The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • ‘Welding no longer a dirty job’

    The Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Training Development Fund (PTDF), Mr Femi Ajayi, has promised to improve upon the training capacity of welders in the country in view of their  contributions to the building of the economy through the oil and gas industry.

    Ajayi who spoke in Port Harcourt during the Flag-Off of the Module ‘C’, Welders Training and Certification Programme also promised to send those who have graduated from the PTDF training abroad as well as to address the challenges the trained welders are having with their kits.

    The flag-off of the training programme, which is the last leg of “PTDF’S Welders Training and Certification Programme (WTCP) Train 11″, had about 400 graduands.

    The Executive Secretary of PTDF also disclosed that “a good number of trained welders are currently engaged in the industry while many of them are being used by the various training centres as qualified instructors of the International Institute of Welding” adding that the train-the-trainer approach that was adopted in the execution of the WTCP has lived up to expectation.

    He recalled that “the industry-wide skills gap audit of 2001 identified capacity building in the area of welding and fabrication as quick wins or plucking low hanging fruits in the quest for the development of local content in the industry.”

    “The audit,” he also said “identified the requirement of about 8,000 skilled welders to effectively man on-going planned oil and gas projects in Nigeria” noting that by the year 2020 , Nigeria would need about 20,000 welders to enable it remain the 20 most advanced countries in the world.

    Ajayi also said that in 2009/2010, the PTDF in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Welding trained 20 Nigerians in South Africa as International Welding Practitioners and Specialists while 11 others were also trained in Germany as International Welding Technologists and Engineers.

    Also speaking, the President of Nigerian Institute of Welding, Mr Solomon Edebiri stated that about 1,200 persons have been trained by PTDF towards the acquisition of welding knowledge, pointing out that with this, the Fund is about to close the gap in the oil and gas industry.

     

     

    Edebiri also said that “if we are able to close the gap, we will stop the influx of foreigners into the industry” because about 40 percent of the trained welders hold ordinary national diplomas, higher national diplomas and first degrees.

    This he noted “underscores the fact that welding is no longer a dirty job and it is not for drop-outs” and the trainees, Edebiri said are also building the economy.

     

  • Delta… My convoy is longer than yours

    Driving on any major road, street or highways in the twin cities of Effurun/Warri and other towns in Delta State requires a lot of patience and self-control. No, it is not because of the condition of the roads or the menace of reckless taxi or bus drivers and their tricycle (keke) counterparts, who drive at breakneck speed or pilot unworthy vehicles without the basic safety features like turn indicators, horns or windshield wipers.  Most of the buses and taxis on the road don’t have headlight or tail lights, side or inner mirrors; the safety conscious ones among them simply use bits of their wives’ broken make-up glasses. The ‘mirror’ is placed on the dash board and the driver would conjure them when they need to look out before veering from one lane to the other.

    But these drivers are no longer the biggest threat to road users because this devil the road users know is way better than the crazy security agents they don’t know. Security men attached to ‘big men’ and their wives are the biggest danger now for motorist and even pedestrians.

    Taking your car for a drive on the roads, either for pleasure or when going about your normal business, calls for prayers and divine watch to save you from security and paramilitary operators attached to government officials, top operators of the oil and gas industry, their counterparts in the illegal (bunkering) deals and local thugs. The activities of these ‘security’ agents have turned every Toyota hilux van or any van favoured by these classes of moneybags into vehicles above the law so much so that the sight of one of these pick-ups releases adrenalin and send the hearts of other users of the road palpitating.

    The menaces of these vans, which drive behind and in front of exotic cars and buses at breakneck speed even along narrow streets, have forced cost at least one life and uncountable destructions to other road users or even people lounging in front of their houses.

    A friend once joked that most big men in Delta state move around with their own police station and army barracks; the bigger the men the bigger their escorts and troops. In a clear demonstration of the lawlessness that has pervaded the country, this class of people is above the law and they drive even against traffic at the same speed. The irony is that FRSC official, police and other security agents at on the roads wave them, even kowtow with the hope of getting ‘something for the boys’, thereby legalizing the illegality.

    “They are kill-and-go people”, lamented one of their victims. “Even when they drive against traffic, they bring out horsewhip and flog anybody who stands in their way, not minding that the person has the right of way.”

    It is not only with the common driver on the road that the big men clash, sometimes they clash among themselves. “It could be that one team has regular policemen on its convoy and the other has mobile policemen. In that case the mopol usually win except when they are outnumbered.”

    Similarly, the ultra-rich among them rich use soldiers. This class prefers to convey their security ’aides’ in heavy duty pickup trucks like the petrol-guzzling Ford F150, Toyota Tundra or Nissan Titan, just to prove that ‘my convoy is longer than yours, so my money is more than yours.’

    The police’s involvement in this madness querries our belief in the rule of law. With the police and some other security agencies deeply involved in the commotion that driving in Warri has become, it remains to be seen who will save the society. It would have been a different ball game if the culprits are only the ordinary people. My last word here is that this madness must stop. The police and other security operatives must be made to respect the rule of law by their top hierarchy. Enough is just enough!

     

     

  • Youth threaten showdown over Bonny Ring Road

    The youths of Bonny in Rivers State under the aegis of Bonny Youth Federation, have threatened to shut down all the oil facilities and companies in the area over lack of developmental projects.

    The leader of the group, Mr. Simeon Wilcox, a lawyer, at a news conference in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, lamented that 20 years after, the Bonny Ring Road remains uncompleted.

    He said if the abandoned ring road is completed it would link the satellite towns and communities in order to facilitate economic activities within the communities.

    Wilcox noted that the youths would not take it for granted anymore with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and other companies operating in the area, if their policies cannot be favourable to the host communities.

    He further stated that the youths are going to sustained protest against SPDC and other companies operating in the area if after two weeks of this press briefing nothing happens.

    “We gathered here today in order to highlight some of the incidences that have brought the gross neglect and blatant disregard for the community. We are not happy that in spite of the economic position of Bonny its people are still living in abject poverty.

    “Bonny has earned the reputation of being one of the most peaceful communities in Rivers State. This is in spite of its socio-economic difficulties such as unskilled workforce, massive youth’s restiveness, agitation, infrastructure deficit and insecurity.

    “We are calling on the stakeholders and well meaning Nigerians to know that Bonny youths will always follow the path of peace and champion the mechanisms that will enhance the peace and harmony enjoyed by the people of Bonny Island.”

     

  • As we vote tommorrow

    The Niger Delta is the home of President Goodluck Jonathan. He hails from Otuoke in Bayelsa State, one of the six states in the Southsouth geopolitical zone. As you read this, Mr President should be in his Otuoke mansion or getting set to leave for his hometown.

    For the president, tomorrow’s election is different from any he has had to face in his life. His main challenger, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, is no stranger to him. Jonathan defeated Buhari in 2011. But what everybody, including Jonathan will not dispute is the fact that this is not 2011. The forces backing Buhari now are more powerful than the ones with him in 2011. It is with this fact at the back of his mind that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu said the era of landslide victory was over.

    The strength of Jonathan’s challenger has generated a lot of interest in the Southsouth, especially Rivers State, which some consider Jonathan’s second home. His wife hails from Okrika, a key town in Rivers. The president worked and earned degrees in Port Harcourt.

    Ordinarilly, Rivers should be easy for him to take. In the last election, he had almost all the votes there. The dynamics have since changed. Governor Rotimi Amaechi, one of his allies then, is now Buhari’s chief campaigner.

    My plea to the people of the Southsouth is that in whatever they do during and after the elections, they should bear in mind Jonathan’s famous claim that his ambition is not worth the life of anybody.

  • JTF’s new 30 gunboats boost war against oil thieves

    The days of oil thieves in the creeks of the Niger Delta region are now numbered. The Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, is determined more than ever to flush them out.

    After taking delivery of new 30 gunboats added to its fleets by the Federal Government, JTF’s moral is high and it seems motivated to increase its patrols of oil facilities in its Areas of Responsibilities (AoR).

    It was, indeed, a day of joy for the troops and officers of the JTF whose headquarters is located in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh; the Chief of Army Staff; Gen. Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jubril were in Yenagoa.

    They were joined by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson; Governor, Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alameseigha.

    Others were the Commander, JTF, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe; representatives of Chevron, Shell, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Setraco, Daewoo, royal fathers and state’s security heads including the Commander, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Desmond Agu.

    They were at the Government Jetty to witness the commissioning 30 gunboats acquired by the Federal Government to enhance the operations of the JTF. The gunboats were inaugurated by Badeh.

    The Chief of Defence Staff said the acquisition of the boats underlined the determination of the Federal Government to holistically find a lasting solution to the problem of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in Nigeria.

    He said one of the steps taken to eradicate oil theft in the country was the establishment of a Technical Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control (TCCOTPC) by the National Economic Council (NEC).

    He said through the activities of the committee, the NEC approved some funds for the Defence Headquarters to procure gunboats for the operations of the JTF which is saddled with the responsibility of fighting crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals.

    He said the contracts for the construction of the boats were awarded to Messrs. Epenal Group of Companies Nigeria Limited and Messrs. Roshanal Info Tech Limited.

    He commended the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan for its undying commitment to providing needed support to enable the Armed Forces discharge its constitutional responsibilities.

    He further said the Chairman of NEC and Vice-President Namadi Sambo deserved a special appreciation for approving the funding for the project. Badeh also appraised the ongoing war against insurgency in the North-East saying it was gaining momentum and achieving results.

    He said: “These boats and indeed other resources allocated by the Federal Government of Nigeria would be judiciously deployed for the overall economic benefits of the country.

    “It is pertinent to also note that the Nigerian Navy has continued to intensify its war against oil theft which has remarkably curtailed the high level crude oil losses.

    “I make bold to warn all those criminals who take pleasure in stealing the nation’s crude oil and vandalizing pipelines in the Niger Delta to desist from such unpatriotic acts.

    “The receipt of of these gunboats has added impetus to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies’ campaign against oil theft and pipeline vandalism. To be forewarned is to be forearmed”.

    In fact, Uduaghan who was a special guest of honour at the occasion beamed with smiles. He had every reason to be joyful especially following his known disdain for oil theft and pipeline vandalism. Besides, he played a significant role in the acquisition of the military assets.

    Uduaghan is the chairman of the technical committee that approved the purchase of the gunboats. The governor said the decision to acquire the gunboats was taken after considering the challenges of the military in a NEC meeting adding that it was agreed in the meeting that the military should not be allowed to fight crime with bare hands.

    He said: “When there is a drop in oil revenue, it affects everyone. It affects the federal government and the states. We agreed at the NEC meeting that we must make some contributions as Federal and state government to the funding of the operation in this area because without funds we cannot be talking of security. Our military people should not use their bare hands to be dealing with security.

    “So, the council after due approval by Mr. President put up a committee with state governors and I was privileged to chair that committee. I am happy today that we are here to commission these boats which is a big plus for the operations of this area.”

    Uduaghan poured encomiums on the JTF and the Navy for making the region too hot for oil thieves. “Even before these boats, I can testify as a governor of the Niger Delta, the operations of JTF and the navy have been very uncomfortable for the criminals. We want to appreciate what you are doing in dealing with crude oil theft”, he said.

    Despite the effectiveness of the JTF and the Navy, Uduaghan said there were still challenges in crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, which he said was affecting gas supply to power plants.

    “We still have challenges in crude oil theft and even pipeline vandalism that is affecting gas supply especially yo our power plants.

    “We are proud of Mr. President, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who is on the driving seat, who is the commander-in-chief in dealing with all these issues, the issues of crude oil theft and the issues of Boko Haram.

    “President Jonathan has done a lot in the power sector in terms of generation a lot of power plants have been completed and are fully ready for operation.

    “In terms of distribution a lot of work has been done and are fully ready but the challenge we have now is sabotage to our gas pipeline. It is sad that our people are involved in this type of sabotage. To stop this requires the participation of all of us.”

    The governor also called for the cooperation of the international community in dealing with the issues of oil theft in Nigeria.

    “There also other stakeholders in the business of crude oil theft and the most challenging one is international community. Over 80 per cent of the stolen crude is exported and used by refineries outside Nigeria.

    “If international community cooperates with Nigeria, I am sure we will reduce this problem. If there is no destination for this stolen crude, this whole thing will reduce. Mr. President is doing his best. He is determined to wipe out crude oil theft and as states we are determined to work with him to wipe it out”, he added.

    In his remarks, the host, Governor Dickson, said apart from maritime military assets, the state was in need of equipment on land to effectively fight crimes.

    He thanked President Jonathan for investing in security and military assets saying that he had shown uncommon determination “to equip, armed, trained and kept the military better prepared than any of his predecessors”.

    “Two weeks or so ago, Mr. President in June fell swoop provided four naval warships for our nation’s navy. This is in addition to several strategic investments of the federal government under the able leadership of our dear President.

    “I would like to commend the prudence with which the resources are managed by various service chiefs.

    “The boats that had been donated will go a long way to assist our men and women in uniform whose men and officers even as we speak are sacrificing their lives to keep our nation safe”, he said.

    On his part, though excited over the gunboats, Atewe, the JTF commander, lamented the lives of gallant soldiers lost in the fight against illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and other forms of oil theft.

    He said recently five soldiers attached to the outfit were heinously killed by armed oil thieves. Atewe called for minute silence for the departed heroes and asked God to help their families bear the loss.

    Atewe thanked the dignitaries for attending the event and said the JTF had come of age. He said within the period he assumed the command of the outfit, over 157 vessels ad been seized. He said about 500 illegal oil pipeline vandals had been arrested while 300 boats involved in the illegal business had been destroyed.

    He praised Dickson, Udaghan and the Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) for their support in the war against economic sabotage. He further commended the security chiefs for their assistance especially the new 30 gunboats they made available to the command.

    Playing the Oliver Twist, Atewe asked the host governor not to relent in helping the outfit. Atewe reinstated his commitment to zero-tolerance to oil theft and regretted the environmental impact of pipeline vandalism.

  • High expectations in Otuoke over presidential poll

    High expectations in Otuoke over presidential poll

    A few locally-made campaign billboards, posters and other campaign materials praising President Goodluck Jonathan and drumming support for his reelection were sited within Otuoke. Early morning of Wednesday was calm and somewhat quiet in the community.

    But it sounded boisterous few minutes before the Niger Delta Report got to the community in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, where  Jonathan hails from. The indigenes and other residents seemed to have murdered sleep. They were jolted from their sleep by the forthcoming election.

    Niger Delta Report learnt that Otuoke was woken up early in the morning by town criers. The community leaders sent the messengers to summon all the stakeholders in the community to a meeting at the community’s town hall.

    It was a forum to educate the indigenes on tommorrow’s presidential election.

    “This election is different from the past elections. There are card readers now and everybody is expected to come out early in the morning for electronic accreditation. It is not going to be like the previous elections so we need to be educated on the process,” one of the unnamed leaders was quoted to have told the people at the gathering.

    Elders, women, young and old were said to have congregated at the town hall and listened attentively to the voter education and sensitisation by the conveners of the meeting. Different leaders took turns to clearly sound the procedures of the election to the hearing of the people.

    They exuded with uncommon passion to massively vote for their kinsman. In fact, if it depended on Otuoke to return Jonathan, the community would have done it with ease and maybe the President would have no reason to be afraid.

    Despite their misgivings especially the complaints of divide-and-rule method of distributing presidential dividends against the President and his family, most of the people from Otuoke still want their kinsman back to Aso Rock.

    Some were adamant. It never mattered to them that most people outside their communities are blaming the economic woes, massive corruption, insecurity, unemployment and lack of electricity on the alleged incompetence of their son and brother. They have even deafened their ears to the change and broom revolution sweeping across the country.

    But most of the residents advocated peace during and after the election. No matter the outcome of the poll, they promised that Otuoke which is populated by people from different parts of the country, would remain calm

    For instance, a commercial motorcyclist, Nene Edesiri, who had resided in the community for eight years was optimistic that Jonathan would retain his seat of the election. He, however, said the victory depended on the grace of God.

    “By God’s grace, members of this community will come out to vote for Jonathan. I want him to come back so that he can complete the good work he has started in this community and in Nigeria as a whole. The man works hard a lot that is why we want him back”, he said.

    Also, Joshua Gberedugo, first called our attention to the town hall meeting that was held early in the morning. He said the aim of the town hall meeting was to educate voters and preach the importance of peaceful co-existence.

    “The entire community was at the meeting and we discussed about the elections. We insisted that the election should be peaceful. We love the president because he has really helped the masses and we know that if he comes back, he will do more.

    “In fact, we are mobilising people for him. We want to make sure that all the votes here belong to him. I will never vote for any other person except Goodluck”, he said.

    Furthermore, Ebeere Uche, a trader in the community said spoke against violence and pleaded with the people to have the fear of God. She, however, argued that to balance the north and south political equation, Jonathan should continue in the office.

    “We need peace in our country. Whoever will rule us, should have God first. Hausa people have ruled us much, let the east rule us and let us see. Let our political leaders stop their clashes over there and allow God to decide things. We need peace,”she said.

    However, Isu Godgift said people should be allowed to follow their hearts and conscience in choosing their leaders. He said Otuoke being the community of President Jonathan will attract global attention during the election. He said Otuoke will not object to the outcome of the election no matter who wins.

    “Whatever that goes wrong in Otuoke,goes wrong in Nigeria. And whatever that goes right in Otuoke, goes right in Nigeria.

    “We are expecting that the right leadership should be given to the person who deserves it in Nigeria. If Nigeria as a whole decides that Goodluck is the right person, that he will bring the right dividends of democracy, then the Otuoke man has no objection. We are fully prepared to cast our votes here because it is our civil duty,” he said.

    The Youth Secretary of Otuoke, Osain Francis, sounded more optimistic on the victory of Jonathan. He said town criers had been mobilised and paid to go round the community and communicate the outcome of the town hall meeting to persons who were absent.

    “We just had a meeting at the town hall this morning. At the meeting, we emphasised on the need to vote. Right now, the sensitisation on accreditation and the whole process of voting is going on in the community.

    “The town crier will go out later to inform those who were absent at the meeting about what was discussed.

    “We are fully prepared for the election. Come rain,come sunshine,we are going to come out en mass to vote for our son,President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “We the community leaders are working hand-in-hand with security agencies to ensure that there is peace during the election”.

    A look at the community showed that Otuoke had in February sought divine intervention on Jonathan’s reelection. A billboard in the community showed that members of Otuoke Ministers’ Forum (OMF) embarked on a Three-day fasting and prayer for the reelection of the President.

    As the much-anticipated election holds on Saturday, Otuoke thought generally prays for the victory of her son, President Jonathan, she has promised to remain calm if the result goes the other way.

     

     

  • Oil spills keep devastating Niger Delta

    Oil spills keep devastating Niger Delta

    It’s David versus Goliath in the oil-rich Niger Delta. On one side are Royal Dutch Shell – the fourth largest company in the world – and ENI, Italy’s biggest industrial enterprise. On the other side are the local people: 40 different ethnic groups, with 70 percent of the population living below the poverty line.

    The companies have been conducting large-scale oil extraction in the Niger Delta for many years. Amnesty International has leveled heavy criticism: A recent analysis has come to the conclusion that the companies are responsible for more than 550 oil spills within just one year.

    “Last year Shell reported 204 separate oil spills, while ENI – which operates in a smaller area – reported 394 spills,” says Mark Dummett, a researcher on the business and human rights team of Amnesty International. “The number of oil spills occurring in the Niger Delta is really disturbing.”

    According to the companies, 5 million liters (1.3 million gallons) of oil were spilled during that time. But Dummett doubts those figures are correct: “According to past research, companies underestimate the amount of oil that is spilled.”

    Such spills can be caused by accidents, corrosion, or poor maintenance. Also sabotage plays a role – as oil is a valuable good, people sometimes tap the pipes to siphon it away – and then leave the holes without plugging them back up. While Shell in its statistics for 2014 lists the majority of spills as “sabotage/theft,” voices of local communities claim there are other reasons behind the spills.

    Green to black

    The Niger Delta makes up more than 7 percent of Nigeria’s total land mass, covering an area of 20,000 square kilometers (12,000 square miles). It is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, comprising four ecological zones: coastal barrier islands, mangrove swamps, freshwater swamps and lowland rainforests.

    Drilling here began in the 1950s. By now, 2.5 million barrels of oils are produced every day. The delta makes Nigeria the most oil-rich country in Africa. But corruption and weak governance translate into little environmental oversight or regulation.

    The impacts of oil spills on the Niger Delta are devastating: Mangrove forests are being obliterated, fish and shellfish are dying off, and whole ecosystems are collapsing.

    This also affects local inhabitants, says Amnesty Internationals Dummett, who traveled to the delta mid-March: “I met people who were forced to take their children out of school because they couldn’t catch the fish that they needed to earn a living,” he told DW. “The amount of harm that’s been done to both the environment, and the people who rely on the environment, is really enormous.”

    Environmental groups are calling for the companies to properly clean up these spills when they occur. But activists say that time and time again, this isn’t happening. And the effects of oil spills – especially since they are not remediated – last for a very long time.

    Past success stories

    Besides demanding that companies clean up, communities are also seeking compensation. And one recent case has a documented legacy: After major spills in 2008 and 2009, Shell agreed in early 2015 to pay the residents of the town of Bodo in the Niger Delta 76 million euros ($81 million) as compensation for environmental pollution.

    This represents the largest payout to any African community following environmental damage. The amount that the individuals will receive is equivalent to several years of wages.

    “Hopefully this will serve as a precedent, and other communities will come forward and bring similar suits,” says Drummet. However, whether the spills of Shell and ENI in 2014 will lead to similar successful claims by local residents is uncertain: The Bodo case was handled by a court in the United Kingdom.

    According to Amnesty International, hundreds of cases have been brought against Shell and the other companies in Nigeria – but the legal system is very slow.

    Upcoming elections

    This March 28, elections will take place in Nigeria. Drummet hopes that pollution in the Niger Delta will be among the topics the new president will work on. “Both the major candidates – President Jonathan and the main challenger Buhari – have talked about cleanup of the Niger Delta,” he said. “It is a major national issue, because it affects so many people.”

    Amnesty International has now also asked the Italian Government to investigate what’s happening in ENI’s Nigerian operations. There is general agreement that a long-term solution to environmental problems in the Niger Delta can only be solved on the political level.

    •Culled from  www.dw.de

     

  • Kuku: family got $87,500 over Amnesty trainee’s death

    The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta (OSAPND), Hon Kingsley Kuku, has clarified the circumstances surrounding the death of Cadet Godwin Ezebri, the amnesty trainee who died aboard a seafaring vessel, MT Guatemala in Panama.

    Reacting to complaints of neglect of family, Kuku, who spoke through Mr Daniel Alabrah, Special Assistant/Head, Media and Communications of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (OSAPND), denied that the family of the deceased has been abandoned, stressing that the case was resolved with the payment of compensation to the family.

    He said, “Contrary to reported claims by some members of the deceased’s family, we affirm without any iota of doubt that compensation to the tune of Eighty Seven Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars (USD87,500) had been paid to the family through the deceased’s Next of Kin (names withheld). Leader of the family acknowledged receipt of the compensation via an electronic mail to the OSAPND dated March 11, 2015, in which the family confirmed that the issue of compensation has been settled.

    “Also as part of efforts toward alleviating the pains of the deceased’s family as a result of the incident, the OSAPND offered the late Godwin’s younger sibling, who had just graduated from the School of Nursing at Eku, Delta State, full scholarship in any university of his choice anywhere in the world. It is, therefore, uncharitable for anyone to infer that the OSAPND might have abandoned the deceased’s family after his burial.“

    Niger Delta Report learnt that the compensation was paid after the report, “Two years after, controversy over Amnesty trainee’s death unresolved”, was filed. Beyond the issue of compensation, the report looked at the circumstances and controversies surrounding Ezebri’s death.

    Also exposing on the controversy, Alabrah said, “Mr. Godwin Ezebri was deployed in August 2011, after passing a medical examination, to the Gdynia Maritime University, Poland, to undergo Marine Navigation course through Global Oil Services Limited, one of PAP’s offshore training partners.

    “He commenced his training on August 22, 2011 and after graduating as a Marine Navigator, he boarded the MV Green Guatemala Bahamas-flagged Ship on February 28, 2013 for his sea time programme. But unfortunately, he died on June 6, 2013 shortly after he reportedly complained of chest pain on board the vessel.”

    Explaining further, he said on notification of Ezebri’s sudden death, the Amnesty Office promptly contacted members of his family, by which time the Panamanian authorities had already conducted an autopsy on his body to determine the cause of death, the outcome of which was stated in a report as “sudden death of cardiac origin”.

    “It is however pertinent to note that the Panamanian authorities neither sought the deceased family’s consent nor that of the OSAPND before carrying out the autopsy.

    “Consequently, our office initiated appropriate administrative and diplomatic steps on the circumstances of his death, even as arrangements were made for return of his remains to Nigeria on July 13, 2013 via Lagos, a decision that was taken in conjunction with members of his family.

    “Thus, ahead of the scheduled arrival date, the office sent a team to Lagos to receive his body and hand over to the family. Every arrangement was put in place, including logistics by the OSAPND for the deceased’s family, four of whom were in Lagos with our team.

    “But in a sudden twist of events, about 9pm on July 12, 2013, while the body was already airborne, the deceased’s family through Larry Ovwromoh & Associates, Legal Practitioners and Notary Public, informed the OSAPND’s team that owing to some irregularities surrounding the management of the death, the family will no longer be in a position to receive the corpse.”

    The family, he said, demanded an inquest with their representative and appointed pathologist present to ascertain the cause of death due to contradictions on the time of death. “While the coroner’s inquest stated that Godwin Ezebri died at 9.15am on June 6, 2013, L. Sapelevics (Master M/V Green Guatemala) said he died at 20.45pm on June 6, 2013.

    “On this ground, the deceased’s family members left in the morning of July 13, 2013 without seeing the aircraft or casket conveying their late son and brother.”

    An OSAPND team received the body deposited the remains at the mortuary of the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Myhoung Barracks, Yaba (68 NARHY), Lagos.

    “On July 22, 2013, we met with members of the deceased family, led by Elder Pax Ezebri, where it was resolved that the family should nominate a Pathologist to carry out an independent investigation of the cause of death. While we awaited the nomination from the family, Marine Mutual Services Limited (representatives of the Ship Owners) sent a mail informing us that the matter had been reported to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), which is charged with the responsibility of dealing with all aspects associated with the death of a Nigerian seafarer as well as liaising with the ship owners and the family.”

    Alabrah disclosed that the meeting with NIMASA held on August 12, 2013, with officials of the OSAPND, ship owners’ representatives (Louis Mbanefo & Co) and the deceased’s family.

    Pursuant to the resolution at the meeting, he said the family nominated Dr. N. A. Awolola and Dr. C. C. Anunobi to lead other doctors/pathologists in determining the cause of Godwin’s death. The OSAPND, the ship owners and NIMASA also sent their doctors to witness the second autopsy, which was carried out on September 3, 2013 at the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Lagos.

    “Part of the report read: ‘It is our opinion the absence of vital organs of the body, particularly the heart (since the first autopsy claims death was due to cardiac origin), makes it difficult to confirm or refute the cause of death. By extension, it also limits our ability to consider the possibility of natural causes of death.’”

    Explanation on the missing organs was requested from the Ship Owners through their representative (Louis Mbanefo & Co) while OSAPND also sent an official to Panama for enquiries concerning the missing organs.

    The General Manager of the Funeral Homes Panama, Mr. Glen Hutchinson L. F. D explained: “In his body cavity and organs first stage of decomposition… the organs were not shipped with the remains because tissue gases, food and other substances which was found in organs would have contaminated the remains”.

    The ship representatives later notified OSAPND that they had ascertained that the Funeral Directors did not dispose of the heart and brain, and that arrangements had been made to ship them to Lagos.

    “The services of Prof. Williams Odesanmi, an internationally recognized Forensic Pathologist was nominated by the deceased’s family and engaged to lead other pathologists to do the DNA matching and determine the cause of Godwin’s death. All the expenses were taken care of by our office.

    “The package said to contain the organs of late Godwin was received by the deceased family Pathologist, Dr. N. A. Awolola, in the presence of other doctors representing NIMASA, OSAPND and the ship owners. It was thereafter deposited at the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital for custody and further analysis.

    “A full DNA profile of the deceased was subsequently extracted from the tissues taken from his body. However, the tissues taken from the organs sent from Panama had no profile indicating that the tissues sent from Panama and received on April 6, 2014 do not belong to deceased. Therefore, the cause of death of Godwin Ezebri could not be established.

    “After due consideration of the circumstances, the family pathologist advised that the body could be buried since a full DNA profile of the deceased was available at the Genetic Laboratory, an advice the deceased’s family accepted unconditionally, paving way for his peaceful burial on December 5, 2014 at Egodor, Delta State. The Special Adviser’s office also took responsibility for the burial expenses, including provision of logistics for the deceased family members to attend meetings in Lagos and Abuja preparatory to the interment.”

    Alabrah also debunked claimed by a family source that Kuku failed to condole with the deceased’s family when the incident occurred.

    “The Amnesty Office is a responsible and responsive Federal Government department highly committed to the welfare and safety of all trainees/delegates within and outside the country. The office had not and shall never be complacent with the fate of its stakeholders, not the least an unfortunate incident such as the death of Godwin Ezebri aboard a foreign vessel.”

    He vowed that it “will continue to work with the family of the deceased and other stakeholders to ensure that justice is seen to be done.”

  • Shell, ENI responsible for 550 oil spills in Nigeria last year

    Shell, ENI responsible for 550 oil spills in Nigeria last year

    Late last year, it came to light that Shell had been warned repeatedly by its own staff that the Trans Niger Pipeline was at significant risk of failure well before a 2008 spill of 500,000 barrels of oil. It was also revealed that Shell had drastically understated the extent of the spill.

    These revelations were made during the proceedings of a lawsuit brought by a group of 15,000 Nigerians over a second spill from the same pipeline and helped lead to a much heftier payment by the company to the Bodo community in the Niger Delta in compensation for the impacts of both spills.

    It would appear that the company has still not managed to correct whatever problems are leading to its poor safety and environmental performance in Nigeria, however, as Shell was responsible for more than 200 oil spills in the country last year alone, according to a new report by Amnesty International.

    As horrible as Shell’s record is, Italian oil giant ENI managed to outdo the Hague-based multinational oil and gas titan. ENI’s operations caused nearly 350 spills last year even though it operates in a much smaller area, the report states.

    “These figures are seriously alarming. ENI has clearly lost control over its operations in the Niger Delta. And despite all its promises, Shell has made no progress on tackling oil spills,” Audrey Gaughran, Amnesty International’s Global Issues Director, said in a statement.

    “In any other country, this would be a national emergency. In Nigeria it appears to be standard operating procedure for the oil industry. The human cost is horrific — people living with pollution every day of their lives.”

    The companies claim that they only spilled 30,000 barrels in all of 2014, and “blame sabotage and theft for the majority of the spills.” But the Amnesty report does not give these assertions much credence: “This claim is hotly contested by communities and NGOs and has been shown to be wrong.”

    Gaughran goes on to say that the level of scrutiny applied to the two spills in Bodo was extraordinary, yet that’s what it would take to determine the true extent of Shell’s financial liabilities in Nigeria.

    But holding Shell accountable is about more than just forcing it to pay up for the damage it’s done — it’s also about “a very serious human issue.”

    “Shell is cheating people out of just compensation,” Gaughran says. “The Bodo case makes clear just what it takes to get this company to own up to the truth about oil spills — six years and UK court proceedings. What about all the hundreds of other communities this company has potentially cheated?”

    Incredibly, ENI’s 350 spills in 2014 is down slightly from previous years. The company caused over 500 spills in 2013 and around 475 in 2012, prompting Amnesty International to call for both the Italian and the Nigerian governments to take “urgent action” in curtailing the company’s negligent practices.

    The report notes that under Nigerian law, the companies are responsible for stopping and cleaning up spills, as well as remediating the affected area, though “this rarely happens” and as a result, “people living in the Niger Delta are living with the cumulative impacts of decades of pollution.”

    Gaughran laid out some basic steps that would begin to address the problem: “As a matter of priority all oil firms in Nigeria must urgently disclose the age and condition of their infrastructure, carry out reviews of their operating practices, and make the findings public so that communities know what is going on.”

    •Source: http://desmogblog.com

     

  • All eyes on Rivers as INEC REC declare readiness for elections

    All eyes on Rivers as INEC REC declare readiness for elections

    As Rivers people file out tomorrow to elect their President, National House of Assembly members and subsequently to elect their governor and members of State House of Assembly on April 11. It is obvious that the onus is on the shoulder of Dame Gesila Khan, the Rivers State Resident Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible election.

    Rivers State having been declared as one of the states to watch out for political violence in this year’s election by political analysts and other stakeholders, the Bayelsa State born Dame Khan was posted out of Delta state to Rivers state when the state was boiling.

    The result of her peace  initiation in the state is everywhere and she has continue, even at the last minute to   engaged  with the youths, women, security agencies, religion leaders, non-governmental organization and political parties on how best to achieve peace and to  conduct free, fair and credible election in Rivers State.

    Apart from going from one community to another on voters’ education, the Rivers REC has also initiated a security committee headed by the state Commissioner of Police, Dan Bature. In a recent stakeholders meeting at INEC office in Port Harcourt, she told her guests that if she could do it in Delta Central election which was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere under her watch, she was optimistic that Rivers election will be peaceful and credible.

    She said INEC has done its part to stabilize the state and ensure that politicians do not see themselves as enemies but as brothers and sisters. She regretted that many innocent bloods had been shed in pre-political violence, pleading with shareholders especially the NGO to send the message across to politicians on the need to allow peace to reign.

    She confirmed that all is set to conduct a credible elections in Rivers state: “The Commission in its bid to conduct the most credible, free and fair Elections in 2015 has embarked on so many programmes all of which will culminate in the success of the polls. These include the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for those who registered in 2011 and those who were captured in the Continuous Voters Registration in December 2014. The total number of registered voters in Rivers State is 2,537,590. As at March 18, 2015 a total of 2,469,383 PVCs have been received, and 87% of this number which is 2,148,289 has been distributed while a balance of 308,395 is yet to be collected. This figure includes both the PVCs for 2011 Registration and December 2014 Continuous Voters Registration exercise.

    “Card Readers have also been introduced in accreditation process to authenticate the voters and forestall any malpractices. A total of 6,818 Card Readers have been received and one each will be deployed to the 4,442 Polling units and 1,396 Voting points. The balance will be used to augment where necessary.

    “The PVC is swiped on the card reader and if it is INEC PVC, the Voter’s picture, VIN number and bio-data will appear on the screen of the card reader. And the card reader will give a command that the holder of the PVC should place his thumb on the reader and if accepted, the person then moves to next stage of the Accreditation process.”

    On the area of late arrival of material,  the Rivers INEC boss said the Commission had devised a means of reducing late arrival of personnel and materials to the polling units to the barest minimum. She said, that was done through the creation of Registration Area Centers (RACs) and Super RACs from where poll officials would proceed to their various polling units on Election Day.

    “We will ensure timely arrival of poll officials and materials before 8.00am on Election Day. By this the suspicions associated with late arrival of materials will be completely eliminated. A total of 76 RACs have been identified and prepared for the elections. The Commission has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Management to use the corpers for ad-hoc duties. It is to be noted that the enrollment of ad-hoc personnel in the forthcoming elections had been done online through INEC website for the various categories of person required for the conduct of the elections. And Twenty six thousand (26,000) Adhoc Personnel is required for the exercise and they have all been trained and retrained for the 2015 Elections.

    “Meanwhile, the Commission has embarked on rigorous voter enlightenment programmes through series of Radio and Television jingles, periodic announcements, talk shops, interview sessions and press conferences. Traditional media like town criers are also being utilised to reach the electorate at the grassroots. I and my team had carried out voter enlightenment messages to the traditional rulers in the state; women based groups, youth groups, religious leaders and market outreaches. Posters, banners and fliers were produced and distributed to all the LGAs.”

    The Rivers REC also inform the stakeholders that the issue of security has been handled, insisting that violence of any form during and after election would not been accepted.  She said the Commission is conscious of the importance of security in conducting effective, free, fairs and credible Elections.

    She noted that there is formation of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). “This body is made up of all military and para-military agencies in the State including INEC. The Agencies in this committee contribute their workforce together under the Command and control of the State Commissioner of Police who heads the Election security in the State. INEC in Rivers State has visited these security agencies to solicit their cooperation during the elections, and they have assured us of their support. The Committee (ICCES) has been meeting regular to analyze and workout security strategies for effective coverage of the entire State. About 12,228 security personnel are required for the 2015 election exercise in the State.

    “The Commission is seriously concerned about the incidences of violence before, during and after elections and we have been appealing to all stakeholders to prevail on our youths to shun all forms of violence and avoid being used by politicians to perpetrate acts that may lead to disruption of the elections. The future of this nation belongs to them and therefore they must help to deepen our democratic process.”

    The National coordinator, Women Initiative for Transparency and Social Justice, Dr. Jennifer Spiff who was in one of the interactive sessions with INEC and CSOs, said her 10-year experience in election monitoring shows that INEC was committed for free, fair and  credible elections.