Niger Delta

Diri’s Aide Reassures Media Of Partnership

Published

3 years ago

May 3, 2023

The Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Daniel Alabrah, has re-assured media practitioners in the state of a more fruitful and robust relationship in the discharge his duties.
Alabrah gave the assurance, Monday, at the Ernest Sesei Ikoli Press Centre, NUJ Secretariat in Yenagoa, the State capital, during his visit to the leadership and members of the union shortly after conclusion of the Workers’ Day celebration.
He commended media stakeholders in the state for their various roles in informing, enlightening and educating the public on the programmes and activities of the Governor Douye Diri-led prosperity government, saying, journalists in the state have been constructive critiques of the government unlike what obtains in other clime states.
While promising that the parley would be periodic, the Bayelsa Governor’s spokesman hinted that his visit to the NUJ Secretariat would be monthly, noting also that through the planned periodic visits, issues affecting the union and members within his reach would be looked into, adding that his doors were open for media practitioners for fruitful and productive partnership in the line of duty.
“My visit today isn’t political, but just to say thank you for the partnership that has ensued between my office as CPS and the Media in the state. This is not my first time of visiting the State Council.
“As a Journalist appointed into Government as CPS, I think it’s only traditional that I pay periodic visits to my family, the NUJ, so that our relationship can be better understood. I want to promise that this visit would now be monthly, and so we could have more time to discuss issues affecting us as journalists together”, Alabrah said.
Speaking earlier, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council, Comrade Samuel Numonengi, thanked the Governor’s image maker for his visit.
Numonengi restated the commitment of the NUJ leadership and members of the union in the state to partnering the Governor’s CPS and indeed the entire machinery of Government in the state for progress, calling on the CPS to remind his boss, and Governor of the state, Senator Douye Diri, of the need to periodically meet with journalists in the state for a more robust relationship.
“CPS, I want to thank you for this visit to the NUJ Secretariat today. This is your home and so it’s more of a home coming. We know you’ve been coming and also been partnering the State Council in the discharge of your functions as CPS and ours as practising journalists.
“But please, CPS, Sir, help us tell the Governor to meet with journalists in the state periodically. I think the last time he met with us was about three years ago. It’s been long. Meeting with us periodically would foster better and robust relationship”, the NUJ Chairman said.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa

Niger Delta

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

Published

3 days 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

3 days 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

3 days 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.