The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger delta

  • Oil firm to pay N7m for theft

    Oil firm to pay N7m for theft

     Mike Odiegwu and Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

     

    THE Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered Lakeside Petroleum Retail Logistics Limited to pay N7 million to the Federal Government for transacting business without permission.

    Lakeside Petroleum, in 2018, was caught at Onne in Eleme Local Government, conveying products suspected to be artisanal diesel in a vessel, M.V Neya III, without approval.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which sued the firm, said the offence contravened Section 1 (18) of the Miscellaneous Offences Acts M17 of the Reverse Edition (Laws of Federation of Nigeria) Act 2007, and punishable under the same Act.

    Lakeside pleaded guilty to the two-count charge preferred against it, and was given a summary judgment. It was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison, or pay N7 million fine to the Federal Government.

    Read Also: Ebonyi plans Special Court for rape, special offences

    Justice M.I. Sani ordered that the money be paid through the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the product be sold and proceeds paid into TSA while the vessel released to the owner.

    The firm chartered MV NEYA III before its arrest on May 7, 2018. At the point of arrest, the vessel had about 52,540 litres suspected to be AGO, loaded from an unnamed Metal Barge at Taraba-Jetty, Borokiri, Port Harcourt.

    It was not registered with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

     

  • Dickson to Dikio: unite ex-agitators for peace

    Dickson to Dikio: unite ex-agitators for peace

    • IYC hails appointment

    • ’We reject new PAP coordinator’

    • ‘Publish report of Boro’s, Dokubo’s probe’

    By Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba, Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt
    and Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

    The immediate past Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson has congratulated Col. Milland Dikio (retd.) on his appointment as the new Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    A statement by his Media Advisor, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, on Sunday, also quoted the former governor as commending President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing another Ijaw son into the sensitive position.

    He described the President’s decision to retain the position in Ijaw land in spite of the pressures as thoughtful and encouraging since Ijaw youths are the predominant participants of the Amnesty programme.

    Dickson urged the new Amnesty boss to take advantage of his enviable  experience as a senior military officer of sterling record to unite the ex-agitators and promote peace and stability in the region.

    He said he was not in any doubt that with his experience as a manager of security and human resources within and outside Nigeria in sensitive capacities (in and out of the military) that the Dikio would succeed with the cooperation of all.

    He added that while he and majority of stakeholders expected the position  to move to another state, all Niger Delta stakeholders should set aside their differences to support Dikio in the collective interest of the people now that the appointment had been made.

    The former governor, who urged Dikio to give the deserved attention to the training and provision of opportunities for self-employment to the youth of the area, advised him to engage all stakeholders in no distant time on how best he could improve on the programme, and make its impact more visible and sustainable.

    READ ALSO: Bayelsa West: Kinsmen kick against ex-Gov Dickson’s candidature

    Dickson called on all ex-agitators, youth leaders and others critical stakeholders to support the new Amnesty boss in his new position.

    In a related development, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) lauded President Muhammdu Buhari over Dikio’s appointment.

    The umbrella body for Ijaw youths said the appointment had put to rest the mischievous move by some politicians calling for the scrapping of the Amnesty programme.

    The organisation called on Buhari to make the appointment permanent and susbstantive to avoid limited power to administer the Amnesty Office.

    National President of the IYC, Mr Peter Igbifa, said the appointment of Dikio showed that President Buhari is a good listener who heeded the calls of patriotic Niger Deltans.

    He said despite moves by some mischief makers who wanted a programme that had sustained peace and maximised oil production in the country to be abruptly scrapped,  “the President has once again shown his commitment to peace in the Niger Delta region.”

    Igbifa commended  Buhari for heeding the voices of stakeholders from the region, especially the IYC, by appointing Dikio.

     

  • Enugu airport begins operation

    Enugu airport begins operation

    Chris Oji, Enugu

    All is set for the official reopening of the rehabilitated Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

    The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who arrived the airport in a private aircraft, at 14:47pm on Saturday to inspect the level of work, said the runways are good and ready to commence normal flight.

    The Airport was closed down in August 2019 to enable the government carry out repair works on the deteriorating runways and other facilities.

    Read Also: Enugu Airport reopens Sunday

    The Minister had announced penultimate week that the Airport would be officially flagged off today, August 30, 2020 for reopening to air travelers.

    During a tour of the facility with some Enugu State government functionaries, Sirika said the Airport is now set for reopening.

    He also said that his plane was the first to land the airport since the repair work was done.

    Business mogul, Engr. Arthur Eze arrived the Airport with the Ministers.

  • Wike to construct hostels, hall in Bayelsa law school

    Wike to construct hostels, hall in Bayelsa law school

     Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

     

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has promised to construct two new hostels that would accommodate 900 students each at the Nigerian Law School, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    The governor said his administration would also build a 1,500-capacity Multi-Purpose Hall at the school.

    A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, stated that Wike made the promise when he visited the school in company of Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, on Thursday.

    He said the gesture was part of the state government’s contribution to the development of legal education in the country.

    He said: “Rivers State also belongs to the South-South, so we think we should also make our own contribution. Our State will construct two new hostels to accommodate nine hundred students each and also build a multipurpose hall that will accommodate 1,500 students.

    “Ordinarily, this school was supposed to be located in Port Harcourt, but the former administration rejected the offer made to them. You know also that Bayelsa State was created out of Rivers State. Hence, we are still the same and whatever I can do in Rivers State, I can also do in Bayelsa State.”

    Read Also: Wike promises to complete projects

    Wike said, despite the economic challenges faced by the state, it would source funds from its scarce resources to execute the project.

    He noted that the present economic challenges would not stop his administration from solving problems.

    “This project will be executed immediately because we do not make promises without fulfilling them. I have directed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to write to the Director General to forward the design, so we can commence work immediately, “he said.

    In his remarks, Chiroma expressed gratitude to Wike and the Rivers State Government for the support, saying the school would ever remain grateful.

  • Lawmaker awards scholarship to Imo triplets

    Lawmaker awards scholarship to Imo triplets

    Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri

     

    The immediate past deputy speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, who is also the member representing Mbaitoli state constituency, Okey Onyekanma, has awarded scholarship to the triplets who were born premature after their mother, Nkechi Ezenwa, 20, a banana hawker was raped.

    Onyekanma, who spoke while commissioning a two-bedroom bungalow built for the triplets at Ubomiri by a journalist, Chidiebube Okeoma and his team of Facebook influencers, said that he would take care of the academics of the children up to university level.

    According to him, the children would continue to enjoy the scholarship even if he leaves government, adding that with quality education, the triplets would be great in life.

    Onyekanma commended the journalist and his team, for launching the advocacy for public financial support for the children that led to the building and furnishing of the house for the triplets and their mother.

    Read Also: The joke called politics in Nigeria

    “ Nigerians had through the unprecedented love they showed to the triplets displayed that the country is made of people with compassionate citizens,” he noted.

    The member representing Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Henry Nwawuba, said that the love shown to the family was amazing.

    Represented by his the Director General of His Campaign Organisation, Engr Iyke Nnadi, commended the journalist for using the tool of journalism to save the lives of the triplets and galvanizing huge support for building a home for them.

    “This shows the enormous power journalists wield all over the world. If only every other journalist in our country devote their influence and power to development and advocacy journalism, this country would be greater than it is currently,” he said.

  • NULGE calls for massive recruitment in Anambra

    NULGE calls for massive recruitment in Anambra

     Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

     

    Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Anambra State, has called for massive recruitment of manpower across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

    President of the body, Comrade Adigwe Chikwelu disclosed this yesterday in a chat with newsmen, saying the recruitment would forestall system collapse as well as bridge the successional gap existing in the system.

    He regretted that the last recruitment was carried out in 2002, which he said was skeletally done, calling for a massive one for effective service delivery.

    He said, “This is the 18th year there has not been recruitment in the Local Government system. In 2004, certain persons were recruited in the health sector. It is not the fault of this present government. But we want to bring it to their attention as an urgent issue to be tackled.

    “When we are talking about recruitment, we are referring to well-advertised one. We are also not talking about senior officers. We need junior officers like messengers, clerical officers, typists, securities, drivers, cleaners, artisans and others. We don’t have them again. People are retiring, people are dying, the system is going down. As people are leaving, they need to groom others to replace them. But today, that succession is not there.

    Read Also: Abducted Adamawa NULGE chair freed

    “Almost everyone in the Local Government is senior officer. You see a woman of Level 14 sweeping the floor. If you go to some of the Primary Health Centers, it’s very appalling to see only one staff there. I wonder how one person can assist a woman in labour.”

    Acknowledging the numerous infrastructural developments of government amidst paucity of funds, the NULGE boss underscored the place of human capacity in the local government system.

    “I am aware they are challenged with lean resources, but I can proffer certain solutions. For example, If the take home pay of a retired level 17 officer is N200,000, that of level 6 may be N40,000. You see we still have leftovers in government coffers,” he added.

    Chikwelu further expressed satisfaction over the cordial working relationship between the union and the Civil Service Commission, just as he restated the Union commitment towards workers’ welfare.

  • Anambra sets up Geographic Information System to tackle illegal land taxes

    Anambra sets up Geographic Information System to tackle illegal land taxes

    Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

     

    Anambra state government has assured that the establishment of the Geographic Information System (GIS) in the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Planning would put to rest double allocation, illegal taxation in land documentation and other related matters.

    Commissioner in the Ministry, Mr Bonaventure Enemali, gave the assurance in Awka, the state capital when State House of Assembly Committee on Tender and Procurement visited the Ministry to ascertain its mode of operation regarding land allocations.

    He also promissed that the GIS would ensure transparency and accuracy in the entire process.

    According to Enemali, the innovation followed government directive that all lands in the State would be electronically accessed to discourage fraudulent activities related to lands.

    Read Also: Man steals buried ram head in Anambra

    He said, “The Electronics Data Management System (EDMS) will end paper documentation and forestall tale of files as it will capture land data online.

    This will also end extortion and promote prompt response to land applications. Our staff have been trained on land information and other related ICT programmes.”

    The House Committee led by Member representing Idemili South, Hon Chuka Ezenwune had inspected the Ministry’s environment as well as the hall for the Geographic Information System (GIS).

    Ezenwune observed that the new GIS would go a long way in solving the previous challenges of double allocation of lands.

    “We see such digital initiative in Abuja and it makes it easier to access your land or the state’s land anywhere in the world.We commend you for this noble cause and urge the pioneer staff to live up to expectations and ensure transparency and accuracy in their documentation, especially when it concerns figures,” he stated.

  • Why IPOB, MASSOB stopped attack on Igbo leaders – Obi’s ex -aide

    Why IPOB, MASSOB stopped attack on Igbo leaders – Obi’s ex -aide

    Nwanosike Onu, Awka

    The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi’s aide, Dr. Ifedi Okwenna, says the reason why Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra MASSOB and Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB stopped attacking Igbo leaders was through his intervention.

    Okwenna, who once served as Commissioner for Environment under Governor Peter Obi, has declared his intention to replace Governor Willie Obiano in 2021 governorship election in Anambra State.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship hopeful, said he did it through his leadership skills, adding that as the Director General of Igbo World Summit, he had to find what he called the ‘minimum line’ through dialogue to achieve it.

    Okwenna, spoke at the PDP party Secretariat, Udoka Housing Estate, Awka, while addressing the party executive and local government Chairmen as he announce his governorship interest.

    Read Also: What is IPOB strategy?

    He said IPOB and MASSOB members were human beings, adding that what they needed at that particular time was leadership, as nobody was more biafran than the other.

    He however, said the insinuations that Obi was propelling him to seek for the governorship seat of Anambra State were not wrong after all, as the Ex Governor was his boss and would always be.

    “If Iam Obi’s candidate, it is also an advantage, but it is still a rumour. I will always seek his support in whatever thing I do. Everyone who is contesting anything must look for such heavyweights for support”

    Okwenna, said he would always emulate good Igbo leaders like late Dr Michael Okpara, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Sam Mbakwe, Dr Chris Ngige and Mr Peter Obi.

    The Chairman of PDP in Anambra State, Sir Ndubuisi Nwobu, assured that the party would conduct a free, fair and credible primaries to elect it’s governorship candidate for 2021 election

    He said he would resign if he witnessed any manipulation during the process, adding that it was the duty of the party to elect the person to fly its flag and not through backdoor, noting that he would not be part of such.

  • Police bullets hit teenage girls in Delta

    Police bullets hit teenage girls in Delta

    Elo Edremoda, Warri

     

    Two teenage girls reportedly sustained gunshot injuries from policemen attempting to stop a moving vehicle in Edjeba community, Warri South Council Area of Delta State.

    The Nation learnt that the incident occurred Thursday afternoon around CAC Junction in the community, as the operatives made frantic efforts to stop the occupant of a Toyota Camry, suspected to be an internet fraudster.

    It was gathered that one of the girls was hit on the waist, while the other was struck on one of her hands.

    The policemen who drove in a gulf Jetta car with ‘Police’ inscription on the bonnet, reportedly shot at the tyres of the vehicle within the residential area.

    Video footages of the incident have since surfaced on the internet.

    One of the clips showed  people gathering  around one of the teenage girls said to have been shot by the security officers. She was then rushed to a hospital in a tricycle, while voices in the background say “what is the Police doing?, “they were shooting at the tyres”.

    Read Also: Cult-related deaths hit 13 in Delta

    Another clip shows several persons, including the said policemen, gathered on a street. Both vehicles, the Police car and the Camry are spotted, while one of the officers with arms folded was alleged to have fired the shots that hit the victims.

    Sources alleged that a similar incident claimed the life of a young boy at the Praise Centre axis of Jakpa Road, Uvwie Council Area, in July. He was said to have been hit by a Police van, while they were chasing a suspected internet scammer.

    A police patrol team attached to Safe Delta Command in the state, had on Wednesday arrested a music producer, Umukoro FearGod, alongside two artistes in Ughelli on the grounds that he was a “yahoo boy”.

    He was, however, released Thursday morning after the Complaints Response Unit (CRU) of the Nigeria Police Force intervened on the matter, with a promise to carry out further investigations.

  • Enugu killings: Ohanaeze youths’ panel set to release findings

    Enugu killings: Ohanaeze youths’ panel set to release findings

    Innocent DURU 

     

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide (OYC) says the result of the panel of inquiry set up by the group to investigate the clash between members of the proscribed Independent People of Biafra (IPoB and the Department of State Service (DSS) will soon be made public.

    In a statement signed by the President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group  said the OYC panel of inquiry led Mazi  Okwu Nnabuike had successfully interviewed independent eye witnesses around the scene of the Emene killings, and “we have uncovered shocking facts regarding to what happened and are still making progress and will conclude sooner than later.

    Read Also: Ohaneze backs IPOB on call for referendum

    “We commend  those who took the responsibility to  be part of these investigations with utmost respect for those killed.  There is need to  avert possible reprisals and curtail  the spread of violence in the South East. Definitely, Nigerians will surely have unbiased answers to  the  tragic death of Igbo youths who  met their untimely death  on 23rd August 2020 when the full details of what happened come  out possibly before 30th August, 2020.

    “We will present  the findings to Igbo leaders led by the Secretary General Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Elders’ Council before presenting it  to the public.

    “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide will surely resist pressure from any quarter not to publish the  findings. As the watchdog of the Igbo Nation, we will open the eyes of the world with our shocking findings.”