Niger Delta

Dickson Gets Report On 2015 Election Violence

Published

9 years ago

March 15, 2017

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the violence that characterized the last governorship election in Bayelsa State Saturday submitted its report to Governor Seriake Dickson at the Government House in Yenagoa.
The commission which had earlier submitted its interim report in August, 2016, was inaugurated on December 14, 2015 and given seven terms of reference.
Chairman of the Commission, Justice Margret Akpomiemie, while submitting a final report in four volumes said it received 13 memoranda from the public while 39 witnesses testified and several exhibits were tendered.
She said members of the commission painstakingly went through their task and expressed optimism that the findings and recommendations will be useful in the conduct of future elections.
“The commission carefully deliberated on the evidence before it, both oral and documentary and we are happy to inform you that the commission has successfully completed its assignment”, the retiring Justice Akpomiemie said.
In his response, Governor Dickson lauded the commission for its diligent work and said the report will be studied in order to come out with actions arising from the recommendations.
He said: “This job is very important and so the recommendations and findings will be carefully looked into so that appropriate actions will follow, to let people know that there are consequences for misbehavior. People should not be allowed to kill, maim and destroy properties under the guise of elections in this state”.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Government has set up a 22-man committee to investigate the lingering land dispute between Odioma community in Brass local government area and Nembe-Bassambiri in Nembe Local government area.
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Admiral John-Jonah (rtd), while setting up the committee in Yenagoa said the action was to avert violence and bloodshed among the indigenes of the disputing communities.
The Deputy Governor, who was represented by the Commission for Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Saviour Ibegi, urged members of the committee to come up with resolutions to the impasse.
Headed by the Governor’s Special Representaive to Ogbia Local Council, Chief Olalibo Osain-Ibokolo and Secretary, Sir Alama Happy Theophilus, the committee has 30 days to submit its report.
The government urged the committee to “determine the correct placement of satellite in the communities for the purpose of appropriate categorization for the ongoing Enumeration Area Demarcation Exercise (EAD).
“To determine the extent of loss of life and or damage to property if any and to ascertain from public records, the parent local government area of the affected communities before the dispute”.
The committee is also to determine the role played by individuals and groups before and during the dispute and recommend measures to foresall future occurrences of such disputes.

Niger Delta

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

Published

5 hours 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

5 hours 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

5 hours 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.