Niger Delta

NDE Distributes N30m Equipment To C’River Youth

Published

13 years ago

December 28, 2012

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has distributed N30 million worth of equipment to unemployed skilled graduates in Cross River.

The Director General of NDE, Malam Abubakar Mohammed made the fact known in Calabar at the graduation and distribution ceremony of Resettlement Equipment/Tools for the beneficiaries.

The resettlement programme was a collaboration between Rep. Essien Ayi, the member representing Calabar South, Akpabuyo and Bakassi Federal Constituency and NDE.

The equipment distributed to beneficiaries included refrigerators, sewing machines, computer accessories, photocopying machines and hairdressing tools.

Represented by the State Coordinator of NDE, Mr Edem Duke, the director-general said 80 women and youths benefited from the programme aimed at helping them to establish their own businesses.

“It is gratifying to know that today’s occasion is achieved through a collaborative effort which is one of the emphases of the directorate in her continuous attempt at combating mass unemployment in the country,’’ Mohammed said.

He said that the youths received training for six weeks in trades, such as computer operation, computer repairs, hair dressing, catering, lawn mowing, GSM repairs, cosmetology and interior decoration/event management.

Mohammed advised the beneficiaries to make the best use of opportunities given by the Federal Government to set up workshops and manage them profitably to enable them to repay their loans promptly.

He appealed to individuals, especially members of the National Assembly, to emulate the initiative of the legislator to reduce unemployment.

In his remark, the Acting Governor of Cross River, Mr Efiok Cobham, commended Ayi for embarking on the programme and urged him to do more for his people.

He said that the initiative was in line with the state government’s empowerment agenda for wealth creation for the people.

Cobham said the state government had carried out empowerment and capacity building programmes for youths in the state, including offering micro-credits for more than 200 youths.

“Our youths must begin to learn to become entrepreneurs, the jobs are not available anymore and we must get our youths off the streets in order to be gainfully engaged,’’ he said.

Ayi, who was represented by Mr Patrick Ugbe, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, called on youths to learn and become employers of labour.

He advised the beneficiaries to put the tools to good use to improve their lives.

“Let me use this opportunity to inform all the youths in Cross River to prepare to key into a programme that will be coming up in 2013, this is Youths Empowerment and Social Support Operation, (YESSO),’’ Ayi said.

He said YESSO was a World Bank-funded programme to be executed with the support of the state government.

“I believe there is a need before us in our constituency to encourage a build-up of artisans and fruitfully engage the attention of young people, especially the less privileged,’’ he said.

The legislator appealed to the youths to inculcate the habit of hard work to benefit from entrepreneurship and possession of skills.

“Their effort and eventual success in making appropriate use of the grant will in no small way encourage the continuity of this initiative which will see more people benefiting years after year,’’ he said.

He commended NDE for creating the atmosphere that ensured the success of the programme.

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

7 hours 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

11 hours 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

12 hours 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.