Niger Delta

Bayelsa Mulls Extension In Maternity, Paternity Leave

Published

2 years ago

December 11, 2023

The Bayelsa State Government has indicated interest in enacting a law extending maternity and paternity leave for breastfeeding mothers in the state.
The Government said this became necessary as latest surveys from the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) and UNICEF put the ratio of the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the state at a record low at 6%.
The Tide learnt this, Thursday, at a one-day advocacy and sensitization programme for Legislators and the Head of Service of the State, organised by the state Ministry of Health and State Primary Health Care Board, in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in Yenagoa, the State Capital.
Tagged, “Advocacy and Sensitization of Legislators and the Head of Service for the passage of a bill in support of six month paid maternity leave and two weeks paternity leave and implementing the breastfeeding workplace initiative in Bayelsa state”, the programme featured goodwill messages from representatives of various health and child nutrition oragnisations.
Speaking as Guests of honour, the duo of the Chairman, Bayelsa State House of Assembly Committee on Health, and member representing Sagbama Constituency One, Hon. Godbless Onyikie, and Chairman House Committee on Women, Children and Social Welfare, and member representing Yenagoa constituency one, Hon. Ayibanengiyefa Egba, noted that exclusive breastfeeding was paramount for the mental and physical development of the child.
The lawmakers reassured that they were willing to partner in sponsoring a bill extending the already existing number of months for maternity leave to at least six months as canvassed in the programme.
“But for bureaucracy, a legislation from the Assembly to extend maternity and paternity leave should be ready by the second quarter of 2024.
“We’ll collaborate with all critical stakeholders and our colleagues in the House to sponsor a bill to extend the number of months alloted for maternity and paternity leave so as enable our breastfeeding mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding.
“As a Medical practitioner that I am, and my colleague here with me as House Committee Chairperson on Women, Children and Social Welfare, we want to reassure Bayelsans that we’ll partner to bring the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the state by breastfeeding mothers to fruition. There’s no alternative to this”, the lawmakers said.

Also speaking, the Head of Service of the state, Barr. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyoma, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Establishment, office of the Head of Service, Chief Yela Joseph Alagoa, stated that the call for exclusive breastfeeding was apt.

She noted that her office would consult all relevant stakeholders with a view to ensuring that the rationale behind the advocacy and sensitization programme was realized.

Earlier, in their separate addresses, the duo of the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Pabara Igwele, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Oluwatoyin Azebi, and the Chairman of the State Primary Health Care Board (BYPHCB), Dr Appah Williams Weri, underscored the importance of the programme, noting that they were committed towards a continued advocacy and sensitization in partnership with stakeholders.

Similarly, the trio of the Chairman, Bayelsa State Health Insurance Scheme (BHIS), Professor Onyanye Kunle-Olowu, and Professor Alice Nte, a consultant Paediatrician from the University of Port Harcourt, and the State Nutrition Officer (SNO), Mr Wilson Ebimieboseigha, emphasized the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and child nutrition.

They called for stronger synergy between the Government and other stakeholders towards ensuring that there is a legal instrument to guarantee at least six months paid maternity leave and two weeks paternity leave for the breastfeeding mothers and their spouses.

According to them, this will enable the mother to have enough time to breastfeed her baby.

“Research has shown that investing in breastfeeding has the following potentials for Nigeria: It’ll prevent 103,742 child deaths annually; 10 million cases of childhood diarrhea and pneumonia would be prevented annually; and it would save Nigeria, Bayelsa inclusive, the sum of USD 22 million (22 million Dollars) which when converted to Naira at the current exchange rate amounts to about N 6.93 billion.

“Investing in breastfeeding would also eliminate a whooping USD38 million (N11 billion) worth cost of breast milk substitute; it would generate additional USD 21billion (N 6.6 trillion) income for the economy, representing 4.1% percent gross national income over children productive years.

“What the breastfeeding mother needs is support, time and space for her to breastfeed her new born child or children with her nutritious breast milk”, they said.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

2 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State have called for government’s urgent intervention to end the suspected underwater gas eruption in the community.

The groups, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made the call during their advocacy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Port Harcourt.

The Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, said the visit was to seek clarity on the response efforts of the regulators to the development in the community.

Ebiaridor expressed concern over what he described as “inadequate response from regulatory agencies and the government concerning the incident”.

He said discussions with some officials revealed that there was still no clear timeline for action to address the situation.

According to him, in the absence of clear ownership of the facility linked to the incident, companies operating within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 should be held accountable.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had in a statement issued on March 20 by its Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission had commenced an investigation into a gas bubbling incident in Bille Community.

Eyesan said the commission expressed concern over the development and assured residents of its ongoing efforts to address the situation.

Also, the Resource Justice Manager of Social Action, Dr. Prince Edegbuo, warned that the situation could escalate into a public health emergency, if urgent steps were not taken.

Edegbuo called on relevant authorities to release the results of the tests reportedly conducted in the area, stressing that residents had the right to know the condition of their environment.

He also said CSOs were prepared to intensify advocacy on the matter, urging the development of emergency response measures, including possible evacuation plans.

A legal practitioner and community stakeholder, Mr. Commission Deinbo, had, on March 20, said residents had continued to witness unusual signs on the waterways in the area.

Deinbo said the signs included boiling and bubbling from the ground and river, sometimes within residential areas, as well as fire outbreaks, which the residents had always managed to contain.

He appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid and find a lasting solution to the problem.

In a response, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, Mr. Bello Augustin, assured the community that he would relate its concerns to the appropriate quarters.

Augustin also commended the CSOs for their advocacy and concerns to community development in the state.

By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Niger Delta

Police Detain 7, Recover Arms In A’Ibom

Published

2 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has detained seven suspects and recovered firearms after raiding a criminal hideout in Ndiya Mfia, Ikono Local Government Area.of the State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, made the disclosure in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday.

John said that the breakthrough which occurred at about 6.00a.m on Wednesday, followed credible intelligence from members of the public.

“We reliably gathered that criminal suspects were hibernating in a compound disguised as worshippers.

“In a decisive operation, our personnel conducted a thorough search of the premises which led to the detention and recovery of arms,” she said.

According to her, the operation was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to decisively combat crime in the country.

The police spokesman further said that two locally made double-barrel guns, five expended cartridges, four motorcycles and three generators were recovered during the operation.

She also listed 10 mobile phones, one police crest, four jungle boots, one peak cap, saw blade, spanner, number plates, machetes, a special force vest as other items recovered.

“We also found bottles of suspected spiritual oil and one enlarged photograph linked to an ongoing investigation,” she said.

John said that preliminary investigation suggested that the location was being used as cover for criminal operations.

She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, has directed a comprehensive investigation on the matter in order to apprehend the principal suspect.

John expressed the commitment of the Command to rid the state of crime, and urged members of the public to always support the police with timely and credible information.

Niger Delta

Otu Launches Grassroot Security Network In C’River

Published

2 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has launched a grassroots security intelligence network, named, ”Homeland Safety and Security Agency,” to strengthen community-based surveillance and enhance safety across the state.

Otu, who inaugurated the agency’s office in the Southern Senatorial District of the state on Monday, in Calabar, said similar offices were being inaugurated in the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts.

The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Emmanuel Ironbar, said the officials of the agency would serve as first point of call before matters would be escalated to main security architecture in the state.

He described Homeland Security as an intelligence-driven structure focused on neighbourhood monitoring and early threat detection through coordinated local efforts.

He said the initiative constituted the directors and field operatives, tasked with gathering and forwarding intelligence to relevant security agencies for prompt action.

Otu noted that the network would serve as a first point of contact before intervention by conventional security agencies.

“It is important that we enhance monitoring of movements across our communities, border areas, and riverine zones to identify suspicious activities and enhance security response.

“The state government will provide necessary gadgets and communication tools to improve efficiency and real-time intelligence sharing,” he said.

Otu called for public cooperation, stressing that ‘’security is a collective responsibility requiring timely information from residents.’’

He said, ‘’to ensure that the security outfit works like a model unit, proper screening would be conducted on the volunteers to weed out undesirable elements from the system.’’

The Tide’s source reports that the Governor handed over 14 motor bikes to the agency’s southern Senatorial district office to enhance their efficiency.

On his part, the Director-General, South of the agency, Mr. Michael Nsan, said the volunteers had played key roles in reducing crime through coordinated patrols and intelligence sharing.

Nsan said over 1,300 volunteers currently supported the operations with additional informants providing critical information across communities.

“Crime rates dropped significantly during the last festive period due to our collaboration with law enforcement agencies in the state,” he said.

The Director-General said volunteers would undergo training and screening, with plans underway for formal recruitment through a government employment portal.

According to him, communication tools, including walkie-talkies, and patrol motorcycles had improved rapid response to security incidents.

He commended the governor’s commitment, noting that the initiative would further strengthen security architecture and community safety across the state.

The source reports that some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion were traditional rulers and government officials.