Category: South East

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has urged politicians to place emphasis on quality and efficient representation, adding that they should ensure service delivery to the people.

The Special Adviser on Media Projects to the Governor, Crusoe Osagie, said in an online statement that Obaseki admonished politicians to represent and speak for the people, who voted them into power, rather than any godfather.

The governor, warning against the politics of stomach infrastructure, advised residents to use the opportunities created by the government through its programmes and reforms to better their lives and contribute to the state’s development.

He said: “Our politics has changed, as we do not play politics of stomach infrastructure. We are creating opportunities for our people, but the majority of them are not keying into these opportunities to improve their lives and contribute to the development of Edo State.”

Bayelsa State Government has promised to provide land for the proposed Anglican university.

Governor Douye Diri made the pledge in response to a request by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, who led other bishops of the Diocese of Niger Delta West on a visit to the Government House in Yenagoa.

Describing Anglican schools as strong institutions that contributed in producing responsible members of the society, Diri said hosting an Anglican university would positively impact the state and the Niger Delta.

He said the state was eager to have its first private university and that the government would support such initiatives, as it would accord the people more access to education.

He urged the clergy to speak up against injustice in the country, saying Nigeria was in need of such voices due to the ills in the society.

Diri attributed the successes recorded under his administration to God and thanked the Anglican Primate for the visit.

He hailed the Bishop of the Diocese of the Niger Delta West for promoting the gospel.

Said he: “Your request for land for the proposed Anglican university is a good request. The government will provide the land. We will acquire it for you.

“I am doing this with the conscience that Bayelsa is a state that does not have one private university. So, we are very happy and prepared to host the Anglican university.

“The Anglican Church has over the years produced leaders of worth. It is a good thing that we have an Anglican institution domiciled in Bayelsa and we believe that it is going to impact the state and add value to the Niger Delta.

“Some of us are where we are today because of the upbringing we received in the Anglican schools we attended.

“Our country is going through difficult times. The Anglican Church in Nigeria needs a voice like South Africa’s late Desmond Tutu, who stood against injustice, against inequity in his country and the world. We have Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Catholic Church. The Anglican Church can equally stand up against inequity and inequality.”

Ndukuba said he was in the state to dedicate a Bishop’s Court Chapel and Diocesan Secretariat of the Diocese of Niger Delta West.

He said that the Anglican Church in Nigeria was self-governing and self-sustaining, and would continue to stand against heresies.

Ndukuba appreciated the governor for creating an enabling environment for the promotion of the Gospel of Christ in the state.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Friday Konbowei Benson, has rallied support for the execution of the developmental projects of the Diri administration in Southern Ijaw Local Government.

Benson, who hosted stakeholders from the four wards in Southern Ijaw, including traditional rulers, to a dinner at his home in Yenagoa, sued for unity among the people.

He said the Diri administration had listened to the demands and cries of the people and was ready to bring development to their doorsteps, especially with the ongoing Yenagoa- Oporoma road.

Bayelsa State Government yesterday directed the Managing Director of the State Electricity Company, Mr. Olice Kemenanabo, to connect Otuasega community to the national grid.

Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo gave the directive as the government intervened in a crisis between Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and its Otuasega host community.

Otuasega community in Ogbia Local Government shut activities at SPDC’s facilities on December 21, 2021 to protest its failure to provide electricity by December 14, 2021 as promised.

Shell had earlier set December 14, 2021 as target date to begin power supply from its Kolo Creek Oil and Gas Manifold to cluster communities in the area.

The media aide to the deputy governor, Mr. Doubara Atasi, said in a statement yesterday that Ewhrudjakpo gave the directive during an emergency meeting held with Otuasega community leaders and representatives of SPDC.

The deputy governor decried the continued blackout at Otuasega community and its environs.

He blamed SPDC’s failure on the inability of the government, Shell and Otuasega people to meet regularly and follow up on resolutions reached at the September 24, 2021 tripartite meeting on power supply.

Ewhrudjakpo said the community would enjoy power supply from the national grid as a temporary measure, while efforts would be intensified to power the community from the SPDC’s manifold in the first quarter of this year.

He said regular meetings would be held with Shell until the power supply issue was resolved.

The deputy governor appealed to the people to be patient and to remain law-abiding, to enable the government and Shell end blackout in the community.

The Otuasega Community Development Committee Chairman, Mr. Raniyar Marcus, had expressed disappointment at Shell for reneging on its promise to deliver the job by December 14, 2021.

He noted that the December 21, 2021 non-violent protest that led to the shutting of the SPDC manifold was staged by community members to register their anger.

Marcus alleged that Shell had always taken the Otuasega people for granted.

Shell’s Community Relations Manager (East), Mr. Evans Krukrubo, said that the company was not happy that the power project was not delivered on schedule.

He, however, thanked the Otuasega community for their maturity, patience and understanding.

Krukrubo assured them that Shell was committed to working with the state government to deliver on the project by the end of February.

A youth group, the Niger-Delta Progressive Movement (NDPM), has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for his decision to prosecute those indicted by the audit report of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The body praised Buhari’s commitment to ridding the NDDC of the moral and political rot that had plagued it.

Its Chairman, Mr. Julius Ita, addressing reporters yesterday in Warri, Delta State, commended Buhari for his decision to recover looted funds and prosecute those indicted in the audit report of the NDDC.

NDPM lauded the President for directing international oil companies (IOC’s) to remit statutory contributions to the NDDC and trial of corrupt officials.

It said the steps taken by Buhari would create a momentum, which could accelerate progress in the region.

Ita said: ‘’We are inspired by Buhari’s dedication and vision to address development issues in the Niger Delta.

‘’We appreciate every effort made to achieve development in the region.

‘’The President’s directive on the completion of viable projects, which have been abandoned by the NDDC, is a welcome development.”

He said there was political will and good faith by the Buhari administration to guarantee the development of the region.

The group applauded Buhari for the steps so far taken to prevent corruption in the NDDC.

It also commended Senator Godswill Akpabio for breathing life into the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and instilling a renewed sense of faith and hope and creating a legacy for Niger Delta’s future.

Enugu State Government has said it will establish new fire stations in nine local governments without fire stations this year.

The Chief Fire Safety Officer, Chief Okwudili Ohaa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that the government’s plan was to have a functional fire station in the 17 local governments.

He said the fire stations had been captured and appropriated for in the 2022 budget.

“Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, being a people-oriented leader, came up with the grand design to ensure each council area has a functional fire station, besides some fire units created at some strategic markets and locations.

“So far, we have eight functional fire stations in eight councils out of the 17 local governments in the state.

“They are situated in Enugu North, Enugu South, Nkanu West, Udi, Oji River, Igboeze North, Udenu and Nsukka councils.

“Hopefully, the fire stations for the remaining nine local governments areas will come on stream this year and they will have mini-staff quarters for the fire officers as well as new fire engines and tankers.

“The new fire stations and their monetary provision have been inserted in this year’s budget and I am optimistic that our amiable governor, knowing the import of the stations to the people, will complete them in record time,” Ohaa said.

The fire chief disclosed that apart from the over 10 fire stations and units built by Governor Ugwuanyi, he had facilitated installation of fire extinguishers in public/government buildings, schools and markets.

“It is clear that Governor Ugwuanyi will be leaving a legacy of the best network of functional fire stations and most rapid responding fire service in the country.

“The governor has so much supported fire safety, other forms of safety and secured environment in the state; thus, making the state the safest in the country.

“With the growing network of fire stations scattered in the state and recent deployment of mobile fire units as well, we have reduced our fire response time to about five minutes after receiving a distress calls,” he said.