Niger Delta

NGO, Stakeholders Partner On Campaign Against Oil Spills, Grievance Mechanism

Published

3 years ago

July 19, 2023

A Non-governmental organisation, Stakeholders Alliance for Corporate Accountability (SACA), has just rounded off a one-day event tagged “Triggers of Human Rights and Community Gatekeepers Action Reflection Forum” in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Speaking with newsmen at the event, Executive Director of SACA, Mr Kingsley Ozegbe, said the programme was held in a bid to steer community leaders in the state to take non-violence actions against crude oil spillages due to the huge health hazards linked to their exposure and also to sensitize them on ways to channel their grievances against companies operating in their areas.
The Tide learnt that the event is a component of SACA’s project that is titled, “the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) in conflict and post-conflict contexts in the Niger Delta region”.
The Tide reports that the state’s Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Environment made presentations about the risks that are linked to crude oil spillages into the environment.
Meanwhile, the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for stoppage of further willful damages and illegal activities in the oil business in the State to safeguard the environment and people.
The Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) also indicated its willingness to synergize with stakeholders to address grievances and improve relationship with host communities to end oil spills.
The Grievance Coordinator, Stakeholders Management and Community Development Division, NAOC, Mrs. Diepreye Torubiri, stated this while making a presentation on Agip’s grievance mechanism.
She sensitized the communities about the NAOC Grievance Mechanism, the Stakeholders Management System (SMS), on what it entails, the processes involved, and the channels of receiving grievances, just as she assured communities that NAOC is open to dialogue.
Torubiri added that the process cannot be completed without constituting an engagement until their complaints were addressed, urging aggrieved communities to send their complaints in writing through a credible body like SACA, CLO and NAOC offices for it to be addressed.
In their separate presentations, Director of Petroleum and Pollution, Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, Engr. Enai Reuben, Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Okoya Embasi, and Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Dr. Stowe Jones, cautioned against oil spills.
The trio noted that crude oil spillage degrades the environment, saying it leads to loss of food security and several health challenges including impotence and infertility, frequent miscarriages, change in DNA, as well as various types of cancer, defective births and many more harms.
The Executive Director of SACA, Mr Kingsley Ozegbe said that SACA invited leadership of 40 communities in Bayelsa State, adding also that the NGO is working to reach and sensitize 72 communities by September 2024.
“SACA is concerned over the effect of oil spills on humans, aquatic life and the entire environment.
“SACA’s quest in carrying out continuous sensitization was hinged on its resolve to end the threat posed by Oil spills from either third party interference on oil facilities or equipment failure on the other hand”, the Executive Director said.
This was even as he said the initiative is part of the charge of Pope Francis, who is asking all humanity to care for nature, because it is a common home.
On his part, Head of legal Services and Enforcement, National Human Rights Commission, Bayelsa state office, Barr. Goselle Vinning called on all stakeholders to checkmate the threat posed by vandals in order to forestall the occurrence of oil spills.
He added that human right violations in the affected communities are being given the attention it deserves.
Tide Tide, which monitored the event, reports that participants openly engaged in frank discussions.
Participants reflected on the presentations and shared experiences of actions they are taking to safeguard their community from these menace, just as participants also asked questions and got answers.
Meanwhile, SACA during the programme informed communities that the grievances they received have been submitted to NAOC and hope to get feedback from the firm soon.
The Tide learnt that SACA is being funded by Misean Cara of the Republic of Ireland and St. Patrick Missionary Society.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa

Niger Delta

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

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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

1 day 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.