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Tag: Niger Delta

  • Niger Delta powers Nigeria but suffers neglect, stakeholders warn

    Niger Delta powers Nigeria but suffers neglect, stakeholders warn

    …‘Progress must not stall’ – Presidential Aide launches Road to South-South 2.0

    Stakeholders have expressed renewed concern over the environmental degradation and economic exclusion facing the South-South region, warning that Nigeria’s most resource-rich zone continues to shoulder the burden of powering the nation while remaining beset by underdevelopment.

    Speaking at the second edition of Road to South-South: The National Convergence of the Renewed Hope Agenda on Wednesday at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe described the region as the “circulatory system” of Nigeria’s economy, whose neglect has become “untenable and dangerous.”

    “For decades, the South-South has powered national growth, supplying the oil and gas resources that fuel the federation. Yet its own arteries remain clogged by environmental pollution, economic exclusion, and recurring social unrest. This paradox… is the heart of the national question we must resolve”, Jarigbe said.

    He said the forum, convened by the Office of the President, signalled a shift “from rhetoric to roadmap, from grievance to strategy, and from isolation to collaboration.”

    The senator outlined three priority areas requiring urgent action, beginning with a comprehensive Niger Delta Environmental Restoration and Sustainability Act to go beyond “palliative clean-ups,” ensure total remediation of polluted areas, and hold polluters accountable. He also called for coordinated environmental monitoring systems.

    On economic reform, Jarigbe advocated a South-South industrial blueprint to attract investment into gas processing, petrochemicals, the blue economy, tourism, and sustainable agriculture.

    He urged that the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative establish a strong implementation footprint in the region to drive industrialisation and create jobs.

    He stressed that collaboration must translate into concrete results on the ground, identifying three strategic areas: infrastructure convergence among federal and state agencies to complete critical projects such as the East-West Road and expand seaports; a security-development framework to protect infrastructure and encourage legitimate economic activity; and targeted human-capital investment, including Centres of Excellence in energy and environmental studies and improved healthcare in oil-bearing communities.

    “Security for pipelines must also mean security for people and their livelihoods,” he said, warning against top-down development that excludes host communities.

    He proposed compulsory Community Development Agreements for major projects to guarantee employment, procurement, and measurable social impact, while insisting that traditional rulers and youth groups be central to planning and evaluation.

    Jarigbe described the transformation of the South-South as a “moral obligation” and a prerequisite for national stability, economic resilience, and environmental justice, urging stakeholders to ensure the convergence “is not another talk shop” but a launchpad for a new compact among governments, the private sector, and the people.

    He maintained that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda presents a fresh opportunity for collaborative action and insisted that meaningful transformation must start immediately with strategic policy, genuine partnership, and political will.

    Earlier in her remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-South), Hon. Gift Johnbull, unveiled Road to South-South 2.0, describing it as a renewed push to deepen development and ensure that “progress must never stall.”

    She said the initiative builds on the successes of the inaugural edition, which included Project Earn from the Soil, an agricultural empowerment programme that provided labour-saving machinery to thousands of farmers and attracted international recognition.

    According to her, the new phase will focus on agribusiness, renewable energy, education, and technology transfer, turning global training and investment into local impact.

    Johnbull urged stakeholders to partner closely, stressing that the South-South is not only Nigeria’s oil base but also an innovation hub, cultural heartland, and vital pillar of national unity and growth.

  • Ex-Tunisian PM Mehdi Jomaa, Paul Holthus, other blue economy leaders for Niger Delta summit

    Ex-Tunisian PM Mehdi Jomaa, Paul Holthus, other blue economy leaders for Niger Delta summit

    • …summit set to mobilize $10 billion to fund a 5-year blue economy roadmap for the region

    Stakeholders in the blue economy sector are set to gather in Akwa Ibom State for the landmark Niger Delta Blue Economy Investment Summit, scheduled from February 9 to 11, 2026, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene.

    The summit, themed “Harnessing Blue Economy Potentials for Sustainable Development in the Niger Delta – Setting the Agenda for Shared Prosperity, Sustainability and Resilience,” seeks to position the Niger Delta as a leading driver of Africa’s emerging blue economy agenda.

    The keynote address will be delivered by His Excellency Mehdi Jomaa, former Prime Minister of Tunisia. Other notable speakers include Paul Holthus, Founding President of the World Ocean Council; Rear Admiral Lambert, former National Hydrographer; Ian McFadzen of the Ocean Conservation Trust; and Professor Pierre Failler of the Centre for Blue Governance, University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom.

    Representatives from key ministries, including the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Ministry of Regional Development, are expected to attend. Various regional agencies, development partners, and other institutions working in the Niger Delta have also expressed keen interest in participating.

    Confirming the development via text message, renowned blue economy advocate and summit co-convener Dr Uche Igwe described the event as long overdue.

    According to him, “the summit is a premier platform for emphasizing sustainable use of enormous maritime potentials in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria to drive economic growth, mobilize resources to achieve environmental remediation, job creation, and transformation of livelihoods.

     “It is something that would have happened before now. For too long, our region has been the poster child of the paradox of plenty. We must do our bit to challenge that perception”.

    Kingdom Blessing, a senior lawyer and blue economy consultant, applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for leading the way by creating a Ministry dedicated to Marine and Blue Economy with a clear policy direction.

    According to him, “This summit will leverage on that foundation to bring stakeholders together to co-create a coherent roadmap for the translation of the quantum blue economy potentials in the Niger Delta, to tangible benefits for the people so that no one will be left behind.”

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    Responding to preparations for the summit, Mr Jonathan Turner, co-founder of NLA International, technical partner to Gadfly Consulting Limited, and lead organizer of the summit, said the event is deliberately curated to be inclusive, fostering dialogue and stakeholder engagement.

    “We understand the need to blend the voices of political leaders, policy makers, private sector operators, civil society, and communities to design a productive, impactful, and people-centred deliberation that is exactly what we have in mind,” he said.

    With approximately 853 kilometres of coastline and a vast network of rivers, mangroves, and marine ecosystems, the Niger Delta holds unmatched potential for sustainable economic growth.

    The blue economy in Nigeria, covering sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, coastal tourism, renewable energy, and ocean governance, is projected to contribute over $405 billion to Africa’s economy by 2030.

    Despite these opportunities, challenges such as weak regulatory systems, poor coordination, environmental degradation, climate impact, and limited investments have slowed progress. This summit seeks to reverse that trajectory by rallying key actors around a unified regional strategy.

    Emmanuel Ofik, a retired Rear Admiral and Chairman of the Summit Advisory Committee, expressed deep excitement about this landmark event.

    The retired senior Naval Officer from Ikuru Town in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State expressed optimism about the transformative impact of a systematic approach to developing the blue economy.

    His words, “My community, Ikuru Town, has probably one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole of West Africa, adorned with pristine white sand.

    “Nothing stops us from developing adequate infrastructure, such as five-star hotels and continental restaurants, to host thousands of tourists every year.

    “I look forward to engaging with stakeholders to move this sector forward quickly. The Niger Delta has so much potential beyond oil. This is a time to come together to collectively re-position our region.”

    According to Tshego Motsoenyane, Summit Director of Africa Partnerships, specific sessions at the summit will learn from the experience of other African countries with success stories in implementing the blue economy, such as South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Mauritius.

    One of the expected major highlights of the summit will be the launch of the Niger Delta Blue Economy Investment Fund.

  • Bonga oil spill: Niger Delta fishermen beg Tinubu, others to intervene in $3.6bn compensation delay

    Bonga oil spill: Niger Delta fishermen beg Tinubu, others to intervene in $3.6bn compensation delay

    Aggrieved members of the Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria in the Niger Delta have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to intervene in the long-delayed compensation arising from the 2011 Bonga oil spill.

    The fishermen – through their leaders and community representatives, Rev. Samuel Ayadi (Akwa Ibom), Princess Elizabeth Egbe (Bayelsa), Alfred Kuroko (Delta), Prince Alexander Mesogboriwon (Ondo), Jeremiah Omogbemi, Olamiyeye Jeje, Alhaji Durojaye Erukubami, and Alabo Oris Otto (Rivers) – made the appeal in a statement jointly signed on Saturday.

    In the copy of the statement obtained by The Nation in Akure, and addressed to President Tinubu, the group recalled that the December 2011 equipment failure at the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) Bonga offshore facility allegedly discharged an estimated 6.4 million litres of crude oil into the Atlantic Ocean.

    According to them, the spill spread across Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, and Ondo states, leaving thousands of fishermen and community members impoverished and worsening hardship in coastal communities.

    They noted that the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) had, in 2012, imposed a $3.6 billion liability on Shell for alleged negligence that resulted in extensive environmental damage.

    The group said: “His Excellency, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, sir, December 20, 2011 Bonga oil spillage Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited’s Bonga floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) offshore facility had an equipment failure and discharged about 6.4 million litres of crude oil into the Atlantic Ocean.

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    “The spill spread across five states of the Niger Delta – Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, and Ondo – causing devastating effects on the people and resulting in joblessness, poverty and social vices. Fishing is our main source of livelihood.

    “In 2012, NOSDRA imposed a total liability of $3.6 billion on Shell for the negligence that led to the devastation. Till date, the money has not been paid to the affected thousands of fisherfolk and communities. We have written several letters demanding this compensation.

    “We believe in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, and we want him to compel Shell and NOSDRA to release the compensation. The EFCC should intervene to uncover what has happened concerning the compensation, and the Attorney-General should ensure justice, fairness, and equity.”

    They lamented that more than a decade after the spill, the affected communities have not received a single payment despite repeated petitions and follow-up letters to relevant authorities.

    The fishermen further stated that the prolonged delay has deepened hardship among families who depended solely on fishing for survival, with many communities still battling the social and economic consequences of the pollution.

  • Niger Delta watchdog dismisses claims of ₦1tn PIA fund loss

    Niger Delta watchdog dismisses claims of ₦1tn PIA fund loss

    …warns against misleading narratives 

    An oil and gas accountability group, the Niger Delta Accountability and Resource Protection Network (NDARPN), has dismissed claims by the House of Representatives Committee on the South South Development Commission alleging that Nigeria’s failure to implement key funding provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has cost the region over ₦1 trillion.

    In a statement released on Friday in Port Harcourt, the organisation’s president, Comrade Ebikabo West, described the committee’s allegations as “sensational, misleading and potentially damaging to the investment stabilisation the PIA has steadily cultivated.”

    West maintained that the implementation of the PIA by relevant regulatory bodies, especially regarding host community development funds and environmental responsibilities, has been more effective and transparent than any mechanism that existed before the Act.

    He cautioned lawmakers against political commentary capable of “eroding investor confidence or disrupting the delicate progress achieved so far.”

    “It is simply inaccurate to suggest that the Niger Delta has been denied trillions because the funds are not being operated in the dramatic fashion being portrayed,” West stated.

    According to him, the host communities development provisions of the PIA are being “effectively and rigorously monitored”, with a regulatory system that guarantees communities direct benefits backed by strong oversight and traceability.

    He explained that the PIA introduced enforceable obligations that regulators now monitor with far stronger compliance tools than those available in the pre-PIA era. 

    West added that the narrative of “non-implementation” ignores verifiable progress recorded across host communities and in environmental management.

    “We must be careful not to weaponise environmental concerns or misrepresent regulatory processes. Such portrayals undermine the credibility of reforms and weaken the collective fight for environmental justice,” he cautioned.

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    West also stressed that Nigeria is gradually restoring the confidence of multinational oil companies that had exited the country due to prolonged regulatory uncertainty, conflicting directives and institutional pressure that previously “strangled investment.”

    “After decades of instability, Nigeria now has a predictable legislative and fiscal framework. It is only reasonable to allow the relevant agencies to execute their mandates strictly within the provisions of the PIA. Dragging them into political theatrics will jeopardise the gradual return of investor confidence,” he added.

    While acknowledging the importance of the National Assembly’s oversight function, NDARPN urged that such interventions must be evidence-driven and not based on assumptions that could fuel confusion or tension within the sector.

    “What the Niger Delta needs is consolidation, not disruption. Let the institutions empowered by the PIA continue their work without undue pressure. That is the surest path to accountability, environmental protection and sustainable development,” West advised.

  • Troops destroy seven illegal refineries, recover 109,000 litres of stolen products in Niger Delta

    Troops destroy seven illegal refineries, recover 109,000 litres of stolen products in Niger Delta

    Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have sustained the crackdown against oil thieves across the Niger Delta Region (NDR), destroying seven illegal refineries and seizing 109,000 litres of stolen products.

    The Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt.Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma confirmed the development in a statement on Monday.

    Danjuma said out of the confiscated products, 88,000 litres were stolen crude oil while 21,355 litres were illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) adding that the total cost of the products recovered amounted to over N150m.

    He said the operations conducted in Rivers State around Okolomade in Ahoada West Local Government Area (LGA) led to the deactivation of three illegal refining sites and recovery of three big pots, four big receivers and three big coolants, with over 40,000 litres of stolen crude and 20,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.

    He said at the fringes of the Imo River, troops discovered three illegal refining sites, eight drum pots, seven drum receivers, one fibre boat and over 14,700 litres of stolen crude around Asa, Obeakpo, Lekuma and Abiama in Oyigbo LGA.

    Danjuma said following credible intelligence, troops stormed a compound at Abuloma in Okrika LGA and discovered about 1,050 sacks filled with over 32,000 litres of stolen crude. 

    “At Abonnema Creek in Akuku-Toru LGA, troops intercepted a Cotonou boat loaded with 25 sacks filled with over 1,000 litres of illegally refined AGO”, he said.

    Danjuma said in Akwa Ibom State, troops conducted a raid on a suspected storage facility at Ikot Akpan, Ekparakwa along the Abak–Ikot Abasi road in Abak LGA. 

    “During the operations, over 520 litres of illegally refined AGO stored in a drum and ten jerricans, as well as several empty jerricans, were recovered”, he said.

    In Delta State, he said the troops conducted an operation at DAEWOO yard within Ekpan area in Uvwie LGA, but that on sighting troops, the suspected oil thieves fled into nearby creeks with wooden boats loaded with jerricans. 

    Danjuma explained that the troops also discovered three 25-litre jerricans filled with 75 litres of crude oil.

    While commending the troops for their resilience, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.- Gen. Emmanuel Eric Emekah, charged them to sustain the tempo in ensuring that economic saboteurs were effectively denied freedom of action in the NDR. 

    The GOC also called on the good people of the region to continue supporting military operations by providing credible intelligence on the activities of criminal elements in their domain.

  • Niger Delta remains Nigeria’s hidden treasure – Adebayo

    Niger Delta remains Nigeria’s hidden treasure – Adebayo

    Former Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has described the Niger Delta region as Nigeria’s “hidden treasure,” lamenting decades of underdevelopment and poor leadership that have left its vast resources largely untapped.

    Adebayo made the remarks on Friday in Abuja during the unveiling of The Hidden Treasures: An Exposition on the Rich Resources and Opportunities of the Niger Delta, authored by Deacon Chris Iyovwaye.

    He emphasised that “if there is no Niger Delta, there is no Nigeria,” noting that the region is endowed with abundant natural and human resources that require deliberate effort to harness.

    “The truth is, every part of the Niger Delta is brimming with human, material, liquid, and solid resources. For anyone from the Niger Delta, it is impossible to be poor in that paradise,” Adebayo said. He added that the region’s wealth surpasses all the productivity of the United States from 1776 to date, highlighting its immense untapped potential.

    The former presidential hopeful, who served as the chief launcher of the book, outlined three key pathways to unlocking the Niger Delta’s potential: individual initiative, community action, and government intervention. He cautioned against leaders prioritizing surface wealth, rent-seeking, or transferring national assets to foreign interests.

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    Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and chairman of the event, urged Nigeria to embrace restructuring, noting that all regions possess resources to sustain themselves and should invest in their economic potentials without delay.

    On insecurity, he called on Nigerians to support the armed forces in safeguarding the country, stressing their capability and commitment to national protection.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Mike Ogiadome, highlighted the need to promote development in the Niger Delta, describing it as the country’s economic hub. He also recommended the book to industrialists and foreign investors as a guide to the region’s opportunities.

    Human rights activist Prof. Mike Ozekhome, represented by Prof. Ezekiel Abalagba, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, praised the book as “an economic goldmine,” offering practical guidance for repositioning key sectors and implementing reforms.

    Ozekhome urged economic diversification beyond crude oil, advocating for investment in agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, petrochemicals, and technology, emphasizing the need to shift from extractive dependence to productive ambition.

    In his remarks, the author of the book, Chris Iyovwaye, said the Niger Delta story has often been misrepresented.

    “This book explores the region’s vast potential, challenges of underdevelopment, and strategies for using its people and resources to drive national prosperity.

    “It offers insights to guide policymakers, investors, and communities toward unlocking the region’s hidden wealth”.

    Iyovwaye added that the book shares his inspiration and vision for a sustainable and prosperous Niger Delta.

  • Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda driving development and peace in Niger Delta, says Otuaro

    Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda driving development and peace in Niger Delta, says Otuaro

    The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has said that President Bola Tinubu is strategically addressing development, economic growth, and sustainable peace in the Niger Delta.

    Otuaro made the remarks on Saturday during a town hall meeting with PAP stakeholders and Niger Deltans living in Lagos, hosted by prominent Niger Delta activist and founder of the Ijaw Monitoring Group, Chief Joseph Eva.

    Notable attendees included Prince Tonye Harry, Chairman of Ijaw National Congress, Lagos chapter; Prof. Dauphin Moro; Titus Posibi; Chief Amarian Benedicta; Chief Ogbogbo; Evangelist Agboro; Chief Emmanuel Fiawe; Robert Fiawe; Elder Regent Youmor; Mrs. RoseMary Aluko; and Owen Naphatin, Chairman of the IYC, Lagos chapter.

    In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Igoniko Oduma, Otuaro said President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is yielding results in the Niger Delta, particularly in addressing development challenges, security, and sustainable peace.

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    He added that the President had restored stability in the region while fulfilling his campaign promises on human capacity development and infrastructural projects for the Niger Delta.

    Otuaro insisted that the solid support of the President and the National Security Adviser for the PAP was responsible for the expansion of the scholarship scheme and other milestone achievements the programme recorded in vocational training, peacebuilding, and stakeholder engagement.

    He told the stakeholders that while in-country scholarship deployment was 3800 in the 2024/2025 academic year, the figure increased to 3900 in 2025/2026, as well as foreign scholarships, which he said were about 200.

    He assured them that the PAP under his leadership would continue to do its best to ensure that more indigent youths were provided access to higher educational attainments with the requisite skills and knowledge for self-reliance and nation building.

    The PAP boss stressed that human resource development was pivotal to the socio-economic advancement and development of the region’s people as well as sustainable peace and security.

    While thanking the President for not holding back support for the PAP, he reassured the stakeholders that Tinubu would do much more for the region after his re-election in 2027, and urged them to reciprocate his large-heartedness.

    Otuaro further said, “One of the things you must know about His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, is that he is very strategic and systematic in his approach to resolving issues of development, socio-economic growth, security, and sustainable peace in our region- the Niger Delta.

    “You all can see how Mr President’s deliberate approach is producing positive results in our region. There is no doubt that Mr President’s strategy is working for the Niger Delta.

    “This applies to the huge support that he has been giving to the Presidential Amnesty Programme under my leadership, for which we are very grateful.

    “Because of His Excellency’s massive backing, we have been able to expand the programme’s scholarship scheme, and it is our strong hope that more students from indigent backgrounds from impacted communities will benefit from the initiative. We will also continue to strengthen our policy of inclusivity.

    “I want to, again, thank His Excellency for finding me worthy of appointment; to take up the baton of leadership at the PAP with the help of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who has been very supportive of our initiatives since I assumed office.

    “I urge you and all the people of the Niger Delta to continue to support the administration of Mr President because we are confident that, judging from the many good things he is doing in our region, he will do even more for us after his reelection in 2027.”

    In his remarks, the host, Chief Joseph Eva, expressed confidence in the PAP Administrator’s leadership ability and commended him for the remarkable achievements the agency has recorded under him.

    “I am not surprised because I have known Dr Dennis Otuaro very closely for many years, and the values he stands for. He is a very focused person.

    “Indeed, Dr Otuaro has achieved a lot in human capital development, vocational skills, and the peacebuilding process for our region. We have confidence in his leadership, vision, and dedication to regional development,” Eva said.

    The high point of the town hall meeting was the conferment of the ‘Best Iconic Administrator Award’ on Otuaro by the stakeholders.

  • PIND, partners deploy AI tools to boost crisis preparedness in Niger Delta

    PIND, partners deploy AI tools to boost crisis preparedness in Niger Delta

    The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) with its partners has unveiled a data-driven crisis preparedness framework that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to predict, prevent, and respond to conflicts and environmental shocks in the oil-rich region.

    The new initiative was launched during a three-day Niger Delta Scenario Planning Workshop on Resilience held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    It represented a strategic shift from crisis response to anticipatory governance with emphasis on foresight, collaboration, and innovation as tools for stability and inclusive growth.

    The workshop, themed “From Risk to Resilience: Building a Future-Ready Niger Delta,” was convened in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), and The Fund for Peace (FFP), with support from the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project, co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

    Over 100 stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia, civil society, and the media participated in the exercise, which introduced AI-powered tools such as the Fragile States Index (FSI), State Resilience Index (SRI), and Crisis Sensitivity Simulator (CSS) advanced systems designed by FFP and SAS to forecast risks and strengthen institutional response capacities.

    Speaking at the close of the workshop, Dr. David Udofia, who represented PIND’s Executive Director, Mr. Sam Ogbemi Daibo, said the deployment of AI for resilience planning marked a critical milestone for the Niger Delta’s sustainable development agenda.

    He said: “The Niger Delta’s future depends on our ability to anticipate challenges rather than merely react to them.

    “This workshop demonstrates how data, foresight, and partnerships can transform uncertainty into opportunity and ensure that resilience becomes a shared responsibility across communities, institutions, and sectors.”
    For PIND, the initiative underscores how technology, partnerships, and foresight can enhance resilience in the Niger Delta’s socio-economic landscape, positioning the region as a testbed for data-driven peacebuilding in West Africa.

    “As Nigeria and West Africa face rising climate and security risks, innovation offers the pathway to transform risk into resilience”.

    Also speaking, Nate Haken, Senior Advisor for Research and Innovation at the Fund for Peace said the initiative integrated technology with governance to build a stronger regional peace architecture.

    He said: “By linking data to decision-making, we are laying the foundation for a resilient Niger Delta and a safer West Africa,” Haken noted. “This model shows how collaboration among government, academia, and civil society can drive long-term peace and stability.”

    Participants, drawn from NEMA, SEMA, NiMet, HYPREP, the Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC, and state ministries of environment and agriculture, engaged in AI-assisted scenario building and “red teaming” sessions to identify policy gaps and co-create adaptive resilience strategies.

    The workshop produced a Niger Delta Resilience Strategy, a Scenario Planning Report, and a replicable methodology that could be integrated into state-level emergency management systems and the Partners for Peace (P4P) Network.

    A representative of OSPRE said the collaborative effort had strengthened Nigeria’s ability to connect early warning systems with proactive responses.

    “This process strengthens our capacity to connect early warning with early action, ensuring that preparedness becomes part of how we govern and grow,” the official said.

  • NDFFSDA seeks $100billion over damage on Niger Delta ecosystem by IOCs

    NDFFSDA seeks $100billion over damage on Niger Delta ecosystem by IOCs

    The Federal Government has been asked to compel international oil companies (IOCs) to pay $100billion to oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta for the many years of damage done on the region’s ecosystem.

    Niger Delta Farmers, Fishermen/Seafood Dealers Association (NDFFSDA) made the demand at the weekend in a statement by its national President, Imoh Okoko and secretary,  Sunny Eleas.

    The NDFFSDA said that the operations of the oil companies have caused frequent oil spills, black soot, acid rain, gas flaring among others which adversely impact on the communities leading to loss of livelihoods and even deaths.

    The statement added that fisherman, seafood dealers and farmers have also suffered terrible loses and deaths in the course of the fishing in the waters of the region.

    The statement reads in parts: “It has become pertinent to bring to your attention the fact that the ongoing oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta region are repeatedly causing severe damage to our fishing nets, hooks, boots, and other essential fishing equipment. 

    “The continuous destruction of our equipment by the movement of their (IOC’s) heavy sea moving machines/equipment, eg oil vessels, surveillance boots, etc,  is causing immense economic loss to members of our Association, as we depend solely on these tools for our daily sustenance and income.

    “The massive loss of lives and livelihood and avoidable accidents at sea are preventable and we strongly advocate that measures be put in place to ensure same so as to promote a sustainable environment for positive development in the sectors.

    “These accidents variously occurred in the years 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023, and the most recent incident occurred in 2024. These tragic incidents have not only taken away valuable lives but have left families in distress, with no compensation or recognition from either the Companies or the relevant supervisory authorities.

    “In light of the above, we respectfully call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to work out the payment is $100 billion to oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region as compensation for years of oil exploration and exploitation.

    “This has led to irreversible damages to the livelihood and ecosystem in the region; this compensation would douse raging tensions and hopelessness that people in the region going through and feeling.

    “This fund is needed urgently and saliently to specifically address the rapid provision of health facilities, replenishment of floundering rare animals, plants and fish species; which have been devastated for the past 65 years. 

    “We also support the call that the above demanded compensation be paid into a special account, to be administered by oil-producing states in collaboration with local and international environmental groups with focus on provision of health facilities, women empowerment, education and reviving fishing and agriculture in the region”.

  • Troops arrest 28 oil thieves, recover 290,000 litres of products in Niger Delta

    Troops arrest 28 oil thieves, recover 290,000 litres of products in Niger Delta

    Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies have arrested 28 suspected oil thieves, dismantled four illegal refineries and seized over 290,000 litres of stolen products in the Niger Delta.

    The acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, confirmed the development in a statement he released in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Danjuma said at Okrika in Okrika Local Government Area, the operatives intercepted two wooden boats which were  loading Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from a vessel offloading the product at a jetty.

    He said two boats were also intercepted at Okrika, with one loaded with over 33,000 litres of stolen products at a jetty in Okrika, adding that another wooden boat loaded with over 5,000 litres of stolen products was also found in the area.

    Danjuma noted that following a tip-off on illegal oil bunkering activities around a pipeline after Sterling Global Company Road, Akpabo, at Elele Alimini in Emohua LGA, the troops stormed the area and impounded a tanker with registration number Rivers JJN 287 ZU coming out of the pipeline right of way.

    He said the vehicle was suspected to have loaded about 90,000 litres of stolen products from the site and confirmed that two suspects, the driver and his motor boy, were taken into custody. 

    He further explained that at Okolomade in Abua/Odual LGA, over 2,600 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were recovered by the troops.

    Danjuma said along Imo River, the troops deactivated two illegal refining sites and seized three drum pots, three receivers, and over 2,500 litres of stolen crude around Obuzor, Asa Asa in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State. 

    He noted that at Orashi River waterside, two wooden boats were intercepted with over 700 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene recovered adding that six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.

    In Delta State, the troops, who were said to have acted on credible intelligence on the activities of oil thieves along the PAN Ocean Pipeline right of way in Ethiope East LGA, closed in on criminals, who on sighting them fled the area.

    “However, one suspect was arrested and various items recovered. These included vandalized pipes, hoses, a large quantity of Bagco sacks, and leather materials. Others included one Peugeot 406 car, a Camry car, one Toyota Jeep, as well as a lorry van loaded with over 1,650 litres of stolen products”, the statement said.

    He added that the troops on pipeline surveillance along the Midwestern Oil and Gas Pipeline Rright of way at Umusan-Obodogwa in Ndokwa West LGA intercepted a Mercedes-Benz truck with registration number Enugu VE 174 ENU conveying 24 pieces of 14-inch pipes and three gas cylinders.

    While saying that two persons were arrested, Danjuma explained that the pipes were suspected to have been vandalized from the SEPCO Oil and Gas pipeline at Kwale. 

    He said that around Eruemukohwarien in Ughelli North LGA, a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number Delta PTN 926 XA was intercepted for conveying 10 drums filled with 2,500 litres of condensates, adding that the driver was arrested.

    Danjuma said in Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states, the troops scaled up both kinetic and non-kinetic operations, effectively dominating the operational landscape and denying criminal elements the freedom of action.

    He quoted the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen..Emmanuel Eric Emekah, as commending the troops for their exploits.

     The GOC further charged them to sustain the operational tempo in clamping down on economic saboteurs and other associated crimes in the Niger Delta Region.