Author: Treasure Chisa Achor

The Senate has passed a bill prescribing up to 14 years imprisonment for lecturers and educators found guilty of sexually harassing students in tertiary institutions across the country. The legislation, titled the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025 (HB.1597), seeks to check sexual misconduct in academic environments and provide stronger legal protection for students. Presenting the bill for concurrence, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) said the measure was designed to restore discipline and safeguard students from abuse by those entrusted with their learning. Bamidele explained that the bill provides for five to fourteen years’ imprisonment…

Search for Common Ground, with support from its partners Stakeholders Democratic Network (SDN) and Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), convened a Regional Level Multi-Stakeholders Dialogue on drugs Prevention on October 24 in Port Harcourt to dialogue on ways to curb drug abuse in the Niger Delta.The event brought together representatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the health and education sectors, civil society organizations (CSOs), security agencies, and community groups, all united by a common goal to strengthen collaboration in the fight against drug abuse and its link to rising criminality in the region. The dialogue…

…advocates regional collaboration to curb trend The Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, has expressed deep concern over the growing prevalence of drug and substance abuse among women and girls in the Niger Delta, calling for stronger regional collaboration to address the crisis. Dr. Oreh made the call while delivering a keynote address at a Regional Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Drug Abuse Prevention in the Niger Delta, organized by Search for Common Ground (SFCG) in partnership with the Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND). The dialogue, held under the European…

… children under 6 hooked on drugs Dr. Diamond Tamunokuro, a psychiatrist and Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) South-South Region, has raised an alarm over the increasing involvement of children as young as six getting hooked on drug and substance abuse. In an interview at the Regional Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Drug and Substance Abuse Prevention in the Niger Delta, highlighting the trends, challenges and call to action said, “We are beginning to see children as young as six, seven, and eight hooked on drugs.He said this has made rehabilitation of substance abusers very difficult to handle. “The younger…

Search For Common Ground (SDCG) and its consortium of partners are making significant progress in the implementation of an 18-month European Union funded peace-building project.The project is titled, Community Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta, and is executed across Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa States, spanning 66 communities in 33 Local Government Areas. It is aimed at strengthening peace through sustainable development and community empowerment. A major component of the initiative includes the execution of various livelihood support projects designed to address both economic needs and local infrastructure gaps. These include the construction of cassava and…

In an inspiring effort to curb rising youth involvement in cultism and drug abuse, the Common Ground Journalism Forum, an initiative under the EU-funded Search for Common Ground (SFCG) project, hosted a sensitization session at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, bringing together students and local community youths for a day of dialogue, education, and reflection. The forum forms part of a broader peace building initiative: Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta project. The event was strategically held on International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, amplifying global advocacy with local impact. Speaking to participants,…

In a significant move towards fostering peace and stability in the Niger Delta, a transformative Training of Trainers (ToT) session was recently conducted in Rivers State. Funded by the European Union and organized by Search for Common Ground, the workshop focused on empowering community leaders, including paramount rulers, chiefs, and women leaders, with the tools to build inclusive and peaceful communities. This initiative marks a shift from previous efforts that primarily targeted youth. Recognizing the pivotal role of traditional leadership in shaping community dynamics, the program aimed to equip these gatekeepers of peace and custodians of tradition with the knowledge…

Governor Siminalayi Fubara addressed the people of Rivers State in a statement urging calm, unity, and adherence to the democratic process. “We will engage with all relevant institutions to ensure that our democracy remains strong and that Rivers State continues to thrive,” he assured. The embattled governor reflected on the numerous challenges his administration had faced, stressing that he had always prioritized the well-being of Rivers people. He emphasized that all his actions and decisions were in line with his constitutional duties, even amid the political turmoil. Fubara pointed fingers at members of the Rivers State House of Assembly aligned…

In a strongly worded statement, former presidential aide, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Expressing deep concern, Ojudu questioned the rationale behind the decision, suggesting that it could plunge the country into an economic and political crisis. He described the move as reckless and unnecessary, warning that it could trigger renewed instability in the Niger Delta region, a development that has historically hurt Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy. Ojudu, in his statement, accused the President’s advisers of leading him down a dangerous path. “Who advised the President to…

An oil facility in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State experienced a second explosion within 12 hours, intensifying concerns over pipeline safety and security in the region. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning at a manifold connected to a federal pipeline in the Okwawriwa area of ONELGA, resulting in a massive blaze that sent flames soaring into the sky. According to eyewitness accounts, the affected facility serves as a critical conduit for petroleum products transported from Seplat, Agip, and Shell, supplying ONELGA, parts of Imo State, and extending to Brass in Bayelsa State. Fortunately, its remote location significantly…