Author: Patience Saduwa

It was nearly 4 am and an eerie silence hung over the sleepy, riverine community on the fringes of the Atlantic Ocean in Delta State, Southern Nigeria. Light from a few lamp-posts cast wavy shadows on the water, penetrating the deep pre-dawn darkness that shrouded the community like an inky blanket. A cock crowed somewhere in the distance and soon the place began to come to life. Splashes of water could be heard from nearby watery ‘compounds’ as some of the residents prepared their canoes for the day’s work by clearing water from the canoes- this ritual was necessary as…

The goal of entrenching inclusive governance to spread the benefits of democracy to more citizens, continues to pose huge challenges in the Niger Delta and country. Yet, the condition of Persons with Disabilities, PWDs present an even bleaker reality. In this Special Report by our Correspondent Patience Saduwa who spent weeks visiting several cities, communities and speaking with PWDs, government officials and others, we explore their realities and ways to ensure a better place for these citizens. Crouched on two stumps that pass for his ‘feet’, Abu Ehi rested his back against a lamppost, his small eyes scanning his environment…

Several times a week, Mercy Egbine goes to her ‘factory’ situated a few yards from her home in Uwheru Town, an Urhobo community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. Her ground nut processing, small scale enterprise is however, not like a typical factory with modern and sophisticated cutting edge machinery that churn out products at a rapid pace daily. It’s a simple structure roofed with aluminium with a circular shaped clay fired oven at a corner. Placed on top of this is an iron grill like the type used in barbeques. From this simple looking place, just…

Richly blessed with sandy white beaches, beautiful landscape and other natural wonders, Sangana town is the kind of place in other climes, that usually draws hordes of tourists and holidaymakers to savour its beauty and engage in water sports like surfing, scuba diving, jet skiing and more. Underneath this ldyllic, attractive image however, is a community fighting for its very existence from forces that seem bent on destroying it. Buffeted on all fronts by disasters, both natural and man made, including polluted rivers and creeks, sea encroachment and erosion, this coastal town by the Atlantic Ocean in Brass Local…