Rivers

Don Urges Govt To Be Impartial In Tackling Crisis

Published

12 months ago

April 21, 2025

Alecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Prof Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze, has called on government to be impartial and objective in tackling issues that precipitate crisis in the region.
Nwobueze, a Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, made the call recently while delivering the 64th inaugural lecture of the university titled, “Live and Let Live: A Framework for Sustainable Peace and Development in the Niger Delta, Nigeria” at the university auditorium.
The Associate Dean, Postgraduate School, said government should ensure that developmental agencies are well supervised, monitored and funded to pursue their objectives to reality.
He also called for an upward review of the fines paid for oil spillages and gas flaring in Nigeria, saying that it would go a long way in discouraging these activities.
Government, Professor Nwobueze added, “should embrace collaboration and joint problem-solving frameworks in the area of artisanal refining and ensure that the venture provides employment to the locals”.
According to him, “the fact that they can design those makeshift refineries means that with the right training and support, people involved in the illegal venture can do it professionally and at a larger and regulated scale.
“The entrepreneurial prowess demonstrated in artisanal refining by the Niger Delta youths can be transformed for huge economic gains, not only for the youth of the region, but also for the Nigerian economy”.
Nwobueze noted that discouraging and putting an end to artisanal refining in the Niger Delta requires a comprehensive approach that will consider the root causes of the tradition, promote alternative livelihood options, strengthen law enforcement and regulations, promote community engagement and participation, and also address the negative impacts of artisanal refining on the environment, public Health and socio-economic development.
For the country to succeed in protecting the society from crime, the 64th inaugural Lecturer stressed that much creative efforts and programmes have to be put in place.
“By implementing these strategies, the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders can contribute to sustainable development and peace in the Niger Delta”, he said further.
The peace expert noted that “the Niger Delta region has high population of uneducated, unemployed and idle youths who are highly prone to violence.
“The frustration resulting from that weak political, structural and social peace building frameworks forced many members of the community into revolutionary violence”.
He continued that “violence will change nothing. Only a joint problem-solving strategy characterised by collaboration and consensus building will do.
“This approach leads to different forms of fence mending, acknowledgement of wrong doing, forgiveness, expression of mercy, reconciliation, trust, confidence building and peace.”
Professor Nwobueze remarked that there can be no development in a place where there is no peace.
He defined peace as “non-violence and constructive management of disputes, good governance, respecting the rights and dignity of others, sound business environment, high level of human capital, low level of corruption, efficient and effective communication system, freedom from want and fear, sustainable human security and good neighbourliness”.
According to the peace expert, the environmental problems currently being faced by Nigerians can no longer be solved by individual nations or by using military, bureaucratic or autocratic methods as these only increases opposition and delays remedial efforts.
“What is demanded”, he opined, “is the collective actions of everyone. To implement sustainable solutions to global environmental problems, all stakeholders need to learn to work together.”
Prof Nwobueze, therefore, advocated for “greater prioritisation of youth needs in all situations since they are the main actors in security and development issues”, hinting that neglecting their basic needs has knock-on effects on society.
He emphasised that an approach which prioritises youth welfare requirements would have positive knock-on effects on society in times of peace building.
Nwobueze encouraged Nigerians to remain selfless in service, patriotic in action and focused on nation building, no matter the challenges faced today.
He also advised that no matter the grievance against, or expectations from the Government and Oil Companies, Niger Deltans must understand the peace building value of being good to one another.
For the Peace Expert, there is no justification whatsoever for criminality, and lawlessness should also not be tolerated.
In his remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Prof Okechuku Onuchuku, charged all to maintain peace, stressing that one who invokes the storm on his people cannot prevent his house from destruction.
He advised agitators against inventing crisis, emphasising that they may not have control over the outcomes.
Professor Onuchuku appealed to the Federal Government to provide modern and adequate infrastructures to the people of the region, especially since that is where the resources sustaining the country is coming from.
While calling for alternative dispute resolution, he stressed the need for peaceful coexistence for growth, progress and sustainable development, “the kind that will not jeopardise the future of unborn generations”.
He also called for peace building to be included in the school curriculum.
In a vote of thanks, Professor Anthony Adele Orlu expressed gratitude to all who graced the event and urged them to sustain the peace for the country to move forward.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo

Rivers

NDDC Provides Lifeline To Flood-Hit Ogu-Bolo Community

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

In response to the recent flood disaster that displaced families, destroyed farmlands, and worsened economic hardship in Ogu/Bolo Community, The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has distributed relief materials to residents of the community.

Presenting the items on behalf of the Managing Director, the Director II, Education, Health and Social Services, Engr. Jeremiah Onolejoloni, said the intervention underscores the commission’s commitment to alleviating the plight of vulnerable communities across the Niger Delta.

According to a statement by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, the gesture followed the devastating impact of flooding on livelihoods in the community.

The Managing Director noted that the commission, in collaboration with the Derek and Davia Foundation, provided financial support to facilitate the distribution of essential food items and household materials to affected residents.

He described the initiative as part of efforts to address pressing needs, adding that it also reflects government’s solidarity with citizens facing economic challenges.

“This intervention goes beyond palliatives. It is a demonstration of government’s presence, compassion and commitment to supporting families in distress, in line with the renewed hope agenda of the President,” he said.

He urged community leaders to ensure fair distribution of the items and encouraged residents to sustain peace and support development programmes.

The Paramount Ruler of Ogu-Bolo, Chief Joachim Amachiri, commended the Commission for the timely intervention, noting that it would provide much-needed relief to victims of the flood.

He reaffirmed the community’s support for NDDC initiatives aimed at improving living conditions in the region.

Also speaking, a consultant on the programme, represented by Dr. George Smile, praised the commission’s responsiveness to disaster-affected communities, disclosing that plans were underway, in partnership with development stakeholders, to extend similar support to neighbouring areas.

Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Rivers

Don Traces Nigeria’s Highway Woes To Design Failures … Proposes Mechanistic-Empirical Design Approach

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

A lecturer at the Rivers State University (RSU), Professor Emmanuel Osilemme Ekwulo, has called for a fundamental overhaul of Nigeria’s highway pavement systems, stating that poor design practices and weak standards, not just inadequate funding, are at the heart of the country’s persistent road failures.

Delivering the 128th inaugural lecture at the Rivers State University, titled “Removing Roadblocks: Rebuilding The Foundation For Reliable Highway Pavement Infrastructure”, Ekwulo argued that Nigeria’s roads will continue to deteriorate prematurely unless critical engineering principles are strictly applied and enforced.

According to him, recurring defects in the nation’s highways stem from a combination of faulty design processes, substandard construction materials, weak regulatory enforcement, poor drainage systems, and widespread disregard for professional ethics.

He stressed that these systemic failures have undermined the durability of road infrastructure despite significant financial investments.

“Premature pavement failures in Nigeria are not due to lack of funds alone, but largely due to poor design decisions, weak material standards, and absence of accountability,” he said.

Ekwulo proposed the adoption of the mechanistic-empirical design approach, a scientifically grounded method for predicting pavement performance, as a pathway to improving road quality.

He also advocated for the development of a localized framework, the Nigerian Empirical and Mechanistic Pavement Design System (NEMPADS), to reflect the country’s unique environmental and material conditions.

He further recommended stricter quality control measures, including independent audits, the establishment of a national database for material characterization, and compulsory traffic load analysis for all road projects.

The use of modified binders and advanced materials, he added, would enhance pavement resilience.

To ensure sustainability, the Professor called for the implementation of a National Pavement Management System to coordinate maintenance and monitoring efforts nationwide, noting that consistent upkeep is essential to prolonging road lifespan.

Ekwulo emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between academia and industry, urging universities to lead applied research initiatives and pilot projects that can deliver practical solutions to Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, said universities must play a frontline role in addressing national development issues through research-driven interventions.

He described the lecture as timely, noting that the neglect of core engineering standards has contributed significantly to the country’s failing highways.

The event, held at the Dr. Ezenwo Wike Senate Building in the campus, also featured the formal decoration of Ekwulo as the institution’s 128th inaugural lecturer.

Reiterating his position after the lecture, Ekwulo stated that with proper design methods, quality materials, and strict adherence to global standards, Nigeria’s roads can achieve their intended lifespan of 10 to 20 years or more.

“Without a return to engineering fundamentals and accountability, investments in road infrastructure will continue to yield poor results”, he concluded.

Rivers

CP Reaffirms Commitment To Human Rights, Community Policing In Rivers

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has assured residents of the command’s commitment to upholding human rights and delivering people-oriented policing.

He stressed that officers under his watch would continue to operate within the confines of the law, while strengthening community relations.

Adepoju gave the assurance during a sensitisation walk organised by the State Police Command as part of activities marking the National Police Day in Port Harcourt.

He noted that the exercise was aimed at fostering trust and enhancing cooperation between the police and the public.

While expressing appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving a special day for the Nigeria Police to celebrate its achievements, he described the gesture as a morale booster that would spur officers to greater efficiency and professionalism in service delivery.

The CP also commended the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for initiating a week-long celebration, which he said had provided an opportunity for the police to reconnect with citizens and showcase reforms within the force.

According to him, the large turnout of residents, stakeholders and members of the business community during the exercise was a clear indication of the growing confidence reposed in the police by the people of Rivers State.

He reiterated that the Command would sustain its sensitisation efforts, adding that officers had been adequately briefed to respect the rights of citizens, maintain professionalism and work closely with the media to promote transparency and accountability.

Adepoju disclosed that the week-long activities commenced with environmental sanitation across commands and divisions, alongside public enlightenment campaigns targeted at strengthening police-community relations.

He further revealed that the Command had also embarked on free medical outreach for both officers and members of the public, as part of its corporate social responsibility and commitment to public welfare.

The CP added that financial support would be extended to widows of fallen police officers through the presentation of cheques, in line with directives from the police high command, to cushion the effects of their loss.

In his response, the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in the state, Voke Emore, said the initiative was geared towards rebuilding trust between the police and the communities they serve.

Emore noted that the renewed synergy between the police and residents in Rivers State had created an enabling environment for effective policing, urging the public to continue supporting security agencies with useful information.

Also, a representative of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Mrs. Chima Nnaji, said the group participated in the walk to show solidarity with their spouses.

The event drew attendance from senior police officers, members of the PCRC, and stakeholders from various sectors of the state.

King Onunwor