The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayelsa

  • Striking LG workers frustrate UNICEF’s programme in Bayelsa 

    The United Nations Child Education Fund (UNICEF), was ready and fully prepared for this year’s second round of Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week in Bayelsa State. UNICEF’s officials mobilised to all the local government areas with excitement to begin the health programme. Unfortunately their efforts did not yield the expected results.

    It was not their faults. Unknown to them, local government employees were on strike over many arrears of unpaid salaries. The industrial action forced health centres in the councils to shut down. Therefore, the intervention of UNICEF was frustrated by unavailability of required basic facilities to drive the programme.

    This was the second time situations beyond the control of UNICEF had frustrated its plans to fully implement the second round of MNCHW in the state. When the programme was held nationwide from December 4 to 10 last year, it could not take place in the state because of the governorship election. It was at that point the UN body rescheduled the programme to February 15th.

    But the exercise failed to move in full throttle because local government workers had downed tools. Many government-owned health facilities were locked up while few others that were opened lacked adequate health workers to attend to the people.

    When the team moved to the basic Health Centre, Tumgbo community in Sagbama   Local Government Area of the state, the health officers who were on ground lamented lack of logistics to mobilize employees for the exercise.

    Head of the Centre, Mrs. Ebi Pateme said: “Are you not aware that local government workers have not been paid for the past six months? We are coming to work because of the nature of our job?”

    An Immunization Officer in Sagbama LGA, Mr. Barazi David said that distribution of materials for the exercise started late because of logistical problems. He, however, noted that with logistical support from UNICEF, materials were able to get to all 27 health facilities in the area, adding that attendance was encouraging.

    The Head of Department (HoD) Health in Sagbama Local Government Area, Mr. Taribidei Tonkiri attributed the low turnout recorded during the event to low morale of workers due to none payment of salaries for months.

     

  • Abducted Jonathan’s nephew found dead in Bayelsa

    Abducted Jonathan’s nephew found dead in Bayelsa

    Samule Okies, the abducted 35-year-old nephew to former President Goodluck Jonathan has been found dead along the waterway of Otuoke, Jonathan’s community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    Okies was reportedly abducted on Wednesday alongside Jonathan’s 72-year-old foster father, Chief Inegite Nitaba.

    It was gathered that some fishermen from Otuoke found the remains of the deceased floating on the Otuoke River on Thursday evening.

    Sources from the community said the deceased went missing shortly after Inengite was abducted.

    According to them, the recovery of the body confirmed their fears that Okies was also a victim of the kidnap.

    Other sources said Okies might have been killed by gunshots fired during Inengite’s abduction.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said there was apprehension over the safety of Inengite in the community.

    “We are worried about the safety of our uncle. The men that abducted them have killed Okies and we pray they don’t touch our uncle,” the source said.

    Prior to his death, Okies was said to have always been in the company of the abducted foster father.

    Unidentified gunmen kidnapped Inengite, a first cousin and foster father to former Jonathan.

    The septuagenarian was whisked away from his residence in Otuoke on Wednesday.

    It will be recalled that he was first kidnapped on February 23, 2014, during the administration of former President Jonathan.

    His first abduction attracted public attention, as the Federal Government activated all security networks within the Niger Delta region to rescue him.

    After spending over two weeks in the kidnappers’ den, Nitabai was rescued on March 13, 2014, by the police, with claims that no ransom was paid to the abductors.

    The 2014 operation was carried out by10 heavily armed men who stormed Nitabai’s expansive compound at about 9pm and took him away without firing a gunshot.

    Another attempt to abduct Nitabai was also made by a gang of kidnappers, whose operation was foiled by the police.

    It was gathered that the latest incident, which occurred at about 3:30am, was carried out by seven gunmen.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Butswat Asinim, confirmed the death of Okies.

    He said there was a deep cut on his neck, adding that the police were on the trail of the kidnappers,

  • Court confirms Bayelsa Speaker’s sack

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has confirmed that it nullified the election of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Kombowei Benson.

    The court’s affirmation put paid to weeks of denials by Benson that the December 9 judgment in a case filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Ebifaghe Orunimighe, declared his election null and void.

    Benson refused to relinquish the Southern Ijaw Constituency 4 seat and his speakership position, insisting that the written judgment was different from the court’s records of proceedings, which dismissed the appeal.

    He continued to retain his seat and presided over the 2016 Appropriation Bill sent by Governor Seriake Dickson.

    But on February 10, the court, ruling on a fresh application filed by Benson, validated its judgment, which nullified the election of the former speaker.

    The court, presided over by a new panel of five justices, admitted that the December 9 lead judgment was prepared by Justice Ejembi Eko in agreement with Justices Mohammed Garba and Stephen Adah.

    The justices are Abdu Aboki, Sidi Bage, Samuel Oseji, Ibrahim Bdliya and Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf.

    Aboki, who delivered the ruling on Benson’s application, explained that the judgment was delivered by Garba because Eko, who prepared it, was on assignment.

    On making entries in the record of proceedings, Aboki said Garba erroneously indicated that the lead judgment of Eko dismissed the appeal contrary to the conclusion that the appeal was allowed.

    But he said: “It is my view that a different entry made in a court record albeit erroneously does not alter the effect of judgment of the court in which the rights of the party are determined one way or the other.

    “The judgment of a court consists of the collation and analysis of evidence as presented before the court and making of findings, reasoning and the conclusion. This can be seen to exist in exhibit A, the lead judgment prepared by Ejembi Eko.

    “It forms the only source of drawing up an enrolment of the order of this court and not from the notes made during a court proceeding”.

    Aboki added that the argument of Benson that two judgments emanated from the court on the same case could not hold since he (Benson) failed to present to the court a proof of another ruling.

    “The onus, therefore, is on the applicants, who are alleging that there are two different judgments emanating from this court with respect to the appeal, to prove same which they have failed to do.

    “The lead judgment of Justice Ejembi Eko is the judgment of this court. It is obvious that in the process of making entry of the judgment in the record, Justice Mohammed Garba made a mistake when he stated that the appeal was dismissed.

    “The entry in the record of book does not constitute the judgment of the court. If the judgment is read, it will be obvious and clear to any unbiased and dispassionate reader that the entry in the record is a mistake,” he said.

    Quoting the Supreme Court in the case between Ibe vs Onuora, Aboki added: “The courts are presided over by human beings and being human, they are prone to mistakes and slips in the course of execution of their judicial functions.”

  • Rep, NACA float medical outreach in Bayelsa

    The recent medical outreach of Douye Diri, a member representing Yenagoa, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Federal Constituency in the National Assembly was viewed by residents of Yenagoa, the state capital, as timely.

    It came at a time when most people in Bayelsa State were suffering and dying in silence for lack of money caused by dwindling oil revenue. Many residents even found it difficult to treat ordinary malaria. But amid the plight, Diri, landed in Yenagoa with a free medical programme.

    The federal lawmaker entered into partnership with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the office of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to fix the health challenges of his constituents.

    The medical team consisting of over 10 trained doctors and nurses, had a primary assignment of providing  free test and counseling for HIV/AIDS, malaria, hepatitis, diabetes and screening for tuberculosis.

    The team also carried out deworming of children. Residents were also given the opportunity to check their weight index and blood sugar levels. The team also doled out quality drugs to persons diagnosed of diseases.

    So all road led to the primary school at Akempli. Residents trooped to the temporary structures erected for the outreach to seek medical help. The programme lasted for about three days.

    An official of NACA, Dr. Rosemary Adu, said the outreach was designed to provide free medical outreach to 5000 Bayelsans. She said the programme which was initiated by Diri was within NACA’s mandate of enabling people to know their HIV statuses.

    She said willing adults were tested of HIV while minors underwent the same process through the consent of their parents and guardians. She said: “They can either accept or turn it down. They were counseled on the reason why they should have HIV testing and then the test was done. If an adult like a parent comes with the children, we sought their permission to test the children.

    “We provided them with free medical services. We had blood pressure check, blood sugar estimation, body mass index determination meaning that we would take people’s weight and height  and then based on the findings, we would calculate  their weight against their height and see if they were overweight or underweight.

    “We had instrument for malaria testing. If a person complained of symptoms that was suggestive of malaria that patient would be referred to have a malaria test done and if it was positive the person would be sent back to a doctor who would prescribe and give the malaria drugs.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Explosion hits Agip pipeline in Bayelsa

    Explosion hits Agip pipeline in Bayelsa

    •Lawmaker condemns attack

    Another oil pipeline in the Niger Delta came under attack yesterday but this time in Bayelsa State.

    Rocked by explosion was a Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipeline spanning Orukari, Golubokiri and Kpongbokiri communities in Brass local government area.

    Sources blamed the attack on militants.

    Similar attacks were carried out recently in Delta State hours after a Federal High Court in Lagos issued a warrant of arrest against former warlord Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo in connection with a case of money laundering.

    Tompolo has denied having anything to do with the explosions.

    The latest sabotage has resulted in a massive spillage of crude oil on  the waterways and at fishing camps.

    Member of the State House of Assembly representing Brass Constituency 1, Isreal Sunny-Igoli, confirmed the explosion.

    Igoli said in a statement in Yenagoa that ýpreliminary investigations into the incident showed that it was an act of sabotage carried out with intent to hurt the economic interests of Bayelsa and Nigeria.

    He said the latest explosion coming so soon after similar bombing of pipelines in the same axis was worrisome and capable of forcing oil companies out of operation, thereby adversely affecting the nation’s economy.

    Sunny- Goli asked security agencies to beef up security around oil facilities with a view to preventing future attacks.

    Condemning the attack ”in its entirety”, Igoli said it was aimed at crippling the economy “at a time the nation is struggling with decline in revenue due to the fall in oil prices.”

    He added:”It is common knowledge that because of the low price of oil which is our main source of revenue, many states can hardly pay workers salaries. This sabotage is capable of crippling the economy if not urgently curbed.

    “If these attacks are not checked and the perpetrators brought to book and Agip decides to pull out of Bayelsa state it would be disastrous for us as a people.

    “Bayelsa state is an oil producing state and our revenue from the federal government is based on our quota of production but this would be reduced if Agip decides to pull out because incessant attacks on its facilities are not stopped.

    “I want to urge security agencies to probe the attack on Agip pipeline and ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and brought to book. Bayelsans especially those that have oil facilities around them should also be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to security agencies to prevent further attacks.”

     

  • Controversy in Bayelsa as Speaker hangs on to seat

    Controversy in Bayelsa as Speaker hangs on to seat

    Bayelsa Speaker Kombowei Benson yesterday vowed not to vacate his Southern Ijaw Constituency 4 seat following controversies surrounding the Court of Appeal judgement that declared his April 11, 2015 election null and void.

    Benson insisted that the purported written judgement was different from the record of court’s proceeding on December 9, 2015.

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, in a written judgement delivered on December 9, 2015 nullified the April 2015 election that returned Benson.

    The court, in a copy of the ruling, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh poll within 90 days to fill the seat.

    The Speaker was sacked in a case filed by Mr. Ebifaghe Orunimighe, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the seat of the House of Assembly in Southern Ijaw Constituency 4.

    According to a copy of the judgement, Justices Mohammed Lawal Garba, Ejembi Eko and Stephen Jonah Adah, sat on the three-man panel that nullified Benson’s election.

    The judgement, which resolved issues 1, 2 and 3 in favour of the APC candidate, was delivered by Justice Ejembi Eko and signed by other justices on the panel.

    Eko said:  “I allow the appeal in substantial part. My findings on issues 1, 2 and 3 justify the declaration that the election/return of the first respondent Hon. Benson Friday Kombowei, as the purported winner of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly seat for Southern Ijaw Constituency 4 elections held on April 11, 2015 was null and void.”

    But about 60 days after, Benson faulted the authenticity of the written judgement saying the record of proceeding on that day showed that the appeal of the APC candidate was dismissed in the open court.

    Addressing journalists in his office at the House of Assembly complex Yenagoa, Benson insisted that the ruling of 9th December upheld his election and dismissed the appeal filed by the APC candidate.

    He said: “On the 9th of December, the appeal court dismissed the appeal by Orunimighe challenging my election. On January 14th, a purported judgement alleging that my election has been declared null and void emerged. This is strange and untrue.

    “What transpired in the open court in the presence of lawyers was outright dismissal of the appeal brought by my opponent. The judgement was delivered in the open court thereby upholding my election in the House of Assembly.”

    Benson said to further clarify the issues and put the record straight, he had through his team of lawyers filed a motion on notice praying the Appeal Court to set aside the judgement that was not in conformity with its declaration in the open court on December 9.

    He said the motion on notice further prayed the court to make an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stay execution on the judgment pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    “This motion has been served on the National Judicial Commission (NJC), President of the Appeal Court, the Department of Security Service (DSS), Commissioner of Police, Clerk of the House and other officers and some important personalities.’’

    Benson said he remained the speaker and would continue to preside over the affairs of the House of Assembly pending resolution of the case.

    But the APC candidate for Southern Ijaw Constituency 4 accompanied by his Media Aide, Bodmas Debekeme and his lawyer, called on Benson to respect the judgment of the Court of Appeal and stop playing to the gallery.

    Oruminighe warned Benson to stop parading himself as Speaker or risk going to prison for contempt.

    He noted that his lawyers had begun a process of filling a contempt suit against Benson.

    According to him: “It is unfortunate that Kombowei Benson is accentuated by greed and desperation to disseminate such deliberate falsehood to mislead members of the society including his pastors and church members.’’

    He noted that the Court of Appeal did not give two conflicting judgments as falsely claimed by Benson.

    He said that the judgement which sacked Benson was the only subsisting judgement adding that speaker, his team of lawyers, had copies of the same ruling.

     

  • Bayelsa: Dickson and the challenges ahead

    Bayelsa: Dickson and the challenges ahead

    Following his victory at the last gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Governor Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), according to political observers, will have to confront some fresh challenges in administering the oil-rich state, Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, reports.

    The highly controversial 2015 governorship election in Bayelsa State may have finally been concluded following an earlier inconclusive attempt. But going by the submission of pundits and the implications left behind by some developments that occurred before, during and after the violently contested poll, the task of governing the now highly polarized state may not be an easy one for Governor Seriake Dickson, the man who got the nod of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to continue in office for another term of four years, having polled the highest number of votes in the said election.

    Following the conclusion of the supplementary election held on January 10, 2016, INEC declared Dickson, the incumbent and candidate of the PDP, as the winner of the Bayelsa State governorship election. According to the results, Dickson defeated his closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to win the election. While Dickson polled 134,998 votes, Sylva got 86,852 votes. The initial election was held on December 5, 2015.

    Dickson, who has been in charge as the governor of the oil-rich state since 2011, earlier served as a member of the House of Representatives, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency of the state. In the House of Representatives, he served as the Chairman, House Committee on Justice and also a member of several committees.

    According to Yenagoa-based public commentator and lawyer, Fred Ganpate, the electorate has played its part and has now thrown a challenge to those it defied threats and bad weather in some places to vote for. He said it is now very important for the re-elected governor to fulfill his campaign promises.

    “However, Dickson will have to brace himself for some challenges emanating from the current situation of things in the state. There is no doubt that the people of the state will expect a lot of things from him and quickly too. Given the fact that the people had a variety of options to choose from the last time, the expectation from the man who eventually won is enormous,” he said.

    Gampate cited the dwindling revenue of the state, growing insecurity, youth unemployment and a widely polarized citizenry as some of the challenges currently confronting the re-elected governor. And according to him, “Bayelsans would expect him to hit the ground running in finding solutions to these issues as soon as possible.”

    Dwindling revenue

    In the run up to the last gubernatorial election, Dickson has expressed deep concern over the steady decline in the revenues accruing to the state from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). He explained that the decline was evident in the less than one billion naira shortfall in the revenue received by the state between August and September, 2015.

    It was a visibly worried Dickson that disclosed that the state received only N5.2 billion for September 2015. He also disclosed that the state received N6.2 billion in the month of August and that the amount from the previous month had dropped to N5.6 billion occasioned by the sharp reduction in prices of crude oil in the international market.

    “You can imagine what would have happened, if we didn’t experience this drastic and sudden drop in our revenue, Bayelsa would have been something else. But we are still not despondent. We are hopeful that by the grace of God, revenues will improve and we will again work together to take our state to the next level,” Dickson said.

    With the FAAC allocation now further dwindled, and given the yearnings of the people of the state for more development as exemplified in their demands from candidates during the last election, pundits say Dickson will have to set about improving the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base of his state.

    Former spokesperson of the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) in the state, Comrade John Duokpolor, said it is now expedient for the governor to stop giving the people the usual excuse of dwindling allocation and find a way of increasing the financial situation of the state so as to be able to give the people the much needed dividends of democracy.

    “As we speak, oil price has crashed from $104 to $38 per barrel. Possibly, it might still crash further with Iran back in the loop and America dangling Shell oil and Shell Gas. So, we must understand that it is not helpful to rely solely on the federal revenue. Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) must be looked into.

    This is not a time for Governor Dickson to cry over dwindling allocation. It is time to generate revenue and meet the needs of the people who voted for him. His re-election amidst so much rancor, controversy and uncertainty places upon him a very serious burden of expectations and duty, and there is no way the people will be satisfied with excuses this time around,” he said.

    To Gampate, the government may have to put on its thinking cap and find ways of getting citizens in the informal sector to contribute to the revenue base of the state as a way of improving the IGR accruable to it.  “The place to look into is the informal sector. That is the sector that is actually untapped and having the capacity to help the state at a time like this. What is accruable from the sector is huge. It is just that nobody is paying attention to it now.

    “But unlike the formal sector, you cannot get anything out of it unless you first encourage the people therein. And the easiest way to encourage the informal sector to keep on paying is to make them feel the impact of your government, because if you go back to collect from them again, they will ask you what you did with the ones they’ve paid; that is usually their response.

    “If you want them to keep paying without blinking an eyelid, just provide amenities for them. Within their locality, fix roads, give them water, if they have problems with getting water to flow from their taps, send them tankers to drop water for them; let them feel the impact of the government. Once these are done, they will pay,” he said.

    Insecurity

    Another challenge Dickson is currently confronted with is insecurity. Headlined by the rising spate of kidnapping and other violent acts, as well as the recent abduction of a serving commissioner and the younger sister of the governor, many residents of the state are calling on the governor to secure lives and properties at all cost.

    Observers are blaming the return of insecurity in the state on the high spate of thuggery and other violent activities associated with the last governorship election in the state. “The last election, in terms of criminal activities, remains the worst in the history of the state. My major fear is that unless these politicians find a way of disarming those they armed during that period, the state may be in for a terrible time,” Duokpolor cautioned.

    Recently, the APC charged Governor Seriake Dickson to brace up to the security challenges instead of blaming it on the opposition. The party urged the governor to live up to the expectation of the people of Bayelsa by performing his most basic responsibility of ensuring the security of lives and property in the state.

    A statement by its spokesman, Nathan Egba, said the party is worried about the increasing rate of violent crime, including kidnappings across the state. The APC called on the security agencies in the state to step up their intelligence and track down all criminal elements within the state.

    The New Bayelsa Movement, a non-political pressure group, last weekend, raised the alarm over growing threats to life and property in some parts of the state. The group called on the governor to urgently confront the threat before more lives are lost to kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminal elements in the state.

    In a statement by its President, Titus Ezonfade, and Secretary, Meg Tamunomiebi , the group maintained that it had watched with dismay the increasing number of lives lost to hoodlums every day in the oil-rich state.

    Already, the governor has revealed that his administration had finalized plans to unfold a comprehensive security framework to address the current trend of insecurity across the state. Dickson recently warned that anybody found culpable will be dealt with in accordance with the criminal laws of the state and the country.

    He called on youths in the state not to allow themselves to be used under whatever guise to perpetrate any crime, warning that no one would be spared when caught. Dickson enjoined the people of the state to go about their legitimate duties without any fear of molestation, assuring that security agencies had been put on red alert to track down criminals and their cohorts.

    Fence mending

    Another urgent task before Dickson, according to political analysts, is the need for him to supervise the mending of political fences across the state so as to reduce the widespread division and sectionalization occasioned by the tense politicking experienced in the state during the last governorship election.

    Already, political analysts have commended the governor-elect for extending an olive branch to his opponents in the contest. Upon his victory, Dickson called on those who contested with him but lost to come forward with their programmes and policies and support his administration to move the state forward. With this singular action, many are hoping that in no distance time, the political divides within the state will close ranks and allow peace to reign.

    But Gampate would want to believe that the decision of the opposition APC and its candidate to contest the result of the election at the tribunal may delay the healing of political wounds. “I want to believe that given how tense the contest was, with the battle now moving to the tribunal, the worst is not over yet,” he said.

    Following the declaration of Dickson as the winner of the election, the APC candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, vowed to challenge what he described as the procured victory of the PDP in court. According to him, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Baritor Kpagir, deliberately set up machinery to ensure the return of the PDP candidate and incumbent Dickson.

  • Explosion hits Agip pipeline in Bayelsa

    Explosion has again rocked a major pipeline in the Niger Delta region, a few days after an attack on oil and gas pipelines in the Gbaramatu kingdom Delta state, dealt a deadly blow on the economy.

    This time the attack occurred on a pipeline owned by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    ‎Persons suspected to be unrepentant militants were said to have attacked the pipeline located along Orukari, Golubokiri and Kpongbokiri communities in Brass

    Panic was said to have gripped the communities following the disposition of the government against acts capable of worsening the bleeding economy.

    It was learnt that the attackers committed the heinous economic crime on Thursday night.

    The incident caused massive spillage of crude oil not the waterways and fishing camps.

    A member representing Brass Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Isreal Sunny-Igoli confirmed the explosion in a statement he signed in Yenagoa.

    Igoli said that ‎preliminary investigations into the incident showed that it was an act of sabotage carried out to hurt the economic interests of Bayelsa and Nigeria.

    He said the latest explosion coming after bombing of pipelines recently in the same axis was worrisome and capable of forcing oil companies out of operation and adversely affecting the Nigeria’s economy.

    Sunny- Goli called on security agencies to beef up security around oil facilities to prevent future attacks adding that economic saboteurs were bent on crippling Nigeria’s economy.

    He said: “I want to condemn the latest attack on Agip pipeline at Kpongbokiri. This is a clear sabotage by economic saboteurs. Recently they blasted pipeline at Orukari and Golubokiri.

    “I condemned this latest attack on Agip pipeline at Kpongbokiri in its entirety. It is sabotage against Nigeria in a bid to cripple the economy at a time the Nation is struggling with decline in revenue due to the fall in oil prices.

    “It is common knowledge that because of the low price of oil which is our main source of revenue, many states can hardly pay workers salaries. This sabotage is capable of crippling the economy if not urgently curbed.

    “If these attacks are not checked and the perpetrators brought to book and Agip decides to pull out of Bayelsa state it would be disastrous for us as a people.

    “Bayelsa state is an oil producing state and our revenue from the federal government is based on our quota of production but this would be reduced if Agip decides to pull out because incessant attacks on its facilities are not stopped.

    “I want to urge security agencies to probe the attack on Agip pipeline and ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and brought to book. Bayelsans especially those that have oil facilities around them should also be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to security agencies to prevent further attacks.”

  • Developers seek solutions to Bayelsa housing problems

    Developers seek solutions to Bayelsa housing problems

    Lack of affordable and decent accommodation has remained one of the major headaches of living in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Residential houses are scarce and the ones available are expensive and almost beyond the reach of many inhabitants.

    A standard two-bedroom flat goes for between N450,000 to N550,000. A good self-content apartment is priced between N180,000 to N200,000 while a bedroom flat goes for about N250,000. So, most people are forced to live in slums under excruciating environmental conditions.

    Such slums located at different parts of the capital city, even close to the Government House, Onopa, are congested neighbourhoods. People erect and live in mud houses with their families.

    In fact, the problem is compounded by lack of deliberate plans by the state government to engage in housing projects. Also, wealthy politicians known to have amassed wealth in government, instead of building residential estates, prefer erecting hotels.

    But private developers seem to have come to the rescue. One of the developers, Orlum Nigeria Limited (ONL) has embarked on a project of encouraging people living in the state to build and own their houses. Recently, the company entered into an agreement with the Otuasega, a community close to Yenagoa, to acquire large parcel of land, map it and sell to interested builders in affordable prices.

    The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the community to develop and sell the parcel of land situated at Ekuraba/Obo-olo bush within Ogbia Local Government Area of the state. The company recently mowed down the forest with its earth-moving equipment to access roads to the area.

    Speaking to Niger Delta Report, the Chief Executive Officer, (ONL), Mr. Teknikio Clarkson, said the company adopted a strategy of providing good housing with quality environment to residents.

    He said: “To us sometimes the work is really challenging, the challnges we face is that we source for funds, invest and we are also stakeholders so that we will feel the pain and participte with the people and then come up with development measures that would make us achieve an aim of quality enviroment and quality living.

    “It takes a lot of convincing, resources for is to get there. Everything that is done must be done according to accuraccy. If you are not patient enough you will end up not even achieving anything but thank God we have been able to make a mark.

    He assured people intending to acquire plots of land in the area of security on their investment. He said the company operated within the bounds of the law. He said the firm was founded with the principles of integrity and justice.

    “We stand on truth and justice. So, we are assuring eveyone who invest in us that you can invest and go home and sleep. We secure your investment so you dont run a loss. So we are assuring everyone to come and invest with us”, he said.

    Reacting to the development, an elder from the community who identified himself as Pastor Ogar, praised the company for initiating a gesture to develop the rural community. He said the roads being mapped out in the area would help to open up the rural dwelling.

  • Developers seek solutions to Bayelsa housing problems

    Developers seek solutions to Bayelsa housing problems

    Back of affordable and decent accommodation has remained one of the major headaches of living in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Residential houses are scarce and the ones available are expensive and almost beyond the reach of many inhabitants.

    A standard two-bedroom flat goes for between N450,000 to N550,000. A good self-content apartment is priced between N180,000 to N200,000 while a bedroom flat goes for about N250,000. So, most people are forced to live in slums under excruciating environmental conditions.

    Such slums located at different parts of the capital city, even close to the Government House, Onopa, are congested neighbourhoods. People erect and live in mud houses with their families.

    In fact, the problem is compounded by lack of deliberate plans by the state government to engage in housing projects. Also, wealthy politicians known to have amassed wealth in government, instead of building residential estates, prefer erecting hotels.

    But private developers seem to have come to the rescue. One of the developers, Orlum Nigeria Limited (ONL) has embarked on a project of encouraging people living in the state to build and own their houses. Recently, the company entered into an agreement with the Otuasega, a community close to Yenagoa, to acquire large parcel of land, map it and sell to interested builders in affordable prices.

    The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the community to develop and sell the parcel of land situated at Ekuraba/Obo-olo bush within Ogbia Local Government Area of the state. The company recently mowed down the forest with its earth-moving equipment to access roads to the area.

    Speaking to Niger Delta Report, the Chief Executive Officer, (ONL), Mr. Teknikio Clarkson, said the company adopted a strategy of providing good housing with quality environment to residents.

    He said: “To us sometimes the work is really challenging, the challnges we face is that we source for funds, invest and we are also stakeholders so that we will feel the pain and participte with the people and then come up with development measures that would make us achieve an aim of quality enviroment and quality living.

    “It takes a lot of convincing, resources for is to get there. Everything that is done must be done according to accuraccy. If you are not patient enough you will end up not even achieving anything but thank God we have been able to make a mark.

    He assured people intending to acquire plots of land in the area of security on their investment. He said the company operated within the bounds of the law. He said the firm was founded with the principles of integrity and justice.

    “We stand on truth and justice. So, we are assuring eveyone who invest in us that you can invest and go home and sleep. We secure your investment so you dont run a loss. So we are assuring everyone to come and invest with us”, he said.

    Reacting to the development, an elder from the community who identified himself as Pastor Ogar, praised the company for initiating a gesture to develop the rural community. He said the roads being mapped out in the area would help to open up the rural dwelling.