The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yenagoa

  • Bayelsa: Corps member killed for refusing to surrender his phone

    Fresh facts emerged Monday that the slain member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Bayelsa State identified as, James Onuh, was killed by his assailants for refusing to surrender his mobile phone.

    Suspected cultists at the weekend shot and killed Onuh, at Obele, a suburb of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

    The bandits reportedly fled the area after sporadic gunshots that caused panic among the residents in the area.

    The late Onuh, a graduate of the Federal University of Agriculture in Markurdi, the Benue State capital, was attached to the Bayelsa State Ministry of Works for his primary assignment.

    A friend of late Onuh who identified himself as Daniel said the deceased was a Batch B corps member who was expecting his passing out in September.

    Giving more insight to the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident, Daniel said his friend boarded a commercial tricycle to Obele.

    He said unknown to him, other occupants of the tricycle were cultists who were out in the fateful evening to rob people.

    He said: “When he got to Obele junction where he wanted to alight, they confronted him and demanded his mobile handset. He resisted them. Maybe he didn’t know they were armed.  As they were dragging the phone, one of them pulled out a gun and shot him”.

    He said the hoodlums took the handset and fled adding that the victim was rushed to the hospital but later gave up.

    He lamented that Onuh who hailed from Benue State was the only son of his parents.

    Investigations revealed that the gruesome murder of Onuh shocked many corps members in the state and was a dominant topic of discussion among them.

    There has been increased in violent crime among the youths in the state following economic hardship blamed partly on the inability of the state government to pay arrears of salaries owed different categories of workers.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Asinim Butswat, said the police were following a lead to arrest the killers of Onuh.

    He said the police were committed to the security of corps members and appealed to them to go about their normal business without fear.

  • Police arrest two over possession of arms in Yenagoa

    Police arrest two over possession of arms in Yenagoa

    The Police in Bayelsa on Sunday said it arrested two suspected robbers with firearms.

    DSP Asinim Butswat, Police Public Relations Officer in Bayelsa, made this known to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.

    He said that a riffle and 197 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

    Asinim said two other suspects escaped but assured that police would apprehend and make them to face the law.

    “On Saturday policemen on routine Stop and Search Operations along the Gloryland Drive, Yenagoa, flagged down a red Highlander jeep with REG No. SPR 386 AA.

    “AR riffle with five loaded magazines containing 197 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the vehicle.

    “The occupants of the vehicle, one James Ebi, 31 and Pinni Oyakemeagha, 34, were arrested, two other suspects escaped,” Butswat said.

  • Striking workers dare Dickson, picket ministries 

    Striking workers dare Dickson, picket ministries 

    Bayelsa State workers protesting their backlog of unpaid salaries, Friday, stormed ministries in Yenagoa, the state capital to enforce their industrial action.

    The angry workers, it was gathered, ensured that the secretariat was locked and all the offices closed in total compliance with the directive of their union leaders.

    Their action was contrary to the no-work-no-pay threat of the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, whose inability to pay different categories of workers had thrown the state into economic hardship.

    Dickson owes civil servants about five months; pensioners for over eight months and local government workers for about 13 months.

    The development has thrown workers and residents in the state into untold hardship with many of them resorting to begging for survival.

    Non-payment of salaries has brought the economy of Bayelsa, known generally as a civil service state to its knees, with many business ventures shutting down operation.

    The workers resorted to strike after 21-day ultimatum they gave to the government expired with the governor not able to meet their demands.

    Dickson who threatened to invoke the no-work-no-pay principle, however, appealed to the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to return to the negotiating table.

    But the workers were said to be further angered by the threat of the governor wondering why Dickson was trying to intimidate civil servants he could not pay for five months.

    Reacting to the Governor’s threat that workers would forfeit their salaries if they failed to work, a rights activist,  Mr. Alagoa Morris,  said that such threat would not work.

    He said: “The threat will not work because if labour leaders allow that to happen, it means they have lost their bearings.  Next time if they call their members out for strike,  they will not obey them.

    “So,  it is always part of the settlement at the end whereby even the government would sign that nobody will be victimised.  It is the workers’ right to embark on strike when things are not going right.

    “It will be unwise at the end of the day, which I know will not happen, that labour will agree and let the Government to punish workers for going on strike. It is always ending with ‘no Victor no vanquished’.”

    He said the governor’s threat was centered on ego, stressing that “threats will be given, threats will be made but it is part of the industrial relation that at the end of the day, they will settle”.

    Morris said he supported the labour action adding that the workers had the right to go on strike.

    He said it is the legitimate right of workers and means to force he hands of the authorities to act appropriately.

    Also, the Chairman, NLC, Bayelsa State, Ndiomu John-Bipre, said the threat would stop the strike adding that they would cross the bridge when they got there.

    Noting that the workers were like children to the governor, he they were crying to Dickson to feel to their pains over the unpaid salaries.
     

  • ‘Why Yenagoa remains underdeveloped’

    ‘Why Yenagoa remains underdeveloped’

    A real estate guru based in Bayelsa State and Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, F Global Properties Limited, Emelike Ifeayinchukwu Ossy, in this interview with MIKE ODIEGWU, identified the problems mitigating the development of Yenagoa as a modern capital city.

    How far has it been in the real estate business in Bayelsa?

    The greatest challenge is Yenagoa. It has been a strong challenge. It has been a tough one. But so far we appreciate God for where we are today for his wisdom and prosperity over the company, but it has not been an easy one, we have many challenges starting from the communal, government policies, lack of funds public misinformation and many more. But we are doing our best to change the face of Bayelsa State.

    Do you agree with the claims of past and present administrations which attribute slow pace of infrastructural development in the state to bad terrain?

    When you talk about terrain in real estate, I will agree partially with the past and present government of Bayelsa State. But I blame the government so much. If God gives you a seed he gives you sand. When God gives you a desert, he gives you stone. God always has a soft-landing for all. Bayelsa State is blessed with a lot of mineral resources.

    In Lekki, Eko Atlantic City is doing one of the best development in Africa. The terrain is far worse than Yenagoa but they have transformed that place to a hub, a business hub that will attract investors. I don’t really see the terrain as a challenge. I see the policies and politics as challenging.

    I have come to see lack of continuity in most of the real estate policies. When one government starts one thing, it is difficult for another government to carry on. New government comes, abandons what the previous administration started and begins its own.

    The question the public should be asking is: has the government really sat down to look at the future of Bayelsa State? Have the concern sector in the state asked in 20 years, what kind of Yenagoa do we really want to have. Do we want to have the Yenagoa we are proud of or Yenagoa we will be running away from?

    The government should put their house in order, so the terrain shouldn’t be a problem. They are missing the track. The government I see has human capacity that does not have productive strength to accommodate the level of needs of Bayelsa State in real estate development. They don’t know that Bayelsa terrain is very virgin, natural and fresh. So, in real estate when it is fresh it is easy to handle than when people have erected unwanted structures. The town is still fresh. The government needs to sit up and do effective planning because planning is what government is expected to do now.

    Whatever Abuja is now has been planned 15 to 20 years ago, so government  needs to do planning. How much planning has past and present governments done. Most of them do what I call paper planning. They come on air and say they have done planning. We want to see what’s on the ground. The planning on ground is what you need to work with. The past and present governments have made some mistakes and are still making mistakes.

    How do we correct the problems with town planning  of Yenagoa?

    First, there will be a new city and secondly, the defects could be corrected. The problem with Bayelsa is the government and lack of information to the public. People build on water channels and natural drainage. People build along the expressways beyond the approved lines. Serving politicians are building along the major expressways beyond the approved lines which is a risk to the public and against modern planning.

    Now imagine a city that cannot enforce the laws; some people are above the law. In Bayelsa State, they have to start applying the laws. The government needs to come up with a new city. Let me use this opportunity to call on the government to set up what is called Government Community Initiative Programs; that’s what Bayelsa needs. The program will set free, crisis in land; it will set free Bayelsa communal problems. It will make the communities have spirit of ownership.

    Community initiative programmes are done all over the world. They are done in UK and they are using it to establish new cities. You don’t expect to pay compensation every time. I think the government can come up with a city that befits the name of Yenagoa. Yenagoa is the heart of ijawland but how many ijaw people can decide to come and buy land in Yenagoa. I urge the governor to start in a way and manner that people will know that Bayelsa is the heart of ijawland and the Dubia of Africa and that  can only be done by planning.

    I have attended many business summits the government of Bayelsa State hosted in search of investors. I have always said you can’t  bring an investor to a town that is not planned. It is not possible. In a city, the first place to look out for is the town planners; they are the best people to work out a city, a city that can last for hundred years.

     

     

  • ‘Why Yenagoa remains underdeveloped’

    ‘Why Yenagoa remains underdeveloped’

    A real estate guru based in Bayelsa State, Mr. Emelike Ifeayinchukwu Ossy and Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, F Global Properties Limited, in this interview with MIKE ODIEGWU, identified the problems mitigating the development of Yenagoa as a modern capital city.

    How far has it been in the real estate business in Bayelsa?

    The greatest challenge is Yenagoa. It has been a strong challenge. It has been a tough one. But so far we appreciate God for where we are today for his wisdom and prosperity over the company, but it has not been an easy one, we have many challenges starting from the communal, government policies, lack of funds public misinformation and many more. But we are doing our best to change the face of Bayelsa State.

    Do you agree with the claims of past and present administrations which attribute slow pace of infrastructural development in the state to bad terrain?

    When you talk about terrain in real estate, I will agree partially with the past and present government of Bayelsa State. But I blame the government so much. If God gives you a seed he gives you sand. When God gives you a desert, he gives you stone. God always has a soft-landing for all. Bayelsa State is blessed with a lot of mineral resources.

    In Lekki, Eko Atlantic City is doing one of the best development in Africa. The terrain is far worse than Yenagoa but they have transformed that place to a hub, a business hub that will attract investors. I don’t really see the terrain as a challenge. I see the policies and politics as challenging.

    I have come to see lack of continuity in most of the real estate policies. When one government starts one thing, it is difficult for another government to carry on. New government comes, abandons what the previous administration started and begins its own.

    The question the public should be asking is: has the government really sat down to look at the future of Bayelsa State? Have the concern sector in the state asked in 20 years, what kind of Yenagoa do we really want to have. Do we want to have the Yenagoa we are proud of or Yenagoa we will be running away from?

    The government should put their house in order, so the terrain shouldn’t be a problem. They are missing the track. The government I see has human capacity that does not have productive strength to accommodate the level of needs of Bayelsa State in real estate development. They don’t know that Bayelsa terrain is very virgin, natural and fresh. So, in real estate when it is fresh it is easy to handle than when people have erected unwanted structures. The town is still fresh. The government needs to sit up and do effective planning because planning is what government is expected to do now.

    Whatever Abuja is now has been planned 15 to 20 years ago, so government  needs to do planning. How much planning has past and present governments done. Most of them do what I call paper planning. They come on air and say they have done planning. We want to see what’s on the ground. The planning on ground is what you need to work with. The past and present governments have made some mistakes and are still making mistakes.

    How do we correct the problems with town planning  of Yenagoa?

    First, there will be a new city and secondly, the defects could be corrected. The problem with Bayelsa is the government and lack of information to the public. People build on water channels and natural drainage. People build along the expressways beyond the approved lines. Serving politicians are building along the major expressways beyond the approved lines which is a risk to the public and against modern planning.

    Now imagine a city that cannot enforce the laws; some people are above the law. In Bayelsa State, they have to start applying the laws. The government needs to come up with a new city. Let me use this opportunity to call on the government to set up what is called Government Community Initiative Programs; that’s what Bayelsa needs. The program will set free, crisis in land; it will set free Bayelsa communal problems. It will make the communities have spirit of ownership.

    Community initiative programmes are done all over the world. They are done in UK and they are using it to establish new cities. You don’t expect to pay compensation every time. I think the government can come up with a city that befits the name of Yenagoa. Yenagoa is the heart of ijawland but how many ijaw people can decide to come and buy land in Yenagoa. I urge the governor to start in a way and manner that people will know that Bayelsa is the heart of ijawland and the Dubia of Africa and that  can only be done by planning.

    I have attended many business summits the government of Bayelsa State hosted in search of investors. I have always said you can’t  bring an investor to a town that is not planned. It is not possible. In a city, the first place to look out for is the town planners; they are the best people to work out a city, a city that can last for hundred years.

    What is the motive behind the Iko Palm Estate and Paradise Gardens in Yenagoa?

    Iko Palm Estate came as a result of the challenges people are facing when you build in the state. Some people find it difficult to access their housees because some landlords sell their roads; some build on drainage. So, with all these, we came up with the plan. We decided to have a city, a mini estate that can be well planned and people can actually buy.

    We also look at the financial capacity of the people in Bayelsa, and 80 percent are civil servants. We initiated a system of paying for the land within three years for the low income earners. You can buy land and build with N25,000 monthly.

    In Paradise Garden, we are partnering with foreign partners and is going to be a high profile project. We are starting starting in Port Harcourt with about 5000 duplexes. It is ongoing and we will compete with Eko Atlantic in Lagos . Our drive is to bridge accommodation challenges between the low and high income earners.

    Are you getting any support from the government?

    The Government of Rivers State has been very supportive. They have encouraged us and are ready to help us meet all documentation. I give Kudos to His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike who has given the investors all the support. I can authoritative say we have the backing of Rivers State government. In Bayelsa State we are using this medium to call on the government to set up a team of professionals that will look into the planning of the city, especially new Yenagoa. It can be achieved without government spending so much money. The government can spend as much as zero naira. What they need to do is to give the legal backing. I expect the government to set up a committee that will initiate this project.

  • Bayelsa corps members protest unpaid allowance

    Bayelsa corps members protest unpaid allowance

    • Asks Dickson to pay state’s obligations
     Batch ‘A’ members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who passed out, yesterday, trooped to the streets of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, to protest the state’s government inability to pay their transport allowances.
    It was gathered that the corps members took their grievances to the Government House after receiving their discharge certificates.
    But the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, reportedly addressed the protesters.
    Obuebite said the government was zealous at promoting the interests of corps members in the state.
    He said their allowances would be paid in full adding that the money had been approved by the government.
    Also addressing the protesters, the Zonal Inspector, Ajike O. E assured them that their money would be given to them in cash by today at the zonal office Yenagoa.
    But of the corp members, Alfred Ivanson who served in Brass Local Government Area said he could not travel to reunite with his family because of the government’s inability to pay his N5000 transport allowance.
    He pleaded with Governor Seriake Dickson to pay all the allowances due for corps members to enable them go home
  • Police warn Dickson over refusal to swear-in elected members

    Police warn Dickson over refusal to swear-in elected members

    The Bayelsa State Police Command, yesterday, warned the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, over the security implications of the refusal by the leadership of the state House of Assembly to swear-in three elected opposition members.
    The  Commissioner of Police, Peter Ogunyanwo, in a letter sent to the governor, dated April 11, said the action of the House led by its Speaker, Mr. Kombowei Benson, was capable of compounding the security threats in the state.
    Ogunyanwo’s concern was following a letter addressed to him by the affected three members-elect requesting for a police protection in a peaceful protest they planned to demand their immediate inauguration.
    Benson has refused to administer oaths of office on Watson Belemote of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), representing Brass Constituency 2; Gibson Munalayefa of the Labour Party for Ogbia constituency 2 and Gabriel Ogbara of African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Ogbia constituency 3.

    They were declared winners of their various constituencies four months ago by the Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    But the leadership of the House dominated by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ignored them and rather quickly inaugurated their party members who won their rerun elections in March.

    In the letter addressed to the governor, the police boss said: “The members-elect, Alfred Belemote (APGA, Brass 2), ‎Gabriel Ogbara (ADC, Ogbia 2) and Gibson Munalayefa (Labour Party,Ogbia 2) stated they were successful candidates in the state House of Assembly election held on 6th of June, 2015 but the leadership of the State House of Assembly has refused to swear them into office for normal legislative duties.
    “The trio also alleged that one Hon. Benson Kombowei of the PDP, whose election was just conducted on March 11th, 2016, was sworn into office immediately after winning election,wheras the same House has continuously denied them this right since 2015.
    “In view of the aforesaid development,the Bayelsa Police Command is appealing to your Excellency to prevail on the Hon. Speaker and entire leadership of the State House of Assembly to swear into office,the three honorable members in the interest of peace and justoce.
    “This is to prevent fresh  security ‎threat to the existing ones in Bayelsa State.It would also act as well as a demonstration and confirmation of your excellency’s large and accommodating heart.”
    The aggrieved members-elect in the request letter to the commissioner said they had planned to stage a peaceful protest on Tuesday next week.
    They said the move became imperative following the outright refusal of the House leadership to swear them in.
    They drew the attention of the police boss to the photocopies of their respective certificates of return issued them by the Independent National Electoral Commission following their victories in the court.
    They said in the letter dated April 7: “All efforts to effect our successful swearing in has remained futile, hence, the resolution to employ this peaceful/lawful path of expressing our displeasure”.

  • Bayelsa NLC, government reacts to plight of civil servants

    In his reaction, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Bayelsa State, Mr. Ndiomu George-Diepre, said the congress was not happy with the development.

    Regretting the econonic situation in Nigeria, he begged the governor to pay the workers to enable them meet their personal and family obligations.

    He disclosed that the workers’ strength was about 45,000.

    George-Diepre said: “The Congress as usual is still on the struggle. Right now,  we are on the air, calling on the government to pay the unpaid salaries.

    “While we understand the economic situation in the country and how it also affects the states, we are still asking that the government should pay all the outstanding salaries of workers, particularly the pensioners and of course, the local government workers.

    There are also a lot of scams and ghost workers suspected in those areas, and the governor is saying he wants to do verification  and after that they will pay. But the Labour is saying that they should be paid because they have suffered for a long time.”

    But an official in the Governor’s office said Bayelsa State was not the only state that was owing salaries, saying that there are states owing between seven and eight months.

    The official,  who spoke in confidence said: “So, why is Bayelsa State so peculiar that journalists want to do a report on it.

    “The Federal Government is owing. You heard the Secretary to the Government of the Federation saying the FG is owing N6bn every month. Is that not scandalous for a nation like Nigeria? Is it no more newsworthy than workers resorting to begging? Check the fact, we are owing just three months.”

  • Troops recover 14 rifles from pirates, militants 

    Troops recover 14 rifles from pirates, militants 

    • Kill suspected pirates in a gun duel
    Troops of Joint Force, Operation Pulo Shield (OPS) have recovered 14 AK 47 rifles from gunmen suspected to be unrepentant militants and pirates operating in Bayelsa and Delta states.
    The troops also killed one of the suspected pirates whose gang engaged them in a gun duel at Idema community in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
    Confirming the incidents, the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Col. Isa Ado said troops of Sector 2 were conducting cordon and search operation on April 9 when they encountered the gunmen.
     “The pirates engaged the troop in a gun battle before they were overpowered by the superior firepower of the troops which led to the death of one of the gunmen while others escaped with gunshot injuries.
    “One AK 47 rifle and two loaded magazines were recovered from the bandits along with nine mobile GSM telephones and three walkie talkies.  Four suspects were also arrested during the operation,” he said.
    Ado said the troops of Sector 2 also conducted raid operation at suspected militant camps in Gbarain community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and recovered three AK 47 automatic rifles.
    He named other items recovered from the camps as Magnum Double Barrel Gun, 273 round of 7.62mm Special, seven empty magazines of AK 47 rifle, one empty magazine of FN rifle and nine packs of explosives suspected to be dynamites.
    He said operatives of of Sector 1 following a tip-off arrested Mr, Thankgod Michael, Mr Umukoro Austin and Frank Jemedake in connection with a bag containing four pieces of AK 47 rifle in Kokori Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.
    He said: “Following one of the suspect’s confessions that the weapon used by the gang is in the house of one of the member, Mr Oruno, a search was conducted at his residence where six pieces of AK 47 magazines loaded with 36 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and a bag containing coins of both local and foreign currencies were found.
    “During the search, Mr Francis Akpovwovwo, Festus Ochiko and Emmanuel Ofuoma were arrested in the apartment. The arrested suspects and exhibits are in custody of Operation PULO SHIELD for preliminary investigation before further action by prosecuting agencies”.
  • We are no longer safe in Bayelsa, Igbo traders tell police

    We are no longer safe in Bayelsa, Igbo traders tell police

    Igbo traders in Bayelsa State, yesterday, marched the streets of Yenagoa, the state capital, in protest of the continual murder of Igbo businessmen in the state capital by unknown gunmen suspected to be armed robbers and hired assassins.

     

    They were particularly angry over the gruesome murder of Agodo Martins by gunmen at his Yenagoa residence early hours of Monday.

     

    The hoodlums were said to have broken into the house of Martins, who owns a popular boutique called Omars Fashion Plaza at the Ompadec area of the Yenagoa-Mbiama Road.

     

    It was gathered that the gunmen who stormed the house of Martins located at the Punch Road area demanded money from their victim.

     

    The deceased reportedly told his assailants that there was no cash at home because shops in the capital city were shut down for about four days in honour of the late Governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was buried on Saturday.

     

    After ransacking his house, the gunmen were said to have shot and killed Martin in cold blood in the presence of his new wife.

     

    The traders led by the President, Ohaneze Youth Council (OYC), Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, also lamented that Martin was killed a few days after gunmen suspected to be assassins murdered another successful Igbo businessman, Ugochukwu,  popularly called Ugo Best.

     

    It was gathered that Ugochukwu was killed along the Azikoro village on his way home after business of that day.

     

    A source who spoke in confidence said: “He was close to his house in company with his wife when gunmen operating in commercial tricycles blocked his car. They dragged him out of the car and forced into the tricycle.

     

    “His corpse was discovered the next day at the Azikoro cemetery with his hands and legs tied up. He was a successful businessman who built a big house at the Azikoro village. We are scared”.

     

    The traders also related how another businessman was gruesomely murdered at the Tombia area adding that others were being harassed and injured by arm-bearing youths.

     

    The traders assembled at the front of Omars boutique, forced shops to close down and marched with anger to the state command of the police.

     

    They were received by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Peter Ogunyawo, and other senior police officers.

     

    Presenting their grievances, Arthur-Ugwa said: “The Igbos are no longer safe in Bayelsa. We are being killed by gunmen. One was killed at Azikoro, the other one was killed at Tombia and today another one who just got married was killed in cold blood.

     

    “We are not happy and we have closed down our business to come and tell you at the headquarters that we are not safe. If you cannot guarantee our safety, we will relocate our business and families out of the state. We are pleading for your assistance”.

     

    Ogunyawo in his response, told the grieving traders that crimes exist everywhere and were not targeted at the Igbos.

     

    He said death is one debt everybody must pay and that nobody knows how it will be paid.

     

    He said the command was doing everything possible to check the crime wave in the state and asked the traders to furnish the police with information to enable them become effective.

     

    “We can’t be effective if you don’t partner with us. Once you have feelings of any crime, let us know. You don’t need to run to anywhere because crimes exist everywhere”, he said.