Category: South East

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has called for amicable resolution between oil and gas firms and their host communities across the state, to prevent further divestment of assets in the oil and gas sector.

He made the call yesterday while inaugurating 2.1 kilometre Obitobon-Elolo-Ajaokurre-Ogbo-Orubu roads in Ogidigben and 2.3 kilometre road in Benikrukru, both communities in Warri South-West Local Government.

Okowa stressed the need for the companies to fulfil their obligations as it concerns the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the host communities.

He said Nigeria was producing only 60 per cent of its oil production quota because of recent divestments in the oil and gas sector.

Affirming that communities were at liberty to protest, the governor urged them to channel their complaints to the Ministry of Oil and Gas, not breaching the operations of the oil companies.

“When you make a request and your request is not met, please channel it to the Ministry of Oil and Gas and we can always find a means to intervene on your behalf.

“We need to handle everything with care to prevent the international oil companies from further divesting from the nation’s oil and gas sector.

“At the moment, we are operating at 60 per cent of our production quantum because many of the oil companies are beginning to withdraw their investments from the country.

“But this does not mean oil companies will take advantage of the situation not to fulfil their obligations as stated in their memorandum of understanding with host communities,” Okowa said.

The governor, accompanied by his deputy, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, Senator James Manager and the member representing Warri South-West in the House of Assembly, Mr. Emomotimi Guwor, hailed youths of the communities for supporting the completion of the road projects.

On the abandoned projects by Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Okowa promised to discuss with the management to ensure their completion.

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has praised the leadership of the Yenagoa branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), for taking the initiative to build a standard secretariat for the body.

He gave the commendation yesterday when he led the Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN) and other top judicial officials to perform the groundbreaking at the High Court Complex, Ovom, in Yenagoa.

Speaking as special guest of honour, Ewhrudjakpo expressed delight at the initiative and encouraged members of the Bar and Bench to contribute towards completing the project in time.

He said the NBA Yenagoa resource centre would not be a place of fanfare, but a centre of excellence for intellectual development and capacity building for lawyers.

The deputy governor said the facility, when completed, would give lawyers access to useful resources, in addition to being used for hosting ceremonies such as annual legal year celebration.

Assuring the Yenagoa NBA of government’s support towards the completion of the project, he urged the Bar to take the lead for other stakeholders to follow.

Ewhrudjakpo, who advised members of Yenagoa branch of the NBA to eschew divisive actions, stressed the need for them to cooperate with the project committee to achieve target.

Justice Abiri applauded the courage and seriousness displayed by the Yenagoa NBA over the project, which she noted had been on the drawing board for years.

Describing the groundbreaking as a dream come true, Abiri pledged support on behalf of the judges and magistrates in the state, saying NBA House would be used for this year’s Legal Year celebration if completed by November as planned.

The Chairman of the Yenagoa NBA, Mr. Ukunbiriowei Saiyou, expressed joy about the commencement of the project during his tenure, noting that the idea of having the NBA House was mooted 27 years ago.

Saiyou, who thanked the deputy governor and all who graced the groundbreaking, however, appealed for support from the government as well as public spirited individuals and organisations, to ensure speedy completion of the project.

The President, Customary Court of Appeal, Mr. Daniel Ayah, a legal luminary, Chief J. K. Gadzama (SAN), represented by Mr. Mela Nunghe  (SAN), judges and magistrates were among the personalities who attended the event.

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has hailed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba Usman, for improving the security of the state.

He said Usman had demonstrated commitment and professionalism in tackling insecurity.

The governor spoke yesterday at the inauguration of a skill acquisition centre for police officers’ wives, at Igwuruta, Ikwere Local Government, named after the wife of the IGP, Hajiya Hajara.

Wike, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo, said everybody in Rivers testified to the improved security.

Addressing Hajara, he said: “I further ask you to extend our sincere appreciation to your husband, the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman. Everyone in Rivers State can testify that today, security in the state has improved.

“This is because of the professional efforts at fighting crime. This is how we need to approach crime. If the police continue to improve, the dream of Nigeria in future of having a safe and secure country will be realised.”

The governor recalled that in June 2021, he did not hesitate to partner Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) in the construction of the project when its president and wife of IGP approached his administration for support.

He said it was laudable that the centre was built to enable police officers’ wives and children learn skills.

Wike said: “I remember that during your first visit to the state, you promised to establish this centre, and you followed the progress of work. Now we are here to inaugurate the project.”

“I must say indeed you are a great woman, a lover of wives and children of police officers and a lover of Rivers State. You are a good woman and a woman of action. You deserve this commendation.

“It is good that this centre has been established to assist our police officers’ wives, children and those who care to learn skills. This is important that when white collar jobs are not available, we have other means to empower ourselves.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State chapter, has said its members are prepared and will participate in the April 19 chairmanship and councillorship elections in the 18 local governments.

The disclosure was made yesterday in Benin by the state Publicity Secretary, Peter Uwadia-Igbinigie, a lawyer, while addressing reporters at a news conference.

He said the decision of the party to participate in the council poll was in line with the directive of the national leadership of the party, which approved APC’s participation in the election, despite its misgivings.

Uwadia-Igbinigie said: “Edo State APC emerged from an emergency meeting. Prior to now, we had said we would not participate in the local government election, but the national leadership of our party decided that we should participate, despite our misgivings, including budgetary provisions for the poll.

“We have prepared and ready to go into the elections. We earlier stated that anytime the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) government in Edo State is ready to conduct free, fair and credible election in the local governments, we will be ready to present our best. This is still our position.”

“We are using this opportunity to call on our members across Edo State, from the wards to the local governments, to brace and liaise with their executive committees on how they will present themselves as councillorship or chairmanship candidates.”

He assured the APC candidates that they would emerge victorious at the polls and urged them to give peace a chance.

THE people of Ogwaniocha community in Ogbaru Local Government of Anambra State yesterday urged Governor Charles Soludo to intervene in the crisis rocking the area, following alleged abduction and murder of their traditional ruler, Igwe Oliver Nnaji.

They appealed to the governor to call on the chief judge to transfer case files concerning the alleged murder to a neutral judge in Awka, the state capital.

The monarch’s son, Prince Nnaji Reginald, had raised the alarm over alleged perverted justice in the trial of suspected abductors and killers of the 71-year-old royal father.

He regretted the manner previous cases involving the suspects were handled by the high court in the area, expressing fears of a repeat in that of his father’s case.

But speaking on behalf of the community yesterday, the personal adviser to the monarch, Chukwujioha Franklin, said the protest was the third of its kind at the Government House.

He said the community would be compelled to occupy the entrance to the Government House if their petition did not receive urgent and positive response.

The President General of the community, Chidi Eze, alleged that the same gang stormed the community yesterday, threatening the police for providing security for the residents.

“Many of us here are homeless because buildings in the community have been razed. Many of us have been killed and thrown into the river. I doubt if we’re still part of this state,” he said.

Receiving the protesters on behalf of the governor, the Chief of Staff to Prof. Soludo, Ernest Ezeajughi, hailed them for their peaceful conduct and assured them of justice.

Contractors under the auspices of DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors and Stakeholders Forum (DICSF), have threatened to ground operations of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), from today, over non-payment for jobs executed.

The contractors, who blocked parts of the Warri/Sapele Road in Warri South Council during a peaceful protest yesterday, accused the Chairman of DESOPADEC, Michael Diden, of “deceit”.

They alleged refusal of the board to include them in DESOPADEC’s monthly/routine payments, “in line with the existing payments structure in the commission.”

The protesters said the money owed were for jobs executed with verified payments’ certificate.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as “Pay us our monies oooo” and “Contractors are dying, please pay us”, among others.

The Chairman of the contractors, Mr. Fidelis Ete Orugboh, who led the protesters to the entrance of the commission’s secretariat on Warri/Sapele Road, said Diden, the Managing Director of DESOPADEC, Bashorun Askia Ogieh and other board members have refused to pay them their money, despite entreaties.

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has appealed to foreign investors to tap the economic potentialities of the  state beyond its depleting oil resources.

Diri, who spoke at one of the closing sessions of the annual global investors meeting called Dubai Expo, at Dubai Exhibition Centre in the United Arab Emirates, said Bayelsa was an amazing state with investment opportunities waiting to be harnessed.

He said the state, created in 1996, sought investors to develop its agricultural potential in areas it had comparative advantage such as in rice, cassava, sugarcane, palm trees and palm oil production, plantain as well as in fisheries and aquaculture.

The governor invited investors to partner the state to exploit its rich mangrove forests and natural beaches, to make it a tourists’ haven.

He stressed that Bayelsa’s sprawling coastline, the longest in Nigeria, provided opportunities for power generation ranging from wind to tidal and solar energy.

Diri said actions already taken had put the state on a positive trajectory, adding that a recent Ease-of-Doing Business report rated Bayelsa highest in the Southsouth.

According to him, the state is being adjudged as one of the safest places to do business in the country.

“Our state is one of the leading producers of oil and gas in Nigeria. There is, however, much more to Bayelsa than its abundant oil and gas deposits. These include but are not limited to agriculture, where our arable land gives us comparative advantage in the production of rice, cassava, sugarcane, palm tree and plantain.

“In the area of tourism, with our lush mangrove forests and natural beaches, we have humongous unexploited opportunities to make the state a tourists’ paradise.

“Apart from captive fishery, which has done particularly well in our clime, our extensive coastline is also suitable for commercial fishing and for power generation ranging from wind to tidal and solar energy.”

The governor also held meetings with the UAE Minister of Economy, the country’s ambassador to Nigeria as well as representatives of the Dubai Investments.

Other governors present were Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

Also in attendance were Solomon Lalong (Plateau), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger) and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State.

Sokoto, Yobe, Cross River and Enugu states equally participated at the forum.

A coalition of women groups and advocates of women empowerment has promised to buy Nomination and Expression of Interest (EOI) forms for the wife of former Anambra State Governor Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano. It said this is to enable her get nominated as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for Anambra North Senatorial District in 2023.

The groups, under the aegis of Osodieme Frontiers Movement (OFM), said plans had been concluded to ensure that Mrs. Obiano emerged as the senatorial candidate so that she could give the constituents good governance.

In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Rosemary Emodi, the group said the move was to enable the ex-governor’s wife replicate the feat she achieved in the areas of charity, poverty alleviation and uplift of the downtrodden.

The body said she would attract federal projects, employment as well as protect the interest of vulnerable groups at all levels.

The statement said: “Plans have been concluded to ensure that Mrs. Obiano is supported to emerge as the senatorial candidate so that she can bring to bear her dedication and dexterity in mobilisation and empowerment of the womenfolk across Anambra State, which was evident in the last eight years of her husband’s administration.

“We’re determined to mobilise funds to purchase the senatorial form for Osodieme. We have no doubt that, as a senator, the former governor’s wife will be an active and a vocal legislator.”

TEN of the 24 members of the Edo State House of Assembly, led by Marcus Onobun, yesterday passed the executive bill for a law prohibiting open grazing of cattle and regulate other livestock in the state.

The motion to dissolve the House into committee of the whole was moved by  Deputy Speaker Roland Asoro and seconded by the representative of Esan North East Constituency One, Francis Okiye.

The bill was considered clause by clause, while the lawmakers passed the relevant sections, with amendments to sections 5 (7) and 5 (8).

The amendment to Section 5 (7) read: “That a ranch committee to be constituted by the governor shall determine the size of the land suitable for ranching, in conjunction with the community where the ranch is proposed.”

Section 5 (8) was also amended to read: “That the committee shall control the activities of cattle herdsmen within various communities,” while Section 8 prohibited open grazing in Edo State, with Section 9 (1) empowering the governor to designate a land for ranching in Edo.”

Section 9 (2) in the bill stated that an owner of a land should apply to the committee, in writing, of his/her intention to operate a ranch with his/her land.

Onobun directed the Clerk, Yahaya Omogbai, to give the bill its third reading and forward clean copies to Governor Godwin Obaseki for his assent.

Edo State Government-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma Cooperative Society and others in the 18 local governments are in financial crisis.

This followed non-remittance of the deducted millions of naira meant for the cooperative societies by the management.

The President of the Federation of Edo Cooperative Societies, Mr. Filani Ojo, told reporters yesterday in Benin after a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Cooperatives, led by the Commissioner, Aishetu Braimah, that non-remittance of the deductions had crippled activities of the cooperative societies.

He alleged that AAU management was yet to remit deductions in union’s dues and workers’ financial commitments to the state university’s cooperative society, to the tune of over N800 million.

Ojo alleged that Oredo Local Government withheld over N120million in deduction of funds belonging to the workers’ cooperative society, but he did not state how much the management of other local governments were owing the cooperative societies.

He said the management in the local governments and AAU had formed the habit of paying only the net salaries of workers, at the expense of their gross earnings, where the workers’ financial commitments to the cooperative societies and unions were contained.

Ojo’s disclosure was corroborated by the presidents of the cooperative societies in Oredo, Etsako West and Owan East councils and AAU, who said efforts by the leadership of the federation, through regular interface with the management of the councils and higher institution to remit the deductions and stop further withholding of the workers’ savings, had not yielded positive results.

They added that promises made to the workers in the past by the management were not fulfilled.

Ojo and the presidents of the cooperative societies in Oredo, Etsako West and Owan East local governments and AAU implored Governor Godwin Obaseki to intervene and save the cooperative societies from the stranglehold of those withholding their deducted funds.