Each passing day brings to mind how public office holders in Nigeria pay lip service to the nation’s sector. Talking about this neglect, it is an act that no public office holder can boast of clean. The neglect comes in different forms and shapes and affects all levels of learning, from primary to the university. High Chief Joseph Uduboh, the Tonwei of Tubutoru Kingdom, has described as unacceptable the dismal condition of St Timothy A/C Primary School in Taribor, a riverine Ijaw community in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, and therefore, called on Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and the…
Author: JEROME-MARIO UTOMI
A few days after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared winner of the Saturday February 25, 2023, Presidential election in the country, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the then National Women Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Betta Edu, now Federal Minister reportedly stated that President-Elect,(as he then was), has huge plans for the people of the Niger Delta.. Dr. Betta Edu made the statement precisely on March 2, 2023, when she featured on GbaramatuVoice programme ‘Election Headquarters’ said in parts; “I think he has a huge plan for the region, some of it is stated in…
As a background to this piece, the acronym, ‘NDDC’, is simply a contraction of the Niger Delta Development Commission, a Federal Government agency created in 2000 by enabling Act, to among other responsibilities, offer a lasting solution to the socio-economic difficulties of the Niger Delta Region and to facilitate the rapid and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful. The interventionist agency was created to thrive through; Federal Government contribution, which shall be equivalent to 15% of the monthly statutory allocations due to member States of the…
High Chief Joseph Uduboh, the Tonwei of Tubutoru Kingdom, has described as unacceptable the dismal condition of St Timothy A/C Primary School in Taribor, a riverine Ijaw community in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, and therefore, called on Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and the Local Government Chairman to prioritize the restoration and transformation of the school to ensure that the students have a safe and conducive learning environment. Chief Joseph Uduboh who spoke on behalf of the kingdom stated this recently when he conducted newsmen round the now dilapidated school. According to him, St Timothy A/C Primary School in…
Acting on the strength of an invitation forwarded to me by a corporate body based in Delta, I made a trip recently. On that day, at that time and in that place, the Sienna Bus that we travelled in was filled to capacity and dotted with passengers from different backgrounds. Our conversation covered a wide range of issues. I listened to different comments from these prominent Nigerians. Our conversation ranged from the recent political developments in the country to the nation’s economy; from Social issues to religious and cultural affairs in the country. At intervals, we ran into police checkpoints…
This piece stemmed from two perspectives. The first has to do with the Lagos State Government’s recent declaration that it would not be selective in the application of law in the ongoing demolition of illegal structures at Lekki Phase II and its environs. The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who was reportedly besieged by pleading occupants and owners of the fully built structures constructed on the drainage setbacks and already marked for demolition, said that the state government was committed to ensuring that justice and fairness were served to all equally, noting that stopping the demolition exercise…
It is a general knowledge that the House of Representatives, on Thursday, screened and confirmed members of the Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission nominated by President Bola Tinubu. The President had on August 29 nominated Mr Chiedu Ebie for the position of NDDC Board Chairman alongside 16 others. As expected, this development has elicited reactions from stakeholders and the general public. While some people hailed the action of both the president and lawmakers, noting that it is a hallmark of a renewed hope for the people of the Niger Delta region, particularly as members of the…
If there is any fresh fact that supports the claim by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in November 2022, that Multidimensional Poverty Index [MPI], is higher in rural areas, than in urban areas, it is my experience during a short visit to Agbor, a community which according to Wikipedia is the most populous among the Ika people, located in, and functions as the headquarter of Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, in South-south geo-political zone of Nigeria. Among many other observations, the referenced report puts the MPI in rural areas at 72% and that of urban areas 42%, thereby confirming…
Recently, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State approved a 25 percent reduction in acceptance fees payable in the four state-owned universities as part of palliatives for students. The governor’s approval was contained in a statement issued by Festus Ahon, his chief press secretary, on Wednesday, in Asaba. According to the statement, the reduction in the acceptance fee was in line with measures taken by the Delta State government to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal on citizens. Ahon further said that the 25 percent reduction was applicable to new students at the state-owned Delta State University, Abraka; Delta…
If there is any recent evidence that placed the Osun state Governor, His Excellency, Senator Narudeen Ademola Adeleke Jackson, among the few public office holders in the country that their sense of nationhood is stronger than their tribal loyalty, it is the recent news report that he (the Osun state Governor, His Excellency, Senator Narudeen Ademola Adeleke Jackson, ) appointed Honourable Goddey Olije, an indigene of Ika nation of Delta state as his Special Adviser on Local Government Affairs. Also heartening is the accompanying narrative that he (the Governor) is re-writing Osun state narrative from a state that has suffered…
This piece stemmed from two different but related sources. The first has to do with the ‘Global Trends in Child Monetary Poverty report released a few days ago by the World Bank, where it reportedly stated that 40 million Nigerian children are living in extremely poor households and families The world financial body, according to media reports, clearly stated that; “In absolute numbers, most children living in extreme poverty live in middle-income countries, 179.4 million children (14.9 per cent in lower middle and 2.2 percent in upper middle income in extreme poverty) – including 52.2 million children in India (11.5…
In Nigeria as well as the global stage, many comments, remarks (or is it observations) have been made in the past about democracy. To some, it is simply a government by the people and rule of the majority. To others, it is a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections. To the rest, it is a political unit that has a democratic government and absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions or privileges. Closely related to the above conversation is the accompanying belief that for democracy to thrive, good governance must not only…
It is pedestrian information that the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Western Zone, comprising Delta, Edo and Ondo States, in a recent media statement signed by the trio of Comrade (Dr) Doubra Collins Okotete (Zonal chairman), Comrade Olu Derimo (secretary) and Lugard Izoukumor (Information Officer), specifically called on Gov. Oborevwori to commence work on the long-awaited Ayakoromor bridge project, the Ogulagha-Odimodi road project, the permanent site of the School of Marine Technology, Burutu among other critical projects. Indeed, while there exists glaring evidence that Gov Oborevwori have in the last 100 days of his administration in the state demonstrated some hopeful…
As a background to this piece, the ‘culture’ of celebrating first 100 days in office is traceable to President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States of America, He came to office in 1933 at the height of the Great Depression and wanted all Americans to know that he was going to get to work right away to improve their lives and he absolutely delivered. His first 100 days (Opens in new window) included tons of enormously effective and popular programs, legislation, and public-works projects (part of his New Deal (Opens in new window)) to get the country working again.…
The never-ending manner with which public office holders appoint assistants to handle information/media responsibilities have become canonical proof that proper information management is the life wire of every business. Recently, as soon as the President and governors across the country are inaugurated, journalists are always among the first set of appointments because of the important role the spokesmen and women are expected to play in providing necessary information about the new administrations. In similar vein, during the military era, such was the culture but in most cases, limited to the appointment of journalists as Minister for information, at the federal…
Nigerians, particularly many residents of Abuja, woke up recently to a reported threat by the new Minister for the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, to demolish any building that contravenes the Abuja master plan. Wike, going by media reports said; “If you know you have built where you are not supposed to build, it will go down. Be it a minister anywhere, be it an ambassador… if you know you have developed where you are not supposed to, your house will go down” he declared. Additional information that trailed the declaration further revealed that the proposed mass demolitions would affect…
The recent naming of Barrister Chiedu Ebie as the board Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), by Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President Federal Republic of Nigeria, has again shown clearly that ordinary calculation can be upturned by extra-ordinary personalities. With the appointment, the ancient argument whether circumstance or personality shapes events are settled in favour of the latter. Expectedly, torrents of accolades from Nigerians of goodwill and admirers have flooded both the conventional and online news platforms with more expected for this unique achievement. While many described your appointment as befitting, others believe that under your watch, NDDC will…
Seemingly good news came recently the way of Nigerians living in the flood prone areas of the country. The message which was from the new Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, among other remarks stated that ‘there is no immediate threat of flooding in the country. Utsev who spoke to newsmen in Abuja on Friday explained that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had observed an increase in the volume of flow along the River Benue system, registering a flow level of 8.97 meters today. This, he said, was insignificant, as compared to a flow level of…
The Federal Government’s recent approval of N5 billion for each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to enable them procure food items for distribution to the poor in their respective states, has again brought to the fore the time honuored belief that in Nigeria’s leadership corridor, once a direction is chosen, instead of examining process meticulously and set the right course; one that will allow us to overcome storm and reach safety, many obstinately persist with the execution of such plans regardless of a minor or major shift in circumstance. The approval which comes in the wake of the…
It is a pedestrian information that the BRICS economic bloc, one of the leading global voices for more representation of the developing world and the Global South in world affairs ended a historic three-day summit in South Africa where it addressed a large set of socioeconomic issues pertinent to the members of the group in the presence of interested foreign representatives and organizations as well as announced to the watching world that six countries are set to join the group in 2024: Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Egypt and Ethiopia. The summit was themed “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually…
The world is aware that Niger Delta region, South South geopolitical zone, Nigeria, is prone to many negative influences as a result of successive Federal Governments’ unending neglect of the region. Some of these challenges are well known and glaring, yet no attention is given, even though they have substantial impact on the people, corporate and social levels. A typical example of such monumental neglect in recent time is the shoddy state of East-West Road, a strategic road, connecting the country’s busiest and foremost commercial cities in the region. What is, however, yet to be unraveled by this piece is the…
It is no longer news that the management of the University of Calabar has suspended the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof Cyril Ndifon, over allegations of sexual harassment of female students. Ndifon’s suspension which took immediate effect followed a probe into the allegations of sexual harassment leveled against him by some female students of the faculty who were recently seen in a viral video storming the office of the school’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Florence Obi, wielding placards with inscriptions such as, “Ndifon must go for our sanity,” “We are tired of buying law journals,” “We are tired of lecturers…
In the words of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, a true vision should target specific interests and answer important questions, such as; is the vision based upon specific plains or it is going to be implemented randomly, without any link between its different phases? Is it realistic or feasible or is it a wild vision that no amount of financial and human resources is capable of realizing? Essentially, whereas the above questions were framed by a single individual, there is however a big difference between the…
Simply put, International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12th each year to raise awareness about the challenges and issues faced by young people around the world, as well as to promote their potential. The United Nations according to reports designated International Youth Day as an opportunity to highlight various themes and topics that are relevant to young people, such as education, employment, mental health, human rights, civic engagement, and social inclusion, particularly, as youngsters make up a significant demographic group whose health, mindset and education can help shape the future of our planet. Historically, the International Youth Day (IYD)…
In today’s difficult economy and especially in the aftermath of numerous global economic upheavals, corporate players are devising creative ways to keep their businesses afloat. Employees and other stakeholders are in like term looking for ways to keep their jobs alive and active. Part of that creative efforts to wade through the storm include but not limited to being open to, and developing new abilities to connect with new productive ideas. On their parts, government Ministries, agencies, Commissions and Departments across the world are rethinking the age long axiom which says that ‘government has no business in business’’. To public…
Forced Evictions and Lagos State Government It was in the news recently that residents of Oworonshoki area in Lagos State on Wednesday August 2, 2023, protested the ongoing demolition in their area by the Lagos State Task Force which has seen many residents lose their belongings and homes, left several women and children homeless, and forced many to seek shelter in churches and uncompleted buildings in other areas. During the protest held at the state House of Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja, protesters held placards with inscriptions such as “Say no to land grabbers and wrong demolition,” “Please help us…
A significant look at the recent national economy-focused broadcast tagged ‘AFTER DARKNESS COMES THE GLORIOUS DAWN ‘by Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where he articulated all the policy measures his administration have taken to combat the serious economic challenges this nation has long faced, with a call on Nigerians to see and hopefully share in his vision regarding the journey to a better, more productive economy for our beloved country, shows one thing; Mr. President politely reminded Nigerians about what they have already known. It was universally understood and open to all Nigerians with…
It is pedestrian knowledge that Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, recently constituted 134 standing committees in the green chamber where Ibori Suenu, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) member from Delta, was announced Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) committee. This announcement of standing Committees going by reports, is in line with the provisions of the constitution and the house standing rules which empower the parliament to, through the committees, carry out oversight functions on government agencies and programmes and address specific issues of national importance. While the latest appointment is celebrated, it will essentially not be…
Like history which does not satisfy or dissatisfy people but accurately gives account of the past, if there is any recent account that satisfactorily and objectively portrayed the international Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria as architects of environmental degradation, pollution and promoters of health challenges in the Niger Delta region, it is the latest report by the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Pollution Commission. The Commission which was set up in March 2019, by the former governor Seriake Dickson led government in the state to investigate the impact of years of oil spillage and…
UN Charter and Delta state Born Physically Challenged ‘Keke’ Operator In Lagos Acting on a recent emotional words and compassionate description by a professional colleague of one resourceful 32 years old Mr. Gift Captain Tonmene, a Delta state-born but Lagos-based physically challenged tricycle (Keke) operator in Mile 12 area of the state, I took a trip in the evening of Monday, July 2023 to Mile 12 Motor Park, Lagos, to ascertain my friend’s narrative. “My face-to-face encounter with the man in question not only satisfied my journalistic instinct for social justice and fed my curiosity for unearthing societal ills, but…
