The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • How to avoid fake news, by expert

    In order to uphold professionalism and to avoid being misled, Nigerian journalists have been warned against fake news at a special training, writes BISI OLANIYI, Southsouth Bureau Chief.

    The Founder/Director of The Journalism Clinic, Mr. Taiwo Obe, who was the resource person/facilitator at a Polaris Bank-sponsored training for journalists in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on June 3, advised media professionals against fake news, in order not to lose respect of readers/listeners/viewers of the media houses and to be taken seriously.

    The media capacity building training, which took place at Jevenik Place, Tombia Street, Government Reservation Area (GRA), Phase 2had as its theme “Online Journalism in the Era of Fake News,” had in attendance Polaris Bank’s Head, Corporate Communication, Rasheed Bolarinwa, from Lagos head office; and the bank’s Relationship Officer of Olu Obasanjo Branch in Port Harcourt, Mrs. Ogonnaya Smart.

    The resource person, who has been in journalism since 1978, stated that the tool needed in today’s journalism must be eternal vigilance. While urging the media professionals to train themselves to be suspicious of everything, thereby avoiding litigation or libel suits.

    He noted that journalists must be over-vigilance in today’s world, in order to avoid ridicule or embarrassment before members of the public. He described fake news as made-up stuff, masterfully put together to look like credible journalistic reports, which are easily spread online to a large audience.

    The facilitator said: “The tool needed in today’s journalism is eternal vigilance. Check, double check and be suspicious of even yourself. First, doubt the news materials/stories and photographs, so as to be on the safe side, because there are enemies of progress who want your media houses to die early and they will send to you, fake news materials and photographs.

    “Journalism nowadays is about providing the hard evidence. Journalists must write authoritatively and their reports must be reliable and credible. It is important to have deep knowledge of what you intend to share. Journalists must always update their knowledge and widely read books, in order to grow, improve and be relevant.

    “A good journalist should not lie. He must always stand by the truth and report objectively. If he is in doubt of the information, he should leave it out. Always consult experts to authenticate stories, especially breaking news.

    “Trust should be upheld by journalists. Make efforts to verify information, for credibility of your medium and for peace of the society.”

    Obe also described social media, particularly WhatsApp, as the breeding ground for fake news.

    Polaris (formerly Skye) Bank’s  Head, Strategic Brand Management, Nduneche Ezurike, from the bank’s head office on Victoria Island, Lagos, in admonished media professionals to always place emphasis on investigative journalism, professionalism and doing basic checks, to detect fake news, which he described as real, intense and would continue to consume careless reporters.

    Ezurike also urged journalists to always be ahead and not to get tired of acquiring knowledge, with all the barriers already broken, while insisting that media professionals must never be seen as nuisance.

    The Group Head of Polaris Bank in Port Harcourt, Raphael Abiaziem, noted that the financial institution appreciated the media as partners in progress.

    Abiaziem, who was represented by the Business Development Manager of Olu Obasanjo, Port Harcourt branch of the bank, George Gabriel-Whyte, described the media capacity building training as part of the core values of Polaris Bank, which he identified as continuous training, stressing that it would ensure responsive journalism, while calling for continuous support of the bank.

    While responding on behalf of the participants, the Chairman of Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Rivers State, Chief Ernest Chinwo of ThisDay Newspaper, hailed Polaris Bank for the opportunity and the initiative. He called on the bank to organise the training, retraining regularly and accommodate more media professionals.

  • Airport upgrade: Hope rises for Edo agro-business

    In a few months’ time, exporters of agricultural products in Edo State and its environs would not need to bother about delays in travelling to Lagos for the purpose of taking their products to any part of the world.

    They would export their agro-products right from the Bénin Airport. Besides, businessmen, politicians and individuals can now land at the Bénin Airport any time of the day. This is because the airport has commenced night operations.

    In 2013, during the inauguration of the remodeled Bénin Airport, former Governor Adams Oshiomhole requested the then Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah to ensure that the Airport operates in a 24-hour basis.

    Oshiomhole had argued that the 24-hour operation for the airport would enable individuals, especially himself, meet emergency engagement in Abuja. He regretted that the Benin Airport being one of the oldest in the country remained the way it was despite the increase in traffic.

    Oshiomhole’s successor, Godwin Obaseki has, however, seen to the realisation of his dream. Facilities in the 63-year-old Bénin Airport has been upgraded for it to carry out night operations. The equipment installed for the night operations were inaugurated last week by the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

    The equipment inaugurated at the Airport included thunder and lightning system, Secure Aviation Data Information System (SADIS); Enhanced Simple Approach Lightening System, CAT ll and Instrument Landing System (ILS)/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME).

    Speaking at the inauguration, Senator Sirika said Edo people would gain a lot from the improved operational capability of the Bénin Airport because of the ability to come and go out of Bénin by air in reduced weather condition even when the pilot can barely see anything.

    Senator Sirika further explained that the equipment are both ground-based and satellite-based. He said the satellite-based equipment would begin work if the ground-based ones failed.

    He said: “The importance of the Benin culture and history is such that we cannot ignore. We will continue to upgrade facilities to meet its peers in other cities. The operational capacity of the Benin-City Airport has tremendously improved as we can now guarantee safe landing in reduced visibility and in bad weather condition. Aircraft can now land in Benin Airport at night. No more closure of the Airport by 6:00 p.m.

  • Businessman laments deportation of business partners

    A United Kingdom-based businessman, Mr. Monday Ohuimuwen, has said that many of his business partners coming to Nigeria for genuine businesses have been deported because of what he termed misleading guidelines on the entry Visa on arrival programme posted on the Nigeria Immigration Portal.

    Monday said the Norwegians and British nationals he invited based on the information contained in the Nigeria Immigration Portal, regarding Entry Visa on Arrival Programme were deported on arrival at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.

    Speaking to reporters in Bénin-City, Monday, who is engaged in distributive business said the Immigration authorities were supposed to allow in invited business partners who had followed the guidelines.

    Monday said they were deported under very flimsy excuses that they ought to have gotten approval in their home country before traveling to Nigeria.

    He said: “The said approval was not contained in the guidelines posted on the portal of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

    “Besides frustrating industrialists and their foreign partners, the activities of the immigration authorities is creating integrity problem for Nigerian businessman in Nigeria.

    “I want the authorities concerned to review the said guidelines and update same, so as not to continue to frustrate genuine businessmen and women who relied on the guidelines, only to be misled at the end of the day.”

    Monday commended Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II for introducing and facilitating the Private Property Protection (PPP) headed by Solomon Arase in the state.

  • Amaechi: sharing govt cash not the best

    It was his 54th birthday celebration in Port Harcourt, but it provided immediate past Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi with the opportunity to share his belief about looting public funds among others, reports Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

    A former Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government (SSG), Senator Felix Oboro, who chaired the 54th birthday celebration of ex-Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi at the highbrow Aztech Arcum Event Centre on Ken Saro-Wiwa (formerly Stadium) Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on May 27, described the celebrator as a consistent politician.

    Oboro, who said he closely worked with Amaechi, a former Governor of Rivers state (2007-2015), in the old Rivers state, before Bayelsa state was created out of the old Rivers state on October 1, 1996 by the regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha, also stated that he and the Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers-born politician (Amaechi) related very well, when Chief Rufus Ada-George and Dr. Peter Odili were Rivers governors.

    The ex-SSG (Oboro), a Bayelsan, noted that Amaechi, as the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly (1999-2007), Chairman of Forum of Speakers in Nigeria, Rivers Governor, the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the Director-General in 2015 and 2019 of the victorious Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Organisation and Minister for Transportation, performed excellently.

    Read Also: Why we suspended floating national carrier – Amaechi

    Oboro said: “Amaechi has been very consistent, loyal and dedicated to the just cause. He is a performer. Amaechi’s reappointment by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Director-General of his re-election campaign organisation is an indication that the President was satisfied with his impressive performance.

    “I am proud of Amaechi, a fair minded, detribalised, disciplined, humble and simple politician. He has helped many persons, irrespective of where they come from. Amaechi is trying his best to ensure the election of a riverine person as the Governor of Rivers State, to end the domination by the uplanders. Very soon, Rivers State will have a riverine person as governor. When it is the turn of Southsouth to produce Nigeria’s President, I am very sure that the people of the zone and other Nigerians will support Amaechi.”

    The chairman of the occasion also urged other Nigerians to always emulate the transportation minister, who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state and the Southsouth zone, fondly called the Lion of the Niger Delta.

    The colourful event also had in attendance, Amaechi’s wife of 28 years, Dame Judith; a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas; Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who was represented by Nkem Osuagwu: the 2019 governorship candidate of APC in Rivers, Pastor Tonye Cole, and his running mate, Chief Victor Giadom, who is now the Acting National Secretary of APC; the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside; and the 2019 governorship candidate of African Action Alliance (AAC) in Rivers, Biokpomabo Awara, an engineer.

    Senators Andrew Uchendu, Ovie Omo-Agege and Ifeanyi Araraume; the Acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Nelson Brambaifa: the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration (EDFA) of the Federal Government’s interventionist agency (NDDC), Dr. Chris Amadi; Rivers Chairman of APC, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree; and a former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Dawari George, among other eminent personalities were also at the well-attended event.

    The Founder and Senior Pastor of Trinity House, Lagos, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, was the guest preacher, while other renowned clerics were also in attendance.

    Music was supplied by the iconic Prof. Laz Ekwueme, legendary Buchi, Joe Praise, Precious Omuku, Steve Crown and Magnificent Choir, among others, while the Masters of Ceremonies (MCs) included Julius Agwu, Basorge Tariah Jnr. and Amaechi’s “son” in secondary school, Dr. Michael Ogbolosingha, who is a former Mayor (Chairman) of Yenagoa Local Government Council of Bayelsa state.

    At the event, tagged: “Evening of Hymns and Songs,” had the Bishop of the Niger Delta North Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Bishop Wisdom Ihunwo, taking the opening prayer, shortly after the transportation minister got to the well-decorated arena at 4:41 p.m. on May 27, while the only Bible reading, from Psalm 145: 1-21, was taken by Dame Judith Amaechi.

    In the sermon, titled: “The Lessons of Life,” the guest preacher (Pastor Ituah Ighodalo), who quoted Psalm 90: 4-12, described life as a series of lessons that must be learnt, stressing that people must be willing to learn and they must be teachable.

    Pastor Ighodalo said: “Consistently fear the Lord and obey His instructions. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. Always study the word of God (Bible). Wicked, selfish and violent persons will not make it to heaven.

    “Nigeria is in need of great, selfless and outstanding leadership that will be concerned about the poor, for Nigeria to be great.”

    The cleric (Pastor Ighodalo) also prayed that God would give the transportation minister wisdom, understanding and he will not be put to shame.

    The President of the National Union of Nigerian Students, Danielson Bamidele Akpan, in his remarks, reiterated that Amaechi stood strong in the face of intimidation, while believing in the empowerment of young people.

    Akpan noted that the transportation minister had been supporting President Buhari to greatly reform the system, while praying that God would continue to strengthen him.

    Amaechi, while speaking before cutting his birthday cake, along with his wife, stated that there was the need for religious tolerance, considering a large number of his Muslim friends who honoured him at the event while hailing them and others for coming.

    He said: “One funny thing about my 54th birthday is that the people of my mother’s village also organised a thanksgiving service yesterday (May 26). I thank you all, including the Chief of the village. God bless all of you. My church in Abuja also organised a birthday thanksgiving service for me. I am very grateful. I thank my dear wife, who organised a birthday dinner for me. A group of people also organised a reading session in Lagos on my birthday. Many persons and groups also organised birthday activities for me. I thank you all.

    “I ought to be in a meeting in Abuja today (on May 27), but President Muhammadu Buhari said today is my birthday, I should travel to Port Harcourt for my birthday celebration. I thank him. He is a wonderful President. He is not a normal politician. Nothing to share (Federal Government’s fund). The money that should have been used to build roads, schools and to embark on other development projects, they were sharing it in the previous administration. Now, they are being called to accountability, but there are no roads, no schools, no power, no hospitals, among others, because the money was shared among themselves.

    “One sad thing about sharing of money for development projects is that some people feel that it is the best, but the people who get more from the looted fund are the people who bring out the money to be shared. When they steal $20 million, they give people around them $2,000 and keep the balance. Sharing is not the best. The best is what we are doing now, by embarking on people-oriented and capital-intensive projects.”

    The ex-transportation minister also reiterated that there was a time that Port Harcourt International Airport was described as the worst airport in the world, noting that the situation had changed for the better, with President Buhari recently inaugurating one of the best airports in Nigeria in Port Harcourt.

    He said: “So, Port Harcourt International Airport is no longer the worst airport in the world. Before May 29, 2015, there was no airport in Port Harcourt. The Federal Government of Nigeria, headed by President Buhari, is currently constructing the Bodo-Bonny Road in Rivers State, abandoned for many years. From N49 billion to N120 billion. It is a big project and the Federal Government is fully committed to delivering it on schedule. The destructive critics are still claiming that the APC’s administration of President Buhari has done nothing in Rivers State. You have now known who the liars are.

    “As at today (May 27) that I am speaking with you, we have just applied for a loan to do Port Harcourt-Warri railway, which is part of the coastal rail, to join the Itakpe-Warri rail. Another segment of the coastal rail is the Benin City to Onitsha. The Benin-Onitsha rail will join the Itakpe-Warri rail at Agbor.

    “The man who takes care of your welfare is your brother. You have a brother from Niger Delta, who does not care about you, and you have a Hausa man who cares for you. Then, who is your brother?”

    Amaechi also expressed displeasure on the insecurity in Rivers state, stressing that the gains of his administration in the area of safety of lives and property had been reversed.

    “In Rivers State now, people are being slaughtered every day. We no longer have enough policemen in Rivers State, because all the big men and women have taken almost all the policemen in the state. Night clubs are almost dead in Port Harcourt and its environs because all the big men who patronise them are stocked in their houses, because of insecurity, especially kidnapping, armed robbery, assassination and cultism.

    “Just watch out for population explosion, with husbands and their wives being forced to remain indoors for many months. Although, the wives are very happy that their husbands are now at home. The husbands are not at home, because they love their wives, but as a result of insecurity in Rivers State. If you stay with your wife for six months, if care is not taken, you will have a child.

    “As the Governor of Rivers State, I restored security, but the criminals that I chased away are now back. With my administration’s restoration of security, night clubs came back. As a governor, I went to night clubs, with minimal security. I also placed the emphasis on massive infrastructural development and I created employment opportunities for the teeming qualified people, including many non-indigenes, who are still happy with their jobs.

    “We will quickly round off this birthday celebration because I cannot guarantee your security after here (Aztech Arcum Event Centre). Some days ago in Ogoni (Rivers State), forty persons were killed. Just yesterday (May 26), some innocent persons were killed in Port Harcourt and one of them was beheaded.”

    The transportation minister also urged Nigerians to get united and pray more, stressing that during the March 23 and March 9, 2019 elections, the people did not pray enough, while reiterating that during the 2015 elections, everybody was fasting and praying, until God delivered Nigerians, admonishing the people to work much harder and pray more.

    He wished Nigerians the best and assured that President Buhari would do better in his second tenure than in the first term.

    Amaechi also thanked everybody that honoured him on his birthday, especially his colleagues in the Federal  Ministry of Transportation and particularly the Permanent Secretary.

    He disclosed that when many of his colleagues at the Federal Executive Council were complaining about their permanent secretaries, he was always telling them to leave his permanent secretary alone.

    The former Rivers governor (Amaechi) also expressed gratitude to the organisers and sponsors of the birthday bash, revealing that he did not put in a Kobo for the grand event.

    It is good to always celebrate persons who have positively impacted society, for the younger generations to be emulating their selfless services to the society and humanity, in order to move forward.

  • A day in Dickson’s village farm

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has a unique personality. He does not smoke and he does not consume alcohol. The governor, beyond politics, is, however, a great farmer. He has passion and unusual energy for agriculture. A visit to Dickson’s farm at Toru-Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area, reveals the governor’s love for growing food.

    His farm has become a tourist haven. High-profile individuals, government appointees, persons occupying elective positions, musical icons, comedians and social media experts have been trooping into Seriake Dickson’s farm in Toru-Orua.

    For those who don’t know Toru Orua before Dickson’s emergence as a governor, it used to be a rural settlement. It had no road, no electricity and in fact no modernity. It was a village of thatched and mud houses. It was only accessible by boats through the River Forcados, which surrounds the community. It was so isolated that nobody reckoned with it.

    But things have changed rapidly. Charity begins at home. So Dickson single-handedly transformed a raw village into a notable city. Toru-Orua is rocking shoulders with Yenagoa in terms of development. Thatched and mud houses have given way to high-rise buildings, beautiful duplexes and shinning bungalows. Toru-Orua has electricity, banks, a university, police station and bases of military formations. A road now leads to the city. Many tarred roads also divide the town into streets.

    Dickson’s farm has added to the beauty of Toru-Orua. The governor is a great host. He devotes time to conduct his visitors round the farm. It is a ritual with social protocol; what the governor chooses to call induction. A visitor goes round the farm with the governor, beholds sections of the farm such as the plantain plantation, crop section, pineapple plantation and areas mapped out for aquaculture and poultry.

    The real induction begins at the massive sugarcane plantation. Here, a visitor is given a cutlass to harvest sugarcane stem of his choice. “The longer the stem, the higher your blessings”, Dickson says jokingly. So, a visitor tries to harvest the highest sugarcane stem he can lay his hands on. The tourist prepares the stem, cuts off a plantable part and plants the leafy part of the stem in a designated area. He poses for a picture with the governor. Then the real enjoyment begins when he chews the sugary juice as he discusses with the governor. The reception makes a visit to Dickson’s farm a huge fun. How did the governor develop love for farming?

    “It It started right in this community”, the governor says. “I farmed with my parents. As a matter of fact, part of this area is owned by my father. My father brought me here and set up my first farm around where my house now stands. This was my first farm in 1984, 1985.

    “My father had a large banana plantation around this same area and when I decided to build a house, a proper compound, I rejected my father’s offer to take his land which we have given to the university. I told him I wanted to build near the river, I started acquiring this place when  I was in the House of Representatives and it kept expanding until the way it is.”

    Dickson has been investing in farm years before he became a governor. Speaking about some of his farmland, he says: “The farm here is about 25 to 30 hectares. It is not too big but I intend to make full use of it. You can see the large fish pond under construction. There  will be a poultry here. There will be a piggery here and a ranch for cattle. The one in Yenagoa, Yenegwe,  I have about 30 hectares too. I have always had that from the early twenties, 2001, 2002. My farm in Abuja is about a 100 hectares.”

    Speaking specifically on fish farming, Dickson said: “My fish farms are very large. I have the largest fish farm in the state, hundreds of thousands of fingerlings and matured fish. We are constructing the preservation systems. We want to be able to preserve them for long to sell and package because there are thousands of big fish of all kinds in my pond. The ponds are like lakes”.

    Like most Ijaw farmers, Dickson likes growing plantain. When asked his favorite crops and plants, he says: “As an ijaw man, our first is plantain. We have planted a lot of plantain and we have produced many dozens of plantain needed for sale, even in my farm in Yenagoa, we sell every market day.

    “So, we have been producing and selling, we have banana, mango, pineapples, oranges and so on. But my main focus is going to be aquaculture, poultry, piggery, cattle; I am a herdsman; an  ijaw herdsman who does cattle rearing in a confined environment, ranching and that’s what we recommend to everybody.”

    In fact, the governor desires to return to farming after the expiration of his tenure on February 14, 2020. Speaking further about his Toru-Orua farm and his future plans, he says: “I started this farm a long time ago. I haven’t really had time to prepare it and am getting ready to do so. When I finish I will be into full time farming.

    “Let me underscore the importance of investing in agriculture. First to be able to provide what we eat and secondly to be able to create jobs and create wealth and each of us no matter how highly placed should be in a position to add to the investment in agriculture and sometimes it doesn’t take too much. You can all go to your communities acquire one hectare, two hectares and plant something.

    “Luckily our country is so well endowed that in every part, we can at least plant one crop or the other. So, for me agriculture is very paramount if we are serious about creating sustainable economy and if we are serious about creating jobs. By so doing we provide food sufficiency for ourselves.

    “In this farm I plant almost everything, for the past two ,three years we have actually been harvesting a lot of banana, a lot of plantain, a lot of cucumber, a lot of pineapples everything here and you have all joined me to harvest sugarcane and I have just formally inducted you all into my farm for which am grateful.So this is to encourage you all to tell the story of agriculture.”

    The governor advises the youths to change their mindsets of viewing agriculture as old people’s occupation. “That’s the mindset we have to change. Part of what I intend to do is to apply for , have already started talking with some  banks to help me raise a facility base on the security of my titles to enable me make all these investments as I get ready to leave office.

    ”I intend to stay here in my community and my farm  in Yenagoa so that I can make most of these investments to create jobs and also make profit. Farming is very profitable. We cannot meet our needs for pigs and eggs in this state and even other poultry products. We import everything. Everything is brought into Bayelsa. So, farming is a good thing to go into and those, who have gone into it have no regrets.”

    But the governor does not intend to concentrate only on farming after leaving office. “Age is still on my side and I have a lot of passion. Writing is one and teaching is another. I will likely go back back to school. I will like to involved in teaching; carrying out research on studies about my deep experiences in governors,” he says.

    The countryman governor appeals to youths to embrace agriculture and stop the habit of relying solely on government for survival. He implores youngsters to take responsibility for their lives and future.

    Dickson added: “That is the tragedy of an under-developed deprived environment like Bayelsa where everybody thinks that survival must come from government. They don’t know that first of all, they have to take responsibility for their lives and their future. We have made a lot of investment in agriculture  to make the involvement easier.

    “Look at the aquaculture  village in Yenagoa and the several others that we are doing outside Yenagoa. Right now we have capacity of 1500 to 2000 young fishermen that should be under training and they are  also making some money in the process.

    “If you go to Ebedebiri where the government poultry with about 35,000 bird capacity is located. There is currently a programme to see how young people can go there and learn. Although I have said that the University of Africa should take it over, there is another fish farm, two big fish farms, one coming up in Angalabiri constructed by the izonist another close to Yenagoa I think famgbe area.

    “Our biggest  investment is the cassava starch processing factory, which is the largest not just in Nigeria but the largest cassava processing factory in Africa. It is built by the Dutch and they are rounding off and they will be here to run it up for two years. There is a lot of money in it.

    “We need all the starch that is produced in Bayelsa and in the entire South-South to service that factory. It will be commissioned in the next two, three months. They have already finished installation and they are just putting finishing touches to it.

    “In the end, agriculture is in the hands of everybody, like am demonstrating, we have  directed all appointees, commissioners and others to set up farm and they are doing very well.”

    On his disciplined lifestyle, Dickson said: “l have never smoked. I don’t like taking alcohol and I don’t recommend that. At the end, our strength comes from God. I live a simple life dedicated to the service of our people. I am a man of faith, who also believes that God has a hand in what we do and what we accomplish and how we live our life. So, I relax a lot.”

  • Airport upgrade: Hope rises for Edo agro-business

    In a few months’ time, exporters of agricultural products in Edo State and its environs would not need to bother about delays in travelling to Lagos for the purpose of taking their products to any part of the world.

    They would export their agro-products right from the Bénin Airport. Besides, businessmen, politicians and individuals can now land at the Bénin Airport any time of the day. This is because the airport has commenced night operations.

    In 2013, during the inauguration of the remodeled Bénin Airport, former Governor Adams Oshiomhole requested the then Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah to ensure that the Airport operates in a 24-hour basis.

    Oshiomhole had argued that the 24-hour operation for the airport would enable individuals, especially himself, meet emergency engagement in Abuja. He regretted that the Benin Airport being one of the oldest in the country remained the way it was despite the increase in traffic.

    Oshiomhole’s successor, Godwin Obaseki has, however, seen to the realisation of his dream. Facilities in the 63-year-old Bénin Airport has been upgraded for it to carry out night operations. The equipment installed for the night operations were inaugurated last week by the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

    The equipment inaugurated at the Airport included thunder and lightning system, Secure Aviation Data Information System (SADIS); Enhanced Simple Approach Lightening System, CAT ll and Instrument Landing System (ILS)/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME).

    Speaking at the inauguration, Senator Sirika said Edo people would gain a lot from the improved operational capability of the Bénin Airport because of the ability to come and go out of Bénin by air in reduced weather condition even when the pilot can barely see anything.

    Senator Sirika further explained that the equipment are both ground-based and satellite-based. He said the satellite-based equipment would begin work if the ground-based ones failed.

    He said: “The importance of the Benin culture and history is such that we cannot ignore. We will continue to upgrade facilities to meet its peers in other cities. The operational capacity of the Benin-City Airport has tremendously improved as we can now guarantee safe landing in reduced visibility and in bad weather condition. Aircraft can now land in Benin Airport at night. No more closure of the Airport by 6:00 p.m.

    “When the country was divided into regions, the centrality of Benin is very important. Benin is the cradle of history, tradition and culture. There is connection between aviation, culture, commerce and others. We are intertwined and we hold Benin in high esteem. We will continue to promote this city, to enhance this city and make people come here. The more people come to Benin, the better for commerce.

    “You have the Instrument Landing System which allows pilots to land in reduced weather. It is no longer pleasure to say from 6:00 p.m., you cannot land in Benin. We will continue to do more for Benin. We will site the agro-allied terminal at the Benin Airport. We are bringing cargo terminal for agro export. People involved in export of perishable items can send their goods to Europe very quickly. Obaseki has promised to participate in putting the structure for the facility in place.

    “Airplane owners must improve their aircraft. They have to train their pilots. If their pilots are not trained, they cannot come here.”

    On his part, an elated Governor Obaseki said the Bénin Airport could now compete with its peers across the world with the installation of the equipment and commencement of night landing facilities. He noted that people would have no excuse not to come to Bénin again whether at night on the excuses of bad weather.

    He said, “Edo is a hub. We are a transportation hub. Benin Airport is one of the top five airports in Nigeria in terms of passenger traffic. We do not want to wait for the Federal Government alone to provide all that are needed.. So, we have to put in our resources to support them to ensure that they are attracted to make investment in our airport. With the night landing facility put in place, we shall now persuade airlines to make night stops in Benin. That way, they bring traffic into our state.

    “We are inaugurating an array of things at the Airport. The benefits of all these facilities are limitless. What the cargo terminal means is that we can export our produce from here to all over the world.

    “For you to have economic growth, you must have infrastructure. People must be able to come in and go out. Money must come in and leave freely. This air transportation infrastructure will just complement our other efforts in area of tourism, agriculture, infrastructure even education. What it means is that there will be no excuse. It will help business once people know they can get in and out of Benin at any time.

    “We are not just unveiling a new technology for our airport; we are celebrating a very unique privilege and honour for a state to collaborate very closely with the Federal Government agency. The Benin Airport built in 1956 is being upgraded so that it can be ranked as an airport that could match any airport in the world by equipping it with the instrument every airport should have.

  • Edo pensioners smile as Obaseki keeps promises

    Last year, Delta State Governor Godwin Obaseki promised pensioners that it would be the last time they would be wearing black attires to May Day rallies. Apart from wearing black attires, the pensioners, mostly those that retired from the local governments, engaged in street protests. It was a pitiable sight to see the pensioners sitting along major streets protesting their unpaid gratuities. Some of them were owed pension arrears spanning 7-42 months.

    Addressing pensioners during last year’s May Day rally, Obaseki said: ”I am not happy that some people are wearing black. I promise you will not wear black next year.

    “My predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had an option to pay only those that retired in his time but he went back to start paying pension from 1997. I made a promise and I will keep my promise.

    “We stand by the truth and we are not afraid particularly by those who destroyed this state. Stop taking money from the opposition to hurt yourself. Our commitment is to make our retirees comfortable.

    Currently, the Edo pensioners are happy. They displayed their joy during this year’s May Day rally when they wore white attires to the venue. Unlike before, when the pensioners would refuse to engage in marching, they filed out to perform the march past.

    The journey to the present situation in which pensioners are happy began during the administration of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole when fraud was uncovered in pension administration.

    The fraud was such that some pensioners were unable to get their gratuities; others had two vouchers in their names. The fraud resulted in the retirement of the then State Head of Service, Mr. Jerry Obazele and Permanent Secretary, Information and Communications Technology Agency, Mr. Dan Aigbavboa while other members of the State Pensions Board were asked to report to the State Civil Service Commission for proper investigation and disciplinary action in accordance with the Civil Service Rules.

    Checks by Niger Delta Report showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration inherited unpaid gratuities arising from workers dismissed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government and military administration.

    All Permanent Secretaries sacked in 1999 and even some laid off during military administration of Baba Nyam were not paid gratuities.

    It was gathered that plans were to clear the pension arrears from the backlogs instead of doing selective payment based on the ability to bribe pension administrators.

    Explaining how the fraud was uncovered, Oshiomhole said he discovered a huge gap between what the Head of Service had told him the state owed and what is now generated to pay. He said the Pensions Board along with some officers in the Information and Communication Technology Agency generated three versions of what the pension liabilities are, adding that cases were established in which one person has two vouchers, same date of birth, same first name, same surname, everything the same and two original vouchers for one pensioner.

    Following the uncovered fraud, the Pensions Board was scrapped and a Bureau was to be created. Governor Obaseki, however, followed the steps of his predecessor and set up an Ad-Hoc Committee on Pension Management headed by Mr. Saylor Juwobor, to supervise modalities for clearing pension arrears accumulated and also to ensure migration of public servants to the Contributory Pension Scheme.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the committee, Obaseki said: “We cannot solve all the problems of pensioners in one day. This problem accumulated for a long time. As a government, we are committed to resolving all pension-related problems.

    “Edo State Government employees who have more than five years to retirement have joined the contributory pension scheme. The fund for the payment of their pension is in a special account usually with their pension fund administrators. We have also appointed pension fund administrators and custodians who will hold those funds.”

    To show commitment to his promise, Obaseki renovated the building housing Ethiope Publishing at the Kings Square and converted it to the office of the State Pension Bureau. This is to make pensioners have easy access to the office.

    A systematic way adopted to clear backlog of pension arrears was to classify the pensioners into batches and ensured that the backlog was cleared methodologically after due confirmation. The sum of N200 million was set aside monthly to defray the pension arrears. Local government chairmen were also made to set aside money to clear pension arrears owed their retirees.

    Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Jimoh Ijegbai, who spoke to reporters, said the government has paid almost N5.5 billion to pensioners between last year and this year.

    He said: “This recent approval of N843, 324, 509.46 is a further demonstration of the commitment of the Obaseki-led administration to ensure that all arrears of pension are cleared. Last year, we were using N264 million to pay pensioners on a monthly basis. At the end of December, we paid pensioners to the tune of N3.168 billion.

    “If you add this to the N1.5 billion that we paid in June last year and this recent approval of N843, 324, 509.46 that we are paying today, it will amount to N5, 511,324, 509.46 as total amount paid to pensioners in one year.”

    State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Mr. Egbon Osamwonyi said all the promises made by the governor concerning pension payments have been fulfilled. He said they wore white cloths to the May Day rally to thank Governor Obaseki and tell the world that they are now happy.

    He said: “Our issues are being looked into. Many of our members have been paid and others have been captured. The governor is living up to his promise. He has done what many others could not do.”

    Obaseki said their expression shows he has been addressing pension payment as he promised them last year.

    He said he would clear all pension arrears when the IGR increases.

  • Akwa Ibom and Buhari’s next cabinet

    Few people doubt the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership philosophy is rooted in integrity and transparency. It is for this reason that I am constrained to contribute to this piece as my token of making his next cabinet free of men with questionable characters. Even though my primary interest is my state, Akwa Ibom, it is also a pointer than anyone with a situation similar to ours should not be allowed near the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    President Buhari has a remarkable victory, ordained by the almighty God and the overwhelming support of the good people of Nigeria. This comes with higher expectations and bigger responsibilities.  All eyes will be on the president to see how he will translate his Next Level programme from rhetoric to reality.

    It is my fervent prayer that he should succeed in positively turning the fortunes of our dear nation around in line with his programme. And for him to do this, he needs to avoid unnecessary distractions, irritations, rancour and bickering. There is no better start to having no distraction than recruiting the right men to assist him in actualising his programmes. We all have not forgotten that the few controversies around his government in the first term were as a result of the insensitive actions of some of his ministers, whose conducts were contrary to his discipline and conservative nature.

    Ministers in this dispensation must be men and women of great intellect, characters and abilities. Men of war and men who believe in bulldozing their ways even into areas where they are not wanted should steer clear of this cabinet and if they want to wriggle their way in, they should be told in unmistakable terms that there is no space for them.

    In our dear state, distinguished Senator Udoma Udoma gave a good account of himself in the last cabinet. A gentleman to the core and a major pillar of the last cabinet, in my view, deserves a place in the next cabinet and if for whatever reason, the president deems it fit to replace him, he certainly should not be replaced by Senator Godswill Akpabio. My major reason for this is not different from the position of a group of activists from the state.

    Permit me to quote from a news story published in Monday’s edition of this newspaper: “His corruption case with the EFCC has the potential of exploding into national embarrassment and credibility question for your government, should he be made a minister in a government that prides itself as anti-graft champion. We wish to remind you of your famous words, that ‘if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us’.

    “Many had thought that his joining APC would bring a cool breeze of good fortunes to the party in the state, but rather, his highhanded nature and disrespect for internal democracy … became a raging storm that uprooted the recognised structures of the party … This overwhelming attitude, sadly, affected the chances of our governorship candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere (ONE).

    “Akwa Ibom State has several other eminent persons… just as Chief Udoma Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning, has done creditably … And in terms of loyalty to the party and contributions to its development in the state, we have credible people, including Chief Umana Umana and Senator John Udoedehe, among others …

    “Akpabio has become very desperate for a fresh political power from the back door of ministerial appointment, which we fear he may use with vengeance against us…

    “His notoriety for flippancy is well known…For instance, he has started … boasting that Mr President is even begging me to accept a ministerial position.”

    The letter added: “And we believe that he needs a period of catharsis…to reflect and purge himself of bottled up negative emotions. And you can help him achieve that. You already have enough security challenges on your hands…”

    The group, which described itself as “core believers in Mr President’s leadership philosophy …” said the state must help “our leader achieve enhanced performance in his second and final term…”

    It added that Buhari’s second coming “comes with higher expectations and greater responsibilities…’’ as “all eyes will be on you and your government… to see how you will translate your Next Level programme … to the reality of the genuine positive impact that would leave Nigeria better than you met it.

    “Especially in your patriotic desire to decisively tackle insecurity … revive the economy and create jobs…

    “But we caution that to achieve these objectives…the country needs an atmosphere of peace and you and your government deserve an environment devoid of unnecessary distractions, irritations, rancour and bickering…

    “And the choice of personnel you recruit … would be a huge factor. Note that the few controversies around your government in the first term were actually as a result of the unethical or insensitive actions of some of those you appointed into your cabinet whose conduct were contrary to your …discipline and conservative nature.”

    If the decision were solely mine, Udoma will have a smooth ride back into the cabinet, but as I pointed out, if Udoma needs to be dropped, there are many credible Akwa Ibom sons and daughters that can fit the bill. This government should not allow itself to be bogged down by Akpabio’s baggage.

    I sincerely believe he ran into the All Progressives Congress (APC) in search of freedom from prosecution. He tried his best to return to the Senate; he failed. He did his best to get ONE to be governor, his best was abysmal. He also could not help the President to get enough votes in Akwa Ibom. He is, for me, a liability and the President should not allow him into his cabinet under any guise— no matter the pressure.

    It should not just be Akpabio. Anybody who is being tried by any of the anti-graft agencies should clear himself first and free the government from distraction. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is waiting patiently to see the calibre of men and women that will make the list of ministerial nominees and allowing individuals who are under probe or are being tried for graft will certainly make it easy for the party to rubbish the government.

    Please, Mr. President, your last lap deserves to be better than the first and staying far from men with queried characters is one of the ways to ensure this. I wish Mr. President all the best!

  • Cross River-born Anyogo for trials in Europe

    For 17-year-old Damian Leonard Anyogo, from Yache in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State whose dream is to play for the Super Eagles, the future already seems bright as a result of invitations for football trials in the United Kingdom.

    At present, the first-year Law student of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) Ekiti State, Anyogo who has the consent of his parents, has gotten invitations for U-18 trials from Essex, Manchester, Sheffield and West London later this month.

    Cross River State has produced footballers, who have donned the colours of the Nigerian national team, and Anyogo, who plays in the attacking position and already is a member of his university team, says he is determined to pursue a career in football and emerge at the top.

    According to him, he developed a passion for the game right from when he was a child and has been working hard at it since then; playing for both the elementary and secondary schools he attended.

    “I have put a lot of hard work and determination. I have been playing since I was a child and my dream is to play for the National Team one day. I dream to take the country to the World Cup and win,” he said.

  • Excitement as Isoko gets first four-star hotel

    Oleh, the headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, over the weekend, found its way into the world’s hospitality map as one of the biggest hotels in the Niger Delta region of the country; Dantinajo Gold Resort, was officially inaugurated.

    Aside from holding a beacon for Oleh and its people, Dantinajo Gold Resort is also an example of how a national economy can be grown, according to former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the Chief launcher of the facility.

    Speaking about how and why the hotel was built in Oleh of all places, the owner of the investment, Daniel Elozino Omoyibo an Engineer, said his primary aim in building the facility was the economy and well fare of his kinsmen in Oleh.

    He reasoned that the first beneficiaries of the investment would be hundreds of young men and women from the immediate environment, who would find employment at the facility, then those who would continue to make livelihood from providing goods and services for the daily running of the place.

    “My main reason for putting up this edifice is to make sure I bring out the unemployed youths out there and empower them, reduce unemployment in Nigeria, Delta, Isoko and Oleh”, he said.

    Declaring that Dantinajo Gold Resort is the best in the oil-rich region, Omoyibo noted that the hotel boasts standard facilities, adding that it can compete with any world-class hotels in service rendering and management.

    He said: “The hotel has 85 rooms; 53 standard rooms, 12 suits and 20 apartments. Some of the facilities here are a swimming pool, a gym, a conference hall, a restaurant and a bar.”

    In addition to all the fine facilities the hotel boasts of, the residents were excited about the economic benefits the hotel is expected to provide for them in Oleh and many Isoko from other surrounding communities.

    Some of those who spoke at the event expressed how happy they were about the new hotel. They regarded it as an added ornament to the landscape of Isoko land, something that can be found in other more developed towns and cities, a thing to honour their homeland.

    One of the guests at the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Matthew Onoriode, commended Omoyibo for bringing “a dream to reality in Oleh”.

    According to him, many people in the same position as Omoyibo and with equivalent wealth would have failed to see the beauty and economic value such an investment could bring to a town such as Oleh.

    “This is very commendable and it should be emulated by other well-to-do Nigerians. Some other people would have thought building this kind of edifice in a town such as Oleh wouldn’t bring them as much returns as they would wish, but such people are mistaken because in no distant time, our brother will start counting his gains in multiple folds.

    “This is the first A-list hotel in this part of the world and one certain thing is that all visitors and fun-seekers in the whole of Isoko and some Urhobo communities will now find their ways here,” Onoriode said.

    The hotel facility, built on a massive space in the heart of the town, which also serves as the headquarters of the Delta South Senatorial District and host to the Law Faculty of the Delta State University (DELSU), is expected to serve an array of clientele, ranging from occasional visitors, to company employees working far away from home, to hosting big political meetings and other.