The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayelsa State

  • Fashola to stakeholders: Let’s work together to develop Niger Delta

    Fashola to stakeholders: Let’s work together to develop Niger Delta

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has challenged all stakeholders from the Niger Delta to close their ranks and work with the Federal Government to develop the region.

    Fashola, who visited Bayelsa State at the weekend, about a week after Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, led a delegation to the state and unveiled a new vision for the region, said everybody must work hard to change the negative conversation around the Niger Delta.

    The former Governor of Lagos State, said the current administration was sincerely determined to drive policies, projects and programmes that would develop the region.

    Fashola and his team inspected some federal road projects in the state, including the Okarki-Yenigwe-Kolo road, leading to Ogbia, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s local government and the popular East-West road.

    He called on Niger Delta governors to synergise and ‘step up’ their collaboration with the federal government to change the face of the Niger Delta.

    He acknowledged that the government at the centre “has not had as much impact as it should in the region”, but promised that the current government was working hard to change the narratives.

    He said: “I understand the challenges of building in the creeks and the swamps that’s how my state is like. It’s difficult terrain. We all need to get our hands in the plough here.

    “I see that the presence of the federal government has not been as impactful as it should have been over the years , especially in terms of infrastructure across the delta, not just in Bayelsa.

    “But we can only do that by collaboration, by peace and partnership. Not only does the governor and I have our work cut out for us, but the governors and his colleagues in the South-South must step up now and change the conversation around this place.

    “This place has great potential. It can create jobs for the youths of Nigeria. From gas and other by-products , creating industry and life defining infrastructure, connecting the sea. These are places where you can do alot of tourism. The possibilities are endless. But we need to shake hands and that is why we are here”.

    He said having inspected the East-West Road which is under the Ministry of the Niger Delta and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), his ministry would play some roles to complete the road.

    He lamented that contractors left sites of various projects in the area including the East-West Road at a period the country experienced prosperity in resources.

    But he said the Federal Government would ensure the contractors retire to sites as a means of getting the country pit of recession.

    “We have been through the east west road which is a federal road although it is under the Niger Delta ministry through the NDDC, but there’s a lot we can do in terms of collaboration to complete this road.

    “We need to collaborate to complete these roads, or from project to project. The contractors left site.

    “Unfortunately, this happened in a period of relative prosperity in terms of resources coming in, but this government is determined that whatever the case, the infrastructure represent the way out of recession.

    “Finishing them means getting contractors back to work, those living in those localities to have opportunities to get engaged and employed.

    “And also connecting those facilities which will make it easier to transverse between Bayelsa and Rivers and to other states, not only in the south south , but also in the South East.

    “I have spoken to the contractor and I have charged them to come back to site. We will take control of the project in a much more different way such that there is a more generous provision for the work that is going on rather than registering.

    “This is a matter where your brothers, colleagues and representatives in the Senate and House of Representatives should help to make the budgeting process more flexible. And this will change the way we budget”, he said.

    Fashola further attributed the problem with the Gbarain Power Plant to lack gas supply to the gas pipelines, adding that some of the pipelines were shut while others were broken.

    He said the Gbarain plant was off the greed till about two weeks ago when the country started receiving power from there.

    He said: “These are problems we are solving and the strategic importance of the gas assets the states of the Niger Delta and the Niger Delta itself cannot be understated.

    “We need to find peace here very quickly and the story must change. This is one of the reasons we have come here to see if what is being reported about this place is true and this is not a place where the story suggests you can’t work.

    But we need to get more ambassadors who will say ‘I work here, I live here. This place is safe’. And that’s what encourages people to come out and address the infrastructure work that needs to be done here.

    “The collaboration that the governor spoke about in producing more energy from gas is something that I intended to take up”.

    Earlier, the Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, called for more collaborations between the stage and the Federal Government.

    Dickson said despite the strategic importance of Bayelsa, the government at the centre had abandoned the state.

    He said the state was sitting on gas and appealed to the government to partner with the state to explore the gas and generate electricity for the country.

    Dickson said: “Bayelsa is the centre of gravity. The story of Nigeria’s oil started just about ten minutes from here. Untill you visit Bayelsa, you haven’t visited Niger Delta”.

    The governor lamented the challenges of development confronting the state because of its terrain and most of the projects required support from the federal government.

    Addressing Fashola, he said: “Your appointment has given a lot of people hope. And we are very hopeful that with you in these critical ministries, it’s in the hands of someone we have confidence in and has capacity to deliver.

    “These ministries are critical areas that we want to collaborate with the Federal Government. Your ministry and federal government have very little footprint in terms of road construction.

    “The road you said you went to inspect, we have talked about these roads for several years for even as old as Nigeria is. Now you have seen where it is”.

    Dickson said the three senatorial roads and the Agge Deep Seaport were more critical projects that required federal government’s support.

    “A road from Nembe to Brass is like building the third mainland bridge. Some of the raids we call roads here are actually bridges because the whole of Bayelsa is below sea level. So the cost of construction is twenty times what you have in other areas.

    “We are available for collaboration. We can’t handle it alone. These roads are too expensive. Our country unfortunately has left this part of Nigeria behind. Nigeria left Bayelsa and the Niger Delta behind. No road to Brass , yet crude is lifted daily there the same for Forcados”.

  • Otuoke varsity matriculates 2,430 students

    Otuoke varsity matriculates 2,430 students

    The Federal University, Otuoke, (FUO) Bayelsa State, on Saturday, formally gave admissions to 2,430 students for 2016/2017 academic session.

    Speaking at the 6th matriculation ceremony of the university, the Vice-Chancellor. Prof. Seth Jaja, said the admissions were based on merits measured in line with standards set by the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the institution’s Senate.

    Jaja said when he assumed office in February 17, 2016, the university only ran 12 academic programmes, which he said limited the number of prospective students offered admission into the institution.

    But he said: “On my assumption of duty as Vice-Chancellor, the first major challenge l faced was how to bridge this need-gap, the need-gap so highlighted is more in the faculties and disciplines of Engineering, Management Science and Education, which were hitherto not available.

    “This challenge was overcome when the National Universities Commission, after due resource verification exercise, graciously approved 16 new additional programmes which increased the university’s carrying-capacity from 1,500 to 2000.

    “This singular achievement enabled the present administration to frog-leap from a student population of 2000 to this swarm.

    “This has helped to minimise among others, our challenge of meeting the university’s social responsibility of granting admission to deserving youths in Nigeria and our host communities in particular”.

    He warned the students to stay away from illegal associations and relationships in and around the university’s environment.

    “Be informed that our active security intelligence eye is at work and will spot students without any difficulty when they do otherwise”, he said.

    He also advised the students not to allow themselves to be intimidated by any lecturer, urging them to raise the alarm when they noticed abnormality.

    The vice-chancellor warned that all academic and social engagements should be restricted within the internal environment of the university.

    “No night parties or students’ group activities of any dimension by whatever name should be undertaken without the expression permiss

  • Fire razes warehouse in Bayelsa, destroys goods worth millions

    A warehouse of cables and other electrical parts in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was on Saturday gutted by early morning fire.

    The fire was said to have started on the storey-building store belonging to Jico-Tech Limited, a major dealer on electrical parts, before resumption of workers.

    It was gathered that neighbours around the business premises battled in vain to quench the mysterious fire before contacting the fire service.

    At about 7:20am, firefighting trucks from the state’s fire service were seen racing to the distressed building.

    The firefighters, however, complained about their inability to effectively combat the inferior because of lack of funding and required chemicals.

    They were, however, assisted by Igbo youths who rallied round and ensured that the fire was put out.

    A son of the store’s owner, John-Paul Igweka, said they resumed work to behold the fire but tried in vain to stop it.

    He said: “We came to the shops this morning and discovered that the store was on fire, we make efforts to put it but couldn’t do anything and we called the fire service.

    “Though they came in time and with three trucks but there was nothing they could do as they complained of no chemical in the water they came with. But I must commend them for coming in time.

    “You can see for yourself, it is not what I can quantify but as you can see for yourself, it worth millions that just got lost, it’s like going back to zero, going back to the village to start all over again.”

    He suspected that the fire must have been the handiwork of saboteurs and begged the government for assistance.

    The President of the Ohaneze Youth Council (OYC), Chinedu Authur-Ugwa, who was at the scene of the disaster, described the fire incident as shocking and heartbreaking.

    He said: “It is very very sad, we were inform this morning of the fire incident and on reaching here I was shocked at the level of damage. Goods worth N300 million, it are very sad, especially at this hard time.

    “We can only console him at a time like this and see how we can help him, try to see how the state government and other well meaning individual can help him, you know this kind of a thing can led to heart failure, its sad.”

    But the Director, ICT, Azure Ayiyi, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the incident started at about 6am after the public power supply was withdrawn.

    “The fire service came down and were able to put things under control. The security men secured the place and traders came out massively to help us fight the fire”.

  • Osinbajo’s visit unite Dickson, Sylva

    Osinbajo’s visit unite Dickson, Sylva

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and his immediate predecessor, Chief Timipre Sylva at the weekend looked at each other eyeball-to-eyeball for the first time after the controversial 2015/2016 governorship elections in the state.

    The meeting of the two arch political enemies was made possible by the Friday’s visit of the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and his team who were in the state to seek solutions to the crisis in the Niger Delta region.

    There was apprehension in the camps of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when feelers filtered in that Sylva was in the entourage of Osinbajo.

    People were worried about the likely outcome of a meeting between Dickson and Sylva who had remained unyielding and unfriendly political foes after the elections that sharply divided the state.

    The worries were believed not to be out of place considering the hate, jabs and tantrums that characterized the actions of the duo during the poll and lingered months after the exercise.

    People recalled how Dickson, the candidate of the PDP, described Sylva, the standard bearer of the APC, as a guy man, eliciting a swift reaction from Sylva, who called the governor a bushman.

    But eventually when a “guy man” and a “bushman” met for the fist time, their behaviour towards each other betrayed their supporters’ expectations.

    It was a dramatic moment when it got to the turn of Sylva to receive handshakes from Dickson who exchanged pleasantries with members of Osinbajo’s team at the heliport of the Government House.

    With a broad smile, Dickson on getting to Sylva exclaimed: “Countryman! Countryman!!” He then warmly shook hands with him as Sylva returned the gesture with an infectious smile.

    Dickson, who was in high spirits then turned to someone standing beside Sylva and said: “Your friend (Sylva) is running away from me”. But Sylva immediately replied: ” I am not running away from you”. Everybody laughed.

    Some Ijaw leaders were happy at the development and thanked Osinbajo during a town hall meeting at the Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, for bringing peace to Bayelsa by uniting the two gladiators.

    The President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide, before presenting his demands to Osinbajo first counted the peace between Sylva and Dickson as one of the blessings of the visit.

    He said it was remarkable that the visit brought the state chairmen of APC and PDP and Ijaw people from various political divides together.

    He said: “I want to on behalf of the Ijaw nation thank your Excellency the acting President for bringing peace to Bayelsa. This is the first political leader that will bring together two leaders of the Ijaw land together.

    “Ijaw people cut across various political divides sit together. We thank you because our state really needs to be healed politically. Thank you for bringing peace”.

    Even the Masters of Ceremony (MC), Ebi Abi, observed that it was the first of its kind for the state chairmen of APC and PDP to sit together.

    Also Dickson in his speech created more excitement among the crowd. He said he was very glad when he saw Sylva in the entourage of acting President.

    He said: “Join me to welcome my immediate past predecessor. I was very glad when I saw him at the heliport while waiting to receive the acting President”.

    Addressing Sylva he said: “My dear brother, since the end of our campaign, this is the first time I am seeing you. It is good to see that you are looking very well and handsome. That is the spirit of the new Bayelsa”.

  • Tension brews in Bayelsa over land for grazing 

    Tension brews in Bayelsa over land for grazing 

    Tension is brewing in Bayelsa State over a piece of land measuring about 1200 hectares allocated to herdsmen for cattle grazing in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, by Governor Seriake Dickson.

    Dickson’s intentions of confining activities of herdsmen within the Bayelsa Palm area to avoid bloody clashes between them and farmers have divided stakeholders and groups in Ijaw land.

    It was gathered that an Ijaw and human rights activist, Ankio Briggs, had concluded plans to lead a protest of Ijaw stakeholders to demand reversal of Dickson’s decision.

    Briggs was said to be mobilising women and youths of like minds to occupy Bayelsa on February 14, a day scheduled to mark Dickson’s fifth year in office, for the protest.

    Already, a coalition of Ijaw groups under the auspices of the Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the governor to reverse his decision or face shutdown of all government activities in Bayelsa.

    IPDI, in a statement by its acting spokesperson, Mr. Mayor Ogobiri, said: “We are giving Governor Dickson seven days ultimatum to revoke Bayelsa land allocated to herdsmen or face mass shut down of all government facilities across the state because we do not want a repeat of the massacre that happened recently at Southern Kaduna in our state”.

    But the core Ijaw groups, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), worldwide, the Ijaw Youth Movement (IYM) and the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Thursday, rose in defence of the governor.

    The INC flayed Briggs accusing her of misinforming and inciting members of the public without making efforts to know the facts of the government’s decision.

    The group in statement signed by its Chairman, Central Zone, Chief Kennedy Odiowei, insisted that the activist misfired.

    Odiowei said: “This time and case we will differ as she missed the well-taken point by all that there is need to establish a central place for all cattle business in the state; and this is what informed Governor Seriake Dickson’s decision to provide and site the grazing field, ranch and abattoir at a portion of the Bayelsa Oil Palms farm.

    “We believe Ankio Briggs was misinformed and deliberately too, by some mischief makers who will not see anything good in any decision taken, no matter how good that decision is  by the Dickson administration.

    “While we appreciate Ankio Briggs’ recognition that Bayelsa State represents the identity of Ijaw people and respect her right to freely express her opinion and concern on happenings in the state, particularly the wellbeing of the people, as opinion is free, we advise her to take a back seat and not delve unnecessarily into issues she is not properly informed on, no matter how concerned she may be”.

    He said as the Chief Security Officer of this state, the governor owed the people the duty to prevent any likely clashes between cattlemen operating in the state and the owners of farmlands.

    “As it has been the case in many places in recent times. It is a decision taken to prevent injuries and deaths likely to arise in the event of any misunderstanding between cattlemen and farmers or farm owners in the state.

    “The governor took the decision as part of his plan to reposition the economy of the state, a vigorous drive in agriculture and investment in livestock to increase the state’s scarce internally generated revenue (IGR).

    “The land in question in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State is government-owned. It was not donated but provided to cater for the need of cattlemen and others doing cattle related businesses such as grazing, ranching and marketing in the state.

    Also backing the governor, the IYC Central Zone Chairman, Mr. Bobolayefa Owopiele, said Briggs’ fears were unfounded and smacked of scaremongering.

    “Her fear of annexation of Ijaw/ Niger Delta territories vis-à-vis acquisition of Ijaw-lands on the pretext of cattle grazing and other related business in this regard, though appreciated are unnecessary and unfounded as the land is not donated or sold to anybody including her so much feared cattle herdsmen.

    “The Bayelsa Oil Palms farm space is provided for cattle business just as the Ekeki Motor Park is provided by government for transport business in the state.

    “The Committee on Management and Control of Ranches was set up in December 2016 to oversee the activities of those doing cattle business in the state, including cattle herdsmen. It is made up of persons of high and proven integrity and very credible representatives.

    “They include relevant organizations like the Nigeria Police, Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Ijaw National Congress (INC), a member of the Traditional Rulers Council, youth of some communities and people in the cattle business in the state”.

    Owopiele said that while governors of some states in their desperation outrightly barred cattlemen from their states, Dickson chose a more beneficial option to the people.

    He said rather than condemn the action; the governor should be commended for choosing an all-inclusive business arrangement.

    He said: “Cattle in Malaysia are grazed in Oil Palm farmlands and both compliment the growth and progress of each other. Confining and domesticating all cattle business in the state to a government assigned ranch area and market such as Bayelsa oil palms farm is a most thoughtful and welcome idea that cannot be faulted.

    “The governor therefore by this action exposes no Ijaw person or any resident of the state for that matter to the dangers perceived by Ankio Briggs. Her thinking in our opinion amounts to crying wolf where there’s none”.

    He accused Briggs of unnecessarily causing tension in the state and noted thousands of cattle in Bayelsa state were owned by some wealthy indigenes with the Hausa/Fulani herdsmen merely serving them.

    “The community leaders, owners of the land, Ijaw sons and daughters in the Niger Delta, across the country also home and abroad have no need to reject any sale of Ijaw nation as no part of Ijaw land is being sold to anybody.

    “Rather we call on them to ask Annkio Briggs to cross-check her facts before going public. So far in our opinion Governor Dickson has acted and acting in consonance with his electioneering campaigns to move the state away from dependence on oil mineral to a more comfortable agriculture industry”, he said.

    But the Bayelsa Youth Movement (BYM) said Briggs, Mr. Claudius Enegesi and Prof. Kimse Okoko should be held responsible if their alleged inciting comments resulted in a bloody clash between the people and herdsmen.

    The youths insisted that recent comments attributed to the trio on the matter were baseless and capable of causing a breakdown of law and order.

    The youths in a statement by the President, BYM, Mr. James Ere-Brown, said any deaths arising from disagreements between the herdsmen and other residents of the state should be blamed on those opposed to the move.

    They said: “The people should put the blame of any death from clashes between herdsmen and any community on Ankio Briggs, Kimse Okoko and Hon. Claudius Enegesi and all those who are against the move by government to check the activities of the herdsmen.

    “By opposing the move by the state government to provide the Bayelsa Palm Area as a confined space for them to rear their cows, slaughter them and sell, instead of roaming around with their cattle in our communities and destroying farmlands in the process, these characters are setting the stage for a breakdown of law and order.

    “This is a purely security and economic decision, but the attempt by these people to politicise what is clearly an altruistic move by the government is not only unacceptable but done in very bad faith”.

    They said: “The action of the state government is not only commendable for ensuring that potential security issues are nipped in the bud before they become hugely insurmountable, but Hon Dickson should also be lauded for making Bayelsa the safest state in the South-South and indeed one of the safest in the country as recently attested to by some security agencies.

    “That achievement did not come by mere grandstanding by people like Okoko, Briggs and Enegesi, but by thoroughly reasoned security strategies like this one and the state’s irrefutable investment in security infrastructure,” the group argued.

     

  • Kidnappers release victim after inflicting him with injuries

    A kidnapped victim in Bayelsa State has narrowly escaped death following multiple machete cuts and other injuries inflicted on him by his captors.

    It was gathered that Mr. Loveday Lucky, 48-year-old businessman was later abandoned at the creeks of Azuzuama, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, on Sunday by his abductors.

    It was not; however, clear whether he paid ransom to the hoodlums before regaining his freedom.

    Lucky was reportedly abducted at a gunpoint from his hometown in Sagana town in Brass Local Government Area on January 28 at about 10:45pm by the gunmen.

    But the Chairman of Brass, Mr. Bello Bina, was said to have taken the badly injured kidnap victim into custody.

    Bina, who confirmed the development, warned youths in the area to shun kidnapping, and vowed that any culprit caught would face the full wrath of the law.

    “It’s not only illegal but devilish for anybody to kidnap a fellow human for selfish gains.
    ‎Brass LGA is not a safe haven for Kidnappers or any criminally-minded youth. And I can assure you that Security agents are on red alert”, he said.

    The chairman also cautioned youths from neighboring councils that “come to perpetrate crime in the area to desist from the act”.

    He said: “We are aware that most of the abductors and sea pirates that have been disturbing the area are youths from other LGAs that come to carry out the dastardly acts in order to give Brass a bad name.

    “We will not rest until the criminals that kidnapped Loveday and any other person in Brass LGA are brought to book.

    “They cannot hide. Security agents have already swung into action and they will soon apprehend the abductors in their hideouts and prosecute them accordingly”.

  • Robbers kill bank customer in Bayelsa, steal N120,000

    Robbers kill bank customer in Bayelsa, steal N120,000

    A bank customer identified as Raymond Agada has been shot dead by armed robbers around the Swali market area, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
    It was gathered that the robbers also stole N120,000 from the victim before killing him.
    Agada was said to be on his way to deposit the money in an undisclosed commercial bank in Yenagoa when the hoodlums rounded him up and attacked him.
    A source, who spoke in confidence, said the victim’s sister, a known trader in the market instructed him to pay the money into the account number of her creditors.
    “The late Agada has been running similar errands for his sister. He does it on daily basis. His sister receives goods on credit from her customers and after selling them, she pays the money into the account of her customers, most times through her brother.
    “It is like persons who attacked him had monitored the transactional process for sometimes. It is a pity”.
    It was learnt that the victim was attacked at about 11 am, by a four-man gang shortly after he left the market.
    He was reportedly shot in the neck by his assailants.
    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident said the deceased was 20-year-old adding that Agada was killed on Tuesday.
    He said the police quickly moved to the scene and rushed to the victim to the hospital where he later died.
    He, however, said that the police identified the culprits and were making efforts to arrest them.
    He said: “On 3rd January 2017, at about 1100hrs, four armed men with a pistol, attacked one Raymond Agada ‘m’ 20 years, of Swali Community, dispossessed him of the sum of #120,000, he was going to deposit in the bank and shot him.
    “Policemen were quickly dispatched to the scene and the victim was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.
    “The culprits have been identified and efforts have been intensified to arrest them”.
  • Police launch ‘Change Begins with Me’ in Bayelsa

    Police launch ‘Change Begins with Me’ in Bayelsa

    The Police in Bayelsa on Friday launched the “Change Begins with Me” campaign of the Federal Government to re-position the force for effective service delivery.

    The Commissioner Police, Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, said at the launch in Yenagoa that the initiative was not just a slogan, but a new culture of providing quality service in crime prevention and control.

    Ogunjemilusi charged the officers and men of the command to demonstrate forthrightness in their duties in the spirit of the change mantra.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the campaign has been taken to motor parks, markets and other public places in Bayelsa by the command.

    According to Ogunjemilusi, “the campaign is not just a slogan, it is a new culture aimed at repositioning the force to achieve greater heights by dedicating themselves to the values of professional excellence.

    “It also aimed at re-positioning the force to achieve hard work and civility to members of the public while shunning all acts of corruption.

    “I admonish motorists to embrace change by making sure that their particulars are up to date.

    “I want motorists to begin to say no to the giving of bribe to officers; we have come today, to educate on the need for change; the police need not ask anybody for bribes.

    “You must know that the change begins with you by having correct particulars, not over speeding and disrespecting the rights of passengers”, Ogunjemilusi said.

  • Corrupt politicians asking for Jonathan’s second coming – APC chieftain

    Corrupt politicians asking for Jonathan’s second coming – APC chieftain

    Former Interim Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State, Chief Richard Kpodo, Monday, said that corrupt politicians were behind the call for former President Goodluck Jonathan to return for his second term in 2019.

    Kpodo slammed politicians clamouring for the second coming of Jonathan describing them as ignorant and paid sycophants.

    He said such persons were only on a mission to further institutionalise corruption and bad governance following their inability to have their way in President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

    Kpodo, who is a leader of the APC, also cleared Buhari of any blame in the nation’s current economic woes.

    He expressed confidence that the ongoing war against corruption and economic policies of the present administration would return Nigeria to the part of prosperity.

    Kpodoh, a former Security Adviser in the state, contended that despite a drastic fall in oil prices, the Buhari’s administration had made steady progress returning stolen funds belonging to states to assist in paying salaries of workers.

    He further said the current administration embarked on developmental projects, noting that a Buhari’s giant strides were strange to Jonathan’s government.

    Kpodo said: “Jonathan’s administration was corrupt and he has enjoyed cover up from political jobbers.The Obasanjo’s administration earned N17trn from crude oil sales within eight years and left behind $45bn external reserves and $3.348bn external debt.

    “Late President Umaru Y’Adua grew the reserves to $64bn within just one year and the administration was able to finance 15 months of imports despite the 2008/2009 world economic meltdown.

    “Hence, Nigeria survived the meltdown because of the political will of Yar’Adua’s administration to save. Despite the tough economic reality at that time, Yar’Adua left $47.7bn in reserves and an external debt of $3.94bn. Meanwhile, the administration earned only N9trn from crude oil sales within that short period.

    “The Goodluck Jonathan administration witnessed an oil boom when Brent crude sold for over $100 per barrel, with the regime earning N51trn within a period of five years. But because of corruption, the administration did not only squander the oil revenue but even depleted the reserves.

    “The same Brent crude sold for as low as $35 per barrel at a point shortly after Buhari took over power and had only managed to climb to about $48 just recently.That was how he left Bayelsa indebted before handing the state over to Chief Timipre Sylva.”

    Kpodo also described the poor handling of the 13 per cent derivation by the Niger Delta governors as criminal.

    Kpodo added: “The people should allow the present administration to investigate arrest and recover monies stolen from the 13 per cent derivation funds. Some of the governors immediately they collect the money, they head for outside the country”.

  • Youth corps member dies in Bayelsa

    Youth corps member dies in Bayelsa

    A female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) identified as Miss ‎Elechi Chiyerum was, Wednesday, confirmed dead after she was found sick at the orientation camp in Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opokoma, Bayelsa State.

    It was gathered that the deceased reported to the camp with a sickness that made her to bleed and vomit.

    The late Elechi, 27, who hailed from Rivers State and studied at the Ignatius Azuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, was reportedly found vomiting at her lodge.

    She was said to have arrived the camp sick and could not participate in most activities lined up for the opening session of the orientation.

    Some NYSC officials who spoke in confidence described the incident as a case of non-disclosure of an ailment by the corps member.

    A search in her hostel was said to have revealed excessive bleeding with some sanitary pads and her dresses soaked in blood.

    A source from the camp said the corps member was found vomiting and bleeding and was immediately rushed to the camp’s clinic.

    The source who spoke in confidence said after initial treatments, the doctors found her case severe and referred her to a hospital.

    “She was driven to a hospital in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital. Unfortunately before getting to the hospital she died. She died on Tuesday at about 9pm. She was only five days old at the camp.

    “The news of her death shocked everybody. We have not recovered from it because it is painful to die that way after going through higher institutions”, she said.

    The state Coordinator, NYSC, confirmed the incident describing it as unfortunate.

    He advised corps members to always disclose their health conditions to corps’ authorities.