The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

Women entrepreneurs trained on fertiliser use

In line with the Federal Government’s Green Alternative Programme, the Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited, Eleme, Rivers State has held a training programme for female members of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW) for South-south zone on use of fertiliser.

While declaring the training programme open, the Head of Corporate Communications and Special Adviser to the Managing Director Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited, Dr Jossy Nkwocha said the exercise was meant to boost the application of fertiliser in the country as the trainees would, in turn, train others in its use.

Nkwocha also said “the use of fertiliser would help Nigeria to solve the problem of food insecurity, boost agricultural production, reduce food imports and create wealth.”

The Indorama’s spokesman also revealed that his organisation which began fertiliser production in June this year “now supplies urea fertiliser to over 20 million farmers across the country.”

He added that the company has built a world-class fertiliser plant with capacity to produce 1.5 million metric tons of urea fertiliser; a port terminal at Onne Port in Rivers State and an 84 kilometer gas pipeline to supply gas to the plant.

The total cost of these projects which has created more than 4,500 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria, he said, is about 1.5 billion US dollars and was funded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

In a chat with Niger Delta Report, the Chairperson of NNEW, Mrs. Mercy Bello Abu said women who are entrepreneurs in the South-south are passionate about impacting on their environment and generation of successful business women and entrepreneurs.

She said: “NNEW saw the need for the programme because most of our members who are engaged in agriculture indicated interest to partner with Indorama. They proposed to the company to train them so that they could sensitise other women to the importance and use of fertiliser.”

While expressing gratitude to the management of Indorama for the free training, the NNEW chairperson added that “with this, we are going to train another group of women on the use of fertiliser.”

The trainings, which covered fertiliser marketing, fertiliser application and entrepreneurship management, were anchored by Indorama’s Dr Surendra Srivastava; Dr Balbir Singh and Ms Sandrina Gomes respectively.

October 28, 2016
Amaechi: The betrayers’ nightmare
Obviously, Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who was at a time Governor of Rivers State, may have had no inkling whatsoever what his generosity to mankind would cost him in the present day. Had he known, may be, he would have had no dealings whatsoever with some people, particularly in politics.

Amaechi’s case is an apparent reference to the case of Judas who betrayed his master Jesus Christ as recorded in the book of Matthew. Jesus was betrayed by one of his disciples, in the case of Amaechi, his betrayers are in numbers.

Those who do not comprehend the story of Amaechi in politics need not delay in carrying out their research, and should do so before waging a war against Amaechi; be it political or spiritual.

Amaechi’s political growth has never been possible without travails. In his political life, storms are ingredients God uses in strengthening him, thus making him victorious.

Right from the day Amaechi nursed the ambition to contest as a lawmaker to represent Ikwerre Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly; he had encountered impediments that threatened his political career.

Having been in active politics for over 30 years, he, even at present, is still battling with “forces of darkness”.

One interesting phenomenon about Amaechi is that in the end, he is vindicated.

Expectedly, all those who have waged political war against the Ubima-born politician and the Buhari strong man, have never, at any point in time, displayed concrete evidence of the corruption allegations levelled against him. They do so only with the intent to smear his image and rubbish his hard-earned reputation.

Unfortunately, those who are in this business to stop Amaechi by “all means” are men and women he stood by during their trying times.

Amaechi’s antagonists, particularly in his home state, Rivers have marks of his benevolence. The success story of over 70 per cent of political gladiators in Rivers State nowadays cannot be complete without mentioning Amaechi.

Today, the same people whom the former Rivers State governor fed, clothed and stood by are the ones calling for his head.

Having been tortured by the previous Federal Government led by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Amaechi wakes up stronger to confront realities of life. One will not forget in a hurry how they gathered against him at the pre-ministerial era to stop his confirmation as a minister.

Amaechi, having scaled through those hurdles with the support of Nigerians and his supporters, had thought that his political rivals would go to sleep. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case. The print media was, penultimate week, awash with screaming headlines about Amaechi.

He had no knowledge whatsoever that those whom he assisted in life would betray him. The last time it was through a so-called Integrity Group led by one Livingstone Wechie. This time, it is through the Judiciary. Justices Okoro and Ngwuta were the tools used to stab the Buhari strong man.

While justices Okoro and Ngwuta keep mentioning Amaechi, none of them has so far denied the main thing they are being hunted for.

One question most Nigerians keep asking Justices Okoro and his colleague Inyang is, why they never made this allegation known to the public as at the time they alleged Amaechi approached them to pervert justice?

Did they need to wait until this time when the Buhari anti-corruption war is extended to the judiciary if they were upright judges? This is clearly a case of a drowning man who does not want to die alone. Justices Okoro and Ngwuta are doing the bid of their sponsors; they should face the music and leave Amaechi alone.

Those who are using the power of money to fight Amaechi today should know that a day of reckoning will come.

At a time when we thought that the fight was over, they are sleeplessly thinking of a new tactics to strike. Interestingly, evil does not prevail over good. God, in His infinite mercy would definitely vindicate him.

Those who launch fresh attack on Amaechi should henceforth have a rethink because those who shouted “kill Amaechi” at the time when Jonathan ruled are now sneaking in at night to beg for pardon.

The Igbo adage that the mouth that spoke evil will certainly speak well is eminently playing out. Only time will tell.
- Okpara contributed this piece from Abuja
October 28, 2016
Foundation solicits stakeholders’ supports

Arm of Hope Foundation (AHF) is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. It has offices in various parts of the country.

The foundation is dedicated to the plight of the oppressed, indigent and neglected citizens, including victims of Boko Haram insurgency, Fulani cattle herdsmen, natural disasters as well as hunger/poverty-stricken individuals.

The foundation also carters for the sick who were abandoned in hospitals for lack of funds to pay their bills and innocent Nigerians that were wrongly charged and thrown into prison.

Over the years, the foundation has made significant contributions in some states, mostly in areas such as Borno, Niger and Plateau where activities of Boko Haram insurgents and Fulani herdsmen are more devastating.

They also have over 1,600 students in various universities under their scholarship scheme among other philanthropic involvements.

According to the founder and sole financier of the NGO, Apostle Eugene Ogu, the organisation was formed in order to reduce the growing rate of poverty and hardship among Nigerians.

Ogu noted that activities of the organisation were part of his contributions towards building a peaceful and harmonious nation, mindful that government alone cannot provide all that the people need.

However, due to the current economic recession, it appears to be increasingly difficult for the foundation to meet its responsibilities and obligations to its beneficiaries.

In the circumstances, the foundation decided to visit The Nation Newspaper’s office in Port Harcourt to solicit partnership of benevolent Nigerians, corporate organisations and other NGOs to enable it to carry on with the task of alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians. The visit was also a platform to formally introduce the 14-year-old self-sustaining NGO to members of the public.

Apostle Ogu, who is also the founder of The Abundant Life, led four other members of the executive on the visit. They were received by the Regional Manager Southsouth Operation of The Nation Newspaper, Mr. Shola O’Neil.

During the visit, Apostle Ogu spoke on the interventions the NGO had carried out in various parts of the country since it began operation 14 years ago. He also spoke of some plans the organisation has towards taking some youths off the streets and make them less inclined to crime.

“We visited Maiduguri in 2006 when the insurgents burnt done 58 churches, 64 victims roasted and over 3,000 persons displaced. During that visit, we were able to assemble and rekindle hope in the victims. This, we did by rendering financial assistance to each of the victims. The least amount given to them was N30, 000 as majority of them received N50, 000 and above.

“Today, one of the outstanding victims, Mrs. Hannatu whose five children were roasted in the attack, is the Maiduguri coordinator of the NGO, in charge of the scholarship scheme of the foundation.

“Also in Dogo Nahawa community in Jos, Plateau State, 354 people were killed in an attack. AHF visited the community, saw the level of despicable act done to the community and its residents and decided to participate in the burial funeral of the victims.

“After the mass burial, we assembled the community and made a list of the dead victims and their families and later brought 28 of the women whose husbands were killed in the event to Port Harcourt where we camped and trained them in skill acquisition. We also provided grant of N150, 000 for each of the victims, even as we provided relief materials for them before returning them back to their home town to begin a new life.

“The foundation equally offered scholarships to all the children whose parents were killed in the mayhem from the level they were when the incident happened to the university level.

“Apart from the above, AHF built its first philanthropy school in the community, named Arm of Hope Memorial Grammar School. It was in commemoration of those that died in the attack. The school is still functioning and all the children that were affected by the attack attend school there free. But all the workers in the school, including the teachers, are our employees and receive salaries from us like every other school.

“We discovered that potable water was one of the major problems in Dogo Nahawa community. So, we decided to sink borehole to ease the problem.

“Currently, we are planning Hope Transport Scheme for youths of the community. We noticed that they are basically unemployed. So, we are planning to get empower at least 50 of them with tricycles and motorcycles to enable them to earn a living and assist their families.

“Also under AHF scholarship scheme, we have over 1,600 students in various universities across the country. These are children of poor widows who have no meaningful income to send them to school as well as brilliant but indigent students that have nobody to assist them.

“We also have a distinct widows’ support scheme where we train them on skill acquisition, give them start-off packs to begin a business to fend for their families. We also render assistance to indigent and sick people who were held hostage in hospitals after treatment for the inability of members of their families to pay their bills.

“Also the foundation’s legal department is on ground to provide free legal services to innocent but poor people who were falsely accused and imprisoned. Many people have benefitted from this as they have been released from prison,” he said.

Speaking further Mr. Ogu said the foundation is also involved in the provision of walking aides, artificial limbs to handicapped persons and amputees to enable them to move about and fend for themselves.

“However, as a result of the financial difficulties caused by the current economic recession, it is no longer easy for the foundation to cope with the burden of discharging its responsibilities to its beneficiaries. Nigerians are going through a lot of challenges that responsive religious organisations, NGOs and individuals that have the wherewithal cannot ignore.

“My appeal is that the rich in the society should help the poor around them. The gesture will enhance peaceful co-habitation and help in preventing people from committing suicide,” he said.

Responding, O’Neil praised the benevolence of the founder as he engaged in activities that impact directly on the lives of indigent public. He prayed God to continue to give him good health and substance to continue on the “difficult but possible task”.

He assured him of the readiness of The Nation Newspaper to partner with them in all their activities and outreaches.

October 28, 2016
‘Why Cross River, Abia should form stronger ties’

Worried about the current situation of distrust among some ethnic nationalities in the country, the President of Abia Community (Nzuko Ndi Abia) in Cross River State, Prince Raymond Atulomah has stressed the need for Cross River and Abia states to forge stronger ties for socio-economic development of the two states.

To achieve the objective, Atulomah said indigenes of Abia State resident in Cross River State were working towards holding the maiden edition of Abia Day fiesta in Cross River State.

According to him, the Southeast and South-south states have a lot in common and have had long history of good relationships that should be improved on.

In a chat with Niger Delta Report, Atulomah stressed that such synergy was necessary to develop the entire region.

He said: “The Abia Day which will hold on November 26, would be the first in the history of the people of Abia State resident in Cross River State. The fiesta will be a showcase for the rich cultural potential of Abians. People know the Igbo as businessmen. But we are not only businessmen. We have technocrats and professionals. We can be reckoned with in all spheres of life. So, we want to hold the fiesta in a grand style.

“We embarked on the Abia Day because we have visited states and they have been showcasing their cultural heritage in their host communities. You will recall that some of us were born here, and some of us married here. But some of us don’t know that there are similarities in our cultures. We also want to let the host government know that Abia State has close relationship with Cross River State. If we hold the event, it would bring citizens of the two states closer.

“We would display to the world the cultural richness of Abians and also let them know who we are. We want the world to know about us and what we represent. You know that there will be a carnival in December and all the states will exhibit their cultures. So, this is just a prelude of what we are going to showcase during the Calabar carnival.

“We are happy with what Governor Ben Ayade is doing in the state. His commitment to industrialise the state is commendable.

“Abia is good at producing textile materials. So, if you are having a garment factory in Calabar, there is going to be a link. Some of us would benefit from this link. Captains of industry of Abia origin are coming on that day to tell the government how they can collaborate; how they can have that synergy to work together and see how the two states can be developed.

“The relationship we have with Cross River State currently is very cordial. We have a rapport and that is why we want to use Abia Day platform to heighten it.

“It is going to be a great occasion. We have reached out to our host communities. We have reached out to our traditional rulers here and we have their blessings. The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Abasi Otu; Ndidem of the Quas, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Ndidem Patrick Oquabor; and Chairman Traditional Rulers’ Council, Southeast Region, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Eze Eberechi Dick will be our patrons and Fathers of the Day.

“Expected at the event would be Governors of Abia and Cross River states, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu and Prof. Ben Ayade respectively as special guests of honour. Recipients of awards at the event would include Governors of Abia and Cross River states, Speakers of Abia and Cross River states Houses of Assembly, John Gaul-Lebo and Martins Azubuike; Chairman Obong’s Council, Chief Bob Edem Duke; Cross River State Commissioner for Information, Mrs Rosemary Archibong and Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Asu Okang, among others.”

Atulomah said they would also use the occasion to solicit support for their multi-purpose hall, to be known as Abia House. “We want to have our own home in Cross River State. I have not seen it elsewhere. We want to begin it here,” he said.

One of the leaders of thought of Abia Community, Prof. Chris Okezie Ijioma, also emphasised the need for both states to work together.

He said: “Whatever meaning you give to anything must be understood within a context, and therefore the Abians who are in Cross River State can only be understood in the context of the state. Whatever we are or continue to be would be as it relates to Cross River State, seeing Cross River State as a whole and the Abians as a part of that whole.

“In this context, the whole cannot thrive without the individuals who make it up. Neither can you say much about the individuals without referring them to the context where they exist. Therefore, we are going to discuss collaborations to make an impact to the government here and how the government here can protect us. And we speak fundamentally that there has to be a good relationship between us and them. This is because without a good relationship, we cannot make a good impact as we are supposed to. We are working towards unity between Cross River and Abia states. So, whatever is going to be done on the Abia Day would be a catalyst towards this.”

Legal Adviser of the Community, Kingsley Kalu, also said: “We are the same people. In fact, history has it that the Efiks migrated from Arochukwu in Abia. Culturally, the affinity is so much. There are lots of similarities in our cultures that sometimes I have to wonder why the tower of Babel had to be that we speak different languages. The people here are very open to visitors and very hospitable and the Abians have been integrated so much. So, Abia Day is a forum to showcase and reintegrate the uniqueness of the Abians and Cross Riverians and also to let them know we are closely interwoven.”

October 28, 2016
Bakassi: 14 years after ICJ judgment, Cross River still counting losses

Dr. Etim Okon Edet gets emotional once in a while. Each time he remembers the fate of the people who were displaced as a result of the ceding of Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon, the paramount ruler of Bakassi finds himself raising posers which he has no answers to.

The dispute over the ownership of the Bakassi Peninsula led to tension and several spats between Nigeria and Cameroon, which approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on March 29, 1994.

On October 10, 2002, the ICJ passed a judgment that Bakassi be handed over to Cameroon. Before the judgment, the territory was a 10-ward local government area of Cross River State in Nigeria.

This marked the beginning of a tortuous journey for the Bakassi people and Cross River State, whose end till date does not seem in sight.

On June 12, 2006, President Olusegun Obasanjo and Cameroonian President Paul Biya, signed the Greentree Agreement in New York concerning the withdrawal of troops and transfer of authority in the Peninsula. A follow-up committee, composed of representatives from Cameroon, Nigeria, the UN, Germany, the USA, France and the UK, was created to monitor the implementation of the agreement.

On November 22, 2007, the Senate rejected the transfer, since the Green Tree Agreement ceding the area to Cameroon was contrary to Section 12(1) of the 1999 Constitution. However, the Federal Government officially handed over the territory to Cameroon on 14 August 2008. The ceremony was to take place at Abana, the capital of the ceded Bakassi Peninsula, but had to be shifted to the Peregrino Hall of the Government House in Calabar for fear of attacks by militants in the region.

Speaking on the occasion, then Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aaondoaka, said though Nigeria country was saddled with the painful but “important task” of completing the implementation of the ICJ judgment by handing over Bakassi to the Cameroon, the country had a responsibility to keep her “commitment to the international community, promote international peace and cooperation and advance the cause of African brotherhood and good neighbourliness.”

The Federal Government, he said, had embarked on “sincere arrangements” resettlement of the people who elect not to remaining Bakassi as citizens of Cameroon.

The United Nation through its Special Representative West Africa and Chairman of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, Amb Said Djimmit, had also assured the Bakassi people that they shall not be left behind as the Green Tree Agreement guarantees the rights and protection of the people of Bakassi.

However, several years down the line, the sincerity of the Federal Government and the International Community leaves much to be desired, as the Bakassi question is still yet to be answered.

In 2008, the state government set up a resettlement committee. The State House of Assembly had gone ahead to enact a law to create carve out a New Bakassi Local Government area from an existing Akpabuyo Local Government Area.

The then Cross River Governor, Liyel Imoke, completed a project began by his predecessor, Donald Duke, to construct housing units for the Bakassi returnees in the New Bakassi.

In February 2009, the state government allotted 208 buildings units to some of the displaced Nigerians from Bakassi at an elaborate ceremony at the at the New Bakassi Local Government Area. The returnees were also to be taught various life skills.

Though the gesture was intended to alleviate the problem of resettling Nigerians who lost their ancestral home to Cameroon, the essence of the housing scheme seemed to be defeated as none of the houses was ever occupied by the Bakassi returnees. The place had been overrun with weeds.

There were issues with the original owners of the land in Akpabuyo who were not comfortable that their land was just taken from them to resettle the Bakassi people. They claimed they lost their houses and other property following their eviction from the land by the state government, without compensation.

Members of the community had lamented being subjected to suffering following the alleged forceful acquisition of their land by the state government. They said they would never allow the Bakassi people to occupy the houses.

Beyond this, the issue that the Bakassi people were predominantly fishermen who could not be in a landlocked area was another problem.

A government official said: “It is just not about building houses for these people. These persons had a way of life before. The displaced persons are even more worried about how they would source for their means of livelihood than where they would lay their heads. Uprooting them from their natural habitat which is the river, where they earn their bread as fishermen, to dry land poses a new kind of problem on its own.

”Fishermen displaced from Bakassi and settled in a landlocked area called New Bakassi which they even claim is already inhabited and not suitable for fishermen like them but only for farmers is really a problem. Emphasis should be laid on properly resettling the people and how they could be given a means of livelihood rather than on how much has been spent on providing infrastructure.”

Meanwhile Nigerians in Bakassi, who alleged constant harassment by the Cameroonian gendarmes, were pouring into the country, while proper relocation and resettlement continued to elude them. The people continued to lament that the Federal Government and the International Community.

In 2012, ten years after the ICJ judgment, there were frantic calls from various quarters in the state for the Federal Government to file an appeal in the court for a review of the 2002 ICJ judgment.

Those who made the call argued ICJ permits a review of its judgment within 10 years based on fresh facts, which the claimed abound. The FG then, had paid deaf ears to the calls and the 10-year window had elapsed on October 10, 2012.

On March 7, 2013 more Nigerians in Efut Obot Ikot in the ceded peninsula claimed Cameroonian gendarmes invaded their community early in the morning, forcing them to leave their land. Houses were burnt, people were killed and loved ones went missing, they said.

Those who survived the alleged onslaught, said arrived from Efut Obot Ikot by six hour canoe trip to Ifiang community in Akpabuyo from where they embarked on another two hour trek through the bushes to the St Marks Primary School, Akwa Ikot Eyo Edem in Akpabuyo local government area where they have been huddled till date.

Visits to the camp revealed the squalid and unhygienic conditions they returnees are subjected to as they sleep in classrooms. It has been one agony or the other for the over 2000 people camped in the school. From natural disasters to outbreaks of diseases, especially among the children in the camp due to the poor sanitary conditions, the returnees feel they have had enough and the only prayer the people need answered now is proper resettlement in an environment that make them thrive in their business, which is fishing.

A prominent Bakassi Leader, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, who on various occasions has visited the returnees to donate items and give them a sense of belonging, said solution to the problem was for government to resettle them in a virgin, riverine area. She advocated for Dayspring 1, Dayspring 2 and Kwa Islands as areas where the Bakassi people should be resettled. She said Bakassi people were fishermen not farmers. This would also eliminate problems of conflict with originals owners of any land they would be taken to, she argued.

Governor Ben Ayade had promised to revisit the Bakassi matter, which he said had led to the dwindling of revenues accruing to the state from the federation account.

Edet said: “After 14 years the situation has not changed. It is still very much the same.”

He suggested to the state government, “I would like the state governor as he has showed interest in this Bakassi matter to convene a Bakassi roundtable to review the Bakassi matter from a long period of time to the period of ceding. Perhaps constitute appropriate subcommittees to articulate and tackle different aspects of the struggle and then the funding plans. There should also be a strong media team to highlight that the Federal Government and international community have not done much. There should assemble a strong lobbying team to lobby elites and traditional rulers in other geopolitical zone of the country to look into this matter because I have not heard everybody speaking with one voice throughout Nigeria on this Bakassi issue.

”They should also send a high powered delegation to meet with Mr President, the National Assembly, the military, the judiciary at the federal level to seek their understanding and cooperation to enable the Bakassi people and Cross River State get economic justice over the Bakassi matter.

”We must also assemble a strong team to seek the support of the Southsouth and even the Southeast regions of Nigeria to Federal Government’s compensation over the loss of Bakassi.

”The people have suffered. They are completely scattered. The few ones that are still remaining have no hope. There has never been a holistic approach to this Bakassi matter. The people in the primary school is one of the issues, I would want the state government to tackle holistically. If you come in as a governor and see something was done wrong, it is your duty to correct it. I would expect this government to correct what went wrong and why the people have not been resettled properly. They have been relocated but have they been resettled? Who are the people at the Primary School in Akpabuyo? That is very serious question that an answer should be given. Who are those people camped there for over two years or more? Nobody has asked that question. One person or the other or NGOs would just go there, bypassing the traditional institution. Wherever you come from, you should be recognised by your traditional institution. We know everybody, we know those from the area and those who are not from the area.

”In resettlement schemes, the people involved always partake in negotiations. It is usually participatory. The Federal Government has not been transparent on arrangements to resettle the people of Bakassi. The real concerns of the people have not been properly articulated. We need a participatory and properly negotiated Bakassi resettlement program, not all these that they are doing.”

Fourteen years after the ICJ judgment, Bakassi indigenes and Cross River State have continued to deal with the pains of losing the oil rich peninsula to Cameroon. From issues of disenfranchisement during elections, to the state losing its status as an oil producing state, plunging it into further financial problems, more losses are still being counted.

Several pleas from several quarters on the Federal Government and the International Community seem to be falling on deaf ears.

Will the Bakassi question ever be answered? Will the displaced persons every find peace in proper relocation and resettlement by relevant authorities? These are among a myriad of questions still begging for answers.

October 21, 2016
Buhari committed to Ogoni project, Niger Delta devt

Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface is an Environmental Activist and was the youth representative of Ogoni /Niger Delta at the just concluded 71st Session of United Nations General Assembly on Climate Change in New York. In this interview with Precious Dikewoha, he reviewed his experience and what he discussed with President Muhammandu Buhari over there. He also spoke on other issues.

How were you selected to represent Ogoni/ Niger Delta youth during the United Nation General Assembly on climate change?

Sometime in early September, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Environment contacted the leadership of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and other leaders in Niger Delta that a youth’s name be submitted to them to be part of the United Nations General Assembly on Climate Change which took place in New York. So, the leadership started searching for the youths within the Ogoni axis. One person was nominated but later they discovered that the person does not have international passport. Eventually, when the person got international passport they discovered that he does not have a visa. But I have a visa and international passport because I just returned from United States in May. So that gave me an edge over him. Another criteria for travelling was that the person must have aired his view on the international stage before; now, for me I have featured on Al jazeera, and radio France before returning to Nigeria. That was how I travelled to represent Ogoni youth at the assembly. And I used that opportunity to talk to some world leaders, including my President, Muhammadu Bahari. I made a presentation at the meeting in Germany, which touched many world leaders. This is because some of them believe that when you are talking about Niger Delta youth, it is about militant and uneducated youths. When they saw that I properly articulated my views and spoke extensively on the issue concerning my region, they were surprised.

How did you approach the presidential protocol that gave you a chance to see President Buhari?

President Buhari was appreciating my presentation on how to solve the Niger Delta issue and other problem facing the region. While my presentation lasted at the event at the UN Headquarters on

September 22, 2016, President Buhari joined other leaders, members of the National Assembly, etc. to nod his head, an indication that he was taking notes of the demands on him and his government. At the end, he joined other world leaders to applaud my presentation. It was obvious from the programme of event that when the President finished speaking; there will be no room for him to respond to anybody. Thus, I concluded in my mind before I was given the floor to speak that I was going to meet with Mr. President and get response from him for the demands in my speech. It was against these backgrounds that, at the end of the event, I walked up to the presidential security/protocol team and demanded to meet with Mr. President. Without hesitation or second thoughts, they threw their doors open for me to meet with the President. President Buhari then received me with a smile on his face, had handshake with me, congratulated me on my presentation and told me that he had taken notes of my demands on him and his government and that step would be taken to address them. There is indeed no one that would get these assurances, directly from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria himself that would not conclude that he is determined and committed to clean-up Ogoni, and the Niger Delta. President Buhari deserves to be given the benefit of doubt, by way of support and cooperation to enable him address the challenges in the Niger delta region. While we continue monitoring and playing oversight functions to be sure that they are being done. We cannot forget in a hurry that we had a son of the region that became a President who could not take the step President Buhari is taking today to address the problem in the region. But within one year of President Buhari, he launched the implementation of UNEP Report and the Minister for Environment has been working hard to ensure progress. On August 4th 2016, the President inaugurated the governing council on Ogoni clean up. I want the youths of the region to give Mr. President a chance to develop the region. Today the Chibok community is celebrating over the release of some of the abducted girls. That means the President is working. So, in the region here, there is need to stop bombing the pipeline and destroying other national assets.

Some of the youths in the region have insisted that they are not going to give Mr. President a chance, why?

It is ignorance; they are not aware of what the President had in mind for Niger Delta people. Nobody can say that the President does not have the capacity to deliver. All we need in the Niger Delta is to give Mr President a chance. Don’t forget that during President Buhari’s election campaign he visited Rivers State and he identified with Ogoni and ensure that his campaign train got to Ogoni land. The Chairman of Ogoni Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Chief Giniwa presented the President with Ogoni map and also handed over to the President some of the problems facing the area which he (President Buhari) Promised he was going to do if elected. And within 360 days in office President Buhari did not disappoint us but started doing those things he promised to do in Ogoni land. I want the Niger Delta youths to give peace a chance and forget about restiveness. The youths should not give the impression that the security of the region is being threatened. Because their attitudes are bringing setback and creating bad image to the region, there is no meaningful development that can take place in the atmosphere of rancor and acrimony. Apart from Ogoni land the President will also develop other area in the Niger Delta if giving a chance to do so.

A lot of people have actually seen Ogoni as volatile. What are you doing to change the mindset of restive youth in the area?

The issue of threat to peace and security is not only peculiar to Ogoni, we have it in other part of the region and Nigeria. I know quite well that we have had some threat to security in the area like I told Mr. President that what he needs to develop Ogoni and to enable the Federal government have access to Ogoni land is to create job for the youths. Many youths of Ogoni are jobless they have nothing doing. The President must constitute environmental monitory team that was recommended by UNEP Report so that the youths can engage in the monitoring of UNEP Report. If the youths are engaged, they will not engage in any criminality. If we have the youths working with us as part of the clean-up process, their names will be on data base, then it would be easy to know which youth is causing problem in the area. As long as the youths remain idle, the challenges of insecurity will persist.

What is the benefit of an average Ogoni man in the clean-up?

The Ogoni people have so much to benefit from the clean- up, the clean-up process is like an elephant meat, and nobody can eat elephant meat at a go. We have $1billion and the clean-up is going to last for 30 years; that means we are going to have 1b dollars each in every five years of the 30 years that the clean-up is going to last. Which means it is going to turn around the economy of Ogoni and some of us are not going to work directly in the clean-up process. But the effect of the money in the Ogoni economy will attract development. If you are doing the business of hotel, you will be seeing more customers; if you are a market woman, your business will flourish likewise a driver and the rest of them. So, money is going to flow. That is why there is need to fix a regular power supply and maintain roads in the area so that as the money is coming everything will stimulate.

October 21, 2016
Ijaw kingdom gets monarch

The people of Tubutoru Kingdom in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State are still in expansive mood over the installation of their monarch, His Royal Majesty, Pere Gbebokedi Ajiri-Oba, the Oguruyeke, Okirimini 1 of Tubutoru Kingdom.

The four-day ceremony was full of glamour and grandeur. It was hugely attended by political bigwigs, individuals and envoys from different kingdoms in the Ijaw dynasty.

The monarch thanked God for making him the first King of the Kingdom.

He told his subjects to see his emergence as the beginning of good things to come , stressing that his Kingdom over the years had suffered deprivation.

Okirimini said his ultimate desire was to see a united Kingdom. He urged members of his dynasty to have respect for one another because moving forward as a Kingdom was dependent on such harmonious alignment

The monarch pledged to work with other Ijaw Kingdoms in the Niger Delta to bring lasting peace for the much needed development in the region.

He implored his people to be happy as the dark and gloomy days were over.

High Chief Gaius Wariugo, a retired civil servant and a leader of thought in Tubutoru Kingdom, described the ceremony as historic, adding that it would usher in development that had eluded them in many years.

Wariugo said: “I will say that the ceremony is very fantastic, because this has never happened in this kingdom before. I was born more than sixty years ago and I’ve not experienced this before, not even my fathers, because they never told me about such. This is the first remarkable thing that is happening in this kingdom. I give kudos to everyone that contributed to the success of this event.

“This will facilitate development because even the Nigeria constitution has a place for traditional rulers. The traditional stool in Tubutoru kingdom, which we’ve not gotten before will no doubt bring development, including infrastructural development, because we know that we now have a King that will draw the government’s attention for the betterment of the entire Tubutoru kingdom.

“There have been an age long festival we do annually and we call it Koleke festival. We all embrace it when it comes. It lasts almost three days. It is mainly for cleansing. If things are not working fine and we do the festival, things will definitely work well and we have over 20 different communities that make up this Kingdom.”

Chief Joseph Uduboh, the Tunteriwei of Tubutoru kingdom and double Chief Julius Ogoba, the Miekeremowei of the Kingdom, expressed confidence on the capacity of the new King, adding that the birth of the Kingdom would resuscitate among others the St. Timothy Primary School in Taribo, the traditional headquarters of the Kingdom founded by the Christ Missionary Society, CMS in 1945.

The Councilor and Chief whip in Odigbo Local Government legislative chamber representing Ebijoh Ward 6, Hon.(Chief) Ayebi Oteigha, who hails from the Kingdom, said: “Politically speaking, as a people, we are facing lots of tough time, nevertheless, I think with the golden opportunity given to me to represent the good people of Tubutoru as Ebijoh ward, I believe with our good relationship with the chairman and our contact with the state government, I know we will get lots of developmental strides, within a short period of time. Before you can build a political arena, the people must have permanent voter’s card (PVC), they must be registered properly, the people must be inculcated into the political system. When the people are inculcated and vibrant people are there, I think the government must respond to them. We always orient the people, we have a seminar within the Local Government were we can be orienting them.”

A leader in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Azaiye Piniki, urged the people of Tubutoru, said: “What is happening here today is something that will open this place, it ought to have happened long before now, even though its happening now, we still have to thank God. Gbaramatu as a Kingdom is closely related to Tubutoru; right from the days of old, we intermarried, most people from Gbaramatu have blood ties to this Kingdom,” Azaiye said.

Mr. Augustus Powei, an envoy from Arogbo Kingdom, decried the high level of underdevelopment while maintaining that the emergence of the new King would turn such fearful scenario for good.

“When we came in, we saw that the only primary school in the community is not well built at all, this indicates that the government in the area have long forgotten our people and with the coronation of of the King today is a sign that we want to now bring the attention of the government to our people, which has been culturally disorganised because of the lack of government presence in our community,” Powei noted

The leader of Odigbo Local Government legislative house in Ondo State, Hon. Akiuro Dayo, pledged to sponsor a bill tailored towards the development of Tubutoru Kingdom. He decried the high level of underdevelopment in the Kingdom, adding that the feat will be achieved by working with the Chairman of the Council and the Councilor representing Ebijoh Ward on the Council, Hon. Ayebi Oteigha who is also the Chief whip of Odigbo legislative house.

October 21, 2016
Emmanuel’s big stick

Last Saturday, Akwa Ibom State Governor Emmanuel Udom wielded the big stick. He dissolved the State Executive Council (EXCO). Commissioners were ordered to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries in their ministries.

Emmanuel’s cabinet was populated mostly by fellows who served his godfather and predecessor, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Emmanuel, a former banker and greenhorn in politics, became governor in 2015 using Akpabio’s structure. He had served him as Secretary to the State Government (SSG)? having been pulled from his job as an Executive Director in Zenith Bank Plc.

The statement announcing the casting away of Akpabio’s men was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Etekamba Umoren. Like most of such statements, it gave no reason for the dissolution. It simply said: “His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, Governor, Akwa Ibom State has approved the dissolution of the State Executive Council with immediate effect.

“The governor expresses his deep and profound appreciation for the contributions of the EXCO members to the development of the state, and wishes them success in their future endeavours.

“Permanent Secretaries in the respective ministries are to take over the running of the ministries pending the reconstitution of a new Executive Council.”

Before last weekend’s sack of these men not a few of them were unhappy. Off record, many of them complained that the governor did not empower them to do their job. They claimed he relied only on the few men in his government who were not nominated by the senator.?

Akpabio was the oracle of Akwa Ibom politics. He spoke and others must obey. When he settled for Emmanuel, there were 22 others in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who wanted the job. Two of them were his former deputies, who got the boot when their loyalty became suspect.

To Akpabio, neither of his former deputies, Patrick Ekpotu and Nsima Ekere, now Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was good enough to replace him. The 20 others were no match too.

The MD/CEO, Oil & Gas Free Trade Zone Authority (OGFZA), Umana Okon Umana, who used to be his ally, read the handwriting on the wall. He defected to the opposition, where he tried his luck but was ‘crushed’ by Akpabio’s bulldozers.

Umana went to court but nothing came out of it. At the time the electoral dispute was on, an interesting drama played out in the state. Many were asking for the state’s debt profile. Emmanuel chose not to give this figure as contained in Akpabio’s handover note. The N64.5b figure he released last year was not directly linked to Akpabio.

Emmanuel, in a letter to the House of Assembly, he asked for restructuring of loan but did not include the details of the debts he wanted restructured into bonds.

The governor said the measure would facilitate fiscal stability and provide avenue to liquidate its huge debt stock to cover a period of 25 years.

The letter read: “In order for Akwa Ibom State to join other states, it becomes necessary for the state to partner with the Debt Management Office (DMO) of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Finance on this directive to utilise the benefits.

“The FGN Bond will help the state to substitute short-term higher-cost bank debts with long term lower-cost debt.”

There was drama at the assembly over the letter. The simple process of moving motion to accept the letter took time.

The member representing Nsit Atai, Hon. Mark Esset while standing up to move the motion, said: “Mr. Speaker, I am handicapped and my hands are shaking.”

The letter was handed over to the Finance and Appropriation Committee for further screening and investigation.

The hush-hush about the state’s debt profile did not start with the letter to the Assembly. The Transition Committee set up by the state government chaired by former Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Sunny Akpadiaha, did not also state the assets and liabilities bequeathed by the Akpabio administration.

When I first wrote about Akpabio and Emmanuel last year, I had raised some posers: “What is Emmanuel really afraid of? A fight with Akpabio? Or is he just postponing the fight? Or he does not want to be seen as opening Akpabio’s yansh in the public? Or is the oracle still in charge and capable of pulling the rug off Emmanuel’s feet? Whatever it is, it is the people and accountability that are being taken for granted.The people deserve to know. Nothing more, nothing less. Emmanuel’s will should not be allowed to prevail.”

My intervention at the time earned me names. I was accused of trying to cause a fight between the two gentlemen. I was practically called an Akpabio hater. This was at a time an aide of the ex-governor – off record- accused the governor of messing up and threatening that ?he would not get a second term.

Last month, there was a report that the then Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Finance, Akan Okon, leaked information on Akpabio to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). That came about a month after the Akwa Ibom government secured an interim injunction from an Uyo High Court barring the EFCC, the police, and other federal agencies from examining the account books of the state government. The injunction, which was later vacated by the court, was seen as a move to shield Akpabio from EFCC’s claws.

Okon, who is one of the Akpabio men sacked at the weekend, denied leaking sensitive information on Akpabio.

“Since I became the commissioner for finance I have never been invited to the EFCC, so at what forum would I have given information on Akpabio to the EFCC? Or does EFCC now take information by phone?” Okon said during an interview programme on a local radio station in Uyo.

The sack of Okon and his colleagues has made me wonder who will determine who gets what in the cabinet to be reconstituted. Grapevine information suggests the governor wants to call the shots.

My final take: The interest of the people of Akwa Ibom should be paramount in choosing the next members of the State Executive Council.

Certainly, the story is just evolving.

October 21, 2016
18 hours in Warri police cell, by novelist

Novelist Aoiri Obaigbo is author of The Wretched Billionaire. He recently spent 18 hours in a police cell in Warri. His story:

Like me, you may never see it coming. An invitation to Warri Area Command to hear a complaint by your customer could expose you to the experience of the trans Atlantic slave trade you thought was over.

The first thing that hits you while you’re dragged in an incredulous state to ‘A’ Division cells in Warri is the smell. The smell of urine, of excrement and corruption.

While you’re still wondering whether the travesty will stand, the stagnant pervasive mix of odours welcomes you. It’s 6 p.m.

The baffling lack of any pretense to being unbiased is the most indelible memory.

“I’m entitled to a phone call,” You had told the Investigating Police Officer.

“Because I did not cease your phone, abi? Bring me that phone. Or do you want us to disregard your white hair?”

“So a citizen invited for a civil matter may be detained and denied access to his lawyer?”

“When you reach cell, your grammar go reduce,” she says and impounds the phone.

The first things you see in ‘A’ Division cell are rats. Fat, audacious rats that look you in the eyes and block your path. They hold their own even against the police, and silently insist on their rights. Hundreds of fat rats that fret over your nerves and wind up near your shoes.

You join the crowd of young untried Nigerians waiting to be bailed or stripped of their clothes.

Some have been beaten and you’re mindful of avoiding stains from their blood.

A small crowd huddled together near the the corridor gate is reduced by one.

Just when you’re counting him off, a group of special anti-robbery policemen,looking ferocious, drag in about five teenagers. “This na federal kidnapping,” shouted a voice from Cell 2. “Police Plc.”

You’ll soon understand that comment. The group of five includes Philibeth, a young lady who hopes to be a writer in future.

“What did you do?” you ask.

“They haven’t told us yet.”

“Where did they pick you up?”

“I went to buy these CDs and was returning home in a Keke.”

To heighten the tension in the youngsters, they called forth another captive.

“Nobody to call, abi?”

He was stripped to his discoloured brief and dragged to cell 3.

“We are 10 already,” someone protested.

“Shut up, fifteen people dey stay this cell.”

After that show of power, they were all anxious to make calls. Some calling friends and pleading desperately on the phone. One offered to bail himself.

“Oya, bring am, five thousand.”

“Na three I get. Na three thousand them dey pay brickla’.”

“Oya, make I sorry for you. Quick, before I change my mind.”

The youngsters get bailed, until you have only two companions in the corridor. Philibeth says her father is ill. (Now dead as I write.)

The boy whom you had erroneously assumed to be her boyfriend is soon released to his parents on bail.

“Why haven’t your parents come for you?” you ask.

“I saw my uncle a while ago. I think they are haggling about my bail.”

Eventually, she bids you good luck and goodbye.

Mopol is sweating and smiling from stripping, locking up and releasing bailed people from the cell or corridor.

A tearful girl, picked with her two brothers, begs for N500 to complete her bail amount of N2000.

On Wednesday, 12th October, 2016, business is booming.

Eventually, they are less busy enough to attend to you.

“There’s VIP accommodation. A cell to yourself. There’s even a mat.”

This five star accommodation cost 4 thousand naira. You’re ordered to take off my shoes, socks, and wedding ring.

“Can I pay to keep my shoes on?”

“No way. Comot the shoes.”

So, you’re expected to sleep shoeless on a mat with hundreds of rats parading the cells. No thanks. You opt to sit and count the seconds all night.

The corridor has eight doors with iron gates. Three locked doors are conceded to the rats. They have large holes from which they dash in and out restlessly. Three of the cells contains 32 young men. One contained two women who quarreled with neighbours. Then my five star cell to which I preferred a seat in the corridor.

The last youngster to be brought in at about 3 a.m. is a celebrity detainee.

“This na your fourth missionary journey,” Mopol said.

“If una no arrest me, how una go make money?”

In your own case, when a lawyer and church brethren show up, you’re slammed with N10, 000 as bail.

Does the Area Commander Muazu Mohammed know about the slave trading going on in his jungle?

October 21, 2016
Semenitari’s legacies in Niger Delta

Mrs Ibim Semenitari’s tenure acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will not be forgotten in a long while

Ibim Semenitari is a woman with the heart of gold. Looking at her gives you the feeling that we have a future in this country. She has demonstrated an uncommon selflessness and kindness to the weak as represented by Cross River State in the midst of other Niger Delta states. I can spend a whole day celebrating her.”

Prof. Ben Ayade, the Governor of Cross River State, said these and more about an amazon who has left indelible footprints on the sands of the Niger Delta. The governor in more ways than one cast Mrs Semenitari, who just finished her assignment as the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, as a “woman of inestimable value.”

Ayade was speaking at the Government House in Calabar during a courtesy visit by Mrs Semenitari and other NDDC directors.

It was a day the professor of environmental microbiology struggled to find the appropriate adjectives to describe Mrs. Semenitari. The governor said he was particularly impressed by Semenitari’s the performance, noting that but for the intervention of the NDDC, the 2016 Calabar Carnival would have been a disaster because nobody would want to come due to the deplorable state of the roads leading into Calabar.

Prof Ayade had more to say and he literally got everyone drenched in emotions as he added: “You have demonstrated that women can deliver on their duties and touch even many more lives. For this reason, our carnival torch which signifies the commencement of the Calabar Festival will be lit by you as a mark of honour.”

The governor had good reasons to be excited because Mrs Semenitari, through the NDDC, saved his state from isolation. A few weeks earlier, both the Calabar-Itu highway and the Calabar-Ikom highway, the two major arteries to the state capital, were impassable. She turned the deplorable situation around in a matter of weeks.

So, it was an appreciative governor, who promised that Cross Rivers State would roll out the red carpet for Semenitari. He predicted that she would be called to a higher national duty having performed well in NDDC, stating: “Semenitari is a special gift from God to humanity.”

It is not surprising, therefore, that this outstanding amazon of the Niger Delta was picked out by President Muhammadu Buhari on December 21, 2015, for a special assignment in the oil-rich region. Three days to Christmas, Mrs Semenitari, arrived Port Harcourt from Abuja to the warm embrace of an enthusiastic crowd that gathered at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

She quickly mounted the saddle as the baton of leadership was handed over to her by Bassey Dan-Abia, at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.

From the onset, Mrs Semenitari left no one in doubt that she was ready for a serious assignment. In her first address to management and staff of the Commission, she promised to reposition the interventionist agency for better service delivery to the people of the Niger Delta.

She charged the staff of the commission to brace up for hard work. “We will ensure that we put the people of the region first. For that reason, we must make sure that contractors are not allowed to get away with shoddy jobs as we must insist on getting value for money spent on projects and programmes,” she said.

Ten months down the line, the stories coming out of the NDDC have been remarkably and refreshingly different. Semeniari’s sterling performance has attracted so many testimonials similar to the opening quote from Prof Ayade. The accolades were crowned with a royal title from Ondo State.

The Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adegoke Adeusi, may well have been speaking the minds of other traditional rulers when he described the NDDC as a performing government agency with a woman of substance at the helm of affairs. The Oba was obviously impressed and he showed it.

He adopted Mrs Semenitari into his Council of Chiefs, honouring her with the prestigious title of Eleru of Ifon in his palace.

The royal endorsement was also stamped with a legal seal, as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, declared: “We are impressed by the innovations introduced by the Acting MD of NDDC.”

The Senator Nwaoboshi-led committee had inspected the emergency repairs on the Calabar-Itu Road and the DDPA Housing Estate Road in Asaba, Delta State. At the project sites, Mrs. Semenitari, told the Senators that the deplorable state of the roads made it imperative to take urgent action to reduce the sufferings of road users and save the economy of many states in the region.

A list of the projects produced by the NDDC Directorate of Utility, Infrastructural Development and Waterways showed the spread of the massive intervention in the nine mandate states of the Commission.

The document showed that the Commission was working on 18 roads in Abia State, 32 in Akwa Ibom, 14 in Bayelsa and 4 in Cross River, including the Calabar-Itu-Ikot-Ekpene-Aba Federal Highway. The other roads covered in the emergency intervention are 26 in Delta, 8 in Edo, 22 in Imo, 6 in Ondo and 64 in Rivers State.

Other stakeholders that acknowledged the efforts of the NDDC included the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The APC Chairman in the state, Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, congratulated Mrs Semenitari for moving swiftly to rehabilitate important roads in the Niger Delta for the benefit of the people.

To add an international flavour to her accomplishments, Mrs Sementari was in Washington DC, United States of America on August 19, 2016, to share her experiences with other women of note across the world. She was, indeed, the toast of the 8th edition of the African Women in Leadership Organisation. It was a moment the audience, which included top political leaders, business moguls, African-American lawmakers, listened to the dynamics of women owning their voices for the greater good.

Some of Semenitari’s remarkable achievements include the completion of the Ogbia-Nembe Road project, and the revival of many abandoned projects scattered in several parts of the Niger Delta region. Indeed, she was already looking forward to the commencement of work on the second phase of the Ogbia-Nembe Road which will take the road to Brass.

The 27-kilometer Ogbia-Nembe Road with six bridges and more than 50 culverts was awarded at the cost of N24.5 billion and executed by the NDDC in partnership with multinational oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC.

Under her watch, several project sites of the Commission were reactivated to step up development of infrastructure. She said: “Some of our key projects where contractors had left site are now active, as we have made some payments to encourage them. We have carried out a number of inspections and supervisions and I have directly carried out 43 projects supervisions and inspections since assumption of duty, while commissioning and handing over a couple of projects.”

It is noteworthy that Semenitari re-activated the abandoned 3.65-kilometre Okrika-Borokiri road by mobilising the contractor back to site to complete the project. This key road had three bridges connecting Kolabi, Abotoru and Okpoka creeks to Port Harcourt and it is expected to ease traffic along the East-West Road and connect several communities.

The NDDC under Semenitari gave impetus to its Post Graduate Foreign Scholarship Programme. On October 4, beneficiaries of this year’s foreign scholarship were given their letters of award and prepared for departure to their various universities overseas.

Addressing the NDDC scholars, Mrs. Semenitari said that they represented what could be achieved through hard work, commitment and determination.

In the area of healthcare, the NDDC under Ibim endowed a Professorial Chair in Malaria Research for the Centre for Malaria Research and Phytomedicine, (CMRAP), at the University of Port Harcourt, for the sum of N25 million per annum, to encourage the global fight against malaria.

The desire to enhance stakeholders’ buy-in prompted Mrs Semenitari to host the Partners for Sustainable Development (PSD) forum on Tuesday, July 19. Many stakeholders share her views that the forum was very important for “the development of our Niger Delta,” especially at this auspicious time when the country was relying on major actors in the Niger Delta to come together and address the development challenges facing the region in view of the Change Agenda of Mr President.

As part of the motivation, the Commission moved its Rivers state office from a rented accommodation to an imposing three storey complex, thus ending its 16 years of operating from a rented office. The state office project was started several years ago by previous managements of the NDDC but was later stalled until Semenitari revived it on assumption of office.

The edifice has provisions for several facilities, including a large reception hall, conference/multi-purpose hall for 250 people, staff canteen, sick bay and offices for drivers on the ground floor. Each of its four floors has ample space for offices and a basement floor for archiving and car park.

The traditional ruler of Port Harcourt, Eze Victor Woluchem II, described the office as a magnificent structure that had changed the skyline of his domain.

Among the new things she brought to NDDC was instilling the culture of transparency and accountability. This was reflected in the release of NDDC’s first and second quarterly reports, now online on the NDDC website.

The NDDC under Mrs Semenitari also played a leading role in kick-starting the clean-up of Ogoniland. The Commission collaborated with the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to ensure the success of the flag-off exercise.

To further demonstrate its concern for the environment, the Commission organised a road show to sensitise the public on the value of tree planting to mark the 2016 World Environment Day.

October 21, 2016