Category: South East

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has carpeted the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, for not doing enough to protect the interest of the Niger Delta in the N621.2billion road projects to be undertaken across the country by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

IYC in a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt by its President, Peter Timothy Igbifa, said the youth would not rest until Sylva took steps to remedy the injustice done to the region in the distribution of the 21 road projects.

“We find it unbelievable that a minister, who hails from the most marginalised region and whose state, Bayelsa, lacks reasonable federal presence despite its sacrifice to the Nigerian project, would be missing at a meeting where the NNPC, which is under his ministry, took a decision to share road projects at the detriment of the Niger Delta,” he said.

Igbifa added: “As we speak, Sylva does  not have a road to his Okpoma community in Brass Local Government. The joint efforts between the Bayelsa State Government and the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to take a road to Brass only ended in Nembe.

Read Also: IYC to Fed Govt: jettison plan to merge NDDC with ministry

“The section between Nembe to Brass, the local government area of Sylva, would have been included in the NNPC project if Sylva had been alive to his duties as a minister.

There are other roads in Bayelsa, Rivers, Ondo, Edo and other states in the Niger Delta that should have been included in the project list.

“The inequality, injustice and inequity that characterised this project distribution gives eloquent credence to allegations that Sylva and other ministers from our region do not have the interest of the Niger Delta at heart.”

The youth reminded Sylva that the NNPC owed its existence to the Niger Delta, insisting that the corporation could not for the first time be undertaking such projects without paying attention to “a region it has almost rendered uninhabitable because doing so is to say the least provocative and a recipe for another violent conflict.”

Although Sylva could not be reached for his reaction, a senior employee in the ministry, who spoke in confidence, said the minister no longer had control of the NNPC by virtue of the Petroleum Industry Act.

“Following the passage of the Act, NNPC now functions as a limited liability company and can undertake its affairs without the supervision of the minister,” he added.

The big-ticket players in the oil palm industry, smallholders and large-scale oil palm plantation investors will tomorrow converge on Benin, the Edo State capital, during the Alaghodaro Summit, to explore opportunities in the state’s rich oil palm sector.

The aim is to tap into the N69 billion facility provided by the state government, in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The summit, in its fifth edition, is scheduled to take place between November 12 and 14 with the theme: “Edo of Our Dreams: Building a Sustainable Future.”

The annual summit, to mark Governor Godwin Obaseki’s anniversary in office, showcases investment opportunities in the state and the achievements, reforms and initiatives by the administration to improve the living standard of the people.

Read Also: Nigeria convenes multilateral summit in France

The Chairman, Marketing and Branding Sub-Committee, Alaghodaro 2021, Crusoe Osagie, yesterday in an online statement, said that Edo government remained committed to harnessing the state’s rich human and natural endowments, to achieve economic growth and well-being of residents.

Osagie, who is also Obaseki’s special adviser on Media Projects, said: “The Obaseki-led state government, in the last five years, has pursued nuanced programmes and policies to diversify the state’s economy, achieve economic prosperity, create jobs and improve the lives of the people.

“As part of the government’s commitment to rejuvenate the oil palm sector for global competitiveness, knowing its economic use to the state and country, the state launched the N69 billion Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), in partnership with the CBN.

“We have also continued to support the investors with the provision of land and a peaceful, secure and business-friendly environment, to boost their investment.

“The Alaghodaro Summit has proved to be one of the most strategic, high-impact discourses on investment in the country, as it has helped to crystalise a number of investment decisions.

“This year’s edition promises to be even better, as it will be providing a forum for investors in the oil palm sector to tap into the N69 billion fund facility, knowing the economic impact on their businesses.”

Ninety-five teachers, who taught Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, from the foundation level to date, have rejoiced with him on the occasion of his 38th birthday.

Ememobong is a former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), a lawyer and a PhD student at the University of Uyo.

He said his birthday celebration was an opportunity for him to reconnect with his teachers.

Ememobong said his reflection on the true nature of a child across stages of development and personal experience as a parent was his compelling force.

He said: “I had to say thank you to my teachers for making me the man I am today. They truly made us responsible people in the society today.

“When I consider the fact that my three children can give me headache in less than five minutes, then I have every reason to thank my teachers, who endured the troubles of over 30 of us students in a class and kept looking at us with smiles and caring eyes.”

Prof. EnoAbasi Urua, Prof. Aniedi Ikpang and Mr. Chrysanthus Asuka attested to the fact that although Ememobong was a stubborn student, he was very intelligent and purpose-driven.

“We have trained many students to become prominent members of the society. Some are even working in oil companies, but it is only Ememobong that has remembered us, his teachers,” Asuka said.

“This is the third time Ememobong has celebrated us, his teachers. He has been constant in support of us even in the Department of Linguistics and History of the University of Uyo. The other time, he feted us at Ibom Hall and this time, here at Watbridge Hotel. Why won’t God continue to bless him?” Urua said.

The teachers unanimously hailed Ememobong for his attainment in the society, particularly in politics and wished him greater heights in his future endeavours.

Retired head teachers and compound masters of St. Mary’s Science College, Ediene Abak and dons were among special guests at the event.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has urged members of the House of Assembly to work as a team and trust one another, if they want to make the desired impact.

He said he would not interfere in their independence as an arm of the government, but would rather partner them on how to serve the citizens better.

The governor spoke on Monday night when he received the newly-elected Speaker, Kennedy Ibe, representing Obowo Constituency, who replaced former speaker Paul Emeziem, following his removal by his colleagues.

Speaking at the New Executive Chambers, Government House, Owerri, Uzodimma urged the lawmakers to work as a team and eschew tendencies that could cause division among them.

He praised the lawmakers for resolving to elect a speaker of their choice peacefully without external interference, saying: “What happened that resulted in a peaceful and democratic election of the new speaker is a victory for democracy.”

The governor advised them to work towards a united house where there would be trust.

“Imo State needs a united, functional, effective and efficient House of Assembly that will work towards giving the people the desired dividends of democracy.”

Presenting the speaker to the governor,  the member representing Njaba State Constituency,  Uju Onwudiwe, described him as  “a reliable, trusted and an experienced lawmaker,” saying: “We will work together to achieve a viable assembly.”

Over 250 youths, drawn from the nine Niger Delta states, have begun a two-week specialised capacity building workshop at the Skill Development Academy (SDA) of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Osubi, Delta State.

PTI Principal Dr. Henry Adimula disclosed this at the opening of the workshop at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun.

He said the programme, organised by the institution in partnership with Ufugold Project Services Ltd, was in line with the Federal Government’s drive to take Nigerians out of poverty, curb unemployment and youths’ restiveness.

Adimula urged the beneficiaries comprising skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled youths, to “maximise the opportunity by taking interest in whatever skill they learn individually.”

He said: “The only way people can be taken out of poverty is when they have the requisite skills they can use to start their own businesses. Skills that will allow them to become employers of labour.”

“So, it is the plan of this government to do what we are doing today, that is to take youths from all over the country and train them, grant them the necessary skills that they can use to start up their own businesses, and not again rely on the Federal Government for jobs or become restive in the society.

“The institute is privileged to partner to deliver the training. We hope that we all will become entrepreneurs and employers of labour.”

The Managing Director of Ufugold Project Services Ltd, Ufuoma Johngold, lamenting the manner in which some youths have taken to vices such as cybercrime and prostitution, advised the participants to be focused on the training.

He said the youth will be trained in petroleum engineering technology-related skills, which include soap making, coating technology, among others, by professionals.

Ten of the 24 members of the Edo State House of Assembly, who still sit inside the Government House, Benin, yesterday passed the 2021 reversed Appropriation Bill.

The lawmakers considered the enactment, title, different sectors, grand total of capital and recurrent expenditure of the 2021 approved reversed Appropriation Bill.

The bill enjoyed the support of Deputy Whip Ephraim Aluebhosele, who is also the chairman, House Committee on Appropriation; the Majority Leader, Henry Okhuarobo and other members.

Speaker Marcus Onobun, who gave an update on the journey of the Appropriation Bill, hailed the legislators for its approval, while directing that clean copies be forwarded to Governor Godwin Obaseki for his assent.

The lawmakers also yesterday passed a bill for a law to amend the state’s audit law, 2021.

The passage of the audit bill followed a letter by Obaseki, requesting the amendment of some sections of the principal law, especially to provide for a fixed tenure for the auditor-general of the state’s audit commission.

The majority leader said that the amendment was also to provide for the appointment of either a public or a private sector individual as auditor-general.

Okhuarobo said the lawmakers in June passed a bill for a law to repeal the Edo State audit law 2019 and enacted the Edo State audit law 2021, thereby making provision for the establishment of Edo State Audit Service Commission and Office of the Auditor-General of the state.

The lawmakers, considering the bill, also approved a four-year term for the auditor-general, which could be renewed for a further term, subject to the confirmation of the House of Assembly.

The Speaker, Delta House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, has admonished the assembly workers to uphold the highest ethical standard, while discharging their duties.

Oborevwori gave the advice yesterday during an interactive session with the workers at the assembly complex in Asaba.

He urged them to recourse to dialogue rather than confrontation in handling official matters.

He hailed the workers for their commitment and dedication to duty, but enjoined them to redouble their efforts for increased productivity and efficient service delivery.

Oborevwori said: “I want to thank you for the support you have been giving to me and my colleagues.

“Your support for us both from the Sixth Assembly to the current Seventh Assembly is indeed commendable.”

“The support we are getting from you, no doubt, has been yielding the desired result.

“Within the past four years of this administration, we have never had issues with you. There has been robust industrial harmony.”

The speaker assured the workers of his administration’s readiness to ensure they undergo regular training and retraining for improved performance.

The Chairman, State House of Assembly Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, Mr. Emma Edozie, commended the speaker for his leadership qualities and assured him that workers would continue to promote quality service delivery.

Women under the auspices of the Wailing Women of Niger Delta (WWNG) have written to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, accusing him and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, of blocking the inauguration of the substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The women in two letters dated November 8, 2021 and addressed to Malami and President Muhammadu Buhari, called for immediate constitution of the board to avert looming crisis in the region.

The women, in the letters signed by their coordinator, Odighonin Nwadighi Adienbo, lamented that there was a clear class conspiracy to privatise the NDDC at the detriment of the people.

Addressing Malami, they said: “We see a clear class conspiracy to privatise the NDDC at the detriment of our people. Unfortunately our men and fathers have given up and gone to sleep, while our region gropes in the dark of underdevelopment under the current watch. On this, we hold you the AGF and Sen. Akpabio, the Supervising Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs fully responsible for the grave degeneration and irregularities in the region and the NDDC.

“AGF sir, we are reliably informed that you are behind the non- constitution of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and flagrant disregard of the NDDC Act. To this end, we urge you to stay away from the affairs of the commission and allow the board to be constituted. “

monies from our ancestral lands to enrich a few who have connived not to account for the billions of dollars that have kept on accruing to the commission up till today,” they said.

They demanded that all monies that had accrued to the NDDC from the inception of the interim or acting management beginning from Prof. Nelson Brambaifa to date be brought to account without any mischievous delays.

While asking Akpabio and persons that he appointed to run the affairs of the commission to account for the monies, the women asked Buhari to publish the forensic audit report of NDDC.

They said: “We are aware of the grand plan to sustain the current illegal interim management and sole administratorship structure till the end of the President Buhari administration. This will not be acceptable because it is illegal and Mr. President is enjoined to rise to the oath of his office in the interest of peace and justice.

“Should our demands not be met within the period, as mothers and women of the region, we shall enforce our rights to do the needful, including shutting down the NDDC through lawful means until this injustice stops.

“For the records, there is no excuse why we cannot have a duly constituted board if not that they intend to undermine the core mandates of the NDDC. We have lost every economic, social and infrastructural development opportunities that can only be implemented by a board of the NDDC and the region is worse hit.

“We are asking for a board and the Governors’ Advisory Council, among others. In doing so, we want women to be duly integrated in the process and system and they must be persons who are in touch with our people in the local communities.

“We the women are the most impacted by the injustice in the region. The infrastructural deficit is huge and incalculable. While we demand the immediate constitution of the board, we the women of the Niger Delta region, therefore, insist on the recovery of stolen monies through conduit contracts to show that the government is serious.”

As the strike embarked on by state and local government workers in Cross River State continues, the Organised Labour has tasked Governor Ben Ayade with the condition of the civil service and the government’s excuse for not meeting its responsibilities.

In a statement in its official periodical Bulletin Number 16, the Labour said: “It has never been this bad with workers in Cross River State. Our civil service is dying.”

Addressing the workers, who have been at home since October 12, the Labour leaders said: “Comrades, we have been bombarded with litanies of ‘Cross River State belongs to the bottom of the FAAC’. Can they also tell us where we belong in the internally generated revenue?

“The Boki forest reserve is bleeding profusely as a result of illegal logging. Revenue here is enough to pay the gratuity of our retirees.

“Our cocoa and palm plantations used to bring in so much revenue.

“What has happened to income from our quarries? How about road maintenance income from Lafarge and other companies?”

The workers answered the questions sarcastically: “We know ‘snakes and monkeys’ swallowing our revenues, while our retirees and workers are dying without getting their dues.

“We shall name names in due course. A few can’t continue to swallow the commonwealth of the state, while the citizens are allowed to die in penury.”

The Labour leaders then said: “Comrades, continue to stay at home until you hear from us.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has tackled the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the opposition party’s criticism of the new airport at Uzairue in Edo North Senatorial District.

Edo PDP, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, yesterday in an online statement, urged APC members to think outside the box, insisting that the airport project by the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration would be beneficial to Edo residents and others.

APC, through its Assistant Publicity Secretary, Victor Osehobo, had described the new airport as a misplacement of priority, “as the Benin airport is not being utilised.”

Nehikhare said: “For Edo State to develop, we have to think outside the box. Edo people believe in the vision of Governor Obaseki. Over the last 12 months, he has not only shown capacity in the management of the resources of the state, but also in the design of a master plan that will become a road map for a prosperous future.”