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Tag: Niger Delta Avengers

  • Global investments in Nigeria hit $4.1bn, says Osinbajo 

    Global investments in Nigeria hit $4.1bn, says Osinbajo 

    * Osinbajo says no past govt in Nigeria ever employed 200,000 unemployed graduates at once, like Muhammadu Buhari Administration with N-Power.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has disclosed that the global investments in Nigeria has increased from $908 million in the first quarter of 2017 to $4.1 billion now. 

    He made the remark in a media chat on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos,  Switzerland.

    On the claim that the security situation in Nigeria is a deterrent for global investors, he said “Global investors are coming. As a matter of fact, we are doing much better than ever before. If you look at the difference between Q1 of 2017 and now, there is a lift from $908 million to $4.1 billion. 

    “There is no deterrent. I think that global investors understand that there are security challenges everywhere and that so long as you are able to provide enough grounds for people to believe that, by and large, there is safety. Look at what is going on elsewhere in the world, security is a challenge everywhere. The duty of government is to ensure that security is maintained as robustly as possible.

    “Sometimes by the very nature of security concerns, if something is happening in the Delta or up North somewhere, it really does provide a challenge for security agencies, but it is an opportunity to beef up security. 

    “We are recruiting policemen, we are even trying to build up the army and recruit more people into the army. For instance, if you look at what happened during the clashes in Southern Kaduna, we had to locate a military formation there. We may have to do that in several other places, locating military formations where we find communal violence. Security is dynamic; you have to keep working at it.” he said 

    On the threat by the Niger Delta Avengers to resume attacks, he said “Let me say that we are in constant consultations with all of the groups in the Niger Delta, but more importantly, we are working on all of the issues that we agreed with PANDEF. We are engaged with the groups; we have opened the Maritime University, we are working hard on the Modular Refineries which we hope will be a replacement for some of the illegal refineries and also create opportunities in the Niger Delta. 

    “We are in constant consultations, there are many groups in the Niger Delta, including the Niger Delta Avengers, and we are in constant consultations.”

    On the major takeaways from the several bilateral meetings he attended, he said “I think the major thing is collaboration, which is really where everybody is at. The world has become a much more interconnected place. There is really little that is being done in Nigeria that doesn’t have some kind of either regional or global impact in the world. 

    “A lot of what we are talking about is collaboration; economic collaboration, collaboration against terrorism and all manners of extremist behaviours. That is what I am taking away.”

    Osinbajo added “You don’t sign agreements here; all you can do is what I have said. Talk about what can be done, in what areas we can cooperate, what are the best and easiest ways of working together. You can’t wait to sign conventions; the world is moving far too quickly, the issues are so dynamic.”

    Speaking on the US’s welcome for a weaker dollar in Nigeria, Osinbajo said “We are naturally concerned about currency issues everywhere, but a weaker dollar does not necessarily hurt us (Nigeria).  We are concerned most about ensuring our exports are cheaper. Our concern is how to make ourselves competitive with our foreign exchange. So we have to deal with our own currency issues, ensure our currency is stable and adequate to meet with the challenges posed to us at this time. We are more concerned about sorting ourselves out and remaining competitive.

    “The issue for us is in ensuring that the currency is stable. What the NAFEX (Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange) window does is, more or less, to provide an opportunity for the Naira to have its real value against the dollar. In some senses, we are there. 

    “What works today is some sort of intervention; you can’t just open up and say, let things go the way they want. You just mentioned that the US would like to see a weaker dollar, so obviously there is intervention somewhere. We want the market to dictate as much as possible, but where we find that there may be complications, we are ready to intervene.”

    On the claim that Nigeria is politically and economically stable, he said “I think so. The economy is certainly in much more better state than it was 2 years ago and even 4 years ago. Our reserves are at $40 billion, the highest it has been in 4 years. Our capital market is set to be the best performing in the world. We have moved up 24 places in the ease of doing business, agriculture is up by over 3%. We are becoming a net producer of rice, 7 million to 11 million tonnes of paddy which has never happened before. We will be self-sufficient in rice production. Investments are also coming in, so economically; I would say that we are doing very well. 

    “The critical thing is that the man on the streets must feel the impact, which sometimes takes a while, because when you are talking about growth, there must be jobs, but growth doesn’t immediately translate to jobs.

    “What we are trying to do is to establish a system of governance that first of all, emphasises prudence in financial spending, which is what we had in mind to do with the TSA and with the general controls in spending. So we are earning 60% less than what was earned in 2014, but we are spending N1.3 trillion on capital expenditure, the highest in the history of the country, with 60% less revenue.

    “What is important to bear in mind, is that we have changed the model of government in Nigeria substantially. We place emphasis on good governance especially financial prudence, which is very crucial. That is something in the past few years we haven’t seen. That is why we able to work with 60% less revenue, that has improved. We are doing better in terms of managing our finances, and in terms of doing much more with far less.” he said 

    Asked to highlight the timeline when Nigerians will start to feel the impact of the economy,  he said “I think we are seeing the progress day by day. For example, look at investments; when an investment comes in, it doesn’t immediately translate to jobs until a few months. 

    “When you look at youth unemployment, for the first time in the history of this country, we have employed 200,000 graduates, there is no administration that has done that. We are also giving them devices for their training, so that each of them would have a device that they can use in training, in code writing and computing. 

    “They can be better prepared for private employment, entrepreneurship in whatever they want to do. 200,000 young people by a government through one specific programme, and we are doing 300,000 more this year, so we are hoping to employ 500,000 graduates. There is unemployment all over the world, especially over Sub-Saharan Africa, but we are addressing it aggressively.” Osinbajo added. 

    Asked to comment on Donald Trump’s alleged comments about some African countries and its likely effect on the relationship between the US and Nigeria, Osinbajo said “At the diplomatic level, there have been interactions, the ambassador was invited by our Foreign Affairs Minister and I’m sure you are familiar with the conversation. The most important thing is that the overall interests of our countries are greater than anything else. We need each other, Africa needs America and America needs Africa in several strategic ways. 

    “We must continue to maintain our relationship. I’m also told that Mr. Trump said that he did not make those statements and we should accept that.” he said. 

    Asked if he intends to run with President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, Osinbajo said “I’m absolutely focused at this time on doing the job that we have been elected to do. That is my concern for now.”

    Asked to speak on the concrete steps being taken to boost non-oil revenue, he said “I’m sure you are familiar with some of the figures; non-oil revenues have gone up by 40%; mining and agriculture are critical areas for us. Agriculture, in particular, is a major area of focus and that is one of the greatest contributors to GDP growth at this point. 

    “We intend to do more especially in the area of agro-allied businesses and manufacturing, and that remains for us, a very critical aspect of the economy which we are working on. If you look at our Economy Recovery Growth Plan, and some of the very specific implementation objectives of that plan – our ease of doing business is focused on creating an environment where the non-oil sector can really expand and prosper in ways which will benefit jobs and growth. 

    “The major concern is how to improve agriculture and do much more in mining, which is also an area of growth and manufacturing.

    “Special Economic Zones (SEZ) are one of the things we have come here to discuss; we had a special session on it. What we are also trying to do is in the garment manufacturing. We want to become the hub in garment manufacturing in Africa. 

    “One of our SEZs is devoted to garment manufacturing and we are going about this by talking directly to the anchor investors, asking them what it will take, and what they want to ensure that it works. We are providing in those SEZs, adequate power and the infrastructure required. 

    “We also have the whole incentive regime. So with the SEZs, we have garment manufacturing, which is one example, and we create real opportunities and exponential growth in jobs.” Osinbajo said 

    On what Nigeria is taking away from the meeting with Bill Gates, Osinbajo said “The meeting focused on two areas; one is with the work being done in collaboration with Dangote Foundation and the Federal Government on Polio immunisation and also on agricultural transformation. Those are two major areas, as well as financial inclusion. We found that financial inclusion is crucial in the work we are doing, especially with our conditional cash transfers, we were hoping to reach a million people. 

    “We are finding it difficult to reach people in certain areas because there are no money agents or banks functioning in those areas. The work we are doing with Bill Gates and the Central Bank of Nigeria is on issuing guidelines on the mobile telephony aspect of financial inclusion. We now want a situation where you are able to do much more with mobile phones with respect to financial inclusion. 

    “That will help a great deal because we would be able to reach the farthest reaches of our country and bring more people into the regulated financial space so that more people can benefit from credit, funds and payments made by government and individual payments. This has to be by 2018.” he said 

  • Niger Delta youths reject Avenger’s threat of violence

    Niger Delta youths reject Avenger’s threat of violence

    Niger Delta youths has warned the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) against its recent threats to resume of violent agitation in the region.
    Rising from their meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at the weekend,  hundreds of the youths, who met under the auspices of Niger Delta Youth Leadership Forum (PANDLEAF),‎ told the avengers to shelve their plans “if they really loved the region”.
    The youths, who deliberated on the state of the nation, insisted that the region had gone beyond a violent phase in its quest for development.
    Speaking shortly after the meeting that lasted over four hours, the National President, PANDLEAF, Mr. Richard Akinaka, said non-violent agitation and intellectual engagements remained the best approach for the region.
    The PANDLEAF President said: ”We strongly believe that the time for armed struggle is over. Life is in phases and so should our struggles be. We must be able to advance our agitations beyond that to the high grounds of intellectual and constructive engagement.
    “In the alternative, we advocate a collective engagement of all stakeholders at a round-table, to forge common positions and fronts for further engagements with the Federal Government.
    “We should redirect our energy to advance a common regional fronts in an intellectual manner that will cause people to respect  and listen to us. But sometimes, when you see the thing government does, to the shallow-minded, the best thing to do is to go the way of the gun because there are things that are going on that are not right.
    “You see what our host communities are going through, the environmental problems, the Ogoni clean up that has been promised our people, nothing is going on. An impatient mind may say, we must resist these things, they are not right, but our advice  to our people is to avert war.
    “War does not solve problem. We have passed through that stage of life, let us see how we can provide leadership and see how we can adopt internationally acceptable standards and advance the cause of our people, that is the stage we are in now.
    “Indeed, we have a cause. One of the greatest problems we have is leadership failure. Our leaders have failed us at different times and one of the reasons is lack of cohesion and unity among them. So, we need that cohesion, we need that unity and synergy to ensure that we are facing government and international oil companies with a common cause.”
    Akinika also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately stop further bloodshed across the country by rampaging herdsmen.
    Describing the killings as senseless, he appealed to the President to find a lasting solution to farmers/herdsmen clashes.
    He also argued that if the government should establish cattle colonies for herdsmen, it must also set up oil and gas colonies for people in the Niger Delta.
    He insisted that it was the responsibility of herdsmen as private business owners to take personal responsibility to improve their business interests.
    Akinaka said: “As a people, we have taken that position that herdsmen are private businesspeople. Some of us who have private businesses, take private and personal responsibility to advance our business interests.
    “If herdsmen want land and spaces to do their business, they should acquire them within any of the states and do their business as it demands the way it is done elsewhere all over the world where you have people get ranches for their cattle and people go there to buy cattle for consumption purposes.
    “So, that is the best thing to do. Government does not need to buy land for a private businessman and all of that. But if that is what the government wants to do, we are asking for oil and gas colony for our people too.
    “We should be given extra reserve right to take full responsibility of our oil and gas industry because that is our area, that is our environment. We suffer environmental problems. So, if they want colony for their cattle, we want colony for our oil and gas business.”
    Akinika further called on the people to stop speaking in discordant tunes, which he said was the bane of the region.
    He charged the young people in the Niger Delta to participate fully in the political process and not to follow political leaders blindly.
    He also appealed to political leaders in the region to unite to advance the cause of the people, adding that one of the reasons former President Goodluck Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential election was because he could not point out what he did for the Niger Delta.
    Akinaka said: “PANDLEAF calls on all young people in the Niger Delta to participate fully in the political process and not follow political leaders blindly, owing to sheer ethnic chauvinistic sentiments or primordial and vassal political affiliations while advocating for sincerity and commitment on the part of the Federal Government.
    “I was challenging someone of the political leaders. One of the greatest things we were able to do to campaign against former President Goodluck Jonathan was to say that six years of Jonathan, we could not point out what he was able to give to us.
    “Goodluck himself acknowledged that that he could not do anything for our people and said that when he came back for second term, he would do something, unforunately, he did not come back. Let those who hold high offices in our region do something to set them apart.”
    End.
  • Stay off kingdom, Gbaramatu monarch tells Avengers

    Stay off kingdom, Gbaramatu monarch tells Avengers

    The king of Gbara-matu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Pere Williams Ogoba, Oboro II, has warned operatives of the dreaded Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and all those aiming to attack oil pipelines, to stay off his kingdom.

    The monarch, who spoke through the spokesman of the Gbaramatu Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, also advised the Federal Government to prevail on the military and call them off his area as his kingdom is not at war with the Nigerian state.

    The warning against the Avengers and all vandals of the nation’s critical facilities came on the heels of fresh apprehension in Gbaramatu over recent deployment of military hardware in the area, including gunboats and military aircraft.

    Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area has been the Avengers’ theatre of operations since it commenced campaigns against the nation’s oil and gas industry last year, destroying several key assets, which severely affected the nation’s oil output.

    But in a statement obtained by Niger Delta Report in Warri penultimate week, the monarch absolved his kingdom and his people from any connection with the dreaded militant group, adding that the group is not welcomed in any part of the kingdom.

    The statement said the monarch had given orders to all chairmen of communities to watch out for strangers or indigenes seen close to pipelines in the kingdom, hold such and hand over to security agents.

    “We want to also warn criminals that will want to use the present threat situation to cause confusion in the Gbaramatu Kingdom. We announce to you that anybody that is caught getting close to pipelines with the purpose of vandalising them, will severely dealt with by Gbaramatu Kingdom.

    “The monarch has directed that all chairmen in the kingdom should be vigilant, if they see any person that they don’t know in the kingdom or should they see any son of the kingdom that is about to carry out nefarious activities as it affects government facilities should be apprehended and handed over to security agents.

    “We don’t support the behaviour of the Avengers to wreak havoc on oil facilities. At the same time, we want to plead with the Federal Government and its agents, especially the military and the navy, please let’s give peace a chance.

    “We are not and we don’t want to be Avengers. We are not in support of the Avengers. All we say is that we want development. Things that the Federal Government has promised such as the Ogoni clean-up, the EPZ project, the maritime university, the Omadino, Okerenkoko, Escravos roads and all that the Federal Government has said they are going to do, let them fast-track them. If they fulfil all they promised, nobody will think of carrying out any destruction of any national asset.

    “I think the inaction of some agencies of the government is the reason people have opportunity to say they want to protest. But to the protesters, we continue to plead with your conscience, sheathe the sword. That is not the right way to go. If you destroy all the facilities in the Niger Delta, we will suffer for it, we will be the losers. We don’t need to destroy government facilities for government to listen to us. Let’s sit down and talk, to jaw-jaw is better than to war-war. I repeat, we are not at war with the Federal Government.

    “Criminals who want to use the present situation to cause an unpleasant situation in Gbaramatu Kingdom should leave Gbaramatu Kingdom alone. Should we get any information that anybody wants to get close to government facilities, our youths are on the lookout, we will deal with such people. The traditional ruler has given directives to the community chairmen to ensure that this directive is carried out to the latter”, the statement said.

     

  • Nonagenarian SAN to militants: don’t return to trenches

    The first Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from the northern part of the country, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Folorunsho Abdulrazaq has urged the Niger Delta Avengers not to resume bombing of oil installations in the region. He told the warring group to consider the ruins the recent threat could cause the Nigerian economy if it made good its threat.

    Abdulrazaq said this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, during a special lecture organised to commemorate his 90th birthday.

    Eminent Nigerians including the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Professor Ish’aq Oloyede; the immediate-past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, and Mr Lanre Sagaya, among others, were at the event.

    The former ambassador who spoke through his son, Dr Alimi Abdulrazaq, said grievances are better channeled with absolute decorum and dialogue.

    The Niger Delta Avengers a few days ago threatened to begin mass attack on oil pipelines in what it described as failure of the federal government to meet its demands.

    The nonagenarian said he was conversant with the suffering of the people of Niger Delta but warned that violence could only aggravate the situation on the ground.

    Abdulrazaq, a former Nigeria envoy to Ivory Coast, said it was imperative for the Federal Government to take a drastic action on their plight.

    “My father knows exactly what the people of Niger Delta are suffering and we must express our grievances with decorum not with violence”, he said.

    The frontline legal icon called on the government to develop policies that would meet the interest of the people by adequately utilizing natural resources abound in the country.

    He also urged the government to make job available for teeming unemployed youths through equitable distribution of resources, saying this would enhance national development.

    He said, “Government should ensure that you evolve policies that are in the interest of the people, ensure that there is good employment for our people, adequate resources for our people. He (my father) always tells me that we have the capacity and we have the resources to exploit, develop and utilize for the betterment of people.

    “National development starts from the Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution. It emphasises principle of equality. That is where the beginning of any governance starts from; meaning that you must govern and be guided by defence for our people. You must ensure our people derive the best from the resources we have”.

  • CNS warns Niger Delta Avengers against threat to resume hostilities

    The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) which recently issued a threat to resume destruction and bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta were warned yesterday by the military.

    Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas said no group had the strength to threaten the peace and unity of Nigeria.

    While issuing the threat, the militant group claimed that the Federal Government had not redressed the Niger Delta situation in spite of its promises.

    Admira Ete Ibas said yesterday at the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command in Calabar that the navy was prepared to confront any threat in the region.

    “We are prepared for any group that threatens the unity and peace of our country. We are ready to stop all forms of illegal activities on our nation’s economic resources.

    “I am here to carry out an appraisal on the activities of all mobile units ashore, training establishment as well as exercise the fleet later.

    “No individual or group including the Niger Delta Avengers has the audacity to threaten the country and we will also make sure that Nigerians can use the maritime space unhindered.

    “We have in the last two years made a considerable impact of reducing the operations of pirates,’’ he said.

    He said that the presence of the Navy had given rise to maritime commerce, and that there had been remarkable improvement on the number of ships that were coming into the country.

    Ibas explained that the recent acquisition of 150 boats by Nigerian Navy which was produced by an indigenous company ‘Epenal Boat’, had created positive impact in the navy.

    “Most great nations are nations that are able to take their destiny in their hands.

    “I believe that Nigeria could look inwards and develop boats. We have identified that we have an indigenous boat company and we decided to try them, out given the type of challenges that we have,’’ he said.

    He added that the Navy on Nov. 12 arrested six pirates that attempted to hijack a ship, adding that the impact of the navy on sea had given rise to increased maritime activities.

    “From the various statistics we have, there is a remarkable increase in the volume of ships that are coming into our waters.

    “We also have to propagate the efforts of the Navy and also be able to reach out to Nigerians to know the negative effects that the activities of these maritime criminals have on our economy and the nation as a whole,” he said.

     

     

  • Pipeline vandalism; Olu of Warri appeals to Avengers

    Pipeline vandalism; Olu of Warri appeals to Avengers

    The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli has appealed to the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) not to attack oil installations as no meaningful development can be achieved through violence.

    Ikenwoli gave the warning on Friday while on a peace-building visit to the monarch of Agbon Kingdom in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta, Mike Omeru in his Isiokolo palace.

    He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to fulfill its promises to the region in order to sustain the existing peace.

    The royal father said that the springing up of different militancy groups does put the region in a good light before the government, “that is why we are not being taken serious’’.

    “I plead with the Avengers not to attack oil installations but the Federal government should also fulfill its promises,

    “We need to unite and speak with one voice as a people so that government can take us serious. We cannot achieve any good thing through violence,

    “We should stop the proliferation of militancy in the Niger Delta,

    “When I ascended the throne, I made it clear that one of my priorities is to build peace among the different ethnic groups in Delta and that is why I am here today,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, the host, Omeru thanked the Ikenwoli and his chiefs for the visit and also reaffirmed the importance of unity in building a better Delta.

    “This is the first time an Olu of Warri is visiting Agbon Kingdom. This togetherness will bring peace and progress between Agbon and the Itsekiri nation,’’ he said.

  • Clark urges Niger Delta Avengers to enbrace peace

    Clark urges Niger Delta Avengers to enbrace peace

    Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark has pleaded with the aggrieved Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to remain non-violent as a result of recent peace dialogue with the Federal Government.

    Clark said the Avengers had given him that responsibility to mediate with the government on their behalf, thus it was important to endure while the peace talk lasts.

    He made the appeal when a delegation led by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (rtd) visited him in his home.

    Clark said a major grouse of the Avengers was the disruption of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) meeting in Port Harcourt, adding that with the explanation by General Boroh, there are assurances that the dialogue is back on track.

    He noted that PANDEF, which he leads, would be meeting soon in Warri.

    The former Information Minister, in his reaction to the threat by the NDA that it will resume hostilities in the region stated that “we are appealing to the Niger Delta Avengers not to resume hostilities. They are our children and they mandated us to negotiate with the Federal Government on their behalf. They have to be patient and give us time to do so successfully.  Any resumption of hostilities will not be in the interest of our people. This is not the time to resume hostilities.

    “It is true the Federal Government has not been quite serious about the negotiations, but we are asking the Niger Delta Avengers to maintain the peace. We have pleaded with them and we are sending a delegation to meet with them.”

    In a statement, Head of Media, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Owei Lakemfa, commended Boroh for his good job as adviser to the President. He asked the Federal Government to adequately fund the programme by releasing all its budgeted funds.

    “You are like the bridge between us and the Federal Government and we are willing to give you all the support you need,” Clark noted.

    In his remarks, Boroh told Clark that the disruption of the PANDEF meeting was due to communication gap.

    He stated that the new vision of the programme is to provide job opportunities for the youth and hasten development of the Niger Delta.

    “The Federal Government has a lot of respect for PANDEF. It regards it as a major partner in the resolution of the Niger Delta challenge, the maintenance of peace and development in the region,” he added.

  • Minister updates Buhari on NDDC, ongoing projects, others

    Minister updates Buhari on NDDC, ongoing projects, others

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Usani Uguru Usani on Monday in Abuja updated President Muhammadu Buhari on the activities at the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ).

    He made this known while speaking to State House correspondents.

    “For a while, he has not been round and their things he needed to know from me.

    “So, I had to brief him on issues pertaining to the ministry, the projects that are going and other anthropogenic issues that have to do with the general matters concerning the Niger Delta region especially, at the throw up of some of the concerns bothering on who is right to speak for, who not right to speak for, and then the issues of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

    “All these occupied our discussion with the President today.’’

    On the recent threat by Niger Delta Avengers to resume attacks on oil installations, the minister stated that the issue was not discussed during his meeting with the president.

    He, however, maintained that the Federal Government would continue to dialogue with all aggrieved groups in the Niger Delta region with a view to ensuring peace and stability in the country.

    “Well, we haven’t discussed the Avengers per se. But, the President has always shown indication that whatever we need to and can do to sustain peace in the region, we would continue to do it.

    “And of course, the benefit of that, you are aware that the Vice President has been chairing the committee that handles the issues they are raising.

    “And so, while that goes on operationally, the President just needs to be briefed on our efforts though we know that the Vice President is briefing him from time to time but per se, the Avengers issues was not discussed.

    “On a general note, it is understood that we have to be engaged to be able to sustain the peace that prevailed for a while,’’ he added.

    The minister described the slow pace of work on the East West road project as unfortunate.

    He said: “But we all have to appreciate one thing. Such physical infrastructure don’t decay over night and so the neglect has continually put continues liability on us.

    “Yes, it’s true that I met with the contractors, appealed to them to go back to site, we have also been very conscientious in releasing funds.’’

    NAN

  • BREAKING: Niger Delta avengers threaten resumption of hostilities

    BREAKING: Niger Delta avengers threaten resumption of hostilities

    Owing to alleged unfulfilled promises and insincerity on the part of the federal government, the dreaded Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has called off its unilateral ceasefire.

    The group, in a statement posted on its website on Friday also lashed out at fugitive former warlord, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, and the elders of the Niger Delta region, represented by the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), for allegedly working against the interest of its struggle.

    It warned that its operations, which it said would commence soon, would not be without casualties as it was in 2016, sending strong warnings to the oil multinationals operating in the region, it said it would bring down anything and anyone in sight.

    In the statement signed by its spokesperson, Murdoch Agbinibo, NDA also debunked the existence of any militant group known as the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), describing it as a money-making tool, put together by Niger Delta political jobbers.

    It blamed the current state of things in the Niger Delta and the failure of the Nigerian government to have taken serious and practical steps towards addressing the region’s woes on the PANDEF and Tompolo.

    It, however, said it had lost faith in Tompolo and the PANDEF, vowing not to listen to any call or advise from them from now onwards.

    “To the elders of the Niger Delta, PANDEF, we warned you against the antics of the Nigerian Government yet you requested a chance to broker a new vision for our people; we told you and the rest of the world that the Nigerian Government is only interested in our oil wells and not our well being yet you told us the signs are different this time around.

    “Instead of allowing us to continue our quest to bring the Nigerian economy to our targeted zero daily production, which recorded huge success; you threatened us with Tompolo to stop the struggle; out of respect for elders and not to the threat of Tompolo we adhered the call and halted our strike actions hoping you (PANDEF) would keep your own side of the bargain.

    “The question to Tompolo and the PANDEF is to tell us what progress they achieved since we heeded your retrogressive call,  to whose benefit is the move by Tompolo and the Niger Delta elders to impede a mission sanctioned by our ancestors and the Almighty?

    “Tompolo, we want you to know that we never started this struggle with the intent of living forever but with our lives already offered for a sacrifice for a better Niger Delta. We invite you to come after us with your total force as we are no longer ready to heed uninspiring advise from you or anyone else in the Niger Delta Region.

    “To the Nigerian Government, we are aware of Egina FPSO built in South Korea by Samsung to be operated by Total Nigeria is one of the biggest FPSO built in South Korea has started it’s voyage to the oil fields of the Niger Delta to further exploit us while our concerns are left unattended. We are presently tracking and monitoring its movement and God willing it shall not operate successfully in amidst the return of the fury of the Niger Delta Avengers.

    “Message to the Oil Companies; Our next line of operation will not be like the 2016 campaign which we operated successfully without any casualties; this outing will be brutish, brutal and bloody, as we are shall crush everything we meet on our path to completely put off the fires that burn to flair gas in our communities and cut every pipe that moves crude away from our region. We can assure you that every oil installation in our region will feel the warmth of the wrath of the Niger Delta Avengers”, the statement said.

  • N/Delta: Ex-militant leader warns avengers

    N/Delta: Ex-militant leader warns avengers

    A prominent ex-militant leader,  Africanus Ukparasia, yesterday, vowed to resist renewed threats by the Niger Delta Avengers to begin attacks on oil installations in the region.

    Ukparasia, formerly known in the creeks of the Niger Delta region as ‘General’ Africa warned the avengers to stay away from the region especially his home state, Bayelsa.

    The former commander of the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) reportedly spoke in Yenagoa when he patrolled the creeks of Bayelsa.

    The former creek warlord, who chairs the Bayelsa State Waterways Security Task Force (BSWSTF), said he would not joke with his mandate to secure the creeks of the state and stop the nefarious activities of avengers and their ilk.

    He said the gods of Bayelsa would not allow avengers to cause chaos, and further degrade the state’s environment.

    He noted that his task force was ready to deal decisively with anybody, who tried to turn the state into a theatre of a needless war and destruction of lives and property.

    Ukparasia said he would not fold his arms and watch a ragtag group to give the military reasons to invade Niger Delta communities.

    “We advise Bayelsans to report any suspicious movement in their communities as it is the duty of all to be vigilant against the nefarious activities of criminals who cause problems to give the military reason to invade our communities for innocent people to suffer”, he said.

    He said the task force would no longer allow the destruction of oil facilities in Bayelsa, with the attendant consequences of low federal allocation and nonpayment of salaries.

    He also advised youths not to fall for the antics of some persons deceiving them to buy firearms to partake in a phantom arms buy-back programme of the Federal Government.

    He said: “The Waterways Security Task Force headed by me was legally established by the Federal Government in collaboration with the Bayelsa state Government to stop crime and criminal activities along the waterways of Bayelsa state.

    “We pledge to work with the security agencies to maintain peace and order in the state. We, hereby, warn that anyone trying to sabotage the peace in the state will be decisively dealt with as no stone will be left unturned to maintain the peace currently being enjoyed in the state.

    “We call on the security agencies to watch the activities of some undesirable elements in our society to avert any possible breakdown of law and order”, he said.

    Ukparasia further commended the Governor of Bayelsa, Mr. Seriake Dickson, for his commitment to the peace and stability in the Niger Delta region.

    He said that if all the Niger Delta governors had been committed to the peace of the region like Dickson, the Niger Delta would have been one of the most peaceful regions in the country.

    He also advised Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state to imitate Dickson by working with all persons that could bring peace to the region regardless of party affiliations.

    It was also gathered that following the renewed threats by avengers, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), summoned all the former Niger Delta agitators to an emergency meeting.

    A statement by PAP’s Media Consultant, Mr. Wabiye Idoniboyeobu, said the meeting held in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, on Wednesdadding that all the ex-agitators vowed to maintain the peace in the region.

    The statement said: “The meeting which had the sole focus of fostering peace and stability in the Niger Delta region, was well attended, and had leaders, state coordinators and members from all the nine Niger Delta States.

    “The meeting can be tagged a huge success, as all the leaders present, pledged their support for the current administration’s, Agricultural Empowerment Programmes for beneficiaries.

    The ex-agitators, in a unanimous voice, resolved to protect the sovereignty of the country and expose anyone found vandalizing oil and gas installations within their communities, siting its negative effect on the environment and the mindset of investors”.

    One of the leaders, Pastor Ruben Wilson, was quoted as thanking Boroh for his unbiased coordination of the amnesty programme.

    He said that under Boroh’s watch the programme transformed from a political tool, to a well coordinated reintegration platform for the repentant agitators of the Niger Delta region.