Residents of Ogwashi-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta, now live in fears following the renewed wave of kidnapping there.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) investigations revealed that no fewer than five cases of kidnapping had been reported in the community in the last two months.
NAN recalls that the community had allegedly been hit by a wave of high-profile kidnappings and cult killings in the last one year.
A community youth leader and Port-Harcourt-based philanthropist, Chief Peter Osume, told NAN on Tuesday in Ogwashi-Uku that the resurgence of violent crimes in the community was worrisome.
He called on the traditional institutions and security agents in the community to lived up to their responsibilities and address the security challenge that had bedeviled the community over the past two years.
“It is unfortunate that we are still where we are today. Kidnapping and secret cult killings in our community have left us perplexed and helpless.
“It is equally unfortunate that the traditional institutions and security agents in our community have failed to do what is expected of them.
“The time has come for all stakeholders in the community to do something urgent, because we cannot pretend to be safe in the face of this wind of destruction that is blowing our community,” Osume said.
Another indigene of the community, Mr Uwazu Ofordu, said that the situation there called for a proactive measure in dealing with it.
He called for the deployment of military personnel to the community to assist the police to stem the tide.
“The situation in Ogwashi-Uku calls for the presence of the military to checkmate this wave of violent crimes. Our community has not known peace over the past two years because of criminal gangs.
“Only recently, a relative called to say that I should consider relocating my aged mother away from the community, that is the irony of the situation we find ourselves,” Ofordu said.
NAN reports that the latest outcry by the community marked the peak of the tension that had gripped its residents following last week’s kidnapping of 90 year-old Madam Helen Ojeogwu.
The nonagenarian, alleged to have been forcefully abducted by a six-man armed gang from her family home in Azungwu Village on July 27, had since remained in the captivity of her abductors.
However, the state police command through its spokesman, DSP Celestina Kalu, allayed the fears of the residents of the community, adding that the situation was under control.
Kalu told NAN on phone that the command would rescue the old woman and apprehend the hoodlums terrorising the community.
She said that security operatives were on the heels of the kidnappers.
Raising awareness and support for children with disabilities was the objective as members of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) convened at the fifth National Association of Seadogs (NAS) Charity Ball in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The NAS Charity Ball is an annual event organised by the association to raise funds for humanitarian causes, taking into consideration the prevalent issues of society at the time.
NAS Capone Prince Ifeanyi Onochie said the gesture was a quest to keep the dilemma and challenges confronting children with various learning disabilities on the front burner of people’s preoccupations and consciences.
According to him, the association are forsworn not to let off steam on this path, not just because of the huge legal and legislative challenges of protecting the rights of the child or the daunting logistical requirements or knowledge gaps but because of the high propensity there is for the faint voice of the weak and vulnerable, to be drowned out in the hustle and bustle that have characterized human existence.
Onochie said the NAS Charity Red Ball was conceived in 2005, for the purposes of interfacing with and further enlighten the general public on the aspect of NAS Charity/ Advocacy Work, to conduct peer review exercises with the aim of arriving at improved ways and means of collaborating with like-minded individuals and corporate organizations in articulating and implementing humanitarian and social advocacy programmes; and to raise funds for NAS Charity projects and to create a forum for social interaction between members and non-members.
He said this year’s edition of the NAS Charity Red Ball was the first reloaded version in the series, and its theme, Championing the Cause, Supporting Children with Disabilities aims to broaden the theme of their focus in the United States to include issues of mental health, special education and vocation/rehabilitation of children with learning difficulties.
“Against this background it becomes even more imperative to keep abreast of current developments, especially for the purpose of closing knowledge gaps for families of these special children and the society in general. The power and benefits of knowledge in making informed choices cannot be overemphasized. This is the core objective of the NAS Charity Red Ball. We in NAS believe that both humanitarianism and rights to self-determination are given wings to take flight upon the moral significance of the dignity of the individual being.
NAS members also known as Seadogs or Pyrates are passionate about community services, development and voluntary work that there is no deck/chapter of the organisation that is not involved in more than one humanitarian project to uplift and improve the quality of lives in communities we live and work.
“NAS usually will work closely with the selected beneficiaries to identify areas of priorities and the intervention needed. Upon an agreed line of action, informed by the budget, engage in direct execution of projects from start to finish, ensure judicious and purposed application of every kobo raised by your kind benevolence and generosity.
“NAS will focus on these selected beneficiaries for one year, commencing from the date of the Charity Red Ball and lead collaborative efforts at making the public aware of the outstanding work these orgzations are doing to help the children and provide them with the necessary assistance and support.
“The three selected beneficiaries for 2015 NAS Charity Red Ball are Project Comfort (School for Children with Learning Disability), Amaudo Itumbauzor, Abia State; Special Education Centre, Nursery/Primary Schools, Calabar, Cross River State; and Vocational rehabilitation Centre, Ememe, Enugu State.
“As a people we must improve our knowledge about the inherent abilities in all humans. No more should we allow any child be thrown away because he or she is born with a disability. No more should we look away while children born with disability are treated as scums, demons or worse. The milk of kindness every human deserves must not be denied any child because of disability. The ability of the human mind to raise itself above any situation cannot be underestimated,” he said.
Chris Okaeben represents Oredo West constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly. For eight years, he battled to contest election to the House of Assembly. During the past struggles, he was pressured to step down for former Speaker Uyi Igbe. A stout member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Okaeben spoke with OSAGIE OTABOR
How was it when growing up?
I feel embarrassed when I see young girls hanging out as call girls and selling their bodies in the name of survival. There was nothing I did not do to survive. I know this is not the desire of these innocent girls but if we can connect back to the society, we can do something to make them busy. I have once done any work just to ensure I got money to buy books to take to school. I have washed clothes for people to be paid. I worked in people’s garden just to eat. I would go to UNIBEN to do any work for students just because I wanted to remain in secondary school.
This is because I was convinced that I can make something out of my life. This is why I want to give our people hope. We want to lay a foundation and encourage the people. I want to be part of them. I don’t want them to believe that they have laboured in vain. What has not worked well is that elected persons come once in three years to distribute rice. We want to remain in the system where we grow up from.
What should your constituency expect from you?
We want to introduce soft loans for women. I will have a well functional campaign office and employ 12 persons from the six wards to serve as a means of link to the people. I want people to talk about what I did in my time and in defining what I did in my time, it is about how many people’s lives I affected. How many people I was able to bring to governance. It is only a foolish man who will not want any person to rise to his standard. We are tired of hearing share the money. What we need are those who will feel the pain that the common man is facing. This nation under Buhari will take us to our destination.
There is so much to do in Oredo. The people don’t want to be in the dark. They want to be connected to what is happening in government. In my campaigns, I said our people will enjoy the benefits of governance. What they expect is to reconnect them to government. I want my people to believe in themselves. I am convinced that good things are beginning to happen in my time. I will criticise, suggest and advise. The most important thing is to add value and in adding value, there must be a connection between you and your people. The era of sinking boreholes without bothering whether the people need it or not is over. There is so much to do. I have visited some skill acquisitions shops and I felt that we must identify people in various wards and give them a sense of belonging. Everybody cannot be elected but we can make them learn a trade. We are looking at a way of engaging young girls, who may not be lucky to go to tertiary institutions, to become entrepreneurs. We can prepare a future for our young girls.
For residents of Ikot Uduak community in Calabar Municipality of Cross River State, erosion has become a real threat to their lives and property.
The residents now live in fear of the erosion, which they say can no longer be ignored. It is a disaster waiting to happen.
Hundreds of lives are at stake if nothing is done to check the situation urgently, residents fear.
It was gathered that already, not less than 30 families have been forced to relocate as several more have to do same if they should be safe. Many cannot afford to move or have nowhere elsewhere to go to.
•Princess Asibong
According to the Village Head- elect of the community, Princess Efioanwan Asibong, it has become a nightmare for the people of Ikot Uduak as they can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed for fear of the danger of the erosion and landslide.
She said: “We now live in fear knowing the speed at which erosion is eating our houses. Many have been forced to abandon their houses while some have lost property worth millions of naira to this, we don’t know what else to do but to cry out to His Excellency, Prof Ben Ayade to come to our rescue.
“As a young girl who grew up in this locality, even when my ancestors were still on the throne of Ikot Uduak, this whole place was plain land. There was nothing like erosion or landslide eating up any portion in the area .
“What you are looking at started about 12 years ago and the administration of Donald Duke tried so much to handle the situation by constructing a drainage which helped to reduce the problem then but they couldn’t complete the project as it was stopped mid way.
•The entrance to Ikot Uduak eaten up by erosion
“I have also tried to stop people from harvesting sand from the location but all my effort seems not to be effective, which is why we are also calling on the Deputy Governor, Prof Ivara Esu who has been going round some of these sites to also visit the one at Ikot Uduak because we now live on the edge.
“We have written an appeal letter to the Deputy Governor, Ministry of Lands and the Mayor of Calabar Municipality appealing to them to come to our aid before its too late because we now sleep with only one eye closed. We need government intervention in this community and we have also concluded plans to submit letters to NEWMAP(Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project).”
Also speaking, secretary of the community, Mr Ekpeyong Efiwatt, appealed to the government to help them salvage what is left of their ancestral home before they lose it completely.
He said: “We know the last administration did a lot in different rural areas but our community was totally left out for the past eight years. Nothing was done here because if the Imoke administration continued from where Duke stopped, this problem wouldn’t have escalated to this level.
“We also want them to help prosecute people who harvest sand from that location to avert the looming danger.”
A landlord in the area said: “We now live one day at a time as the disaster of having our houses swept away can happen at any time. Unfortunately, most of us have nowhere else to go.
“When I came in here almost two decades ago, things were not like this at all. What you are looking at today started almost 10 years ago. Then Mr Donald Duke was governor and he tried to control it, but since he left, nothing has been done. Since then it has continually expanded. It is high time the government took this matter as an emergency because that is exactly what it is.
“Many people that I came in with to build here have left with their families for the fear of this problem which showed no sign at all because this place was a plain land that was duly surveyed by qualified surveyor and building plans approved by the Ministry of Lands.
“We park our vehicle on the main road or some times other areas because the area is no longer accessible. We are calling on the government to help us because the suffering is too much.
“Business here are failing and people have closed shop because the area is no longer motorable, nobody can come into this area with a vehicle anymore.”
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ben Ayade, Mr Christian Ita, said: “The government is reaching out to the Federal Government with a view to getting assistance to address the issue. The governor being very proactive has written to the president for assistance to tackle that erosion site and other sites threatening homes, properties and lives in the state. We hope to hear from the Presidency very soon.”
the Rotary Club District 9140 Nigeria has installed a new District Governor for the 2015/2016.
She is Rotarian Ijeoma Pearl Okoro. Rotary Club District 9140 comprises of Rotary Clubs in eleven states of the Southsouth and Southsast.
Rotarian Ijeoma succeeded HRM Noble Eshemitan with effect from the July 1.
HRM Noble Eshemitan is the paramount ruler of Oghara kingdom in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The new District governor was installed at Aztech Arcum Event Centre, Stadium Road, Port Harcourt. The colourful installation ceremony featured oath taking by the new district governor, investiture, lecture, cutting of cake, music among others.
Dignitaries who graced the installation ceremony are Rotarian Mike Omotosho, the District Governor of Rotary Club District 9125, Rotarian (Otunba) Bola Onabadejo , District Governor of district 9110, Rotarian, Akabom Enebong, District Governor elect, of district 9140. Others include Rotarian Olaoluwa Olugbodi , Rotary Global History Fellowship(RGHF) Zone services coordinator, League of past District Governors from district 9140, among others.
The guest speaker, Prof. Chris Nwamuo, Director Bassey Andah Institute for African and Asian Studies, University of Calabar emphasised the need to embrace peace even in the face of the security challenges the country is passing through. He affirmed that peace start with individual stressing that it is the duty of every individual to create peaceful arena which will spread out to other parts of the country and the world at large.
The outgoing district governor 14/15, HRM Noble Eshemitan in his valedictory address said that for the past one year there are no cases of Polio in Nigeria.
The monarch expressed his delight for having the opportunity to serve humanity through the Rotary club. He thanked all those that made his tenure as the district governor a success. He concluded his speech by with this phrase; ‘in Rotary, we look for solutions not excuses’.
The new District Governor, Rotarian Ijeoma, said she joined Rotary club by divine invitation on September 20, 1999 because of her zeal to serve humanity. She thanked the district members for believing in her ability to be a servant leader. She encouraged Rotarians to continue to support humanity without counting the cost.
While giving a highlight of her plans for the year, she said: “This Rotary year there is micro credit scheme program organized by the ddistrict. Also, there would be mentoring for the youths because they are gift to their parents and the community. Rotary D9140 shall continue to support Rotary foundation in the course to end polio in Nigeria.”
There was also the cutting of the installation cake by the new district governor flanked by the past District Governors, among other activities to spice up the installation ceremony.
The first time I knew he existed was in the dying days of the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration. It was in far away Atlanta, United States. Black, tall and lanky Gabriel Odidison, 21, cut the image of a hip-hop star. He actually sings. The tale he had to tell that night was tear-inducing.
His story: “I finished secondary school in 2009. It was one of the most depressing years of my life. I was very young. I finished secondary school at 15. I am 21 now. I tried to get into college in Nigeria, Lagos to be precise and it was very hard. My parents were not rich but we were managing.”
He paused. Shed some tears, bowed his head and took some seconds before continuing: “To cut the long story short, I left home in 2002 because I could not get into school. My parents loved me but they were ashamed of me because every one of my siblings was in school. I was the only one left at home. I woke up one morning and asked my mother for food one day and she told me all my siblings were in school and I was here asking for breakfast. So, I got tired. I loved singing. So, I went out to find a record label. I had an uncle who worked for a record label. I tried that for a year. It was hard but I believed that some day it would be well. I woke up everything morning believing that somehow I would get something to eat and I ate and grew tall and big.”
His dream of making it on the streets of Lagos did not work out. He decided to seek a way to further his studies like his siblings. He felt an aunt could help and to her he went. That was in 2013.
Odidison went on: “I talked to my aunt about getting into school. She asked me to send her my WAEC result. My WAEC result was really good. I sent it to her and she said: ‘Always be by your phone. You might receive a phone call.’ Like two days later, I received a phone call. I think the woman I spoke with, her name is Dolapo, Auty Dolapo. She said you just earned a committee scholarship to study in America. When I heard the news I was like how? She asked me ‘what is your name?’ I thought it was a scam. So, I said ‘my name is Steve.’ She asked me where I lived and I said I lived in Lekki. Meanwhile I was living in Ketu. But she already had my details. So, she told me to come to Lekki Phase 1 in two days. So, two days later when I got to Lekki, I thought it was going to be like now you have the scholarship, go to America. But I realised that we had to take an exam every two weeks in preparation to come here. When I heard that, I thought I would not make it. I thought I had lost my intelligence those years of waiting after secondary school.”
Now, he is a junior at Marist College in the United States, where he majors in Business and Finance. For this, he has one man to thank: Kingsley Kuku, who was the Special Adviser to Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
That day when Odidison was speaking he knew Kuku’s days in office were numbered since the man who appointed him had been defeated by Muhammadu Buhari. But what he perhaps did not understand was the effect of the change on his dream of earning a degree in America and someday returning home to give back to the Niger Delta where he hails from and Nigeria, his fatherland.
May 29 soon came and Kuku vacated the office. One month passed, second month passed and there was no replacement for Kuku. Unlike other government offices, the Amnesty Office is not your typical civil service setting. Yes, there are civil servants working there, but it relies on consultants to do most of its activities. With no head to give instructions, civil servants were the only one getting paid. Consultants, ex-militants and students overseas were left unpaid because there was no co-ordinator to give approval. The office is directly supervised by the Presidency.
Each time I had cause to think about the absence of a head to make that office continue to function, Odidison always came to my mind. I also remember other students who were with us in Atlanta in May and the fear of their dreams dying was a major concern for me.
It got to a head for me when Lufthansa sent home 13 pilot-trainees being sponsored by the Amnesty Office. The reason: they could not meet their financial obligations to the airline. Then there was another incident of some students in South Africa ‘abducting’ their food vendor because their allowance was not coming from home.
Ex-militants who could not get their monthly stipends also blocked the East-West Road. And there were fears things could become bad if no head was appointed for the agency soon. It was this sort of fear that turned me to an ex-militant last week, so as to drive home the seriousness of the matter. I felt I needed to speak like one of those affected.
Mind you it was not that there was no money in the office’s kitty, but there was no one to give instruction. If Pa Edwin Clark should be believed, the office still has N5 billion.
My joy knew no bounds when four day after my piece ‘An ex-militants letter to the president’, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (rtd.) was named the Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme.
A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Brig. Boroh’s appointment takes immediate effect. Boroh has now taken over the responsibilities of the former Special Adviser on Niger Delta.
To show that the President was not insensitive to public outcry over the absence of a head for the office, the statement said the appointment of Boroh “is to lead to the speedy resolution of recent hitches in its implementation such as the non-payment of outstanding allowances to ex-militants”.
The hitches could have killed the dreams of the likes of Odidison. Their dreams are alive again. The trainee-pilots can go back to complete their training. Hope is alive again for the not less than 2,000 students abroad studying for one degree or the other on the bill of the programme. Some 30,000 ex-militants, who also depend on the stipends, can now be hopeful.
My final take: What becomes of the programme with Boroh in charge remains to be seen. Boroh, who reminds me of the late Ijaw icon, Isaac Adaka Boroh, will want to show his style. There will certainly be some changes. If the views of Hajia Rahamah Sani, my Kano-based social worker friend, are anything to go by, the programme should be scrapped and not one kobo should be spent on ex-militants, who in her reaction to my column of last week, had sabotaged the economy. I disagree with Hajia Sani. The programme should be sustained. It may be refined and made better.
As part of efforts toward effective security of lives and property and preventing terrorist attacks in Edo State, the State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has read the riot act to expatriates and aliens working in the state.
The NIS, in the warning, which was also handed to employers of expatriates, vowed to strictly enforce the new Immigration Law of 2015 and punish any expatriates or company that employ them if the law is violated.
The warning was issued at a stakeholders meeting organised by the NIS, where the aliens and companies were intimated of some of the stiff penalties introduced in the new immigration law.
Top hierarchy of the NIS present at the meeting frowned at refusal of some companies to pay departure and arrival notification fee of expatriates in the state. Only seven companies were said to be up to date in the payment.
Assistant-Comptroller General of Immigration, Zone G, Emmanuel Gbuuga, in his speech urged the foreigners to respect Nigeria’s immigration laws just as Nigerians respect other countries’ immigration laws.
The ACG said it was inappropriate for foreigners to move about the country without carrying their passport, an action he said would no longer be tolerated.
Emmanuel charged foreigners to always carry their international passports with them and stopped making excuses that their international passports are somewhere in Lagos or Abuja.
The ACG said the command was not out to embarrass foreigners, but to make them understand the need to obey the laws.
He warned business owners to only employ documented aliens in the country as a way of boosting security.
Ogbuuga explained that the command want to know what immigrants are doing across the country as well as monitor their activities.
“If you have a guest who is a visitor, he has no business to work here. If you want to work, you must make sure you are regularised within three months, if you want to invite an expert, you are given a temporary work permit.”
“We have a new act that has not been launched. Some of the penalty there are stiff. We are doing it in conformity with other laws. As we respect immigration laws of other countries, we also expect that our laws should be obeyed. I believed that we must operate within the armbit of the laws. Whoever breaks Nigeria laws will pay the penalty.”
Edo Immigration Comptroller, Alana Olusegun, warned expatriates to pay close attention to sections stipulating new penalties when the new laws are violated.
According to him, “There is need for anybody who comes into the country to be monitored especially at hotels. We have been asking hotels to render returns on lodgers.
“Any law made by the service is geared towards security. We want to make expatriates understand the new provisions and new penalties in the Immigration Law. We know why they are here and there is need for us to tell them what awaits anyone that violates the laws.
“The idea of asking foreigners to pay arrival and notification fee is for security purposes. The hoteliers are not security conscious. You give us information and we work on it. It is a very simple practice.”
Despite the widely celebrated uncommon transformation in Akwa Ibom State, about 80 per cent of the people still live in the rural areas. And in abject poverty. They lack infrastructure and other good things of life.
The roads in the urban centre are smooth, but coarse in the rural areas.
The Ministry of Rural Development says it is interested in making life more meaningful for the rural dwellers.
During an inspection tour of the rural areas by the ministry, the first point of call was the Ikot Abia-Enyie in Nsit Atai Local Government Area where a bridge measuring about 20 meters had been abandoned due to shortage of funds.
The bridge is instrumental and strategic to the wellbeing and the development of the people because if completed it will connect several villages together with the help of a nearby river.
The river, popularly called “Atang River”, is also useful. It is the main source of water to the people but not without its demerits. For instance, in the last one year, the river had claimed the lives of eight pupils.
The chairman of the village council, Chief Etop Umanah, said the pupils drowned in the water following the downpour which led to the river overflowing its bank while returning from school.
Atang River divides Ikot Abia-Enyie village into two; with all the facilities in the area – a health centre, a primary and a secondary school, located at the other side of the river.
Umanah stated that it was the custom of the village to wait for the pupils and women at the bank of the river during the schools’ closing hours whenever there was downpour.
He explained that it was unfortunate that before the men from the village could get to the river to rescue the pupils, the water had already carried them away.
According to Umanah, the bodies of the pupils were recovered three days after.
He revealed that in the preceding year three pupils and a pregnant woman died in the same river, noting that as the pupils tried to come back from school, the pregnant woman was trying to make her way back from the health centre.
His words: “This village, Abia-Enyie lost eight children to Atang River this year as they were returning from school following a downpour which aided the river to overflow its bank. Last year, we lost three pupils and a pregnant woman in the same manner.
“The village is one village; it is split by this river. All the facilities of this village – a health centre, a primary and a secondary school are all sited at the other side of the river. We cannot stop the children from going to school.”
But speaking during the inspection of some facilities in the rural area, the State’s Commissioner of Rural Development, Mr. Ekong Sampson, told reporters that the Akwa Ibom State government was ready to end not only the pupils’ death, but all the deaths associated with Atang River.
According to him, it pained the government to see Akwa Ibom children perishing in river as he assured the people that government would embark on remedial measures to end the carnage before work on the bridge was started and completed.
He words: “That is why I have chosen to come here by myself. I am really touched by what I have seen. We will make every effort to ensure that infrastructure is brought to this community and to every other rural space in the state. And our approach is to go there and see things by ourselves in order to have a first-hand purview of their problems.
“The state government is committed to transforming our rural space because we all come from villages. The state government is committed to recreating the villages; we are committed to making lives better for those who live in our villages. We shall give government an update about what we have seen here.”
The representative of the company handling the bridge project, MT & G International Services Limited, Mrs. Tukubor Okpoyo, said the project has been running for three years.
Even when there is still so much work to be done at the project site, Mrs. Okpoyo said the company had received 50 per cent funding and 90 per cent of work already completed.
Her words: “I can only tell you we have the will and the expertise to complete this project. The issue of why it has not been completed is strictly an issue of funding. Unfortunately funding has been interrupted. We hope and we are looking forward to resuming project here as soon as we are funded.”
To enhance the living condition of the people living in the rural area, the Ministry of rural development, according to Commissioner Sampson, has put forward a Rural Development Master Plan (RDMP) which if adopted would serve as a compass for sustainable rural development.
The RDMP embodies five critical components, namely: rural electrification; rural water supply; rural security; rural road network and bailey bridges; and special rural development interventions.
Part of the rural security network will be the rehabilitation of some collapsed police stations in the rural areas particularly police stations in Ikot Umiang in Mkpat Enin and the one in Ikot Okoro in Oruk Anam local government area.
Also the Anwa Urua market in Oruk Anam is part of the initiative. The government plan to give it a face-lift so as to serve the rural dwellers better.
The commissioner noted that the government was committed to rebuilding the market so that it can serve as a source of employment for the teeming youths.
As debates continue to rage in the Niger Delta over the botched meeting of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, the Centre for the Vulnerable and Underprivileged, has said the police acted lawfully in sealing off the venue.
The meeting was convened by a founding member of MEND, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), who afterwards explained that his intentions were genuine and that the meeting was not to restart crisis in the region.
Executive Director of CENTREP, Oghenejabor Ikimi Esq, who conceded that the former agitators were entitled to peacefully assemble and fraternity, maintained that the Police have a right to stop such meeting, if it is deemed capable of causing a breach of the peace.
Ikimi was reacting to the statement signed by Spokesperson of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Eric Omare, which condemned the deployment of policemen to the venue of the meeting.
He said: “We disagree with the (IYC) said claim root, stem and branches as the seal off of the venue of the said meeting by the police was constitutional since the said meeting was a threat to public safety and public order owing to the tension same had generated within the Niger-Delta Region and the entire country as many Nigerians believed that said meeting was a gathering of disgruntled contractors, oil thieves and political marauders and buccaneers.
“While we are not patronizing or holding brief for anybody or group, we concede that the Niger Delta ex-militant leaders under Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) has a right to peacefully assemble and associate or fraternise with one another.
“However, Section 45 of the same constitution which talks about restriction and derogation from fundamental rights says that nothing in Sections 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41 of the constitution shall invalidate any law reasonably justifiable in a democratic society a) in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health or b) for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom of other persons.
“In other words, the above right of the ex-militant leaders to assemble together and to associate with one another can be restricted by law enforcement agents on grounds of public safety and order as done in the instant case by the Nigeria Police, and as such they should be commended for carrying out their statutory duties of maintaining law and order rather than being vilified for no just cause
“It is in the light of the above constitutional provision that we strongly differ with the respected Ijaw youth body on the police abortion of the above meeting.
“We however call on ex-militant leaders to shun similar gatherings in the future that may be inimical to public order and safety, more strongly when the Federal Government has assured Nigerians of her intentions to continue with the Amnesty programme,” Ikimi said.
Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State has gradually become synonymous with oil spills and related incidences. The council, which is a major host to oil installations operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), has large portion of its environment polluted by oil slicks.
•Fishing water course devastated due to the spill
The frequency of oil spills in the council has no doubt affected negatively the image of NAOC and raised questions on double standard modus operandi of oil companies operating in Nigeria. Recently, an oil spill site belonging to Agip in Azuzuama, Southern Ijaw, exploded into an inferno and consumed over 12 lives who were there for a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV).
Though Governor Seriake Dickson barked and ordered a forensic investigation to determine the cause of explosion, there are no signs that real probe in that spirit, which the governor initially reacted, is ongoing. The victims may have also died in vain.
As the state is mourning the tragedy, another leakage of crude oil has been reported in Agip’s Ossiama-Ogboinbiri and Ogboinbiri-Tebidaba pipelines. The pipeline traverses Keme-ebiama,Okpotuwari and Ondewari community environment in the council. The pipelines have recently become notorious for oil spills and most of the spills are said to be caused by equipment failure. It seems the company’s pipelines have collapsed and due for change.
•Booms found in the environment when ERA first visited
The Environmental Right Action (ERA) in its latest report signed by its State Officer, Mr. Alagoa Moris, commented on the pipelines. It said: “The crux of the matter here is the increasing number of oil spills along this pipeline; even though the pipeline Right Of Way contains three different oil bearing pipelines.
“And, while some of the spills were officially attributed to equipment failure incidents; others were reported as third party interference cases. The Environmental Rights Action have investigated and reported quite a good number of spills along this pipeline”.
Recently, a spot on the pipeline was reported to be bubbling seriously with a spill. Describing the seriousness of the spill, ERA’s report said: “It was surprising to see the spot the crude oil finally came out with fury; bubbling and with the characteristic rising and falling movement of a boiling pot, accompanied by a familiar sound”.
But the Project Officer, Ondewari Health, Education and Environment Projects, Mr. Tontiemote Yeiyei, confirmed that the seriousness of the spill forced Agip to return to site. He said the company’s representatives were accompanied to the site by delegates from Ondewari, Okpotuwari and Keme-Ebiama.
He said: “They excavated the spot where crude oil was still coming out from the ground. Incidentally; that spot was only the soft spot where the crude oil found its way to the surface; the main ruptured spot on the body of the oil bearing pipe was a little bit away from where the crude oil was gushing out on the ground.
“Everyone present saw that, even though the Aqua-rap was still on the body of the pipe, the crude oil was escaping from the pipe. The Agip technicians tore open the Aqua-rap before the main ruptured spot was properly identified”.
He said apart from an official whom Agip representatives claimed was from the National Oil Spill Detection Regulatory Agency (NOSDRA), no representatives of other regulatory agencies like the ministry of environment followed Agip to the spill site.
He added: “Even though it was obvious that the cause of spill was equipment failure; we demanded to hear from the Agip representatives. Unfortunately they failed to be categorical about that information; they only told us that they will go and examine the photos they took of the ruptured spot and it is the outcome laboratory analysis which would say whether the spill was as a result of equipment failure or third party interference.
“They then promised returning to site the next day, being Wednesday. And, although no documents were signed and we were not comfortable with their statement of going to do laboratory analysis before telling us cause of spill; because we were confident of what we saw; we took it as they said; with the hope of carrying out a proper JIV and repairs on Wednesday’’.
Another mysterious fire
Agip promised to return on Wednesday, July 22. But before they could make good their promise, a consuming fire descended on the spill site. Environmental experts are becoming curious over incessant fire outbreaks in spill sites belonging to Agip. On Wednesday morning, residents of the communities reported a thick smoke emanating from the impacted environment.
Youths of the three communities were said to have tried to put out the fire. It was gathered that two persons one each from Ondewari and Okpotuwari were arrested by the Oil and Gas Task Force operating in the local government area and were taken to Yenagoa, the state capital for further investigation and interrogation. Following the fire incident, Agip suspended the agreed visit.
Crude oil spreads
Despite the fire, communities linked to Ogboinbiri River woke up to see crude oil all over their environment. Gbarain community downstream the river was the first to raise the alarm. A resident, Boro Jonah said: “As I speak with you our river is covered with crude oil and we are really surprised; as we don’t know where this oil slick is coming from”.
Also, the Keme-Ebiama community along the same river confirmed that the spill has spread to its environment. The Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) of Keme-Ebiama, Mr. Columbus John-Bull said: ‘’The River right in front of our community has been covered with crude oil. We have no doubt that it is spreading from the spill point in our community environment.
“Already, it has impacted our swamp, ponds and lake in the bush and now; it has spread to the river. As bad as the scenario is, we are trying to see how we can also capture the incident by taking photos and video shots’’.
On July 25th, representatives of NAOC returned to the spill point for repairs. They were reportedly escorted to the area by four armed security operatives. But there Walsh a problem. A serious disagreement ensued between the communities and the firm’s delegates.
The communities questioned the modalities adopted by the firm to chantry out the JIV and repairs of the ruptured spot. They complained that there was no sign of a JIV team and JIV forms. Besides, the three communities demanded N400,000 each from Agip for bush entry.
The CDC Chairman of Ondewari community, Mr. Charles Igoniwari, accused the company of not doing the right thing.
He said: “What we are demanding is that, before going ahead with the repairs we need to experience the normal JIV process. Incidentally Agip is not here with the JIV forms and, how do they expect us to conclude and leave this site without filling and signing the JIV report which we ought to sign here at the site?
“We want to ensure the essential details about the spill incident are documented before anything else. That is the demand and stance of the three communities. And, rather than complying with the just demand, Agip is now adopting the method of passing through the state government to intimidate us.
“They thought we are ignorant of what the procedures are that is why they want to intimidate us but we won’t succumb to the pressure; they should rather do the right thing’’.
On the demand for money before the JIV and repairs, he said: “Yes, we were demanding that money as part of the bush entry, site fee that even Agip cannot say our demand is out of place. Although the amounts may vary, Agip normally pay in other places too when community persons assist them during such visits to site when spills occur.
“That demand has nothing to do with our main demand. Our main demand is that Agip should follow ‘due process’. We want the JIV carried out before going ahead with repairs.
“They are not here with the JIV forms for us to fill. The regulators are not even here. Ours shouldn’t be different, we want to see the JIV form filled and signed here at the spill site. That is our main demand”.
But on July 26, Agip was said to have returned to the site, a situation that triggered just another round of disagreements between the firm and the communities.
Yeiyei, who was among the representatives of Ondewari community at the site, confirmed the fresh dispute. He said: “There was disagreement between the communities and Agip on the volume of spilled crude oil. And, none of the Regulatory Agencies was represented at the site.
“We were made to understand that the State Ministry of Environment and NOSDRA were not with us at the site because of the recent explosion which led to the death of their staff at Azuzuama.
“Agip estimated the spilled crude oil to 80 barrels only and the communities rejected that estimate because how they came up with the estimate was unclear. Besides, we witnessed the volume of crude oil spewing from the spill site even before Agip came for confirmation and, even after confirmation; the spill continued.
“Based on our experience we thought the volume was far more than Agip’s estimated volume. The disagreement resulted into a heated argument and, Agip wanted to resort to the use of force because they came with armed military men. However, at the end of the day, we agreed for the volume spilled to be 100 barrels.
“And, while those who ought to sign from each of the communities and Agip signed their columns; the spaces meant for the regulators remained blank. For that reason, the signed JIV forms were not released to the communities; as Agip promised to take the forms to the regulators to sign before letting communities have their copies. That was how the matter ended’’.
ERA’s observations
ERA in its report insists that the volume of oil it observed spewing into the environment was very high. the volume of crude oil being spewed into the environment was very high. It said from when it got the information to when it visited the site, there was over 14 hours of continuous leakage.
Part of the report said: “The combined initial pressure, volume and time before the pressure was reduced was responsible for the heavy volume of crude oil spewed into the environment and, its eventual spread; aided by the terrain and already rising flood levels in the environment.
“The connecting swamps and rivulets facilitated the spread of the crude oil into the one-way flowing Ogboinbiri River from Keme-Ebiama axis and downstream it continued. This should explain the experience of the Gbarian people; about their river being flooded by crude oil from unknown source.
“When ERA visited first, the presence of booms in the environment confirmed Agip’s earlier visit; even though the actual spill point was yet to be discovered then.
“The burning of spill site is regrettable and, this has been part of the reason why community leaders have often urged their youths to mount security at spill impacted sites until JIVs are concluded.
“ERA was reliably informed too that, suggestion was made by community representatives that the spill site be guarded. This was made during Agip’s visit to the site on 21st July, 2015. But, the idea was discouraged by Agip representatives, may be due to financial implications such security services may attract”.
The report added: “The alleged attempt by the state government to encourage the distortion of the JIV process is unacceptable. Such efforts, if true; is against the government’s public pronouncements; of protecting the communities and our fragile environment to ensure sustainable development.
“Government cannot be absolved from the sailing mutual distrust between oil companies and communities; without taking sides government should apportion blame whether it is due communities or oil companies. The State Government should rather initiate positive steps to gain the confidence of our communities negatively impacted by the oil industry activities around them.
“While no spill is a good spill, it is more in the interest of government to support the communities where such equipment failure spills occur. The people of Keme-Ebiama, Okpotuwari and Ondewari in this instance deserves sympathy and encouragement; not intimidation through the paraphernalia of public office”.
ERA, therefore, demanded that Agip should respect the due process expected of a JIV process in the current incident. It asked the communities to sign the JIV report and demand their copies.
It asked community leaders and representatives to be properly informed about what is obtainable from any process or activities between their community and oil companies to avoid making unrealistic demands.
“ERA is aware of the fact that oil companies not specific to Agip alone do engage the services of community youths during repairs at spill sites. How much exchanges hands for such transactions is what ERA cannot say because the facts are not readily available.
“Agip should promptly follow-up repairs with clean-up, relief materials and compensation; with the same interest the company has shown in getting the spill point repaired with a view to put on the line for production purposes”, the report said.
It is most unfortunate that this special incident was fraught with several twists. The signing of JIV reports at the site leading to the conclusion of repairs poses questions.
ERA’s posers
ERA in the report raised some posers. The report said: “First of all, can the JIV forms signed at the site on Sunday [26th July, 2015] really represent a JIV report even when the regulators were not at the site to make independent observations?
“Secondly, has it been the practice for Regulators [NOSDRA, DPR, SMoE] to sign JIV reports in which they didn’t have firsthand experience of total impacted area, volume of spill and spread?
“What about other communities like Gbaruan and Lobia that have complained about the spread of Crude oil into their environment? Would it not require another JIV to get the proper thing done? This is because for ERA the spilled volume was more than 500 barrels based on what ERA captured on video clips during ERA’s visit on 16th July, 2015 and when Agip actually shut down the line.
“Even after shutting down, crude oil continued to spew into the environment; it didn’t stop automatically because the flow line was shut down, the residual pressure would continue to cause the spill for sometime.”
The impacted communities are waiting for Agip to respond to the posers.
