2019 Elections: INEC probes officials in Bayelsa Office, redeploys Admin Secretary

A joint investigation into the activities of some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  involved in 2019 general elections in Bayelsa is underway.

It was learnt that the investigation by security agencies in collaboration with INEC National headquarters has resulted shakeup and redeployment of affected officers at INEC Office in Bayelsa.

The investigation is sequel to various petitions by aggrieved candidates and political parties in the 2019 general elections alleging that officials of INEC in Bayelsa especially the Administrative Secretary worked for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), deploying known party members to work as returning officers in the polls.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Mr Monday Tom Udoh was interrogated by the Police and subsequently summoned to INEC headquarters in Abuja

Experts urge President Buhari to decline assent to revised Biosafety Act

A coalition of civil society advocates led by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), on Monday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to decline assent to the reviewd Biosafety Act of 2015.

The recently passed Bill for an Act to amend the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Act, 2015 seeks to enlarge the scope of the application and include definitions of other evolving aspects of modern biotechnology in Nigeria.

The coalition comprising GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance and over 40 Non-Governmental Organizations representing millions of Nigerians warned that the law would expose the population to possible health hazards.

According to the groups, including these evolving aspects of biotechnology in the NBMA Act will open up the country to more dangerous experimentations on aspects of the highly controversial technology.

Anglican Clergy re-echoes need for Nigerians to live above religious, ethnic considerations

A cleric, Ven Louis Ogarabe, the Cathedral Administrator, Anglican Cathedral Church of St Peter, Umuokanne, Imo State has re-echoed the need for Nigerians to live above religious and ethnic considerations.

Ogarabe made the assertion on Saturday in Umuokanne, near Owerri in his homily at the funeral mass in honour of late Mrs Josephine Iheanacho, mother to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Emeka Iheanacho,Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Nigerian Police Force, Zone 5.

Taking his message from James 4 verses 13 to 17, he said that Nigerians irrespective of religion and ethnicity owe it as a responsibility to one another to consciously live as brothers and sisters and eschew bitterness, rancour, jealousy and hatred just as the early Christians in the bible days did.

Edo APC Political Pressure Group vows to resist attempt to destroy party.

 A Political Pressure Group in the Edo Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC),  the Edo People's Movement (EPM) has vowed to resist all attempt by any individual to hijack and destroy the party.

The Group who met in Benin on Saturday said they were committed and resolute in rescuing and salvaging the party in the State from imminent collapse.

Kidnappers abduct Niger Delta University Don’s wife in Yenagoa

Unidentified gunmen suspected to be kidnappera on Sunday at Gbarantoru, Yenagoa abducted the wife of lecturer working with the Niger Delta University, NDU. 

It was gathered from community sources that the lecturers escaped and hid himself when the incident occurred in the early hours at about 2am and exposed his wife to danger. . 

Residents in the area said that sporadic shots of gunfire were fired to announce arrival of the hoodlums to scare people in the community.

The gunmen reportedly entered the community through the River Nun in a speedboat boat and headed to the residence of their target, a University Teacher identified simply as Dr. Charles.

Aiteo pledges N500 m support to Bayelsa Education fund laments frequent vandalism on NCTL

The Management of Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production  Company on Friday bemoaned frequent sabotage on the 97 kilometer, Nembe Creek Trunkline (NCTL) linking its oilfields in Bayelsa to the Bonny Export Terminal.

Mr Victor Okoronkwo, Managing Director of Aiteo expressed the concerns of the oil firm during a fund raising ceremony for the Bayelsa Educational Development Trust Fund (BEDTF) in Yenagoa.

It will be recalled that the 150,000 barrels per day export pipeline which evacuates crude oil from Bayelsa for export has been shut down intermittently for three times since March and is currently shut due to breach on April 21 which led to death of six vandals.

Oil spills: Bayelsa communities accuse regulators of complicity with IOCs

Communities impacted by oil spills in Bayelsa on Thursday accused the regulatory agencies in the oil sector of connivance with International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the destruction of their environment. 

The agencies are, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).

Four communities impacted by  oil spills are - Babragbene, Lasukugbene and Oyeregbene in Southern Ijaw and Mbikiba in Brass local government areas

Bayelsa PDP stalwart drags party to court over N85 m rent unpaid rent

Mr Chubby Ben-Walson, has dragged the Bayelsa  chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), to a State High Court sitting in Yenagoa, for failure to pay its eight years outstanding rents.

The rents totaling N85 million is for the State Secretariat of the Party in Onopa area of Yenagoa.

At the hearing on Thursday, counsel to Ben-Walson, former chairman of Yenagoa LGA, Kelvin Ejelonu, lamented that the PDP who was not represented in court by a counsel had been served the court notice since March 27.

Biodiversity key to Healthy Society says HOMEF

Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has called for concerted efforts toward the preservation of biodiversity.

HOMEF, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr Nnimmo Bassey noted that biodiversity played a crucial role in ecosystem functioning, including provision of goods and services essential to human health and wellbeing.

May 22 is World Biodiversity Day.

“Food production systems depend on the diversity of organisms such as primary producers, herbivores, carnivores, decomposers, pollinators, pathogens, natural enemies of pests etc,”  Bassey said.

Oil Theft: Stakeholders laud contributions of community pipeline surveillance contractors

Messrs Ayibapreye Yengizifa, an Environmentalist and Samuel Odusi have expressed delight on the contributions of community based surveillance contractors in curbing oil theft.

Yengizifa, who examined the scenario at Bayelsa oilfields in an interview in Yenagoa, noted that the frequency of attacks on oil facilities has nosedived in the past two years.

He attributed the decline in oil theft and sabotage incidents on oil facilities to the synergy between local surveillance groups and the security agencies deployed to protect oil infrastructure.

Niger Delta: Dickson’s campaign against IOCs is selfish political gains says Bayelsa APC

The Bayelsa chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa on Thursday said the campaign by Gov. Seriake Dickson, against International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the state was politically motivated.

Mr Doifie Buokoribo, APC State Publicity Secretary, on Thursday in Yenagoa, described the move by Dickson as a dishonest political campaign targeted on APC members, with the environment conditions in the area as only a peg.

“He has tried to dupe unsuspecting members of the public with a new dishonest campaign invented to conceal a clear political project,” he stated.

FG threatens to blacklist communities that vandalize devt. projects in Bayelsa

The Federal Government on Wednesday said that henceforth it will not embark of projects in communities that vandalise projects sited in the communities.

Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Senator Heineken Lokpobiri who spoke in Ekeremor noted that such acts were inimical to growth and development of rural communities.

This follows recent looting of a Skills Acquisition centre by members of the community at Kaima, in Kolokumo/Opokuma Local prior to inauguration.

The minister stated that henceforth, such communities would not benefit from new projects from the Federal Government if they continue to vandalize or fail to take proper care of projects cited in their communities.

Group raises alarm over safety of rig at OML 83 & 85 in Bayelsa

A  Niger Delta group, the Ifalibobou Revolutionary Movement, (IRM) on Tuesday expressed safety concerns over the state of an oil rig deployed to oilfields at Koluama coastal communities in Bayelsa.

The group issued an ultimatum to First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company (First E&P) to clarify the safety records of the rig within 72 hours to avoid a repeat of the 2012 rig disaster in the area.

It demanded that failure to show proof of integrity of the facility, the rig should leave the territorial waters of Bayelsa in Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government Areas of Bayelsa..

First E&P, an indigenous oil firm in 2015 acquired Oil Mining Lease (OML) 83 and OML 85 oilfields when Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) divested its 40 per cent interests in the oil blocs to become its operator.

IGR: Uromi multi million naira livestock market to be ready in a month... Council boss

In a bid to shore up its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the Esan North East Local Government Council has embarked on the construction of a livestock market and abattoir in Uromi, the Council headquarters of the Local Government Area.

Mr Austin Okoibhole, Chairman of the council disclosed this in an interview in Benin on Saturday.

SPDC allays fears of JK 4 communities on safety of pipelines at Adibawa oil fields

The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), on Friday allayed the fears expressed by Joinkrama 4 (JK 4) community in Rivers on safety of pipelines being laid at Adibawa oil fields in the area.

The residents had expressed fears the laying of a new gas pipeline through the community by SPDC close to their residential areas would compromise their safety.

Excavation works and fitting of pipes are ongoing at Adibawa fields operated by SPDC.

Oil Pollution in N/Delta: Dickson blames IOCs

Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has blamed International Oil Companies (IOC) for degrading the predominantly swampy Niger Delta environment in oil and gas exploration and production.

Dickson, in a statement on Saturday by his Special Adviser, Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei expressed dismay over the insensitivity of the multinational oil companies to the plight of the host communities in the Niger Delta region.

According to Soriwei, Dickson at the weekend received the Green Wheel award by the Rotary International District 9141 in recognition of his contribution to the Environmental challenges as it affects the people of the region.

 He said the presentation of the award  was done by the District Governor Rotary International District 9141, Adeyemi Oladokun at the PTI Warri, Delta State.

OML 29: Protesting Nembe Community vacate oil facility in Bayelsa

Hundreds of protesting indigenes of Nembe who barricaded access to the Nembe Creek oilfields have vacated the facility following commencement of talks between them and the operator of the field.

The host community had blocked the premises of the Nembe Logistics base over allegations of neglect of social obligations by Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company.

In a statement made available in Yenagoa on Monday, Mr Ndiana Mathew, Spokesman for Aiteo confirmed that the aggrieved protesters have vacated the company facility while their representatives continued discussions with the oil firm.

He restated the commitment of the oil firm to the development of its host communities and urged the communities to be patient as the oil firm was already addressing the development needs of Nembe people in a holistic manner.

Oil export resumes from OML 29 as Aiteo fixes vandalized Nembe Creek oil export pipeline

Oil export from oilfields in parts of Bayelsa has resumed as Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company on Friday said that it has concluded repairs on the 97 km Nembe-Bonny export line that was breached on April 21 by unknown vandals.

Mr Ndiana Mathew, Spokesman of Aiteo, operator of the OML 28 oilfield announced the re=start of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) in a statement issued via e-mail on Friday

Mathew said the development has resulted to resumption of the 150,000 barrels per day capacity oil export line, lifting the ‘Force Majeure’ on its oil exports.

NIMASA donates relief materials to 2018 flood victims in Bayelsa

Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Thursday donated relief materials to victims of the 2018 flood disaster that submerged parts of the state and displaced about 150,000 residents.

Dr Dakuku Peterside, Director-General of NIMASA said that the agency made the intervention to assist the rehabilitation of the people impacted by the flood disaster.

Peterside who was represented by Mr Kelvin Ogbuanu, Assistant Director , Procurement at NIMASA presented the materials to the Director-General of Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency , Major Zedekiah Isu (Rtd) in Yenagoa.