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

Eno Recommits To Private Sector Investments

Published

3 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, says his administration will continue to promote private sector investments in order to enhance economic prosperity.

Eno, who stated this recently at the inauguration of a new Zenith Bank branch in Uyo, said private sector growth was critical to employment generation and the overall development of the State.

He said his long-standing business relationship with Zenith Bank exposed him to the critical roles that banks could play in supporting private sector growth.

“The bank played a laudable role in the growth of Royalty Hotels, a brand I pioneered and led until I joined public service.

“It is my hope that the bank will accord the same support to other private sector investments in the state, be it micro, small or medium-scale enterprise”, he said.

Earlier, the Group Managing Director, Zenith Bank PLC, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, described the new business office as a significant milestone in the life of the bank.

She thanked successful administrations in the state for their support to the bank over the years, saying, ”We thank the Governor for creating a conducive environment for business to thrive.

“We opened our first branch in Akwa Ibom about 25 years ago, we have enjoyed a very good relationship with the government and people of the state.

“Akwa Ibom stands out as a major business friendly state. The state is clean, accommodating, and fast developing, we commend the government for this”, she said.

The Zenith Bank chief reiterated the bank’s commitment to sustain its partnership with the government and people of Akwa Ibom in order to make mutually impactful and meaningful progress.

She urged business owners in the state, especially women, to leverage the initiatives being offered by the bank to grow their businesses.

Niger Delta

Delta Prioritises Primary Healthcare Over Flyover Projects

Published

3 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Delta Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening primary healthcare services across the state, dismissing claims that it was focusing more on visible infrastructure projects than grassroots healthcare delivery.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, made the clarification while reacting to comments by health influencer, Aproko Doctor.

Aproko Doctor recently suggested on social media that political leaders often prioritised flyovers and modern hospitals while neglecting primary healthcare centres.

Onojaeme said the claim did not reflect the situation in Delta, noting that healthcare remained a central pillar of the Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori administration’s development agenda.

According to him, although road projects and flyovers are visible across the state, deliberate investments have also been made in healthcare infrastructure and services.

He said that within two years, the state government had renovated 150 primary healthcare centres across the three senatorial districts out of the 441 public health facilities in the state.

According to him, another 150 centres are already undergoing planning and preparation for renovation.

“The effort will bring the number of upgraded primary healthcare centres to 300, thereby improving access to quality healthcare at the community level and reducing pressure on secondary and tertiary hospitals,” he said.

The commissioner said that the state’s free maternal and under-five healthcare programme continued to yield positive results, including reductions in maternal and infant mortality, while easing financial burdens on families.

“Gov. Oborevwori recently approved the release of N2 billion to sustain the programme, alongside regular funding to strengthen Universal Health Coverage in the state,” he said.

Onojaeme also said that state-owned hospitals were granted autonomy to retain and utilise their internally generated revenue, enabling them to procure drugs, maintain equipment and respond more efficiently to patient needs.

“In specialised healthcare delivery, dialysis machines have been installed in state hospitals, helping to reduce waiting time for treatment while lowering dialysis costs from about N70,000 to N45,000 per session,” he said.

He said that CT scan machines installed at Warri Central Hospital and Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, were already improving diagnosis of conditions such as stroke and internal injuries.

“While newly procured echocardiography machines are strengthening early detection of heart-related conditions.”

The commissioner said the government had ordered three Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines for installation at Asaba Specialist Hospital, Central Hospital Warri and DELSUTH, Oghara, ensuring coverage across the three senatorial districts.

“While some states do not have a single MRI machine, Delta State is procuring three at once, with delivery expected by April as site preparations are ongoing,” he said.

Onojaeme said the government was establishing a new College of Health Sciences in Ovrode, Isoko North Local Government Area, to complement the existing institution in Ofuoma and boost the training of middle-level health manpower.

“The long-abandoned Mother and Child Hospital in Ekpan was nearing completion, while another Specialist Hospital was being developed in Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area, modelled after the Asaba Specialist Hospital.

According to him, Delta remains the only state in the country with more than 60 functional government-owned hospitals, adding that the current administration is determined to further expand healthcare access.

On health insurance, Onojaeme said enrollment under the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme had surpassed 2.78 million residents as of January 2026, making it one of the leading state-supported health insurance programmes in the country.

He explained that the scheme covered both formal and informal sector workers, while prioritising vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children under five and the elderly, through the Equity Health Plan.

The commissioner added that the scheme recently enrolled 10,000 widows and continues to register indigent residents across the state.

He also disclosed that the Delta State Contributory Health Commission had introduced facial recognition technology at accredited facilities to improve efficiency and transparency in service delivery.

Onojaeme reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage and delivering affordable and accessible healthcare services to residents across the state.

Niger Delta

C’River Assembly Seeks Crackdown On Drug Abuse

Published

3 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State House of Assembly has urged the State Government to urgently enforce drug laws to curb the rising menace of substance abuse.

The resolution followed a matter of urgent public importance raised by Yakurr I lawmaker, Mr. Cyril Omini, during plenary in Calabar.

Omini cited a tragic incident in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area, involving a 23-year-old man allegedly under the influence of drugs.

He said the suspect, Ubi Bassey, allegedly beheaded his father, Bassey Okoi, on February 2.

“Drug abuse has become widespread among youths, with alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and tramadol commonly abused.

“In spite of warnings by health and government agencies, illicit drug trading and consumption persist across many communities”, Omini said.

According to him, the trend has led to early deaths and, in extreme cases, violent crimes against innocent persons.

Omini warned the incident had caused fear in Ugep, cautioning that failure to act decisively could worsen social decay.

He, however, commended the State Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Okoi Obono (rtd), for efforts to restore peace in the area.

Lawmakers called for sustained drug sensitisation, youth-focused campaigns, stronger partnerships with non-governmental organisations, and stricter enforcement against drug peddlers and users.

The Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, expressed sadness over the incident and urged prompt prosecution of the suspect to deter other youths.