Niger Delta

Senate To Pass Bill On Sexual Violence, Harassment

Published

12 years ago

April 9, 2014

The chairman, Senate
Committee on Women Affairs and Youths Matters, Senator Helen Esuene, has said that the bill on sexual violence and harassment against women would soon be passed by the Senate.
Esuene, representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, stated this at the inauguration of the National Executive Council of Ibom Consolidated Assembly (ICA), in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
She said the bill sought to address the issue of rape and make it easier for the victims to come out to report.
“There is a bill currently in the Senate on sexual violence against women. It is supposed to address the issue of rape, to make it easier for victims to come out to report,’’ Esuene said.
She said the bill, when passed, would create provision for victims of rape to seek justice and the perpetrators to be properly punished.
Esuene described rape against women and girls as “really unfortunate and very sad.’’
“The issue of rape on women is very unfortunate because it is one crime that shouldn’t be since there are more women than men, why should a man rape a woman or a girl that he shouldn’t even go near.
“The laws are there but for the inhibition people have. Rape victims are already traumatised and often times scared to even go to report at the police stations,’’ she said.
Esuene regretted that the already existing laws had also made it very difficult for a rape victim to report and seek justice.
“The laws as we have them now is not enabling at all because it makes it very difficult for the rape victim to go and report, because the victim will be asked all manner of questions and because of that, they don’t even want to bother.
“If we don’t report and make the victim to pay according to law, then the crime will continue and increase,’’ she stated.
Esuene said that bills in the national assembly were not delayed, saying that bills involved gradual processes.
“The process of law making is very gradual and is not one stuff thing. One bill has to go through three readings in one house, then it is taken to the other house and it will have to go through three readings.
“And then you must have a public hearing on it before the two houses (the Representatives and the Senate) will now have a consensus bill which will again be passed by each of them before it will be assumed to be passed.
“It is a very long drawn out process; unfortunately that is why we have bicameral legislature, if it was just one house then the process will be shortened,’’ she said.
Esuene said that democracy had come to stay in Nigeria as the country would soon celebrates 15 years of uninterrupted democracy.
The lawmaker said that the National Assembly was a symbol of democratic governance, and urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the system.
“Democracy is a partnership with the people, that is why it will continue to excel and grow in Nigeria.
‘’Whatever you see now that may not be to our delight is because the democracy is till new and fresh.
“Nigeria is celebrating its centenary of 100 years as a nation, it is time that we start doing thing slightly differently, we cannot continue to be a baby at 100 years,’’ Esuene said.
The Senator lauded the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio for his achievement, which had raised the political profile of the state.

Executive Chairman of Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Barrister Reginald Ukwuoma (right), his wife (left) and wife of Paramount Ruler of Oginigba Community, Lolo Rose Nyeche Odum (middle), during the honour of Lolo Odum by St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Oginigba Deanery, recently.

Niger Delta

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

Published

2 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

2 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

2 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.