By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

The Board of Directors of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has named three new Executive Directors for more effective coverage of the company’s activities.

This followed President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for three additional directors at the company.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in the Office of the Vice-President, Mr. Laolu Akande, said the three additional Executive Directors are: Mr. Abdullahi Kassim, Mrs. Nkechinyelu Mba and Mr. Mohammed Mahmud.

The statement said the NDPHC board named the new Executive Directors at its meeting on October 9, 2020.

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With this new board structure, NDPHC now has six directors, each drawn from the six geo-political zones in the country, with the following designated responsibilities: Mr. Joseph Chiedu Ugbo, Managing Director/CEO – Southsouth; Mr. Babayo Shehu, Executive Director (Finance & Accounts) – Northeast; Mr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, Executive Director (Networks) – Southwest

Others are: Mr. Abdullahi Kassim, Executive Director (Generation) – Northwest; Mrs. Nkechinyelu Mba, Executive Director (Corporate Services) – Southeast, and Mr. Mohammed Mahmud as Executive Director (Legal Services & Company Secretary) – Northcentral.

President Buhari had, on August 20, 2020, approved the renewal of the appointment of Mr. Joseph Chiedu Ugbo as the Managing Director of NDPHC, and Messrs Babayo Shehu and Ifeoluwa Oyedele as Executive Directors.

By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has restated the commitment of his administration to prioritise the welfare of civil servants in the state.

Ikpeazu, who spoke yesterday through Information Commissioner John Okiyi-Kalu in Umuahia, the state capital, described civil servants as the engine room of any government.

Okiyi-Kalu said the state government’s decision to pay the new minimum wage in January, despite the shortfall in Federal allocation and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), was informed by the importance the governor attached to the welfare of the workers.

The commissioner, who said the state government had paid a good number of workers their September salary, added that the governor had directed the Finance Commissioner, Dr. Aham Uko, to work out the modalities for the release of the N400 million bailout fund for the state university at Uturu (ABSU) to pay workers who suffered from the forced closure of schools due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“Starting from January 2020, the Abia State government, led by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, started the payment of new minimum wage to Abia State workers. In the entire Southeast, Abia State pays the highest amount per wage level and has the highest monthly wage bill.

“While many states battled to pay half or full salary to civil servants during the lockdown occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19, Governor Ikpeazu religiously paid workers and continued with his key development projects, including road construction, promotion of agriculture and SME development as well as improvement of healthcare infrastructure,” he said.

“As at today, workers in most government establishments in Abia State have received September 2020 salaries and are not owed any arrears.

“In addition to the above, the state government has already paid subventions to ABSUTH, ABIAPOLY, College of Health and Management Sciences, and commenced payment to Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB) in lieu of senior secondary school teachers.

“According to the Commissioner for Finance, irregularities were discovered in the payroll of Hospital Management Board (HMB), which has necessitated a review in their modalities of payment to be effected next week.”

The Cross River State government has announced the takeover of Bakassi Deep Seaport by a maritime company, Antwerp Ports International of Belgium.

Governor Ben Ayade broke the news of the takeover during a boat ride to the site of the deep seaport with representatives and Port Director of Antwerp Ports International, Mr. Stefan Cassimon.

The governor said the essence of the visit was to do a reconnaissance as well as a required survey of the location, suitability and adaptability of the port.

He said the tour would strengthen commitment to the partnership with the Port of Antwerp International and the state government to either take the investment from public placement strategy or direct investment by investors.

Ayade expressed delight that such a well celebrated name in the maritime industry had decided to get involved with the Bakassi Deep Seaport project.

The deep seaport is one of the ongoing legacy projects of the Ayade administration.

The governor had received the Belgian Ambassador, Daniel Betrand, who led the team on a visit at the Executive Council Chamber in Calabar, the state capital.

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Speaking after visiting the project site, Ayade said: “We are here on the Calabar River emptying into the Bakassi Deep Seaport with a team of technical directors and experts from the Port of Antwerp International.”

Lauding Antwerp Port International’s interest in the Bakassi Deep Seaport, the governor said: “Nigeria will have a lot to benefit from this port as this will be the first cargo industrial port, as approved by the Federal Ministry of Transportation.”

He reiterated the imperativeness of the Bakassi Deep Seaport, which he said would create a shortcut between the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean and the North with the view to exporting solid minerals that abound in that part of the country.

Ambassador Bertrand said the team was in Calabar to “to discuss further on the wonderful project in Bakassi and to ensure that the project, that is the Deep Seaport, will be a success as soon as possible”.

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

A delegation of female pupils of secondary schools across the three senatorial districts of Enugu State has hailed Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his administration’s commitment to the wellbeing of the state’s children, especially the girl-child.

The pupils spoke when the governor’s wife’s pet project, Ugo’s Touch of Life Foundation (U-TOLF), led them on a visit to the governor at the Government House i Enugu.

The occasion was the commemoration of International Day of the Girl-Child 2020 on October 11.

The pupils expressed appreciation to the governor “for your concern for the welfare of children and women”.

They noted that “this is evident through the signing of the Child Rights and Responsibility Act into law and further domestication of the law in the state through establishment of family courts and a rehabilitation home for vulnerable women”.

The pupils said the law had ensured the protection of children from all forms of violence and abuse, adding that “children in Enugu State are empowered to seek justice when their rights are infringed upon. For this, we are immensely grateful”.

They lauded the governor’s swift responses to the plight of the oppressed and destitute and expressed gratitude to him for his fatherly and timely intervention in the case of the 10-year-old girl, Nneoma Nnadi, who was physically abused by her guardians.

“Not only did you (the governor) direct that she be given the best medical attention by taking charge of her hospital bills, you also offered full scholarship for the child up to university level, provided funds for welfare of the widowed mother and her family and equally directed that the Ministry of Justice works to ensure that the perpetrators of the violence are brought to book.

“This demonstrates your zero tolerance for gender-based violence, abuse and violation of the rights of a child, support for education and empowerment of women. On behalf of the child and every child in the state, we say thank you,” they said.

The youngsters praised Ugwuanyi for creating recreation centres.

They said: “Your Excellency, last year, on the event of the Day of the African Child, we requested that new recreation centres be created in the state and the revitalisation of the existing tourist and recreation sites.”

“Today, we are excited to witness the manifestation of these requests, tourist sites and recreational centres are springing up in different corners of the state.

“Noticeably in the centre of the metropolis is the Unity Park, beautiful to behold, modern yet retaining its natural features. We are confident that this development will be highly beneficial to Enugu residents, both young and old, and also attract more tourists into the state. Thank you for hearkening to our call.”

The pupils also congratulated the governor on his administration’s massive strides in the education sector, especially in primary and secondary schools across the three senatorial districts through the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).

They noted that “over 100 schools can boast having equipped new classroom blocks and offices. We currently enjoy improved learning environment”.

From Elo Edremoda, Warri

Fifteen riverine communities in Egbema Kingdom, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, have threatened to shut down operations at the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 40 in Ogbeti-Okun oil field over non-recognition of their communities by the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC)/ELCREST Joint Venture.

The communities staged a peaceful protest on Sunday to express their grievances against the oil firms.

They carried placards with various inscriptions, such as: “NPDC, stop your operation”; “NPDC, stop work,” among others.

The protesters said they would not leave the area and that no vessel would move out of the base until their demands were met.

Representatives of the communities, Mr. Joe Bokson and Mr. Senior Kiri, said in the 33 years of oil exploration in the Ogbeti-Okun oil field, the communities had not benefited anything from the various operators.

They claimed that when NPDC and ELCREST began operations in the oil field in 2018, the communities protested alleged injustice they had suffered in the hands of their predecessors and made a case for them to be recognised as host communities.

The protesters added that a meeting which followed the protest was held at Warri North Local Government Area’s secretariat in Koko.

The communities claimed that the management agreed to pay them benefits and entitlements.

But they claimed that NPDC/ELCREST JV did not live up to their promise.

The 15 coastal communities include Asisabobutie, Ubebrakui, Agbuwagha, Erekoughan, Okofagbene, Ojudougbene, Idebanegbene, Ologbamkan, Azama, Oyangbene, Adagbrasa, Asantuwagbene, Oborogbene, and Emelebiri.

A leader of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Shagari Sobo, explained that after paying for two months, the company abandoned the agreement it reached with the host communities.

Shagari urged President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to prevail on the management of the oil firm to recognise the host communities, like their Itsekiri neighbours.

Also, the eldest man and woman leader in the affected communities, Chief Sunday Eyenmi and Mrs. Eunice Momo, decried the destruction of aquatic lives, their major means of livelihood, following exploitation activities in the area.

A representative of the NPDC/ELCREST, Mr. Prince Orji, who addressed the protesters, praised them for their peaceful disposition.

He promised to communicate their demands to the management.

From Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

His Royal Highness Aserifa Hope Torru, the Ebedaowei of Kabowei Kingdom, has urged Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri to prevail on the State Emergency Management Agency (BASEMA) to provide materials for the people that flood displaced in his domain.

He said though flooding in the five Kabowei communities of Adagbabiri, Trofani, Asamabiri, Ekpereware and Elemebiri in Sagbama Local Government Area was an annual disaster, the prediction for this year indicated that it would be worse, compared to that of 2012.

The monarch, who spoke yesterday in his town, urged the Federal and state governments as well as relevant agencies to intervene in averting disaster the flood posed.

He said: “The flood this year will be worse than that of 2012. The water is rising every minute and I hope and pray that our people do all that is possible to remain safe.

“There is the urgent need for some form of relief materials to be sent to all our communities of Adagbabiri, Trofani, Asamabiri, Ekpereware and Elemebiri. They are all seriously affected.”

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A youth leader in Trofani community, Mr. Sunday Koinyan, said there was an urgent need for residents of the community to feel government’s presence.

He said the flood had destroyed crops and farmlands as well as displaced many residents.

Koinyan described the flooding in the community and other Kabowei communities as a huge challenge.

The youth leader sought the assistance of all indigenes to provide succour to the flood victims.

“The flooding in our community is the biggest problem we face every year. We have lost so much to it and need the Federal Government, through its responsive agencies, to come to our aid.

“The state and local governments also have a role to play in providing succour to our people. Trofani community is not the only one affected by this disaster; four other communities in Kabowei clan are also affected. We need urgent attention,” he said.

From Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) at the weekend threatened to name and shame persons involved in energy theft.

Speaking at a public forum in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Henry Ajagbawa, decried the negative impact of energy theft on the supply of electricity.

He said apart from naming and shaming perpetrators, the company would also ensure their prosecution.

The company chief executive warned the offenders to desist from such an unholy and wicked act, which he said was capable of threatening the sustainability of the company.

Ajagbawa said: “We are determined to eradicate energy theft in the system. That’s why we are collaborating with the security agencies. Any customer caught bypassing or tampering with our meter will not only be named and shamed but shall in addition face the full wrath of law and thereafter made to pay for loss of revenue arising from the unwholesome act.”

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The PHED chief said the company was losing over N2.5 billion monthly to energy theft, a situation he described as disturbing.

“One of the ways we can survive and improve on our services is when customers pay their bills and stop meter bypass. We are coming after those who are involved in meter bypass and we will get back what belongs to us. Those sabotaging the system must be brought to book.

“We need a legislation to criminalise energy theft and vandalism of electricity facilities. If you criminalise it and make the consequences severe, definitely, we will have it better. Nigerians should learn to pay for energy consumed.”