We have been so intimidated that we now live other people’s culture and not our culture. We are afraid that if our festivals are not regularly organized in our communities, at a point in time, we will be a people without culture.
“I am very sure that there are some children born in Sagbama here who cannot speak Ijaw. And that is not good for us as a people. Language is the vehicle of culture. Once your language goes away, your culture has started going out of your body.
“The Bayelsa State Government is committed to promoting culture at all levels. So, we are here to celebrate culture because we appreciate the importance of celebrating our culture”, he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, the Member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Chief Fred Agbedi, described the Sagbama Ebila-Oge as a major unifying factor among the people of the community.
Chief Agbedi, who was represented by the Secretary of the PDP State Reconciliation Committee, Chief Austin Lugbenwei, said he had participated in several editions of the festival in the past and encouraged the people not to relent.
In his welcome address, the National President of the National Executive Council of Sagbama, Mr Ebi Evinson, said the creation of Sagbama LGA in 1976 and the construction of the erosion control “carpet” at the waterfront in the early 1980s were two critical events that necessitated the birth of the festival.
He thanked the Governor and other top government functionaries for finding time to attend the programme, and extended his appreciation to everyone who had made financial contributions to the celebration of the festival.
Highpoint of the well-attended ceremony was the conferment of the chieftaincy title of “Buluebitimi Amatariowei of Sagbama” on the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, by the Amananaowei of Sagbama, HRH Moses Ojo Magbisa.
The event also featured a special performance from the Bayelsa State Council for Arts and Culture troupe, traditional wrestling, and public lecture with the topic, “Love and Unity as Imperatives for Community Development”, delivered by Prof. Barclays Ayakoroma.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Navy Pledges Improved Patrols, Welfare Boost For Personnel

Published

23 hours 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

1 day 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

1 day 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.