Niger Delta

MOSIEND CONDEMNS CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF BARRY NDIOMU, ….URGES RIBADU TO IGNORE CALLS

Published

3 years ago

July 26, 2023

The Mass Mobilisation Organization in Niger Delta Region, the Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta, MOSIEND, has condemned at the incessant calls for the removal of the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme PAP, Major General Barry Ndiomu Rtd from office

MOSIEND also called on the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to ignore the calls; saying that those sponsoring the removal are notorious for engaging in such campaigns against the coordinators of PAP right from inception.

National President, MOSIEND Ambassador Kennedy Tonjo West made this known during a media parley with Newsmen in Port Harcourt

The visibly angry President who accused fellow Ijaws for sponsoring endless campaign against Ndiomu noted that the PAP was not initiated for the Ijaws alone, but every other concerned ethnic nationality in the Niger Delta.

According to him, this was the same way the so-called ex-militants went about campaigning against Kingsley Kuku, Paul Boroh, Charles Dokubo and the others”.

“West said that despite the fact that the budget for the PAP has not been increased from #65 billion Naira since 2014 – with high inflation rate, Ndiomu and his predecessors have been able to managed the affairs of the programme and bring about some level of stability in the region.

He wondered why the leaders were not bold enough to complain or agitate for an increase in the budget to meet present realities; and called on those concerned to have a round-table discussion with Ndiomu who will, in turn, present the matter to his principal to reinstate those with genuine cases; rather than disgracing themselves and the entire Ijaw nation before outsiders.

Tonjo West said the current challenges in the PAP office were caused by ex-militant leaders (especially phase 2) from the Ijaw nation, who decided to befriend officers in the office of the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Babagana Monguno, and betray Charles Dokubo and the others,leaking vital information about the Niger Delta and the Amnesty programme to outsiders whom they thought were their friends, which almost led to the abrupt termination of the programme.

The National President said it is unreasonable that a few years later, same set of notorious, selfish ex-militant leaders are now using the problems they caused with their own hands to witch-hunt Barry Ndiomu who has had an impeccable character during his service to the nation as a military personnel.

The MOSIEND Leader advised Ribadu to pay deaf ears to the calls for Ndiomu’s sack and work with him based on merit and not sentiment; as he warned the Ijaws and their collaborators from other ethnicities who are infamous for their relentless attempts to pull down anybody who doesn’t do their bidding to desist.

He equally cautioned indigenes and organizations against ‘pull him down syndrome’ and calling for sack of illustrious sons and daughters of the region who have worked so hard to get to the position of authority; saying that such attitude does not speak well about the people of the region.

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Niger Delta

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

Published

21 hours 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

21 hours 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

21 hours 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.