The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Rattled Bayelsa Assembly

    Nothing has rattled Bayelsa State House of Assembly more than the recent reports that some of its members have joined the gale of defections rocking the polity.

    Typical of a rumour mill, the report which insinuated that 11 members of the House had defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC), emanated from unknown sources and soon saturated the political landscape.

    But Niger Delta Report discovered that two main speculations led to the news that travelled with the speed of light. One was the known fact that the former estranged Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, has dumped the PDP to become the chieftain of APC.

    Those behind the insinuations insisted that since Sylva under whose tenure the lawmakers were elected had joined the APC, scores of the legislators who were still sympathetic to the former governor were considering the opposition platform. The former governor was also believed to have intensified moves to lure the lawmakers.

    Secondly, there were insinuations that the lawmakers may have concluded a move to APC to secure their political future following reports that the Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, was not keen at returning them in 2015. So, based on these two speculations, some persons flew the defection kite.

    But the lawmakers were compelled to convene an emergency meeting recently to condemn the development. Eighteen of the 24-member house attended the meeting that was held at the House of Assembly Quarters, Yenagoa. They debunked the insinuations in strong terms.

    Rising from the emergency meeting the lawmakers flayed the reports of defection and said the assembly was intact. The Speaker of the House, Mr. Kombowei Benson, said all the lawmakers remained loyal to PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan and the state party Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (retd).

    Benson said they were happy at the transformation agenda of President Jonathan and the restoration programme of the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson. He said it was baseless to insinuate that lawmakers defected to APC because the former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, under whose tenure they were elected, had joined the APC.

    He said it was also premature to speculate that some lawmakers were planning to join the APC and use it as a platform to return to the assembly in 2015.

    “The reports of defection are fallacious. There is no cause for any member to think of defecting to APC. The Bayelsa State House of Assembly is intact”, he said.

    He reiterated the satisfaction of lawmakers to the leadership style of President Jonathan and Governor Dickson whom he described as the most development-oriented governor in the country. He further declared the loyalty of lawmakers to the national leadership of the PDP and advised people to stop heating up the polity.

    “We have no reason to suspect that any of our members are planning to switch party loyalty. We call on members of the public to disregard such report”, he said.

    The assembly comprising only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare his presidential ambition for 2015. As far as we a concerned, Mr. President is the son of this soil and we will not wish him any other thing but to urge to continue in the good work he has been doing. Members of the assembly hereby resolve to call on him to run for 2015 presidential election.”

     

  • Why we are hosting NIBRA, by Bayelsa

    Why we are hosting NIBRA, by Bayelsa

    Bayelsa State government has said its decision to host the Nigerian Broadcasters’ Award NIBRA is to provide an opportunity to attract investors from across the world and establish a network with other African countries.

    The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Deacon Markson Fefegha, spoke recently while announcing the hosting of the event.

    He also disclosed that the ministry had concluded plan to build an edifice that would accommodate all the media houses in the state. He said the edifice would be called a Communucation Village.

    He said the concept would help to build synergy among the state-owned broadcast media organisations.

    On the Nigerian Broadcasters’ Award slated for weekend in Yenagoa, Fefegha said it was a collaboration of international broadcasters and organisers.

    He said it was put together by the state government, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and other collaborators to showcase and appreciate the best in Africa’s broadcast industry and practitioners who have played significant role in the development of the broadcast industry in the African sub region.

    He said: “by hosting this intonation all and productivity and recognition award in the state, we are ostensibly providing a window of opportunity to attract investors across the world and attracting fraternity with other African countries.

    “As a government, the hosting of this event provides us with yet another opportunity to showcase some milestone achievements if the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson as it celebrates second year of the journey to restore the lost glory of Bayelsa State.

    “We have placed premium on education, infrastructural development, security and poverty eradication as a panacea for economic growth and development. What we are doing is to rebuild the shattered confidence of our people and also give them hope of a better, secure, peaceful and prosperous Bayelsa.

    “We are purpose driven and it is our determination to make Bayelsa State the Jerusalem of all Ijaw people and the Dubai of Africa.”

    Continuing, he said: “in recent past, we yearned for the dawn of a new era in the area of recreation. Today, that era is right here with us now because, we have collectively buried the dark days of hostility and obviously we are enjoying a peaceful era of progress.

    “It is quite clear now that the good things of life are now within our reach. Our natural holiday resorts, numerous colourful festivals, arts and culture provide a tourist’s haven to even the most pessimistic tourist. It is on this account that government has continued to upgrade existing tourism facilities, besides providing the enabling environment.”

     

     

  • $20 billion gas project from Warri to Europe

    It is, no doubt, an ambitious project. The Federal Government is thinking about exporting natural gas from Warri, Delta State to Europe. This will undercut Brussels’ dependence on gas exports from the Russian Federation.

    This $20 billion Trans-Saharan project , when completed, will transport about 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas from Warri through Niger Republic to the north of Algeria and finally to Spain, from where it will find its way to other parts of Europe.

    But there is a stumbling block on the way of this grandiose scheme. The problem is its huge cost.

    President Goodluck Jonathan, on January 29, announced the project in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

    So far, according to Jonathan, Nigeria has mobilised $700 million to support the completion of the Nigeria-Algeria natural gas pipeline project.

    Jonathan said: “We have raised $450 million in Eurobonds and an additional direct equity contribution of about $250 million in support of this project. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which is the executor of this project has completed the concept design for the pipeline, which is an important milestone since I last provided an update on this project to the committee.”

    A staggering $19 billion is still required for this project that will become the world’s most expensive energy export project. It will dwarf the $3.6 billion, one million bpd, 1,092-mile Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which ships 850,000 barrels per day of Azeri Caspian oil to Turkey’s deep-water Mediterranean Ceyhan port .

    In a keynote address by African Union Commission chairman Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma at the African Mining Indaba Ministerial Symposium on February 3 in Cape Town, Zuma said: “We should move away from building infrastructure only for one purpose, whether it is power generation and distribution capacity for a mine, whilst the communities and villages surrounding the mine are still in the dark. A good example is the new pipeline that transports gas between Nigeria and Algeria, where there are also plans for a Trans-Saharan highway on the same route.”

    As good as this project is, there are concerns. One of them is the fact that will it be corruption-free, given the country’s status as “Africa’s most corrupt hydrocarbon state”? Again, the fact that it is passing through the militant-torn Magreb to southern Europe is also a concern.

    It is a concern that not a single major European financial lending source has signed to the project yet. Could the corruption issue be at the heart of this?

    An article recently noted that if Nigeria wishes the project to go forward, it must begin to grapple with corruption in its energy sector and find a way to get its neighbours to provide a transit route, which will make the investment less risky.

    There is also the germane issue of the people of Warri and Delta State generally where the gas is coming from. Has everything been done to ensure their interest is protected? It is worthy to note that the major problem behind the low supply of electricity in the country is lack of gas to power the turbines. Of course, it is not that the country is short of gas; not with all in its reserves. But some people blew the gas pipelines with dynamites. Is anyone thinking of doing something to ensure that this sort of problem will not affect the investment into this massive project?

    Certainly, all these concerns are guiding investors’ interest in the project and unless they are taken care of, the project may only remain on the paper.

  • Brother Johnson

    Brother Johnson

    A few days ago, a miracle happened. It is not that an 80-year-old woman was delivered of a baby. It had nothing to do with a woman without a womb getting pregnant and giving birth to a healthy baby. No deaf person spoke after a pastor laid hands on his head. But it is a miracle because over time many were beginning to give up. They had resigned to fate and literally declared: “This man will stay here for life!”

    But the man has gone! He has left and in his place has surfaced a man those who know him claim is both an officer and a gentleman. They are vouching for his credibility and integrity. As far as they are concerned, the messiah of peace has finally come and darkness should just vanish.

    Johnson Tunde Ogunsakin. These are the names of the new Commissioner of Police in Rivers State. He is the man many are ready to invest their reputation. Ogunsakin is a Lagos boy. Never mind that he comes from Ekiti State, which is governed by the cerebral Dr Kayode Fayemi. Ogunsakin, I was told by a colleague who covers police affairs, is a gentleman, who will rather quit than allow anyone mess him up.

    But despite everything I have been told about Ogunsakin, who I feel comfortable addressing as Brother Johnson, I still want to thread on the path of caution. My reason is simple: Rivers where he has been posted is a state where the First Family has interest. President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife Patience, I stand to be corrected, have more than passing interest in Rivers State. Whatever crisis the state has witnessed in the last few months could be likened to the parody of the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob.

    The man Ogunsakin is replacing, Joseph Mbu, may have his bad ways. He may be notorious but the sort of mess he created in Rivers, which many expect Ogunsakin to clear, I doubt, was not the stuff he individually was capable of. As respected Professor of Law Itse Sagay noted, Mbu could only have done that with the Presidency’s backing.

    While Mbu reigned, Rivers was on the edge. The police chief saw no reason to respect Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Just a few days before his removal was announced, he banned political rallies. Before then he had insisted permits must be sought and approved by him before anyone or group could organise political rallies.

    Mbu made sure the Grassroots Democratic Initiative (GDI), a group which has Supervising Minister of Education Nyesom Wike as patron, enjoyed police support for its rallies. He, however, ensured the Save Rivers Movement (SRM) did not enjoy the same treatment. There were instances his men even disrupted SRM rallies or looked the other way when militants or thugs unleashed mayhem on SRM members.

    Mbu was law. He reduced the governor to almost a second class citizen in his own state. It was not until the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party to which the governor defected after being harassed out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), threatened to shutdown the Jonathan government using its strength in the legislature that Mbu allowed the first SRM rally. Days after, he announced a ban on all rallies to ensure SRM does not have the upper hand.

    Now, Mbu is history. At least in Rivers. May be he will now hound opposition elements in Abuja, where fate has thrown him.

    The talk in town now is Brother Johnson. Will he be different? Will he quit if external forces try to give him wrong instructions? Will he ensure peace in Rivers as he has promised? Does he have what it takes to stand up to the madam at the top? These are questions time will tell.

    But some believe Brother Johnson will balk. They say the fear of ending his career despite the prospects ahead of him will make him think twice before disobeying the madam at the top, who is coordinating the ‘Operation- confine-Amaechi-to-history’ for the First Family. Whatever happens, Brother Johnson, permit me to remind you of a few things, which should guide you: when a woman and a man are in the heat of passion, they help undress each other. When they are done, it is “to your tent oh Israel”. What this means is that when you have been used, you get dumped and left to sort yourself out.

    A life example will drive home the point. The late Raphael Ige was the police big shot who was used to execute a coup against the then governor of Anambra State, Dr Chris Ngige, who is now a senator. Those who used the late Ige dumped him after the matter became an embarrassment. He was disgraced out of the police and died not long after in opaque circumstances.

    A few who were used for bad acts survived and lived to repent. Many do not have such luxury.

    I will end this by reminding you of where you come from. Ekiti, your state of origin, is known as Ile Iyi, Ike Eye. Simply put, it is the land of honour. What made you decide to join the police, going by your own account, was the honourable way an officer once handled a matter in which you were involved. This is not the time to forget honour. It should be your watchword as you settle into your new assignment.

    You had a good record in the Mobile Police Unit. You were outstanding at INTERPOL. You had a good outing at the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offence Commission (ICPC). You had a good time at the Special Fraud Unit (SFU). Will you have a good outing in Rivers State? The choice is yours Brother Johnson. The matter is like a bird in between your palm. You can decide if it is alive or dead.

    I rest my case by repeating again that you come from a state of honour. Ile Iyi, Ile Eye! Yesterday is history. Mbu is history. Tomorrow is mystery. You are tomorrow. Live above board by clearing Mbu’s mess and if in the process you have to bow out of the force, do it. All the best.

     

  • Politics, intrigues tear apart Ijaw youth body

    Politics, intrigues tear apart Ijaw youth body

    The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has serached for peace without success since last October as a result of intrigues, reports Mike Odiegwu

    Disaffection has remained like a festering sour within the ranks of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC). No member of IYC, the umbrella body of Ijaw youths, envisaged that the crisis, which erupted during the October 2013 elections of the body, will remain unresolved till now.

    At a point, aggrieved youths took to the East-West Road blocking the Mbiama axis of the road to register their anger. The hullaballoo also ‘contributed’ to the death of the President of INC, Senator Tari Sekibo who slumped and died at 70 while mediating on the crisis.

    Though the youths are seeking solutions to the imbroglio that has crippled a hitherto vibrant forum, many of them are against the latest intervention of the Ijaw elders and leaders of thought led by Chief Edwin Clark.

    Clark’s think-tank in Abuja dissolved all the structures of the IYC. The dissolution was supported by three zonal chairmen of IYC – Saviour Olali (central), Preye Okaba(western), Hamilton Opuende (eastern)-and speaker of IYC parliament, Deme Yinkore.

    The elders, in a move they believed would restore sanity to the Niger Delta and calm frayed nerves, ruled that a committee would be inaugurated to take over the functions of IYC till after the 2015 general elections. They ruled that after the general elections, the structures would be resuscitated and made functional again through fresh elections.

    While persons protesting the outcome of the October elections applauded the decision, others, including some political analysts, view it with suspicion. Mirroring it from political lenses, observers believe that such position if allowed to stand, especially considering the clash of interests ahead of the 2015 elections, will be counterproductive.

    They argued that the verdict, if not overruled, would sideline the Ijaw youths and denied them their rights of participation as a group in all activities leading to the 2015 general elections.

    It implies that no group will seek to protect the interest of Ijaw youths, articulate their views, canvass their aspirations and project their feelings on political discuss. Besides, some have also argued that Clark’s intervention, if honoured, will only succeed in depleting the support base of President Goodluck Jonathan, if he declares to seek reelection in 2015. They caution that elders like Clark should not be demanding Ijaw’s Presidency in 2015 while at the same time making utterances and taking positions that seem to be narrowing Ijaw’s chances.

    “How do we build bridges with other youths for Jonathan in 2015 if we don’t have any structure?” an aggrieved member of IYC queried loudly as he walked away angrily from the venue of an emergency convention organised in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State by Ijaw youths to deliberate on the development.

    The elders’ decision jolted most of the youths. The convention had in attendance all structures of the IYC comprising the three zones of Ijaw east, central and west, parliament, all clans, organisation of Ogbo leaders, chapters students’ representatives, women groups and elders.

    In fact, the emergency convention spared no thought while deliberating on the matter. They dissected the effects of the elders’ decision on the political fortunes of President Jonathan and decided to hold a contrary view. Instead of working with the elders, the convention held that IYC had decided to close ranks and work with the embattled President of the body, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, whose emergence after the October election triggered the crisis.

    To concretise their position, the youths raised a seven-point communique. The communique was signed by Siso Simeon (Chairman, communique drafting committee), Chris Anthony (Secretary), Princ Mac Ake (member), Ezetu Rawlings (member, Acting Chairman, Central Zone), and Gbarasi Brown (member, Acting Chairman, Eastern Zone).

    The youths praised the interventions of Clark and other elders. They also thanked the elders for seeking lasting peace in the region and for supporting the Transformation Agenda of Jonathan.

    But they said: “The convention rejects and dissociates itself in its entirety, reports that some elders and the three zonal chairmen and Speaker of Parliament in Abuja have purportedly dissolved all structures of council.

    “Accordingly, we state with strong terms that the elders, three zonal chairmen and speaker of parliament do not have the powers to dissolve all structures of council and that the only authority vested with such powers is the National Convention of the Ijaw Youth Council expressly provided by Article 7 section vi of the IYC constitution.”

    The youths further reiterated their resolution to work with Eradiri and gave the elders five-day ultimatum to reverse their pronouncement. They threatened to hold peaceful demonstrations in Abuja and other parts of the region, if after five days the elders fail to recant their decision.

    They said: ” The convention directs the communique drafting committee led by Comrade Sisso Simeon to cause a letter to our father President Goodluck Jonathan to be very careful with some of his aides who are occupying politics space from Ijaw extractions because they are out to divide the unity of the Ijaw Nation for the opposition parties.

    “The convention warns the National Executive Council of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to stay clear from IYC activities because they have not only created disunity among the Ijaw youths but have taken over the day-to-day activities of the council.”

    Furthermore, the youths announced the dissolution of three zonal chairmen–Saviour Olali (central), Preye Okaba(western), Hamilton Opuende (eastern)–and speaker of parliament, Deme Yinkore, who, they said, voluntarily resigned and dissolve themselves through their alliances with the elders.

    Curiously, INC seems to have complicated the matter. INC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Victor Burubo, disassociated itself from the decision of the elders to dissolve all the structures of IYC. It claimed that Clark hosted a meeting to resolve the crisis rocking the national executive council of IYC only.

    Burubo said the meeting resolved that the purported election of Eradiri was null and void; that IYC presidential election would be held in June 2015 and that a caretaker committee be set up to run the affairs of the IYC until 2015.

    He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Ijaw National Congress is not part of any decision to dissolve all duly elected structures of the IYC. The Parliament and the IYC zonal structures are still in office and their decision have the force of law according to the constitution of IYC.

    “We reiterate that setting up a caretaker committee affects only the executive body of IYC at the national level. We appeal to the leaders of the Ijaw Youth Council not to be lured into taking precipitated actions that may lead to crisis.”

    But the embattled Eradiri wondered why INC was speaking from both sides of its mouth. He said the body of elders and Burubo complicated the problems, instead of resolving them. He added that the elders had no right to proscribe any structure of the youth body, including the presidency of the council.

    He said the resolution of the elders, including the latest position of the INC, amounted to contempt of court, adding that a court had issued an order against any attempt to cancel the presidential election of IYC.

    A High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, last November issued an order stopping the INC from canceling the controversial elections that produced Eradiri.

    The court presided over by Justice Rapheal Ajuwa said INC should stay action on the matter pending the determination of the substantive suit. The order was given shortly after the late President of INC attempted to set aside the election for a fresh poll.

    Months after the death of Sekibo, another High Court sitting in Yenagoa gave an ex-parte order restraining the INC from conducting/supervising the conduct of the IYC election pending the determination of the motion on notice for the interlocutory injunction.

    Ruling on the ex-parte motion filed by the plaintiff, Eradiri, Justice Young Ogola restrained the defendants, which include the Vice President/Acting President of the INC, its agents, servants, privies and cronies from conducting any election for the office of the President of the IYC.

    It ordered that no election should be conducted on any other date pending the determination of the motion on notice for the interlocutory injunction.

    The court had adjourned the matter till February 18 for hearing on the motion on notice for the interlocutory injunction.

    Eradiri, in the suit filed against Sir Theodore Ezonfade, Amangala Miteabal Joshua, Don Kemezuo Elvis, Femowei Tariela Fredrick, Olorogun Kennedy, Zuokemefa Enebraye Peter, Eze Waribigha, (aka Skido), Alfred Erepade Akamu, Igoli Timi, Mr. Lokpobiri Jonathan and Oweikeye Ndoro, sought the interpretation of the IYC constitution.

    Against the backdrop of the court pronouncements, Eradiri said the elders were at a risk of contempt of court. He said anybody who flouted the court order would go to jail.

    He said: “What is important to me is the unity of the IYC. It is insensitive on the part of anybody to make a statement prescribing any organ of IYC at a time like this when all of us should unite to support President Jonathan.

    “We must demonstrate that we are ready for 2015. I am the president of IYC and nobody can take it away from me. If I key into the position of elders, IYC will die. It is not about me alone, the entire organs of IYC are revolting. We are on cause and we are resolving our differences.”

    But one of the vocal presidential candidates of IYC, Mr. Jonathan Lokpobiri, said he stood by the decision of the elders. He described the recent emergency convention and its resolutions as a product of demented people. He said no meeting of IYC could hold without the body’s structures.

    “The structures have been dissolved and nobody can claim to be holding a meeting of IYC without those structures,” he said.

    Lokpobiri said his supporters and the loyalists of other aggrieved presidential candidates would await the proposed protest by those who attended the convention.

    “We are waiting for them on the streets. Let them come out and we will clash there. We know the decision of the elders is painful. But we accepted it as a sacrifice to move the Ijaw Nation forward. All we are demanding is free and fair election,” he said.

    Despite the demands for free and fair elections, spectators to the crisis and those sympathetic to the cause of the Ijaw believe that the development has further divided the Ijaw nation ahead of its clamour to retain the Presidency in 2015. They are of the opinion that the crisis should be resolved in the collective interest of the ethnic group ahead of the elections.

     

  • The secret of our success in business, by INDORAMA

    Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited (IEPL) has said the secret of its success in business is its serious concern about its reputation.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the Managing Director of IEPL, Mr Jossy Nkwocha, who disclosed this in a lecture he gave to Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Students Association (NIPRSA) of the University of Port Harcourt, said: “Reputation is everything to all the staff of our company.”

    In the lecture titled “Leading By Reputation” which Nkwocha gave to the students who were on facility visit to IEPL, he told them how effective management of their reputation has brought industrial harmony to the company.

    Nkwocha who is also Head of Corporate Communications of IEPL said that his department was given the mandate to amongst others build and manage a solid image reputation for the company through various programmes in collaboration with other departments.

    They also manage the public perception of the company; manage the Indorama-Nigeria brand and provide strategic brand as well as “projecting the image and reputation of the company through reputation drivers.”

    This effective management of the company’s reputation has won them many accolades such as being voted as “Nigeria’s best success story on privatisation” by the Bureau on Public Enterprises and Senate Committee on Privatisation.

    Since 2006, the company has done three major Turn Around Maintenance (TAMs) and is also the first Nigerian company to win Triple IMS/ISO certification.

    Another wonderful strategy that has brought tremendous progress to the company is the way it has carried its shareholders along.

    As explained by Nkwocha, while the owners of the company have 65percent of shares, the host communities in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State have 7.5 percent. Rivers State Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) have 10 percent each. The Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) and the employees of IEPL have 5percent and 2.5 percent respectively.

    Before Nkwocha’s lecture, members of NIPRSA were taken round the IEPL plant to see the production process of resin by the Plant Supervisor of the company, Engr. Martins Chigbu during which he informed them that the organisation is building a $1.3 billion fertiliser plant which will be the biggest in West Africa.

    In his own speech, the Staff Adviser to the students, Mr Austine Sado commended the IEPL’s management for letting the students into the plant to have an insight into the workings of the place.

    Sado who was impressed with the sharing formula of the profits of the company which also caters for the members of its host communities urged other companies to emulate the IEPL style to make for harmony between the people and the companies operating in their lands.

    In another development, Nkwocha, a former General Editor of Newswatch magazine, was honoured by the Rivers State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) with an award of Professional Excellence in Public Relations practice.

    Giving the award to Nkwocha, the Chairman of the chapter, Mr. Samuel Toby, said it was in recognition of “Nkwocha’s immense contributions to the chapter especially his chairmanship of the Professional Development Committee, which has continued to enrich younger members with thorough knowledge of what public relations is all about through regular professional presentations.”

    Nkwocha, a Fellow of NIPR said he was humbled by the award and would continue to play active roles at state and at the national level to enhance public relations practice in Nigeria.

    Other members of the chapter who were also honoured include Fellow Frank Tamuno Koko, chairman of the Board of Fellows; Fellow Casca Ogosu, immediate past Council member; Fellow Medline Tador, General Manager of the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation; and Fellow Karibi George, immediate past Chairman of the chapter.

     

     

  • Port Harcourt traders rue mysterious fire

    Port Harcourt traders rue mysterious fire

    There is no right time for a disaster to strike. But for grieving traders of Mile 1 Market in Diobu, Port Harcourt, the mysterious fire tragedy that hit the market on December 17, 2013 could not have come at a more inauspicious time.

    Dozens of them, in anticipation of brisk business during the Yuletide stocked their shops; scores borrowed from friends and relatives. Most of them went to banks, cooperative societies and money lenders, who gave them loans at shylock rates. Hoping that the profit from sales would more than offset the interests, the traders went about their businesses.

    It was when they were ready to reap the bounty of Christmas and New Year sales that the tragedy hit them. Nobody knew where the fire came from. The traders didn’t see it coming. When the smoked cleared, they had nothing but ashes on their hands and unsympathetic creditors breathing down their necks. Goods and cash worth several millions – some traders say billions – of naira were pulverised.

    When Niger Delta Report visited the scene the huge plume of smoke over the skyline mirrored the gloomy mood on the ground. There were tears and frustration everywhere as traders beheld their hard earned money, life time savings and most devastatingly, loans secured at cutthroat rates, some used life-time assets as collaterals, going up in smoke.

    Some of the traders and sympathizers who rushed to the scene as soon as they heard news of the fire watched helplessly as goods worth billions of naira burn to ashes. Quite a number of them were barely restrained from a suicidal jump into the fire.

    Over one month after when our reporter returned to the scene, the resilience of the typical Nigerian had returned for a few who mustered the courage to return. “Life must go on”, one of the traders told our reporter. Others were however still mourning the loss and ruing the cruel hand of fate in their lives.

    “Some of our colleagues have abandoned business are in search of alternative means of livelihood. Others have gone back to their villages. But me, I have no choice than to try and see how I can get my life going again. If a man falls he must rise again,” one of the traders said.

    Meanwhile, the challenge of getting up again is more daunting for some than others. Our findings revealed that the major challenge faced by a number of the unfortunate businessmen was how to repay the loans they took from banks to start their businesses or to prepare for the ‘Christmas rush’.

    Still, those who are picking the pieces of their lives again are contending with a number of challenges. Those who have managed to restart their business said it would take years for them to get to the stage they were before the setback.

    Chigozie Mba, who had returned back to his business, told our reporter that he borrowed N500,000 from bank to start his business. He noted that he was very lucky that didn’t take additional loan from bank to purchase Xmas goods like his follow traders did.

    “Many of our traders in this market are in a big problem of how to pay the money they collected from banks. Some of them are out of business at the moment. The only way some of them can pay their debts is to sell their properties or run to another bank for help. So it is not easy, the only luck I have was that I decided to manage the little money I had during Xmas period.”

    Mr. Ebenezer Chukwu was not as lucky. He lost N7million worth of goods to the mysterious fire last and he is licking his wounds.

    “My brother, God has been sustaining and encouraging me if not for friends I wouldn’t have started this little business this year. Of course the friend I am talking about did not dash me the money to begin this market. But I and my family have to survive, my children are out of school for now. My major problem now is how to pay the loan I took from bank, I have pleaded with my bankers to give me more time.

    “We are still waiting for government promises and we pray that they should come to our aid. Some of the traders who put all their money in business last year December before the fire tragedy are now in the village but I decided that I am not going anywhere , I know my God will assist me to pay all the debt I am owing.”

    While Chukwu was lucky to have shoulders of his friends to lean on, Chijioke Amajuoyi said the devastating fire incident opened his eyes to the reality of the world. He said it made him know that every man is for himself.

    “Nobody wants to sympathise with us; nobody wants to assist us even those who promised to assist us are yet to redeem their promises. Look at what I am selling; it was the same spot I was selling when I lost all my goods on the fire. We need help I didn’t borrow from bank like other big traders but my little goods that burnt here is as painful as that of those who lost millions. So I want corporate organisation and well meaning Nigerians to come to our aid it is not late, we are suffering.”

    The catalogue of woes was the same at the office of the Chairman of Mile 1 Market Traders Association, Deacon Kenneth Eze. He said all was not well with his members. But most painfully for him is that the incident may end the cosy relationship between the traders and their banks over the year.

    “The traders have been passing through serious hardship, because at the time the incident took place the traders have already borrowed money from banks and other money lending institutions to get goods for Xmas business. But at the end everything ended like that, so they are heavily indebted to banks.

    “I don’t think any bank will assist us again because the ones the traders borrowed they are yet to be paid and some of these traders presented their lands, houses and other valuable properties to banks before the loans were given to them. The banks are after their money if it were in the developed countries multinational companies operating in Rivers State would have come to our aids. But here nobody wants to assist us.”

    Deacon Eze slammed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for turning its back on his members.

    He said: “ NEMA whose office is close to Mile 1 Market are yet to pay a special visit to see how they could assist the helpless traders. Instead they are busy refuting a rumour that we said they have not redeemed what they promised. If NEMA has promise anything to traders that could be good, NEMA never promised anything or sympathise to us before we could talk of redeeming. But we are calling on them to come to our aid they can still help us it is not late.

    “As for the traders I believe that as far as one is alive there is hope, they should be law abiding. Government has promise to rebuild the market I know they will do it. They have also given us a temporary place to do our business so by next ,week Mile 1 Market traders will be relocating to a temporary place provided by the Rivers State government.”

  • Rivers… Relief to come after the 2015 elections

    Rivers… Relief to come after the 2015 elections

    With the tensed political situation in Rivers State, Bisi Olaniyi in Port Harcourt writes that the people of the Niger Delta state may only heave a sigh of relief after the 2015 elections.

    In spite of the ban on political activities by the controversial Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, are still battling each other over 2015.

    Mbu, fondly described as “Super Cop” by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers chapter and recommended for redeployment in Borno or Yobe State by the Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and the Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, on February 3, banned political rallies in Rivers State.

    Rivers police commissioner declared that the ban would affect the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), which has Wike as the grand patron and the pro-Amaechi’s Save Rivers Movement (SRM) and the Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation (RIVLEAF), as well as other political groups, until 90 days to elections. He cited the Electoral Act as his authority.

    The ban on political activities by the police in Rivers has been condemned by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), GDI, the APC, SRM and allies of Amaechi and Wike.

    The Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, expressed shock over the ban, at a time the APC was commencing registration of members nationwide, which he described as a ploy by the police to prevent members of the party from participating in the important exercise.

    The Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, reminded Mbu that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria allows for freedom of association and freedom of expression, warning the police against double standard.

    The Rivers PDP said it was not satisfied with the ban on political rallies and protests in the state, alleging that the Rivers police command had succumbed to the pressure and blackmail by the Rivers government, SRM and the APC.

    While appearing on Channels Television on February 3, Wike declared that Amaechi had lost focus and never contributed to his rise in politics or his nomination for ministerial appointment, stating that the monorail in the Rivers state capital is a waste of funds and abandoned.

    The NGF chairman, however, described the supervising minister of education as a liar, who is distorting facts and should be ignored, insisting that the outbursts were completely false and misleading, while maintaining that he remained focused and determined to develop Rivers state and adequately empower the people, with work ongoing at the monorail site.

    With the declaration by the minister of state for education, most persons are finding it difficult to believe that two-term Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers state (Wike), is a former Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt and the Director-General of Amaechi Campaign Organisation in 2011.

    The Rivers governor declared that the supervising minister of education and a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Austin Opara, betrayed him and connived to fight him for personal and selfish interests.

    Amaechi, at an interactive session with journalists, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, also declared that the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience, wanted to micro-manage governance in the state, but he refused.

    He said by the time the First Lady, an indigene of Okrika, the headquarters of Okrika LGA of Rivers state, where the ex-leader of the Niger Delta Vigilance Movement, Ateke Tom, hails from, brought out militants, Rivers state had almost got to zero point of no kidnapping in Port Harcourt.

    Amaechi declared that it would be difficult for the PDP to win the presidential election in 2015, while assuring that more PDP governors would soon leave for the APC.

    He described the PDP as a drowning, chop-I-chop party, while referring to the APC as the change agent, which he said was gradually forming government and gave an assurance that before March 2014, the opposition party would take over the Senate, having become the majority in the House of Representatives, with the defection of many federal lawmakers.

    The NGF chairman maintained that the APC would not take Nigerians for granted, like the PDP, with the opposition party to do things differently and better, stating that he never cared about the activities of the GDI, describing the members as very hungry people.

    Wike, while responding, declared that Amaechi was confused, a dictator, who would not be able to deliver Rivers for the APC, having lost control, while maintaining that the GDI members were not hungry.

    The minister said: “It is not new to us that Amaechi is saying GDI members are hungry. Amaechi’s father was not the Managing Director of Shell or Agip or owner of any bank in Nigeria or West Africa. He is of a humble beginning.

    “It baffles me whenever Amaechi says GDI members are hungry. It is unbecoming of a governor. Prince Chibudom Nwuche (a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, from Ahoada East LGA of Rivers State) has challenged Amaechi to report him to the police or the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission).

    “Amaechi is very corrupt. He has lost control of Rivers State. It is unfortunate that Amaechi could describe PDP as chop-I-chop party. PDP made him Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly and Rivers Governor. He is an ingrate. He is a dictator.

    “PDP is not a drowning party. Amaechi, now a member of the APC, cannot win any election in his Ubima Ward 8 (Ikwerre LGA). Amaechi is involved in a show of shame. He is a liar. He is deceiving Buhari, Tinubu and other APC’s leaders. Amaechi cannot deceive Rivers people.”

    He said Rivers State would never belong to the opposition, stressing that the PDP would continue to win the Niger Delta state.

    Wike urged his teeming supporters, other Rivers people and Nigerians to continue to support the “performing” President Jonathan, whom he said was determined to transform Nigeria and to ensure his re-election in 2015.

    Amaechi stated that another reason for leaving the PDP was the Rivers oil wells, ceded to the neighbouring Bayelsa state, where President Jonathan hails from, which he described as the height of injustice.

    He said: “They took Soku oil wells from us and they took 41 oil wells from Etche to Abia State. Should I remain in that kind of party that is denying Rivers State its resources?

    “If you keep quiet to injustice, you will be visited with more injustice. But if you fight back, then when they are meeting, they will say this man will cause trouble, give him his own. Let us punish others. That is why Rivers people must rise.

    “The problem with most Nigerian politicians is that they do not know the meaning of truth. They do not care, because you do not care. Because you do not hold them accountable, they just do anything they like.

    The NGF chairman also stated that he was not bothered about the activities of the GDI and Wike.

    Amaechi said: “I do not talk about those people who call themselves GDI. For me, they are not important, because that is not the fight. Those people do not even have the same agenda as the President (Jonathan). Their agenda is they cannot survive poverty.

    “What they (GDI members) are trying to do is how to win Rivers State and share the money. They are not fighting for President Jonathan. What is driving them mad about Obio/Akpor LG Council? I did not know that individuals working in my government were sharing Obio/Akpor LG council’s money and they were not ashamed.

    “The day you ask your subordinate money from his office, that is the day you lose your respect. Once you steal one million, your subordinate will steal some too. You will lose your voice, character and respect. I do not care about the GDI people. They are very hungry.

    “They (GDI members) cannot survive poverty. They are thieves and I have evidence that they are thieves. They were given contracts, which they abandoned. The road from Eneka to Rukpokwu (in Port Harcourt), of over one billion, somebody who was in my government, who is now in Abuja, took that contract and abandoned it. 2013 Christmas, he sent wrappers to them. Where did he get the money from? From their road. Let them come for a debate.

    “I called Chibudom’s (Nwuche, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, from Aboada East LGA of Rivers State) name, because he has been confronting me. I gave him contract to build schools and I paid him. He cannot show evidence that he has completed the schools.

    “He (Nwuche) was deputy speaker, he could not do road to his village. I am now doing the road. As Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, I made sure there was a road to my village (Ubima in Ikwerre LGA).

    “I brought light (electricity) into Ubima. I did streets’ roads in Ubima, even as Speaker and I did a road from Isiokpo (Ikwerre LG headquarters) to my village, as Speaker. Chibudom was Deputy Speaker and enjoyed being called tiger. Tiger does not make noise.”

    Amaechi also described his defection from the PDP to the APC as a step in the right direction, in order to move Rivers State and Nigeria forward.

    He said: “If I have to offer Nigerians good governance. If I have to defend democracy, then I have to go to a better party, not a party that will take Nigerians for granted. As far as PDP is concerned, whether you like it or not, you have already finished voting. They will only announce the results in their favour.

    “They know that what we (APC leaders) are preaching is that Nigerians must defend their votes. If you are a farmer, you will go with your machetes, vote and defend your votes. Once they see you like that, even policemen will be careful. Once people start defending their votes, all these thieves will run away.

    “Projects coming to Rivers State are now being taken to the President’s State (Bayelsa). The Zonal Air Force Base that Yar’Adua brought to Rivers State is now in Bayelsa State. Soku oil wells have gone. Only people who do not like Rivers State will remain in the PDP.

    “The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company (on Bonny Island in Rivers State) is even the worst. The members of the board and management of the NLNG came to me and pleaded with me to speak with the NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) to allow them to do Train Seven in Bonny, that will employ 10,000 Rivers people and others.

    “I approached the NNPC and I went to the Petroleum Ministry. I do not want to call names, because most of them are my friends. They told me no. I thought it was a joke. That time, there was no quarrel between me and President Jonathan, because we had just finished elections (2011) and we were still chummy-chummy.

    “I met with President Jonathan to kindly speak with officials of the NNPC and the Petroleum Ministry to allow NLNG to build Train Seven in Bonny, Rivers State. President Jonathan said he wanted them to finish Brass LNG in his Bayelsa State, before they could build Bonny NLNG’s Train Seven. Mr. President said no and that he directed the officials of the NNPC and the Petroleum Ministry to say what they said.

    “Mr. President said right from when he was the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, he had been trying to get the Brass LNG and wants to get it now that he is the President. You cannot force investors. So, we must wait for Bayelsa State before Rivers State can grow.

    “The implication is that Rivers State will not grow until Goodluck Jonathan finishes his Presidency. Is that a good government? Is that a good party? Should I remain there? If I was lying, they would have replied me. What is Southsouth President? There is only one thing in politics, which is interest. You cannot play politics of Nigeria with religion or ethnicity.”

    The NGF chairman also described himself as a detribalised Nigerian, who had never and would not play politics with religion or ethnicity.

    He said: “President Jonathan is a member of O. O. Obu (Olumba Olumba Obu, with headquarters in Calabar, Cross River State). Is it not a Christian group? I am a very proud Catholic. President Jonathan is a member of O. O. Obu. I heard he attends Anglican Church now.

    “If they invite me tomorrow to O. O. Obu, I will go and dance there. That does not mean we should not relate well with our brothers who are Muslims.

    “They denied Rivers people water, because Governor Amaechi is quarrelling with President Jonathan. Is that fair? World Bank and AfDB (African Development Bank) are ready, but they are playing politics. I will not blame the President. I am surprised about the attitude of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Finance Minister), because she belongs to an international organisation (World Bank).

    “I drink free bottled water. Even if I want to bathe with bottled water, I will bathe with it, but they are denying Rivers people the opportunity to have water in their homes.

    “They impounded the Rivers State Government’s plane and also impounded the two surveillance/security helicopters bought by the Rivers State Government, with President Jonathan’s approval.

    “The helicopters would have been flying round Rivers State in 24 hours, so that when crimes are committed, the criminals will be picked. The day we showed it to the President, he was so happy. The oil companies were also happy, that it would reduce crude oil theft.

    “The monitors of the helicopters will be in Government House, Port Harcourt, and also with the navy, air force, army, police and SSS (State Security Service). Nobody can deny that they did not see the criminals.

    “We held series of meetings with the oil companies on maintenance of the helicopters. They all agreed. The Federal Government has refused to allow the helicopters to be brought into Nigeria from the US. We are paying tax now on the aircraft. Rivers State should suffer because the President is quarrelling with Governor Amaechi.”

    The Rivers governor also stated that governance should not be based on sentiments, while assuring that the APC would bring about Nigeria of the founding fathers’ dream from 2015, while insisting that the state was not broke, but had financial difficulties, making it to be under immense pressure.

    As a man of peace, Amaechi said he had privately met with President Jonathan, before going public with their quarrel, while insisting that he needed to take action, in the interest of Rivers people.

    He insisted that he did not make any demand to President Jonathan, before defecting to the APC, noting that the defecting governors had made up their minds to leave the PDP, in order to fight impunity.

    The NGF chairman stated that the disagreement between him and the President was not personal, while still respecting him, but maintained that Rivers interest must be protected.

    He stated that if a former Head of State, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari or a Southsouth person emerged as the presidential candidate of the APC in 2015, so be it, while noting that there would be no imposition of candidates or zoning and the processes would be transparent and different from that of the PDP.

    Amaechi reiterated that all attempts to remove him had failed; stressing that change was needed in Nigeria democratically, to reduce the level of corruption, while admonishing the Rivers people and other Nigerians not to listen to the deceit of the leaders of the PDP and the GDI.

    When officers and students of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Plateau State visited Amaechi at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, he declared that the desperation by Abuja forces over 2015, was the cause of insecurity in the Niger Delta state.

    He also attributed the dwindling fortunes of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Rivers state to the rising insecurity in the state.

    The Rivers governor said the insecurity came at a time when desperate politicians resorted to power-play at the national level, ahead of the 2015 elections and the recent influx of political thugs and miscreants, that were chased out of the state when he assumed office in 2007.

    He said: “Things were improving before now, with the Army, Police and the State Security Service (SSS), which enabled us to arrest the insecurity in the state. But recently, because of the power-play at the national level, ahead of the 2015 elections, the security of the state degenerated badly, that one is wondering whether we should not differentiate between politics of election and politics of leadership.

    “It is also important for you to know the economic interest of the people, and our private interest too. Now, people are being kidnapped. Because of the elections (2015), the Abuja front has released all the people (militants) we chased away out of Port Harcourt back into the state again.

    “Now, you have young men carrying arms like soldiers to picture what it used to be in 2006 and 2007, because at that time, soldiers were being killed. When we came to power, we took over the situation. Even at that, we do not expect those, whose duty it is to protect us and serve the people, to be the same people who will bring them back to create insecurity. This has also impacted on our IGR, outside the oil theft and has emboldened those doing oil theft.

    “If not for the insecurity in the state and if all companies that were here before had remained to operate their business, we would have been generating up to N10 billion monthly. Most of the companies ran to Lagos and some of them came to Port Harcourt, and later also ran back.

    Amaechi also described the reckless disregard for the protection of lives and property in the state by men of the Nigeria Police Force as a serious lacuna, as enshrined in the nation’s constitution.

    The NGF chairman said: “You are aware of the running battle between the Rivers State Government and the Police. We used to have a strong relationship with all security agents, including our Security Council meetings every month. Now, we do not have any of the meetings at all. Because, they say they are taking instructions from Abuja.

    “You have a state in Nigeria that is helpless, in terms of security, whose citizens are not protected, just because of the 2015 elections. If they tell you that is not true, I will certainly give you names of those who have been kidnapped.

    “I can recall that when I took over office in 2007, if there was a case of kidnap, within a short time of say two days, we would have rescued that person, because we have security equipment that can locate you and get you out. The military and the Police were ready to co-operate.

    “It may interest you to also know that if I call the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, he will say, ‘Governor apply,’ it is ridiculous. When some high-ranking police officers come here and they hear it, they get very angry. But, before they get out of here, they will be ordered to come back to Abuja.”

    The Rivers governor also told the officers and students of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College how his administration worked out feasible modalities that suddenly increased the state’s IGR from N2.5 billion to N6 billion monthly, shortly after he assumed office in 2007, without introducing new taxes.

    Amaechi said: “When we took over power in 2007, we came to the conclusion that oil is not in the hands of the Rivers people. So, we need to run a different economy that we can give back to our people. We decided to diversify the economy to what we called the education economy. We felt we should reform the education sector and we felt we needed to do an overhaul of the primary education system.

    “At this time, primary education by law or the Constitution, is the responsibility of the local government councils. We realised that we could not have made any progress in education, if we do not have the basics. So, we went into partnership with the local government councils, who were willing to handover the primary education system to the Rivers State Government. We took over the salaries of teachers, which was up to N2 billion per month.

    “For the local government councils, they save N2 billion to pay the teachers monthly. We decided also to build new schools and demolished old ones. Teachers were poorly trained and we got the British Council involved to train our teachers.

    “We have so far completed about 300 of the Model Primary Schools. 100 are under construction, while about 200 are nearing completion. Our target is 750, but we have financial problem now. The Federal Government said, it is oil theft, but whether it is oil theft or not, the effect has affected our oil revenue and it has depreciated so badly. Sometimes, our IGR aids us to do social projects.”

    The Rivers government, the APC and the PDP also disagreed on the financial status of the Amaechi’s administration.

    The Rivers government, through the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, and the APC, through its Interim Rivers Chairman, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, insisted that the state was not broke.

    PDP’s Pastor Jerry Needam, the Special Adviser, Media to the Rivers Chairman of the party, Chief Felix Obuah, insisted that the state was broke, in view of its inability to meet its financial obligations.

    Semenitari and Ikanya urged Rivers people to ignore the PDP’s claims, which were described as misleading, frivolous and ridiculous.

    Rivers PDP, however, maintained that available evidence showed that the Amaechi’s administration could no longer meet its responsibilities, since it was broke.

    PDP said: “We wonder how the Rivers Commissioner for Information will deny this glaring fact, in the face of the failure and collapse of almost all the social and public agencies in the state.

    “The Commissioner’s brazen denial is laughable. We want Mrs. Semenitari to explain why the Rivers State Government still owes officers and men of the Rivers State Road Transport Management Authority (TIMA-RIV) for about six months.

    “The newly-recruited 13,000 teachers are also owed six months’ salaries, roads and other infrastructural projects have been abandoned and there is delay in the release of the N300 million Christmas bonus meant for the civil servants in the state.

    “The PDP also demands explanation from the Rivers Information Commissioner to justify the reason for the denial of funds for the full implementation of the 2013 budget by the various ministries, if the state is not broke.

    “The revelation that the Rivers students abroad, on the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) sponsorship are stranded and at the verge of being thrown out by their universities, is a confirmation that the state’s treasury is empty.

    “We still wonder in disbelief, why officials of the Rivers State Government will continue to deny the facts that are available at the doorposts of the people. A responsible government should be courageous enough to tell its citizens the truth, at least on the affairs of the state.

    “If the state is not broke, let the pensioners receive their full gratuities, rather than the piecemeal, a style of payment which has never happened in Rivers State, except now that the state is in financial distress.”

    The Rivers government has accused Mbu of attending political meetings in the houses of the leaders of the PDP and the GDI.

    Wike, according to the chief of staff, Government House, Port Harcourt (Okocha), is campaigning to be the Rivers governor in 2015, but using President Jonathan as a smokescreen.

    The Rivers commissioner for information and communications, when she appeared on Channels Television, also accused the Rivers police commissioner of hobnobbing with politicians who were opposed to the Rivers government and Amaechi.

    Semenitari also stated that the Rivers police commissioner had restricted his job area to the protection of only members of the PDP and the GDI.

    Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience and Wike will want the PDP to win Rivers state in 2015 at all costs, because of the 2 million votes, but the NGF chairman will prove to them that he is still in charge of the politics of the state and a force to reckon with, by delivering Rivers to the APC.

    Only time will tell where the pendulum will swing in 2015, but peace must be given a chance in the volatile Niger Delta state.

     

  • Farmers allege fraud in agric programme continues

    Farmers allege fraud in agric programme continues

    In September 2010, the Ministry of Niger Delta Report sent 86 farmers from the Niger Delta to Israel and Port Novo, Republic of Benin for various courses in mechanised farming. Over three years after, beneficiaries were handed cheques of N750,000 each to start their farms. SHOLA O’NEIL reports that rather than be impressed by the gesture, the farmers say they are short-changed.

    The mood at Ishaka Hotel, Effurun, Delta State a fortnight ago was a very happy one. The trainees were bubbling and looking forward to start or improve their new farms. The day took over three years to come, but there were no complaints, as according to one of the beneficiaries from Bayelsa state: “It is better late than never”. During the time, it was learnt that two of the 86 beneficiaries died.

    But by the end of the event on Saturday, January 18, when the graduands were returning home, the tune was different. Some of the aggrieved trainees, who spoke with Niger Delta Report, were so unimpressed that they called for a probe of the over N840 million allegedly budgeted for the programme.

    Their journey to Ishaka Hotel and dream happy future started sometimes in September 2010 when 86 men and women from across the zone were selected and dispersed to reputable farming settlements in Israel and Republic of Benin to learn how to farm with mechanical equipment. The ‘ambassadors’ were seen as the future of the nation’s agriculture development and key elements in President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda.

    Niger Delta Report learnt that the beneficiaries were trained at Galilee International Institute, Israel and Songhai Integrated Farms, Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin, in many areas of farming, especially in poultry and fishery under the ministry’s skills acquisition training programme.

    One of the beneficiaries said: “In September 2010 we were selected to go for an overseas training by the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Abuja. We were 86 in number; 34 of us were sent to Israel and the rest (52) were sent to Port Novo in Benin Republic. We spent one month learning mechanised and commercial agriculture.”

    Our source said shortly after they returned they were asked to present N5m business plan adding that trouble started brewing when the promised empowerment failed to materialise as soon as they had thought. The paltry N750,000 cheque was therefore the last stroke for the aggrieved trainees.

    “Since three years after undergoing training the officials of the ministry have been playing us like we are fools. Yesterday (Friday, January 17) they organised an empowerment programme in Warri, where we were supposed to get our funds.”

    At the ceremony held at Ishaka Hotel, Effurun, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, disbursed the cheque of N750,000 each to the trainees. Orubebe, who was represented by one of his aides, Mr Sam Osasa, explained that the purpose of the grant, was to make them self-reliant and self-dependable in line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    He said, “Let me make a passionate and patriotic appeal to all beneficiaries, that, as pioneer/pilot products, you are expected to make judicious application of the financial empowerment that would be extended to you to justify government’s intention and investment and ensure the continuity and sustainability of the scheme to afford others the opportunity to benefit as well.”

    Speaking in the same vein, the Director in charge of Economic Empowerment Department in the ministry, Mr. Gboyega Olawoyin, said the ministry conceived the scheme to enable the beneficiaries to “become employers of labour and not job seekers.”

    He added: “With wise investment and prudent management of the resources at your disposal, you will go to places.”

    Immediately after the ceremony, a trainee from one of the eastern states hinted of insincerity in the programme. Our source said he and his colleagues suspect that the ministry’s officials were not telling them the whole truth about the programme.

    “All through our stay (in Israel and Benin Republic) we were always at loggerheads with the staff of the ministry over our daily allowance and upkeep. Little did we know that (it) was the beginning of massive lies, deception and corruption from the ministry.

    “The Federal Government budgeted over N900m for this program yet we were treated like animals. The officials made so much money from this program through inflated budget and outright deceit.

    “To our greatest disappointment we were given only N750,000 thereby deliberately short-changing us (of N2.25m). We were threatened not to go to the media to complain.”

    However, independent findings by our reporter revealed that the cheque presented to the beneficiaries in Effurun (Warri) could be the first of several payments as the ministry had promised to provide additional funds for beneficiaries upon satisfactory appraisal of their performance and the use of the initial grant.

    Osasa, who represented Orubebe, said: “As their (beneficiaries) process continues, they all will be evaluated at periodic intervals to ascertain possible areas of assistance to them. It is hoped that these measures would guarantee sustainable livelihood and add value to the human capital development efforts in the Niger Delta in line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan administration.”

    In spite of the assurance, the farmers were not impressed. One of those from Bayelsa state hinged their disbelief on the dillydallying and bureaucracy that took over three years for their business plans and feasibility studies to be evaluated before they were paid the N750,000

    “Upon our arrival (in 2010), we were told to write business plans and feasibility study report of N5m for each of our projects. We wrote and submitted. We were shocked that it took years before they could settle us and then only for them to pay us a paltry sum of 750,000 each. How can one engage in mechanised farming with such an amount bearing in mind what we learnt in Israel? Nigeria is struggling to get out of subsistence farming and these officials who should know better are dragging us back to subsistence farming,” he added.

    Besides, the trainees wondered where the funds, which they claimed were budgeted for since 2010 had been kept while they waited to be paid. “Who have been receiving the interests?”

    “Please ask these pertinent questions: Why would the ministry spend so much money to train us abroad only to give us a very poor start-up fund? This should be seen within the context of operating the mechanised form of agriculture as our program schedule stated. What happens to the balance when very close to one billion naira was allocated for this programme? If the crisis is not resolved, we will not release the money.”

    The way things stand now, the last certainly have not been heard of this matter.

     

     

  • Ibom Plant boosts power supply in Akwa Ibom

    Ibom Plant boosts power supply in Akwa Ibom

    •Plant  to sign Power Purchase Agreement

    Power generated from the Ibom Power Plant has helped stabilise electricity supply in parts of Akwa Ibom, it has emerged.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor o Power, Dr. Victor Udo, said this is in line with Governor Godswill Akpabio’s dream.

    He said: “The completion of a gas infrastructure in Esit Eket, upgrade of the Eket-Uyo-Itu 132kV transmission lines and the restoration of Ibom Power Plant Unit 3 are the reasons His Excellency’s vision will soon be accomplished.

    “Under the leadership of the new board appointed by His Excellency, General Electric has completed the general combustion inspection of Ibom power plant and the plant is running that is why there Has been improved power supply in Akwa Ibom State in the last few months. Power generated by Ibom Power Plant is not only consumed by Akwa Ibom people but by Nigerians as a whole through the National grid.”

    He seized the opportunity to appeal to Akwa Ibom people not to allow anybody vandalize the power infrastructure in their community.

    He said: “Many a times power is not flowing because the transformer or associate cables have been stolen or vandalised so when you see someone tampering with power infrastructure in your community call the police or contact the Office of the SSA to the Governor on Power through 08081134400 or contact us through www.akspower.com.”

    The Business Managers in the three Business Units of Akwa Ibom State, Uduma Okala, have confirmed the improvement in Power supply.

    The Business Manager at Uyo Business Unit, said: “There has been a significant improvement in power supply because Ibom Power Plant is on.”

    Kelly Effiong and Uzoma Mbuko, Business Managers in Eket and Ikot Ekpene Business Unit, also confirmed the improvement in their units.

    In a related development, some residents of Afaha Idoro and Nwaniba who had previously complained to the Office of the SSA on Power on lack of power supply have also recorded an improvement in the power situation in their respective areas.

    Mr. Fred Uwah a business owner at Afaha Idoro said “we have not experienced any power outage, the power has been constant” while Mrs. Happiness Johnson a resident of Nwaniba said “power supply has improved for a while now”.

    The Ibom Power Plant is at the verge of recording another ‘first’ as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), Mr. Rumundaka Wonodi has said that “NBET Plc will like to enter a Power Purchase Agreement with Ibom Power in February 2014”

    If agreements are reached, Ibom Power Plant will be one of the first Independent Power Producers in Nigeria to sign a Power Purchase Agreement with NBET.

    The CEO, who spoke during a courtesy visit of NBET Senior Management team to Ibom Power, said: “The Nigerian electricity supply sector is about to enter the next stage of the market which is the transitional electricity market.

    “A basic requirement for that stage is that all the generating assets should have a Power Purchase Agreement so that all the generation and consumption through the Distribution companies is administered under a contract.”

    Wonodi added that “part of NBET’s visit to Ibom Power plant was to state their commitments and also get some commitment from Ibom Power.”

    Speaking further, the Electricity Bulk Trader Boss said: “The good thing about the Power Purchase Agreement is that to a large extent, it addresses the issue of transmission and capacity payments.

    “NBET is very well capitalised with over $700million fund backed by World Bank and with that, Ibom Power can be rest assured that payments will be made as at when due.”

    The Managing Director of Ibom Power, Mr. Gareth Wilcox, said: “The Power Purchase Agreement with NBET is very important because without the PPA it will be impossible to operate and maintain the power plant.

    “We are therefore happy that the Chief Executive Officer of the NBET has agreed to sign a PPA with us in February.”

    Udo, who is also a board member in Ibom Power Company, expressed delight with the PPA agreement.

    Dr. Udo said: “Ikot Abasi is a power exporting hub because apart from the 191MW Ibom plant, ALSCON has 540MW capacity plant and there is another proposed plant with 250MW capacity, all within Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom State.”

    He added that the governor would remain committed to improving power supply in the state.