The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Delta

  • Ugborodo crisis: Warring factions meet

    Ugborodo crisis: Warring factions meet

    The protracted crisis in Ugborodo, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State may end soon.

    Stakeholders and leaders of the two warring factions at a meeting in Warri agreed to pursue peace and unity.

    But leader of one of the two factions, David Tonwe, was absent.

    His delegate could not represent him because proxy attendance was not allowed.

    The meeting, which was said to be a follow-up to a March 20 meeting in Abuja, was described as one that would bring a united and peaceful Ugborodo.

    The Abuja meeting had resolved, among other things, “to maintain peace in the community while anybody seen with arms will face the law.

    “That displaced persons must freely return to their communities and not disrupt work at the NNPC EPZ Gas City Project being sited in Ogidigben, one of the five Ugborodo communities.”

    It was gathered the agreements reached at the Warri meeting showed that normalcy could return before the end of March.

    A source, who was part of the meeting, said the two factions agreed to constitute the EPZ committee for peace to reign.

    “Resolving the crisis is almost a done deal. I am not disposed to speak, but I can assure you before the end of March or by first week of April, a new, united Ugborodo would be born.

    “Both parties have committed to constituting the new EPZ committee, which has been the nagging issue.”

     

  • Delta election dispute: ECOWAS Court to give judgment against Nigeria, NJC

    Delta election dispute: ECOWAS Court to give judgment against Nigeria, NJC

    Baring any untoward hindrances, the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Court) may proceed to give judgment against Nigeria in a case of rights violation initiated by a Nigerian, Jude Eluemuno Azekwoh.

    This is because the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council (NJC), who are defendants in the suit, declined to respond to the suit filed on December 9 last year, with processes duly served on them.

    The defendants’ refusal to enter defence, the plaintiff argued in a fresh application, violates the requirement under Article 35(1) of the court’s rules, which require a defendant to enter defence within a month of being served with originating processes in respect of a pending case.

    In the new application filed by lawyer to the plaintiff, Bernard Udemba “an order entering final judgment against the defendants as per the claims in the originating summons dated November 27, 2013” was sought.

    The plaintiff, in the application pursuant to Articles 35(1) and 90(1) of the court’s rules 2002, argued that by declining to enter defence within the required time, meant that the defendants have acted in breach of Article 90(1) of the court’s rules.

    Article 90(1) provides that “if a defendant, on whom an application initiating proceedings has been duly served, fails to lodge a defence to the application in the proper form within the time prescribed, the applicant may apply for judgement by default.”

    The plaintiff hinged his application among others, on the ground that since the defendants have failed to enter defence by virtue of Article 75 of the court’s rules, “the court can now proceed to deliver judgment in default” because the defendants have exceeded the required 30 days within which they ought to enter defence.

    “The applicant has, by this application, exercised the right to proceed for default judgment in the event that the defendants’ failure to file defence.

    “The combined effect of Articles 35(1) and 90(1) of the rules of this court is that judgment can now be made against the defendants, the plaintiff having applied for it,” Azekwoh said.

    He argued that the defendants’ refusal to enter defence, having been duly served with the originating processes, ought to be seen as a disrespect to the court’s authority.

    The plaintiff contended that the defendants’ continued refusal to respond to the suit amounted to an abuse of the court’s  process. He urged the court to protect its authority and dignity from abuses by proceeding to give judgment against the defendants, as required under its rules.

    Azekwoh principally accused the defendants of unjustly denying him the opportunity of having his case properly adjudicated upon by the Nigerian judicial system.

    The plaintiff, who seeks among others, $10million as compensation, argued that by their actions or inaction, the defendants violated his rights as guaranteed under Sections 3, 7 and 13 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR).

    Azekwoh participated in the 2011 Delta North Senatorial election as a candidate of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), which Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa of the People’s Democratic Party ((PDP) won.

    Dissatisfied with the outcome, he went before the Electoral Tribunal to contest the result.  The tribunal struck out his petition on the ground that his application for the pre-trial session was not by way of motion. He appeal the judgment at the Court of Appeal, Benin, Edo State where he claimed his appeal was unfairly dismissed.

    His recourse to the ECOWAS Court, he said, was because of the alleged failure of the NJC, an agency of the Federal Government with control over the nation’s judiciary, to act on the petitions written by his lawyer, Dipo  Okpeseyi (SAN), asking the NJC to look into the case.

    Okpeseyi, had in one of the petitions, said Azekwoh’s “petition was sacrificed on the altar of technicalities” at both the tribunal and the appeal, thereby leaving unresolved, the questions raised about the competence of the PDP candidate now occupying the disputed senatorial seat.

    “The decision and approach of the panel of justices of the Court of Appeal, Benin in respect of this matter, violently violated our client’s right to fair hearing, compromised his appeal and has occasioned miscarriage of justice,” Okpeseyi said in one of the petitions, copies of which formed parts of the court documents.

    Azekwoh argued that where his appeal against a decision of an electoral  tribunal was “dismissed for no reason in law and in fact, without hearing,” his right to equality before the law, protection of the law, fair hearing and right to participate in government, guaranteed by the ACHPR, has been violated.

    He is praying the ECOWAS court to declare:

    * “That his right to equality before the law and protection was violated as the Appeal Court in Benin allegedly refused to hear his appeal on no justifiable legal or factual ground;

    *”That his rights, as a Nigerian and citizen of ECOWAS, to have his case heard at the appellate level of  the country’s court and be accorded fair hearing were violated when the Court of Appeal, Benin refused to hear his appeal no: CA/B/EPT/230/2011;

    *”That the failure of the NJC to act on his petitions has resulted in the continued breach of his right to fair hearing  and freedom to participate in the government contrary to Articles 7 and 13 of the ACHPR.

     

  • Delta, City of Shenzhen to promote close ties

    Delta, City of Shenzhen to promote close ties

    Delta state government and the city of Shenzhen in Southern China Guangdon province have pledged to promote close partnership in the development of green economy.

    This commitment to work together as reported in the Chinese local media, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily states that: “Dr. Tang Jie, Vice Mayor met the delegation of the Delta State of Nigeria headed by Mr. Paul Odili with Mr David Oladiran and Mrs Felicia Adu on the team. Mr. Tang and Mr. Odili expressed their wishes to cooperate in new energy transportation, logistics, port, carbon trade and other areas related to green economy.

    Mr. Tang introduced to the Nigerian guests Shenzhen’s economic performance, public transportation powered by new energy, laws and regulations on green buildings, carbon trade mechanism and other innovative practices. He said that China is building the maritime Silk Road in earnest. Shenzhen is an important transition in China; the Delta State is the gateway to Africa. He expected great prospect in the cooperation between the two sides.

    Mr. Odili, the project manager of Green Economy for the Delta State, said that the Delta State is rich in oil, minerals and palm oil. The Delta State is trying to encourage the growth of green economy through international cooperation. His visit was aimed to learn about the history and present the development of Shenzhen as a special economic zone and Shenzhen’s experience and practice in opening its economy to the world.

    He also said that that Delta is ready to work with Shenzhen government and business interest and expressed his appreciation for the warm reception accorded the three man delegation from Delta state.

    Shenzhen with a population of 10 million people has per capita income of $20,000 and a GDP of $200 billion, has achieved great success in promoting environmental sustainability and by developing its economy on hi-tech, advanced manufacturing and high-end services.

  • Court orders Shell to pay Delta community N305.637m

    AN Asaba High Court has ordered Shell Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) to pay N305,637,381.60 as special and general damages to no fewer than 400 people in the fishing community of Okia in Burutu Local Government Area of the State.

    Delivering judgement in a suit instituted in 2001 by Pius Gbenevei, Benson Barda, Chief Francis Gold, Chief Ben Ekiokanga and Reuben Braboke on behalf of the communit, Justice Ibrahim Buba said the money was special and general damages for the destruction of the plaintiffs properties and capital value for temporary loss of income in fishing rights.

    The judge also awarded allowance for drinking water for the plaintiffs.

    The plaintiffs prayed the court for N232,837million as capital value for the temporary loss of income from fishing; N9,019,068 for fishing nets, graded; N4,500,000 as allowance for fresh water supply among others.

    The plaintiffs averred that sometimes in August 1998, there was crude oil spillage from the defendant’s Forcados Offshore loading terminal baseline called 48″ Forcados Loading Spill August 20, 1998 in which some barrels of crude oil spilled into the Forcados and Ramos rivers.

    They alleged that the defendant negligently allowed the spill to be dispersed by tide, current and sea waves, thereby spreading to Okia community and resulting in the extensive damage to fishing gears, ponds, farmlands, crops, fishing channels swamps, among others.

    The plaintiffs averred that as a result, “the community resources for livelihood became irredeemable devoid of the wealth of fish and marine snails, crabs, periwinkles and mollusks for fishing as a result of escape of fish from the rivers and creaks and by direct annihilation of the fish and marine snails, crabs among others in the swamps, lakes, ponds and canals.

    They had claimed that the soil could no longer supports the growth of crops and that the forest, production of native salt and wood essential to their wellbeing were adversely affected by the spillage.

    According to the plaintiffs, the property of the inhabitants of the community,s including fishing nets, fishing lines and fishing traps which were set in the canals, rivers, lakes, creaks and ponds were completely destroyed by the spillage from the defendant’s 48″ Forcados Offshore Loading terminal base/line consequent upon which they claimed to have complained to the defendants on August 26, 1998, asking for compensation.

    The plaintiffs claimed to have written a letter to the defendant through their counsel, Ugwuka Nnmadi on September 25, 1998, informing them of the devastating effect of the spillage on their property and requested for compensation.

    They averred that up till the time of the institution of the suit, the defendant allegedly refused to carry out a joint field investigation and assessment of their claims as promised but that instead the defendants continue to carry out normal operations in the area since 1998 till date.

    While waiting for the supply of relief materials, assessment and verification of their claims and payment of compensation by the defendant based on the assurance by the state government, the plaintiffs claimed that the defendant instead wrote to the community on November 29, 1999 that its management has approved N400,000 to the fishing community as ex-gratial payment so as to maintain cordial relationship with the host community.

    They averred that it is only when spillage occurred and is investigated by the defendant and found to have occurred as a result of sabotage that the defendant can offer ex-gratial payment purely to maintain cordial relationship with the host community, adding that this was not the case in the said spillage that occurred at 48″ Forcados Offshore Loading terminal base/line.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Delta Governor’s Cup 2014 kicks off

    Delta Governor’s Cup 2014 kicks off

    After watching Comprehensive Secondary School, Ogwashi-Uku, cart away a cash prize of two million naira and a 30-seater Coaster bus last year, all secondary schools in Delta State have been waiting eagerly for the kick off of the 2nd edition of the Delta State Governor’s Cup football competition. The moment has come.

    Over 25,000 school children from 200 secondary schools from across the state watched last year’s final at the Warri City Stadium, where Comprehensive School defeated Alegbo Secondary School, Effurun, 1-0 to emerge the overall champion.

    The enthusiasm generated in that epic final has increased the number of entries for the 2014 edition. A total number of 456 secondary schools from the 25 local council areas of the state are in the race.

    Fixtures made available to journalists Thursday from the office of the Commissioner for Education (Basic and Secondary), Professor Patrick Mouboghare, showed that the battle for zonal tickets has already commenced at local government level. Mouboghare doubles as Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Governor’s Cup.

    Already, intra-local government matches have started in Aniocha South, with Adaigbo Secondary School trading tackles with Otulu Secondary School, while Abah-Unor Mixed Secondary School is paired against Nshiagu College. Other fixtures are Ngwu Mixed Secondary School vs Olloh Mixed Secondary School, Ewulu vs Ifite, Nsukwa Grammar School Vs Ejeme-Aniogor, Egbudu-Akah vs Adonte, Comprehensive High School vs Anthony’s Model College and Ashama Comprehensive Vs Isho Mixed Secondary School.

    According to the organisers, schools that will compete in the zonal level will emerge from the on-going intra local government matches.

    Meanwhile, the LOC boss, Mouboghare has sounded a note of warning that Principals and Games Masters of the various schools would be held responsible for any act of violence and use of mercenaries in the Governor’s Cup competition.

    “The enthusiasm is getting higher now and I am sure some people will want to win at all cost. But I want to say that the LOC is ready to fish out and punish anyone who has a hidden agenda for the Delta Governor’s Cup competition.

    In the LOC for the Delta Governor’s Cup are ex-internationals like Davidson Owumi, John Omughele, Victor Ikpeba, Austin Okocha, Seigha Porbeni among others.

  • Cracks emerge in Delta PDP over power shift

    Cracks emerge in Delta PDP over power shift

     The Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is finding it difficult to maintain cordiality within its fold over issues relating to which area produces the next governor of the state, writes Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

    The battle for who succeeds Delta Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in the 2015 gubernatorial elections has taken an insidious turn following a rift between two prominent members of the ruling PDP threatened to spiral out of control.

    The Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Comrade Ovouzourie Macaulay, in Asaba last week denied the existence of a power shift pact ceding the governorship position to the Igbo-speaking Anioma people in Delta North Senatorial District.

    Macaulay’s comments sparked off stern reactions from many, including the Delta PDP chair, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, who branded him a “political neophyte”.

    Nwaoboshi accused the scribe of overheating the polity with an admonition urging him to focus on the job given to him by Gov Uduaghan.

    “Tell Macaulay to keep quiet and not dabble into issues he does not know anything about. He should stop heating up the polity. Where was he when PDP was being formed in the State? People are consulting and not campaigning yet as the electoral act is clear on this matter.

    “Perhaps he does not know the difference between consulting and campaigning .If he says Governor Uduaghan lost four local governments in Delta North during his re-election bid, did Macaulay not lose his local government area in the last election in 2011.He should face the job Gov Uduaghan gave to him. He may be an insider in government, but he is not an insider in PDP. He has never held any elective position, not even the position of chairman of a local government area. What does he know about party administration?

    An alarmed Uduaghan at a function in Onicha-Olona, Aniocha North Local Government Area promptly waded into the crises, warning politicians against overheating the polity and also clamping a media muzzle on all political appointees.

    His words: “As far as I am concerned, no political appointee in Delta State should grant political interviews so that we do not overheat the system .You can grant interviews on what your ministry is doing. We should not say things that will heat up the polity. Our utterances should be guided. It is God that gives positions.”

    The Delta State 2015 gubernatorial election may turn out to be largely defined by the Anioma question – will a governor of Anioma extraction emerge in 2015? It is the only zone that has not produced governor since the inception of democracy in 1999.

    Delta Central has produced two governors-Olorogun Felix Ibru and Chief James Ibori for three and eight years respectively; while Delta South produced Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan whose eight year spell terminates in 2015.

    But are the rumblings within the party the sign of things to come? Will the Anioma question not cause an implosion within the PDP, thus truncating its ambition to continue to hold on to power? Will unbridled ambition by aggrieved PDP members who fail party primaries not lead to defections and ultimately harm the fortunes of the party in the State?

    Several PDP members from Delta Central and Delta South districts are already jostling for vantage positions. Going by the PDP rotation policy of public offices, these two districts should, ordinarily, not be mentioned in the running for governor, but these candidates are intensifying with gusto their consultative visits to stakeholders across senatorial districts.

    Macaulay, a member of the G-3 pressure group made up of minority groups in Delta South, said that before now he had backed the emergence of a candidate from Igbo-speaking part of Delta State which makes up Anioma, but was beginning to become sceptical.

    According to him, he prefers candidates from Delta North with a pan-Delta agenda rather than one with an ethnocentric bias. He noted that because Delta North had not occupied the governorship position, they deserve the support of other senatorial districts, but faulted the Anioma campaign slogan which he claimed was negative.

    He said the negative campaigns emanating from the Anioma people smacks of an intention to engage in vendetta against the people of South and Central districts should an Anioma person become governor.

    His words: “I was initially very enthusiastic about an Anioma governor as Delta North is the only district that is yet to produce the governorship of the State but I am afraid that they may not get the support of other districts if they do not change their style. There is no need for this strident cry of marginalization. It is a pointer that the Anioma are out for a revenge mission against the other parts of the State should they win in 2015.I think the proper thing for them to do is to campaign and sell their agenda for transforming the State. With the way they are going about it, I am afraid that people like us will not support an Anioma person for the governorship as we are scared.”

    But is there more to Macaulay’s comments than meets the eye?

    A member of a pressure group, Anioma Congress, who preferred anonymity, queried the rationale behind the SSG’s outburst, according to him it smacked of a conspiracy to deprive the Anioma people the governorship ticket.

    His words: “Macaulay is a member of the kitchen cabinet in the Uduaghan administration and he and his principal may be testing the waters by flying this kite. I think it is to deliberately test the resolve of the Anioma people”.

    But a PDP chieftain in Delta Central, who in deference to Gov Uduaghan’s appeal for cease-fire but prefers anonymity, maintained there never was a power shift pact ceding the governorship position to Delta North.

    According to him, there is only an understanding that Delta North having not tasted power should get it. But he stressed the need for Anioma people to compete keenly for the governorship position and not rely on the tenuous claim that it is their (Anioma) turn.

    He said there never was a time in the history of elections in the State when a governorship aspirant had an easy ride, alluding to the fact that both ex-Gov James Ibori and Gov Uduaghan contested for governorship with people from Delta North.

    He backed Macaulay’s fears regarding an alleged Anioma vendetta, adding that it is incumbent on the Anioma people to assuage the fears of other groups in the State rather than cast aspersions on the scribe.

    His words: “Chief Nwaoboshi’s position that there was no written agreement is correct. There was no power shift pact. There is only a feeling that since Delta North has not taste power, then should get it .The Urhobos are going to fight for the governorship of the State in 2015 because when Ibori was campaigning in 2003 persons from other all the three senatorial district participated, even Gov Uduaghan’s campaign was not the exclusive preserve of candidates from Delta South in 2007 and 2011.

    “Macaulay is an individual and his feelings cannot be discounted. It is the duty of the people to assuage his feelings and not to cast aspersion on him. It is their duty appeal to him and not castigates him. You must struggle for what you want, even if you are entitled and do nothing believing it must come to you, you may lose it.”

    Our source said the Urhobos are shopping for a candidate of their own to contest for the governorship position as they have been out in the political wilderness for too long.

    From the emergent scenario in the state, if Delta North senatorial district desires the governorship, it will not only have to contest with formidable rivals, but must also build bridges across ethnic faults.

     

     

  • Travails of motorcycle riders

    Travails of motorcycle riders

    It agreed is agreed that most motorcycle riders in Nigeria, especially the commercial riders, are untrained, reckless and ill-mannered among other qualifications.

    These factors, among others, have contributed to the high rate of accidents involving motorcycle riders. These have led to their ban on some roads in several states, such as Lagos, Kano, Delta and Edo states (although, no state in Nigeria has deemed it fit to encourage the riders to go for compulsory training in their training facilities or driving schools).

    Be that as it may, I want to use this forum to clearly state that the motorcycle riders are not all the time guilty of the accidents involving them. I also want to point out here the unfair treatments being meted to them.

    Recently, I was on a journey from Abuja to Minna and the driver of the car I boarded almost pushed a motorcycle rider into the bush in a bid to have his way on the road. I challenged the driver for intimidating and infringing on the right of the rider on the road.

    As part of the driver training and re-training programmes, every driver must understand the following salient facts about motorcycle riders;

    • That the motorcycle riders have the same right as other vehicle drivers on the road;

    • That the same traffic laws apply to both the motorcycle riders and the drivers of other categories of vehicles;

    •That motorcycles and other categories of vehicles are entitled to the same share of the lane on every road. This is the main point I want to elucidate futher in this article.

    Virtually, every driver believe that motorcycle riders are only entitled to a small portion of the carriage way towards the edge of the roads. Some drivers even believe that the riders are only entitled to the road shoulder.

    During my research, I noticed that about 90 per cent of drivers do terrorise or intimidate motorcycle riders on the road. They do the same to pedestrians. For example, it is fond of drivers to be pressing their horn whenever they are behind a motorcycle riders. Some drivers even face motorcycle riders while overtaking wrongly, thereby threatening and urging him to move away from the road for them to pass, an act they don’t display when they are behind or facing fellow vehicles. Some drivers are even in the habit of tailgating the motorcycle riders in a bid to threaten them to move away from the road for them to pass. A driver must know that he has to maintain the normal following – distance behind a motorcycle till it is safe for him to overtake the rider without being forced off the road.Many riders have been hit or pushed into the bush through this bad driving habit.

    Henceforth, the drivers of all categories of vehicles (including articulated vehicles) should know that they have equal rights with riders on the roads. Therefore, all drivers must respect the rights of motorcycle riders and stop intimidating them on the roads.

    I also use this opportunity to implore the federal and state traffic management agencies to stand up and defend the rights of motorcycle riders on the roads by enlightening the drivers on the rights of motorcycle riders and penalise the violators of such rights. This, in no doubt another pointer to the fact that all drivers and riders must be exposed to a comprehensive road safety education in Nigeria to reduce the carnage on our roads.

  • Delta inaugurates task force for ground rent

    Delta State government has inaugurated a task force on ground rent to enhance its internally generated revenue.

    Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Comrade Ovuozuorie Macaulay, said the state’s resolve to improve property tax compliance this year was non-negotiable.

    He said the aim of the state government at eradicating poverty and sustaining economic growth through infrastructural renewal and development, informed the establishment of the agency.

    According to him, the tax policy was to improve the quality of life and promoting healthier, safer and more prosperous citizenry by maximising revenue potentials without imposing excessive burden on citizens.

    Uduaghan said the state has reviewed and updated its database to ensure that records fairly represent the actual number of properties in existence across the state.

    Commissioner for Lands, Surveys and Urban Development, Sir Patrick Ferife, defined grant rents as “a form of tax imposed on Land Users to generate revenue”.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Delta community berates Warri Refinery over fallen bridge

    Delta community berates Warri Refinery over fallen bridge

    The people of Ubeji, a host community to the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, have raised the alarm over the devastation on their livelihood by the company’s blockade of the water channel leading to the community.

    The latest face-off between WRPC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and the community is over the repair of a collapsed bridge linking WRPC’s refinery to the NNPC Loading Jetty.

    Several months after the bridge accident, which resulted in at least one death, the people of Ubeji lamented that the company has failed to fix the bridge.

    More worrisome for them is the company’s use of a pontoon barge to cross the river at the detriment of fishing and economic activities in the Itsekiri community.

    The Ubeji Community Youth President, Mr Philip Bomele, in a statement in Warri, said: “Over eight months ago, the bridge that connects the WRPC Main yard to the NNPC Loading Jetty along the Ubeji Community Creek collapsed.

    “The cause (of the collapse) we discovered was as a result of poor maintenance culture exhibited by WRPC and over loading of trucks used at the Jetty above the maximum load bearing capacity of the bridge.

    “In trying to make the NNPC Loading Jetty accessible for their operations, WRPC used a pontoon barge to block the channel linking Ubeji Community, thereby rendering the community inaccessible.

    “This has caused serious environmental and economic failures as there is no free flow of water and the fishermen and traders from the community cannot go about their fishing and trading activities since the blockage caused by the pontoon barge.”

    The community youth leader lamented that series of complaint to the management of WRPC over the losses the community had been experiencing since the blockage, failed to move the oil firm to address the plights of his people.

    “Ubeji Community, a peace loving community, is calling on the Federal Government, Delta State government and well-meaning NGOs, humanitarians and Nigerians to come to its aid to prevail on WRPC to remove the pontoon barge to allow free passage of it Indigenes to carry out their various activities.”

    He also appealed to the NNPC subsidiary to heed to their cries and protestations by stopping perceived marginalisation of host communities and depriving them of their rights to freedom of movement.

    Bomele lamented that the continued blockade of the water channel was costing families who rely on fishing, trade and other businesses on the river for their livelihoods.

    “The sole source of livelihood of most of our people is fishing and trading. When their only access to market and fish is blocked for this long, how are we supposed to survive, how are we expected to send our children to school?”

    He therefore appealed to WRPC to take urgent steps to solve the problem before the situation gets out of hand.

    The Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Emmanuella Ate, could not be reached for comment at the time of this report. A source in the Public Affairs Department, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the company was working towards removing the offending pontoon barge from the water.

    “We are aware of the complaints from the Ubeji people. I do not know when it will be done, but what I can tell you is that there is plan to fix the problem as soon as possible,” the source added.

     

  • Crisis looms between Delta, Bayelsa communities over oil royalty

    Crisis looms between Delta, Bayelsa communities over oil royalty

    Crisis is brewing between Okia in Burutu Local Government Local Government Area of Delta State and Agge communities in and Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State over land ownership.

    The people of Okia told Niger Delta Report that their counterparts from Bayelsa state are encroaching into their land, warning that the situation could lead to violence in the area.

    The Chairman of Okia community, Mr Pius Gbeneyei, accused Agge community, of encroaching on their land.

    He appealed to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State to reach out to his Bayelsa State counterpart, Hon. Seriake Dickson in order to call the offending party to order and avert bloody clash.

    Speaking with newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Warri Press Centre, Gbeneyei said Agge leaders are making “persistent visit to oil companies working on their land”.

    He said the act was capable of causing a breach of the existing peace between the two states, particularly against the backdrop of 2006 ruling by a Bayelsa State High Court, which gave a judgment against Agge.

    Gbeneyei, who touted a copy of the judgement, said, “In 2006, Agge Community invaded my community and took away some persons from the community. When the incident happened we reported to the Government and government agency took steps and arrested them and charged them to Ekeremor High Court, prosecuted them and passed judgment against them that they should not temper with our land or repeat that kind of action.

    “Now they are still coming in spite of a High Court judgment against them. They are still encroaching which is a threat to public peace.

    “So I am using this medium to call on the Delta State Government to come into the matter and ask our brothers in Bayelsa to keep calm, they should not encroach on our land; they should obey the judgment.

    “The judgment is the law of the land which must be obeyed. Whatever issue they want to resolve let them wait for the outcome of the appeal court. They should wait for appeal court judgment,” Gbeneyei reiterated.

    He said that the people of Okia Community have resolved to continue to preach peace even at the expense of them losing credibility on their own land, warning any further encroachment may be resisted by force .

    “I want the Delta State government to look into this matter. They have been parading themselves to companies operating in on our land which is not proper.

    “The companies are on Delta State land. The revenue is Delta State revenue and we cannot use our state revenue to pay Bayelsa we are two different local governments and two different states.

    “This is oppression and we don’t need oppression. There is a judgment that asked them to stay clear from the land. I am preaching peace because I obey the law of the land,” he added.