Niger Delta

Diri Gives Stewardship On Infrastructure Development

Published

1 year ago

January 17, 2025

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the numerous infrastructure projects his administration had embarked on were beginning to dispel the narrative that the state’s terrain was difficult to develop.

The Tide learnt that infrastructure projects being executed under the Governor Diri’s administration range from big-ticket to access and internal road projects, bridges across creeks and rivers, and physical structures across the state.

The Governor stated this during the week while on tour of ongoing projects in the New Yenagoa City and at the Okaka Housing Estate, in all Yenagoa, the state capital.

The Bayelsa Chief Executive, who stated that his administration was building a new planned city, called on citizens of the state residing outside the oil rich state not to believe the narrative that its terrain was difficult to develop.

He noted that the new legislators and the commissioners quarters in the New Yenagoa City were signature projects of his administration and expressed satisfaction with the level of work done.

Diri expressed happiness that he was was part of the history of those who developed Bayelsa.

“This legislators quarters is one of the major signature projects we are going to commission during our anniversary in February. We’re building a new Bayelsa city; a planned city in Yenagoa.

“Those that said our terrain is difficult and cannot be subdued, I’m happy that we’re subduing it and now dispelling that belief, particularly for those who are outside Bayelsa State.

“This is not a terrain that is too difficult for anybody to develop. I’m happy that we’re putting the records straight about the history of developing this terrain”, he said.

Governor Diri also noted that the administration had embarked on several massive projects by judiciously utilising the state’s monthly allocations without borrowing a dime.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Moses Teibowei, assured that the new House of Assembly quarters would be completed for inauguration during the anniversary celebration in February.

“My target is the last day of January. I am very sure that this project will be delivered because we work on Saturday and Sunday”, the Commissioner said.

Speaking on the Okaka Housing Estate, Diri stressed that the one-bedroom housing unit project was initiated during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan when he was governor of the state.

He said the project was abandoned for a long time but his administration decided to complete the buildings and would also embark on new housing projects for all Bayelsans.

Also speaking, Managing Director of the Bayelsa State Housing and Property Development Authority, Rt Hon Tonye Isenah, said the agency had completed 48 units of one-bedroom flats out of the 192 flats, saying that the project was being executed through direct labour.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

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.