Retired Air Chief appaluds Nigerian Airforce's efforts in fighting insecurty

Air Vice Marshal Emmanuel Edem, (Rtd) on Wednesday applauded the contributions of the Nigerian Airforce in tackling the security challlenges facing the country in recent times.

Edem, who made the commendation during the inuaguration of residential accommodation for principal officers of the Mobility Command of the Nigerian Airforce in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital noted that welfare was critical to boosting morale of officers and airmen.

Petroleum Industry Governance Bill: Ijaw Youths seek speedy passage of other tranches of the PIB

 The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) on Monday sought speedy consideration of other tranches of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that concerns the host communities.

IYC in a reaction to the May 25 passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) ahead Petroleum Host Community Fund as a shown of insensitivity to the plight of the Niger Delta region.

According to a statement issued by Henry Iyalla, Spokesman of IYC in Yenagoa, the fragmentation of the PIB into tranches was counterproductive and time wasting.

He said that the Niger Delta people had expected the tranche of the PIB relevant to the region to be given expedited attention in line with the federal government’s commitment to resolving the Niger Delta question.

“ It is unfortunate that at a time when we expect the government to show commitment in the development of the region we have to contend with the celebration of an ill-conceived idea to divide the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into mushroom bits.

“We wish to state expressly that the only PIB bill that will ensure peace in the region and be celebrated by all is one that includes the Oil Communities Fund Act.

“The proposed Oil Communities Act gives the Niger Delta people a stake in the industry and provides avenues to alleviate the suffering of the people in the region.

“Without the passage of this bill any governance structure put in place will not succeed.

“The National Assembly should immediately take further steps for the quick passage of the Host Community Bill which guarantees 10% equity to the community,” Iyalla said.

He noted that Niger Delta people want smooth governance of exploitation and exploration of the abundant oil reserve within the region with the economic interest of host communities adequately protected in the laws.

The youth group maintained that passage of the complete Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is the only guarantee for a smooth and conducive operational environment in the Niger Delta.

I said that it is only natural that the people of the region would guarantee conducive operational environment with the protection of their interest.

Youth leader applauds Chief of Defence Staff for curbing renewed militancy in Niger Delta

Mr Kenedy Tonjo-West, a Non-Violent Youth leader in the Niger Delta on Sunday gave credit to the Chief of Defence Staff Lt.-Gen Gabriel Olorunshakin for curbing renewed agitation that threatened oil output.

He also applauded the military for the successes recorded in the North-East in degrading the capacity of the insurgents and recovery of territories once controlled by terrorists.

Tonjo-West, President of Niger Delta Non-Violent Youths Leaders Assembly gave the commendation in an interview session in Yenagoa.

Environmental Society scribe wants policy for management of e-waste in Delta

The National Secretary, Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Mr Paul Akporowho, has urged the Delta Government to formulate a policy to ensure proper management of  e-waste in the State.

Akporowho said in Warri on Sunday that such a policy had become necessary to address the indiscriminate dumping of electronic wastes in the state.

He said the state government should procure recycling and recovery equipment to convert such waste products into wealth.

The environmentalist noted that the Lagos State Government had taken such measure to properly manage e-waste in the industrialised state.

Navy urges Niger Delta communities to shun oil theft and sabotage of oil facilities

Navy urges Niger Delta communities to shun oil theft and sabotage of oil facilities

The Nigerian Navy on Saturday advised the people of the Niger Delta to desist from illegal activities including piracy, vandalism, kidnapping, oil theft and other criminal activities that will bring the region into ridicule.

The Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Formoso in Brass, Bayelsa, Captain Mayowa Olukoya, gave the advice during a free medical mission to Odioma community in Brass area of the state.

NGO urges Bayelsa Govt to meet obligations to its foreign scholarship beneficiaries

NGO urges Bayelsa Govt to meet obligations to its foreign scholarship beneficiaries

The Patriotic Citizens of Nigeria (PACON), a non-governmental organisation has called Bayelsa government the school fees and allowances of foreign scholarship students who are stranded..

The group noted that stories of Bayelsa students on government scholarship suffering deprivations in their schools overseas were putting the state in bad light.

Eleven students on the scholarship of the Bayelsa government at the Kings University College (KUC), Aplaku Hills, Ghana, have been barred by the institution's authority from sitting for the end of semester examination.

Protester disrupt academic activities at Federal University, Otuoke

Protester disrupt academic activities at Federal University, Otuoke

 Residents of Otuoke, host to the Federal University, Otuoke, took to the streets of the university town disrupting academic activities at the university.

They were protesting alleged marginalisation of indigenes into key positions in the institution located in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

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The protest which caused panic among students and staff of the Institution also disrupted vehicular movements while the  entrance to the institution was blocked by the protesters.

Bayelsa targets 7,000 temporary jobs from $50m World Bank development l

Bayelsa targets 7,000 temporary jobs from $50m World Bank development l

The Bayelsa government on Wednesday said it planned to create at least 7,000 temporary jobs from the implementation of projects funded from the 50 million dollara development facility from the World Bank.

The loan stock is part of World Bank’s intervention with 200 million dollars in four states in the Niger Delta region mainly Bayelsa, Edo, Rivers and Delta.

Addressing newsmen after a project tour of completed and ongoing interventions, Mr Ayens Adogu, Project Cordinator of State Expenditure For Results (SEFOR) Bayelsa, said more than 3,000 jobs had so far been created in the first phase of the project.

Bayelsa Monarch seeks to use Oloibiri Oil and Gas festival to promote culture and tourism

King Dumaro Owaba, Obanobha 111 of Ogbia Kingdom in Bayelsa says the communities in his domain were poised to use the Oloibiri festival to showcase its culture and tourism potentials to the outside world.

He said that the festival was targeted at attracting tourists and investors to the historic town where the oil business started in the 1950s and solicited support of the multi-national oil companies in the Niger-Delta to the first Oloibiri oil and gas festival.

The first Oloibiri oil and gas festival is scheduled to hold in Oloibiri community, Ogbia Local Government Area in Bayelsa on Dec. 28, 2017.

Endorsing the hosting of the festival on Sunday in Yenagoa, Owaba said the initiative was a welcome development not only to the people of Oloibiri but Bayelsa, Niger-delta and Nigeria at large.

Niger Delta Youth Leaders applaud Buhari for endorsing Kachikwu to run Petroleum Ministry

The Niger Delta Non-Violence Youth Leaders Assembly (NDNVYLA),has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for delegating to Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to function as the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources.

The group made the commendation in a statement by its President Amb. Kennedy Tonjo-West  and made available on Sunday in Yenagoa.

NDNVYLA said the confidence reposed on Kachikwu was an indication that Buhari values competence and performance as the Minister had restored sanity and orderliness to the oil industry within a short time in office.

Jonathan, Dickson relationship cordial –Dickson’s aide

Mr Kenedy Tonjo-West, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dickson on Niger Delta Youth Matters has described the relationship between former President Jonathan and Dickson as cordial.

Tonjo-West told newsmen in Yenagoa on Friday that Dickson criticised Jonathan’s six year tenure as a waste was false.

He said that those behind the rumours were up to a mischief to cause disaffection between the two leaders.

He said that Dickson expressed disappointments over the progress made by the region in the past six years by leaders of the region at various levels of leadership.

“The governor in his speech at 2017 Isaac Boroh Day celebration berated leaders from the region for their poor performance and lack of support to his administration and that they had wasted the past six years in bickering.

“There was no mention of Jonathan and they have failed because the Niger Delta region is now more united and Jonathan is a leader that Dickson respects and they have a wonderful relationship.

“Gov Dickson re-echoed that feelings of the majority of the people and the fact remains that a lot of leaders have not worked to attract development to the region and those affected are well known.

“You know we have a proverb that an old woman is not happy whenever you talk of dry bones, and that is what we are seeing,” Tonjo-West said.

He said that efforts at causing disaffection between Dickson and Jonathan was not in the interest of the Niger Delta region and advised the people to close ranks and support their leaders. 

Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority lauds Dickson on investment drive

The  Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) has commended Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa for his numerous efforts in attracting investors to the state.

OGFZA noted that the efforts include creating the right atmosphere for investment opportunities. 

Mr. Umana Okon Umana, Managing Director of the Authority, made the commendation during a courtesy call on the governor at the Government House in Yenagoa on Friday.

Umana noted that, in pro‎viding land and other logistic support for the development of the Brass Oil and Gas City further buttresses his‎ administration's commitment to creating jobs.

He explained that, the Brass Oil and Gas City project, which has so far gulped $3.5 billion investment, is an oil and gas free zone that has already been licensed by OGFZA.

 The project, Umana said is a major commitment to the development of the region as well as a big step to improve the lives of the people of the state and the Niger Delta.

"Abiding support of the government is needed to inspire and sustain the continuing confidence of the investment community.

“I want to acknowledge and appreciate the support and goodwill that OGFZA has enjoyed from Bayelsa over the years. Ours is a life-long partnership", Umana said.

Umana appealed to the governor to allocate a piece of land to the authority, backed with a certificate of occupancy, ‎which will enable it to have more capacity to effectively partner with investors. 

In his response, Dickson assured of the unflinching support of ‎his government to ensure that, their mandate is carried out and also gave his nod to their request for a land.

Dickson added that, officials of the authority and his economic team will work out the modalities.

The governor, who praised the Umana led OGFZA said, they are doing a good job of boosting the investment potentials of the Niger Delta region and called for greater collaboration by all stakeholders.

Dickson said that, Nigeria has been unfair to the Ijaw Nation and the Niger Delta, despite the massive contributions of the region, which has sustained the country for many years.

He urged leaders from the region to rededicate themselves to service.

"We as leaders in the region must re-dedicate ourselves to the service of our people to change the narrative of under-development in the region.

“Our leadership position should be a call to duty and more patriotism" he said.   

Police confirm murder of former PDP Chairman in Bayelsa

Police confirm murder of former PDP Chairman in Bayelsa

Suspected assassins on Wednesday  killed a former Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP), ‎in Bayelsa  Mr. Pamo Hobobo,.Police sources say.

Mr Asinim Butswat Police Spokesman for Bayelsa Command confirmed the incident.

"‎One Pamo Christopher Hobobo of PDP Road, Yenagoa was found dead in his house at about 7000hrs today (Wednesday).

JTF frees 2 kidnap victims recover cache of arms in Bayelsa creeks

 The Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to the Niger Delta on Wednesday said its troops has freed two kidnap victims in an operation conducted at Brass and Ekeremor Local Government Areas of Bayelsa.

Rear Admiral Suleman Apochi , Commander of JTF told newsmen in Yenagoa that troops also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition in the rescue operation carried out at the weekend on the militants camps in Bayelsa.

According to Apochi, 3 AK 47 riffles, three pistols, medium calibre 12 mm gun as well as several rounds of ammunition were recovered from the kidnappers den during the raid

N/Delta Youth Coalition urges FIIRS to investigate invasion of Aridolf Hotel meeting venue in Bayelsa

The Niger Delta Youths Coalition for Peace and Progress (NDYCPP) has urged the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIIRS) to investigate attempted sealing up of Aridolf hotel in Bayelsa.

It will be recalled that the officials of FIIRS had on May 3, 2017 besieged the premises of Aridolf Hotels with armed policemen to seal the premises over claims of default in tax remittances.

The FIIRS officials reportedly disrupted the meeting of the NDYCPP and later alleged that its officials were attacked by the youths.

Chief Henry Nabena, Acting Chairman of NDYCPP who addressed a press conference on Saturday condemned the raid and reports that NDYCPP members attacked FIIRS officials who raided the hotel.

Oil and Gas: Group backs ongoing reforms at Nigerian Content Dev. Board

Transparency in Petroleum Exploration and Development Initiative (TIPEDI) on Thursday endorsed ongoing reforms at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

The Secretary of TIPEDI, Dr Michael Amaegberi made this known in statement issued in Yenagoa.

TIPEDI is a Non-Governmental Organisation monitoring operations in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

Amaegberi said that the reforms would institutionalise competency assessment of staff for efficiency and enhanced service delivery in the operations of the NCDMB and by implication the oil and gas sector.

Niger Delta Youth Coalition seeks Amnesty for local refinery operators.

A coalition of Niger Delta youth leaders on Thursday urged the Federal Government to grant pardon and amnesty to operators of artisanal refineries.

Bayelsa community drags Agip’s parent company ENI to Italian court over oil spill compensation

Bayelsa community drags Agip’s parent company ENI to Italian court over oil spill compensation

The Ikebiri community in Bayelsa has dragged Eni, parent company of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to an Italian court over oil spill liabilities and pollution.

The community, a coastal settlement in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area is seeking cleanup and compensation for damages from an oil spill that affected their community in 2010.

Loverboy stabs girlfriend in a hotel room in Yenagoa and flees

 A 26 year old man stabbed his 18 year old girlfriend in a hotel room in Yenagoa and took to his heels when the wailings of the victim attracted  the attention of other guests who came to her rescue.

The victim, identiefed as Miss Faith Pius

LGs offset April salary to avert Primary school teachers’ strike in Bayelsa

The payment of April salary for primary school teachers on Friday has averted a three day warning strike threatened by the Bayelsa chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

The teachers had threatened to embark on a warning strike to press for payment of outstanding salaries of between four and seven months across the eight local government areas in Bayelsa.

JTF Commander applauds troops for repelling armed attack in Southern Ondo

Rear Admiral Suleman Apochi, Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta on Sunday applauded the gallantry of soldiers who repelled an attack by militants on its troops in Ondo.

 JTF troops had killed a suspected militant leader in a shoot-out with militants in Ondo state but some soldiers were killed during the shoot-out on April 30

Apochi said in an interview in Yenagoa that JTF under his command remained committed to protecting innocent citizens residing in Niger Delta region and checking criminality.

Ondo Raid: We did not target innocent citizens -JTF Commander

Ondo Raid: We did not target innocent citizens -JTF Commander

  The Joint Task Force, (JTF) deployed to the Niger Delta said on Friday that it neig ther targeted innocent citizens nor sacked communities as being alleged in some quarters.

The military on Friday said it would operate within rules of engagement in the search for militants in Ondo State despite the campaign of calumny against its operations to flush out the militants from their hideouts..

Resident Doctors condemn shooting and brutality of member in Yenagoa by NSCDC operative

Resident Doctors condemn shooting and brutality of member in Yenagoa by NSCDC operative



The National Association of Resident  Doctors (NARD) on Thursday condemned the shooting and beating of its member attached to the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Yenagoa by an operative of the Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC)

An operative of Nigerian Security and Civil Defense (NSCDC) allegedly shot at a medical doctor’s car carrying his wife and two children for hitting a stray dog on April 28 in Yenagoa.

Bayelsa denies diversion first tranche of Paris Club refund in Bayelsa- Commissioner

The Bayelsa government has denied diversion of funds earmarked for he local governments and rather blamed paucity of funds at the third tier of government on the economic recession.

The government said that eight Local Government Areas (LGA) in Bayelsa shared N1.3 billion of the first tranche Paris Club refund from the N14.5 billion remitted to the state by the Federal Government.