Niger Delta
Delta Ex-Agitators Unite, Sue For Peace
The Ex-Agitators of Urhobo and Isoko extractions in Delta State have united to form a common front in the interest of all members of Phase 1, 2, and 3 under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) of the Federal Government with the aim of enlarging the frontier of members and the betterment of the Niger Delta region.
The group, whch gathered in Ughelli, the traditional headquarters of Urhobo nation for a brainstorming session over the weekend, among other far-reaching decisions, sued for peace among members noting that only a united body like they have formed can achieve goals of attracting development and human growth to the Delta region.
Members were drawn from among what the organisers described as dogged ex-agitators who had remained tenacious in their onerous desire for a better region and people.
The group inaugurated new executive members to steer its affairs in their drive for freedom and emancipation of the region and also to bring pressure to bear on both the PAP and members to activate the phase three ex-agitators to make members more formidably vibrant in the system of things.
Pointedly, the group decried what it called neglect of the Phase Three Group in both the politics and administration of the Amnesty Programme and called for unity of purpose and togetherness by closing ranks to work and achieve glory together as a family.
During the parley, different speakers had raised issues touching on the neglect and undercurrent bordering on rumour-mongering, backbiting, and morbid gossip which it noted had impeded progress among Phase 3 ex-warriors, but resolutely, all agreed to work together to change the trend of things for the best interest of members.
Recognition for ex-agitators, the Urhobo and Isoko group has been lopsided as it vowed to reinforce cohesiveness among former warriors of both extractions across divides to balance and whittle down ethnic dominance of those who see amnesty programme as their exclusive preserve, adding that the programme is for all and recognition should be even across divides.
The keynote speaker at the event, Eshanekpe Israel, who was appointed the Chairman to the Board of Trustees, BoT of the group emphasised the need for Phase 3 ex-agitators to keep and maintain peaceful disposition at all times, as he vowed to double his efforts at repositioning and setting the group on the path of progress, capable of thrusting it to the limelight and ensure that members were developed into imbibing better understanding of who they are and thereby cut down on misdemeanours of errant members across phases particularly Phase 3.
Members of the inaugurated executive are: Eshanekpe Israel as BoT Chairman; Figbele Joseph as Chairman; Solo Adu, Vice Chairman; Idiami, Special Adviser and Abraham Ekokotu emerged as Secretary.
While Eddy emerged as the Public Relations Officer 2; Moses (Mobilisation Officer; Collins Arigo is the Spokesman; Keleye Monday emerged as the Treasurer just as Onos Diyo was appointed the Financial Secretary.
Other officers that were filled included: the Public Relations Officer 1 with Kingsley Agas; Julius Omoyibo emerged Assistant Secretary; Odjokpa Jacob (Social Organiser); Gen. Raymond is the Protocol Officer while Okogbe Edwin is an Ex-Officio member; Comr. Austine Omokpe is the Media Officer and Fada Fada emerged as the Special Adviser.
Other ex-agitators at the event are Charles Akatakpo, Okoro Godwin, Festus Ogolo, Daniel America, Obus Johnson, Onoriode Diyo, One Law Lucky and Bright Ejiro Okpako.
Also in attendance were; Okogbe Edwin a.k.a Ibori; Awareness Olurehe; Feco Philip; Steve Bawharhe and Esedede Israel Orievwen.
Niger Delta
Onuchuku Urges More Funding For Vocational, Technical Education …Calls For Collective Responsibility Among Stakeholders
He also called on educational institutions to maintain high academic and professional standards, while industries should contribute skills development.
Onuchuku, who stated this last Thursday at the 10th Annual Conference of the Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education, IAUE, also called for collective responsibility among stakeholders.
The Acting VC, who was represented by the Dean of Vocational and Technical Education, Ndele Campus of the university, Prof. Isaac Ogundu, called for collective responsibility among key stakeholders in the industry. Expatiating on the call by the Acting VC in his presentation, Prof. Ogundu identified quality human resources and necessary opportunities for developing their productive capacities as factors that would determine a better future for Nigeria.
He said to attain quality assurance in programmes offered by tertiary institutions, the phenomenon need to be viewed as a strategic investment in human capital and national development.
Making reference to the theme of the conference, “Quality Assurance in Vocational and Technical Education: A Foundation for Sustainable Workforce in Nigeria”, Ogundu, who is the Dean, Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education, IAUE, said to attain quality assurance, there has to be collective commitment of all stakeholders.
He said: “building a sustainable workforce is a collective responsibility that requires the commitment of government, educational institutions, employers, professional bodies, teachers, students, and other wider society.
“Government must provide an enabling policy environment and adequate funding for vocational and technical education. Educational institutions must maintain high academic and professional standards. Industry must contribute to skills development and provide opportunities for practical workplace learning. “Teachers and instructors must demonstrate professional competence and commitment to continuous improvement. Students must take responsibility for their learning and embrace discipline, creativity, amd lifelong learning.”
He explained that quality assurance has become “an indispensable component of contemporary education” that provides the framework through which educational institutions establish standards.
According to him, the 10th edition of he conference “is particularly remarkable because it provides an opportunity to reflect on our achievements, assess the challenges confronting Vocational and technical education in Nigeria, and propose practical strategies for improving the quality, relevance, amd effectiveness of skills development.
“It also demonstrates the faculty’s determination to sustain a tradition of intellectual engagement that connects educational research with the practical needs of society, industry, and national development.”
Presenting the Lead Paper, Prof. Hilary Wordu of the Faculty of Education, Rivers State University, said Nigeria’s future will be determined more by what Nigerian do ith the knowledge they have.
“The future of Nigeria’s workforce will not be determined simply by how many people and do with what they have learned.”receive education, but increasingly by the quality of what they are able to know, understand, create and do with what they have learned.”
Sogbeba Dokubo
The Commission said an incident occurred at the construction site of the 600-metre Otuogori-Otuegwe Bridge, but insisted that the bridge itself had not been constructed and therefore could not have collapsed.
Addressing journalists during an inspection of the project, the NDDC Director, Bayelsa State Office, Engr. Godknows Alamieyeseigha, described the reports as misleading.
“We don’t have a bridge yet because we are still at the stage of crossing the beams. So, no bridge has collapsed.
“However, there was an incident at the construction site, and we are assessing the circumstances surrounding what happened”, he said.
Alamieyeseigha dismissed suggestions that the incident resulted from structural failure, describing it as an accident during construction.
He expressed confidence that the construction company would address issues identified during the assessment and complete the project.
He also said no bridge had collapsed in Bayelsa State or any of the nine Niger Delta states.
The NDDC Director said the Commission’s current board and management, led by Chairman Chiedu Ebie, and Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, had prioritised quality assurance in project execution.
He added that NDDC engineers and independent consultants regularly inspected project sites across the region to ensure compliance with approved engineering designs and standards.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the construction firm, Mr. Christian Emiezor, assured that the Otuogori-Otuegwe Bridge was being executed in line with high construction standards.
He explained that the project was still at the preparatory stage, with work focused on positioning the beams before the construction of the main bridge structure.
According to him, the incident occurred during the launching of the beams, which were being positioned on their bearings.
“We are constructing a 600-metre bridge, but as you can see, we have not constructed a bridge yet. What you are seeing is just preparations for the bridge”, Emiezor said.
He described the incident as a minor accident, explaining that a beam resting on a bearing but not yet secured could slide during the positioning process.
“What was going on was the launching of the beams, and in the process, there was a slight accident. Because the beam was resting on a bearing and had not been secured, it could slide. That was what happened”, he said.
Emiezor added that safety measures at the site prevented casualties. “The good thing is that, with the safety measures put in place, no life was lost”, he said.
Enoch Epelle
The three-day summit, scheduled for March 18 to 20, 2027, will be held at Movela Hotels, Warri, Delta State.
Co-convener of the summit, Dr. Uche Igwe, disclosed in an interview with journalists, saying the annual event would bring together key decision-makers and operators to transform the Niger Delta’s blue economy potential into viable investment opportunities.
He said participants would be drawn from the government, the organised private sector, academia, civil society, traditional institutions and community groups across the Niger Delta and beyond.
Igwe said the maiden edition, held in February 2026, had recorded progress through partnerships and the identification of feasible projects requiring funding and further development.
“Since our maiden edition last February, a lot has been achieved. We now have partners who understand our region and who have identified several feasible projects.
“It is now time to go to the next level of ensuring that such projects are made bankable and the necessary funds required are mobilised to ensure that projects leave the drawing board and hit the ground running”, he said.
He commended the Delta State Government led by the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, for providing what he described as an enabling environment for investment in the sector.
According to him, the second summit will focus on developing investment pipelines and exploring innovative financing mechanisms, including blue bonds, to attract capital into the sector.
“With the feedback we have got so far, more than $600 million of investment capital will enter the blue economy sector through our modest efforts”, Igwe added.
Also speaking, Senior Consultant at Gadfly Consulting Limited, Mr. Philemon Oghenedoro Adjekuko, called for stronger collaboration among relevant government agencies and private sector operators to support Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
He said the blue economy could contribute significantly to the country’s economic expansion if stakeholders moved beyond discussions to coordinate action and investment.
Adjekuko, who said he had spent the past three months engaging stakeholders as part of a study on blue finance, expressed optimism about the sector’s capacity to drive economic diversification and strengthen the non-oil economy.
“As someone who has been speaking to stakeholders in the last three months conducting a study ” he said.
Enoch Epelle
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