The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Warri

  • Group urges NASS to reorder development of Niger Delta

    The National Assembly has been tasked to restructure the policy framework governing the operations of agencies and structures established for the development of the Niger Delta region.

    This was part of the demands of the Niger Delta Amnesty Vendors Association (NDAV), contained in a communique issued in Warri Delta state on Wednesday and signed by seven members of its executive council, including its President, Comrade Tari Okosi and Secretary, Eferebo Sylvania.

    The body also appealed to President Munammadu Buhari to address the issues currently bedeviling the smooth running of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, especially the issue of due payment of, asking that the budget of the programme be reviewed upwards.

    It, however warned those stoking crisis in the Niger Delta region in the name of agitating for a better run of the amnesty programme to cease actions as such would be a distraction to the programme and plans of Coordinator of the office, Professor Charles Dokubo.

    The group, which said it had been engaging aggrieved ex-agitators in the region to forestall further breakdown of law and order, said the new Coordinator of the amnesty programme, Prof Dokubo, has done much, within the short period he has piloted the amnesty office and should be be distracted.

    Itemising its demands, the NDAV said “the task of sustainable peace and development in the region should not be compromised for personal greed and politics of sentiments. However, while we continue to engage aggrieved persons on productive discussions on possible approaches to addressing several of their pending issues from the previous administration, we therefore urge all stakeholders of the region and beneficiaries of the programme to support the good works of Mr President, through the office of his Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme.

    “We passionately appeal to the leadership of President Munammadu Buhari to address the bottlenecks surrounding the disbursement of funds to the Amnesty Office and also consider increasing the budget for the office.

    “The National Assembly should, as a matter of urgency, readdress the policy framework governing the operations of the other Niger Delta interventionist agencies such as the NDDC and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to adequately address the immediate needs of the people”, the group demanded.

  • Robbery: One set ablaze, two arrested in Delta

    A suspected armed robber was on Tuesday night set ablaze by an angry mob around at Estate Roundabout, along the Okumagba Avenue, Warri South council area of Delta state.

    The Nation gathered that two other suspected members of the armed robbery gang were reportedly arrested by policemen, while a fourth suspect reportedly escaped both death and arrest.

    According to sources, the four-man gang was reportedly busted in the process of attempting to dispose a tricycle driver, popularly called Keke NAPEP, of his vehicle.

    It was further gathered that the tricycle driver raised the alarm on his assailants, calling the attention of other tricycle drivers and passersby around, all of whom rushed up to give the fleeing suspects a chase.

    The only suspect, who was caught by the chasing mob, was immediately set ablaze before the arrival of security agents to the scene. Policemen from the ‘B’ Division of the Warri Police Area Command later arrested two other members of the robbery gang.

    Confirming the development, the Delta state Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Mustafa, said “they were caught trying to rob a Keke. One escaped, two were arrested and one was set ablaze”.

  • Osinbajo presents 150 tricycles to women, youths in C/River

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday presented 150 tricycles to market women and youths in Cross River State as part of an empowerment programme of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

    Osinbajo said the initiative is one of the laudable empowerment programmes for women and youths being implemented by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

    He said the programme also consists of poultry production and its value chain, fisheries production and its value chain, snail production and its value chain, production of confectioneries, production of soap, detergent, and various fields of artisanship among others.

    The Vice President also flagged off Federal Government programmme tagged Trader-Moni at the popular Watt Market.

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Usani Uguru Usani said the event was a continuation in the series of empowerment through the provision of tricycles for women and youths in the region.

    Read Also: How Osinbajo has advanced restructuring, by GEPIn

    He said similar presentations has been carried out in Warri, Delta State, adding that with the implementation of the 2018 budget, other States of the region will soon be covered.

    ‘’May I emphasize here that this empowerment programme is aimed at achieving some cardinal objectives which include the improvement of transportation access, enhancement of economic activities in the state, haulage of imputes to and from the farm, and the fulfillment of other ancillary activities such as mechanics, vulcanizes, panel beaters and electricians.

    “It is my hope and desire that this initiative of government will translate in improving peace and development in the state, and indeed the region.”

     

  • Police rescue kidnapped Catholic priest in Delta

    Rev Father Christopher Ogaga, the Catholic priest who was kidnapped last Saturday night on his way to Warri, has been rescued.

    Disclosing the development to The Nation in a chat on Thursday , the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Mustafa, said Father Ogaga was rescued on Wednesday night somewhere along Eku-Abraka Road.

    According to the police chief, three suspects were already in custody even as other ones still at large were being trailed to answer for their role in the criminal operation.

    “Yes, the Rev Father has been rescued. We have three suspects in our custody, while we are still on the trail of the other gang members. Of course, no ransom was paid because it was a rescue”, the police chief said.

    Read Also: Man smashes bus windscreens over illegal N200 fee

    The kidnappers had demanded a N15 million ransom for his release almost immediately after he was taken.

    It would be recalled that Father Ogaga was kidnapped on Saturday, September 1, 2018 along the Arava-Oviri-Orere-Okpe Road, while on his way to Warri to assist the parish priest of Mother of the Redeemer Catholic Church, Airport junction, Effurun for the three masses on Sunday morning.

    The Nation gathered that Ogaga, who is priest of two other parishes of the church; St Luke’s Catholic Church, Oviri Okpe and St Jude’s Catholic Church Aghalopke, is also the principal of St. Peters Clavers College, Aghalokpe.

  • HARRY IGHODAKPO still blazing the trail

    Harry Ighodakpo started with small businesses in Warri, Delta State, scrapping for livelihood until fortune smiled on him and the businesses, as many as ten, began to yield fruits of joy. With time, he simply outgrew the businesses and had to move further afield where his sails have set unto the international waters.

    Having gone to the business school of hard knocks, learning the ropes through hard work and perfecting his craft, he has narrowed down his main concerns to four portfolios of real estate, automobile, import and export and tourism. While automobile and import/export may just be subsisting businesses, real estate and tourism are his main pie that brings the goods home. In these areas, he may just be a czar sitting upon an empire. Little wonder he had to shift his base of operation to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he pulls the strings, while maintaining balance at home in Lagos.

    Despite his riches, the Delta State-born businessman is a family-oriented person, accessible and believes humility pays.

  • NiMet predicts thunderstorms, rains, cloudy weather for Monday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted morning thunderstorms over cities in the Central States of the country such as Ilorin, Minna, Abuja, Jos, Lafia and Bauchi on Monday morning.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Sunday also predicted day and night temperatures in the range of 25 to 33 and 18 to 23 degrees Celsius respectively.

    It added that there were chances of thunderstorms over Gombe, Lafia, Jos, Kaduna, Abuja, Makurdi and Lokoja axis later in the day.

    The agency predicted that southern states would experience prospect of cloudy morning with chances of rains over places like Awka, Ikom, Abakaliki, Obudu, Ogoja, Port Harcourt, Eket, Warri, Calabar, Ijebu-Ode and Lagos.

    It also predicted chances of thunderstorms and rains over most parts of the region with day and night temperatures of 27 to 31 and 21 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.

    According to NiMet, Northern States will experience cloudy condition over the Inland of the south west with possibility of light rains over the remaining parts of the region in the morning.

    It also predicted thunderstorms and rains over the entire region with day and night temperatures in the range of 27 to 32 and 20 to 25 degrees Celsius respectively.

    “Cloudy conditions with prospects of thunderstorms and rain in varying intensities are anticipated over the country within the next 24 hours” NiMet predicts.

  • Septuagenarian arrested for raping teenager

    A 73-year old native doctor; Joseph Umuluku, has been arrested by the Delta state police command, in the Warri ‘B’ Division, for allegedly raping a 13 year-old girl.

    The Nation gathered that the suspect, a resident of Giwa-Amu Street, Okumagba Layout, Warri, had lured the victim into their common bathroom, where he had carnal knowledge of her, inflicting serious injuries on her in the process.

    A reliable police source from the ‘B’ Division Police Station, who spoke anonymously, said the Umuluku is a neighbour of the parents of the victim.

    According to him, the suspect was already making confessional statement adding that the matter would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded.

    Read Also: Court remands trader in police custody over N46m fraud

    “The matter was reported at our station on Monday and the girl sustained serious injuries as a result of the rape.

    “However, the police is trying to seek medication for the girl, the suspect is making confessional statement and will be charged to court once investigation is concluded,” the source said.

    Commenting on the development, the President of Nigerian Child Welfare Fund, Comrade Joshua Omorere, who has been moving round on how seeing that the case is charged to court, described the development as a grievous crime.

    He went further to allege that the suspect hypnotised the girl before he carried out the act, saying “it is a weighty offence that cannot be settled out of court. They live in the same compound and the man must have been doing it”.

  • NiMet predicts cloudy, sunny weather on Saturday

    NiMet predicts cloudy, sunny weather on Saturday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted partly cloudy to cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Saturday.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Friday also predicted day and night temperatures in the range of 33 to 41 and 19 to 29 degrees Celsius respectively.

    The agency predicted that the southern states would experience cloudy morning over the inland and coastal cities with day and night temperatures in the range of 30 to 36 and 22 to 26 degrees Celsius.

    It also predicted localised thunderstorm over Owerri, Akure, Ibadan, Oshogbo, Ikom, Asaba, Ogoja, Calabar, Warri, Eket, Yenegoa and Portharcourt in the afternoon and evening hours.

    According to NiMet, Northern states will experience partly cloudy to sunny conditions throughout the forecast period with day and night temperatures in the ranges of 38 to 42 and 20 to 27 degrees Celsius.

    “Localised thunderstorm over some parts of the southern region of the country are not unlikely and stability over some parts of the northern states in the next 24 hours,” NiMet predicted.

    Read Also: NiMET director says people need weather information to plan activities

  • PDP pressure group endorse Okowa for Second Term

    PDP pressure group endorse Okowa for Second Term

     

    A pressure group in the Delta PDP, Delta Mandate have endorsed the candidature of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as its sole candidate  in 2019  Delta governorship election.

    The Delta Mandate comprises PDP faithful from the three senatorial districts.

    Mr. Solomon Funkekeme who spoke in Warri said Governor Okowa has been adopted and endorsed as the sole candidate in view of his performance and achievements in infrastructural development, youth empowerment, wealth creation, his capacity in carrying all along, faithfulness to the PDP manifesto, and adherence to the zoning formula.

    Arthur Akpowowo stated that in accordance with the zoning formula existing in the state, PDP is morally bond to adhere to its zoning formula and the actualization of Okowa as Governor for second term in 2019.

    The National President of the group, Mr. Isaac Anwuzia, who described the association as a strong voice in the political equation of the state, stated that Governor Okowa has been endorsed for second term by the group.

    Read Also: Delta 2019: Hurdles before Okowa

    His words, “Without fear of contradiction, I wish to state that after a critical but objective analysis of the performance of our able Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, we make bold to say that he be given a second chance to enable him perfect and bring to completion his vision and development blueprint as encapsulated in the SMART agenda of the PDP led administration”.

    Its Delta Central Coordinator, Akpowowo said the rally was to sensitize all Deltans that the Governor has performed creditably well and should be supported for re-election come 2019.

    He said, “We are proud of his immense feats and ability to carry every part of the state along in infrastructural development despite the downturn “.

    He urged everyone present at the rally to carry out massive sensitization in their respective Local Government Areas and communities of the Governor’s achievements by campaigning and canvassing adequately to make his return in 2019 as Governor a smooth ride.

    The group’s Delta North Coordinator, Moses Iduh, urged all to take the message from door to door and house to house for Governor Okowa 2019 saying that there is no other Governor for 2019 in Delta State than Governor Ifeanyi  Okowa.

    Chairman, PDP Delta South Senatorial District, Emmanuel Amgbaduba, assured that Delta South people are very faithful and committed to their words, adding that they will do their best to deliver Okowa as Governor in 2019 election.

    The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, advised all adults living in the state who do not have their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to go to the nearest Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office and register to be qualified to vote for Governor Okowa in 2019.

  • DPR seals 70 stations in six months in Delta

    DPR seals 70 stations in six months in Delta

    The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, (Warri Zonal Office) says it has sealed 70 petrol stations for alleged sharp practice in the past six months in parts of Delta State.

    Mr. Antai Asuquo, Operations Controller, who spoke to reporters yesterday, said that the stations were sanctioned for hoarding, under-dispensing, over pricing, abandonment and diversion of products.

    He said the stations were sealed in Warri, Ughelli, Sapele ,Ozoro ,Oleh ,Kwale, Agbor ,Ubiaruku , and Asaba.

    According to him, the 70 stations are part of the 446 petrol stations visited by the department’s surveillance team.

    Asuquo said fuel was dispensed to motorists in two of the 70 filling stations at no cost because the stations were hoarding the products.

    Read Also: DPR seals 15 filling stations in Akwa Ibom

    His words, “The exercise is a continuous one until the petroleum marketers complied with government’s approved pump price of N145 per litre. It is not our intention to seal a petrol station that has products but the products should be sold to the public at the regulated pump price”.

    Asuquo urged marketers who indulge in sharp practices to desist from it because the regulatory agency would continue to go after them until full compliance was attained.

    The controller cautioned depot owners against selling products above ex-depot price as well as selling to third parties.

    He appealed to the public to assist the DPR with useful information on any station selling above the regulated price.