Ijaw Youths flex muscles with PHEDC over, N16.5 bn debt, shutdown of operations in Bayelsa

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has challenged the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) to substantiate its claim that customers in Bayelsa were owing N16.5 billion.

The IYC had on December 23, besieged the offices of the PHEDC and forced the staff to ground operations and occupied the premises to protest poor power supply to residents..

The development, which resulted to total power outage in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital and its environs including Ahoada and parts of River has entered the fifth day.

PHEDC seeks resolution of rift with Ijaw Youths to end ongoing power outage in Bayelsa

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) on Thursday sought the resolution of the conflict which resulted in shutdown of its operations and subsequent blackout on Monday.

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) had on December 23, invaded the offices of the PHEDC besieged the offices of the power distribution company and forced the staff to ground operations and occupied the premises.

The development resulted to power outage in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital and its environs including Ahoada and parts of River.

Mr John Onyi, Manager, Corporate Communication, PHEDC said on Thursday that the development had taken a negative toll on the utility company.

Military confirms loss of 1 soldier, repels attack on Jonathan’s residence in Otuoke Bayelsa

The Joint military force deployed to the Niger Delta has confirmed the death of one soldier and injury of another soldier in the attack at a gunboat stationed behind Ex-President Jonathan’s residence.

The military said that its gunboat stationed at the creek behind the former president’s house came under attack but the soldiers repelled the attack by engaging the gunmen in a gun duel.

Unidentified gunmen suspected to be militants on Tuesday morning attacked a security post near Jonathan’s Otuoke country home at about 3.00 am when the former President was supposed to be at home for the yuletide.

Jonathan was however not present at the time of the incidents according to sources at the community..

Female lawyer raises alarm over threats by armed ‘ex-militants’

A Yenagoa based female lawyer Edna Ndubuisi has raised alarm over persistent threats by armed men who claimed to be ex-militants.

The militants are plaintiffs in a lawsuit on their stipends with commercial banks reportedly on Nov. 19, 2019 armed with pistols and other dangerous weapons besieged Ndubuisi’s office to warn her to hands off the case.

Ndubuisi, Managing Solicitor of the law firm, A. S. E. Bisi & Partners said on Monday that she was compelled to submit a petition to the Bayelsa Police Command and the Judge, Federal High Court, Yenagoa.

Soku oilfields dispute won’t divide Rivers and Bayelsa –Gov. Dickson

Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa says the state has no interest in taking over parts of Rivers  surrounding the disputed Soku oilfields as erroneously perceived.

Rivers and Bayelsa governments had been in dispute over Soku oilfields located at the boundary of both states with Rivers government filing a suit at the Federal High Court Abuja Division.

It would be recalled that Bayelsa was created out of Rivers on Oct. 1, 1996 by Late Gen. Sani Abacha.

Justice Inyang Ekwo had declared that the disputed Soku oil wells/fields belonged to Rivers and was ceded to Bayelsa due to an error in the 11th edition of the Administrative Map of Nigeria by the National Boundary Commission (NBC).

He, on December 17,  ordered the NBC to rectify the error in the 12th Edition of the Administrative Map of Nigeria and the erroneous inter-state boundary between the two states as contained in the 11th Edition of the map be corrected.

Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme targets Universal Health Coverage by 2030 says Executive Secretary

The Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme (BHIS) on Friday said it targets universal health coverage in the state by 2030 following the successes it recorded in the public sector in the past two years.

Dr Zuoboemi Agadah, the BHIS’ Executive Secretary, said that the scheme covered more than 90 per cent of the public sector with enrolment of more than 130,000.

He spoke on the sidelines of a symposium on the operation of the BHIS in Yenagoa.

JTF offers free medical services to Bayelsa community, visits orphanage

The Joint Task Force (JTF) protecting oil facilities in the Niger Delta, on Wednesday embarked on free medical services to its host community, Igbogene, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

Flagging off the event, Rear Adm. Akinjide Akinrinade, Commander of the joint military force, said the gesture was part of efforts to cement the existing cordial relationship between the force and the residents.

“This medical outreach is part of Force Civil-Military activities. The medical rhapsody and health awareness campaign is aimed at improving the health of the populace.

Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme enrolment hits over 113,000 in 2 yrs.

The Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme (BHIS) has registered a total of 113,424 public servants within the past two years it has been in operation.

Dr Zuoboemi Agadah, the Executive Secretary of BHIS, stated this at the opening of a four-day symposium and training on new trends in health insurance in Yenagoa on Tuesday.

Agadah said the scheme was running at a profit and currently had N1.8 billion under its management which comprised equity contribution from Bayelsa Government and deductions from enrollees.

He disclosed that so far, the fund had earned a profit of N260 million adding that having consolidated on the public sector participation, the next phase of growth was the private sector.

The executive secretary said that the scheme had commenced the enrolment of private sector beneficiaries as a means of achieving universal health insurance coverage.

Court summons Dokubo, over alleged diversion of 75 amnesty slots, stipends

A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa on Tuesday summoned Prof Charles Dokubo, Cordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Office to appear before it on January 21, 2020.

The court presided over by Justice Justice Awogboro Abimbola also dismissed an application by two ex-militants to join the suit alleging diversion of N65,000 monthly stipends for 75 amnesty beneficiaries from 2010 till date.

Ruling on application for joinder, Abimbola said that she found no merit in the application as the applicants were not a necessary part in matter.

Ohanaeze Youths condemn IPOB's attack on Amaechi chide group for issuing ultimatum to Igbos

Ohanaeze Youths on Monday condemned attacks on Chief Rotimi Amaechi by purported members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Spain and urged Niger Delta youths who reportedly demanded for an apology.

Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, South-South Coordinator of Ohanaeze Youth Council said that the attack purportedly carried out by IPOB was not endorsed by Igbos and was ill advised.

According to him, the attack on Amaechi was an embarrassment to the nation as IPOB was not an organisation that enjoys the support and endorsement of Igbos and urged IPOB to explore legitimate ways of holding public office holders accountable.

Missing cash at Bayelsa Govt House:Dickson orders quizzed securitymen to keep mum

Gov Seriake Dickson of Dickson on Saturday addressed the seven securitymen arrested over a theft incident at his Deputy Chief of Staff’s office and directed them to keep sealed lips over the incident.

 Sources at the meeting said the governor was disturbed about the publicity the incident was attracting to the outgoing administration.

 Four personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) arrested over a theft incident at Bayelsa Government House Yeagoa have regained freedom and returned to their duty posts.

It was gathered that preliminary findings by the police led investigation indicated that the crème was an ‘inside job’ and cleared the security men on duty of any complicity.

N/Delta youth leader urges Presidency to wade into NDDC impasse NDDC

A Niger Delta youth leader, Mr Kenedy Tonjo-West, on Monday urged the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, to intervene in the lingering leadership crisis in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Tonjo-West said the call to Kyari to intervene in the impasse between the legislators and Sen.Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, over the inauguration of the board members of NDDC was based on Kyari’s competence as an astute administrator.

Newly appointed board of the commission is awaiting inauguration, while Akpabio has appointed an Interim Management Committee to probe NDDC’s finances and run the commission for six months.