Niger Delta

Ex-LG Boss Lauds Foundation’s Founder’s Giant Strides

Published

5 years ago

January 6, 2020

A former local government Chairman in Bayelsa State, Hon. Princhard Marcus has commended the founder of Finger lift Foundation, Mr Gilbert Kiaka, over his humanitarian services to the society and the vision behind the foundation which is to positively touch the lives of the less privileged in the society, describing him as a man who generously gives to the poor.
Marcus, who made the commendation during the launch of the foundation in Port Harcourt, recently said the foundation founder’s benevolence was legendary and recalled that Mr Kiaka carved a niche for himself during his primary assignment as a youth corps member when he singlehandedly built a computer centre in Peremabiri Community in Bayelsa State where he trained several youths of the area.
According to him, the gesture then earned Mr Kiaka the state governor’s award.
The former council chairman, explained that unlike other youngmen who would have collected money for such a project and bolted away, said the foundation founder rather proved his mettle by executing the computer centre project, a gesture he said made the people of the area to be proud of him.
Also speaking at the event, the special guest of honour, Apostle Abraham Abdulsalam advised the people to support the foundation to succeed as its vision was to affect the lives of the rural people.
On her part, a journalist, Mrs Seanam Bamigboye also recalled Mr Kiaka’s outstanding performance during his NYSC days, and advised him to continue to contribute meaningfully to the society through the foundation.
Responding, the founder of Fingerlift Foundation, Mr Gilbert Kiaka said he loves giving to people since his childhood, stressing that he decided to float the foundation in order to do more for the society, particularly to positively affect the lives of the people in the rural areas.
While soliciting the support of the government, corporate organisations and individuals to enable the foundation to fully achieve its dream and vision, Kiaka said the society was in dire need of such a foundation.

Niger Delta

HoSF Delighted Over New Secretariat Project In Bayelsa … As Diri Promises Timely Completion

Published

2 hours ago

March 12, 2025

The Tide

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dame Didi Walson-Jack, has expressed delight over the construction of a new nine-storey civil servants secretariat by the Bayelsa State government.

She said when completed, the iconic structure would go down in her memory as an exciting legacy of the Governor Douye Diri’s administration.

Mrs. Walson-Jack stated this when she performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the project in Yenagoa.

According to her, the event was a special, significant milestone to her as she had served in the Bayelsa public service and felt a sense of nostalgia to witness the historic foundation-laying ceremony.

“The civil service is the engine of government, providing the expertise, structure necessary for effective governance. A well-motivated and efficient civil service requires capable personnel, robust policies and an enabling work environment that clusters professionalism, collaboration and innovation”, she said.

The HoSF stressed that the project was a testament to the state government’s commitment to strengthening the institutional framework that underpins governance and service delivery.

“This new state secretariat is a commendable effort to provide public servants with a con ducive workplace environment. I applaud the Bayelsa State government for its dedication to infrastructure development.

“This project aligns with the broader vision of strengthening the Nigerian civil service at both the state and federal levels to deliver people-centred governance”, she noted.

In his remarks, Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, said the workers’ complex would be an electronic secretariat, noting that the cost of the project was N46 billion.

He stated that government had already mobilised the contractors with 30% of the project sum and had directed the release of another 20% as soon as it commenced work on site.

Diri, who assured that funding of the project will not be a problem, said the timeline for delivery was 24 months and charged the state workers to reciprocate government’s support for their welfare and wellbeing.

“What propelled me to build a new secretariat was the civil servants’ request for office accommodation, which became a recurring decimal every Workers’ Day in the state”, Governor Diri said.

He expressed delight that with the construction of the new secretariat, labour unions would no longer complain of inadequate office space.

The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Moses Teibowei, also stated that the project was conceived and initiated by the Diri administration and that the structure will provide a conducive and befitting communal space for the workforce.

He listed some of the features in the proposed structure to include modern eco-friendly green solutions that would support key functional needs of the state and that it would have a footprint of 3,675.633 square metres within a proposed gross area of 26,762.99 square metres with parking space for 155 cars.

Speaking on behalf of the project contractor, the Operations Director of Megastar Technical and Construction Company Ltd, Mr. Carlos Zanone, said the edifice will be equipped with a solar power-backed system, conference halls, a six-bed sick bay, a crèche to support working families among other features.

He added that the facility will be built to morden standard and finished with high quality materials that will improve and beautify the surrounding area.

Mr. Zanone assured that the 24 months completion time-frame was achievable.

In her remarks, the State Head of Service, Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyema, expressed appreciation to Governor Diri, noting that the edifice will be a dream come true for all civil servants in the state.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

IYC Wants Unity Amid Rivers Political Crisis

Published

2 hours ago

March 12, 2025

The Tide

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwider has called on key players in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State to set aside their differences and work together in the best interest of the people.

A statement by its spokesman, Mr. Bedford Benjamin, warned that failure to do so could invite insecurity, something the Niger Delta region could not afford at this critical time in the nation’s history.

“The peace enjoyed in the Niger Delta for nearly two decades has been taken for granted, and merchants of crisis are not pleased with the relative stability in the oil-rich region.

“The recent events in Rivers call for urgent reflection. The ongoing blackmail, politically motivated media attacks, and contentious court rulings are putting immense pressure on the region. Attempts to instigate avoidable crises to serve selfish interests will not be tolerated.

“The actions of certain individuals in the Rivers State House of Assembly raise concerns about the political stability of the state and, by extension, the entire Niger Delta.

“A situation where one person’s ambition overrides the collective will of the people undermines democracy and fosters an environment where governance is dictated by the highest bidder. This will not be condoned,” Benjamin said.

Expressing disappointment, the IYC spokesman lamented the uncertain future facing the youth due to the current political turbulence.

“As the voice of the youth in the Niger Delta, we are deeply dismayed that the future our leaders promised to hand over to the next generation is now in jeopardy. Our dreams are being sacrificed by a few selfish, power-hungry individuals”, he said.

Benjamin also condemned what he described as “sponsored publications” designed to instigate ethnic conflicts in Rivers.

“The unscrupulous individuals masquerading as Ijaw youth leaders to give the crisis an ethnic coloration must desist immediately. The people of Rivers are fully aware of those who genuinely have their interests at heart and those merely serving personal political agendas.

“Democracy is about the people, and the people of Rivers will rise above ethnic divisions to defend its principles”, stated further.

Benjamin urged the people of Rivers State to remain united beyond political affiliations and resist all forms of political oppression.

“The 27 allegedly hypnotised errand boys must understand that they stand against over four million Rivers people.

“The Federal Government must recognise that if Rivers descends into chaos due to this easily resolvable political crisis, it will be a direct blow to their Renewed Hope Agenda as championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Such a situation would not only undermine the administration’s credibility, but also constitute a grave assault on democracy.

“To prevent insecurity in Rivers, the conscience of the people must be reconsidered to avert a potential breakdown of law and order”, the IYC spokesman said.

Niger Delta

C’River Revokes Obudu Cattle Tanch Concession

Published

2 hours ago

March 12, 2025

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has revoked the concession agreement granted to CIBA Construction Company Limited, for the management of the Obudu Cattle Ranch.

The termination was communicated through a letter signed by the state’s General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ededem Ani.

The letter, according to The Tide’s source, detailed CIBA’s material breaches and justified the state’s decision.

According to Ededem, the company neglected key development obligations, particularly those outlined in Sections 5.0, 6.0, and 14.0(b) of the agreement.

”These violations include the failure to invest in the renovation of the resort’s hotel and other essential components.

“In spite of multiple breaches, CIBA continued to fall short, prompting the Cross River Government to terminate the agreement with immediate effect”, he said.

In revoking the concession, the Governor directed the Special Adviser and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Obudu Ranch Resort, Mr. Sunday Michael, alongside other key stakeholders, to implement measures to revamp the facility.

Michael, who also confirmed the termination of the 25-year agreement which the state entered into with CIBA in 2017, attributed the company’s failure to fulfill its contractual obligations to the reason for the development.

The concession, granted during the administration of Sen. Ben Ayade, tasked CIBA with designing, financing, building, operating, maintaining, and ultimately transforming the ranch under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

The Obudu Cattle Ranch, also known as Obudu Mountain Resort, was developed in 1951 by a Scottish rancher named M. McCaughley.

The Ranch was, however, remodeled and made a tourist attraction by the Donald Duke-led administration between 1999 and 2007.

The Ranch was one of Duke’s numerous iconic tourism projects in Cross River State.

He fixed the twining road network all the way to the hilltop, built stunning chalets and aerial tramways (cable cars), and generally upgraded its infrastructures.

However, successive administrations in the state failed to build on Duke’s legacy and subsequently led to a huge decline in terms of patronage and admist deteriorated facilities.