The Nation Newspaper

Tag: COMMUNITY

  • Varsity don lights up community after 37 years of darkness

    It was celebration galore in Isiokwe community of Akama-Oghe in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State following the commissioning of an electricity project in the area.

    The joy of the residents of the community who had lived for 37 years without experiencing electricity amidst several appeals to the government knew no bound.

    It however took proactive measures of Prof. Stan Udedi, a professor of Bio-Chemistry from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and member of the community to put an end to the 37-year old blackout.

    Commissioning the project, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku described the gesture as worthy of emulation.

    He described Udedi as a goal-getter who had completed the 3 basic ideals the University system stands for which include, “Lecturing, Research and Community service”.

    Expressing optimism that the electricity project would birth more goodies for the community, Ahaneku called on well-meaning individuals to embrace community service in their various communities.

    He further urged the locals to guard the project with all sense of ownership to forestall vandalism.

    In his remark, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Imo state, Prof. Emeka Ezeonu noted that the capital project was worthy of commendation.

    Describing the benefactor as a mobilizer, Ezeonu commended all who partnered with him to put smiles on the faces of the locals.

    On his part, the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremmadu who was represented by his SA Political, Ozo Okey Ozoani extolled the selfless service of the sponsor of the project, wishing him success in his endeavors.

    The benefactor and Dean, Students Affairs in UNIZIK, Prof. Udedi regretted that the challenge of darkness had brought untold hardship to the community for over 37 years.

    In his words, “Ugwu Isiokwe community situates on hills and in valleys and this negatively affect the living conditions of the people. The lack of power until now made matters worse.

    “The event of today renews hope for greater output and productivity by the people. We are committed to continued community development and we will effectively put our resources for greater exploit in the future.”

    He expressed deep gratitude to his partners for their prompt financial and technical support towards achieving the project.

    “I am highly indebted to Sen. Ike Ekweremmadu, the Deputy Senate President, Hon. Fred Chukwudi Ezinwa, Executive Chairman Ezeagu LGA, Prof. Ahaneku and Prof. Ezeonu.

    “I equally appreciate the contributions of Engr. Nkedilim Chigbata, Dr. E.C Okoli, Engr. Geoffery Okongwu, the Onowu of Akama-Oghe & his cabinet, Rev Fr. Jacob Ugwuoke, among numerous others.”

    Highpoints of the occasion included conferment of Chieftaincy title to the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University for his great contribution to the project, presentation of gift items by various groups to the sponsor.

  • Tension in Oworo as monarch, community trade words over land

    Fear has gripped residents and landlords in Oworonshoki, Lagos, following claims by Oba Bashiru Oloruntoyin Saliu that he (his family) owned the land in the community.

    The residents believed that the monarch’s claim and call on land owners to repurchase their properties could cause violence in the area notorious for cultism and gang wars.

    Members of the Residents’ Association (RA) told reporters yesterday that they were taken aback when the monarch last November started making announcements on the radio that he was the owner of the land at Oworo.

    “Oba Saliu did not stop with the radio announcement. He proceeded to have his lawyers paste notices in the communities and in our homes, warning us of serious consequences, should we fail to meet his demands,” the residents said.

    They said the Oba claimed that he got the right to all land through court judgments against other ‘Omoniles’

    The residents said the monarch termed all property owners, including those who bought theirs from the state government, as illegal occupants, who must come to the palace for repurchase and renegotiation.

    The residents association Chairman, Chief Adekunle Adebayo, said that was when they knew the monarch was out to foment trouble.

    He said there were about eight indigenous families and land speculators that owned and sold lands in Oworo community, and most of the residents legally bought their land from the families. “Some of these indigenous families are: Walter Siffre family, Akinpelu family, Williams family, Sokenu family, Cole family, Miyaki family and Ajisegiri family. We bought the land genuinely from them and got valid documents. We also have our title documents and Certificate of Occupancy from the government,” Adebayo said.

    But the monarch, who insisted that he was the owner of the land, however said he only asked them to come for ratification and not repurchase.

    He told our correspondent that even the government land belonged to him by virtue of the judgments that acknowledged his family as the first settlers in Oworo.

     

  • Community seeks more for Belemaoil

    The people of oil-rich Kula Kingdom in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State have urged the Federal Government to approve operatorship licence of more Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) to indigenous oil company, Belemaoil Producing Ltd.

    The Paramount Ruler of Kula Kingdom,  King Kroma Amabibi Eleki (JP) (Sara XIV), made the call at a one-day  Special Prayer and Thanksgiving event in the community organised by Kula Council of Chiefs in honour of their illustrious son, Jack-Rich Tein Jr, an engineer, who is the founder and president of Belemaoil Producing Limited.

    Kula Kingdom is one of the core island communities of Rivers State, located right behind the sea, sharing boarders with their neighbouring Bayelsa State.

    Kula, like other riverine communities, has no access road, hence their only means of transportation remains boat ride but the area is rich in oil and gas, and plays host to Anglo-Dutch multinational company, SHELL, for over 50 years.

    However, the area is grossly neglected, with the land and people highly impoverished.This was evident in the absence of government presence in any part of the communities.

    The young and old, chiefs, men, women, youths and children came out in their numbers to give thanks to God for the gift of  a son like Tein Jr. and to also pray to God to  continue to bless and protect him, his family and business from all evil and enlarge his business coast.

    Speaking at the event, King Eleki said the special prayer was a way to express profound thanks and appreciation to God for the unprecedented developmental projects Belemaoil has carried out in the area within a short period of operation in the area.

    The monarch said of Tein Jr: “I am filled with joy and laughter because God has answered our prayers of many years as our illustrious son, Engr Jack-Rich Tein Jr. has wiped off tears from our eyes. For that we thank him and we thank the Almighty Father who has blessed him to bless us.

    “Even in the bible the parable of the talents, those who were given five, they turned it to ten, those who were unable to do something to what they had, even what was given to them was taken away from them.and added to the other person that prove resourcesfulness, going by this bible principle, I think since he (Tein Jr) has been able to double what was given to him, the government should give him more OMLs to operate in the Niger Delta so that he will do more for oil bearing communities in the region.”

    He approved the requests by the company to renovate and upgrade some of the existing health facilities in the area as he declared, “I grant you permission to renovate people’s dispensary hospital where you can develop and it will serve you people and they were negotiating for land for this project, we have all agreed to provide land for Belema oil to execute this project and for that we have signed papers for them for this project.

    “In addition he will provide two giant generators for the community and also wire the whole community that  should have been done by Jan 31st both because the equipment are not available they have to be ordered from abroad… I thank you very much may God continue to bless and protect your founder.” he informed the crowd.

    He further called for unity and cohesion among the people and appealed for more support and the cooperation of the Host Community for Belemaoil for better improved lives in the communities.

    Corroborating the monarch, another Paramount Ruler, in the area, His Highness, King Boudillon Ekine Oko, (OKO XXVIII), equally admitted that the Tein Jr. has greatly improved the wellbeing of the people of Kula with meaningful projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the people.

    King Oko added that host communities of other oil blocks in Kula Kingdom should be given the right of first refusal by the federal government in the divestment or approval of operatorship licence of oil assets in the area.

    “Every kingdom that has the privilege and the honour to enjoy such opportunities as have given us by Belemaoil will want that the presence of such company to remain in the area, and we are not exception, hence if there are other presence of such opportunity that need to come to the territory we will still want Belem oil to inherit that opportunity,” he said.

    King Oko went on: “Belemoil is not just a son but a  Messiah sent to us by God to make the men happy, make the kings happy,  make the chiefs happy, make the women happy, even the politicians are happy, everybody in the communities are happy.”

    He agreed with the otjer speakers that Tein Jr.  is a gift to the body of the kula people and prayed against anything, person or group that would want to bring to a halt the good things that has begun to come to the community through Belemaoil, and those that are yet to come, “we will all in a perfect match rise up to say no,” he assured.

    The Manager, External Affairs of the company, Samuel Abel Jumbo, called on the Kingdom to eschew bitterness and rancor among themselves for the prosperity of the community.

    He said the company has provided over 1,000 jobs to youths across the host communities. He outlined some projects which Belemaoil is currently carrying out and those it intends to carry out in the near future to include; the 85KM Kula Road to Port-Harcourt, the Belema Atlantic Island, Belema Industrial Base, Belema Atlantic Office, Billionaire Atlantic Island, Belema Trading Island, amongst others.

    “We cannot imagine the thousands of employments which these projects will generate for our people in Kula. We also cannot imagine the jobs and contracts that will be available for our business men and women who will be huge beneficiaries of this projects.All these shall happen in our life time.

    “And so, our dear fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, at this time in our history, I will implore you all on behalf of Belemaoil Producing Ltd., to eschew bitterness and rancor, and embrace peaceful coexistence and togetherness which has kept us together and made us the envy of our neighbours,”he said.

    He hinted the community about the passion of their son to open up the Island area for investment and tourism,

    ”As a very young company with a little over two years in operations, and, with a very strong filial bond with our host communities- Kula being one of them, our determination to radically develop our host communities is of very paramount interest to us given the fact that these communities are the basis upon which our operations are successfully carried out.

    “Indeed, our relationship with our communities can only be compared to that of a Siamese twin. And this reinforces the reason  in our very short history, we are grateful to God Almighty for using us as a vessel to impact very positively in the lives of our communities in such a way that has led to this Farthering.

    “In collaboration with the Federal Government, we have commenced preliminary work and approvals for the commencement of the construction of the 85Km Kula-Port Harcourt Road, which will link up all our satellite communities and settlements of Belema, Robertkiri, Luckyland, Boro, through Idama Kingdom and Degema. This multi-billion-naira project shall, when completed, not only guarantee the security of our lives and properties as we will no longer be preys to marauding pirates on our seas and water ways.

    “Through our investment and development affiliates: J+G Global Gas and Oilfield Ltd and Jack-Rich Tein Aid Foundation the Belema Industrial zone has already taken off the drawing board with the on-going reclamation work at Roberkiri for the citing of a world class Airport which will stimulate the attendant developments and additional projects and business opportunities that will be attracted to the Community, which shall include amongst others.” among other projects mapped out by the firm.

    In his sermon, the pastor of one of the Pentecostal churches in the community, Revd. Victor Iyaye, lauded Tein Jr. for being kind to the poor and the people of under developed oil bearing communities, and assured him that he will be rewarded by God, he appealed to him not to relent in the good job.

    He prayed for rapid growth and expansion of investment for Belemaoil in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

    The President Kula Youth Organisation, Christian Eleki, assured of the support of the youths for the success of the firm’s presence in the area, noting that youths of Kula have benefited immensely from the company, especially in the area of employment and empowerment.

  • Community ends seven-year crisis

    Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige and his Alor community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State have hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for making it possible for peace to return to the area after seven years of crisis

    Ngige and his kinsmen spoke yesterday at Nkwo Alor market square, after the inauguration of executive members of the town union, led by Chief Uzoma Igbonwa and 17 others.

    The community congratulated the elected officials, urging them to strive to restore peace, unity, harmony, brotherliness and solidarity among Alor indigenes and their neighbours.

    Read also: 31 stolen INEC’s card readers recovered from Rivers’ bush

    The community also urged Alor indigenes, both home and abroad, to support the executive to succeed.

    They deplored the actions of some disgruntled elements within the community, who, with the support of the Anambra State government, tried to scuttle the court-ordered election.

    The community appealed to state government to allow democracy thrive in Alor by resisting the pressure from some misguided elements bent on causing trouble and disharmony.

  • Community slams politicians for reneging on promises

    Some Residents of Tedi community in Lagos State have bewailed the attitude of party candidates who only remember to fix bad roads in the community when elections are around the conner.

    The residents spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday.

    They said that even two days before the postponed February 16 elections, in spite of past promises by political office holders, heaps of sand were poured on the road for rehabilitation and not levelled.

    “This measure is the usual practice of candidates in the area to capture votes and disappear after that.

    “In spite of past promises by such candidates, Tedi roads have been abandoned for years making residents to take other routs out of the area on daily basis.

    “For this they pay more on transportation to take them out and return them to their places of residence every day,” said a resident, Mr Daniel Aminta.

    Aminta, a pastor, of Christ Surety Assembly in Tedi, said the window dressing approach of the candidates would no longer work.

    “Those trips of sands are tipped on Thursday ahead of the postponed elections; now don’t be surprised that the trips of sands will remain there until next year without being levelled,” he said.

    Mr Malcon Babs-Ayilara, a youth leader in the area, said that the community was weary of the antics of candidates who use tipping of sand on the roads as bait for votes.

    “We cannot succumb to such baits any longer, it is old fashioned; where have they been since we have been suffering on this road; why now.

    ‘Up till now the sands are still there compounding the narrow roads and making movement even more difficult,” he said.

    He called on candidates or political parties that heaped the sand on the roads to level them to enable people to pass to their various assignment points.

    According to him, one of the roads, a three kilometer stretch, is in a pathetic state.

    Mr Christopher Nnanna, spokesman of the Tedi Tenants and Landlords Association, also asked politicians to be responsive in their relationship with the electorate.

  • Community gets motorised borehole

    The Ward B Councillor of Apapa Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mrs. Mujidat Funmilayo Olanihun, has donated a motorised borehole to residents of Shobodu community.

    The borehole was inaugurated by the council Chairman, Alhaja Olufunmilayo Muhammed.

    At the inauguration, tagged: “Promise made Promise kept,” Mrs. Olanihun said she wanted to do things for the people but location was a challenge for her to cite the borehole until residents of Shobodu came complaining about water issue.

    She said: “I promised the people of this local government that when I am elected as a councillor, I will ensure they enjoy the dividends of democracy, and this is in fulfilling part of the promise.”

    The councillor pleaded with the people to maintain the borehole to enjoy it for a long time.

    “Maintenance is very paramount and if you do this, the borehole can last more than 20 years serving the community and even neighbouring communities”.

    Chairman of Shobodu Community Association Alhaji Nurudeen Ibrahim thanked the council for their support and understanding, describing the inauguration as a joyous one because it was the first the community had enjoyed since its creation.

    He urged the council to consider providing jobs for youths to assist them and their families.

  • Community chides IKDC over irregular power supply, excessive billing

    In the last few months, residents in Okota, Ago palace way, especially Oyinlola Close under the jurisdiction of Ikeja Distribution Company (IKDC), Lagos State, have been suffering in silence, as a result of epileptic power supply and excessive billings.

    It was alleged that despite the fact that the power supply in the area has reduced, excessive billings have continued to increase in the last few months.

    The Community Development Association (CDA) Chairman, Dr. Kolawole Afolabi, said all effort to get the operatives of IKDC to metre the community has not been fruitful.

    He, however, complained that neighbouring communities around them have been metered as far back as 2015. “We really don’t know what our offence is that we haven’t been metered since 2015, when other communities got metered. Even those of us who have the analogue metre, Ikeja Distribution Company (IKDC) still gives us outrageous estimated bills.”

    Speaking on behalf of the community, Sunday Osagie said the degeneration in the power supply in the area became worrisome within the last couple of months. “We are being taken for granted by the power company in this area because we are peaceful and law abiding. But if the issue is not addressed we might be forced to take actions. We are warning those in charge of disconnection to steer clear of our houses. If we see anyone, we will prove a point. There shall be no disconnection till power supply is improved and the excessive billing curbed.”

     

     

  • Agip, community on collision over MoU

    The Odede family, Irri, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State has given a 30-day ultimatum to the Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC) to execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed on the use of their family land since 2001.

    A letter dated October 22, 2018, and signed by Simon Ngbakor on behalf of the Odede family threatened to approach the court for redress if NAOC fails to accede to their demands.

    The family also demanded the payment of N510, 000,000.00 for the use of the land being the total sum of the N30,000,000.00 yearly since 2002.

    The family, in the letter, lamented the gift of one goat and a bag of rice from NAOC, Port-Harcourt branch  yearly to the family and the community crisis in Irri which NAOC has been using as excuse not to fulfil its own part of the bargain.

    It said the land, which their progenitor left for them, form part of Odede family land and have been farming on it being their major occupation in the family, stating that sometimes in 2001, the family was approached by NAOC to use the land for flow station.

    ‘’Thereafter verbal agreement was reached with our clients and your company wherein it was agreed that the sum of N10,000,000.00 will be given to our clients annually for the use of the land.

    ‘’We were informed by our clients that one of the verbal terms of the agreement in respect of employment of members of our clients’ family and that of contracts were not also met by your company. All the attempts made to see that your company reduces the verbal agreement into writing and the need to comply with the terms proved abortive as our clients were always driven back by the security attachment in your company.

    land without the consent of  Moroko Odede and Matthew Edeki, the Head of the family and Principal member of the family  respectively, is of no effect.

     

  • Soldiers invade community over colleague’s death

    •Police join military to fish out killers

    There is panic in Ogotun-Ekiti, a community in Ekiti Southwest Local Government of Ekiti State, following the killing of a soldier.

    The killing of the soldier by gunmen suspected to be robbers on Wednesday caused invasion of the community by soldiers.

    Residents claimed that the soldiers, who stormed Ogotun from the Army base in Akure, the Ondo State capital, now patrol their community in 12 Toyota Hilux vans.

    While many residents have left the town, others who are afraid of going out, stay indoors.

    A community leader, Mr. Paul Awopetu, who confirmed the development to The Nation yesterday, said a resident was killed by suspected robbers at Olori Oko farmstead in Ogotun.

    He said one person, who escaped from the robbery scene, reported the incident to soldiers manning a checkpoint between Ogotun and neighbouring Igbara Odo.

    Awopetu added: “Two soldiers followed the person who escaped from the farmstead, but the robbers killed one of the soldiers.

    “As I am talking to you, soldiers are patrolling Ogotun in 12 Hilux vehicles.

    “The soldiers are combing the bush, forest and surrounding farmsteads in search of the robbers, who killed their colleague.”

    Police spokesman Caleb Ikechukwu, who confirmed the incident, described those who killed the soldier as “unknown gunmen.”

    Ikechukwu said the police have joined the military in search of those who killed the soldier.

    He said: “I have been duly informed about the soldier killed by unidentified gunmen.

    “Intensive search is going on, but I cannot ascertain the number of soldiers. If you kill a soldier, you should expect the military to go into action.

    “We have deployed our men to join in the search for the culprits.”

  • Infrastructure: Community seeks Ambode’s help

    Inidogbo community in Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, through its Community Development Association (CDA), has inaugurated a 33KVA transformer.

    The project, which was carried out through self-help effort, was in line with the vision of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to provide electricity for all communities in the state through the Light Up Lagos Project initiative.

    Speaking during the inauguration ceremony at the weekend, the Chairman of the CDA, Mr. Olawale Kazeem, said the self-help project which cost N50 million was embarked upon in a bid to provide electricity for residents of the area, even as he urged Governor Ambode to assist the community in its efforts to improve infrastructure, especially roads and health care delivery.

    He said: “We have been experiencing some challenges in road construction and health care delivery. We plead with the government to intervene in these crucial areas. This is the first time this community, which has existed for over 250 years, will have electricity.”

    Kazeem further said there was a balance of N6 million to be paid to the contractors handling the projects, which included cost of another transformer and high tension poles and cables to extend power to the remaining parts of the community.

    The Executive Chairman of Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area, Surakat Olorunfemi, who praised the efforts of the community, promised a donation of N1 million to assist the community.

    He also pledged to make the community be part of list of areas where projects would be executed next year.

    The elated Olorunfemi vowed to bring a developer who would build a market in the community.

    He also promised to construct a primary school and a health centre if the residents could donate land for the project.

    The council chief encouraged leaders to make provision for special land for religious, recreational centres and schools, among others.

    He advised residents to pay their taxes and levies and be part of the electioneering process by obtaining their permanent voter’s cards (PVCs).

    Prominent sons and daughters of Onidogbo such as the Baale, Chief Abdul Rasheed Kasali, Alhaja Omolara Eshinlokun and others were present at the event.