THE former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has disclosed that the illegal and unreported activities carried out in the Gulf of Guinea have made global bodies to mark it as the most dangerous waterway in the world.

He spoke yesterday in his paper titled: “Security in the Gulf of Guinea,” at a programme organised by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), for its School of Ecology in Benin, the Edo State capital, with the theme: “Politics of the Sea.”

Peterside, who made his presentation through zoom, said the reason the Gulf of Guinea had become the most dangerous in the world was because it accounted for  60 per cent of Africa’s crude oil production, five per cent of global fossil oil reserve, and 2.7 per cent of fosil natural gas reserve globally, thereby attracting foreigners.

He said: “The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes, the International Maritime Bureau and the International Maritime Organisations classify the Gulf of Guinea as one of the most dangerous maritime areas in the world. This was the case in 2018, 2019 and 2020.”

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“The Gulf of Guinea is a place of interest internationally and continentally. It is also a place of interest to those who are into shipping and fishing. So, for diverse reasons, the ecosystem of the Gulf of Guinea is unique.

“The Gulf of Guinea accounts for 2.7 per cent of fossil natural gas reserve globally, and it is one of the richest fishing grounds globally. This is because some of the fish species you may find in the Gulf of Guinea, you may not find them anywhere in the world. So it is a unique ecosystem.

“The Gulf of Guinea accounts for 95 per cent of global kidnappings at sea. As at 2019, we had 111 cases of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Piracy is also significant in the Gulf of Guinea. One hundred and twenty thousand barrels of crude oil were stolen daily in the Gulf of Guinea as at 2020.”

The Director of HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, called for an end to sea piracy, while advocating the protection of the water ecosystem and the fishes.

He called for an end to human rights abuses by security agents on the waterways, saying there was the need to continually use maritime resources for the good of the citizens, in sustainable ways.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decried prolonged detention of a woman, Gloria Okolie, linked with Eastern Security Network/ Independent People of Biafra (ESN/IPOB) by law enforcement agencies.

It said illegally detaining citizens beyond the constitutionally stipulated “reasonable” time was unfair.

NHRC said such practice amounts to a gross violation of human rights and must be accounted for, to act as a deterrent to others.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu, spoke in Abuja while reacting to the alleged illegal detention of Gloria by the police for over 67 days.

The police arrested the 21-year-old on June 17 on the allegation that she had a relationship with some members of the ESN, an arm of IPOB.

Ojukwu said such unprofessional conduct is unacceptable in the 21st century policing, and demanded that the perpetrators of such heinous crime must be brought to justice.

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The NHRC boss said he was disturbed upon learning that while being detained, the girl was used as a slave by the officers.

While calling for her immediate release, Ojukwu frowned at the report that Miss Okolie was abused, made to wash clothes, sent on errands to buy ‘stuffs’ for police officers and tortured by some of the officers in charge of her detention.

“The commission is, therefore, using this medium to demand the immediate and unconstitutional release of the detainee or in the alternative charge her to a court of competent jurisdiction so that she will enjoy the right to fair hearing and the opportunity to defend the allegation against her, if any.

“We will not hesitate to condemn such unprofessional conduct, which undoubtedly resulted in further violation of the rights of the woman in question because her rights to freedom of movement and liberty, among others, have been allegedly violated with impunity by the personnel charged with the responsibility of protecting the lives and property of citizens.

“On our part as a national institution saddled with the responsibility of promotion, protection and enforcement of rights of citizens and foreigners resident in Nigeria, we have not missed any available opportunity to educate and train police personnel and indeed other law enforcement agents on human rights issues, the NHRC Act (as amended) as well as other national, regional and international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory,” he said.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma yesterday dismissed as “infantile idiocy”, allegations by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that his administration had achieved nothing 18 months after he assumed office.

He said only a blind man and those livid with jealousy and fixated with blackmail would fail to recognise the laudable achievements of his government.

Information and Strategy Commissioner Declan Emelumba, reacting to a clip of a recent interview the PDP news media held with Osiza FM, which was circulated in the social media, said although most of the problems of the state were created by the opposition party, which ruled the state for 13 years, Uzodimma had worked hard to get the state working again.

He said it was a lie and propaganda for PDP to claim that Imo had the worst road network, based on an unverified report of an online publication, whereas Uzodimma had built 46 roads.

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Emelumba said PDP also sold falsehood to the public by claiming that Imo State didn’t have cardiologists and nephrologists in its employ.

“The truth is that the government has a cardiologist, Dr. Angela Mbakama, a nephrologist, Dr. Anyabuolu and a pathologist, Dr. Nweke, all at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUT), among others.

“So it amounts to infantile mischief for anyone to jump on the microphone to claim that the state has none of these,” the commissioner said.

“While the government does not inflict diseases on people, let me make it clear that we have these specialists at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu,” he added.

Emelumba said it was laughable that PDP was relying on questionable statistics to claim that Imo had the highest unemployment rate in the country.

Said he: “It is not enough to run the mouth on statistics and keep rolling out figures. What is more important is to show the credibility of the figures.

“So, we don’t know where they got their statistics. It is noteworthy that Governor Uzodinma has spent N8billion to empower thousands of youths to be self- employed.”

He said the PDP had thought that their antics of contriving security crisis in the state would slow the governor down, “but they are now disappointed that the state has made progress beyond their imagination.”

The commissioner said: “Only a party suffering from infantile idiocy or delusion of the highest order will be ignorant of the giant strides made by the APC government in Imo in the last 18 months.”

He said a party that had practically nothing to show for its illegal seven months in office, except for the development of personal estates, could not judge a government that had enthroned accountability and probity in its financial transactions.

Emelumba said it was under the Uzodimma administration that the state attracted a private refinery and a gas plant, “yet it is being accused of not doing enough in the ease of doing business.”

He urged the people to ignore the allegations by the PDP, saying they were borne out of envy and frustration.

The Niger-Delta ex-militants, under the umbrella of Urhobo-Isoko Youth Wing and Ex-agitator Leaders of phase 1, 2 and 3 of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), has said the roles of the Minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva and Niger-Delta senators are tantamount to violence in the Niger-Delta.

The Urhobo-Isoko Ex-militants Youth Wing and Ex-Agitator leaders, who spoke through its Chairman, Ex-militant Joseph Figbele and Vice Chairman, Ex-militant Solomon Adu, while observing the roles of Sylva and Niger-Delta senators over President Muhammadu Buhari signing of the PIB, said that Niger-Delta would hold Sylva and senators from the region responsible for their failure to protect the interest of the region and frustrate President Buhari from signing the Petroleum Industry Bill.

Describing the Niger-Delta senators and the minister as the cankerworms that have denied the region the needed development, the Urhobo-Isoko ex-militants vowed to resist any attempt to implement their unwholesome act to relegate the region to the background for their personal and selfish interest.

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The group said the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, is a total affront to the outcry of the people of the Niger Delta region against the three per cent provision for the oil producing communities and a show of disrespect to the plights and cry of the people of the region over the years.

The group vowed to make the region unbearable until the president is ready to send the Bill back to the National Assembly for upward review of the 3 per cent for equity share among the host communities whose environments had suffered decades of oil exploration activities by the oil companies, that if this advice is not adhered to the region will not experience relative peace.

The group said if the bill is sent back to the house for upward review, it will give some level of develeopmental leverage to the host communities without any form of stress and agitation, hence the government has to with all sincerity of purpose have a rethink, as the region cannot continue to be treated as second class citizens in a country where they are major stakeholders.

They said over the years the region has always been shortchanged and said they can no longer be intimidation and oppressed in any form or any iIi treatment to host companies without being resisted.

Counsel for the former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, have clarified the circumstances that led to his controversial ouster from office.

Oshiomhole, a former two-term Edo State governor, shortly after leading the party to victory at the 2019 general election, was in what has been described as a stab in the back, forced to exit office.

President Muhammadu Buhari was to step in, having prevailed on litigants to sheathe their swords, which culminated in the current Governor Mai Mala Buni-led caretaker arrangement. The tenure of the Buni-led interim APC leadership has continued to be extended ahead of the party’s national convention.

An Abuja High Court had in July 2020, dismissed a suit challenging Oshiomhole’s position over having been purportedly suspended by the party at the ward level.

The Abuja High Court sitting in Jabi, dismissed the substantive suit filed by Comrade Mustapha Saliu, Oshawo Steven and four others over the purported suspension of the former APC national chairman by his Ward 10, Iyamho, in Etsako West Local Government of Edo State.

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The court in a ruling by Justice D. Z. Senchi, dismissed the said suit with  No: FCT/HC/CV/837/2020, following the application filed by counsel for the plaintiffs/applicants on 1/7/2020, asking to discontinue the suit.

Following the suit filed by the plaintiffs, the High Court had asked Oshiomhole to step aside as the national chairman of the APC pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Consequently, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the lower court, and Oshiomhole stepped aside.

The plaintiffs were expected to return to the lower court to begin the hearing of the substantive suit; instead they filed an application seeking a withdrawal of the substantive suit.

Counsel for Oshiomhole, Ginika Ezeoke of D.D. Dodo & Co., had argued that the 1st and 2nd defendants were not opposed to the application for withdrawal, but that the court should dismiss the suit on the basis that “parties had filed pleadings and issues joined.”

In his ruling, Hon. Justice Senchi ruled thus: “Pursuant to the Motion on Notice, No. FCT/HC/M/8148/2020, dated and filed on 1/7/2020 discontinuing this suit at the instance of the Plaintiffs/Applicants and the Defendants/Respondents not opposing the application for discontinuance, the application is hereby granted and suit is dismissed. Parties to bear their respective cost, if any..”

A lieutenant in the Nigerian Army, Nwigwe Uchenna has accused the Police in Ebonyi state of trying to cover up his younger brother’s murder under the carpet.

The deceased, Chinomnso Nwigwe, a member of Ebubeagu Security Network in Ebonyi state was reportedly killed during the All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congress in the state recently.

He was killed at Ugwuachara polling unit when thugs invaded the place and shot sporadically to scare voters and cart away materials for the congress.

The deceased was to go for his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), this month.

His elder brother, Lt. Nwigwe Uchenna, said he must ensure justice for Nwigwe. “I was granted pass on the 28th of last month to proceed for my wedding ceremony. On arriving to my state, a week to my weeding which was on the 31st night, I received a sad news on the demise of my brother.

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“It was a very difficult moment for me. What I did was that I went straight to military cantonment close to my area and that is Nkwagu barrack in this Abakaliki. I reported the matter there and the Commandant wrote to police headquarters to ensure proper investigation.

“So, I was not there at the point of incident. My father called me in the night when he broke the news that I should come to Federal Teaching Hospital in this state. I quickly drove to the scene and met my younger brother lying dead. I was very angry and devastated.

“When I made inquiry to find out what really happened, I was told that he was called and other members of Ebubeagu Security Network. My brother and other members of the security network were called that there was civil disturbances at Ugbodo and they went there and restored normalcy. Second call came up again and they were called to come to Ugwuachara.

“On getting to the scene, they were able to restore normalcy but thugs who came in there with a prominent politician from Izzi local government just opened fire. Unfortunately, bullet hit my younger brother and people could not even rescued him.

“When I reported the case to the police headquarters here, they just told me that they are going to investigate the case very transparent and I was very happy. To my greatest surprised when I ordered for the politician that ordered for the shooting, I was told he has been arrested.

“I will not accept what happened to my brother. This is somebody that was trained from infant to the university level and he supposed to go to his NYSC and he was killed just like that.

“One of the first steps I am taking in this issue is this briefing since the case is being compromised. I have equally told my Commandant here in military cantonment and I have equally told them not to compromise this investigation. I am going to exhaust every legal means to ensure justice for my brother.  Am not going to take laws into my hands but I will follow it legally,” he said.

Nwigwe who accused police of compromise on the matter, alleged that his son’s corpse was taken to the mortuary without embalmment and would have busted if not that he went to the mortuary three days he was dropped there and ordered for his embalmment.

Police spokesperson, Loveth Odah said she will contact the policeman that investigated the matter and know how far it has gone.

“I will call the person that investigated the matter and know how far they have gone in the investigation. I will call on the investigator and know how far they have gone in the investigation.”

MEMBERS of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Saturday went to the streets of Enugu metropolis and its suburbs to clean up filthy environments.

The church members cleared blocked water drains, filled potholes/bad portions of roads along (Ugwuani road) Cornerstone link road with Abakpa, Off Timber, Trans-Ekulu; Housing – Ugboezeji road, Ugboezeji, and One-day road, Off Agbani Road, all in Enugu.

They also worked at New Haven Primary School where they patched holes on school walls and floors of classrooms; fixed broken chairs/tables and cleared grasses within the school premises as well as fixed the school’s pumping machine to be able to pump water to the school’s overhead tank.

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They equally swept and cleared grasses within the Afor Ugbawka Market, while packing refuse and cleaning hospital premises and wards at Agbani General Hospital amongst others.

The cleaning exercise, according to Enugu Stake president of the church, Chimaraoke Udeichi, was in commemoration of the annual “All Africa Helping Hands Community Service Project” of the church.

Udeichi disclosed that the church embarked on the exercise in conjunction with the Enugu State government agencies and other development agencies like the media.

According to him, “Africa is in a serious mess when it comes to environment. We need to encourage people to get involved. We want to promote service spirit.

“We’re using the occasion to partner with development groups like journalists, government agencies etc. We render hours of community service to the community where we are.”

Anambra women on Saturday protested alleged planned rigging of the November 6 Governorship poll.

The women, operating under the aegis of Anambra Women for Peace and Growth Initiative, also declared support for candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Prof Chukwuma Soludo.

Carrying placards with different inscriptions along Dr Alex Ekwueme square and adjoining streets, they warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against any such plans during the exercise.

They said that they were impressed with Governor Willie Obiano’s performance and would want APGA to continue.

Leader of the women, Mrs Joy Otuadimma, said INEC should guide against making itself a willing tool in the hands of politicians to perpetrate electoral fraud.

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She said: “Anambra women would not accept any form of electoral malpractice, adding that they had resolved to participate actively in the electoral processes to ensure transparency and fairness to all parties.

“We say no to the rigging of the election in Anambra. We will not also accept the Imo State experience here in Anambra. We will not accept any court-imposed governor in this state.

“All we want is a straightforward election. Whoever wins, let the others support him. For us, we support Soludo and we want him to continue from where the governor, Chief Obiano, will stop.”

The Accord Party in Anambra has raised the alarm over the revelation by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) that N41 billion matching grant of the State is lying fallow in its office.

It said the development is not healthy for the growth of education in the State

Executive Secretary of UBEC, Hamid Boboyi, a few days ago disclosed over N41.06 billion grants belonging to Anambra remained unaccessed since 2017.

Addressing party members on Saturday, Anambra Deputy governorship candidate of Accord Party, Sir Kenneth Obi, blamed the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)-led government for what he described as a big mistake

Obi is the running mate to Dr Godwin Maduka, who dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) recently because of unresolved court cases in the party.

He said the implication of such huge mistake was that students would continue to suffer, lamenting the poor state of many primary schools across the State would not improve.

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UBEC made the revelation while presenting the 2020 Capital Budget Performance to the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education

The commission stated that Anambra State failed to access the fund in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Obi, a director in Oasis Medical UK and a Director in Atlantic Oil Services UK before joined politics, assured the Accord Party would redress such anomalies of elected.

“The blueprint of Accord Party for the educational sector will pitch Anambra children to compete favourably with their counter parts across the globe.

“At a time when artificial intelligence and robotic technology had swept across the Western World, Anambra children cannot be left behind with such UBEC Fund sad news,” Obi assured.

Commissioner for Information and Enlightenment, Mr C Don Adinuba, however told The Natio that there was no cause for alarm

He said the State government would not join issues with anybody or whatever party on the matter, adding they would talk at the appropriate time.