The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Delta

  • ‘Delta should be more conducive for business’

    ASSOCIATION of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) has highlighted multiple-taxation and the hostile attitude of indigenes as factors impeding business in Delta State.

    Speaking at a meeting of APBN’s board in Effurun, over the weekend, state Chairman John Aikpokpo-Martins noted that the government should  ease things for investors.

    According to the body, the hostile environment investors go through led to the relocation of many businesses from Delta to places of friendlier  environment.

    Aikpokpo-Martins said: “If you look at the issue of taxation, no development, no light. If you buy a piece of land, some people will tell you if you don’t pay some certain amount of money you won’t develop. All these things must stop.

  • Vigilante kills three at a funeral in Delta

    An unidentified member of Otokutu Community Vigilance Group, suspected to have taken doses of a drug, at the weekend allegedly killed members of a social club and a fish seller, who attended a funeral at Otokutu Primary School, Ughelli, in Ughelli South Local Government of Delta State.

    The three people allegedly killed by the vigilante were Mr. James Efemine, aka Senator; Mr. Sharp Omosohwofa and another man identified as a fish seller at Agbarho market.

    A source, who preferred anonymity, said until the incident, the funeral was peaceful; adding that he did not know what could have led to their deaths.

    The source said: “The manner the vigilance group members brandished their guns made us to suspect that they had taken drugs. If not, what would have made them to shoot three people?”

    The Nation learnt that two of the deceased, Efemine and Omosohwofa, were members of Eyerikugbe Social Club.

    It was gathered that immediately the vigilante allegedly killed the victims, he bolted, threatening to kill anybody who tried to apprehend him.

    Police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka confirmed the incident, saying the head of the vigilance group had been invited for interrogation.

    He said investigation was on.

     

  • What APC must do to win Delta in 2019

    With its recent gains, there is growing confidence the camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the party would Delta in 2019. For the first time, leaders of Delta’s opposition now appear largely united in one political party.

    APC now boasts of the revolutionary Chief Great Ogboru, the strategic-thinking Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the positively aggressive Dr. Cairo Ojugbo, the top-level operator Dr. Marian Ali, the youthful, brilliant Rt. Hon Victor Ochei, and a host of other major political actors in Delta. But to win, the party must avoid the pitfalls of 2015; dare to be different from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and adopt bold winning strategies that are easily acceptable to the electorate. To do this, APC must first look at itself in the mirror and answer some tough questions on its 2015 outing in Delta. First, why did the party perform very poorly in Delta in the 2015 general elections? Why was it difficult for the APC to win any elective position in the State? With Olorogun Otega Emerhor as APC’s governorship candidate, why did the party lose governorship election in Delta State?  What really went wrong?

    Some leaders of the party have been quick to give several reasons for APC’s curiously poor outing, including what has become known as PDP’s ‘senseless rigging’. But beyond the plausibility of PDP’s ‘senseless rigging’, it seems facts resting in the bowels of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suggest that the Delta APC in 2015 was no realistic on its readiness, projections and feedbacks to Abuja. This was against the advice of some people men like Chief Frank Ovie Kokori. For APC to make impact in 2019, it would be right to party to be realistic in its approach in order not to repeat what happened in 2015, as a new, robust Delta APC marches towards 2019.

    For the party to make impact in 2019, efforts should be made to accommodate powerful blocs in the party. A cult of individual cannot guide APC to victory in Delta.This must be struck down now if 2019 must make good meaning and produce fruits for the party.

    By its present configuration, the new Delta APC is not where anyone should impose himself as a leader . That is not how President Muhammadu Buhari or Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu earned their political leadership. Theirs came organically from their overwhelming political popularity, clear records of electoral sagacity and victories.

    People like Great Ogboru have a unique grassroots electoral pedigree and popularity to mobilize Delta’s electorate for APC’s victory. For the many who believe in Ogboru’s school of thought, zoning is an easy way to infect the APC in Delta with incurable virus. They prefer credible primaries where delegates would freely choose APC’s candidates based on their faith in the candidates of their choice. They want free and fair elections where the electorate would elect their own leaders.

     

    • Dr. Okorobie, a political economist, wrote from Kwale, Delta State.

  • Policeman killed, three others injured in Delta

    A police sergeant has been killed and three others injured as armed youths opened fire on a police patrol van at Obo-Deti community in Ndokwa West Local Government of Delta State, following a communal violence.

    The Nation learnt that the youth took the rifle of the deceased policeman.

    The incident, which occurred yesterday at 6:30 am, caused panic, as many fled their homes for fear of arrest by the police.

    A source said the police arrested youths allegedly involved in the communal crises and while they were on their way out of the community, they were attacked.

    The source said officers injured in the attack included two assistant superintendents of police and an inspector attached to Abbi and Kwale police divisions.

    He said trouble started over a dispute regarding the location of a transformer donated by the government in the community.

    It was gathered that youths loyal to a top government official informed him of the incident and he allegedly mobilised security agents to arrest youths in the opposing camp.

    Over 25 youths have reportedly been arrested.

    The Nation learnt that soldiers have been drafted to the community to maintain peace.

    Police Commissioner Mr. Mustafa Muhammadu confirmed the incident.

    He said:  “Yes, of course, we are investigating the matter. They went to effect an arrest for attempted murder. The team had made the arrest and were on their way out when armed youths accosted them and opened fire on them. A sergeant died and two others were injured.”

    Muhammadu denied that a top government official was being questioned in connection with the arrest.

    “Twenty-five persons have been arrested. We are closing in on finding the gun.”

  • Policeman killed, three others injured in Delta

    A police sergeant was killed yesterday and three others injured when armed youths opened fire on a police patrol van at Obo-Deti community in Ndokwa West Local Government of Delta State.

    The incident followed a communal violence.

    The killing, which occurred at 6:30am, caused panic, as many fled their homes for fear of arrest by the police

    The Nation learnt that the police arrested youths allegedly involved in the communal crisis.

    It was gathered that the injured officers included two assistant superintendents of police and an inspector attached to Abbi and Kwale divisions.

    A source said trouble started over a dispute concerning the location of a transformer donated by the government.

    The source said youths loyal to a top government official informed him of the incident, and he allegedly mobilised security agents to arrest youths in the opposing camp.

    He said over 40 youths have been arrested.

    The Nation gathered that an aide to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is being detained at the Police Command in connection with the violence.

    It was learnt that soldiers have been drafted to maintain peace in the community.

    Efforts to reach police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka proved abortive, as he did not pick his calls.

    Aniamaka also did not respond to text messages.

  • 13,000 PVCs yet to be collected in Warri – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Delta said that 13,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were yet to be collected in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta.

    The Administrative Secretary of INEC,  Mrs Rose Orianran-Anthony disclosed this  when she led a delegation  from the commission on a visit to the  Chairman of the Local Government, Mr Michael Tidi.

    Orianran-Anthony who said that the voters would not be eligible to  vote without the PVCs, added  that a lot needed  to be done in terms of sensitisation.

    She called on the chairman to help the commission to sensitise his constituents on the need for them to collect their PVCs.

    Orianran-Anthony also appealed to the chairman to educate voters on dangers of double registration.

    She also advised politicians to  wait for 90 days to election before embarking on campaign.

    In his remark, Tidi said that the local government would soon be embark on sensitisation in the riverine area.

    He promised to give INEC the necessary support to organise a successful general election in 2019

    He noted that it was the responsibility of the local government to sensitise its people.

    NAN

  • AIB releases preliminary reports involving DANA, Delta , Nestor Oil aircraft

    AIB releases preliminary reports involving DANA, Delta , Nestor Oil aircraft

    THE Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has released preliminary reports for the on-going investigation into the serious incidents involving Delta Air Airbus A330-223 aircraft with registration N858NW, which occurred after take-off from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on February  13, 2018.

    The bureau also released the preliminary reports on the accident involving the DANA Air MD – 83 marked 5N-SRI that overran the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport on March 5,2018 and the accident involving Gulfstream G200 aircraft belonging to Nestor Oil with registration number 5N-BTF, which occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe  International Airport, Abuja on January 25, 2018.

    According to AIB, the reports contain factual information on the three occurrences and not their probable causes as investigations are still ongoing.

    They include information gathered from witnesses’ statements and  preliminary inspection of the aircraft and the accident sites.

    AIB Commissioner Akin Olateru, while commenting on the release of the reports, reiterated the agency’s commitment to release reports promptly to enhance safety.

    “We are seriously committed to releasing investigation reports on time. This is one way to ensure that such occurrences are prevented from repeating themselves and conform with the purpose of accident investigation.”

    According to the report, the Delta A330-223 aircraft was on a schedule flight with 221 passengers and 13 crew on board , when it made an air return few minutes after take-off following a fire warning on one of the engines.

    The aircraft landed at about 2259hrs and stopped on runway 18R.

    The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) reported observing fire on one of engines and extinguished it. Passengers were evacuated using the emergency slides on the right side of the aircraft. One passenger sustained serious injury. Eleven suffered minor injuries.

    It reads: “Initial Findings by AIB indicated that the flight crew were certified and qualified to conduct the flight in accordance with applicable FAA regulations. Number One engine fire warning came on about a minute after take-off, while the crew at 2252.25hrs contacted ATC and declared emergency.

    “The report stated that the aircraft landed at about 2259hrs and stopped on runway 18R, where the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service first reported observing smoke, and fire on the Number One engine.

    “AIB also reported that there was evidence of fire within the engine cowling, even as the two fire extinguishers on the engine were discharged.

    “A commotion was reported onboard the aircraft before the evacuation.

    “Investigation is still ongoing and further investigative actions may include engine examination, material testing for the fuel manifolds, engine oil and hydraulic lines, inspection of fuel manifolds for crack and inspection of fuel nozzle braze joints for leaks.”

    On  Dana Air MD-83, the report indicated that it took off from Abuja and had an uneventful flight to Port Harcourt  and was cleared to land by the Air Traffic Control.

    It reads: “The crew reported that the runway had experienced recent rain before arrival and after touch down, looked and felt contaminated with flood of water that did not drain well.

    “Other findings include the fact that after the aircraft came to a complete stop, emergency evacuation was carried out using only the left forward main door and the escape slide on this door did not deploy just as the Public Address System did not work.

    “The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service arrived during the evacuation and all persons onboard were evacuated unhurt.”

    According to AIB, it was notified about the accident involving Nestor Oil Gulf Stream 200 aircraft by Abuja Air Traffic Control (ATC) on Thursday January 25, 2018.

    The aircraft was operating a chartered flight service to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (DNAA) with  four passengers and three crew onboard.

     

  • Delta introduces CBT

    The Delta State Government has said the conduct of examination for pupils seeking admission into secondary school in the state will be computer based.

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who spoke at the introduction of CBT Application for secondary school in Asaba, reiterated his commitment to ensuring qualitative education in the with more emphasis on the education sub-sector.

    He admitted that more computer laboratories were needed in secondary schools, adding that the government will address the lapse.

    Okowa, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Tam Birisibe, urged students to be computer literate, saying they would otherwise be disadvantaged, especially in the modern era.

    Education Commissioner, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, said the Okowa administration has “demonstrated devotion in enhancing education standard  in the state, especially in the widespread provision of conducive infrastructural development.

    His words: “This occasion is unique as information Communication Technology (ICT) remains the hub of development in all sectors of human endeavour. Our students and indeed, the school system, must as a matter of urgency, key into global practice for optimal output.’’

    He urged parents to take advantage of the novelty and ensure that students avail themselves of the application to excel in their academic sojourn.

     

  • Suspected cultist beheaded in Delta

    Suspected cultist beheaded in Delta

    There was panic yesterday at Ogwashi-Uku, in Aniocha South Local Government of Delta State.

    A suspected cultist, identified as Ekene, was beheaded following a cult clash.

    Ogwashi-Uku has witnessed an upsurge in cult-related violence and arson. Hoodlums have set ablaze houses in the last few weeks.

    The Nation learnt that policemen from Ogwashi-Uku Police Division have arrested four youths for alleged complicity in the murder of Ekene.

    It was gathered that Ekene was allegedly killed by a gang of suspected cultists on a reprisal.

    A source said the deceased was repeatedly shot before he was killed with an axe at Agidiase quarters.

    The source said the murder of Ekene, who was alleged to be a member of Arubagger cult, was a fallout of an earlier fight between the group and Aye cult.

    Police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka confirmed the incident. He said he would give details, but did not do so last night.

  • Delta to build three modular refineries

    Delta to build three modular refineries

    Delta State Government is to buld three modular refineries of 10,000 barrel/day capacity each this year.

    The refineries, according to the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Hon. Mofe Pirah, who spoke with reporters at the state’s stand at the ongoing first Nigerian International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) in Abuja, will be sited in Kwale, Okpai and Sapele.

    He said aside securing the certificates and acquiring the sites, the engineering works had begun, but that the bureaucracy at the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and funding were delaying the flag-off of construction.

    His words: “Delta State already has three modular refineries waiting to take off in Sapele, Nkwale, and Okpai of combined capacity of less than 10,000 barrel per day.

    “You know the rigour you go through with DPR, with funding and all of that. Some of them are have gotten certificates, some have acquired the sites and engineering works is in progress. This year, they will start to construction.”

    Speaking, the Consultant to Delta State Government on the Industrial Park Project (IPP), Dr. David Ige, said 100,000 jobs were underway from the project.

    He said Governor Ifeanyi Okowe had initiated the project in Kwale, where the state was leveraging on its own gas competitive advantage for industrialisation.

    Continuing, he said the park, designed to be the largest single small and medium manufacturing location in the country, would tap from the marginal field in Kwale area.

    He added that “the idea is that we are trying to create a corridor for the manufacturing of glass, ceramic, and plastics. The reason being that the raw materials are within 50 to 70 kilometres radius of the Kwale Industrial Park.”

    Ige said the park would boast of the huge reliability in gas and power in the country compare with anywhere else.