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Tag: Niger-Delta

  • 13% derivation not enough to develop Niger Delta, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday said the 13% derivation principle was a mockery of  the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta.

    The governor said the 13 percent derivation was not enough to develop the Niger Delta region.

    A statement issued by Dickson ‘s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Francis Agbo said the governor spoke  on Tuesday during a live media chat in Ijaw language in Government House Yenagoa.

    The governor argued that only restructuring would guarantee sustainable peace, stability and development in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country.

    He lamented that the people of the region particularly the Ijaws were being treated as second class citizens in the country, as their resources were  exploited by the Federal Government and its agencies.

    He said: “I have said it time and time again that the 13% derivation  they are giving to us can never be enough to tackle our development needs at the pace we want. And that, restructuring is the only veritable means to achieve sustainable peace, stability and prosperity not only in this our region but throughout the country.

    “For how long will the Federal Government and indeed all the supporters of this great injustice continue to treat us as slaves? What they call oil blocs are our ancestral lands but we are the people that are excluded from the ownership and use of this our God-given property.

    “Take Bayelsa, for instance, where the Federal Government is doing almost nothing to support our development effort. We are the ones building all our schools, hospitals, roads and bridges to link our communities in this state. Is that fair?

    “That is why I expect every right thinking Ijaw or Niger Delta person and true Nigerians to support our clamour for restructuring because that is the right thing to do so that every part of our country will have a sense of belonging.”

    On the ongoing state public service reforms, the governor restated the need for  Bayelsans to discountenance the propaganda and blackmail orchestrated by detractors, stressing that no genuine worker would be adversely affected.

    He said through continuous verification and other measures, his administration pruned down the over bloated wage bill of about N6bn  it inherited at inception of his government  to N3.8bn at the end of last month.

    Dickson who urged the people not to see civil service as the best occupation, assured them of government preparedness to assist them go into commerce and other private businesses, which he noted, are more lucrative.

    He called for more support and prayers for the success of the reforms and other programmes adding that he had directed the appropriate government officials to announce the commencement of the recruitment of 1000 graduates into the public service by next week.

    Dickso assured Bayelsans of fairness and transparency in the recruitment process.

    The governor asked the public to report any government official who indulges in nepotism and other sharp practices that would jeopardize his administration’s goal of leaving behind an efficient and result-oriented civil service.

     

  • 13% derivation not enough to develop Niger Delta – Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson on Tuesday said the 13% derivation principle was a mockery of the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta.

    The governor said the 13 percent derivation was not enough to develop the Niger Delta region.

    A statement issued by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Francis Agbo said the governor spoke on Tuesday during a live media chat in Ijaw language in Government House Yenagoa.

    The governor argued that only restructuring would guarantee sustainable peace, stability and development in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country.

    He lamented that the people of the region particularly the Ijaws were being treated as second class citizens in the country, as their resources were exploited by the Federal Government and its agencies.

    He said: “I have said it time and time again that the 13% derivation  they are giving to us can never be enough to tackle our development needs at the pace we want. And that, restructuring is the only veritable means to achieve sustainable peace, stability and prosperity not only in this our region but throughout the country.

    Read Also: Dickson orders arrest of LG official

    “For how long will the Federal Government and indeed all the supporters of this great injustice continue to treat us as slaves? What they call oil blocs are our ancestral lands but we are the people that are excluded from the ownership and use of this our God-given property.

    “Take Bayelsa, for instance, where the Federal Government is doing almost nothing to support our development effort. We are the ones building all our schools, hospitals, roads and bridges to link our communities in this state. Is that fair?

    “That is why I expect every right thinking Ijaw or Niger Delta person and true Nigerians to support our clamour for restructuring because that is the right thing to do so that every part of our country will have a sense of belonging.”

    On the ongoing state public service reforms, the governor restated the need for  Bayelsans to discountenance the propaganda and blackmail orchestrated by detractors, stressing that no genuine worker would be adversely affected.

    He said through continuous verification and other measures, his administration pruned down the over bloated wage bill of about N6bn  it inherited at inception of his government  to N3.8bn at the end of last month.

    Dickson who urged the people not to see civil service as the best occupation, assured them of government preparedness to assist them go into commerce and other private businesses, which he noted, are more lucrative.

    He called for more support and prayers for the success of the reforms and other programmes adding that he had directed the appropriate government officials to announce the commencement of the recruitment of 1000 graduates into the public service by next week.

    Dickso assured Bayelsans of fairness and transparency in the recruitment process.

    The governor asked the public to report any government official who indulges in nepotism and other sharp practices that would jeopardize his administration’s goal of leaving behind an efficient and result-oriented civil service.

  • Dickson lauds Buhari on Abiola, demands action on restructuring

    Asks FG to honour Humphery Nwosu

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson on Friday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for immortalizing the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola.

    The governor said that, though, the award was belated, the gesture would partly address the wrongs of the past and strengthen democracy, insisting that, it was better late than never.

    But the governor  called on PMB to declare Abiola as a President that was never sworn in and urgently sponsor an executive bill to the National Assembly in order to legitimize it.

    He said declaring June 12 as Democracy Day, giving national honour to Abiola’s running mate,  Ambassador Babagana Kingibe as well as, giving posthumous national awards to Abiola and the late legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi were in order.

    The governor, however, called on Buhari to show the same political will and patriotism on the critical issue of restructuring Nigeria.

    He said the President should ensure that Nigeria is restructured with power devolved from the centre to the federating units and fiscal federalism enthroned to guarantee balance, peace, prosperity and stability in the country.

    He said a restructured Nigeria would address the dysfunctional system, over concentration of power at the centre, pseudo- federalism and the expropriation of the resources of the Niger Delta.

    Read Also: Abiola, Gani families hail Buhari for honours

    While stressing that, those championing the cause of restructuring were the real patriots, the governor believed Buhari would etch his name on the sands of time and become “a Nigerian hero of all times, if he restructures the country.”

    The governor  also urged the President to honour the then Chairman of National Electoral Commission (NEC), Professor Humphrey Nwosu with a national award for his uncommon courage and commitment to the conduct of  transparent elections in June, 1993,  stressing that, what is good for the goose is also saucy for the gander.

    He said: “I commend the President for the courage to immortalize the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election with the highest national honour of GCFR as well as declaring June 12 as Democracy Day.

    “Having honored Abiola with the highest award only reserved for presidents or heads of state, I urge him to declare Abiola a president that was never sworn in, and then go a step further to Gazette and sponsor a bill to the National Assembly to legitimize his proclamations backed by law.

    “He should also honour the then Chairman of National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Humphrey Nwosu for the courage to conduct a transparent election for what is good for the goose is same for the gander.

    “As member of House of Reps, I co-sponsored a bill to immortalize MKO Abiola to address the wrong done to Abiola and our democracy. So I believe by the president’s proclamation, he continued from where we stopped and in my opinion, it was the right thing to do.

    “Though it is belated but it is better late than never! I want the President to show the same political will and patriotism on the burning issue of Restructuring Nigeria to address the wrong done to the Nigeria people.

    “I believe restructuring will balance the dysfunctional system, guarantee peace, prosperity and stability in the country where everybody has equal stake. Those clamouring for restructuring are the real patriots. PMB will etch his name on the sands of time and become a Nigerian hero of all times if he restructures the country”.

  • Niger Delta and peace

    Inclusive governance, democracy and development are intrinsically linked.

    Inclusive governance can be referred to as the process of leadership or control that involves everyone and not limited to certain people. Developmental projects and appointments those are all-encompassing and not skewed to Favour any particular region in Nigeria.

    The people of the Niger Delta region feel we must be involved in the leadership structure of Nigeria at all times. We have been marginalised for several years and yearn for rapid development of our region to serve as a succor for the amount of devastation we have experienced as a result of oil exploration and exploitation in the region for over 50 years.

    Inclusive governance is crucial for a stronger economy and not just for a fairer society. The devastation and sufferings in the Niger Delta region have escalated and this quagmire strains the relationship between government and the people of the Niger Delta.

    When the youths loose hope in the government, it has a negative effect on the country and economy such as nepotism, corruption, brain drain, mass illiteracy, tribal and religious crisis youth restiveness and militancy as we have experienced in recent times in our country and Niger Delta region which affects oil production and we all know that the Nigerian economy is a mono product economy dependent on oil for survival.

    Empowering the youths of the Niger Delta and ensuring Inclusive governance by putting an end to the marginalisation of the Niger Delta is one of the solutions to developing the region and key to sustaining Peace in the area.

    According to the World Bank, empowering the poor and marginalised and making institutions accountable are pillars of poverty reduction and development (World Bank 2000/2001).

    In responding to the challenge of inclusive governance, the public sector has an important role to play, with respect to the inclusiveness of the public sector itself, the inclusiveness of policy-making processes, and the inclusiveness of the outcomes that governments seek to promote.

    Governance is a decision-making process that should involve all stakeholders. The aim is to come up with decisions that are in the interest of all.

    Inclusive governance, through citizens’ involvement, favours the overall acceptance and makes implementation easier.

    According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, Localism is the tendency to be more concerned with the interests of your particular group or region than with the problems and interests of the larger group, country, etc.

    The people of the Niger Delta as a matter of urgency must show more concern for issues relating to the Niger Delta. We must collectively demand transparency and hold government accountable for issues relating to our region.

    Our representatives at the parliaments must ask the Federal Government questions. For example, you cannot launch the Ogoni clean-up in a fanfare and fail to commence the actual process several months after without being asked questions.

    We must pay more attention to the things that concern the Niger Delta because we alone will solve our problems, for example the law makers and leaders in Lagos are doing everything, including challenging existing Nigerian laws in court, just for the good of Lagosians so our law makers must start looking at laws that will protect our people in the oil and gas sector which is at the root of our problems. How do we localise governance for the sole aim of protecting Niger Delta people and environment?

    This brings me to question the competence of the people we elect as our representatives. I have nothing against those clamouring for the “Not too young to run” but I am of the opinion that we should focus on the competence of the people we tell to run for offices.

    Our appointees and elected officers from councilors, local government chairmen, houses of assembly to the National Assembly must be experienced, competent, knowledgeable and audacious people and not neophytes. We must look at quality of leadership and local capacity to solve our problems. The Niger Delta problems are peculiar to us and we have to look inwards for solutions

    For example, we can tinker with our laws at the state level With a view to setting acceptable standards for operators of the supposedly illegal refineries. Thereafter the states in the region should jointly sponsor a bill for the recognition and legalisation of these operations.  This singular act would drastically reduce the environmental pollution crises in the region, create jobs, reduce the quantum of imported refined products, increase the Internally Generated Revenues of States concerned and that of the federal government as well as boost our foreign reserves.

    In our bid to attain sustainable peace in the Niger Delta we must invest in education and give the youth an opportunity to serve in leadership positions.

    We are celebrating the 50th memorial of Isaac Adaka Boro, as it relates to the sufferings of the Niger Delta people.

    It is regrettable that 50 years after he paid the supreme sacrifice for the emancipation of his people, we are nowhere near the Promised Land. We cannot continue doing the same thing and expect a different result.

    We must therefore review and modify our approach to ensure that experienced, competent, knowledgeable and audacious young men and women are encouraged and supported to seek elective offices. This is the only way we can effect positive change to bring about development and a peaceful and prosperous Niger Delta.

    Our youth must go beyond mere agitation to effective participation in partisan politics to solve our problems in the Niger Delta.

    The operations of Developmental agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Presidential Amnesty Programme must be scrutinised to ensure judicious utilisation of appropriated funds. These agencies must be transparent and accountable in their operations.

    The youth of the Niger Delta are our leaders of tomorrow and thus we have a responsibility to build a future for them.

    I stand here today to address you because I had the opportunity to be educated. Without education I would have been a liability to the society.

    I wish to appreciate the efforts of the governor in the Niger Delta region. Of particular mention in the education sector is His Excellency Seriake Dickson, governor of Bayelsa State who is transforming the educational sector in the state.  I implore the governors in the Niger Delta to do more and focus on attaining the UNESCO standard of having 26% of our budgets for education.

    In conclusion,  all hands must be on deck  for us to attain sustainable Peace in the Niger Delta, we must develop more concern for issues relating to the Niger Delta, participate actively in  politics, register to vote and get our permanent voters card (PVCs), support education of our people, Encourage our youths that are knowledgeable to go into partisan politics.

    We must push for a True Federal system of governance in our country in order to entrench and strengthen democratic institutions which which ultimately guarantees citizens participation, localism and inclusive governance.

     

    • Excerpts of a paper Eradiri, a past Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) President, delivered to mark 50th remembrance of Isaac Adaka Boro in London.
    • OLUKOREDE YISHAU returns next week

     

  • How INTELS’ CSR touches lives, impacts communities in Niger Delta

    INTELS is a known leader in Nigeria’s oil and gas services sector. In its 35 years of operation in Nigeria, the company has built an enviable reputation as a competent, responsible and trusted investor in the country’s economy.

    The epitome of the company’s competence has been the manner it manages the multi-billion dollar investments in the Onne Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone in Rivers state, one of the largest of its kind in the world.

    In more ways than one, the company has demonstrated in practice that public-private partnership is possible in the management of Nigeria’s port facilities.

    The Onne Port has been transformed into a model and reference point for port management in Nigeria going by the commendable and exemplary way INTELS has managed the facility.

    Many have recommended the INTELS example as the model for PPP in port management in particular and other sectors of the country’s economy at large.

    Worthy of note is that the company is not only competent in technical operations, but equally a leader in community relations and people’s engagement. The company touches lives positively and impacts development in unique ways.

    Many focus on the company’s giant strides in the oil and gas services industry, particularly in ports management in Nigeria. But, its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) philosophy should actually be a model for companies operating in the Niger Delta region.

    Others seeking to institutionalise a conflict-free relationship with its host communities also have an invaluable lesson to learn.

    Being a result-oriented company focused on real impact, by utilising its resources, human and material, to execute beneficial and life-changing projects, not many would read about INTELS CSR initiatives on the pages of newspapers, but on the faces of the people and communities the company has impacted.

    INTELS’ achievements in various communities in the Niger Delta it operates are real and verifiable. They point to one fact: INTELS superior CSR philosophy brings real meaning worthy of emulation by others.

    In over 35 years of its existence in the Niger Delta, INTELS has not encountered any community action or protest against its operations. This, more than anything else, confers a significant validation of the positive impact of its CSR philosophy.

    In their reciprocal gesture, the host communities, which cut across Rivers, Delta, and Cross River States where INTELS has its indelible footprints, have equally adopted the company as a full-fledged worthy corporate citizen.

    The company’s sincere and open CSR approach has given the people a sense of trust and ownership in its operations.

    The company’s Integrated Partnership Approach (IPA) to CSR is predicated on three objective planks.

    First, to empower, in a sustainable way, the indigenes of INTELS’ host communities, through the provision of employment and improved welfare to the people.

    Second, to plan and execute integrated community development programmes with full community inputs and participation.

    Third, to adopt best practices that guarantee community friendly relationship and peaceful co-existence.

    In order to function properly, the model categorises stakeholders into three: company, government, and communities.

    Each of these stakeholders has respective roles and expectations in the overall success of the IPA strategy.

    This helps the communities to have a clear understanding of a sense of mutual expectation I from the people and communities, on the one hand, and the company on the other.

    One of the major benefits of the IPA is the opportunity it provides for the communities to determine and own executed projects.

    Unlike other linear CSR practices that allow the company to decide a project for the community, regardless of its relevance to the people, the IPA allows communities to decide what will deliver the maximum benefits for the greatest number of people.

    To provide a fair understanding INTELS’ IPA, let’s attempt an assessment of its success based on the three thematic areas of its underlining philosophy earlier outlined.

    In empowerment of indigenes of host communities, INTELS probably holds the aces for the best performing company in local content compliance among other players in the industry.

    Over 40% of all INTELS’ employees are from Rivers State, which hosts its operations headquarters, while over 60% of all its employees are from the Niger Delta region, with immense contributions to the development of the various communities.

    In this regard, the King of Onne, His Royal Highness, Hon. (Dr.) J.D Osaronu, in a letter to INTELS commended the company for transforming the community into a modern metropolis.

    In another instance, HRH further declared “the community told their young men and women to utilise their earnings from INTELS in a judicious manner to support the development of the community.”

    Perhaps, heeding the words of their elders, many of the indigenes of the host communities have built houses and initiated viable businesses through the income they earn from INTELS Nigeria Limited.

    As much as the company would love to employ all qualified and interested indigenes of the host communities, its biggest challenge has been availability of space to accommodate all at the same time.

    Hence, INTELS devised other sustainable means of creating employment for the unemployed in the communities.

    Three well-resourced empowerment programmes have been packaged to deliver the intended purpose.

    The Youth Skill Acquisition Programme (YSAP) is the company’s flagship initiative to assist in training indigenes and prepare them for possible employment with INTELS or any other company operating within the Onne Oil & Gas Free Trade Zone.

    This way, INTELS has contributed to the employability of the young minds in the communities.

    A similar programme is the Host Community Graduate Trainee Scheme (HCGTS) dedicated to training graduates undergoing internship with INTELS, with a possibility of the permanent employment after the programme.

    The trainings are specially tailored to empower participants in different areas of oil and gas services, including pipe welding, structural welding, marine engineering, mud engineering, AutoCad and other relevant specialisations.

    For those who may not be retained at the end of their programme, INTELS would equip them sufficiently to enable them start a business, or prepare them to become employable by other employers in the industry.

    In economic empowerment, INTELS has wholly embraced the local content philosophy of the federal government in a manner that truly empowers the people.

    The company continually improves the lives of locals by awarding contracts to capable members of the communities to support their personal businesses.

    As a matter of policy, INTELS reserves some community developmental projects to qualified contractors in the communities.

    A typical example is the road project at Rumuokwurusi where the Landlord families registered a company with elected members of the various families as directors, specifically to execute the project.

    So far, apart from a large number of employees, 40% of whom are from the host communities, INTELS has created over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs in various communities across the Niger Delta.

    The ultimate mission is to ensure that noemployable indigene stays without job.

     

     

    INTELS has also contributed greatly to the academic progress of the host communities through scholarship schemes that have benefited many deserving young and bright minds.

    Often, it is said that an educated mind is empowered to think for himself and equipped to make rational and informed decisions.

    INTELS’ scholarship programmes are also merged with social activities for the youth in the communities in order to channel the energy of the young ones into positive causes.

    Such activities include sporting events, traditional festivals and carnivals and other activities that encourage togetherness, peace and unity.

    Besides, INTELS also has a well-funded football academy to provide the requisite training for aspiring footballers from the host communities.

    In the area of project execution, INTELS has delivered top quality projects in communities where it operates.

    Projects are products of consultation, communication and partnership. They are agreed upon and selected based not only on their capacity to deliver immediate and long-term benefits, but also provide collective succour for the whole community rather than few individuals.

    Such projects must hold the potentials to bring multiplier effect on not only the community, but also its economy.

    Likewise, the sustainability of a project is also a major consideration. The company’s CSR philosophy discourages execution of projects that would be difficult to maintain and sustain years down the line, and eventually become a burden to the community.

    Some projects executed by INTELS in various communities across three States in Niger Delta include construction and furnishing of primary and secondary school blocks; provision of befitting civic centres, town halls and palaces; and construction of roads and drainage projects.

    Other projects are water boreholes, ultra-modern markets, provision of electricity transformers and generators, and construction of public conveniences to support the hygiene in the communities.

    In response to the healthcare challenges of the communities, INTELS in partnership with Rivers State government introduced the Mobile Clinic, to take healthcare services to the people’s doorsteps.

    In 2013 alone, after four years of its establishment, the Mobile Clinic had provided consultations for over 70,000 individuals across Niger-Delta communities.

    Finally, people aspiring for greatness are often advised to identify giants and ride on their shoulders, because it is a wiser strategy to emulate those who have weathered the storm and are still standing as giants.

    In CSR practice in Nigeria, and especially the Niger Delta, INTELS stands out as a colossus and giant all other companies should emulate.

    The company has shown it is possible to do business in any society, excel and maintain a trustworthy and sincere relationship with members of the community.

    In all, INTELS is not just a leader, but heads and shoulders above others in Nigeria. INTELS’ CSR feat cannot be captured in a single publication of this nature. It’s a phenomenon that can only be appreciated by experience.

  • Water Resources Bill may renew hostilities in Niger Delta – IYC

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has said the Water Resources Executive Bill currently on the floor of the National Assembly (NASS), is capable of renewing hostilities between the federal government and people of the Niger Delta region.

    Speaking at a press conference centred on the state of the nation in Warri, Delta State yesterday, Oweilaemi, described the bill as another “neo-colonisation” ploy of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration against the oil-rich region.

    Stating that the group will do all within its powers to resist the bill, he called on the NASS to either reject it “out rightly or, remove the clauses that seek to control the surface and groundwater resources including river beds and banks.”

    The Ijaw Youths’ president further stated that issues relating to water resources management be left under the control of state governments.

    “On the water resources executive Bill currently in the NASS, the position of IYC is that the said Bill is another neo-colonisation agenda by the federal government to annihilate and subjugate the destinies of the Niger Delta people thereby subjecting the people to eternal colony. We reject the Bill in its entirety as it will only end up causing disaffection between the Niger Delta people and the federal government.

    “We have perused the spirits and letters of the said Bill clause by clause. There is nothing in the proposed law that will benefit the Niger Delta people. This is a clear departure from the sacred constitutional requirements of enacting laws which are for the public good, public morality and public safety. A Bill that is designed to divest the people of natural resources in their domains cannot bring peace and good governance to the people.

    “IYC therefore is of the view that the National Assembly should as a matter of public good and for the sake of our corporate coexistence reject the Bill. The management of the water resources should be left with the states. We on our own part will do everything humanly position within the ambit of the law to resist the passage of the Bill. We do not want a repeat of history in the region. This is a surreptitious means to reintroduce the botched cattle colony. Niger Delta people will resist it even with the last drop of our blood,” Oweilaemi said.

    Remarking on the staggering compliance of the sit-at-home order of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), he re-echoed calls for the implementation of fiscal federalism and resource control.

    Other issues the IYC harped on was the quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, with its initial 10% equity share for oil communities and the relocation of oil multinationals’, including Shell Petroleum Development Company, corporate headquarters to the Niger Delta.

     

  • Niger Delta minister warns contractors against shoddy jobs

    THE Minister for Niger Delta, Usani Uguru Usani, has warned contractors handling projects under the ministry to maintain standard and quality in their jobs.

    Usani who was on inspection of some projects executed by the Federal Government through his ministry in Cross River State, disclosed that the inspection exercise has been ongoing to cover numerous projects spread across all the states of the Niger Delta.

    At a project site in Adim, Biase Local Government Area, specifically the Adim – Abaribara road Usani noted that, though, he is not an expert in engineering, “from a lay man’s view point it was obvious that the contractor did not apply quality stone base on the one kilometer area he has completed work on.”

    He demanded that the company, Beachstone Construction Limited does something about his observation, otherwise the ministry would react accordingly.

    The minister who disclosed that he had earlier inspected some projects in Odukpani Local Government Area of the state also stopped over at Iko-Asi- Ikokperem Road.

    The road has been constructed and asphalted, covering about two kilometers.The Minister explained that the approach of effectively completing a distance is deliberate to ensure that contractors work with the money released at any point in time.

    “By so doing, there have not been any abandoned project nor unnecessary variations and wastage,” he said.

  • No hiding place for Lagos militants

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has declared war on militants who are regrouping in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria and vowed not to give them a hiding place.

    The Force said it has recruited 7,000 personnel in three years as one of the measure aimed at flushing out militants in Lagos and the country as a whole.

    “The whole essence is to ensure that Nigeria and Nigerians are secure and be able to go about their businesses without fear,” the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said.

    He made the vow at the inauguration of some buildings for the personnel at 041 Communications Depot, Shasha in Lagos on Thursday.

    According to him, the Air Force will continue to flush them out just like we have been doing.

    “We have been in Lagos, Taraba and other states in the country. Very soon, something is going to be worked out which will involve not only the Air Force but all military formations.

    “Our commanders are giving us all the inputs. Just like we flushed them before, we are going to continue to flush them with the support of other security agencies.”

    The CAS said the force had acquired new helicopters and aircraft to accomplish the aim of the Force.

    “Professionalism is not just about equipment and training but most importantly, about the human beings because human being is the most important resource.

    The CAS said that the NAF embarked on massive construction of new accommodation as well as re-modelling of old ones to address the infrastructural deficit of the past.

    “It is quite important to ensure that the living condition of our tireless and hard working personnel is given high premium.

    “Human beings, being the most important resource in organisations, ought to have their welfare needs addressed in order for them to be effective in discharging their assigned roles and responsibilities.”

    He said that the NAF Base, Shasha, being one of the bases in the Lagos area, was critical to the successful conduct of NAF operations.

    “It is, therefore, appropriate that such a base receives commensurate provision of facilities for the general well-being of personnel and their families.

    “The project being inaugurated is dedicated to one of our pilots who paid the supreme price while on a national assignment.

    “The project is therefore, named after the senior officer who passed on while on rescue mission on an Alpha-Jet aircraft.

    “It is hoped that this would create the enabling environment and serve as motivation for personnel to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.”

    The CAS appreciated the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his continued support for the military, especially the NAF, through the provision of platforms and logistics support to operate them.

    “We have recently received some new platforms while awaiting the delivery of others.

    “A number of platforms in our inventory are also undergoing reactivation and will soon be injected back to service to boost our counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

    “You could also remember that the NAF was also instrumental in riding the creeks within the South West region off criminal elements.

    “As much as capacity is being built within the NAF, we must continue to develop strategies to anticipate and curb other emerging security imperatives across the country,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the newly inaugurated accommodation was designed to house a total of 120 airmen and airwomen.

    The accommodation was built to take care of the personnel that had just been recruited, to enhance the operational effectiveness of the NAF.

    The CAS also toured some formations and units in the Lagos area, including 641 Aircraft Maintenance Depot (ACMD), 651 Base Services Group and 661 NAF Hospital, all in Ikeja.

    He also inspected 2 NAF C-130 Hercules aircraft undergoing Periodic Depot Maintenance and Life Extension Programme. (NAN)

  • Niger Delta communities to Buhari: probe JTF activities

    A group, Concerned Citizen of Bony, Nembe, Kula and Bille Communities, has accused members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) of engaging in “illegal oil bunkering”.

    It urged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the JTF for alleged oil theft and stop further criminal activities in the Niger Delta region.

    In a statement yesterday by the group, Mr Ebi George and Comrade Preye Dumbraye, the four communities in Bayelsa and Rivers states said they were forced to cry out “again after the publication of May 15 in the media”.

    According to them, the illegal activities of the JTF had increased, rather than reduce since the publication.

    The statement said: “Since that publication, oil bunkering has increased 10-fold in our communities. Oil bunkering vessels come in every two days to load oil from Bonny, Nembe, Kula and Bille under military escort, who pilot them in and out of our communities.”

    Lauding efforts of the armed forces in maintaining security in the region, the statement expressed worry that some of the security agents had taken to criminal activities.

    It said: “We commend the General Officer Commanding (GOC) and the Commanding Officer 29 Battalion in Port Harcourt (Rivers State) for his effort to combat oil bunkering. But the bad eggs in the Army and the Navy are actively involved in oil bunkering in Bonny, Nembe, Kula and Bille communities in Rivers and Bayelsa states.”

    The communities urged the President to pay special attention to Bonny and Nembe, saying pipeline vandals and oil thieves seemed to have taken over the areas.

    The statement added: “We call on the chief of Defence Staff, the chief of Army Staff and the chief of Naval Staff to direct their field officers and commanders to stop their men from collaborating with oil thieves and pipeline vandals in Bony and Nembe axis as well as Kula and Bille – in Rivers and Bayelsa – who operate in broad daylight under the escort of Army and Navy personnel from Port Harcourt to Bayelsa State.

    “The brazen manner in which vessels come in and out of Bonny and Nembe is very alarming. Kula and Bille are not left out. The battle by the GOC and Commanding Officer of 29 Battalion in Kula and Bille to combat pipeline vandals and oil thieves should be extended to Bonny and Nembe.”

  • Riot: Dickson to meet with leaders of varsity community

    APC, PDP trade words 

     

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has scheduled a meeting with leaders of of Amassoma, host community to the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) following a violent protest that claimed some lives and injured others in the area.

    Dickson in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Agbo, said the meeting was sequel to the unfortunate and avoidable destruction of public and private property, the breakdown of law and order, as well as the reported loss of lives in Amassoma.

    He named persons invited to attend the meeting as the Ibenanaowei of Ogboin Kingdom and his Council of Chiefs, the Amananaowei of Amassoma and his Council of Chiefs, representatives of the Community Development Committee (CDC) and a select leaders of the Amassoma community, including the women and youth leaders.

    The statement warned that late comers would not be allowed into the venue of the parley scheduled for May 25 at the Governor’s Conference Hall in Government House, Yenagoa.

    But the People’s Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) continued to attack each other following the violence in NDU.

    PDP accused the APC of plotting to destroy the NDU, a legacy  of late forner Governor Diepreye Alamiyeiseigha.

    The PDP alleged that the opposition party in the state was  a band of cultists, mischief makers and unscrupulous elements masquerading as party members.

    The PDP said that the Bayelsa APC hounded the pioneer civilian governor of the state, Alamieyeseigha to his untimely death and was planting insecurity in his community to destroy his biggest legacy.

    The state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Moses Cleopas, said in a statement that declaration by the APC that the attackers of security operatives deployed to maintain peace and security in the NDU were their party officials only exposed the APC as a party of criminals.

    Read Also: 2019: Dickson seeks restraint in use of power

    Cleopas said that the APC statement showed that the party organized and sponsored the hoodlums and cultists who unleashed unprovoked mayhem on security operatives, the people of Amassoma and the Niger Delta University on Tuesday.

    He lamented that an APC faction hijacked complaints emanating from the ongoing implementation of the public sector reforms to cause mayhem in the community and the university in a failed bid to discredit the PDP government in the state.

    The PDP Chairman said that it amounted to sheer absurdity for the APC faction to mastermind attacks on the university because of the decision of its governing council and management to retire personnel most of who are between the ages of 65, 70 80 and above.

    But the APC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary-elect, Doifie Buokoribo condemned as callous the attempts by the PDP-led government to justify the killing of protesters by the police in Amassoma on the excuse that the victims were cultists and hoodlums.

    APC queried the criteria adopted by the government to designate people as criminals and extra-judicially direct their killing.

    The party said the government by the statement and its attitude to the killings “simply confirmed our belief that ‘the victims were deliberately targeted in a way that shows he is completely destitute of human feeling”.

    The party said Dickson’s deceptive statement on the Amassoma killings ran contrary to every news report on the incident, stressing that no amount of lies could wash off the blood of the victims on the government’s hands.

    The statement said: “After a lot of twisting and turning, PDP on Wednesday acknowledged the truth that those it sent the police to shoot and kill in Amassoma were protesters.

    “But unable to find a reasonable ground for its act, PDP lied that the victims were cultists and hoodlums. The Nigeria Police in Bayelsa contradicted the government’s account in its statement on Wednesday, when it maintained that what they met in Amassoma were a crowd of protesters.

    “What we do know is that under our laws, the people have an inalienable right to peaceful agitation, a right which the residents of Amassoma were exercising on that black Tuesday when they were mowed down by the police.

    “All major news reports that day on the incident confirm this. The government attempt to justify the killing of the protesters is the height of callousness against the very people he claims to have the mandate to protect and provide for. No amount of lies can cleanse the blood of the victims on his hands.

    “The government’s position that the people must die because they are APC members also runs against moral and democratic thinking. It has simply confirmed our belief that ‘the victims were deliberately targeted in a way that shows a complete lack of emotion”.