Author: Dave Okpogadie

Delta State Government has said it will enforce to the fullest, the ban on commercial motorcycles and scrap metal scavenging popularly known as ‘iron condemn’ in restricted areas across the state. Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu who disclosed this in an interview with journalists shortly after a meeting with critical stakeholders in the state, said there is zero tolerance for okada riders in restricted areas and scrap metal scavengers across the state. He said the stakeholders meeting attended by all security agencies comprising the military, police, NSCDC and the DSS as well as the Sariki of Asaba,…

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has charged Nigerian universities to significantly enhance their efforts in viable research and innovation to enable them proffer solutions to the myriad of challenges bedeviling the country. The governor gave the charge when he received on a courtesy visit, the management of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, (FUPRE), Ugbomro, led by its vice-chancellor, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, at Government House, Asaba. The governor, who commended FUPRE for ingenuity, said his administration would continue to support education in the state as a cardinal point of his MORE Agenda. He stated that only when universities embark…

The Delta State Executive Council, (EXCO), has approved the payment of over N674,000,000 as bursary to students of the state for the 2022/2023 academic session. The approval was part of the decisions reached at the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, the state commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, said Exco also approved phase two procurement of medical equipment for 20 general hospitals across the state. The hospitals are general hospitals at Obiaruku, Abraka, Ekpan, Owa-Alero, Okwe, Koko, Orerokpe, Otu-Jeremi, Burutu, Abavo, Owa-Oyibu, Issele-Uku, Ibusa, Aviara, Onicha-Olona, Ofagbe,…

A human rights group has condemned what it described as an arbitrary increase in the price of daily ticket for commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as ‘okada’ in Akwa Ibom, despite the current hardship in Nigeria, saying reverting the price to one hundred naira as it was before would palliate this seemingly harsh economy on their livelihood. Saviour Akpan, who is the Akwa Ibom State cluster lead for Civic Space Watch Cluster and Palladium, with support from USAID and powered in Akwa Ibom State by COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peace building and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights…

The highly cerebral mother of Anioma Nation and culture colossus, HRM Obi Martha Dunkwu (Omu Okpanam/Omu Anioma/Nneoha) has called for a conference with a focus on inter-generational mentoring to address issues of Anioma women, especially for those with interest in politics. She made this call while responding to the award of 2023 Global Icon Of African Cultural Heritage, bestowed on her by the African Living Legend Award Committee from the African Diaspora in Germany, which was inspired by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/69/16. Omu Dunkwu said it was time to begin a process to deeply get the Anioma…

Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori has directed that the contractor handling the construction of Ibusa/Achalla/Asaba Phase II Road (from KM6.83 to KM13.8) in Oshimili North/South Local government area, should immediately return to site. Governor Oborevwori further directed the contractor to ensure that the project is done according to specification. The directive became necessary after the state commissioner for Works Highways and Urban Roads, Comrade Reuben Izeze, briefed the governor on the outcome of his visit to the project site on January 9, 2024, with top officials and civil engineers of the ministry, to carry out on-the-spot assessment. The visit to…

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has called on Nigerians to support the military in its fight against insurgency and banditry The governor made the call while speaking at an interdenominational thanksgiving service to commemorate the year 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day. Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, represented Governor Oborevwori at the event which took place at St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Asaba. The governor also urged Nigerians to support legionnaires and relatives of deceased soldiers. He said, “I appeal to all Nigerians, to continue to show support for and solidarity with our soldiers who are daily, fighting…

Governor Sheriff of Delta State has urged civil servants in the state to emulate the virtues of the retired permanent secretary, Government House Administration, Sir Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje. Speaking at a reception in honour of the celebrant at the Events Centre, Asaba, Governor Oborevwori described Ogidi-Gbegbaje as an intelligent, humble, diligent, transparent, process driven, selfless, accountable and compassionate bureaucrat. While congratulating the retiring permanent secretary for his diligent and patriotic service to the state, Oborevwori said Ogidi-Gbegbaje was very helpful in the last seven months of his administration. According to him, “A lot has been said about Sir Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje and…

Margaret Ochenu, a 50-year-old health worker, often finds herself on the dark road from Issele-Azagba to Asaba at midnight, going home to her family after work. She finds herself on that road several times in a week, all in a day’s work at the comprehensive Health Centre. Although the journey is not a lengthy one, about 20 minutes’ drive, the road like many in the state and the oil rich Niger Delta area, is unlit as there are no lights and accidents occur frequently in view of the dilapidated roads and equally rickety, commercial cars and buses that ply the…

President of the Vanguard For Transparent Leadership And Democracy (VATLAD), Emmanuel Igbini, has dismissed Delta State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC’s allegation that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori inflated the cost of construction of three flyovers in Effurun near Warri by N50billion. In a statement made available to the press, Igbini described the allegations by the APC as, “misplaced and politics taken too far”. Igbini, an engineer and erstwhile director-general of the Delta State Direct Labour Agency, DLA, said the APC had no cogent reason to accuse Governor Oborevwori of fraud in the award of the laudable projects meant to…