The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • ‘Why Akwa Ibom is developing fast’

    ‘Why Akwa Ibom is developing fast’

    The Chief Press Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Ekerete Udoh, has attributed the accelerated development in the state to good leadership over the years.

    Udoh, receiving the new executives of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, on a visit to him, said the state is blessed with good governors.

    He lauded the strides of successive governors in key areas of road development, aviation, electricity, education, health, industrialsation and agriculture.

    “I can say that the state has been quite lucky with the quality of governors it has produced since the return of democracy. Right from Obong Victor Attah through Senator Godswill Akpabio and Mr. Udom Emmanuel and now Pastor Umo Eno, the state has been blessed with quality leaders, who have translated their quality into infrastructural renaissance we are seeing in Akwa Ibom today.

    “Not only have they touched all key areas of health, education, agriculture, industry and infrastructure, they have also focused on areas that were of importance to the state at their own time such that Akwa Ibom has become a reference point when you are talking about development within the sub nationals in Nigeria.

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    “For instance, if you know how Uyo, the state capital, was in the 80s, a glorified rural area with thatched and mud houses in some major streets, with just one modest guest house in those days and compare that with the now modern city filled with quality neighbourhoods and wide boulevards, then you begin to appreciate the impact of successive governors of the state,” Udoh said.

    The new chapel Chairman, Mr. Anthony Bassey, advocated development partnership between the state government and correspondents.

    Bassey, who also called for increased editorial relationship between the office of the CPS and the chapel, said such would not, however, jeopardise quality and factuality of reports from the correspondents about the activities and actions of the state government and its officials.

    Also present at the meeting were the SSA to the Governor on Media, Mr. Aniette Usen; Vice Chairman of the chapel, Comrade Isaiah Eka; Comrade Udeme Utip (Secretary); Comrade Lovina Emole (Assistant Secretary); Comrade Iniobong Ekponta (Treasurer) and Comrade Emeka Samuel (Financial

    Secretary).

  • Assembly summons commissioner, ALGON chair over Fed Govt grant

    Assembly summons commissioner, ALGON chair over Fed Govt grant

    Controversies have trailed the Federal Government’s conditional grant for businesses in Akwa Ibom State.

    At the centre of the disagreement are Commissioner for Economic Development Emem Bob and the Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, Mr Iniobong Robson.

    The duo have been summoned by the House of Assembly to explain the modalities they adopted in arriving at the 1, 072 nominees for the Federal Government’s grant.

    This was sequel to a motion brought before the House at plenary yesterday by the member representing Eket, Dr Nsidibe Akata, who queried the criteria used in arriving at the 1, 072 beneficiaries.

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    They are expected to brief the lawmakers on the modalities employed in arriving at the 1, 072 nominees for the Federal Government’s conditional grant for businesses, being part of Federal Government’s scheme to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

    The duo are expected to appear before a Special Ad-hoc Committee of the House today.

    Recall that the Federal Government had disbursed N50 billion to 774 local governments in the country as part of its programmes aimed at alleviating the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

  • Stop bush burning, NOA warns Bayelsa residents

    Stop bush burning, NOA warns Bayelsa residents

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Bayelsa State residents to stop bush burning, to avert its dangerous and deadly effects on the environment, human health and communities.

    Bayelsa State Director, NOA, Mr. Ellis Nria Dappa, made the call yesterday when a non-governmental organisation, the Women Organised for Mentorship and Advocacy Network (WOMAN), visited him in his office at the Federal Secretariat, Yenagoa.

    He said the call was in line with the agency’s efforts to address major environmental issues in Nigeria, especially in Bayelsa, to sustain national values through collaboration with civil society organisations.

    He said the collaboration between the NOA and organisations such as WOMAN underscored the importance of joint efforts in promoting environmental sustainability and upholding national values.

    “The call to stop bush burning in Bayelsa aligns with our broader commitment to environmental advocacy and collaboration with relevant stakeholders,” Dappa said.

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    He, therefore, sought the support of NGOs to mobilise communities, raise awareness and implement sustainable strategies to prevent and manage bushfire burning in Bayelsa.

    The President of WOMAN, Lady Eunice Nnachi, lauded the NOA’s advocacy, sensitisation and awareness creation initiatives, which she said focused on the value of wetlands and the need to prevent destructive practices such as bushfires and burning of tyres.

    Nnachi noted that smoke inhalation from bushfires could result in respiratory problems, cardiovascular issues and other health complications.

    She, therefore, called on residents to seek another means of clearing their bushes instead of bushfires, saying they could lead to air and water pollution, respiratory issues and poor water quality.

  • PISE-P to partner Google, Amazon, Microsoft for South East development

    PISE-P to partner Google, Amazon, Microsoft for South East development

    The Peace in the South East Project  (PISE-P) initiated by the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu is to partner with Google, Amazon, and Microsoft for the development of the southeast region and the nation as a whole.

     PISE-P is an initiative that canvasses a non-kinetic approach toward resolving the security challenges in the southeast region.

    Receiving a delegation from Neuo Mobile Communication and Technology Limited, Kalu said technology is a major catalyst for youth employment in the 21st century.

    The deputy speaker commended the delegation for their innovation and commitment to making a difference in the ever-evolving world of technology, while giving a nod to the partnership proposal with Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, noting that it’s for the benefit of Southeast indigenes and other creative minds.

    He said: “I see greatness in this mustard seed, I see great opportunities out there. I have seen your passion to make a difference, and your understanding of the time that we are in, the time of digitalization.

    “You have not only earned the trust and recognition of being registered and licensed by the relevant regulatory government agencies, which is the first step to make sure that you are involved with the type of technology that is not going to be anti-government

    “It means you’re compliant towards the goals and aspirations of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. You came with both the software and the hardware which are the two sides of information, and communication technology.

    “We are accepting the partnership for Google, and Amazon to partner with Peace in the South East project. We know what that’s going to do for our people, both in south East and other parts of Nigeria. It’s about time we prove to our people that we are better than the hands we use in holding guns, the same hands can build innovative solutions to our problems.

    “It’s about time that we prove that those boys can create solutions that we all will celebrate. All they have been asking for is a listening ear. The Peace in the South East Project has made itself available to be the listening ear. We will be their mouthpiece showcasing their needs. Technology will be one of the routes to achieving that, with your visit, I believe this is an audacious, auspicious moment to explore potential collaborations and partnerships. I’m sure with that we will further our shared goals. Thanks for your creativity, I promise that this office will support creative minds like you.

    “You have not only earned the trust and recognition of being duly registered and licensed by all relevant regulatory government agencies, but you are also a provider of technological applications and devices.

    “Your example of making innovative technology affordable and accessible aligns perfectly with our shared vision for a digitally inclusive society. In the business of manufacturing and selling mobile phones, tablets, desktops, and laptops under the brand name “NEUO,” your company would be providing opportunities for employment and gainful engagement for the youth.

    “Furthermore, your dedication to developing applications and software tailored to suit the unique requirements of your clients showcases your commitment to meeting Nigerians’ contemporary technology needs.”

    Executive Director of Business and Development of the company, Joseph Asuquo told the Deputy Speaker that the purpose of the visit was to introduce the company and congratulate him on his emergence as the Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.

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    Presenting the software and other products they created, Asuquo said the technology will encourage electronic participation during the plenary proceedings and committee assignments.

    He noted that it’s an interactive system accessible to only the lawmakers, noting that it will eliminate the ‘stressful’ use of paper.

    He commended the deputy speaker on his PISE-P initiative and solicited his support for a tech summit, in partnership with Google, Amazon, and Microsoft to educate the youth in the southeast in various skills with employment opportunities.

  • Malabo oil block resolution to attract $10b investment, says minister

    Malabo oil block resolution to attract $10b investment, says minister

    Nigeria will earn about $10billion investment from the resolution of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 245 block popularly known as Malabo litigation.

    Minister of State of Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri said: “If we resolve the issue around OML 245, it will attract investments between $5billion and $10billion. It will change the story.”

    He explained that the oil block which has the highest number of deposit “has been tied down for 28 years, saying: “What we are trying to do is to resolve the issue and attract investment to Nigeria.”

    But, according to him, should Nigeria fail to attract investment to its crude oil deposit between 2024 and 2025, it will become useless.

     “The whole world is going towards abandoning fossil fuel. And the whole world is talking about reducing investments in fossil fuel.

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     “And the President in his wisdom having vested me with the responsibility of overseeing oil, I have the responsibility to ensure that we attract all the investments we can as a country. Any investment we cannot get between 2024 and 2025, forget it,” he said.

    He spoke in Abuja, while debunking an online publication that after an agreement was signed on the case he went to Paris to meet Mr. President.

    He said: “Two issues that I want to straighten is that the Gazette publication was a compendium of lies and I think that was journalism at the lowest level.

    “There is no agreement signed. If you look that publication, it said an agreement was signed and after that agreement was signed some people went to Paris to meet Mr. President.

    “No agreement has been drawn up and signed by parties.

    “There is no agreement that is signed as at today.  No agreement is signed. We are still discussing.”

    He said Nigeria’s capex (capital expenditure) of five per cent to reserve is the lowest in the world.

    Warning about the imminent decline in the value of fossil fuel, he said: “If we do not do whatever we can to attract investments the crude oil deposit we have here will be a souvenir for you and I that will translate to nothing in the next few years.”

    He added that it is his responsibility to attract sufficient investment into the country.

    One of the measures of attracting the investment is the resolution of the Malabo case, according to the minister.

    He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu thus assigned him, the Attorney-General of the Federation, stakeholders as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to resolve the Malabo matter.

    Eni, according to the minister, has also sued Nigeria in court asking for $2billion.

    But Nigeria wants to take out the cases that have not yielded it any positive results.

    Lokpobiri said: “Now this President because of his vast experience and because of the way we find ourselves in the comity of nations producing oil, the President in his wisdom directed we should resolve the problems around OML 245.

    “And he directed that the Attorney-General of the Federation, myself, and other stakeholders to resolve the problem.”

    The minister insisted that the meeting in London was the first meeting, adding that “There have been meetings in Netherland, meetings in the UK before this one.”

    In all these meeting, he said no agreement has been reached as alleged in the online publication.

    Lokpobiri recalled that the block was originally allocated to the oil firm Malabo by the late Gen. Sani Abacha regime but former President Olusegun Obasanjo revoked it and awarded it to Shell.

    According to him, Shell invested in the block while Malabo went to court and won the case. He added that Shell went on appeal because it knew the facility is very strategic to the Nigeria economy.

    He noted that Obasanjo who started the process of resolving the matter in court could not accomplish it before President Umar Yar’Adua took over.

    The case, he said, lingered till date.

    He noted that eventually there was no way Malabo and Shell could resolve the case on the same table.

    Narrating the Malabo matter, the minister said: “So what the Federal Government did was to act as soon intermediary between Malabo and Shell.

    “What was the agreement? The agreement was that Malabo give up all your interest in OML 245 to Federal Government.

    “The Federal Government will give this block to Shell Eni and the consideration was to give $1.1billion to Shell.”

    And so Shell Eni raised the money, gave to the Federal Government, the Federal Government passed it on to Malabo.

    “Malabo wrote all the documentation and said we are relinquishing all our rights in this block to the Federal Government and the Federal Government in turn passed it over to Shell Eni.

    “That was the summary of that oil block. And that oil block was one of the most prolific oil blocks in the country. And so there have been multiple litigations around that oil block in different parts of the world: in Europe, in Canada, in Nigeria.

    And it is also important for us to state that in all the cases that have come in different courts we have lost.

    “The truth of the matter is that there was no criminal liability on the side of the Federal government or on the side of anybody.

    But some people for some political reasons went to court in Switzerland and UK and in all the cases we lost.”

    He said in the bid to resolve crises in the industry the crisis between NNPC/Seplat is 98per cent resolved.

    Asked to give an update on the Port Harcourt Refinery, Lokpobiri noted that mechanical aspect of the refinery has been completed.

    He said: “They are still test running. But I believe very soon. Yesterday (Tuesday) the MD of Port Harcourt Refinery was here because I had to ask him what is going on. And I believe very soon we will take you there. And I believe very soon products will start coming from there.”

    On Warri refinery, Lokpobiri said the facility rehabilitation is at its peak.

    “Warri Refinery is also on top gear. And if you ask me, in the next few months we will have tremendous increase in our refining capacity. I was reading a report that said if we refine our crude oil here we will have 18 times more in terms of value addition,” he said.

  • NDDC to inaugurate Abia-Akwa Ibom link road

    NDDC to inaugurate Abia-Akwa Ibom link road

    Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) has said it would soon inaugurate the 9km Obehie/Oke-Ikpe Road in Ukwa West Local Government of Abia State.

    Speaking during an inspection of the road linking Abia and Akwa Ibom states, the NDDC Executive Director (Projects), Sir Victor Antai, said the commission was making efforts to complete its projects across the Niger Delta.

    Antai, accompanied by other NDDC directors and engineers, said communities in the area would benefit from the project.

    He said NDDC would embark on landmark projects that would make Niger Delta a destination of choice.

    Antai, in a statement signed by the commission’s Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, said the road would increase economic and social activities between Ukwa West people and their neighbours.

    He said: “We are impressed with the level of work done by the contractor and I will like to commend him for a good job. The asphalt overlay is of good quality and the drainage is solid. From what I have seen, in no time, I will urge the managing director to come in and inaugurate this road.”

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    Antai praised the community for appreciating the efforts of the commission, noting that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration would execute projects that would enhance living conditions in the Niger Delta.

    He advised workers at NDDC Abia State office to put in their best towards the development of the Niger Delta.

    He said: “I am happy with the administrative style of the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku. He is working in tandem with the Governing Board to change the narrative of the NDDC and the Niger Delta.

    “I want to encourage every worker of this commission to be up and doing. It is important to monitor our projects to be sure the contractors meet our set standards.”

    Representative of Abia State on the NDDC board, Chief Dimgba Eruba, said the road had been in deplorable condition for many years, leading to loss of man-hours, with the resultant negative effects on the socio-economic activities in the area.

    He said: “The road provides a safe and preferable shortcut for our brothers and sisters in Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states to Rivers and Bayelsa states.”

  • Construction workers demand payment of N35,000 wage

    Construction workers demand payment of N35,000 wage

    Workers in the construction industry have demanded the payment of N35, 000 wage award approved for workers in the public sector from the Construction and Civil Engineering Employers Association of Nigeria.

    The workers, under the aegis of National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers and the Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association, said their employers have failed to negotiate the wage award to cushion the hardship brought about by the removal of fuel subsidy.

    At a briefing by the leadership of the two unions – National Presidents, NUCECFWW, Stephen Okoro and CCESSA, Ayodeji Adeyemo, the construction workers threatened a three day warning strike, which may commence this week, if nothing was done by their employers.

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    They accused the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) of deliberately frustrating negotiations on the wage award, even after the involvement of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

    The unions say they had initiated talks on a likely wage increase even before the new government removed subsidy on petrol in May, 2023.

    The workers called on the Construction and Civil Engineering Employers Association of Nigeria to respect the sanctity and spirit of the wage award agreement between the government and organised labour.

    The aggrieved workers said they are ready to embark on an indefinite national industrial action should those concerned fail to negotiate a wage award with their union after the three-day warning strike.

  • Budget 2024: Group faults SERAP claims, hails National assembly

    Budget 2024: Group faults SERAP claims, hails National assembly

    A group, Alliance for Reformation and Development (ARD), Kano, State, has faulted the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project(SERAP) for its recent  suit  against the National Assembly over its  increment of its own share of Budget 2024 from the proposed N197 billion by President Bola Tinubu to N344 billion.

    In a statement the group’s spokesperson, Usman Mohammed, noted that the  statutory responsibility of the national assembly is to  scrutinise the bill, make adjustments and  pass it to the President for his assent so that the bill can become a law, which is the budget to be implemented.

    It said its  findings  revealed that about 25 per cent of the entire NASS Budget is for capital expenditure as against the misleading information  given to unsuspecting members of the public by SERAP that the entire budget is to take care of the recurrent expenditure of the lawmakers , thus portraying the latter as unpatriotic in these economic trying times.

    The group noted that the NASS acted based on the spirit and letters of the Constitution in treating the appropriation bill as it deemed fit because it is the only body saddled with the responsibility to do so as against what SERAP wanted the public to know.

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    “We commend to SERAP that the so-called NASS Budget is not for the lawmakers alone but also involves other organs of the institution which include the National Assembly Office, National Assembly Service Commission and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS)

    “We remind SERAP that if it had bothered to do due diligence, it would have known that there’s been a comparative decline in the legislative budget over the years. Perhaps the group is more concerned with the numbers rather than the details which can easily be deciphered by a comparative analysis of different legislative budgets.

    It is important to also emphasise that the action of NASS in jerking up its allocation or any other part of the appropriation underscores the essentiality of separation of powers, which is one of the building blocks of the rule of law,” the statement said.

  • Lawmakers urge Uzodimma to dissolve boards, agencies, commissions

    Lawmakers urge Uzodimma to dissolve boards, agencies, commissions

    Imo State House of Assembly has urged Governor Hope Uzodimma to dissolve all boards of parastatals and agencies, extra-ministerial departments and commissions, including coordinators of local government development centres.

    Moving the motion under Urgent Public Importance, the Deputy Speaker and member representing Nwangele State Constituency, Sir Amara Iwuanyanwu, said Governor Uzodimma, who has been inaugurated for his second tenure, needs a rejigged team for enhanced productivity.

    The governor had dissolved his expanded Executive Council (Exco), former sole administrators and other strategic appointees.

    The lawmaker said there was need to inject fresh and innovative ideas into the governor’s new administration.

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    He said because the governor needs fresh air to consolidate the gains of the Shared Prosperity Administration, all boards of parastatals and agencies, extra-ministerial departments and commissions, including coordinators of local government development centres should be dissolved, while reappointing those who did very well and at the same time, injecting fresh and innovative ideas into the system, to take the state to the next level.

    Worried that if round pegs were not put in round holes, the governor’s vision, blueprint and consolidated development agenda for his second tenure in the state might not be achieved, the legislator called on his colleagues to support the all-important motion.

    The motion, which was seconded by a member representing Oru-west State Constituency, Dominic Ezerioha, was supported by 10 members.

    In their submissions, they agreed that there should be room for fresh ideas, while reabsorbing only efficient and effective ones.

    They insisted that Renewed Hope is for the betterment of Ndigbo.

    The Speaker, Chike Olemgbe, put it to vote and it was overwhelmingly endorsed.

    The House adjourned sitting till today.

  • NAPTIP declares zero tolerance for human trafficking

    NAPTIP declares zero tolerance for human trafficking

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has declared zero tolerance for human trafficking and other forms of Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) in Bayelsa State.

    Bayelsa State Commander (NAPTIP), Mrs. Abieyuwa Ikhidero, made the declaration yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital, during a courtesy visit by a non-governmental organisation, the Eunice Nnachi Women Advocacy Foundation (ENWAF).

    Ikhidero hailed ENWAF for intensifying advocacy for women and girls welfare and emphasised NAPTIP’s mandate of protection, prevention, prosecution and policy.

    She said NAPTIP had carried out over 50 sensitisation programmes in the state and was committed to waging war against traffickers.

    Ikhidero stated: “The agency’s efforts align with its mission to prevent and prosecute human trafficking, while protecting the rights of women and girls.

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    “NAPTIP has convened meetings to tackle emerging issues and secure convictions related to human trafficking, and the agency has pledged to end human trafficking in Bayelsa.”

    Recall that the Reforms/Servicom Unit of NAPTIP was established to serve as an internal control mechanism that expresses the agency’s zero tolerance for corruption and to enhance improved workers service delivery in advancing the agency’s mission in relation to victims, the public and relevant stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking.

    The CEO, ENWAF, Lady Eunice Nnachi, reaffirmed the organisation’s dedication to combating human trafficking and Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) through a strengthened partnership with NAPTIP.

    Nnachi, who stressed the need for collaborative efforts to reduce human trafficking and SGBV in Nigeria, particularly in Bayelsa State, expressed optimism that the partnership would help in addressing those issues.

    She said: “We will provide continuous support in furtherance to the mandate of both organisations to end human trafficking and other related offences.

    “I know that collaborative effort involving key players is one way to stem the tide of human trafficking in the country.”