Niger Delta

Dickson Assures On Ogbia/Nembe Road Completion

Published

12 years ago

December 11, 2013

The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, says he will put every mechanism in place to ensure the completion of the 40 years old Ogbia-Nembe road project by 2015

Hon Dickson, who described the delay as a hinderance to structural development, and investment in tourism and other socio-economic activities in the two local government areas promised that all such projects would be given accelerated attention by his administration.

The Ogbia-Nembe road project,which was initially awarded by Federal Government under the Military administration of Yakubu Gowon in 1973 but taken over by the SPDC and later the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) as part of community intervention agency effort.

Governor Seriake Dickson,while on a Special “Thank You” tour in Nembe Local Government Area of the state,said the decision of the state government to facilitate the completion of the road project was due to the need to boost the economic profile of the state and address security challenges being faced by indigenes of the community.

Governor Dickson,who was recieved by the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, (rtd), the former Military Administrator of Ebonyi and Delta states, Navy Captain Walter Feghabo, (rtd) and Senator Nimi Barigha Amange, also promised to assist the people in the preservation of the rich cultural heritage with a donation of N10m.

Dickson said “What I’ve seen reminded me of how much we as a government even needs to do in terms of working closely to preserve, propagate and even export and expose this very beautiful aspect of our lives that very often we don’t show enough. I want to commend you all and also assure you that in this business of preserving culture, you have me as an active partner.”

“Let me also use this opportunity to thank His Eminence, the Amanyanabo and his council of chiefs for inducting me into your very respected Sekiapu cultural group. I am in support of any aspect of our culture that does not infringe on God’s sovereignty over His creation.”

“A short while ago I had announced a regime of support for the preservation of the cultural heritage and monuments in Nembe Local Government Area. And I have directed the Chairman of Council to liaise with the Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs to see to it that all those aspects are supported and preserved and even documented for posterity. I will even do so in Brass to preserve the White Man’s Grave and other relics that we have there.”

Earlier, at separate meetings with the Ogbolomabiri and Bassambiri Councils of Chiefs, Governor Dickson restated his administration’s commitment towards strengthening security in the state and implored the people to cooperate with government in that regard.

On infrastructural development and other concerns raised, he said, “ we are doing a few things in Nembe as you all know but there are several things coming that you do not know which you will know very soon because when we say something, we do it. We don’t say things that we are not ready to do, like others do just to play to the gallery. A number of things are in the pipeline; we have started implementing some and in no distant time, most of the concerns raised will become things of the past”.

In their separate remarks, the Amanyanabo of Nembe, King Edmund Daukoru and the Secretary of Nembe-Bassambiri Council of Chiefs, Chief Ayebaesin Edeghotu-Omo commended the Governor for the visit and stressed the need for more concerted security efforts on the waterways particularly in the Oluasiri area.

Describing the issue of illegal bunkering and sea-piracy as disturbing, King Daukoru said the kingdom had been battling with the menace through communal efforts.

He said, ‘we are ready to partner with you even in the area of security. The youths have apprehended people in the past but when they are handed over for investigation and prosecution, very little happens.

Speaking in the same vein, Chief Edeghotu-Omo submitted, “we reiterate that the bravado which is being displayed by the marauders along the creeks becomes more worrisome as they are often assisted by the JTF to perpetrate their nefarious activities unperturbed.”

Niger Delta

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

Published

3 days 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

3 days 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

3 days 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.