Rivers

Group Blames Poor Fishing Activities On Oil, Gas Pollution

Published

3 years ago

November 27, 2023

As Nigeria joined the rest of the World to mark the World Fisheries day last week, a non-governmental organisation, Fish Net Alliance, says oil and gas pollution is impacting negatively on the activities of small fishers in the country.
World Fishers Day is marked November 21 annually.
The theme for this year’s celebration was “Build Enabling Environment For Small Scale Artesenal Fishers”.
A press release made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt and signed by Komo Odhomo, Media Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) said the Fish Net Alliance also blamed oil and gas exploration and exploitation as well as their associated infrastructure.
It said palm invasion is contributing to a reduction in fishing activities, coastal erosion, and flooding.
According to the Alliance, “Nigeria has a coastline of about 853km with Lagos, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River as littoral states.
“28 out of the 36 states in Nigeria are navigable by the connecting inland waters that stretches about 10,000km, encircling whole communities in some cases, and in other cases, linking one community to another”.
The group, however, noted that Coastal areas in Nigeria face various challenges, such as coastal erosion, flooding, over exploitation of fish and other aquatic resources, marine and coastal pollution, mangrove depletion, and nipa palm invasion.
“Across Africa, more than one-fourth (27 percent) of the population living within 5 km from the coast depend on artisanal fishing for job opportunities.
“In Nigeria, over 80 percent of domestic fish production is generated by artisanal fishers. A sector as important as this, which meets the animal protein needs of millions of Africans, deserves to be recognized and supported”.
The release continued that, “As the world marks World Fisheries Day, it should be a time for reflection on the key issues affecting fisheries, particularly the artisanal and small-scale fisheries”.
It decried the situation whereby countries engage in harmful fishing activities.
According to the Alliance. a report published in 2021 showed how 10 countries — China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, the U.S.A., Thailand, Taiwan, Spain, Indonesia and Norway — spent over $15.3 billion on harmful fishing subsidies.
“The report also showed how fishing vessels not only exploited their seas, but how they fished in high seas in other countries and engaged in overcapacity, overfishing, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
“Another challenge faced by small-scale fishers is the issue of oil and gas pollution. Oil and gas exploration and exploitation as well as their associated infrastructure have proven to be one of the worst challenges in recent time.
“Also, the issue of sand-filling of traditional fishing grounds like the one being experienced by the Makoko people in Lagos State, Nigeria, affects fishing practices too”.
It said the theme should evoke a sense of responsibilities as far as fishing activities are concerned.
It further stated that, “This year’s theme, ‘Build Enabling Policy Environments for Small-scale Artisanal Fisheries’, should evoke a sense of responsibility, accountability, equity, fairness, justice, and inclusivity.
“Artisanal fishers must be consulted and included in the preparation of policies for aquatic environments.
“They hold a lot of knowledge that can shape such policies into pro-people and pro-environment policies”.
The release also had the Executive Director, HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, lamenting the impacts of the oil Well fire that has been burning for over three years now, saying it is shocking that the government and oil and gas companies would allow the Ororo-1 well inferno to continue for over three years off the coast of Awoye in Ondo State without making any attempt to stop it.
“Bassey raised pertinent questions following the continuous burning of the Ororo Well. Huge amounts of hydrocarbons and climate-harming greenhouse gases are being released into the environment.
“Why is the government quiet? Who will clean up, remediate, and restore the already destroyed environment?
“For a government that professes emphasis on the so-called blue economy, this atrocious negligence suggests that government is ready to sacrifice our environment and the communities that depend off natural resources.
“This World Fisheries Day offers a good opportunity for the government to have a change of heart and do the needful”.
Bassey also emphasized that the government must learn to work with coastal communities for better environmental management.
On his part, Stephen Oduware, the Coordinator of Fishnet Alliance, noted that communities like Kono in Ogoniland, which have used local and cultural means to preserve a mangrove area, need to be recognized, promoted, and supported.
He said policymakers must bring artisanal fishers to the policy table to make contributions that will further strengthen maritime policies.
“Fishnet Alliance is a network of fishers engaged in and promoting sustainable fishing practices in line with ecosystem limits.
“We stand in solidarity against destructive extractive activities in water bodies, including rivers, lakes, and oceans”, the statement concluded.

By: John Bibor

Niger Delta

IAUE Trains Lecturers On Scholarly Writing, Research Commercialisation

Published

3 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), through its Directorate of Research and Development, has trained lecturers and Postgraduate Students on scholarly writing and research commercialisation.

The three-day Training Workshop, themed, “Research Commercialisation and Digital Project Supervision”, which kicked-off on October 13, 2026, provided an opportunity to strengthen lecturers’ research capacity, in addition to embracing innovative approaches to academic practice, according to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Dr. Ngozi Okiridu, which quoted the Director of Research and Development, Professor Nduka Wonu.

The Director noted that the discussions focused on supporting students and lecturers to improve academic writing and publication through effective mentorship and the development of publication-ready research teams.

It also focused on supervising research projects smarter with digital systems by leveraging digital dashboards, cloud collaboration and project tracking tools to improve supervision and feedback.

According to the Director, the discussions further “focused on setting standards for the responsible and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence among academics to promote academic integrity and guide the appropriate use of emerging technologies.

“Finally, on writing concept notes and grant proposals, identifying funding opportunities and building partnerships to strengthen research funding, collaboration, commercialisation and societal impact.”

These focus areas, he said, are essential for improving research productivity, strengthening institutional capacity and enhancing the University’s research profile.

Professor Wonu encouraged all to participate actively, share experiences and apply the knowledge gained in teaching, supervision and research activities.

While declaring the workshop open, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of IAUE, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, praised the Directorate for the training programme, which he emphasised is very important for research ethics and the growth of academic staff.

He encouraged staff to take advantage of research grants, to partner and collaborate with others, and to go into consultancy as a way of earning additional income and improving society.

He also encouraged those in Environmental Science and Oil and Gas related fields to involve industries in their research or work in conjunction with industries for exposure to modern research techniques.

Also speaking, the Local Organising Committee Chairperson, Dr. Anne Chidinma Williams, said the workshop explored practical ways to improve academic writing, develop grant concept notes and proposals, increase the visibility of publications, use Artificial Intelligence responsibly and strengthen digital research supervision.

She encouraged participants to turn knowledge into solutions that benefit the University and society.

Sogbeba Dokubo

Niger Delta

Police Rescue Woman, 24, From Online Dating Kidnappers … Arrest Five Suspects

Published

3 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Police Command has rescued a 24-year-old woman who was abducted on her arrival in Port Harcourt to meet a friend she met online.

The police also arrested five suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate accused of luring victims through online dating platforms.

Confirming the arrests, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Blessing Agabe, said the suspects had allegedly confessed to their involvement in the crime during interrogation.

The victim, identified as Chinyere, reportedly travelled from Delta State to Port Harcourt on October 3, 2026, to visit the acquaintance, but was allegedly kidnapped along Igwuruta-Etche Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident was reported to the police on October 4, 2026, at about 9 a.m., prompting the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, to direct operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Diobu, to investigate the case and secure the victim’s release.

The police operatives subsequently rescued the woman and arrested five suspects allegedly linked to the kidnapping syndicate.

The suspects were identified as Gift Okeregwu, 23, from Okehi Community in Etche Local Government Area; Okeregwu Onyekachi, 27, also from Okehi; Bright Augustine, 27, from Akukabu Community in Etche; Chijoke Nwalozie, 35, from Akukabu; and Obinachi Rita, 26, the only female suspect.

The suspects were reportedly arrested at different locations following intelligence gathering and investigations into the circumstances surrounding the victim’s abduction.

She said information obtained from the suspects had also provided investigators with leads regarding other kidnapping incidents reported around the Igwuruta and Etche axis.

According to the police spokesperson, the suspects allegedly admitted using online dating platforms to establish contact with prospective victims from within and outside Port Harcourt before luring them into physical meetings and abducting them.

The development has raised concerns over the potential misuse of online dating platforms by criminal elements to identify, deceive and target unsuspecting individuals.

The Command advised members of the public to exercise caution when engaging with strangers online, particularly those who request physical meetings without sufficient verification of their identities.

It further urged residents to inform trusted persons of their movements when meeting people encountered online and to choose public locations for initial meetings as a precaution against possible criminal attacks.

The police reiterated their commitment to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes in Rivers State, urging members of the public to provide credible information that could assist security agencies in identifying and apprehending criminal suspects.

King Onunwor

Rivers

Deaf Community Seeks Disability Laws Enforcement, Better Education

Published

3 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Association of The Deaf has called on the State Government to strengthen the implementation of disability rights laws, and construct more schools for deaf children in the state.

It also called for the expansion of employment and empowerment opportunities for persons with hearing impairments in the state.

The association made the call recently at the 2026 Deaf Awareness Week held at the Women Development and Skills Acquisition Centre, Eastern Bypass, Port Harcourt,

The week has as its theme, “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights: Advancing Deaf People’s Human Rights in Rivers State.”

The programme, organised by the Rivers State Association of the Deaf (RSAD), was aimed at raising awareness about the rights, welfare and challenges of deaf persons and promoting theirinclusion in governance, education, healthcare, employment and other aspects of society.

The South-South Zonal Coordinator of the Nigerian Association of the Deaf, Henry Obotu, said one of the major challenges confronting deaf persons in Rivers State was their exclusion from government activities and inadequate access to public information because of communication barriers.

Obotu called for the effective implementation of disability rights legislation, stressing that deaf persons should enjoy equal opportunities and participate fully in public life.in public life.

He noted that government announcements and other important information were often disseminated without sign language interpretations, thereby making it difficult for deaf persons to understand issues affecting them.

Obotu urged media organisations to incorporate captions and subtitles into their broadcasts and public information materials to ensure that members of the deaf community were not left behind.

According to him, the establishment of specialized schools and learning centres for deaf persons, their educational and communication needs required appropriate attention and support.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Rivers State Association of theDeaf, Comrade So-oriari T. Beneth, called for greater government support for the deaf community, including skills acquisition programmes, employment opportunities and improved educational facilities.

Beneth expressed appreciation to the state government for its support for the association, but stressed the need for sustained commitment to the welfare and empowerment of deaf persons.

He identified education, economic empowerment and accessibility as key areas requiring government intervention, and urged authorities to provide adequate resources for schools serving deaf students and expand vocational training and employment opportunities.

According to him, investing in the deaf community would enable its members to become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to the development of Rivers State.

Godslove Justice, Sunday Naomi &Christopher Kelechi