Rivers

Info Perm Sec Hints On Plan To Fence The Tide Premises … Training For Information Officers

Published

5 months ago

August 8, 2025

The Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications says it has secured approval from the government for the fencing of the premises of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of the Tide Newspaper.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Sir Honour Sirawoo, who disclosed this during a courtesy call on him by Executive of The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, further said the Ministry has also secured approval for the training of about one hundred information officers.

Sir Sirawoo said the ministry is working hard to start its online publication, adding that to this end, the Ministry’s website, which has been moribund for sometime now, is being revived.

According to him, “We are going to start an online publication. We feel that this ministry can generate revenue just like the media houses.

“Because the only difference between them and us is that we have a full administrative structure, and if we expect them to generate revenue, we should also generate revenue.

“I think they have commenced the process of working on the website.”

The Permanent Secretary further stressed the need for staff of the ministry and its parastataals to be regular at work, adding that the ministry under his watch will not condone absenteeism and lateness to work.

“You know that when you come to work, you must do the right thing even if you are my friend”, he warned.

He said Information Officers at the local government areas must work as a way to realize their expertise, adding that they must report events in their areas to enable the ministry properly inform people about the state.

Meanwhile, Sir Sirawoo has called for collaboration between the NUJ and the ministry.

“We must work together to see that we enlighten people on what is appropriate and what is not appropriate.

“I also want to say that as a union we serve the government of the day, even if you have to critique the government you must get your facts right”, he said.

The Permanent Secretary, who blamed successive leaderships of the union for the dilapidated nature of the NUJ Secretariat, said time has come for the union leadership to work out an arrangement whereby the union’s secretariat can be made to generate revenue and income for the union.

He said one way of doing this is by leasing the edifice to private investors for its management and maintenance.

Sirawoo congratulated the union’s leadership for the peaceful outcome of the just-concluded NUJ election and urged the leadership to work as a team for the realization of set goals.

Earlier, Chairman of the NUJ, Rivers State Council, Comrade Paul Bazia, described the posting of Sir Sirawoo to the Ministry of Information and Communications as a home coming.

Comrade Bazia expressed optimism that Permanent Secretary will do well in the ministry, especially with his background as a cub reporter who rose from the rank and file to a Permanent Secretary.

“You have grown through the ranks from a cub reporter to become a Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, covered NDDC, and various beats.

“You rose to become chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Rivers State on two occasions, President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, and you have become a Permanent Secretary.

“You have vast experience on the field as a journalist, and you are in deployment to the Ministry of Information and Communications at this time”, he said.

Mr. Bazia said the NUJ under his leadership is working hard to change the narrative of the state, adding in doing this the state-owned media houses must be revived to meet up its responsibilities.

According to the Chairman, “We are going to showcase the areas where the state has strength and where there are investment opportunities.

“We plan to also host a media summit later in the year around September to also look at the opportunities that we have in the blue economy, the tourism sector”, he said.

John Bibor & Edidiong Johnson

Rivers

NGO Builds Awareness On Digital Violence Against Women, Girls

Published

1 day ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

As part of activities marking 16 Days of Activism, A Non-Governmental Organizatio (NGO), OLEGH, has organised a one-day awareness creation workshop on digital violence against women and girls, for civil society and media groups in Rivers State.

OLEGH’s Executive Director, Henry Eferebo, said the programme was intended to draw attention to the theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism tagged, “Unite To End Digital Violence against all Women and Girls.”

Eferebo said the event is an annual global campaign that focuses on violence against women, affords persons and groups all over the world the opportunity to embark on activities aimed at eliminating all forms of women and gender abuse.

“As individuals, we don’t pay attention to the things we see on the social media. We pay less attention to the abuse on the internet. Today, you can abuse a woman or a man physically, emotionally and otherwise, and go scot-free”, he noted.

According to him, women and girls have suffered the most from online violence and cyber-bullying, particularly on platforms such as TikTok, making them ready victims online and offline.

“So, in line with the United Nations principle on 16 Days of Activism and this year’s theme, there is a need for OLEGH Center to create awareness on issues resulting from the online abuse of women and girls.

“We decided to bring in a resource person who will tell us how to avoid being abused online”, he said.

He urged participants at the event to put hands together, rise up and speak against digital violence online.

The NGO’s arrow head, also explained that OLEGH was working towards creating an online help-desk for victims of online abuse and digital violence.

He urged participants to improve their security awareness while online, and adopt security protocols that would protect them in the digital space.

The Resource Person, Jacob Iniodu, in a paper titled, “Understanding Digital Abuse within the 16 Days of Activism”, listed forms of online violence to include, cyber-bullying, dozing, cyber-stalking, and invasion of privacy.

By: King Onunwor

Rivers

Foundation Distribute Bags N5m Worth Christmas Gifts In Bundu Ama

Published

1 day ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Armslent Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), in Rivers State, has distributed Christmas gifts worth over N5million to aged mothers, orphans and less privileged persons in Belema, Bundu Ama (Community) in Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA).

The Foundation also gave cash gifts of N150,000 to the Community.

Presenting the gift items, comprising 5 bags of rice,10 Cartons of indomie noodles,10 Gallons of groundnut oil, 3 bags of salt and cartons of maggie cubes, to Chairman of the Community, David Oba, and the community leaders, the founder of Armslent Foundation, Comrade Richard Boma Briggs, said the foundation decided to show love and togetherness to the community by providing the gifts.

He noted that the provision was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the community aimed at alleviating poverty and create a sense of belonging as Christian faithfuls celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Briggs described Bundu Ama as one of its pillars in partnership, stressing that the foundation was inspired by the spirit of love to impact and rejoice with the residents of the community.

“The foundation was moved by the spirit of Christmas to give these gifts and rejoice with the people of community”, Briggs said.

Accompanied by the Managing Director of the Foundation, Richard Osigbo, and other top Executive Members, Briggs called on the leaders of the community to always pray for the foundation, promising that in 2026, it would embark on a tangible project at UPE Modern Primary School Waterfront, Bundu Ama.

Receiving the items, Chairman of Bundu Ama, David Oba, thanked the foundation for empowering the less privileged persons, assisting physically challenged persons, and aged mothers in the past.

“The foundation had done a lot for this community and today we are witnessing these gift items for the Christmas celebration”,he emphasised.

He called on the leaders of the community, women group, youths and residents to emulate the humanitarian gestures of the foundation and pleaded that they also borrow a leaf from the gesture,in order to also give to society whenever they can.

Earlier the leaders of Belema Bundu Ama, led by Oba, former Chairman, Benneth Kalio, and Secretary, Promise Mangibo, presented an Award of Excellence to the Founder of the Foundation for his Humanitarian and selfless service to the community.

Highlight of the event was the offering of a special prayer to the management of the foundation by aged mothers, youths and leadership of the community.

By: Chinedu Wosu

Rivers

Youths Condemn Killings In Andoni

Published

1 day ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

The Obolo Youth Coalition, Rivers State Chapter, has condemned the recent spate of killings in Andoni Local Government Area, describing the renewed insecurity as alarming and constituting a threat to peace and stability in the area.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comr. Jonathan J. Eyina, the group expressed deep concern over what it described as brutal and senseless acts of violence, while extending condolences to the families of the victims.

The coalition said the resurgence of insecurity in Andoni has continued to undermine communal harmony and called for urgent steps to halt the trend before it escalates further.

It appealed to youths in the area to shun violence and embrace peace, stressing the need for tolerance, mutual respect and collective responsibility in safeguarding the community.

According to the group, restoring peace in Andoni requires a coordinated approach involving government, security agencies, community leaders and residents to identify and address the root causes of insecurity.

It noted that increased security presence, improved intelligence gathering, and sustained community engagement are critical to preventing further violence, adding that underlying social and economic challenges must also be addressed.

The coalition called on the Andoni Local Government Chairman, Hon. Lucky Promise-Otua, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju Adewole, to take decisive actions to restore security.

It further demanded that those responsible for the killings be apprehended and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

By: King Onunwor