Niger Delta

Diri Warns Troublemakers In Opu-Nembe …Lists Benefits Of Nembe-Brass Road

Published

2 years ago

July 17, 2023

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has warned those fomenting trouble and beating the drums of war in Opu-Nembe community in Nembe Local Government Area of the state to desist forthwith or face the wrath of the law.
Speaking in Government House, Yenagoa, on Friday when members of the Nembe Se Congress paid him a courtesy visit, Governor Diri stated that government will not fold its arms and watch a few individuals disturb the peace of Nembe kingdom, particularly in Bassambiri community.
The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, expressed displeasure over the actions of a few unscrupulous elements fomenting trouble yet playing the victim.
He stated that the government will take appropriate action against anyone found wanting no matter how highly placed.
He stressed that without peace, development would elude the people of the area and that all hands ought to be on deck to ensure that peace prevailed in Bassambiri community.
Governor Diri lauded the Nembe Se Congress for their interest in the Nembe-Brass road, saying he is encouraged by the group’s partnership with the state government to ensure the project saw the light of day.
He urged other groups in the state to emulate the congress by showing interest in government projects, its activities and raising concerns in appropriate quarters rather than engaging in social media criticisms.
The state’s helmsman further stated that apart from the economic reasons, the government embarked on construction of the Nembe-Brass road to reduce travel time to communities in the area as well as costing the cost and risk of water transportation.
He frowned at those playing politics with the road project, saying since news broke about the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited taking over construction of the road, nothing had been done by the company or the federal government.
Responding to a request to upgrade facilities in schools in Nembe, the governor said the government was not leaving any stone unturned in its effort to transform the education sector.
He explained that the educational direction of the state was science and vocational education in order to empower the youths beyond paper certificates.
His words: “As a government, we will not sit down and watch anybody make Nembe-Bassambiri ungovernable.
“Let me say this with all sense of responsibility that those who have been playing politics with security in the area will be dealt with no matter how highly placed.
“Like every other project we have embarked upon, we will not abandon the Nembe-Brass road. The benefits of that road are enormous.
“I like to appreciate you for giving serious attention to the road project. We cannot play politics with it. We should move beyond playing politics with our development.
“Let me also that since the issue of NNPC coming to take over construction of the road came up, I have not seen any action from them.”
Earlier, President of the Nembe Se Congress, Dr. Ebiegberi Domo-Spiff, lauded Governor Diri for taking the bull by the horns to kick-start the Nembe-Brass road project.
He called on government to strictly monitor the project by appointing a consultant with the relevant expertise to ensure that it meets the specification and that it is completed within the timeframe.
Dr. Domo-Spiff also appealed to the government to provide ferry boats to ease water transportation in the Nembe and Brass axis as well as ensure strict compliance with maritime laws to improve safety on the waterways.
He equally requested for a campus of the Bayelsa Medical University in the area, to which the governor responded that he will look into the law establishing the institution to see if there was provision for a multi-campus structure.

Niger Delta

Navy Pledges Improved Patrols, Welfare Boost For Personnel

Published

7 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

10 hours 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

10 hours 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.