The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Ijaw youths angry over ‘unfair’ recruitment

    All is seemingly not well among the Ijaw people in the Niger Delta as a result of recent announcement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to engage new employees in the corporation.

    Already, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has expressed displeasure over the recruitment process, saying it lacked transparency and fairness. The IYC particularly alleged that the corporation was sidelining qualified Ijaw people from its recent employment process.

    The Ijaw youths held an emergency meeting in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital recently to criticise the process.

    Speaking after the meeting, the IYC Secretary-General, Alfred Kemepado, alleged that the employment announced recently by NNPC had been hijacked by some powerful people at the corporation and the Presidency.

    Kemepado said it smacked of injustice and unfairness for the Ijaw people, who suffer pains of oil exploration and exploitation, to be marginalised whenever there are job opportunities in the oil sector, especially the NNPC.

    He said: “Recently, you may have discovered that NNPC advertised for qualified individuals to apply for various positions in NNPC and applications were made around the country and as qualified and competent as the Ijaw are, most of us also applied for those jobs.

    “But information reaching us indicate that the Presidency has hijacked the process of recruitment and that the Ijaw people are being sidelined and we find that very offensive for many reasons.

    “One of the reasons is that we cannot continue to dwell in a country where they come around the Niger Delta, especially in the Ijaw territory drill the oil, take the oil and sustain this country called Nigeria and leave us with the associated diseases such as leukemia and the degraded environment. But when there is opportunity for employment, our people are always sidelined, marginalised and not considered at all. We find that very offensive.”

    Describing the situation as intolerable, Kemepado appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the new Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC to look into the issue and consider Ijaw people who are qualified for the existing job opportunities.

    “We appeal to the Presidency and the new GMD to look into this issue and ensure that Ijaw people who applied for those positions, whom we know are qualified for these positions should be considered and not sidelined by the list from the Presidency.

    “If that really happens, we will take it as an insult. From the inception of this government, we have been provoked many times. The time officials from the Presidency visited the Niger Delta, they promised that international oil companies would relocate to the Niger Delta. We did not see that happen. But we frown at this one and we are calling on the Presidency to have a rethink and do what is right.”

    Kemepado also maintained that the IYC received information to the effect that, following the appointment of the new boss of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the corporation would be restructured, even as he called on the Federal Government to consider Ijaw people during the process.

    He noted that Ijaw youths had been trained in the activities of the oil sector through various interventionist programmes such as the Amnesty Office, the NDDC and other scholarship schemes sponsored by the government.

    “They are eminently qualified since they possess local and foreign certificates. So, nobody can doubt the competence of the Ijaw people. Therefore, the country should not continue to provoke this region. The Ijaw Youth Council and the elders have done our beat to keep the peace in this region.

    “Let us make it abundantly clear that the peace that President Buhari has enjoyed for the past four years and the peace that has prevailed as a result of the continuous flow of oil was not as a result of what this government has done for the people of the Niger Delta.

    “It is only as a result of our resolve as a people to keep the peace here with the hope that in situation such as this, our people will not continue to be sidelined and I don’t want the Presidency to push its luck too far and further provoke our people.

     

  • Safe environment dominates DPR, stakeholders’ talks in Bayelsa

    Health, safety, security and environment are cardinal areas of concern in any society. No less so in an oil-rich environment. Even though the Bayelsa State petroleum environment is said to be one of the safest in the country as a result of zero-fatalities in petrol stations and gas points, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the regulatory agency for the oil sector, is not complacent on this feat. It has continued to sensitise stakeholders to the need for perfection in this regard. In the circumstances, the DPR has held an Annual General Meeting (AGM) as a special forum to constantly interact with all stakeholders on how best to improve and ensure safe operations in any oil environment, MIKE ODIEFWU writes

    The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is concerned about sustaining operational safety in Bayelsa State’s petroleum environment; it wants to ensure that no tragic incident is recorded in filling stations and gas-dispensing points.

    So far, the petroleum environment of Bayelsa is adjudged one of the safest in the country as a result of zero-fatalities in petrol stations and gas points. But the department does not want to let down its guards. To sustain the feat, DPR introduced the Annual General Meeting (AGM) as a special forum to constantly interact with all stakeholders.

    The maiden edition of the AGM was held recently in Yenagoa. All the agencies involved in the distribution, dispensing and sales of petroleum products were in attendance. Owners of petrol stations were also present.

    The stakeholders, who attended the DPR’s first AGM were the Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association (IPMAN), the police, Army, Navy, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Fire Service, Nigeria Association of LPG Marketers and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among others.

    The theme of the AGM was “Together We Deliver Safe Operations in Bayelsa”. The subject matter revolved around health, safety and environment (HSE). The stakeholders agreed to adhere to all regulations designed to ensure operational safety in Bayelsa.

    Speaking at the AGM, DPR’s Acting Director, Ahmad Shakur, said the meeting was in line with the department’s responsibilities of ensuring that health, safety and petroleum environment conformed to international best practices.

    Shakur, whose address was read by the Operations Controller, Yenagoa Field Office, Mrs. Ufondu Ejiro, urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure safe operations by adhering to petroleum laws, regulations and guidelines.

    He said: “DPR as enforcer of this event wants us to reason together on how best we can improve and continuously ensure safe operations and return safely to our families on daily basis.

    “Without your co-operation, DPR cannot deliver safe operations. Therefore, with utmost passion for safe and seamless day-to-day running of our businesses, I am calling on all marketers and stakeholders to continuously adhere to petroleum laws, regulations and guidelines.”

    He appealed to the stakeholders to take safety management more seriously, insisting that profitability and compliance to safe environment could be achieved.

    He said the AGM was designed to stem the growing spate of fire incidents that affect petroleum products storage, transportation and retail outlets facilities in which fatalities were sadly recorded in some cases.

    He commended the Yenagoa Office of the DPR for organising the AGM which was aimed at ensuring consistency in acquainting operators with regulatory policies.

    He said: “The increasing scope of activities in the downstream sector necessitates the implementation of measures and policies that would raise our health, safety and environment (HSE) standards to minimise incidents in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

    “This year’s theme of the AGM which is ‘Together We Deliver Safe Operations in Bayelsa State” was chosen to raise consciousness on contemporary HSE issues in the Nigeria oil and gas industry not merely for HSE appeal but more importantly for its relevance as bedrock for orderly economic and technological development of the industry.”

    In her remarks, Ufondu emphasised that the meeting was designed to make the operators know that they could still make profit while adhering to safety standards.

    She said: “We can comply with the regulations and be profitable at the same time. Accident is too expensive; none of us can afford any accident. So, we have to do everything in our power to ensure that together we deliver safe operations in Bayelsa State which is the theme of this year’s event.

    “The good news is that in Bayelsa State, we have not had any accident. Across the country, we’ve had several accidents and more than 20 people have died. So, we have good safety records here in Bayelsa State and we are striving that with this AGM, and with all the stakeholders working together, we will continue to lead the way in safety in this country.”

    She commended the operators for complying with regulations, which she said was the reason for Bayelsa not recording any disaster. She advised them to continue to enforce safety standards to ensure that workers returned home to their families every day.

    While acknowledging that Bayelsa depended on depots in Rivers and Delta states for products, she said only one filling station was sealed for sourcing products from unlicensed depot. Ufondu said there were enough products in Bayelsa, adding that there was no case of hoarding in the state.

    On siting of filling stations at unapproved locations, she said other regulatory agencies involved in locations of petrol stations should do their part to ensure adherence to regulations. She said most times, an operator would have secured licenses from other stakeholders before approaching the DPR.

    She said: “It’s a tall call because we are aware that some petrol stations are beside residential houses. This is why we have invited all the stakeholders to this AGM. Before we approve any station to be built, there are other entities that will grant their approvals such as the Bayelsa State Fire Service, the state planning authority, the police and others. It’s not just the DPR that approves.

    “They must have received approval from all these entities before coming to us and when the site is not suitable, people try to blackmail us and put us under pressure to force us to approve the site. We can never approve any station except all these other entities had granted their approvals.

    “So, we all are working together to ensure that new stations that are coming up are not sited beside not just homes but also not beside public buildings such as houses of worship and schools.”

    On his part, IPMAN Chairman in the state, Erefamote Peters, appealed to his colleagues to procure safety equipment in their filling stations. He thanked the DPR for organising the AGM. He said the only way safety could be achieved was  strict adherence to standard operating procedures.

    He said: “Safe operations are important to us. Compliance is the only veritable tool for safe, effective and efficient operations in the oil and gas industry.

    Over the years, there have been regrettable mistakes because of non-compliance to safety guidelines.

    “Going forward, it is expedient we procure adequate safety equipment in our retail outlets in compliance to DPR safety requirements to ensure safe operations. I, therefore, urge all petroleum marketers to adhere to safety procedures.

    “We sincerely appreciate the DPR’s consistent effort of sensitising stakeholders and checking them in the handling of petroleum products so as to reduce the risk of accident to the minimum.”

    Also, the Sector Commander, FRSC, Ikechukwu Igwe, called on tanker drivers to adhere to safety standard while conveying their products from depots to filling stations. Others also delivered goodwill messages at the AGM.

    At the end of the meeting, the stakeholders issued a communique. They agreed that profitability, compliance and safe operations were achievable. They also agreed to collaborate in the downstream sector to deliver safe operations and safe environment in Bayelsa.

    The communique reads in part: “Regulators and other stakeholders should put in place continuous, functional and effective review, carry out regular inspection and improvement on commitment to safe operations.

  • Medals, laurels for naval operatives at swimming competition

    The Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy recently reminded its personnel of the importance of swimming skills to their survival, especially in the Niger Delta.

    Undoubtedly, swimming is the basic skill required in the Navy and it is expected that anybody working for the security outfit must be a good swimmer.

    Therefore, the CNC decided to organise a swimming competition to ensure that the officers and ratings had not forgotten their major survival skill.

    It was a three-day competition. Almost everybody participated in the exercise. They were divided into various teams to compete for laurels in the exercise that took place in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Indeed, it was a test of proficiency. Also, swimming is now a compulsory requirement for promotion. So, each team struggled to outdo other men and women from the various formations as they showcased their skills.

    But at the end, Team Delta emerged the overall winner with 12 gold medals, five silver medals and one bronze medal. Team CNC took second position with five silver medals and two bronze medals.

    In his speech at the closing ceremony, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) CNC, Real Admiral Saidu Garba, said the event was essentially to develop naval personnel’s competence and efficiency in operations.

    He said: “Essentially, the Central Naval Command and the NN has always sought to develop personnel competence and capacities for efficiency in operations.

    “The high competitive spirit witnessed in the last three days clearly demonstrates our personnel high spirit and ability. We have greatly looked forward to today when the competition would be rounded off.

    “I appreciate the support of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Sport, our friends in the sister services and other security agencies throughout the course of this competition.

    “Today’s event will definitely not have been a reality without your massive supports that the command has been enjoying.

    “All the men are from the Central Naval Command. The idea is to bring out all our personnel so that we will get the best out of them and hopefully we are looking forward to an inter-command swimming championship.

    “We are already picking our best swimmers, who will represent us during that championship. What we have come to do is just to sieve our best players and our best swimmers among them in the command.

    “Swimming, for us, is not just sport and competition. Swimming for us is survival asset. We operate in the maritime domain which means we are surrounded by water.

    “The Chief of Naval Staff has emphasised the need for all naval personnel to learn how to swim, so that they will be able to survive in case of an accident in the water or to operate effectively within the maritime domain.

    “Not only that it is now a compulsory asset or criteria for promotion, For our junior officers, they will be expected to meet up a minimum swimming standard before they are promoted.

    “Swimming competition is an annual thing. Apart from the intra-command swimming championship which we have just held, we are now going to have an inter-command swimming championship for the entire Navy where all of us will gather in a designated place to compete.

    “I am hoping that among the boys and girls that we have seen swim today, am sure we are going to get champions that will represent the command.”

    Also speaking, the guest of honour, Air Vice-Marshall Peter Uzezi, reiterated the value of physical fitness, saying it was one of the essential ingredients to be a soldier.

    He praised the Central Naval Command for organising such a huge competition, adding that the competition compelled the personnel to know themselves and allowed the command to know the level of fitness of its men.

    Highpoint of the event was the presentation of medals and trophies to deserving athletes and the overall winners.

  • College graduates 310…gets 110 laptops from NCC

    The Federal College of Education, Obudu in Cross River State, in affiliation with the University of Calabar, has matriculated 310 students for degree programmes for the 2018/2019 academic session.

    At the ceremony to mark the occasion, the Provost of the College, Dr. James Bassey Ejue praised the Federal Government for its commitment to education through regular payment of salaries, development of members of staff, provision of infrastructure and subsidised fees for students.

    Ejue, who said that through capital intervention, the college has received classroom and office furniture as well as upgrading of all the science and language laboratories, also revealed that the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) has donated 110 computer laptops to the school to help the institution to improve teaching and learning.

    While advising members of staff and students to justify the huge investments by putting the facilities to good use and producing quality teachers in all areas, he called on all stakeholders to work hard to take the college to enviable heights so that its graduates will be sought after by employers of labour.

    Dr. Ejue, who congratulated the 310 graduating students, however, pleaded that relevant authorities should increase the admission quota, especially for the reason that all their 13 degree programmes have gained full accreditation status by the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC).

    The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, who was represented by the Dean of Faculty of Education, Prof. Simon Ibor Akpama, informed the students that the ceremony marked their formal initiation into the academic programmes of the university.

    The Vice-Chancellor advised them to be disciplined, diligent and committed to their academic works.

    He also advised them against vices such as vandalism, violence, drug abuse and drug addiction, cultism, robbery, prostitution and joining gang groups, among others, which would be inimical to their academic progress.

    He said the future of the country depended on them, even as he urged them not to disappoint those who saw them through their education.

  • ‘Why Emmanuel should assent to youth development bill’

    The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has appealed to Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel to assent to the Youth Development Fund Bill passed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

    The bill passed into law by the 6th Assembly seeks to provide youths with job opportunities and other windows for empowerment and wealth creation.

    PIND’s Project Leader, Mr. Emeka Ile made the appeal at a one-day dissemination workshop and roundtable on Private Sector Engagement and Partnership in the Niger Delta Youth Employment Pathway Project held at Luton Park Hotel, Uyo.

    Ile assured that the governor’s assent to the bill would address the myriad of challenges which the youth experience, including restiveness and unemployment.

    He said: “That is why we want this bill to be assented to without delay. We call on Governor Emmanuel to expedite action and ensure that the bill already passed by the House of Assembly is assented to without delay.

    “I am sure that if the bill is assented to, it will go a long way in addressing youth unemployment and restiveness.”

    He said PIND is exploring four key areas of economic development such as peace-building, capacity building and analysis and advocacy to tackle youth unemployment in the Niger Delta.

    The project leader said PIND’s experience has shown that connecting job seekers and market actors  can result in more productive ventures.

    The target group, he said, are the unemployed youths of the three pilot states with a primary focus on young male and female school leavers between the ages of 16 and 26, including the young people living in rural areas and women and people living with disabilities.

    He revealed that out of 1,600 youths who registered with the foundation, 1,468 of them drawn from the pilot states have completed their registration process and are undergoing training in various areas, including aquaculture.

    Mr. Ile said out of a total of 400 youths drawn from Akwa Ibom State, 197 are in aquaculture, 150 in ICT and 97 in different construction skills.

    In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Mr. Effiong Edet said the objectives of the foundation were in line with government’s policies and programmes for youth development.

    He said Governor Emmanuel has invested heavily on youth development projects, adding that the state government would partner with the foundation to create better opportunities for the youth in order to address youth restiveness and unemployment.

    He said: “Governor Emmanuel is passionate about youth development and has spent a lot of resources in youth development projects. Youths are important to the success of any government. That is why this government has trained over 500 youths in agriculture and ICT, in an attempt to ensure that Akwa Ibom youths are taken off the streets.”

  • Who succeeds Dickson?

    At a recent church service in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, made it clear that God will determine his successor when his tenure ends in 2020.

    According to Dickson, such a leader would be one with a heart for the people, who will pilot the affairs of the state and build on the legacy of development established by his administration.

    This is certainly a good response to the many questions over who could possibly take over from the active governor in due course.

    Of course, the pressure is already on the governor as expected, who clearly have been experiencing a wide range of lobbying, especially among the professional politicians either directly or through proxy to influence the leadership succession in Bayelsa State.

    We must add here that such actions are quite legitimate but to the extent  that they are in tandem with some basic values vis-à-vis continuity and in relationship with the essentials of the Restoration administration on the key issues of good governance and overall development of the state.

    I think this is the first phase of the narrative in evaluating the road to succession in Bayelsa State post-Dickson era. The governor popularly referred to as the “Contriman Governor” for his unusual leadership characteristics of demystifying the whole apparatus of the elevated position as we know it in Nigeria, we must concede, has been phenomenal in leadership, making a huge success in governance of the oil-rich state and would arguably be leaving behind a worthy legacy.

    He is certainly an emerging political leader in Nigeria with respect to his administration’s exploits in vital areas of development such as education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, empowerment and good governance. Already, not a few believe he is likely to play some very active roles in national politics when he leaves the Government House in Yenagoa in 2020 and justifiably so.

    However, Dickson’s challenge is picking a worthy successor who will maintain and dutifully build on his gigantic legacy in the aforementioned areas of development and more, bearing in mind the notorious nature of some successors in recent history across the country, who once in office, turn around to fight their predecessors and in the process jettisoning the very foundations of the inherited policies and programmes instituted as a corporate governance philosophy and dear to the preceding leadership.

    Needless to state that this is one issue which Dickson and his core advisers must look into critically in choosing his successor and thus ensuring that the basic tenets of Restoration as the foundation of his notable achievements in government is well protected and preserved when he eventually leaves office. But this can only be realised by picking a trusted and loyal ambassador of Restoration as a governance philosophy.

    Expectedly, the process won’t be without the usual contestation of opinions coming from strategic political circles and caucuses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State and even from outside the party. But the clear understanding everyone must have is to allow reason to prevail at the end of the day rather than the selfish interest of anyone mainly to be in power.

    The entire leaders and members of the party must be sober in their reflections to come to terms with the state in which Dickson met Bayelsa in 2012 and the efforts and determination which went into the governance structure that produced what the entire nation is celebrating today as the Dickson legacy.

    This legacy must, therefore, be protected at all costs via a judicious leadership succession that can guarantee continuity and entrenchment of Dickson’s leadership vibrancy and continued all round development in Bayelsa State.

    Anything short of this is tantamount to annihilation of the legacy which would also be a disservice to democracy and the people of the state who, incidentally, have had a regrettable past in bad leadership until Dickson came on board. He has since restructured and renewed governance to truly serve the common good in a most remarkable manner. We must allow this to continue in a seamless manner through a worthy successor.

    The onus is on the governor and the key stakeholders to see to it that Dickson’s successor is picked based on the Bayelsa corporate enlightened interest devoid of any political sentiment but on merit and in consonance with the sole aim and agenda of entrenching Restoration as a political and governing philosophy in the state.

    By so doing, then the people can be sure of getting the dividends of democracy and never reverting to the past nor deviating from ongoing policies and programmes being implemented in the state.

    Essentially, Bayelsa needs consolidation on the current development initiatives and such life-changing reforms instituted by the Dickson administration. We must emphasise that Bayelsa does not need  the conventional run-of-the-mill politicians whose leadership and development perspectives could be so limited and possibly run contrary to what the Restoration philosophy has now established, thereby reversing the hand of the clock in development terms.

    The state needs a self-motivating leadership, one who is highly driven, hands-on, charismatic, pragmatic and a change agent, who truly embodies both the doggedness and vibrancy in vision and capacity to transform the bright ideas in government into reality. It is my humble submission that such a successor must be one who is a Restoration Ambassador and understands the culture, philosophy and underpinnings of the Dickson administration.

    Lest we forget that the transitional phase post-Dickson is a crucial period for clear-headed supervision and focus as well as maturation of most of the ongoing development activities which requires a suitable successor who can pragmatically husband the entire process and achieve the objectives of the current government and also build on them.

    The transition then becomes so strategic that the state leadership must be careful not to make any mistake either by pandering to political whims or a sentimental judgement which could jeopardise the great efforts so far devoted to growing the development trajectory in the state by the Restoration Government.

    Importantly, the state cannot afford a situation whereby the new leadership after Governor Dickson would begin amassing political empire once in office and dismantling the very structures of development inherited and possibly changing the laid down programmes of development and all other far-reaching projects the Restoration administration has laboured to build since 2012.

    The totality of my concern here is to ensure that Bayelsa State continues to deliver on the lofty development programmes and projects already in good shape as designed by the Dickson administration, especially in education, health, infrastructure and empowerment without disruption by a reckless successor.

     

    • Daniel Iworiso-Markson is Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information

  • Ijaw youths angry over ‘unfair’ recruitment

    All is seemingly not well among the Ijaw people in the Niger Delta as a result of recent announcement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to engage new employees in the corporation.

    Already, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has expressed displeasure over the recruitment process, saying it lacked transparency and fairness. The IYC particularly alleged that the corporation was sidelining qualified Ijaw people from its recent employment process.

    The Ijaw youths held an emergency meeting in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital recently to criticise the process.

    Speaking after the meeting, the IYC Secretary-General, Alfred Kemepado, alleged that the employment announced recently by NNPC had been hijacked by some powerful people at the corporation and the Presidency.

    Kemepado said it smacked of injustice and unfairness for the Ijaw people, who suffer pains of oil exploration and exploitation, to be marginalised whenever there are job opportunities in the oil sector, especially the NNPC.

    He said: “Recently, you may have discovered that NNPC advertised for qualified individuals to apply for various positions in NNPC and applications were made around the country and as qualified and competent as the Ijaw are, most of us also applied for those jobs.

    “But information reaching us indicate that the Presidency has hijacked the process of recruitment and that the Ijaw people are being sidelined and we find that very offensive for many reasons.

    “One of the reasons is that we cannot continue to dwell in a country where they come around the Niger Delta, especially in the Ijaw territory drill the oil, take the oil and sustain this country called Nigeria and leave us with the associated diseases such as leukemia and the degraded environment. But when there is opportunity for employment, our people are always sidelined, marginalised and not considered at all. We find that very offensive.”

    Describing the situation as intolerable, Kemepado appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the new Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC to look into the issue and consider Ijaw people who are qualified for the existing job opportunities.

    “We appeal to the Presidency and the new GMD to look into this issue and ensure that Ijaw people who applied for those positions, whom we know are qualified for these positions should be considered and not sidelined by the list from the Presidency.

    “If that really happens, we will take it as an insult. From the inception of this government, we have been provoked many times. The time officials from the Presidency visited the Niger Delta, they promised that international oil companies would relocate to the Niger Delta. We did not see that happen. But we frown at this one and we are calling on the Presidency to have a rethink and do what is right.”

    Kemepado also maintained that the IYC received information to the effect that, following the appointment of the new boss of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the corporation would be restructured, even as he called on the Federal Government to consider Ijaw people during the process.

    He noted that Ijaw youths had been trained in the activities of the oil sector through various interventionist programmes such as the Amnesty Office, the NDDC and other scholarship schemes sponsored by the government.

    “They are eminently qualified since they possess local and foreign certificates. So, nobody can doubt the competence of the Ijaw people. Therefore, the country should not continue to provoke this region. The Ijaw Youth Council and the elders have done our beat to keep the peace in this region.

    “Let us make it abundantly clear that the peace that President Buhari has enjoyed for the past four years and the peace that has prevailed as a result of the continuous flow of oil was not as a result of what this government has done for the people of the Niger Delta.

    “It is only as a result of our resolve as a people to keep the peace here with the hope that in situation such as this, our people will not continue to be sidelined and I don’t want the Presidency to push its luck too far and further provoke our people.

  • Agip lifts 1,172 youths, women from poverty

    The Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) has commenced a special scheme to lift about 1,172 youths and women in Bayelsa and Rivers states from poverty.

    A NAOC’s statement, said the scheme, which was launched at NAOC Green River Project (GRP) Farm, Igbogene, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was designed to promote socio-economic development.

    It said the scheme would encourage the establishment of small-scale businesses for youths and women in company’s operational states and also contribute to a social change.

    It said youths and women, who were technically skilled but lack the resources needed to start up small-scale businesses, would be assisted with the necessary start-up tools to become self-reliant.

    The statement further said the second batch of the scheme launched in Rivers State on June 28 took place at NAOC’s Plant Propagation Centre (PPC) Obie in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

    It said the launch attracted dignitaries from all walks of life, including traditional rulers, representatives of the state and local government as well as men, women and youths.

    According to the statement at the Rivers State launch, the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Atotesemi Eson Teetito, commended the initiative.

    The governor was quoted as saying that when youths and women are meaningfully engaged, there will be peace and development in the communities and the state at large.

    He further stated that the establishment of small-scale businesses would generate income for the beneficiaries and the state.

    NAOC General Manger District, Mr. Alessandro Tiani, represented by the Stakeholders Management and Community Development Division Manager, Mr. Dennis Masi, was quoted to have said that the gesture was in line with the company’s continuous bid to empower the host communities in its operational states.

    In their remarks, the Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni/Local Government Area, Ifeanyi Odili, represented by Dr. Lucky Nwaoburu and the representative of Oando Oil Limited, Chief Sam Onyenwe enjoined the recipients to make good use of the opportunity to develop themselves.

    The statement said youths and women were presented with complete starter-packs to enable them to set up their own businesses in shoe making, barbing, hair dressing, tilling, event planning, laundry services and furniture making, among others.

  • Promoting reading, spelling culture among pupils

    Grassien Education and Entrepreneurship Foundation (GEEF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has organised a reading and spelling competition for primary school pupils at Lutheran School, Ikot Oduot in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to commemorate this year’s World Book Day.

    At the event, 20 chairs and benches along with text books, notebooks and other writing materials were donated by Grassien Foundation to Lutheran School, Ikot Oduot.

    A Director at Grassien, Mrs. Nsidibe Aideyan gave an on-the-spot recognition to a pupil of the school, Master Jeremiah Job Bassey for punctuality and good behavior, even as she urged other pupils to emulate him.

    Mrs. Aideyan, who spoke on the theme of the event “Share a Story” emphasised that the essence of the event was to share stories that will instill moral values and excellence in pupils while promoting good reading and spelling culture. Pupils, who emerged first, second and third at the end of the reading competition were presented with gifts and prizes.

    “We believe that reading is the core aspect of education. If you cannot read, it is unlikely that you can obtain education. At the foundation level, what you can give to a child is the ability to read and encourage that child to continue on that path. This is the reason Grassien is laying strong emphasis on inculcating reading culture from the cradle” she said.

    She further added that Grassien could have called the best pupils in the school to read to demonstrate reading and project them at the event but, “we rather picked pupils randomly to read in order to ascertain their competence and identify their challenges.”

    “We want to assess them to identify their place of need in order to put up an intervention strategy because Grassien is about solving problems. Those who read well would be encouraged, while pupils who did not read well would be further interrogated to know whether it is a case of stage fright or a lack of capacity.

    “We would expose those having fright problem to coaching in public speaking and engage volunteers to read with those who lack capacity. We would consider setting up a library where volunteers would visit at regular intervals to read with them at a relaxed and impactful environment.”

    She further said that part of the visions of Grassien is to provide infrastructure to support educational  and entrepreneurship together with relevant stakeholders.

    On his part, the Company Secretary of Ibom Power Company Limited, who is also a former pupil of Lutheran School, Ikot Oduot Barrister Ime Asibong said Grassien has taken note of the infrastructural lapses within the school and has plans to partner with the school in the area of infrastructure development.

    He said: “We are just getting to know that there are counterparts funding for projects whereby the government and non-governmental organisations can partner with relevant schools to implement by contributing 10 per ent of the total project cost.

    “Grassien will partner with the school to identify the areas of need, access these counterpart funds and ensure that infrastructural development projects are attracted to Lutheran School, Ikot Oduot.”

    The community, stakeholders and Head Teacher of Lutheran School Ikot Oduot, Mr. Dennis Okon praised Grassien Foundation for taking the school into consideration in its strategic plans. He said the donation of 20 chairs and benches by the foundation will go a long way to ease the learning process of the school.

    Mr. Okon pleaded with Grassien Foundation to fast-track its interventionist efforts in respect of the counterpart funding to beef up the infrastructural lapses in the school.

  • Amnesty programme trains 2,500 ex-agitators in modern fishing

    The Amnesty Programme will train 2, 500 ex-agitators on modern fishing techniques under the fishermen training programme, which was officially launched on May 24.

    The training involves ship building transfer of technology component, with fish packaging and processing plants. This target will be archieved through partnership with Concept Amadeus Limited.

    Chairman of Concept Amadeus Limited, Prince Patrick Osobase, who is also the Lead Consultant to the Amnesty Programme Office told Niger Delta Report in a chat that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Greek University has been signed for the training and other Greek companies for the project.

    It is obvious that this development would be life-transforming for the ex-agitators as they embrace the programme.

    Osobase said: “We joined the Amnesty Programme in 2015 as strategic communication consultant. While executing that job, we were able to understand the workings of the amnesty office. We have realised that from 2009 when the amnesty office was established by the late President Musa Ya’Adua, there was 30,000 ex-agitators who handed over their arms and embraced amnesty.

    “From 2009 to date, the amnesty still has about 30, 000 men. The amnesty office was supposed to be designed to train, empower and remove them from the programme. And that is why you here from time to time that they want to stop the amnesty programme or shut it down because it was not meant to be forever.

    “But because of the kind of trainings that were being imparted, when the trainings were over, people were scared to employ them because nobody wants anybody who will turn their business upside down when they are angry.

    “So, nobody envisaged that after training them, nobody wants to employ them. They remained in the amnesty programme. Even after they had completed the programme. Government still pays them N65, 000 monthly stipends. And government kept training them. Government has spent over $500 million on the amnesty office from 2009.

    “So, this money is being spent and it is basically a palliative. We looked at it and we said there must be a solution. The first thing we realised was the need to know the reasons for their agitation. The people who used to fish could not fish again because of oil spillage and they were using boats.  So, their livelihoods which they have been using for decades were gone. Right now in Niger Delta they import fish, and buy ice fish.”

    On getting the people back to fishing, which they are used to, Osobase said: “We realised that this is a touching point. If we can get the people back to their fishing career, it might reduce the issue of agitation and also give them what they are used to. We investigated further and we realised that the Greeks have been fishing in these waters for decades and they know the waters.

    “With this development, they promised to bring vessels, train the boys and then employ them to do the fishing for them. And it sounded like a good arrangement. Nigerian government looked into it and agreed.

    “When the Greeks fish, they are fishing for the European Union market and EU has the largest standard in the world. So, you have a situation where the Greeks have to fish, but they have to fish for what they can bring into Europe. So, the training has to be done by them, bringing in a Greek university to train the boys to the standards of EU. If we can achieve that, it means they will get EU certification. And by the time they get EU certification, then it means they can work anywhere in the world.

    “We tabled it before government and for a start we will build 100 vessels and absorb 2,000 boys. And they demanded to have 2,500 boys and the best 2,000 will get automatic employment while the remaining 500 will have certification and they can work anywhere in the world. So, the Amnesty Office accepted the deal and approved it and said it will also assist the Ease of Doing Business.

    “So, with these, Nigerian government signed the agreement with the Greek government immediately and after that, Osobase said: “We thought all is well until during further investigation. Government also reasoned that the Greeks will take all the fish, pay dollars and take the fish? Then government disagreed with that arrangement on the grounds that it will not be good for the economy.

    “As at the time we started this project, Nigeria was importing $1.5 billion worth of fish in a year. If they take all the fish and go with them, we are still going to be importing the same $1.5 billion worth of fish. So government insisted on 50 per cent on the fish they will take away.

    “They agreed but said they have to build a processing plant in Nigeria, so that we can process it to EU standard. They also came up with the idea that in each of the six geo-political zones we have to build deports where we catch the fish in the Niger Delta and move them to all the deports in the country over night.

    “So, within 24 hours, the fish is at its destination. And that is the only way it can be done because if we keep all the fish in the Niger Delta, they will spoil because fish is perishable. If it’s not well handled before getting to the destination, it will spoil. The Federal Government has signed the MoU on the arrangement.

    “The Greeks will recover their money in the next 25 years. We are talking about $300 million expense. Our boys can go to Angola and other parts of Africa to fish and come back to Nigeria. This is business and we have access to the entire fishing coast line region of Gulf of Guinea which is rich in all kinds of fishes. The benefit now is that by coming through Nigeria, they now have access to the higher waters. So, in each of the countries we are registering the Gulf of Guinea fishes.”

    On what Nigeria is going to achieve generally, he said: “We have created the first multinational fishing company in Africa. That is what we will be achieving at the end of the day. This first 100 vessels we are building only 40 will work in Nigerian waters. The rest are been distributed to other parts of Africa.

    “In all the countries, there will be vessels carrying the flags of those countries. But it is the same company. This is a Nigerian initiative so we care about the transactions and agreements. President Muhammadu Buhari chairs the Gulf of Guinea Commission. Nigeria runs the entire bodies that are currently operating those waters which gives us a very good edge and allows us push this forward easily because Nigeria can call for meetings and put things on the table.

    “From next month, we are starting to tidy up that. The first country outside Nigeria that we are going to launch is Angola, and from there we will start opening up others. With the boat industry now in place in Nigeria, we can now train boys in states, empower them. Before the launch nothing could be shipped into the country, because there was no reason to do that. Now that the official launching has been done, the hardware can be brought into the country.

    “Expect that in the next couple of months we will start the training. The training of the 2,500 will take three months. And we are also training another 100 in administrative duties. They will be made administration personnel. They are the people who had First-class and Second-class Upper. “They have been selected from the amnesty data because amnesty spent money training these people abroad. After the training that will be done here, the Greek government has said they will take them over there for another one month, to place them in all the companies that are doing this business and let them have practical experience in the business before the business kicks off fully. It promises to utilise our talents properly.”

    “After training the boys, he said, the Greek government will “take our boys to Greece every three months to work during their fishing season and they will pay them in Euros. These 2,000 boys we are taking out of the system will enable the government to save N1.98 billion per year.

    “The Amnesty Office will not pay out N1.98 billion yearly. For the boys, their future is rosy and for the Federal Government a lot of money will be saved.”