Niger Delta

Lawmaker Sues For Peace In Kolokuma

Published

15 years ago

July 7, 2011

Deputy Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Fini Terah Angaye, has stressed the need for people of Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa State to be united and work with the present administration in the state for sustainable development.

Hon. Angaye, who stated this, during a meeting with the Kolokuma/Opokuma Elders Forum in Yenagoa, said opposition would not guarantee them the dividends of democracy pointing out that the only option for them was to support government in power.

According to the lawmaker representing Kolokuma/Opokuma constituency II in the House, leaders were divinely selected, saying that the people of the area should have a rethink and rally round the Peoples Democratic Party led-government, in their quest for socio-economic development in the area.

He lamented that though the area boasts of highly placed persons in the academia, military and the civil service, adding the situation has not repleted in the development of the area.

He pointed out that the area had been politically marginalised by past governments because of opposition, adding that the best option available to the people was to continue to work with the present administration, with a view to attracting positive development opportunities.

He noted that no community could develop by being on the opposition and commended the elders for their support during the last elections in the area. The deputy speaker, who lauded President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for providing a level playing ground in the polity, said the 2011 polls remains the most transparent and credible in the history of Nigeria, pointing out that the transparent electoral process has thrown up credible and qualitative representatives at all levels of governance.

He, therefore, appealed to the elders, youths, women groups, civil society and all stakeholders to contribute their quota in strengthening the emerging democratic culture in the local government area. Hon Angaye also used the occasion to thank the state governor; Chief Timipre Sylva for his favarouble disposition towards the people of Kolokuma/Opokuma local government in the spread of political appointments, reiterating that the governor has been so magnanimous to the people of the area under his administration, while reassuring the governor of total support in the next election.

Earlier, the chairperson of the occasion, Mrs. Victoria Denenu thanked the deputy speaker, for appreciating the elders after his election, due to the roles they played to return him to the State House of Assembly.

She appealed to the people of the area to rally round Hon. Angaye to enable him attract meaningful development projects to the area.

Mrs. Denenu, who is the immediate past Commissioner for Environment, said the deputy speaker, through his hard work has brought pride to the area because of his ability to garner support for the governor at all levels.

Also speaking, the clan head of Kolokuma Kingdom, HRM, Mozi Onya Agara, Kala Okun III, stressed the need for unity among the people of the area, calling on the youths to embrace peace and shun acts that were inimical to development. In his remark, the Special Adviser to the governor on Labour and Productivity, Hon. Jackson Swokiri, disclosed how the deputy speaker facilitated his appointment and many others.

Niger Delta

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

Published

18 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

18 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

18 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.