The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Port Harcourt

  • Group to FG: Set up committee to identify local refineries

    The Niger Delta Youth Coalition for Peace and Progress (NDYCPP) has urged the Federal Government to set up a committee to identify local refineries in the Niger Delta

    The Acting National President of NDYCPP, Mr Olayinka Jude, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Sunday that the measure would ensure proper documentation of those refining sites in the region.

    NAN recalls that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, few months ago in Port Harcourt, announced government’s plan to integrate illegal refiners into the proposed modular refineries for the region.

    According to Jude, having detailed information about the capacities and amount of crude refined in the illegal sites would give accurate data on how to involve the local refiners.

    He pledged the readiness of the youth group to collaborate with all stakeholders towards identifying these illegal refineries.

    “Our coalition consists of proactive, pragmatic and forward-looking youth groups who are desirous of contributing meaningfully to the socio-economic growth of the country.

    “We suggest that government sets up a task force comprising the police, military, NNPC, oil companies, advocacy groups and other relevant bodies to go round the region to identify the sites,” he said.

    Jude said that operators of the artisanal refineries should be encouraged to form co-operatives for easier integration when the modular refineries came on stream.

    “The bunkering sites are known and those behind them are also known.

    “While they are waiting for the proposed government’s plan, those whose biometrics may have been captured during the documentation should be engaged in securing the environment.

    “They will help to prevent the establishment of new illicit bunkering sites,” he said.

     

  • Security expert advises cultists to embrace amnesty

    A Port Harcourt-based security expert, Dr Destiny Abolo, has advised cultists in Ogoni land of Rivers to embrace amnesty granted them by the state government and surrender their arms.

    Abolo gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

    He said the cultists should stop the senseless killing in the area and surrender their weapons.

    The state government had earlier granted amnesty to all the cult groups in Rivers but cultists in Ogoni land refused to embrace it.

    The state government later announced that it had given a second chance to the Ogoni cultists and urged them to repent.

    Cult group clashes have been on the increase in the area in recent times, leading to loss of lives and property almost on a daily basis.

    Abolo said it was retrogressive and risky for cultists in the area to refuse the offer of amnesty by the state government.

    “Is it wise to refuse to embrace amnesty and kill one another, your brothers, your sisters and your parents?” he asked.

    The security expert urged them to emulate their colleagues in other parts of the state who embraced the gesture and surrendered their arms.

    He commended the state government for giving a second chance to them, adding that the gesture would promote security and ensure the much-needed peace in the land.

    He urged traditional rulers, community leaders and parents in the area to advise their children and wards who belong to cult groups to embrace the government gesture.

     

  • Taxi driver hangs self in Port Harcourt Catholic church

    Taxi driver hangs self in Port Harcourt Catholic church

    A young Catholic worshipper simply identified as Kachi yesterday hanged himself in a church hall at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Creek road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    One of the priests in the parish, Rev. Fr. Victor, told our correspondent on phone that he was not in a position to brief the press on the matter.

    It was gathered that the deceased, who hailed from Imo State, was a devoted Catholic member and a taxi driver on the Aggrey / Borokiri route.

    Some parishioners expressed shock over the sad development that occurred in the church hall.

    They said the deceased “did not act well,” wondering why he decided to commit suicide in church.

    They affirmed that late Kachi was a former mass servant dedicated to the works of God.

    Magnus, a youth member of the church, said the deceased, who was popularly called Fabregas because of his football skills, was well-liked because of his dedication to church activities.

    He said church members were yet to locate parents of Kachi, adding that that he was a “hustling young man below 20 years and unmarried.”

    “Our youth leader has confirmed his death but he is no longer living at the address we knew.

    “As we speak, nobody has come out to say exactly why the boy killed himself.”

    A female member of the church, Nkechi Ndu, told the correspondent the deceased committed suicide probably because the owner of the taxi retrieved his vehicle.

    “The boy was not married and has been sleeping in the church hall.  The taxi he was driving was on hired purchase.

    “I learnt the owner of the car has collected it. May be, he was not meeting up his conditions of agreement with the owner.  I think he took his life out of frustration,” she offered.

    State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Omoni Nnamdi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), could not reply a text message for confirmation as at the time of filing the report.

  • Inside Port Harcourt Maximum Prison

    Inside Port Harcourt Maximum Prison

    The Port Harcourt Maximum Prison is home to 3463 awaiting trial inmates. PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA was at the prison on Good Friday and he found out that the inmates cherish freedom more than anything else.

    It was Good Friday; a special day for Christians to celebrate the death of Jesus Christ. The General Overseer of Apostolic Army, Bishop Winning Willy Bunting, decided to celebrate his 55th birthday at Port Harcourt Maximum Prison, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    The prison gate was tightly guarded by angry-looking prison officials. At 10am, the Bishop arrived at the Prison with few of his church members, family and a senior officer of the prison. In spite of the presence of the prison official, the team members were thoroughly searched.

    The visitors were not allowed to go in with anything, not even a car or house key.  Some, including this reporter, were asked to remove their shoes for search.

    After the main gate, there was another frisking at the second gate. Not far from here was a prison board where it was indicated that the prison houses 3,463 awaiting trial inmates. 51 of them are women.

    At the left wing of the prison gate were a crowd of parents, relatives, well-wishers and non-governmental organisations’ officials who were waiting to be checked in with food and sanitary materials.

    According to a prison official, who pleaded anonymity, festive season usually saw many coming to show love to the inmates.

    Inside the prison yard there were a lot of young men, women and elderly men walking around. Some behaved like they were mentally unbalanced. Many of them wore face of repentance. Some others with hardened face and perhaps unrepentant heart.

    Not a few kept saying “Oga, find us something; I want to eat”.  What happened to the food items being donated daily by churches, companies, individuals and other organisations?

    Speaking at the special service to mark the pastor’s birthday, John Abangi, a convict, who introduced some of the leaders of the inmates, said the visitors should not be surprised the way they were praising God, adding that some of them had been there for years and had decided to be closer to God through the theological school in the prison yard.

    He noted that the school had graduated a lot of pastors now winning souls for God in the prison yard.

    “I came here years ago after I committed a crime against the government. I was sentenced with option of N500, 000 fines, but I didn’t have anybody to provide that kind of money; that is why you are seeing me here. Though, God has helped me to provide N150, 000 remaining N350, 000. I believe that one day God will assist me to pay the remaining money.

    “I want to inform you that there are some people who are here with just fine of N15, 000, N20,000 and N30,000. But they are here because when they committed such crime and they were charged to court, their family members deserted them. That is why they are here; God knows why we are here. But for those youths out there, they should know that food and money is not the first thing man should think of in life but freedom. When you are free, you can do anything.”

    One of the prison pastors, Mr. Joseph Moses, who is serving a life sentence after being convicted of drug trafficking offence, thanked God that his case was reduced from death to life sentence.

    He said God who reduced the death sentence to life sentence would one day free him.

    “I have nobody to intervene on my case. I will be here but one thing I know is that someday God will perform a miracle on my case. I was arrested for drug offence and since then I have regretted my action and when I discovered that we have theology school here, I decided to get closer to God.

    “I’m calling on the youths of this country to desist from crime or anything that can bring them to prison yard. One thing that is lacking here is freedom. I want to thank the man of God for choosing to celebrate his birthday here instead of going to pleasant environment. This shows that he loves us and God will bless him more. We are human beings like others out there. The only thing is that we are unfortunate to be a victim and a prisoner of the crime we committed.”

    Another inmate, Mr. John Onuhwor, said he was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for a crime he was unaware of. He said he would have been a death person if not for the love of God.

    “I want to call on the privileged individual in the society to know that some of us are ignorant of the crime that brought us here. I’m pleading that they should always remember us here. Some of us have only small fine to pay and we will get out of here.

    “People used to come here for prayer and when we pray for them, God will answer them. I remember that in 2015, one of the governors from Southeast came here and requested that we should pray for him and we did, today he is a governor. When he came here that time, we told him that God would answer our prayer but when he is enjoying he should not forget us and the less privileged in the society. If he doesn’t remember us, he should not forget the poor.”

    Mr. Adeosun Kazeem, an inmate in Port Harcourt prison, denounced his faith and embraced Christianity after celebrating birthday with Bishop Bunting.

    Kazeem, who is the leader of the convicted inmates, said he was convicted of murder while in Nigerian Army in 2007. He said the love the man of God had for inmates by hosting his 55th birthday with them showed that he was the best Easter gift.

    The ex-soldier said he was abandoned by his family members and friends immediately he was convicted.

    Bishop Bunting stated that the choice of Port Harcourt prison for his birthday was to win souls for Christ. He stated that there was need for reorganisation in the prisons, adding that good infrastructures must be put in place to help in the reformation of the inmates.

    Bishop Bunting noted: “My birthday has been celebrated in all those places, like government houses, big event centres etc. Four years ago, I celebrated my birthday in four cities of the world after Nigeria had celebrated theirs.

    “This year, I was instructed by God Almighty to go to sthe prisons and celebrate my 55th birthday; that there is a gift for me. God instructed that he wants to use by birthday to do a special thing.

    “The Overall General who had been a Muslim for 40 years accepted Jesus Christ. I believe that the strong hold of prison has been broken and there is freedom. I want a total reform of Nigeria prison. I want to task Christians to direct their compassion to prisoners and doing such would help in depopulating the kingdom of darkness.”

    While food was being served to prison inmates, the visitors started walking out. Some of the inmates who were waving goodbye beg for money: “Oga find us something”.

  • PDP chief sad over absence of tangible FG’s projects in Rivers

    PDP chief sad over absence of tangible FG’s projects in Rivers

    The Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, has expressed sadness over the absence of tangible Federal Government projects in the state.

    He alleged that two years into the administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led, Muhammadu Buhari’s government, the Niger Delta state had not benefitted from capital-intensive and people-oriented projects of the Federal Government.

    Obuah, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, said the ruling party in the state frowned on the alleged obvious indifference towards Rivers.

    The PDP chairman cited the Port Harcourt International Airport, which he claimed had remained abandoned by the Federal Government.

    He alleged that the APC-led Federal Government had failed to complement the efforts of Governor Nyesom Wike in the execution of capital projects,  which he said would have improved the wellbeing of the people of the state.

    Obuah claimed that the APC-led Federal Government deliberately abandoned the Rivers and also accused the Buhari’s administration of treating the state badly, despite all the support Wike was giving to the Federal Government.

    He mentioned the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, as projects completed in record time, whereas the Port Harcourt International Airport remained allegedly abandoned.

    Rivers PDP chairman also urged the APC-led Federal Government to have a rethink, by giving deserved attention to the state, described as the treasure base of the nation.

  • NDDC disburses N30bn to contractors – Ekere

    Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Nsima Ekere, on Tuesday said the commission had disbursed about N30 billion to its contractors.

    Ekere, who disclosed this at a meeting with members of NDDC Contractors’ Association in Port Harcourt, said the payment was made by the new Board since it took office in November.

    He said the board met over 8,000 projects scattered across the region with many abandoned with liability of about N1.3 trillion.

    According to him, the board has also directed that all interim payment certificates bearing below N20 million be processed for immediate payment.

    “We believe that process of documentation should be done right.

    “There was need for the commission to get its full funding as provided in the NDDC Act which would enable it carry out its mandate,” he said.

    Ekere said the board had already met with the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta with a view to ascertain the exact fund owed the commission.

    The NDDC boss said that challenges faced by the commission informed why the board used four months to work out its strategic road map for development, anchored on 4-R initiative.

    Ekere explained that the 4-R initiative aimed to restructure NDDC’s balance sheet; reform its governance protocols; restore the commission’s core mandate and reaffirm its commitment to doing what was right and proper.

    “Part of the reforms involves introduction of technology aimed to enhance service delivery system in the commission.

    “We are also reforming the governance systems in NDDC with focus to enshrining best international standard that would be difficult to reverse by successive boards after we leave.

    “Also, the board approached oil companies to involve them in our budgeting process to enable them make input; since they are working in host communities who have needs,” he said.

    Ekere said the commission had also set up a committee tasked with the responsibility to conduct investigative hearing on allegations of corruption on some of its staffers.

    He said the hearing which sought to promote transparency and probity in the commission was however delayed following security breaches at the hearing.

    The Managing Director said the committee had received several petitions and memorandum and assured that the committee was currently working tirelessly to resolve the matter.

    “I believe in constructive engagement, and as such, we are engaging with various stakeholders to confront challenges facing the Niger Delta,” he said.

    Mr Joe Adia, President of NDDC Contractors’ Association, said the association would continue to work with the board for the release of outstanding funds owed the commission.

    He urged the board to recognize the association as partner in progress and pointed out that the commission had a lot to learn if it worked closely with contractors.

  • Court adjourns church case till May 31

    The High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice Constance Dappa-Addo Tuesday adjourned the case involving the Niger Delta North Anglican Church and some of its members till May 31, 2017.

    In the case with reference number: PHC/769/2017, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is the prosecutor while one Victor Amachree and 12 others are the defendants.

    The defendants are being accused of alleged “conspiracy, aiding and abetting and the offer of violence to officiating religious.”

    It should be recalled that around December 2013, internal wrangling which had been brewing at St Matthews Anglican  Church, Nkpogu, Port Harcourt escalated, leading to the closure of the church by the Police who consequently charged the case to court.

    However, when the matter came up for hearing Tuesday, the defendants were not in court, leading to the adjournment of the case till May 31, 2017.

  • Nigeria refining capacity increases by 29 per cent

    Nigeria refining capacity increases by 29 per cent

    …NNPC cuts losses by 16.19 per cent

     

    The combined installed capacity utilization of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) refineries located in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna increased by about 29 percentage points in January 2017 compared with their performance in December 2016.

    In the latest of the Corporation’s Monthly Financial and Operations Report for January released in Abuja Monday, NNPC said the capacity utilization of the refineries rose to 36.73 per cent in January, 2017, as against 7.55 percent in the previous month of December, 2016.

    The report attributed the improvement to the implementation of the 12 Business Focus Areas (BUFAS) strategy introduced by the Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru.

    The corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu made this disclosure in a statement Monday.

    According to the report, the refineries benefitted from the introduction of a new Refineries Business Model under the 12 BUFAS strategy which has transformed them from “tolling plants to merchant plants” thereby placing them on the path of profitability.

    The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC ) and Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) also posted surpluses of Five Billion, One Hundred and Fifteen Million Naira (N5,115,000,000) and Four Hundred and Four Hundred and Four Million Naira (N404,000,000) respectively.

    Under the new refinery model, each refinery purchases crude oil at export parity price, processes and sells the corresponding products on its own account.

    “This is different from the previous Tolling Plant model where the refinery does not take title to the crude, but rather charges a tolling/processing fee to the owner of the crude which was PPMC on behalf of the Corporation”, the report stated.

    Apart from PHRC and WRPC, five other subsidiaries of the Corporation also posted surpluses. These include the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the Nigerian Gas Pipelines and Transport Company (NGPTC), NNPC Retail, the National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO), and the Integrated Data Services Ltd (IDSL).

    According to the document which is the 18th in the series of Monthly Financial and Operations Reports since the NNPC began publishing its business transactions, the Corporation recorded a Two Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N2.75billion) reduction in its trading deficit in the period under review putting the total trading deficit atN14.26billion.

    “This represents about 16.19 per cent improvement compared toN17.01billion recorded in December, 2016, in spite of the Corporation’s challenging situations which limit its aspiration to profitability”, the report stated.

    It listed some of the factors that impeded the Corporation’s performance to include the production shutdown of the Trans Niger Pipeline and Nembe Creek Trunkline due to leakages; the shutdown of Agbami Terminal for a mini Turn-around-Maitenance; and the subsisting Force Majeure declared by SPDC as a result of the vandalized 48-inch Forcados export line after its restoration in October 17, 2016.

     

  • Niger Delta militants disrupt hearing on corruption in Port Harcourt

    Niger Delta militants disrupt hearing on corruption in Port Harcourt

    Hundreds of Niger Delta militants yesterday invaded Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital and disrupted the investigative hearing on corruption, initiated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
    The militants, who forced their way into the Royal Banquet Hall of the five-star hotel, owned by the Rivers State government, prevented the hearing from holding, despite the tight security provided by riot policemen and other security personnel at the hotel.
    The agitators did not bother about the presence of prominent monarchs, members of civil society groups and NDDC contractors from across the nine states of the Niger Delta.
    Their grouse was that the Federal Government’s interventionist agency did not invite them to the hearing, which was erroneously thought to be a forum to award contracts or to share money.
    One of the militants who declined to give his name, said: “If you move close to me, I will punch your face. I am not ready to speak with any journalist.
    “We are also NDDC contractors. Why will NDDC invite some contractors and ignore many others? Since the commission has refused to invite us, the investigative hearing will not hold.
    “If the hearing is fixed for another day and venue, without inviting us, we will still not allow it to hold. We are critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta. We must all be carried along.”
    The six-member committee on corruption charges is headed by Dr. Ekanim Princewill, who is NDDC’s Special Duties Director.
    The hearing was to unravel allegations of corruption and racketeering concerning the commission.
    It was fixed for 12 noon at the expansive and well-decorated hall, with all the 100 randomly-selected contractors from the nine Niger Delta states seated. The event started on time.
    As the moderator, Iniruo Wills, a lawyer, who is a former Bayelsa State Commissioner for the Environment, was making his opening remarks and addressing the contactors and other eminent personalities, the militants invaded the hall at 12;15 p.m.
    Efforts were made by Niger Delta leaders to prevail on the militants to allow the hearing to hold, but they kept shouting and making attempts to upturn the chairs and tables, as well as beat up the NDDC’s top officials and other dignitaries.
    The rowdiness continued for over 30 minutes and when it became obvious that they would not allow the hearing to hold, Wills announced its cancellation. He said a new date would be fixed.
    A civil society group leader at the hearing, Mr. David Ugolor, who is the Executive Director, African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, condemned the behaviour of the militants.
    He said the impunity and lawlessness in the Niger Delta must end, paving the way for sustainable development of the crude oil and gas-rich region.
    NDDC spokesman Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, who is a member of the committee on corruption charges, told reporters after the event: “The public hearing is for persons, especially contractors who have stories to tell, questions to ask and who have evidence to show that the allegations are true.
    “When we started in the committee, our responsibility was to reach as many contractors who had things to say on allegations of corruption. We sent letters to them and we expanded it to contractors across the nine states of the Niger Delta, in order to get to the bottom of the matter, as directed by NDDC’s Managing Director, Mr. Nsima Ekere.
    “Sadly, what happened today (yesterday) is typical of things that go on in the Niger Delta region, where the best intentions are misunderstood. Most of the things happened long before he (Ekere) became the managing director and he still found it important to set up the committee, to take decisive action, to put an end to the stories.”

  • Don’t tag us criminals, traders tell Rivers government

    Don’t tag us criminals, traders tell Rivers government

     

    Traders in Rivers State have urged the state government not to term them criminals, adding that the government was doing so on wrong information.

    The traders, whose goods running into billions of Naira were destroyed at the Mile 1 Market Extension in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of the State, expressed displeasure with the claim that the market was a criminal hideout.

    The Rivers State government had demolished the said market allegedly approved by the past governor, Chibuike Amaechi, as a temporary site around former Obi Wali Cultural Centre.

    The state government had in a statement by the Special Adviser to the governor on Land and Survey, Mr Anugbum Onuoha, stated that the occupants of the area were illegal and that the place was a criminal hideout.

    But briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday on the plights of the traders after the demolition, the Chairman Mile 1 Market Traders Association, Mr Kenneth Eze, noted that the state government legally relocated traders who had lost their goods to inferno to the area in 2014.

    Eze confirmed that two people have died of shock as a result of the incident and that several others who are down with High Pressure are still hospitalised.

    Eze said, “These traders were officially relocated from their original place of business at mile one market (the area now designated for phase two of the mile one market project) to the old cultural centre and a letter was raised to that regards.

    “Upon the receipt of the letter, I and the other market leaders pleaded, persuaded and prevailed on the traders to move to the temporary site with an assurance of quick return as promised by the government.”

    Eze regretted while the Ministry of Land and Survey and its agents would descend so heavily on traders who are lawfully relocated to the area and tagged them criminals.

    He urged the government to look for alternative means of livelihood for those traders that lost all their belongings in the process.

    “We are calling on Governor Nyesom Wike to come to the aid of the traders numbering over 2000 by immediately providing an alternative place of business for the traders and release a compensation package to assuage their grieve and ameliorate their sufferings.”