The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Minister of Niger Delta

  • Maritime varsity takes off in Delta

    Maritime varsity takes off in Delta

    Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, has now commenced operations, inviting job applications for academic staff, just as President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a significant increase of the take-off grant from N2B earlier announced to N5B.

    A statement by the Minister of Niger Delta Pastor Usani Uguru Usani revealed  that grant has been included in the 2018 budget presented to the National Assembly earlier this week, under the Federal Ministry of Education allocation, superseding the previous provision of N2B for the university.

    The presidential approval for the N5B budget allocation was based on the recommendation of a committee in the Ministry of Education tasked with the activation of the university.

    Besides, President Muhammadu Buhari has also approved an immediate release of N1B to the university to support essential infrastructure works and staff recruitment. This release is separate from the N5B allocated in the 2018 budget submitted to the National Assembly.

    Recently, the Maritime University authorities have commenced the process of hiring staff with advert placements published in the Punch, Vanguard, and Sun newspapers, blogs and other online outlets.

    In the published academic staff vacancies, the Maritime University is now hiring professors, readers, senior lecturers, lecturers, assistant lecturers and graduate assistants to teach in the faculties of Science, Maritime Transportation, Maritime Engineering & Technology, Maritime Environmental Management and General Studies.

    It would be recalled that under the New Vision for the Niger Delta, which followed the President’s meeting with PANDEF leaders last November, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, was delegated to undertake a tour of the oil producing communities and the issue of the take-off of the Maritime University was one of the major requests tabled before the federal government

  • Tribunal finds Orubebe guilty

    Tribunal finds Orubebe guilty

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja has pronounced former Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Orubebe, guilty of non-declaration of asset.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, on Tuesday announced a forfeiture of the property, located in a choice area of Abuja, Asokoro.

    The Judge explained that the testimonies and document presented by the prosecution prove that the former minister is guilty as charged.

    Justice Umar stated that while the minister claimed that the property was on rent from the federal government, the rejection of the claim by his former landlord to allow him to exercise his right over the property rendered the power of attorney useless.

    The former Minister had pleaded ‘not guilty’ for two count charges of false declaration of assets and another two counts of bribery when arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    Mr. Orubebe was charged by the Code of Conduct Bureau for alleged failure to declare landed property in Kyamu and Asokoro district, both in Abuja, on assumption of office as minister on September 26, 2007.

    Similarly, the former Minister was accused of allegedly accepting bribes totalling N70 million for the award of contracts in favour of his company.

  • Minister urges speedy passage of PIB

    Minister urges speedy passage of PIB

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to speed up the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

    The call is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the Director of Information in the ministry, Mr Salisu Na’inna.

    Na’inna said that the minister made the call during a meeting with executives of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM).

    He added that the early passage of the Bill would address the plights of oil and gas producing communities in the country.

    He noted that “I am concerned about the PIB because its passage has dragged for too long.”

    He reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to address the plight of the people of the region, stressing that no stone would be left unturned toward
    ameliorating their sufferings.

    On gas flaring, he said “those who suffer the effects of gas flaring are not only within the Niger Delta region even though the people of the region feel
    the impact most.’’

    He said that the Federal Government was consulting on the clean-up of the area with relevant authorities.

    He urged the communities to support government in checking oil theft and vandalism of oil and gas installations, which he said should be done with probity and sincerity.

    The National Chairman of HOSTCOM, Chief Alfred Bubor, decried the slow pace of development in the region.

    He added that successive governments had failed to significantly change the lives of the people or the quality of their environment.

    Bubor said that the oil and gas producing communities had never felt the impact of the several interventions initiated by government.

    The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Wakama Belema, then assured the oil and gas producing communities of the present administration’s commitment to their welfare.

    She said that the ministry was making efforts to ensure that the communities felt the presence of government in their lives.

    She listed some of the various projects and programmes of the ministry in the region to include the construction of skill acquisition centres, housing schemes, electrification of communities, road and water supply projects.

    All these projects were being implemented to ameliorate the sufferings of the people of the Niger Delta, she added.

  • Nigeria seeks British support to boost agric goods export

    Nigeria seeks British support to boost agric goods export

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, on Friday called for British government’s support to Nigeria’s quest to boost the export of its agricultural commodities.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Director of Information of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Alhaji Salisu Dambatta, on Friday in Abuja.

    The statement said the minister made the call when he received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright, in his office.

    Usani said that Nigeria was now focusing on diversifying its economy by boosting the production of agricultural commodities for export to the world market.

    He, therefore, solicited for access to British agricultural expertise in order to boost the sector.

    The minister praised British government’s assistance to Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram terrorists.

    He also called for more British contribution in strengthening the oil industry regulatory agencies in order to ensure high safety and environmental protection standard.

    Earlier, Arkwiright said that he was at the ministry to discuss areas of collaboration for the development of the Niger Delta region.

    He said that Britain and Nigeria had a strong partnership that would continue to be sustained in the best interests of both countries.