The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • The new partnership with the Niger Delta

    AS I left  Ondo State on Monday, I reflected on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s  historic visits to oil-producing states and wondered whether we from those states fully grasp  the import. Do we realise  what opportunities the visits offer, what alternatives they portend and the development miles we can make from them?  Given the enthusiasm expressed by the populace during those visits, the hope they rekindled and the vibrancy in the voices that welcomed him, I think we do.

    My first take on the visits are that they are a deepening and consolidation of the bond between the people and the Buhari administration; a partnership that opens wide, the road to sustainable peace and development of the Niger Delta. Secondly, they revealed  the Government’s  vision of transforming the   oil  communities into hubs for refining petrochemicals and related activities  which will  not only create mass employment and  make the country self- sufficient in petroleum products, but will also save the country the huge foreign exchange expended in importation of such products.  The Government’s agenda to build modular refineries  would be a big leap forward as it will in addition, check the rash of illegal refineries that are further destroying the environment and damaging the health of the people in the region. The black soot that has enveloped a major city like Port Harcourt  as a result of industrial pollution, the rash of illegal refineries and  the serious health hazards which has put six million residents at risk, tell us all, that we are running against time.

    Government’s plan to   make a state like Bayelsa,  a hub for power generation given its natural gas deposits , would greatly tilt the economics of scale in favour of the country. This will  vastly reduce incidents of pipeline vandalism  which has had serious effects on the functioning of  gas power plants in parts of the country.

    The visits also revealed the initiative of  a 40-point Agenda for the Niger Delta by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and oil companies. In my view, leaders, youths  and traditional rulers in the  Region should key  into to this effort  in the overall interest of the   people.

    Apart from the funds it is committing to the Niger Delta, the Federal Government’s initiative in securing over $1 billion dollars from the Shell Petroleum Development Company to provide drinking water and provide  health services in the Niger Delta, is salutary. Generally, the trans-national oil companies should follow in the Federal Government’s footsteps by partnering with the Region and contributing towards  its development.

    They should take advantage  of the  window of opportunity opened by the Federal Government’s commendable move in  bridging the communication gap between the oil companies and the Bayelsa State.

    It is advisable in my view, that oil companies  expand such cooperation to other oil producing states in order to guarantee peace, oil their business interests and ensure the needed development in the region.

    The government’s policy – as demonstrated by the visits –  of reaching out to the Niger Delta people, listening to their complaints and taking steps to address their concerns, is primarily responsible for the peace  being  witnessed today in the area and the  stop in vandalism of oil facilities. We have to build on this win-win foundation to build the human and infrastructural development of the Niger Delta.

    We have no time to waste because the odds are not in our favour. We must  be aware that oil is a wasting asset; it  will eventually dry up and  that more oil is being discovered in other parts of the world. These, along with fracking, will lead to oil glut. All these with the polluted environment of the region, have serious consequences for the future of the Niger Delta.

    The Federal Government has also demonstrated good will to our region by extending the life span of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and funding it to realise its objectives. I appeal to the youths in the area to key into the government’s agriculture project  to ensure food security and mass employment. The Presidential Amnesty Office is already training beneficiaries of the Programme in technologically advanced agriculture methods and is willing to expand this to accommodate other youths  in the Niger Delta.

    Another positive fall out of the Acting President’s visits is the closer collaboration with state governments. While the states have demonstrated commitment to the development of all oil producing areas, they need to do more. In fact, I look forward to the states continuing where the Presidential Amnesty Programme will stop; the reality is that the Programme  cannot be an open ended one.

    Following from the visits, the people in the region will need to build trust, we need to build confidence, we need to build human and infrastructure capacity, above all, we need  to build a new Niger Delta with a new narrative. The time to start is Now!

     

    • Brig-Gen. Boroh (Rtd) is the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty programme.
  • Valentine with special kids

    Valentine with special kids

    When Valentine Day is discussed, the last set of people that come to mind are children with special needs. But on Tuesday, some children with special needs in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital were remembered by a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly representing Omuma State Constituency on Tuesday, Kelechi Nwogu.

    Nwogu  celebrated  his Valentine Day with these children  at “The Child” Special School  at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Port Harcourt.

    He wore a T-Shirt with the inscription “I’m not better, I’m only privileged “. Nwogu  urged privileged  Nigerians to always assist the less-privileged.

    He preached love for Nigerians living with disabilities, pointing out that  such show of love will assist them live productive lives.

    He said he would continue to extend his hand of love and friendship  to the persons living with disabilities  as that has become his way of life.

    “We are only privileged.  Therefore, we must use our privileged  positions to help those with  less opportunity.

    “That way, we will make them enjoy their lives and give them  the confidence  to face the challenges  thrown at them”

    The lawmaker  praised  the caregivers  and teachers  at the school  for their  selfless  service and sacrifice.

    He took gifts, foodstuff and  cash to the children at the school.

     

  • Dickson…Five years after

    Since 2012 when Henry Seriake Dickson was sworn in as the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, February 14 has been a special day for the people of the State. Being the day he took the oath of office during which he promised to rule Bayelsa State with honesty, love and care, people often look forward to the day, to celebrate his achievements and Valentine’s day.

    This year’s celebration is unique and different for several reasons. First, it is coming after the afterglow of the governor’s well-deserved victory both at the polls and at the Supreme Court. Secondly, this anniversary marks the end of his fifth year in office as the Governor of Bayelsa State, just as it marks the anniversary of his first year in office for his second tenure. Also, this year’s celebration is remarkable for the number of projects listed for commissioning. Planned to last for six days, according to the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media Relations, Francis Agbo, the commissioning will cover projects in various sectors including health, education, roads and bridges. The projects are so many that they would have to be commissioned in batches.

    The foundation for the phenomenal successes recorded by the Dickson administration was laid early in 2012. The Valentine Governor, as he fondly called by his political associates, had promised to regularly render account of monies accruing to the State from the Federation account. He followed it up with an executive Bill, which was passed into law by the Bayesla State House of Assembly. The law stipulates that the Governor of Bayelsa State must always render account of all monies accruing to the State, including the Federation account, to the people of the State. Governor Dickson is the only State Chief executive who chose, through an Act of Parliament, to compulsorily render account of monies accruing to the State.

    Dickson was also desirous of creating an enabling environment for his development programmes by ensuring that politicians whether in the ruling party or in the opposition, are given room to operate without hindrance. He believed that only a turmoil-free political landscape could guarantee the speedy growth and development of Bayelsa State. He therefore liberalized the political space by allowing opposition politicians the freedom to thrive. Even when members of the opposition party criticized him, he simply laughed over it. That was how he virtually eliminated political violence, which was the rule in the state before he came to power. The height of that political tolerance was seen in the build up to the 2015 general elections when he made available to the All Progressives Congress  (APC) in the state and President Muhammdu Buhari, the state owned Samson Siasia Stadium for their campaign at great cost to his political career!

    Thereafter, Governor Dickson embarked on what are now fondly referred to as the legacy projects, in education, health, roads construction, the hospitality industry, religion and industrialization. Education was his first port of call. Having witnessed at close quarters how difficult it was for Bayelsans to access education, he introduced free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary school levels. According to his Media department, the governor  also spent about N40billion on education to build over 30 first ever model boarding secondary schools in the 24 state constituencies, as well as 400 primary schools with headmaster/staff quarters in many parts of the state. In addition, government gave primary school pupils and secondary school students free textbooks, uniforms, sandals, bags, and writing materials. Government also picked the bills for students registering for WAEC, NECO, and JAMB examinations. Part of the N40billion was spent on scholarships to enable Bayelsans and other Ijo-speaking peoples study for graduate and post-graduate degrees in some of the best of universities in Nigeria and the world.

    Dickson also tackled teacher education, which had been neglected for many years due to inconsistent government policies. The absence of training schools for teachers, he learnt, was responsible for the fall in the standard of education in the country. To change the situation, he established a Teachers’ Training Institute and equipped it with modern teaching facilities for the training and re-training of teachers. The deliberate efforts to reposition education in the State have been so phenomenal that by 2014, Bayelsa State became the fourth best- performing state with a pass rate of 52.83 per cent as 34, 242 students scored five credits and above, including Mathematics and English in the West African Examinations Council results.

    Dickson also made dramatic changes in the health sector, introducing health institutions that were thought impossible for the State. His desire, as he often said, is to enable every Bayelsan have direct access to quality health facilities. It was in line with that resolution that he built a referral hospital in the headquarters of each local government area. He also built a Diagnostic Center in Yenagoa, which has been acclaimed as world-class and one of the best in the country. Apart from a modern clinic that is attached to Government House in Yenagoa, Governor Dickson also built a drug mart, conceived to flush out fake drugs from the market!

    The construction and rehabilitation of roads and bridges also received the attention of the governor. It will be recalled that prior to his emergence as Governor, Bayelsa was derisively described as a one-road State. With his resolution to change the face of roads and bridges in the State, it did not take long before Governor Dickson turned Bayelsa State into a construction site with the construction of roads in various parts of the State.  Among the outstanding road projects are  the ring road, which allows the Yenagoa-bound visitor from Port Harcourt to go through Igbogene, thus avoiding the hassles of traffic gridlock in the capital city; construction of the first-ever flyover in Yenagoa, which was named Restoration   Flyover; dualization of the Isaac Adaka Boro Express Way in Yenagoa into three lanes; construction of the Ogobiri/Toru Ebeni bridge, which is the longest in the state, connecting Sagbama with  the Southern Ijo local governments; and the construction of one major road in each of the three Senatorial Districts in the State. Also outstanding was the boost the restoration government gave to the construction of the Ogbia-Nembe road in Bayelsa East Senatorial District. The construction of that road has given the residents of Nembe the first opportunity of driving their cars from Yenagoa to their various homes.

    In the tourism sector, Governor Dickson realised quite early that it required the expertise of trained hands to make any serious impact globally. To attain that goal, he established the School of Tourism and Catering, the School of Music and the School of Languages to train people who could either man the tourism industry in the State, start their own businesses or seek relevant employment in other parts of the world. It was to also tap into the tourism industry that Governor Dickson established a Museum in Yenagoa. An Entertainment and Tourist centre is presently under construction at the Oxbow Lake area of Yenagoa, just as an 18-hole international Golf Course/Estate and a world-class Polo Ground and Club are at various stages of construction. The Governor also ordered the rehabilitation of tourist and recreational sites across the state, including the Whiteman’s Grave at Akassa in Brass Local Government Area.

    The Countryman Governor also built four state secretariat annexes, a permanent Secretariat for members of the Bayelsa Traditional Council and a special court for Alternative Dispute Resolution, which has drastically reduced the volume of litigations in regular courts.

    To shore up the agricultural base and the industrial sector, Dickson established a commercial Cassava Starch Processing Factory in Ebidebri, in Sagbama, which would create 30, 000 jobs when fully operational.

    Dickson often described Bayelsa as ‘‘the world’s best kept secret.’’ The world appears to have discovered the state as it now attracts major national and global events. The most memorable events that have taken place in Yenagoa are the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria contest, Miss Century contest, the annual Nigeria Editors Conference, the annual Fashion Festival, the African Movie Academy Awards, and the Global Jazz Festival. Notable international figures, including Jesse Jackson, have been to Yenagoa to savor its new flavor. So far, the Valentine Governor has lived his vision of bringing the world to Bayelsa, and taking Bayelsa to the world and he can only get better if he remains focused on the job!

     

    • Agbo is a journalist based in Lagos and wrote in via onojagbo@yahoo.com

  • Niger Delta’s tale of unedifying lack of devt amid plenty, by Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was in Rivers State on Monday. He spoke about the government’s plan for the Niger Delta. Excerpts from his speech:

    I am here as an emissary of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari who after the visit of leadership of The Pan Delta Forum in November 2016, decided that we must undertake visits to engage with the leadership and people of our oil producing communities, to hear them, to seek to better understand their problems and concerns first hand and to offer to these communities in the Niger Delta, a new vision and a new compact.

    I have a strong personal affinity for the Niger Delta having served my NYSC in the former Bendel State, now Edo and Delta, which are very much an integral part of this zone.

    National service was a time of great memories as it provided an insight into the potentials, opportunities and the challenges that people in this part of the country face on a daily basis. It was the time that I realised that given the resources of the area there was a lot that could be done in a deliberate and determined manner to improve the lives of the Niger Delta people. The experience also provided a rude awakening to the dangers that the exploitation of oil and gas resources posed to the environment and livelihoods of the people of the region.

    The experience that I am describing was almost 38 years ago. It is therefore extremely discomfiting to know that we are still confronted with the very same situation. An unedifying lack of development and access to basic amenities in the abundance of plenty. A situation typified by continued environmental degradation and a disturbing lack of opportunities for those who can no longer carry out traditional occupations like fishing and farming.

    What we now have is an unhappy cycle of discontent sometimes expressed by a resort to violence and vandalism and drawing in response a strengthening of security arrangements and a gamut of palliative measures. This vicious cycle cannot continue as it builds needless tensions and frayed nerves. We just have to take meaningful steps to bring about permanent peace and prosperity to the Niger Delta.

    Rivers State is unarguably our oil and gas capital hosting as it does many of our onshore oil and gas fields, two of our domestic refineries, the Nigerian LNG plant, the Oil and Gas Free Zone at Onne amongst other things. It has of course hosted several oil companies and associated firms just as it is home to the international airport intended to serve this part of the country as well as the second largest port outside Lagos.

    It is of course also home to the Ogoni people who symbolise in many eyes, domestically and internationally, the previous neglect of the Niger Delta and the environmental damage that has been done to the area as we have exploited oil and gas to grow the rest of the economy. This is indeed why the Buhari Administration prioritised the ‘Ogoni Clean-up’ and with working with the United Nations Environmental Programme  (UNEP) and other partners to undertake this important task.

    Let me briefly update you on the progress made on that project in the time since the Presidential flag off in 2016.

    The Federal Ministry of Environment has set about establishing the governance framework with strong systems and controls that are required to carry the Project through its 25 year life cycle.

    A key component of that infrastructure is a robust governance structure, comprising mainly a Governing Council, a Board of Trustees and a Project Coordination Office (PCO). The Governing Council and Board of Trustees were inaugurated by the President on 4 August 2016 and have since had 2 meetings.

    The parameter outlined in the UNEP Report within which the Program must operate was approved by the Federal Executive Council before being officially gazetted on the 12th December 2016.

    On 12th January 2017, the Governing Council approved the appointment of Dr. Marvin Dekil, an indigene of Ogoniland, as the Project Coordinator after an international competitive process that saw applications received from other well qualified candidates from around the world.

    The Project office will be staffed by an initial 30 staff from both federal and state levels. Additional contracted experts from outside the system will be supported by Project Management Consultants, Monitoring & Evaluation Consultants and Communication Company.

     

    Funding for the program

    The clean-up project is to be funded by SPDC with an initial $1bn disbursed at $200m per annum over 5 years. A $10m take-off grant has been provided.

    Following the flag off, a Technical Committee was set up in the Ministry, and has been working on the project-related activities that must be addressed immediately. Some of these projects in preparation include;

    • Provision of clean drinking water to the impacted communities.
    • Conducting a health impact assessment study being planned, in order to begin to better understand the level of the human health issues referred to in your letter.
    • Demonstration of remediation technology, which will allow for the testing of the different approaches that are being proffered from around the world, and to ensure that only the best is ultimately applied.
    • Groundbreaking for the construction of an integrated contaminated soil management centre which will be critical to the clean-up process.
    • Groundbreaking for the construction of a Centre of Excellence.
    • Training: These are the activities that the UNEP Report recommended for start-up.

    On 16th February, the Governing Council will be performing a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of an integrated Contaminated Soil Management Centre, provided for in the UNEP Report.

    On the same day, the project for demonstrating technologies for the clean-up, will be launched at selected sites in the four local government areas of Ogoniland.

    An important part of the planned work is skills and livelihood training, which will be essential in ensuring the long term sustainability of the result of the clean-up.

    As part of our behavioral change strategy, we plan to train about 2000 women from the four local governments in different skills that will enable them to be financially independent. These skills include Snail Farming, Palm Oil Processing, Green Housing, Fishing – Shrimps, Agriculture Extension, and Pottery.

    These skills were chosen from among the many that were suggested by a committee of representatives of Ogoniland who met back in August / September to agree on the first steps for the Project. In parallel with the planning and procurement of the services for training there will be a community based sensitization program in each LGA to ensure all stakeholders are aware of the clean-up and its mandate.

    It will serve as an entry point to reinforce the change in service delivery that no longer ‘shares money’ but delivers results in the lives of the Ogoni people and lays the foundation for a clean-up that is sustainable and provides the standards for the whole of the Niger Delta.

     

    Consultations

    All the steps we have taken so far have been in a consultative process, involving representatives of government, civil society, international organizations, international oil companies and local communities. Indeed, representatives of the Ogoni communities are present on the Governing Council and the Board of Trustees and have been involved in the decision-making process.

    The next six months will be critical to starting a long journey to realizing the fruits of a struggle that has cost many lives and loss of the ecosystem.

    Of course, Ogoniland is just one, though important part of the Niger Delta. Environmental remediation is essential across the entire region in order to restore healthy living conditions, enable other productive activities to take-off or resume and improve the quality of lives in general.

    This would of course require that we do not worsen the situation by acts which would further worsen the environmental damage that has already occurred.

    It is now clear that Niger Delta needs a new vision. But not just a new vision but a fresh commitment and a renewed spirit by all stakeholders including the states, federal agencies and oil- bearing communities.

    Let me lay this out for clarity: The Federal Government will begin a partnership with the oil producing states, local governments, oil companies, private sector, and civil society organizations for the rapid development of these communities. An oil communities intervention meeting is to work out what can be done in the short to medium term and the long term possibilities. There is no way that this new vision will be aborted because it does not depend for execution on the Federal government alone. Every stakeholder has a part to play.

    Oil exploitation by itself cannot suffice to assure our people of decent jobs and a decent income.

    We must make our oil producing communities hubs for petro-chemical industries, small and large. We must make these communities hubs for refining and related activities.

    The Ministry of Petroleum in collaboration with the oil companies is working on several initiatives for host communities including working with illegal refiners in oil bearing communities to participate in modular refineries to be established. There is no doubt that thermal power stations should be stationed here, it makes sense, the gas deposits are here.

    The biggest benefit we can obtain is to attract more investment to the region. But investments have a choice. They will go where they find an enabling environment especially security. It is up to us as government and people to assure the necessary enabling circumstances for investment.

    I must commend the oil producing communities for maintaining peace in their various communities. You have set the stage for progress.

    I had stated at the start of my tours that there was no reason why the infrastructure in the Niger Delta should not look and feel like Dubai. This is a point that I continue to stress. However, we must admit to ourselves that damage to pipelines and export facilities are also damage to infrastructure.

    Such damage also affects gas supply and if we are unable to generate electricity, all our demands for electrification may come to nought since there will be nothing to distribute.

    One thing that this government is determined to do is to change Nigeria from being a country that merely exports crude oil to ensuring that other parts of the economy contribute their own share while at the same time ensuring that we add value to our oil and gas resources.

    This is why we will be ensuring that our refineries are up and running while also encouraging the establishment of co-located refineries. Our petrochemical industries and fertiliser plants will similarly be boosted.

    The intention of course is to create jobs and opportunities for small and medium scale enterprises along the value chain. However, people can only work and businesses thrive in an environment of peace.

    This is why the Federal Government on its part is committed to continued implementation of the Amnesty Programme and to ensuring that its social investment interventions impact on lives in the Niger Delta. It was indeed a matter of some pleasure to find out that young graduates in Rivers State took advantage of the N-Power programme to the extent that this State has the second single largest number of participants in the scheme.

    Your Excellencies and the good people of Rivers State, the future is here. There is no time to waste. We must all re-commit to working together to making the Niger Delta a vibrant and dynamic economic zone.

    On its part, the Federal Government will use its forthcoming Economic Recovery and Growth Plan to restore growth, diversify the economy and promote social inclusion. We intend to do so through dedicated spending on capital and by paying particular attention to ensuring supply of power and petroleum products in addition to using small businesses to drive our push for industrialization.

    As you have challenged the Federal Government to action, I challenge the State and communities too, to play their part faithfully. If we do, we will change the trajectory of the history of neglect and attain the glorious manifest destiny of the people of this State.

     

  • Okpai monarch, others reject title on senator

    The traditional ruler of the oil-rich Okpai Kingdom in Delta State, Igwe Goldring Ugbome II, has dissociated himself from the proposed conferment of the highest chieftaincy title of Ochiagha of Ndokwa Nation on Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who represents Delta North.

    Igwe Ugbome II, an octogenarian and king of Okpai for 53 years, cited “the controversy generated by the chieftaincy and need to ensure peace and unity in Ndokwa Land” as his reason for withdrawing from the event slated for tomorrow.

    The Igwe of Okpai, who is also the Chairman of the council of traditional rulers in Ndokwa Nation, comprising Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani,  said in his letter to the Directorate of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Asaba that the proposed title had become too controversial and unacceptable to major stake holders of Ndokwa extraction.

    Two apex bodies in Ndokwa Nation, the Ndosimili Development Union and Ukwuani Foundation Union, had earlier rejected the conferment of the Ochiagha title on the senator, by the Oduosa of Utagba-Ogbe, HRM Isaac Obi.

    The groups argued that the title of Ochiagha, meaning the “General Officer Commanding (GOC)” is reserved exclusively for illustrious sons of Ndokwa.

    The proposed event equally drew the flaks of notable Ndokwa indigenes, including retired and serving military generals  because it was done without due consultations with political leaders and other traditional institutions in the area.

    Of the 14 traditional rulers in Ndokwa East, only one gave full consent to the deal while two of the four traditional rulers in Ndokwa West and Ukwuani endorsed the project.

    The highest socio-cultural body in Ndokwa Nation, the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), suggested more consultations with major stakeholders and any other title, aside the controversial Ochiagha.

     

  • How to end Niger Delta crisis, by youths

    Stakeholders drawn from the nine states in the Niger Delta region are eager to assist the Federal Government find lasting peace in the region. The stakeholders met recently under the aegis of the Niger Delta Youths Patriot (NDYP) to brainstorm on the real causes of violent agitations from the region and solutions to all the issues.

    During their first national convention held in Yenagoa, the state capital, they concluded that the attitude of oil multinationals was the primary cause of violence. In fact, the National President, NDYP, Mr. David Awasa, directly accused the oil companies of being behind the crisis.

    He said through their divide and rule approach to social and developmental issues, the oil companies were creating injustice and promoting violence.

    “After a long period of research on the solutions to the Niger Delta problems, we notice that majority of the problems are directly or indirectly contributed  by the multinationals.

    “Technically, these problems are created  in the remote  areas where over 75 per cent of oil installations are located”, Awasa said.

    According to him most of the problems manifest in oil-producing communities, which are at the receiving ends of oil exploration.

    To first ameliorate the problems created by multinational, he said the NDYP decided to partner other organisations in breaching the gap by providing empowerment to the neglected oil-bearing communities.

    He named individuals and organisations in the partnership as Defat Global Resources, Step of Faith Instant Food, Kabod Integrated International Ltd,  HIGH Chief Uzoka Ossai,  Gonak Projects Ltd and Sini-Harp Concept (Nig) Ltd.

    Others are De World Galaxy Boutique, De World Galaxy Wine, NUEL Medical  Variety, PIA Medical and Variety , Johnson Digital Primting Press, 3GNetworkServicesLtd,Terriz Hotel  Ltd, Amicable Bussiness Centre, among others.

    He said: “NDYP is a group of professionals, think-tanks, technocrats, oriented men and women in the region. Our aim is to form a strong synergy that will promote and metamorphose peace and stability in the region which has been bedeviled with violence and underdevelopment.

    “The entrepreneurial empowerment skills will include creating skills, techniques in productions and entrepreneurship that will be marketable at the rural areas.

    “Community-to-community sensitization programme for youths who see violence, kidnapping, sea piracy, pipeline vandalism, gunfire agitations, crude oil theft and the amnesty stipends as the only way for survival.

    “Our aim is to break the bridge of communications between the multinationals, government representatives such as councillors, states’ assembly members and Federal House of Representatives”, he said.

    To further tackle the problems and create jobs in oil communities, he said NDYP designed  a micro and macro  mechanized  farming  project. He said the proposal for the project tagged “G0-1+( Agro) will soon be presented to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. According to him, the project if implemented will maximize food  security  in the Niger Delta region and the country.

    He said: “If adopted, this project will go a long way in solving the myriad of problems in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. But If  the project is not timely adopted and implemented to keep youths off their current agitations, youths may be encouraged to continue and increase in techniques in various channels of gunfire agitation”.

    Also speaking, the convention host, Chief  Edege Edeg boasted that NDYP remained the best organization with the best structures to organise and monitor empowerment process of people at the grassroots.

    Edege  advised members to see the group as an instrument that would bring development to Niger Delta people.

    On his part, the National Advisory Council, NDYP, Chief  Gregory  Onah, said with the group’s programmes, industrialization would soon get to rural communities in the region.

    “Our vision is to ensure that the industrialization and economic  empowerment of  the youths  in the  oil region is realized. We shall succeed  in our vision because the vision is  not for personal goal but for the whole of Niger Delta”, he said.

    In his speech, a security expert, Dr. Emmanuel Opia, who represented the group’s Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT), High Chief Godwin Uzoka, lamented that the region has been battling crisis since the discovery of oil in commercial quantity at Oloibiri.

    He said the the crisis was also fueled by the refusal of successive administration to include communities in the management of oil revenue. He noted that there was nothing to show for all the sacrifices made by oil communities.

    He said: “We have put lots of efforts in the past to ensuring that the Niger Delta problems of Neglect are corrected but in vain. Over the years we have failed to receive the reward of  our sacrifice for Nigeria.

    “But the future of the Niger Delta is glorious. Niger Deltans are peace-loving people Today, Niger Delta has given birth to NDYP.

    “NDYP will rewrite  the history of Niger Delta. The multinational oil companies have exploited us for so long”.

    He commended the visits of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to states in the region and his desire to work with rural communities instead of elites.

    “The Acting President says they are tired of working with the elites from the region He says he wants to meet face-to-face with the Niger Delta patriots. He says the region has nothing to show despite its enormous oil revenue for Nigeria”, he said.

    “We should rise up to the challenge by using advocacy to the Niger Delta challenge.”

    In his contributions, the Vice-President, NDYP, Paul Uwadia, said the motive of the group was to ensure empowerment for all the people in the region.

    “All our government of the elite has done is to develop from up to bottom,  but  we , members of the NDYP, want to start it from bottom-up approach”, he said.

    Also speaking, Women Leader of the group, Easter Fafaa, said:  “We want to empower the Niger Delta youths for them to get better, to get something doing, not to carry guns.

    “Niger Delta  Youth  Patriot is capable of meeting the obligation of empowering the youths for their future. But youths should be patient and key into the development agenda of the NDYP. They should be patient because we are preparing something good for them”.

     

  • I no be thief

    I no be thief

    I am in the spirit today. And I am going to minister to your souls, especially to those of you who are keen on rewriting history. The theme of this sermon is taken from a popular song by the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti: “You be thief; I no be thief”. This is very relevant 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.

    Forget the television commercial, which says “image is nothing; taste is everything; obey your taste”. In this instance, image is everything. So, even when your reputation appears to have been damaged beyond recognition, there is still hope. All you need do is to take to heart my teachings for today and practise them.

    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 pictures are taken. Find a way to get these pictures 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 travails. During the interview, draw attention to the fact that you will appeal the judgment, which declared you a common thief. Trust the reporter to remind you that you pleaded guilty to the offence. Don’t hesitate to tell him 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. From there, drive to your country home, where your aides must have ensured many people are waiting. 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 arrive 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 the next five 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 others 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 in a respected church, which must have benefitted from your past generosity. 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 works. 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.

    It is important that the officiating pastor must be compliant. Not the type who officiated at Chief Bode George’s thanksgiving.  Get him to describe you as a gift from God. Persuade him to say Nigerians do not appreciate a special gift like you. He can employ all possible adjectives to paint you in a borrowed garb. Coming from a pastor of a church with gargantuan status will help change some of the bad narratives going around.

    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 or fraudster. Don’t mind them. Just make sure 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.  Speak  in your local dialect and deny the interpretation, if it leads to unnecessary controversy later.

    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 and join your people who have suffered in your absence. You can drop a hint that you informed your elder brother of this desire. No details please, just hints. By giving only hints, it has a way of making people think there may be more to your matter than meets the eyes.

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

    Come and join me sing Halleluyah

    Jehovah jireh has done me well.

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

    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.

    My final take: Image is everything. Lie your way to look like an angel. Those who will clap will clap and those who will sneer will do. The important thing is that you want to rewrite history. So, do not focus on the facts. Worry yourself not about whether or not God is angry with your attempts to rewrite history. That is between you and God and you can settle it by confessing your sins in your bedroom and seeking forgiveness.

  • Why we are building Rumuokoro Market, by Wike

    Why we are building Rumuokoro Market, by Wike

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said the state government  embarked  on the  construction of the Rumuokoro Market and bus station to resolve the traffic congestion  in the area.

    Speaking  when he granted audience to the Nyeweli Rumuokoro, Eze Allwell Ohwonda and Leaders of Rumuokoro  Clan at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Wike stated  that the Rumuokoro Market and Bus Station  is a step towards stopping street trading in that axis.

    He said  after the completion  of the two facilities, nobody would be allowed  to trade on the  major road; illegal parking of commercial  vehicles on the road would be  discouraged.

    He noted that criminals operating on the  road would also be dislodged and the Rumuokoro clan made more secure  for business  and residential  purposes.

    He said: “Once we complete the Rumuokoro Market and Bus Station, those trading  on the road will be relocated to the market. We shall therefore  no longer allow people to trade on the  streets.

    “The community will be accomodated in the market as well. We will  also a community health centre for Rumuokoro  clan. ”

    The governor  noted  that his administration  would  continue  to  promote  community  development  across the state, pointing  out  project execution  was one of the  ways to appreciate  the people  for their loyalty  and support.

    The Nyeweli Rumuokoro, Eze Allwell Ohwonda, lauded the governor  for  several  development  projects  in Rumuokoro clan.

    The paramount ruler whose address  was read by a former National President of NBA, Chief Onueze Okocha, thanked the governor for the  recognition and classification  of the traditional stool of the area.

    The traditional ruler assured  Wike  of the continued support of the Rumuokoro people, pointing out that the people were looking forward to Wike’s second term in office.

  • Inside Bayelsa’s new Governor’s Office

    Inside Bayelsa’s new Governor’s Office

    It  appears the architects of the new Governor’s Office in the Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State had the sobriquet of the state, “the Glory of All Land”, in mind at its conception stage.

    In beauty, splendour, glamour and style, there is nothing epitomising Bayelsa’s sobriquet more than the newly-built office. Like or hate it, flashes of its glory and dazzling elegance cannot be ignored. The building is arguably the most sophisticated governor’s office in the country.

    In fact, with the attractive finishing, enduring fittings and a paradise-like ambience of the office, any first term governor will fight to return for a second term or may even be tempted to play the Olusegun Obasanjo by demanding a third term. Even persons aspiring to govern the state may do everything within and outside their powers to win a governorship election just to have a taste of the office.

    Niger Delta Report recently toured some sections of the building which stands like a pretty bride. The masterpiece with aesthetic beauty is divided into three interwoven sections comprising the Governor’s Office, Deputy Governor’s Office and the Administrative Block.

    The three-storey governor’s office with a pent house is designed with all the comfort for the chief executive and his visitors. The governor has three massive conference halls built to accommodate over 300 guests each.

    Within the section is the main conference hall with a reflective oval-shaped covering. It has a capacity to take 400 people. The main conference hall is built for executive council meetings while other engagements of the governor involving interactions with his guests are held in one of the three conference halls.

    The governor’s personal aides have tastily furnished offices close to him. In fact, the deputy governor’s section has similar outlook, design and provisions with little modifications to that of the governor.

    The two offices are linked to a lineal administrative block housing important offices and departments such as the media, protocol and account, finance, information technology and the chief of staff’s office.

    One of the busiest departments is the media which is located on the second floor of the administrative block. The social media team and the team of the Chief Press Secretary occupy the floor.

    On each floor of the block is a uniquely-designed conference hall to cater for the needs of each department. With such provision, each of the administrative departments holds meetings, trainings and emergency gatherings at will. Also on the last floor of the block is a restraunt built with a capacity for 500 people.

    Without mincing words, a major feature of the building is security. There is nothing hidden within the building because at various corners are Close Circuit Television (CCTV) monitoring activities and movements of persons.

    The CCTV has the capacity to pick every object even in darkness. The building has a major entrance and exit coordinated by a computerised screening device to dictate weapons and other dangerous objects. Other protective features which are not disclosed for security reasons make the building exceptional.

    Indeed, every good thing that makes life comfortable is featured in the building. The edifice runs on uninterrupted electricity flowing from a giant generator which has surplus supply of diesel. The walls of the building are soundproof and there is a water-treatment plant to supply potable water to all the offices.

    There is no gainsaying that the new governor’s office is a tourist haven. It is located within the environment of other tourist attractions in Government House. From the last floor, one can see the Castle Hotel, the yet-to-be completed golf course and polo club. At the facade are five differently built water fountains to enhance the overall beauty of the environment. It has a massive car park for over 200 vehicles.

    Undoubtedly, the new office has changed the dress code of people who work in the Government House. It has compelled them to wear complete outfits to work. All the workers now beam with smiles especially as all their offices and corridors are fitted with multiple air-conditioners.

    The multi-billion naira edifice was dedicated late last year by the Founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, who encouraged public office holders to dedicate their lives to God in the course of their service in office.

    Kumuyi, who was accompanied by his wife, stressed that beyond dedicating man-made house, builders occupants must also dedicate themselves to God. He commended Dickson for making God the center of his government.

    On why he undertook the project, Dickson said the state deserved a befitting governor’s office after 20 years of creation. He thanked members of his cabinet and people of the state for supporting him to build the structure.

    The deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) has been enjoying his new office. During one of his official engagements at his new conference hall, he recalled how he sweated in his small old office to welcome guests and discharge his functions.

    “Now I want the visitors to come and see my new office”, he said thanking the governor for the vision to build the structure.

    Some people have, however, criticized the structure saying it should not be the priority of the state. But the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, insisted that the new office was a welcome development.

    He said: “Since the creation of the state over 20 years ago, this is the first time we are having an office space purposely built and befitting enough to be called a Governor’s office.

    “Before now, the structure housing the Governor’s office was nothing but a makeshift building hurriedly put together to serve that purpose.

    “It wasn’t a fit and proper place to administer governance especially in the light of the new order, a paradigm shift, capable of rubbing off brightly on our socio-economic progress as a people.

    “For those armchair critics who never sees anything good in our government and may want to run their mouth or argue whether building a befitting office like this should be a priority, they should know that having a befitting workspace is not a luxury, it is an absolute necessity. Governance is a serious business.

    “Some of the policies we now see as solid achievements are products of serious thinking. They were informed by strategic thinking resulting concrete actions in the building of solid infrastructure, making Bayelsa one massive construction site as it were, leading to the greaterinterconnectedneswe now have in the state, which is good for economic development”.

    In fact, some former governor’s under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently praised the vision behind the vision when they toured projects executed by Dickson in the state. They were led to some of the projects by the governor and the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite.

    Obuebite, after the tour said: “The visitors were also surprised at the number of projects executed the by the governor. You have all seen what the Restoration Government is doing. We are taking Baylsa to the next level. In other states , previous governments  put in place the  project, but In Bayelsa state,  the present government  is the one building the projects, and without this we cannot be referred to as a state . We must tell ourselves the truth.

    “With what they saw and  what they said, especially the new Governor’s office , you heard them said , as former governors they never had the previllage of building a Governor’s office complex they had seen here in Yenagoa.

    “These are former governors; they are not just visitors. They even spent eight years in office , all of them, and they appreciated what Governor  Dickson is dong, and also accepting the fact that these were things they could not do while in office as governor”.

  • Navy intensifies fight against crude oil theft, illegal refineries

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral James Oluwole, was  at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS)  Pathfinder, Rumuorlumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on February 4 this year, where he briefed reporters on the successes recorded during the strategic Operation River Sweep 1.

    He disclosed that his command pioneered a new strategy of using swamp buggy to completely crush, mangle and bury the destroyed equipment of illegal refiners in the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region.

    Rear Admiral Oluwole revealed that illegal refineries worth N3 billion were destroyed in the Operation River Sweep 1.

    The FOC, who is also the Commander Task Group for Operation River Sweep 1, during the February 4 new declared that there was no going back in the fight against crude oil theft and illegal refiners in the Niger Delta, revealing that between N15 million and N25 million would be needed to set up illegal refineries in the creeks,  making crushing the illegal refineries the best decision of the Eastern Naval Command and that without site to refine the stolen crude oil, the illegal activities would become impossible.

    Rear Admiral Oluwole, who was accompanied at the  news conference by the Command Operations Officer of the Eastern Naval Command, Commodore Razak Babalola, and the Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Williams Kayoda, among other senior naval officers, assured that the navy would win the war against oil thieves and illegal refiners, which he said had just started.

    The Eastern Naval Command comprises Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, with Operation River Sweep 2 ongoing in Central Naval Command, which consists of Bayelsa, Delta and Edo States, while Operation River Sweep 3 will later hold in the Western Naval Command.

    Rear Admiral Oluwole also stated that with further support to the Nigerian Navy,  in terms of provision of additional appropriate assets, the service would even do more in protecting the economic lifeline of Nigeria.

    He noted that stopping the activities of illegal refineries required one to either block the siphoning source,  destroy their operation areas or markets for their products.

    The FOC said: “In the last 28 days, the participating units arrested three vessels engaged in various maritime crimes.  Two of these vessels: MV Lewis Ejiro and MV Lady Swithin, were arrested laden with illegally-refined AGO (diesel). 40 illegal refineries, 60 large wooden boats,  each with capacity for 33,000 litres, depending on size,  5,240,000 litres of illegally-refined AGO and four speed boats were destroyed. The total estimated loss for the destroyed illegal refineries is about N3 billion. Items recovered include 3 generators, 16 pumping machines, 2 welding machines, 3 outboard engines and 2 hoses. 5 suspected vandals were arrested.

    “The activities of oil thieves and sea robbers have been effectively checked. The well-planned and coordinated patrol activities have denied the criminals freedom of action within the Onne creeks and environs. The resultant effect is the drastic reduction in cases of sea robbery, pipeline vandalism and operation of illegal oil refineries.

    “Illegal bunkering activities have also been reduced to the barest minimum within the area of operation. The colossal losses of boats and the oil products in recent times are discouraging illegal bunkering in the affected areas.”

    Rear Admiral Oluwole also disclosed that the operation was successfully conducted between January 8 and February 4 this year,  with two ships in the Eastern Naval Command’s fleet: NNS Ologbo and NNS Burutu,  in addition to eight patrol boats from NNS Pathfinder and the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Bonny,  as well as one naval helicopter (NN 231) from the Naval Flying Unit,  Port Harcourt.

    He accused most people of the communities in the Niger Delta of shielding the illegal refiners and other criminals, who he insisted were well known to the leaders/elders of the various communities, while declaring that naval personnel would continue to destroy, crush, mangle and bury the equipment of the illegal refineries, thereby running the criminals out of business.

    He said: “The successes were made possible through the use of a new strategy, initiated and employed by the Eastern Naval Command, for stopping proliferation of illegal refineries and other crimes in our maritime domain.

    “The Nigerian Navy, as a major stakeholder in the protection of the maritime environment, uprooted, destroyed and disposed all illegal-refinery equipment, in a manner that is consistent with global environment best practices.”