Rivers

Tanker Drivers Threaten To Shut Down East-West Road Over Poor Condition

Published

2 years ago

July 21, 2023

The National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW), heavy trucks section, has threatened to block the Eleme axis of the East -West Road if urgent step is not taken by the Federal Government to fix it.
The Chairman, South-East Monitoring Unit ,heavy trucks section , Comrade Mohammed Giwa gave the warning while speaking with newsmen in his office in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Giwa said the untold hardship the truck drivers and other road users are facing due to the bad condition of the road cannot be tolerated any longer.
He also lamented the illegal levies tanker drivers pay on a daily basis, describing the situation as worrisome.
Giwa also decried a situation where roads are blocked by every community to extort huge money from his drivers, adding that some truck drivers are killed in the process, stressing that the worst affected area is the Emohua-Ogoni axis, where he alleged that tanker drivers are often molested for failure to comply with their terms.
The chairman called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Rivers State Government to treat the issue as urgent to avoid breakdown of law and order.
Giwa noted that currently drivers are avoiding coming to Port Harcourt due to the illegal activities of the bad eggs in the Police Force, contending that it is affecting the cost of commodities in the market.
Giwa further indicated that the deplorable condition of the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and illegal road blocks by various communities have constituted serious handicap to the operations of truck and tanker drivers.
“Recall that the drivers were last week ready to shut down the entire road but we pleaded with them to exercise patience but from all indications, their patience is running out and we are exhausted.Our contributions to the national economy can not be over-emphasised. We are ready to support the Eleme council chairman to carry out massive protest to press home our demand.The cry and lamentations of the drivers are unbearable.We call on President Tinubu to rescue us.The poor condition of the road is affecting our businesses.It is also affecting the cost of commodities.It is high time the authorities did something serious about this road.We are Nigerians doing legitimate businesses and we deserved to be encouraged,” he said.

Niger Delta

Tai Agric Sector Gets Emergency Attention …As Chairman Distributes Farm Inputs, Inaugurates Technical Team

Published

5 days ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

The Chairman of Tai Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon. Matthew Nenu Bari Dike has declared a state of emergency in the agriculture sector of Tai local government.
Speaking while distributing farm implements and other agricultural support packages to the farmers at the council’s headquarters in Saakpenwa, yesterday, Dike challenged farmers to show their farms before requesting for financial assistance.
The council boss stated that as a government, they were committed to putting smiles on the faces of the people and assured that his administration would ensure that every person in the local government is happy.
“As a government we want to assure you that, we will stop at nothing to ensure you all are empowered and living happily”.
According to him, “the gesture is aimed at enhancing food production and security through agriculture, and enjoined all lovers of agriculture in the local government area to identify with the quest to redefine development through agriculture in the local government.
He encouraged everyone to cultivate the passion and return to agriculture, to guarantee self-reliance, maximum food production and security in the area.
His administration, he said, would purchase more yam seedlings in order to get greater production to encourage exportation beyond the shores of Nigeria.
“A boost in yam production will also empower farmers in the Local Government Area”, the elated chairman said.
In a related development, the Chairman has inaugurated a five, member Agricultural Technical Committee for the Local Government Area.
The committee is made up of Pst. Anderson Wariboko, Barr. Paul Newman,, Smith Nyor-Ue, Gladys Jumbo and Dr Keke Rammyson
Also speaking, the Director of Agriculture, Tai Local Government Area, Mr Anderson Wariboko revealed that the event was part of activities to mark the chairman’s 100 days in office.
Wariboko who led the chairman, and other leaders of the council on the distribution of the farm inputs to the farmers, was full of praises for the chairman, Hon. Dike whom he said has the interest of the people at heart.

Kiadum Edookor

Rivers

Moremonee Appointment Rivers Man As Brand Rep

Published

5 days ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

One of Nigeria’s leading financial service provider, Moremonee M&M MFB, has appointed a Rivers State man and renowned content creator, Mr. Eche Ndubuisi, as one its brand representatives in the state.

Ndubuisi said he was appointed based on his track records and achievements in marketing strategies, which has made him a celebrity in the content creation through the new media industry.

Speaking to journalists shortly after his endorsement by the company, Mr Ndubuisi said he was committed to marketing the company by bringing his wealth of experience to sell the bank to the world.

He thanked the company for the opportunity and assured that he will justified the confidence reposed on him

MoreMonee Bank was established in 2008, securing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licence in July.

According to an official of the bank, who spoke anonymously, the Bank migrated as a Limited liability in October 2023, marking the start of a new era for the financial service provider.

He said with a bold vision to become Africa’s generational bank, MoreMonee aims to tackle poverty across the continent by offering accessible financial services that empower business owners and foster job creation.

The company, he continued, is committed to driving growth through innovative products, seamless transactions, and strategic technological integration.

Rivers

Group Faults Shell In Ogale, Bille Environmental Pollution

Published

5 days ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

Fridays for Future Nigeria (FFFN), an environmental protection group, has faulted the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) for the environmental pollution in Ogale and Bille communities in Rivers State.

This is contained in a statement by the National Coordinator and Country Representative, FFFN, Mr. Kingsley Odogwu.

Odogwu, who in strong terms condemned Shell’s disregard for human and environmental rights in the region, said, ”The people of the Niger Delta, including Ogale and Bille communities, have an inherent right to a clean and healthy environment, a right that Shell has systematically violated”, he said.

The Ogale and Bille communities in oil rich Nigeria’s Niger Delta are experiencing ongoing and significant environmental pollution, primarily from oil spills.

Residents have claimed severe contamination of their water supply, farmlands, and waterways, preventing them from fishing and farming due to the chronic oil pollution.

This issue is currently the subject of ongoing legal action against Shell in the UK courts by members of these communities.

The FFFN National Coordinator urged the Nigerian government and the international community to support the Ogale and Bille communities in their quest for justice and to hold Shell accountable for its environmental destruction.

He lamented the decades of environmental degradation due to oil spills, gas flaring, and other harmful practices by Shell and other oil companies in the region.

According to him, the ecosystem of the affected communities has been severely damaged, and the health and livelihoods of its inhabitants compromised.

”The affected communities demand that Shell fulfill its legal obligations by cleaning up the pollution to international standards and providing adequate compensation.

”The FFFN stands in solidarity with the Ogale and Bille communities in their pursuit of justice against Shell Petroleum for its egregious environmental destruction in the Niger Delta”, he said.

He called on all citizens of the country to support the move for the actualisation of justice for all the communities and other victims of ecosystem pollution in Nigeria.