Niger Delta

Group Recommits To Peaceful Coexistence, Unity

Published

2 years ago

July 3, 2024

A socio-cultural group, the Ogbia Brotherhood (Worldwide) has said it was recommitted to the continued peace and unity of the Ogbia ethnic group.
Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of an emergency meeting held recently in Ogbia town, headquarters of the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and traditional capital of the Ogbia Kingdom.
Secretary General of the Ogbia Brotherhood Caretaker Committee, Dr. Godswill Iboroma Ikuli, said the meeting was convened to once again reenact the unity and peaceful coexistence noted in and amongst members and communities of the kingdom.
He stressed that as against the allegedly pummeled misinformation in some quarters that the socio-cultural group was in comatose situation, the successful hosting of the meeting which witnessed massive attendance was a pointer that the leadership of the group was more than ever before willing to cooperate with all well-meaning individuals from the ancient kingdom to ensure an enduring peace and unity.
The Tide learnt that the Ogbia Brotherhood (Worldwide) is the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Ogbia ethnic group and that Ogbia Kingdom is predominantly in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The Kingdom, The Tide further gathered, has some communities in the Nembe Local Government Area of the state as well as some in the Abua-Odual and Ahoada-West Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
“The presence of the traditional rulers, political stakeholders, CDC leadership, the leadership of the Ogbia Brotherhood youth council, women groups, the Abuja and other branches of the Ogbia Brotherhood at the meeting is a testament to the fact that the Brotherhood is alive and not dead as some quarters have alleged.
“As Caretaker committee of the Ogbia Brotherhood, we want to reassure our people that we’re committed towards an enduring peace and unity of this kingdom pending when elections would be conducted to usher in a substantive leadership of the Brotherhood.
“We’ve a mandate as Caretaker Committee of the Brotherhood and we again want to assure our people that we’re still on track. We’re working and will continue to consult all strata of the kingdom to bring on board an elected executive of the Brotherhood at the appropriate time, God willing soon”, the Ogbia Brotherhood scribe said.
Ikuli, who also commended sons and daughters of the Kingdom over their en mass attendance at the meeting, called on all aggrieved persons in the kingdom to sheathe their swords, saying the Caretaker Committee of the Brotherhood means well for the kingdom.
“I want to call on all aggrieved Ogbia people to continue maintaining the peace noted for the Ogbia kingdom. The Caretaker leadership of the Brotherhood is working round the clock to ensure a smooth transition process in line with the mandate given to us by the Obanobhan in-council and leadership of the Kingdom”, Ikuli added.

Niger Delta

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

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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

2 days 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.