The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Alfred Diete-Spiff

  • 44 years after, Reps ask FG to complete NLNG Bonny Road 

    The House of Representatives Wednesday asked the federal government to expedite action on the Bodo-Bonny Road Project which was conceived in 1973

    A lawmaker, Hon. Randolph Brown, (PDP Rivers) who brought a motion before the House on the issue said  the project,  was initially conceived in  1973 by the regime of the Military Governor, Alfred Diete Spiff of old Rivers State.

    Read Also:Senate uncovers fresh $1.151bn withdrawal from NLNG fund

    “And by 1974, the Rivers Government received the feasibility study and design of the road.

    The lawmaker said the Federal Government should complete the project in view of the importance of the road “as it would link Bonny Town (the Host community to the NLNG and several other highly economically beneficial multinational companies.”

    He said since the Federal Government eventually flagged off the Bonny-Bodo Road Project on 12 October, 2017, work had not commenced on the Bonny end of the project.

    “Despite the long conclusion of enumeration,  assessment of compensation on the Right of Way (ROW)  and relocation of public utilities of the consultants to the federal Ministry of Power,  Works and Housing, non-payment of compensation has stalled work on the Bonny end of the project, which had given hope to the people of Bonny.”

    According to the lawmaker, “the payment of compensation will be an effective way to foreclose all issues on the Right of Way (ROW) and the delay in this case could result to avoidable tension.”

    He further expressed concern that if the issue is not given urgent attention “there could be a break-down of law and order as tension and suspicion has started rising owing to refusal to pay the compensation of the Right of Way (ROW) and relocation of Public Utilities.

    When the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Sahara called for a voice vote, it was passed by major vote.

    The House thereafter mandated the Committees on Works and Legislative Compliance to monitor the progress and report back to the House in two weeks, for further legislative input.

  • Oba Ewuare assumes Chairmanship of TROMPCOM

    Oba Ewuare assumes Chairmanship of TROMPCOM

    The Omo’ N’Oba N’Edo Uku-Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has been nominated as Chairman of the Committee of Traditional Rulers of Oil, Mineral Producing States (TROMPCOM).

    The Patron of TROMPCOM and Amanayabo of Brass in Bayelsa, His Royal Highness, Alfred Diete-Spiff, announced this in Benin on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to Oba Ewuare in his palace in Benin.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that TROMPCOM comprises of Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo, Abia, Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

    Diete-Spiff said that the body was established to address problems posed by oil exploration and gas flaring in the area.

    He assured that TROMPCOM would bring succour to the people of the oil producing states, whose environment had been devastated by oil exploration, exploitation and gas flaring.

    The Amanayabo said that the chairmanship of the body would be held in rotation, every two years.

    He added that it was now the turn of Edo to chairman the body, hence he decided to come personally to plead with Oba Ewuare to honour them by accepting the chairmanship.

    The Amanayabo also said that if the people of the oil producing states are impacted on positively, unemployment and youth restiveness in the area would be taken care of.
    Oba Ewuare expressed gratitude to the Amanayabo for the invitation extended to him to assume the chairmanship of TROMPCOM.

    The Oba said he has accepted to take the responsibility and prayed God and the ancestors to grant him the wisdom and good health to do his best to justify the confidence reposed in him.

    Oba Ewuare, however, called for the effective utilisation of the nation’s abundant gas resources, instead of flaring it to cause environmental and health hazards for the people.

    The Benin Monarch used the opportunity to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari back home and thanked God for his quick recovery.

    The Oba said that he would soon embark on a nationwide thank you tour, beginning with a visit to President Buhari in Abuja.

    He added that he would then visit traditional rulers in the South-South and other parts of the country.

  • Osinbajo, PANDEF meet in Aso Rock 

    Osinbajo, PANDEF meet in Aso Rock 

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday night met behind closed doors with members of the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF).

    The meeting started around 7p.m at the Vice President’s conference room.

    Some of those attending the meeting included Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, elder statesman, Edwin Clarke and Alfred Diete-Spiff.

    Other are God knows Igali, Timi Alaibe, Obong Victor Atta, Graham Douglas, Dan Etete, Captain Idahosa Okunbo, Paul Ogbebor, and Senator Ndoma Egba.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

    Details Later…

     

  • Bayelsa commends FG for citing new fertilizer, petrochemical plant in Brass

    Bayelsa commends FG for citing new fertilizer, petrochemical plant in Brass

    The Bayelsa Government has commended the Federal Government for citing a multi-billion dollar private sector-driven fertilizer and petrochemical plant in Brass.

    The state Governor, Seriake Dickson gave the commendation when he led the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, Commodore Alfred Diete-Spiff (rtd), and a team of private investors on a thank you visit to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    According to Dickson, we are also here to discuss other issues concerning the take-off of the project.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Brass is a Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, with headquarters in the town of Twon-Brass on Brass Island along the coast.

    It has a coastline of approximately 90 km on the Bight of Bonny.

    Dickson told state House Correspondents on Tuesday that the project would create enormous jobs and transform the economy of the state and the country at large.

    The governor assured investors of adequate security.

    “We came to discuss issues on the Brass Fertilizer Project billed to take off in Bayelsa. That is a big ticket investment running into billions of dollars.

    “The government team is here, the traditional ruler is here because the project is taking place in his domain.

    “We are here to assure the Federal Government and investors that Bayelsa as they all know is one of the safest states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “We have worked hard in the last five years I have been governor to bring that about.’’

    The governor also commended the Federal Government for its new approach in pursuing integrated development in the country based on partnership and collaboration evidenced by the fertilizer plant.

    Dickson noted that the Acting President’s dialogue on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari with  Niger Delta stakeholders, saying that a new understanding was emerging for the stability, security and development of the region.

    “It is when we bring big ticket investments, create jobs and we affect the economy and create other legitimate options through which young people can survive that some of the crises that we see here will be addressed.

    “This is a good way to begin to address that and that is why I am here to assure the Federal Government and investors for the steps so far taken.’’

    The governor also commended the Federal Government for directing oil producing companies that did not have offices in Bayelsa to open offices in the state.

    He recalled that the story of oil exploration began in Bayelsa but lamented that it was shocking that no oil company had an office in the state.

    Dickson expressed concern that the state had been denied the economic benefits of oil production.

    “There are no jobs, no employment, they don’t even pay much tax, and a number of them don’t even pay tax at all.

    “The Federal Government has said that they should go back.

    “So we expect to work with the Federal Government and engage with all the oil producing companies to see how they can begin to have respectable presence.’’

    Dickson also commended the Federal Government forits decision to establish modular refineries in the Niger Delta region.

    Citing the NLNG as one of the plants in the region, Dickson said it was yielding a lot of revenue for the country as one of the most profitable partnerships the Federal Government had gone into.

    “You have other big ones like the Gbarain/Obie gas plant project in Bayelsa owned by Shell, there are other ones.

    “But this one is a fertilizer petrochemical company, And they will do a lot of skills development and skills transfer, a lot of jobs will be created and there will be a boom in the local economy, state economy and ultimately affect the national economy positively.’’

    He said the Bayelsa government would engage the oil companies to ensure that they did their businesses without inhibitions.