Business

Traders Hail Assembly Over Election Suspension

Published

9 years ago

April 7, 2017

Traders at the Mile Three market in Diobu Port Harcourt have expressed satisfaction with the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA), to suspend election into the markets executive committee.
The traders said they are happy with the intervention of the government in the crisis leading to the election.
According to the chairman of Ikwerre Traders at the market, Mr Emenike Osimini, who spoke to newsmen recently , the intervention of the House will avert what he termed, as some abnormalities in the market.
“We are happy that the House of Assembly and the state governor intervened by setting up a committee to look into the matter,” he said.
He called on the committee to expedite action by calling on the parties and traders concerned with a view to solving the problems facing the traders.
“Let the committee call the parties and traders together to find out the problems of the market and proffer solutions to the root cause of the problems facing the traders”, he said.
Some traders who spoke to The Tide also thanked the lawmakers and appealed to the government to keep an eye on political trends in the market.
They said the quick intervention of the government on the matter has averted a problem that could have happened if the elections were held.
The traders further said the suspension of the election was timely as some of the contestants regarded the election as a do-or-due affair.

Business

FAAN Sack Contract Company Over Illegal Parking Fees

Published

22 minutes ago

August 24, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has removed a company accused of collecting N25,000 parking fines from motorists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The announcement was made by Michael Achimugu, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the meeting of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Friday.

The removal followed a complaint by Ogundipe Ogundipe Esq, over alleged irregularities in the collection of parking penalties at the Abuja airport.

Though the name of the affected company was not revealed, Achimugu said the complaint was escalated to FAAN Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, who ordered the immediate ejection of the company responsible for the alleged illegal practice.

“Based on the escalation of this complaint to the Managing-Director of FAAN, Ms Olubunmi Kuku ordered the immediate ejection from the Abuja airport.

“The company responsible for the illegal action must surely be questioned,” Achimugu said.

According to him, FAAN has determined to take necessary action against any evidence of illegal activities, particularly activities that inconvenience airport users.

Achimugu said FAAN has already been discussing the engagement of a capable replacement company.

He advised vehicle owners to comply with parking instructions at the airport.

The NCAA director described Kuku’s response as a swift intervention, noting that the issue had become a matter of concern to airport users for some time now.

“The complaint raised concerns about the enforcement of parking and pick-up restrictions at the Abuja airport and the payment process allegedly used by enforcement personnel.

“The personnel allegedly clamped vehicles belonging to motorists who stopped briefly in restricted areas.

“The affected motorists were taken to a red-painted container and told to pay a N25,000 penalty before their vehicles could be released, a situation the General Manager questioned why the motorists’ payment were taken several days to pay into an account displayed at the office.

“We found out that some motorists were instead directed to PoS operators or accounts linked to fintech platforms such as OPay, Moniepoint and PalmPay.” Achimugu explained.

He said the complaint mentioned names including Sani Nasiru, Bala Matazu and Yahaya Matage as allegedly appearing when some of the accounts provided by enforcement personnel were entered for payment.

FAAN Director also alleged that proof of payment would not necessarily result in the immediate release of vehicles.

He said FAAN has not publicly disclosed the name of the company involved or details of the amount allegedly collected through the disputed channels.

Business

RIVERS NUJ BACKS BONNY TOURISM, TASKS MEDIA ON DEVELOPMENT REPORTING

Published

7 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has thrown its weight behind efforts to reposition Bonny Island as a major tourism destination, urging journalists to move beyond crisis reporting and deliberately promote the state’s investment, tourism and development potentials.

The Chairman of the NUJ Rivers State Council, Comrade Paul Bazia, said this at a press briefing held at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre in Port Harcourt, recently.

Bazia said Rivers State was endowed with enormous natural and economic resources, stressing the media must gradually shift its attention from conflict-oriented reporting to development communication capable of attracting investors, tourists and other economic opportunities to the state.

He said the tourism potential of Bonny Local Government Area was enormous and could compete favourably with attractions found in Caribbean countries, urging journalists to tell the story of Bonny in a way that would attract global attention.

“If we don’t blow our own trumpet, people won’t know that we have our trumpets. Most of the people that travel to the Caribbean, Bonny is more than that. Bonny is more than just the hydrocarbon headquarters. Bonny is beautiful. Bonny environment is therapeutic,” he stated.

The NUJ chairman stressed that tourism could provide a sustainable source of income without the environmental consequences associated with some extractive economic activities, adding that the media must help to market the tourism products available in Rivers State.

“Our role is to ensure that our stories market the product that we have,” Bazia said, urging journalists across the state to consciously promote its tourism and investment opportunities.

He warned that failure to develop and promote tourism destinations such as Bonny could contribute to economic stagnation and insecurity, stressing that businesses and communities would ultimately suffer where legitimate economic opportunities were neglected.

“It is better for us now to get into it and sell the product that we have so that it will be a win-win for everybody,” he added.

Also speaking, the President of the Bonny Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Discover Bonny Initiative, Mrs. Constance Nwokejiobi, Ph.D., said the initiative was a three-year strategic programme designed to transform Bonny Island into a premier tourism destination.

Nwokejiobi disclosed that Bonny Island Tourism & Investment Summit 2026, scheduled for August 18 to 20, would feature a Tourism Concierge Platform, multi-tier partnership arrangements ranging from Platinum to Community Tourism levels, as well as a privately driven Tour

She stressed that sustainable tourism could not depend solely on government, but required entrepreneurship, private investment and strategic partnerships, noting that Bonny already contributes an estimated four per cent of Nigeria’s national GDP, largely through oil and gas, while efforts were underway to develop a second and more sustainable economy based on tourism, heritage and hospitality.

Nwokejiobi said the initiative enjoyed strong support from His Majesty King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, who, she noted, had consistently promoted the island’s rich heritage and hospitality potential alongside its energy and industrial strengths.

She called on Nigerians to embrace domestic tourism by visiting Bonny and also invited international visitors and investors to discover the island as an authentic West African destination.

By: King Onunwor

Business

Jonathan, Diri, Others Laud Firm’s Milestone in Bayelsa …Says Project Will Drive Industrialisation, Create Jobs

Published

7 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria’s ex-First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), Chief Samuel Ogbuku, have commended a Bayelsa-based firm, Azikel Group for its commitment towards industrialising the state and the Niger Delta region.

They spoke while inspecting the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and other facilities recently at the Azikel Refinery in Obunagha Community of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

They pledged continued support for the successful completion of the multi-billion naira refinery project.

In his remarks, Governor Diri represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far by the company, describing the refinery project as a major step towards industrialising the state, creating employment and opening new economic opportunities for the people.

He congratulated the President of the Azikel Group, Dr Azibapu Eruani and his team on the successful procurement of the CDU, which is the most critical component of a refinery, describing the feat as a significant milestone towards completing the project.

He said industrialisation remains an integral part of his Prosperity Administration’s agenda, noting that government’s responsibility was to create an enabling environment for businesses and investments to thrive.

According to him, the state government’s ongoing road projects were designed to improve connectivity and provide easier access to industrial investments, including the refinery.

The governor urged Bayelsans to take advantage of the opportunities that would emerge from the project, particularly employment and skills development, and warned the people against commercialising opportunities meant for them.

“The Prosperity Government, which is the agenda that we propagate, has industry and industrialisation as one of the major things. As a government, our business is to provide or enhance ease of doing business.

“Our universities have got graduates that can fit into most of the levels that will be available”, he said.

The State Chief Executive urged the people of the local communities to develop the capacity to participate meaningfully in the investment.

Also speaking, former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, applauded the Bayelsa State Government for supporting the project, particularly through infrastructure development and improved road access to the refinery.

She said the investment was significant because Bayelsa had traditionally depended heavily on government, stressing that sustainable development depended more on investments that create wealth than totally relying on monthly salaries and allocations.

Dame Jonathan described the refinery as an investment that should receive the collective support of government, communities and other stakeholders, saying its benefits would extend beyond the company to the wider economy.

According to her, “It is not the amount of money you get at the moment, but the investment you put on ground that matters.

What we are doing is not for you alone; it is for all of us.”

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, stressed that the refinery would have a multiplier effect on Bayelsa’s economy, particularly through job creation and increased business activities.

Dr. Ogbuku maintained the project could also boost traffic at the Bayelsa International Airport by attracting investors, contractors and other business interests into the state.

The NDDC helmsman stressed the need for Bayelsans, particularly young people not to be spectators to the investment but rather prepare and position themselves to benefit from the opportunities it would create.

He also lauded the state government for improving road access to the refinery, saying the infrastructure had helped to make the investment more accessible and demonstrated that the state was preparing for the economic opportunities associated with the project.

On his part, the President of Azikel Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, described the project as a major industrial milestone for Bayelsa and Nigeria, saying the refinery had reached a critical stage with the arrival of the CDU.

He disclosed that the refinery, with a capacity of 25,000 barrels per day and an investment value of about one billion dollars, would produce petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, LPG, naphtha and heavy fuel oil.

Dr. Eruani said the arrival of the CDU represented the culmination of eight years of work and marked a significant step towards actualising the refinery project.

He explained that the CDU took more than three years to build in South Korea before being transported to Nigeria on a specially chartered vessel.

Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, former Chief Operating Officer, Refinery and Petrochemical of the NNPC, Mr. Mustapha Yakubu, among other dignitaries also delivered goodwill messages at the event.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa