The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • In Bayelsa, expectant women smile to the bank

    Safety of pregnant women and children under the age of five has become a major concern of the Bayelsa State Government. In today’s Bayelsa, women need not worry about pregnancies. Men need not bother about the cost of impregnating their wives especially the ante-natal and neonatal cares.

    Following the new policy introduced by the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, once a woman residing in Bayelsa is pregnant irrespective of his state of origin, the government steps in to take over the antenatal burden from her and her family.

    Besides, the government pays the woman a monthly stipend of N7000 for a period of 10 months. Every cost about the pregnancy and the health of the woman is borne by the state government. The government is also making deliberate efforts through many programmes to safeguard the health of children under the age of five.

     

    Bayelsa’s demographic survey problem

    The government is jolted by the high maternal mortality rate in the state. Despite previous efforts by Dickson to reduce the death rate, Bayelsa is still ranked among the riskiest states to give births.

    Commissioner for Health Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu recently said 1,870 expectant mothers die in the state in every 100,000 births. He described it as a sad state of affairs insisting that it bellied investments on improved health facilities dotting different parts of the state. He said despite the provisions of health infrastructures, pregnant women in the state still preferred other alternative local means of giving birth.

    The professor also blamed the sorry state of expectant mothers in the state on unwholesome practices of most Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). Though he cited the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, indicating that over 100 women die every day in the country for causes related to child birth, he said Bayelsa case was not better than the national statistics.

    In a paper titled, Management of Bleeding During Pregnancy, Labour, delivered recently during the launching of a safe motherhood campaign in Bayelsa, a notable gynecologist, Dr. Andrew, Igbafe listed major causes of complications in pregnancy as excessive bleeding during pregnancy and after child birth, prolonged labour, unsafe abortion, harmful religious and traditional practices.

    Igbafe called for zero tolerance for maternal and infant death in the state; girl-child education; enlightenment campaigns to every nooks and crannies of the state; support from traditional rulers, elders,  chiefs, medical practitioners and TBA’s among others to stem the tide of infant and maternal mortality.

    In January this year when the Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) visited Dickson, the governor did not mince words on his government’s concerns about expectant mothers’ safety in Bayelsa.

    He told the group led by its National President, Prof. Oluwarotimi Akinola, that the issue of infant and maternal healthcare was critical in the state. But he gave his assurances that the government would reduce the infant and maternal mortality rate in Bayelsa.

    He said: “I want the Bayelsa rate to be the lowest in the federation, which is why we are building the best of health care facilities. I have instructed the Commissioner for Health to devise a special scheme within the confines of the Health Insurance System that will incentivise our pregnant and nursing mothers to register and be captured.

    ‘’I want a situation where every woman who gets pregnant is captured within the first three months for us to know where she lives, what becomes of her pregnancy and we will support her to deliver safely and monitor the health of both mother and child”.

     

    The Incentives

    The government through the Ministry of Health designed the first Maternal and Infant Mortality Summit. The event attracted all stakeholders within and outside the state. During the summit, the government launched Safe Motherhood in Bayelsa. The campaign for deliberate and coordinated programmes to force down the figure was inaugurated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Dickson read out the state policy. The governor said his government would give N3000 monthly allowance to each pregnant woman in the state. But there is a caveat. For a pregnant woman to benefit, she must first tell the government about her pregnancy by reporting to any of the nearest government-controlled clinics.

    Her pregnancy will be documented and automatically she and her unborn baby will become the “property” of the state. Immediately, she will be qualified to receive the allowance. In addition, the government will freely nurture the beneficiary and her pregnancy till the birth of the child.

    The policy is to encourage pregnant women to use health facilities provided by the government. It is to discourage them from visiting TBAs which have high mortality risk. Dickson immediately released N100million to the Ministry of Health for the payment of the special allowances.

    To make health facilities accessible to pregnant women across the state, Dickson directed the ministry of health and his team to build health centers in each of the 105 wards in the state. He gave the ministry a cheque of N1.2bn to commence the project.

    He said his government would not do it alone. He, therefore, called on community leaders, women, opinion leaders and other stakeholders to be part of the process of ensuring that no death of pregnant woman is recorded in Bayelsa.

    He said:  “Every pregnant woman living in Bayelsa is entitled to N3, 000, until delivery and it will be accessed upon registration for anti-natal programme at the nearest medical facility for safe delivery.

    “This is to ensure that, the health team gives me information on the number of pregnant women in the state. I want a report on their delivery; that’s how serious we take this issue of infant and maternal mortality.

    “In the event of any thing going wrong, I will give directive for a special coronary inquest, check the integrity and conduct of medical personnel involved or the traditional birth attendant responsible, so that I will know the consequences that will follow.”

    Dickson’s action attracted plaudits from Obasanjo. He observed that the governor built adequate healthcare facilities in the state adding that with the existing health infrastructure no pregnant woman should die during pregnancy and after delivery.

    He said: “What gladdened my heart most is what Bayelsa State is doing, because the state according to the governor will meet the standard of Ondo State and surpass it in the shortest time possible. Bayelsa has taken the solution to where the problem is.

    “Already, there are hospitals in all the local government areas and the governor has told me that we are going beyond local government to individual community so that no pregnant woman will have to travel beyond allowable distance to get ante natal care which is very necessary for safe delivery.

    “There will be training of people who will address and deal with those who are pregnant. I want to assure you that whatever you do here that can be copied by any other state, l will be your advocate. Advocacy and raising awareness is one thing that we have to do.

    “If we have the facility that is of world standard for medical checks and treatments, why should our children and pregnant women be dying? I am a witness that you are changing the face of Bayelsa on daily basis?”

    Dickson’s wife also applauded her husband for the special interest his administrations continually give women in the state. She said with the initiative, it was obvious her husband was committed to ensuring that pregnant women give birth safely.

    “With the huge investment by the government in the health sector, the infant and Maternal death rate in the state would be drastically reduced”, she said calling in women to take advantage of the initiative.

     

    Cash incentive increases from N3000 to N7000

    To underscore its seriousness, the government through the ministry of information inaugurated a committee with a mandate to take the messages to all nooks and crannies of the state.

    The sensitisation committee headed by Chris Odi, a Director in the ministry, was asked to break communication barriers and ensure all women living in hard-to-reach areas such as fishing ports and creeks get actionable information on the programme.

    Inaugurating the sensitisation committee, the Commissioner for information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said Dickson was determined to drastically reduce the mortality figure.

    He said: “Some days ago, the governor launched the safe motherhood initiative which is one very important programme. We are losing a number of our pregnant women due to cultural practices because they don’t go to hospital and there, they are not well informed of what to do.

    “We are taking the message to every nooks and cranny of our state. We will reach every single community because most fatalities happen there.

    “No woman should die during childbirth. We are deploying all our means to sensitise our people. We are going from door to door to get the message to those that matter. As long as you are pregnant, married or not, you are covered.”

    Pregnant women further received another cheering news from Etebu. The health commissioner said the ministry was adding N4,000 to the N3,000 earlier approved for pregnant women to make it N7,000 in about 10-month period of pregnancy.

    “At the level of the ministry we are going further. Because about 70 percent of our people go to primary health centres, they will no longer wait for people to come to them.

    “We will go from house to house. Get records and ensure that these women attend our facilities. The governor has said he is giving N3,000 to these pregnant women but we are adding some incentives.

    “For coming to the health centres we are insentivising them with N2,000 and at the antenatal, we are giving out another N2,000 and this is to ensure that they are motivated. The traditional birth attendants will also be motivated to ensure that they take these women to where they can get the right care.

    “We are giving them money to ensure they do this. The community governance structure will also be brought in. Traditional rulers, community groups etc will be involved. This is a continuius measure. All communities must be reached. We are taking this seriously,” he said.

     

    Other multifaceted programmes to reduce death

    Years before the launching of the safe motherhood campaign, Dickson has ensued active participation of the state in various programmes to safeguard the health of pregnant women and children. As part of Governor Dickson’s Safe Delivery Project, Bayelsa enrolled in the Saving One Million Lives (SOML) programme.

    SOML, a Federal Ministry of Health initiative was launched in 2012 in response to poor health outcomes in the country particularly women and children. It was repackaged and rebranded in 2015 to Saving One Million Lives Performance for Results (SOML PforR) following a $500m International Development Association (IDA) credit from the World Bank.

    Periodically, the State Steering Committee headed by Etebu meets to compare notes and review the performance of the state in its execution of SOML. In a recent meeting held in Yenagoa comprising all health workers in the project, the committee evaluated the programme’s reach and its challenges. Etebu also inaugurated Local Government Desk Officers and charged them to drive the implementation of the scheme in local government areas.

    Etebu explained that the rebranded SOML focuses on six important pillars of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) such as improving maternal, newborn and child health; improving routine immunization coverage and achieving polio eradication and elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV among others.

    Etebu said states are the greatest beneficiaries of the programmes receiving 82 per cent of the $500m with an initial grant of $1.5m to each state and funding for subsequent years based on disbursement linked indicators. He said Bayelsa under the leadership of Dickson put measures in place to ensure maximum and strict utilization of funds focusing on results and outcomes.

    The professor said his ministry set up implementation workplan that addressed all bottlenecks to ensure efficient healthcare service delivery in the six thematic areas of the programme.

    He said the ministry further introduced initiatives for quick wins to create a direct and massive impact on the people of the state especially mothers and children. He said the Dickson’s Eye Care Project and the Dickson’s Award for the Best Performing Primary Healthcare Centre per Ward strategy were all rolled out under the state’s SOML.

    The Programme Manager, Dr. Okoye Ebikapaye, said the grants from SOML were judiciously utilized in Bayelsa. He said In immunization, the committee ensured that vaccines and other materials were distributed to the health facilities. He, however, lamented lack of awareness and poor-health-seeking habit of pregnant women in the state as part of the challenges facing the programme.

    “To ensure that pregnant women deliver in health facilities, we provided cash incentives to the women. To help in the delivery services, we provided the governor Dickson’s Safe Delivery Kits where all that is required at the point of delivery is given to pregnant women.

    “We provided 2000 of the kits across the state. We want to improve. We have identified 500 women qualified for the cash grants and disbursement will be made soonest. The public awareness is not enough. We want it to be optimal.

    “People are not utilizing the opportunities available. There is poor-health-seeks g habit of our pregnant women. They prefer our TBAs to the health facilities. So even after registering in health facilities, they end up delivering in TBAs”, he said.

    Already, he said 11,000 persons accessed the Tele-health aspect of the programme adding that 2000 persons were attended to by skilled birth attendants. Ebikapaye noted that the immunization aspect of the programme increased from 43 per cent to 53 percent.

    According to him HIV/AIDS thematic area had about 6000 pregnant women, who were counseled and tested and a few of them found positive were connected to where they would get anti-retro viral drugs.

    Furthermore, the state participates actively in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCH). A fresh week took off recently. Etebu said it was the implementation of the first round of the 2018 edition of MNCH.

    “It is a weeklong event organised to deliver integrated high-impact low cost result oriented and effective preventive and curative healthcare services”, he said adding that the programme would further increase maternal and child health indices.

    He explained that the indices were expected to increase in the areas of vitamin A supplementation in children, deworming of children, nutritional assessment of children, iron/folic supplementation for pregnant women, routine immunisation, birth registration, intermittent treatment of malaria in pregnant women, HIV counseling and testing and counseling on key household practices such as hand washing.

    He said the busy week would compel medical workers to improve access to high quality medical services to reduce high mortality rate and improve maternal health. He noted that a finding from the recent Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey indicates high neonatal, under five and maternal mortality.

    Etebu said: “In consonance with the foregoing, is the fact that the MMCH is implemented in two rounds. Indices from Bayelsa state from the recent multi indicator cluster survey and national immunisation cluster survey is undesirable”.

     

     

     

     

  • New home for Delta police special squad

    The headquarters of the Delta State Police Command was agog with excitement as men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) in their numbers witnessed the commissioning of the ultra- modern office of the Eagle-Net Special Squad and observatory post/transit camp within the premises of the Delta State Police Command by Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    In addition to the harvest of infrastructural projects, 20 operational Siena mini vans with specially fabricated cell facilities for detention of suspects were also presented.

    It was a carnival atmosphere as scores of policemen and women in freshly starched uniforms beaming with smiles walked smartly, barely able to contain their excitement. It was joy unconfined.

    The buildings and operational vehicles were a jointly funded project by State oil interventionist agency, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and Delta State Security Trust Fund.

    Although the project was initiated by AIG Alkali Baba Usman during his tenure as the State Police Commissioner in 2016, it was brought to fruition by the newly appointed CP Muhammad Mustafa, who has renovated the facilities at the Delta State Police Command in record time.

    The inauguration of the edifices mark an end to the sordid and harsh living conditions many policemen were subjected to  in the course of duty;  no longer will policemen live in makeshift  cramp quarters , exposed to the elements, but  these long suffering policemen and women  will enjoy the   cozy well apportioned buildings with modern facilities.

    Okowa  appealed for the support of all stakeholders for the security agencies so as to ensure peace and security in the society.

    According to Okowa, the task of ensuring peace and security of our society should not be left for government alone, stressing that “we cannot continue to leave the affairs of security just to the government alone; individuals who are blessed, corporate organisations ought to and should continue to support police in their work so that they can have the best in delivering their duties because when they have the best working environment they are likely to be more civil in your duties.

    “As a country and as a people we must realise that we require the partnership of the police and we ought to be their partners if we want things to work, the private sector should support the security agencies to ensure peace and security in the country.”

    He commended the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and the Delta State Security Trust Fund for the building projects and operational vehicles stating: “I  must also thank the management of DESOPADEC and the management of the Delta state Security Trust Fund for their collaboration with the police, starting first with the Eagle Net Squad and the Transit camp for the women that was built, we need to partner with Police Force to provide conducive working environment for its officers and members, so  as to get the best out of them.”

    While congratulating Police Commissioner Muhammad Mustafa for his leadership qualities in bringing out the best in his subordinates, Okowa eulogised the initiator of the projects, DSP Usman Dimka, O/C Eagle-Net Special Squad, Asaba, for his initiative in building the office and transit camp and urged others to emulate him.

    Earlier, in his welcome address, the State Police Commissioner, CP Muhammad Mustafa appreciated Governor Okowa for his support to the state Police Command and DESOPADEC for the partnership and the projects.

    Mustafa said the building projects will boost the morale of his men who will undoubtedly redouble their efforts at crime fighting, adding that the Eagle Net Special Squad with its over 100 personnel will “complement the efforts of other existing operational outfits such as the Quick Response Squad (QRS), the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squads (SAKCCS), the State Anti-Cult Unit (SACU), the Dragon and Safer Highways outfits”.

    He praised DSP Dimka for initiating and completing the projects for the benefit of the Police.

    He said:“ You have best exemplified the message which has been my watchword since my assumption of office as Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command which is: “leave the Command or any place you find yourself, better than you met it”. By building this ultra-modern office, along with its accompanying Women Police Transit Camp/Public Toilet and Bathroom, you have bequeathed a worthwhile legacy to generations of policemen and women and even those yet unborn who one day will serve in this Command.”

    DSP Dimka said the projects were in fulfillment of his vision of what the future police station should look like and providing conducive working environment for his colleagues.

     

  • NGO moves to protect girl-child

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Girl Effect, has launched an initiative to transform the lives of the girl child in Nigeria.

    It said the initiative known as “Girls Connect.” would empower the girl-child to eliminate poverty, promote good health and their wellbeing.

    Deputy Country Director of the Girl Effect, Mrs Hadeezah Haruna-Usie, told newsmen in Bénin City that the initiative was capable of driving the economic growth and reduce inequalities in females.

    Haruna-Usie said the initiative would be driven by an innovative Interactive Voice Response (IVR), mobile service for girls.

    She noted that the mission aimed to reach as many girls as possible with the campaign and receive more than one million calls.

    According to her, “It is a pioneering partnership founded by Girl Effect Nigeria, a creative non-profit that uses media and mobile technology to empower girls, and the iSON group, one of Africa’s leading IT and ITeS companies.

    “The Girls Connect programme uses compelling stories to reach young women from across a broad spectrum of Nigeria society through the kind of voice recognition software that a bank might otherwise use to address consumer queries.

    “However, unlike the bank, the point of Girls Connect is to create an immersive world for girls which anonymously answer their queries about growing up in challenging circumstances, on their own terms, free from any fear of judgement.

    “We want to be able to give millions of girls in Nigeria the chance to be connected, informed and empowered to make decisions in their lives,” she stated.

    Wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Magdalene Ohenhen, said the state government would support the programme since the Initiative seems to address the areas bordering on challenges of most girl-child.

    “We have several vulnerable girls with these issues but have no one to talk to,  it rather,  bottle things up. With this initiative, they can speak freely without being afraid of stigmitisation,” she said.

    Similarly, 9mobile said it would partner with the Initiative to make Nigeria society heathier, safer, and more productive.

  • Escravos sets Warri agog

    The Warri South Local Council in collaboration with Warri Economic Summit Group (WESG) organised the “1st Warri Economic Summit”- a bold move by its denizens to reposition the oil city as a major maritime hub in Nigeria and West Africa sub region, and thus revive its socio-economic fortunes.

    The two day summit which held in Warri had as its theme “Warri Arising”. The event attracted major stakeholders from the oil and gas/maritime industry, traditional institutions, community leaders and representatives of ethnic groups, youths and the State government.

    Also in attendance were ex-Governor of Delta State Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and his successor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, HRH Ikenwoli 11, Olu of Warri Kingdom.

    Chairman, WESG Steering Committee, and co-host, E.O Jakpa said the summit seeks to “rebrand and reposition Warri as the central hub for industrial and innovative growth in Nigeria and beyond.”

    According to him, the summit is to “re-profile and rebrand Warri as a city that has emerged from the decades of agitation and ethnic crises much stronger and certainly more united, a vibrant upwardly mobile metropolis, open for business under new management.”

    Jakpa said the city boasts the longest commercial historical link with Europe of all cities on the coast of West Africa, adding that Warri’s credentials as a major trading hub is the actual reason the city has managed to proper despite the exodus of a considerable chunk of its oil industrial base.

    The summit, according to Jakpa, is a market place of ideas where potential investors can interact and seek linkages with investors, regulators and other stakeholders.

    Delta Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa who declared the summit open, urged partnership between all the key stakeholders for Warri to regain its lost glory, stressing that for meaningful development the youths must be involved because they are the leaders of tomorrow.

    He said the crises witnessed in the last decades in Warri has receded into history and given way to a stronger, united and peaceful society, adding that “this summit is therefore important towards finding ways of making Warri regain its prime position as a business and maritime hub, both in Nigeria and in West Africa. Those opportunities that made Warri an economic nerve centre are still there Warri began trading with Europe over five hundred years ago”.

    He lamented the tendency to ascribe negative attributes to Warri and charged Deltans to speak positively about themselves and their city.

    According to Okowa, “Many times we give a bad name to Warri, there is no city in the world that is totally peaceful and crises free. Unfortunately, we tend to make our cities and ourselves look worse than we are.”

    He said Warri is the most peaceful city in the country where return on investments is high.

    Uduaghan said except the culture of violence and extortion by youths and some elders cease, the lofty plans by the Federal Government to dredge the Warri Ports would be fruitless.

    Former NIMASA Director-General Temisan Omatsheye, in a paper “Making Warri Port the Preferred Port of Call in West Africa”, wondered how the city could cope with the high volume of goods when the channels have been dredged.

    He urged concerted efforts to collaborate and develop the infrastructure in Warri and neighbouring local council areas to maximise the benefits accruable from the imminent dredging of the Escravos channels.

    He said, “If goods starts coming to Warri today, are we ready to receive the volume of business? To the youths, we must move ahead from the issue of ethnicity and begin to develop ourselves as a State.” Warri cannot do it a

    Co-host and Chairman, Warri South Local Council, Michael Tidi, is optimistic that Warri will get its act together and maximise its potentials for the greater good of Delta State.

     

  • ‘Vibrant law-making will guarantee growth in Akwa Ibom’

    Goddie Ofose, a journalist, is contesting for the Mbo State Constituency seat under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. Ofose speaks on developments in Akwa Ibom State, his aspirations, how the Dakkada philosophy of Governor Udom Emmanuel is motivating citizens of the state to a radically different height and why journalists should participate in politics and governance. WALE AJETUNMOBI met him.

    As a journalist and indigene of Akwa Ibom state what are your views on the style and administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel?

    I must really commend the foresight and purposefulness of the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel. In the last three years, in line with his government 5 point agenda with the three focal points- Industrialization, Tourism and Agriculture, he has been focusing on driving sustainable development projects that will outlive his administration. If you look at industrialization, before now we had industries in the states set up and run as an extended arm of parastatals, so mortality rate was high, especially if an incoming administration does not buy into it. But what he is doing now is to anchor and bench mark things with international best practices. The Udom led government has provides an enabling environment, security, provide infrastructures, good governance and economic policies that will draw investors. One key factor that has been lacking even across the country and Africa but it is now in Akwa Ibom proudly, that is integrity of leadership. So in the last three years or we can proudly talk about at least four world class new industries- syringe factory, metering solutions industries, pencil & toothpick factory, and the paints factory.

    This means business has been created and investment made in areas where there is market, so sustainability is assured. Take the syringe factory for instance Nigeria spends over N30b to imports syringe, so the market for them is readily there. We cannot even meet demands for Nigeria so it will expand with time. The metering factory meets the needs of Nigerians moving massively to pre-pay metering.  It is same with the paint and toothpick factories. So many other moribund industries in various sectors have been resuscitated.

    Governor Udom was recently endorsed by Key sections of the state for a second term, do you think he is worthy of such endorsement?

    Any sincere observer will agree that he is worthy. I am not sure if there is any other state of Nigeria, in this intervening period has been able to do as much as Akwa Ibom State.  The Udom led administration is focusing on the route of diversifying the economy in the area of industrialization to create wealth. The dream is that by the time this administration exits, the economy will have a 360 degree turnaround with the private sector taking over the driving seat of the state economy. Four years cannot be enough to fix everything, a second tenure is key to consolidate this laudable masterplan.

    In many states of the federation, governors have been accused of focusing mainly on state capitals. Is Udom’s approach different?

    It would be highly uncharitable to accuse Governor Udom Emmanuel of concentrating on the State capital. Let us even start with the civil service in every local government with Udom’s continued efforts in oiling the machinery of the government structure which is the public sector. He pays salaries of civil servants promptly. For illustration purposes, any civil servant in the state whose wife is pregnant is guaranteed full welfare attention from government from birth till the child finishes his or her WAEC exams. All through the 9 months of pregnancy, the mother is guaranteed free health services from any state hospital. The first five years of the child also attract free health care, and there is free compulsory primary and secondary education including free WAEC exams for everyone in the state. The state government spends over N600m as payment for WAEC registration exams for all indigenes of the state. On roads, the Akwa Ibom state government has constructed cumulatively over 2700 kilometres of roads benchmarking international standards. This is in just 3 years. These are roads designed and built to last for at least 25years.  These good road network the cut across the state will enhance our agricultural and industrialization drive.

    You are from the Oron ethnic group and we know that your people have been agitating for position of governor. What advice will you give to your people now that Governor Udom is seeking a second term?

    Definitely it is the right of every individual or group to aspire to any leadership role in any political setting. So the desire of the Oron nation is not out of place. However every aspiration must be juxtaposed with realities on ground and what is best for the generality of millions of Akwa Ibom people. Gov Udom is one of us from our Senatorial district. He has as enviable master plan he needs to complete. Our discussions and negotiations should continue in house. The good thing is that in the state, all elites have come to agree that the governorship should rotate among the three senatorial districts every eight years. With Good negotiation, the Ibibio ethnic group in the senatorial district will agree that it is the turn of the Oron nation when it comes round next time. Fighting and bickering will not help any group. Discussions, negotiations and concessions on this issue will be very helpful and ensure peaceful development. It will definitely be in the interest of the Oron people to support Udom and that is what I will advise strongly. It is affirm believe that Mbo support governor’s reelection and Oron nation in general.

    It is currently trending in the social media pages of your large group of friends that you are planning to take active part in politics. Why did you take this decision? Is it because you lead a media group? Don’t you feel being away from home, in Lagos is a disadvantage?

    Yes I have decided to through my hat into the political ring this dispensation. It is always a tough task to resist the call of your people. The fact is that it has become the turn of the people of Ebughu/Udesi to pick the slot for the Mbo House of Assembly seat.  We are highly organised and we have our agreed political arrangement in Mbo. Yes, I am a journalist. My people have seen clearly that my experience in my profession will add value to governance and ensure quality governance. If there is a profession that can train people in law making and vibrant politicking, it is journalism. We are by nature very engaging, analytical and vibrant. I will bring vibrancy to the state assembly and the Mbo people. I also feel vibrant law-making will guarantee growth in Akwa Ibom. I also believe strongly that. My media experience will help deepen legislation and Good Governance in Akwa Ibom. You spoke about being away in Lagos being a disadvantage. That would have been so if I did not keep a strong connection with my people. Do not forget that I was invited to come home and represent them. I have been a very loyal party man. I have and still willing to work tirelessly with great Stakeholders in my area like Hon Victor Antai and RT Hon Nse Bassey Ekpeyong to elevate the philosophies the state government and that of our party the PDP.  If there is one thing that is firmly established, I am fully on ground will my people and by God’s grace I am on my way to the state house of assembly come 2019.

  • Why Okpella, Urhonigbe communities are without electricity

    Okpella and Urhonigbe communities are located far apart in Estako East in Edo North and Orhionmwon in Edo South respectively. They are communities that housed vital companies in the state. Okpella is home to BUA cement factory because its huge limestone and mineral deposits. There are other small cottage mining firms located in Okpella.

    Urhonigbe has the largest rubber plantation and a huge forest reserves. A new firm managing the rubber plantation, the Rubber Estate Nigeria Limited is investing about N5.1billion to boost rubber production in the country. The firm has planted new rubber plants.

    Both communities however have something in common. They don’t have electricity supply. Both communities are in absolute darkness as the Bénin Electricity Distribution Company has since disconnected them over huge debt.

    The non-availability of electricity has crippled business activities in both communities that the residents have to pay to charge their phones at business premises using generator.

    Okpella has been without electricity since December 2017. Management of the BEDC cut the community off over alleged N170m debt. It was gathered that after an initial imbroglio over non-payment of electricity bills, the community leaders and BEDC management entered agreement for the community to be paying N21m monthly for power supply.

    In Urhonigbe, the situation is worsen as the community was cut off for over six years. Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the community was connected but disconnected after the elections over non-payment of electricity bills.

    A resident in Urhonigbe who gave his name as Osaigbovo said the BEDC is asking them to pay the sum of N30m and it is difficult for them to raise money.

    Managing Director of BEDC, Funke Osibodu, told reporters in Bénin City that the firm expected communities to pay for electricity consumed.

    Osibodu explained that representatives of Okpella community brought a N7 million cheque issued by BUA cement instead of N21m agreed to be paid monthly. She stated that the monthly N7m payment continued until the balance bill rose to N170m.

    According to her, “No customer in Okpella wants to pay electricity bills. They depend solely on BUA Cement. We cannot continue to them power when they have not paid for the power consumed.

    For Urhonigbe, She explained that the then Governor assisted to connect the community but members of the refused to pay bills.

    “When we give you power, you must pay. If you owe bills, naturally you don’t have power.”

    But a resident of Okpella, Magnus Philip, said the continuing perpetual darkness in Okpella since 16th December 2017 was alarming and a call for every sons and daughters to wake up to their responsibility.

    According to him, “It is hard time. We have to challenge it. So many businesses have been crashed down due to this singular act of impunity. How long are we going to sit down watching our light gradually disappearing like a vapor? “

  • Why we killed our girlfriends, by suspects

    The trio of Alexander Ogbeije, Osarenwinde Iduwanyi and Junior Omo-Shaba now share a cell at the headquarters of the Edo State Police Command awaiting when they would be charged court to face murder trial.

    Their fate now lies on how well they can convince judges that they are innocent of the crimes they are accused. They are strangers now bounded by the similar crimes they committed at different locations in the month of July. All of them allegedly killed their lovers.

    Their stories are that of love turned sour, betrayal and perhaps killing by mistake. They all planned to marry their lovers they ended up killing.

    Osarenwinde Iduwanyi , 46, said his life is  in a mess because he refused to listen to his mother not to fall in love with a single mother of three, Gladys Okoh. He said late Gladys frustrated his life because he did everything she wanted him to do. The multiple stabbing he inflicted on his lover showed how bitter he was about how their love affairs turned out. Police said he stabbed his lover in several places, including her vagina.

    He told reporters that he was in Italy for 12 years after which he left for the United States before he finally settled in South Africa. Osarenwinde said he has a family in Italy.

    Narrating how his late lover frustrated his life, Osarenwinde said he loved her and wanted to marry her despite the warnings from his mother and relatives.

    According to him, “Look at me now. My life is finished. I wanted to marry her so I always try to make her happy. My mother told me to leave her but I did not listen.

    “She was always insulting my mother and I will be begging her and begging my mother. There was a day I saw condom in her bag but that was not the reason I stabbed her.

    “She said I should open business for her so I sold my SUV at a cheap price of N250,000 and gave her N150,000. I travelled to Lagos and when I came back I saw that she has bought clothes and other personal things with the money. I was annoyed and reported her to her brother about how she spent the business money I gave her.

    “I wanted to still buy a caravan for her but she was still quarrelsome. On the day the incident happened, I was calling her and she was not picking my calls. When I got to her house, she said she wanted to leave the relationship. I told why, after she has frustrated my life, she said it was my mother that frustrated my life.

    “She brought out a knife and wanted to stab me but we struggled and I took it from her. I don’t know why I didn’t go outside with the knife but I stabbed her and went home”.

    Alexander said he had worked hard on his farm for the past three years to raise the money that eventually caused the crisis that led to his killing the woman he wanted to marry.

    Police said he used cutlass to kill Mercy but he said he only slapped her and she fainted.

    According to Alexander, “My girlfriend slapped me two times and I slapped her back then she died. She is my wife. I want to marry her. We are from the same Abavo village in Delta State. I have a farm in Urhonigbe, Edo State. Since last year, we have been together. We were putting things together planning for the future. There was a time I told her that I have over N500,000. I told her that I will use part of the money to pay her bride price and use the rest to open business for her.

    “After three days, I returned from work and saw that the money was missing. I asked her about it and she said she will kill me if I ever talk about the money again. I left her. In the evening, this girl has arranged boys in the house. They started beating me and I do not know why they were beating me.  She reported me to the police and anti-cult unit. I have to run away from my town. When she came to meet me at the farm, I asked her why there was misunderstanding between us. She slapped me twice and I returned the slap which made her to faint. I ran away and later reported myself to the police.

    “I did not bury the body. I left it when I saw that she was no longer breathing. I worked hard alone to get that money.

    “All I am begging is that government should help me to beg the family to my back any expenses. It was a mistake for me to kill her.”

    Junior Omo-Shaba said it was a big mistake for him to kill his girlfriend. Aged 19, he opted to learn fashion after he finished secondary school. He rented an apartment and enrolled his late girlfriend to learn how to make hair.

    He said what led to the death of his girlfriend was an unserious argument on why he used to return home late.

    According to him, ”She was on her way to her house at about 10pm when I met her at the gate. We went back home. She brought out a knife from my room and started peeling orange. She was jokingly saying I was with other girls who made me to always return home late. She said she would use the knife to injure my face so that other girls will not follow me again.

    “I told her I will use the knife to injure her face. I held her behind her back and we were dragging. It was then the knife pierces her right breast. I ran out of the house in fear. My friend visited me and I told him what happened. He said we should take her to the hospital. It was while we were taking her to the hospital that some persons pointed torch at us and my friend ran away leaving me with my injured girlfriend. The knife was still in her breast.

    “I was sacred so I ran away too. I heard gun shot and it was later I saw that it hit my finger. I was called the next day that my girlfriend is lying on the street dead. I called my mother and she called my father. My father said I should report to the nearest police station but I said he should accompany me. It was my father that took me to the police station.

    “She was just 19. She is a young girl. I felt bad about what happened. My father married another wife so I decided to rent an apartment.”

  • NLNG’s battle against militancy in Niger Delta

    The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, for many years, had its corporate headquarters in Lagos, before it relocated to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, when Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi was governor of the Niger Delta state.

    NLNG’s befitting corporate headquarters building in the Garden City is nearing completion on Peter Odili Road, while the company’s operational base/liquefied natural gas plant is on Bonny Island, the headquarters of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers state.

    Accessing Bonny, for now, is either by air, using helicopter or by water, through the use of NLNG’s executive boats with heavy security to prevent attacks from sea pirates, illegal bunkerers/refiners, militants and cultists, but many people who are usually unable to join NLNG’s timed boats, which are safer and usually booked in advance, have no choice, but to opt for the regular speed boats.

    Travelling to Bonny from Port Harcourt with speed boat is regularly associated with tales of woes from attacks by fully-armed sea pirates, who will dispossess innocent passengers of their valuables, especially cash, phones, laptops and rape ladies right inside the boat, while engine of the boat, which costs about N500,000, can also be taken away, leaving the boat’s driver with just paddle to get to the shore, before help will come.

    To put an end to the risk of travelling to Bonny by water, the abandoned Bodo-Ogoni to Bonny Road was recently re-awarded by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, a partnership between NLNG Limited and the Federal Government of Nigeria, but the construction is yet to commence, owing to minor disagreements involving benefiting communities and Rivers state government.

    NLNG Limited was incorporated as a limited liability company on May 17, 1989 to harness Nigeria’s vast natural gas resources and produce Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) for export, while the establishment of NLNG is backed by the NLNG Act.

    The company is owned by four shareholders: the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (49 per cent), Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (25.6 per cent), Total Gaz Electricite Holdings France  (15 per cent ) and Eni (10.4 per cent).

    NLNG has wholly-owned subsidiaries, namely: Bonny Gas Transport (BGT) Limited and NLNG Ship Management Limited (NSML).

    With six trains currently operational and train seven already approved for construction, the NLNG’s plant is capable of producing 22 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) of LNG, and 5 MTPA of NGLs from 3.5 Billion (standard) cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas intake.

    NLNG’s expansion with train seven’s construction is to complement the existing six-train structure, which when in operation will up the company’s total production capacity to 30 million tonnes per annum of LNG.

    As the arrowhead of Nigeria’s efforts to eliminate gas flaring, NLNG’s operations have helped to reduce Nigeria’s flaring profile from 65 per cent to below 25 per cent, while the company also supplies about 40 per cent of the annual domestic cooking gas consumption, while the company’s driving force remains its vision to help in building a better Nigeria.

    In NLNG Limited’s determination to discourage Nigerian youths, particularly the young men and women from the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region, from getting involved in restiveness and militancy, it put in place the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES).

    The 2018 YES graduation ceremony for 84 beneficiaries took place on August 3 at the Banquet Hall of Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, with many of the youths, mostly with First and Master’s degrees, showcasing their skills and talents.

    Eminent personalities at the graduation were so impressed with the eloquence, intellect, boldness and brilliance of one of the beneficiaries, Miss Candace John-Jumbo, an indigene of Bonny Island, when asked to respond on behalf of others, by declaring that: “We will surprise NLNG Limited and we will continue to meaningfully contribute our quota to Nigeria’s development.”

    John-Jumbo also lauded the liquefied natural gas company for the opportunities given to the youths to acquire various skills, the starter packs and take-off grant, while asking other companies to emulate NLNG.

    The paramount ruler of Ubeta Kingdom in Ahoada West LGA of Rivers state, King Chimezie Nathaniel, while also speaking on the occasion, stated that it would not be possible for everybody to go to school, particularly to acquire tertiary education, thereby making the youth empowerment scheme imperative and timely, in order to build capacity.

    The monarch, who was glad that NLNG organised the programme, reiterated that any youth who refused to go to school or learn a trade would be a problem/burden to the society.

    The Deputy Managing Director of NLNG, Sadeeq Mai-Bornu, in his opening remarks, revealed that the 84 beneficiaries graduated after intensive training in their chosen vocations, while most of them knew nothing about their current vocations nine months ago, but eventually became full-time practitioners with not just national certifications, but also life skills.

    Mai-Bornu, who was represented by NLNG’s General Counsel/Company Secretary, Mr. Akachukwu Nwokedi, disclosed that in 2004, when the company launched the youth empowerment scheme, NLNG clearly demonstrated a commitment to sustainable human capital development and alleviation of high rate of poverty in its host communities and other parts of Nigeria.

    He noted that since 2004, NLNG had trained over 900 youths, of 18 to 35 years, across its 110 host and pipeline communities in Rivers state in hairdressing and cosmetology, catering and events management, fashion designing, photography and video production, welding and fabrication, woodwork and furniture making.

    The deputy managing director stated that in 2014, the youth empowerment scheme was refocused towards equipping the youths with skills in relevant industries that would enable them to compete favourably for jobs anywhere in the world, revealing that for the 2017 scheme, NLNG signed a contract with five training centres to offer training opportunities to 267 youths in its host and pipeline communities, over a period of three years.

    He noted that refocusing the scheme made the company to be training the youths in automotive (mechanical and electrical), advanced welding, catering, video production/photography and farm management, with the beneficiaries now graduating with national certifications (NABTEB and Trade Test 11).

    He revealed that NLNG departed from the usual procurement and handover of starter packs to ensuring that the youths became self-reliant and employers of labour on graduation, with the training centres not only required to set the beneficiaries up, but would monitor and mentor them for three months post set-up, to ensure focused attention on the business, for success.

    The deputy managing director said: “They (84 youths) are now poised to forge ahead, to conquer poverty and wants, and build a new world of self-sustenance and self-sufficiency, to contribute to development of their communities, states and the nation.

    “We are glad that some of you (beneficiaries) have already taken up the gauntlet. Worthy of mention is Daniel Ebere, one of the graduates in Photography and Video Production, who has shown significant mastery of the field he formerly knew nothing about. He currently trains twelve students in Video Production and Photography at the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. This is worthy of emulation and shows that we all can succeed in whatever vocation we choose.

    “Today, NLNG Limited is co-funding the world’s biggest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, the Bonny-Bodo Road, with a contribution of N60 billion. We have invested massively in the provision and upgrade of infrastructure in most of our host and pipeline communities. We are the highest tax-paying company in Nigeria, yet we invest heavily in our CSR programmes, because of our passion to make a difference and to touch lives.”

    The Permanent Secretary in Rivers Ministry of Employment Generation and Empowerment, Mr. Lawson Ikuru, in his remarks, stated that NLNG’s youth empowerment scheme was designed to rekindle the entrepreneurial spirit of the teeming youths and reduce poverty.

    Rivers State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mr. Damiete Herbert Miller,  thanked NLNG  for the  initiative.

  • How couple’s suit nullified Edo waste management law

    Since 2010 when the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law was signed into law, several persons that flouted the law have been jailed or made to pay heavy fines. Popularly known as the Waste Management Law, it allowed the Edo State Government to appoint Waste Managers to collect waste from people’s residence as well as charge criminal proceedings against defaulters.

    It also made it a criminal offence not to pay whatever bill slammed on residence by the waste managers. Thus, waste managers became a lot to be feared. It was a sad tale from Edo residence who cried out that the waste managers were not collecting the refuse they were demanding money for.

    Some waste managers turned court summons to racketeering as many people who do not want to appear before a Magistrate were asked to cough out money at the gate of the Magistrate court. This continued for many years until Thursday July 26, 2018 when the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Esohe Ikponmwen, nullified the law and disbanded the Edo State Waste Management Board.

    It was a shocking judgment to the Edo State Government because huge revenue has been generated from fines and levies as well as registration of waste managers. The suit was filed by Barr. Dele Igbinedion on behalf of a couple, Mr. Johnson and Eunice Igbinedion.

    The couple filed the suit after one of their daughters, Joy Igwe, was charged and convicted on 20th August, 2014 because her father did not pay the waste manager, Mr. Kingsley Ayo Ebome, owner of Imose Cleaning Company. Presiding Magistrate, A.A Ihenyen ordered her to pay the N90, 000 Waste Bill and N6, 000 as fine. The daughter was charged her for non-payment of her father’s Waste Bill on the ground that she was the “occupier” of the premises as at the time they came for the arrest.

    It was learnt that the couple first had an encounter with the the Waste Manager in 2012 when they received a bill for waste collection for up to seven months even when they claimed that they have never seen the man came to collect their waste.

    An agreement was reached for the couple to pay N5,000 monthly despite the couple’s argument that they used all their household waste as combustible material in their bakery.

    According to their lawyer, “The Waste Manager agreed that no waste was generated, but the bill had to be paid anyhow. To avoid trouble, Mr. Johnson Igbinedion agred to pay the Waste Manager N5000 monthly. The arrangement worked for some time until the Waste Manager became greedy and wanted more money- for rendering no services. Mr. Johnson Igbinedion rebuffed his demand for more money. So, the Waste Manager decided to up the ante.”

    It was either the family paid the money or their daughter spends four months in prison custody. They paid the money and incensed by the waste manager’s action, they decided to file a suit seeking five reliefs such as a declaration that the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Managment Law No 5 of 2010 is contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (s amended), and thus unconstitutional, null, void and of no legal effect whatsoever.

    They also sought an order of Court nullifying the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law No 5 of 2010 in its entirety and a Declaration that the establishment and composition of the Edo State Waste Management Board by the Edo State Government was unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

    The couple further asked for an Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the Edo State Government, by themselves, their servants, agents, assigns, privies, or anyone claiming to derive authority from them howsoever, from acting pursuant to, further implementation and/or performing or giving effect to the provision of the said Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law No. 5 of 2010.

    Delivering ruling in the suit, Justice Ikponmen nullified the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law No 5 of 2010 saying it was contrary to item 17, part III of the Taxes and Levies (approved List for Collection) Act No 21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1988.

    Justice Ikponmwen ordered disbandment of the Waste Management Board and declared that its acts of licensing, registration, contracting of Waste Managers with powers to charge fees and instigate criminal prosecution was unconstitutional, illegal and of no legal effect.

    The Edo CJ declared that all suits pending at the Magistrate Courts as regards waste disposal were a nullity and granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Edo State Government of its agents from further implementation of the nullified Waste Management Law.

    She further held that the local government can make by laws for the enforcement of waste disposal and management in the state.

    According to her, “Each tier of the government is separate and independent of each other. The tiers of government compliment each other but not to the extent of usurping the powers of other tier of government.

    “It is the exclusive preserve of the local government and the state government cannot perform these functions. The fact that the state government continues to usurp the powers of local government does not make the state government actions constitutional.

    “The local government cannot donate their constitutional right to the state government. The court has a duty to check such infractions and end them.

    “The local government council when allowed to perform their constitutional functions would be self-sustaining and viable and bring needed development nearer the people.”

    Secretary to the Edo State Government Osarodion Ogie said the state government would respect and comply with the judgement

    Ogie stated that the state government intended to challenge the court ruling at the appropriate Appellate level.

    He  noted that the state government would exercise its primary duty of ensuring an orderly and decent society and to prevent a catastrophic collapse of public health and sanitation system.

    According to him, “It is the intention of Edo State Government to continue to enforce all other unrepealed statutes and provisions relating to public health, nuisances and sanitation as currently provided for in the following laws: the Public Health Law; the Criminal Code; the Bye-laws of the different Local Government Councils in Edo State; and the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law relating to nuisances.”

    Igbinedion added:“The judgment is a monumental one.  It is clear from our constitution that the state government does not have powers to dispose of refuse or waste. That is a function of the local government.

    “It is not up for the executive arm of government to say that they will comply with the judgment. They must comply with the order of court. It is compulsory that they complied. Any attempt not to comply will be tantamount to contempt of court and I will not hesitate to file contempt proceeding against any government officials who does not comply.

    “Those laws they say they want to rely on do not relate to refuse disposal or waste disposal. The law has nothing to do with waste disposal with the way they were doing it.

    “We will also challenge the use of those laws they are talking about They should not bother to appeal because there is nothing they are going to tell the Court of Appeal.”

     

     

  • Obaseki, DisCo row over power project

    In June 2017, a joyful Governor Godwin Obaseki announced to the world that in six month’s time, his administration would provide uninterrupted power supply to Bénin City and environs. According to his plans, government establishments on Sapele Road axis, including Government House, Secretariat, Court Complex, Central hospital, House of Assembly and also the Oba of Bénin Palace, will enjoy the 24 hours power supply.

    The gleefulness with which Obaseki spoke was because he was quite assured that he would deliver on his promise in record time.

    He gave the assurance after he entered a power purchase agreement with Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure to bulk purchase the five megawatts the firm planned to generate from its 50 megawatts plant at Ologbo in Orhionmwon local government area. The megawatts was expected to be transmitted on a new 35-kilometre double circuit 33Kva line to deliver 24/7 uninterrupted power.

    Speaking during the signing of the MOU, Obaseki said: “We are confident from the facts available to us, that the design and engineering has been completed and that this facility hopefully should be ready within the next five months. This transaction is the first phase of a 50-megawatt plant. This is the first 5 megawatt, which the state is committed to purchasing from the conversation and negotiations that have taken place over the last three months.”

    In April while inspecting some projects last week, Obaseki told Edo people that clearance had been secured from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over the power purchase agreement with Ossiomo Power.

    He said: “We have secured most of the clearance from Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). With this, we are optimistic that before the end of the year, when work on the buildings would have been completed, the PPA agreement with Ossiomo Power for 5MW of electricity will be activated to provide power to the Secretariat Complex.”

    What Obaseki did not know, according to a BEDC official, was the laws governing power distribution before signing the agreement. The BEDC had used the instrumentality of the law to stall execution of the project one year after the agreement was signed.

    It was gathered that the BEDC frustrated the project by creating several bottlenecks and logjam by insisting that the law permitted it to be the sole distributor of power in the region. A source said the BEDC told the Ossiomio Power to put its power lines in place if it wanted to distribute power to the Edo State government.

    Last week, Obaseki and his officials used the occasion of the 4th National Council on Power meeting in Benin City to vent their anger on the BEDC for frustrating the power purchase agreement and providing darkness to the people. They disclosed that the special technical committee constituted by Edo government to undertake a comprehensive audit of the power infrastructure in the state revealed the poor state of the BEDC infrastructure.

    Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources Yekini Idaiye, who declared the occasion open, lamented that the daily average supply of electricity put at eight hours, was less than 20 percent of the estimated consumer population of 1.2 million who have post and pre-paid meters.

    The commissioner said majority of the consumers are groaning under the estimated billing system with its attendant high corporate fraud on the part of BEDC, noting.

    According to him, “BEDC since inception has not added any value to the Infrastructure it inherited which explains the poor and deteriorated state of the power infrastructure in this part of the country.

    “The BEDC personnel on the field are unprofessional in their conduct and openly engage the services of military personnel to intimidate and brutalise customers. Nigerians want to have improved access to power supply and industries want to have electricity to scale up production.”

    Obaseki accused the BEDC of writing petitions against the deal sealed for the purchase of five megawatts of electricity to light up government offices in Benin City.

    The governor, who said the petitions have hindered the success of the purchase agreement, decried the poor supply of electricity to the state, the company’s resolve not to supply pre-paid meters to electricity consumers and its culture of over-billing its clients.

    According to the governor, “195 communities have never seen electricity as BEDC is not ready to extend electricity to these communities. 128 communities have issues of collapse of infrastructure which BEDC is not prepared to fix. 219 transformers purchased by the state government and the former Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) as replacements for faulty transformers are yet to be installed by BEDC.

    “The people are over-billed with the estimated billing system of BEDC. We lost a student due to the negligence of BEDC, for refusing to fix a pole that was knocked down after receiving money to fix it. I have instructed the Attorney General of Edo State to file charges of criminal negligence against the senior management of BEDC,” Obaseki said.

    But the BEDC, in a statement s by its spokesman, Mr. Tayo Adekunle, said the Ossiomo case was before a competent court of law, adding that various third parties have been approaching the firm to supply independent power through its network under the embedded generation, eligible customers, micro grid regulations of NERC.

    Tayo added that MOUs have been signed with some of the parties willing to supply independent power through its network.

    He said power supply has increased from two hours in 2013 to six-10hours for locations with severe infrastructure limitations, eight hours to 12- 15 hours for locations with more improved infrastructure and increase from 18 -24hours for commercial and government customers on the nine newly constructed double circuit 11kv feeders with over 27 km route lengths of dedicated lines.

    The BEDC spokesman said 12 communities hitherto without power in 2013 have been connected to the grid.

    According to the statement, “To the extent permitted by applicable legal and regulatory framework, BEDC has been and continues to be willing to work with all such 3rd parties (including Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company) to increase power supply within the ambit of the law, without compromising the quality of power supply, affordability and more importantly safety and security of our customers.

    “Nigeria has had inadequate metering for over 50 years, hence it is not possible for all customers to be metered within a short time period.

    “The introduction of Meter Asset Providers (MAP) by NERC is expected to fully address the metering issue not only for BEDC but for all distribution companies (Discos) in the country.

    A top government officials who pleaded anonymity said Governor Obaseki planned to use the ‘Willing buyer-Willing seller agreement’ to overcome the hurdles placed by the BEDC.

    The source noted that if the BEDC is unable to supply power to run the state, the state government has to buy from a willing seller.

    According to him, “What they are doing is tantamount to monopoly which will stunt the development of any state. It is a known fact that distribution companies have been unable to meet the demand for power. So if a willing seller wants to sell and a buyer is ready then we go for it.”

    The last has certainly not been heard of this matter.