Niger Delta
Exploit Maritime Opportunities, Amnesty Boss Urges Niger Deltans

The Interim Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Rtd. Col. Milland Dixon Dikio, has called on Niger Delta people to take advantage of maritime opportunities in the region to grow successful businesses.
Dikio made the call in a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr Nneotabase Egbe, and made available to newsmen in Yenagoa.
Dikio unveiled the first set of ferries owned by Abitto Global Services Limited, an indigenous firm owned by an ex-agitator, Mr Richard Akinaka, at the weekend, in Calabar.
He said if stakeholders look inwards and tap the unique natural endowments in Niger Delta, the region would produce new wealthy entrepreneurs.
Dikio expressed regrets that people often focused on the risk factors, and discouraged themselves from starting and in the process, allowed lofty ideas to die.
“One of the first instructions God gave is ‘go and multiply, dominate’.
“Are you dominating this riverine environment? Why will you be thinking about other parts when the one God gave you, you have not dominated it? How many roads can you build?
“Our people live in creeks unconnected by road but God has given us roads, the rivers are our roads and for those who don’t know, many great powers are maritime powers.
“The waterways can carry any load, any load at all, it can carry it. The waterways of the Niger Delta are full of money but people don’t know. Stop making excuses and just take the initiative,” he said.
Dikio said people lived in snow regions all year and had adapted to that environment, adding that Niger Delta people should adapt and dominate the water environment.
He congratulated Akinaka for the bold step in floating the ferry business and urged him to expand to other riverine parts of the country.
Dikio said he should go public by allowing people to buy shares and be part of the business.
He said people of the region should pull their resources together, form partnerships and cooperatives to pursue and actualise their business dreams.
Dikio said that the transport company should not remain only in the Niger Delta, adding that Lagos was 75 per cent water.
“I will do everything within my power, to promote this initiative. Already, I have started. I urge you to go public, so that you can spread generational wealth,” he said.
Earlier, Akinaka said he floated the transport business out of the need to find solutions to problems, as he understood the basic challenges of the people.
“Today, I want to thank you for making out time to come. For me, growing up, I told myself I don’t want to work for the government and I don’t want to work for anybody.
“That is why you see me, my activities in government are just a part-time job. That is why we call ourselves stakeholders.
“We are stakeholders, we assist, and we interface between the government and our brothers,” he said.
Akinaka said business was all about solving problems.
“Looking at the distance, when you travel from Uyo to Calabar, the bad road and terrible traffic, I began to think how to ease the sufferings of the people. “I travel that road every week and I know how it is. So, while trying to build military boats, I decided to design a fery and that is what we are seeing here today.
“We did this design, we have four concepts of what we have designed and the military version,” he said.
Akinaka said they had supplied about 18 pieces of the ferries to NNS Pathfinder through the government of Rivers State.
According to him, this is the first one, this is a 26 carrier, that’s why you see the name AWLP26, we have a 20 carrier too which is ready.
Akinaka said the company was meeting the gap in marine transportation.
He said their operation would start from here, adding that they would operate from here straight to Ibom Golf Resort in Akwa Ibom and other areas.
Niger Delta
RSNC Head Charges NAOMEW On Professionalism, Effective Service Delivery

The Head of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mrs Stella Dornubari Gbaraba, has charged the National Association of Ogoni Media House Workers (NAOMEW) World Wide, to be committed to professionalism, patriotism and effective service delivery in the discharge of their duties and rendering of patriotic gestures.
Mrs Gbaraba gave the charge yesterday when the NAOMEW, The Tide Chapter paid her a courtesy call in her office in Port Harcourt.
She expressed deep appreciation for the visit, and assured the Association of her commitment to being a worthy Ogoni Ambassador like late Mr Augustine Nwikinaka, former General Manager of the corporation, to promote the fortunes of the corporation, while counting on their unflinching encouragement, prayers and support to succeed.
“ I am very happy to receive the National Association of Ogoni Media House Workers (The Tide Chapter) today in my office. I am glad you people came to my office, for those that know me in a short while in the corporation, I am a serious-minded person. I heard that the time the corporation was functioning well was under the leadership of late Austin Nwikinaka. Any where I go to, I will rather come down and show working example and that is what the Ogoni person is known for. So I am always proud to associate myself with an Ogoni man, so your support means so much to me,” Mrs Gbaraba said.
She assured them of running an open-door policy in the management of the corporation, and urged stronger partnership between NAOMEW, other unions, interest groups, corporate organisations, institutions and the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation in professional service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of the NAOMEW, The Tide Chapter, the National Secretary of the association, Comrade Taneh Beemene welcomed her into The Tide family and also congratulated her on her very important appointment.
Taneh, who expressed confidence in her experience and abilities to deliver on her assignments, thanked her for the uncommon feats recorded in the corporation within her brief leadership. He said the corporation has been revived from its comatose status that predated her appointment.
“ Within your short time, you have given the corporation a remarkable facelift. We pray that God should give you the enablement to restore the dignity of the corporation. We have come to inform you that we are solidly behind you and will make our untiring contributions to make you succeed, “ he stated.
In his vote of thanks and closing remarks, the Chairman, National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Production Workers (NUPPPPROW), Comrade Keyirale Donatus Nwiueh thanked the Head of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mrs Stella Dornubari Gbaraba for receiving the association in a warm manner, adding that she should count on the support of the association to succeed.
Kiadum Edookor
Niger Delta
OBALGA Sole Administrator Presents Brand New Fire Extinguishers To Council …Commiserates With Traders Over Rumuomasi Market Fire Incident …Commences Desilting Of Drainages

The Sole Administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter has presented 150 brand new fire extinguishers to the council.
Dr Walter who spoke to newsmen at the council premises at Rumuodumanya said the gesture was part of measures by his administration to ensure safety of lives and council property from unforeseen fire incidents.
He urged the staff of the council to ensure the safety of the extinguishers, while promising to engage experts to teach them how to handle and operate the extinguishers.
Meanwhile, Sole Administrator of Obio Akpor Local Government Council, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter has commiserated with traders at the Rumuomasi Market over the unfortunate fire incident that gutted parts of the market.
Dr Walter who visited the market to assess the level of damage caused by the fire, described it as unfortunate
Addressing the crowd of distressed traders and community members, Dr. Walter acknowledged the historical significance of the market, which was originally built under the administration of the former Obio/Akpor Chairman and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON.
He noted that preliminary findings suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault, though a full investigation is still underway.
“As a local government, we will constitute a thorough investigation team to determine the root cause of the fire,
“Most importantly, we thank God that no lives were lost. I want to assure our traders that the Local Government will not abandon you.
“We will also work with security operatives to safeguard salvaged goods and prevent further losses,” he said.
He encouraged traders to adopt stricter safety measures, especially concerning electrical appliances in markets prone to fire hazards.
“There are many ways fires can ignite, even without an open flame. Let us all be vigilant and prioritise safety,” he cautioned.
Dr. Walter also commended those who stepped in to assist during the emergency.
“We are grateful to all who helped salvage goods and support affected persons during the crisis. Your kindness embodies the spirit of Obio/Akpor. The forthcoming investigation will help us put preventive structures in place,” he said.
The Chairman of the market, Mr. Prince Adele, who accompanied Dr. Walter, during the inspection, identified K-Lane as the most severely affected area.
A statement by the information officer to the council, Ominini Leslie Wokoma said no incident of death was reported by the traders during the visit.
In another development, the Sole Administrator of Obio/Akpor local government council, Sir Clifford Ndu Walter, has commenced a comprehensive canal clearance campaign with a view to identifying and removal of all blockages including illegal structures hindering the free flow of waters in the area.
A statement from the council Press Secretary, Ominini Leslie Wokoma said during the inspection of key canals in the area, several unauthorised barricades and blockages were discovered and removed.
According to the statement, Dr Walter emphasised that illegal dumping, unapproved structures and poor drainage habits endanger communities and undermine government efforts, adding that his administration is committed to protecting lives and property of the citizens.
It said the Sole Administrator also declared his readiness to ensure that all canals and drainages are cleaned, maintained and functioning effectively.
He also warned against further dumping of waste in waterways, citing impending flooding.
Niger Delta
EFCC Praises NDDC’S Performance … Unveils Projects In Bayelsa
-
Sports4 days ago
Spanish Football Fires Entire Refereeing Committee
-
Features4 days ago
Between EFCC And NDDC: Strategic Alliance For Niger Delta
-
News4 days ago
Court Sentences Gospel Singer To Death For Killing Girlfriend In Nasarawa
-
Politics4 days ago
Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov
-
Sports4 days ago
Olympic Day Sparks Nationwide Fitness Fever
-
Nation4 days ago
Ogoni Stakeholders Hail Zabbey’s Performance
-
Sports4 days ago
I Joined Saudi League To Win Titles – Senegal Keeper
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
OBALGA Sole Administrator Presents Brand New Fire Extinguishers To Council …Commiserates With Traders Over Rumuomasi Market Fire Incident …Commences Desilting Of Drainages