Niger Delta

Tension Rises In N’Delta Over FG’s N600bn Debt To NDDC

Published

12 years ago

January 31, 2014

Anger is currently brewing in the oil-rich Niger-Delta region over the alleged withholding of N600 billion meant for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The money, allegedly being owed the NDDC by the Federal Government has been a subject of litigation in the last years.

The Association of Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON) had instituted a case against Attorney General of the Federation in pursuit of the withheld fund but the suit has suffered series of adjournments.

Again, at yesterday’s hearing, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Ibrahim Auta adjourned to 6th March, 2014, a development which triggered reaction from Niger-Delta Peace and Development Movement (NDPDM).

The NDPDM accused the Federal Government of playing politics with the case even as it threatened that frustrating the traditional rulers could elicit a relapse of the relative peace in the oil-rich region.

At yesterday’s court sitting on behalf of TROMPCON were Eze Akuwueze Raphael Ikegwuruka, the Paramount Ruler of Mgbirichi/Abakuru land of Ohaji Egbema LGA of Imo State who is the current chairman of TROMPCON; Eze Young Ogbonna, a former national chairman of TROMPCON; HRM Pere Stanley Luke Kalanama VIII, the Pere of Akugbene Mein (Delta); Barrister Anthony Ogbogbo, the Ovie of Ozoro (Delta) who is national legal adviser of TROMPCON and Augustine Seibi, national administrative secretary of TROMPCON.

But shortly after the adjournment, NDPDM issued a statement condemning the development, saying the constant adjournment was deliberate. “We have been constrained to draw the attention of the Nigerian Peoples and the international community to the criminal neglect of the development of the Niger Delta Region through all the successive Federal Government from 2001.

It is very provocative that the Federal Government that established the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been alleged to have refused to comply with the provisions of the NDDC Act 2000 which requires it to contribute an equivalent of 15 per cent of the monthly statutory allocation to the nine NDDC member States.

“This iniquity of the Nigerian State to the region that has shouldered over 80 per cent of the burden of the Nation’s budget for over 40 years moved our traditional rulers in the Niger Delta under the umbrella of TROMPCON to take the Federal Government to court to demand compliance with the law and effect the release of arrears of over N600billion shortfalls in contribution to the NDDC.

“While we do not endorse any act of corruption by officials of the Niger Delta main interventionist agency, the NDDC, we wish to warn that the continued denial of the legal rights of our people can only ignite the instinct to revolt in the youths of the region. If we allow this to happen, Nigeria will contend a new and more sophisticated set of Tompolos, Ateke Toms, Asari Dokubos and Boy Loafs”, the statement signed by Okon Effiong and Oghenetega Okoro, president and secretary, respectively said.

Former acting managing director of the NDDC, Pastor Power Ziakede Aginighan, had stated that the Federal Government was owing the NDDC over N600 billion, saying that Niger Deltans will hold all presidents, who have headed the executive arm of the various administrations from 2001 to date primarily responsible for the underdevelopment of the region if they did not comply with the funding provisions of the NDDC Act 2000.

The NDDC Act provides that: “there shall be paid and credited to the fund established pursuant to subsection (1) of this section – (a) from the Federal Government, the equivalent of 15 per cent of the total monthly statutory allocations due to member states of the commission from the Federation Account.

Niger Delta

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

Published

6 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

6 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

6 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.