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Tag: Niger-Delta

  • DSS breaching Niger Delta peace process, says IYC

    DSS breaching Niger Delta peace process, says IYC

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide yesterday accused the Department of State Security (DSS) of breaching the Federal Government’s peace process in the Niger Delta region by its continuous detention of some Niger Delta people without trial.

    IYC, in a statement by its factional President, Mr. Eric Omare,  said it was unlawful for the DSS to keep some persons it arrested from the region in its custody for a long time without arraignment.

    Omare added that during the fact-finding and confidence-building mission of the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, the people of the region made a case for the release of persons in detention following renewed militancy in the Niger Delta.

    He said the government promised to look into the request and to release some of the detained Niger Delta people.

    He said: “However, the DSS has continued to detain some other Niger Deltans and in some cases even when there is a court order directing that they be released. The case of ex-militant leader, Mr. Sely Kile Torugbedi (alias Young Shall Grow) is most pathetic and unjust.

    “The Federal High Court, Abuja presided over by the Honourable Justice Nnamdi Dimgba on the 5th of August, 2016 made an order for the immediate release of Mr. Torugbedi (alias Young Shall Grow) from DSS custody.

    “However, almost a year after the order was made, the DSS is still holding Mr. Torugbedi in custody despite the fact that they were represented in court by a lawyer, O. J. Odu.

    “The DSS has extended same treatment to Ijaw activist, Mr. Daniel Ezekiel where they have bluntly refused to attend court at the Federal High Court, Warri despite several hearing notices served on them at the DSS headquarters at Abuja.

    “So many other Niger Deltans like IYC Abuja chapter Spokesman, Alex Odogu, Yenagoa based journalist, Jones Abiri and some others have been in detention for more than a year without trial”.

    Insisting that the conduct of the DSS amounted to a breach of the Niger Delta peace process, he said the persons in detention were arrested in connection with the Niger Delta agitations.

    He said that since the government had decided to adopt a negotiated settlement of the Niger Delta agitation, the detained persons should be released as part of the peace process.

    He added: “It even amounts to breach of trust for government to promise peaceful dialogue while at the same time unnecessarily keeping people in detention.

    “The leaders of the Niger Delta region have done their part by restoring relative peace in the region and now it is up to the federal government to sustain it.

    “Therefore, the IYC calls on Acting President, Yemi Osinbanjo to as a matter of urgency and in the interest of the Niger Delta peace process order the release of ex-militant leader, Mr. Sely Kile Torugbedi (alias Young Shall Grow), Ijaw activist: Daniel Ezekiel, IYC Abuja Spokesman: Alex Odogu, Jones Abiri and all other Niger Deltans in DSS custody in relation to the Niger Delta hostilities.

    “Acting President, Yemi Osinbanjo should note that his reputation is on trial in the face of these violations of human rights as a law professor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria”.

  • Ex-militants promise to back Buhari’s peace moves in N/Delta

    Ex-militants promise to back Buhari’s peace moves in N/Delta

    • Boroh carpets those maligning Buhari, Amnesty Office

    Ex-agitators in the Niger Delta have promised to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s initiatives in the Niger Delta.

    This decision was announced after a meeting between the ex-agitators of phases 2 and 3 and the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd.) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    Gen. Boroh said it was imperative for the leaders to meet regularly with officials of the Amnesty Programme to share ideas, make observations and proffer solutions that would bring about peace, infrastructural change and human capital development of thousands of the youth captured in the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    He emphasised that conflict and violence were no resolutions to the crisis and urged the leaders to constantly remind the ex-agitators in their camps not to breach the peace in the country and ensure that the non-violence agreement signed at Obubra that led to the declaration of Amnesty in 2009 is upheld.

    Gen. Boroh urged the leaders to use all channels of dialogue in solving problems to allow for government’s developmental projects like the rail construction, modular refineries and the community pipeline surveillance to take off as this would be of benefit to the people and create massive job employment for the youth of the region.

    Special Assistant to the President on Economic Council Donald Wokoma said the Amnesty office had the responsibility of ensuring peace and stability in the region to allow related agencies carry out their projects.

    He advised the ex-agitators to take advantage of opportunities made available by the government to develop themselves and stop excess and unfounded petitioning of appointees.

    The Amnesty Office Head of Data Management, Maj. Bernard Ochoche(Rtd) and Head Post Training and Engagement Major Abdul Mati (rtd), addressed issues of late payment of stipends to ex-agitators arising from delay in budget passage, recertification of previous qualification from trainings earlier acquired to meet standards for employment, agriculture as the new focus of training, empowerment after training, ongoing partnerships targeted at job creation for graduates and trained delegates.

    Phase 2 Leader Aso Tambo appealed for enlightenment of ex-agitators on new programmes of the office and approaches and decisions of government to move the region forward.

    He said the basis for acceptance of amnesty was to ensure the development of the Niger Delta.

    He described the Special Adviser’s human capital development plans as soft landing that should be maximised by critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.

    In another development, Gen. Boroh described as unfortunate comments from some quarters maligning his office and the character of President Buhari over the implementation of projects under the Amnesty Programme.

    He described those responsible as faceless and disgruntled politicians and contractors whose efforts would only strengthen his resolve to carry out the mandate given to his office by the President.

    Gen. Boroh called on the people of the Niger Delta and Nigerians to take ownership of Buhari’s peace and development initiatives for the region.

  • Isoko ex-agitators want inclusion in Niger Delta talks

    A group, the Coalition of Isoko Ex-agitators Leaders, has called on the Federal Government to include former militants from the Isoko clan into the ongoing peace building talks.

    The leader of the group, which includes 15 former militants gangs, Comrade Omoyibo Julius, who spoke in Warri after an extraordinary meeting of the group, lamented that while other former agitators have had their grievances addressed. The Isoko nation has been neglected.

    Omoyibo said the oil companies operating in Isoko land notably Shell and Agip have enjoyed unprecedented peace and protection of the Isoko people buy have given nothing in return to the host communities

    The former militant said:” We have a situation of poor development,  zero social infrastructure. There is no social amenities such as schools and health centers; poor standard of living in Isoko land. But if  the government and the oil firms have tried to be forthright and responsive, in the time past, we would not have found ourselves in this decadence. “

    He urged the government to promptly consider involving the Isoko nation in the on-going pipeline security surveillance project as well as the employment of qualified isoko citizens into the oil companies operating in the region.

  • ‘Niger Delta peace critical to delivering budget 2017’

    The sustenance of the relative peace in the oil-rich Niger Delta is critical to the achievement and delivery of the 2017 budget.

    The Federal Government must therefore, take the current peace in the restive region seriously by ensuring that the promises it made to the people are kept particularly with regards to fulfilling its side of the agreement on modular refineries.

    The Chairman, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (PENGASSAN & NUPENG) Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) Committee, Comrade Hyginus Onuegbu, said this was necessary to avoid any disruption in oil and gas operations.

    Speaking with The Nation, at the weekend, he noted that there was nothing in the 2017 budget that inspired hope that Nigeria will pull out of recession, adding that what will pull the country out of recession are basically happenings in the oil and gas industry where there is need to sustain the current relative peace in the Niger Delta to ensure continued oil production.

    Acting President Osinbajo had on Monday last week, signed the N7.44 trillion 2017 budget, which he said was designed to bring the Nigerian economy out of recession onto a path of sustainable and inclusive growth.

    Osinbajo said the budget has a revenue projection of N5.08 trillion and an aggregate expenditure of N7.44 trillion, and that the projected fiscal deficit of N2.36 trillion is to be financed largely by borrowing.

    But Onuegbu said the budget was merely an estimate, and that its revenue targets are based on assumptions hence, “if there is crisis in the Niger Delta, the nation’s oil production target will not be met, and of course, its revenue target will not be met, forcing the nation to resort to borrowing.”

    Onuegbu, who was immediate past Chairman, Rivers State chapter, Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, expressed regrets that Nigeria’s debt service obligation was too high.  “It’s a big challenge. One third of the budget is to be financed by borrowing.

    “And when you borrow, the reason for which you borrow the money must be economically viable to be able to repay the loan otherwise that loan will become a big burden on you,” he noted.

    The PIB Committee Chairman, therefore, said for Nigeria to avoid the debilitating effects of plunging into another debt trap, the government must take the current relative peace in the Niger Delta seriously by ensuring that promises it earlier made to the people of the region are honoured.

    He argued sustaining the peace in the region was necessary to wad off disruption in oil and gas operations.

    “Oil production is up now, getting to 1.8 million barrels per day; it was very low last year because of militant attacks. Besides, oil price is better this year than last year. The Federal Government should understand that critical to the achievement and delivery of the 2017 budget is the maintenance and sustenance of the peace in the Niger Delta so as to engender increase in oil & gas production that we are witnessing now,” he said.

    Onuegbu noted that a combination of the agreement signed on the December 16 last year between the oil companies and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on existing cash call and funding of more oil and gas projects will lead to increased production, if there is continued peace in the Niger Delta.

    He also said there is need for oil price to rally round $60 per barrel before Nigeria’s hope of coming out of recession can materialise, not necessarily because of any special aspect of the 2017 budget.

    “As a matter of fact, the 2017 budget should not be celebrated. This is a budget that was signed in the middle of the year,” Onuegbu argued.

  • Wike assures investors of security in Rivers

    Wike assures investors of security in Rivers

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers said on Sunday that the state was becoming safer for investors on a daily basis due to the state government’s investment on security.

    The governor stated this in Port Harcourt at a dinner to mark the 20th Anniversary of Air France’s first flight to Port Harcourt International Airport.

    He said that the state government would do all in its power to build on the confidence of investors to conduct business in the State.

    Wike said that wooing investors remained critical to the development of the state, because it would generate employment.

    “It is a priority for us to attract investors for our people to be employed; that is why we make security a priority,” he added.

    The governor claimed that Rivers was safer than Lagos, Kogi, Kaduna, Benue and Kano states “where kidnappers and murderers terrorized residents as reported daily”.

    “Investors are coming to Rivers regularly and they are talking about insecurity. Look at what is happening in Lagos, Kogi, Kaduna and Kano and you will realize that this state is the safest,” he said.

    In his remarks, French Consul, Mr Laurent Poloceaux, stressed that French investments were doing well in Rivers, with schools, businesses and Air France.

    Air France Manager, Mr Jean Tanzin, said that the airline became the first international airline to fly into the Port Harcourt International Airport 20 years ago.

    Tarzin stated that Air France had gone through challenges to deliver quality services to Rivers and other Niger Delta states.

  • Dickson to Shell: relocate headquarters to Niger Delta

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has called on the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to become a pacesetter by relocating its headquarters to the Niger Delta region.

    Dickson also appealed to SPDC to partner with his administration in delivering critical projects such as the industrial park, power projects and construction of major roads in the state.

    The governor, who spoke at the weekend when the Managing Director of the SPDC and Country Chairman of Shell Companies, Mr. Osagie Okunbor paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa, insisted that Shell should lead the way.

    According to the governor, being the first company to exploit oil resources in the region, Shell should do the needful by bringing its corporate headquarters to the region.

    He said his government was ready to provide land to enable them carry out their operations.

    Dickson pointed out the huge reserves of gas in Bayelsa placed the state in a vantage position to generate enough power to drive the industrialisation agenda.

    On road construction, Dickson, who lauded SPDC and the NDDC for partnering to build the Ogbia-Nembe road, expressed the state government’s preparedness to collaborate with them to extend the road to Brass.

    Okunbor commended the restoration government’s development strides.

    He expressed his company’s willingness to consolidate on the infrastructure base and economic advancement of the state

  • Youths angry over continuous gas flaring in Niger Delta

    Youths from the Niger Delta region yesterday expressed worries over continuous gas flaring and environmental devastation in the region, regretting that lives of residents of the area are in danger.

    The youths, under the aegis of National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spills, (NCGFOS) said environmental devastation in the region is on the increase and it is affecting the people of the region negatively.

    The Project Officer of the body, Dr. Benjamin Ubleble, spoke during 2017 Essay Writing and Quiz Competition for Secondary School with Environmental Clubs in Rivers State, organised in conjunction with The Center for Conflict and Gender Studies, University of Port Harcourt.

  • Dickson to Shell: Relocate your headquarters to Niger Delta

    Dickson to Shell: Relocate your headquarters to Niger Delta

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has called on the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to become a pacesetter by first relocating its headquarters to the Niger Delta region.

    Dickson also appealed to SPDC to partner with his administration in delivering critical projects, such as the industrial park, power projects and construction of major roads in the state.

    The governor, who spoke at the weekend when the Managing Director of the SPDC and Country Chairman of Shell Companies, Mr. Osagie Okunbor paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa, insisted that Shell should lead the way.

    According to the governor, being the first company to exploit oil resources in the region,  Shell should should do the needful by bringing its corporate headquarters to the region.

    He said his government was ready to provide land to enable them carry out their operations.

    Dickson pointed out that, the huge reserves of gas in Bayelsa placed the state in a vantage position to generate enough power to drive the industrialization agenda of the state and the country.

    He also stressed the need for SPDC to mobilize other oil companies to collaborate with the state government to ensure the successful establishment of the Brass LNG and fertilizer plant projects, to create job opportunities and stimulate the local economy.

    On road construction, Dickson, who lauded SPDC and the NDDC for partnering to build the Ogbia-Nembe road, however, expressed the state government’s preparedness to collaborate with them to extend the road to Brass. 

    In his remarks, the Managing Director of SPDC, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, commended the restoration government’s development strides.

    He expressed his company’s willingness to consolidate on the infrastructure base and economic advancement of the state.

    Okunbor, particularly thanked Dickson, saying his leadership style had gone a long way in providing enabling environment for oil companies to operate without major disruptions in the state.

  • Northern Threat: Return our oil Blocs, N’Delta militants tell FG

    Northern Threat: Return our oil Blocs, N’Delta militants tell FG

    …Threaten to declare independence on October 1

     

    The coalition of Niger Delta militants on Friday called on the Federal Government to return all oil blocs being controlled by northerners to the people of the region.

    The agitators explained that their action was based on the ultimatum given by some northern youth groups to the Igbo to vacate the North within three months.

    Leaders of the eight militants groups said in a statement that the Niger Delta region shall declare its independence on October 1, 2017 and free itself from enslavement by the North.

    The coalition comprises Niger Delta Watchdogs, Niger Delta Volunteers, Niger Delta Peoples Fighters, Niger Delta Warriors, Bakassi Freedom Fighters, Niger Delta Movement for Justice, Niger Delta Fighters Network and Niger Delta Freedom Mandate.

    The militant leaders are General John Duku (Niger Delta Watchdogs and Convener: Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators), General Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteers) General Osarolor Nedam (Niger Delta Warriors) and Major-Gen. Henry Okon Etete (Niger Delta Peoples Fighters).

    Others are Major-Gen. Asukwo Henshaw (Bakassi Freedom Fighters), Major-Gen. Ibinabo Horsfall (Niger Delta Movement for Justice), Major-Gen. Duke Emmanson (Niger Delta Fighters Network), and Major-Gen. Inibeghe Adams (Niger Delta Freedom Mandate).

    In a statement, which was said to have been issued shortly after their meeting in Port Harcourt, the militant leaders warned all companies operating in such oil blocs to vacate within three months.

    The group said “A coalition of the Niger Delta militants met today in Port Harcourt to review the recent call by the Arewa Youths groups that the Ndigbo should vacate all the Northern states within three months.

    “We see the declaration by Arewa Youths as a well consultative declaration which the northern elders, leaders, political elite, security heads from the North and governors were fully aware.

    “We demand 100 percent control of our resources. We demand that the Federal Government should hand over all oil blocs owned by the northerners to Niger Delta indigenes. All the companies operating in such oil blocks/wells should vacate within three months.

    “The Federal Government should immediately relocate NNPC and all the offices that have to do with oil/gas sector back to Niger Delta states and an immediately replacement of the Group Managing Director with an indigene of Niger Delta.

    “All northern indigenes working in NNPC and any other Board that has anything to do with oil/gas should be sack with immediate effect.

    “We demand an independent and sovereign Republic of Niger Delta. We are tired of living with the North under Nigeria. We are tired of the President’s sentiments to the Niger Delta people.

    “The President can have time to receive the Chibok girls, but could not have time to meet with the Representatives of the Niger Delta agitators. Our money has been used to fund Boko Haram, a problem created by the Northerners in order to use it as conduit pipe to siphon the resources of Niger Delta.

    “On October 1, 2017 we shall declare our independence come rain, come shine. We shall take our destiny in our hands and free ourselves from the slavery of the North as they are tired of one Nigeria.”

    They maintained that all the companies and businesses owned by the northerners in Niger Delta should be vacated within three months, saying, “From 1st October 2017, we don’t want to see any northerner close to Niger Delta; any attempt to penetrate shall meet fierce resistance. This time, we are not going to play defence, but attack,” the statement by the coalition of Niger Delta agitators read.

    They also called on all agitating groups to resume attacks/bombings on all oil/gas pipelines, especially the exporting lines across the Niger Delta region with immediate effect, adding that the measure was aimed at ensuring zero oil/gas production before October 1, 2017.

    They said, “We also demand the Federal government should immediately replace the Inspector General of Police with an indigene of the South West, the Director General of DSS with an indigene of South East, and the National Security Adviser with an indigene of South- South.

    “The Speaker, House of Representatives should voluntarily resign and hand over to an indigene of the South-South.”

     

  • Bayelsa commends FG for citing new fertilizer, petrochemical plant in Brass

    Bayelsa commends FG for citing new fertilizer, petrochemical plant in Brass

    The Bayelsa Government has commended the Federal Government for citing a multi-billion dollar private sector-driven fertilizer and petrochemical plant in Brass.

    The state Governor, Seriake Dickson gave the commendation when he led the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, Commodore Alfred Diete-Spiff (rtd), and a team of private investors on a thank you visit to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    According to Dickson, we are also here to discuss other issues concerning the take-off of the project.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Brass is a Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, with headquarters in the town of Twon-Brass on Brass Island along the coast.

    It has a coastline of approximately 90 km on the Bight of Bonny.

    Dickson told state House Correspondents on Tuesday that the project would create enormous jobs and transform the economy of the state and the country at large.

    The governor assured investors of adequate security.

    “We came to discuss issues on the Brass Fertilizer Project billed to take off in Bayelsa. That is a big ticket investment running into billions of dollars.

    “The government team is here, the traditional ruler is here because the project is taking place in his domain.

    “We are here to assure the Federal Government and investors that Bayelsa as they all know is one of the safest states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “We have worked hard in the last five years I have been governor to bring that about.’’

    The governor also commended the Federal Government for its new approach in pursuing integrated development in the country based on partnership and collaboration evidenced by the fertilizer plant.

    Dickson noted that the Acting President’s dialogue on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari with  Niger Delta stakeholders, saying that a new understanding was emerging for the stability, security and development of the region.

    “It is when we bring big ticket investments, create jobs and we affect the economy and create other legitimate options through which young people can survive that some of the crises that we see here will be addressed.

    “This is a good way to begin to address that and that is why I am here to assure the Federal Government and investors for the steps so far taken.’’

    The governor also commended the Federal Government for directing oil producing companies that did not have offices in Bayelsa to open offices in the state.

    He recalled that the story of oil exploration began in Bayelsa but lamented that it was shocking that no oil company had an office in the state.

    Dickson expressed concern that the state had been denied the economic benefits of oil production.

    “There are no jobs, no employment, they don’t even pay much tax, and a number of them don’t even pay tax at all.

    “The Federal Government has said that they should go back.

    “So we expect to work with the Federal Government and engage with all the oil producing companies to see how they can begin to have respectable presence.’’

    Dickson also commended the Federal Government forits decision to establish modular refineries in the Niger Delta region.

    Citing the NLNG as one of the plants in the region, Dickson said it was yielding a lot of revenue for the country as one of the most profitable partnerships the Federal Government had gone into.

    “You have other big ones like the Gbarain/Obie gas plant project in Bayelsa owned by Shell, there are other ones.

    “But this one is a fertilizer petrochemical company, And they will do a lot of skills development and skills transfer, a lot of jobs will be created and there will be a boom in the local economy, state economy and ultimately affect the national economy positively.’’

    He said the Bayelsa government would engage the oil companies to ensure that they did their businesses without inhibitions.