The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Bayelsa polls: Dickson’s aide calls for unity

    The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, has called for unity in Ogbia Local Government Area ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

    Iworiso-Markson, who hails from Opume in the area, advised that his kinsmen should move in one direction to maximise their electoral value.

    Iworiso-Markson, who spoke when he received leaders of the Ogbia Restoration Crusaders (ORC), said the division among the people, especially the political class had dwindled the electoral fortunes of the area.

    He explained that in the past Ogbia was known for unity, love and peace which engendered development, even as he lamented that everything took a negative twist because of the different political interests in the kingdom.

    While commending the ORC for using their oneness campaign to promote unity among the people, Iworiso-Markson noted that a lot still needed to be done. He pledged to partner with them to achieve their campaign objectives.

    The commissioner, who thanked the group for the visit and for always galvanising support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) advised them to ensure that the party emerged victorious in the coming local government and governorship elections.

    He also commended them for their overwhelming support for the Restoration Government of Governor Seriake Dickson, urging them to continue to stand with the government as it approaches the twilight of its administration.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the ORC Elders’ Caucus, Elabha Azibola told Iworiso-Markson that the ongoing oneness campaign was aimed at bringing about peace, development, progress and growth.

    He said: “The visit, which is a continuation of an ongoing process, is expected to continue in order to reach all political stakeholders in Ogbia.

    Let us seize the opportunity to extend our appreciation to the leadership and stakeholders of the Ogbia chapter of the PDP for organising party processes to the satisfaction of all.

    “We also commend Governor Dickson for being the Ogbia man that he is. We also commend him for appointing our sons and daughters to serve in his administration and for the massive development he has brought to our area.”

     

  • Scores die scooping liquid gold in swampy Rivers community

    June 22 was like any other day. Residents of Kom-Kom in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State woke up with great expectations of what the day had in store for them. But some of them never had an inkling that death was lurking in the corner. South-South Bureau Chief BISI OLANIYI and ROSEMARY NWISI report that the PPMC pipeline explosion that rocked the peaceful community that day claimed scores of lives of those who went to scoop fuel up from the ruptured pipeline.

    Residents of Kom-Kom in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State will never seek a repeat of what they experienced on June 22.

    Some residents of the area went for vigil in various churches in the community Friday night and returned home Saturday morning to rest, while the people who slept in their homes throughout Friday night were looking forward to a wonderful Saturday.

    Some of them were busy preparing breakfast and planning how to quickly move out and have a hitch-free weekend.

    Suddenly, around 7:00 a.m., there was a bang, similar seismic vibration or earth tremor. The entire vicinity vibrated heavily, leading to cracks on walls of houses. Residents’ ceiling fans, other electrical appliances and expensive items fell off the walls on which they were hung.

    Young women, who so much cherish their privacy, were seen jumping out of their houses completely naked and running to everywhere but to nowhere in particular just to be safe, while some nursing mothers forgot their children as they attempted to escape from the danger which they had not yet fathomed. Their minds were in a flux.

    When the vibration and confusion subsided, and people who ran away had returned to their homes, it was discovered that the bang was caused by explosion from the vandalised pipeline of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which supplies petrol and other refined petroleum products from the Port Harcourt refinery to the depot at neighbouring Aba, in Abia State and other parts of the Southeast zone.

    Youths and some courageous men of Kom-Kom then quickly gathered and moved to the scene, only to witness a gory sight of over 150 people who were burnt beyond recognition in the swamp, while scooping “free” fuel.

    The sad incident disrupted the plans and movements of the residents of Kom-Kom that fateful Saturday, as many of them lost their loved ones to the inferno. Another taxing experience that confronted them was how to identify their family members who were involved.

    Rather than celebrating and, especially enjoying the weekend, most of the residents became busy with burial plans and moving badly-injured survivors to the hospitals where their lives could be saved.

    In order to avoid the breakdown of law and order in the area, security personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among others, were mobilised to the area.

    A youth leader from Kom-Kom who spoke to Niger Delta Report in confidence because of security reasons, revealed that one of the reporters who visited the swampy scene in the downpour alleged that policemen who came to collect bribe from vandals, fired the shots that ignited the fire. The security personnel immediately disappeared from the scene after the explosion had occurred.

    The youth, who witnessed the pipeline explosion and who was part of the rescue team, stated that the ignited fire consumed almost everybody at the scene. He those who had scooped petrol were burnt beyond recognition, while the lucky ones managed to escape with injuries.

    The youth leader further stated that poverty, hunger, unemployment and economic hardship led the victims, consisting of children, young women, youths and the elderly, to the suicide mission of scooping petrol from the vandalised pipeline. He urged government to provide job opportunities for the people, especially the teeming unemployed but qualified youths.

    While reacting to the incident, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), stated that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel, had ordered investigation into the matter, particularly the alleged involvement of some policemen in the pipeline explosion.

    The police spokesman insisted that the allegation against the policemen was still at the realm of speculation, noting that the report of the ordered investigation would lay to rest the speculation. He declared that anybody indicted would be decisively dealt with in accordance with the law.

    In spite of being confronted with photographs and videos of charred bodies, other facts and figures on the Kom-Kom’s pipeline explosion, Omoni maintained that only 10 people lost their lives to the incident, even as he admitted that many people were injured.

    The Spokesman of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Rivers State, Mr. Akin Oguntuase, said: “Report reaching me indicates that our men have been able to see some casualties. I may not be able to state the exact number now, for there may be other casualties from other parts.

    “From the report reaching me from our men on the ground, the death toll from the pipeline explosion cannot be ascertained for now.”

    Oguntuase assured that the fleeing vandals, who managed to survive the pipeline explosion, would be apprehended and prosecuted; to serve as a deterrent to others. The Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Area, Gerald Oforji, claimed that 12 people died as a result of the pipeline explosion in Kom-Kom.

    The Deputy Public Relations Director 6th Division of the Nigerian Army, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, stated that the casualty figure could only be gotten from the police, stressing that soldiers were at the scene to help the victims and maintain peace in conjunction with other security agencies.

    One of our reporters who was at Kom-Kom amid downpour, observed the gory sight. Many of the badly-burnt victims in the swamp were yet to be removed.

    Those who witnessed the incident in Kom-Kom said a couple, an expectant mother and two brothers of the same parents were part of the victims of the pipeline explosion, which raged for many days before it was eventually put out by a combined team of security personnel, officials of PPMC/NNPC, other government agencies, corporate organisations and members of the community.

    A community leader in Kom-Kom, who spoke in confidence because he was not authorised to comment on the issue said: “Besides the couple, an expectant mother, two brothers of the same parents lost their lives to the pipeline explosion. Another family also lost three of their teenage sons and some children under 10, who also went to scoop petrol. They were all consumed by the blaze.

    “We saw bodies of many of the victims when they were removed from the swamp. We could not recognise most of them. Many of them are yet to be removed from the swamp, maybe because of the downpour. Before Saturday’s pipeline explosion, this area was like a busy market, with many people struggling to scoop fuel from the swamp.

    “Scooping of fuel always took place each time petroleum products were pumped through the pipeline for onward supply to the depot in Aba and other places, but the quantity of fuel that the pipe released last Saturday was so much and that was why it attracted many people who eventually died.

    “The PPMC’s pipeline was actually leaking, while the vandals decided to connect hoses to the pipeline and also built a barricade around the area to stop the leaking fuel from wasting. But last Saturday, the leaked fuel was overflowing the barricade. That attracted more people to the scene to scoop fuel.”

    It was also learnt that some of the removed bodies were being buried by their relatives, to prevent them from getting a malodourous state in Kom-Kom and its environs.

    An elderly woman in Kom-Kom stated that when she heard of the explosion, she was already running away, before she and others saw the fire.

    A nursing mother also said: “We woke up on Saturday morning without any problem. Suddenly, around 7:00 a.m., our rooms started to vibrate and the earth was shaking uncontrollably. I did not understand what was going on. So, I had to rush to the door to check without seeing anything.

    “I rushed back and picked my baby that was sleeping and I began to run with my mother, who came to take care of my baby and I to only-God-knows where.

    “Even the direction we were running to was also vibrating, but before I knew it, I heard a bang and huge fire erupted, followed by smoke. My people later called me to come back, that it was a pipeline that exploded.”

    It was also gathered that the new surveillance contractor, UTM that was engaged about three weeks ago, was about reporting the leakage of the fuel to PPMC, when the explosion occurred.

    The former surveillance contractor (name withheld), who is indigenous to Oyigbo, whose contract was allegedly terminated by PPMC three weeks earlier without any cogent reason, revealed in a telephone chat that there was never vandalism of pipeline or explosion throughout the over-two years his company protected the facility.

    He also revealed that as at Saturday night, the casualty figure was 42, but rose to over 150, with many yet to be discovered in the swamp.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Social investment programme: ExxonMobile’s panacea to youth restiveness

    Youth restiveness in the oil-rich Niger Delta is, arguably, as old as when crude oil was discovered in Oloibiri in present-day Bayelsa State. Till date, pockets of it still resurface from time to time.

    Discontents and grievances resulting from unmet expectations coupled with ecological and environmental damage done to oil-bearing communities by multinational oil companies have contributed to the heightening tension and frictions among host communities and the OICs.

    When these grey problems are not expeditiously addressed, irate youths have had to resort to brute force to subdue OICs to address some of their grievances. These usually manifest in the forms of kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, destruction of oil facilities and general atmosphere of insecurity.

    Such manifestations of restiveness and mutual suspicion also exist in oil-producing communities of Ibeno, Eket, Esit Eket and Onna in Akwa Ibom State where ExxonMobil prospects for crude oil offshore.

    Youths, women and other stakeholders in these communities have also engaged in some forms of disagreement with the oil giant over certain issues such as oil spillage, environmental pollution; lack of job opportunities for their youths and contracts for those indigenous to the host communities.

    In its bid to genuinely address the plethora of demands, grievances and complaints from these communities, ExxonMobil have devised means to carry them along through its corporate social responsibility (CRS) programmes.

    In line with its CSR policy, ExxonMobil recently attempted to change the narrative by initiating the social investment programme which is community-based and driven by the youth in the four neighbouring communities of Ibeno, Eket, Es

    ExxonMobil operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) joint venture, through its subsidiary, Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), is pursuing peace and harmony with its neighbouring communities through what it called Community Investment Programme (CIP).

    The CIP has five pseudo-components of Community Safety Awareness Campaign, Clean and Green Environment, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Market Beautification and a Beach Party.

    Speaking at the launch of the CIP recently  in Eket, the General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Nigel Cokey-Gam said the programme is intended to foster mutual peace, enhance the welfare of people of the community as well as strengthen the cordial relationship between MPN and its neighbouring communities.

    According to Nigel, CIP was just one of the three joint venture contributions to the development of its neighbouring communities and the empowerment of the people.

    His words: “Total investment by the JV in this round of community programmes in Akwa Ibom State is N170 million and is one of JV’s several initiatives dedicated to positively engage our youths, re-orientate and re-inculcate virtues other than the adoption of confrontation as the only mode of engagement.”

    He added: “The JV is here for the long haul and is repositioning to deliver greater value to the communities, Akwa Ibom State, and Nigeria.”

    On his part, the General Manager, Joint Venture Operations, Tom Benjaminsen sued for peace as a basic tonic required for MPN to sustained contribution and value additions.

    Declaring the programme open, the Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel , who was represented by the Commissioner for Transport and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Orman Esin commended Mobil Producing Nigeria for the initiative. He acknowledged the company’s contributions to the development of the state, even as he called for sustainability of the programme.

    The community investment programme is not just community-driven; it is facilitated by indigenous non-governmental organisation and sponsored by Mobil Producing Nigeria.

    No doubt, ExxonMobil has given 100 per cent of the programme to the local content. Each community leadership is the one ensuring that the project is done. For instance, resource persons are from the community and those who coordinate the NGOs are from the community.

    This informs the tremendous success which the programme has recorded.

    The Coordinator, Mrs. Emem Nkereuwem of Arts and Skills Development Initiative, the NGO facilitating the components that comprises road safety awareness campaigns and clean green environment project, observed that it was instructive for Mobil to lead the trail on safety, clean and green environment which has been the tradition within their enclave, and still takes up the inculcation of this tradition within their neighbouring communities. It shows, she said, a new approach towards community relations.

    This, to a large extent, will make the people embrace the company’s attitude of safety and clean environment. A lot is happening with our climate, and this has led to the unpredictability of weather conditions in recent years. As ExxonMobil leads the communities on green environment, the company has shown its willingness to work with the communities for a greener environment.

    Environmental neglect poses an unreasonable risk to the physical health and safety of humankind. As the campaign is sustained, malaria, which is one of the highest causes of death in the communities, will be eliminated. This will gradually take us to the earth which God saw and called “good”.

    According to Nkereuwem an estimated 202 million malaria cases happen in Nigeria out which 440,000 deaths are recorded annually. He added that the figure could be higher. It is therefore imperative that we make our environment clean and green for a free and harmonious habitation.

    While on the streets on community safety, she advocated for the promulgation of law against alcohol and other negative substances at car parks.

    The resource person for safety awareness campaign component, Mr. Godwin William who is President-General of Afigh Iwaad I Ekid, a socio-cultural group for the Eket people, compartmentalised his lecture into home safety, personal safety, safe driving and ending with tips for night driving.

    The engagement of these two components was deep, interactive and enlightening as youths from the four neighbouring communities of Ibeno, Eket, Esit Eket and Onna were present to listen, clean and move in a carnival motorcade to engage the people.

    “This is the first time Mobil Producing Nigeria is coming down to the ordinary people, and it is very encouraging. It is a new beginning for the company and the people for a better relationship that will entrench peace and a win-win bargain for all stakeholders,” Mr. Samuel Akpan the Chairman of Ibeno Youth Council said.

    Youth President in Eket, Mr. Charles Edohoeket said the various components of the community investment programme have not only integrated the company as a worthy ally in development but has also succeeded in integrating us as members of this community.

    “We now know one another’s capability in organising events. Some of us have been recognised because our capability has been showcased. And we are grateful to Mobil for its contributions to the growth of our communities,” he said.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    At the presentation of market items under the market beautification/provision components, the facilitating consultant on market beautification and beach party, Mr. Joseph Utin, said a total of 500 tables, 500 chairs and 500 tarpaulins have been presented to traders in selected markets in the four local government areas. The market items are to support the trade of the beneficiaries and empower them in some ways to keep their trade going.

    “It is not safe and healthy to have that old woman selling garri in Udua Nka stand on her feet all day long. It is not safe and healthy to let the woman selling fish in Mkpanak Market to be under the sun all day.

    “As a responsible corporate entity that feels the pains of its communities, MPN’s donation of market tables, chairs and tarpaulins will go a long way in solving problems faced by entrepreneurs,” he said.

    Features of the beach party included variety of games, indigenous cultural displays by the local aficionados, tug of war among management and representatives of the neighbouring communities. Music stars such as Harrysong and Okon Lagos were present.

    Communities at the beach party will never forget the fun, laughter, dance, cultural displays and the close contacts with stars they usually see on television.

    Asuquo Bassey, an old man that found his way to the beach from Onna said though he couldn’t participate in many of the activities, seeing people laugh and enjoy themselves has given him reasons to live long.

    Under the corporate social responsibility pyramid, ExxonMobil, through Community Investment Programme has demonstrated that it is a good corporate citizen.

    Their philanthropic responsibility was outstanding as resources were channeled directly to the communities to improve the quality of life of the people.

    Youth leaders in Onna Samuel Umoafia and Etiene Bob said: “This is a new dawn for Mobil in Akwa Ibom State. It is an unexpected development, a clear departure from what used to be. No community in the state is against them. We are civilised people and wish to engage under justice and fairness. We thank them for this and plead it becomes a yearly event”.

  • Ayade to ensure corps members’ welfare

    Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has expressed the commitment of his administration to the welfare of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posted to the state.

    The governor said the state government owes members of the NYSC the primary responsibility of providing an enabling environment to ensure the success of the scheme.

    Ayade, who spoke during a visit to the 2019 Batch ‘B’, Stream 1 Corps Members deployed to the state at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Obubra, said the 46-year-old scheme has been a tool in nation-building and integration.

    The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mrs. Maryjane Ebri, said: “Since the inception of the NYSC scheme about 46 years ago, Cross River State has enjoyed a healthy collaboration with Corps members whose performances have left indelible marks in all the 18 local government areas.

    “The people and government of Cross River State greatly appreciate all the sacrifices and efforts put in place by our Corps members to take our state to higher grounds.

    “We will, therefore, continue to support the scheme to deliver its optimal performance in the areas of primary health care; education, infrastructure and agriculture which I am aware are the basic areas corps members function during their period of primary assignment.”

    Ayade, who promised that people of Cross River State would treat members of the NYSC with respect and dignity, also advised them not to neglect the area of skills acquisition, which will curb unemployment in the country.

    State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr. Eddy Megwa, who expressed gratitude to the governor, said his presence was a sign of the state government’s acknowledgement of the laudable contributions of the NYSC.

    He revealed that a total of 2,000 corps members comprising 1,200 males and 800 females were duly registered at close of registration and are getting along with the regimented camp life.

    He pleaded with the governments to intervene in the renovation and upgrade of camp facilities.

    Megwa advised the corps members to dedicate themselves to the national clarion call to speak and represent what Nigeria stands for.

    He appreciated the camp officials, host community and collaborating agencies for their efforts in making the orientation camp favourable for corps members.

  • Succour for Bayelsa victims of electoral violence

    Victims of the last general elections from Nembe Bassambiri, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, received some succour recently. A philanthropist, Reuben Okoya, an Architect brightened their world. Okoya, one of the leading governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) visited them and made cash donations in order to alleviate their suffering.

    The people of Bassambiri, mainly members of the PDP, were chased out of their ancestral homes during the last Presidential and National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly elections.

    They were reportedly sent packing by their brothers and sisters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following unresolved political disagreements. Since the incident, some of them have been living as displaced persons at King Koko Centre in Ogbolomabiri, Nembe.

    But Okoya, out of sympathy, paid them a visit. Okoya has been at the forefront of donating to people in need. During the last flood that ravages most communities, he visited some of the Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camps and donated relief materials.

    His visit to the victims of political struggle was special. It restored hope to the hopeless and made them believe in their party. Okoya gave them N2 million and promised to engage his friends and other interventionist agencies to facilitate their resettlement at home.

    Okoya was accompanied to the event by the Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Zedekiah Isu. He told them that his efforts to help the downtrodden were borne out of his antecedent as a manager of resources, cities and people.

    Addressing the displaced persons, he said: “Last year, we had a very big flood in Bayelsa. During that period of the flood, I went out with my team supported by SEMA. We went round the state helping those victims by providing them with food, money and equipment for them to survive the period. I was a commissioner of Bayelsa State during Alaemieseigha time, in Jonathan’s time I went to Abuja to work as a City Manager. So, I manage cities, I manage people and I manage resources.

    “A few months ago, I heard that there were some displaced people in Nembe because of political reasons. The truth is that you are all our brothers, our children, our sisters, our fathers and mothers. In this day and age, nobody from Nembe should be displaced. The United Nations recognises that displacement can come from war, famine or factors beyond human control but you are displaced for reasons that can be controlled by humankind.

    “They pushed you out of your homes and your comfort, but I can help you. I can identify with you and help you provide funding to be able to help you out for at least this short period. Your kids have to go to school. You still have to cure malaria and typhoid.”

    While observing that Boko Haram victims were catered for by the Federal Government, Okoya wondered: “Who is taking care of you?” He, however, thanked the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson for giving monthly stipends to the victims for their upkeep.

    But he said: “Those of us who are fortunate should also help. I am fortunate and I must give back to those who are less fortunate. I have come to help. I want to ask all Bayelsans who are out there, who consider you their brothers and sisters to also help, no matter how little.

    “We want to appeal to all Bayelsans to be our brothers’ keeper because you are displaced now, it might be us tomorrow. We need you to be with us at all times. I also appeal to businesses and companies that are doing well in Bayelsa State to bring something to the table to help you.

    “I am sure the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has a fund for helping less privileged people. They can provide because the money is not much. So, they can help you to go back home. Our prayer is that in some weeks from now you will go back to your homes but in the meantime how do you survive?

    “I appeal to the NDDC and other federal agencies to come to your rescue. We know you were displaced for some political reasons. We want to appeal to the Federal Government to come and make your area safe, so that you can go back home and live.”

    Okoya described displacement as a terrible experience, adding that it causes anger, especially when one realises that the people involved were from oil-producing communities. He said the people would be indignant that the Federal Government had done nothing to them despite taking their resources.

    He urged them to remain calm and peaceful and avoid the temptation of resorting to violence.

    He said: “I want to appeal to everyone to come to your rescue and restore your dignity. When you take someone’s dignity from him, you take everything from him. I see young men who have families but they can’t cater for their families.

    “I want to encourage you to be steadfast, no matter how painful you get, no matter how depressed you get, no matter how frustrated you get, don’t take to violence. “But I want to appeal to you to co-operate with your chiefs and leaders. They are also doing their best. It is not an easy job, but when Nembe people come as one, when we unite as one, then we become stronger.”

    The philanthropist urged people to avoid violent conflict that could lead to displacement. He advised that even when people disagree, they should not resort to violence to avoid humanitarian consequences.

     

  • Centre sensitises Cross River women to capacity building

    Women in Cross River State have been urged to build their capacity to enable them to remain relevant and contribute to the overall development of the society.

    This was the focus of a conference organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and facilitated by the Centre for Women and Vulnerable Children, to mark this year’s International Women’s Day. The event held in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    The organiser, Ifeoma Egbuonu, said the event with the theme “Balance for Better” was aimed at sensitising women to the need to know their worth and ensure they work towards being relevant wherever they find themselves.

    “Women should be relevant wherever they find themselves. Whatever they do, they should ensure they are relevant by doing their best. They should put in their best and should not relent. Women should not continue to do things the way they have been done, but should try to be innovative. Women should also try to do it better and follow the trends. Start from somewhere and keep being relevant and doing things that would make them stand out,” she said.

    Read Also: ‘More women in politics’ll enhance Cross River’

    Egbuonu further said the conference focused on innovative ways to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in the areas of social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure.

    A corporate trainer, Serena Francis, who spoke at the conference whose participants were drawn from all walks of life, urged them to think, act and become who they want to be.

    “I believe that the greatest demon to whom we want to be as women are ourselves. It comes from when you don’t believe. It comes from when you don’t see yourself as the person you were created to be. And if you can start that process of believing and then taking a step forward to acting, you will gradually start getting into that future that you desire.

    “One of the greatest undoing to who we really are, is ourselves; women who do not believe that women can be great. Women are the ones who, for instance, perform female genital mutilation. It is women who stay at home with children and pass on the knowledge from mother to son and daughter. It is okay for the son to watch television and throws away his socks and bags when he comes back from school. But it is not okay when the daughter does it. For some reason, they don’t realise that it is not a man or woman thing. This is a tool for survival. Being arranged is a survival tool. Being able to cook is a survival tool.

    “The reason that has continued to go on from generation to generation is that the woman at home with them is training their minds to think that way. If women can begin to realise and think differently, they would pass on new traditions to their children who will now live for generations to come and they would now begin to shape their minds even for future generations that the women can become anything they want in life. It starts from thinking. It starts from mindset and passes from generation to generation. Women should build their capacity. It is a struggle of self.

    One of the participants, Pastor Stella Archibong, who described the conference as eye opening, said she had learnt to reinvent herself and be more self-confident.

    “I now have more confidence as a woman and in building capacity to move ahead in life. Now I know that if you want to move a thing don’t wait until that thing moves. If you have to build capacity, get up and move it yourself. You don’t need to look for what you want outside. “Everything you want is inside of you and you can become whatever you want to become as a woman that you are. Women should not limit themselves or their capabilities. You can do it. If you believe in yourself, there is nothing that you cannot achieve,” Archibong said.

  • Dickson outlaws ‘casual workers’ in Bayelsa civil service

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has outlawed the practice of engaging casual workers in the state’s civil service.

    The governor immediately approved the employment of existing 838 casual workers in all the ministries, departments and agencies, (MDAs).

    The decision to stop casualisation was taken at the 108 State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, which held in Government House, Yenagoa.

    Speaking after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson commended Dickson for fully employing the causal workers, who had spent about 20 years working for the state.

    He said the affected workers would undergo screening for confirmation of their appointments, which would take effect from July 1, 2019.

    Read Also: Bayelsa electoral commission: Dickson appoints new acting Chairman

    In his remarks, the Chairman Civil Service Commission, Dr. Peter Singabele thanked Dickson for the gesture, saying the approval would help to address unemployment.

    He asked the beneficiaries to appear for screening with their academic qualifications, birth certificates and other relevant documents.

    But he said following extant public service rules, applicants above 40 years were excluded from the offer.

    “We commend Dickson for proscribing casualisation because he believes that the practice is criminal. A verification of educational certificates, age declaration of the casual workers will be carried out soon and those above the age of 40 are disqualified”, he said.

    On the burial activities of the late literary icon, Pa Gabriel Okara, the Commissioner for Information said the state would be mobilised to bid a befitting farewell to honour him.

    He called on all traditional, political, opinion and community leaders, including the three arms of government, to be present at the funeral.

    He said massive attendance was the only way to honour and appreciate the late Pa Okara’s contributions to Bayelsa State, Ijaw nation, Nigeria and the world at large.

    Also, the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Chief Collins Cocodia said the approval for the employment of 838 casual workers was the third employment exercise by the state government.

    On his part, the Head of Service, Mr. Luka Wellington-Obiri, described as cheering the outlawing of casualisation.

    He assured Dickson that the civil service would do its best to be better positioned to deliver on its core mandate of carrying out government programmes and policies.

    He advised the beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity by being diligent, hardworking and present at all times at their duty posts so as to contribute their quota to the development of the state.

     

  • Deciding Bayelsa’s next governor

    Since the commencement of civil governance in 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has maintained its position firmly as the ruling political party in Bayelsa State. Although, the All Progressives Congress (APC) fought a strong battle to challenge the political hegemony of the PDP in the December 5, 2012 elections in the state, the PDP has always asserted its political dominance nay superiority.

    Like the entire states of Southsouth geo-political zone, not even the opposition APC which controls the Federal Government has been able to change the narrative that the Southsouth and, indeed, Bayelsa is an incontrovertible stronghold of the PDP.

    This narrative of the PDP dominance has been consistent from the period of former President Olusegun Obasanjo through the regimes of the President Umaru Yar’Adua, Jonathan and even Muhammadu Buhari to date in the region. From 1999 to date, all the governors of the PDP, namely Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Timipre Sylva all governed the state under the PDP.

    Interestingly, the political indicators in Bayelsa seem to suggest that the stronger battles for the control of the Bayelsa Government House popularly known as the Creek Haven are most likely to be fought within the party.

    While addressing a forum of Bayelsa PDP stakeholders in Yenagoa in May, this year, the state Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson asserted that only the PDP has the capacity and popularity to win election in the state. The Governor told the large turnout of party leaders and supporters in the meeting which focused on the issue of the next governor of the state that the government under his leadership would embark on state-wide prayers and consultations to tackle the issue of his successor in the interest of the Bayelsa people. The Governor left nobody in doubt that he and other stakeholders and political leaders would not allow cultists and violent men who lure young Bayelsans to the destructive web of cultism to take over governance in Bayelsa.

    Expectedly, the prevalent belief that the PDP is the party of political dominance and control has made it the destination of most of the big politicians with enduring ambitions to govern the state which Governor Dickson has Christened the Jerusalem of the Ijaw nation.

    Among those who have indicated interest to contest the governorship under the PDP are a former Federal Permanent Secretary in charge of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, a businessman and son of former President of the Ijaw National Congress, Mr. Keniebi Okoko, an associate of former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who is believed to have strong ties to former First Lady, Mrs. Jonathan, a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Timi Alaibe,  the Publisher of Nigerian Pilot, Dr. Denis Sammy, former Niger Delta ex-agitator, Mr. Joshua Maciver.

    This list of those jostling to be one of the chief tenants of the Bayelsa Government House also includes those currently occupying various political positions under the Dickson Administration. These set of aspirants belong to the PDP household of Restoration which is most likely to have one of its men succeed Dickson. These aspirants now involved in furtive campaigns include the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kemela Okara, the Chairman of the PDP, Chief Moses Cleopas, a former Director of Protocol, Joseph Akedesuo, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Revenue Board, Mr. Nimibofa Ayawei, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Doodei Week, and the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Talford Ongolo, among others.

    Aware of the massive responsibility fate has placed on his shoulders, the Governor declared during a meeting of top PDP stakeholders in Yenagoa on May, 29, this year, that his successor would emerge through interplay of factors which include state wide consultations and prayers. Governor Dickson, who assured the PDP supporters that he would hand over to another PDP Governor come February 14, 2020, called for more support and stability on PDP family to be able to maintain the party’s status as the ruling political party in Bayelsa.

    He said: “Another PDP Governor will be elected in the next election. I urge all the people to step into the communities and mobilise the people. It will be my pleasure to lead the PDP with your support so that another PDP governor will be elected.  How we survived during the 2015 governorship election is by the grace of God and our mobilisation skills.

    “You now have people who know how to play opposition politics. As we begin the transition programme, we expect you to put on the toga of an opposition person. You have a lot of work to do. It is their work to sow seeds of discord but it’s your job to keep your party united, strong and stable.”

    Read Also: Hoodlums burgle Bayelsa judiciary complex

    Already speculations are rife in the state that the big issue of who plays what role in the emergence of PDP gubernatorial candidate has become factor of subdued dispute, especially between the two highest PDP personae in the state, the Governor and former President Goodluck Jonathan. A source in a strategic position within the PDP said both politicians are locked in a politics of who should come forth with a name for the party to endorse.

    However, Government House sources were authoritative in their claim that the Governor, who controls the political structure in the state, would naturally assume the greater role in the selection or election of a flagbearer for the party.

    The source predicated his claim on the fact that while Jonathan leans on the parapet provided by his former position as Nigeria’s President in the emerging face-off, Governor Dickson controls the impregnable Restoration Team which controls over 80 per cent of the PDP whose members are saddled with the responsibility of electing a gubernatorial candidate for the party.

    But neither the Governor  nor the former President would admit the existence of a dispute between them on the issue of who becomes the next candidate of the PDP.

    “I don’t have any problem with former President Goodluck Jonathan. The former President remains my elder brother and leader. Let me put you on notice that he is one person I will sit down with on the transition programme to compare notes and decide who should be our next governor,” Dickson had said during the launch of the Education Development Trust Fund where Jonathan was the Special Guest of Honour.

    While the game of denial rages, the tempo of political activities is unusually subdued a few months to the election. The large number of aspirants most of who throng the Bayelsa State Government House ostensibly to attend government functions has embraced a deliberate strategy to refrain from loud, authoritative public campaigns designed to woo the Bayelsa delegates.

    A party chieftain observed that the aspirants have embraced a curious campaign strategy of silence because of their awareness of the pertinence of the Governor’s role in the forthcoming process of selecting a candidate for the party.

    Some of the aspirants such as Chief Timi Alaibe, a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, a close associate of Mrs. Patience Jonathan, Mr. Reuben Okoya, a former Federal Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, are said to be looking in the direction of Jonathan and the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, for political survival.

    Some of the aspirants have claimed that the Governor has not been forthcoming with his support for their ambitions because they are perceived to be mature and independent-minded. But the PDP source dismissed such claims as a product of unnecessary desperation. The source insisted that the Restoration Team of the PDP under the leadership of the Governor has men of  equal if not higher pedigree that should be trusted with the leadership of the state.

    Without doubt, the many aspirants jostling for the ticket of the PDP are guided by a consciousness of the critical role of the Governor whose endorsement is taken as a near certainty in the quest for the gubernatorial ticket of the PDP in the next election.

     

    • Elijah, civil servant, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

     

  • Shell inspires, supports 6,659 youths in Bayelsa, Delta

    The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has produced 6,659 entrepreneurs in Bayelsa and Delta states through its enterprise development programme launched in 2003. SPDC’s General Manager, External Relations, Mr. Igo Weli, who spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital during a graduation and award ceremony of a new set of beneficiaries said the programme was part of the company’s efforts to solve the problem of youth restiveness in the Niger Delta.

    Weli, who was represented at the colourful event by the SPDC’s External Relations Manager, Swamp West and EA Fields, Evans Krukrubo, said the scheme was instituted to provide alternative incomes to youths.

    He said: “The graduation and award ceremony of the southern swamp associated gas solution enterprise development programme is an initiative targeted at the 23 impacted communities of the Southern Swamp Associated Gas Solution (SSAGS) project in Bayelsa and Delta states.

    “The programme was aimed at inspiring and supporting youths to start their own businesses or expand existing ones. We do this by providing the beneficiaries the requisite training and start-up finance in the belief that legitimate alternative livelihood will enable young men and women to refuse the lure of vices.

    “This enterprise development programme is the flagship of our youth enterprise development programmes and was launched in Nigeria in 2003. The Shell Enterprise Development Programme has now produced 6,580 Niger Delta entrepreneurs, most of whom are employers of labour.

    Read Also: Shell spends N150m on Bonny youths’ capacity devt

    “Some of the beneficiaries are also given the opportunity to play in SPDCs supply chain as vendors and are provided with access to growth capital. With these new graduates, I am happy to announce that the number of Shell enterprise development programme beneficiaries has gone up by 79.

    “These beneficiaries from the SSAGS programme went through the entrepreneurship training, wrote business plans; pitched their business ideas and finally the 49 best performing beneficiaries have been selected”.

    Well said the SPDC injected N2.2 billion into the SSAGS area for community development as top-up funds for the Community Cluster Development Boards in Bayelsa and Delta states.

    He added: “This programme is one of the proof points of the foresight in setting up the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) model for project delivery to our host communities.

    “This model has proved quite successful as a vehicle for meeting the needs of the people as it engenders co-operations of benefiting communities to deliver the overarching goals of these projects, promoting sustainability, infrastructure and human capital development.

    “From 2013 to this year, SPDC paid the total of N2.2 billion as top-up funds to the eight impacted southern swamp associated gas solution GMoU cluster boards in Bayelsa and Delta states.

    “By this programme, youths of Bayelsa and Delta states are offered a bigger door of opportunities. This is the beginning of a journey that has the potential of launching any of the beneficiaries into international recognition and success. This has happened in other host communities. It can happen here”.

    Well further told the beneficiaries that they had taken first step to a fulfilling career in self-development and skills optimisation.

    “There are huge opportunities ahead of you. The road to becoming a successful entrepreneur is seldom smooth but if the journey is undertaken with the commitment and zeal it deserves, it can be very rewarding”, he said.

    At the ceremony, the 49 youths, who completed the enterprise development programme received start-up grants of N19. 60 million. The beneficiaries were also assisted by the company to register their businesses and to be given certificates of registration from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    In his remarks, the Chairman of Iduwini Cluster Development Board, Macpherson Gold, appealed to the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity offered them to become successful people.

    He said: “I commend SPDC for giving our youths the opportunity to contribute to the growth of our communities. Being self-employed and having source of income is very essential to making positive contributions to one’s community.”

    Also, the Executive Director, Centre for Information and Development, Mrs. Belema Obigwe explained that the beneficiaries received intensive training on business management and assigned to established entrepreneurs for mentorship. .

    She said 130 youths nominated for the scheme by their communities were shortlisted in April last year, adding that out of the number, 79 successfully completed the training while 49  of them passed the assessment tests conducted at the end of the scheme.

    Addressing the beneficiaries, she said: “This journey began in April last year. We went through the applications and the applicants were screened through various stages. We expect that the way you worked with us, the way you gave us your attention, we believe that what we have planted will germinate.

    “This is the beginning of the next phase. Please, continue in the same measure. As a result of your hard work, you are going to have some benefits. Just as the training was not easy, the journey is not easy as well.

    “By being here today, you have entered a contract with Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria. Shell is the sponsor and the initiator of the programme. Your clusters have nominated you to be here. You have entered into an agreement that you will do your best to give us the result for investing in you all”.

    Some of the beneficiaries praised the initiative and commended Shell for establishing the scheme.

    One of the beneficiaries, Robinson Erebi said the training was practical and beneficial.

    “We are grateful for this opportunity. I have tried and failed in businesses twice but in the course of this training, I discovered why I failed and now I am ready to get it done the right way.

    “We were trained in order to support our business ideas and Shell is also supporting us with a start-up capital. So, we are now out of the labour market and they have encouraged us to expand our businesses and to create more jobs,” Erebi said.

  • 146 benefit from foundation’s free medical programme in Rivers

    The Benjamin Olowojobutu Foundation (BOF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that helps indigent women to get rid of fibroid tumor and other medical cases has ended its week-long medical outreach in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    During the event, no fewer than 146 people benefited from the free medical programme which took place at the State Model Primary Health care Centre at Mgbosimini community of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

    Some of the cases the team of medical experts took handled were fibroid, breast lumps, lipoma, hernia, ovarian cyst, appendicitis as well as caesarean section.

    On what motivated him to establish the medical outreach, the founder of the NGO, Dr. Benjamin Owolojebutu said: “It all began when I had an auto crash in 2016. I was on my way home when a drunk driver rammed into my car. My car was smashed and I fractures in three places on my right leg. I was rushed to a hospital in Lagos and for three and half hours, I was left in the pool of my own blood and intense pains. No one attended to me during those hours.

    “It was in that quagmire of suffering and pain that I got express instructions from God that I must turn my pain into charity, helping poor people in Nigeria and Africa.

    Read Also: Rivers community gets free medicare

    “In my accepting God’s instruction, I equally reasoned that if I could be so abandoned by people of my own profession in a hospital such as this, what happens to members of the public who are neither in the medical field nor have the money to access health care. I quickly agreed to do as God had instructed me.

    “Again, my late father was also my idol when it comes to the issue of showing love and spreading happiness. While he was alive, he would always tell me that love is the only thing that does not depreciate in value, but instead increases. His belief was that love shown to a person today will have ripple effect in the future.

    “My upbringing was all about sharing love to all, especially those that can be hardly loved, the poor. The sincere prayers they make from their sincere hearts go a long way in presenting us and what we are doing to God for more protection, while we go from place to place, including the surgical operations we carry out in the theatre, among others.

    “Since the inception of the outreach, we have not recorded a single death either in theatre or in the process of recovery, despite that we are not carrying the exercise in the best of facilities. This can only be done by God,” he said.

    Speaking to reporters at the event the Executive Director of the foundation, who is also the leader of the team said: “The team is focused to tackle four main diseases in each of the

    outreaches. The diseases are fibroid, lipoma, hernia, breast lump and hydroceles.

    “We visit rural communities in the country to identify those who are poor and are suffering from the diseases listed above so as to provide free medical care for them.

    “What we do is driven by love and compassion. We believe that love is contagious, and when someone is helped, especially in the very area he or she is completely helpless and lost, he will be able to render a sought of help to someone else somewhere. And the next person helps someone again and so on. In this way, love will continue to spread and will not stop until the world if filled with love.”

    On the Rivers State outreach, the Executive Director revealed that the team spent one week in the state carrying out the intervention. This was because of the huge number of people that turned out for the outreach for various forms of ailment.

    “We came into the state on May 19 and we were there till May 27. We initially prepared to carry out the surgery on 50 people. However, on getting here, we saw very large number of people who came for various forms of ailments to be attended to. We ended up carrying out surgical operations on 146 people, including a caesarean section (CS), which was not part of our schedules of intervention,” he said.

    The statistics of the surgery carried out during the outreach in Rivers State are as follows: fibroid 45, breast lumps 31, lipoma 23, hernia 38, ovarian cyst 5, appendicitis 3 and one caesarean section (CS). All added up to 146 surgeries.

    Already nine of the 36 states have been covered, with over 1, 500 free surgeries carried out by the team in eight months since the foundation began the rural health care intervention.

    The states so far visited are Benue, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Lagos, Edo,, Ondo, Cross River and Rivers.

    “This has, without doubt, given credence to our love story. Hopes are being restored; lives changed, and so on.

    “One of the most touching cases we have so far experienced in the course of the outreach was the case of a woman who has been under the torture of fibroid for 18 years. She had literally lost all hopes. To the glory of God, she was one of the beneficiaries of the medical outreach. The size of the fibroid mass removed from her weighed 6.5 kg, which is equal to the weight of three babies. Today, she has regained her life back and happy. Her children and family are also happy and she is recovering very fast.

    “This is the joy we derive as it propels us to push on, even in the face of difficulty.  The exercise is highly capital intensive. This is one of the challenges that possibly slow us down, because we will need to sit back after each outreach to work out funds again before we can plan for another outreach. But as for the passion we have, if the resources are readily available, we will be planning three or four trips from one place to the other at a stretch, because people are suffering so much from diseases that can easily be cured,” he said.

    Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to Niger Delta Report narrated their ordeals and how doctors’ outrageous charges prevented them from accessing medical attention. They expressed their gratitude to the NGO for its intervention.

    One of the beneficiaries simply identified as Nkechi told Niger Delta Report: “I suffered the problem of fibroid for nine years. I have been to many places to access treatment, but everywhere I went to, they prescribed surgery.

    “A particular hospital I went to initially charged N450, 000 to perform the operation. I do not have the money. I went back to the hospital; they now said they will no longer accept the earlier N450, 000 but N1.5 million.

    “After much pleading, they said they could only take N1 million or nothing. They also said before I will be taken to the theatre, I would sign an undertaking that my womb should be taken off if possible, because according to them, the chances is 50/50.

    “We were thinking of how to get the money for the surgery when I learnt that there would be this medical outreach. Since I have been following them on the social media, I quickly registered online as requested and went ahead to do all the medical tests required. They later reached out to me via SMS, telling me the venue and date of arrival and I came and here I am recuperating from the surgery carried out completely free, and my womb was not taken off.

    “I cannot believe that these kinds of people exist in Nigeria. Dr. Ben and his team of experienced and highly skilled medical practitioners are too good to be real.”

    In the same manner, Mrs. Osilem, a civil servant and mother of two said: “I am a junior civil servant and suffered from fibroid for 10 years. I noticed the problem when I was pregnant with my first child. It was during delivery it was discovered that there was a growth that prevented the baby from being pushed out. But I was delivered of my baby after much suffering.

    “I lost several pregnancies thereafter. My health deteriorated; my husband and I began to go from hospital to hospital to seek a way out. But the charges were so much and we do not have the money.

    “It was last week that my husband called me from Awka, Anambra State to inform me of the programme by BOF in Port Harcourt. He gave me the details and I came straight to this place. Since I did not know about them earlier and did not register online, they gave me a list of tests to run. I did the tests and brought the result to them and they booked me for surgery on Saturday (May 25, 2019).

    “I pray that God Almighty who sent them on this mission to affect the lives of the poor and weak will bless them beyond human comprehension.”

    The foundation, which was registered last year, had its first medical outreach in Benue State on July 18, last year, during which 30 surgeries were carried out in one week. Later, the outreach was in Akwa Ibom State where 62 indigent women were attended to.

    From then, the team of medical workers has been moving from state to state, to touch lives in the most excellent way. At the last count, a total of nine states, including Rivers, have been covered, with over 1,500 surgeries mostly fibroid, lipoma and breast pumps removed in eight months.

    The founder, who is the Chief Surgeon, bears about 80 per cent of the expenses while the rest of members of the team share the remaining 20 per cent among them.

    Nonetheless, the team leader and his members are not deterred, neither distracted, but have vowed never to rest until every woman in Nigeria and Africa is delivered from the torture of the hydra-headed ailment.

    Members of the team plan to cover all the six geo-political zones of the country before the end of the year, by visiting at least one state in each zone before the first anniversary of the outreach, and the entire 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the years ahead.

    They are equally planning to make a foray to other African countries before the end of the year with a visit to Kampala Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp.

    Obviously the services rendered to the poor by the NGO keep expanding without a commensurate level of assistance or sponsorship for the group to enable it to continually reach out to the poorest of the poor.

    In the circumstances, members of the medical team are appealing to well-meaning Nigerians, philanthropists federal, state and local governments, corporate bodies, including multinational companies that really want to touch lives of those living in their host communities and politicians to assist them so that they can bring succour to the suffering, indigent people.