Niger Delta

INEC Trains 10,000 Corps Members For Edo Election

Published

13 years ago

July 4, 2012

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun a two-day training of over 10,000 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to be used as ad-hoc workers in next week’s election in Edo State.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Kassim Gaidam, who visited the training centres, warned the Corps members to resist the temptation of manipulating the electoral process.

Gaidam urged them to see themselves as being lucky to have been chosen for the national assignment.

He told them not to fear as according to him, “Mr. President as the Commander-in-Chief has given his word that your security while on the national assignment would be guaranteed”.

“You should therefore endeavor to resist any attempt or bait to derail the electoral process.

“What you have agreed to do on election day is a patriotic and selfless, which no money can compensate for.

“But I want to plead with you to demonstrate that you can be relied on as the future leaders of our country.

“And for your own safety and bright future, do not circumvent the electoral laws for any thing,” he said.

Gaidam said selected students of the University of Benin and Auchi Polytechnic would be trained as Assistant Presiding officers.

He said the election would take place in 5,519 voting points and in 2,627 polling units across the 18 local governments’ areas.

Niger Delta

Bayelsa Housing Authority Partners Publishers … Promises Facelift For Yenagoa, LGA Hqrts

Published

9 seconds ago

February 26, 2025

The Tide

The Bayelsa State Housing and Property Development Authority (BSHPDA) has said it was recommited to developing the real estate sector of the state.

General Manager of the Authority, Rt. Hon. Tonye Isenah, stated this recently when the Chairman and members of the Bayelsa State Independent Publishers Association (BIPA) paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Yenagoa, the State capital.

Isenah said already plans were underway for the Authority to commence the construction of a 1000 housing units which would be shared amongst the eight Local Government Areas of the state, saying the project will begin in Ogbia Local Government and thereafter go on in others.

He noted that the reason for the 1000 housing unit in the local government areas was to create comfortable, affordable housing in those places, noting that another reason for taking that project to the Local Government headquarters was to deliberately develop other cities and towns within the state to curb the menace of royal-urban drift.

The Authority’s helmsman revealed that upon assumption of office the State Governor approved for the Authority the construction of about a hundred housing units at the Okaka Housing estate, saying the first 50 units have been completed and construction of others soon to start.

“Yes, I was appointed about six months ago, but those houses were actually built by the Authority in about three months.

“Upon my appointment, I discovered there were unused funds in the Authority’s purse, and so I approached the governor that he release it for us so that we can start-up something, and so he graciously released it to us, hence we commenced the building of the first 50units of the Housing estate at the old existing Okaka Housing estate.

“But that’s not all. The Governor has approved others for us. We’ve acquired 13 hectares of land at the gateway road, Igbogene in Yenagoa where we’ll be building another 1000 housing unit. Though we’ve not actually commenced that project, but plans have reached advanced stages”, he said.

The Authority’s boss promised to collaborate with the veteran publishers to educate and inform the public about activities of the agency, noting that the Media is a veritable tool for mutual partnership, hence he intends to work on a robust engagement with them.

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of BIPA, Mr Francis Dufugha said the association opted to pay the BSHPDA helmsman the visit due to his outstanding performance just few months in the saddle.

Dufugha, who is the Publisher of Nigeria’s foremost regional tabloid, ‘Niger Delta Herald’, commended the Authority’s boss for his forthrightness and preparedness in executing the mandate of his office.

Similarly, the association has appealed to the Authority to facilitate the release of plots of land allocated members of the association during the late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha’s administration.

The group noted that they have done all necessary documentations, yet the lands have not still been given to members of the association by successive administrations of the state.

“We came to felicitate with you on your achievements just six months in the office. In just six months in office, you’ve build about 50 units of housing estate at the Okaka Housing estate, and so we felt we should come for this visit and commend you on your stewardship of the BSHPDA”, the Association said.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Bipi Celebrates Gen Asabuja On Birthday

Published

7 days ago

February 19, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.

Niger Delta

Joint Provincial Council, East Of The Niger Salutes Diocese Of Evo

Published

7 days ago

February 19, 2025

The Tide

The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.