The Nation Newspaper

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  • Imo community protests oil spillage at Shell’s pipeline

    Residents of Umudike in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State yesterday protested a massive crude oil spillage on the Umudike-Assa-Rumuekpe oil pipeline owned by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

    The protesters accused SPDC of neglect, hazardous practices and inhuman treatments.

    They said the protest was to prevent the company from hurriedly covering up the spillage without undertaking the required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to determine the extent of the damage on the environment.

    According to them, this was not the first time a spillage would occur without the company compensating the community.

    The community said: “In 1997, there was a spillage that was poorly handled by the company. In 2001, there was another massive oil spillage, which resulted in an explosion and burnt over 13 people to death. Several others were badly burnt and incapacitated.”

    Speaking on the scene of the spillage, which was manned by heavily armed soldiers, the community’s youth leader, Mr. Ogini Reginald, said: “This is not the first time they have done this act of sabotage and we are prepared to resist them until the right thing is done. Since this company came into this community in 1964, it has not done anything to improve the living standard of the people. There are no hospitals, schools, good roads and over 100 graduates from this community are unemployed.”

    The protesters demanded, among other things, that SPDC removes its old pipes and replaces them with new ones to avoid spillage, compensation to the community for environmental damage from previous incidents and provision of employment opportunities for youths.

    A 99-year-old woman, Mama Felicia, tearfully said their land is no longer fertile for agriculture.

    The traditional ruler of Umudike Autonomous community, Ezeali James Nwanro, said: “When the spillage occurred, SPDC contacted me, and I told them to carry out their preliminary assessment to ascertain if the spillage was an act of sabotage or equipment failure before the issue of compensation should arise.”

  • Ijaw seek direct allocation of 13 percent

    Ijaw youths in Delta State have urged the Federal Government to pay the 13 per cent derivation fund to oil bearing communities in the region.

    They threatened to put out “oil flow stations” in their land, unless their demand is met.

    The Delta Ijaw Oil Producing Areas Youth Assembly (DIOPAYA) of Gbaramatu, Egbema and Ogulagha kingdoms were reacting to the dissolution of the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

    They said the payment of the money to the government favours the development of the state capitals to the detriment of the oil-producing communities.

    DIOPAYA’s President Joseph Wurayai and Secretary Jackson Timiyan, in a statement in Warri, said DESOPADEC, which draws 50 per cent of the derivation fund, failed to make any impact in the oil-producing communities.

    They said: “Consequently, we resolved that the 13 per cent derivation fund should be allocated directly to the oil-producing communities, so as to save them from the overwhelming injustice that is meted out on them.

    “This will allow these communities develop at their own pace and encourage the inhabitants to jealously guard the oil facilities on their land.”

  • Patients leave as health workers shut down hospitals

    Patients in hospitals around the country are in for a hard time– no thanks to a nationwide strike by health workers, which started yesterday.

    At the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos (NOHIL), patients were discharged suddenly by striking Medical and Health Workers Union (MHWU).

    When The Nation visited the hospital,relatives of some in-patients came to pick them.

    Patients were also discharged at the National Hospital, Abuja.

    At the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Metta, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the workers complied with the strike.

    The Chairman, MHWU, Federal Area Council (FAC), Lagos, Ibe Nwokenta, said: “We will not go back to work until the government accedes to our demand, which is to allow health workers skip Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) level 10 from 9 and move to 11 as the case in the past, pending the determination of the suit filled at the industrial court.”

    He expressed satisfaction with the strike .

    Nwokenta said: “All the offices in all Federal Government owned hospitals and agencies are under lock and key. At the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos (NOHIL), nothing is going. There is no work of any kind in the hospital’ I want to assure the government that this is just the beginning.

    “The time will come when the Medical Director will not be able to come into the premises. Everywhere will be locked up and we will hold the keys, if the government fails to answer us.

    “What is going on here at NOHIL is the same at Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, NAFDAC, FMC, Ebute- Metta, LUTH and other institutions.”

    He said the workers would not renege until the obnoxious circular by the Health Ministrry is withdrawn.

    He said: “The court ruled out that the status quo should remain, until court decides the case but the Health Minister roll out another circular to heads of parastatals and agencies that there should not be skipping of level 5. We have told him to expand maximum prison because we will no relax until the obnoxious circular is withdrawn.”

    The Chief Public Relations Officer, NOHIL, Mr. Funso Ige said patient with minor injuries were discharged while those with serious injuries are still in the hospital receiving treatment.

  • APGA suit: Umeh seeks new judge

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has applied for the reassignment of the suit in which he and the party were restrained from convening meetings to another judge.

    Umeh accused the Chief Judge (CJ) of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezuluike, who is hearing the suit, of bias.

    In a letter to the CJ on Wednesday, Umeh said: “I am reasonably apprehensive that your Lordship is obviously biased and compromised in this matter.

    “Accordingly, I respectfully request you to kindly, Sir, reassign this case to an unbiased judge, who will, God willing, do justice in the matter.”

    On July 25, the court restrained Umeh from convening meetings at all levels.

    The APGA chairman said the case was adjourned to July 31 for argument on the preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit.

    He accused the CJ of suo muto, extending the life span of the order from July 31 to September 17 without any party requesting it.

    Umeh said: “Not only was the unsolicited longevity granted to the ex parte, I heard your Lordship read that the order will also restrain all parties, including APGA, which is not a party to the suit before the court.

    “I have no doubt that your Lordship is fully aware that by Order 39 Rule 3 (4) of the Enugu State High Court Rules, the life span of an ex parte order cannot exceed 14 days. But in this case, the ex parte order granted on July 25 was by judicial fiat extended till September 17, a span of nearly two months.

    “Despite denying me a copy of the proceedings of July 31, you refused to deliver the ruling on the Notice of Preliminary Objection before you on September 17.

    “I strongly believe unseen forces are pulling the strings to frustrate our party and deal with me as the national chairman. I will resist such evil machinations by all lawful means at my disposal and ensure that truth and justice triumph.”

    The APGA national chairman said the judge should have sorted out the issue of jurisdiction before dabbling into other matters.”

    The case will come up on September 24.

  • Southeast governors urged to emulate Okorocha

    The co-ordinator of the Igbo socio-political group, Committee 21 (C21), Senator Annie Okonkwo, has urged Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, who turns 50 this weekend.

    Okonkwo, in a statement by his media aide, Collins Ugwu, said: “Your attaining 50, just after our ever resilient APGA Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh did, will stand to reassure those you serve that indeed an alert mind from a big heart is driving the peculiar momentum of governance in Imo State.”

    He urged Okonkwo to remain committed to developing Imo and its people.

    He said: “Providentially too, we hope and wish that this amazing grace upon you will persuade sleepless dissenters of your achievement resolve, to wisely abandon their reverse motion because, honestly there is no hope of slowing down this unique transformational vehicle.

    “Your free education at all levels to Ndigbo Imo, unusual in the history of Southeast zone has become an unbeatable cuisine, the aroma which we pray should disturb the nostrils of our brother governors to return to their governance kitchen immediately.”

  • Floods kill three persons in Ebonyi

    Three persons have been killed by floods in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    Property worth millions of naira was destroyed in the floods, which ravaged many communities in the council.

    Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Elder Igboke Umunna confirmed the deaths during an assessment tour of the affected areas with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    Thousands of people have been displaced, with farms and houses submerged.

    Over 30 villages, some of which share boundary with Cross River State, are affected by the floods.

    One of the communities, Nwolohzi, has been cut off from its neighbours. Children in the area were being conveyed to school with canoe.

    Some of the victims, Mr. Linus Ezeoru from Ndieze and the Coordinator of Izzi Development Centre, Apostle Charles Nwokpo, urged the government to assist them.

    NEMA Zonal Coordinator, Southeast, Dr. Onimode Bamidele, who was represented by the agency’s Relief Officer, Mr. Ifeanyi Nnaji, described the situation as “devastating” and urged people living in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer places.

    Umunna said the body of one of the three victims, who drowned in the flood, has been recovered.

    He said the bodies of the two others were yet to be found.

  • Hospital worker held for N6.7m ‘fraud’

    A worker at the Accounts Department the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) in Irrua, Edo State, has been arrested by the police for allegedly embezzling N6.7 million belonging to the hospital.

    It was learnt that the worker had not been remitting some of the money collected on behalf of the hospital into designated accounts.

    It was gathered that some senior officers of the accounts department had been sent on compulsory leave because of the fraud.

    A source at the hospital said the fraud was discovered by the cash unit supervisor while auditing the accounts.

    ISTH Director of Administration Mr. Tony Edeko said an administrative Panel of Enquiry has been set-up to probe the accounts.

    He said the suspension of some account officers was to allow for transparent investigation.

  • North ready to negotiate 2015, says ACF

    The North yesterday made moves in the race for the 2015 presidency. It said it was prepared to negotiate with other sections of the country.

    The pan-northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), in a communiqué at the end of its emergency meeting, said it was in support of any political strategy that would put the North in a vantage position in 2015.

    The communiqué, which was signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani, reiterated its earlier stand that it was early to begin political activity towards 2015, as such was capable of distracting the Federal Government.

    It noted that the priority of the North is to restore unity and peaceful co-existence among the ethnic nationalities and religious groups through mutual trust and confidence.

    The communiqué reads: “The emergency meeting was called to receive and consider the road map for peace, unity and development in the North. The road map is an outcome of the resolutions of the Arewa Conference on Peace and Unity held on December 5 and 6 last year.

    The submission was done by the former Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie, the Sardaunan Katsina.

    “Members resolved that the priority in the North is to restore unity and peaceful co-existence among the ethnic nationalities and religious faiths through efforts to inspire mutual trust and confidence among the people of the North and indeed, Nigeria in general.

    “To this end, ACF must enlist the support of stakeholders such as the governors, local government chairmen, lawmakers, traditional rulers and religious leaders as well as leaders of political parties for the purpose of implementing those aspects of the recommendations that are within the purview of their executive authority and sphere of influence.

    “While the forum supports any political strategy that will put the North in a position which will enable it negotiate with other sections of the country from a position of strength and secure some favourable terms, it is the view of the forum that it is too early to start political activities for 2015, because such early start is capable of distracting government from the task of governance.”

  • We’re not planning to attack Plateau, say Fulani

    The Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association has denied that the Fulani are planning to attack some villages in Plateau State.

    In a statement issued in Jos yesterday and made available to The Nation, the National Secretary-General of the association, Alhaji Saleh Bayeri, said: “It’s not true that the Fulani are planning to attack some villages in Plateau State.”

    Governor Jonah David Jang raised the alarm at a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday that security reports made available to him indicated that the Fulani were planning to attack some villages in the state.

    The governor urged the people to be on the alert.

    Bayeri, while debunking the allegation, said: “The Fulani are not planning any attack as alleged by the governor. We are cooperating with the state and federal government on how to achieve a lasting peace in the troubled areas.

    “The only thing in our mind is how to achieve a lasting peace in the state. We are making moves to reconcile as could be seen in our last visit to Aso Rock. We have made our position known to President Goodluck Jonathan. We respect him. We will not do anything to truncate the ongoing peace efforts.”

    Governor Jang, when addressing stakeholders, said: “Most of the attacks on people were carried out by the gunmen recruited and trained from outside the state.

    He went on: “The Fulani that killed two Plateau lawmakers in July were brought from outside the country. The clothes they wore were alien to Nigerians. According to security reports, some Fulani have been trained to attack again and we don’t know why.

    “I enjoin the people of this state, especially those in remote areas, to be on the alert. They should cooperate with security agencies to repel any attack.”

  • Flood ravages Edo communities

    Flood ravages Edo communities

    Udaba, Osomhegbe, Ofukpo, Agbazi and Udochi communities in Edo State have been flooded, following overflow of the River Niger.

    Farms, houses and property worth millions of naira were washed away.

    Residents have abandoned the communities for neighbouring villages.

    The lawmaker representing Estako Central in the House of Assembly, Mr. Johnson Oghuma, at plenary yesterday urged the government to assist his people.

    Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Osikhena-Boih Donald, who hails from the area, visited some of the affected villages.

    He assured the people that relevant agencies would be informed.

    Also yesterday, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) handed over relief materials for flood victims to the Edo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Benin, the state capital.

    NEMA Southsouth Disaster Risk Reduction Officer Eric Ebhodaghe said the effects of flooding on the people can be reduced through cooperation between the state government and the agency.

    Items donated to the victims included 300 bundles of roofing sheets, 600 bags of cement, 2,000 pieces of planks, 300 bags of rice, 300 blankets, 200 mattresses, mosquito nets, bags of garri, towels and clothing materials.

    Ebhodaghe said: “In recent times, we have experienced flooding across the country. That is why NEMA has been issuing warnings to ensure that Nigerians do not unduly suffer from climate change.

    “NEMA will continue to partner the state (Edo) to bring succour to the affected people. We cannot tame nature, but we can ameliorate its consequences.

    “Disaster is not only about relief materials, but also about preparing for it. A situation where people are forewarned and they refuse to relocate calls for more sensitisation.”

    Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Developments Deaconess Florence Ebomoyi-Idundun assured NEMA that the materials will get to the victims.