The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Obio-Akpor residents to govt: give us good roads

    Obio-Akpor residents to govt: give us good roads

    Their case is that of the proverbial goose that lays the golden egg, but has nothing to show for it. The people of Nkpor, Aka and Rumuolumeni communities in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State play hosts to many multinational and local oil companies and services companies.

    With over 35 high profile companies in their land, they are second only to Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout in terms of concentration of economic activities in the state.

    Regrettably, when Niger Delta Report visited the areas recently, the deplorable state of the road passing through the areas told the stories of neglect and underdevelopment in the communities. Our reporter also found out that the people are confronted with lack of basic amenities. Residents said they have been living with the burden of deplorable roads for many years.

    It was gathered that the rainy season is usually hellish for residents of these areas as roads leading into and outside the communities are usually flooded to the extent that people’s compound and living homes are submerged. They pay heavily to get to and from their destinations. The prices of transportations are hiked indiscriminately by commercial drivers who risk the treacherous roads.

    Residents and motorists, who spoke to Niger Delta Report, appealed to the communities leaders, government and the multinational companies operating in the area to stop playing politics with peoples’ lives, as the deplorable roads have turned death traps.

    The angry residents were particularly unimpressed that the heavy duty vehicles and trucks of the multinationals operating their lands contribute to the destruction of the road.

    “Yet the companies remain adamant to several complaints about the suffering of the people over the deplorable road,” one residents said.

    Similarly, they slammed the state government, to whose coffers taxes from the multinationals’ go, for not living up its obligation to the people and firms. In the same vein, they slammed their leaders who they accused of using the deplorable road to negotiate their personal deals with the companies in the area.

    A tricycle (Keke) driver Uche Onwumechiri, who spoke while trying to manoeuvre his cycle from a crater on the road, said for more than three years motorists and other road ushers had been faced with suffering and loss of revenue due to the deplorable condition of the road. He said his only means of survival (Keke) was trapped on worse spot on the road while he was trying to escape another bad spot.

    “Commuters are now being stranded on daily basis. Most commercial drivers that ply Rumuorlumeni, Nkpor and Aka road could not drive due to bad road while some drivers who manage to operate were forced to increase their fares,” Onwumechiri added.

    NDR recall that during one of the rainy seasons which flooded Nkpor, the state governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, urged the people and their Aka neighbours to tax the companies operating in their area to contribute to fixing their roads as part of their social responsibilities. The governor also informs them that government had awarded contracts for Rumuolumeni and others roads which would be handled by the companies operating in the area.

    Investigation revealed that internal roads in Nkpor, Aka and Rumuorlumeni communities including the road leading to the palace of their kings are as bad as the major roads. The Highness and Mission roads both in Nkpor community are in a deplorable condition.

    Our reporter’s attempt to speak with the Paramount Ruler of Rumuolumeni, His Royal Highness Eze Ndubueze Wobo, was rebuffed. A security detail who took the message to him came back with the reply that “the monarch was not in the mood to entertain any visitor.”

    A chief in Nkpor community, who pleaded anonymity, said the bad condition of the road including that of Rumuorlumeni road was as a result of corruptible Chiefs and Elders in the area, saying, “Many companies are operating in this community but they find it difficult to fix the road because most of us who are the representative of the community have in one way or the other betrayed the trust repose in us by the community.”

    Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Ejike Ihunwo, a driver and native of Nkpor community buttressed the point, stressing that the people are playing politics with the road.

    Ihunwo recalled that “Three or four years ago one of the companies operating here volunteered to fix the road. But along the line when some leaders in the community discovered that the company was serious to fix the road, they rose against him. The Managing Director of the company was petitioned and almost arrested and an order came from above and asked him to stop the job. What was his sin that he wants to fix the road without getting permission from the community? Of course, that was a big lesson from other companies who now prefer to pay bribe than executing any project.”

    There have been instances when temper rose among drivers who tried to meander through the good section of the road quickly. Some of the issues were resolved with fisticuffs and exchange of vituperations.

    Mr. Obodo Chidah, a commercial driver, whose car was dented by another driver, made his point with his fist. He told our reporter afterwards: “Look at how we are dragging the road because the road is bad and everybody is in a hurry to go. That is the reason why this stupid driver hit my vehicle at the back.

    Having failed to get government’s attention over the years, the youths of the area took the uncanny measure of digging up a huge hole on the road to ensure total blockade.

    Confirming the action, Chairman of the youth group in Mgbualimini, Rumuolumeni, Comrade Ogbonda Ndamati, said they wanted to cripple the operation of the companies and force them to do something about the road.

    The move seemed to have worked. Ndamati said they extracted assurance from companies that the road would be fixed very soon.

    He said: “The people are suffering especially the business men and women of the community who transport their goods from one place to another. It is not only Rumuolumeni road that is bad, the communities under Rumuolumeni such as Mboshimini, Nkpor, Aka and Rumuokprikon roads are all bad even the road leading to the palace and Trans-Olumini Road are in a bad shape except the Eagle Cement Road.

    “On different occasion heavy duty trucks have somersaulted on the road due to the bad road, State government is not helping matter and the companies who also have the social responsibility to assist the community have totally abandoned us.

    “We also entered an agreement with the company that those bad spot should be fixed. But after sometime nothing happened which was the main reason of the protest by the youths of the area leading to the total blockage of the road.”

    It is yet to be seen if the strange action of the youths was the solution, but for now the people of the area and their visitors must contend with the situation.

     

  • Rivers’ court bomb blast a portent of election violence

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) traded blame on Tuesday over a small bomb blast at a court in oil-producing Rivers State a day earlier, a signal of the growing risk of violence ahead of elections next year.

    The improvised device went off early on Monday in the High Court in Ahaoda, causing some damage but no casualties, state police spokesman Ahmad Mohammad said. Police managed to detonate two more explosive devices safely.

    Amachi’s defection last year from the PDP to the APC was a key trigger in the Rivers State impasse.

    The explosion occurred just hours before Justice Charles Wali was due to hear a case over the disputed leadership in the state national assembly. The case concerned the current Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Otelemaba Amachree, seeking an injunction to restrain Evans Bipi – part of a faction wishing to have him removed as Speaker.

    According to Adaure Achumba, eNCA’s West Africa correspondent, the court cases arises from an incident in the House of Assembly, caught on a viral video, involving a faction of the lawmakers loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan that wanted to impeach Amachree.

    In the ensuing fracas, Bipi, one of the six dissenting lawmakers, who is also accused of parading himself as Speaker, used the speakers mace to assault another lawmaker. The assembly complex has been sealed off since the incident.

    The latest available information indicates that three aides to the lawmaker are in custody. It is unclear whether they are detained for questioning or whether they are being charged.

    Rivers State, like much of the Niger Delta, has a history of instability, gangsterism and political thuggishness that tends to worsen in the build up to elections as rival factions jockey for power.

    It s the largest state in the Delta, where the bulk of Nigeria’s 2-million barrels per day of crude oil is produced, and it exports the world’s fourth largest quantity of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

    Both oil and LNG exports have been hampered by sabotage and theft attacks on pipelines. Large scale oil theft is worth billions of dollars a year and industry experts believe the scale of the problem means high-level politicians are involved.

    The oil-producing delta is far from the reach of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which mostly carries out its attacks on security forces, churches and schools in the mainly Muslim north of Africa’s most populous nation.

    The 2015 national poll is expected to be the most closely fought since the end of military rule 15 years ago because of a row within President Goodluck Jonathan’s ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over his assumed intention to run for another term, and because the opposition coalition is more powerful and has broader national appeal than any previous one.

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi last year defected from Jonathan’s PDP, intensifying a row between them.

    Amaechi joined the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), giving the newly formed opposition coalition a foothold in Jonathan’s home Niger Delta region and heightening the rivalries that often lead to violence in Africa’s second largest economy.

     

  • Commissioner’s wife showers women with gifts

    Commissioner’s wife showers women with gifts

    The wife of Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Maureen Umanah, hosted women from Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ika Federal Constituency, to a Christmas celebration at her residence in Abak.

    The event was attended women political leaders from the three local government areas.

    Mrs. Umanah donated food items, including bags of rice and cash to the women, in appreciation for their steadfast support to Governor Godswill Akpabio and his wife, Ekaete, whom she described as her mother and role model.

    She said she was inspired by the leadership qualities of the Governor and decided to emulate him by gathering women of her constituency to extend her love and care to them in the spirit of Christmas.

    Mrs Umanah advised her fellow women, who are occupying positions of authority to borrow a leaf from the wife of the State Governor, Mrs Ekaete Unoma Akpabio, and use their good offices to promote the welfare of women, especially the widows.

    She also lauded Governor Akpabio for extending his transformation programme to her hometown, Abak, as witnessed in the areas of construction of schools and bridges as well as provision of good road network, linking the city with neighbouring local government areas.

    She acknowledged the fervent prayers from the women of Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ika Federal Constituency to the success of the present administration and solicited their continued cooperation for the government to deliver more dividends of democracy to the citizenry.

    Apart from presenting the gifts, Mrs Umanah also took time to sing and dance with the women.

    The donation was in the categories of widows and other women from each of the three local government areas.

    Some of the beneficiaries described the philanthropic gesture by the wife of the Information Commissioner as the first of its kind in the political history of Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika Federal Constituency.

    The Assistant Financial Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mrs Victoria Ime Thomas, described Mrs. Umanah as a caring mother and sister, who has set a pace for other wives of government’s officials to follow.

    For the PDP Woman Leader in Essien Udim, Mrs. Rosemary Anthony Umo, the Christmas gifts have further motivated women and reaffirmed their belief that they have a caring Commissioner and wife, who have the interests of women at heart.

    On her part, the Woman Leader in Etim Ekpo, Mrs Obon-odo Ini Uko, eulogized Mrs Umanah for remembering women, stressing that they will forever remain grateful to her and her husband.

    Another beneficiary was the Party Woman Leader in Abak, Mrs. Mercy Isonguyio. In her appreciation, she emphasised the need for women to always unite and support political and elective office holders for them to succeed.

  • Why Edo has no member on NDDC board

    Why Edo has no member on NDDC board

    President Goodluck Jonathan appears to be at a crossroad over whose nominee to approve to represent Edo State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The NDDC board has since been sworn-in but disagreements among political leaders in the state have stalled the nominee from Edo State from joining others.

    Jonathan holds the ace on who to appoint among the many names submitted for approval.

    Those battling for the slot include leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Adams Oshiomhole and four communities in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

    Names reportedly sent to the Presidency by the PDP are Chris Nehikhare, Hon Levis Aigbogun and Osahon Ahunwa. Oshiomhole prefers Henry Okhuarobo while the four communities- Ikobi, Oben, Iguelaba and Obozogbe-nugu are rooting for their son, Courage Bende.

    At the centre of those with interest in the NDDC slot is Senator Ehigie Uzamere representing Edo South Senatorial district.

    Sources told Niger Delta Report that the sour relationship between Uzamere and Oshiomhole has further stalled the approval of the names of whomever the President will send to the senate for screening.

    Some political pundits said Uzamere is using the Edo NDDC nominee to negotiate his political future, a replica of perhaps what played out ahead of the 2011 general election.

    Oshiomhole had then sought the help of Uzamere, who was then of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to clear his nominee, Don Omorodion after late President Yar Adua insisted that governors should send names of nominees in line with the NDDC Act.

    Other senators from the state, Yisa Braimah and Odion Ugbesia, opposed the nomination but Uzamere who had already fallen out with leaders of the PDP in the state supported Oshiomhole’s nominee and was cleared.

    In appreciation of Uzamere’s stand, Oshiomhole dropped support for Matthew Urhoghide, a pharmacist, and ensured the return of Uzamere to the Senate.

    The relationship between Oshiomhole and Uzamere is now frosty because of what some sources said was due to the Oshiomhole’s refusal to support Uzamere’s political future. It was gathered that Uzamere was unhappy with the manner candidates were nominated for last year’s local government elections. He was said to been peeved because not even a councillor was nominated by him.

    Other sources said Uzamere’s boys were not given appointments by Oshiomhole and as such do not have any political structure within the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) now All Progressives Congress (APC).

    It was learnt that Oshiomhole was not happy with the performances of Uzamere, especially in giving back to the people.

    Sources said Uzamere is planning to return to the PDP with a view to securing the governorship ticket. He is also an ardent supporter of Jonathan

    Uzamere, in an interview, denied planning to defect to the PDP but said he was unhappy with the workings of the APC. He promised to make a statement on the matter soon.

    A close aide to Oshiomhole said Uzamere’s support was not needed to clear Edo NDDC nominee. The aide said only one vote from Uzamere could not stop other 108 senators. He added that the planned defection would not affect the fortunes of APC in the state.

    Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Public Affairs, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said the President should do the right thing in line with the NDDC Act with respect to appointment of representatives of oil producing states.

    He said: “The bucks stop at the President’s table. The Comrade Governor has submitted the name of his nominee and it is now expected for Mr. President to do the needful in line with the Act setting up the NDDC as a body with respect to appointment of representatives of the oil producing states.”

    On the agitation of the oil communities, he said: “We are acting on behalf of the entire state, duly and popularly elected. The oil communities have given their mandate to the Governor to act on their behalf. In taking any decision we don’t have to go to communities. Henry Okhuarobo, the governor’s nominee, is from a village that has oil.”

     

  • Stop celebrating corrupt leaders, cleric urges Nigerians

    A Muslim leader and member of the National Executive Committee of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Alhaji Mumakai Unagha, has urged Nigerians to stop celebrating corrupt and bad leaders.

    Unagha, who made the remark when Muslim religious leaders visited him in Warri, said respecting those whose greed and avarice put millions of Nigerians in poverty would only encourage them and others to continue in such evil ways.

    The Muslim cleric lamented that corruption and bad leadership have become endemic in Nigeria adding that they are growing very fast amongst the people who see it as normal.

    He therefore charged traditional rulers, religious and community leader to speak out against corruption, stressing that they should not remain silent

    Unaghai, who is a former Chairman of the Delta State Muslim Pilgrims Board, said leaders have divine roles to play in the day to day running of the affairs of the nation. He said they must not sit aloof and watch until the nation is brought to its knees by corrupt and bad leaders.

    The Muslim leaders particularly reminded the visiting Muslims that they are mirror others looked unto pointing out that they should be modest as ambassadors of Islam.

    He called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to restructure the anti-corruption organs, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corruption Practice Commission (ICPC) to meet the aspiration of Nigerians.

    He maintained that the two agencies have fallen short of Nigerians expectation stressing that they should be establish in both at the States and Local Government level.

    Also speaking, the leader of the delegation Alhaji Isa Onokeroraye, paised Unagha on his election.

    The Muslims particularly commended the Urhobos for giving him a seat in the highest Urhobo body in spite his religious background as a Muslim.

    He enjoined other ethnic nationalities to emulate the good gesture of the Urhobo people pointing out that it has portrayed the Urhobo as civilised and accommodating.

    Onokeroraye, however, urged Unagha to be loyal and submissive to the will of the people in the task of moving Urhobo forward.

    Highlight of the occasion was the former presentation of souvenir to Unagha.

    Among those who graced the occasion were Alhaji Wasiu Udi, Chairman of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Alhaji Jurbril Jenije, Chairman Jamaat Nastril Islam.

  • National Confab: ‘Ndokwa nation to seek reduction of power at the centre’

    National Confab: ‘Ndokwa nation to seek reduction of power at the centre’

    Paul Enebeli, President-General, Ndokwa Neku Union, is a pharmacist and member on the board of NAFDAC. In this interview with OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE, he  speaks on  the proposed National Confab , developmental challenges facing his people and Delta State 2015 gubernatorial elections, among others.

    That has been the focus of your administration since you assumed office?

    The focus of my administration is to unify the Ndokwa people, getting them together to begin to think as one, dream as one. Before my assumption of office there was division along political and sectional lines. We reached out to all shades of opinion, all strata of people so that they can buy into our vision for our people.

    What are the developmental challenges facing the Ndokwa people?

    The challenges facing our people are enormous. They are the issues of lack of government presence, both States and federal, especially the federal government. In terms of the federal government presence in Ndokwa land the only visible one is the dilapidated prison yard and maybe some adjoining police stations .We do not have a tertiary educational institution, we lack also a tertiary health institution. There are many places in Ndokwa land were one cannot drive on the roads year round especially in Ndokwa East because the terrain is  swampy and in a rain forest area. There is also the issue of electricity, despite the fact Okpai Power plant is domiciled in Ndokwa land and produces about 10 per cent   power to the national grid, our people still wallow in darkness because we produce power in Okpai and federal government installs a step-down transformer at Obosi, Anambra State.
    There is the issue of oil exploitation, Ndokwa has become a major oil and gas hub in Nigeria with so many oil companies operating in Ndokwa land. With the level of the destruction of the flora and fauna of the region we cannot see any bright future for our people. Our youths are unemployed , the farm lands have been despoiled with oil spills, there is also the fertility related  health issues resulting from continuous gas flaring.
    It is sad to know that in Ndokwa East we have no banks there is no way an economy will grow without banks. There is also the issue of human capital, because we do not have tertiary institutions, save the private University established by our illustrious son and Aboh Polytechnic only recently approved by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s regime. So, our children cannot go to university.
    What you have in Ndokwa is the phenomenon of child fathers, you find 18-year-olds having children and this causes unemployment, restiveness among the youths. We are using this medium to call on government to respond to these challenges enumerated above.

    What is the idea behind the N1 billion country club project?

    My major reason why I decided to embark on that was that I realized that a lot of the Ndokwa elite get to know themselves late in the day such that they are not able to envision together. This is because a  lot of them did not grow up at home, they grew outside the Ndokwa area and so when they came home they had no contemporaries and they had no people to meet and talk. We thought  a country club  will be a place where the elite will come and meet, discuss issues of mutual importance, discuss ideas, share opinions about Government and the way forward and by so doing  the consensus building process will start you achieve a lot when you can sit down with people maybe in a relaxed environment with a glass of beer and whatever and  that brings people.

    What is the Union doing to check the growing incidence of conflicts between oil companies and host communities?

    Since I came into office we have been sitting together as an executive to find lasting solutions to the challenges oil exploitation pose for our people. If we do not have a clear- cut oil policy within our area there is going to be problem later on because there will be issues land disputes.
    We produce oil in Ndokwa land but we do not know the quantum of oil produced; it is shrouded in secrecy. It is not good for us. Government should be transparent enough to tell us the quantity of oil that is been produced in our land. If you look at the State’s intervention agency DESOPADEC, the constitution of the board has something to do with the quantum of oil produced. For a long time our quantum of oil has remained the same despite the fact that so much is produced by marginal fields in the area. We have a big challenge because ours is still a new organisation. I am just beginning to lay the right foundations for a take-off  of a more organised and better focused union. There is a lot that needs to be done.
    We do not have our sons and daughters at the commanding heights of the oil industry, so we are unable to get information. We have been preaching peace to our youths to allow us to engage government. I do not know how long they can continue to give us time to negotiate with government. In 2014 we plan to engage the Nigeria National Petroleum (NNPC) Corporation and its joint venture partners to really know what our situation is we cannot continue to remain at a particular level of oil production, yet many oil companies come to do business in our land.
    There are cries of marginalisation among Ndokwa people; do you think this is justified?

    I think it is justified. What else can be marginalisation in a people that produce so much to the economy? I have not talked about the amount of manpower that we have both in Nigeria and Diaspora. For us it is even worse despite all these contributions we have never produced a Minister, Governor, Deputy Governor, an ambassador, even at the federal level there is no Special Assistant in the Presidency, from this Ndokwa are not only marginalized we are near annihilation. That is why are saying that the only way to assuage this injustices is to produce the next Delta State Governor in 2015

    What are the issues to be canvassed by the Ndokwa people in the proposed national dialogue?

    I do not know whether I should let the cat out of the bag. We support the national confab as proposed by the President Goodluck Jonathan. We believe that any opportunity for Nigerians to sit down and talk is a welcome one especially for minorities. The majority tribes have taken us for granted for too long.
    We believe that the centre is too powerful; power needs to be devolved to the states or the local government areas. Principles of Derivation should be revisited, with 50  per cent as suggested sharing formula of resources. Presidential system which we are operating is too expensive, and the best way to go is the French model, the legislature will be part time. As it stands a lot of money is being spent on salaries and overheads, with nothing left for capital projects.
    More states needs to be created. Since after independence the structure of government has not favour Ndokwa land. Before independence, Aboh Division which metamorphosed into the present Ndokwa land used to be at par with the defunct Asaba Division, today the Asaba Division has about six local governments while the old Aboh division still has three. At the level of federal constituencies the old Aboh division is only one which is the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal constituencies. Asaba has two federal constituencies same inequalities apply across the country with Kano State having about 44 local council areas.
    If an Anioma State is created then we may be able to clamour for the number of local government areas we deserve. We believe these issues can only be discussed in a free and unfettered environment as the national dialogue as envisaged by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Why have the Ndokwa people repeatedly failed to produce a governor?

    Because the Ndokwa people have been shut out of power for so long they lack the political contacts at the highest level of government to influence anything at the State level due to the overbearing attitude of a too powerful center. We have not failed because we lack competent hands like the saying goes “Talent is everywhere but opportunities are lacking”. We have not been lucky enough to have the sympathy of out-going governors in the past, as this has a role to play in who succeeds them. I hope that luck will smile at us come 2015.

    Do the Anioma people have a clear-cut strategic plan to clinch gubernatorial power in 2015?

    Are you going to say the Itsekiris were more strategic that they produced Governor Uduaghan? I have my doubts, and I do not think it was the Itsekiris who made Uduaghan governor or that ex-Governor was governor because the Urhobos were more strategic. What I know is that there is a groundswell of opinion for power to rotate. The reason is people want participatory democracy. If anyone told you some years back that an Ijaw man will be President of Nigeria you will not believe. That gives people hope that given the right framework and the right thinking anyone can become President of Nigeria. If the majorities agree to flex their muscle and use their numerical strength President Jonathan will stand no chance. We will not expose strategy, but we know that there is a groundswell of opinion for power to shift in the State.

  • Nigeria far from being a democratic nation, says Aginighan

    A former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Pastor Power Ziakede Aginighan, has passed a damning verdict on Nigeria democracy, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties in the country.

    Aginighan said despite Nigeria’s nearly 13 years of unbroken democratic government, internal democracy remains elusive in the various parties.

    He said, “In spite of the posturing of Nigeria’s political parties as democratic or progressive, none of them practises internal democracy in the conduct of their Congresses from the Ward Congress to the National Convention.

    “None of them is democratic and none is progressive. All of them have been hijacked by very powerful individuals who determine who should be party officers or candidates for elective offices,” he added.

    Aginighan, in a statement to mark his 55th birthday anniversary, noted that as long as every election in Nigeria ends up in tribunal because results are declared without election, the nation would remain far from democracy.

    He appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that the much touted one-man, one –vote campaign is actualised.

    “As long as after every election in Nigeria, losers head to Election Tribunals to protest outcomes of elections lost largely because they were out-rigged by opponents; as along as some electoral officers can, with impunity, declare results for elections not held, we are far from being a democratic Nation.

    “While I commend President Goodluck Jonathan’s avowed commitment to one man, one vote as re-echoed in his 2014 New Year message to Nigerians, I wish to seize this auspicious occasion of my 55th birthday to appeal to Mr President to strengthen the Institutions with statutory responsibility for deepening democratic culture in Nigeria.

    “An Agency that is particularly relevant to our quest for a truly democratic Nigeria is the National Orientation Agency. Sections (3)1(d) and (e) of the National Orientation Agency Act respectively charges the Agency with “establishing social institutions and framework for deliberate exposure of Nigerians to democratic norms and values” and “energising the conscience of all categories of Nigerians on their rights and privileges, responsibilities and obligations as citizens of Nigeria”.

    “I urge the National Orientation Agency to be the carriers of Mr President’s one man one vote pledge by urgently commencing programmes of educating all Nigerians on the power of their vote in the various languages spoken by Nigerians. This should include jingles on radio and television throughout Nigeria,” he added.

    Aginighan noted that the campaigns are necessary to enlighten the citizenry to rise up against the temptation of selling their votes and not only casting their votes, but also ensuring that they ensure that the votes are counted and made to count in the decision of those who become their political leaders.

    “Without strengthening institutions like Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has the duty of conducting elections and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) which has the duty of enlightening Nigerians on their rights and obligations as citizens it will be wishful thinking to have credible elections in Nigeria,” he posited.

     

     

  • Confessions of man who owned illegal refineries

    Confessions of man who owned illegal refineries

    He relocated to the creeks of the Niger Delta in 2010. His business was to locate, break pipelines and steal petroleum products from them. He was also part of the brains behind many illegal refineries that now dot the creeks. In fact, he was an expert in the crude cooking business.

    However, Tubokeyie Dauyeibo, who hails from Peretorugbene in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, decided to quit the illegal venture of pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering and refining of petroleum products mid-2011. From an economic saboteur, he turned his arsenal against pipeline vandals and oil thieves.

    He formed the Movement for Eradication of Local Refineries, Pipeline Vandalism (MELPV) to tackle growing economic menace in the region. He told Niger Delta Report that he has the key to stop the economic sabotage.

    On why he decided to abandon the creeks, he said: “I was part of the illegal business. There was a time the Nigerian army ordered people involved in the illegal business to leave it and come out of the creeks. I came to the conclusion that this business we were doing affect the government.

    “So, l told my boys that l was no longer interested in it and asked all of them to join me in searching for another legitimate means of livelihood. I withdrew all my workers from the creeks in 2011. From there, l wrote to Mr. President, the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs and the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

    “They also acknowledged my letter in a reply they sent to me. They said they liked the idea and expressed willingness to work with me. That was how l started the movement after voluntarily withdrawing from pipeline vandalism.”

    Dauyeibo actually wrote a letter to all the stakeholders involved in the war against economic sabotage. The Ministry of the Niget Delta Affairs replied one of his letters. The Minister, Elder Godsday Orubebe, in a letter signed by the Director, Strategic Services, O.F Agabi, commended Dauyeibo for voluntarily withdrawing from the illegal business.

    A copy of the letter said: “I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 15th November, 2011 addressed to Mr. President and the Honourable Minister on your voluntary withdrawal from illegal local refinery business.

    “I am further directed to commend your spirit of patriotism, unsolicited disposition towards the oil sector reforms and transformation agenda of the present administration. Indeed widespread sabotage, crude oil theft and illegal refinery constitute a huge drain on the amount of derivation fund that could have been given to the Niger Delta states to improve the welfare and livelihood of all citizens in the region.

    “We look forward to the continuation of a close-working and mutual beneficial relationship as we partner for the development and progress of the Niger Delta and the nation in general.”

    Despite acknowledging his letter in a response dated April 11, 2012, the ministry according to Dauyeibo had done nothing to consult the movement. He said unless the Presidency through the relevant ministries and state governments consult his movement, the illegal business of economic sabotage would continue to blossom.

    For instance, he described the business as quickest way of becoming overnight millionaires. He recalled that he used to make N5million monthly from the business.

    “I was making a lot of money when l was doing the business. In a month, l could make up to N5 million. I had about 65 workers. My first operation was in Mbiama, Ahoada East Rivers State behind, Odiege community.

    “But you see l lost most of the money to military activities. The Joint Task Force (JTF) used to come and burn our refineries and equipment and we had to spend a lot of money to replace them. We make and spend the money. I was only able to acquire land and build a house.

    “I was both in the business of taking the crude oil and refining it. My refineries were also in Mbiama. But now, l have closed all of them because l don’t want to do the business again. We have all the ideas and techniques of breaking pipelines to take the crude oil, build the refineries and refine the oil,” he said.

    He further lamented that the government had allowed economic sabotage to be entrenched in the region. He described the business as a festering sour, adding that over 7000 youths were doing it.

    He said military actions would not end the sabotage. Besides, he complained that most operatives of the security outfits, who claimed to be fighting the menace were encouraging it through taking of bribes. He said he once gave bribes to some military officials to escape with his products.

    He said: “Over 7000 youths are doing this business in the region. We have the power to bring all of them out. This government in Bayelsa State can take advantage of our movement to improve the revenues accruing to the state. I advise the governor to consult and empower our group to move into the creeks.

    “I know many of the people involved int his matter. For instance in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, if you can get five of the camps, the business will close. JTF can only burn boats, ovens but after that these people buy more to re-establish themselves.

    “If you burn 20 today, tomorrow over 40 will spring up. It cannot solve the matter. If some people in the bush can get a salary of N30000 monthly, most of them will leave the business. The moment there is empowerment; this problem will be reduced because there is no job anywhere.

    “Military action through navy, JTF and civil defence cannot stop this business. Most of them are collecting bribes from people who are doing this business. I used to also give bribes to them. You must give them what you bargain for.”

    He gave an insight on the methods of building refineries and the risk involved in operating them. But, he said continuous improvements in the construction of the refineries had reduced the risks associated with the business.

    He said: “To build the refineries, we buy plate. Take to the creeks and begin to build it. When we construct it, we begin to feed crude oil into it and begin to cook it. The first product that flows out during the refining process is fuel. When the fuel is flowing out, gas is also escaping through the air.

    “If you are not careful in managing the fuel and gas, it will result to explosion. But the equipment has so much been modernised and upgraded that it hardly triggers explosion. We can build every local refinery.

    “I have also witnessed explosion many times. I have also seen many people roasted in the explosion. I witnessed over 30 persons perish from such explosions. I felt bad because they were burnt.

    “That was why l told my people that l would no longer do the business and l wrote to the government to announce my voluntary withdrawal. I did the business a year and four months and l made millions.

    “When you use fire to cook the fuel, the fuel cannot bring any fire because it is as cold as ice. After the fuel, kerosene then after kerosene is coal tar. That is always the waste. We throw it away. We always dig pit to throw it away.

    “The pipelines are buried inside the ground. When you are looking for it, you cannot get exactly where the pipelines are. We used rods to test the ground and locate the pipelines. So, immediately it touched the pipeline, you will know.

    “After locating the pipeline, the next thing is to work on it to open the point. After that, you will begin to load with hosts. You connect our hose to the pipeline and load almost 15 meters away from the pipeline. We used different sizes of local boats to load.

    “Sometimes, military people used to storm our loading point and we would abandon our facilities and run away. But none of boys had been arrested or shot by the military people. Wherever there is pipeline, as far as there is a river, we are capable of vandalising the pipeline. No pipeline is safe in this region.”

    The former pipeline vandal said there were many buyers for the illegal products. According to him the existence of the buyers encouraged the business. He insisted that local and international markets for illegally refined products had continued to expand.

    He said: “We have many buyers that used to patronise us. Some come from the sea. They come with vessels to load. Vessels can reach the areas that are close to the sea soil. They come there to load. We also used small boats to load the products and take them to the vessels close to the sea.

    “Even the white men come load the product. If they can stop the channel where vessels come through, the business will collapse. It is the market that is encouraging the business because when you cannot sell your products, the business will collapse.

    “The buyers strengthen the business of vandalism and illegal refining of products. We have a business chain. Some vandalise to get the product, others refine while other come to buy. So we have a chain of three channels.”

    On why he joined the business in the first place, he said: “I went to Government Technical College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State from 2006 to 2009. After the school there was no work. I looked for jobs but could not get any. So I decided to join the business. I used the experience I gained in technical school as a welder to begin the business. I started in 2010 and stopped in 2011.

    He gave more reasons why he stopped the illegality. He said: “But when l started the business and discovered the infections and effects it had in our health and environment, l decided to stop it. We want the government to empower us so that we will have no reason to go back to the business.

    “When I was doing the business, l noticed the pollution. The river, the mangroves and the fish were collapsing. The land became infertile and was unable to produce food and even the ground was caving in. We were doing the business because of money but when we saw the environmental impact, we discovered it was bad and l decided to leave it.

    “Illegal refineries affect the country and at the same time affect the Niger Delta region. Government depends on it for revenue but when we take it, it affects the government and when we consider it, we also know that it affects the government. We have to partner with the government to stop the menace. We can also talk to others who are still doing the business to stop it.

    “Niger Delta is in danger if people refuse to leave the business. If the government does not act quickly to stop the business, it will bring problem to the Niger Delta.

    “I see earthquake coming to the region because all the areas where this thing is done is collapsing. It will ruin all the underwater assets in the region. Fish has left our waterways because of this business. Many have also died. It has affected the farming system. There will be serious environmental disaster.

    “I am a welder by profession. What l do since l left the illegal business is to survive on my skills. I thought of how to help my country having been in the creeks and knowing how entrenched the illegal business is, l decided to form the movement to fight it”.

    On whether he could stop the sabotage, he added: “This movement is founded to stop illegal bunkering activities taking place all over the Niger Delta. It is also designed to discourage the setting up of illegal refineries that now dot the creeks of our blessed region.

    “I can stop pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering with my experience not by violence. The federal and state government including all agencies involved in war against oil theft should consult our movement.

    “They should come and carry us along and with our experience we can stop this menace. JTF cannot be ahead of us, we should be ahead to stop this thing. We know how to stop the buyers.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • We are suffering, Niger Deltans tell governors

    We are suffering, Niger Deltans tell governors

     As four of six Niger Delta governors gear up for the last year of their tenure, a team of Niger Delta Report reporters went round the states to seek the peoples’ expectation from their governors. Reports by Shola O’Neil, Precious Dikewoha, Nicholas Kalu, Kazeem Ibrahim, Mike Odiegwu, Osagie Otabor and Aiwerie Okungbowa.

    Godwin Ariwadu

    I want the government to create an atmosphere of peace in the state by using the spirit of 2014 to set up a peace reconciliation committee. As I am talking to you now, many youths are preparing for war this year through the advice of their godfathers. Already the politicians who are meant to be their role models are fighting one another because of 2015 election. So if we don’t use this year to make peace with one another, the crisis we saw last year may be little of what we may witness this year.

    Mrs. Kat Amadi (Trader)

    I want government to focus attention on fixing bad roads in Port Harcourt. Though the governor has tried in the area of road construction but that is not enough, there are many roads in bad shape – Nkpor, Rumuorlumini roads and the rest in Ikwerre ethnic nationality. If the governor who is our brother cannot come to our rescue this year who knows if the person that will take over from him will consider our plight.

    Endurance Ofurum

    I want the government of Rivers State to decongest Port Harcourt by relocating some of the ministries to areas like Ogoni, Degema and Igwuruta. This will help to minimize congestion and control population in Port Harcourt city and also stabilize house rent by making it affordable to low income earners.

    Elder Chidi Wihioka, politician

    2013 happened to be the year evil men wanted to take over the government of Rivers State but God disproved their plans. More militants came back to Port Harcourt last year to terrorize the people of Rivers State.  The year 2014 we believe will usher in more dividend of democracy through our great party APC.  And it will also be the year that Rivers people will stand against injustice and impunity. On the area of education more opportunity will be given to Rivers People through scholarship and other training especially the youths.

    Chikodi David Dike, former LGA committee boss

    It is a year to consolidate on the ongoing projects and other programmes initiated by Governor Chibuike Amaechi.  God will use Governor Amaechi to touch lives in 2014.  There is no community or Local Government in Rivers State that has not benefited from one   project or the other. For example, if you go to Ogbogoro, Ozuoba and other communities in Obio/Akpor you will see projects being executed by this administration.  2014 will be a year for the consolidation of those projects.

    Mike Elechi, retired Perm Sec

    This year 2014 we must pay attention to agriculture, I have always been an advocate that what the government announces every year as a budget for agriculture is just a paper work.  The theory cannot work; the budget government declared every year serve for a particular purpose which is not for the interest of the people.  Government knows those who can do well in the area of agriculture but they don’t partner with them, if government is serious in agriculture the entrepreneur must be empowered.
    The interest rate at the bank is high and an entrepreneur is not ready to pay 25 percent interest to bank because government has failed on their responsibility to empower and partner with the entrepreneur. For instance,   our soil is not productive, we expected the government to assist the farmers on the area of oil test and seedling instead of giving cash that may not be use for the purpose of which the money was given to them. So this year I want the government to be more proactive in the area of Agriculture.

    Chief Sir Raymond Chidah, Businessman

    I want the government to focus on service delivery.  We have all disappointed the society including the APC and PDP; the people have nothing to eat this year especially in Rivers State.  There was no money; some people even borrow to celebrate Xmas and New Year. The worst thing is that contracts were being awarded to non-indigene in the state. It is unfortunate that two Ikwerre men are fighting themselves.

    Micheal Ugwari, Student

    This year we are expecting that the government will focus on making the Local Government more accountable to the people. We know that for the few months now the state has not received an allocation from the Federal Government but we want the rural areas to feel the impact of the government. People are suffering nothing is happing at the locality.

    Dr Etim Okon Edet, Paramount Ruler of Bakassi

    For me the resettlement of my people is the most urgent thing that I need now. I don’t know whether people know that lives of people are involved in this thing. It’s like Nigeria has neglected its obligation and you know that know Nigeria willingly ceded that area, so I don’t know why it cannot in the same way resettle the people, so they can have a sense of livelihood.

    Samuel Una, a farmer in Yala LGA

    The governor should help us
    with roads in our area. There
    is a road that leads from Yahe to Benue state, it passes through Ukelle. The whole of Ukelle community we don’t have any road. We produce a lot of a lot like rice, cassava, yams but cannot transport them because the roads are bad and it is increasing poverty. We have few bore holes but they are not enough. We also need water. Here people still drink from ponds. We need pipe borne water. We also need a little empowerment at least for people to do farm work. We need loans and grants from government.

    Chinedu Okafor, Businessman

    The only thing I am begging the governor this year to do is to ensure the Calabar-Itu road is fixed. We all know that that road is the main nerve of this city and the terrible state it is in now is costing us a lot in terms of business. They say it is a Federal Road and that they should wait for the federal government, but it is like living in a house and you are waiting for the landlord to come and fix your toilet when he is not willing. Governor Imoke is going to be leaving soon and I believe if he can achieve that one thing, he would have engraved his name in gold in the hearts of Cross Riverians for a long time.

    Eyo Nsa-Itam, Chairman, C’Rivers NUT

    The government should re-introduce rural allowances and tax rebates for teachers. This would go a long way to motivate the teachers. The rural allowances and other allowances that the teachers were enjoying were removed. So many schools renovated without enough students. Despite financial constraints build more schools. The most important issue is the welfare of teachers. The working condition of the teacher is the learning condition of the student. If the teachers are happy, the children would also be happy.

    Esther Effanga, a nursing mother

    The most important thing the governor should make sure happens this year is the proper enforcement of free healthcare for pregnant women and children under five years. They have been telling us and people all over the country believe that this is the situation here in the state. But we who are supposed to be benefiting from this are not. We still pay for various charges in the hospital for ourselves and our babies. I don’t know if maybe the money goes to the pockets of the hospital workers or whatever. The only thing that is free is the registration. We pay for tests and in most cases, the equipment are not available so we have to do tests outside. The doctors prescribe drugs for us and we go outside and buy them. Ordinarily everything should be free, but I can tell you it is not.

    Ogban Ebock

    We expect that the governor rounds up all the projects he has embarked on. We also expect he should midwife a new government to come and take over and continue the good works he is doing.

    Florence Ogar, nurse

    The government is doing well in the primary and secondary health sector, but lacks adequate manpower to effectively run the health sector. Some health centres that need about 50 workers, they have just 10 to 15. There are so many well trained health workers in the state. They should be employed so that the old and able hands would be able to bring them up, so that when the older ones retire, the younger ones can take over effectively.

    Victor Iyanam, former Commissioner for Justice

    The government should focus on uncompleted project especially the 20th Anniversary hospital because that was the only Akpabio’s initiative.  That hospital project should be completed, the Tropicana project should be completed as originally conceived and then there are so many road projects especially in Oro Nation. Right now, erosion has cut off part of Oro on the federal road. Just like the government was doing federal road elsewhere they should go and complete the one in Oro Nation. The governor is not contesting any election in 2015. So there is no reason why we should fall under no governance because of election.

    Clifford Thomas, A’Ibom CLO chair

    The development of human capacity development and improvement in the welfare of the people should be the area of focus for the government in 2014. When the governor promised 31 industries we thought it was a good idea. Now the people need jobs that will put food on their table. The infrastructure is there but it cannot transform to food. There is poverty and hunger in the land and the disparity between the rich and the poor is so wide. Government should do everything possible to stop capital flight. As it is today, more than 3.6million Akwa Ibom people are unemployed.

    Akanimo Edet (civil servant)

    We want the governor to
    complete some of the
    projects initiated by his administration and also guarantee the citizenry a stable political atmosphere as we move to the election year.”

    Tony Osauzo (Journalist)

    The governor should complete all on-going projects and engage in new ones according to available funds. Roads within the metropolis must be given priority in 2014.

    Kola Edokpaiyi, Activist

    What we are expecting from the state governor in 2014 is to complete all on-going projects before embarking on new ones. The central hospital, a lot of roads are yet to be completed. The governor should complete them. There is high unemployment rate in the state. Oshiomhole should address unemployment and create jobs. Insecurity is another area of concern.

    Oviawe Erhabor, Lawyer

    He must fulfil his campaign promises by making poverty history. Oshiomhole should work the talk. This is not the time for noise making. We must see evidence of what they have done. For the past one year, nothing was done in the state. The government must be responsible and accountable to the people. He must resume work at all facet of lives. There should be access to justice. 2014 will be a year of happiness if all things are done well. The government should invest massively in agriculture. Buildings have been done in schools. It is now time to employ quality teachers.

    Alagoa Morris, Human rights activist

    Commuters who ply the waterways regularly and whose work, business and livelihood depend on the creeks/ rivers are in constant fear now owing to the activities of sea pirates. Just as the Special State Security outfit code-named Operation Doo Akpoo is strategically position on land within the State capital and other communities, a marine division should also be created to adequately patrol and be strategically positioned to contain the menace of armed robbers in the rivers and creeks. This would also assist in reducing the criminal act of kidnapping in the state.

    Bright Igrubia, NYC chair

    We expect government to come out with the second phase of renunciation exercise which is rehabilitation exercise. The law which was passed and assented to by Governor Seriake Dickson in Section 3 (6) talks about rehabilitation through the Department of Social Affairs.
    Then, the Soghai students are back and need start-up packages where they can create value and add wealth and become economic change agent within the Bayelsa clime. Top on the agenda for 2014 is job creation.

    Seyifa Thomas, Yenagoa

    The government must direct its energy in creating jobs. There are many graduates in the state without jobs. There will be no sustainable security without first creating employments for youths.  Also the government should invest in building public relaxation centres for people in the state and for tourists. People should have options of where to go and relax whenever they feel like going out. Unlike other states, the only relaxation centres in Yenagoa, the state capital, are eateries.

    Torki Dauseye

    The government should try and complete the ongoing projects. Another thing that is very important is the budget implementation report. Last year the government did many projects but we did not have the budget implementation report.
    Some projects are overlapping. So we don’t know which budget is funding which project. We didn’t know the total budget used for overhead and how much was used for infrastructure. We need a budget implementation report and Auditor-General report so that we know how much is expended.

    Somina Johnbull, lawyer

    I expect the governor to main
    tain his focus and complete most
    of the projects he had embarked on in many sectors. He should complete and consolidate such projects. I have not been able to pinpoint any area of fiscal indiscipline. People are simply complaining that there is no money to share. We hope the governor continue to ensure prudent management of the state’s resources.

    Elizabeth Egbe, Coordinator, National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corp

    We want all ongoing road objects completed in 2014. We should also have access to quality healthcare, educational services and to participate in budget processes. The government should improve transport system for riverine people and give welfare packages for fishermen who have been neglected. The government should also ensure speedy passage of the Child Rights Act.

    Chief Steve Sokoh

    We in Udu Kingdom are suffering, but there is light at the end of the tunnel because we can see the fingerprints of the Governor coming back to develop Udu. My wish is that 2014 will be better than 2013.
    I want to single out infrastructure ,roads to be precise. The ongoing Delta Leisure Resorts, Oleri, Udu is presently incapacitated, because nothing is actually happening there now. If the project is revived it will have a multiplier effect in Udu Kingdom and Delta State at large. Work on the beautification on the median of the DSC expressway leading to the resort is epileptic. I want the type of infrastructure being enjoyed by the people of Uvwie, Effurun, and Warri South to spread to Udu. I know Dr Uduaghan has the heart to do it.”

    Chief David Ohwoekevwo, President-General, Agbarha-Otor

    Our community lacks a hospital and good network of motorable roads despite its contribution to national development as a major oil producing community. We feel marginalised; people are not benefitting from many government policies. I have to appreciate Governor Uduaghan for all he has been doing. In spite of the quantum of oil produced, Agbarha has no hospital whereas communities that are not up to Agbarha in size and population have .The hospital project approved before the exit of ex-Governor Felix Ibru has not gone 60% completion. One expects that projects like that should be completed and commissioned for the use of the community. Also many of our sons and daughters are graduates and they are unemployed They have resorted to riding Okada. Government should focus on employment this year. So that those people whose parents borrowed money to see through their education will relieve their parents of suffering. The government policy of automatic employment for first class graduate is not working because I have young graduates with first class degrees who have applied for job but he was not even invited for an interview. I want to believe that government is playing politics with this policy. Our roads should be well tarred so that the scourge of rural-urban migration will be reduced and also enhance the socio-economic life of the people”.

    Oghenejabor Ikimi, activist

    Deltans must join hands
    with government to fight
    official corruption and poverty in our polity as government alone cannot do it. Deltans must learn to expose corrupt leaders rather than worshipping them, this is because for every money looted, wasted  or mismanaged by public office holder and is allowed to go unpunished, same translates  into poverty, decay in public infrastructure, insecurity, massive unemployment. In addition, the Federal Government must as a priority strengthen and reposition the EFCC and ICPC and the Code of Conduct Bureau respectively for greater efficiency in 2014.

    Austin Eboh, Stanley Mukoro, civil servant

    Eboh said the Delta State Government should as a matter of urgency conduct the council poll as the subsisting transition committees have overstayed their relevance. This has made the conduct of the local government elections an urgent matter that cannot be delayed any further.
    Stanley Mukoro , a civil servant, could not agree less: Deltans have eagerly looked forward to the conduct of the local government elections, but that has not materialized. So we can only hope and expect that that should be a major priority to the State government.
    Also a speedy completion of all on-going projects especially roads and creation of jobs, particularly for the youths of this State are some of the expectation of Deltans in this New Year.”

  • Niger Delta group urges northern youths to embrace peace

    A youth advocacy group, Niger Delta Organisation for Sustainable Development, has urged youths in some parts of the North to drop their arms and join hands to work towards the development of the country.

    The group’s National President, Dogubo Mologe, in a New Year message, urged Northern youths to emulate the Niger Delta youths who after some period of agitation, embraced peace and are now contributing positively to national development.

    Mologe also urged youths across the Niger Delta to guard against being used by selfish politicians to cause a breach of the peace in the New Year.

    Mologe said, as future leaders, youths should not be involved in counter-productive acts, but be more reasonable and responsible in all their actions.

    He urged them to stand solidly behind President Goodluck Jonathan who, according to him, holds the youths in high esteem. He said this has been demonstrated by his appointment of several youths into sensitive positions in his administration.

    Mologe urged them to give peace a chance so that all parts of the country can be developed for the enhancement of the standard of living of all Nigerians.