The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger delta

  • UPU seeks gas flare trust fund in Urhobo land

    UPU seeks gas flare trust fund in Urhobo land

     Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

     

    URHOBO Progress Union (UPU) has appealed to the Federal Government to site the national headquarters of the gas flare trust fund in Urhoboland.

    President-General Olorogun Moses Taiga insisted the Urhobo were entitled to the headquarters of the gas flare trust fund because other states and ethnic nationalities have got ‘their fair share of Federal Government establishments’.

    Taiga said the facility ought to be located in Urhobo land due to the deleterious impact of gas flare on its environment.

    In a statement, he noted: “Urhobo Ethnic Nationality has been a host to major oil and gas assets since the discovery of petroleum in Nigeria, producing oil and gas from Afiesere, Eriemu, Osioka, Evwreni, and Oroni fields (OML 30); Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Utorogu, Effurun, Ward River and Orho I fields (OML 34); Okwefe, Amukpe, Okporhuru, and Mosogar, Ovhor and Orhogho (OML 38); Sapele, Ubaleme, Okoporo (Ugborhen/Ozue) fields (OML 41); Matsogo field (OML 56); Aroh, Okwefe, Deep and Oghareki Fields (OML 49).

    Read Also: On the herdsmen attack on Urhoboland

    “Urhobo are host to some of the largest gas fields, with the Ughelli East and Utorogun Gas fields being the largest gas plants in West Africa. These fields are served by oil flow stations, pumping stations and the gas plants.

    “These are all sources of gas and other pollutant emissions. The Urhobo people and their environs, being upland and swamp, had more than enough share of gas flares than any other nationality in Nigeria.”

    He stressed the readiness of the Urhobo people to host the headquarters of the proposed body, stressing that facilities abound in Warri and environs for its take-off.

     

  • Rivers approves N9.5b for road

    Rivers approves N9.5b for road

    Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

     

    THE Rivers State Executive Council has approved N9.5 billion for the construction of 6.5km road to link Woji-Aleto-Alesa to the Port Harcourt Refinery.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, said the approval was given on Wednesday during the State Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Nyesom Wike.

    Nsirim said the project would be executed by Rafoul Nigeria Limited, adding that it was in recognition of the infrastructural blueprint of the government and its Urban Renewal Programme.

    He said: “This project will enhance municipality expansion as it will open the state to a vast expanse of land that can be used for industrial and estate developments in the near future.

    “There will be an arithmetic increase in the ground rent revenue and taxes in the area in the near future. The road will also open a corridor which will lead to the Onne Port, Indorama and the Port Harcourt Refinery, and have a far reaching strategic advantage in the short, medium and long term…”

  • ‘Widows, others empowered’

    ‘Widows, others empowered’

    Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

     

    NIGERIAN Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) at Elele Barracks in Rivers State has donated starter packs to 25 members trained in various skills.

    The beneficiaries are widows of deceased officers and youths.

    NAOWA Chairperson at 6 Division in Port Harcourt Mrs. Irefin Olayemi hailed the association for training the women and giving them starter packs.

    Olayemi, who was represented by Mrs. Chinelo Koughna, noted that the gesture was worthy of emulation and called on NAOWA in other areas and divisions to follow suit.

    NAOWA Zonal Coordinator Mrs. Imabong Essien encouraged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the skills they have acquired and the starter packs given to them to add value to their lives.

    Read Also: Rivers reopen markets, worship centres

    The host, Mrs. Abimbola Adebimpe, said the ceremony was the fourth edition under her regime. She said it was to address poverty through education and training of vulnerable and marginalised group like women and children to position them to improve their family’s living condition.

    Beneficiaries included six widows, women and youths who trained in Information Communication Technology (ICT), hair dressing, catering services and fashion designing.

     

  • Marginal oil fields: Fed Govt, oil communities to dialogue

    Marginal oil fields: Fed Govt, oil communities to dialogue

     Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

     

    DELTA State Deputy Governor Kingsley Otuaro has said the Federal Government will dialogue with oil-producing communities about their demands on marginal oil fields.

    Some ethnic groups have been threatening to disrupt oil operations over alleged neglect.

    But Otuaro, who spoke on Wednesday in Asaba, said the government did not wish for the agitation to escalate into a bigger problem.

    He said: “The Federal Government has said it would not allow the agitation to escalate into bigger problems. That was agreed at the Abuja meeting I attended. Representatives of the oil-bearing communities will be invited and discussions will hold in stages for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders.

    Read Also: Obada laid to rest in Delta

    “Only last week, the Federal Government sought information from the state which will assist the process, while giving indication it was putting together its relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that will be part of the engagement.

    “I am sure our wait won’t be long or endless. A result-oriented dialogue is a process, not an event, and preparations for same have begun. If I was not myself convinced, I would not sustain my appeals to the communities.

    “I must thank the oil-bearing communities for listening to appeals to exercise restraint and surrender to the coming dialogue where problems get resolved.”

  • ‘Crisis merchants pushing for PAP’s scrap’

    ‘Crisis merchants pushing for PAP’s scrap’

    Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt 

     

    THE Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has warned that scrapping the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) will lead to violent agitation in Niger Delta.

    A statement by its President, Peter Igbifa, said those benefiting from and sponsoring violence were mounting pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to scrap the programme.

    Igbifa urged Buhari and his progressive advisers not to succumb to such pressure.

    He said the Presidency should only drop the scheme when it had fulfilled its mandate since it was designed not to last forever.

    The IYC chief urged the government to jettison alleged plots to stop Amnesty and float a similar scheme for repentant Boko Haram fighters.

    He said: “The full intent of the Amnesty programme has not been realised. At its inception, the Federal Government  pledged its commitment to carry out the disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and provide reintegration assistance to ex-militants. These… were major preconditions to address wider development challenges in Niger Delta.

    Read Also: Ijaw need tested men in Senate, says Clark

    “Whereas we acknowledge that the disarmament phase was swiftly done, other phases have remained largely unfulfilled. The government should fulfil the promises it made to the repentant militants before thinking of discontinuing the programme, otherwise we will consider it as the highest level of insincerity and a deliberate ploy to play on the people’s intelligence.

    “Those advising President Buhari to scrap the programme are lying to him. They are the true enemies of Nigeria who desire a return to violent agitation in the region to enable them profit from bloodshed.

    “Niger Delta needs additional interventions and can’t afford to lose any existing empowerment programme. We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhati to appoint a credible coordinator for the PAP to continue with the task of realising other promises contained in the scheme.”

  • Ijaw youths to IOCs: fulfill obligations to your host communities

    Ijaw youths to IOCs: fulfill obligations to your host communities

    Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

    Aggrieved Ijaw youths have urged International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the Niger Delta region to fulfil their obligations to their host communities especially the ones contained in Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) they signed with such communities.

    The youths under the auspices of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) accused the multinational oil companies of neglecting their pacts with many of their host communities in the region.

    The Chairman, IYC, Eastern Zone, James Tobin, who spoke in Port Harcourt at the weekend, said the council was inundated with reports of oil companies abandoning promises contained in Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) they signed with their host communities.

    He said lack of commitments by the multinationals had caused joblessness among the youths insisting that if the companies had operated within their agreements, the youths would have been properly engaged in meaningful ventures.

    Tobin particularly appealed to the Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to invest in the security in their areas of operations especially offshore Bonny and Akwa Ibom State.

    He said the council would mobilise Ijaw youths to occupy major oil installations in the region if companies continued their alleged non-challant attitude to their agreements.

    He said the IOCs refused to renew expired GMoUs while communities that were supposed to be captured in such agreements had been neglected by the oil multinationals.

    He said: “The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide is founded to seek equity, equality and justice for our people in order to improve their standard of living, development and environmental health.

    “All companies operating within the Ijaw nation in particular and of course the Niger Delta at large must ensure that they do not in any way, violate our sacred values. Although, we look forward to having the best of cordial and mutual relationships with all IOCs and NOCs in our territory, our friendly disposition should not be taken for granted.

    READ ALSO: No plan to disrupt oil operations in OML 30 – Ijaw youths

    “We have however; discovered insincerity in the operational mechanism of these oil companies especially the Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and this has led to increasing tension in oil-producing communities.

    “The Council has refused to be passive while the Ijaws are being shortchanged on their land. We have been inundated with complaints of how these companies abandon their agreements with the host communities shortly after signing a memorandum of understanding with them.

    “Henceforth, we have mapped an action plan to occupy all major installations and facilities belonging to these companies if they continued to treat their social responsibilities with kid gloves.

    “We have received reports of companies failing to renew expired GMoUs with their host communities. We have also observed that these companies have refused to sign agreements with some host communities.”

    Tobin added: “What we need is peace and security as such all actions by IOC’s that are capable of causing chaos in our region should be avoided. How can IOC use military excort there people to work onshore and offshore like in Bonny and Eket, while our people die and suffer in the hands of sea pirates because they can’t afford security operatives to guide them?”

  • Obaseki to electorate: Come out and vote on Sept 19

    Obaseki to electorate: Come out and vote on Sept 19

    Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

     

    EDO State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has urged the state’s electorate not to be afraid to come out and vote on September 19.

    He expressed optimism of emerging victorious during the crucial election, in spite of the challenge by Edo governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who earlier stated that by God’s grace and the votes of residents of the state, he would be inaugurated as Edo governor on November 12 this year.

    Obaseki, the standard bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), spoke yesterday in Benin, the state capital, while addressing his supporters who put up a carnival-like march, termed: “Umbrella March,” to reinforce their support for him.

    Read Also: Can Obaseki avert mass resignation, defections?

    The march, which was organised by the Edo Voters Volunteers Assembly (EVVA), a grassroots voter mobilisation body, had over 2000 participants, made up of youths and women, mobilised from the 12 wards in Oredo Local Government Area of the state.

    The march temporarily halted commercial activities in the early hours of yesterday in Benin.

    Obaseki urged Edo electorate to report acts of criminality by any person or group of persons to the appropriate authorities to forestall a breakdown of law and order, in the run-up to the governorship election.

  • Shell appeals asset sale judgment in favour of Rivers

    Shell appeals asset sale judgment in favour of Rivers

    Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Friday indicated that it would appeal the ruling of the Rivers State High Court which affirmed the enforcement of the purported sale of interests in SPDC’s JV’s assets in Kidney Island and specified interests in OML 11 to the Rivers State Government.

    The company said it was “very disappointed” by the judgment of the high court.

    The Media Relations Manager of the SPDC, Bamidele Odugbesan, said in a statement that the company ” has therefore filed an appeal and an application for a stay of execution of this recent judgment issued by the Rivers State High Court on 13 August 2020.”

    He said that even before the ruling, the Rivers State Government had “filed a similar case at the Federal High Court, Abuja, asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to direct the Minister of Petroleum Resources to recognise the same purported interest acquired through auction sale.

    “The RVSG withdrew the Abuja case  in July 2020 and refiled this new case at the Rivers State High Court without joining the Minister of Petroleum Resources. Curiously, an application by SPDC to join the Minister of Petroleum Resources to the suit for a just determination of the issues with all necessary parties was denied by the Judge who heard and determined the case within six weeks from when it was served on SPDC in July 2020. Under the Nigerian Petroleum Act, any acquisition or assignment of interests in a licence or lease must have the consent of the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

    “The root case, Chief Agbara and Others v. SPDC, which led to the purported sale of interests SPDC JV’s assets is still the subject of ongoing proceedings in several courts, including the supreme court, and it remains the position of SPDC that no payment is due and any purported sale or enforcement of payment is premature and prejudicial to ongoing proceedings. The auction sale is also being challenged on appeal by SPDC.

    “The root case has its origin in a spill caused by third parties during the Nigerian Civil War, a challenging period which resulted in significant damage to oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta region. While SPDC does not accept responsibility for the spill, the affected sites in Ejama Ebubu community were fully remediated, and this was certified by the government regulator.

    “The claim for N17billion as damages was first brought by the Ejama Ebubu community against SPDC in 2001 in the Federal High Court of Nigeria. In 2010, the court gave judgment against SPDC and awarded the claim without SPDC being given reasonable opportunity to defend the facts of the case. Indeed, this case has focused too long on procedural issues and not on its merits – we have always been clear that we are ready to defend this case based on the available facts.

    READ ALSO: FG shells out N2.2tr to states govts as palliatives

    “SPDC appealed the 2010 judgment and obtained an order to stay the execution of the judgment upon the provision of a bank guarantee issued by First Bank of Nigeria Limited in favour of the claimants. Despite this matter being the subject of ongoing proceedings in the Nigerian courts, the claimants went ahead to seek to enforce the judgment in both Nigeria and England.

    “The English court last year rejected the claimants’ attempt to enforce the Nigerian court judgment in the UK, referring to a ‘breach of natural justice’ in the proceedings against Shell in Nigeria. The English court also found that the claimants had “materially over-stated” the value of the judgment which the claimants admitted was  N34.716billion. The court therefore ruled that it would not be just and convenient for a Nigerian judgment to be enforced in the UK which the claimants acknowledge is “miscalculated”.

    “On Monday, March 2, 2020, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja issued an order attaching the sum of N182billion in First Bank of Nigeria Limited’s statutory account with the Central Bank of Nigeria in favour of  Ejama Ebubu community in Rivers State.

    “SPDC and other parties affected by the March 2, 2020 order of the Federal High Court filed separate appeals, as well as applied to set aside the order and restrain its execution pending the appeal decision. In accordance with the spirit of fair hearing in the Nigerian judicial system, we remain of the view that until the pending appeals are heard and determined, SPDC is not liable to make any payments, and therefore none any of its assets or interest should not be attached to satisfy the judgement.”

  • Ebonyi judiciary workers embark on strike

    Ebonyi judiciary workers embark on strike

    Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

    Judiciary workers in Ebonyi State on Thursday began strike to demand improved welfare.

    The workers urged the government to implement the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CJSS).

    At the state judiciary headquarters, no worker was sighted within the premises.

    But some youths clustered around the gate. Policemen were also at the gate.

    The workers, about three weeks ago, issued a 21-day ultimatum, for the state to implement the CJSS.

    Vice President of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (Southeast) Mark Ifezue said the national leadership mandated workers to withdraw their services pending implementation of the wage structure.

    Read Also: Panic as suspected IED discovered in Ebonyi market

    He said: “I am here to show solidarity with the workers over the implementation of their salary structure. This package worked for all judicial workers in Nigeria, both at the federal and state level.

    “Virtually all states are implementing the package but Ebonyi has refused to do that. The workers have been on this  struggle since 2015 and nothing positive has come out of it.

    “I am here as a messenger of the National President, Comrade Lawal Mustapha. We have had series of meetings and agreement with the government but it always reneged…”

    Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Cletus Ophoke said workers on strike at this pandemic time was regrettable and ill-advised.

  • Bayelsa election: Tribunal sets Aug 15 for judgment

    Bayelsa election: Tribunal sets Aug 15 for judgment

    Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

    Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has set August 15 to rule on an election matter.

    The suit is between Vijah Opuama of Liberation Movement and Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC); Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Governor Douye Diri and Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

    Opuama is challenging the declaration of Diri and Ewhrudjakpo as governor and deputy governor.

    Read Also: Bayelsa schools ready, safe to reopen, says Diri

    The case was initially dismissed as dead on arrival by PDP leaders but after a careful scrutiny, lawyers indicated otherwise.

    Opuama is seeking Ewhrudjakpo’s disqualification for irregularities in his academic qualifications and the cancellation of the election.

    He prayed the court to order a fresh election, saying the poll did not comply with the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    Since the judgment day was made public, anxiety seems to have pervaded the state.

    But Ewhrudjakpo said there was nothing to be afraid of. A statement by his media aide, Doubara Atasi, said: “Governor Ewhrudjakpo remains unruffled. There is nothing to be afraid of concerning the judgment. I believe the judiciary will do the right thing and as far as the right thing is done, there is nothing to be afraid of.”