Niger Delta

INEC Resumes Voter Registration In 397 Edo, Ondo Centres

Published

2 years ago

May 31, 2024

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has resumed continuous voter registration in Edo and Ondo states in preparation for the off-cycle governorship elections.
The elections are scheduled for September 21, 2024, in Edo and November 16, 2024, in Ondo.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Sam Olumekun, in a statement on Monday, announced that the CVR began at 397 centres across the two states on Monday.
The Tide’s source reports that following the severe flooding at the INEC headquarters in Edo State, after the rain on Friday, May 24, the Commission announced a change in venue for its CVR exercise.
The flooding had resulted in significant damage to the building and its contents, as Olumekun, in a press release, quoted the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Anugbum Onuoha, as reporting that both movable and immovable items, including parked vehicles, office furniture, and equipment, were submerged.
The development made the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the to state ask INEC to cancel the exercise, due to the damage to its secretariat.
The State’s Acting Chairman of the APC, Jarret Tenebe, in a statement, urged INEC to cancel the exercise due to the damage to its secretariat, materials and equipment meant for the CVR.
The electoral body, however, moved the registration centre to its office at Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state.
To facilitate access to registration centres, INEC distributed hard copies of the locations to stakeholders and uploaded the information on its website and social media platforms.
Olumekun said, “The Continuous Voter Registration commenced today, Monday, 27th May 2024, as scheduled. The exercise is held in 397 centres in the two states.
“However, as announced by the commission yesterday, the CVR is holding in our Ikpoba Okha LGA office located at 16, Custom Road, off Benin/Auchi Road, Benin City.
“This is a sequel to the flooding of our state headquarters, following torrential rains on Friday, last week”.
The commission released on its website and social media platforms, a short graphic of the procedure for accessing the registration centres.
Olumekun further stated that the CVR offered eligible citizens the chance to register as voters, transfer their registration, request replacements for lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards, and collect PVCs yet to be collected.
The commission encouraged all eligible voters in Edo and Ondo states to take advantage of the opportunity to ensure they got registered and ready to participate in the forthcoming elections.
“We urge all eligible citizens in Edo and Ondo states who are not registered voters to seize the opportunity of the CVR to register.
“It is also an opportunity for those who wish to transfer their registration from other states of the federation to the two states or from one location to another within the states to do so.
“Similarly, requests for replacement of lost or damaged PVCs can be made at the registration centres”, the statement said.
The commission appealed to eligible voters to come for registration early while cautioning against late-minute rush.
The registration, as observed by our correspondent, went on smoothly at the venue in Edo State on Monday.
The CVR exercise monitored in Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha local government areas showed that PVC collection was ongoing alongside the CVR exercise.
Speaking at the Ikpoba-Okha registration area, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Edo, Delta and Cross River, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, expressed satisfaction with the exercise, while calling for patience.

Niger Delta

Navy Pledges Improved Patrols, Welfare Boost For Personnel

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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

1 day 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.