The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Promotions excite Bayelsa NSCDC

    It was a moment of joy and jubilation for the personnel and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Bayelsa State. The beneficiaries sang and danced. Their efforts of risking their lives to protect the country’s critical national infrastructures particularly oil installations like pipelines did not go unnoticed by the Federal Government.

    In fact, 27 of them from grade level seven to 13 were elevated. Nineteen of them were promoted to the superintendent cadre while eight were taken to the inspectorate level. They had worked tirelessly and waited hopefully for their promotions. Indeed, they had reasons to celebrate.

    Therefore, in a brief ceremony at the state headquarters of NSCDC in Yenagoa, the promoted officers were full of appreciation for the gesture. The state Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Godwin Nwachukwu, also rejoiced with his personnel. He congratulated them for their promotions describing their new ranks as deserving.

    “But this is a call for you to do more. Your new ranks have given you additional responsibilities. You have to show more commitment and work harder to justify your new ranks”, he said.

    Nwachukwu further asked others who are yet to be promoted to exercise patience and wait for their turn asserting that promotion comes from God. He, however, enjoin them to be diligent in their duties to the command.

    Also, the Deputy Commandant and Second-in-Command, I. C Chikere, who supervised the decorations of the beneficiaries, said the new ranks were added responsibilities. “To whom much is given, much is expected”, he said.

    Expressing his feelings over the development, one of the officers, Nnopu Chika, who was promoted from Deputy Superintendent of Corps (DSC) to Superintendent Corps (SC) pledged to justify her new rank through hard work.

    Also a beneficiary and Assistant Commandant, Uchechukwu Ofili, said he would deliver in any capacity. “The promotion has spurred me to a new level of dedication so i will not disappoint the corps or the Commandant-General. This is encouraging me to do more.

    “If the corps has chosen us to be decorated then it is expected that we should do more. The officers should wake up from their slumber, if they were not doing well before, they should do more now as the promotion is a form of wake-up call for them to perform better”, he said.

     

  • Joy as hospital union members get set to own homes

    It was joy for members of the Senior Staff Association of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Calabar as they took another step to owing their own houses with the groundbreaking and presentation of land documents of their Housing Estate at Adiabo Ikot Mbo Otu in the Cross River State capital.

    Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospital, Research Intuitions and Allied Institutions, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Calabar Branch, Comrade Ken Bassey, said as civil servants they always get through difficult times because they do not own houses, hence the need to ensure they owned theirs.

    “It is four hectares of land. When I was elected in 2015, one of my cardinal election promises was to ensure that members would own their houses, because as civil servants, most times, they get through difficult times, they get thought difficult times because they don’t have houses. I know the government have done their bit in the past, but the union needed to also add to what the government has done,” Bassey said.

    He said the land had already been paid for by the association through contributions from various members.

    He said it was the first time in the history of the association, that land has been acquired for her members.

    “The groundbreaking epitomises the spirit of perseverance, a home-grown vision, hard work and doggedness. Our members are now landowners. We expect that members through little efforts would be able to build their houses based on our own prescribed models and plans,” Bassey said.

    Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Calabar, Dr Joseph Okegbe, described the development as impressive, saying he was overwhelmed by the vision of the chairman.

    Chairman of the Lands and Investment Committee of the Association, Princess Obo M. Edet, said though it was considered difficult they remained dogged to ensure it was a success.

    The Obong of Calabar, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, who handed over the land to the association, told them they were free to start building immediately.

    The Obong, who was represented by Chief Colonel Joseph Patrick Edet, Head of Otu Otu Family, however cautioned them against using the land for farming or subletting it to other people.

    He urged them to show presence as soon as possible by developing the land.

  • The many little miracles at Umuahia’s FMC

    As the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) is on the path to performing 40 kidney transplants this year, WALE AJETUNMOBI examines this specialised and comprehensive healthcare centre

    Umuahia, the Abia State, is fast becoming miracles’ centre. The Federal Medical Centre in its bowel is performing many little miracles that are changing lives, for good. Many are linking this to the emergence of Dr. Abali Chuku as its Medical Director.

    The FMC, Umuahia has emerged the pioneer medical institution in the Southeast/Southsouth for kidney transplants.

    To ensure that the first kidney transplant under his watch proceeded without any hitch, Dr. Chuku observed with keen interest developments at other kidney transplant centres in Nigeria, especially St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos, and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.

    He signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with University of Toledo to build the capacity and expertise of the doctors that participated in the kidney transplant surgery. The team was in Ohio, United States to observe transplantation of kidney at the university’s medical centre. They also spent time studying the rudiments of the complicated nature of kidney transplant so that when the procedure eventually begins at FMC Umuahia, it will not be strange to them.

    The initial surgeries were carried for over 10 hours, by a team of surgeons led by Dr. Obi Ekwenna, a Nigerian-American from University of Toledo Medical Centre, Ohio. Other members of the medical team from FMC Umuahia are Dr. George Okwudili Acho, Dr. Mgbeojedo Chizoba, Dr. Ezieule Victor, Dr. Ngwu Paul, Dr. Ngwu Daberechi and Dr. Okwuonu Chimezie.

    After the transplants of December 7 and 8, 2017, a 15-member medical team of FMC Umuahia again on January 24 and 25, 2018 undertook two more kidney transplants.

    The feats attracted Minister of Health Prof Isaac Adewole. The minister saw two patients as well as the donors at the Intensive Care Unit and also met and congratulated the medical team and the hospital’s management.

    Adewole said: “I am always happy to visit this hospital and I am more than impressed with its breakthrough in Kidney transplantation”.

    Dr. Chuku said the centre would be handling about 20 kidney transplants within the first half of 2018 and 20 others during the second half of the year.

    He also appreciated the kidney donors and members of their families “for having the courage to donate one of their kidneys” stating that the vision of FMC Umuahia is to make Kidney transplant in the facility the cheapest in the country. He informed that the hospital’s Kidney Foundation hopes to subsidize each transplant to less than N3.5 million, which will make it far cheaper than other centres in the country. He appealed to well-meaning Nigerians and philanthropists to buy into the cost of kidney transplantation, stressing that kidney transplant were cheaper than renal dialysis in the long run.

    The two patients, who had kidney transplants last year, are 37-year-old Orji Ogbonanya Ule, a business man who said he had had kidney problem for four years. His new kidney was donated by his 58-year-old uncle, a civil servant. The other patient was a 68-year-old medical doctor whose kidney problem was diagnosed four months before the surgery. His new kidney was donated by a security man, who is his relation.

    The FMC, Umuahia example

    Notwithstanding the fact that 10 other health institutions undertake kidney transplant in Nigeria, it does not in any way diminish the great significance of the development at FMC Umuahia for a number of reasons.

    First, FMC Umuahia is not a Teaching Hospital usually attached to a university where breakthroughs in varied aspects of medical practice are usually expected.

    Secondly, FMC Umuahia has become the first medical institution in the South-east geo-political zone of Nigeria to undertake kidney transplantation and the only currently undertaking the procedure in both the Southeast and Southsouth zones. History has indeed been made. Patients from the two zones suffering from kidney disorder can now conveniently access medical care from nearby FMC, Umuahia and at reasonable cost compared to what obtains in other kidney transplant centres or even outside our shores.

    Worthy of note also is the fact that this pioneering effort at FMC Umuahia was carried out at no cost to the four lucky patients.

    The gesture also vividly portrays the humanism of Dr Chuku as a man in sympathy with the less privileged in the society. A man whose calling as a medical doctor is first and foremost to save lives that are in danger before the benefits that accrue from his vocation.

    An elated Dr Chuku said: “They provided a wonderful opportunity for poor people like us without means to go abroad for transplantation.”

     Supervision and appreciation

    On assumption of duty as medical director, Dr Chuku tried to determine the factors that would make FMC Umuahia a health facility to reckon with and reviewed the management strategy to achieving it. He decided to put in place two drivers. The first is money and the other monitoring. According to him, an effective combination of money and monitoring will produce good result. He identified lack of money and monitoring as the contributory factors to the problems in the health sector in Nigeria. He called on the Regulatory Agencies in the health sector to be more diligent in their duties so that nurses, pharmacists, doctors and other professionals will be conscientious in the discharge of their responsibilities. He said that if doctors and nurses are afraid of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria respectively, just as people are afraid of EFCC and ICPC, attitude to work in the health sector will change for the better. Some element of fear that will compel people discharge their duties accordingly he said was desirable.

    A strong advocate of monitoring, Dr Chuku said doctors and nurses must have their duties properly defined and effectively monitored.

    Dr Chuku described the maintenance culture in Nigeria as terribly poor. Most managers of institutions do not factor in maintenance as part of management requirements, unlike in developed countries where maintenance is considered along with machine requirements. He said SAFE project of FMC Umuahia has played a catalytic role in manpower development, monitoring and procurement.

    Taking into consideration the type of machines in use at FMC Umuahia, the medical director constituted a proper procurement unit. In fact, FMC Umuahia was the first to have a duly constituted procurement unit in the Southeast. In recognition of this fact, the head of the unit has been honoured with the fellowship of the Procurement Institute. To get the best value for money, competitive bidding was instituted.

    At the end of every month, the best performing nurse is announced and properly rewarded. The best doctor is announced every quarter. Dr. Chuku informed that nurses at FMC Umuahia have a strong linkage with the National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America (NANNNA). This association is helping to improve nursing process in FMC Umuahia.

    As Chuku inches his way to the end of what has so far been a highly eventful and unassailable tenure, his supervisor has given a generous and pleasant assessment. During an official visit to FMC, Umuahia in January, Adewole described FMC Umuahia as a “wonderful facility”.

    He said:”When an institution is rated high, it means the leadership is aspiring for excellence.

    I almost said that Dr Chuku is the best MD (Medical Director) in Nigeria.”

     

  • The row before the visit

    Rivers. A state with rivers perpetually swam by political animals ever set for a duel. I have known the state almost all my four decades on earth. First through books and later through visits.

    For Rivers’ sake I have been haunted and hunted. Literally. My best memory of Rivers remains that night a little over two years ago when I was declared Columnist of the Year for a satirical piece on this great state.

    Its capital, Port Harcourt, is a picturesque city, a city of promise, a city flowing with milk and honey, a city where dreams came alive and a city where great minds found the room to flourish and flower.

    Like Lagos, it was some form of convergence for races. Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Kanuri, Ibibio and others saw in Port Harcourt a home away from home.

    Port Harcourt of yore was not a city where fear walked on all fours. It was a city where people loved their neigbours like themselves. It was a beautiful city. So beautiful they rechristened it Garden City because of the choreographed embrace between its well-laid road networks and flowers lining them.

    In it, oil giants made money and were not afraid. Their gates were not manned by stern-looking soldiers or riot policemen. Neither were their key figures escorted everywhere by gun-toting security men.

    The Nigerian civil war was the first blow on Port Harcourt. Igbo who saw the Rivers State capital as home put their all into it. They built houses, industries and so on there. Then came the war and their properties were confisticated all in the name of abandoned properties. Their attempts to reclaim their toils after the war were resisted. Though some got back their due with time, not a few lost their properties forever.

    After the war, Port Harcourt seemed to get its groove back. But the return to democracy in 1999 marked another twist. Politicians — out to show strength — armed young and jobless youths with rifles and machine guns. Opponents were taken down with ease. Key political figures, such as Chief Marshal Harry, were killed and the culprits never found not to talk of being brought to justice.

    Until the killing of the Adubes, the whole thing had not made me write off the enclave as ‘craze world’. I will always remember the Adubes who were consumed by the madness of the last general elections. How can I forget them? Over 50 shots were fired during the invasion of their home, which lasted between 6pm and 7pm on April 3, 2015. They killed Christopher Adube, the patriarch of the house, two of his sons, his daughter, nephew and driver, in ONELGA, Rivers State.

    That terrible day, the assailants also left two of Adube’s children, Paul and Ogechi Adube, with permanent scars. They would have died when these men without brains stormed their home. The bullets they pumped into the 15-year-old Paul’s leg have ensured he is wheel-chair bound. The hot lead they released unto Ogechi’s legs have also seen rods inserted into her bones and because of this, she cannot fold her legs. You can imagine the pains of walking around with legs that feel like wood.

    Of the 12 children Adube had with his two wives, three were killed with him; two were left practically crippled and the others now live with shattered dreams. Their father’s sin, I am made to understand, was his affiliation with the APC. His children’s sin was being born by him. The evil men applied the Law of Moses forgetting that the coming of our lord Jesus Christ marked the end of that law, which encouraged taking out the father’s sin on the son or daughter.

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) investigated about 153 petitions on hate speeches and election-related violence which occurred in the various parts of the country in relation to the 2015 general elections. Twenty-three of the 153 petitions concern ONELGA, a local government in dear Rivers alone.

    When the commission sat, it was sorrow and tears galore. Memories came alive and made men and women shed tears like babies.

    The most recent alarming killings in Rivers happened on the first day of the year. Twenty-four people were gunned down by men without souls. We were all in joyous mood that the New Year was here. Then Don Waney in his evil enclave told Scorpion and others to kill fathers, mothers and children. These evil men were known to have killed people and cut off their heads, which they obviously took away as evidence for their masters.

    For this reason, President Muhammadu Buhari is visiting. But a big row has broken out. Governor Nyesom Wike was the first to take exception to the visit. As far as he is concerned, Rivers has no security challenge different from any of the other 35 states. So, the president should visit all, he argued.

    In another breadth, he said the visit might be to revive the All Progressives Congress (APC) which he declared dead. And he is happy only Jesus has the power to revive the dead!

    Rivers Commissioner for Information Emma Okah joined the row with a scathing statement. In it, he said Buhari’s planned visit would afford the people of the state a rare opportunity to inform him of the total neglect of the state by the APC-led Federal Government.

    He added that “we will use the opportunity to also tell him about the peculiar security challenges that Rivers State is facing and the fact that we have not received appropriate cooperation from the Police high command despite our complaints”.

    There is more: “We will also use the opportunity to tell him what INEC is doing and the fact that INEC is working with some security agencies to frustrate the 2019 elections in favour of his party.

    “And we will assure him of our unalloyed commitment as we all work together in patriotism towards building a stronger and more united nation.”

    Buhari’s spokesman Femi Adesina is not happy with the fact that Wike used a wrong premise to fault the trip.

    “If he (Wike) doesn’t understand, the rest of the country understands. We understand, other Nigerians understand. Even people in Rivers State understand because on New Year Day, a minimum of 24 people were killed in Omoku.

    “So, is that not crisis? And can you count the number of people that have been beheaded in Rivers state in recent times?

    “People will be killed and heads will be cut off and the assailants will go away with the heads. So, can anybody say that there is no security issue in that kind of place?

    “It’s left to the governor. He’s the chief security officer. If he says there’s no security crisis in his state, good luck to him,” Adesina said.

    The Senator representing Rivers South East at the National Assembly, Magnus Abe, also saw no sense in Wike’s protest. He told the governor and all dissenting voices to be grateful Buhari was coming to Rivers.

    The senator said: “Rivers State has been in the news for the wrong reasons of recent. The governor should have been the happiest person to hear that the President is coming to see those people who lost loved ones and empathise with them.

    “It would be an opportunity for the governor to find a way to work with the President to ensure that we have better security but because of the undertone of violence in Rivers State; I think that is why he finds the visit uncomfortable at this time

    “The APC government has done more for Rivers State than the PDP government. The Bodo-Bonny road is on-going. Work has started and the East-West road is also on-going. The president is committed to the Ogoni clean-up and he is working. This is the take-off point.

    “The trust fund account is being opened and you have to finish all this process before you can accelerate.”

    My final take: Do not ask me who is right and who is wrong. I certainly will not say. But what I will say is this, Rivers is peaceful. If not, why is every organisation rushing to the capital city to hold their annual general meetings, conferences and so on? Why are oil giants’ executives no longer going about with armed soldiers or riot policemen? Why do people now sleep with their eyes closed and their doors ajar? Or, why have all ‘animals in human skin’ left town?

  • Militancy in Niger Delta opportunity to amass wealth, says don

    Dr. Gift Worlu is a senior lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Choba, River State. In this interview with ROSEMARY NWISI, Worlu dissects issues relating to Niger Delta and more.

    Militancy in the Niger Delta

    They hide under the fact that the place is underdeveloped, despite being the owners if the economy that the country is running on, yet the people they are killing and destroying their environments are their own people.  They have not killed anybody who is one of the people that are collecting their oil and money, they end up make money for themselves and not their people.

    We have seen situations where while under the cover of militancy, they make money for themselves, get contracts from government and use the money to develop themselves.  They do not use the money to develop the communities they claim to be fighting their course. What a deceit!

    Rivers’ Neighbourhood Watch

    The fact that Governor Nyesom Wike went ahead and signed the bill into law despite the misgivings against it shows that he has no regard for public opinion. This was a bill that failed in the court of the public.

    First three years of President Muhammad Buhari-led Federal Government

    The Federal Government has done well, in the period under review. I am satisfied in the way it has re-directed the minds of Nigerians in the way they see and think about Nigeria.

    The change agenda of the government is worthy of note and should be embraced by everyone that in concerned about the country. The present government is investing the resources of the country appropriately to develop the country’s critical infrastructure to grow the economy through massive industrialisation. Investors’ confidence in the country has also been regained extensively. I really do give credit to him.

    The present Federal Government inherited a country that was already battered and almost rotting away, President Muhammad Buhari has been in the process of rebuilding every aspect of the country since he took over office.  There is need for Nigerians to be patient with him and support him to do such a job that will recover the country back to its feet.

    Agree that in the efforts and process of fixing the country, many people are undergoing hardship and a kind if suffering, but it is momentary. If we are patient, in no time, we all will begin to smile again because the result of the work being done now will definitely bring comfort to everyone.

    Good governance

    It is not about blaming anybody, casting aspersion on people, federal or state governments; it is about changing the way government is being run. There is need for the country to move from the traditional way of running government of waiting and sharing of allocation and internally generated revenues monthly, to a modern way of investment, business-orientated government, economy.

    Countries all over the world work with their businessmen to look out for markets, businesses they can discover and explore to generate revenues, but Nigerian government is not doing that. We are only depending on oil. One day this oil will dry up, if it happens there will be war in Nigeria, there will be pestilence people will eat other people to survive because there is no food, there won’t be salary for anybody.

    We leave in a country where everybody is depending on oil money,  if we don’t change the way business is done, Hunger will kill people in this coming,  we saw it during the recession two  years ago, when it happened governments were not able to pay salaries for several months, people died.

    Why did that happen? When we had excess crude, what did we use the money to do?  We shared it, everyday roads are being constructed, people are getting titles for doing nothing, whereas in other parts of the world, people receive titles and awards for new discoveries they make — people who have grass to grace stories, who out of nothing made something impactful to the society. But in Nigeria, we celebrate thieves, criminals; those who stole our commonwealth and move them overseas to develop other peoples’ economy when our youths are jobless and roam about the streets.

    How then do we ask the question, how we got here, when we live in a society where criminals are celebrated, where excellence means nothing, merit means nothing. We live in a country where some people are treated as special. Some people are above the law. What do we expect?

    We will have to change the way business is done; that is what the whole change mantra is all about. We need to change all the tribalistic stereotype we have in the country.

    When will it be that a Nigerian will see another Nigerian and treat him as a unique and responsible individual instead of hanging a tag on him?

    I want to see a Nigeria where everybody is equal before the law, I want to see a Nigeria where people are given positions based on their contributions, and not by who you know in leadership of any cadre.

    Throughout Jonathan’s period we were complaining, now we are complaining under Buhari, after Buhari, we will keep complaining because we have not changed the way business is done and that is what this Federal Government administration is preaching.

    Fighting corruption

    The government is fighting corruption the much he can.  The argument that corruption fight is lopsided is not true. This is because since the fight for intensified under this  President Buhari-led government, it is only people that have questions to answer that are invited, ordinary Nigerians who did not participate in the looting  have not been invited,  it is the duty if those invited to go and clear themselves.

    In as much as we ask that the government should do the corruption fight in a more transparent way that would alley the fears of many Nigerians, I do not see any justification so far that the fight is against perceived political enemies as being insinuated in several quarters because there are PDP members who have not been invited even with heavy allegations led against them.

    There are also APC members who have not been invited, there are also APC members who have been invited and are facing trial, the same way some PDP members were invited and are facing trial, with this you discover that at the end of the day it is idol talk that corruption fight is lopsided.

    The controversial cattle colony

    I am not in support of the idea for state to create cattle colony for herdsmen.  However, creation of cattle colony is not a policy but someone’s idea.  Nigerians need to grow to the point where we can listen to ourselves; if somebody thinks about the idea for cattle colony, it is just an idea.  Other people may think is a family business,  it is an idea,  people think about ranches, the traditional cattle routes,  all these ate ideas,  people’s ideas,  but the challenge we have is that we have transited from the traditional society,  to the primitive society then to the modern society.

    We live in the modern society, but we do not want to let go traditional practices, that is where the problem lies. It is not only in the area of cattle rearing we have this kind of challenge,  if we go to the villages you will see people who are supposed to be civilised people, still doing things that are primitive,  and when we have this kind of contradictions we will have crisis.  Because some personal are still laying claims to the traditional cattle routes, some people are thinking that even though we are both civilised society, even though this is how they do it in the civilised world. Our own case is different.

     

  • UNIBEN… X-raying a 48-year-old

    The University of Benin (UNIBEN) is one of Nigeria’s first generation federal universities. It was founded in 1970. It started as an Institute of Technology and was accorded the status of a full-fledged university by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on 1 July 1971.

    In his budget speech in April 1972, the then Military Governor of Mid-Western State, Col. S. O. Ogbemudia (also Visitor to the University) announced the change of the name of the Institute of Technology to the University of Benin. On 1 April, 1975, the university at the request of the state government was taken over by the Federal Government and became a Federal University. Since the inception of the institution, it has produced eight substantive Vice chancellors.

    Prof Faraday Osasere Orumwense on November 30, 2014 assumed office as the 9th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin. Prior to his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of the University, he had over two decades of experience in university administration in various capacities, including his appointment by the Edo State government as pioneer Rector of the Institute of Management and Technology, Usen.

    Since his stewardship as Vice-Chancellor in the last three and a half years, there has been rapid development across various strata of the university. The primacy of peace in any given environment cannot be overemphasised, as it remains an important ingredient in the realisation of an organisation’s goals and objectives.

    Orumwense was very clear on employees’ and students’ welfare in his first appearance as the university gaffer, saying it was a major factor to improve on.

    The former Dean of Students, Prof Francis Osagiede harps on Prof Orumwense’s visionary leadership thus: “Orumwense has matched words with action as the administration placed huge premium on the welfare of staff and students. To this end, the administration remains committed to regular promotion of staff as at when due with their entitlement paid.

    “Our pensioners are not left out as we remain committed to their welfare. The administration is also leaving no stone unturned to create a befitting environment for learning. In pursuance of this, the administration has put in place an up to-date routine maintenance of existing public utilities on campus.”

    The administration in its effort to strengthen the committee system of university administration successfully conducted the 2015 congregation election, where members of staff were elected into various committees for the smooth running of the university.

    Cultism and other associated vices have been reduced to the barest minimum with the increase level of security surveillance made possible through the procurement of six patrol vehicles by this administration.

    The VC said: “I am happy to inform you that students now sleep with their two eyes closed and are also not afraid to go about their lawful academic and extra-curricular activities without fear of molestation.”

    The state of ICT Platforms in University of Benin has improved tremendously following series of upgrades to international standard.

    “It is with a sense of fulfilment that we announce to you that the University of Benin is the first University in Nigeria to develop software independently for the Computer Based Test (CBT) for PUME/PUDE and other internal and external examinations,” he stated.

    He further explained that the Network operation Centre (N.O.C. Room) of the University has been upgraded with the support of the NCC and NUC administration to an international standard that can accommodate the 155mbps. The ICT/CRPU of the University of Benin now boasts of e-learning multimedia platform, e-Senate meetings/result presentation and hostels with fiber optics.

    Similarly, the Ekehuan campus has been linked with Network operation Centre room to improve internet services in the environment. Also, the campus now boasts of improved information technology facility, massive renovation of lecture theatres and a 24-hour library. Face-lifting and beautification of the institution, provision of new industrial borehole facility for male halls of residence situated at both Ugbowo and Ekehuan campuses, renovation of Anao Toilet facility at Hall IV male hostel at the Ugbowo Campus.

    Orumwense also saw to the provision of Methylated Spirit and Hydrogen Peroxide production unit, which is awaiting final approval to commence production but has successfully undergone a mandatory pre-assessment by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    An astroturf football pitch was provided, just as the university embarked on the construction of 500-capacity female hostel, construction of golf course building, construction of safety& environmental education building, construction of an ultramodern library in college of medicine, construction of Botanical gardens research building, re-grassing of main bowl football pitch, among others.

    That the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) licensed the University of Benin (UNIBEN) to generate and operate a 7.5 megawatt Independent Power Plant (IPP) within its campus is also a testimony to the dynamism  of the astute academician. He also initiated different awards to reward outstanding lecturers like the Distinguished Research and Innovative Achievement Award (DRIAA) to reward researchers in the school who have carved a niche for themselves.

    The administration has attracted scholarships/research grants to staff and students of the University. As part of efforts of his administration in building capacity on ICT proficiency for both teaching, non-teaching as well as students, the CRP/ICT Unit of the University of Benin successfully held its 2017 edition of ICT Day, the second in successive years, with the theme ‘Unlimited Access to Learning for Everyone Everywhere: ICT the Rostrum’.  The lecture with the topic’ Continuous Learning, the Role of ICT: Free Online Course’ from Abuja by Dr. Joshua Attah, Director NgREN, National Universities Commission Abuja via the use of video conferencing.

    The successful launching of the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation which was done in collaboration with Lancaster University, United Kingdom attracted participants as well as goodwill messages from African Union Scientific Technical Research Commission, Nigerian Airforce, Manufacturer Association of Nigeria, Raw Material Research and Development Council, National Biosafety Management Agency, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Association of Nigeria, National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Meteorological Agency, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and several others.

    Under Prof Orumwense, the University of Benin has in partnership with Lancaster University (UK) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (Ghana) won a Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF) grant. The grant which is part of a new 225 million pounds rate of investment, aims to grow research capability to meet the challenges faced by the developing world.

    The Great Britain 6.8 million projects will be led by Lancaster University (UK), with the University of Benin and CSIR Ghana as core partners. The varsity makes history as first African University to advance to final stage of Petrobowl Championship in USA. The flag of the University of Benin was again flown very high in far-away San Antonio, Texas, USA. This is the first time in the history of the competition that an African University will advance to the final stage.

    Two of University of Benin professors have brought honour to the University by their recent appointments as Rectors of Ogwashi Uku and Oghara Polytechnics in Delta State by the Delta State government. They are Professor Stella Chiemeke of the Department of Computer Science and Professor Emmanuel Ogujor of the Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering.

    Interestingly, Shell Petroleum Development Company is working with the University of Benin for greater development. Shell Petroleum Development Company is one partner that has expressed keen interest in the University of Benin. The current Managing Director, Mr Okunbor is a worthy alumnus of the University of Benin. The company has expressed interest in constructing an ICT Building for the University. Lately, the company has been involved in the renovation of and upgrading of facilities in the Sport Complex.

    With these feats and many more to come, the university is indeed way ahead in administrative proficiency.

     

    • Ogievba, a journalist, writes from Benin City, Edo State.

     

  • ‘Nigerians are trustworthy, God-fearing’

    The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer  of Communication Trend Limited (CTL), a cable network service provider, Uzo Udemba, has said Nigerians  are honest people to do business with.

    Udemba spoke at the company’s third dealer award ceremony during which he handed over a Mercedez Benz utility van to an authorised dealer in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    He described Nigerians as God-fearing, straight-forward and trustworthy, and that the population of the bad ones was insignificant.

    He said this understanding followed his 25 years’ experience in business.

    Udemba said: “One thing I have learnt in business is that when you trust Nigerians they will trust you; when you give them good service, they will reorganise you. In Nigeria, we are not people who do not do things correctly, the bad ones are not too many. Majority of Nigerians are very trustworthy.

    “Our 25 years  journey in the provision of  pay TV service has made us to understand that truly majority of Nigerians are God fearing,  straight forward and can be trusted, and again if you serve Nigerians well they will trust you and do business with you.”

    He disclosed the plan by the company to empower all her dealers through capacity building in decoder installations,  servicing and programming to enhance their cable network business.

    He said added:“The the company has mapped out plan to empower it’s team of distributors beyond giving out vehicles to them.

    “We are working out a scheme to have you trained not just in installing decoders but also in servicing them as well as in programming, so you can understand how decoders work and function.”

    He noted that the company has already secured a federal government’s licence to build decoder assembling plant in the country.

    The construction for the facility will soon begin in Rivers State.

    He assured distributors that the company would ensure they did not lose out in the new phase of the company, stressing that the welfare and business growth of their distributors were paramount to the company.

     

  • Dickson races to complete projects

    Bayelsa State has been celebrating key achievements of its Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson. Very Important Personalities (VIPs) and key officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been gracing occasions in the state to inaugurate and behold the strides of Dickson in education, health, agriculture and other major sectors of the economy.

    Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd) was in Bayelsa recently. The Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and former President Olusegun Obasanjo were also in the state. The National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, further led notable party members to inaugurate some of the projects.

    The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and hordes of Parliamentarians under the auspices of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), African Region, saw the strides. In fact, the roll call seems endless. Even the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye, landed in the state.

    A world-class diagnostic centre, an ecumenical centre, a specialist hospital, a drug mart, Ox-bow Lake Pavilion, the Ijaw National Academy, other boarding schools, roads and aquaculture village were among the enduring projects the August visitors cut their tapes amidst fanfare and cascades of tributes to the governor.

    Bayelsa will soon receive the Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo for another round of project inauguration especially at the New Yenagoa City. But the celebrations and commissioning of projects is not an indication that Dickson with his Restoration Government is done with projects in the state.

    The countryman governor is not finished with his mission in Bayelsa yet. In fact, the state remains a construction site under him. The governor is pursuing with great panache the completion of other projects across the three senatorial districts.

    The Commissioner for Works, Mr. Lawrence Ewrujakpor, recently conducted the Niger Delta Report round some of the ongoing projects in the state. Ewrujakpor,  described as a round peg in a round hole has been overseeing the works ministry since the inception of Dickson’s administration. He is part of the brains behind infrastructural revolution in the state. Known for his oratorical skills, doggedness, assiduousness, native intelligence and workaholism, Ewrujakpor, though a lawyer is vast with knowledge of construction.

    Indeed, the project tours revealed ongoing massive constructions at the permanent site of the University of Africa (UOA), Toru-Orua, Sagbama. High-rise hostel blocks are fast taking shapes. Most of the well-furnished lecture halls had been completed. An oval-shaped auditorium is also close to its completion. When completed, the structures with aesthetic beauty will make UOA one of the best ivory towers in the world.

    Besides the constructions in the university, which had already started academic sessions, there is an ongoing construction of an ultra-modern market in Toru-Orua. The market when finished will serve the university community and boost commercial activities at the Western Senatorial District.

    Obviously, the governor has not given up in the Sagbama-Ekeremor-Agge Road. The governor last year took the construction of the road to Aleibiri in Ekeremor making it possible for the people to drive to the area for the first time. But Dickson promised to take the road to Ekeremor Town to enable the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and and others from that area to access their communities by land

    The tour revealed that all the bridges required to realise the promise of Dickson are receiving the needed attention. Speaking at the site of one of the bridges, Ewrujakpor said he and the contractors were doing everything possible to take the road to Ekeremor Town as promised by Dickson.

    He said: “You are aware that we have a governor who is a ‘talk and do’. He promised last year that we’ll take a drive to Aleibri at Christmas and that happened. The next charge he gave to us was that we should please ensure we’re able to drive to Ekeremor in December 2018 and that is the target.

    “So, to achieve that is a task that must be done and progress is being made on all fronts. We are at the bridge point at Aleibri. It is a critical point of the job and for me, we are quite impressed with the speed of the contractor, Setraco.

    “We are very much on time and on target as far as this bridge is concerned because our target was to get this bridge completed between September and October. So, we’re making progress and you can see that the sand/cement stabilization and stone base from Aleibri to the bridge is almost completed, so that’s good progress.

    “On the other end, the other contractor, Dantata and Sawoe, is also doing a good job, building of the culverts. So, the progress is quite impressive as far as the Sagbama-Ekeremor road is concerned.

    “You have not seen the best of the governor. His best is still to be unleashed. We are on the concluding lap of the administration, two more years to go and the remaining period is for consolidation and finishing strong.

    “We’re going to finish strong so the Dicksonism that we have come to understand will continue in Bayelsa state. By December we’re sure vehicles will get to ekeremor by the progress we’re making”.

    He added: “For the first time in the history of the state, the bridge that will link Esenwa and Aleibri will be completed. These are the new grounds Dickson is breaking that people do not understand and they take it for granted.

    “This road was conceptualised 40 years ago and nobody could achieve it but Dickson has achieved it so, clearly he means well and we need to support him. I use this opportunity to call on Bayelsans to continue to give their encouragement so we can finish strong in these two more years”.

    The tour train later departed the Ekeremor road for the Imiringi Bridge in Ogbia and Old Assembly Quarters Road in Yenagoa. The works commissioner was, however, not impressed with the ongoing work at the two project sites.

    He recalled that the governor gave his ministry a marching order to compete the bridge before June this year. “The work is not too encouraging because I expected them to have moved beyond where they are now”, he said.

    He added: “I have requested for their work programme so that we mark them according to their phases and know when they’re slowing down and when they’re not. The work programme will make us direct them.

    “As for the Azikoro Old Assembly Road, I’m not also very impressed and I’ve asked my engineers to give some strike instructions. I’ll go back there in the next one week to ensure that the defects I’ve pointed out are made good and adjustments are done.

    “They’ve assured me that in the next three weeks they should be through with the road because they have substantially stone-based to formation level. We’re on course with that project but it’s the quality of work and the pace of work that I’m not really impressed with”.

    Furthermore, Ewrujakpor and his team later moved to inspect the Onopa Bridge located at the new Yenagoa City which Osibanjo is expected to inaugurate soon. While saying that progress was ongoing, he asked the contractors to do more.

    He said: “On the 3rd of April, the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will be coming to launch the new Yenagoa City. We call it the New Yenagoa Biophilia City. Biophilia because we want to ensure that nature is preserved.

    “We don’t want to tamper with nature the way it is in that city and it will consist of the Golf Estate, the Riverview Estate as well as the new Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Yenagoa so that bridge needs to be crossed for people to go over there to do their development.

    “The only access to that place now is the bridge by the governor’s residence and it will be a security risk for people to be allowed to go down there through that place. We’re also trying to push to see whether we can get that bridge across by October this year”.

    Dickson, not focusing only on his Senatorial District

    Ewrujakpor also used the opportunity to dismiss the claims in some quarters that Dickson was concentrating development on his Western Senatorial District. He asked critics to always get their facts right before attacking their subjects.

    He said: “We need to get our statistics correct. Bayelsa West has the least kilometres of roads in the whole state. The kilometres of asphalt road we have in Bayelsa West as it is now is 29km. Every other senatorial zone has more than a hundred kilometres.

    “Take Bayelsa Central for example, we have all the roads going to Odi, to Opokuma, to Kaiama, to Polako, to Sampo, to Tombia, to Amasomma, to Ayamma/Edebiri, to Agbura; all the roads we have done within Yenagoa belong to Bayelsa Central. So, if you take those roads that’s over a hundred and something kilometres right there in Bayelsa Central.

    “For Bayelsa East, all the roads going to Otueke, Onuebum, Otuokpoti, Emeyal, Imiringi, Kolo, Ogbia town itself, to Nembe and then we’re also going to continue from Nembe to Brass, all those roads put together are over 200km.

    “So, it will be uncharitable and slanderous for people to say that the governor is concentrating on Bayelsa West knowing fully well that Bayelsa West is road deficient except we don’t want to be our brother’s keepers.

    “We have crossed a bridge at Ogobiri linking Bayelsa East and it is still within Bayelsa Central. We’ve also done a bridge at Ekoli that is also within Bayelsa Central so it is beneficial that those of us from Bayelsa West should also have a feel of development because roads bring you to development.

    “So, if we have only 29km of road and it is now that if we finish the Sagbama-Ekeremor road then we’ll be having a little over 40 kilometers of roads in the west. Therefore, it would be unfair for anybody to think that the governor is concentrating on Bayelsa West”.

    He added: “So, the governor should not be taken as being sectional, nepotistic or one-sided. In fact, what the governor is trying to do is to balance the equation and we need to encourage him. We are all Bayelsa. Bayelsa west is also in Bayelsa state.

    “Bayelsa west is a very big senatorial district and one of the major oil-producing districts of the state. So, I think the governor shouldn’t be accused, we should rather think of how to encourage the governor to ensure he balances the road network between the Bayelsa east, Bayelsa central and Bayelsa west”.

    The commissioner further revealed that the construction giant, Julius Berger, is back to the state to complete some of its projects like the dualisation of Isaac Boroh Expressway. He said work had started on the road again adding that the contractor started with concrete work.

    “After the concrete work, he said the asphalt phase of the construction would begin. A lot of activities are going on there now. They’re doing some sand-filling to prepare for the walkways”, he said.

     

  • I no be thief reloaded

    In February last year, this space hosted a piece titled I no be thief, borrowed from the late Afrobeat maestro Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Today I am doing a ‘remix’ or a ‘reload’.

    This is necessary at a time like this when overnight people are discovering that the name they have been called, which they even answer to, is not their own. They are calling black white and white black.

    You are warned in advance that this sermon is for those who are keen on rewriting history and making all we know suddenly begin to look fictitious.

    The first thing you need to do – as it is laid in my spirit – is that you must fall back on political capitals. What do I mean by this? At one point or the other in your life, you must have helped people. The better for you if you are the type who has ‘empowered’ a lot of people. This is pay-back time. Form them into an army of some sort.

    For a start, get one of them to do a video. Let it be circulated on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and everywhere possible. In the video, let him stress the fact that you are the godfather of many an important personality. If you are lucky enough to have influenced the election of a governor, senators, House of Representatives members, House of Assembly members and local government chairmen, let all these be pointed out in the video.

    After that is done, get many of these men and women who owe you political debts to pay you visits on exile and when they do, ensure that pictures are taken. Find a way to get these pictures to be circulated on social and traditional media. Your opponents will shout blue murder. They will say you and your people are engaging in disgusting acts. Do not mind them. They are simply jealous that if they are jailed for stealing or ostracised for one reason or the other, they will find no one to stand by them.

    Once you have gotten over that stage, it is time to plan an elaborate reception. First drop a hint that you will soon return to your village. It will be preferable if you get a reporter from an international media to interview you on your travail. During the interview, draw attention to the fact that you are going to appeal the judgment, which declared you a common thief. Trust the reporter he will remind you that you pleaded guilty to the offence. Don’t hesitate to tell him that you will not like to discuss what led to that in details now. If you like, you can make some allusion to something that suggests you did not do that with your eyes wide open and that with time the whole truth of the saga will unravel.

    Let it also be known that you are returning home to play politics and not go into some retirement. Tell him your people need you and they have missed you terribly. In fact, tell him they have suffered because of your absence. Some may see it as you playing the messiah; don’t mind them.

    About this same time, get a trusted aide to let in the media on the fact that he is working on a tell-it-all book on your travail. He should not forget to add that the whole world will be shocked at the revelations in the book.

    It is also important that activities around your country home should become frenzy. Repaint the house. Mow the lawn. Get people to mill around more than before. You can get canopies arranged in the compound for people to sit and wine and dine. This build-up must find a way to be reported in the media. It will make people wonder what manner of a man you are. Before you know it the narratives will begin to read like: ‘He is a man of his people’.

    Days later show up in the Federal Capital Territory. About the same time, get people who owe you political debts to wait for you at an airstrip not far away from your home town. Let them come with brand new Sports Utility Vehicles. For effect, let a very high-ranking government official, who owes his position to your influence and the money you stole to lead the delegation waiting to receive you.

    But do not make the mistake of landing at that airstrip. Instead arrive at a local airport in the neighbouring state in a jet you chartered with part of the stolen money or paid for by one of the people you ‘empowered’ with the stolen fund.

    There must also be people lining the road to your house. Make available packed food and bottled water to them. For effect, they can even be singing your praises while waiting for you and when you eventually arrive. A Boys Brigade band may not be a bad idea to cheer up the people waiting.

    This is very important. As you are arriving your home, you must show your face through the open roof of the SUV carrying you. Let some shots be taken. I guarantee you they will make the front pages the following day.

    This is another very important point: high-ranking government officials must be in your home to receive you. As you alight from the SUV, these big men must hug you and hail you before you walk into the sitting room where another set of big men must be waiting.

    For days, there must be activities around your home. Let big men keep coming. It will be better for you if a former governor, traditional rulers, senators and all turn your house to a Mecca. While all these people are coming, make sure reporters and photo-journalists are outside to capture them. But make no mistake of allowing the reporters in.

    The next step will be to go for a thanksgiving service. At the church service, you are free to talk, but you will talk in such a way that truly means you have not said anything. Ramble around. You can say something like the time for talking has not come. Emphasise the fact that you are happy to be back with your people who the enemies planned to separate you from by dumping you in a tight corner. Make a show by claiming that by the time you talk the scales over many people’s eyes will fall. The old tactic always work. When you have nothing to say, claim that if you talk the earth will collapse. Chances are that fear will grip many and they may start begging you not to talk.

    I must emphasise this: Before leaving the church, you must not forget to say it loud and clear that you are not a thief. Some people may say you are more than a thief. They may even liken you to an armed robber. Don’t mind them. Just make sure that you say it loud enough for everybody to hear and for the media to report that there is no way you can be a thief.

    It will also not be out of place for you to mention during the service that at a point all that mattered to you was how to return home to come and join your people who have suffered in your absence.

    For effect, you can dance a little and burst into a song.

    Go home straight after the service and hold a reception for the dignitaries. Again, ensure reporters and photo-journalists are restricted to the gates.

    One year after returning home, at a reception organised in your honour by supporters, speak eloquently. This time, do not say ‘I no be thief, I cannot be a thief’. Simply  claim your time in the United Kingdom was a sabbatical.

    ”My first appreciation is to God Almighty, first for bringing me back home safely. It’s been a year since I returned from my sabbatical leave in the UK,” tell the crowd.

    If the crowd erupts, ask in your language: “Was it not a sabbatical leave?”

    Then wrap up by saying: “My thanks, once again. There will be time for me to speak. I just want to thank God today.”

    Immediately after the reception, file an appeal against your ‘sabbatical’ in the UK. Do not attend court physically. Give evidence through video link. You can claim power cut affect your attempt to give evidence. Your lawyer must insist London police took bribe in exchange for inside information which should have come into play and affect your ‘sabbatical’.

    My final take: There is something you must be mindful of. Those busy-bodies – who call themselves columnists and are looking for issues to write on– will pick on you. They will write all manners of things. The best approach is to just ignore them.

  • Boards’s intervention fund increases local content in oil sector

    Bayelsa State is the home of the Nigeria Content Development Management Board (NCDMB). From its temporary structure, an imposing glass house along the Isaac Boro Expressway, the board runs the affairs of local content development in line with the Nigeria Oil & Gas Industry Content (NOGIC) Act enacted in 2010.

    The Act has made massive gains in terms of investments it has attracted in the country’s oil and gas within the seven years it has been in operation. But the realisation of the Act’s objectives to evolve and bolster indigenous participation in the country’s oil and gas sector gathered better momentum following the appointment of Engineer Simbi Wabote, as the Executive Secretary of the board by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Wabote came with innovative ideas to tackle the challenges in the sector such as the problems of local infrastructural development, project financing, transparency and the dearth of local content participants in the industry.

    In fact, the current board is pursuing vigorously everything that would increase local participation in oil and gas including solving the problems of befitting accommodation for its staff. A permanent headquarters of the board comprising 17-storey building, perhaps the tallest structure in the Niger Delta, is close to completion in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    The recent inauguration of Egina deep water project by Total Upstream Nigeria and other local manufacturing plants and yards has also added to the strides of the board and helped to set a new benchmark for the implementation of Nigerian content.

    Besides the structure and the deep water project, Wabote has demonstrated leadership and clear vision through the recently launched $200million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCIF). The fund is provided to ease the problems of financing to grow local capacity and increase indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry.

    Prior to the coming on board of NCIF, the huge financial investment made by the government in the oil and gas industry did not yield any significant benefits for most Nigerian players. The local content remained abysmally low. Statistics showed that over 60 per cent of the industry was still under the management of multinationals.

    Specifically, the Local Content Act of 2010 created the Nigerian Content Development Fund, a special fund from the one percent contribution by operating oil companies to support indigenous com-panies.

    But the fund over the years have grown to about $600million. Regrettably, the contributors who are eligible to access it as loans to build more capacities have not done so as expected. In fact, only three Nigerian companies have been able to access the fund for use in-country to encourage manufacturing.

    But Simbi Wabote, applying his vast experience in the petroleum industry has changed all that through the NCIF. The fund has, indeed, enhanced local participation in the industry. The intervention fund was established in 2017. It was launched with a single digit interest rate of eight per cent for loans to Nigerian oil and gas service providers and a single interest of five per cent for loans to community contractors.

    Wabote explains that the launching and release of the fund is one of several strategic initiatives of the board under him to deepen local content participation in the oil and gas industry. The Executive Secretary says the board aspires in its 10 years strategic plan, to have about $14bn out of about $20bn domiciled in the country annually. Specifically, the board intends to grow Nigerian content in the industry from the current level to 70 per cent by 2027.

    He notes that the critical success factor of the board is the implementation of the Act itself.

    Already, the Federal Government has encouraged the implementation of Nigerian Content with the recent ‘Executive Order 5’, signed by the President to promote the application of science, technology and innovation towards achieving the nation’s development goals across all sectors of the economy.

    Following the initiatives, local operators have set up fabrication yards, factories and plants in the production of pipes, assemblage of oil well head known as Christmas trees as well as valve assembly plants.

    All fabrication for oil and gas operations are now done locally. Projects like this will only require additional funding to expand the scope in line with the mandate of the NCDMB.