Niger Delta

Imoke Assents Carnival Commission Amendment Bill, Soon

Published

11 years ago

May 27, 2015

As the life span of the
present administration Cross River State draws to an end, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Larry Okerie Odey, has directed that a clean copy of the State Carnival Commission (Amendment) Bill be made available to the State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke for prompt accent.
Odey gave the directive at plenary session following a report on the State Carnival Commission Amendment Bill presented by the Chairman, Joint House.
Committee on Tourism and Culture/Judiciary and Public Service Matters, Public Petitions, House Rights, Ethics and Privileges, Hon Ukpukpen Stephen Akomaye who is the member representing Obudu State Constituency, at the end of the third reading of the bill.
Earlier, the Deputy Whip, Rt Hon Simon Nkoro Egbong, member representing Ikom ll State Constituency and minority leader and member representing Obubra 1 State Constituency, Hon Alex Sunday Irek had moved and seconded the motion calling for the presentation to plenary.
Presenting the committee’s report, Hon Akomaye, said amendments were proposed for sections 1 sub section A,B,C and D as well as section 2, bearing the ‘short title’ and that the date of the amendment should come into force.
The Chairman of the Joint Committee maintained that, the 14 Member Joint Committee followed the due process of studying the proposed amendment bill and holding a stakeholders forum because of its Public Private Partnership undertone, with representations by Chairman, Cross River Carnival Commission, Mr Gabe Onah, Executive Secretary, Mr Gabriel Okulaja, Commission Members – Mrs Affiong F. Effiom, Ms Liz Ogbudu, Ms Glory Odighad, Mr Austin Cobham and Mr Bassey Archibong, representative of the leader of passion 4 band, amongst others.
The Chairman said the Committee was informed that participating Carnival bands had registered with the companies and Allied Matters Act as Carnival Calabar Bands Association (CCBA) to undertake the organisation of the Carnival and also that they agreed with Governor Liyel Imoke’s proposal to transfer the responsibility for sponsorship, conduct and organisation of Carnival Calabar to the private sector for reasons of Commercial viability and sustainability.
Our correspondent reports that members of the Joint Committee were Hon Stephen Ukpukpen – Chairman, Hon Ogana Lukpata-Co-Chairman, Rt Hon Agbiji M. Agbiji-Vice Chairman, Hon John Gaul Lebo-Co-Vice Chairman, Rt Hon Patrick Uguge-member, Rt Hon Effiom Etim Okon and Rt Hon Jacob Otu Enyia.
Others were Rt Hon Mfawa Ofegobi, Rt Hon Uduak Akiba Eyo, Hon Clement O. Okongor, Rt Hon Larry O. Odey-Speaker, Ex-officio member, Rt Hon Itaya A. Nyong-Deputy Speaker, Ex-officio member, Rt Hon Abeng Moses Onoh-majority leader, ex-officio member as well as Hon Alex Irek-minority leader, ex-officio member.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

Niger Delta

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

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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

1 day 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.