Niger Delta

Bayelsa Poll: Traders Berate Govt Over Unfair Treatment …Commend Diri For Peace, Security

Published

2 years ago

October 20, 2023

Ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship polls in Bayelsa State, business owners, under the aegis of Phone Village (PV) operators and the Registered Market Association of Bayelsa State (RMABS) have lampooned the state government over alleged marginalisation in the scheme of things in the State.
The groups also lauded the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for the peace and tranquility in Yenagoa, the state capital, and other parts of the State.
In an interview with The Tide, the Chairman, PV operators of the State, Hon. Prince Williams Eze, said several efforts have been made to successive administrations of the State with a view to working out modalities for the allocation of land for the building of a designated phone village, but that all efforts had proved abortive as the government has not shown enough commitment.
Eze, who also doubles as the chairman of the registered market association of the State-cum spokesman of the State branch of the Igbo traders association, noted that the various groups of business operators under his leadership and others have continued to contribute in different ways towards the socio-economic development of the State.
He, however, expressed regrets that the government has not given the various traders associations commensurate attention in its affairs.
The market association boss called on the Governor Diri-led administration to pay attention to the yearnings of the traders, noting also that save for having created direct and indirect jobs for some citizens of the State, many members of the associations were also diehard supporters of the Governor’s “Prosperity Government”.
“For me, and many of my members in both the phone village and the registered market association, we’ve been patiently working for the PDP and Governor Douye Diri. But honestly, this government and the PDP haven’t been fair to us.
“They’ve not been carrying us along in the scheme of things, so much so that we’ve complained and communicated the government through various of its offices and officials, but we’ve not still seen any corresponding response as regards the unfair treatment given us.
“We only chose to work for Governor Diri because he ensured peace and security in the State. Without peace and security, you wouldn’t be able to do your business, and so for that reason, we’ve since decided to work for his re-election bid.
“As a phone village, we’ve created both direct and indirect jobs for not only the Igbos doing their businesses here, but there’re so many Bayelsans learning and doing repairs and sale of phones and ICT related accesories here too.
“All we want is that the government look into our plights as stakeholders in the socio-economic and political landscape of this State”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Phone Village, Hon. Prince Williams Eze, has indicated interest that the group would soon conduct election to usher in new executives.
He said he was not contesting for any position again, but would rather remain as board of trustee member to advise the new executive of the group upon their election, which is billed to take place before the state governorship election in November.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa

Niger Delta

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

Published

16 hours 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

16 hours 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

16 hours 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.