ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

BY BOLAJI AFOLABI

Wednesday April 8, a few minutes to six in the evening, while putting final preparations to a three-day trip, the phone beeped. First thought; it could be an advisory from friends or family members on the need for vigilance as a result of the shenanigans perpetrated by notorious bandits on major highways across the country. How wrong! The WhatsApp message was an invite from the irrepressible, inimitable Dapo Olorunyomi – fondly called Dapsy, and Uncle Dapsy by friends, colleagues, and mentees. The carefully worded, simple looking but aesthetically beautiful card was to attend a Symposium in honour of Dr. Chido Onumah; a serial award winner, versatile journalist, rights activist, published author on his 60th birthday. Though the writer does not have any personal relationship with the celebrant, but to have Olorunyomi as the Chief Host speaks volumes about the credibility, integrity, and stewardship of Onumah.

The clash of the timings of both events – Onumah’s and the trip, was not a good discovery by the writer. Thoughts of missing out on an occasion that will see the convergence of heroes and heroines of civil society and journalism; who as true activists and professionals sacrificed selflessly for democracy and good governance in the ’80s and ’90s, was painful. Given the importance of the trip, one had to communicate to Olorunyomi reason for not attending the unique event. Though not physically present, the coverage of proceedings by national newspapers, electronic media, and numerous online media platforms was useful. Perhaps, the choice of a national discourse to celebrate an ideologue who, for over three decades has weaved every of his life odysseys on fairness, probity, justice, ethics, and morality is fitting and proper.

William Shakespeare, in one of his timeless books, ‘Hamlet’ wrote; “this above all, to thine own self be true.” Here, humanity is advised to be honest, truthful, and pursue self-dignity. Indeed, honesty with oneself provides light and equanimity. From the testimonials of people, this encapsulates Onumah; who pursues wholeheartedly whatever he believes in, and stays focused even if he is the last man standing. Conscious that honesty is a wealth that doesn’t wither with time, as it attracts respect, trust, and belief from people, he clothes himself with these virtues which brings greatness. In many ways, his attributes, activities, and contributions to life and humanity confirm Shakespeare’s words in ‘Twelfth Night’ that, “be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” No doubt, with the right attitude, hard work, and fidelity, Onumah has achieved greatness in diverse ways.

From reports, the symposium, themed, “Formation or Nation Building: Nigeria’s Quest for a Modern Federal Republic” which took place at the historical Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, was graced by many notable personalities from the media, academics, public service, and politics from far and near. Comments by many people attested to his unwavering commitment to the attainment of good governance, and unrestrained passion for national development. His loyalty to friendship and relationships were variously highlighted. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, who was the Special Guest of Honour said, “Chido is special and means a lot to me. He was part of my life at the most critical moments, and (he) went through the most difficult period with me.” His Excellency, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State, who chaired the event, acknowledged Onumah’s sacrificial, and consistent contributions to the fights against military rulership, and the country’s struggles for democracy.

Generally described as a people’s man who is largely accessible, reliable, and dependable, Onumah is deeply loved for his courage, commitment, and consistency in pursuing noble causes that will improve the general well-being of the people. Imbued with an uncommon indomitable spirit, he is a perfect exemplar of true social activism built on principles, high moral standards, and selflessness – million miles different from what we have these days. Without a doubt, he remains one of the best, and has carved an enviable niche for himself as the compass for assessing activists in Nigeria. Not driven by pecuniary benefits, showmanship, and human accolades, his penchant for cross-fertilization of ideas, and public discourse; at all times geared towards ensuring national cohesion, growth, and development remains unequivocal. This may have further informed the choice of a symposium to mark his landmark birthday.

Onumah’s professional resume, human interests-driven calling, and development engagements are replete with qualitative services within the country, in Africa, Europe, and the United States of America. As a journalist, though he started out with The Guardian newspapers, Onumah, at various times was at Sentinel Magazine – late Dr. Stanley Macebuh was the Managing Director; The News Magazine; AM News; Thisday Newspapers; Weekly Insight, Ghana, as the Associate Editor; Africanews Service, Kenya; and African Observer, New York, USA. For decades, Onumah has emerged as a prominent figure, and major voice in media and information literacy.

As the Co-ordinator of the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) – he has been able to promote media literacy to foster democracy, accountability, good governance, and combat misinformation in Africa through research,advocacy, and training programmes. To expand the frontiers of excellence, he co-founded the Media & Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue (MILID) Foundation, with special emphasis on media literacy in governance and education. Through AFRICMIL, and the Yar’Adua Foundation, Onumah launched the Corruption Anonymous (CORA); a whistleblowing platform to facilitate anonymous reporting and bolster accountability in governance.

Given his passion for good governance, Onumah, through the Whistleblowing Advocacy Coalition of West Africa (WACOWA); and the Advocacy for Whistleblowers Protection Laws has covered parts of the continent. Appreciable mileage has been achieved towards regional cooperation on whistleblower protection; adopting the policy as a veritable instrument for exposing crimes; and deepening governance across Africa. Similarly, Onumah’s broad-based advocacy and activism are well documented through his involvement with numerous bodies such as the West African Human Rights Committee (WAHRC); Pan-African Alliance for Media and Information Literacy (PAMIL); Global Alliance for Partnerships on Media and Information Literacy (GAPMIL); Whistleblowing International Network (WIN); United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and the Panos Institute, USA.

Indeed, Onumah’s decades-long involvement, contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey, and the emplacement of probity in the public service deserves mention. He functioned as the Head, Civil Society Unit; and Coordinator, Fix Nigeria Initiative at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), under the Chairmanship of Ribadu. He, among other things contributed to drafting templates that translated international anti-corruption laws into accessible tools for citizens; collaboration with various groups on integrity and accountability; training of journalists in investigative reporting; and workshops for judges, law enforcement agencies, and the media.

His varied contributions to the media, human rights, democracy, and good governance has earned him several local and global recognitions including the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy Awards; William C. Heine Fellowship for International Media Studies; Jerry Rogers Writing Award; and the Clement Mwale Prize for Courage. Despite his busy schedules, Onumah has authored some books including Time To Reclaim Nigeria; Nigeria Is Negotiable; and We Are All Biafrans. Many of his friends, colleagues, and associates applaud his de-tribalized credentials; described as a true nationalist. Born on the 10th of April, 1966, Onumah attended the Army Children School, Apapa; and Awori Ajeromi Grammar School, Lagos. He graduated from the University of Calabar with a B.A Philosophy. He earned his Masters and Doctorate degrees in Journalism, and Communications & Journalism at the University of Ontario, Canada, and the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain, respectively.

* BOLAJI AFOLABI, a Development Communications specialist was with the Office of Public Affairs, The Presidency, Abuja.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

By Comrade. Amb Emmanuel Kpoharor_

To secure victory in Ughelli North, South and Udu Federal Constituency, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) needs a tested, grassroots-oriented candidate who has demonstrated real capacity for mobilization, loyalty, and community impact.

As the PDP prepares for the forthcoming House of Representatives election, stakeholders across the three local government areas are calling on the party to field Hon. Dr. Olotu Akpodiete JP as its candidate.

Dr. Akpodiete is widely credited with reviving the PDP in the constituency at a time when mass defections had left the party’s structure severely weakened. He reactivated dormant ward executives, bankrolled logistics for meetings, financed mobilization drives, and spearheaded reconciliation efforts that brought back aggrieved members while attracting new ones across Ughelli North, South and Udu. According to party chieftains, his swift intervention restored stability and re-established the PDP as the dominant political force in the area.

His influence goes beyond party administration. Dr. Akpodiete initiated and personally sponsored the U3 Youth, Women, and Executive Empowerment programme. The initiative has provided startup grants, vocational training, and business support to hundreds of beneficiaries in the constituency. It has been commended for reducing unemployment and boosting household incomes across the three LGAs.

To strengthen political engagement, he also floated two strategic pressure groups: the U3 Media Ambassadors and the U3 Legislators Forum. The Media Ambassadors have expanded the PDP’s message and improved voter education at the grassroots. The Legislators Forum brings together past and present PDP-aligned legislators in U3 to mentor emerging politicians, harmonize party positions, and drive community consultations. Together, the two groups have created a permanent, community-rooted campaign structure for the party.

Dr. Akpodiete’s humanitarian record through the Olotu and Ekuogbe Rowland Akpodiete Foundation also sets him apart. Since its establishment, the Foundation has focused on sustainable development, education, healthcare, security support, charity, social welfare, and empowerment.

Key activities of the Foundation since 2018 include:
– Annual Empowerment Programs: The Foundation conducts yearly outreach for vulnerable groups. On April 9, 2026, it held a widow empowerment program at Iwhreko Community Town Hall, Ughelli, where over 100 widows from Ughelli North, South and Udu received cash, gifts, and wrappers during the 31st remembrance of Late Chief Ekuogbe Rowland Akpodiete. Dr. Akpodiete has pledged to sustain the program annually and extend it to other segments of society.
– Education Support: The Foundation awards scholarships and provides learning materials and school support to indigent students across the constituency to improve access to quality education.
– Healthcare Interventions: It runs medical outreaches and supports community health initiatives for underserved populations in the three LGAs. The Foundation has registered over 500 Deltans for health insurance across Delta State.
– Youth and Sports Development: The Foundation hosts an annual novelty football match in honor of Late Chief Ekuogbe Rowland Akpodiete at Clifford Cassidy Play Ground, General Field, to discover and nurture young football talents. The 2026 second edition ended 1-1 between children and grandchildren of the late chief, with cash gifts presented to team captains. The Foundation has also trained over 700 youths in vocational and digital skills.
– Community Development and Security: The Foundation supports community projects such as water boreholes across Delta and backs security initiatives including conflict resolution capacity building and donation of security gadgets to various communities to improve safety and social cohesion.
– Recognition of Service: Through Life Achievement Awards, the Foundation celebrates individuals for outstanding service to humanity. In 2026, recipients included Olorogun Miller Uloho and Chief Morrison Obaseki Olori.

Party faithfuls maintain that Dr. Akpodiete combines loyalty, proven mobilization strength, and a verifiable humanitarian record. His work in rebuilding the PDP, empowering constituents, building enduring political structures, and sustaining philanthropy through his Foundation makes him the most electable and prepared aspirant to represent Ughelli North, South and Udu in the House of Representatives come 2027.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Maritime Law and Continental shelf entitlements are entirely reliant on the Interpretation of Scientific Processes.
And where any Body of Law is dependent on Scientific Processes, then emerging scientific findings will naturally reshape the Law

In what may become one of the most consequential developments in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector in recent years, new scientific, hydrographic, and geospatial evidence is reshaping long-standing assumptions about maritime boundaries, resource ownership, and national economic security in the Gulf of Guinea..

At the center of this unfolding narrative is Cross River State, which, following years of exclusion from oil derivation revenues, is now poised for a historic re-entry into Nigeria’s league of oil-producing states.

A Turning Point Beyond the Courts:

For over two decades, the status of Cross River State as a non-oil-producing state has been largely anchored on the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment, which ceded parts of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.

This was further compounded by the 2008 oil wells dichotomy implementation map, which ultimately reassigned 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State in 2012.

While these legal outcomes remain binding, emerging scientific findings suggest that judicial finality does not necessarily equate to geological finality.

Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State, drawing from a detailed problem statement and situation analysis, initiated a bold and comprehensive investigation aimed at re-examining the subsurface realities beneath the disputed maritime terrain.

Science Steps In Where Law Stopped
The Cross River Economic Intelligence Team (CREIT), under the Governor’s directive, conducted a multi-layered validation survey—incorporating subsurface geology, geodesy, hydrography, and advanced geospatial mapping—across the Nigeria–Cameroon maritime corridor.

The study extended from the Cross River Estuary through the Akwayefe River Estuary into Cameroon waters, reaching as far as the G-Point and the strategic tripartite boundary with Equatorial Guinea and São Tomé and Príncipe.

What emerged is a compelling body of evidence pointing to continuous sedimentary and hydrocarbon systems stretching from Nigeria’s inland rivers into the deep offshore continental shelf.

The Cross River Estuary system—fed by the Cross River, Calabar River, and Great Kwa River—discharges over 800 million cubic litres of water into the Atlantic Ocean, transporting sediments across a span of approximately 280 nautical miles.

These sediments have formed rich hydrocarbon-bearing structures across the extended continental shelf.

Strategic Geography, Renewed Advantage
Geographically, the estuary’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean—just 4.8 nautical miles—combined with a natural draft depth exceeding 22 meters and access to 200-meter isobath zones, places Nigeria in a strategically advantageous position to assert extended continental shelf rights under international law.

Crucially, the findings indicate that significant portions of the western Bakassi maritime corridor were never ceded, and remain within Nigeria’s legitimate economic and geological domain.

New Discoveries, New Possibilities:

The implications of the CREIT investigation are profound:
Over 186 oil wells identified for potential recovery

238 newly mapped oil well coordinates

49 transboundary reservoirs straddling Nigeria and Cameroon

Recovery of approximately 780 hectares of maritime territory

Within OML 114 (Abana Field) and adjoining offshore zones, these reservoirs represent a significant untapped energy resource.
Additionally, the broader Cross River maritime axis—covering Akpabuyo and Odukpani—is now estimated to hold:
4.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas
45 million barrels of crude oil

These figures signal the emergence of a new energy frontier capable of transforming Cross River State into a major hub within Nigeria’s oil and gas ecosystem.
National Security and Strategic Imperatives
This development is not merely economic—it is deeply strategic.

As far back as 2006, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had warned, in a national security policy brief, of the risks associated with losing control over unceded territories within western Bakassi and the Cross River Estuary.

Today, those warnings appear prescient.
CREIT now frames the issue as an urgent national security intelligence risk, emphasizing the need to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime corridors, protect offshore infrastructure, and assert sovereign economic rights.

A Window for Diplomatic Innovation
For President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the findings present a rare opportunity for strategic leadership.

Rather than reopening settled legal disputes, experts advocate a forward-looking approach anchored on:

Joint development and production sharing agreements with Cameroon

Cooperative exploitation of transboundary reservoirs

Strengthening Nigeria’s claim to its extended continental shelf

Such arrangements could unlock production levels of up to 300,000 barrels per day, while reinforcing regional stability and economic cooperation.

From Rivalry to Partnership
Perhaps most significantly, the new evidence offers a pathway to resolve the long-standing tensions between Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.

Both states stand to benefit immensely from the newly identified resources. Federal guidance encouraging collaborative frameworks for derivation sharing has been widely welcomed as a pragmatic solution.
Under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, calls for unity and mutual benefit are gaining traction.

The emerging consensus is clear: the future lies not in contest, but in cooperation.

No Victor, No Vanquished.

While the Supreme Court’s decisions remain legally binding, science has introduced a new dimension—one that transcends boundaries drawn on maps and speaks to the realities beneath them.
In this evolving context, justice is no longer defined solely by legal verdicts, but also by equity, evidence, and shared national interest.

As CREIT succinctly puts it:
“This is not about reversing history, but about redefining the future. Science has provided the bridge—what remains is the will to cross it together.”

Conclusion.
Nigeria stands at the threshold of a transformative moment.
The convergence of science, policy, and diplomacy offers a unique opportunity to reclaim economic value, strengthen national security, and foster regional harmony.

For Cross River State, it signals a long-awaited restoration of status and dignity. For Nigeria, it represents a bold step toward maximizing its natural endowments in a complex geopolitical landscape.
And for both Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, it marks the beginning of a new chapter—one defined not by division, but by a shared vision of justice, peace, and prosperity.

No victor. No vanquished. Only a nation moving forward.

By CREIT- March 2026.
Cross River Economic Intelligence Team