Niger Delta
Edo, Delta, Bayelsa Govts Outline Palliative Distribution Strategies
Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa State Governments have expressed their different palliative distribution strategies to lessen the impacts of the current harsh economy on their citizens.
The state governments disclosed their plans while responding to the citizens’ call for intervention in a survey across the three states by The Tide’s source on Wednesday.
The source reports that the distribution of palliatives had recently become the focus of state governments and organisations, following the hard times occasioned by the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of exchange rates.
It recalls that on March 22, the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, had confirmed the death of two students while rushing to get bags of rice distributed by the Nasarawa State Government.
Besides the death of the two students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, the hospital also confirmed it received 14 others with different degrees of injuries from the incident.
The Vice-Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof. Suleiman Bala-Mohammed, while attributing the stampede to impatience on the part of the students, promised further investigation into the matter.
In a similar incident on March 24, the police in Bauchi State confirmed the death of four persons in a stampede during the distribution of alms by a philanthropist in Bauchi metropolis.
Spokesperson of the police command, SP Ahmed Wakil, said the incident occurred when hundreds of people gathered to collect alms from the said philanthropist.
The police, thereafter, said the death toll from the stampede had risen to seven as at March 25.
Against this backdrop, the Edo State Government says it is doing things differently to ensure lives meant to benefit from the palliatives do not end up dead during the process of distribution.
The State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr Chris Nehikhare, told the source that the state operates its “Operation Feed the Hungry Initiative” via places of worship.
Nehikhare said the distribution of palliatives to the people through places of worship was to avoid stampedes as recorded in Nasarawa and Bauchi states.
“This method of palliative distribution, using churches and mosques, is the best.
“It’s just like the Edobest Education System that so many states have come to understudy and adopt”, he said.
According to him, the model does not encourage stampedes because it takes into consideration the closeness between the poor and the vulnerable and their various churches and mosques.
“When people are poor and hungry, they feel more comfortable to go to their places of worship, either the church or the mosque.
“You will also agree that these places of worship do not discriminate. It does not matter the political party one belongs to; everyone is treated equally.
“So, this is what this model is based on”, he said.
The Commissioner disclosed that the model supported the buying of the food within the locality where it would be distributed without involving contractors.
He said: “The only role the government plays in the model is to provide funds and monitor the process”.
According to him, some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) usually donate food to widows, the poor, and the vulnerable, going through churches and mosques.
“It is a model where, even though government is funding it, it (government) has removed its hands completely from the distribution process.
“Government will only carry out a routine monitoring to access the outcome and its impact.
“So, I recommend this model to other states. I’m sure that with time, when people begin to see the effectiveness and the impact of this model, other states will adopt it”, he added.
Meanwhile in Delta State, as residents lament not receiving palliatives from the government, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Dennis Guwor, said the legislators were not mandated to give such to their constituents.
The Speaker made the disclosure when members of the Western Chapter of the Ijaw National Congress visited him in his office.
Though Guwor noted he was not against giving palliatives, he explained that members of the Assembly had, in their different ways, empowered their constituents.
According to him, members of the assembly can reach out to their constituents during Easter and Christmas celebrations as well as any other time as the need arises.
Corroborating the people’s cry in Delta, Director of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Karo Ovemeso, confirmed that the State Government had yet to embark on any distribution of palliatives to residents.
He, however, said: “That we are not giving palliatives for now does not mean we have not been giving relief materials to victims and communities that are challenged”.
The residents of Bayelsa State have a similar story to share, as they said they too had yet to receive any form of palliatives from their State Government.
A resident, Mr Moses Edefe, lamenting how he and his family could barely feed, alleged that the State Government had not shown concern for the people’s sufferings.
According to him, the State Government has never been proactive in terms of the welfare of the people.
“They shared rice during the 2023 November governorship election but only to their party members, a Federal Government palliative for that matter.
“It was a very wrong thing to do, not considering the poor people in the society.
“I don’t know why the Bayelsa Government keeps neglecting the people.
“Even the N35,000 wage palliative has not been paid, not even for a month, to any Bayelsa worker, it’s very bad.
“I call on the Bayelsa Government to do the needful, as the people are suffering. Let them have a rethink”, he said.
Another resident, Mr Solomon Edums, who recalled the loss of lives in the past few days while struggling to secure palliatives, called for caution.
However, in a subtle reaction to the people’s allegations, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa, at Easter, said the provision of palliatives was not a lasting solution to the economic hardship in the country.
He said his administration was initiating policies and programmes that would bring about long-term empowerment to people of the state rather than short-term palliatives.
The Governor, who explained that the government could not alone provide for everyone, called on the people to get involved.
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Niger Delta
NDDC Tasks Communities On Infrastructure Protection, Synergy … As Okpebholo, Snate HostComm Chair Praises NDDC’S Performance
Managing-Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has charged communities of the Niger Delta region on protection of infrastructure projects executed by the Commission in their domains.
He also urged community stakeholders to synergize with contractors and management of the commission towards ensuring that there is no impediment to the execution of contracts awarded to their communities.
Ogbuku stated these in his remarks as Co-host of the 67th edition of the “Eyal Obeyin” of his home town, Ayakoro, in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The Tide learnt that Ayakoro, home town of the Managing-Director/CEO of the NDDC, 67 years ago due to worsening floods and devastating erosion, relocated from their first settlement to their current settlement, directly opposite the old one for safety, hence the yearly cultural celebration to commemorate their exodus.
The NDDC helmsman, who also promised the agency’s continued desire to fasttrack the development of the Niger Delta region, commended President Bola Tinubu for his forthrightness and love for the region, noting that the NDDC under his stewardship would continue to execute policies and projects that would positively impact the region.
“Today, as MD/CEO of NDDC, I know, as a Commission, that whatever achievements we’ve made was due to your support as stakeholders of the Niger Delta region. But one thing I want to say is that communities should partner us by protecting infrastructure we’re building in their domains.
“Every community is in dare need of development, and so whatever development that comes your way should be jealously guarded.
“We also want communities to cooperate with our contractors by not making life difficult for them when they are in your places to execute projects. When you make life difficult for them, they’ll leave your communities and go to another site, and your communities will be the ones to suffer for it.
“We’ve good community relations policy. We’ve the Directorate of Community Relations. Any community that isn’t satisfied with any contractor should please come to us. We can handle their complaints, don’t frustrate contractors”, the NDDC MD adviced.
Meanwhile, the duo of the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the Senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial district/Chairman, Senate Committee on Host Communities, Senator Benson Agadaga, have commended the MD/CEO of the NDDC, for turning around the narratives of the commission.
Governor Okpebholo and the Federal lawmaker gave their commendations in their separate remarks, as Chairman of the occasion, and Special Guest of honour, respectively, at the 2025 edition of the “Eyal Obeyin” cultural celebration.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Delta State has emerged as one of the top four largest economies in Nigeria, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, has said.
Dr. Emu stated this in his keynote speech at the 2025 Public Lecture and Awards Ceremony of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Delta State Chapter, held in Asaba, yesterday.
He said the theme, “The Role of Professionals in the Successful Implementation of the Delta State Government MORE Agenda”, was apt and highlighted the state’s impressive growth trajectory, attributing it to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s strategic governance, infrastructural investments, and a thriving private sector.
Dr. Emu emphasized that Delta’s economic rise was a result of deliberate policies aimed at boosting agriculture, industrialization, and human capital development.
He said through prudent management of resources, investor-friendly policies, and a focus on key sectors such as oil and gas, manufacturing, and technology, Delta has solidified its place as a major economic hub in Nigeria.
He also pointed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration as a key driver of this success, citing initiatives such as the expansion of road networks, increased support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and the development of industrial parks across the state.
Dr. Emu added that the state’s strong contributions to the oil and gas sector, along with growing diversification efforts, have been critical in achieving this status.
“Whether you denominate in Naira or Dollar, Delta is the 4th largest economy in Nigeria and the highest oil producer in the country today.
“Oil revenue today accounts for only 48.7 percent of our GDP, Services and all others account for 51.25 percent.
“This tells you that even though oil and gas is our main revenue earner, services and others account for money.
“It means that as an economy, we are diversifying even though oil accounts for the highest revenue, it does not account in terms of provision of jobs for our people.
“Agriculture sector has grown year-on-year at 13.3 percent for over six years now, while services and manufacturing have also grown significantly.
“We have diversified and created huge jobs for our people totalling over 257,000 jobs and that is very significant”, he noted.
He said with this new ranking, Delta State is poised to attract more local and international investments, solidifying its role as a leading economic powerhouse in Nigeria.
According to him, Oborevwori’s administration has constructed over 500 roads with over 1500km and 933km of line drainages with massive contributions to job creation and poverty eradication.
“In 2020 we were rated the second least poor state in Nigeria only second to Lagos State. In 2022, the multi-dimensional poverty rating indices showed National average at 63 percent. Delta is 47 percent, placing 9th in the country.
“There are some jobs advertised in the country with some states applying more than Delta State and for me its another measure of poverty.
“It indicates that the people here have other choices, they have an option because if there were no options they would have taken those jobs.
“We have over 254,747 empowerments through multiple job creation channels. For every road construction, there is provision for jobs so the more we construct roads across the state, the more jobs we create.
“Physical and social infrastructure fertilises development. So, we will continue to construct more roads and other physical infrastructure across the state”, he said.
On why government is spending huge amounts on road infrastructure, Dr. Emu, said there is a huge infrastructure deficit running into trillions of dollars in Nigeria.
He said South Africa recently provided $54billion dollars for road infrastructure, adding that the problem is not peculiar to Nigeria alone.
“Physical infrastructure fertilises development, it inter links local areas to the urban centres and reduces rural-urban migration and gives room for expansion of businesses in all the hinterlands.
“Hence Government is spending huge amounts in building Trans Warri-Ode Itsekiri Road and bridges, the Ughelli-Asaba Expressway among others”, he noted.
Emu further said as professionals they have major roles to play in the development of the state and urged them to provide useful advise to government on how to develop the state.
In his welcome remark, Chairman APBN, Delta State Chapter, Surv. Victor Ezie, acknowledged the good works of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, especially on the Ughelli-Asaba Expressway, emphasising that the impact of his governance was resonating through out the State.
He congratulated Governor Oborevwori on his emergence as Governor of the year by THISDAY/ARISE News and urged the Governor to keep the flag flying even as he expects diversification of the state’s economy beyond oil dependence.
He called for more investments in non-oil sectors such as Agriculture, Technology, Industries, Commerce, Electricity, Transportation, mass housing, and tourism to ensure sustainable growth.
The Commissioner for Water Resources in Cross River State, Mr. Bassey Mensah, has said that aging water facilities was limiting the performance of the state’s Water Board.
Mensah said this recently in Calabar during a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the board to commemorate the World Water Day.
The Tide’s source reports that the theme for this year’s celebration is: “Glacier Preservation”.
The event comes up every March 22 to create awareness about water and inspire actions to tackle global water shortage.
The Commissioner expressed concern over how people still queue up at commercial borehole points to buy water due to the shortage of supply from the water board.
He said: “In the 1970s, we fetched from public pumps and there should be no reason for system failure that made it difficult for us to access portable water.
“Cross River saw ahead and established the best water facility in the nation but it could not manage it because of erratic power supply.
“We also have nine treatment plants.
“The Calabar plant alone can feed four other Local Government Areas (LGA) but the pipes laid 22 years ago are old and many had even been vandalised.”
Mensah continued that the State Government was taking steps to revive the water board by putting together a Cross River Water Bill, which has been passed by the House of Assembly and awaiting the governor’s assent.
He said immediately the water bill is assented to, the water commission would go into full implementation.
“This will disallow anyone to just drill borehole without proper assessment, which is dangerous to the environment,” he said.
Also, the General Manager, Cross River State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Mr. Sunday Oko, said providing potable water was gradually becoming a challenge, especially in the rural communities.
Oko described rural communities as the “national headquarters of open defecation”, which finds its way back into the water bodies that the people consume.
According to him, Obanliku LGA was the first to attain the Open Defecation Free status but things are gradually going bad again.
He said it was not enough to provide facilities but “the facilities need to be maintained by all and not vandalised”.
While appealing to the governor to assent to the water bill, he urged all hands to be on deck for the preservation and protection of potable drinking water.
“Activities like open defecation, excessive mining and many other activities inimical to the environment are also negatively affecting potable water supply, we need to stop,” he said.