Resident Doctors vow to resist pay cut caused by improper grading

Resident Doctors vow to resist pay cut caused by improper grading

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has vowed to resist pay cut arising from improper grading and placement of doctors currently affecting many hospitals in the country.

Dr Ugoeze Asinobi, Public Relations Officer of NARD said in Yenagoa that the association took the resolution among others at an Extra-Ordinary National Executive Meeting in Abuja on Sunday.

Asinobi said in an interview on Wednesday that the inappropriate placement of doctors the approved lateral conversion on grades and scale was adversely affecting doctors in 12 federal hospitals across the country.

He noted with dismay that the development had compelled doctors in affected hospitals to down tools, thereby obstructing industrial harmony, worsening health indices and needless loss of lives.

He therefore advised the federal government to ensure that full remuneration of doctors were captured in the 2017 budget to forestall breach of industrial harmony in the health sector in the coming year.

“Any attempt to truncate full emolument of our members will be stoutly resisted and will lead to immediate and total nationwide breakdown of cordial industrial relations.

“The Chief Executives of the 12 affected hospitals where the pay cuts occasioned by the inappropriate placement of doctors should immediately be called to order to avoid worsening the soured industrial relations.

“All institutions currently on strike as a result of non implementation of full salaries with lateral conversion have the full backing of NARD and are encouraged to be steadfast.

“They should activate all mechanisms within the ambits of the law to press home their agitations and ensure that ther demands are met,” Asinobi said.

He further said that NARD faulted the invocation of ‘no work no pay rule’ and rejects it entirely as its members were punished for the ineptitude of the Chief Executives of the affected hospitals and health ministry officials.

Asinobi urged the federal government to curb the financial leakages in federal teaching hospitals by enrolling doctors on the Integrated Personnel Payroll System before October 30.

Nigeria Navy parade suspected member of Niger Delta Avengers in Warri

The Nigeria Navy on Thursday paraded a suspected member of the Niger Delta Avengers at its base Warri, Delta.

Commodore Joseph Dzunve, Commander, Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, paraded the suspect identified as Mr Abraham Suru nicknamed ”Gabon” before newsmen.

He said that the suspect was apprehended on Sept. 20, 2016 in Sapele, Delta following a tip-off.

The commander said that the suspect had been involved in various criminal activities since 2011 in the creeks.

“The suspect has been involved in criminal activities including pipeline vandalism, sea robbery, illegal bunkering among others since. 2011.

“Currently, he is a member of the Niger Delta Avengers.

“The Navy is committed to ensuring safety in our nation’s maritime domain,” he said.

Dzunve said the navy was a committed component of Operation Delta Safe, adding that it was resolute in ensuring safe maritime environment.

The commander urged law abiding members of the public to go about their legitimate businesses as they had nothing to fear.

Flood ravages Otuoke-Onuebum road in Bayelsa causing 100 per cent fair hike

 

 Otuoke-Onuebum road in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa has been taken over by flood, as vehicles now pass through Elebele road which is a longer  distance causing a 100 percent fare increment.

Mr Amos Agah said in Otuoke  that passengers are now paying N800 instead of N400 from Otuoke to Onuebum.

Agah, a staff of the Federal University, Otuoke (FUO), appealed to Bayelsa Government to come to the aide of the community for the sake of FUO.

“This was how it happened in October 2012, when flood took over the whole community, but up till now, there was no proper preventive measure put in place.

“We are expecting the government to come up with necessary measures to guard against future occurrence, but it is a matter of regret that such measures are not in place.

“The students of FUO will resume to school soon after their holidays, they are going to find things difficult if urgent action is not taken to mitigate the effect of the flood.

“I am calling on all relevant authorities to look into the matter because we cannot cope with it again this year.’’

 Mrs Maureen Abute, a passenger, blamed Bayelsa Government for not properly utilising Flood Intervention Fund that was given to the state in 2012 to fight against flooding.

She said that the people were suffering and they could not do anything because the government was not ready to live up to its responsibility of preventing flood and rehabilitating the road.

It will be recalled that Bayelsa Government had received more than N15 billion from the Federal government and other donours  to mitigate the 2012 flood which affected many states of the federation

A taxi driver plying the road, Mr Issac Chinedum, said the road was already in a bad shape before the flood sub-merged it.

He implored the Federal Government to come to the assistance of the people of Bayelsa because the Bayelsa government had neglected the road over the years.

Chinedum said the youth in the community were the ones sand filling the road, “the commercial drivers are paying them from the little profit they are making.’’ 

Boat mishap: 4 drown during Tompolo father’s funeral

TYPICALLY OVERLOADED BOAT

Boat mishap: 4 drown during Tompolo father’s funeral

Four people were feared dead in Warri River on Friday in a boat mishap involving the funeral party to the burial of late Thomas Ekpemupolo, father of Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo).

A community leader in Gbaramatu Kingdom said  on Saturday in Warri that the victims included a man and three women.

He said that two of the female victims were from Kurutie and Ogulaha communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom.

 

It was gathered  that the victims boarded the ill-fated speed boat at the Miller Waterside in Warri to attend the weeklong funeral which commenced on Friday.

“We were already at the funeral celebrating Chief Thomas Ekpemupolo when we got news of the accident.

“Initially, we were told only two persons died, later we heard that the victims were four.

”The male victim, who was apparently from the northern part of the country, was on a mission to sell some wares at the funeral ground,” he said

 

 Late Ekpemupolo died on Sept. 7 at Lily Clinic, Warri.

Delta Police spokesperson, SP Celestina Kalu,  confirmed the incident, but said the number of casualties were yet to be ascertained.

”I was regretfully informed that AW-19 boat mounted with 115 horsepower Yamaha engine capsized at Warri river.

”My patrol team rescued 11 persons; searching and investigation is ongoing.

”For your information, there is no manifest to show the number of passengers in the boat.

”So the number of deaths is not ascertained yet, the bodies will expectedly float by tomorrow,” said the Delta police spokesperson. 

Niger Delta Militants attack troops in Bakassi, kill soldier

MILITARYY GUNBOATS  ON PATROL IN NIGER DELTA CREEKS

Niger Delta Militants attack troops in Bakassi, kill soldier

 

Daring Niger Delta militants this morning attacked army troops leaving one soldier dead and other injured, while  two were declaredmissing by military in Bakassi area of Cross River state.

It was gathered that the attack was led by a militant  Benjamin Simplee, knownin the creeks as G1.

Col. Sani Usman, Nigerian Army Spokesman who confirmed the incident in a statement, said the troops killed two of the militants in the attack.

According to him, the other militants escaped with gunshot wounds.

He said the attackers also burnt a buffalo pick up patrol vehicle.

Usman said that two soldiers earlier declared missing in the attack were found when reinforcement was sent to the area.

He said that the militants came in several speed boats and attacked troops deployed at Efut Esighi waterfront in Bakassi.

“The troops’ location has been reinforced with more gunboats and air component. The clearance and pursuit operation is ongoing.

“We would like to assure the public that this singular act would not deter us from the discharge of our duties.

“Therefore, the perpetrators of this dastardly act would be found and brought to justice.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to send an unequivocal warning to all the criminal elements in the society that intend to attack any of its locations to have a rethink,’’ The Statement read in part

Experts trace earth tremors in Niger Delta communities on oil exploration

Experts trace earth tremors in Niger Delta communities on oil exploration

Some experts have traced recurring incidents of earth tremor in Bayelsa and Rivers communities in July and August to indiscriminate seismic activities of oil firms in search for oil reserves.

An environmentalist, Mr Alagoa Morris, on Thursday attributed reported cases of earth tremor in Bayelsa and Rivers communities to increased use of explosives by oil and gas exploring firms.

Morris, an official of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), an NGO in Bayelsa, disclosed this  on Thursday.

Communities in Rivers and Bayelsa around oil fields operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in July and August experiencing vibrations described as earth tremor.

Some of the affected areas visited after the incident occurred for the second time in August include Igbogene and Akenfa in Bayelsa.

It also occurred in Akinima, Oruama, One Man Country and Mbiama in Rivers.
Morris said that such an occurrence was last recorded two years ago in Freetown, and Ikarama 1 and 2 in Okordia clan in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa.

He called for an investigation by a relevant panel of experts to quantify and analyse the risks posed to the environment and residents in the affected areas.

He said that the Health, Safety and Environmental Standards in the oil fields were often ignored by the oil industry operators, leading to frequent accidents that claim human lives.

“I can recall that within the past one year, 17 people have died in explosions within oil fields operated by one company alone.

“That speaks volumes of the safety standards and records of International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Bayelsa,” Morris said.

Residents of the areas also called on government and relevant agencies to look into the incident with a view to ascertaining the real cause and prevent future occurrences to avert any disaster.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said it was still planning to go for an assessment of the areas affected by the recent tremors.

A SEMA Director, Mr Angus Lugard, told NAN that the incident was worrisome.

Lugard explained that SEMA had not been able to assess the situation for lack of funds.

“SEMA is aware of the incidents and we have planned to commence assessment on the affected area.

“SEMA is responsible for emergency management, we need support from both public and private sectors to enable us function effectively,” he said.

On likely cause of the incident, Lugard attributed it to oil exploration and production activities by multinational companies operating near the affected communities.

Also speaking, Dr Tamunu Ebipadei, Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Niger Delta University (NDU), said there are two main causes of earth tremors.

“Firstly, earth tremors can be linked to use of explosives which leads to volcanic eruptions; they are in fact very common in areas of volcanic activity like the oil and gas sector due to use of explosives.

“The search for oil depends largely on use of dynamites and other explosives, which accompanies eruptions in seismic activities.

“Secondly, earth tremors can be triggered by tectonic activity associated with plate margins and faults.

“You find that in the Pacific region, that part of the world is the most seismically and volcanically active zone.

“So for this second type, the country stands a slim chance by nature of our geography in the world,’’ Ebipadei said.

He noted that earth tremors could also occurred prior to earthquake in an area.

Ebipadei regretted that uncontrolled and indiscriminate seismic data acquisition often embarked on by oil firms to discover oil reserves posed a threat to the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

He advised government to prevail on oil companies to stop using explosives that could cause earth tremors.

The don added that these companies should ensure that their operations were carried out in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Mr Precious Okolobo, the SPDC Media Relations Manager, declined comments on the development as well as on the concerns of experts and residents near the company’s operations.  

Nigerian Navy takes delivery of offshore patrol vessel from China

The Nigerian Navy (NN) Offshore Patrol Vessel  NNS UNITY which was under construction in China has been completed and on its way to join the NN fleet.

This is contained in a statement signed by its Director of Information, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, in Abuja.

The Chief of Naval Staff, (CNS), Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Jacob Ajani at the handing over and departure ceremony in China.

Ibas, however, conveyed the appreciation of Nigeria Navy to President Muhammadu Buhari, for approving all steps taken toward the departure of NNS UNITY.

He said that NNS UNITY would strengthen the efforts of The Navy against all maritime crimes and illegalities in the nation’s territorial waters and the Gulf of Guinea in general.

The CNS also added that the areas that were hitherto unable to be covered by other ships would now be covered by NNS UNITY.

This, he said, would no doubt enhance the Navy’s effectiveness and responsiveness to the maritime security challenges within Nigeria’s waters.

“NNS UNITY enroute Nigeria will pay port calls on some ports of friendly nations before arriving Nigeria.

“This will further boost the existing cordial relationship with sister navies around the world and the Gulf of Guinea in particular,” Ibas said.

Ibas solicited the maintenance and improved cooperation between Nigeria and China Ship Building Corporation beyond the departure of NNS UNITY.

The ceremony had in attendance: Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Sen. Isa Misau, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Abdulsamad Dasuki, Representative of the Minister of Defense, Hajia Rabi Tedman, among others.

The newly acquired  vessel NNS UNITY departed China Sept. 21, and was expected to arrive in Nigeria first week of November 2016. 

Niger Delta Artisan fishermen decry influx of foreign fishing trawlers seek protection

Niger Delta Artisan fishermen decry influx of foreign fishing trawlers seek protection

Peasant fishermen in Niger Delta have decried the influx of foreign fishing trawlers into Nigerian territorial waters off the Atlantic coastline reserved for local fishermen.

The traditional fishermen under the auspices of Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria (ARFAN) said that the foreign trawlers were operating near the coastline illegally in contravention of international maritime laws.

The fishermen said that international convention reserved 25 nautical miles from the coastline to indigenous fishermen and solicited the assistance of the Nigerian Navy to ward of the intruding vessels.

Rev. Samuel Ayadi, Niger Delta Cordinatior of ARFAN said in Yenagoa on Tuesday that the fishing methods used by the foreign trawlers posed serious threat to local fishermen.

He said that industrial fishing was restricted to deep sea while the local fishermen were allowed to fish near the coast.

Ayadi said that rather than fish outside Nigerian waters the trawlers have invaded the coast line to damage the fishing nets of subsistence fishermen.

“The fishing practices of these big double decks trawlers is affecting local fishermen, they switch off their lights in the night and we run into them and they capsize our boats and we loose our catch in the process” he said

Ayadi noted that if the influx of the Chinese trawlers were not checked, they would soon deplete the fish stock since they kill fishes of all sizes including fingerlings, adding that they select the big fishes and polluted the waters with unwanted dead fishes.

“The trawlers are a big obstacle to fishing near the shores, they are over fishing and their nets sweep the ocean floor and damage our own nets and carry them away.

“Industrial fishing is supposed to take place in the high seas and not near the coastline.

“They are not supposed to to be fishing near the shoreline, the rule is that they should fish from at least 25 nautical miles from the coast but they have refused to comply”

He also appealed to the federal inland waterways authority to protect the interest of Nigerian traditional fishermen who lacked the resources to compete with industrial fishing vessels.

Navy foils hijack attempt on vessel within Nigerian territorial waters

The Nigerian Navy said on Monday that it had averted hijack an attack on `Hanze Kochi’, a marine tanker, and destroyed more illegal refineries.

A statement signed by the Director of Information, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, in Abuja, said that operatives of the Nigerian Navy successfully repelled the attack by suspected sea robbers on the marine tanker enroute Lagos from Port Harcourt.

“The attackers made spirited efforts to board the vessel 50 nautical miles off Bayelsa on Sept. 16, at about 0250 hrs but were heavily engaged and overpowered in a gun duel by naval personnel,” Ezekobe said in the statement.

Meanwhile, a patrol team deployed by FOB Bonny in Rivers had arrested Marine Vessel (MV) FB PERE IPAMO at Shell Slot Jetty in Bonny for alleged involvement in illegal bunkering activities.

“At the time of the arrest, on Sept. 14, the vessel was carrying about 500 tonnes of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

“Similarly, on Sept. 17, a patrol team deployed by NNS DELTA conducted anti-crude oil theft operations in which two illegal refinery sites were raided,” he said.

He explained that the sites were located at Lakpaje and Ubeje Creeks in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta.

“During the raid, the patrol team destroyed about 18,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 15,000 litres of suspected refined AGO.

“The feat achieved by the Nigerian Navy in cracking down the activities of the criminals in the maritime domain is a pointer that there is no hiding place for any criminal,” the director said.

He reiterated the commitment of the service to safeguarding the nation’s maritime environment

Families of Agip’s pipeline explosion victims lament neglect insensitivity by firm

Relatives of the victims of the pipeline explosion   at Agip’s oil field at Azuzuama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa have decried the neglect and insensitivity of the oil firm.

A pipeline explosion on July 9, 2015 left 14 people including a regulatory official of Bayelsa Ministry of Environment and National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and 12 others dead.

Officials of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), representatives of the host community and Bayelsa Ministry of Environment were investigating the cause of a recent oil spill in the area when the blast occurred.

The Director-General of the oil spill agency NOSDRA  Dr Peter Idabor had bemoaned the poor safety procedures at Agip’s oilfields which resulted to death of its staff and an official of Bayelsa Ministry of Environment.

“It is such a painful experience to us in NOSDRA, we have informed the family of the affected staff who hailed from Enugu state and we are in talks with Bayelsa government who also lost a staff from its ministry of environment.

“This incident shows the kind of risks and hazards that our officers are constantly exposed to in the discharge of our mandate at oilfields amidst daunting challenges and limitations,”  Idabor said.

More than one year afterwards relatives of the victims of the July 9 , 2015 blast say that the pains of the loss were still with them even as they accused Agip of neglecting the dependants of the victims.

Mr Clinton Italia a relative of one of the victims said  on Wednesday  that all that the family got was a N800,000 burial assistance and N7.4 million interim palliative.

“Life has been difficult and painful for the families of the victims of the explosion at Azuzuama. Apart from the burial assistance and the sum of N7.4 million, nothing has been done to the oilfield to forestall future accidents.

“The dependants of the deceased feel abandoned as Agip is yet to pay the main compensation, we have waited for the compensation and other promises they made to no avail and we are looking at ways of taking up the case with them.” Italia said.

Mr Karibi MacDonald , Spokesman of the bereaved families said on Wednesday in Yenagoa that Agip had neither shown remorse nor commiserated with his family and that of other victims.

“ It is very unfortunate that Agip is so insensitive to the needless death of 14 Nigerians due to the poor safety records in their oil fields, there has been no contact with us, relatives of late staff of Bayelsa Environment Ministry.

“The stance of Agip since this incident occurred has been regrettable they have not bothered to contact us even during the burial of the victims, when my own brother was d we did not see Agip.

“It is very sad that a foreign company can be this arrogant and be shying away from its liability and could not even commiserate with the bereaved families.

“We are calling on the federal government who are their joint venture partners to call them to order to avert incurring the wrath of the dead, the total lack of remorse by Agip is unacceptable.

“So far, preliminary investigations show that no effort was made to prevent the explosion as flammable materials were not cleared from the site before repair work, neither was the pipeline shut.

 “What happened was not an accident, it was preventable, Agip killed our brothers and they are not sorry about what has happened,” MacDonald said..

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria had on September 16  demanded  $28 million  compensation for  14 victims, amounting to $2 million for each victim.

However,  Eni , Italian Energy firm and the parent company of NAOC declined to comment on the development when contacted.

Ex-Militants lament outstanding stipends appeal to FG to clear 3 months arrears

  Ex-militants, under  the Amnesty Programme have  lamented non-payment of their allowances and appealed to the Federal Government to pay their three months  outstanding stipends.

Mr Ramsey Mukoro, leader of the third phase of the amnesty scheme also said that his group has not been paid for the past three months.

The Chairman of the second phase in Bayelsa Mr Ebina Salvation, in a statement made available to media in Yenagoa on Monday said the non payment of the stipends was a burden to ex-agitators.

He noted that the existing peace in the Niger Delta was as a result of the amnesty programme, adding that the delay in the payment of stipends to ex-militants was regrettable and protests could endanger the peace.

Salvation, therefore, pleaded with the government to release adequate funds to the Amnesty Office for effective implementation of the programme.

The ex-militant leader also called on the Federal Government to go back to the blueprint of the amnesty programme and implement its content by interfacing with the Coordinator of the scheme, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.) and the ex-agitators.

Salvation restated that the Amnesty Office under the leadership of Boroh was doing well and therefore should not be blamed for the delay in the payment of their stipends.

“We, therefore, describe the allegations of the faction as false, baseless, mischievous and wicked.

“The allegations lack substance and should be thrown to the dustbin of history by all right thinking persons.

“We, therefore, urge members of the group to discountenance Stephen Ebisintei’s display of falsehood which is a figment of his imagination and that of his co-travelers,” he said.

Salvation maintained that the CBN was  not Amnesty Phase 2 Office but a bank accountable and rendering services to all Nigerians, both nationally and internationally.

He, therefore, called on the security agents to be alert, urging them to find out from amnesty office the recognised leadership of the Phase to enable them to stop people using the name to issue unnecessary treats and publications.

“That is the only way to hold people responsible if anything happens. Our leadership is enlightened, reasonable, law abiding and has respect for elders and the government,” he stated.

Mr Piriye Kiyaramo, Liaison Officer at the Bayelsa Office of the Amnesty Officer declined comments when contacted by a NAN Correspondent for reaction on the outstanding stipends. 

Nigerian Army concludes ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ drill in Bayelsa creeks loosing 4 soldiers

The  Nigerian Army on Sunday concluded a military drill to train its Special Forces on  operations in  maritime environment in Twon Brass, a coastal settlement in Bayelsa where four soldiers got drowned during the operation.

Col. Sani Usman had confirmed the death of the soldiers who died in a boat mishap during the commencement of the military exercise earlier in the week.

Addressing the soldiers during the closing ceremony, the Minister of  Defense, Rtd Brigadier General Mansur Dan Ali, said the exercise code named “Operation Crocodile Smile was aimed enhancing operational effectiveness in the creeks.

Ali, who was represented by  the Permanent Secretary, Mr  Danjuma Sheni,   said the military exercise was also to defend the territorial the  and secure  area.

He said the idea was to stimulate the troops in a drill to see how effective they can be in carrying out their operations.

“We have the capacity, the expertise and the manpower to defend this area, the people and the oil facilities.

“It’s not to harass, intimidate or threaten the community people but also to protect them from the so called miscreant and oil thieves “The Minister said..

According to him, the exercise was preceded by consultations community leaders in the area and sensitization of the people on the importance of the exercise.

“We made the people to see that the troops are here for them, so we built trust and confidence of the residents and allayed their fears.

“We cannot allow some criminal elements to continue to operate along the water ways killing innocent people who are busy going about their legitimate business., we want to make the water way safe”. He said.

He said the launch 'of crocodile smile is to checkmate the  activities of militancy group, pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering, amongst other maritime crimes.

In his remark, the Chief of Army staff, Lt.- Gen. Tukur Burutai, said the exercise has achieved a tremendous results and improved the combat readiness of the troops.

The Army Chief said that several arms and ammunitions have been recovered from criminals while destruction of illegal refineries were carried out during the operation which still continues.

He observed that the challenges were enormous but assured the troops that with the support of the military high command, success was imminent.

“We are not working alone, all the security agencies are with us and we are partnering  to fight this criminals.

“They have turned our water ways to criminal haven and made it unsafe for innocent people that pass through to go about their legal business”. The Army Chief said.

Some 10,000 army personnel have been trained in the exercise which the Chief of Army Staff said would continue at regular intervals...

Also speaking, Hon. Sony Goli, Member Representing Brass Constituency I in the Bayelsa  House of Assembly, said the exercise is a welcome development and long overdue.

 .
Goli noted that those calling for withdrawal  of military in the areas, were criminals and assured that the people will partner with the military to make sure were flushed out.

Highlight of the occasion included donation of educational materials to Community Primary Schools 1, 2 and Saint Barnabas School Brass near the operational base of the Army in Brass.

The troops also provided free medical treatment to the people of Brass during the operation.

 Also two promoted officers, Major Bala Ikandu and Captain Abraham Ali Baba in charge of gun boat fleet in Operation Delta Safe were decorated with their new ranks. (

Ex-Militants appeal to FG to clear 3 months stipends arrears

 Former Niger Delta militants, under the auspices of the second phase of the Amnesty Programme, have appealed to the Federal Government to pay their three months  outstanding stipends.

The Chairman of the second phase in Bayelsa Mr Ebina Salvation, in a statement on made available to ews Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Sunday said the non payment of the stipends was a burden to ex-agitators.

 He noted that the existing peace in the Niger Delta was as a result of the amnesty programme, adding that the delay in the payment of stipends to ex-militants was regrettable. 

Salvation, therefore, pleaded with the government to release adequate funds to the Amnesty Office for effective implementation of the programme.

The ex-militant leader also called on the Federal Government to go back to the blueprint of the amnesty programme and implement its content by interfacing with the Coordinator of the scheme, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.) and the ex-agitators. 

He, however, discountenanced the Second Phase from a statement purportedly written by factional leader of the programme, Stephen Ebisintei, who allegedly threatened that they would shut down all Central Bank of Nigeria branches in the region over failure to pay their stipends.

Salvation restated that the Amnesty Office under the leadership of Boroh was doing well and therefore should not be blamed for the delay in the payment of their stipends.

"We, therefore, describe the allegations of the faction as false, baseless, mischievous and wicked.

“The allegations lack substance and should be thrown to the dustbin of history by all right thinking persons.

"We, therefore, urge members of the group to discountenance Stephen Ebisintei's display of falsehood which is a figment of his imagination and that of his co-travelers." the statement read in part

Salvation maintained that the CBN is not Amnesty Phase 2 Office but a bank accountable and rendering services to all Nigerians, both nationally and internationally.

He, therefore, called on the security agents to be alert, urging them to find out from amnesty office the recognized leadership of the Phase to enable them to stop people using the name to issue unnecessary treats and publications.

"That is the only way to hold people responsible if anything happens. Our leadership is enlightened reasonable, law abiding and has respect for elders and the government," he stated.

Mr Piriye Kiyaramo, Liaison Officer at the Bayelsa Office of the Amnesty Officer  declined comments when contacted for reaction on the outstanding stipends. 

Oil leak from Agip’s oil field in Kalaba, Bayelsa pollutes community

The people of Kalaba community in Bayelsa   have bemoaned adverse impacts of an oil leak from an oil field operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) ravaging the area.

The leak, according to residents was discovered in the area in August and is currently spilling crude spreading fast to the swamps and forest, bringing the ecosystem in the community under  threat.

The inhabitants of Kalaba community, Yenagoa Local Government Area lamented that over a month after the spill occurred, it had yet to be contained,.nor the environment remediated.

They appealed to the government and relevant authorities to prevail on NAOC to halt the spill and carry out remediation on the site.

Chief Roman Orukali Paramount ruler of the community, said on Wednesday that though officials of the company visited the area, the spill had yet to be put under control.

"Agip came to the site on August 5 though they have yet to reach the area because of water but up till now the oil is still bubbling and it is heading into the swamp.

“That is one of the fishing swamps we have and if not cleaned up in time, it will affect us adversely.

"They don’t attend to spill on time, so I am appealing to the Federal Government to prevail on the company to return to the spill site on time and make the necessary clean up and remediation." He said

The youth leader of the community, Mr. Samuel Opuro, said aquatic and farming activities were worst hit by the spills.

  "When it got to my notice, it was on the 2nd of August and I am very sure that the spills happened even before then.

" For the site to remain that way for over a month you know what it means and when it rains, oil particles go deep into the soil and they affect farmlands, crops, even our economic trees are dying." Oburo said

Mr Alagoa Morris, a renowned Environmentalist  called on the multinational oil firm to take urgent steps to clamp the spill in order to avert imminent danger.

"This is rainy season, the spill will impact the surrounding swamp. This is when swamp time fishing activities take place and with the spill, that is affected because it is spreading within the surrounding swamps.

"That is why we are very much concerned, because the more the spill, the more the water takes it far away from the very spill point." Morris said.

The Environmental rights activist, however, urged the community to promptly report incidents of oil spills in their areas to ensure timely clean up.

It will be recalled that Kalaba Community had earlier in February  experienced a gas leak which occurred underneath the Taylor Creek.

The Management of Eni, Italian energy firm and parent company of NAOC decline comments on the development when contacted by a NAN Correspondent. 

DSS/Police Call For Postponement of Edo Poll Poorly Timed, Shows Lack of Synergy

TMG Media Office

September 7, 2016

PRESS STATEMENT

DSS/Police Call For Postponement of Edo Poll Poorly Timed, Shows Lack of Synergy

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has carefully assessed the calls by two key security agencies, the Nigeria Police Force and the Department for State Security (DSS) for the postponement of the Edo State governorship election of September 10, 2016.  Given the sensitive nature of such a weighty decision, it is our considered view that the advice was poorly timed, and wrongly presented.

It is trite fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies have meeting forums and channels of communication. It is astonishing that INEC appears not have been taken into confidence before the security agencies came out in full glare of the public to announce its preference for a postponement. This clear interference in the electoral process by the security agencies, is a throwback to the 2015 general election, which was also postponed at the behest of the nation’s security chiefs.

TMG feels strongly that this tendency could undermine the confidence of voters and precipitate apathy and is capable of building tension in the electoral space. This could lead to electoral violence, which the security agencies are supposedly trying to prevent. Nonetheless, since it is within INEC’s purview to make the final decision and since the Commission is backed by law to postpone the elections if need be, TMG calls on voters, political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to remain calm and allow INEC make the call. TMG is also of the considered view that all stakeholders in the electoral process should be patient as INEC deliberates to reach a decision, which we expect to be made diligently and in good faith.

Signed:

Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi

Chairperson, TMG

TMG Deploys Observers in 18 LGs For Edo Governorship Election •Sets Agenda For INEC, Others On Lapses From Recent Governorship Polls

TMG Media Office

September 7, 2016

PRESS RELEASE

TMG Deploys Observers in 18 LGs For Edo Governorship Election

·         Sets Agenda For INEC, Others On Lapses From Recent Governorship Polls

Nigeria’s foremost election observation coalition, the Transition Monitoring Group will be deploying observers in the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State for the governorship election on Saturday, September 10, 2016. TMG Chairperson, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi said the observers will closely watch the electoral process to ensure it substantially complies with the relevant national laws, as well as international conventions governing free, fair and credible polls.

The TMG helmswoman however stressed the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies, as well as the political parties to learn from the experiences of previous elections. Specifically, Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi called on all stakeholders in Edo to ensure that the unsavoury incidents, which tainted the legitimacy of the electoral process in the in the Kogi State governorship election of November 21 and December 5, 2015, as well as the Bayelsa Governorship election of December 5, 2015 and January 9, 2016, do not occur again.

Dr Akiyode-Afolabi observed that with two governorship and several legislative rerun polls conducted on the watch of the current INEC and the security agencies, they are now experienced enough to anticipate and mitigate most of the threats that could undermine conclusive and credible polls in Nigeria.

She said: “TMG robustly observed the last two governorship elections conducted by INEC, and policed by the security agencies. That is why we want all stakeholders to pause and think of the observation findings from those polls, so that we can proactively find ways to prevent the kinds of problems we saw in the previous elections, and ensure the votes in Edo State count on Saturday. In the Bayelsa governorship election of December 5, 2015 for instance, TMG observed how the two leading political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), mobilized militants to do their bidding. This resulted in violence, harassment and intimidation of poll officials, voters and observers. In Edo State, the security agencies must be alive to their responsibilities to ensure that the kind of fierce and undemocratic political environment, does not undermine the vote or lead to an inconclusive process as it was in Bayelsa.”

With regards to the electoral process itself, the TMG Chairperson equally noted that there are lessons to be learnt in how the simultaneous accreditation and voting process fared in the last governorship election conducted by INEC. She said in Bayelsa, while INEC’s decision to merge the accreditation and voting processes was, in itself, a step towards international best practice, the timing of the decision, which resulted in a change of the electoral procedures 48 hours before the opening of the polls, did not allow enough time for officials to get acquainted with the new procedure.

“At TMG, we are convinced that stakeholders in the electoral process must take steps to ensure these kinds of lapses do not happen in Edo. If these issues are not addressed and the voting rights of citizens protected on Election Day, what we risk is apathy and an erosion of citizens’ trust in the electoral process,” she said.

According to Akiyode-Afolabi, all stakeholders must work to prevent the various infractions, which have marred previous elections, including the most serious critical incidents like ballot Box snatching/stuffing, intimidation and harassment of voters, poll officials, observers and political party poll agents, stealing of ballot papers, vote buying/bribery, observers not permitted to observe, not posting results, partisan poll officials and the refusal of some poll officials to count ballot papers.

   

Signed:

TMG Media Office