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Tag: Bayelsa

  • Bayelsa can be better if youths lead – Siasia

    Bayelsa can be better if youths lead – Siasia


    • At an interactive session with Journalists, Moses Siasia, 35-year-old governorship aspirant in Baylesa State, revealed his plans to transform the state. He also lamented the interests of the old folks for the younger generations. David Lawal was at the session for The Nation Newspaper.
      Excerpts: Kindly give us an insight into your background Well, you are welcome. I believe that the redemption of this country that we call our own lies with our generation; we the youths. I lived in an environment where we had no food, no toilet, I almost lost my life but God was the one that intervened. They would not give the younger generations the chance, they would continue to come up with strategies that would further undermine us and ensure that the youths do not speak in one voice. In the programmes that we have been able to carry out, none of them have supported us, except very few that believed in us. How were you able to transform yourself despite the challenges you faced in your younger age? I fend for myself 17 years ago. I was in the street of Port Harcourt hawking oranges, selling Ice Blocks but at that time I told myself that I wasn’t going to be subservient to my situation. I am going to work hard because I believe that there is a deposit of potentials in me. That was how I started from that humble background. I washed rugs, plant flowers and today the story is different. Today, I have built a business of a group of companies, Mosilo Groups . We have interest in various sectors. I have employed many persons, mostly youth. We started what is called the Nigeria Young Professional Group and in two years today we are in 15 countries. We are the only young group in Nigeria that is registered in USA and United Kingdom. We are about finalising our registrations with the United Nations. I founded the Young Professionals Group to give voice to the youths. There is no young man in Nigeria today that has been close to power like I have. I can beat my chest to say that the elites are not interested in the youth. How do you rate Bayelsa State as at now? Bayelsa state is less than one million in population and we have received over N2 trillion from 1999 till date but if you come to Bayelsa today, you will cry because there is no concrete work on ground, our educational system is in a state of decay, our women do not have that sense of belonging again because they cannot sell again, our people are used to fishing but cannot do that because of oil spillage. The leadership had not been fair to our people. The sectors are down. Do you know that there are a lot of Bayelsa students abroad who are stranded and cannot pay their fees any more, they are frustrated, the females have gone into prostitution, the government keep responding that there is no money but when the money comes they share it amongst themselves, it doesn't trickle down to the people. For instance, we have had successive government in Bayelsa who placed embargo on employment; there is no critical investment in Bayelsa that can employ massively. Everybody sees government as the only employer of labour in Bayelsa. Now you need a leader that can think outside the box, that is innovative and creative to bring about the investments required in Bayelsa state. I have been in the private sector, I have business, I have partners and I have the will to do that. You cannot give what you do not have, I have employed people, I have grown a business from scratch to where it is today, I have helped people in my community, I have not bought education material for two years; I have been supplying them. I have eight children from my community studying abroad, on my mill. So, let all those who have ruled Bayelsa come out and tell what they were able to achieve before they got to that position. What is your disposition to Youths development in the Country? The lowest funded ministry in the history of democracy in Nigeria is the ministry of youth. Meanwhile, we gave them the mandate. When I was younger I used to see government development craft centers, skill acquisition centers, sport development institutions, look at the education sector, it suggest that there is no hope for the young generation. When you canvas for the inclusion of young people in governance, they would say what level of experience do you. So we have found ourselves in a state of dashed hope and opportunity. I have so much belief in the younger generation that why I am offering myself to liberate my people from the suffering and hardship that they are going through. This is the first time in the new Nigeria democracy that someone of my age group would come out for a position like this, and as a governor being a member of the Council of state; I am going to represent the interest of the youth. This is my will. We must put an end to political imposition and create a sustainable future for our people. My heart bleeds whenever I am asked ''where are you from?'' Sometimes my friends and associates from abroad say they want to come to my state and I wonder what they would see there. Meanwhile, Bayelsa state has a huge tourism potential. We have 75 per cent of Nigeria's gas reserve and the level of political gain that Bayelsa has enjoyed has never been enjoyed by any state in this country. Bayelsa has had a President, a Petroleum minister, a National security adviser all from a state that is not up to one million in population, eight local governments but this political positioning have not been translated into gains to benefit the people. It will therefore take a will of grace that can bring about the needed change and that is what I am bringing to the table. I am not going to the state house to sell pride but to sell humility, to serve my people, if I have been able to achieve what I have achieved in the private sector, then I can bring the much needed development in the public sector to our people. Siasia MConsidering your age, would you not need party elders’ support to secure the ticket? While some remain myopic and wouldn't love to let go because that is where they get their pay from, there are some of them that are positive minded. And we must convince them that it is time for us take care of them and to take the interests of our people serious. And I believe that God will give us the grace to champion this course to the next level. You should be aware of the level of debt in the state which successive administrations have incurred, how would you run a successful government with the high level of debt? If you do not take up the challenge you will continue to allow people to accumulate debt for the state. My will is to put a stop to debt owing. We must create investments that would boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue of the state which is currently less than N1 billion. We are going to diversify the economy and concentrate on sectors like tourism, agriculture. I would increase investment enough and create environment to attract investors. We would tax the rich and the big hotels in the state and complete the abandoned five-star hotel project that former President Jonathan started so that people can come and see. Bayelsa is where oil was first discovered in Nigeria. We would create a museum, a city out of Oloibiri, then develop Akasa and create a beach there. The environment in Akasa in Bayelsa is better than Miami in the US. If you sit in Brass at night you can sight Guinea. Bayelsa State is central to the Gulf of Guinea. You can get to Equatorial Guinea under one hour through boat from Brass. Hence, we can build partnership and build ​​seaport. We can use the opportunities to create wealth for the people. I am not going to run a debt owing state. There won’t be need to borrow to execute any project. Some of my partners are currently supporting some states in building infrastructures. We would also team up with them. There are a lot of my partners who are looking for real business environment to invest; we can create that. The current administration created Bayelsa Development Centers in the United Kingdom and South Africa but not many investments have come to the state through this means. In one year, we can bring about 500 companies in Bayelsa. We can create massive employment under one year, in fact about 50,000 jobs, viable jobs, not N10, 000 jobs or street sweeping jobs. We are going to create job that comes with job security. Wealth to me is not about how much I have in my account but how many lives I have been able to touch and that is why I want the people to vote for me. I have done that in the past. Majority of the militants from the Niger Delta regional are from your state, what is your plan for them? I do not see them as militants, rather, I see some of them as professionals. For example, on a high sea and on a very high level of water pressure, someone uses a speed boat to kidnap somebody and still uses the speed boat to escape with his victim. It requires a lot of technicalities to do what they are doing. We would try to ensure that they channel their energy into productive ventures. We would show them the light to enable them use their potentials rightly and this will further strengthen the state. That is where human capacity development comes in. I have started meeting with some of them and they have been impressed that someone within their age bracket is coming out for a post like governor, while some of them have not responded. Well, but we would keep them informed about the dynamics of contemporary politics which largely involves youth participation. How realistic is it for you to run the state without borrowing funds when elected as governor? My business is not in debt. You must take loan to fund massive projects but the strategy we have used to run our business is to build partnership and that would be adopted too. See, running a state is not so different from running a business. Some state governors were able to leave office with good reserves without debt. What we have is enough to sustain the state. For instance, most investors have it in their business plan that they are going to get gas from Bayelsa and this makes the state very strategic. And we are going to build investment around this with the support of the Federal Government to ensure that we create massive wealth for our people. Our aim is that we transform Bayesa to a point that everyone would become proud of it. Considering the current level of threat to life in Bayelsa due to kidnapping and hostage taking, how do you intend to ensure the safety of foreign investors and provide basic facilities which they are used to from where they are coming? We would use Bayelsa as example for modern facilities by Optic fibre network. You would have access to internet from anywhere you are. There are companies that are willing to come and do this and thankfully people are beginning to key into this. For security, I believe that once the people have a sense of belonging, the state becomes secured. This strategy was used in Borno and it is working. The environment becomes safe once you build confidence and the people are part of the projects. We must transmit values that would sensitize the people so they would know that they are critical stakeholders in the system. People will be able to access me as this would help to build their trust. How do you intend to dislodge political heavyweights like the incumbent governor, Dickson and Timipre Silva who are currently rumoured to be interested in the governorship race? It is not about me, it is not just Moses Siasia, it is a movement. The people's will is more important in politics. This was evident in the last general elections. Power is going back to the people and this is what would happen in Bayelsa too. Former President Jonathan is from Bayelsa and is expected to be the Godfather in the state. Do you have his support already or hoping to? People's perception of godfathers in politics really worries me some times. I understand that there is need to gather the support of the heavyweights. I will consult the former president. I know he is open to the voice of the youth as seen in his works while in office and this is the time for him to show again that he believes in the youth. Does the ethnic game on ground in Bayelsa favour you? And how would you ensure that you are accepted at the grassroots? I strongly believe in professionalism so I don't discuss matters like ethnicity or zoning formula. The incumbent governor is from my part of the state, he has used for years and I will also use four years. The choice is there for the people to make and they would make it rightly, I believe that we do not have buy people's vote because the people are wise now.

  • Sea robbers kill naval rating in Bayelsa

    •Rifle stolen

    Gunmen suspected to be sea robbers have shot dead a Naval rating in Akassa, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    The gunmen reportedly killed the rating at a new waterway checkpoint established by the Forward Operating Base (FOB), FORMOSO, to check the rising crime rate in the area.

    The three hoodlums were said to have opened fire on the Navy crew on a routine stop-and-search operation on Saturday morning and killed the rating.

    It was learnt that the Naval rating flagged down the boat carrying the gunmen.

    On approaching the checkpoint, the gunmen were said to have raised their hands, in compliance with the security regulations on the waterways.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said the rating searched and cleared the boat, oblivious that guns were concealed in the vessel.

    “The hoodlums were already clear to leave the checkpoint. The rating had left them to clear a passenger boat behind them.

    “It was at that point the sea robbers brought out their rifle and shot the rating. After shooting him, they collected his rifle and fled into the creeks,” the source said.

    The remains of the unnamed naval rating, said to be attached to the FORMOSO, has been recovered and deposited at an unnamed morgue in Brass.

    Pirates have been unleashing terror on travellers on the waterways.

    The Commanding Officer of FOB FORMOSO, Captain A. S. Olanrewaju, declined to comment on the matter.

    But a Navy source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident.

    “One of our ratings was killed by sea robbers at a new checkpoint in Akassa. The checkpoint was established recently, following outcries among the residents in the area about the increasing activities of sea robbers and pirates. We are going to fish out the killers,” he said.

    Governor Seriake Dickson recently inaugurated the Local Government Chairmen/Coordinators for the Bayelsa State Waterways Security Patrol Task Force to curb criminality.

    The governor gave them a mandate to feed security agencies with community-based intelligence on criminal activities.

    He urged them to liaise with community leaders in their various local government areas to gather information on criminal acts, such as sea piracy, crude oil theft, kidnapping, illegal refineries.

    Dickson noted that in the last two months, there had been an upsurge in security breaches, especially in the East and Sentral senatorial districts.

  • Bayelsa knocks oil companies, content board

    Bayelsa knocks oil companies, content board

    Bayelsa State is not happy with oil companies operating in the state and the Niger Delta region. It could not hide its loathing for operational strategies of multinational oil companies when its Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Wodu Kemasuode, led a team on Tuesday to the headquarters of the Nigeria Content Development  and Management Board (NCDMB) in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Everybody thought that the commissioner and his team came for a courtesy visit, especially as the board has a new Executive Secretary, Mr. Denzel Kentebe, who hails from the state. He replaced the former administrator, Mr. Ernest Nwakpa.

    Kentebe also thought that it was a courtesy call. But it ended up being more than a familiarisation visit. Though the commissioner with his team after settling down in the exotic office of Kentebe congratulated him on his new portfolio, he wasted no time to spell out the grievances of the state against the board and the oil companies.

    First on his list was the recent sale of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 and the Nembe Creek Trunkline by the Royal Dutch Shell Plc whose operational name in the country is Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

    Shell sold the oil facilities located in Nembe Local Government Area of the state to Aiteo Eastern E&P Co Ltd for about $1.7billion. But the state is angry at its exclusion from the transactions that led to the sale of OML 29.

    The commissioner said state’s expression of interest to acquire the oil assets was turned down by the multinational company. Kemasuode told Kentebe, that the interest of the state was not considered in the bidding that led to the sale.

    “Bayelsa State Government submitted its bid for OML 29 but we are not happy that our bid was not considered. We feel that the board did not consider the interest of the state in the bidding. Our interest was not protected,” he said.

    He said the state suffer greatly from all the environmental problems arising from oil exploitation and should have been considered first in the sale of the oil assets.

    Second on his list is the establishment of headquarters of oil companies outside their areas of operations in the state and the Niger Delta region. Undoubtedly, most companies who explore and exploit petroleum products in the state and the region have their headquarters outside  their operational areas. While some have their offices in Lagos, others operate from Abuja.

    But the commissioner said such practice account for the reasons why the states in the region have not developed to their full capacity. He demanded immediate relocation of oil companies’ head offices to oil-producing states including Bayelsa.

    He said the government was considering exploring legal options to compel oil companies to relocate their headquarters to the state. He said the absence of operational offices of the companies has adverse effects on the economy and environment of the state.

    He said: “What we suffer from the absence of these offices in the state cannot be enumerated, even in terms of taxation, the economy and real estate. Once these oil companies come here, so many other companies will follow them and this will boost our economy. Once they come, Bayelsa state will be something else.

    “So, we are suffering tremendously as a result of the absence of these companies. There is absolutely no basis not even issues of security. The place is secure enough for everyone. If it is so secured that these companies carry out their production, it should also be secured for them to bring their head offices here. The government is doing all its best to ensure that there is security and the government will still do more.”

    Without mincing words, the commissioner pointed out that the board is also guilty of what other oil companies are doing. He said the board has its most effective and efficient office outside the state.

    He said the board by so doing contravenes Section 71 of the Act establishing it which requires that it carries out its business and locate its headquarters within the oil-producing state. He said the board has reduced its Yenagoa office to a mere symbol while running most of its affairs in its Abuja office.

    He said against the spirits of the law, the board undertakes most of its activities in its Abuja office adding that if the board carries out its programmes in the state as envisaged by the act, they will improve the programme of the state.

    He said: “Then another major issue of concern to us as a state government is the fact that the board has in contravention of the Act, that is section 71 of the Act, established office outside the oil-producing state where mutual activities are carried out.

    “In the last programme that the board and the governor held last year, the governor did allude to that because I am aware that in the last regime, most of the activities took place there and that is to the detriment of the state because if you carry out your activities here as envisage by the act the economy of the state will improve.

    “The Act simply says you can have offices only in the oil-producing states. You should have your headquarters here then if you want branch offices you can build. As a goverment we are calling on the board to close that office in Abuja and carry out its businesses here.

    “The Abuja office of the board is illegal, it’s contrary to the provisions of the Act established by a particular section 71. These are serious legal issues and the state is quite serious serious about it.”

    Another issue bothering the state is the employment opportunities in the board. Kemasuode reminded Kentebe of the provision of the Federal Character in the Nigerian Constitution as it relates to employment. He said though the state lacks knowledge of composition of the board’s employees, there must an effective representation of indigenes of the state in the employment of the board.

    “For now we will call on the board to ensure that there is effective representation at all levels of indigenes of this state in the operations of the board not only at one level.

    “These are serious issues, which we have quietly talked about before coming to you.

    “We hope that these issues will be treated with the seriousness with which you would have been doing your work,”, he said.

    In his response, Kentebe said the board would look into the demands of the state and reschedule meetings to discuss them.

    He said: “I had thought that this was going to be a welcome courtesy visit, trying to welcome me to the state and trying to show me where the joints are, but from your presentation apart from being a welcome visit, you have also come with a lot of concerns.

    “I want to say that we will look into these issues. We have been here for five years and we have enjoyed the collaboration and support of the Bayelsa State government and we still continue to look forward to that.

    “These issues that you have brought up, we will look into them. We will schedule meetings to discuss them further with you, so we can continue to have that good relationship that we have had.

    “I can assure you that we are a very responsible board an we will not do anything contrary to the interest of the state of Bayelsa and most especially to contravene the Act that set us up in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

  • Navy, JTF arrest suspected oil thieves in Bayelsa

    Navy, JTF arrest suspected oil thieves in Bayelsa

    Three suspected oil thieves have been arrested by operatives of the Central Naval Command (CNC), of the Nigerian Navy, in Ekeremor Local Government, Bayelsa State.

    It was gathered that the suspects said to be operators of illegal refineries and two of their boats christened, “Emmanuel”, were rounded up on June 4.

    The Flag Officer Commanding, CNC, Rear Admiral Stanley Ogoigbe, said at the weekend that eight pumping machine allegedly used by the suspects to steal the product were seized by the naval operatives.

    Ogoigbe, who handed the suspects over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for prosecution, said they were arrested along the creek of Bilabiri in the west senatorial district of the state.

    He said the suspects were tricked into taking a naval patrol team to an illegal refinery camp in the deep mangrove.

    He said their speedboat with the inscription, Emmanuel, gave them away as it was same with another previously recovered by the navy at the illegal refinery camp.

    The FOC reinstated the determination of the command and other security agencies to intensify the ongoing war against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta.

    He solicited the cooperation of the public in the war against economic sabotage.

  • Jonathan yet to resolve Bayelsa PDP crisis

    Jonathan yet to resolve Bayelsa PDP crisis

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has not resolved the crisis in his state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    It was gathered that the President attempted to convene a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the crisis, but most party leaders and other aggrieved members did not show up.

    The party, ahead of its 2016 governorship election, is divided into two camps of members loyal to Jonathan’s family and supporting of the state Governor Seriake Dickson’s re-election.

    The anti-Dickson camp, controlled by the former President’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, comprises former aides to the President, federal and state lawmakers who failed their re-election and sacked Dickson’s aides.

    A source said Jonathan was not allowed to intervene in the crisis because the elders were angry at his failure to exert his authority over the PDP when he was the President.

    The source, who spoke in confidence, noted that Jonathan allowed his former aides to sow the seed of discord in the party without calling them to order.

    “Jonathan lost his voice in the party the moment he allowed his former aides and his wife to launch a campaign of dividing the party in the state.

    “He allowed them to carry on as if they were larger than the party. Leaders in the state expected the President to give direction and beat everybody into shape. But he remained quiet,” the source said.

    It was learnt that matters came to a head when former presidential aides allegedly sponsored candidates in the opposition to challenge the PDP in the last general elections.

    He said: “Right now, everybody looks up to Governor Dickson for direction in the party. The Presidential cover enjoyed by Jonathan’s former aides ceased to exist from May 29. Some of them have been expelled already from the party. So, the governor, not Jonathan, holds the aces.”

    The main rival to the governor and former Special Assistant to Jonathan on Domestic Matters, Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa, accused the governor of destroying the party with his second term ambition.

    But PDP described Dudafa as an ingrate.

    In a statement at the weekend in Yenagoa, the state capital, by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osom Makbere, the PDP said: “Dudafa is not in a position to determine what goes on in the party, especially with regards to who flies the party’s flag in the 2016 governorship election.

    “…This is the height of ingratitude for a young man who came into politics after serving his mandatory one year National Youth Service corps (NYSC) programme in Yenagoa and was without any work experience. Yet, he became a member of the House of Assembly in 2003, Commissioner of Local Government in 2007 and Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Affairs in 2012, through the magnanimity and grace of the party leaders at various times…”

    “Where was Dudafa when the founding fathers were toiling day and night to build the PDP in the state? Where was Dudafa when the present administration was re-writing the history of governance in the state? Where was Dudafa when the present administration was transforming the state

  • Bayelsa 2016: Dickson draws battle line with PDP opponents

    Bayelsa 2016: Dickson draws battle line with PDP opponents

    The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, at the weekend took the battle for his second term to his enemies’ camp in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Dickson at the transparency briefing in Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, revoked contracts awarded by his government to firms owned by the Presidential domestic aide, Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa.

    He also terminated the job awarded to the Board Chairman, Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Bekes Etifa.

    Dickson said Dudafa and Etifa who were given construction jobs at Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area, had abandoned them.

    The duo are known allies of the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, whose camp has been at the vanguard of campaigns to deny Dickson a second term.

    Before terminating the contracts, the governor told his audience that persons fighting him within the PDP are main beneficiaries of his administration.

    “A number of them have big contracts which they have abandoned”, he said threatening to revoke more contracts awarded to his opponents.

    The governor said the PDP and his government would no longer tolerate characters who were allowed to operate in the state because of their closeness to the President Goodluck Jonathan.

    With the exit of Jonathan, Dickson vowed to be more ruthless in dealing with the enemies of his administration.

    “It is going to be eyeball to eyeball now”, he said adding that a new order has come to the state.

    He appealed to the people of the state not to fall to the antics of persons that they will call the shots in the state if the new Federal Government takes over.

    “They are deceiving you people because if a new President comes, he will work with me. We have formal ways we interact with the President”, he said.

    He noted that when PDP reigned at the centre, it did not stop other opposition governors from existing in their various states.

    Making scathing remarks on persons who left the PDP for the APC, the governor said those persons who moved hoping to get appointments in the new government would be disappointed.

    He said he was pained when one of them who hails from Kolo in Ogbia made a remark suggesting that he (Dickson) would soon move to the APC.

    He asked the lawmaker not to use his name and his image to build their party saying that their leader lacks the capacity to build a party.

    He said: “Our state belong to PDP and the results of elections have shown this. We have demonstrated our capability during the past elections where we won three seats of the senate, five for the House of Representatives and 20 out of 22 declared seats for the State House of Assembly.”

  • Bayelsa NSCDC offers students survival tips in Niger Delta

    Bayelsa NSCDC offers students survival tips in Niger Delta

    Everybody is concerned about personal safety in the Niger Delta. Nobody can afford to take chances in a region notorious for kidnapping including child abduction. No wonder the management of Ala Montessori High School (AMHS) decided to introduce their pupils and students to security tips.

    The management chose no other place to go than the command headquarters of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) located at the back of the Sports Complex, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    The image of NSCDC has changed. The men and officers of the corps have become better equipped and more motivated since Mr. Desmond Agu, a gentleman and vibrant level 15 officer took charge of the Bayelsa command.

    Agu who inherited a ragtag command housed in a congested rented apartment has transformed it and made it a cynosure among other security outfits in the state. Agu has ensured that NSCDC occupies its pride of place among security agencies and participates in all security activities in the state. The voice of NSCDC is no doubt stronger now than before.

    In fact, from a rented cell, Agu has moved the command to a three-storey building with a commodious compound. The building, hitherto called water board building was abandoned for a long time. It was decrepit when the state government allocated it to NSCDC following expression of interest by Agu.

    With little resources, the commandant reconstructed and customised the building to suite security purposes. Many people including security commanders are amazed at the appearance of the new face of the NSCDC headquarters which glitters in navy blue and red. Others refer to it as a legacy building.

    Indeed, the new image of the NSCDC explains the reason why AMHS decided to seek security knowledge from the corps. They well-fed pupils and students were excited. They were first received by the commandant in his well-furnished office. They were later marched to the corp’s conference hall by some NSCDC officers.

    Agu stood like a model before the students, their teachers and administrators. He spoke on the importance of security and said: “One cannot do without security.”

    He educated them on the mandate of the NSCDC which he enumerated as maintenance of peace and order; protection and rescuing of civil populace; providing 24-hour surveillance over government assets, critical infrastructures, site and projects.

    “We fight against pipeline vandalism. Another mandate is having power to arrest with or without warrant, detain, investigate and institute legal proceedings against any person involved in any criminal activity such as vandalism of government properties, oil pipelines, power transmission lines, communication cables, water board pipelines and activities aimed at frustrating any government programme or policy,” he said.

    The commandant informed his students that NSCDC destroyed 1,023 illegal refineries in Southern Ijaw part of the state. Agu then commenced the security tips.

    He told his listeners: “Be security conscious around the clock especially in these days of kidnapping. Don’t give out information carelessly. Be kind and friendly with neighbours and fellow students because you don’t know who might help you.”

    He advised them to always go to motor parks to board vehicles rather than boarding vehicles along the road. He advised the girls to always wear shorts before putting on their dresses. He appealed to them not to keep bad company relying on the saying that “evil communication corrupts good manner”.

    “Your goal in life should be planned now. While growing up, I have always wanted to work hard and own a car and today that dream has been achieved,”he said.

    The commandant conducted them round the administrative, legal and communication departments of the corps. He showed them a cell where persons recently arrested for vandalism were kept. He advised them to desist from any behaviour that could land them into a cell.

    He showed them petroleum products seized from vandals and items used by oil thieves in the creeks. The students were amazed that oil thieves could transport stolen products in sacks through a system called the condom system.

    Agu was happy to receive his guests. He said: “I thank God that they found me worthy to visit my office today for an excursion. I see great leaders among these children. I would like other schools to emulate them.”

    The Vice Principal of the school, Mrs. Fidelia Azubuike, thanked the commandant for the security tips. She said they would help the students and the management of the school to take their personal safety seriously.

    The Head of Teachers, Mr. Gabriel Owusu, said the school decided to expose its students to security tips because the nature of the environment. He said they had been taught the functions of NSCDC and praised Agu for all his achievements in the state.

    “NSCDC is doing a lot of work arresting crude oil vandals. We wanted the students to see for themselves the functions of the NSCDC that was why we brought them here,” he said.

    Moving a vote of thanks, a student of SS1, Basuo Bomonyo, appreciated the commandant for the tips.

    Another student, Dennis, said: “I have been very enlightened on their functions. We were told that they destroyed 1023 illegal refineries. They have also maintained the security in the state.We were given some security tips which will make us useful citizens of this country.”

     

  • How company’s negligence threw Bayelsa communities into darkness

    How company’s negligence threw Bayelsa communities into darkness

    The popular suburbs of Yenagoa – Agudama, Akenfa and Igbo-Gene- have one thing in common : darkness. For over a month, residents and workers in the area have been battling with protracted power outage.

    Though the power situation in the state is generally epileptic, the condition of the three neighbourhoods is pathetic. Even when the Port-Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) rations its meager megawatts, the suburbs are denied their share.

    The predicament of residents in the area started about four weeks ago when  a crane said to belong to Daewoo Construction Company (DCC) fell and destroyed an electricity pole.

    Samson, a resident of Akenfa recalled what happened on that day. He said: “A crane carrying a caravan was trying to drop the caravan and then it got hooked to the electric wire and caused the collapse of a pole.

    •The car damaged by the caravan
    •The car damaged by the caravan

    “Both the crane and the caravan fell. The caravan landed on a car that was parked by the roadside. Some people said the leg of the crane was not well positioned on the soil which was sandy.

    “We’ve not had light for a month. This is unfair. When I’m home I can’t watch television again. I can’t watch news again and the heat these days is terrible. I don’t know why it’s taking them this long to rectify the issue.

    “Even MTN’s generator and gate were affected. I think PHEDC said they must be paid before they repair anything and the company that owns the crane has not been here to say something.This incidence affects the Naval Headquarters and the Nigerian Law School in Agudama”.

    In fact, the law school and the naval headquarters have been thrown into darkness. Everybody is appointing accusing fingers at Daewoo for its nonchalant attitude towards the problem.

    The Spokesperson of the Central Naval Command, Lt. Com. Ahmed wondered why some people’s negligence would be allowed to fester and cause a monumental problems to thousands of residents.

    “It is affecting us both psychologically and economically. The streetlights are no longer functioning and this has increased the level of theft in the evening. Bad boys snatch bags and phones from people.

    “You need to see the number of people that troop to the filling station here every evening. It is very serious. It is even worse that Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company(PHEDC) isn’t doing anything about it”, he said.

    Also James, an auto repairer in Agudama confirmed the circumstances that led to the falling of the crane and caravan on electric pole.

    “A company came here with a crane and caravan to drop it at this very site. The crane man took the caravan up to lay it down on one side, the crane’s leg bent and the crane and caravan fell on top of the car. The car was damaged beyond repair”, he said.

    Niger Delta Report (NDR) gathered that the damaged vehicle belongs to one Mr. Sunny Osamuje. When NDR located Osamuje, he was livid with anger. He demanded an immediate replacement to his car which he said was a source of livelihood to him and his family members.

    He said: “I am into transport business and it is this my car that I use. I am also the security man in charge of this telecommunication mast.

    “For now, there is no light and the company that damaged my car has not come to tell me whether they will buy me another car or not.

    “The company was complaining when I went there that the bill PHEDC and MTN gave them is too much.

    “My car has been lying there for one month and nobody has come to discuss anything with me. I am a family man who needs to feed his family.

    “The driver of the crane was so careless that he wouldn’t listen when he was told to move the crane from the roadside. Luckily the crane crossed above my house but unfortunately came on my car before it was removed from my car.

    “There was a day Daewood employees came to meet that the company wanted to buy me another car. We got to a car dealer’s shop here in Bayelsa state and the man said the car is about #500,000, but the company said the car is too expensive and that we should go to Port Harcourt.

    “We got there but could not buy the car. I won’t allow them to move this crane until they resolve my problem”.

    Indeed, the development has affected business owners within the area. They are complaining bitterly and pleading with all the parties involved in the problem to quickly resolve it.

    For instance, Mrs. Isabella, a fashion designer, said she had spent a lot of money on fuel to run her generator since the incident occurred.

    “This incident happened on 1st of April. Since then, there has not been electricity and I use N1,000 fuel to power my generator everyday.

    “Nobody has even come to our rescue to look at what is happening. No information; no nothing. Just like that,we are in darkness.

    “This has affected me badly in several ways. I cannot do what I’m supposed to do. Even in the night I cannot cut clothes. We close the shop by 7:00pm now because there is no light and all these bad boys are using that as an advantage to steal. We now sleep in fear”, she said.

    Also, Chibuzor, a dealer on electrical appliances called for the intervention of the government.

    “Honestly, this light issue has affected us so much. The company should do something about this. They don’t seem to care. The government should please come to our aid” he said.

    To Mr. Ifeanyi, a refrigerator and air-conditioner dealer, Daewoo should not abandon the communities.

    “Actually,for the kind of work I do,I need power regularly. The company that owns the crane has come several times to remove it to no avail because of how the crane fell.

    “We are still looking up to the company to come and do something but they cannot do it alone. So, the government has to assist them.

    “I don’t like being idle,I should be busy by now but the work is paralysed because there is no power.”

    But many of the residents appealed to Daewoo to remove the cranes, compensate owners of damaged property and ensure restoration of electricity without further delay. They also demand unreserved apologies from the company for making them pass through nightmare.

  • Dickson’s N100million bursary excites Bayelsa students

    Dickson’s N100million bursary excites Bayelsa students

    Students of Bayelsa State studying in various higher institutions across the country have every reason to be happy. The Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, during the week released N100million for the payment of their bursaries.

    Dickson did not just release the money, he presented a cheque to the state’s Scholarships Board indicating that he wanted the students to be paid with immediate effect. The leadership of the National Union of Bayelsa State Students (NUBSS) was present at Government House, Yenagoa, where the government presented the cheque.

    The Secretary of the State Scholarship Board, Mr. Collins Ifidi and the President of NUBSS, Mr. Richard Bolouebi Lawyer, jointly received the cheque.

    With a standing ovation, the welcomed the development. They poured encomiums on the governor describing him as a “talk na do” and countryman governor.

    Addressing the leadership of NUBSS, Dickson explained that, the presentation of the cheque was in keeping with an earlier promise he made during his visit to Amassoma, the community hosting the Niger Delta University, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    He reminded the students of their role as future leaders and emphasized the need for them to refocus their studies on developing their innate potential. He stressed that education was the only potent weapon to change society for the better.

    He said: “Today is my pleasure again in fulfillment of our cardinal principle of making education easier and see to it that, we give all necessary support and encouragement to our students.

    “I like to present this cheque of N100 million. But, before I do so, let me call on all the students in our state, who are leaders of tomorrow that  you have a lot of work to do.”

    He assured the students of his administration’s commitment to their welfare. Dickson said his government was prepared to continually increase the educational infrastructure and develop the manpower base of the state.

    He also expressed concern over the fast-eroding moral values in society tasking the students on value re-orientation. He pointing out that, the infrastructural development of his administration will not have much impact, if the people do not imbibe the right values.

    He said:  “Not only do we call on you to study; not only do we call on you to dedicate yourselves to acquiring knowledge, so that, you will compete favorably with your peers for any position in this country or anywhere in the world.

    “But you have to know the peculiar problems that this society has that we must deal with. I will like you all to take this message to your colleagues that you must work with government to change the mindset of the people.”

    In his response, the President of NUBSS, Mr. Richard Lawyer thanked Governor Dickson for the money and applauded the government’s strides in the educational sector.

    The state chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) described the governor’s gesture as a welcome development. The Chairman, NANS, Zone B, Comrade Believe Ezekiel Wisdom, said Dickson has fulfilled his promises to the students.

    He, however, advised the scholarship board to live up to their part of the bargain by ensuring that all the eligible students of the state benefit from the bursary. He said the board should establish a transparent mechanism to ensure that only authentic students benefit from the money.

    He said: “The governor has done his own part. We commend him for this kind gesture. The bulk of the process now lies on the scholarship board. We want the scholarship board to live up to expectations.

    “We don’t want to hear complaints. We want them to hear that everybody benefits from it. They should move round the various campuses in the country to ascertain and verify Bayelsa students in each higher institution. If they sit in their office, there is every likelihood that many people will be shortchanged”, he said.

    He further advised the scholarship board to publish names of all the beneficiaries adding that such publication would go a long way to show how the money was disbursed. But he begged the governor to carry the activities of NANS along in his administration.

    Wisdom said the governor by fulfilling his promise deserves to be supported for a second term in office. “Any leader who makes promises and fulfill them deserves the support of his people. If the governor wants a second term, he should be supported to get it”, he said.

  • Deputy clerk killed as ‘cultists’ clash in Bayelsa

    Bayelsa State House of Assembly’s Deputy Clerk Joephrey Nemina was killed as suspected members of rival cultists clashed in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    It was learnt the rival cult gangs used various weapons in the clash, which occurred on Saturday night, between 7:30 and 8 pm.

    Nemina was said to have been hit by a stray bullet in front of his wife’s shop on Agudama Road.

    He was reportedly rushed to an undisclosed hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, described Nemina as a victim of circumstance, adding that he was full of life when he got to his wife’s supermarket on the fateful day.

    The source added: “The cult members suddenly started shooting. The shooting lasted for some minutes and caused panic in the area. The man who died knew nothing about the clash. He was standing in front of his wife’s shop when a stray bullet hit him.”

    But another source claimed that a group of gunmen ambushed Nemina when he was leaving his wife’s shop with a bag containing money.

    Speaking in confidence, he said the gunmen shot him and fled without taking the bag, implying that Nemina could have been a victim of assassination.

    Police spokesman Butswat Asinim, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the report.

    But he said the deceased was a victim of a stray bullet.

    Asinim said: “He was hit by a stray bullet. He was standing near his house when the bullet hit him. We have arrested one person and begun investigation into the incident.”