Editorial

Israel, Hamas War: Call For Truce

Published

2 years ago

October 20, 2023

On October 7, there were surprise attacks by Palestinian Hamas terrorists in southern Israel. The attacks,
originating from the Gaza Strip, involved land, sea, and air incursions as well as missile launches, claiming over 1,400 Israeli lives and the capture of more than 203 hostages. These coordinated assaults resulted in retaliatory airstrikes by Israel on Gaza, causing further casualties. The sequence of events has raised concerns about a possible escalation, potentially involving more parties engaged in hostilities.
This onslaught represents the largest number of Jews killed in a single day since the Holocaust, and currently ranks as the third-deadliest terrorist attack of all time, exceeded only by Islamic State massacres in Iraq and Syria, and the 9/11 attacks in the United States. On October 8, Israel declared a state of war for the first time since 1973 and has engaged in a bombing campaign targeting the Gaza Strip, with a ground invasion soon to follow.
Israeli airstrikes have led to the deaths of more than 2,800, with over 3,000 injured, and 650,000 displaced. Unfortunately, the casualty numbers are expected to rise as Israel has begun to deploy additional troops to the Gaza border, signalling the start of what could be a prolonged conflict. At the northern flank of Israel, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad fighters have begun launching rocket strikes from Southern Lebanon and Syria, with retaliatory strikes from Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). The situation is deeply concerning, and efforts must be made to find a peaceful resolution to prevent further loss of lives and suffering.
The ongoing war in the Middle-East serves as a stark reminder that global peace remains elusive, despite the apparent calm in many regions. The Israel-Hamas confrontation is merely the latest chapter in a complex and longstanding conflict that defies easy resolution. Historical, political, religious, and territorial factors intertwine, resulting in decades of tension, violence, and immense suffering.
Endorsed by the United Nations, the United States and its allies, and backed by pragmatic Arab nations like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait, the creation of autonomous Palestinian two-state entities is seen as a durable, consensus-driven peace solution. This strategy also entails acknowledging Israel’s right to exist within its pre-1967 boundaries and promoting a harmonious cohabitation between the Israel and the Arab nations.
About 21 years ago, Saudi Arabia embarked on a diplomatic endeavour by introducing the Arab Peace Initiative. This proposal successfully brought together Arab states, offering Israel recognition, regional legitimacy, and security in exchange for certain concessions. The blueprint has garnered support from the current US President Joe Biden administration, and most western leaders. The friendly tone of this initiative aims to foster peaceful relations and promote stability in the region. Already, some Arab nations have normalised relations with Israel, with Saudi Arabia at the verge of signing a diplomatic pact with the Jewish state before this bizarre incident.
We unequivocally condemn the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. There is never any justification for terrorism. We extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks, and call for the exercise of utmost restraint while avoiding exposing civilians to further risks. Although it is the right of Israel to defend itself, we warn of serious repercussions as a result of the escalation of violence, which would negatively affect the future of truce efforts.
The world is unfortunately at the beginning of an inevitably protracted war that has already claimed the lives of countless innocent Israelis and Palestinians, with more heavy losses to come. Just on the eve of last Wednesday’s Biden visit to Israel and Jordan, where issues around how to manage the humanitarian crisis were to be ironed out, a hospital holding thousands of displaced and injured Gazans was bombed, killing hundreds, according to Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health. This incident put a wedge on the Jordan leg of the visit, thereby making any interface with Egyptian President, Mohammed Al-Sisi; Palestinian President, Mahmood Abass; and Jordanian King impossible.
Indeed, we cannot overemphasise the fact that there is an urgent need for peace. To achieve lasting peace, it is important to address the root causes of the conflict and ensure the rights and safety of all parties involved. This requires genuine efforts and a comprehensive strategy to end the recurring violence and establish a peaceful future.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be held culpable for the ongoing attacks that Israel is experiencing. Rather than prioritising the vital task of protecting his nation, Netanyahu was engrossed in irrelevant judicial reforms. This preoccupation has resulted in a diversion of his attention from fulfilling his constitutional obligation to safeguard Israel and its people. The prolonged emphasis on these reforms has created a division within the country, as evidenced by the large-scale protests witnessed in recent months.
The two-state solution is the most viable path to lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. However, the political and on-the-ground changes in Israel and the Palestinian Territories over the past three decades have made it increasingly difficult to achieve this goal. Israeli and Palestinian leaders lack the necessary resources to engage in productive negotiations and reach a bilateral agreement, making it difficult to achieve a mutually satisfactory resolution.
Thousands of Palestinians are fleeing to already overwhelmed areas in the south of Gaza through unsafe conditions that could especially pose a risk to children, at least, 447 of whom have already been killed in Israeli air strikes since past 13 days. As some families in the northern part of Gaza Strip make their way south with hope of finding a safer place and basic necessities, Israel should observe international laws that are meant to protect children and vulnerable people. The main pillars of protection for children during armed conflict of this nature are the Geneva Conventions.
Allies of Israel and the Palestinians have a critical role to play in de-escalating the conflict, and should take the lead in mobilising the warring parties to the negotiation table. We commend Lebanon for its seeming neutral stance on the conflict, as it consistently expresses its unwillingness to be drawn into the war. The Lebanese government prioritises maintaining security and stability within the country, and it has warned its citizens against making provocative statements.
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and other fellow Arab nations should take the initiative to garner international support to facilitate a ceasefire and the resumption of peace negotiations. We warn Iran and its proxies to turn a new leaf, and avoid unprecedented catastrophe that full-scale regional war may unleash. We acknowledge that a large majority of individuals on both sides yearn for peace, therefore, concerted efforts should be made to overcome those who endorse violence. Immediate action should be taken to enforce a ceasefire and ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance.
Those responsible for war crimes should face justice. This includes taking necessary measures to compel Hamas and Islamic Jihad elements in Gaza to release the hostages they currently hold. Israel should distance itself from the hardliners and religious fanatics within their midst who have been violating existing treaties, UN resolutions, and occupying Arab land. These conflicts must be addressed as the world is currently grappling with several such conflagrations, such as the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The war must not escalate any further. The human toll is already enough!

Editorial

Making Rivers’ Seaports Work

Published

2 days ago

October 17, 2025

The Tide

When Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, received the Board and Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), led by its Chairman, Senator Adeyeye Adedayo Clement, his message was unmistakable: Rivers’ seaports remain underutilised, and Nigeria is poorer for it. The governor’s lament was a sad reminder of how neglect and centralisation continue to choke the nation’s economic arteries.
The governor, in his remarks at Government House, Port Harcourt, expressed concern that the twin seaports — the NPA in Port Harcourt and the Onne Seaport — have not been operating at their full potential. He underscored that seaports are vital engines of national development, pointing out that no prosperous nation thrives without efficient ports and airports. His position aligns with global realities that maritime trade remains the backbone of industrial expansion and international commerce.
Indeed, the case of Rivers State is peculiar. It hosts two major ports strategically located along the Bonny River axis, yet cargo throughput has remained dismally low compared to Lagos. According to NPA’s 2023 statistics, Lagos ports (Apapa and Tin Can Island) handled over 75 per cent of Nigeria’s container traffic, while Onne managed less than 10 per cent. Such a lopsided distribution is neither efficient nor sustainable.
Governor Fubara rightly observed that the full capacity operation of Onne Port would be transformative. The area’s vast land mass and industrial potential make it ideal for ancillary businesses — warehousing, logistics, ship repair, and manufacturing. A revitalised Onne would attract investors, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth, not only in Rivers State but across the Niger Delta.
The multiplier effect cannot be overstated. The port’s expansion would boost clearing and forwarding services, strengthen local transport networks, and revitalise the moribund manufacturing sector. It would also expand opportunities for youth employment — a pressing concern in a state where unemployment reportedly hovers around 32 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Yet, the challenge lies not in capacity but in policy. For years, Nigeria’s maritime economy has been suffocated by excessive centralisation. Successive governments have prioritised Lagos at the expense of other viable ports, creating a traffic nightmare and logistical bottlenecks that cost importers and exporters billions annually. The governor’s call, therefore, is a plea for fairness and pragmatism.
Making Lagos the exclusive maritime gateway is counter productive. Congestion at Tin Can Island and Apapa has become legendary — ships often wait weeks to berth, while truck queues stretch for kilometres. The result is avoidable demurrage, product delays, and business frustration. A more decentralised port system would spread economic opportunities and reduce the burden on Lagos’ overstretched infrastructure.
Importers continue to face severe difficulties clearing goods in Lagos, with bureaucratic delays and poor road networks compounding their woes. The World Bank’s Doing Business Report estimates that Nigerian ports experience average clearance times of 20 days — compared to just 5 days in neighbouring Ghana. Such inefficiency undermines competitiveness and discourages foreign investment.
Worse still, goods transported from Lagos to other regions are often lost to accidents or criminal attacks along the nation’s perilous highways. Reports from the Federal Road Safety Corps indicate that over 5,000 road crashes involving heavy-duty trucks occurred in 2023, many en route from Lagos. By contrast, activating seaports in Rivers, Warri, and Calabar would shorten cargo routes and save lives.
The economic rationale is clear: making all seaports operational will create jobs, enhance trade efficiency, and boost national revenue. It will also help diversify economic activity away from the overburdened South West, spreading prosperity more evenly across the federation.
Decentralisation is both an economic strategy and an act of national renewal. When Onne, Warri, and Calabar ports operate optimally, hinterland states benefit through increased trade and infrastructure development. The federal purse, too, gains through taxes, duties, and improved productivity.
Tin Can Island, already bursting at the seams, exemplifies the perils of over-centralisation. Ships face berthing delays, containers stack up, and port users lose valuable hours navigating chaos. The result is higher operational costs and lower competitiveness. Allowing states like Rivers to fully harness their maritime assets would reverse this trend.
Compelling all importers to use Lagos ports is an anachronistic policy that stifles innovation and local enterprise. Nigeria cannot achieve its industrial ambitions by chaining its logistics system to one congested city. The path to prosperity lies in empowering every state to develop and utilise its natural advantages — and for Rivers, that means functional seaports.
Fubara’s call should not go unheeded. The Federal Government must embrace decentralisation as a strategic necessity for national growth. Making Rivers’ seaports work is not just about reviving dormant infrastructure; it is about unlocking the full maritime potential of a nation yearning for balance, productivity, and shared prosperity.

Editorial

Addressing The State Of Roads In PH

Published

2 weeks ago

October 6, 2025

The Tide

The current state of roads in Port Harcourt is nothing short of deplorable. Each passing day, commuters and residents are confronted with worsening conditions that threaten both livelihoods and safety. It is evident that the past six months of administrative inactivity left the city’s infrastructure unattended, a neglect that has now returned to haunt the state capital.

When the former sole administrator was in charge, the promise of good roads appeared to have been placed on hold. Little or nothing was done to repair or rehabilitate the crumbling road network. Port Harcourt residents bore the brunt of this neglect, enduring long hours in traffic, damaged vehicles, and endless frustration.

Now that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has returned to the saddle, urgent steps must be taken to mobilise contractors back to project sites. Abandoned road construction projects must not be allowed to wither into oblivion. The governor’s return should mark a revival of the momentum once witnessed when roads were given prominence in the development agenda.

But the issue is not simply about new construction. Maintenance remains an essential component of sustainable infrastructure. The Road Maintenance Agency, established by a previous administration, was designed as an interventionist outfit to address minor potholes before they degenerated into major hazards. Today, residents are left to wonder if that agency still exists. If it has become comatose, then the time has come to revive it.

The importance of roads in economic growth cannot be overstated. Smooth and accessible roads facilitate movement, reduce transport costs, and open up communities for trade. In a commercial hub like Port Harcourt, where businesses thrive on logistics, the lack of functional roadways translates directly into stifled productivity.

Equally troubling is the security dimension. Bad roads provide fertile ground for criminals to operate. Robbers and kidnappers exploit traffic gridlocks and broken stretches of road to target unsuspecting motorists. Repairing these roads is not just a matter of convenience but one of safety and protection of lives.

It is worth recalling that before the declaration of the emergency rule, Rivers State was experiencing a boom in road construction. That momentum, however, was abruptly truncated in the past six months. Roads that should have been nearing completion are now left in ruins, with residents left at the mercy of potholes and impassable stretches.

Governor Fubara should not be discouraged by the distractions of the emergency rule. He must, instead, pick up from where he stopped, breathing fresh life into stalled projects. More than ever, his resolve is needed to restore confidence in governance and demonstrate that promises made will indeed be promises kept.

Sadly, most of the roads today are in worse condition than they were before the emergency declaration. The problem is compounded by the peculiar geography of Rivers State. With Port Harcourt being a city that experiences heavy rainfall, flooding frequently worsens the challenges on the roads. Poor drainage leaves highways waterlogged, further eroding asphalt and inconveniencing commuters.

Specific areas demand urgent attention. The Ikwerre and NTA Roads, Elioparanwo Road, Rukpokwu Roundabout, Rumuokwuta Road and Airport Road are crying out for repairs. The potholes on these roads not only slow movement but also damage vehicles and expose pedestrians to danger. These black spots deserve priority action before they become completely impassable.

The identity of Port Harcourt as the “Garden City” is being eroded by these infrastructural failures. A city once renowned for its beauty risks descending into the unflattering tag of a “Garbage City”. Sadly, several abandoned construction sites have degenerated into refuse dumps. The St John’s/Ogbogoro Road stands as a shameful example of this neglect.

To make matters worse, residents have begun encroaching on areas designated for the Ring Road project. Such encroachments are a direct sabotage of development efforts. The authorities must rise to the occasion by protecting public infrastructure from illegal occupation and ensuring that earmarked sites serve their original purpose.

What the state requires now is a dual approach: prompt utilisation of earmarked construction areas and the simultaneous rehabilitation of existing roads riddled with potholes. Fubara must ensure that while new road projects are pursued, old roads do not completely collapse. Both efforts can and must go hand in hand.

Rivers people also deserve clarity on the status of the Road Maintenance Agency. If defunct, it should be reactivated without delay. Neglecting small potholes only leads to bigger, costlier problems in future. In line with his promise upon his return from suspension that “no loss is irretrievable”, the governor must retrieve every abandoned project and restore hope to weary residents.

Roads in Port Harcourt are the arteries through which the city breathes. Leaving them broken is to suffocate its economy, endanger its people, and tarnish its reputation. What is now required is decisive action—swift, consistent, and sustained.

Editorial

Charge Before New Rivers Council Helmsmen

Published

3 weeks ago

September 29, 2025

The Tide

On the 30th of August, Rivers people trooped out to participate in local government elections conducted across the state. These elections, which produced new chairmen and councillors for the 23 local government areas (LGAs), were organised by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). The exercise has ushered in a new crop of grassroots leaders whose shoulders now bear the responsibility of steering the affairs of their respective councils. With the polls concluded and winners duly announced, the time has come for the newly elected officials to roll up their sleeves and begin the hard work of governance.

According to the results declared by RSIEC, the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured a dominant lead, winning chairmanship seats in 20 of the 23 local government councils, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched the remaining three. This outcome not only reflects the current political dynamics in the state but also places a significant weight of expectation on the shoulders of the APC-led councils to justify the confidence reposed in them by the electorate. It is imperative that political rhetoric now gives way to tangible development, especially at the grassroots level where government is felt most directly.

Following the elections, the successful chairmen were officially sworn into office by the former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas. The solemn ceremony marked a transition from campaign promises to the reality of public service. With their inauguration complete, the time for celebration has ended; the time for delivery has commenced. The electorate now awaits meaningful action that reflects the hopes and aspirations of the voting public.

As helmsmen of their various LGAs, these leaders must quickly settle down to work. Their constituents expect them to provide direction, formulate policies, and execute programmes that will uplift communities long neglected. The local government tier is closest to the people and, as such, must rise above politicking to meet the everyday needs of the citizenry. It is not enough to occupy office; they must make their impact visibly and positively felt across their domains.

The Supreme Court ruling mandating direct allocation of funds to local governments—although not yet fully implemented—is a welcome development that underscores the autonomy of the third tier of government. Once this is operationalised, the excuses often cited for underperformance will no longer hold water. With funds directly accessed from the Federation Account, council administrations will be better empowered to meet the developmental needs of their localities, if only they manage resources judiciously and prioritise the right projects.

The onus is now on the chairmen to contribute meaningfully to the broader development of Rivers State. The state government cannot and should not be expected to do everything. Local government councils have defined responsibilities—ranging from rural infrastructure, primary healthcare, and basic education to waste management and local security—that must be adequately addressed. It is high time they stopped passing the buck and started acting as the elected leaders they are.

We extend our congratulations to all who emerged victorious in the elections. However, with this victory comes great responsibility. It is no longer about party affiliations or electoral campaigns; it is about governance. The chairmen must launch people-centred projects that will genuinely improve the lives of the rural populace—projects in water supply, road maintenance, school renovation, and youth empowerment, among others. Let their tenure be remembered for its impact, not its slogans.

Central to their mandate should be the welfare of workers. Council employees form the engine room of local governance, and their morale significantly affects service delivery. The new chairmen must ensure regular payment of salaries, staff training, and a conducive working environment. Neglecting this vital aspect will only hinder whatever grand plans they may have for their LGAs.

It is also essential to institute a robust peer review mechanism. The new LG officials should not operate in isolation; rather, they should learn from one another, share ideas, and compete constructively in a bid to outperform each other in service delivery. Healthy competition among council areas will drive innovation and foster accelerated development. Such a system will also help the public identify high-performing councils for emulation.

Given the typically short tenure of council administrations, it is crucial that they focus on projects that are realistic and impactful. Time and resources should not be wasted on white elephant ventures that are neither sustainable nor beneficial to the people. Instead, chairmen should pursue programmes that match their timelines and address immediate community needs.

Peace and security must remain a cardinal objective for all council steersmen. Regardless of who facilitated their election or what political loyalties they hold, they must ensure peace reigns in their areas. Development cannot thrive in an atmosphere of tension and distrust. These leaders must work closely with traditional rulers, youth groups, and civil society organisations to maintain law and order.

A critical understanding must also prevail—that chairmen are leaders of the people, not just leaders of political parties. They must conduct themselves as impartial administrators serving all constituents, irrespective of political affiliations. Additionally, they must work harmoniously with the state governor, who remains the leader of the state. Petty rivalries and political infighting serve no purpose in the development agenda.

Now that the elections are over and governance has begun, it is essential for these chairmen and councillors to adopt an inclusive approach. They must carry everyone along—party members and opposition alike—in their development plans. Creating division or playing favourites will only fracture communities and stall progress. Leadership at the grassroots demands fairness, equity, and a listening ear.

Rivers people have played their part by coming out to vote. The baton has now been passed to the new council helmsmen. They must seize the opportunity to leave lasting legacies in their communities. History will not judge them by the number of rallies they held or the speeches they gave, but by the quality of life they brought to their people. Let them not squander this moment.