Niger Delta
C’River Debunks NBS’ Child Rating

The Cross River State Government has described the state’s rating on child labour by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) as “spurious” and not a true reflection of what is happening in the state.
The government demanded to know the parameters used by the NBS to carry out the research that rated Cross River number one in the country involved in child labour with 67.4 percent.
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Erasmus Ekpang, who made the demand in an interview with The Tide’s source, said Cross River remained the most “child friendly” state in Nigeria.
Ekpang explained that Cross River showed the value it placed on the rights of every child by being among the first state in the country to domesticate the Child Rights Law.
“The United Nations is aware of what we are doing in this regard. So, it is preposterous for us to degenerate into such a high lows even when there are a number of violations of the law.
“To say the least, we are concerned about such statistics and would want to verify this claim which I still consider as spurious.
“We have continued with sustained advocacy on the existence of the Child Rights Law in the state. The Law provides for criminalisation of violators and offenders of the law.
“As a state, we created a special Ministry to be in charge of this, which is the Ministry of Women Affairs with Desk Offices established in the 18 council areas to cascade this advocacy to the wards and villages.
“Government has gone ahead to involve traditional rulers, opinion leaders and women groups to strengthen this campaign against child labour and child abuse respectively.
“Of course, note that some violators have been and are being prosecuted in the courts. Even in my ministry of information, my orientation department has been doing a lot to sensitise and orientate the citizenry on the existence of the Law and implementation in the state.
“All these are helping and would continue to change the narrative in this regard”, he stated.
The NBS report indicates that over 24 million Nigerian children are involved in child labour, with 14.3 millions of these children engaged in hazardous work as of 2022 when the last report was conducted.
The northwest geopolitical zone bears the brunt of these figures, with the highest number of child labourers (6,407,102) and children in hazardous work (3,266,728).
The South East region emerged the highest in terms of percentage prevalence of child labour with nearly half of the children involved in child labour at 49.9 per cent.
Nationally, 39.2 per cent of children (24,673,485) are in child labour, and 22.9 per cent (14,390,353) are involved in hazardous work, painting a grim picture of the conditions under which nearly two out of every five Nigerian children live.
The report also shows that children in the 5–17 age group in child labour commit an average of 14.6 hours of work per week.
The data further revealed the top 10 states grappling with high percentage of child labour in Nigeria.
According to the data, Cross River, Yobe, Abia, Plateau and Taraba are are top five with 58.6, 58.9, 60.1, 62.6, and 67.4 percent respectively.
Taraba State is followed by Ebonyi with 56.2 per cent, Imo with 56.2 percent, Kogi with 54.4 per cent while Bauchi and Akwa Ibom came 9th and 10th with 53.3 and 52.2 percent respectively.
Niger Delta
PIA: Bayelsa Engages Oil Firms, Dev Trusts On Transparency …Set To Issue New Operation Guidelines
The Bayelsa State Government has charged oil companies and host Communities Development Trusts (HCDTs) to be transparent and accountable in the implementation of policies and projects in oil bearing communities as spelt out in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Deputy Governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, stated this recently while presiding over a meeting between representatives of Egbema-Angalabiri, Agbidiama Communities and Renaissance Africa Energy Company, formerly SPDC, at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
He expressed concern over the incessant cases of intra-community conflicts and threats to shut down the operations of oil companies.
Ewhrudjakpo identified lack of transparency in the award of contracts, mismanagement of funds and employment opportunities in most communities.
To checkmate this, he said the state government has directed that henceforth all oil companies operating in the State should disclose the full content of the Free to Operate (FTO) agreements signed with the leadership of any community or its representatives to the entire community.
According to the Deputy Governor, government has equally directed the oil firms to make available copies of the FTOs to the State Ministry of Mineral Resources within two weeks of signing such documents to enable it keep track of the firms’ engagements with their host communities.
Commenting on the Egbema-Angalabiri internal conflict, he cautioned the youths against shutting down the operations of Renaissance Africa Energy Company, describing the problem in the community as self-inflicted.
He also advised the community to open and operate a central community account with three officials, including the Amananawei, Community Development Committee Chairman and the women leader, as signatories to check embezzlement of community funds.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who warned the communities against subletting contracts, especially when they have the local capacity and competency to handle such jobs, also directed the PIA management and host communities development trust boards to render periodic accounts to their various communities.
“Every FTO signed, a copy of it should be deposited with the Ministry of Mineral Resources within two weeks. Once an FTO is signed, those who signed it must disclose the full content of the FTO to the entire community. All jobs, unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled, must be announced to the community and the community takes the decision as to who should be employed.
“All companies operating must disclose fully the prevailing contract sum for any contract that is being awarded, and no contract should be subsidized, except at the request of the community.
“PIA members must report periodically, preferably monthly, to their communities. You must give account of what is happening to your communities.
“Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) shall not award contracts without reference or recourse to the communities.
“These are some of the operational guidelines we have decided to take to the Governor for approval. Thereafter, a circular will be issued by the Ministry of Mineral Resources and all oil companies will comply.
“We are doing this to complement the PIA, and most importantly, to checkmate the recurring cases of internal conflicts in almost all the oil bearing communities across our state. We want to ensure peace by all lawful means”, he said.
Speaking earlier, a stakeholder of Egbema-Angalabiri Community, Hon Selekebina Saboh, expressed total support for the proposed operational guidelines of the state government.
While thanking government for its effort towards restoring peace in the community and industrial harmony for companies operating in the area, Hon Saboh said the issue of embezzling community funds would have been avoided if the community had supported him in kicking against the use of the personal account of successive CDC chairmen.
While giving account of his stewardship, the immediate past CDC Chairman of Egbema-Angalabiri, Mr. Timadi Sambo, who was alleged to have mismanaged about N40 million belonging to the community, described the allegation as spurious and unfounded.
The meeting was attended by the paramount rulers, CDC chairmen and women and youth leaders of Egbema-Angalabiri and Agbidiama communities, as well as representatives of Renaissance Africa Energy Limited, and top government functionaries.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa
Niger Delta
Aide Lauds Oborevwori On Infrastructure, Educational Dev
As Delta State marks the second anniversary of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration, renowned administrator and education strategist, Mr. Clement Siakpere, has commended the Governor for what he described as remarkable strides in infrastructure and educational development across the state.
Siakpere, who is Executive Assistant to the Governor on Education Monitoring, in a statement, noted that Governor Oborevwori has demonstrated uncommon commitment to the delivery of good governance through his administration’s MORE Agenda, which prioritises meaningful development, opportunities for all, realistic reforms, and enhanced peace and security.
“Two years into his administration, Governor Oborevwori has proven his critics wrong. From the commissioning of key road projects to the rehabilitation, the construction of schools and the recruitment of qualified teachers, the Governor has shown great leadership with a human face”, Siakpere said.
The former Registrar of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, commended Governor Oborevwori on the multiple road projects and medical equipment inaugurated in Warri, such as the construction and dualisation of major roads in urban and rural communities, as well as the upgrade of educational facilities across the three senatorial districts.
According to him, these projects are not only improving the quality of life for residents, but also laying the foundation for long-term socio-economic growth.
Siakpere also praised the administration’s investments in technical education and youth empowerment, describing the recently completed Omadino Technical College, Omadino, in Warri South Local Government Area, as “bold steps toward reducing unemployment and improving skill acquisition among the younger population.”
He urged Deltans to continue supporting the Oborevwori administration, adding that sustainable development requires collective effort and consistent leadership.
“Governor Oborevwori’s performance within just two years offers a glimpse into what is possible with purposeful governance. If this pace is sustained, Delta State will certainly witness a new era of prosperity and inclusion”, he said.
Governor Oborevwori, who took office on May 29, 2023, has consistently emphasised his resolve to build on the achievements of past administrations while charting a new course for inclusive development in the State.
Niger Delta
PDP Chieftain Lauds Tinubu Over Ogbuku’s Appointment …Thumbs Up MD’s Strides

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Bayelsa State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party/Acting Zonal Scribe, South-South of the party, Barrister George Turnah, has commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as Managing-Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Turnah, who described the President as visionary, said Ogbuku’s appointment has again shown his love for the Niger Delta region, noting that it has brought tremendous developmental programmes and projects to the oil rich region.
He described the current management team of the agency as an assemblage of the most effective and visionary leadership team from the inception of the commission.
Making the commendation when he visited Ogbuku at his residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during the week, he specifically expressed satisfaction with the developmental projects carried out by the agency in Bayelsa State.
“The PDP under my leadership and Bayelsans in general are particularly proud of your initiatives, projects and achievements, MD.
“Thank you for lighting up the Niger Delta with the programme, ‘Operation Light Up the Niger Delta’ with solar-powered lights.
“Thank you for the completion of the 132/33KVA power sub-station in Ondo State, the completion and commissioning of the Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State, and other numerous projects and programmes ongoing under your leadership of the NDDC across the Niger Delta”, Turnah said.
The party chieftain, who also praised Ogbuku for successfully kick-starting the NDDC Youth Internship Scheme, said another milestone achievement by the NDDC boss was the successful hosting of the Niger Delta Summit.
“President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is visible, the impact is seen in all the Niger Delta States through several fora, particularly with Ogbuku at the helm of affairs in the NDDC”, the PDP chairman added.
In his remarks, the NDDC, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer said he was delighted over Turnah’s visit, calling for greater collaboration among political leaders of the region, noting also that the region’s political and economic interests would be better protected if leaders worked together not minding their political leanings and party affiliations.
“Turnah, my brother and friend, I want to thank you for the visit. I must be honest to say that this visit has again underscored my consistent call for synergy amongst political leaders in the Niger Delta region irrespective of party differences and ideological leanings.
“With collaboration and partnership the Niger Delta region will be better for it”, Ogbuku said.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa
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