Residents, avert fire disaster at a fuel station in Yenagoa

Residents, avert fire disaster at a fuel station in Yenagoa The intervention of residents who promptly responded before arrival of Fire service averted a fire disaster on Wednesday at a a petrol station at Akenfa, a suburb of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital. The inferno destroyed properties worth millions of naira at the station operated by Millomi and Sons Enterprises Nigeria Limited. It was gathered that the fire started from the generator house behind the building. No life was lost in the incident even as the filling station was not dispensing fuel when the accident occurred. Several policemen from Akenfa Division were seen drafted to the scene of the fire accident to maintain law and order. An eyewitness Mr Emmanuel Stanley said at the scene of the incident that some youths from the area mobilised to put out the raging fire after it started. He said that they used water mixed with detergent as well as sand to put out the fire before men of the Bayelsa State Fire Service arrived at the ill-fated petrol station. "When we came here, they told us that the fire started from the generator house. We tried to stop the fire when we came. “We used water, detergent and sand to quench it. Individually, we tried to call fire service before they came", Stanley said. The managing director of the filling station, Mr Godwin Tuma, said he was in his office in the filling station building when the fire broke out. Tuma said that he does not know what caused the fire. Counting the losses, he said two generators worth N7 million and a three thousand-litre diesel tank were destroyed by the fire. "I was in the office, so my television shut down. So, that's when I went to check what was happening. I don't really know what happened. “I saw smoke from the generator. The fire burnt two generators and three thousand-litre diesel tank. The cost of the generators is about N7million", he said. Tuma, who commended members of the public for rushing out to help the filling station, confirmed that no casualty was recorded in the fire incident.

POS terminals rescues cash trapped Yenagoa residents

POS terminals rescues cash trapped Yenagoa residents Following cash rationing by commercial banks, shoppers have thronged merchants with Point of Sale (POS) terminals in Yenagoa to collect cash at discounted rates. The shops dispensing cash were thronged by desperate residents who had kept vigil at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) locations to no avail. Investigation revealed that most ATMs in Yenagoa ran out of cash since Friday leaving many families celebrating Christmas without money. One of the customers told NAN that she learnt some shops were charging the bank accounts of shoppers’ debit cards, using the POS for purchases made and giving out cash to same customers after deducting from their accounts. “My husband has kept vigil at ATM locations to withdraw some money for three days and he leaves the house as early as 5 a.m. without success, but I was told that stores having POS terminals can help out with cash. “I came and it was a relief, after paying for my groceries they gave me extra cash that I can use for other things pending when the situation improves or after the holiday period. “What they did was to charge N10,000 on my debit card and give me N9,500 cash that is a commission of N500 on N10,000 although it is high but I have no choice. I hear some places charge higher. “We have been facing difficulties with banks not having money to meet demands of customers. Civil servants who were paid their salaries were unable to make withdrawals as the banks said they were short of cash. “Some of them restricted the maximum withdrawal per customer to N5,000 and the crowd runs into several hundred so I have to manage this arrangement,” Mr Ebiere said. One of the operators of the POS terminal, who pleaded anonymity said that the situation was a ‘child of necessity’. “It’s a solution that favours both parties and it is for our customers who cannot withdraw from the banks, on our part we cannot make deposits for the cash we realised from sales during the holidays. “So, giving out the cash and crediting our account from customers’ debit card is a win-win situation for both parties,” he said. A cashier at one of the Pharmaceutical stores, Miss Ebiowei Samuel, said that the extra charges were to pass the bank charges from the banks that issued the POS terminals. “We are not doing it to make money, the extra we ask for is to cover the bank charges because the banks charge our own accounts with them on every transaction made through the POS. “We only do it to assist our regular customers here and the customers are happy with the arrangement and it reduces our risk of keeping excess cash; if other stores charge higher I do not know,” she said. NAN reports that the shortage of cash from banks had attracted patronage to stores using the POS terminals as most of the stores visited had long queues of customers waiting to pay from their debit cards. Meanwhile, other shop owners and traders without the POS complained of poor patronage and low sales during the yuletide. Mr Kingsley Dike, who runs a provision store in Amarata area of Yenagoa, said that the shortage of cash took a negative toll on yuletide season. “The problems with banks not having money two weeks ahead of Christmas affected us a lot, when civil servants were paid we heaved a sigh of relief and stocked our shops for the season but customers cannot draw their money to buy. “It is only the big shops with POS that are enjoying the boom, some people come in and say that they want to use ATM but we have no POS terminal so it wasn’t funny for us,” Dike lamented.

Air pollution from SPDC’s Gas plant : Environmentalist seeks study

Air pollution from SPDC’s Gas plant : Environmentalist seeks study Mr Alagoa Morris , an Environmentalist has called for the conduct of studies to measure the adverse impact of a gas plant located in Gbarantoru operated by Shell. He made the call in an interview on Saturday in Tombia, near Yenagoa shortly after an assessment tour of the area. Morris who was reacting to reports of suspected air pollution from the natural gas gathering and liquefaction facility causing breathing discomforts to residents called for scientific studies to trace the source of the pollution. Residents of Tombia in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Friday complained of air pollution, allegedly emanating from oil and gas facilities located near the community. The Environmentalist urged the oil and gas industry regulators to monitor and ensure that the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) were carried out and complied to the letter. According to Morris, the EIA Act requires periodic studies to determine the adverse environmental implications of the project and ascertain when the indices are out of tolerable limits. “Who monitors compliance with the EIA compliance to ensure that the steps prescribed to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of the operations of the plant were ameliorated. “We have got reports of air pollution, very high temperature caused by gas flare, poor fish catch from the Nun River amongst others, there is a need for studies by scientific experts to compare results with the baseline studies in the EIA report. “The results of these studies will then form the basis to request for measures to ameliorate the impact of the operations; the local and state governments should step up action in the interest of the health of residents in the area. “But the questions, do they even have the EIA report which is supposed to be a pubic document. “The Communities are losing on all fronts as they only bear the adverse effects of oil and gas operations while the benefits in form of social amenities elude them,” Morris said. The environmentalist noted that gas flare in the area and resultant acid rain makes rain water unsafe for drinking but regretted that communities surrounding the plant lack access to potable water. Mr Precious Okolobo, Media Relations Manager at SPDC, denied that the air pollution was from its gas processing and gathering facility. “There is no air pollution from our Gbarantoru plant; the plant is running efficiently. He said that a similar occurrence was reported in Port Harcourt where there was no gas plant. “There is a general problem that people do not understand and people have no right to blame SPDC for everything that goes wrong,” Okolobo said.

Tombia residents in Bayelsa allege air pollution around gas facility

Tombia residents in Bayelsa allege air pollution around gas facility Residents of Tombia in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa have complained of air pollution, allegedly emanating from oil and gas facilities located near the community. Mr Seigha Akoko, Chairman, Tombia Community, said on Saturday that the poor air quality in communities around Gbarantoru Gas Plant was adversely affecting residents of the area. “Our people have reported air pollution here in the past few days, leading to respiratory complications and we have noticed several birds dropping dead from the air. “The paramount ruler has summoned his cabinet and other community leaders and the issue of deteriorating air quality was exhaustively discussed. “We do suspect that it might be from the gas plant at Gbarantoru so we want the relevant government agencies to investigate and come up with results. The community leader said that apart from the air pollution, emissions from the facility had made the water toxic and fish stock wiped out. “A lot of strange things happen along the Taylor Creek; the water no longer supply fish as it used to before the gas plant started operations. “We want air quality tests to be conducted while those having respiratory difficulties should be studied to trace the source. “Our fear is that the toxicity level here is higher than the tolerance limits and we do hope that the studies are conducted fast,” Akoko said. Some residents told NAN correspondent who visited the community that the air pollution was giving them respiratory problems. “I have been noticing difficulties with breathing and I feel pains in my lungs for the past three days, and some other people have complained of the same symptoms. ”I am going to seek medical attention after the holidays,” a Tombia resident . Mr Precious Okolobo, Media Relations Manager at SPDC, denied that the air pollution was from its gas processing and gathering facility. “There is no air pollution from our Gbarantoru plant; the plant is running efficiently. He said that a similar occurrence was reported in Port Harcourt where there was no gas plant. “There is a general problem that people do not understand and people have no right to blame SPDC for everything that goes wrong,” Okolobo said.

Niger Delta group urges oil communities to shun pipeline vandalism

Niger Delta group urges oil communities to shun pipeline vandalism Environmental and Human Rights Volunteers (EHRV) on Tuesday called on the people in oil bearing communities to see oil facilities in their territory as their own and protect them from vandals. EHRV said it is disturbed by the rising cases of pipeline vandalisation in the Niger Delta and its negative impact on the environment, The appeal is sequel to Thursday’s reported attack on a Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipeline at Korokrosei in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa by suspected vandals. The group, an advocate of resource and environment protection, through its Chairman,Chief Safety Numonde in a statement in Yenagoa urged the communities to join the security agencies in the war against pipeline vandalism. It describing the environment as the very essence of man's existence. “Many don’t know that apart from the explosions and pipeline fires that destroy lives and property there are more damaging consequences of pipeline vandalism which is capable of wiping out entire communities through the harm it does to the environment. “Aquatic lives are being destroyed as well as impacting negatively on agricultural activities and reducing the quality of life of the people living around such places.” Thrgroup said. EHRV called on the people to be vigilant and report all suspicious movements around oil and gas facilities in their domain to the relevant authorities for prompt action, The group noted with sadness that the recent upsurge in the destruction of oil facilities in the region is not only affecting the revenue profile of the councils and the state but also making it difficult for the various tiers of government to meet the developmental needs of the citizenry. It therefore called on the community leaders to prevail on their youths to shun acts capable of tarnishing the image of their community and exposing them to dangers associated with oil pollution. “No one is exempted from the negative effects of the activities of the perpetrators of the heinous act of pipeline vandalisation. ”It is the collective responsibility of all to be vigilant and see the pipelines as their own and protect them as failure to do so means they are all going to suffer the adverse effects," the group said. They urged the various security agencies to investigate the recurring cases of vandalism. The group also called on the oil multinationals to replace aged pipelines as done in the advanced countries in the interest of the environment, the host communities and the industry.

Operation Delta Safe arrests suspected militants behind attacks on oil facilities

The Joint Military Force deployed to the Niger-Delta, Operation Delta Safe, says it has arrested two militants who are masterminds of recent attacks on oil infrastructure in the region. Rear Adm. Suileman Apochi, Commander of Operation Delta Safe, presented the suspects to newsmen on Thursday in Yenagoa. According to Apochi, the suspected militants are popularly identified as ‘General Eagle’ and ‘General VIP’ in the creeks. He said that the arrest of the suspects, who had admitted to be the brains behind attacks at Agip oilfields in Bayelsa, was due to the tenacity of operations launched against vandals by the joint force. The commander noted that the activities of the duo were responsible for the slump in oil output, following several attacks and threats to oil firms to succumb to their demands. “I am glad to announce that two notorious kingpins, identified as General Eagle’ and ‘General VIP, have been apprehended and from interrogation, they had admitted to committing several crimes. “The criminals and their group have at various times masterminded the destruction of oil infrastructure and sabotage to the economy. “They have engaged in illegal bunkering and kidnap of high profile victims. “The self-acclaimed ‘General Eagle’ said he recently organised and blew up one of the oil company’s risers at Golubokin along Obama-Brass pipeline in Bayelsa. “He also claimed responsibility in the planting of explosives at Agip oilfields,” said Apochi. The commander said that preliminary investigations had uncovered threats by text messages to oil firms and their staff to carry out more attacks if their demands for financial gratifications were not met. He said that troops, acting on actionable intelligence, raided their hideouts in Yenagoa and arrested three other suspects currently being interrogated. Apochi said that one of the suspects in custody of the joint force claimed, during interrogation, to be a pirate – ‘pipeline bleeding expert’ responsible for several destruction of oil facilities. The commander then advised aggrieved groups to take advantage of the federal government’s windows of opportunities to amicably resolve grievances rather than resorting to criminal acts. Apochi assured that the military will not rest on its oars until the region is sanitised of criminals. He solicited the support of the public by providing timely and credible information required to fish out and flush out criminals. He also assured that steps were being taken to ensure a crime-free yuletide as patrols had been intensified on the East-West road as well as the waterways in the Niger Delta region.

Bayelsa Correspondents Chapel berates Port Harcourt Electricity DISCO for estimated billing

Bayelsa Correspondents Chapel berates Port Harcourt Electricity DISCO for estimated billing The leadership of the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa Council, on Monday described the continued estimated billing system of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company,(PHDC) as unacceptable and a rip-off on electricity consumers in the state. The Federated Chapel, comprises correspondents working for national media operating in Bayelsa also called on the Management of PHEDC to immediately commence the supply of pre-paid meters to customers to end the era of extortion by way of arbitrary skyrocketed bills. This statement is coming on the heels of numerous complaints by consumers in Yenagoa on the alleged inefficiency in the system. Citing the case of exorbitant monthly estimated bill of between N5,000 and N6,000 at its chapel Secretariat on Toolda road, Ekeki, Yenagoa, the Chairman of the Correspondent’s Chapel and Secretary, Comrade Kola Oredipe and Comrade Chris Eze, said the bill was unjustifiably high. In a statement signed by the chapel officers, they expressed worry at the attitude of the PHEDC officials who are always anxious to disconnect debtors. “Sometime in July this year, the office was disconnected and we decided not to pay for two months. Of course, we decided to rely solely on alternative power source since the public power source was rather irregular. But to our surprise, electricity bills were brought for the 2 months period that the office was without public power. By the time we visited the PHEDC Business Office in Yenagoa, we were told that we ought to have notified them that we would not use their source for that period. We were shocked more so that PHEDC should have record of houses/buildings disconnected. The statement further confirmed the inefficiency in PHEDC when the Correspondent’s chapel office was disconnected on Thursday, 8th December, 2016 despite the fact that we have cleared current bill and part of outstanding as directed. “When we met with the Yenagoa Business Manager on Monday, 12th December 2016 to complain that the office was erroneously and ignorantly disconnected, he offered his apology and directed a senior officer to ensure immediate reconnection. “One full week has passed without reconnection despite a reminder call to the Business Manager on Wednesday, 14th December, 2016. “This is clearly a case of sheer insensitivity. We do hope that the office will not be billed for electricity not consumed from the 8th December, 2016.,” the statement read in part. The statement called on the state government to protect the citizens from ongoing extortion in the name of bulk billing, estimated billing, unjustified disconnection, harassment of customers, and billing of a house that has been disconnected. It particularly noted that some of the electricity consumers often complained of late response to clearing of faults, replacement of bad transformers by the distribution company and reconnection thereby making the customers lose trust in PHEDC.

Environmentalist urges Dickson to consolidate ban on open grazing with legislation

Environmentalist urges Dickson to consolidate ban on open grazing with legislation Mr Alagoa Morris, a renowned Environmentalist and Human Rights Activist has applauded Gov Seriake Dickson for the recent ban on open grazing and restriction of activities of herdsmen in Bayelsa. It will be recalled that Bayelsa governor had on December 8 announced a restriction of herdsmen to Bayelsa Palm area of the state capital,Yenagoa to check indiscriminate grazing. Alagoa who reacted to the development in an interview noted that the ban on open grazing was timely and a right step to preserve the economic interests of farmers in the state. He said that farmers in the state had lost their crops to uncontrolled grazing by cattle, a development that has led to conflicts between farmers and herdsmen. The activist further urged the state government to consolidate the restriction of herdsmen and pans to establish cattle ranches in the state with enabling legislation. Alagoa observed that an enabling law would provide a legal framework to penalize and prosecute offenders and recommend appropriate puniahments that would deter potential offenders. “I applaud the governor for listening to the yearnings of farmers across Bayelsa, it shows that the government in Bayelsa is a listening one, it shows that government is sensitive to the media reports on radio. “They say in local parlance that ‘fence makes good neighbours, you know your limits, that is why if actually they are going to talk about and strategise about this ranch of a thing, I will say,it will help. “The farmers should know their limits, the nomadic people will also know their limit because this nomadic life should have a limit, it should stop, in other in other developed climes they don’t do that. “And all these types of things are taken as indices of development, allowing these cattle to move about anyhow in this nomadic fashion also shows that we are far from development. “And again, the ranch as good as it is, the government sh, a ould follow up the pronouncement with a legislation, a holistic legislation,” Alagoa said He advised that the laws should work out detail on ownership of the ranches and other salient conditions to forestall future conflicts with communities where the ranches will be sited.

Family of Police Sergeant shot by colleague over N20,000’largese’ demands justice

Family of Police Sergeant shot by colleague over N20,000’largese’ demands justice Family members of Sgt. Salvation Adaka a Policemen who was shot dead by his colleagues over N20,000 ‘largesse’ on November 7, 2016 have called on the Police authorities to prosecute the culprits. It was gathered that Adaka and three of his colleagues from Agudama-Ekpetiama Police Division were on patrol duty on November 7 2016 and stopped overat a wake keep where they were rewarded with N20,000 Trouble however started when an argument ensued over the sharing formula for the gift received by Adaka, the most senior member of the patrol team and was shut dead in the scuffle.. Prince Joseph Yabefa, a representative of the family of the deceased policeman said on Monday in Yenagoa that the family just received the autopsy reports which confirmed that Adaka died of gunshots. He said that the pathologist who conducted the post mortem and autopsy found pieces of the lethal bullets in the spinal cord of the deceased. Yabefa who expressed satisfaction with the steps so far taken by the Bayelsa Police Command on the incident noted that the family is demanding the prosecution of the suspects. “We have been following developments on the case, our interactions with the police indicate that three of the Policemen with Adaka on that day were immediately arrested and detained. “We were also told that one of them who was found not to be culpable have been released while two are still in Police custody awaiting prosecution while they have been discharged. “Most importantly investigations have indicated that they were on officialduty when the incident isssured and not illegal duty as being speculated in some quarters. “We are still in grief because Salvation Adaka was a brad winner to the entire extended family including his immediate family; he has an aged mother, five children as well as elder and younger brothers that depended on him. “We urge the Police to sustain the tempo and not to tamper with the evidences available that will form the basis of prosecution, we shall follow this matter to a logical conclusion,” Yabefa said. Sources at Bayelsa Police Command confirmed that the two policemen indicted in the case have dismissed. DSP Asinim Butswat, Spokesman of Bayelsa Police Command however said on telephone that discipline and sanction of the three policemen lied within the administrative powers of the Bayelsa Police Commissioner.

Operation Delta Safe employs new strategy for success–Commander

Newly deployed Commander of the joint military force in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleman, said new strategies are being introduced to improve the ongoing operations. Suleman said in Yenagoa on Saturday that the military was in the region to protect oil facilities and check criminality. He said that some of the new strategies he introduced to strengthen the joint military operations against renewed militancy and agitations in the Niger Delta region were yielding results. “In my short time of assumption of duty on Nov. 16, 2016, I have tried to sustain and improve on the pace which has yielded some successes. “Just a few days ago on Wednesday troops in Cross River encountered militants in a gun duel around Ikang axis and arrested one of the militants and recovered large cache of arms and ammunition. “I must commend the efforts of my predecessor Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, and will fall back on my experiences as Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) at the Central Naval Command in Yenagoa.“ Suleman said. He said that the Operation under his command would not condone unprovoked attack on the military by communities under its area of responsibility. “The last attack on the military men on duty killing some in cold blood is regrettable and condemnable and when our men went after their killers there was public outcry. “This is a note of warning that any community that attacks our soldiers should be ready for the consequences, we shall not tolerate any community that habours criminals, we are not here to invade any community, but we are after criminals. “Any community that habours criminals has lost its immunity, any further unprovoked attack shall be resisted with every resource at our disposal and we shall remain within our mandate,” he said.

Navy takes free medical services to coastal communities in Bayelsa

The Central Naval Command (CNC) at the weekend extended its monthly medical outreach to rural coastal communities in Bayelsa as part of its effort to promote cordial relationship with the communities where it operates. A medical team comprising doctors, pharmacists, ophthalmologists and other medical professionals provided a full day service at Otua community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. Speaking at a brief opening ceremony, Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba, Flag Officer Commanding, (FOC), CNC said that the free medical programme would henceforth focus on rural communities in Bayelsa that lacks access to health services. He said that the Command remained committed to building mutual cordial relationships with host communities by providing humanitarian services to the people. He urged the people to support the Navy in its effort to stamp out oil theft and prevent sabotage on oil installations and crude oil bearing pipelines within their communities. Also, Chief Thomas Lokoson, a retired Rear Adminal who hails from the area, urged the people to desist from oil theft and pipeline vandalism as this resulted to self inflicted adverse consequences that were avoidable. He noted that oil leaks and spills resulting from pipeline breach by oil thieves pollutes the waterways and farm lands and threaten the source of livelihood of the communities. He regretted that the funds that would have been channeled to development were deployed in clean-up exercises to solve environmental problems occasioned by such illegal activities. In a response, Chief Edward Tokpo, traditional ruler of Otua community, applauded the Navy for the gesture and noted that it was the first such programme in his over 40 years reign in the area. He pledged the cooperation and support of the community to the Navy units operations to secure oil facilities and the coastal communities.

Bayelsa Govt. bans indiscriminate grazing in Bayelsa, plans cattle ranches

Bayelsa Government has restricted the activities of herdsmen in the state to the Bayelsa Palm area. Gov. Seriake Dickson announced the restriction on Friday in Yenagoa in a live radio and television programme. The governor said that the measure was taken as a result of recent upsurge in violence and criminal activities of the herdsmen in some parts of the country. Dickson also warned herdsmen against bearing arms in the course of grazing their livestock, saying that anyone contravening the order would face the wrath of the law. He explained that the government has been collaborating with security agencies and leaders of the herdsmen , with a view to opening up designated ranches for their operations. “No cattle should be seen roaming the streets of Yenagoa. It is a dangerous trend and we are working on a system to give them a temporary place at the Bayelsa Palm, which has over one thousand hectares. “Non-state actors will not be allowed to go about with weapons because government will not condone it. “We have been taking a lot of measures to check the activities of herdsmen in the state. We condemn the attitude of herdsmen who come into the state and carry cattle to destroy farmlands,” Dickson said. On the 2017 budget, Dickson noted that though the estimate is higher than that of the previous year, the government will shore up its revenue base through various ways and means. He said the levies such as personal income, property and consumption taxes would enhance revenue. According to Dickson, the 2017 budget will address critical needs of the rural areas, adding that at least a health centre will be sited in every ward. The governor said plans were under way to re-position the public service for enhanced productivity.

World Human Rights Day: Activist wants security agencies avoid torture

A Yenagoa-based human and environmental rights activist, Mr Alagoa Morris, on Saturday urged security agencies to avoid torture and adopt civilised techniques of interrogation. Alagoa, who spoke on Saturday during the 2016 World Human Rights Day, urged the police and other security agencies to improve in their investigation techniques. The commemoration had the theme: “Stand Up for Someone’s Rights Today’’. The United Nations set aside Dec.10 annually as Human Rights Day in commemoration of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. According to Alagoa, these techniques will help to get voluntary statements from suspects. The activist said that the human rights record of a country showed its development status. “The world is constantly advancing and making progress; we have to move along with our judicial system. “If we continue to use crude method – torture, we merely portray ourselves as primitive people. “The work of human rights protection is a collective one, and we call on members of the society to uplift the ideals of human rights for the attainment of an egalitarian society. “We should live by the golden rule that says: Do unto others as you will want to be treated,” Morris said. He called on the police to ensure prosecution of officers and men found guilty of human rights violation or abuse. He said that the recent case of a policeman who allegedly shot a fellow policeman to death in Bayelsa, over N20, 000, was regrettable and should be a test case to the police authorities.

Bayelsa community kicks against passing pipelines on water surface

The Imiringi community in Ogbia Local Government of Bayelsa has complained that the gas pipeline passing across the surface of Kolo Creek will hinder water transportation in the area. Some of the residents expressed their feelings at Imiringi regretted that the pipeline hadadversely affected the economic rights of the people and sought social justice as the economic interest of the people were being adversely affected. According to them, the creek is an important transportation channel in the area and the pipeline disrupts the movement of fishermen, farmers and other residents in the area. They urged the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) which executes the project to lay the pipes under water to enable them to navigate the creek. Mrs Banawa Eyeka, a 50-year-old peasant farmer said, “we can no longer pass through some areas in the creek with our canoes due to the pipes that run across thesurface. “It is affecting those who have farms beyond that point; they can no longer go to their farms to harvest crops.’’ Another farmer, Mrs Kolege Albert, said “the crossing of the pipes is giving us great concern. Before now, we used to paddle our canoe beyond that point to our farms. “But that is no longer possible due to the way Shell passed the pipes across the river. “We are appealing that the company returns to lay the pipes on the bed of the river so that we can have thoroughfare. “We cannot pass that place with our canoe as it is currently.’’ Chief Ranami Afagha, the President of Ranami Afagha Foundation, Imiringi, said that the situation had adversely affected the people and urged SPDC to pass the pipes under water. “Recently Shell awarded a contract to Nestoil for the construction of gas pipelines from Koko Creek to Soku in Rivers State. “Unfortunately, the pipelines are designed to cross this creek. But the crossing could be done in another way. The pipes should have been laid underneath. “When flood occurred in the past the whole of this creek was blocked because of the pipelines. “Now that it is dry season, women cannot even navigate their canoe across that section of the creek because of the pipes. “This small creek is where most of our men and women come for fishing to sustain their families,” he said. Mr Precious Okolobo, SPDC’s Media Relations Manager declined comments on the matter.

Bayelsa community kicks against passing pipelines on water surface

The Imiringi community in Ogbia Local Government of Bayelsa has complained that the gas pipeline passing across the surface of Kolo Creek will hinder water transportation in the area. Some of the residents expressed their feelings at Imiringi regretted that the pipeline hadadversely affected the economic rights of the people and sought social justice as the economic interest of the people were being adversely affected. According to them, the creek is an important transportation channel in the area and the pipeline disrupts the movement of fishermen, farmers and other residents in the area. They urged the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) which executes the project to lay the pipes under water to enable them to navigate the creek. Mrs Banawa Eyeka, a 50-year-old peasant farmer said, “we can no longer pass through some areas in the creek with our canoes due to the pipes that run across thesurface. “It is affecting those who have farms beyond that point; they can no longer go to their farms to harvest crops.’’ Another farmer, Mrs Kolege Albert, said “the crossing of the pipes is giving us great concern. Before now, we used to paddle our canoe beyond that point to our farms. “But that is no longer possible due to the way Shell passed the pipes across the river. “We are appealing that the company returns to lay the pipes on the bed of the river so that we can have thoroughfare. “We cannot pass that place with our canoe as it is currently.’’ Chief Ranami Afagha, the President of Ranami Afagha Foundation, Imiringi, said that the situation had adversely affected the people and urged SPDC to pass the pipes under water. “Recently Shell awarded a contract to Nestoil for the construction of gas pipelines from Koko Creek to Soku in Rivers State. “Unfortunately, the pipelines are designed to cross this creek. But the crossing could be done in another way. The pipes should have been laid underneath. “When flood occurred in the past the whole of this creek was blocked because of the pipelines. “Now that it is dry season, women cannot even navigate their canoe across that section of the creek because of the pipes. “This small creek is where most of our men and women come for fishing to sustain their families,” he said. Mr Precious Okolobo, SPDC’s Media Relations Manager declined comments on the matter.

Navy concludes Exercise Eagles Eye in Bayelsa waterways

The Nigerian Navy on Saturday concluded the annual sea inspection drill of the Chief of Naval Staff christened Exercise Eagle Eye at Forward Operation Base, Formoso, Brass in Bayelsa The exercise was conducted by officers and men Central Naval Command (CNC) and special forces of the Nigerian Navy. Commander, Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) Soroh, Commodore Habib Usman said that the exercise was aimed at appraising the operational capabilities of the forces on ground as well as conduct surveillance on territorial waters. Usman who led the CNS team said the Exercise Eagle Eye was the annual sea inspection operation by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe-Ibas. He said the exercise was also aimed at flushing out maritime criminals and securing Nigerian marine assets and territory. "The exercise is part of the Chief of Naval Staff annual event. It started on December 1. “The first phase was the riverine operations involving Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. What you have witnessed in Bayelsa is the team covering the state. "The objective of the exercise is to assess the operational capability of the Naval forces on ground. “During the operation, a number of arrests were made, a number of militant camps have been razed and a number of illegal refineries have also been destroyed. "This is all part of the ongoing efforts to rid the riverine areas of the Niger Delta of all forms of illegalities so that economic activities can thrive." Usman said, Usman said the naval forces arrested four sea pirates when their camp was raided, adding that they (suspects) were armed with sophisticated weapons. He added that the suspects on sighting Naval troops, opened fire and the troops repelled and arrested the hoodlums. Usman noted that the arrested suspects in custody were being interogated to enable the force to track other criminals in their camps. On criminalities in the region, Usman urged the Niger Delta youths to embrace peace, look for legitimate businesses to do and shun all forms of illegalities. The highlights of the exercise were the visit of the CNS team to various Naval boat houses, inspection of military drills and performance of simulation operations on counter - piracy attacks, among others.

Niger Delta Youths demand inclusion in resolving hostilities in the region

Niger Delta Youths demand inclusion in resolving hostilities in the region Youth leaders in the nine states of the Niger Delta on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to quickly commence talks with them on the crises rocking the region with a vie a to resolving them. The youth leaders, under the aegis of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council, made the call in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital, after rising from their crucial meeting on the state of the region. The meeting was attended by youth leaders from Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) ,Urhobo Progressive Union Youth Wing, Itsekiri National Youth Council,Ndokwa Youth Council. Also in attendance were Edo Youth Council, Ikwerre Youth Council, and Ibibio Youth Council among others. The President, IYC, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, who briefed journalists on the outcome of the meeting, said the youth leaders were unanimous that if the Federal Government desired peace, security and development of the region, it should do the needful by constituting a negotiation team urgently. The youth leaders recalled that since the November 1, 2016 meeting between Niger Delta leaders and the Federal Government, the Federal Government had yet to set up a dialogue team to interface with youth leaders on the problems in the region. “We urge the Federal Government to quickly set up anegotiation team to urgently resolve the crises in the Niger Delta. You will agree with me that the whole world has been waiting for the government to do the needful. “As it stands, the knife and the yam are in the hands of the Federal Government when it concerns this Niger Delta crisis.” Eradiri said. The leaders also urged the Federal Government to stop the invasion of the Niger Delta communities, insisting that there were better ways to resolve criminal issues in the region. They urged the government to deploy its intelligence apparatus in the resolution of the crises in the region, saying that it had been discovered that intelligence had recorded more successes than the option of military invasion. “The recent invasion in Delta State had more of children, women and the elderly as the major casualties. So, we call on the Federal Government to do more on intelligence to resolve the issues. “But above all, the political will on the part of the government will better resolve the issues than military option.” He said. They also urged the government to quickly resolve the legal issues relating to the Maritime University in Delta, insisting that such a move would discourage vandalism and destruction of critical national assets in the region. “That the governors in the Niger Delta should do more in resolving the militancy and other criminal issues in the region.The governors should set up an economic plan to take the region out of the crises. “We are saying this because liberation itself cannot come from external but must be internally driven. What are the Niger Delta governors doing genuinely on their own part to resolve these crises? “We have yet to see that kind of action on the part of the governors. Everybody is just waiting for the Federal Government. State governors in this region must meet, engage stakeholders and begin to resolve the problems. “The country is facing an economic crisis; what are our state governors doing to come out with an economic plan to take this region out of poverty and militancy? “The conditions in the Niger Delta are getting out of hand; there is widespread poverty and criminality is going up everyday. “So we call on our governors to provide leadership, economic leadership, political leadership and developmental leadership.” They stated.

Bayelsa Commissioner commends Sagbama, Eleremor LG Chairmen for Development strides

Bayelsa Commissioner commends Sagbama, Eleremor LG Chairmen for Development strides The Bayelsa Commissioner for Local Government Administration, Pastor Agatha Goma on Saturday, commended Sagbama and Ekeremor Council Chairmen for their development efforts despite current economic recession. Goma gave the commendation while fielding questions from newsmen during a project inspection tour of Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Areas of the state. She said the quality and quantity of projects embarked upon by the chairmen in the two councils, was the clearest and an indication that the state`s restoration agenda had taken root. In Sagbama, more than 19 projects were at advanced stages of completion. Goma especially commended the enterprising and innovating approach of Hon. Michael Magbrisa, the council’s Caretaker Committee Chairman. She said the strategy adopted by Magbrisa in the management of the lean resources at his disposal should be emulated. According to her, Magbisa has stirred the spirit of entrepreneurship in small and medium scale businesses, including the Salga Table water, Salga Bakery and Salga Fast food projects. This, she said, had created job opportunity for the teeming youths in the council. She expressed hope that a prudent management of small scale businesses and the cucumber farm established by the council, would boost its revenue base and enhance development. The Local Government Administration Commissioner further commended Magbisa for flying the restoration flag high and called on Sagbama people to continue to support him by protecting projects located in their community. While commissioning one of the several public toilet projects located within Ekeremor Local Government, Goma urged residents to desist from open defecation. This, she said, was necessary to avoid the inherent health hazards posed by unhygienic management of human waste. Goma stressed that sustained project execution at the grassroots would make life meaningful for the rural dwellers and turn rural communities to urban centres. She was accompanied on the project inspection tour by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Tonye Opuike, and the Director of Finance Mr Brown Singerbele and other management staff of the Ministry of Local Government Administration. Responding, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ekeremor Local Government Area said the council was committed to completing more projects, adding that the next phase of project would focus on education and job creation. He commended the commissioner for her motherly role and her approach to local government administration. Other projects commissioned by the commissioner include; a 600 metre walkway in Toru-Ndoro, 1200 metre walkway in Ekeremor town, a Borehole at Ekeremor, 18 tricycles for communal transportation among others. The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Chairman and Southern Ijaw Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairman, Hon Joshua Machiaval, were both part of the tour. Also on the tour was their counterpart in Brass Local Government Area, Hon Bello Bina. They commended the Sagbama chairman for staying true to the restoration agenda of the Bayelsa government and for demonstrating that with the right persons, local government could work and serve the people. Responding, the Sagbama Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairman thanked the State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson for appointing him and for the confidence reposed in him. He pledged to do everything within his power to ensure that only cost effective and life changing projects were implemented under his watch. Some of the completed and ongoing projects inspected by the commissioner in Sagbama include; the refurbished Governor and Chairman Lodges in Sagbama, Sagbama Cucumber Farm, Salga Table Water and Salga Fast food. Others are Salga Bakery, on-going conference hall building, the rehabilitated and redesigned Tungbo Health Centre, the remodelled and rehabilitated 100 -Stall Market in Sagbama among other projects.