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Tag: communities

  • Communities lament transformer cables theft

    Communities lament transformer cables theft

    Some communities in Ikotun and Igando areas of Lagos have cried out over the theft of their transformers’ cables.

    Unknown persons were said to have stolen about eight cables from a transformer located at Itanlaye in Ikotun and two cables at Ojo Oladapo on Igando road.  The 10 cables were stolen four weeks ago and cost about N800,000.

    The residents are pleading with government to come to their aid.

    A resident, Mr Abdullateef Sulaimon, said the stolen cables have caused blackout in the area in the past four weeks.

    Armed robbers, Sulaimon said, have taken the advantage of the blackout to raid houses at night.

    He said residents have reported the problem to the electricity authority at Egbe.

    He said: “We were told that we will have to wait till about next year before they will come and fix the cables. Armed robbers attack the area almost every day because we don’t have light. They beat, collect phones and other valuables from residents.  People are scared, some people no longer sleep in their homes and some have relocated as a result of the fear of being robbed.

    “We spend much money on fuel and this is affecting us. If there is light, we won’t be suffering like this.”

    Another resident, Comrade Monsuru Ola noted that they didn’t know on time that the cables were stolen because they usually don’t have light regularly.

    Ola said: “It was about three days after the cables were stolen that we discovered. We initially taught there was no light. We have been in darkness for the past four weeks and nothing was being done by government.

    “I read in a newspaper recently that thieves vandalised NAN cables, and it has being fixed. I wonder why our own is been delayed.”

    “Our area used to be free of robbers. Now, robbers come to our area regularly. We can no longer walk late at night. The area is no longer safe.”

    Alhaji  Moshood Akinlolu, also A resident, appealed to government to come to their aid.

    “We have to burn tyre on the road side in the night so that the thieves will know that we are not asleep. If we have light, the area will be safe.

    “When there are light, transformers are working, but the cables that supply’s light to the neighbourhood have being stolen,” he said.

    A plank seller in the area, Otunba Simple lamented that the blackout has made the traders spend lots of money.

    “We can’t iron our clothes and the heat is terrible. Not all of us can afford to buy electricity generating set and even those who have the sets don’t have money to buy fuel,” he said.

  • Oil has brought us woes, say communities

    People from some oil-bearing communities in Rivers and Bayelsa states who ought to enjoy the benefits that accrue from oil and gas exploration in their areas are now ruing letting International Oil Companies (IOCs) into their lands.

    The lamentations of the communities were brought to the fore when the Gas Alert for Sustainable Initiative (GASIN) held a conference in Port Harcourt with the people, IOCs and government regulatory agencies.

    With the themed “Towards a Sustainable Relationship Between Oil Operators and Host Communities: The Roles of Government, Oil Operators and Host Communities,” the conference drew participants from six communities from Rivers and Bayelsa states, government regulatory agencies such as National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), National Environmental Standard Regulation Agency (NESRA), Rivers State Ministry of Environment. Incidentally, members of staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) were absent, thus aggravating the lamentations of the people.

    The communities that attended the conference were Akala-Olu; Enito II; Oshie from Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State while those from Bayelsa State came from Koroama; Obunagha and Polaku from Yenagoa Local Government Area.

    In his speech, King Funpere Akah of Gbarain Clan in Koroama said it is regrettable that “we are talking about our problems and those who are to help in solving the problems are not here. Next time if you know they will not come, please do not invite us.”

    Akah lamented that SPDC has not helped his community as the coming of the company to their land has brought all manner of troubles to them.

    The royal father pointed out that insecurity is a big threat to the community because “the place is now a safe haven for hoodlums, armed robbers and kidnappers who even attempted to kidnap me last year if not for divine intervention.”

    Continuing, Akah said despite that the residents of the Koroama community cannot sleep with their two eyes closed, “one member of staff of SPDC will be moving about with two security vehicles” adding that “if they are securing themselves; they should also secure us.”

    He also accused government of not giving them a sense of belonging.

    He also said the community that produces gas which is being used to light up other parts of Nigeria, is groping in darkness, with electricity distribution company in their area sending them a bill of about N99 million for one year.

    Akah also lamented that his people can no longer harvest palm fruits “because everywhere is criss-crossed by oil-pipelines.”

    How do you get them to address our problems? Next time, if you know they will not come, please do not invite me.

    The Spokesman of Akala-Olu community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr Odums .S. Odums said his people are living in ocean and as such they are exposed to gas flaring while their rain water is polluted.

    Just like Akah, he lamented  that the social problems and hardship his people are contending with for allowing IOCs to come and explore oil in the land, are now making people to age faster and their women always having waist pains.

    Mr Thompson Pere from Obunagha community in Bayelsa State said his people are assailed by three predicaments that bother on gas flaring; oil spillage and their lives.

    Pere said gas flaring has been their lot since oil companies began operation in their land, thus exposing them to danger.

    “Gas flaring is now cracking our roofs, water that we used to drink has no meaning again and our cash crops are now affected.”

    He also said due to the operations of the oil companies, they have been witnessing oil spillage which pollute potable water and destroy aquatic life.

    Continuing, Pere stated that “since Oil Company stepped into our land, our social lives have been affected and anti-social behaviours which we did not experience in the yesteryear are now the order of the day as youths now indulge in cultism, armed robbery and other acts of criminality.”

    Speaking for Kula community in Rivers State, King Barnabas Kurule said: “Oil and gas companies have caused a lot of damage to us. Due to their operations, we do not know when there are rainy and dry seasons.”

    Apart from the devastating effects of frequent oil spill in the land, Kurule added that “vibration of our land does not allow us to sleep well at night.”

    Others who spoke on behalf of other communities that attended the conference reeled off litanies of woes that have become their lot since the IOCs commenced operations in their land.

    They, in one accord, appealed to GASIN to assist them in urging the companies to ameliorate their condition.

    In a 19-point communiqué they issued at the end of the conference and which was signed by all the participants present, they, among others, called on government and the IOCs “to provide adequate social amenities for the host communities to ameliorate the hazards caused by their operations.”

    However, speaking to declare the conference open, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Environment, Mr. Emmanuel Oye lamented the difficult situation that the people are in.

    Oye also said it is unfortunate that “we have been hit from both sides-the communities, government and the companies” pointing out that “some of these processes of change take time to begin to manifest.”

    He also urged the people to embrace peace and accept whatever is being put in place to solve the problems.

    In his welcome address, the Executive Director of GASIN, Rev, Fr. Edward Obi explained that the responsibility of his organisation over the years is to establish a tripartite relationship between government/the regulatory agencies, the communities and the oil and gas companies for harmonious existence.

    Obi also said “forming the tripartite relationship is good because it prevents a situation whereby communities lock up company gates. Oil companies do not exist in a vacuum. They exist here and when they come, they have to do what is right for the people and vice versa.”

    He insisted that the relationship has worked before and it will work again in Niger Delta.

    In his speech, the Port Harcourt Zonal Director of NOSDRA, Mr Cyrus Nkangwung advised that “everybody should be seen as owners of the oil God has put in the land.”

    Nkangwung, who commended GASIN for ensuring that good relationship exists among the communities, the government/government regulatory agencies and IOCs, also urged the communities “to ensure that no oil spill occurs because if it does, it is the communities that suffer most.”

    He further expressed the Federal Government’s desire to clean the Niger Delta region “which it has started with the clean-up of Ogoni land.”

  • Ijaw communities threaten to shut down oil trunk line

    Ijaw communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have threatened to shut down the Warri/Escravos trunk line of the Nigerian Pipeline Storage Company (NPSC), following the August 17 oil spill.

    In a letter by Johnbull Demebi, Edward Odudu and Chief Moses Bebenimibo to the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Managing Director of Nigeria Pipeline Storage Company (NPSC), formerly Pipeline Products Management Company (PPMC), the communities issued a seven-day ultimatum to NNPC and NSPC to clean up the communities.

    The 34 communities are: Ikpokpo, Tejubor, Okpelema, Opuede, Opuede-Zion, Opuedebubor, Meka-Ama, Oto-Gbene, New Jerusalem Zion, Mala-Gbene, Atanba, Okerenkoko-Gbene, Oporoza federated communities, Gama-Zion, Azama, Inikorogha, Ibanfa and Igoba.

    Others are: Kunukunuama, Pepeama, Kurutie, Jaghala, Okerenkoko, Egwa, Bikumor, Sarabubowei, Benikrukru, Kokodiagbene, Kantu, Bebebopre Zion, Olukperebu, Oburu, Ogbotu-Gbene and Seitorsububor.

    They urged appropriate authorities to provide materials and compensation for the communities.

    The letter recalled that after a joint investigation visit (JIV) by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, the Ministry of Environment, NNPC/NPSC, NNPC surveillance contractor (OMS) and the communities affected, it was concluded that the spill was caused by equipment failure.

    But after completing the repair works on the failed trunk line for easy transportation of crude to the Warri Refinery, officials of the NNPC/NPSC have toed a different line.

    The letter said: “It was unanimously agreed by all parties concerned at the conclusion of the JIV that the cause of the massive oil spillage, which lasted two months, was equipment failure at 6 o’clock (beneath the pipeline) at a welding joint. It would be recalled that NNPC’s spokesman Garba Deen Mohammed stated this position on September 8.

  • Report: Financial inclusion ‘still a challenge in Africa’s low income communities’

    Africa’s financial environment is as competitive as other developing and high income regions in some countries, but access to finance remains a challenge, according to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales  (ICAEW).

    In its report, Economic Insight: Africa Q3 2016, the accountancy and finance body notes that whilst some countries have excellent financial soundness access to credit remains a challenge for many Africans.

    The report undertakes a comparative review of the financial systems and regulations in Africa relative to the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region. It compares indicators of the financial environment (including credit metrics, risk evaluation and monetary policy), as well as regulation and supervision standards.

    The report looks at the role financing can play in economic development across the continent, and likely developments in the cost of financing in the coming years. In 2016 rankings, Rwanda performed best in SSA in terms of getting credit, followed by Zambia, Kenya, Ghana, Mauritius and Uganda. This likely stems from the fact that Rwanda has made six reforms to facilitate getting credit during the 2010-16 period, strengthening borrowers’ and lenders’ collateral laws.

    However, Regional Director, ICAEW Middle East, Africa and South Asia, Michael Armstrong, notes that “financial inclusion remains low in Africa. According to him while many of Sub-saharan Africa’s population have access to a formal banking system, in low income communities the degree to which individuals can access financial services is limited, especially when considering the limited availability of private credit.  He observed the situation could have real effects on economic growth if it remains unchanged. Governments hoping to drive prosperity should consider how they can increase access to finance.

    Quoting a report “Making Finance Work for Africa (MFW4A)”, he said  in 2015 only 23 per cent of African households had access to formal or semi-formal financial services adding that that there is evidently significant variation between countries’ levels of financial sector development.

    The report notes that South Africa and Mauritius have the highest Private Sector credit extension (PSCE))to GDP ratios on the continent, with South Africa’s figure estimated at 150 per cent in 2015 while Mauritius’ ratio is estimated at around 104 per cent.

  • Nine Edo communities battle darkness

    An electrification project that would have brought joy to nine communities in Ward three of Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State has turn into a nightmare for residents in the community as leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressive Congress are at loggerheads over who should execute the project.

    The communities comprising Ogbuwe , Utese, Egbeta, Ogbetse, Olumoye, Edienzegbughe, Okodu and Aghanokpe have been without electricity for years.

    Already, 13 youths from the locality have been arrested and remanded to prison custody for allegedly stopping work on the electricity project. Leaders of PDP have been protesting the arrest of the 13 youths.

    Youths and elders of the communities had in January protested to the headquarters of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to register their displeasure over inability of the electricity firm to restore power to them.

    The protesters warned political parties not to take any campaign to their Ward to solicit for votes in the governorship election.

    Leader of the protesters, Emmanuel Ogefia, had told newsmen that for ‘over five years, the people of the communities have been in total blackout for reason they could not decipher.

    “We are tired of staying in darkness and that is why we are crying out to governor for assistant so that we will be out of darkness. If not, no light, no vote. We will not even allow any political parties to bring their campaign train to our communities and if they do, it means they have brought problem to us.

    “That is just the matter. They should give us light so that there can be peace between the aspirants and the people of our communities because they are the ones deceiving us”.

    It was gathered that electricity was first extended to the nine communities through Okada by Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom but was disconnected for reasons unknown to the affected.

    Moved by the plight of the communities, the lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Barr. Omosede Igbinedion, said she used her personal funds to began remedial works on the lines as well as erecting electric poles.

    Omosede said her efforts to fulfill electioneering promises by provide electricity to the communities was stopped by leaders of APC in the locality because of the September 10 governorship election.

    She accused a former Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Bright Osayande and the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Priestly Ediagbonya, who hailed from the community as being responsible for stopping the project because of the forthcoming elections.

    According to her, “Bright Osayande is a third term lawmaker and he fail to do the electricity project. During my electioneering campaign, I promised to embark on providing electricity for the people. It was on that ground I started the electrification project with my money.

    “APC members came and said they want to put poles on where I have dug to out to put poles. The community resisted them that they should not do it that they failed to do the project for the past eight years. The community riot and Ediagbonya brought thugs to the place.

    “It was after the altercation that Ediagbonya went to the police station and the police invited 13 of them who were just artisans. They went to the police station and were detained on charges of assault. We were surprised the State Commissioner for Justice changed the charge to attempted murder and they were arraigned and remanded to prison custody.”

    “This is the problem of democracy in Nigeria. The system has failed us. The three arms of government are supposed to be separate. In Edo, there is the fusion of Executive and the Judiciary. We also see the police working in connivance with the state government. It is something the federal government has to come to our aid. The international community should come and monitor this election. These young men have no reason to be behind bars. Oshiomhole is a dictator and has no respect for the rule of law.”

    Ediagbonya on his part said it was the community elders that decided to contribute money to fix the electricity project after Chief Igbinedion cut off electricity supply from Okada after the people refused to vote for the PDP.

    The Youths and Sports Commissioner said they got approval from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company after modalities were worked out on how to pay the N2.2m electricity bills owed by the community.

    He displayed a letter written to the BEDC and signed by four leaders of the community expressing the communities readiness to pay for the electricity project.

    The letter was signed by Ebose Terry, Edosomwan Segun, Edo Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Priestly Ediagbonya and Hon Matthew Oguntimehin.

    In the letter in which they sought permission to carry out remedial work on the BEDC lines from Iguomo to Ogbesse, the communities promised to pay the outstanding N2.2m electricity debts in four installments, replace 210 wooden electric poles with concrete poles.

    The communities’ elders also said the work would not attract any additional cost to the BEDC and urged the BEDC to send engineers to supervise the remedial works.

    Ediagbonya in his words said, “Two days to election, Chief Igbinedion gave us light. After the election, he put it off. We went into partnership with CSDP. If you are paying 10percent, they will add 90 percent. We revalue the project. We attended meeting here six times.

    “After PHCN changed ownership and the new BEDC told us to wait that when they settle down and fix the sub-station at Isihor. We had meetings and reached a compromised. We reached an agreement to pay the debt in four installments. All remedial work will be at no cost to BEDC. As we were doing it, we heard Omosede was also working on the project at a time constituency project is still a controversy due to padding.

    “We told BEDC about Omosede actions and they said whoever they did not give approval cannot work on their line. They gave us letter of attorney. Based on that we took the poles and the workers. On their way, some boys blocked the road with shootings, canisters. Police shot into the air to scare them away. They escorted the vehicle to the express road. They beat a former councilor to stupor. They smashed my car.

    “The boys were being used by Igbinedion daughter. The one she electrified at Igo was done by Osahon. We can no longer be enslave. The Esama boasted that if we do the project he will cut it and disconnect us.

    “He first cut us off because PDP was at the centre. I am doing what I am doing now because PDP has lost power. If it were then, nobody will listen to my complaint. They will just phone them in Abuja to cut us off. Let them mention the person who gave them authority.”

    As both the PDP and APC battle over who would execute the projects, the communities have remained in darkness and suffer the consequences.

  • More Akwa Ibom communities to benefit from electrification project

    The Akwa Ibom State Government has given assurance that more rural communities will benefit from the electricity extension programmes in the state.

    The Commissioner in the Ministry of Rural Development, Ekong Sampson gave the assurance while playing host to residents of Onyungo Aban community of Nung Oku Ibesikpo in Ibesikpo-Asutan Local Government Area, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office yesterday.

    The rural development boss reiterated the commitment of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration to its 2-year electrification programme, which according to him, is ongoing. He also emphasized that no part of the State will be left out.

    Sampson made it known that the State Government is appreciative of the Ibesikpo-Asutan people, considering the enormous contributions of some of their illustrious indigenes to the State Government’s success.

    He said his ministry has overtime shown reasonable level of concern towards Ibesikpo-Asutan power supply, especially to control possible pressure that power shortage in the area might put on the capital city of Uyo. He said Ibesipko-Asutan LGA has received the highest number of transformers from the Ministry.

    The leader of the delegation and chairman of the Onyungo Aban residents’ forum, Mr. Etim Iton, commended the Honourable Commissioner for his efforts in channeling Government’s attention to address the concerns of rural communities. He also expressed trust in the present administration, describing its agenda as revolutionary.

    Iton, lamenting about the challenge of poor power supply, said that extremely low voltage, most times unusable electricity has been really frustrating; especially with the condition of outrageous billings.

    According to him, the community has made several self-help efforts to fix their faulty transformer but has not been able to emerge from the plague.

    His words: “We have heard how the government, through your Ministry, is saving such small communities like ours all over the State, so we have come with confidence that the goodwill of this government will be extended to us.”

    Sampson explained that release of transformers by his Ministry has been based strictly on need. He therefore promised that his team of Engineers will carry out proper assessment, so as to boost power supply to the area.

    The Commissioner also addressed concerns over poor power supply and outrageous billing by power distribution companies, noted that the power sector has been privatised.

    He urged the group to encourage community members to pull together and explore the mechanism of consumer right advocacy to articulate their concerns. With such, he said, local communities will be able to constructively address some of their key concerns in the power sector.

  • Floods threaten communities in Akwa Ibom

    Floods threaten communities in Akwa Ibom

    The predictions by the Nigerian Metrological Agency, (NiMeT) and the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) on the impending flood in some parts of the country especially in the South-South has taken its toll on some parts of Akwa Ibom as water levels have generally risen beyond the conventional, writes Kazeem Ibrahym

    The Nigerian Metrological Agency, (NiMeT) had warned of impending flooding this year in 11 states of Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara.

    At Nto Edino, headquarters of Obot Akara Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, the tidal waves have led to the collapsed of the only bridge that links Akwa Ibom State with Abia State, thereby impacting negatively on business activities between the two states.

    The situation has hampered the ongoing construction of 6.41km Nto Edino – Ekwere-Azu road project in the area, and made many commuters to find it difficult to cross either side for fear of being drowned.

    When The Nation visited the affected area, the flood had also caused serious harm to some portion of the Nto Edino Road currently under construction by the State Government, as most of the earth works, between the two parallel rivers for which two bridges are under construction, have been washed away.

    Infact the two parallel rivers which are more than 250m apart have been merged into one huge river. Even farmlands close to the river area have also been submerged.

    The managing director of the construction company handling the road, Seyang Limited, Mr Samuel Inyang said although the job has been seriously affected by the development, his company was committed to executing the job to completion.

    Inyang, an engineer, said that the disaster took everybody unawares, adding that he informed the State Government via both the supervising Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Environment on the development.

    Some community leaders in the area told our reporter that though their farmlands have been washed away and movement hampered, they were happy that the flood has come at a time the road construction was taking place.

    Chief Etim Udo from Nto Edino said they were sleeping with their eyes open because of the development, calling on the state and federal governments to come to their aid.

    Udo, who is a retired engineer with the erstwhile Cross River Ministry of Works, said the two submerged bridges should be incorporated into the road construction work, if the flood disaster is to be contained.

    He, however, thanked the Gov. Udom Emmanuel-led government for awarding the contract to an indigenous firm that has the “capacity and expertise to deliver.”

    Only recently, the Akwa Ibom government directed the chairmen of 15 Local Government Areas prone to flooding to build camps for rescue of victims in view of anticipated flood.

    The state deputy governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, represented by the state’s Flood Sensitisation Campaign Team led by the director of administration, Deputy Governor’s Office, Mrs Ekaette Ekanem, gave the directive at Itu centre of the campaign.

    It is on record that the state government had already categorised the 15 flood prone local government areas into four groups for purpose of the sensitisation.

    The Oron group comprised of Oron, Udung Uko, Mbo, Urue Offong/Oruko and Okobo LGAs while Ibeno group or centre was made up of Eket, Esit Eket, Onna and Ibeno Local Government Areas.

    The local government areas in Ikot Abasi group or centre are Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obolo, Ikot Abasi while Itu centre comprised of  Uruan, Ibiono Ibom and Itu Local Government Areas.

    Ekanem said that the state government was working towards providing relief materials to victims of flooding that would be identified by the local council authority during the emergency.

    Her words:  ”The local government chairmen are instructed to prepare emergency camps for the people upland.

    “The state government will assist with other relief materials should the anticipated flood occurs.”

    She advised the people living in coastal communities to begin retrieving their valuables and relocate to upland now before the anticipated flood takes place.

    Ekanem also provide emergency telephone lines to the people and pleaded with them to call for help during flood disaster and any emergency.

    The sensitisation team is made up of personnel from the State Ministries of Environment, Information and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

     

  • Ovia communities endorse Obaseki

    Ovia communities endorse Obaseki

    Over 3,000 members of   Community Development Associations (CDA) in Ovia North East Local Government have endorsed the candidate of the All Progressives Congress  (APC) Mr Godwin Obaseki for Edo governorship election.

    The CDAPresident Mr. Osasere Osayogie and his deputyMr Etinosa Ighogaro announced the endorsement at a solidarity meeting  held yesterday in Benin City.

    According to Osayogie, “We the youths of Ovia North-East have endorsed Godwin Obaseki for governor. We have done it before. We will do it again. We are here today to rejoice with Godwin Obaseki.

    “Come September 10, 2016, Godwin Obaseki will be elected the next governor, ” he said.

    Receiving the youths, Governor Adams Oshiomhole recalled how his government revoked land which was illegally allocated to an individual and returned same to the people.

    He said: said, “On assumption of office, I discovered that almost all the land in Ovia North-East had been allocated to only one man. I revoked the land illegally allocated to only one family and I returned it to the people of Ovia. I revoked it, I stand by it and it remains revoked and given to the people.”

    According to the governor, “The purpose of government is to protect the interest of the people and I believe you must defend that and ensure that nobody takes your land.

    “We will hand over to a man who understands what it means to protect the public interest.”

    On Obaseki’s endorsement, Oshiomhole said: “when I see the large turn-out of the community leaders here, I know it is finished. ”

    Taking a jibe at the past PDP government, he said: “when they come to campaign in Ovia, you must ask them: “where is the dual-carriage way from the junction of the Benin-Sagamu expressway to Okada.’“

    He said efforts by the state government to extend electricity to some communities in Ovia was hampered by some desperate politicians who organised thugs to stop the truck carrying electric poles to the beneficiary community.

    He said: “If anybody breached the law, they will be prosecuted and sentenced to prison. “We respect authority but we will not tolerate rascality. Everybody is equal before the law,” he said.

    He thanked the people of Ovia North-East for their consistent support for his government and the APC, assuring that government will protect them from harassment and intimidation.

    Also speaking, the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, thanked the Ovia communities for endorsing him, assuring that he would not abandon them when he becomes Governor.

    He said: “I want thank you for the very bold step you have taken to endorse me as the sole candidate for the governorship position”, assuring that there would be continuity in the building of more infrastructure.

    He promised that his government would attract agro-industries to their communities who would engage the youths in mechanised farming.

  • Delta oil communities allege padding of N28bn DESOPADEC budget

    Oil producing communities in Delta State, under the auspices of Delta Oil and Gas Stakeholders Group, have alleged that the government and House of Assembly are hijacking funds accruing to the Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

    The groups warning is against the backdrop of a controversy over the non-passage of DESOPADEC’s N28 billion 2016 budget barely four months to end of year.

    There were allegations that some principal officers of the Assembly demanded N1 billion  ‘allocation’ to facilitate the budget’s passage.

    DOGSG, in a statement by Dr Tagbiretse John, Bro Joseph Ebidenwei, Obakpo Goodluck and Gregory Eze, said they have credible reports that the lawmakers were “padding and balkanising the budget for selfish reasons”.

    They warned that an insurgence more destructive than the havoc by militants could be in the offing, if the government failed to release allocation for the commission to pay contractors and develop their communities.

    “We have watched with growing exasperation the systematic rot that has crept in and overtaken DESOPADEC since the administration took over in 2015. We can no longer sit and do nothing while a colossal conspiracy to cripple the only hope of oil producing communities in the state is unravelling before our eyes.

    “The reason for the comatose state of DESOPADEC is not far-fetched: the non-passage of the 2015 Budget of the commission, with barely four months to the end of the year cannot augur well.

    “If the government is effective and sincere, and the House of Assembly is doing its job, the 2016 budget would be in the implementation stage and the 2017 budget would have been in the final stages of its development.

    “It is a shame that the 2016 DESOPADEC budget is still ‘lost in transit’ and nobody knows what the budget looks like or how much is contained therein. Nobody knows if the N28 billion budget presented to the House in March remains or if it has been changed and how it has been altered.

    “In this era of ‘budget padding’, there are disturbing reports that the Monday Igbuya-led House is performing abracadabra with the budget, while it is also passing like ping-pong from the Government House to the House of Assembly. Nobody is able to account for its whereabouts today.

    “This is a carefully orchestrated plot to deny fund to the commission and the oil producing areas. It is too much of a coincidence that the saga of DESOPADEC ‘Missing Budget’ started after a principal member of the House of Assembly was accused of demanding a N1 billion to facilitate its passage.

    DOGSG warned that “in view of the precarious security challenges in the Niger Delta region, there is need to avoid giving violence-prone elements opportunities to unleash further havoc on oil facilities and our communities because the deliberate decimation of DESOPADEC by the powers that be in the state is an invitation to anarchy.

  • Fix our roads, communities beg Fed Govt, Lagos

    Residents of Igbo-Efon, Ogombo,Okun-Ajah, Okun-Alfa, Lafiaji, Mopol and Mopol-Iwaju communities of Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State have appealed to the state government to repair their roads.

    Akogun of Awori land and the Managing Director of Atican Beach Resort, Prince Atiku Abogun, urged the Federal, and state governments to construct the proposed service road that would open up the coastal towns.

    Abogun said: “The two tiers of government have refused to do anything. They are only interested in forcefully taking over our ancestral land and share it among themselves. We need good roads for the communities to be opened up. As a people, we have done everything for them to come to our aid.”

    In similar vein, the prince of Igbo-Efon bemoaned the neglect the communities are suffering, while noting that, “the current crop of leadership does not believe that human beings are living in these areas. They have been working on the Lekki-Epe Expressway expansion for more than ten years now, but it took the administration of Alhaji Lateef Jakande just a little over four years to construct the same road in the early 80s.”

    He explained that “right from the Abraham Adesanya Estate to the sea is always flooded whenever there is a slight shower not to talk of when it rain heavily. The rains have continued to wreak havoc in the Ajah area of the state, making any form of movement difficult.”

    The Akogun of Awori land suggested that the state government should channel the flood water to the nearby sea. He said: “With all the down pour in Lagos, the government channel some of the flood to the Lagoon and sea. This will help mitigate the hardship that had crippled business activities. Our roads have become River Niger to the extent that flood is now living with us in our homes.