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Tag: Dakuku

  • ‘2019: You can’t wish away Dakuku in APC’

    ‘2019: You can’t wish away Dakuku in APC’

    PRESIDENT-general of the Free Rivers Development Initiative Sampson Ngerebara has said the 2015 Rivers governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Dakuku Peterside cannot be wished away in 2019.

    He said with Peterside, director-general of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), others aspirants are the lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast, Senator Magnus Abe, and an oil magnate, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs.

    He, however, stressed that more persons would show interest.

    Ngerebara told reporters yesterday in Port Harcourt that the primaries would be free and fair.

    He said: “The NGO, put together to mobilise support within and outside the party (APC), decided to embark on tour of the 23 LGAs of Rivers State to set up structures. We have structures at the state, LGA, ward and unit levels. We have inaugurated the state structure and we are moving from one LGA to another. Khana was the 18th LGA for the inauguration.

    “In view of the size of Khana LGA, we pleaded with the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as our grand patron, to find time and attend one of the programmes, before getting to the grand finale. On January 9, 2018, we secured the minister’s approval to attend the February 10 event at Bori. So, it is not true that it was hurriedly put together because of Senator Magnus Abe’s thanksgiving and reception in Port Harcourt on the same day. I did not know that Senator Abe was organising a programme. He only sent invitation card/letter to me at 5 p.m. on February 8.

    “The NGO is an affiliate of APC, but the inauguration was not entirely a party affair. Not all APC members are members of Free Rivers Development Initiative. There is nothing like crack in Rivers APC. What we are seeing is internal politicking. Rt. Hon. Amaechi is the leader of APC in Rivers State and Southsouth zone, but he has only one vote and he is free to make his choice.

    “Only one person will emerge as APC’s governorship candidate for the 2019 election. Not only Abe is governorship aspirant of APC. We have Dumo Lulu-Briggs. We also have Dakuku Peterside, whom we featured during the 2015 election and you cannot just wish him away. Other persons may also come up. We will not force anybody to step down. Why are some people so particular about one person (Abe)? In 2015, we were 18 governorship aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), until Nyesom Wike emerged as the candidate. I left PDP because the party was not prepared to protect the interest of Rivers people, but promoting individual’s agenda. There is hope in APC. The mammoth crowds at APC events last Saturday in Rivers State (Bori and Port Harcourt) show that APC has what it takes to produce Rivers governor next year and that APC has strength.”

     

  • Judiciary key to developing blue economy, says Dakuku

    Judiciary key to developing blue economy, says Dakuku

    Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA’s) Director-General Dr. Dakuku Peterside has said the Judiciary is key to developing a blue economy.

    Peterside spoke at the opening of the 7th Strategic Admiralty Law Seminar for Judges, with the theme: ‘’Towards effective Admiralty in a Blue Economy”.

    The seminar, which was organised by NIMASA and the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), in Lagos, is to equip judges with skills to resolve maritime disputes on time.

    He said: “In initiating this event, the agency is not unaware of the complex and time-sensitive nature of maritime issues and their attendant requirement for speedy resolutions often through judicial pronouncements by superior courts of records. The scenario no doubt puts pressure not only on those entrusted with the responsibility of responding to the economic exigencies, but also on judicial officers responsible for balancing important notions of justice, contract and the law.”

    The director general noted that the seminar over the years is aimed at sensitising judges on contemporary maritime law issues within and outside Nigerian jurisdiction as shipping is a multi-jurisdictional enterprise.

    He added that in line with NIMASA’s commitment towards ensuring capacity building for critical stakeholders, the agency decided to expand the scope of attendees to cover justices of the Court of Appeal because of their critical roles in the dispensation of justice.

    “This seminar was initiated by NIMASA for judges of the Federal High Court bearing in mind the exclusive jurisdiction of the court over admiralty matters.

    ‘’Over the years, however, the participating audience was expanded to include judges of the State High Courts of littoral states and now justices of the Court of Appeal because of their critical roles in the dispensation of justice in admiralty matters,” he said.

    Peterside said NIMASA realised the need for increased partnership with stakeholders, such as the judiciary, in the actualisation of “our collective vision for environmental, social and economic growth and the sustainability of our shipping and maritime transport sector in a blue economy”.

    NIALS Director General Prof. Deji Adekunle commended the NIMASA leadership for its continuous collaboration with relevant stakeholders to advance the maritime industry.

    He said the institute would continue to collaborate with the agency and provide assistance to ensure a safe and secure maritime space.

    Present at the event include former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Justice Ibrahim Auta and Justice Emmanuel Ayoola.

  • Dakuku plays the blues

    Dakuku plays the blues

    As Boko Haram has retreated as an army and played up its cowardly role as suicide bombers, the militants in the Niger Delta raised their voices as if to say, “we are still here.” They are about to break the deal since the days of Yar’Adua and return to the violence of the creeks. Why, of course, because oil price is on the rise!

    That bring our attention to the security. As Conrad said in his famous novel, The Secret Agent, the first condition of wealth is security. An agency that comes to mind is NIMASA and the man that comes to mind is Dakuku Peterside. The last time he stole public attention was when he released the annual revenue. He joined Ishaq Oloyede and the customs chief and Senate tormentor as the executive who brought up annual revenues to unprecedented highs.

    Dakuku may have to step up his game again in the area of security. Our pipelines and oil rigs may be endangered again. Our part of the world witnesses the highest piracy attacks in the world, 50 percent of kidnapping, with seafarers as significant victims. His agency now has a few strategies like the acquisition of new aircraft, helicopters and vessels as well as greater alliance with the navy and air force as well as an array of equipment. It is part of what is called the Blue Project or Blue Economy. Dakuku is playing the blues for the maritime economy.

    As the price of oil tops $70 dollars per barrel, we should prepare for the irritants of prosperity. Here If Dakuku made the wealth, we expect him to secure it.

  • Dakuku to Wike: show political will

    Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Dakuku Peterside has hailed the army and Directorate of State Service (DSS) for working together to end the life of notorious criminal Igwedibia Johnson aka Don Waney, who for long terrorized the people of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State.

    He said: “This is a confidence-building step towards restoration of law and order in Rivers State.”

    Dr Peterside commended the gallantry of the security men and urged them not to rest on their oars until all criminal elements in Rivers state were arrested and made to face their days in court.

    He said: “The people of ONELGA have been harassed, traumatized, maimed and killed needlessly. This is a great day for the people and end of the road for those who felt this day would never come. For their sponsors, they should know that there is a consequence for every action and a day of reckoning for all of us.

    ”This is a good warning to all those who think they can be protected and accommodated by politicians. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword; we must give every support to the security agencies to help them rid our state of these criminals.

    “Let me also call on the Governor Wike-led administration to create policies and programmes that will create employment opportunities for the teeming Rivers youth. The government must go beyond brick and mortar and, fashion out ways of getting our youth employed.

    “Rivers has huge potentials in agriculture and allied products; I see no reason why the state government has not looked at such opportunities to engage our youth. Governance is not just about building houses and painting roads; human capacity development is also very crucial.”

  • Maritime: Africa ready to engage others on equal terms, says Dakuku

    Maritime: Africa ready to engage others on equal terms, says Dakuku

    Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that Africa is ready to engage on equal terms with the rest of the world in the area of maritime businesses.

    Dakuku spoke at the Nor-Shipping 2017 event holding at Lillstrome, Norway.

    He stated that it was high time Africa stopped others from engaging it on their own terms.

    “Whether they bring vessels to us or just taking our cargoes; rather all we want is a mutually beneficial relationship where we can give and also receive.

    “What we are trying to do is to change the terms of engagement for the rest of the world in terms of maritime businesses. We want to operate on equal terms not lopsided terms against our own interest, thereby creating room for a mutually beneficial relationship,” the DG said.

    He stated that Nigeria decided to participate at Nor-Shipping to tell the world that it has a lot to offer.

    “There are lots of opportunities in the maritime administration of Nigeria; we are diversifying our economy, we are the biggest economy in Africa with a vast population, vast coastline of over 800 kilometres, endowed with many natural resources and a good Gross Domestic Product (GDP) among others. So, if you have to do business in Africa, you must talk about Nigeria,” he said.

    The NIMASA DG, who was recently appointed the chairman of the Association of African Maritime Administrations, stated that part of the initiative to grow the African maritime industry is to rapidly build capacity among nations within the continent.

    “If you look at the number of seafarers we have globally, it appears things are lopsided against Africa and the challenge appears to be sea time training, so we are talking about sea time and building capacity,” he said.

  • Dakuku to assist shipowners

    The President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is not happy over the foreign domination of crude oil lifting,  Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Dr Peterside Dakuku has said.

    At a workshop on “Local Content Implementation in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry: A Cost Reduction Strategy”, organised by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), on the sidelines of the 2016 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) holding in Houston, Texas, Dakuku decried the monopoly that precludes indigenous shipowners from participating in the highly-lucrative enterprise.

    He promised to assist in building indigenous operators’ capacity to participate actively in the business.

    In his paper titled: “Local Content and Cabotage Regime Implementation in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry as a Cost Reduction Strategy,” Dakuku said the involvement of the indigenous shipowners in the trade would be in the national interest.

    Their participation, he noted, would provide gainful employment for many Nigerians, reduce crime, generate more revenue and ensure security at sea and around the ports.

    The DG called on International Oil Companies (IOCs) to engage eligible Nigerians in the lifting of the country’s hydrocarbons and promised to assist in building the capacity of indigenous operators to participate more actively in ferrying Nigeria’s oil and gas resources.

    He assured operators in the oil and gas sector that the apex regulatory agency is ready to enforce its statutory responsibilities especially in the area of preserving and protecting the marine environment from the adverse impact of oil exploration and other commercial activities, warning that the NIMASA will no longer tolerate a situation where IOCs renege on the payment of levies due to it as enshrined in its enabling instruments.

    Dakuku told participants at the conference that the maritime sector in Nigeria is the soul of the country’s economy.

    “Apart from the fact that most of the oil and gas exploration, which is the major revenue earner of the country is done in the maritime environment, vessels are needed to transport these products from one point to the other making the maritime sector integral to the whole economic process,” he said.

    Dakuku also expressed concern that NIMASA as a regulatory agency of government has been grossly misunderstood and assured stakeholders of the commitment of the Buhari Administration to not only engender the development of local content in the maritime industry but also push for the review of the Cabotage Act to make it more beneficial to Nigerians.

  • Okrika attack planned to eliminate Dakuku, says APC

    Okrika attack planned to eliminate Dakuku, says APC

    AS the police investigative panel on last week’s Okrika violence begins to sit in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has compiled about 150 electoral violations  against the party by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The party alleged that the Okrika violence was planned to eliminate its governorship candidate, Dr Dakuku Peterside.

    In a statement yesterday by the media aide to the APC Chairman, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the party said the Chairman of the APC’s committee, Prince Peter Odika, compiled the violations.

    The statement said: “The committee was able to list 150 sins committed against APC by PDP leadership and members in the course of the ongoing campaign for the 2015 elections.

    “These sins revolve around attacks against APC faithful, billboards and local government secretariat by the misguided PDP elements in Rivers State, ahead of the March/April 2015 general elections.”

    Odika, who is also the Rivers State APC Deputy Chairman, said the report should be treated with the urgency it deserved.

    The committee chairman said this would prevent the PDP from plunging the state into a crisis that would not only send more APC members and other innocent persons to their earlier graves but also truncate the nation’s nascent democracy.

    The Okrika violence, which was on top of the list, resulted in the death of a policeman.

    APC alleged that it was “was principally targeted to eliminate Dr. Peterside”.

    APC State Chairman Davies Ikanya, who received the report, assured that it would be implemented.

    He said the report “would be sent to the United Nations (UN), Amnesty International (AI), the Economic Community of west African States (ECOWAS) and other major international bodies without delay”.

    Ikanya hailed Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba for directing a probe into the Okrika violence.

    The APC chairman prayed that those behind the attack should be arrested promptly, “if not, our lives may not be safe anymore”.