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Tag: Delta

  • APC members defect to PDP in Delta

    APC members defect to PDP in Delta

    All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains in Delta State have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ughelli North and Aniocha North Local Government Areas.

    Receiving the Aniocha North defectors in Issele Uku, PDP Chairman, Kingsley Esiso, said: “There is enough room for everybody, because the party’s big umbrella is a protective shade for all Deltans.

    Responding, one of the defectors, Emmanuel Chinwe, described the Delta APC as a visionless party, which is capitalising on cheap political propaganda and blackmail.

    Chinwe said other APC members in Aniocha North are warming up to dump the party before the end of the month for PDP, so as to position themselves to mobilise support for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in 2019.

    In Ughelli North, the spokesman of the defectors, David Ughelliyovwe, said they dumped the APC because the party was managed by inexperienced politicians. He said rather than come together to build a formidable platform, its members have been engaged in petty squabbles and infighting and that incidents of corruption such as the one that led to the suspension of its state secretary recently have divided the party.

    Ughelliyovwe said the APC state secretary was suspended for exposing the mismanagement of party funds by the chairman and other members of the executive committee.

    The spokesman said he and his other colleagues were motivated by the exemplary conduct of the PDP House of Assembly member representing their constituency, Hon. Eric Oharisi. He said Oharisi has been providing substantial empowerment for the people and has thereby been portraying the Okowa-led PDP administration in good light.

    Ughelliyovwe is of the view that the entire Ughelli North will dump the APC for the PDP before the end of the year.

  • ERA/FoEN alerts on dumped toxic waste in Delta

    The Environmental Rights Agenda/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has raised the alarm on the presence of substances suspected to be toxic waste in Koko community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

    ERA/FoEN, Executive Director, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo, at a briefing in Lagos, urged the Delta State Government and the National Environmental Standard and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to immediately set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the development. Ojo identified Ebenco Global Link Limited, as the company responsible for the dumping of the toxic waste in Koko community, which he claimed has been on for over three months.

    “This is not the first time this is happening. To refresh our memory, persistence ecological onslaught on the people of the Niger Delta being perpetrated by corporations and their Nigerian collaborators continues unabated leading to massive pollution of water bodies and soil contamination,” he said.

    He recalled that in 1988, Italian businessmen, Gianfranco Raffaeli and Renato Pent, of Waste Broker firms, Ecomar and Jelly Wax respectively, signed an illegal agreement with an unsuspecting Nigerian businessman, Sunday Nana, to use his property for the storage of 18,000 drums of hazardous waste for approximately $100 a month. Italy is believed to produce between 40 and 50 million tonnes of industrial waste and 16 million tonnes of household wastes each year, most of which are exported to developing countries like Nigeria for disposal, ERA noted. Nana, Ojo continued, was made to believe that the wastes were residual and allied chemicals relating to the building industry. “By the time the truth came out, it was discovered that the contents included ‘toxic and radioactive’ substances, including asbestos fibre and dioxin.” Nana was said to have died while looking after the substances.

    To address the issue, ERA/FoEN wants NESREA to live up to its responsibility of protecting the environment and enforce compliance with all environmental laws, both in Nigeria as well as international agreements, protocols and treaties on the environment to which Nigeria is signatory.

    “Delta State Ministry of Environment and the Federal Ministry of Environment should also step into the situation and collaborate for a proper commission of inquiry to unravel the persistence of toxic waste dumping in Koko. Ebenco Global Link should be compelled to clean up its mess in Koko and evacuate its hazardous wastes, including those allegedly surreptitiously buried in large quantities,” ERA/FoEN demanded.

    ERA also wants Ebenco to pay specified penalties and fines as well as compensation, to be imposed by NESREA and the Federal Government, to victims/community people whose lands have been contaminated.

  • Ndoma-Egba vows to change public perception of NDDC

    Ndoma-Egba vows to change public perception of NDDC

    The Chairman of the Governing Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba says steps are being taken to change the negative perception of the commission by the public.

    Ndoma-Egbe said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He regretted that the public image of the commission was not encouraging, adding that It would no longer be business as usual.

    According to him, members of the commission are being accused of collecting kick backs from contractors of the commission before paying them for contracts executed.

    “The story in the public is that the commission collects 10 to 15 per cent from contractors to get their payments for jobs executed.

    “This is absolutely wrong, if it is true, getting such payments from contractors would have become an industry by itself.

    “There is no reason why contractors who have met conditions for payment should not be paid without any gratification.

    “We are coming on board at a very challenging time.’’

    According to him, we must rebrand the commission and change the public perception of it as a slush fund, and this we must do through our honest work and single minded focus and discipline.Ndoma-Egba also pledged to reposition the board to enable it play its role effectively in the administration of the commission.

    He explained that the NDDC under his leadership would no longer serve as a place where things would be done without adhering strictly to set rules and order.

    “The bane of the commission seems to stem from the mentality of the leadership that once they are appointed, it is their turn to rip off the agency.

    “But the new Board and Management of the commission have understood where we are coming from and what the people expect from us and we have decided to depart from the ugly route of the past,’’ he said

    To this end, Ndoma-Egba said that on assumption of office, the management immediately swung into action by taking measures to put their house in order and change the way things were being done in the commission.

    He said this was done to show their seriousness and desire to stick to accountability and to ensure the much needed development.

    The chairman said the management assembled key members of staff and development partners for a retreat in February.

    This, he noted was part of efforts by the commission to reposition it for effective service delivery.

    “The three-day retreat, with the theme; “Collaboration for Sustainable Development”, held in Onne, Rivers State, and was attended by members of the Governing Board, directors, and strategic stakeholders from within and outside the region.

    “The retreat made it clear that the new Board and Management are solely dedicated to integrity, efficiency, transparency and accountability,” he stated.

    Speaking on abandoned projects in the region, Ndoma-Egba blamed the budget process for being “largely responsible for the spate of abandoned projects in the region.’’

    “The approach to projects has been ad hoc, arbitrary and self-serving, with very little end-user content. Many projects appear strange to beneficiary communities.

    “The projects are imposed on them and it creates crisis of ownership.

    “It will be apt to expect that with the combination of the chairman and the managing director in the saddle, a new era of rapid physical development driven by accountability will for once dominate the affairs of the commission.

    “Indeed, those who have taken time to look into the books of the commission are quick to point out that the amount of money received by the intervention agency since its establishment in 2000.“It is not commensurate with the quantity and quality of projects in the nine oil producing states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Imo, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Rivers.

  • Delta govt. to take necessary steps to make hotels pay annual fees – Commissioner

    The Delta Government said on Monday it would take all necessary steps to ensure that hotels in the state paid their annual dues to it.

    The state’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Dan Okenyi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba that many of the hotels in the state had not paid their registration and annual fees in the past one year.

    He said it was from the hospitality industry that the state’s tourism board generated its income.

    “So, we are coming up with measures in the next few weeks to ensure full compliance with the provision of the law, which mandates hotels to annually register and pay annual registration fees.

    “We are also going to come up with circulars very soon and we will give hotel owners four weeks after, which they will stand the risk of having their hotels sealed off,’’ he said.

    Okenyi further said the directorate took the issue of revenue generation seriously.

    According to him, the tourism industry in the state has the potential energy to strengthen the revenue base of the state.

    “We have also developed the tourism sites of the state and made them more attractive so that those who visit the state can visit them.

    “So, you can rest assured that in the next few months, we will raise the revenue profile of this directorate,’’ the commissioner said.

    Okenyi noted that Delta was blessed with great tourism potentials, which if fully harnessed, could attract more investment to the state.

    The commissioner said the state had 15 tourism sites, some of which are owned by both the Federal Government and the private sector.

    “Some of the tourism sites in the state include the Lander Brothers Anchorage; Ethiope River Source; the Turf; Falcon Mangrove Park; Nana Living History Museum; Araya Bible Site; and the Mandela Garden.

    “The Burial Palace of Olu of Warri, Demas Nwoko Villa; Olona Ranch; and Holiday Resort; Mount of Ned Nwoko Castle; and the Obi’s Palace are some of the other sites.

    “We also have Effurun Garden Park; Anchor/Slave Relic; and the National Museum and Monuments, also Known As Mongo Park,’’ he said.

     

  • Petroleum University matriculates 1,114 students

    Petroleum University matriculates 1,114 students

    The Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), in Effurun, Delta on Tuesday matriculated 1,114 students for the 2016/2017 academic session.

    The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Akaehomen Ibhadode, represented at the ceremony by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Arubayi, urged the students to be of conduct during their stay in the institution, assuring them of a good learning environment.

    “I urge you to make use of available opportunities in this institution to become productive in your careers.

    “This institution has zero tolerance for examination malpractice, drug abuse, cultism and other social vices.

    “Anybody caught will face the wrath of the law, so I advise you students to know why you are here and take your studies with all seriousness.

    “FUPRE had a pioneer set of 51 students at its maiden matriculation in 2008. Today, the university is matriculating over 1,000 students for the first time since its inception,” he said.

    Ibhadode urged the students to see their admission as opportunity to project themselves and the image of the university to the outside world.

    One of the matriculating students, Miss Mary Ejiro, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that she would put in her best in the institution.

    “I will study hard to make my parents proud of me,” she said.

     

  • Gunmen kidnap businessman’s wife in Delta

    Gunmen on Tuesday night kidnapped a middle-aged housewife of a businessman, Mrs Christie Orakeme, at her family home in Asaba.

    Family sources told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Asaba that Orakeme was kidnapped in her car at about 10.25 p.m. while waiting for her son to open the gate for her.

    The source, who is a son of the victim, simply identified as Junior, narrated how the gunmen shot into the air as they drove off in high speed with their victim.

    “My mother went out at about 9 p.m. to attend to some urgent matters in the church. She returned and was waiting at the gate for us to open the gate for her, when some armed men attacked her.

    “They forced her out of her car and put her in their own car, a Mercedes Benz car, and zoomed off. I gave them a chase on foot, and was shouting for help, but no one came out,”Junior said.

    NAN further gathered that the kidnappers had called the family last night with the victim’s cell phone demanding a ransom of N60 million, but later reduced the amount to N25 million.

    Husband of the victim, Mr Osita Orakeme, who arrived from his base in Oghara, near Warri , also confirmed to NAN that the kidnappers called him twice, and have reduced their ransom demand to N25 million.

    “They have called me twice, in fact they called to say I should give them N25 million, but I told them I don’t have such amount of money, and they hung up the phone,”he said.

    Contacted, spokesperson of the Delta Police Command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed the incident to NAN on phone, and said the police had commenced investigations after the family reported the matter late Tuesday night.

    “I have been able to confirm the kidnap after the matter was reported to the ‘A’ Division of the State Police Command. Firstly, we have to do everything humanly possible to rescue the victim unhurt.

    “We also need every available information to help us to track down the kidnappers,“Aniamaka said. (NAN)

  • “Boxers train under mango tree in Delta”- Okorodudu

    “Boxers train under mango tree in Delta”- Okorodudu

    Nigeria’s boxer in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Jerry Okorodudu,  has condemned how existing and up-and-coming boxers train under a mango tree in Asaba, Delta.

    Okorodudu said this was due to the absence of a boxing gymnasium in Delta that could enhance the promotion of the sport.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that the boxers usually trained under a mango tree at a corner beside the Asaba Township Stadium.

    “It is a shame for Delta not to have a standard boxing gymnasium where its boxers can use for practice; instead the boxers and their coaches train under a mango tree.

    “I am calling on the present administration in  Delta State to visit this issue, and pay adequate attention to the plights of existing and upcoming boxers,” he said.

    He said that such a problem should not be identified with a state that had produced boxers that had represented the nation at in international competitions.

    “Many of the country’s boxers at the Olympics were from Delta State. We are a force to reckon with also at national championships.

    “The records are there for anyone that wants to verify.

    “We have William Azanor, (56kg) in 1980 Moscow Olympics, Christopher Ossair, (60kg) two-time Olympian, 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles, in which I also featured.

    “Joe Orewa (52kg) and Peter Konyegbachi also represented the nation at the 1984Olympics, while Gabriel Onoko, (52kg) was in Barcelona Olympics.

    “The most recent boxer is Efe Ajagba ( +91kg) category who was at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

    “With all these stars, Delta should have a standard gymnasium,’’ he said.

    The Brisbane Commonwealth bronze medalist was optimistic that the state would produce more boxers that would make the country proud at national and international scenes, if provided with a modern gymnasium.

    Such gymnasium must be equipped with modern facilities such as a boxing ring, boxing bags, assorted guards and coaching/training pad to enhance their training, he said.

  • Reps to probe dumping of toxic waste in Delta

    The House of Representatives, yesterday in Abuja, passed a resolution to investigate the dumping of toxic waste in Koko community in Delta State.

    The House mandated its committees on Environment and Habitat, Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Gas Resources to investigate the extent of the environmental impact of the toxic waste on the community.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion, titled: “Need to Investigate the Dumping of Toxic Waste in Koko Community of Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State,’’ sponsored by Rep. Daniel Reyenieju (PDP-Delta).

    Moving the motion, Reyenieju recalled that in June 1988, toxic waste was dumped in Koko, which resulted in illnesses and environmental damage to the aquatic life of the people.

    He expressed concern that apart from the incidence that happened in 1988, there was a recurrence in 2017 which violates the environmental guideline and standard for the petroleum industry in Nigeria.

    The lawmaker said was 80 per cent of oily sludge was  hazardous because of the presence of toxic organics, such as aromatics, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and complex compounds with very high molecular weights.

    “The consumption or absorption of toxic and carcinogenic contaminants by plants and lower animals will ultimately lead to bioaccumulation in humans from food chain in nature which will result in failure of organs and ultimately death.

    “During the rainy season, surface and underground water which is the source of drinking water for the people is gravely contaminated through seepage of toxic and carcinogenic substances into aquifer.

    “The area around the dump site is residential and a primary school, with its numerous pupils and teachers, also share a common perimeter fence with the dump site facility,’’ Reyenieju said.

    The House mandated the relevant committees to report back their findings within four weeks for further legislative action

  • ‘Ibori‘ll continue to be a factor in Delta’

    For the National Chairman of Abigborodo  in Delta State, who also doubles as Secretary of Delta State Chapter of the Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM), Comrade Monday Agbeyi, ex- Delta State Governor James Onanefe Ibori is still a factor in the Niger Delta.

    The activist said Ibori’s return to Nigeria was not a surprise.

    According to him, the warm reception Ibori received when he returned to the country was a demonstration of the love people have for him.

    “The joy and enthusiasm to see him cannot be more demonstrated than the large turnout of supporters and well-wishers at the airport. The place was filled with political gladiators across the state and beyond.

    While recognizing the sentiment of those criticizing Ibori,  Agbeyi said in life, man is naturally faced with challenges, and such challenges with tenacity of purpose and hope will be surmounted, saying, “Chief Ibori has faced his own challenges as a human being and more importantly as a politician, and we are glad that he has overcome at the end.”

    He wondered why there have been so much interest in Ibori’s case as, “there is no one that has served as a governor or in any top political position for that matter that has 100 per cent clean record. James Ibori may have his own miscalculations as a mortal being, but it must be stated here that some of the allegations that put the former governor in the judicial crisis he found himself are spurious. Though, Chief Ibori cannot be said to be a saint but the allegations against him in my estimation were blown out of proportion to score cheap political goals against him.”.

    According to him, Ibori’s release would alter the political landscape of Delta State.

    “This is because a lot of political lightweights and pretenders holding sway while Ibori was away will disappear to give room for qualitative politicking. Due and real democratic consultations and strategies shall be brought forth for the political and socio-economic advancement of the people of the state,” Agbeyi said.

    On his advice for the ex-Delta governor, he said  he should take his rightful position as a political godfather in Delta State and should call all aggrieved members of PDP in the state and reconcile them for a stronger force.

    “He should work with other political apostles on the way forward for the betterment of the state and Nigeria at large. His joining of other prominent politicians nationally to bring about a desirable progress in the political landscape of the country is a task he must aspire to actualise.”

    He believes Ibori will continue to be relevant in the Delta State politics because  he  impacted positively on the development of the state while his tenure lasted. He left his footprints in the sands of time.

    “He will continue to be so recognised for his giant strides in the political development of the state. For this reason, his political relevance will remain in the front burner at all times among his people and Nigerian politics generally.”

    He advised that all the ethnic groups in the Niger Delta must come together advising that all the ethnic leaders must be mindful of their utterances so as to avoid confrontations and seek peaceful and legal means to settle disputes because  “these are panacea to peaceful co-existence anywhere and Delta state should not be an exception.”

    He believes Nigeria is not working the way it is supposed to be.

     

  • Delta APC condemns celebration of Ibori’s return

    Delta APC condemns celebration of Ibori’s return

    The Delta state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has
    condemned the celebration of the return of former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, from the United Kingdom after serving a jail term.

    The party, in a statement made available to the Nation in Warri on Sunday
    by its acting Publicity Secretary, Leonard Obibi, also dissociated itself
    from the party-like reception accorded the former governor, saying it was
    not affiliated with in any way.

    The APC said it was repulsed by the huge merriment that had
    been displayed by Ibori’s followers, noting that it had rather
    compounded the feeling of hurt imposed on the people of the state by the
    over 17 years of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rule in the state.

    “The return of Chief James Onanefe Ibori, a former PDP Governor of Delta
    State, after his recent release from serving a prison sentence on
    conviction for money laundering and corruption charges, and upon his
    deportation from the United Kingdom (UK), has seen his family and motley of
    his PDP political associates, friends and supporters (many of them
    self-serving) celebrating his return to his home town in Delta State.

    “In the course of these events, it was observed that a few of our party
    members who are relatives, acquaintances or former associates of Chief
    Ibori also took the chance to join in paying him visits which were widely
    publicized. Inadvertently, the media tended to play up this perspective,
    and in the process contrived a false impression that our party, APC Delta,
    may have joined in celebrating the return of Chief Ibori.

    “APC Delta therefore wishes to state emphatically and put it on record that
    unlike the PDP which invented, fertilized and has been perpetuating
    corruptive tendencies in Delta State, and which for whatever reasons chose
    to identify with a return of one of their own, APC Delta is not affiliated
    in any way with these celebrations. Chief Ibori has remained the principal
    leader and fulcrum of the PDP political organ in Delta State that
    represents everything that the opposition has been combating since the
    inception of the current democratic dispensation.

    “We also wish to reaffirm that APC Delta is repulsed by the excessive
    spectacle of merriment that was put on display by the PDP and its allies
    because it does not communicate the concerned feelings or reactions of the
    larger Delta society. It is a flaw of opinion and an irony of the reality
    on ground for anybody to link or tag Deltans in general, many of whom have
    continued to suffer under the yoke of the PDP to this celebration. Also,
    APC Delta seizes this opportunity to caution its members and notify the
    larger public not to drag into or associate its name with the imprudent
    actions of few individuals.

    “APC Delta metamorphosed from a myriad of progressive parties that have
    stood in opposition to the PDP since 1999, and have since its formation
    fought tooth and nail against the corrupted rule of the PDP in Delta State;
    and our party remains focused and committed to rescuing Delta State from
    the depravities of self-service and corruptive tendencies that drives the
    PDP political machinery”, the statement said.