The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger-Delta

  • Dickson to militants: Niger Delta survival, economy depend on peace

    The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson has urged militants and other criminal elements to stop scaring investors and visitors in the Niger Delta region.

    Dickson insisted that the survival and economy of the region depended heavily on peace and stability of various communities in the Niger Delta.

    The governor spoke at a state banquet he organised at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Hall, Government House, Yenagoa on Saturday as part of the activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa.

    The event was attended by founding fathers of the state, leaders and elders from various communities, cabinet members of the governor, members of the state House of Assembly, religious leaders, security heads and traditional rulers.

    Two globally-celebrated achievers in their disciplines, foremost historian, Prof. Ebiegberi Joe Alagoa and a literary giant, Dr. Gabriel Okara, who hail from the state, were given distinguished icon awards by the governor.

    Alagoa and Okara unveiled volumes of books containing collections of speeches titled, the Art of Delivery, the Power of Delivery, Unique Strides of Delivery, Restoration Unveiled and Ofurumapepe: the Return of the Great White Shark.

    The books were collection of Dickson’s speeches compiled by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson.

    Dickson lamented that the Niger Delta was bleeding because of the activities of some “misguided people from within and without”.

    He said businesses including enterprises that had existed for a decade were relocating from the region because of the nefarious activities of criminal elements.

    He said: “It is unfortunate that a few misguided people from within and without continue to engage in activities capable of scaring investors and visitors to this region.

    “The region is bleeding. Businesses already established even for decades are relocating and meanwhile the irony of it is that our economic prosperity and survival depend on peace and stability in our communities, in our state and in our region”.

  • Preparations for FG, Niger Delta talks on course–Ex-Police Affairs minister Bozimo

    The talks between the leaders of the Niger Delta and the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the crisis in the region are intact and ongoing.

    One of the leaders of the Pan Niger Delta Coastal States Stakeholders Consultative Forum and Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, who made the disclosure, said the forum is still consulting and waiting to harmonise positions with the Federal Government.

    Bozimo spoke against the backdrop of rumours that the talks had broken down.

    Bozimo, a close ally of the leader of the group, Chief Edwin Clark, said meetings and consultations with various local and international interests were ongoing, adding that the leader of the forum, Chief Clark, was in Abuja yesterday to attend one of such meetings.

    He said it was wrong for anyone to assume that the talks have deadlocked, noting that such would not happen until the Federal Government came out to give an indication in that direction.

    “I think we are on course. Chief Clark is in Abuja, and he’ll be meeting with the E.U leaders who will be paying a courtesy visit on the leadership of the coastal states later today. I am on my way to Yenagoa, so I will not be attending that meeting.

    “This is still in the process of deepening the process of arriving at a decision with the Federal Government regarding the dialogue issue.

    “It wouldn’t be right to say the talks have deadlocked, because we are still in the process of coming to some kind of agreement as to the way forward. So, I don’t think it has been broken down, I think that will be too harsh.

    “As you know, we have continued to appeal to all the young people who gave us the mandate to mediate and we are still appealing to them to cease all these hostilities, as we work towards some kind of position with the Federal Government regarding a dialogue.

    “I think the thing is still on until the Federal Government comes out to say ‘nothing doing’. But we haven’t gotten to that point,” Bozimo said.

  • Group condemns attack on Niger Delta Affairs minister

    Group condemns attack on Niger Delta Affairs minister

    The Council of Cross River State Professionals has condemned the recent attack on Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Pastor  Usani Uguru Usani.

    During a news conference in Abuja, the group described as malicious a report that that the minister failed to execute some contracts already awarded by the ministry.

    According to the National Coordinator National Secretary of the group, Emeh Friday and Odeh Zeb, the appointment of the minister into the cabinet of President Mohammadu Buhari is a further testimony of his ability to deliver.

    “They have already failed! Their plot is dead on arrival – having been uncovered before they could achieve their nefarious ends and before any damage could be done. We are aware that these detractors are deploying their usual “pull him down syndrome” which is an ugly practice that has, unfortunately been turned to a political culture in the Cross River axis.

    “We advise these disgruntled elements, their agents, foot soldiers and political jobbers to find meaningful engagements which will profit their lives somewhere else instead of embarking on this un-wholesome witch hunt and destruction of other personalities. They should remember and realise the truism in the statement, ‘Those who must kill others in order to succeed must have death as sentinel to the doorstep of their success’.”

  • Firm trains 31 Niger Delta youths in skills acquisition

    In its effort to check restiveness and engage youths in meaningful ventures, management of Elano Investments Limited (EIL) has trained 31 youths in Niger Delta in various skills.

    The company manages the dividends from the 7.5 per cent equity allocated to the Eleme and Elelenwo communities, which hosts Indorama/EPCL.

    At yesterday’s graduation of trainees at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria at Oron in Akwa Ibom State, EIL’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Gomba Okanje, noted that if the region’s youths had acquired requisite skills, they would not have been restive and disposed to criminal activities.

    The company chief said EIL empowered youths to give them a secure future.

    He urged the trainees to practise the knowledge they acquired, adding that EIL will provide them with starter packs and accommodation.

    Okanje hailed the management of the academy for enabling youths to acquire various skills through their school’s curriculum.

    The company chief urged governments to ensure that youths were engaged in meaningful ventures, especially skills to make them avoid restiveness.

    The Chairman of EIL’s Education Committee Prof. Walter Ollor said besides the skill acquisition programme, the company might also provide bursary for indigent Niger Delta students in tertiary institutions.

    He said: “We believe that human capital is the best that could be given to any community.”

    Ollor said the best way to plan for the future was to provide a generation with knowledge.

     Director of Maritime Academy of Nigerian Consult, Dr. Kevin Okona, said the beneficiaries were trained in computer appreciation and office management, diesel and petrol engine repairs/maintenance, electrical works as well as ICT repairs and maintenance.

    Deputy Managing Director and Programme Coordinator of Wilder Perspectives Limited, the company that screened the beneficiaries, Mrs Edughom Hanson, advised the trainees to use their skills to improve their lives.

  • Niger Delta bombings: Looters recruited militants against us — Buhari

    Niger Delta bombings: Looters recruited militants against us — Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday took a fresh dig at those who “stole Nigeria dry.”

    The looters, he said,in New York instigated the recent spate of attacks on oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta by recruiting militants to  cripple the economy under his administration

    “Those who stole Nigeria dry are not happy,” Buhari told US-based Nigerian professionals at a meeting.

    “They recruited militants against us in the Niger Delta, and began to sabotage oil infrastructure.

    “ We lose millions of barrels per day, at a time when every dollar we can earn counts.

    “ I prayed so hard for God to make me President. I ran in 2003, 2007, 2011 and in 2015, He did.

    “And see what I met on ground. But I can’t complain, since I prayed for the job.

    “In the military, I rose from 2nd Lieutenant to Major-General. I was military governor in 1975 over a state that is now six states. I was head of state, got detained for three years, and headed the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) which had N53 billion of that time in Nigerian banks.

    “God has been very good to me, so I can’t complain. If I feel hurt by anybody, I ask God to help me forgive. He has done so much for me.”

    He said the economic situation in the country is so bad now that no fewer than 27 states of the federation are finding it difficult to pay their workers.

    “It is a disgrace that a minimum of 27 states, out of 36 that we have in Nigeria, can’t pay salaries,” he said.

    President Buhari offered to work with every Nigerian, including the best brains in the Diaspora, to return the country to prosperity.

    “Wherever you go in the world, you find highly competent and outstanding Nigerians,” Buhari’s  Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina,quoted him as saying.

    “They not only make great impact on their host countries and communities, their financial remittances back home also help our economy, particularly at a time like this, when things are down”.

    Tracing the origin of the current economic recession,he said:”We got into trouble as a country because we did not save for the rainy day.

    “For example, between 1999 and 2015, when we produced an average of 2.1 million barrels of oil per day, and oil prices stood at an average of $100 per barrel, we did not save, neither did we develop infrastructure.

    “Suddenly, when we came in 2015, oil prices fell to about 30 dollars per barrel.

    “I asked: ‘Where are the savings? There were none. Where are the railways? The roads? Power? None’.

    “ I further asked: ‘What did we do with the billions of dollars that we made over the years? They said we bought food. Food with billions of dollars?

    “I did not believe, and still do not believe.

    “ In most parts of Nigeria, we eat what we grow. People in the South eat tubers, those in the North eat grains, which they plant, and those constitute over 60 per cent of what we eat. So, where did the billions of dollars go?

    “We did a lot of damage to ourselves by not developing infrastructure when we had the money.”

    He also updated his audience on the war against Boko Haram in the Northeast.

    His words:”Talking of our military, they earned respect serving in places like Burma, Zaire, Sudan, Liberia, Sierra-Leone, and then, suddenly, that same military could no longer secure 14 out of 774 local governments in the country.

    “Insurgents had seized them, calling them some sort of caliphate, and planting their flags there, till we came, and scattered them.

    “We raised the morale of our military, changed the leadership, re-equipped and retrained them.

    “USA, Britain and some other countries helped us, and today, the pride of our military is restored.

    “Boko Haram ran riot, killing innocent people in churches, mosques, markets, schools, motor parks and so on.

    “Now, we have dealt with that insurgency, and subverted their recruitment base.”

    The Nigerians pledged to invest in Nigeria, if the government would provide an enabling environment that would make businesses thrive.

  • Way out of Niger Delta crisis, by activist

    Way out of Niger Delta crisis, by activist

    Alban Paulinus  is the President Voice of Community and Environmental Rights Initiatives. He spoke with Precious Dikewoha.

    Some militants in the Niger Delta have vowed to sustain agitation and frustrate the effort of the present administration to develop the region, do you think they are in a right direction  

    They are only ignorant of their action against their people and environment, for a long time now we have being interfacing with militants in the region and giving them enough encouragement that would make them a better person in the region. One thing is clear,   agitation is on faces, we have agitation in the non-violence approach, we also have arms struggle agitation and personally, I don’t think the region    can achieve our aims of agitation through the barrels of guns.  What I want to believe is that in the develop countries you can achieve your purpose without your environment being destroyed and without people losing their lives. We should be reasonable to say no, we are tired of this economic sabotage called Niger Delta agitation. Therefore, I will want my fellow Niger Deltans, the agitators to look at the unborn generation and the future of our people. Because if we intend to channel our agitations in terms of arms struggle, then, we will not have a region tomorrow and we would be using our hands to kill ourselves.

    Is your organisation in support of the dialogue system between the Federal Government and the militant groups in the region?

    There are certain things we have disagreed with the dialogue system. If we must dialogue, it must not be an ethnic dialogue, we must decentralise this system of dialogue. And the inability to think right about the dialogue has resulted to more agitation groups in the region. You cannot say that you are dialoguing with Niger Delta when you are only speaking with Urhobo, you cannot say you are dialoguing with Niger Delta when you are only speaking with the Ijaws and you cannot say that you are dialoguing with Niger Delta when some people in Akwa-Ibom state are not involved. We cannot continue in the same way of dialogue.  If we must dialogue, everyone must be involved as stakeholders; we must ensure that all the ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta are being carried along. We must not continue with only one set of people to represent us in the dialogue table. To be frank we cannot be talking of only Edwin Clark when we want to dialogue with Niger Delta people. This time around Clark cannot represent us, we have people like Dr Shehu Mallami Ma’aji and the rest of them. These are people who have showed commitment on how to interface with the community and the youths in the region. They are trained on how to retrieve arms in the region. Nothing stops Niger Delta man to be on the negotiating table but we must for once bring in those with requisite experience of the peculiar issue in Niger Delta. All we are saying is that we cannot continue to use the same old method, in 2009, 2011. And if we want to use the same method that means after 2016, another form of agitation will spring out. Because we are using the same method and we cannot have a different result.

     Is this agitation not sentimental and regionalise considering that during President Jonathan’s tenure the north was allegedly accused of staging the same agitation

    If it is true, then it is bad and detrimental to national unity. But this is the time to learn from the activities of the Boko Haram  at the North East.  Like many people believe  at the initial stage that  the Boko Haram issue  was to disturb the government of Good luck Jonathan which Is the same  thing our youths are doing  today  to fight against the Government of President Muhamadu Buhari . But I don’t think it is good to tow the same line because it is the people that will suffer.  The Niger Delta region being discussed is not just a region for only the armed men. There are Elites, Traditional Rulers, youths, less privileged and a whole range of people who want their voices to be heard.   Must it be through arms? , I say NO, we should be able to channel our agitation in an approach that will be non-violent in nature.  And I’m calling on my fellow brothers in the Niger Delta to desist from destroying our environment. The president has launched  what we call the “Change Begins With You”  and I want to tell you that charity begins at home ,If  we  had the opportunity of producing the President and those issues in the region are still there , then  we should look inward within ourselves and give President Buhari a chance to develop the region.

  • Gas flaring: Group seeks stiffer punishment for erring companies

    Gas flaring: Group seeks stiffer punishment for erring companies

    Mr. Sherif Mulade, National Coordinator, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), has called for stiffer penalties against oil companies that refuse to end gas flaring.

    Mulade made the call in a statement signed by him and made available to newsmen on Monday in Warri, Delta.

    He also urged the Federal Government to sanction multinational oil companies that refused to end gas flaring in the Niger Delta region.

    Mulade also alleged that the oil multinationals operating in the Niger Delta were not ready to end gas flaring in the oil-rich region.

    He urged the government to compel such companies to adhere strictly to the environmental global best practices to save the environment.

    “It is unfortunate that Multinational oil companies that adhere strictly to global environmental best practices in their countries and other parts of the globe will refuse to end gas flaring in the Niger Delta.

    “Federal Government should not treat the oil companies with kid’s glove; it should do the needful by compelling them to end the hazard.

    “The lawmakers should also be up and doing with regards to the enforcement of the law on gas flaring in the country,” he said.

    Mulade also stated that gas flaring coupled with the activities of pipeline vandals were having a ripple effects on the Niger Delta’s ecosystem.

    “Today our roofs are being destroyed following the air pollution emanating from gas flaring.

    “Also life expectancy in the region is becoming shorter because of unabated release of emission to the air,” he said.

    NAN reports that gas flaring is the burning of natural gas and petroleum hydrocarbons in flare stacks by upstream oil companies in oil fields during operations.

    NAN recalls that gas flaring is the singular and most common source of global warming and contributes to emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen (II) oxide and methane, which have the propensity of causing environmental pollution and ecological disturbances or destruction.

  • FG, Niger Delta leaders to begin talks in two weeks

    FG, Niger Delta leaders to begin talks in two weeks

    Barring any unforeseen development, the Federal Government and Niger Delta leaders will be holding talks in two weeks time to resolve the face-off between the two sides.

    The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Kachikwu has already reached out to traditional rulers and opinion leaders from the zone to assure them of the FG’s readiness for peace.

    Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark has also met with the representatives of other ethnic nationalities in the zone on forging peace in the area after a resurgence of violence by several militant groups, one of which threatened to declare secession.

    Several sources in the zone said consultations were intensifying ahead of the talks.

    “In the next two weeks, God willing, you should see a coordinated negotiation from the federal government side,” one of the sources told The Nation.

    A member  of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Timipa Jenkins Okponipere, said he was aware that all other groups had harmonised under the Chief Edwin Clark’s initiative and that the region is ready for the Federal Government.

    Okponipere, who said he was not speaking for the pan- Niger Delta interest forum, said those from the Niger Delta side of the planned negotiation have fused  into one.

    Okponipere, who is the Secretary of the MEND’s Aaron’s Team 2 said: ”Consultations have been going on after that meeting with Chief Clark.

    “Follow up consultations have been going on; recently the U.S delegation visited the Niger Delta and met with some appointed leaders representing Chief Clark.

    “Actually, the Niger Delta side, led by Pa Clark, has done all it has to do, just waiting for the federal government; everything has been done, all the contacts have been made, all the groups have aligned under the Clark initiative.

    ”Only two days ago, I met with Ledum (Mitee) and Isine (Ibanga), all of us that were appointed by the MEND to work with Chief Clark, on our own we have been holding meetings and strategising so that we can come up with a position paper by the time the federal government calls us.

    ”The Niger Delta end is ready for the negotiation and everything has been harmonized. If you observe, the bombings have ceased. Note that I am not speaking as the mouthpiece of the Niger Delta, this is my own personal opinion. It is only Chief Edwin Clark, our leader, our leader, who can speak on these things. My opinion is not expressing the view or decision of the pan-Niger Delta body.”

  • Fed Govt advised on jobs, infrastructure in the Niger Delta

    Fed Govt advised on jobs, infrastructure in the Niger Delta

    Rivers/Bayelsa Community Council in Lagos has held a reception for youths who just graduated from the Nigerian Railway Institute, Yaba, Lagos.

    At a reception organised in their honour and investiture of new executives of the council and formal presentation of skills acquisition scholarships to  students, the chairman of the council in Lagos, Mr Bob Igoni, said it takes a lot to see the graduating students pass out of the institute to enable them have something doing with their time and talents.

    Joseph Evah, a human rights activist, said all the promises made by the Sani Abacha government when Bayelsa was created were not fulfilled, not even by former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is an indigene of the state.

    “There is need to accomplish the dualisation of the East/West Road to the Mid-West; the only route that links other parts of the country and create more road for the coastal areas for the whole region of the Niger Delta; and to address issues of marginalisation of indigenes of the state at federal level for employment.”

    The group urged the Muhammadu Buhari government to address these issues.

    A former president of the council, Mrs Daba Obioha, said the society has existed long enough to begin to care for certain needs of the youths so that they can work hard to keep the flag flying.

    A fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos,  Prof Charles Dokubo, advised President Buhari to strive hard to bring Nigeria to its past glory, adding that Nigerians are going through hard times.

    “ I haven’t seen this type since I was born. Everything everywhere is crumbling due to economic hardship”, he said.

    Mrs Timebi Koripamo Agary said the railway work force was reduced drastically to enable the corporation pay salaries of workers as at when due.

  • We’ll end Niger Delta militancy, says Buhari

    We’ll end Niger Delta militancy, says Buhari

    The Federal Government will solve the Niger Delta militancy, President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday.
    Besides, he assured Nigerians that the patriotic ones should not have any fears about the fight against corruption because his administration will ensure justice and fairness to all.
    He spoke in his hometown Daura in Katsina State after attending the Eid prayers to
    celebrate Eid-El-Kabir.
    The President, according to a statement by Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) Garba Shehu, said: ‘‘Nigerians can see what we have done on Boko Haram and what we are doing to resolve the problem in the Niger Delta.
    ‘‘Before the elections, we identified three major problems confronting our country. The first is security; we need to sufficiently secure our country to manage it well.
    ‘‘The second is economy, especially job for the youths and fighting corruption which is continuous.
    ‘‘For the youths, graduates and non-graduates who are interested in agriculture, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the CBN are doing something to provide employment for them,’’ the President said.
    Although he did not state how the Niger Delta militancy would be solved, the fedral government has confirmed having indirect talks with some of the militant groups.
    Besides, there is a full troops build up in the region following the launch of Operation Crocodile Smile by the military.
    The blowing up of oil installations and pipelines in the Niger Delta has reduced the country’s revenue by about 60 per cent, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
    Buhari also said those who abuse public trust will face justice in addition to returning their stolen assets to the nation’s coffers.
    He thanked Nigerians for supporting the Federal Government’s policies, programmes and actions aimed at improving security, revamping the economy and deepening the fight against corruption.
    He expressed joy that the harvest this year would be good. ‘‘We should thank God this year, the reports I’m getting, which is very pleasing, is that we will have a bumper harvest this year.
    The President said: ‘‘I want Nigerians to realise that what this government inherited after 16 years of the PDP government was no savings, no infrastructure, no power, no rail, no road and no security,” and assured Nigerians that better days lie ahead.