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Tag: Bayelsa

  • Fear grips residents over Bayelsa earth tremor

    Fear grips residents over Bayelsa earth tremor

    Niger Delta environment is sick. The air, land and water have all been polluted. Aquatic life is disappearing. Air-borne diseases are rife and all bodies of water even the sea have been poisoned.

    The widespread environmental pollution in the region is man-made, caused by years of reckless exploitation and exploration of crude oil; mindless vandalism of oil pipelines, oil wells and other installations in the name of agitation; oil theft and illegal refining of crude oil.

    There is, however, a new threat to the region which has compounded the woes of the environment. It is constant occurrences of earth tremors which have raised fears of possible earthquake in the region. A team of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) recently identified earth tremor  as another environmental challenge facing the people of the Niger Delta region.

    ERA, in its report, says tremor is the latest addition to the much-talked-about pollutions occasioned by gas flaring, explosion, leaks, oil spills and threat posed by flood and coastal erosion.

    In fact, there has been history of earth tremors in the region. For instance in June, 2014 ERA/FoEN reported an incident of earth tremor in Ikarama, Okordia clan, Yenagoa Local Government Area Bayelsa State. A similar incident was reported at Oboburu on 25th October, 2014 in Egiland, Rivers State.

    Recently, on July 11, residents of some communities in Ahoada West, Rivers State and Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, raised the alarm over earth tremor in the areas. They said the earth quaked in the night of July 10.

    The people of Akinima in Engenni clan, Ahoada West, were very disturbed. A resident and businessman, Mike Ogbakusi, whose house is located close to an oil facility belonging to Shell, said the tremor occurred in the area at about 11.15pm.

    He said: “The whole place was shaking, though it didn’t last long; it just shook and everybody was shouting. The tremor even extended up to Mbiama and Igbogene, people at Igbogene in Yenagoa also noticed that there was an earth tremor.

    “We don’t know the cause, but people are afraid. It has happened in the past and, I think this is about the fourth tremor we have experienced here. And Akinima community has written to the Ministry of Environment, Rivers State.

    “But up till this moment nobody has come from the Ministry to ask the people what is actually happening; whether there was tremor or no tremor; nobody has come, not even Agip or Shell. So, that is the situation we are in in Akinima now; we are living in fear.”

    He appealed to the government to send experts to the area to assess the development. “We are not geologists. We don’t know anything. We want experts to come and tell us what actually happened and precautionary measures to be taken.

    “So that we will be guided, we don’t know when; maybe the earth will open and all of us will go in; we don’t know. We are not experts, we don’t know what is actually happening so we need experts to come and educate us on what has actually happened.

    “There is a lot of exploration going on in our environment and people are shooting dynamites here and there; and we don’t know what is happening, buildings are cracking”, he said.

    Ogbakusi said the quaking earth must have been caused by the seismic operations of oil companies in the area. “Whenever, they are entering the bush, they will be shooting and, running their lines.

    “If you go inside our community now you will see  their seismic operation related lines running in between buildings. They explore in the day, but the tremor was experienced at night.  When we experienced the tremor; it was like something shifting; not necessarily hearing the sound of an explosive.

    “But you can feel that the earth moved, shook. People ran out from their houses when it occurred; to find out what was happening.This is the fourth time such a thing is happening in this environment.

    “If you go to the home of the paramount ruler, the secretary of the community will tell you the date of the letter the community wrote to the Rivers State Ministry of Environment. The other one happened about two years or one and half year ago; now this one has happened again.

    “I witnessed the tremor which just occurred two days ago and the previous ones. I cannot say which company is responsible for the seismic activities going on around us presently; what I know is that this area is covered by Shell and Agip”, he said.

    A female resident who introduced herself as Animasum Markalso said she experienced the tremor that occurred in community. She said: “Between 11:00pm and midnight, there was a sound and at that same moment; the building shook heavily. Although the shaking or tremor didn’t last long, there was an accompanying sound.

    “I have experienced it in the past. But I was shocked by this one; I thought it was an earthquake. I even tried to run to my husband to ask him what was going on but because he just returned for the weekend and was tired I decided not to bother him. But, my mind ran amok; thinking of possible causes and also whether the world was coming to an end.

    A civil servant, Nwakam Paul, said such incident has been recurring in the community. “It is about the third time since I returned from the north that I have observed it. This one was a little mild than the rest.

    “It normally happen like an accident, within the twinkling of an eye it is gone. But we just noticed it; that something strange had happened.  I don’t know if we can attribute the cracking of buildings in the community to these earth tremors. The other time it happened even electric poles and wire were obviously seen shaking, moving.

    “People ran to the street when it happened in the past because it was a strange phenomenon. We are neither geographers nor geologists and we have never subjected the incident to serious scrutiny and reach logical conclusions and so; even though there are exploration activities going on around us; we don’t know what to attribute the cause of the earth tremors to right now.

    “We cannot say it occurs annually, maybe bi-annually. And, I didn’t hear any accompanying sound when it happened few days ago and; it happens quickly, like lightening. Within the space of one to five seconds; it is done.  I was wide awake when it happened”, he said.

    Even a neighbouring community, Akinowiso, was affected. A resident of Akinowiso, Paul Peters, said: “When we experienced the movement or shaking of the earth last time; it led to cracks in my building. I managed to patch some of the cracked spots because I had little cement in the house but no money for major repairs.

    “Then, with this very recent shaking of the earth again has widened the cracked sections of the building. I am confused, but I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the government to investigate the phenomenon and take appropriate steps to prevent this earth tremor from happening again.

    “I am saying so because I am not the only victim; if you move around this community you will discover others who suffered the same fate; whose houses have cracked as a result of the earth tremors. And, we are afraid, not knowing what might happen the next day.

    “So, the government should listen to us and take proactive steps before more damage is done.We are yet to see any government official since we are experiencing this earth tremor in our environment”.

    Also a resident and indigene Delta State, Paul Harrison, said he would relocate from Akinowiso if the incident happened again.

    “Well, the thing is that I am a stranger and if the earth tremor continues I can take my wife and children and relocate. Such relocation of strangers can affect the place in terms of commercial activities and development.

    “I have spent about seven years in this community and this earth tremor has happened up to four times. The day it happened around 11:00pm, suddenly everywhere shook. I thought somebody was knocking on my door and, when I went out I saw people running out from their houses towards the roads.

    “They later said it was a vibration from the ground; just like an earthquake, very seriously. So, we had to check around the house whether it had cracks as a result of the quake.

    “But we didn’t discover any crack. The shaking happened twice and it was brief; lasted just about five seconds. We even heard a loud sound; as if someone used dynamite; very serious”, he said.

    In Igbogene, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, residents also confirmed that a tremor occurred in their environment at about 11:22pm on the fateful day. A resident, Victor Idiedo, said the quake lasted for about a minute.

    He said: “The first thought that came to my mind was whether armed robbers have come to invade my compound, de-roofing my building so I started shouting armed robbers, armed robbers. My elder brother who lived behind me also came out.

    “When we came outside we saw people trooping out and asking ‘what is happening that the earth is moving, quaking everywhere?’ A neighbor recorded crack in his house. And, since we didn’t hear or read about the incident in any of the local media houses, I decided to reach out to Alagoa Morris of ERA/FoEN; to hint him.

    “Meanwhile, I read from one of these online news on 29thJune, 2016 that about six states likely to be affected by earthquake. This raised my fears on the spur of the moment, because Bayelsa State was named among the six states.

    “I was scared and, that was why I got in touch with Alagoa Morris. When I made further inquiries, I received information that some communities in Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State were also affected; even Akenfa, though mildly”.

    Idiedo, however, said he had never experienced such incident at Igbogene adding that there was no explosion before the tremor. “I have lived in this community for over 10 years and this is the first time I am experiencing such a thing like this.

    “There was no explosion, just that the building was shaking. I was fully awake and I have never experienced such in my life before. A minor crack occurred as a direct result of the earth tremor in the neighbourhood.

    Plates and other things in my cousin’s house fell down from where they were kept as a result of the quake. Some of the breakable ones got broken”, he said.

    Another resident of Igbogene, Chief Etekpe Friday said: “We were about going to bed when I heard a very high vibration. My window shook heavily; even the ground vibrated. I thought immediately of what the cause could possibly be; thinking if rodents around could be responsible. I had to resort to prayers. So, I had the vibration experienced in my house”.

    ERA in the report compiled by its Bayelsa State Coordinator, Mr. Alagoa Morris, said a renewed search for oil could have been responsible for the earth tremor.

    The report said: “ERA.FoEN is very much aware of renewed and heightened search for oil and gas within this environment; in Yenagoa and Ogbia local government areas of Bayelsa State and beyond; even as attested by one of those who spoke to ERA at Akinima.

    “This has been on for about three months or more now. It is also a common knowledge that explosives are often used during these seismic operations. When a similar incident happened at Ikarama community in June, 2014; it attracted the attention of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment.

    “What is not clear is whether anything significant was made beyond the visit of officials of the Ministry then. Ordinarily, not just for the records; experts would have been invited to investigate and come up with reports for stakeholders to know what the prognosis is and allay the fears and concerns of the people/communities.Currently, the people in affected communities are apprehensive”.

    Therefore, ERA asked the three tiers of government to should rise up to the occasion and take appropriate steps to identify what actually happened and why.

    It appealed to the relevant agencies of Federal Government, including the Science Ministry, Environment, NDDC and Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to get experts who will work effectively with the State governments, Local governments and communities affected to unravel the mystery around earth tremors in our communities.

    It said such studies should provide practical solutions to the problem, allay the fears and concerns of the affected communities and take take steps to prevent real earthquake from happening.

    The report said: “All stakeholders, including the media should follow up on this with a view to halting whatever danger that is on its way.

    “Communities should be more alert, document and keep accurate records of happenings around them. They should also report such strange occurrences to relevant NGOs, media and the government”.

  • ‘Oil giant’s scheme helped reduce HIV prevalence rates in Bayelsa’

    Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the NNPC/CNL Joint Venture (JV), has announced the launch of a $1.4 million, two–year project in Bayelsa State aimed at preventing the transmission of HIV from mothers to their newborn babies, PROMOT (II) project.

    The community–based Prevention of Mother-to-child Transmission project (PROMOT II) is coming on the heels of PROMOT (I), a four- year project, which was earlier implemented in Bayelsa State between September 2012  and March 2016 and to which Chevron committed $5.3 million. Both phases of the project are implemented in partnership with Pact, an international non–governmental organisation with active programming in Nigeria for more than a decade.

    The PROMOT (II) project was officially launched on July 12, 2016 by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, who was represented by Chief David Serena Dokubo-Spiff the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government (SSG), at Ebbis hotel, Yenagoa, in Bayelsa State.

    The Bayelsa State Governor thanked Chevron for providing additional funds for the extension of PROMOT for another 2 years. “Chevron is a good Company and I commend the Firm for providing additional fund for the extension of PROMOT for another 2 years, in spite of the harsh economic climate.” He said. He noted that PROMOT (I) was a great success, as it contributed to the reduction of Bayelsa State’s HIV prevalence rates from 9.1 percent in 2010 to 3.8 percent by the end of the project’s third year in 2015.

    Chairman Managing Director, CNL, Clay Neff explained that the PROMOT (II) project is part of the Company’s Social Investment efforts in the Niger Delta. “Chevron invests in programs aimed at improving access to healthcare to support the communities where we operate. Working with partners globally and at local levels, we dedicate our capabilities, resources and people to support initiatives that build local capacity and deliver real, lasting gains in the fight against devastating diseases —particularly  HIV/AIDS” he said.

    Clarifying the reason for the project, Deji Haastrup, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs says; “Fighting AIDS is not our core business, but it is essential to the success of our business. As a company, we depend on a healthy society. We therefore, promote healthy communities and improved access to health care aimed at eradicating diseases.”

    The PROMOT (II) project, being implemented by Pact,  will focus on promoting health care-seeking behavior among women of reproductive age (15–49) – including those living with HIV- to utilize antenatal care (ANC) and Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services in 3 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Bayelsa State: Ekeremor, Brass and Southern Ijaw. Additionally, PROMOT (II) aims at strengthening community structures to advocate for accessible, quality ANC, PMTCT, and broader health services in Bayelsa State.

    Since the commencement of PROMOT (I) in 2012, over 386,000 people have been reached with HIV messages and 53,686 pregnant women were tested for HIV and received their results. Additionally, 670 people have been trained on the latest PMTCT approaches and techniques and over 300 HIV-exposed infants were tested at 6 weeks.

  • Groups raise concern over security operatives’ brutality of Bayelsa residents

    Some civil society organisations in Bayelsa State recently raised the alarm over the increasing cases of brutality and extortion of residents by rampaging security operatives in the state.

    The groups consisting of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Bayelsa Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (BANGOF) and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) expessed their concerns at a news conference in Yenagoa.

    The Chairman, BANGOF, Robinson Kuroghobogha, who read the statement of the groups, said that human rights violation in Bayelsa was on “a geometric increase”.

    Robinson said that men of the armed forces and other security agencies, particularly the police force, only have the mandate to provide security for citizens and not to harass and intimidate them.

    He cited the recent assaults on Tonye Yemoleigha, a reporter with Radio Bayelsa by an Air Force operative, and Philomena Briggs, a student, by five policemen, as some examples of police brutality in the state.

    He said: “It has come to the notice of the civil society that the rate of assault, harassment, intimidation and unlawful extortion of law-abiding citizens in Yenagoa by armed security personnel has been on the rise.

    “Several cases of brutality by armed (security) personnel have been reported to various institutions with no tangible response from them.

    “The case of Mr. Tonye Yemoleigha, a journalist with the Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation who was brutally assaulted by an Air Force personnel on the May 18 and that of Mrs. Philomena Briggs, a student, reportedly assaulted by five armed policemen are recent examples of the level of impunity of armed personnel in the state.”

    He said the brutality on residents by the security operatives was a violation of their fundamental human rights guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

    “The human rights community and indeed all law-abiding citizens of Bayelsa are seriously concerned with the excessive conduct of armed security personnel.

    “The protection of lives and property and ensuring the rights of law-abiding citizens are not violated are the primary functions of the police.

    “Therefore, policemen acting with impunity and violating the fundamental rights of law-abiding citizens is a deliberate call to chaos and anarchy and no sane society will approve of that.”

    He urged heads of security agencies to take appropriate steps to reduce to the barest minimum cases of officers’ misconduct and brutal assault on innocent citizen.

    Robinson demanded compensation from the security agencies to all victims of recent brutality that had been reported to them.

    He said: “The Human Rights Community and indeed all law abiding citizens of Bayelsa are seriously concerned with the excessive conduct of armed security personnel. The protection of lives and properties and ensuring the rights of law abiding citizens are not violated are the primary functions of the police.

    “Therefore, policeman acting with impunity and violating the fundamental rights of law abiding citizens is a deliberate call to chaos and anarchy and no sane society will approve of that.

    “Law abiding citizens are always proud and happy to support the security personnel who conduct themselves in professional manner and as part of the society. We have worked closely with the security agencies to promote peace in the state.

    “Therefore, we strongly urge that deterrent actions be taking to eliminate such unprofessional conduct among security personnel especially the police. The world is a global village. The recent uproar in United State of America because of the conduct of a few police officers should be a signpost to all security personnel who think they are above the law.

    “ln the light of the above, while we seek elaborate collaboration with all security agencies in the state to promote lasting peace and security, we call on heads of security institutions in the state to take appropriate steps to reduce to the barest minimum incidence of officers’ misconduct and brutal assaults of innocent law abiding citizens.

    “As law-abiding citizens, we will promote all legislation and lawful effort to ensure the success of the operations of security personnel, but we shall also not relent in bringing to justice officers who abuse the privilege accorded them as security personnel.

    “We shall work with the Human Right Commission, the Judiciary and other key partners to ensure the dignity of human lives in Bayelsa State”.

    Present at the conference were Chairman, CLO, Bayelsa State, Chief Nengi James, FIDA Chairman, Dise Ogbise-Erhisere, former Secretary, CLO and Coordinator, Environmental Right Action, Mr. Alagoa Morris, among others.

  • Court grants Bayelsa family request to remove Globacom’s mast

    •Damages awarded against communication firm

    The High Court of Bayelsa State, sitting in Sagbama, has granted the prayers of the Agbereowei family of Bolou-Orua community in Sagbama to repossess their land and dismantle Globacom’s mast, accessories and fence on their property.

    The family, in a suit filed by Miss Justina Agbereowei and Mr. Wednesday Agbereowei (claimants), sued Globacom (defendant) for failing to pay 10-year rents on the land housing its base station.

    The claimants prayed the court, presided over by Justice E. G. Omukoro, to declare that they were entitled to the right of occupancy in and over the parcel of land, measuring approximately 40 feet by 40.5 feet, where the defendant’s base station was located.

    They also prayed the court to declare that the possession of the piece of land, where the Glo base station with code number BLO 001, was built, is their property.

    The claimants asked the court to compel the defendant to remove its communication mast, accessories and fence from the parcel of land.

    They requested for N100 milion as special and general damages they suffered because of the defendant’s failure to pay for the rent for the leased piece of land.

    The claimants urged the court to invoke an order of injunction restraining the defendant from remaining on or in any way interfering with their right of ownership and occupation of the aforesaid parcel of land.

    A copy of the judgment, which was delivered on March 23, showed that Justice Omukoro ruled that he had no difficulty in reaching the conclusion that the declaration sought to the right of occupancy in and over the piece or parcel of land in issue was merited and hereby granted.

    He ordered the defendant (Globacom) to pay N32.5 million, representing N24 million unpaid rents at N3 million per annum from 2008 to 2016 and N8.5 million as damages for distress and hardship caused the claimants.

    Justice Omukoro said: “With respect to the reliefs for possession of the land and removal of the communication mast, accessories and fence thereon in the reliefs, the said structures were put up on the claimants’ land with the understanding and agreement that rents would be paid therefore for an initial period of 10 years at the rate of N3 million per annum.

    “That the representation by the defendant has clearly not been kept except in the breach. In the circumstances, the continued occupation of the claimants land by the defendant has become unjustifiable. It is for this reason I grant the prayers of the claimants for possession and removal of all structures on the land.

    “On relief for special and general damages, the sum of N18 million claimed as arrears of rents at the rate of N3 million per annum for six years from 2008 to 2014 in line with the parole understanding reached with Mr. Apollo as agent of the defendant is granted.”

    The judge also granted N6 million, at the rate of N3 million per annum, for the two years (2015 and 2016) for which rents had further accrued.

    He granted additional general damages of N8 million for the distress, hardship and pain the defendant caused the claimants by holding on to their land and using same for commercial purposes and profits whilst refusing to meet their corresponding obligations to the claimants.

    Justice Omukoro added: “I also make an order of injunction restraining the defendant from any form of interference with the claimants’ rights of ownership and occupation of the aforesaid piece of land.

    “Cost of N500,000 only is awarded against the defendant in favour of the claimants.”

  • Task Force, NSCDC meet in Bayelsa to end militancy

    Task Force, NSCDC meet in Bayelsa to end militancy

    •We’ll protect innocent citizens, says ODS chief

    A team of the new Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), met with the officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at the weekend in renewed partnership to end militancy and pipeline vandalism in Niger Delta.

    The ODS Commander, Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, led the think-tank of the OPS to the headquarters of Bayelsa State NSCDC in Yenagoa, the state capital, where they met with the state Commandant, Desmond Agu, and his officers.

    The ODS team at the meeting, which took place in Agu’s office, comprised its land, air and sea component commanders, heads of operation and support services.

    Okojie said the meeting was at his instance to formally intimate NSCDC about the termination of Operation Pulo Shield (OPS) and the take-off of ODS.

    The ODS commander said though he was drafted from the Navy to command the ODS, the outfit remained a multi-agency operation involving the key security agencies in the country.

    He said ODS has the mandate to guarantee security in the Niger Delta to attract investments, job opportunities and development to the area.

  •  Earth tremor: National disaster looms in Nigeria if….AWDROP warns

    Nigeria may witness earthquake and sea intrusion in different part of the country if the state government does not partner with relevant agencies to curb indiscriminate drilling and drill borehole in line with code of practice.

    The National President, Association of Water-well Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP), Michael Ale gave this warning in a communique issued in Ibadan on Monday.

    He noted that the earth tremor which occurred in Saki was as a result of illegal drilling, warning that if the issue is not well managed it may eventually lead to natural disaster such as earthquake.

    “AWDROP has observed indiscriminate drilling practice persistence in all nooks and crannies of the country and the industry is being turned into an all comers affairs. AWDROP is set to enforce the power vested on the it by the National Council of Water Resources to partner with state government on the rejuvenation and revitalisation of abandoned borehole and the application and enforcement of code of practice on borehole drilling among drilling practitioners.

    “AWDROP hereby direct all its state chapters to partner with their respective state government to ensure the implementation of Code of Practice in borehole drilling, using best subjected practice judgment. Indication is that all Borehole Drilling Contractors must be registered by States Agencies in their respective state, pay their registration fees and obtain a drilling permit before any drilling operation. Borehole projects are to be strictly supervised by a Comeg registered Geologist or Hydro geologist” Ale said

    He observed that the activities of the Federal Government, Non Governmental Organisation, development partners and the private sector in the industry is strained, because of lack of proper coordination of activities by the Ministry of Water resources.

    According to the AWDROP boss, many borehole projects do not last more than a year after commissioning because they are not designed to meet with the current standards and adaptive nature of the needs of the beneficiary community.

    Ale urged the federal ministry of water resources to shop for qualified companies that meet up the professional standard of bidding, especially human capacity, equipment and experience so as to record success in this year project execution with the ministry.

    He noted that the association is aware of the water intrusion along the land ocean boundaries in shorelines areas like Lagos, Porthacourt, Warri, Bayelsa, and Cross river, adding that AWDROP is ready to assist the government to manage expenditure on the provision of portable drinking water in those States.

  • Weeping Bayelsa child

    I have struggled to understand it. I guess it is too much for my 12-year-old brain to comprehend. But, what is clear to me is that there is something wrong with my family. My father, Diepriye, is a civil servant. My mother, Patience, is also a civil servant. Dad works at the Niger Delta University. Mum works at the Governors’ Office.

    Until some months back, paying my fees at the private school I attend in Yenagoa was no problem to dad. I am their only child and got all the attention I craved. Some days back, I was sent away from school because Dad has been unable to pay my fees and mum cannot help either.

    Both of them told me they have not received salaries – not to talk of allowances—for months. They say Governor Seriake Dickson claim there is no money to pay them, yet admits billions came to the state in one year. And here lies my dilemma.

    It can make some sense to me in this era of dwindling oil fortune – as my teacher described it – when Ekiti or Osun claim not to have money to meet their obligations to workers. But Bayelsa? I can’t get it. We are a small state, the smallest in the country.

    In terms of population, local government areas and number of workforce, we are small. But, in terms of what we get from the Federation Account, we are not small. We receive one of the largest allocations from the Federation Account every month because we are a leading oil-producing state. We even not long ago got some oil wells which used to belong to Rivers State. Edo State takes less cash from the Federation Account, has more workforce yet it has increased salaries. Cross River, which lost oil wells to Akwa Ibom following a Supreme Court judgment, paid May salary of workers on the first day on May Day.

    My teacher once said we could afford to buy Ekiti and Osun. I can’t remember the figure he put to it but, to my little brain, being able to buy two states mean we should be rich. So, why are we suffering? Why am I at home when I should be in school? Why is poverty walking on all fours in our dear state? Does it have anything to do with the fact that ghost workers so far discovered in Bayelsa have proved to be the worst in the entire country since economic crunch compelled my governor to check for leakages in the treasury?

    Is there any correlation between our sorry state and the fact that my governor prefers the late DSP Alamieyeseigha as a role model and true hero when we have the likes of Gabriel Okara of the “I hear the call of River Nun” fame?

    I doubt if I will ever forget these words from dad: “We have not been paid for over five months. The local government workers have not been paid for about 13 months and the governor who is supposed to feel our pains and find solutions to our plight is the one still threatening us with no work no pay.”

    In my quest for answers, I have been following the news of late. One day I came across a story titled “Dickson admits receiving N95bn from FAC in one year”. It had a sub-title: “Governor threatens journalists”. He spoke at a forum to give account of how our money has been sent.

    My first reaction on seeing the headline was: So, why can’t he pay dad and mum so that I can return to school?

    Then, I decided to read it. Governor Dickson said of the N95bn from the Federation Account (FAAC) in one year, N12bn went to the eight local government areas in the state. N83b went to the state government.

    I chose to read further. The governor said N14.89b was used to service bond repayments taken by the Timipre Sylva administration. Salaries of workers, he said, consumed N32.38b.

    Bank loans, according to His Excellency, gulped about N15b.  Local debts, including inherited debts and overdraft, cost N24.6b, the governor said.

    Overhead costs for running the three arms of government gulped N3.9b and N20.9b went to projects’ execution.

    My governor did not forget to add that if not for his administration’s prudent management of resources, the state would have collapsed. He added that though Bayelsa is an oil-rich state, Nigeria has not been fair to the state. Yet for some six years, a son of the soil and ex-governor was President of the same Nigeria that my governor said has not been fair to our dear state.

    His Excellency accused state correspondents of hiding under press freedom to work with criminal syndicates, thieves and cult leaders. He did not stop without telling them not to take his hospitality for granted.

    My governor confirmed a report that the state has become a spy when he said his administration was monitoring text messages and telephone conversations between journalists and their paymasters. When I got to this stage while reading the report, my reaction was: His Excellency is wasting the money he should have paid my dad and mum on spy software?

    His Excellency’s words: “So, when some young men are sent to the state, they call themselves different names operating in different guises with criminal syndicates, not working to advance the course of democracy and what is good for the country and even for their profession, they come here and connive with criminals, thieves, cult leaders.

    “The press, they know the cult leaders. They come here not to advance the course of the state. They come here not to assist in developing democracy in our country. They hide under the guise of press freedom and work with criminal syndicates.

    “Sometimes, we know the text messages, their conversations and those who give them money just to run down the state. You Bayelsans should know that there are people who don’t want a strong clear-headed leadership, a focused leadership from Bayelsa State.

    “There are those who want Bayelsa to be a weeping child of the Niger Delta. For our friends who enjoy the hospitality of our state; in our government, no one kills anybody. No one attacks anybody.

    “It doesn’t happen in their own state but they will come misrepresent Bayelsa, paint Bayelsa bad, government of Bayelsa bad when in their own states they don’t have leaders that will stand up to 10 per cent of what we represent.

    “They know that you people delight in running down the government. So, this is a warning to all those who are here. You have the right to be here, enjoy our hospitality but don’t run down the state.

    “Don’t instigate civil unrest because you only know how it starts but you don’t know how it will end up. In some of their states, their governments have not paid salaries for 15 months; those boys that are writing nonsense, in their own state. Yet they come here, instigate our people and misrepresent things.”

    The governor’s rant did not provide the answers I want. Rather it made me weep for my state and myself. It generated more questions, such as: Are Dr Goodluck Jonathan and the late Alemieyeseigha among his predecessors he accused of accumulating humungous debts which has made him unable to pay some six months salaries? Are they part of those he claims he cannot see what they did with all the money they borrowed?

    Governance, my teacher taught me, is about finding solutions to the problems facing the society and the people. It is not about giving excuses. It is not about threatening reporters and accusing them of crimes. What my small brain tells me is that if His Excellency has a case against these reporters, he should give the security agents the evidence he has against them and let them face the music.

    I remain the weeping Bayelsa child. Your Excellency, it is time I returned to school.

     

  • Bayelsa gets transparency website

    Bayelsa gets transparency website

    The Bayelsa State Government has launched a transparency website to help members of the public access the financial reports and other issues of revenue accruing to the state from different sources.

    The website, Bayelsa Watch, was inaugurated by Governor Seriake Dickson during the 50th edition of the state’s transparency briefing recently.The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite said the establishment of the Transparency Watch would reduce the speculations about the government’s financial transactions.

    He also called on the people of the state to remain supportive of the policies and programmes of the government. According to him, the restoration administration had always demonstrated genuine commitment to the wellbeing of the people and the overall development of the state.

    Dickson while inaugurating the website said it would be domiciled within the ministry of Information but updated by the Ministry of Finance. The governor also confirmed that the state  received N95bn from the Federation Account (FAAC) in one year.

    Of the amount, the governor said N12bn went to the eight local government areas bringing the state government’s receipt to N83bn. The governor spoke on Monday during the 50th edition of the state’s monthly transparency briefing and the launch of transparency website, ‘Transparency Watch’ at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa.

    But computations of all the breakdown reeled out by the governor showed a total expenditure of N111.6bn, against the N95bn receipt. He said N14.89bn was used to service bond repayments taken by the Timipre Sylva administration while salaries of workers consumed N32.38bn.

    He further added that bank loans gulped about N15bn,  local debts including inherited debts and overdraft N24.6bn,  overhead costs for running the three arms of government N3.9bn while the sum of N20.9bn went to projects.

    With the expenditure profile of about N111.7bn, the state government is in deficit of about N28bn. He said if not for his administration’s prudent management of resources, the state would have collapsed.

    Dickson decried what he described as lopsided federal system, saying that though Bayelsa is an oil-rich state, the nation has not been fair to the state.The governor commended the Federal Government for publishing the revenue that accrued to the states from the federation account.

    But he said: “For those of you, who read that report, you will see that Bayelsa is not number one on that list in the sense of who got what. We produce the bulk of the resources, but when you look at the list, Bayelsa is probably number five or six. That issue has to do with addressing the lopsided federal structure of our country, which some of us have been talking and will continue to talk about.

    “I commend the Federal government for publishing what goes to the states. That is what we have been doing here by law for the past four years and still counting. But, it will also be interesting for the Federal Ministry of Finance to publish what the Federal Government and its various agencies are getting and spending. That should also be put in the public domain.

    “We are the state that is teaching Nigeria transparency; what it means to be transparent in the running of government; what it means to show tolerance and democratic temper in the way we allow people express their views and how no one is hunted and hounded in this land.”

  • Dickson admits receiving N95bn from FAC in one year

    Dickson admits receiving N95bn from FAC in one year

    …threatens journalists

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, yesterday, confirmed that the state  received N95bn from the Federation Account (FAAC) in one year.

    Out of the amount, the governor said N12bn went to the eight local government areas in the state, bringing the state government’s receipt to N83bn.

    The governor spoke on Monday during the 50th edition of the state’s monthly transparency briefing and the launch of transparency website, .’Transparency Watch’ at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa

    But computations of al, the breakdown reeled out by the governor showed a total expenditure of N111.6bn, against the N95bn receipt.

    He said N14.89bn was used to service bond repayments taken by the Timipre Sylva administration while salaries of workers consumed N32.38bn.

    He further added that bank loans gulped about N15bn,  local debts including inherited debts and overdraft N24.6bn,  overhead costs for running the three arms of government N3.9bn while the sum of N20.9bn went to projects.

    With the expenditure profile of about N111.7bn, the state government is in deficit of about N28bn.

    He said if not for his administration’s prudent management of resources, the state would have collapsed.

    Dickson decried what he described as lopsided federal system, saying that though Bayelsa is an oil-rich state, the nation has not been fair to the state.

    The governor seized the occasion to attack journalists operating in the state accusing them of hiding under press freedom to work with criminal syndicates, thieves and cult leaders.

    He asked journalists not to take the hospitality of the state and his government for granted saying his administration had not killed nor physically attacked anybody.

    Dickson who was obviously angry at some reports in the national dailies about the happenings in the state, claimed that his administration was monitoring text messages and telephone conversations between journalists and their paymasters.

    He said they were aware of persons paying money to reporters in the state to run down  the state and incite the public against his government.

    He said: “So, when some young men are sent to the state, they call themselves different names operating in different guises with criminal syndicates, not working to advance the course of democracy and what is good for the country and even for their profession, they come here and connive with criminals, thieves, cult leaders.

    “The press, they know the cult leaders. They come here not to advance the course of the state. They come here not to assist in developing democracy in our country. They hide under the guise of press freedom and work with criminal syndicates.

    “Sometimes, we know the text messages, their conversations and those who give them money just to run down the state. You Bayelsans should know that there are people who don’t want a strong clear-headed leadership, a focused leadership from Bayelsa State.

    “There are those who want Bayelsa to be a weeping child of the Niger Delta. For our friends who enjoy the hospitality of our state; in our government, no one kills anybody. No one attacks anybody.

    “It doesn’t happen in their own state but they will come misrepresent Bayelsa, paint Bayelsa bad, government of Bayelsa bad when in their own states they don’t have leaders that will stand up to 10 per cent of what we represent.

    “They know that you people delight in running down the government. So, this is a warning to all those who are here. You have the right to be here, enjoy our hospitality but don’t run down the state.

    “Don’t instigate civil unrest because you only know how it starts but you don’t know how it will end up. In some of their states, their governments have not paid salaries for 15 months; those boys that are writing nonsenses, in their own state. Yet they come here, instigate our people and misrepresent things”.

     

     

  • Youths attack policemen, electricity workers with machetes

    Three policemen and six employees of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) escaped being lynched at the weekend following attacks on them by angry youths in different parts of Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The youths were said to be angry that amidst darkness for many days in their various suburbs, the workers under the protection of the policemen stormed their areas to recover debts and disconnect wires.

    It was gathered that the Business Service Manager, PHED, Pere Alazigha was cut with machete and left in the pool of his blood by the youths.

    One of the workers identified as Christian Umegbewe ‎was reportedly pushed down from the ladder during the disconnection process.

    ‎The Chief Operating Officer, PHED, Engr. Kingsley Achife,‎ confirmed the development in a statement issued by the Protocol Officer, Corporate Communication, Sophilia Obire.

    He said that the security operatives attached to them were attacked by some residents of Epie community in Yenagoa.

    He said: “The attack, which was spearheaded by youths, resulted in injury to three policemen, the Business Service Manager, Pere Alazigha, a linesman, Christian Umegbewe and other staff members involved in the disconnection exercise.

    “While Alazigha was left with a machete cut on his body, Umegbewe was pushed down from the ladder by the youths during the disconnection process. Both of them were immediately hospitalized.‎”

    Achife condemned the violence but said the attitude of the youths would not deter the commitment of PHED to service paying customers.

    He said the company would continue to ensure that all customers pay for energy consumed appealing to members of the public to stop attacking workers willing to render quality service to them.

    Speaking on the development, the Head, Glory City Main Integrated Business Centre, Yenagoa, Mrs. Ngozi Manafa, said the vehicle that conveyed workers to the community was also damaged with its windscreen shattered.

    She said: “The Epie community has an outstanding debt record of over N60million and a current bill of over N2million to which they paid N70,000 and N50,000 respectively.‎

    “The incident was the second in a week. Two days before then, disconnection team of PHED was also beaten up at Airtel Road.

    “Only last month, some residents of Akemfa community attacked PHED staff on collection drive with the Business Service Manager, Mr. Festus Owi taken to the bush by some angry residents, a situation that led other PHED staff running for cover.

    “Several other attacks have also been witnessed in Koroma in Gbarain clan of Bayelsa state, where one PHED staff was held hostage and the pick-up van was also damaged.”