The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Yesterday, today and tomorrow

    Yesterday is important. But not like today. And tomorrow is the most important in many respects. Yesterday can destroy today and today can crush tomorrow. So, extra care is required to ensure a synergy between the three of them.

    Cross River’s today began some eight years ago. At that time, the state’s pocket was deep. Really deep you could dip all manners of containers into it and fill them up until you were tired. No one queried its oil-rich fable. It was glaring for all to see. Even the blind could feel it.

    Civil and public servants felt the impact of the deep purse. Banks were glad to do business with Liyel Imoke’s Cross River.

    Then the bubble burst some two years ago. Its neigbour, Akwa Ibom, felt the oil which entitled Imoke’s state to the 13 per cent derivation actually belonged to it. Both had to compete for the oil wells. It was a bitter legal duel that took God’s grace to prevent bloodbath. Wise counsel was allowed to prevail and Akwa Ibom’s fortunes took a major leap when the Supreme Court gave all oil wells which entitled Cross River to the 13 per cent derivation fund to it. It was a decision which saw these brother-states quarrel seriously.

    The apex court’s decision made Akpabio and Imoke almost become enemies. The media made a lot of money on advertorials by both parties on the court’s decision. Somehow they were able to manage and life has since continued and for close to years now, Cross River has not received one kobo as derivation fund and this has affected it seriously. Its loss has been Akwa Ibom’s gain and Uyo is happy for it.

    The decision cut Cross River’s monthly allocation by several billions. Its status as an oil-producing state practically thinned out too.

    Before the turn of event, there were so many projects either ongoing or about to start in parts of the state. There were also projects, such as the Tinapa Resort, though completed, but still in need of help.

    One project that was at the stage of taking off when the bubble burst is called Summit Hills. On the Hills, there is plan for a Golf Course and Golf Clubhouse, an international convention centre with an adjoining Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, and a monorail to link Tinapa, that entertainment, shopping and leisure centre.

    By the plan, the Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC), sandwiched within a Free Trade Zone, is to turn Calabar to “West Africa’s business and event destination of choice”. The Hills is also to house the Calabar Specialist Hospital, collaboration with foreign partners meant to encourage medical tourism. There are also layouts for people to build homes.

    The new Margaret Ekpo Airport Bye Pass was also ongoing when the bubble burst. There were so many other ones. And the loss of several billions to the legal tussle was expected to impact on the projects. But somehow, Cross River has been able to move on, though I understand some austerity measures had to be taken internally.

    I was on the Hills last weekend during a brief visit to Calabar. The International Convention Centre, the first of its kind in Nigeria, has really taken shape. I have seen one or two convention centres in Nigeria, but compared to what is being done in Calabar, the other ones are mere meeting rooms only decorated with flags of different countries to justify the tag of being international. The Calabar one is massive and only comparable to its like in Durbar, South Africa and Singapore.

    Though about 70 or 80 per cent completed, the Calabar International Convention Centre gives me the feel of the ones I have seen in Durban and Singapore.

    The Golf Course has also taken shape. So has life been breathed into the specialist hospital.  I also noticed that about three people are already building their homes on the Hills.  And the monorail to link Tinapa is also taking form.

    Tinapa is one project that brings me close to tears once in a while. But I am consoled by the belief that the Hills will help make it what it should be. I will explain why Tinapa evokes emotions in me: it was meant to take Calabar to the next level, so to speak.

    The Donald Duke administration conceived it to be Nigeria’s own mini Dubai. All the trappings were there: an artificial lake; water parks; a shopping mall; a beautiful four-star hotel; and an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

    In no time, however, the excitement about Tinapa died down. For it to work well, it needed a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) status but by the time it was ready for use, this all-important status was not achieved. It was not a law that the Cross River State House of Assembly could pass. Only the Federal Government has the authority to gazette an entity as FTZ. Duke could not achieve this before it was time to leave power. It became Imoke’s albatross. He got over it and Tinapa became FTZ.

    There was another challenge. Customs did not threat businessmen there as operating in a FTZ. This meant they had to pay duties, thus the goods sold there could not be duty-free. Their woes were compounded by the non-dredging of the Calabar port, which forced the businessmen to bring their goods through Onne Port in Rivers State.

    All these challenges meant the place could not be run properly. Loans taken from banks could not be paid. It got to a stage that the debt buyer, the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON),  had to come in.

    The summit hills projects, especially the Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC), is expected through the monorail to shorten the distance between Tinapa and Calabar’s heart. With such a life built around Tinapa, the giant may just wake up. It has been in a deep slumber.

    Duke, who birthed Tinapa, is Cross River’s yesterday. Imoke is its today. The Tinapa fable shows how today cannot run away from yesterday. And that brings me to the question: Who will be Cross River’s tomorrow? Imoke’s choice is an academic and senator, Prof. Ayade.  It was a battle royale before Ayade could emerge the PDP standard bearer. Being state where no other political party has towering strength, it may be safe to project that Ayade will take the baton from Imoke.

    Aside the Summit Hills and others, we have also seen Imoke’s hands in projects, such as the massive palm plantation cultivated by Wilmer International, a global brand in oil palm plantation based in Malaysia, the Songhai Integrated Farm located in Itigidi, the Institute of Technology and Management (ITM), Ugep in Yarkur, which matriculated its students last Saturday, and the over 600km of roads constructed across the state.

    In less than six months, Imoke will be out of the Government House. He will, in my estimation, be leaving behind a legacy of projects that will define Cross River’s tomorrow.

     

     

     

     

  • JTF, Navy celebrate harvest of promotions in Bayelsa

    JTF, Navy celebrate harvest of promotions in Bayelsa

    The headquarters of the Central Naval Command (CNC) and the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, were agog with celebrations recently. The officers took time off their routine of tackling oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering to celebrate excellence and professionalism.

    Their colleagues were promoted and the two security agencies dedicated separate days to decorate and celebrate the elevated officers. On the day of the CNC, the naval mess, where the chipping was done had some top military officers in attendance.

    Flag Officer, Commanding, CNC, Rear Admiral Peter Agba, was on ground to receive officers from within and outside the command that came to witness the occasion.

    The Commander, JTF, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, and representatives of all the naval ships within the command including the officer commanding the foremost Forward Operating Base, FORMOSO, attended the ceremony.

    It was a unique joyous moment especially for the promoted officers. Their wives, friends and family members beamed with smiles as the exchange banters and pleasantries.

    At the CNC, the newly-promoted officers, comprised two commodores and seven captains. Those elevated to the ranks of commodores are Musa Gemu and Sali Jubril. The captains are Adetokunbo Ayo-Vaughan; Shehu Akwu; Paul Nimyeh; Steven Ibrahim; Mohammed Muye; Madumon Ide and Victor Choji.

    Their citations which revealed their steady, committed and fearless military voyage were read by Lt. Com. Olatunji Ayoade. With their track records and naval exploits, the guests concurred that the officers deserved their promotions.

    At the JTF’s headquarters, the celebration galore went on. The JTF’s Media Coordinator, Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka and Lt. Col. Muhammed Danja were promoted to the ranks of colonel.

    Also, Navy Commander Tahiru Umaru became a Navy Captain while the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Ahmed Magaji was elevated to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police.

    The JTF Commander, Atewe, was in his full element. He was particularly happy that during his reign, five officers, the highest number since JTF began operation in the region, got promotions.

    “To whom much is given, much is expected”, he said as he charged the officers to be creative and professional.

    Atewe urged them to eschew unhealthy rivalry and stick to create success by working for it. To them, he said: “There is only one way to success: be a creative officer, not a competitive officer. Do not seem to compete with anybody. Stick to create success by you working for it. Then every other thing in the military will follow you.

    “Envy nobody, because you have a very big place in the field of promotion – you can ascend to the highest position. Stick to do your work professionally – stick to do your best so that tomorrow, if you have left there, you will not regret for non-performing.”

    He reminded the senior officers that their promotions entailed higher responsibilities. He stressed that at the level of General in the military, excuses are not entertained.

    He further told the officers that promotion come from God and prayed God to grant their family members the good health to enjoy the dividends of the elevations.

    “You do not give excuses for any work not done, but you take responsibility. As it is said, you do not tell a General what to do. You are constantly being observed by all and sundry.

    “There is little or no advice you want to give to a senior officer, only to advise that when responsibility is given, you are to ensure that you personally visit to supervise, to confirm performance or non-performance.

    “For performance, you appreciate and commend and create room for improvement for that standard. For non-performance, you find out why, whether the fault is from you or from the junior command.

    “You cannot be a senior officer of you are not a good follower. Let your actions be professional. To ascend to the next level, be a good student. Study your environment and read your books”, he said.

    Atewe dwelt on the importance of family members especially wives of the officers. He said without a stable and peaceful home, people would hardly get promotion in the military. He asked the officers to have deep respect for their wives and to treat them with care.

    He said: “Promotion s from madam. Your wife is your last battle-line. Women control the house and for you to enjoy the house, you must be a good boy”. He also appealed to the wives not to sell out their husbands adding that unfavorable remarks from the wives could deny their husbands promotion.

    In his remarks, the FOC reminded the officers that their elevation was for them to do more for the service of their fatherland.

    “To whom much is given, much is expected. The country counts on you, so does the Navy and the command. I believe that your elevation has been as a result of hard work. I want to implore you to uphold that standard and surpass it,” Agba said.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Valentine Ntomchukwu, asked the officers to brace to the security challenges in the country. He said promotions are being approved to boost the morale of the officers and motivate them to face higher challenges.

    “The country expects more from you. I want to rejoice with your families. From now, you will be held more accountable for your actions”, he said.

    Speaking at the JTF’s event, the FOC represented by his Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Michika, told the officers that their elevation was for them and the country.

    “You must ensure that this country is kept at peace”, he said urging them to remember their families especially their wives. He recalled that in the past, some officers received their promotional arrears and squandered them. He asked the officer to hold their wives in high esteem.

    “These ladies are the brains behind our success. Hold them with your life,” he said.

     

  • Ndoma-Egba…Fourth time unlucky

    Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba was lucky thrice to have represented his people at the National Assembly. He looked set to win the ticket of his party to return the fourth time. Unlike the executive arm of government, the legislature has no fixed term. A representative can go back for as many times as his people want him.

    A group of professionals and residents of the central senatorial district in Cross River State threw their weight behind his fourth term bid.

    The professionals said they arrived at their decision after a careful analysis of the performance of the senator who represents the district.

    After their meeting in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area, the group agreed that hardwork and good performances should be encouraged.

    According to them, the senate leader is a very important figure at the federal level and Cross River should not throw that away.

    Outlining some his achievements, Dr Benitrus Okim, who spoke on behalf of the group, said he has sponsored the highest number of bills in the seventh senate of the federal republic of Nigeria and led the senate and contributed immensely to the stability of the senate.

    Okim continued: “He has executed more than 70 viable projects in his constituency. He has awarded more than 500 scholarships to indigenes of the district. He has fought for the territorial integrity of the state.

    “He has sponsored over 200 pilgrims to Jerusalem and Saudi Arabia. He has in line with the federal government on agriculture and food supply and sustainability provided large volumes of agricultural inputs to farmers in the district.

    “He has trained and empowered about 500 indigenes of the district on Small and medium scale enterprises and provided them with start-up capital.

    “He has vigorously fought for the interest of the state. He has shown total and unalloyed support to the party in the state and at the national. He has facilitated the employment of more than 500 people from the state.  He earned the accolade of the governor of the state as the stabiliser of the PDP in the state.”

    Also another socio-political group, the Grassroot Movement has called for Ndoma-Egba to continue.

    Coordinator of the group, Comrade Efobe Ogar Ojong, said it has become imperative for the senate leader to continue if the people are to further benefit the essence of pragmatic leadership.

    He said the country has sentimentally departed from the system where a “performing, altruistic and experienced senator” is given the opportunity to continue to serve as many times as possible for the good of the country.

    He said the track records of the senator in both giving infrastructal development in his constituency and effective leadership in the senate are so rewarding and outstanding that his group decided to drum support for his continuity.

    He urged the people to be informed that what is most important to them is the strategic position their person occupies in government.

    He said if he is replaced it would take “impossible” years to attain his height.

    The party’s delegates thought otherwise. They voted for change in the person of the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. John Enoh.

    Ndoma-Egba is crying blue murder, saying the exercise was devoid of fairplay. Others, such as Nollywood star Kate Henshaw who particpated in the PDP-organised primaries in the state but lost out, have hailed the process, saying the best men and women won.

    The party’s Appeal Panel obviously saw no merit in Ndoma-Egba’s cry.

    What happens next? Tomorrow will surely tell. For now, Ndoma-Egba is leaking his wound. Or is he cokking something we do not know of yet?

    The last word here is: the rule of law must always supercede ambitions.

    enate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba was lucky thrice to have represented his people at the National Assembly. He looked set to win the ticket of his party to return the fourth time. Unlike the executive arm of government, the legislature has no fixed term. A representative can go back for as many times as his people want him.

    A group of professionals and residents of the central senatorial district in Cross River State threw their weight behind his fourth term bid.

    The professionals said they arrived at their decision after a careful analysis of the performance of the senator who represents the district.

    After their meeting in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area, the group agreed that hardwork and good performances should be encouraged.

    According to them, the senate leader is a very important figure at the federal level and Cross River should not throw that away.

    Outlining some his achievements, Dr Benitrus Okim, who spoke on behalf of the group, said he has sponsored the highest number of bills in the seventh senate of the federal republic of Nigeria and led the senate and contributed immensely to the stability of the senate.

    Okim continued: “He has executed more than 70 viable projects in his constituency. He has awarded more than 500 scholarships to indigenes of the district. He has fought for the territorial integrity of the state.

    “He has sponsored over 200 pilgrims to Jerusalem and Saudi Arabia. He has in line with the federal government on agriculture and food supply and sustainability provided large volumes of agricultural inputs to farmers in the district.

    “He has trained and empowered about 500 indigenes of the district on Small and medium scale enterprises and provided them with start-up capital.

    “He has vigorously fought for the interest of the state. He has shown total and unalloyed support to the party in the state and at the national. He has facilitated the employment of more than 500 people from the state.  He earned the accolade of the governor of the state as the stabiliser of the PDP in the state.”

    Also another socio-political group, the Grassroot Movement has called for Ndoma-Egba to continue.

    Coordinator of the group, Comrade Efobe Ogar Ojong, said it has become imperative for the senate leader to continue if the people are to further benefit the essence of pragmatic leadership.

    He said the country has sentimentally departed from the system where a “performing, altruistic and experienced senator” is given the opportunity to continue to serve as many times as possible for the good of the country.

    He said the track records of the senator in both giving infrastructal development in his constituency and effective leadership in the senate are so rewarding and outstanding that his group decided to drum support for his continuity.

    He urged the people to be informed that what is most important to them is the strategic position their person occupies in government.

    He said if he is replaced it would take “impossible” years to attain his height.

    The party’s delegates thought otherwise. They voted for change in the person of the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. John Enoh.

    Ndoma-Egba is crying blue murder, saying the exercise was devoid of fairplay. Others, such as Nollywood star Kate Henshaw who particpated in the PDP-organised primaries in the state but lost out, have hailed the process, saying the best men and women won.

    The party’s Appeal Panel obviously saw no merit in Ndoma-Egba’s cry.

    What happens next? Tomorrow will surely tell. For now, Ndoma-Egba is leaking his wound. Or is he cokking something we do not know of yet?

    The last word here is: the rule of law must always supercede ambitions.

  • Foundation brings smile to war-torn Rivers community

    Foundation brings smile to war-torn Rivers community

    Ogbakiri in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State is one of the war-torn communities of the oil-rich state. It has a history of incessant clashes, ranging from inter-communal, chieftaincy and cult related crises.

    Made up of six communities, one of the crises some seven years ago reduced some of the villages into rubbles, houses, businesses, economic lives were destroyed just as many  were killed. Those who survived the trouble were sacked from the villages many years.

    However normalcy has since returned to the place but there is gross deficiency in functional health facility in the area, except Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s modern Health centre which has been under lock and key for several months now, following the indefinite strike action by state health workers union; there is no other health care facility in the area.

    There is an obvious high reproduction rate in the communities, with average population of five children per family – some have up to seven; most of the parents seen in the communities are very young, aged between 18 and 30 years, with little or no meaningful source of income.

    Most children in the area are stunted in growth for reasons not unconnected with poor nutrition, and neglect of World Health Organization’s (WHO), recommendation three months routine de-warming practice.

    In their usual manner of doing charity especially to the poor,  the Lulu-Briggs Foundation, under its Care For Life (CFL), programme  was at Oduha  Ogbakiri recently to sensitize mothers on the need to de-warm their children for healthy living and proper development.

    They however were not just there for theory but to also demonstrate to them how to go about it. They administered the drugs free- of- charge on every child between the age of 2 and 13, however those within the age bracket of 15 years were equally de-wormed.

    Team of medical personnel, especially pharmacists and nurses were on hand to attend to the excited   children who converged at the community’s town hall, venue of the exercise the moment they sighted the convoy of the team.

    Earlier, leader of the team who is also Co-ordinator of Programmes of the Foundation, Inneba Ideria, addressed the children, and informed them of what they were there for. She charged  them on the need to maintain orderliness and good conduct as the programme lasted.

    Ideria reminded them that they are  God’s heritage should not indulge themselves on any wrong doing; adding that they are  leaders of tomorrow who  the  society is waiting for them. She advised them to ensure they did not disappoint the World and their families in particular.

    Beneficiaries,  mothers  and representative of the community who spoke at the exercise expressed surprised at the love and level of kindness demonstrated to them by  High Chief Lulu-Briggs and his family, they  prayed  God’s  to reward them immensely.

    A mother of four, Chioma Kasarachi whose children were the first to benefit the exercise said,   “From the time I saw the banner at the town hall I was so impressed and expectant, I told my children that on no account shall we miss the exercise,  based on that I have been sending them to this place to monitor when the team will arrive, that is why we were the first to come here the moment they arrived.

    “Am very happy that we have benefitted. I brought my children just for them to be dewormed, but to my surprise so many other gifts were giving to us like, powder, pomade, T-shirt, cap,  multivitamin drugs, drinks(Lucozade boost, and Ribina), among others, it is awesome,  we pray that may the Almighty God continue to increase our Daddy O. B. Lulu-Briggs and his wife.”

    Also a primary 2, pupil of Ogbakiri, community School glory Oke who benefited on the exercise said, “I was given school bag, powder, drink, pomade, drugs and worm medicine. I am very happy and say thank you, may God bless Daddy O. B. Lulu-Briggs.”

    In the same vein, Favour Ihwuordu, a mother whose 11/2 year-old baby (girl), benefitted from the event confessed that she does not know the convener of the free medical but expressed joy that such event took place in her community.

    She said. “Town crier actually went round last night to pass the information on the exercise but because of language barrier I did not understand what they said, until I came around this venue.

    I have not participated in this kind of event in my over one year of stay in this community. I am very excited about this and pray that God will replenish whoever that is behind this. It is a God thing he has done for our babies.”

    Another member of the community, Charity Omabele, expressed joy for the gesture and said it was the first of its kind in the community.

    She called on other wealthy of the society to borrow leaf from High Chief  Lulu-Briggs and show love to the poor of the communities, so they could also have a feel of their (the rich), world; and prayed God to continue to increase the Lulu-Briggs family.”

    Shortly after the event, the programme Co-ordinator expressed satisfaction on the turn-out and level of acceptance shown by members of the community.

    She said explained reason for a distinct outreach for children when she said, “organizing a De-worming program exclusively for children is one of the ways the Foundation’s expresses its regard and love for children being heritage of God.

    “The very purpose of the O. B. Lulu-Brigg’s Foundation is for the indigents of the society; those in the rural communities, the hard to remember, reach of society. They are barely remembered, lack most basic social infrastructure, facilities, like this community we are, you could hardly see any health care facility here.

    “The Foundation under its five program field has different programs for community dwellers. What we’ve come here to do is under the free medical mission in which we organize 5-day free general medical out-reach with different clinics in session. Apart from this, the Foundation also organize one day free eye test and also one day children de-worming exercise.

    “The foundation has a vision to reach out to the entire Local Government Areas of the Niger Delta. For Rivers State, we have almost gone round the 23 LGAs.  We’ve held the 5-day Free medical in Emuoha LGA, in 2009, and here we are again in Ogbakiri, also in Emuoha for De-worming exercise for children between 3 and 12 years of age.”

    Furthermore the Co-ordinator explained the reason for the choice of embarking on De-worm exercise for the children instead of other health programs for children.

    “Most parents have forgotten that De-worming is key to child development. Most times children experience stomach ache, head ache, pains here or there and cry profusely, if carefully investigated the problem could be worm, and most often it is difficult for parents to design the cause of the discomfort.

    “It is never in the agenda of most of them (Parents) to observe the World Health organization’s (WHO), 3-months routine De-worming prescription for everybody, both adults and children. Most people stay for years without administering worm medication on themselves and family members.

    “That is why the O. B. lulu-Briggs Foundation has taken it upon itself to go round communities to remind parents on the need to form the habit of De-worming their children often, by demonstrating it to them to show them example.

    “We believe that it is not just enough to go to these communities to tell them to De-worm their children, like other NGOs do, but we believe in taking a step to show them how to do it. That is essentially the reason for this and the choice of communities to carry out this.” She said.

    Giving reasons for the gifts items distributed at the event said, “Children are God’s Heritage and are treated as such special they are. We use the items to lure them to come and be De-wormed. No child likes taking drugs irrespective of the taste, but when they come, and see those gifts, and the kind of drinks they like to take, Locozade boost, Ribena among others they will co-operate and take their drugs without much hassle.

    “Again when other children who came go home and show them what was given them those that had not come would want to come so they could equally receive the gifts.

    These are some of the reasons for the gifts to children. In this case we came here with powder, pomades, children drinks, school bags, pencil purse, cups among others to make the children happy as they come to take the drug.”

    Responding to the gesture, representatives of the community, Innocent Leekwa and Esther Owhorji commended the Foundation for its show of love to the people of the community, especially the poor families who hardly could foot their families hospital bills and called for more of such programmes by multi-national companies and other NGOs to consolidate on what Lulu-Briggs has begun in the area.

    Leekwa youth of the community said, “This is wonderful to us the members of the community. We did not believe that the program will be truly free, this is because other organizations who come and gave the impression that they were on free outreach, ended up charging one form of fee or the other, but this is entirely different and we thank the Lulu-Briggs for that, and say we love him.”

  • Illegal fuel incorporateIllegal fuel incorporatedd

     

    •Communities where oil theft is way of life

    In spite of the enlightenment campaigns by government agencies and oil companies, as well as the efforts of the operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, codenamed Operation Pulo (Oil) Shield, almost everybody in some Niger Delta communities, especially in Rivers State, are involved in illegal bunkering/crude oil theft and illegal refining.

    Mostly hit by the activities of pipeline vandals and oil thieves is the Anglo/Dutch oil giant, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), the largest producer of crude oil and gas in Nigeria.

    The statistics of the losses incurred by Shell, in this year alone, are so frightening, thereby requiring urgent action on the part of the Federal Government of Nigeria, since crude oil is the mainstay of the nation’s economy.

    In 2014, there were 243 illegal connections on SPDC’s pipelines in the Niger Delta, with 233 removed so far, remaining 32, as at Sunday, December 7, when select reporters embarked on overfly of the Shell’s operations mostly impacted by illegal crude oil activities.

    Shell’s spokespersons Precious Okolobo and Joseph Obari coordinated the overfly and adequately briefed the reporters.

    SPDC’s Pipeline Asset Manager Jurgen Janzen, who has spent ten years in Nigeria, handled the presentation on Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) spill incidents.

    The TNP, mostly in Rivers State, are two, 24-inch and 28-inch, which take crude oil from the various flow stations to the export terminal on Bonny Island. The third export line of the oil giant is the Nembe Creek Trunkline in Bayelsa State.

    The spill on 24-inch TNP at Okolo Launch in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers state took place on November 22 this year, with the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) between November 25 and 28 confirming third party spill (sabotage by vandals/failed illegal theft point/connections).

    The JVC comprises representatives of the host community, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the state’s Ministry of Environment, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and SPDC.

    kolo launch spill covered 2,470 hectares, involving 3,803 barrels of crude oil, with 1,340 barrels recovered. The spilled crude oil was able to spread very fast, because of tidal waves in the Niger Delta.

    In 2014 also, there were 154 illegal connections installed on the TNP, with 18 yet to be removed.

    Shell said of the spill: “The Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the site of the spill on the 24-inch Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) at Okolo Launch established that the incident was caused by a failed crude theft point, installed by unknown persons. While the leak, which was noticed on November 22, appeared to have come from the 24-inch TNP, as a precautionary measure, SPDC had shut in the adjacent 28-inch TNP.

    “SPDC took advantage of the shutdown of the 28-inch TNP to remove seventeen newly-discovered crude theft points, before reopening the line on November 30. Unfortunately, the 28-inch TNP had to be shut in again on the same day, following a fire outbreak at Gio in Ogoniland.

    “A subsequent JIV to the site of the incident at Gio confirmed that the fire emanated from a newly-drilled hole (by pipeline vandals and oil thieves). The fire was extinguished on December 1 and the line was repaired and reopened the following day. The 24-inch TNP remains shut.

    “The JIVs to Okolo Launch and Gio comprised representatives of government regulatory agencies, the communities, SPDC and some NGOs. In a goodwill gesture to identify with people whose means of livelihood might have been affected by the spill caused by crude oil theft point at Okolo Launch, SPDC sent foodstuffs and other relief materials for distribution to communities in the area.”

    The oil company also stated that the relief materials were presented to the affected communities, not to individuals, unions/associations or groups, stressing that paying compensation would not arise, since the spill was caused by sabotage and that clean-up is part of the oil spill response by the oil firm.

    The Shell’s pipeline asset manager, in his presentation on the TNP spill incidents, noted that the oil company’s surveillance contractors and operatives of the JTF, with houseboats in the areas, had been trying their best to curb the activities of the oil thieves, but stressed that the illegal operations were mostly carried out at night by the fully-armed criminals, who do not care about the environment.

    He pointed out that at the Okolo launch there were a lot of illegal activities being perpetrated, especially crude oil theft and illegal refining, which he said must be frontally tackled.

    Janzen said: “We overfly during the day to the check activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals, who operate at night and are only interested in stealing crude oil, without bothering about polluting the environment with their illegal activities.

    “Most of the workers engaged by contractors that worked for Shell during construction and laying of the pipes were well trained in the various operations. But with the completion of the projects, they are out of job, but are using pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering/refining to engage themselves. Besides pipelines, they also steal crude oil from well heads.

    “The crude oil thieves are always fully armed. We know that the 600 surveillance contractors, each engaging about fifteen workers, ought to be on their jobs for 24 hours a day, but this is not the case. The job of the JTF operatives is also very huge. Many of them stay for many months in the houseboats in the creeks of the Niger Delta, in spite of the hazards.

    “Quite unfortunately, only the small crude oil thieves are caught, while the ‘big boys’ are never apprehended. Prosecuting the persons arrested is also very challenging. Unemployment in the Niger Delta must also be addressed by the government, to discourage the people from engaging in illegal activities, except they are criminals by nature.

    “Member of staff of Shell, surveillance contractors or security operatives who collude with oil thieves and pipeline vandals are also criminals and will be treated as such, by arresting and prosecuting them, but we must bear in mind that they are innocent until proved guilty.

     

    “I have worked in many Shell locations all over the world, but I have never seen the magnitude of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining, as being experienced in Nigeria. It is of serious concern. 30,000 barrels of crude oil are stolen daily from SPDC’s facilities alone.

    “To remove the illegal bunkering points, the pipelines must be shut in. Hacksaw cuts on the pipelines will lead to shutdown to effect repairs. The shutdown will enable the vandals to install their valves to siphon crude oil, when the pipelines are reopened, through their network of pipes into barges/large boats or vessels, for movement to illegal refining sites or sold to buyers on the high seas for export.”

    From the Shell’s helipad in the oil firm’s Industrial Area (IA) in Rumuobiakani, Port Harcourt, the chopper moved to Alakri near Okrika, through Onne Port to Bomu and Bodo West in Ogoniland, then to riverine Opobo, while crossing the wide Opobo River to Okolo Launch in Bonny LGA.

    The environment of the areas over-flown had been polluted by crude oil, making farming and fishing difficult for the people, who have their communities near the illegal refining sites and oil theft points. Seen at Okolo launch was a barge, which got burnt about three years ago, as a result of the activities of the pipeline vandals.

    It was observed during the overfly that as the JTF operatives were busy destroying and crushing the illegal bunkering/refining, new ones were springing up, with the environment left polluted, through the waste products of the activities and spilled crude oil, usually handled unprofessionally.

    The illegal refining sites are scattered all over the areas flew over and mostly beside the communities, with the monarchs, chiefs, leaders, men, women, youths and even children deeply involved in the illegal activities, while the oil thieves are seen by the youths as their role models, thereby discouraging them from going to school to become better citizens.

    The leaders of the communities find it extremely difficult to call to order, the youths, who are involved in oil theft and other criminal activities, since they are their partners in crime and benefactors.

    At times, the youths will take over the leadership of the communities, thereby forcing the monarchs and chiefs to be silent, for fear of losing their lives from the fully-armed youths.

    The impounded barges and tankers are regularly burnt, to serve as a deterrent to others, while the criminals are arrested and prosecuted. Officials of the oil companies also always discover illegal bunkering points, which are removed and repaired.

    Quite unfortunately, illegal bunkering/refining has now become the alternative economy, with so many well educated youths without jobs, being “gainfully” employed.

    While overflying, the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, Naval College and Onne Ports were seen on one side, while the illegal refiners were also busy with their criminal activities on the other side of the river.

    The six exit points for illegal movement of crude oil out of Nigeria should be adequately monitored by the security operatives, to drastically reduce crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, since they cannot be completely eradicated. The illegal refiners should also be sent out of business by the JTF and other security agencies.

  • Still wasting away in Bayelsa

    Still wasting away in Bayelsa

    Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC)and some communities in Bayelsa State have found it difficult to resolve their differences over projects being implemented under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU).

    The disagreement between Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and six cluster communities in Kou clan of Bayelsa State over a five-year Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU)is not about to be settled. Both sides are holding to their positions.

    Over N500 million worth of projects in Agge, Amazor, Agge Palm Bush, Azamabiri Ogbeintu and Orobiri are rotting away.

    The Agge Cottage hospital was abandoned until recently when it was taken over by the Ekeremor local government council. Yet, the facility is barely functional and serves mostly as a dispensary rather than a functional primary healthcare centre that it was meant to be.

    The procurement, drilling and installation of the solar-powered water scheme and treatment plants for the six communities cost nearly N85million (at the cost of N14.147m per community). Source in the benefiting communities said they only drank water from the scheme during the first few months before it broke down due to lack of maintenance.

    “It was a big relief for us because we stopped drinking the polluted water from the stream and the pure (sachet) water that we usually drink. But now the water has stopped flowing and we have gone back to the bad times again. It is like taking a village man to the city and then dragging him back to an even more remote village. We are worse off now than we were before,” a member of Oroibiri told our reporter.

    NDR traced the problem with the water project, like others handled by the Kou CDB, to disagreement between the board and the SPDC team overseeing the GMoU. The face-off climaxed when the community rejected a contractor brought in by SPDC to maintain the water scheme. The SPDC team had earlier scrapped the extant contract signed with the contractors that executed the project. A source at the company office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, said the position was due to the high cost quoted in the initial project.

    The Chairman of the former Kou CBD, Mr Osteen Igbapike, accused the company’s representatives of meddling in the running of the board because of their alleged “personal interests”.

    He said the contractor was approved after going through rigorous bidding and verification process. He lamented that it came to maintenance, the SPDC official brought in ‘their contractor”.

    A top official of the company in its Yenagoa office also punctured the community’s claim of alleged meddlesomeness.

    “Some of the past board members created problems for the board and got involved in personal clashes instead of concentrating on developing the communities. Look at the Nembe CDB, it is a model and it is doing very well. Perhaps you should ask those involved in the Kou fiasco why theirs is not.

    “On Thursday, November 13, the Bilagorogbene Mein Cluster Development Foundation commissioned projects value at N140m. the Gbarain/Ekpetiama CDB as also executed over N100m projects. It is the same thing with Iduwini Development Foundation. All these are success stories; if there is one failure those involved should look inward,” said our source, who asked not to be named.”

  • We must not throw away our traditions, says Ekuwem

    We must not throw away our traditions, says Ekuwem

    His Grace, Most Rev Joseph Effiong Ekuwem is the Archbishop of the Calabar Archdiocese of the Catholic Church. He was ordained a priest in 1979 and is marking his 25th anniversary as a Catholic Bishop having assumed the status in 1989. Activities to mark the Silver Anniversary span an entire month from November 30 to January 1. In this interview with NICHOLAS KALU, he speaks on the journey so far. He also emphasizes that good aspects of our traditions should not die at the expense of western culture.

    You are be celebrating 25 years a Catholic Bishop, how has it been like so far?

    On December 18, I will be 65 years of age and over the years God has been very kind to me. Through the help of my parents born and bred in the remote area of Afi in Mbo Local Government Area of present day Akwa Ibom State, God has taken me from that small village on the creek of the Mbo River to where I am today. The beautiful thing is that from the very humble beginnings of the village, through Oron, through my service in Ikot Ekpene, then Bigard Memorial College in Enugu, I was ordained a priest in 1979. The day I was ordained a Catholic priest was the most beautiful day of my life. I don’t think I would ever have another.  It is something I treasure even more than being a bishop. From there I was sent to study in Cardinal Ekandem Seminary in Uyo and spent four years there. After that I came back and was appointed parish priest of St Mary’s Efut Abua in Calabar and also chaplain of the Catholic Community in the University of Calabar. At the end of five years from 1984 to 1989 I was then appointed Bishop of Uyo. So I left. From 1989  to last year, I was Bishop of Uyo.

    Tell us about how you became Archbishop of Calabar…

    By 2nd of February 2013, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict, Emeritus appointed me the Archbishop of the Calabar Archdiocese to succeed our Emeritus Archbishop Joseph Edra Ukpo and then by May 31st last year I was installed as Archbishop of Calabar.

    I’m doing a low key celebration. A jubilee is actually a celebration biblically of seven times seven which is 49 years. That is what the bible gives us. At the end of that period, one the first day of the 50th day would be with a big trumpet. The jubilee year has come. 50 good years. But in human reckoning and life today so many events that come in our mature life, very few live to celebrate that Golden Jubilee of 50 years. So you make the best out of what you have to celebrate Silver. I celebrate to thank God because he has been merciful and faithful to me. I thank him for calling a man unworthy as I am into the priesthood of Christ. Like I said I live more in appreciation of being made a priest even more than being a Bishop. To be a priest is the most beautiful thing a man can get from God.

    The exercise in God’s vineyard has been a balanced experience. I think it is very much so in life if you are open. Some days are wonderful, other days not so. But even then, once you have taken up to the Lord which is my motto, everything that comes my way I take it to him. I tell him don’t make rich or too happy lest I forget you. Allow some difficult aspects to come so I remember I am still mortal and that I need you at every point in my life. Also, the celebration is not just for Catholics but for every man or woman who knows how to join a neighbour to say Thank God.

    What would the celebrations be about?

    It started with prayers and vigil on the 30th of November, which is the first point, and will, will take us through December to the 1st of January. So it is a whole month of activities. But the real highlights are principally academic. We want to have seminars on how the Vatican functions, how the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria functions, how does the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria take all of the Catholic Christ in Nigeria into the embassy of the Holy See through that and link us up with the Vatican in Rome. There will be many others too.

    Ultimately, the one that makes me feel good is the one on the traditions, history and culture of the Efik people and Old Calabar. When I was a child, when one wants to say something is beautiful in our dialect, they say it is so beautiful like Efik. Literally that means Calabar.  They called Calabar the Canaan City.  For me, Old Calabar as we knew in the 50s and 60s, meant the present Cross River State and all of present Akwa Ibom State. We were always put together. This part of the world had some beautiful aspects of culture. We had tender, soft beautiful language; finesse of love; cleanliness; tidiness; gentleness; hospitality; orderliness;  a good balance between women and men. It would interest you to know that even the so-called fattening room was not intended to be a fattening room. In fact it was a domestic school to groom young maidens on how to be good wives, and how to be good mothers. But because they were secluded, well cared for and fed there was no way they could not put on weight. It is wrong to call it fattening room as though we intended to fatten people. It is just that by the process of taking so much care of them some of them definitely put on weight, especially at a time when men also preferred bulky women. Today it is different. Everybody wants very slim women. Everybody except me of course (laughs). So such cultures as cooking, in many places you go to, so many people want to go to Calabar Kitchen. Some of the cultural aspects are dying out. Western culture should not wipe away what was the traditionally good quality of the society here. This is why we want to have this seminar on reviving, revitalizing and sustaining the good elements of the culture and traditional, especially the language of Old Calabar. There is something good in our people. There is something good in our culture and those good elements; we should never allow them to die. That also means there is something good in another culture. Be open to welcome what is good, but don’t allow them to sweep away the good ones that existed in your culture.

    Some other denominations would urge that you eschew all traditional things, because it is against what the bible says. Are you still worshipping God by doing that?

    Is there anything wrong with the Catholic Church on certain things other churches say you cannot do? When we celebrate and that day comes I will be in my own clothes to dance Ekombi (a traditional Efik dance). Is there anything wrong with that? No. What does the church emphasize? The church often would try to christianise what is already existent in order to make it easier for people to imbibe the new culture of religion. Anything that is good in a culture and there is no culture without something good, the Christian culture imbibes. The bottom line what is good, we take, what is not good, we leave them. But we must not mix them up.

  • Group preaches peace in election season

    Group preaches peace in election season

    There is no doubt that 2015 is like a year of uncertain pregnancy. Soon, like an oak, it will sprout and reveal its contents. But unlike normal pregnancy, the content of which could be decoded with the aid of a scan machine all things being equal, nobody knows exactly what the General election year holds.

    One thing is, however, certain. There are fear and panic among Nigerians ahead of the New Year. People are scared that the year which is expected to be another milestone for the country may turn out to be indelibly marked with violence and bloodbath.

    The hues and cries of politicians, the biting abject poverty, the onslaughts of Boko Haram, youth restiveness and agitation in the Niger Delta region especially by the Ijaw extraction that President Goodluck Jonathan should continue in office beyond 2015, have all contributed to evoke foreboding in Nigerians.

    Worried by the development, a non-governmental organisation, Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), has rolled out its drums, trumpets and other instruments of information dissemination to erase the thoughts of violence from the minds of the people.

    Adorned in their t-shirts containing non-violent messages, members of SDN walked the streets of Sagbama Local Government, Bayelsa State recently to woo youths in the oil-rich state against violence before, during and after the 2015 general election.

    The group, which began its campaigns in the council, was expected to cover various communities in the state and other states in the region. As they marched they asked the youths to think their future first before the ambitions of politicians.

    Members of the group appealed to the young ones to engage themselves in legitimate ventures and shun moves by some politicians to use them as tools for violence. They first adopted a road walk as one of their strategies to draw people’s attention to their message.

    During the walk tagged, “Dawn in the Creek”, the Assistant Programme Manager, SDN, Mrs. Brenda Bepeh, said appealed to the youths to take advantage of many programmes launched by the group to promote peace.

    He said members of SDN are working in Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states to ensure that Niger Delta is saturated with the message of peace.

    As part of its campaign against violence, she said, the group had trained 21 youths from the three states on community film making to engage them in profitable ventures.

    She noted that the gesture was aimed at changing the negative impressions that youths of the Niger Delta region were only good at violence, kidnapping, sea piracy, pipeline vandalism and other social vices.

    As expected the road attracted many youths from the communities. They joined members of the group to march the streets and eventually the walk terminated at the Sagbama community secondary school with a town hall meeting.

    The programme was packed with edutainment events. It featured film/music festival, wrestling competition, interactive session and seminars. Bepeh further advised the youths to channel their energy and resources to positive thinking.

    Addressing the youths, she said: “You must learn the art of resolving conflicts without violence especially at the 2015 poll”.

    One of the trained film makers, Jim Jim, who hails from Ogbolomabiri in Nembe Local Government Area, thanked the NGO for making positive impact in the youths.

    Jim, who was trained as a script writer, recalled that he was jobless for many years after school before he had an encounter with SDN.

  • ‘Our love for God brought us together’

    ‘Our love for God brought us together’

    They were two secret admirers, Ibiso B. S. Williams and Mildred Nimi Cookey, who fellowship at one of the mega churches in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.  While deligently serving God in their various capacities, the grace of God located them and placed them together.

    They finally tied the nuptial knots before a well-attended church service in Port Harcourt recently.

    A traditional marriage preceded the church wedding last week. Expressing their joy at the occasion, the couple in their separate chats with Niger Delta Report revealed that their “Dedicated service and Love for God” were what endeared them to each other.

    Mr. Williams said:  “This is one of the happiest days of my life. I am so very delighted and glad for the success of this wedding event of my life.

    “I have been dreaming of this day for more than 18 years, I became fully grown as a man.

    “As a minister, what drives me to a person, particularly one I want to call my wife is her love for God and dedicated service. I can tell you boldly that this virtue is predominant in my just wedded wife. She is someone that loves God so much and always available for service in God’s vineyard.

    “My wife serves God committedly with ultimate dedication.”

    Also in her reaction,  the new Mrs. Williams said: “I’m so happy this day because marriage is really a good thing so one has to be joyful. Since I came of age and know the importance of marriage I have been dreaming about it.

    “My choice for Ibiso for this union was an act of God. God directed him to my part, and I discovered he has what I actually needed in a man for marriage; so I didn’t have any other option than to accept him.”

    Asked what she was really looking out for in a husband, she said: “Love and fear of God. This attribute is very rare, it is not common even in church, but my husband has it.”

    She advised other women who are believing God for their own day at the altar: “My advice to other ladies who are looking up to God for marriage is to surrender their lives to God, be dedicated, totally sold out in His service.”

    Also the mother of the bride, Madam Gladys W-Cookey expressed profound joy at the wedding of her daughter, whom she described as one after her heart.

    “I have been praying for this for many years now. I am very glad. I will miss my daughter very much because she loves me so much and very close to my heart. It is altogether ok by me, because I know she will not forget me.”

     

  • Akwa Ibom people’s love for quality

    Akwa Ibom State people love quality. They also covet decency and honesty. They yearn for these qualities as if their whole life depends on it.

    This is why the people support the people-friendly development policies and programmes of the state government, which have taken the state to the next level and influenced the lives of the people for the best.

    Zoning, the Akwa Ibom State example, came freely by divine inspiration and not by the dictates of men. Wise men, leaders of thought and the prime movers swung into action to make it work and to set direction for government matters including the welfare of the people.

    This code of ethics and practice, has so far presented a picture of “a nation taking shape” within time; it has also become most unprecedented and beyond the prospects of any belief.

    The principle of zoning has, without controversies, made very good sense and has injected the expected discipline, order and above all sanity into our democratic system. To most of us, it has fast become the new covenant which is never again to be taught but inscribed directly and made permanent in our hearts. It is only benders of truth who are fugitives from history that can toy with it. It has come to stay as a piece of our version of the unwritten constitution and indelible mark on the sands of time.

    It has become a notable model for the political class towards unfolding best practices in Akwa-Ibom State politics. It has also become the true symbol of the ongoing healthy political revolution which will further solidify the Akwa-Ibom State promotion foundation.

    The principle of zoning in Akwa Ibom State has become workable and it’s capable of putting in the trashcan of history the much-touted issue of marginalisation. A legacy of good will indeed.

    Zoning came naturally to Akwa-Ibom State to cushion the negative effects of the ethnic nationalities on the body politic, and not the brainchild of any political party or convention of any committee. It is home-grown and unique to Akwa-Ibom State. If it has been applied elsewhere, it is not yet pronounced.

    There can be no misgivings about the on-looker weeping more than the bereaved. Zoning the Akwa-Ibom State Governorship ticket to Eket Senatorial District didn’t come as a shock and did not take the people by surprise. It had been in operation about four tenures between two personalities; Victor Attah and Godswill Akpabio, covering Uyo and Ikot-Ekpene Senatorial Districts. This time around, there is no need jumping the gun or bending the truth.

    Both in principle and in practice, the implication is that Akwa Ibom State had pre-zoned the 2015 governorship ticket to Eket Senatorial District and the power to nominate vested on the people. It is either shock or surprise that Eket Senatorial District has made her position known in the choice of Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as the Governorship candidate come 2015 general elections.

    This position should be respected in a democracy unless a change is effected by the people. This is so because “right is right, and to follow right were wisdom even in the scorns of consequence”.

    Concern therefore should be directed at what is right and the aim to do it right once. The man, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, going by what is on ground, has earned the confidence of members of his Senatorial District against the claim of imposition.

    Everybody else faces the choice of to be or not to be. Do not leave home without it; constructive criticism and positive objection then lie in offering the alternative.

    The mere precept of this immediate circumstance is directed to duty, responsibility and the greater Akwa Ibom State in the minds of the people.

     

    •Ekong is a one-time Travel Manager with Daily Times Nigeria Limited