The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayelsa

  • Bayelsa pays fees of students in UK, USA, Russia, others

    BAYELSA State governor, Seriake Dickson has approved the sum of £300,000 and $450,000 for the payment of tuition fees for students of the state on scholarship abroad. Speaking with education correspondents on Friday in Abuja, the state Commissioner of Education, Deacon Markson Fefegha, explained that Governor Dickson gave the approval to offset all outstanding fees for Bayelsa students studying in various institutions overseas.

    Giving a breakdown of the payment, he noted that the release of two hundred and fifty thousand pounds was made to offset tuition and other fees of Bayelsa students studying for their PhD degrees in the United Kingdom. According to him, the sum of $150,000 was also approved for students studying at the Lincoln University in the United States, as well as the payment of forty thousand dollars to some Bayelsa students studying in Ghana.

  • Bayelsa CPS buries mum

    The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Bayelsa State governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, at the weekend buried his 71-year-old mother, Mrs. Salome Oginasisi Iworiso-Markson.

    The remains of the late Mama Sisi, as she was fondly called, were interred at her hometown in Opume community of Ogbia Local Government Area.

    Governor Seriake Dickson led dignitaries, including his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.) and members of the State Executive Council (Exco) to the funeral.

    Activities for the funeral of Mama Sisi, who died on July 8, started last Thursday with a service of songs.

    Dickson, on behalf of the state and his administration, commiserated with Iworiso-Markson, saying he had become part of his family.

    The governor urged his CPS and members of other community, including King Amalate Turner, to seek succour in God.

  • Unemployed youths transform to job creators in Bayelsa

    Unemployed youths transform to job creators in Bayelsa

    Entrepreneurs are emerging from the unemployed population in Bayelsa State. Most of the new job creators are youths. The new generation of entrepreneurs took advantage of an opportunity provided for them by the State Employment and Expenditure for Result (SEEFOR) project.

    SEEFOR, which began in the state, last year, is a partnership project involving the Federal Government, World Bank and the European Union (EU).

    Last year, SEEFOR trained 1,200 people from various local government areas in the state and empowered them with skills and money to start businesses.

    This year, the project has already absorbed 3,000 jobless people. The project engages them in public works maintenance jobs, road maintenance, refuse disposal and other sundry jobs. SEEFOR pays each beneficiary N20, 000 monthly and mandates them to compulsorily save N5, 000 every month for a period of one year.

    Within the period, SEEFOR organises various mentorship programmes on money management and entrepreneurial skill to educate the beneficiaries on how to establish and run individual business ventures, using their compulsory savings.

    Such mentorship event was held at various centres. Beneficiaries in Ogbia, Brass and Nembe gathered at Ogbia Town; Southern Ijaw went to Amassoma; Ekeremor assembled at Ekeremor Town while Sagbama and Kolokuma/Opokuma were trained at Sagbama Town.

    The acting state Coordinator, SEEFOR, Mr. Charles Enuma, who spoke to the beneficiaries at Yenagoa centre, said the project was designed to give employment to many jobless youths. He said the programme empowered the youth by providing jobs for them and encouraging them to save part of their salaries to enable them to begin and own their own businesses.

    He said: “SEEFOR intervenes in several other areas. Other than the employment side, it engages in public financial management, building institutions and structure to ensure that government provides good financial management system. They are also involved in the training of youths in small craft.

    The SEEFOR initiative is an empowerment package for youths in Bayelsa State. Last year, we engaged 1,200 youths and this year we are engaging another 3,000 young people under the Public Works Technical Committee of SEEFOR.

    “We are empowering the youth and at the same time training them in entrepreneurial skills, savings and money management.

    “Apart from the public works committee, SEEFOR also provides funding for five technical and craft development centres for the training of youths,  provision of grants to farmers through co-operative societies, among other interventions and public financial sector institutional reforms.”

    He said though there was no technical college in the state to facilitate the activities of the project, SEEFOR took advantage of five craft development centres. He said SEEFOR provided equipment and consumables in the craft centres for proper training of the beneficiaries.

    In his remarks, the Chairman of the PWTC, SEEFOR, Bayelsa State and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology and Manpower Development, Chief Bomoyo Amachree, said the scheme was aimed at encouraging hardworking and positive youths to give them a sense of belonging.

    He urged the youth to avail themselves of the opportunities the scheme provided, saying that their hard work, dedication and attitudes would determine their altitudes.

    Amachree drew a distinction between the amnesty programme of the Federal Government and the SEEFOR project. He said while the amnesty engaged repentant gun-wielding militants, the SEEFOR came as a reward for youths who, though were jobless, remained peaceful.

    He added that SEEFOR was encouraging dignity of labour and assisting beneficiaries to learn the rudiments of financial management and entrepreneurial skills. He said the beneficiaries had a life-time opportunity to rise above their financial problems.

    One of the beneficiaries, Cynthia Titipreye, described the programme as interesting. Titipreye said through the programme, she learnt how to manage money.

    “Before now, I found it difficult to manage and save money. But after the programme, I learnt that money management is necessary for entrepreneurial success,” she said.

  • Bayelsa: Group alleges pressure on Supreme Court to annul Dickson’s election

    Bayelsa: Group alleges pressure on Supreme Court to annul Dickson’s election

    There is apprehension in Bayelsa state following allegation on Sunday by a civil society group, the Movement for the Independence of the Judiciary in the Niger Delta (MIJN), that the Supreme Court is under pressure to cancel the election of Governor Seriake Dickson and order a rerun within 90 days. 

    In a press statement signed by the National President of MIJN, Comrade Patrice Egribido,  the  re-run, a presidency source hinted would provide enough time for the All Progressives Congress (APC) apparatchiks to properly arrange the logistics to help APC candidate Chief Timipre Sylva to win the re-run election . The Nation could not independently confirm this allegation.

    According to the MIJN, part of the deal by the Presidency  is to Prevail on  the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed to select members of the panel from the new Supreme Court Justices to be sworn in today to determine the case . It further alleged that the Presidency has threatened to use the DSS to sting any Justice of the court that refuses to do its bidding.

    This development according to the MIJN has suddenly breathed life into the APC in Bayelsa State as Sylva’s supporters erupted in jubilation over the weekend; organizing parties across the  State.

    Comrade Egribido noted that even though the threats by the Presidency have sent fears down the spine of the Justices but there are strong indications that some Justices are refusing to play ball, insisting on the rule of law.

    At press time, the group however said the CJN was also keeping the names of the justices to hear the Bayelsa Governorship appeal closely to his chest. Justice Mohammed who is billed to retire on November 10 is said to have vowed never to compromise his office especially at this time that he is at the ‘‘departure lounge’’ of his flourishing career!

    The statement reads in part: ‘‘This is not the first time, the Presidency would be making incursion into the judiciary on the Bayelsa governorship case to sway judgement in favour of the APC. It is unfortunate that a government which claims to be fighting corruption would be bent on putting justices under pressure to do its bidding. What the Buhari Presidency has forgotten is that manipulating court judgements is worse than naira and kobo corruption. The Presidency should urgently desist from shopping for favourable judgements as well as stop threatening incorruptible justices before the Buhari administration gives credence to critics who believe that the recent raid on the homes of some justices by the DSS was meant to gag the judiciary from being impartial!’’

    While stressing that his group was apolitical, Comrade Egribido averred that his organization would continue to defend the independence of the Judiciary in the country and in the Niger Delta in particular!

    Comrade Egribido said both the Bayelsa State Elections Petitions Tribunal and the Appeal Court had in separate unanimous judgements upheld the last governorship elections in Bayelsa which Governor Dickson won and wondered whether the Federal Government was oblivious of the security implication of thwarting the will of the people at the apex court?

    The chilling revelations by Comrade Patrice Egribido have raised tempers in Bayelsa State especially in the camp of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

    The Bayelsa State PDP Chairman, Honourable Cleopas Moses has urged PDP faithful to be calm. He lamented that the actions of the Federal Government under the watch of President Muhammadu are drifting the country to a totalitarian, fascist state.

    He called on men of goodwill to rise to the occasion before Nigeria is turned into an APC- one- party- state. While expressing confidence in the Judiciary, the PDP chieftain urged the Supreme Court Justices never to capitulate to the manipulation of the presidency.

    He however noted if elections hold 100 times, Governor Dickson and the PDP will continue to trounce the APC because according to him, the Governor  has delivered on his campaign promise by placing Bayelsa State on the path of security, rapid development, peace and prosperity for which ‘‘our people are eternally grateful.’’

    Honourable Cleopas Moses said:   ‘‘Governor Seriake Dickson of the PDP overwhelmingly won the December 5 and January 9 governorship elections in Bayelsa State in 7 out of 8 local government areas of the state. Timipre Sylva and the APC were roundly rejected by Bayelsans in the elections. Both the trial court and the Appeal Court justifiably upheld the election of my Governor and it will be preposterous for the Supreme Court to cancel the election just because the Presidency wanted it cancelled…’’

    ‘‘ For me, cancelling the election will stab justice on the head and make mockery of democracy and it is against this backdrop that I urge the judiciary to always stand up to be counted in dispensing justice and in the defence of democracy in our fatherland! ‘’

  • APC suspends Timi Frank

    APC suspends Timi Frank

    The South South zonal Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday announced the suspension of the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Timi Frank from the party.
    Announcing the suspension, the National Vice Chairman in charge of the Zone, Ntufam Hilliard Eta said the zonal leadership of the party will recommend the expulsion of Comrade Timi Frank from the party to the National Executive Committee in accordance with the party constitution.
    Eta said: I received the report of the disciplinary committee setup to look into the allegations of embarrassing utterances and anti-party activates by Mr Timi Frank, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of this party. Incidentally, he’s from Bayelsa in the South South zone.
    “In furtherance of satisfying the provision of the constitution of the APC, I had to call for this emergency meeting of the zone and after very exhaustive deliberation, the zone has arrived at the confirmation of the disciplinary committee’s report that one, Mr Timi Frank be suspended from the party forthwith in line with article 1 (d) and (f). Having been accepted by this house, Mr Timi Frank hereby stands suspended by this party.
    “Number two, this zonal committee shall recommend to the National Executive Committee for the expulsion of Timi Frank from this party in line with Article 21 D, H (2 and 3) of our constitution. This is the resolution of the South South Zonal Executive Committee.”
    Eta dismiss claims that the zonal executive committee was hasty in suspending Timi Frank inspite of efforts by the APC Governors forum to reconcile the warring parties.
    He said “the tenet of our party’s constitution stipulates that petitions should be swiftly treated. Concerning what the Chairman of the governor’s forum is doing, it is not in conflict with the party maintaining discipline within its ranks and file, it is not running at opposite direction. We are attempting to grow our party, it does not therefore mean that we’ll not be alive to our responsibilities with regard to maintaining a disciplined membership of the party.”
    On whether the party may reverse its decision if the man in question apologise, he said if that is provided for in the party’s constitution, the zonal executive committee may be compelled to look at that matter from that perspective.
    He said further that despite Frank’s claim that the zonal executive committee lacks the constitutional power to prosecute him, he cited the Article 21 of the party’s constitution saying “the party shall have power to discipline party members, the power shall be exercise on behalf of the party by the respective executive committee of the party at all levels.
    “Timi Frank is a member of the NEC, a member of the ZEC and a member of Local Executive Committee and State Executive Committee and World Executive Committee, any of these executive committees can look into petitions against any member including myself.
    “This constitution is radically different from the constitutions of parties that have preceded us. A lot of Nigerians assume that all political parties have the same constitution, ours is not the same as operated by the PDP, APGA or any other party out there so you must internalize the content of this constitution.I have heard him (Timi Frank) make some assertions but I know they are not in our constitution.”

  • Anger in Bayelsa over police killing of 4-yr-old

    Anger in Bayelsa over police killing of 4-yr-old

    Anger and protest have continued to trail the killing of a four-year-old boy, Godgift Odoki, by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Bayelsa State Police Command.

    Godgift was shot dead on October 22 alongside one Anayo during crossfire between the police and a gang of cultists at Ekeki area of Yenagoa.

    One other person was reportedly shot in the buttocks by the police during the shootout. However, the hoodlums were said to have escaped unhurt.

    The youths of Epie-Atissa Kingdom in Yenagoa Local Government Area protested the killing and asked the police to fish out the killer squad.

    The youths demanded justice for the kid and lamented rising extra-judicial killing by the police in the state.

    The President of Oguan Youth Congress (OYC), Mr. Ken Godswill, said the two police sergeants who were indicted in the shooting of the little boy and other victims should be prosecuted and punished accordingly.

    The state House of Assembly said it was upset at the killing of Odoki and other persons who lost their lives in the incident.

    Speaking through the Chief Whip, Tonye Isenah, and the House Committee Chairman on Security, Mr. Bernard Kenebai, the legislature said it was also aware of some illegal police operations in the state, especially arrest-for-bail.

    It said victims of such arrests were compelled to spend money to free themselves.

    Also, the state government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, called on the Commissioner of Police to mandate his men to apply professionalism in their operations.

    Obuebite described the killing as senseless , barbaric and too frequent and recalled the recent killing of a 17-year-old Kokorifa who was buried last week.

    “The police boss should ensure a similar does not repeat itself. We thank those who took part in the peaceful protest for conducting themselves in a very orderly manner and for not disrupting the peace of the state despite the vexed issue,” he said.

  • Outrage as police kill two in Bayelsa

    •Our bullets ricocheted, say police

    There was outrage at the weekend in Bayelsa State at the killing of two unidentified persons and a five-year-old by a police squad.

    Members of the squad were reportedly responding to a distress call when the incident happened.

    It was gathered the team from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) responded to a call by residents of Ekeki, in Yenagoa, following activities of cultists.

    The squad reportedly raided the area at 4 pm on Saturday and allegedly started pursuing the cultists and shooting at them.

    In the process, the policemen were said to have killed three people, including a kid, while another person was shot in the ribs.

    But it was learnt the police could not arrest any of the suspected cultists.

    The incident, which led to exchange of gunshots, threw residents of Ekeki and adjoining streets into panic.

    A resident, who spoke in confidence, identified those killed as a 30-year-old Igbo man, popularly called Inyan, as well as a five-year-old girl, Godsgift Odoku.

    The resident said the victims were killed when the police were chasing members of the notorious cult group, the Islanders.

    He said: “The cult boys came into Ekeki community at 2 pm to bury one of their members. They were in deadly mood and went to Yenezue-Epie in anger. But the SARS team chased them away.

    “They regrouped at Ekeki and saw two girls visiting their boyfriends. They collected the girls’ mobile phones. While the girls ran away, their boyfriends called the police.

    “One of the girls came back with men of SARS. While pursuing the cultists to the waterside, the police started shooting. Their shots missed their targets and killed two people.”

    The residents said the SARS team immediately left the scene.

    Another resident of Amarata, who also spoke in confidence, said the state was suffering from indiscriminate arrests and extra-judicial killings, despite improvement in police response to distress calls.

    He said: “I was a victim. I was arrested for going to my house after close of work about 8 pm. I had to pay cash for my freedom at 1 am at “A” Division.”

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), led by Chief Nengi James, urged the inspector-general of Police (IGP) to probe the rising cases of extra-judicial killings.

    James said: “We condemn the increasing rate of police killings in the state and call on the IGP to probe the killings of citizens and the indiscriminate arrests and extortion of the citizenry under the guise of bail.”

    But in a statement in Yenagoa, the state capital, police spokesman Asimin Butswat said the command was ambushed by the armed cultists.

    He said: “On October 22, around 1730 hours (5.30 p.m), policemen from the SARS responded to a distress call about a cult attack at Ekeki village in Yenagoa. The policemen were ambushed by the cultist.

    “Consequently, a police sergeant fired but the bullet ricocheted and injured three persons who were unfortunately not among the cultists.

    “The victims were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC)in Yenagoa for treatment. One of them later died. The sergeant, who fired the shots, has been detained. Investigation is ongoing.” here was outrage at the weekend in Bayelsa State at the killing of two unidentified persons and a five-year-old by a police squad.

    Members of the squad were reportedly responding to a distress call when the incident happened.

    It was gathered the team from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) responded to a call by residents of Ekeki, in Yenagoa, following activities of cultists.

    The squad reportedly raided the area at 4 pm on Saturday and allegedly started pursuing the cultists and shooting at them.

    In the process, the policemen were said to have killed three people, including a kid, while another person was shot in the ribs.

    But it was learnt the police could not arrest any of the suspected cultists.

    The incident, which led to exchange of gunshots, threw residents of Ekeki and adjoining streets into panic.

    A resident, who spoke in confidence, identified those killed as a 30-year-old Igbo man, popularly called Inyan, as well as a five-year-old girl, Godsgift Odoku.

    The resident said the victims were killed when the police were chasing members of the notorious cult group, the Islanders.

    He said: “The cult boys came into Ekeki community at 2 pm to bury one of their members. They were in deadly mood and went to Yenezue-Epie in anger. But the SARS team chased them away.

    “They regrouped at Ekeki and saw two girls visiting their boyfriends. They collected the girls’ mobile phones. While the girls ran away, their boyfriends called the police.

    “One of the girls came back with men of SARS. While pursuing the cultists to the waterside, the police started shooting. Their shots missed their targets and killed two people.”

    The residents said the SARS team immediately left the scene.

    Another resident of Amarata, who also spoke in confidence, said the state was suffering from indiscriminate arrests and extra-judicial killings, despite improvement in police response to distress calls.

    He said: “I was a victim. I was arrested for going to my house after close of work about 8 pm. I had to pay cash for my freedom at 1 am at “A” Division.”

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), led by Chief Nengi James, urged the inspector-general of Police (IGP) to probe the rising cases of extra-judicial killings.

    James said: “We condemn the increasing rate of police killings in the state and call on the IGP to probe the killings of citizens and the indiscriminate arrests and extortion of the citizenry under the guise of bail.”

    But in a statement in Yenagoa, the state capital, police spokesman Asimin Butswat said the command was ambushed by the armed cultists.

    He said: “On October 22, around 1730 hours (5.30 p.m), policemen from the SARS responded to a distress call about a cult attack at Ekeki village in Yenagoa. The policemen were ambushed by the cultist.

    “Consequently, a police sergeant fired but the bullet ricocheted and injured three persons who were unfortunately not among the cultists.

    “The victims were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC)in Yenagoa for treatment. One of them later died. The sergeant, who fired the shots, has been detained. Investigation is ongoing.”

  • Outrage as police kill two, 5yr old, in Bayelsa

    There was outrage in Bayelsa State, at the weekend, following the killing of two unidentified persons and a five-year-old girl by members of a police squad who responded to a distress call.

    It was gathered that a police team from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad responded to a call by some residents in Ekeki, in Yenagoa over the activities of a gang of cultists in the area.

    The squad reportedly raided the area at about 4pm on Saturday and allegedly started pursuing and shooting the cultists.

    In the process, they were said to have killed three innocent people including a kid while another person was shot in the ribs.

    But the police, however, failed to arrest any of the suspected cultists.

    It was gathered that the incident, which led to exchange of repeated loud gunshots, threw the residents of Ekeki and adjourning streets into confusion and panic.

    ‎A resident, who spoke in confidence, identified persons killed as a 30-year-old Igbo man popularly known as Inyan and a five-year-old girl known as Godsgift Odoku.

    He said they were shot dead during the pursuit of members of a notorious cult group known as Islanders.

    He said: “The cult boys came into Ekeki community at about 2pm to bury one of their gang members. They were in deadly mood and went to Yenezue-Epie with the mood. But the SARS team chased them away.

    “But they later re-grouped at Ekeki community and saw two girls entering the area to visit their boyfriends and they collected their mobile phones. While the girls ran away, their boyfriends called the police.

    “One of the girls later came back with some men of SARS and while pursuing the cultists to the waterside, they released gun shots and it missed their target and killed the two innocent people.”

    He said the SARS team immediately left the scene after confirming that they killed some innocent persons.

    Another resident of Amarata area, who also spoke in confidence, said the state was suffering from indiscriminate arrest and extra-judicial killings by the police despite improvement in police response time to a distress call.

    He said: “I was a victim. I was arrested for going to my house after close of work around 8pm and had to pay cash for my freedom at about 1am at “A” Division”.

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the Civil Liberties Organisation‎ (CLO) led by the Chief Nengi James in a statement called on the Inspector-General of Police to probe the rising extra-judicial killings in the state.

    James said: “We condemn the increasing rate of police killings in the state and call on the IGP to immediately probe the killings of the citizen and the indiscriminate arrest and extortion of huge amount of money from the citizenry under the guise of bail.”

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asimin Butswat, in a statement said the police were ambushed by the armed cultists.

    He said: “On October 22, 2016, at about 1730hours, policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, responded to a distress call of cult attack at Ekeki village, Yenagoa. The Policemen were ambushed by the cultist.
    “Consequently, a police sergeant fired, the bullet ricocheted, and injured three persons who were unfortunately not among the cultists.
    “The victims were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, for treatment and one of them later died. The sergeant who fired has been detained. Investigation is ongoing”.

  • Tears in Bayelsa as family, sympathisers bury teenager killed by police

    Family members and sympathisers, yesterday, gathered at the Ebebelibiri Cemetery, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, to bury the remains of Master Innocent Kokorifa, a 17-year-old boy allegedly killed by the police, amidst tears.

    Innocent, the first child of Mr. Daniel Kokorifa, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), was gunned down in mysterious circumstances by the police along Airforce Road in Yenagoa, on August 18, 2016.

    The victim was reportedly running an errand for his mother, Pere Kokorifa, when the police allegedly killed him about 11am on the fateful day.

    But the State Police Command in a statement said the victim was killed in a gun duel between a three-man notorious armed robbery gang and the police team.

    Siblings of the victim, officials of the FRSC, some human rights activists, cousins, friends and parents were present at the funeral.

    Innocent’s corpse was moved from Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, where an autopsy was conducted on it to the burial site.

    People broke down in tears at the funeral, which commenced at 9am, when the deceased’s casket was opened for them to see.

    Rose, cried uncontrollably at the killing of her son but was consoled by friends who could not help their tears.

    Speaking at the funeral, Kokorifa expressed optimism that the killers of his son would pay for the murder and the pains they inflicted on his family.

    He said he would go to court as soon as the police concluded their investigation.

  • Bayelsa recorded 1,000 oil spills in 2014, says govt

    The Bayelsa State Government has said the state recorded 1,000 oil spills in 2014.

    It decried the menace that oil spills and gas flaring among oil multinationals posed to the environment.

    The government regretted that none of the oil companies had addressed the environmental problems arising from their activities.

    In a statement in Yenagoa, the state capital, by Governor Seriake Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the government said compensation was not paid to the affected communities.

    The statement said the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kemeasuode Wodu, spoke about government’s concerns for oil spills when he led a delegation to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, in Abuja.

    Wodu said the visit was meant to tell the minister the various challenges the government and people of Bayelsa were facing because of the activities of oil companies.

    The commissioner noted that despite the huge spills in 2014, there was no proper remediation of impacted sites.

    He recalled that on July 9, last year, a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) at Clough Creek in Azuzuama, killed 14 persons, including an employee of the State Ministry of Environment, when it exploded.

    Wodu accused the company of covering up the matter, adding that the firm hurriedly evacuated the bodies of the casualties to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    The commissioner said the firm refused to cooperate with the state government and the Nigerian Oil Spill Detection Response Agency (NOSDRA) to ensure a proper investigation of the incident.

    He also recalled the massive spill of crude oil into the ocean – from an Agip SMB Sirus offshore loading facility around the Brass area on November 27, 2010.

    According to him, the 2010 spill caused an extensive damage to the ecosystem while the company and the regulatory body did not solve the problem.

    Wodu said: “AGIP has continued to pollute a canal within its facility in Brass, despite several representations by the community and the state government.”

    Kachikwu said the Federal Government would soon convene a stakeholders’ forum, including multi-national oil companies, to discuss the development.

    He said: “There must be adequate collaborative effort between the Federal and state governments as well as oil exploration companies.

    “On this, I am on the same page with you. So, let’s work together to achieve proper solutions to these problems. We need proper articulation and engagement of these issues.”