The Nation Newspaper

Tag: creeks

  • The evil creeks

    The  SEASHORE. Cool, breezy, breathtaking and picturesque. It is a sight to behold, with grains of sand stretching as far as the eyes can see. It is the ideal place to work, play, live and school. But not all can afford it. It is only for the affluent. But none can appreciate the real value of the seashore than a sailor, who virtually lives on water. Among the rich, there is a rush for a slice of the seashore because it confers class and prestige on them. You hardly find the poor there.

    But the world is an interdependent place, where the rich and the poor live together. As much as the rich wish to hide in their cocoon, nature still finds a way of bringing them together with the poor. The rich man cannot do away with the poor no matter his disdain for them. Though he lives in  a mansion, he relies on the services of the poor to keep his environment clean. This is why you find the poor among the rich in those upscale areas such as Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ahmadu Bello Way, Broad Street, Osborne Road, Bourdillon and so on and so forth.

    The seashore extends to hitherto remote areas, which are now developing into big cities because of the vastness of the lagoon. These days not only those who are stupendously rich own property around the seashore. Some upwardly mobile youngsters and greying men, who have been toiling for years count among those with property there. Schools, both public and private, are also springing up there. From the coastline of Arepo to Ikorodu, Epe and Lekki, these schools dot the landscape, with mostly the rich having the means to send their children there. Some indigent pupils also attend these schools, but they are few and far between.

    Because of the remoteness of these schools, they have become easy targets of those the police labelled as  ‘’kidnappers/pirates’’. In recent time, they have been invading some of these schools to kidnap pupils, teachers and principals. Last Thursday, they stormed the Lagos State Model College at Igbonla, Epe, and kidnapped six pupils. They would have gone with more if their boat had the capacity to contain their victims. For the impressionable young pupils, it looked surreal, but it was for real. Three days before they struck, the hoodlums had written the school that they were coming.

    True to their words, they struck and there was nobody to stop them. For those of us who went to boarding school, incidents like this sear our hearts. The boarding school is supposed to be a safe place for pupils, who live together as one family, no matter where they came from. Parents send their children to boarding schools to be trained to become better persons and to develop into men or women of their own. They do not do this because they cannot take care of their children at home. Their action may have been informed by what in local parlance is referred to as  the benefits of external training. As it is said, it takes a village to raise a child.

    There can be no better place to train a child among his peers than in a boarding school. For many parents, taking the decision to send their children to boarding schools is not easy. Perhaps, this is why many prefer the Unity schools to other schools. By committing their children to the hands of the school authorities, parents are unequivocally expressing their confidence in the system to guarantee the safety of those kids as long as they do not play truancy. If these kids had been kidnapped while on a frolic of their own outside the school, we would have thumped our noses at them and said serves them right. But six of them were plucked away from their dormitories at dawn with little or no security presence.

    The kidnappers had written that they were coming. What steps did the school take to stop them? Did they report to the police? What action did the police take on the letter? Was security beefed up at the school? Were policemen around on the day the kidnappers struck? As a government owned school, securing it should not be a problem, but it seemed it was from all indications. By now, the police and other security agencies should have become conversant with the mode of operation of these kidnappers, who have turned the creeks around the lagoon to their hideout. With all the facilities at their disposal, the security agencies should have by now cut the wind from these hoodlums’ sail.

    We cannot afford to continue to expose our pupils to the danger posed by these kidnappers along the Lagos/Ogun coastline. These kidnappers have become emboldened because our security agents do not appear to be a match for them. They come in with ease and leave with their victims with ease. They also collect ransom with ease. This is why some people are imputing that the kidnappers are in cahoots with the security agencies. That is hard to believe, but we are left with no choice as our security agencies are always caught flatfooted whenever these people strike. Are the security agencies and the kidnappers working together?

    If they are, what will the security agencies gain from such unholy alliance? Are we saying that it is impossible to secure schools around the seashore? If that is the case, it will be better the schools are shut until a solution is found to the problem rather than continue to expose the lives of these leaders of tomorrow to danger. May the Lord touch the kidnappers’ hearts to release the pupils unhurt.

     

     

    Where did you wed?

    When marriages take place at local governments’ registries, the couples believe that they are doing so at the right forum. Nothing can be farther from the truth going by the May 15 judgement of a Lagos High Court that local governments cannot conduct marriages, which fall under item 61 of the exclusive list of the Constitution. What this means is that only  the Federal Government or its agencies can conduct marriages. The exception are marriages under Islamic and Customary laws. By virtue of that verdict, all marriages conducted at local governments now stand on shaky grounds (you may describe them as sham if you like) except the couples move fast to do the right thing. And this, according to the court, is to return their marriage certificates to the local governments where they got married for the ‘’reissuance of the appropriate certificates’’ in line with Section 24 of the Marriage Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 1990. Ha! So, many of us have been keeping ‘’inappropriate certificates’’ all these years. Na wa o!

  • Navy to Niger Delta: respect dialogue

    Navy to Niger Delta: respect dialogue

    The Nigerian Navy has asked the Niger Delta region especially militants still operating in the creeks to embrace and respect the ongoing dialogue between the region and the Federal Government.

    The Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, (CNC), Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba, spoke at the weekend when he led a medical outreach to Etegwe community, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    Garba argued that if militants failed to embrace dialogue and continued with their criminal activities, they would lose public sympathy.

    He explained that the free medical rhapsody was part of the Navy’s corporate social responsibility aimed at boosting civil-military relations.

    Garba said: “I expect the people to remember that struggle is not drawing a line and make it look like a kind of crusading spirit. There must be ways of reaching compromises and concessions.

    “And you can only reach those compromises and concessions through dialogue. The government has already given room for dialogue, so let them embrace it. If they embrace it, it is better for the society and Nigeria at large.

    “But if they refuse to go into dialogue, there might be a tendency that that sympathy they are gaining from the people will be lost and it means they are now surrendering the call for peace to chaos and violence which is not good for the society.”

    He noted that the medical mission was one of the key priorities of the Chief of Naval Staff to bring the navy closer to the people within the maritime environment.

    He said the free medical mission was carried out monthly to test and treat health challenges of the people such as malaria, typhoid fever, high blood pressure, diabetes, among others.

    Garba said:  “It will be delightful to let you know that today is the sixth time we are offering free medical services to communities in Yenagoa and environs. The CNS is instrumental to the sustenance of this rhapsody every month.

    “Navy is a part and parcel of the community. We feel we are blood brothers. So, one Nigeria is a vital issue to all the military personnel. That is why we feel that we must have a way of reaching the communities though this medical rhapsody and inauguration of projects.”

    In his response, the Paramount Ruler of Etegwe community, King  Todumema Geoffrey,  said the free medical mission was the first in the history of the community.

    The monarch asked youths to desist from pipeline vandalism and destruction of critical national assets, saying that such tendencies would not bring development to the Niger Delta region.

    “We want to appreciate the Navy for the gesture. I want to warn those involved in blowing up pipelines and other criminal activities to desist from such acts. They are uncalled for. We need development in our region,” he said.

  • Troops swoop on creeks for soldiers’ killers

    Troops swoop on creeks for soldiers’ killers

    The military swung into action yesterday, combing some creeks and waterways in Bayelsa State for the militants who killed three soldiers at a checkpoint near Nembe Jetty on Monday.

    War-kitted troops moved into the creeks and waterways hours after the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Delta Safe (ODS) Commander Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie vowed “to go on the offensive” over the killing of his men.

    In Shendam, Plateau State, Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai warned that killing of soldiers and airmen in line of duty was unacceptable.

    There was massive deployment of troops in Nembe and its surrounding creeks early in the day. Many fled on sighting the soldiers.

    Fighter jets hovered in the air as the soldiers took strategic positions, cordoning off the waterways.

    A resident, who spoke in confidence with The Nation, described Nembe as a “ghost town” after it was deserted.

    He said: “The town is deserted. People who ran away are yet to return. Stores and shops are closed. We can’t even find anything to buy. Some ran into the mangroves, others into smaller communities and Yenagoa.

    “Some of us are only able to stay because the Deputy Governor, John Jonah, and the JTF commander held a town hall meeting with us and assured us of our safety. But people who ran away have not come back”.

    Jonah, who led a government delegation and Rear Admiral Okojie, were said to have met with the residents.

    The deputy governor commiserated with the military over the soldiers’ death.

    At the meeting held at the King Koko Square, Nembe, Jonah described the soldiers’ killing as senseless, barbaric and not in the best interest of Nembe and the state.

    He described the incident as painful and unfortunate, recalling that a similar one occurred in July, last year.

    His visit, Jonah said was to console and engage the military to douse the tension in the community.

    The deputy governor urged those who fled to return home. He called on youths and other stakeholders to help the military fish out the killers.

    He urged the clergy to continue to pray for lasting peace in the community.

    Rear Admiral Okojie was said to have promised that the troops would not molest people.

    He said the killers would be made to account for their action.

    According to him, troops are on the trail of the criminals and will soon arrest and bring them to justice.

    Rear Admiral Okojie urged the community to volunteer information to the military, appealing that people should not be scared of the soldiers’ presence.

    Some community leaders were said to have condemned the soldiers’ killing.

    A member of the House of Assembly from Nembe, Ebi Ben-Ololo, Vice-Chairman, Nembe Council, Chief Bright Erewari-Iweka and Chief Walter Feghabo-Amain said since the coming of JTF, Nembe had known peace.

    They said the community would cooperate with the military to ensure that  the killers were brought to justice.

    Chief Wilfred Ogbotobo was said to have called on the government to use “maximum force” instead of pampering and indulging the militants.

    According to him, the militants have become emboldened because they are treated with kid gloves.

    He said: “All the peace-loving people of Nembe condemn in the strongest terms this latest and all forms of criminality perpetrated in Ijaw territories under the guise of Niger Delta struggle.

    “We want to sound it loud and clear that these indolent, cowardly and dastardly acts of terrorism with no head or tail would only compound and diminish the genuine struggle for the wellbeing and uplifting of the people and the region”.

     

    Ogbotobo said the militants’ action did not represent the ideals of Ijaw heroes such as King Koko of Nembe Kingdom and Isaac Adaka Boro.

    “Hence, if the motive is the prevalent delusion that every piracy, kidnapping and destruction means a rational continuation of the Boro militancy, it is warped and unacceptable.

    “The Niger Delta comprises different nationalities and cultures, hence, we must be careful about the image with which we brand our identity.”

     

     

    “Any attempt, under a warped and distorted delusion to make the region ungovernable for President Muhammad Buhari would only isolate the Ijaw further.

    “Boro certainly would have opted to build a national political party to project the interests of the Ijaw and pursue the aspirations of the people of the region.

    “This should not be a period of militancy rather it should be a period of reflection considering the unprecedented corruption and ineptitude of the past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, an Ijaw man.”

    The Nembe chief said under the present circumstance the people should hold their traditional, local and state governments accountable.

    He said: “It is abundantly clear that the youths spearheading these dangerous ventures have not been adequately cautioned about the full implications and wrath associated with the kind of things they are doing.

    “The Federal Government should, therefore, declare a state of emergency in the affected areas and apply maximum force to dislodge ever criminal tendency and restore the region back to safety to fast-track development”.

  • Security forces to demolish illegal structures at Arepo, Ikorodu creeks

    Security forces to demolish illegal structures at Arepo, Ikorodu creeks

    • As military moves to establish permanent base at Maiduguri

    Security forces Thursday identified uncompleted structures and houses built on the right of way, isolated bushes at Lagos and Ogun riverine communities as threats that must be dismantled.

    This is just as the acting Inspector General of Police  (IGP) Ibrahim Idris told the ground forces to demolish houses belonging to militants or their conspirators as was exhibited in the northeast during the fight against terrorist sect Boko Haram.

    The ground forces have been mopping up the creeks since Tuesday afternoon after the Nigerian Air Force concluded its aerial bombardment of the identified places.

    The Nation reports that over 40 camps have been destroyed at Ishawo creek alone, while the operatives have recovered items such as two locally made guns, two generators, eight dane guns, 32 live cartridges, two laptops, one magazine, AK47, a magazine of GPMG.

    Also recovered were handcuffs, 18 cutlasses, two Mobile Police badges, two Ecobank withdrawal booklets, INEC voter’s cards and FCMB deposit slips, among others.

    Idris who was at Ishawo to observe the situation of things for himself, commended the military for the successes recorded under Operation AWATSE.

    He urged fleeing residents to return and cooperate with security forces by providing information, just as he assured them of their safety and peace.

    “We are here to see the theatre of war, as well as support our officers. To boost their morale so that they can do more than what they have done. I have been in Lagos and I have heard so much and it is our responsibility to assist the men on the operation they are doing.

    “Especially in the area of deploying most of our marine police here, which we are going to do and to also encourage the residents of the local community.

    “We are here together; you can see police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as well as the military. So, it is an indication that the police is everywhere.

    “As I discussed without officers on the ground, anybody having connection with enemies of the society, we will demolish their housed.  That was the practice we adopted in fighting Boko Haram elements.”

    Similarly, the Operation’s chairman, Rear Admiral Fergusson Bobai who took a tour of Ishawo, Elepete, Arepo and Ibafo creeks hinted of plans by the military to establish permanent base at Majidun, Ikorodu, while outposts will be mounted in other troubled communities to deter the gunmen from returning.

    He stated that the inaccessibility of the affected areas as well as the absence of security agencies emboldened the militants to carry out their criminal activities with impunity.

    Bobai also noted the need for the government to approve the demolition of structures built on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s (NNPC) right of way, insisting that they posed hindrances to security operations.

    Confirming that the militants have been completely chased from the areas visited, Bobai that the military was working towards running them out of Fatola, their supposed headquarters.

    “We are looking forward to the government building permanent structures for us at Majidun as the headquarters for Operation AWATSE and then we will have our outposts where men are deployed.

    “We have started ground operations after the NAF has finished its air bombardment. However, the Air Force is still providing support to the ground forces. We have essentially identified four targets and have finished mopping up one of them. I came here to see how far they have gone. They will move into other places and do the mop up with the forces on ground.

    “We came here because it is one of the in routes from where militants ply their trade. We could not come by water from Majidun where we disembarked from our boats because our boats could not enter here. Ishawo is where we have access to launch our smaller boats for our men to penetrate the creeks.

    “Pipeline vandals and militants have been engaging in illegal economic activities here and also disturbing the residents and so, we needed to flush them out following directives from the Chief of Defence Staff. They are Nigerians but engaged in illegal activities.

    “We have made a lot of success since last Thursday. We still can’t say the number of persons killed because we are yet to get into the areas that were properly bombarded.

    At Elepete, Bobai said there was a lot of bombardment at the creek there because from air surveillance, the security forces observed that the place was a safe haven for militants’ operations.
    The Nation observed that scores of 50 litres jerry cans littered the water which has been polluted with petro.

    Also, hosts, pumping machines and wooden boats stocked with kegs were also sighted.
    The commanding officer of the military tactical base, Colonel Julius Ogbobe who gave statistics of the recoveries said investigations were being carried out to ascertain certain things.

    He said: “We want to find out the depositor and the owners of the phone numbers. The swamps are not easily accessible. The government has to assist by building roads as well as bringing cutting machines to clear the creeks.”

  • Lagos kids who cross creeks daily to go to school

    Lagos kids who cross creeks daily to go to school

    In what is a most bizarre irony, some parents who live in the Apapa and Ajegunle areas of Lagos, at the risk of boat mishaps, send their wards to private and government secondary schools in Igbologun, a riverine community off the Coconut area of Lagos. Dorcas Egede and Mary Fabeyo, who visited the community recently, found out why.

    IT was a bright Monday morning, and the boat park (doesn’t pass for a jetty) leading to Igbologun, a community on the other side of the Apapa Creek was as busy as ever. Obviously on their way to work, people were embarking and disembarking boats. Some were headed for the Island while the other group obviously were headed for the Apapa industrial hub. Amidst those disembarking were students in different school uniforms, all clad in life-jackets and certain other clothing that only had the semblance of life-jackets, but in reality would not be of any help should there be a boat accident.

    Somehow, that was in order. What however surprised this reporter as she took in the whole scenario, was the sight of students who kept arriving the harbour in trickles and boarding boats heading into the island.

    What we go through to get education

    While stories abound of students who have to be cajoled by their parents to get an education, The Nation found out on this excursion that there are indeed a few students who on a daily basis, literally pass through the biblical eye of the needle to get the same education. Kehinde Hodonu, an SS2 student of Igbologun Senior Secondary School is one of such students. Kehinde dreams of becoming a Computer Engineer, and says he has to walk almost 5 miles daily to get to the boat habour, where he boards a boat to the riverine community where his school is located.

    “I have to trek from Liverpool to Coconut every morning before I can get here to take a boat to school. As a result, I get to school sometimes by 9am or even 10. It is very stressful traveling by boat to and from school every day, but I have to do it because I want to get educated. My twin brother who stays with another relative in another area of town has already finished his secondary education. I don’t want to be left out,” he said with so much fervour.

    Kehinde who comes from a neighbouring riverine community, Tomaro, explained why he has to undergo so much stress, just to attend a public secondary school. “I come all the way from Tomaro because at the time I wanted to get into secondary school, all we had in Tomaro was a secondary school which had structures, but no teachers.”

    What is a school with structures, if there are no teachers to man it and impart knowledge in the classrooms? This was probably why young Kehinde had to be enrolled in Igbologun Secondary School, the stress notwithstanding.

    Although the secondary school in Tomaro, according to Kehinde, now has teachers, the standard there is still nothing, compared to what obtains in Igbologun. Besides, he’s just a year away from his final year and does not see the need for changing schools anymore. He also revealed that he’s not the only one in that predicament; about twenty other students commute from Tomaro to Igbologun daily.

    Godwin Sunday is another student who goes through the same ordeal as Hodonu every school day. Sunday was posted to Igbologun Senior Secondary School on completion of his primary school education at  El-Shaddai Primary School, Tomaro. He however claims that he likes the school. In his opinion, the fact that he didn’t have any re-sit during his junior WAEC exams means his teachers are good at what they do and give them the best. As a result, he has decided not to seek transfer away from the school,  even though Tomaro where he lives, now has an alternative. Now in SS1, Sunday also hopes to be a computer engineer someday.

    All the way from Edo State, Hope Imafidon, a JSS2 student of Igbologun Junior Secondary School explained that she  was enrolled at the school by her aunty with whom she lives at Alakuko area of Lagos. “My aunty said the school is very good and that her children also passed out from there; so she decided that I attend the school too.” Hope said.

    The young girl admitted that she was afraid the first time she had to travel to school by boat, but as time went by, she became used to it. She claims though that the daily journey on water is always stressful, even as she agrees that that is her own sacrifice towards getting an education.

    The Nation soon hooked up with bubbly but shy Faruq Quadri, an SS1 student also of Igbologun Senior Secondary School. He was transferred to the school after his primary education also in Igbologun, but his parents, who used to live on the island, moved out when he was in JSS II. But he said he had to keep attending the school, so as not to disrupt his academic activities.

    Besides, Faruq seems to have a bonding with the school in Igbologun, and admits that going to a new school, will come with the hassle of losing life-long friends and making new ones, which didn’t quite appeal to him. To top it up, he said, “We have good teachers here who are giving us the best.”

    Another boy like Faruq, who moved out of the Igbologun Community but wouldn’t stop attending the school despite the stress and danger, is Ojeifo Austin, an SS1 student. Unlike the others however, he doesn’t have to cross the water daily, since his father works as a security officer in the barracks at Igbologun. Austin wants to be an auto-mobile Engineer.

    Young Blessing Michael who arrived the jetty looking as calm as still waters told The Nation that she is currently writing her National Examination Council (NECO) exams. Like Faruq and Hope, her family once lived on the island, but moved to Ajegunle area when she was in SS1. Her mother felt it was pointless changing schools. She hopes to become a medical doctor, she revealed.

    The Nation also visited a private secondary school in Igbologun, Rehoboth Secondary School, owned and run by a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). The visit was necessitated by a revelation that a student from outside the community school there. However, the director of the school, Pastor Benjamin Salako, told our team that the only student who used to come from outside the community had to withdraw, owing to the distance and daily stress of commuting on water. He is however hopeful that the quality and fame of the school would soon begin to attract people to it from far and near.

    Our quality is the attraction, Igbologun principal

    According to Mrs. Akinola O.O, the principal of the Igbologun Senior Secondary Schools, students come to the school because other schools on the mainland are mostly densely populated. She opined that since most schools around Ajegunle, Apapa and other areas are filled up, the Igbologun Community School is their best option.

    She said, “The facility is not highly populated; I think that is one of the reasons parents bring their children here.” As a result, Akinola says her team is able to give the students the best because the teachers ‘don’t have too much on their plates, and as such can relate with each student more closely.’

    Continuing, her voice laced with concern, Akinola said, “The only challenge these students face is with transportation.You can see the structure of the boats, and they are not being maintained. Sometimes, the boat will just stop in the middle of the water; endangering the lives of the innocent students.”

    She therefore hopes and prays for the time when the government would build a bridge to link the community with the mainland. Then, she believes, the community would witness more development, and the students’ lives would no longer be endangered in their quest to get education.

    Vice Principal of Igbologun Junior Secondary School, who gave his name as Mr. Ogundare explained that students from the mainland flood the school since their parents are not financially buoyant. He said, “Here, students don’t pay a dime to get educated; boat fee is free, and so is the school fee. Free access to these things draws people to the school.”

    Ogundare continued, “Another thing is choice. Parents bring in their children due to how productive the school is. We record excellent percentages during exams, and this also draws parents’ attention to the school. Meanwhile, some of them were posted here right from their primary schools after their common entrance examinations.”

    Whether by lot or by choice, it was absolutely encouraging to discover that some students would stop at nothing, despite the distractions, to get an education and a chance to better their lots in life. One can only hope the government, which yearly posts students to the school, would make it a priority to provide a safer way of commuting to the island very soon.

  • Down in the Creeks enters season 2

    Down in the Creeks enters season 2

    It is particularly timely, as the popular JetaAmata-led initiative, aimed at promoting peace in the Niger Delta region has kicked off its second season in Lagos.

    The show, Dawn in the Creeks, a television series, explores conflict issues in the Niger Delta, by following teams of Niger Delta youths on their journeys as they make films about non-violence.

    The project, which is made possible by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria and Nigerian partners, features notable figures from the Nigerian entertainment industry, serving as mentors and facilitators for the change agents.

    The second edition leverages on the awareness and excitement generated by its debut season and highlights the gains made so far and the challenges facing the project.

    “In our first season, we mobilised the youths of the area to become change agents in a Niger Delta that was, for too long, perceived as a cauldron of degradation, restiveness and mayhem,” said show host, Andre Blaze.

    According to the producers, “episodes two to four which will show over the next few weeks will focus on the filmmakers’ own internal election processes, echoing the importance of youth participation in the upcoming elections.”

    Among the friends and partners present at the launch was, the U.S. Consular General in Nigeria, Ambassador Jerry Hawkins, who was full of praise for the initiative and pledged the continued support of the American Government. “The U.S. Mission partnered with a distinguished group of Nigerian leaders to give the people of the Niger Delta platforms like the Dawn in the Creeks reality TV show and weekly radio programs, to share non-violent solutions to problems with their fellow Nigerians as well as with local, state, and national authorities,” he said.

    Jerry hinted that “improving the relationship and accountability between the government and its citizens will go a long way to ensuring the future remains promising for the region. Today, Dawn in the Creeks is a social enterprise run by a competent board of advisors from the world of business, civil society and entertainment.  We are looking for corporate partners who share our vision of a better future for our youth.”

    The show will air on Saturdays on AIT by 4:30pm, on Silverbird by 3:00pm, and on Channels by 5:30pm. It will also air on Sundays on Galaxy by 2:30pm and Mondays on RSTV by 4:00pm and on DBS by 4:00pm.

  • Dawn in the creeks as U.S. partners Niger Delta youths

    Dawn in the creeks as U.S. partners Niger Delta youths

    Mention Niger Delta and the images that come to mind are crude oil, oil theft and illegal bunkering , but a project bankrolled by the American government is creating a new Niger Delta using the medium of film-making, writes Precious Igbonwelundu

    It gulped about $4 million. So, it was understandable that expectations were high as viewers matched into the cinema hall of SilverBird Galleria for the premiere of Dawn in the Creeks, a baby of the United Department for Conflict and Stabilisation Operations.

    The series bears the touch of ace director Jeta Amata and 21 young people drawn from three communities, including Nembe in Bayelsa State and Ozoro in Delta State, who have resolved to rebrand the region with their stories.

    The screen opened with Amata’s search for “the ambassadors of peace” in the creeks. The audience was carried through the journey of the short-listing and the reasons each of the 21 youth was selected.

    They looked unrefined like the crude oil and hardly believed anything positive could come out of the exercise but one month later, having shot and premiered their own movies; these lads now see life beyond violence.

    Dawn in the Creeks is a combination of three television series, including Save our Souls and Truce written, produced and directed by the 21 youngsters in groups of seven.

    It is a reality TV series that follows teams of Niger Delta youth as they embark on a journey to create films in the Nollywood style, showcasing stories of non-violent transformation in their communities.

    It portrays the horrible and pitiful lifestyle an average Niger Deltan is subjected to ranging from water and food pollution, cultism as well as negligence by multinational oil companies operating there in connivance with the traditional rulers.

    It also shows how illegal bunkering led best friends to become arch enemies, unleashing terror and bloodbath on opposing camps destroying living and non-living things.

    Shot in the various communities, each of the short films that make up Dawn in the Creeks portrayed the natural day-to-day activities in the regions -dredging, fishing, trading, language and farming.

    But beyond the scramble and battles for survival, the films portrayed communal love and strength; it showcased the need for the people to resolve conflicts peacefully and be their brothers’ keepers.

    The short films, which were shown for about 15 minutes each, kept the audience, including wife of Rivers Governor, Mrs. Judith Amaechi,  Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilisation Operations Frederick Barton and US Ambassador to Nigeria James Entwistle thrilled, especially because the young film makers were able to accomplish them with just a month’s training.

    But what motivated these youngsters to such venture?

    According to the director of Truce, Stephen Moses, his group’s story was inspired by their resolve to make the youth in the region and Nigeria shun violence.

    “There are things every human knows he or she can do but without the means to deliver, the dream will die. Honestly, when this opportunity came, I did not believe it. I thought it was one of those lies but when at the end of the training I saw myself an improved and better person, I could not help but thank God I did not miss it.

    “Our message basically is projecting a Niger Delta that is violence-free. We want our youth to know that they can make their points, resolve issues without violence.

    “Also, we also want them to know through our films that there are many resourceful things they can do to earn a living without engaging in illegality and violence,” he said.

    For the producer, Lisa Otuma, her ultimate goal is to rebrand Niger Delta and let the world see the new Niger Delta that is violence-free.

    “Our region has over the years earned negative reputation and so, we want to rewrite our story. We want to tell our stories ourselves for the world to know we are peaceful people and can live in peace,” she said.

    Similarly, the Director, Save our Souls, Vincent Akporero, said he was happy to be part of the project because he wanted to be seen as a role model.

    “We want to impact positively on our generation. We do not want to be seen as villains but as worthy role models. We are using our movie to tell our people that we do not have to fight and kill ourselves. We do not have to destroy pipelines and kidnap people. Life is not all about violence and we must learn to settle our differences peacefully,” he said.

    To Amata, his interest in the project was fuelled by his love to affect lives.

    “There is nothing like going to the grassroots, meeting and connecting with these people really touched me. It is so amazing that they could touch me the way they did.

    “The project will continue because each group has been provided with equipment and money to start off and tell important stories.

    “We have just started. This is like a pilot programme and by July, we will show the entire series of how they were screened and selected and then, we will go immediately into the seasons.

    “We are mandated to do three seasons within 12 months and I trust they will deliver.

    “They will learn new initiatives and ways to market their films along the line. That is how I do my business. I learn new ways of marketing and selling my films and I am impacting it on them and so they have no choice than to succeed,” he said.

     Reactions

    Reeling with excitement, Mrs. Amaechi hailed the talents of the film makers, commending them for their drive to make a difference through entertainment.

    “I believe that someday, the Niger Delta will be known to the world for its famous films. I saw wonderful talents in display and I know that Niger Delta is a beautiful place.

    “I was thrilled and I know they will go places with the necessary guides. This opportunity has shown that we have great men and women who can make the world a better place,” she said.

    Entwistle, who could not hide his excitement, told The Nation that he was proud the U.S. was part of the success story.

    “I believe in Nigeria. We had thought of something we can do to reduce violence as well as reform election behaviours of the youth. But, this is so great that the young Nigerians did their films to tell their stories in order to use same to preach peace and security.

    “Yes, the U.S. is sponsoring but the content is 100 per cent Nigerian. We hope that in the future, we will be able to step away to have Nigerians come in and sponsor such projects.

    “We spent about $4million on the project but what matters is that we are supporting Nigerian youths to preach the message of peace through their own stories.

    “Aside sponsoring these films in the region, the U.S. is doing a lot in Nigeria. In the Middle Belt and North, we are trying to promote mediation and reconciliation,” said Entwistle.

    To the U.S. Consul General Jerry Hawkins, the project was aimed at showing the world that there was a lot of possibilities in the Niger Delta. He described Dawn in the Creeks as a combination of Nollywood, Hollywood and diplomacy, adding that he was hopeful the youngsters would become agents of change in the region.

    Chairman, SilverBird Group, Ben Bruce described the project as a way forward to greater things in the region.

    He said with such empowerment, the youths would be engaged and would also create jobs and make money.

    “It is about taking individuals out of nothingness, idleness and empowering them to create employment as well.  It is a step in the right direction and we need multinationals to follow suit. Once you support and empower the people, crime level will drop,” said Bruce.

    Former Managing Director, Nigeria Films Corporation, Afolabi Adesanya, said it was exciting to see the young generation finding its voice, images and narrating its stories.

    “It is a turnaround from the violent era of militancy that we witnessed in the region. I am thrilled to see young people looking inwards to see what they can do to change their communities for good without government support.

    “This can only make their communities better with strengthened bonds among the people. The films are true reflection of happenings in the region. We are beginning to witness a paradigm. Shift towards internal conflict resolution and it is only the people who through their telling their stories, can make that happen,” he said.

     

  • Panic as JTF storms Bayelsa, Delta creeks

    There was apprehension in riverside communities of Bayelsa and Delta states yesterday as the Joint Task Force (JTF) began a security operation targeting illegal bunkerers and sea pirates.

    The operation followed a directive from the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, to the Task Force to round up ex-militants and other criminals terrorising the areas, particularly the suspects behind the killing of 12 policemen in Bayelsa State.

    It was, therefore, not surprising when feelers from the creeks indicated that the troops’ deployment was large around Azuzuama creeks, where the policemen were ambushed.

    JTF spokesman Lt-Col Onyeama Nwachukwu told The Nation that bandits, renegade ex-militants and other criminals were targets of the latest onslaught.

    He said: “Painstaking investigations by our operatives revealed that kidnappers, sea robbers and other criminals have clandestinely developed hideouts in some parts of the creeks in Southern Ijaw Local Government of Bayelsa State, from where they launched attacks on unsuspecting victims going about their businesses.

    “Given our mandate to rid the Niger Delta of criminality, we are spurred by this unwholesome development to commence today, a clean-up operation of criminal hideouts where kidnappers and sea robbers hibernate. Our troops have successfully clamped down on four hideouts at Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Local Government,” he added.

     

    Nevertheless, reports from the area indicated that there were indiscriminate arrest and harassment of users of the waterways by troops of the task force.

    A community leader from Azuzuama lamented that all community leaders in the area have been branded as criminals by the soldiers.

    But Col Nwachukwu debunked the allegation.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • The changing face of the Southsouth creeks

    The changing face of the Southsouth creeks

    In executing its mandate, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has continued to deliver on projects to states under its purview. These projects range from roads to hospitals and ultra-modern hostels for higher institutions.

    Some of these projects were inspected recently by the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on NDDC in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Imo, Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.

    The Senate toured Abia, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, the House visited the other five states.

    Touring five states in four days was hectic for the lawmakers, but they took it in their strides. Their Chairman Nicholas Mutu said their findings after inspecting the projects were revealing. “We now appreciate the need to commit more funds to the rapid development of the oil-rich region. What we have seen convinces us that the NDDC is making tremendous impact on the lives of the people. We will, therefore, urge the Federal Government to give the commission the financial muscle to be able to handle more big ticket projects,” Mutu said.

    He said the Niger Delta terrain was a big challenge to development agencies, noting that this made it difficult and expensive to execute projects in the region. He added that the long rainy season in the area affects the delivery time for projects. “We commend the NDDC for working against these odds and still delivering on its mandate of fast-tracking the development of the Niger Delta. In the light of this, we call on the Federal Government to encourage the commission by releasing the over N500 billion it is owing in outstanding statutory allocations to it,” he said.

    At the site of some of the projects, poor funding dominated discussions among the lawmakers. For Chief Barry Mpigi, representing Tai/Eleme Federal Constituency in Rivers State, the funding problem goes beyond the outstanding arrears of N500 billion. He advocated the swift passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to provide another source of funding for the development of oil-producing communities.

    The lawmakers inspected nine road projects including the 23.7kilometre Owaza-Etche-Igwuruta Road and the 18.9 kilometre Erema Ring Road in Ogba/Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of the state. They also visited the Koko-Ugheaye-Escravos Road, which will link Delta to Ondo State, with six bridges; the 28-kilometre Patani-Angoloma Road in Delta State and the Sampou-Odoni Road in Bayelsa State.

    In Imo State, they inspected the 17-kilometre Ishinweke-Onicha River Road in Ihite Ubuma Local Government Area and the 18-kilometre Obokofia internal roads in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area. But the project that caught their attention was the Imo State University hostel, which was being painted. They, however, expressed displeasure with the handling of a similar project at the University of Benin in Edo State. The lawmakers were disappointed with what they saw and they told the contractor to sit up or face sanctions. They sought to know from NDDC Managing Director Dr Christian Oboh why the contractor was not living up to expectations. He told the lawmakers that he did not understand why the contractor failed to deliver on agreed milestones after he had been mobilised.

    Oboh said the project was one of those placed on fast-track by the commission to ensure that they were completed as quickly as possible, adding that some other projects on priority list had been completed and would be commissioned soon.

    One of such projects is the Ewohime-Onicha Ugbo-Abudu Road linking Delta and Edo states. The lawmakers who drove on the road and bridge were satisfied with the quality of job done. Oboh was delighted that an indigenous contractor, Inter Bau, could put up a Grade A performance.

    Another project that will be ready for commissioning soon is the Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-Iwuo Achang road with a 600-metre bridge across the Qua Iboe River. The project links Iwuo Achang mainland to Okoroutip, a community of 13 villages, bringing civilisation to the riverine areas which were hitherto forgotten. It is the longest bridge being built by an indigenous contractor, Viche Nigeria Ltd, in the region.

    The project was also inspected by the Senate Committee. The committee chair, Senator James Manager, said: “We, the Senators are happy and we have seen that the communities around here are happy too. This is a landmark project and it is unique.”

    The committee inspected the Specialist and Orthopaedic Hospital being built by the NDDC in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Justifying the need for the hospital, Oboh said: “The people need to be healthy to savour the benefits of good roads and bridges,” adding that it comprised orthopaedic and cardiovascular units. He said the project would be replicated in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Delta states. “We want to reverse the trend of medical tourism in the Niger Delta. We want our people to begin to get their medical treatment from our specialist hospitals, instead of travelling overseas for their healthcare needs,” he said. And in his characteristic manner, Senator Manager intoned: “To God be the glory”, in appreciation of what the lawmakers saw.