The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Ekiti man wins big in Bayelsa Easter fest

    Ekiti State-born Kolade Afolabi came to the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, like every other persons on March 31. Afolabi simply wanted to enjoy the Easter Fest packaged by the Bayelsa State government.

    The Ekiti man followed the announcement preceding the event. He wanted to be entertained by musical stars and comedians invited to thrill the audience. He recalled the promises made by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, whose ministry arranged the festivity.

    Afolabi was further moved to attend the event because there was no barrier to gain entrance at the venue. The only qualification to be in attendance was being a resident of Bayelsa. It had no ethnic and religious colourations. There was no fee attached to it.

    So, Afolabi went to the cultural centre in the company of his friends. But he left the place as a happier, wealthier and better person. The young man surprisingly won the star prize at the event. He won a brand new tricycle popularly known as Keke Napep after a raffle draw. Afolabi was thrilled. He thanked the state government and Iworiso-Markson for putting smiles on the faces of Bayelsa residents.

    “These things happening in Bayelsa at times are unbelievable. I can’t believe that all the way from Ekiti State, I could win a big prize like this. It shows this government is detribalised. It shows that the Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, is a good man. He has redefined governance”, he said.

    Afolabi was not the only one that won a prize at the event. The raffle draw, which was conducted by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), produced other winners. People won double burner gas cooker, generator, pressing iron, clippers, among others.

    It was indeed a festival of comedy, music and dance. The sensational hip hop star, Skales, thrilled the audience numbering about 5000. It brought people together thereby fostering unity. Various sounds of laughter filled the air. In fact, people cracked their ribs as they threw themselves to different directions laughing at funny jokes.

    Besides, the fest was a gathering of budding talents. Rising stars from the state were allowed to showcase their talents. It was an event for the youths. The excited crowd praised the governor for bringing back social life to the state.

    They referred to the event as historic. They were further amazed that no incident of violence was recorded throughout the event. To them, it was an indication that the government security efforts were paying off.

    Presenting the star prize to the winner, Iworiso-Markson thanked the Governor for supporting the fiesta. He reinstated the detribalised nature of Dickson’s administration.

    To Afolabi, he said:  “In Bayelsa, we appreciate all those who are not from Bayelsa.  We appreciate non-indigenes; therefore we are so happy for you that you are winning this. We wish you the very best”.

    The commissioner also commended the young talents that entertained the crowd at the event. He expressed shock that such budding talents were Bayelsans.

    “I’m really shocked that we have this kind of talents in Bayelsa. What that simply means is that we are going to make this bigger next year. What we are doing in the Restoration Government is moving forward. Just two weeks ago, 24  young special advisers were appointed by the governor.

    “There is a deliberate policy of the Restoration Government to recognize the young people. The future belongs to you all who are young Bayelsans and therefore  there is a deliberate policy going on to expose  and show case  young Bayelsa talents  like the ones that we are seeing  here today.

    “What we will do going forward is that before the year runs out, we are going to have a special event that will showcase these talents again”.

    Iworiso said that the whole idea was to develop the number of talents that performed at the event. He said there was a need to explore bigger platforms for them.

    “They need to be signed to a bigger record labels. They need to be taken to other places where they can showcase these their talents. The upcoming event will give us the opportunity to select about 10 of them and Bayelsa state Government will give them that backing”, he said.

    He told the mammoth crowd at the event that the present administration would continue to look the way of youths since they remained the leaders of tomorrow.

    “What we are doing here is to encourage and support our youths with abundant talents. As I sat there watching, I couldn’t but confess that Bayelsa has talented boys and girls who are ready to take on the world. This is what we want and that is why this government of His Excellency is giving the youths more opportunities even in governance.

    “I am so excited that you all can come out tonight to have fun. This event has doused the tension of insecurity created often by mischief makers. Everywhere is safe and peaceful and that is what this government has worked hard in the last six years to achieve”.

     

  • Anioma showcases cultural heritage

    The Easter season throbs with the celebration of the annual Anioma Cultural Festival in Asaba, Delta State. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the festival of royalty, glamour, pomp and pageantry. Arguably the finest cultural event in Delta State, Anioma Cultural Festival is the panoply of fashion, music, dance, traditional sports and creative arts of historical value to the Anioma people from the nine local government areas of Delta North Senatorial Zone. Initiated 15 years ago by the Organization for the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC), the culture umbrella body of the Anioma nation, the unity-inducing festival has helped to reawaken the consciousness of the people to their cultural values.

    This year’s fest is anchored on the theme: “Building Bridges”. Ever since its inception in 2003, OFAAC has remained faithful to the objective of preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Anioma nation, with the festival serving as a melting-pot for the revival and appreciation of Anioma culture.

    Well over 300 delegates and stakeholders representing the four dialectical groups in Anioma nation gathered recently in the commodious Orchid Hotels, Asaba Delta State to put the plans for the festival in a fitting sync. The committed and irrepressible President of OFAAC, Arc. Kester Ifeadi, did not mince words in stating that the organization is committed to the Anioma cause and as such this year’s festival can only get better than previous ones. Calling on all good-spirited sons and daughters of Anioma to come together in unity of purpose so the people can achieve the Anioma of their dream, Arc Ifeadi maintained that culture and arts are essential elements of education.

    Different dance troupes, traditional wrestlers and other performing artistes from Anioma communities have upped their ante for epic performances on Easter Monday, April 2, at the AGGS (Anglican Girls Grammar School), Asaba. The Asaba International Airport, the gateway to the fest, welcomes friends, culture enthusiasts, corporate organisations and stakeholders. Anioma Cultural Festival showcases the award-winning Agwuba royal dance, Egwu-Ajah maiden dance, Uloko dance, Egwu Ohuhu, Olingba dance, Amala dance and multiform occupational and contemporary dances.

    The festival has over the years enjoyed the support of the venerated royal monarchs of Anioma, representatives of Federal and State governments, corporate organizations such as Grand Oak Ltd, MTN Nigeria, Zenith Bank, Union Bank and Orchid Hotels Asaba, among others.

    According to Paddy Ugboh, Executive Vice-President, OFAAC, “Our focus is to showcase the unique culture of the Anioma people and thus enrich Anioma, Delta State and Nigeria’s cultural life by promoting cultural diversity in order to foster harmony and friendship among people with different cultural backgrounds.”

    Kester Ifeadi, an architect, looks at the 15 years of resourcefulness with delight, and remains poised on breaking new grounds in the mobilisation of Anioma people for cultural renaissance, empowerment and positive self-esteem. The major strategies for this evolution are built on advocacy, workshops, lectures, research, micro-credit schemes, exhibitions, and the trailblazing publication of the colourful magazine Anioma Essence.

    In seeing culture as the totality of the people’s way of life, OFAAC undertakes the onerous task of boosting small-scale businesses within the Anioma communities for poverty reduction. There is the regular intervention of assisting interested participants from Anioma in entrepreneurial development through micro-credit schemes. This is aimed at empowering the poor and the less-privileged in Anioma nation. For Arc. Ifeadi,, the scheme is as an important milestone in OFAAC’s poverty reduction drive in Anioma which, in his words, “is consistent with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations.”

    From the early beginnings 15 years ago of a handful of stalwarts, notably Arc. Ifeadi, Paddy Ugboh, Emeka Nmadu, Gideon Nwaomu and Barrister Monn Olodu, OFAAC has moved steadily to a large movement that attracts nearly 5,000 volunteers and loyalists. The non-partisanship of the non-profit organisation has made the body a darling of all Anioma sons and daughters.

    The drums have been rolled out to make the Easter season of the Anioma Cultural Festival a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

    • Uzoatu, a journalist and poet, contributed this piece.

     

  • Ex-militants allege exclusion from stipends, other benefits

    A group of Niger Delta ex-militants are not happy with the Amnesty Office, which conducts the activities of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). They feel marginalised and excluded from the programme.

    They alleged that despite being captured by the scheme, some persons in the amnesty office have made life hellish for them by refusing to integrate them into the programme. According to them, the office has denied them their monthly stipends and other benefits.

    The ex-agitators captured under the third phase of PAP urged the current Coordinator of the programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo, to investigate their plights and take practical steps to resolve their problems.

    The leader of the group identified simply as ‘General’ Cairo, a.k.a Esenatebe in a  to the Niger Delta Reports appealed to the Federal Government to consider their travails with a sense of urgency and seriousness.

    He said: “It is something of shame and shock that since the third phase embraced the Federal Government Amnesty Programme those of the third phase have been neglected and have become objects of pity”.

    The former warlord advised Dokubo to learn from the mistakes of his predecessor, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd). He said the immediate past coordinator were caged by some persons, who simply advanced their personal interests at the expense of the overall objectives of the scheme.

    He recalled that his group, the Cairo Group, stormed the National Assembly on November 1, 2017, for a protest against Boroh and submitted a petition to the lawmakers. He said a similar action would be taken if the office refused to address their problems.

    He said the petitions detailing injustices done them by the amnesty office were also sent to the Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International and the Presidency. Cairo insisted that if the current leadership failed to address their matter, his group would also embark on another round of protest.

    He said: “The Federal Government Amnesty programme was solely created for the Ijaw youths and other youths in the Niger Delta region, but not for people in northern, western and the eastern parts of the country.

    “We also called for the sacking of non-Niger Deltans from the programme because they have become a stumbling block for human capacity development and the need for all-round development of the region.

    “We have been shortchanged in the allocation of slots. We, therefore appeal for the payment of 1000 slots already approved for the Cairo Group because there are provision and appropriation in the 2018 budget in that regard”.

    He insisted that if their request were not considered, they would embark on a peaceful protest to the National Assembly against their marginalisation.

     

  • When accident turned blessing for the Okoros

    When Mary Okoro and her five-year-old son Freeman were leaving the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) on March 14, thoughts of how to raise money for the continuous treatment of her son filled her mind. Her son is suffering from cancer of the stomach and one of his kidneys has already been removed.

    Problem for Freeman started last year after a beans meal. His parents thought it was an ailment that required traditional solution but they were wrong. After several months of applying herbal medicine, the health of their son did not improve. It worsened. They took him to the hospital where he was confirmed to be having cancer.

    Mother luck has however smiled on Freeman in an unusual way that his parents no longer need to bother with how to raise money for his treatment. As he and his mother were crossing the Benin-Lagos road in front of UBTH after a chemotherapy session, a bus rammed into them.

    The bus, which was part of the convoy of Governor Godwin Obaseki carrying journalists, had a break failure. Obaseki had already driven past before the accident occurred.

    Mary told reporters that she thought her son had died after the bus hit them. She said her son fainted and urinated on himself.  She said she had a broken arm but somebody helped rushed her son to the Accident and Emergency Unit of UBTH where he was revived.

    She later realised that the accident was God-sent when Obaseki during a visit to the hospital announced a lifeline treatment for her son. Obaseki, who visited the hospital when he learnt about the condition of Freeman, pledged to take responsibility for the cancer treatment.

    Obaseki also paid the medical bills of Freeman’s cousin, who was ‘detained’ at the hospital over his inability to pay for his treatment.

    Obaseki said: “I came to see the condition of the victims of the accident myself. Just as we have promised on the day of the accident when the victims were admitted. The state government has taken full responsibility of their medical bills.

    “We will also make sure we follow up with the full recovery of those who are still being treated for injuries from the accident.”

    In a chat with reporters, Mrs Okoro said: “We were standing on the road when we saw the governor’s convoy. It was the last bus that hit the three of us. My son passed out and I kept on shouting my son’s name but he did not answer. I thought if that was how we were going to die after all the suffering from the cancer.

    ”The cancer started last year and we thought it was a spleen problem. He ate beans and suddenly his tummy became tight. We were told to apply traditional herbs and after many months we went to the hospital and it was diagnosed to be cancer. In August, one of his kidney was removed.

    ”The test we did now showed that the cancer is growing again. We have spent over N1m on treatment for my child before this accident. I hawk moi moi while my husband is a labourer.

    “My son is a brilliant child but the cancer is slowing him down. We feel happy that the Governor has offered to help us. May God bless him. The accident was a blessing from God. It was how God sent him to help our son.”

     

  • Nsima Ekere: When a good manager is honoured

    Tommorow, Nsima Ekere, the Managing Director of  the Niger Delta Development Commission, will be honoured with a Honorary Doctorate Degree in Management Technology by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. 

    Though an unwritten principle, the post of Managing Director of the NDDC, just like that of the World Bank and other sustainable development agencies-however how political it is- has always been and may always be, held by experts in the fields associated with sustainable development – engineering, journalism, estate and quantity survey, medicine, law, architecture and their likes.

    The incumbent, Mr. Nsima Ekere is an estate surveyor and valuer, registered by the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVRBN), a fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), a senior certified valuer by the International Real Estate Institute, USA and an associate member of the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation, UK.

    Beyond his professional background, he has had valuable on-the-job experiences in other areas still linked to sustainable development like investment and portfolio management, construction, power sector administration, assets management, oil and gas and related services. He was also Deputy Governor-and Acting Governor for one month of Akwa Ibom State where he was responsible for boundary and emergency management, aside other duties of general governance, including an oversight over the state power sector and associated projects.

    It was not in doubt, therefore, that he will bring all these experiences to bear when he assumed duty at the Commission in November 2016.

    One of the changes he brought was to rejig the Commission’s financial regime. The budgeting process was made practical and realistic.

    The education sector, naturally, benefitted from the change Ekere wrought. The Commission had always intervened in the sector especially in the area of infrastructural development – of lecture halls, hostels, classrooms. But Ekere tied all these interventions to a huge portfolio of investment in human capacity development and youth empowerment.

    Today, over 22,612 youths and women, including several by Ekere’s management, have been trained by the Commission in the areas of welding and fabrication, modern printing technology, solar power technology, food processing, enterprise development; catering and confectionaries; creative arts and entertainment; fashion design; wall screeding; POP installation; electrical wiring; interior decoration; plumbing; painting; and specialized carpentry. This year alone, over 100 youths have been signed on to undergo skills acquisition training at Inosson Motors Industry.

    In the higher institutions in the region, most of the best hostels – 18 in all across the region – were built by the NDDC.

    The NDDC has so far sponsored over 1,410 postgraduate students to different foreign universities in nine special skills areas including oil and gas law. Ekere, aside from intervening in the issue of non-payment of grants to awardees of the scholarship programme he met on assumption of duty, has also articulated and, is working on getting intellectually smart and alert indigenes of the region to be awarded undergraduate scholarships too.

    An annual NDDC Moot Court Trial Competition, only recently started by Ekere’s management, is one of the Commission’s several interventions in horning the practical skills of the region’s undergraduates in their areas of specialization. The Library Complex assured the Federal University of Petroleum, Effurun, by the Commission, recently, signposts the Commission’s continued intervention in the area of necessary education facilities in the region.

    To boost digital learning, Ekere’s management is planning to link the entire region with fibre optics that facilitates internet penetration and spread, to the greater benefit of students in the region.

    Ekere, knowing that the foundation is germane for education to be productive in the future, recently flagged off the distribution of 72,000 chairs and desks for schools across the region. This is aside a whooping N2billion to be spent on schools’ renovations this year alone.

    In partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, and Builders Hub Impact Investment Programme, the Commission plans to establish Nigeria’s first and grandest enterprise and growth hub, which will enable budding entrepreneurs and startups find meaningful expression.

    • Efo is an Uyo-based journalist. 

     

  • Edo lawmaker trains 230 on skill acquisition

    A member of House of Representatives, representing Etsako Federal Constituency in Edo, Mr Johnson Oghuma, a has trained 230 persons through various skill acquisition programmes.

    He told reporters on Wednesday in Benin that the training programmes were handled by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and some other private organisations.

    He said the training was part of his responsibility to members of his constituency.

    According to him, the training programmes included provision of materials and financial support at the completion of the training programmes.

    He said his decision to embark on the programme was to give lasting dividends of democracy to members of his constituency.

    “I reasoned that teaching my people how to fish will be more beneficial than giving them the fish.

    “They are the reason for my being where I am; their interest and well being are of great concern to me,’’he said.

    He said that more people would be trained on various skills in the next phase of the programme.

    Oghuma said his desire to make his constituents enjoy the dividends of democracy necessitated the provision of some vital projects to the constituency.

    Some of such projects, he said, ranged from water projects, construction of classroom blocks and rural electricity projects in various communities in the federal constituency.

    “All this I have done in less than a year in office as member of the House of Green Chamber,” he said.

  • Edo gets forestry committee

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has inaugurated an advisory committee on forestry to help the state government to reposition the state as major forest state in Nigeria.

    The governor said during the inauguration in Benin on Wednesday that Edo was among the states in the country richly endowed in forest reserves.

    He, however, regretted that the forests had been depleted significantly, hence the need for the committee to work toward reviving it.

    He said “we have reflected on the fact that we need to re-enact the potential that God endowed us with in terms of forest reserve.

    “As part of the design of the Benin Industrial Park, a section of the park would be built on input from forestry.”

    The governor said that the committee would help to draft a forestry policy for the state; advice the state to set up a structure for the forestry commission which should be capable of ensuring obtainable forestry management in line with international best practices.

    He added that the committee would help to prepare work plan, budget for the commission and monitoring and implementation programmes and assist to rebuild the the forest management in the state.

    Obaseki gave the committee less than 60 days to submit its report, adding that “there is a conference in Ghana in May 2018 and Edo is expected to unveil the forest policies to the world and get feedback from the international community.”

    The Chairman of the committee, Dr Felix Idumah, thanked the governor for finding members qualified to serve the state.

    Idumah promised the governor and the people of the state that the committee would not disappoint in their duties.

     

  • Metamorphosis

    Yenagoa, Yenagoa

    Twice I call you

    Like New York that is so good they call it New York, New York 

    Stretched out on water

    You wear the agbada of an

     Emerging voice in search of identity

     

    The signs on your junctions tell the tale of a land

     In love with Jesus

    If I were Olamide

    I would have screamed: ‘Jesu ti take over’ 

     

    Decorated with architectural masterpieces, ongoing and forgotten buildings

     And bubbling with excitement,

    You awake the bard in me

    And make me scream Yenegoa, Yenagoa

    A long way you have indeed come

     

    The Yenegoa I walked through for close to two hours on Easter Sunday got me singing. Gone was the one I knew when I last visited over a decade ago.

    Walking through the city reminds me of New York. Not in its glamour or illusions. New Yorkers will tell you New York is better seen on foot. New York is fun to walk through because of its walkways.

    The walkways on the Isaac Boro Expressway lured me almost from its beginning to the Flyover overlooking what would turn out to be Bayelsa’s best hotel.  I stopped counting the floors in this 18-storey hotel when I got to 12 or thereabouts.  Even its carcasses look promising.

    Passing through the edifice reminds me of how ex-President Goodluck Jonathan once described it. He called it ‘monument of disgrace’. That was because his successor as governor, Timipre Sylva, abandoned the state. Sylva said he took the decision after the contractor asked for a variation of N5 billion. The picture of its final look I saw shows that it will be a masterpiece when completed. I look forward to beholding this beauty.

    I would have missed a lot if I had driven through Yenagoa. Chances are high I would not have known that a land belonging to former Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha now hosts a signpost warning trespassers.

    I certainly would have missed the fact that Jesus has taken over Yenagoa. I must have counted no less than 30 churches between NIIT Junction and Kpansia. I would also have missed the interesting names of the churches.

    I saw Anointed Frequency International Ministries, Bethel of Fire Deliverance Ministry, Staff of Greatness International Church, Divine Connection Church, Flaming Fire Pentecostal Church, Omega Eagle City Church, Spring House Ministries International, Godspower Dominion Church and City of Zuph International Ministries.

    There are more:  Anchor of Hope Church, Fruit-Bearing Gospel Church, Garden of Intercessor Ministry, City of Righteousness, Royal House of Grace, Divine Power Liberation, Christ Envoy and Redeemer Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

    Driving through would have made me miss the fact that traders in Yenagoa have something in common with their colleagues in Lagos. Despite a signpost threatening to prosecute them, they stay put on the road and litter everywhere.

    I saw the popular Aridolf Wellness Resort and Spa said to be owned by a member of an ex First Family. The grandeur once associated with it seems to be fading. Even the satellite dish sitting on top it is fast rusting. I also saw EFCC at work on a building.

    What else did I see? Yenagoa is no longer the village I knew a little over a decade ago. Its oil wealth is showing.  So many petrol stations are springing up. Standard ones and not petrol filling posts. Nice concrete inner roads that can give water a good fight.

    When I think of the uncompleted buildings, I cannot but remember my cab driver from Port Harcourt Airport. He told how under President Goodluck Jonathan money flowed and he used to make two trips every day to Yenagoa and how he was generously paid. He urged the government to recover stolen wealth and in another breadth wished a return of those days of free cash, a classical case of the clash between general and self-interest. Could some of the abandoned private buildings be victims of cessation of free cash flow to the owners? Just thinking aloud!

     

    BAYELSA GOT TALENTS

    They go by names such as Jah Wonder, GeeBonz, AJ, Senibo, Barrack Pikin and Funny Effizy. They all have something in common. They are all from Bayelsa State. They are also all artists. Some sing. Some are comedians.

    They all were part of the Restoration Easter Fest, which took place in Yenagoa, the state capital on Easter Sunday. The packed hall was kept engaged for over three hours. It was the government’s way of allowing the youths to be engaged, commissioner for Information and Orientation Daniel Iworiso-Markson said. There was music and acrobatic display. The comedy was great. Jokes upon jokes. Many original. A few from established hands in the business.

    A fantastic female comedian told us about how she went job hunting and was asked to do frog jump. She wondered if it was a sin to be fat. The salary of the job she was being asked to do frog-jump was a paltry N15,000. She insulted the employer and left.

    I can never forget the guy who did rap music in Ijaw. We know Phyno, who raps in Igbo. We know Olamide who does his in Yoruba. A star is in the making if given the necessary exposure.

    The goodness in these acts made a poet out of Fidelis Soriwei, my friend and Special Adviser to the Bayelsa State governor.

    Below is the song Fidelis sang on Facebook after seeing the show:

    “Last night I met her again

    Arrayed in the power of her colors

    The Easter tells of her story

    A true epic of blessings

    “Bayelsa is Great, Bayelsa is beauty

    Bayelsa breeds confidence

    Bayelsa! Bayelsa! the hope of the Ijaw Nation

    Truly, the Glory òf All Land

    “A river of talent flows through the land!

    So when her name is mentioned

    I refuse to see a conundrum of cultism,

    Never, the violence!

    “I see a land, so beautiful, so blessed

    Where talents, so natural  parade the cities

    A land of creativity, sprouting in strength

    Where many Timayas, Asu Ekiyes, Siasias, Finidis, Igali

    Are Waiting, waiting to explode!

    “Bayelsa!

    Truly, the glory of all land!”

     

  • Wanted! Safer Niger Delta waterways 

    Boat drivers and allied professionals in the Niger Delta are keen on safer waterways. A major awareness campaign is on to achieve that, writes BISI OLANIYI

    Thousands of boat drivers and allied professionals benefited from the marine safety awareness campaign to reduce boat accidents on Niger Delta’s waterways, which was sponsored by Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria at the multipurpose hall of the secretariat of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council on Moscow Road, with the theme: “Reducing Boat Accidents.”

    Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria is the operator of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 130 concession, with partners consisting of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC); the South Atlantic Petroleum Company (SAPETRO), a Nigerian oil and gas exploration and production company; PETROBRAS company and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    The awareness campaign was aimed at inculcating in boat operators based in Port Harcourt jetties: Okrika, Bille, Nembe, Bonny, Abonnema Wharf, Rumuorlumeni (Iwofe) and oceanic, safety habits and tools that would assist them in navigating the waterways safely, in order to avoid boat mishaps.

    The facilitator of the awareness campaign, Chief Nimisoere Hutchinson-Bobmanuel, in his welcome address on March 23, noted that the well-attended event was timely and a step in the right direction, while urging passengers of boats to always wear life jackets with whistles and the boats should not be overloaded.

    Hutchinson-Bobmanuel insisted that the boats must have fire extinguishers, lifebuoys and that refueling must not be done on the way, to prevent accident, advising that enough fuel should be taken at the various jetties.

    The National President of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, Nnamdi Ilodiuba, who is based in Ikotun, Lagos and was one of the resource persons at the awareness campaign, urged the boat operators to be safety conscious.

    A fellow of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, Timothy Iwuagwu, an engineer, urged drivers of boats to always have clear view while on the waterways, while passengers were also admonished to ensure that they had proper assessment of the drivers of the boats, before embarking on the journeys.

    Iwuagwu declared that reckless and unstable behaviours of drivers of boats should never be condoned by the passengers, while advising against night journeys, considering the risks involved and security challenges in Nigeria, especially on the waterways, and he urged boats’ drivers and passengers to always buy/use genuine or original life jackets that would stand the test of time, not the fake or sub-standard ones.

    An official of Cornerstone Insurance Company, Onajite Prosper Orijedje, stated that comprehensive insurance policies were necessary for the boats, the drivers and passengers, in order to be on the safe side, stressing that as people would be thinking safety, they must also think insurance, considering the fact that the boats, made of fibre, could crack.

    The Southsouth Zonal Director of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Olusegun Abiodun, who was represented by NIMASA’s District Surveyor in Port Harcourt, Mr. Layiwola Olanrewaju, lauded the stakeholders for coming together to think safety, but urged them to avoid shortcuts, since only living persons could work.

    The Deputy General Manager, Marine, of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Agbahi Fidelis Ebiala, who came from NIWA’s headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi State, admonished the drivers and passengers of boats to always be safety conscious, especially on the inland waterways.

    The Second-in-Command, Marine Police of the Rivers State Police Command, Gajere Raynan, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), advised against overloading of boats, in order to be able to navigate safely and easily, while urging boat drivers to always obey the laws on marine safety, assuring that safety on the waterways would be ensured.

    An occupational health and safety professional, Pastor Ilodeami Macsoto Mopho, who is also a fellow of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, reiterated that with the rivers and seas being very wide and deep, the risks would be higher, while urging drivers of boats to always be careful, describing safety as a collective responsibility, thereby making it imperative for passengers and drivers of boats to be safety conscious at all times.

    One of the boat drivers, Dagogo Hart, of Bonny-Port Harcourt route, stated that the awareness campaign helped the privileged participants to know more about safety on the waterways, stressing that it would go a long way to help their passengers to be safe.

    Another boat driver, Abraham Iringeresibo, also plying the route of Bonny Island, the base of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Company, which can only be accessed for now by boat, as the Bodo-Ogoni/Bonny coastal road by the construction giant, Julius Berger, is still under construction, described the awareness campaign as high educative, very timely and a step in the right direction, while requesting for more.

    Deputy General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Deep Water of Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Dr. Nkoyo Attah, stated that the oil giant and its partners were concerned about safety of the passengers and drivers of boats, thereby necessitating the awareness campaign, which she said would be taken round the country.

    The Deputy Managing Director, Deep Water, Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Ahmadu-Kida Musa, in his address, noted that the marine safety awareness campaign not only focused on safety, which he described as a core value at Total, but a demonstration of the oil firm’s commitment to promoting safety best practices, environmental protection, business ethics and corporate social responsibility everywhere Total officials work.

    Musa, who was represented by the General Manager, CSR, Deep Water of Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Dr. Charles Ngerebara, stated that Total was proud of its contributions to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

    The deputy managing director said: “As a group, we (Total) have been present in Africa for more than 80 years and in Nigeria for 60 years. Total’s upstream branch has added over 2.3 billion barrels (of crude oil) to Nigeria’s production in the last five years and has also invested approximately $10 billion in the country. Through decades of executing development projects, Total’s activities have contributed to creating jobs and human capacity development in Nigeria.

    “We are delighted to note that today, reference is being made to us as the industry benchmark for Nigerian content, given our significant investments in local capacity development through our Ofon 2 and Egina projects. Egina has the highest deepwater local content ever in Nigeria.

    “We operate the Akpo field (OML 130) and we are currently developing the Egina field, which will come on stream this year, with a capacity of 200,000 barrels per day. With such offshore and deepwater operations, marine safety is very important to us.

    “Our company, on a yearly basis, offers graduate and post-graduate scholarships and skills’ acquisition, not only to the indigenes of the areas where we produce oil and gas, but to all eligible Nigerians. We have and we will continue to contribute meaningfully to the overall development of Nigeria and its people. At Total, we remain committed to Nigeria and we will always seek ways to make positive impacts in our business environment.”

    Musa also stated that at Total, by making safety its core value, the oil giant was reaffirming, in the clearest of terms, that safety remained the ultimate measure of success in the oil industry.

    The deputy managing director lauded the resource persons and marine operators in attendance at the awareness campaign, who availed themselves the opportunity to acquire new information and gain knowledge that would make the waterways safer for everyone, describing safety as the responsibility of everybody.

    Other oil companies/multinationals should emulate Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria in CSR, thereby making lives of the people of their host communities and others much better, easier and safer, with all the positive impacts to be highly appreciated by the beneficiaries.

  • Football competition unites Jonathan’s kinsmen

    Things are looking up in Ogbia, the Local Government Area of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The hitherto divided and highly politicised council is beginning to get its rhythm of peace and unity back.

    Ogbia elders, women and youths are happy at the selfless efforts of Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, in realising the dreams of the late Melford Okilo for the oil-rich council. The commissioner is making a lot of sacrifice to evolve an Ogbia with a free-flow of peace, unity and development.

    Complementing the aspiration of his boss, Governor Seriake Dickson, for the local government area, Iworiso-Markson recently inaugurated a football competition tagged, Dickson’s Unity Cup, the Ogbia Challenge. Indeed, the competition proved to be a unifier. It pulverised the mountain-like disharmony and lifted the obstacles to peaceful coexistence in the council.

    Every community in the council participated in the competition. In fact, 32 football teams representing the communities took part. For the first time in a long while, youths forgo their political and individual differences to engage one another in healthy rivalries. Those who initially could not see eyeball-to-eyeball freely embraced one another, shared jokes, food and drinks.

    The youths discussed brotherhood and other actions required to move their only council forward. For the three weeks the competition lasted, community folks filed out en-mass and rolled out their drums to cheer their teams. The communities bubbled in joy. Economic activities were also stimulated as some persons seized the opportunities to do brisk business.

    More than anything else, the Ogbia Challenge positively engaged the excessive energies of the youths. It took their minds away from crime, violence and hard drugs. It made them realise that they could develop into better individuals and contribute to the progress of their council by developing their potential and talents.

    Therefore, it was with excitement that the competition was brought to an end at the Opume Township Stadium in Ogbia.  Two communities of Otueasega and Otiokpoti slugged it out at the final. Otuasiga later emerged the winner.

    Prominent persons, Dickson’s aides from Ogbia, some local and international football stars, traditional rulers, women, elders and even children from the council graced the occasion. Deputy Governor John Jonah attended the event as a special guest of honour. Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Kamela Okara was also there.

    Jonah in his remarks commended Iworiso-Markson for organising the event and hailed the unity that accompanied the programme. He said the competition was part of the process of encouraging the youths to excel in their chosen disciplines.

    He said such competition should be part of the annual sports calendar in the state. He urged the sports commissioner to work with other local councils and integrate the competition into the ministry’s calendar.

    He said: “Sports as you know is one of the areas that you can derive several benefits, first it keeps you fit, second it gives you the  spirit to go on with life and these days there’s a lot of money in sports too, it can go beyond just this Ogbia challenge.

    “It is also a bit of talent hunt; discovering the talent in the youths at a very early stage, this is what we expect to be done in every local government area. In fact, it should be part of the calendar of the state”.

    The deputy governor lamented the increasing negative conducts of youths particularly their engagements in social vices such as cultism and drug abuse. But he said the Iworiso-Markson’s initiatives would help to tackle the menace.

    He said: “One of the things that we are fighting very seriously against is the conduct of our youth these days; youths’ indulgence in activities such cultism, drug abuse and others. It is not just employment that would take you off but activities of this nature get the youths engaged and this engagement should be done deliberately and not by chance.

    “With what I have seen, which the commissioner of sports can attest to too, some of the players can play for Bayelsa United. The future is here and I am particularly impressed with the standard of play. I was not expecting this standard.

    “For the audience I think this is very good, despite the rain you turned out en masse to support this program, this is what we expect, those of us that are very interested in the growth of the youth would always encourage this sort of activity.

    “On the part of the government, there are programmes to develop a lot of sporting facilities and arena so I will enjoin even the local council area to try and make sure that the facilities here are sustained even if you don’t have a sport complex, the ground is good enough.

    “I congratulate the commissioner of information for this initiative and hope that other local councils will emulate him and maybe later the winner of each council will now square up in Yenagoa”.

    In his remarks, Iworiso-Markson, who was particularly elated at the success and outcome of the competition, called for the sustenance of the unity it brought to the council. He expressed gratitude to all those who supported it.

    ýHe thanked Governor Dickson for providing stable leadership in the state which allowed for such communal event to take place without rancour and also praised him for fulfilling his promise of reconstructing the Iminringi and Opume bridge, internal roads, among others. He said the projects had made Ogbia a huge construction site.

    Iworiso-Markson also expressed immense appreciation to the deputy governor and the SSG for gracing the finals. He also commended all political appointees from Ogbia, the Council Chairman, Naomi Ogoli, the Obanoban III of Ogbia, chairman and members of the Opume Council of Chiefs and members of the Ogbia Restoration Caucus for their roles in making the tournament a success.

    He further appreciated the efforts of the Senior Special Assistant on Youths in Ogbia, Ossanya B. Osaanya who led all youths including the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) in Ogbia to show solidarity and support for the competition in all the communities.

    He was grateful to the members of the Ogbia Restoration Crusaders and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for their coordination. He thanked the women and other groups for turning out in their numbers to make the event colourful.

    But Iworiso-Markson appealed that while the football competition was over, the peace and bonds of unity that it generated should be sustained to foster development and peace in Ogbia Kingdom.

    He said: “This is something that we have to applaud the governor for. We are just basically toeing his line; the need for us to be united, the need for us to work together as one people and the need for us to stay committed to the restoration agenda.

    “So, what we are doing here in Ogbia with this football competition is to further enhance all of the efforts that the governor. With the support of all the leaders and elders of Ogbia Kingdom you can see the unity, togetherness and the cohesion in the council.

    “Our central message is that once we’re united then there is no way that we cannot experience development.  Ogbia needs development and we’re glad that the governor is doing that for us.

    “Look at the Omiringi bridge, the internal roads going on in Ogbia Town; look at the bridge going on in my community here too, all of these can’t happen if we don’t have peace. We should be united. It is the one message that we will continue to preach going forward.

    “We’re saying to our leaders in Ogbia that they should join forces with us to continue to preach peace and unity. Development will definitely follow once we have peace and unity”.

    Also, the Local Government Chairman, Naomi Ogoli, hailed the commissioner for information for pursuing the unity of the council. She said the commissioner had made a lot of sacrifice to bring peace and unity to the council.

    “It is what you have in you that you’ll give out. The commissioner for information is a good man and that is why he’s promoting unity starting with sports. In sports, football unifies people like what is happening here today, if not for this tournament everybody will not be together”, she said.