Diversion of stipends: Ex-Militants file contempt proceedings against Amnesty Coordinator

Some 147 Ex-Militants have filed contempt process against Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme Col Miland Dikio (Rtd) at Federal High Court Yenagoa for allegedly disobeying a judgment of the court.

The ex-agitators are seeking the enforcement of the court judgement to compel Dikio to pay the judgement debt or be committed to prison.

The ex-militants had in  suit no. FHC/YNG/CS/70/2019 accused the Amnesty office of diverting the slots and stipends for the 147 ex-militants in two camps of 75 and 72 members from 2011 till date.

Bayelsa poised to revalidate its revoked Atala marginal oilfield OML 46 - Information Commissioner

The Bayelsa government says it is pursuing the revalidation of the licence for the Atala marginal oilfields on Oil Mining Lease (OML) 46 earlier revoked by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

Mr Ayiba Duba, Bayelsa Commisioner for Information and Orientation said on Monday that the state government is pursuing an amicable resolution of the issues that necessitated the revocation by oil industry regulators.

Checks at the OML indicate that the field operated by Bayelsa Oil Company has been developed up to test production with a crude cargo of 1,000 barrels awaiting evacuation as the oil company awaits the nod of DPR to commence commercial production.

Mayaki's apology, an admittance that APC ran it's Edo 2020 campaigns on alternative truth... PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo has said that the recent apology by the All Progressive Congress (APC) over some of its statements during the Edo 2020 governorship election campaigns  was an admittance that APC ran it's Edo 2020 campaigns on alternative truth.

This was contained in a statement on Monday by Mr Chris Nehikhare, the State Publicity Secretary (SPS) of the PDP.

Mr John Mayaki, Chairman Media Campaign Council of the APC in the Edo 2020 governorship election campaigns had on Friday apologised to the Akwa-Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) over alleged wrongfully accusing him

According to Nehikhare, the apology by Mayaki was an open admission of the obvious fact that APC ran its campaign on fake news, lies, alternative truth and other variants of fabrication.

Indigenous firm, First E&P strikes oil at oil block divested by Chevron in Bayelsa

A Nigerian firm First Exploration and Production (First E&P), has struck oil from an oilfield it acquired following the divestment of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) from the asset located off Bayelsa coastline.

Chevron had in 2015 divested from OMLs 83 and 85 while the asset was acquired by First E&P, an indigenous firm who now operate the oilfields in a Joint Venture agreement with the Nigerian Petroleum Corporation.

Following the development, First E&P has subsequently applied to the Minister of Petroleum Resources for an Oil Pipeline Licence to be constructed within the oil block, Oil Mining Lease (OML) 85.

Delta LGA Polls: PDP Leaders in Ezibiri writes Okowa to reject substitution of winner of primaries

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders at Ezebiri in Bomodi LGA Delta on Wednesday urged the party’s leader Gov Ifeanyi Okowa to resist moves to substitute candidates who emerged victorious at the primaries ahead council polls.

The party stakeholders, Emmanuel Korokoro, James Ogori and Sunday Lagos who hail from the area made the appeal in an open letter to the governor on the brewing crisis sparked off by attempts to jettison the primaries and substitute elected candidates.

They said that upholding the results from the primaries conducted across the state would ensure internal democracy in the party.

Paramount ruler in Bayelsa allays fears over nomination of youth rep on Devt Foundation

 Chief Newton Ogboinmienye, Paramount Ruler in Koluama 2, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa, has urged youths from his domain to maintain the peace following a new nomination to the KEFFES Rural Development Foundation.

KEFFES  covers Koluama 1 and 2, Ezetu 1 and 2, Foropa, Fishtown, Ekeni and Sangana, the communities are parties to the Global Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chevron and First E & P which funds development projects in the area.

Ogboinmienye, who spoke in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday made the appeal following a disagreement over his nomination of a youth representative who emerged from an election.

Ijaw Elders Forum plans summit to address challenges facing N/Delta region

  More than 100 Ijaw Elders under the auspices of the Ijaw Elders’ Consultative Forum, have resolved to convene an All Ijaw Summit to tackle the numerous  challenges facing the Niger Delta region.

The meeting which held on Tuesday at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, drew participants from the various Zones and Chapters including Ijaw sons and daughters in the Diaspora.

The Ijaw Elders resolved that an ALL IJAW Summit that would be attended by selected prominent Ijaw sons and daughters – Irrespective of Political affiliation or Creed be held in the first quarter of 2021.

COVID-19: Bayelsa Govt urges Health, Information ministries to intensify enlightenment

 Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa on Wednesday urged people of the state to take the COVID-19 protocols seriously, stressing that the second wave of the ravaging pandemic is real.

Speaking at the 16th State Executive Council meeting in Yenagoa, through his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the governor restated the importance of the health of people to his administration.

Absence of Police, Military rep stall hearing of 8 petitions at Bayelsa Police brutality panel

 

Absence of Police, Military rep stall hearing of 8 petitions at Bayelsa Police brutality panel

  

ed for hearing on Wednesday by the Bayelsa State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality and Related Matters could not be heard following the absence of police and military representation.

 

 

Seven of the petitions were filed against the police while only one was against the Nigerian Army.

 

While the petitioners were present, the police and army who are the respondents, had no representative when the cases were called for hearing at the state Multi-Door Court Hall venue of the panel’s proceedings.

 

Chairman of the seven-member panel, Justice Young Ogola (retd), said the cases would not be heard since other parties were not present.

 

Ijaw leaders seek Federal High court order to halt marginal fields licencing rounds

Three Ijaw leaders have approached the Federal High Court in Yenagoa to stall the process leading to the bid for marginal oilfields located in their domans pending the determination of its suit.

The Suit marked No, PHC/YEN/CS/81/2020 slated for hearing on Tuesday was filed by Chief Brown Agu (Opu Agu VIII), Mrs Rosemary John-Oduone President Ijaw Women Connect and Mr Femowei Friend.

The absence the presiding judge Justice Abimbola Awogboro stalled the hearing and subsequently compelled court officials to fix Feb. 19, 2021 for the hearing of the case.

The suit by the trio on behalf lf Ijaw Ethnic Nationality, is seeking the court to restrain Attorney General of the Federation/Mimister of Justice, Minister Petroleum Resources and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

The plaintiffs in a Motion On Notice are seeking an order restraining the defendants/Respondents from further advertising or recieving bids in respect of Marginal Fields pending the hearing and determination of this suit with Suit No, PHC/YEN/CS/81/2020.

They also want the court to restrain the defendants/ Respondents from giving out/approving licence in respect of of the Marginal fields listed in pending the hearing and determination.

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) had on April 6, 2020 announced the revocation of 11 of the 13 marginal fields licenses it issued to indigenous oil firms.

Oil Mining Lease (OML) 46 held by Bayelsa government located within onshore swamps in Bayelsa won in 2013 through a bidding process conducted by the DPR was among the licences revoked for being dormant for more than five years.

Nigerians now run the Oil Industry without expatriates - NCDMB Boss

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Tuesday said that the Nigerian Oil and Gas exploration and production is now being fully run by indigenous manpower without expatriates.

Mr Simbi Wabote, Executive Secretary of NCDMB said that the COVID-19 pandemic which compelled oil industry expatriates to leave the country presented an opportunity for Nigerians to take over and run the oil sector.

He observed that the feat was an indication that the country has grown in the technical capacity to run an industry that was hitherto dominated by foreign experts.

Wabote stated this in his goodwill message at a workshop organised by the NCDMB titled, Sustaining Nigerian Content Development Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic :The Role of the Media held in Port Harcourt.

The Executive Secretary noted that in 10 years after its establishment in April 2010, the NCDMB has grown Nigerian Content from less than 10 per cent to 32 percent while it aims to hit the 70 per cent mark come 2027.

He noted that the board under his watch has increased the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund administered by the Bank of Industry for local players in the oil sector from $200 million to $350 million.

Also the board invested in the newly inaugurated 5,000 barrels per day Walter Smith Modular Refinery in Imo and Azikel Refinery in Bayelsa as well as instituting a $50 million chair for Research and Development in selected Nigerian Universities amongst other achievements.

In his presentation, Dr Gina Gina, General Manager Corporate Communications, NCDMB said that the board has successfully developed a policy to incorporate host communities in the oil and gas value chain through the Community Content Guidelines.

He explained that the guideline has reserved a quota of jobs and contracts to local communities hosting oil and gas facilities to promote harmony amongst oil firms and their host communities.

According to him, the guideline stipulates that all unskilled labour must me sourced from the host communities while 50 per cent of thesemi-skilled and 10 per cent of skilled work force must be sourced from the host communities.

Gina further said that henceforth any firm executing a project value of $100 million and above or projects with up to two years time frame must establish a functional project office in the operational area.

Speaking on Role of Media in Achiving Nigerian Content 10 year strategic roadmap, Chido Nwakamma, a veteran journalist and don at Pan Atlantic University, Lagos urged the media to focus on providing solutions in their reportage of the sector.

He traced the pioneering role of the first newspaper in Nigeria, Iwe Irohin in crusading for a better society and mobilising the readers to be patriotic and embrace education and urged journalists to return to the path of development focused reportage.

According to him, there is a compelling needs to educate and inform Nigerians on the drive by the government and NCDMB to deepen the participation of Nigerians in the oil sector and sensitise them on available opportunities.

Media practitioners from the South South geopolitical zone participated at the workshop.

Aiteo’s OML 29 suit: Court awaits Appeal Court ruling on joinders

 

A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa on Wednesday adjourned to Feb 25, 2021 to await the ruling of the Court of Appeal on an interlocutory appeal by an Aiteo subsidiary in a suit with its host communities in Bayelsa.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro had on March 3, 2020 declined to halt proceedings in the ongoing litigation by Nembe Communities, hosts to Oil Mining Lease (OML 29) over the adverse impact of oil exploration on them.

Awogboro, had joined Aiteo Eastern Exploration Limited and other adjourning communities in the suit, but declined an application to strike out Aiteo Exploration and Production Company from the suit.

Youth parliamentarian urges Bayelsa youths to proffer solutions for a better society

Miss Mary Torunana, who represents Bayelsa Central at the Nigerian Youth Parliament on Wednesday urged Bayelsa youths to go beyond criticising government and proffer solutions for a better society.

Torunana gave the advice to youth leaders from Bayelsa Central Senatorial District during a town hall meeting with the theme; “Youthful Conversations for a Better Society” at the Yenagoa Council Hall.

Dodo River Rural Development Association in Bayelsa spends N77.87 m on projects

 The Dodo River Communities Development Association in Ekeremor Local Area of Bayelsa on Thursday said it spent a total of N77.87 million on community development in 2019 fiscal year.

Mr Francis Amamogiran, Chairman of the association who spoke at the 8th Annual General Meeting of the group said the fund came from Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) as development obligation under a Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU).

According to him the association generated a total income of N93.93 million in 2019 slightly higher than the N82.56 m it got in 2018.

He said that N35.19 was spent 9n direct project expenditure while N12.27 m general and administrative costs  N23.34 m on scholarships while N7.06 m went for Community Engagement Management Board (CEMB) Administrative expenditures.

“This Annual General Meeting is a means of demonstrating one of the GMoU objectives which is transparency and accountability. This will enables have the desired trust of our people in our dealings as we carry out our stewardship function.

“We will not stop to call on government at various levels, the local government in particular to be fully involved to encourage, guide, monitor and provide necessary support in community development planning and implementation,”Amamogiran said.

Speaking at the event, Mr Esimaje Brikinn, General Manager in charge of Public Affairs at CNL applauded the association for successful management of the development process and achieving community empowerment and sustainable development.

Brikinn who was represented by Mr Elijah Bikikoro , Team Lead at CNL assured that despite the harsh global environment for the energy sector, the oil firm remained committed to meeting its social obligations to its host communities.

“We are glad that Dodo River Community Development Association has executed and commissioned several development projects, including concrete walkways, potable water, town halls, electricity power project and others.

“It is also heartwarming to note that that the association has trained hundreds of persons in diverse vocational skills in addition to a special economic empowerment as well as adult education programme for women and schorship for students from the communities,” Brikinn said.

Mr Mark Christmas, secretary of the association applauded members of the host community for their peaceful disposition and use of dialogue which resulted to the award of peace bonus by CNL.

Representatives of Chevron host communities comprising youths and women, traditional rulers in Ekeremor LGA attended the meeting held at Dodo River Communities Secretariat in Yenagoa.

Explosion at Bayelsa oil field cuts Agips output by 30,000 barrels daily says Eni

Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) on Wednesday said the Nov. 20 explosion at its oil field in Bayelsa would adversely impact crude export to the tune of 30,000 barrels daily.

The incident so far puts the cumulative production shut in at 150,000 at the field pending when the breached pipelines are fixed.

Explosions damage crude and gas pipelines at Shell, Agip oil fields in Bayelsa

 

A Banner left at the scenc

Unidentified persons on Monday attacked oil facilities operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) at Ikarama community, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

 

 

 

Mr Ben Warder, a youth leader in Ikarama near the incident site, said on Tuesday that residents heard several sounds from the explosions that rocked the oil fields on Monday but were too scared to approach the area.

 

 

 

“The site is not far from Ikarama, we heard sounds from the blast and it sounded like dynamites and it was not safe to go near so when the situation became quiet we had to trace what happened and it turned out that Shell’s gas pipeline and Agip’s crude lines were destroyed.

 

Police brutality persists as Police patrol team open fire on 4 women at Tombia market in Bayelsa

Despite the EndSARS protest and its aftermath policeman a Police patrol team on Wednesday opened fire on market women at Tombia market in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

A 17 year old female periwinkle seller and three other women were left in the pool of their blood by the patrol team who were reportedly angry that the market was causing traffic gridlock that delayed the escort van from passing through the market.

Account by someone at the scene has it that the police team six in number came down from their vans and started shooting at the traders and pedestrians to leave road sides  to make way for their vehicle to pass freely.

Flood: Bayelsa raises begins technical study to tackle impact

Bayelsa Government says it has adopted scientific methods in finding solutions to adverse impact of perennial flooding on residents across the state.

The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure , Mr Moses Teibowei said in an interview on Friday in Yenagoa that results of the technology driven solution would be felt from the 2021 flood season.

He said that the Gov Douye Diri led administration has commissioned a study by technical experts to find lasting solutions that will reduce the suffering of residents during annual flood in the state .

Bayelsa bemoans drop In Federal Allocation

The Bayelsa State government on Monday lamented the decline in revenues accruing from the federation account while announcing its income and expenditure profile for the months of August, September and October 2020.

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• Presenting a breakdown of the figures for the three months in Yenagoa, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Maxwell Ebibai, disclosed that the state received a gross inflow of N12.8 billion for August.

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• He explained that the amount consists of statutory allocation of N3.14 billion, derivation N8.8 billion, VAT N1.97 billion, refund for Pay As You Earn (PAYE) N636 million.

Legislators lack control of Constituency Project funds, Rep Agedi tells constituents

BENEFICIARIES OF HON  FREDRICK AGBEDI'S EMPOWERMENT SCHEME  WHEELING AWAY THEIR MOTORCYCLES. 

30 MEMBERS OF SAGBAMA/EKEREMOR FEDERAL CONSTITUENCIES IN BAYELSA GOT  MOTORCYCLE WITH SUPPORT FROM MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAOLS NIGERIA OFFICE. Add caption

Hon Fred Agbedi who represents Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency in Bayelsa has said that the legislature lacks the powers to control funds appropriated for constituency projects.

Agbedi who spoke during an interactive session with community leaders at his Zonal Intervention Project for empowerment of 30 beneficiaries from his constituency noted that the constituency projects were solely controlled by Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAS).

According to the lawmaker, the impression that members of the National Assembly have access to constituency project fund was erroneous adding that the executive arm of government had over 90 per cent control of such projects sited in their constituencies.

NOSDRA confirms discharge of 45 barrels of crude at Angiama fields, Bayelsa

The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on Friday confirmed the discharge of 45 barrels of crude at Angiama oilfields in Bayelsa.

 

The Angiama oilfield operated by Shell Petroleum Development Com[any (SPDC) in located in the swamps of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa.

 

 

NOSDRA announced in its official twitter handle on Friday that the leak was traced to equipment failure during a Joint Investigative Visit to the spill incident site.

 

Bayelsa born first siamese twins surgery successful, Dep Gov gives N1m

SEN. LAWRENCE EHRUJAKPO, RIGHT BAYELSA DEPUTY GOV ASSISTED BY CHIEF REMI KUKU RECIVING THE SEPARATED SIAMESE TWINS, MISS  GRACE AND MERCY AYEBAIYENI AT THE LOUNGE OF BAYELSA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SUNDAY

The Federal Medical Centres Yenagoa and Yola have underwritten the cost of surgical procedure to separate a set of Siamese twins born to an indigent couple in Nembe, Bayelsa.

 

 

Dr Dennis Alagoa, Chief Medical Director of FMC Yenagoa said while receiving the babies on arrival at Bayelsa International Airport on Sunday that the surgery was done at FMC Yola.

 

COVID-19: Environmentaal Group donates food, fishing gear to A/Ibom fishermen advocates support

REV NNOMMO BASSEY, (LEFT), DIRECTOR, HEALTH OF MOTHER EARTH FOUNDATION PRESENTING FISHING NET, FOOD ITEMS PALLIATIVES FOR COVID19 RELIEF TO ELDER INYANG EKONG, SECRETARY, AKWA IBOM CHAPTER, ARTISAN FISHERMEN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, A MEMBER OF THE FISHNET ALLIANCE AT IBENO FISHING SETTLEMENT IN AKWA IBOM.

 

FishNet Alliance on Saturday distributed palliatives to fishermen in Akwa Ibom to cushion the adverse impact of the COVID-19 on the livelihoods.

 

FishNet Alliance is a coalition of artisanal fishing groups across Africa supported by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), a Nigerian Environmental Rights focused Non Government Organisation.

 

Some 100 fishermen who also suffered a fire outbreak at Ibeno, a coastal fishing settlement benefited from the gesture by FishNet Alliance.

 

Bayelsa Govt urges Community leaders in oil bearing areas to foster peace

The Bayelsa government on Thursday reiterated its commitment to a peaceful atmosphere for oil and gas exploration and urged community leaders to foster peace.

Dr Ibere Jones, Commisioner for Mineral Resources made the call at the inauguration of the 25 member Dodo River Community Rural Development Association in Yenagoa.

The Dodo River Communities Rural Development Association in Ekeremor Local Government Area in Bayelsa are hosts Chevron Nigeria Limited which funds development projects in the area under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU).

The communities are Amatu 1, Amatu 2, Bilabiri 1, Bilabiri 2, and Bisangbene.

Jones noted that the Gov Douye Diri led administration places premium on peace as a precondition for fullfiling its prosperity agenda for the people of the oil-rich state.

Non-Indegenes Council in Bayelsa to strenghten partnership with govt on development

The Supreme Council of Non-Indegenes in Bayelsa says it would strengthen collaboration with Bayelsa government in the bid to bring development the state and enhance welfare of its members..

 

Mr Adetona Bakare, Outgoing President-General of the group gave the assurance on Sunday in a farewell speech shortly before handing over to the newly elected executives of the group in Yenagoa.

 

Bakare noted that the group, a a coalition of more that 15 communities made up of several ethic groups from all parts of the country had enjoyed harmonious relationship with the people and government of Bayelsa.

Bayelsa Police Command enlists sesidents’ support to combat crime

ACP Francis Ndabula, Area Commander in-charge of the Opolo Area, Bayelsa Command of the Nigeria Police on Tuesday enlisted the support of members of the public in combating crime.

Ndabula made the appeal during a meeting with members of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) under his jurisdiction.

He also urged residents and corporate bodies to partner with the police as well as PCRC, by providing useful information that will lead to the arrest of criminals in the area.

Ndabula also charged them to make the necessary sacrifices in order to achieve the aims and objectives of the committee.

Fed Poly, Ekowe Bayelsa has taken tertiary education to N/Delta creeks- Official

Executive Assistant to Dr Seiyaboh Idah, Rector,  Federal Polytechnic, Ekeowe, Bayelsa, Mr Alagba Ebiye says the institution has taken Oil and Gas tertiary education to the creeks of Niger Delta.

 

Ebiye who spoke in an interview on behalf of the rector, Wednesday in Yenagoa noted that the institution was not deterred by the challenges of terrain.

 

He said that the Polytechnic sited at Ekowe, a coastal settlement by the bank of Nun River in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa could only be assessed by passenger boats.

 

Niger Delta News Feeds: Nullification of Guber poll: Gov. Diri to appeal T...

Niger Delta News Feeds: Nullification of Guber poll: Gov. Diri to appeal T...: Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa, says he will appeal Monday’s ruling of the State Election Petition Tribunal that nullified his election as the G...

Nullification of Guber poll: Gov. Diri to appeal Tribunal Judgment

Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa, says he will appeal Monday’s ruling of the State Election Petition Tribunal that nullified his election as the Governor of Bayelsa.

Diri in a statement on Monday signed by his Acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah said he had instructed his lawyers to file the necessary papers.

The tribunal nullified the election based on the wrongful exclusion of the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) governorship candidate in the November 16, 2019 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC).

NOSDRA, Agip investigating oil leak at Azuzuama site in Bayelsa where 13 perished in 2015

National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) say they are jointly investigating an oil leak from Ship's Clough Creek-Tebidaba trunkline at Azuzuama community, in Bayelsa.

 

NOSDRA announced on its official twitter handle that preliminary findings during a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to the spill site that the oil leakage was traced to a ruptured point on the pipeline.

 

The spill agency said that the spread of the oil has been contained using plastic booms while recovery of the leaked oil was underway as it was yet to determine the volume of leaked crude into the environment.

 

Environmental group urges African governments to rise against COVID-19, Climate and Health crises

The African Climate Justice Group (ACJG) on Friday called on African countries and institutions to respond urgently to climate, health and COVID-19 crises facing Africa.

ACJG, a coalition of over 300 African and international organisations and individuals made the call in a statement signed in Yenagoa by Joyce Ebebeinwe, Programme Officer, Health of Mother Earth Foundation on behalf of the group.

The document made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) indicated that ACJG is starting a week of action, kicking off with a advocacy to key continental institutions.

The institutions include UN Environment Programme, African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) and UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

Shell's host communities in Bayelsa give 21 days ultimatum to shut EA field demand review of devt fund to $10 m

Communities hosting Shell's Estuaries Area (EA) oilfields in Bayelsa on Wednesday urged the oil firm to review its annual development funding from $1 million to $10 million and other social obligations to them.

 

The communities which make of four Cluster Development Boards (CDBs) ,Iduwini, Mein, Kou, and Bassan funded by Shell also demanded the payment of outstanding $14 million for sea anchorage for vessels deployed by Shell. 

 

According to them the amount which accrued from 2006 till date must be offset within the next 21 days or they will be compelled to stage a peaceful protest at Shell's EA oilfield in Bayelsa.

 

They lamented the the plight of some 80 members of the host communities who were engaged by Shell in the ongoing oil drilling campaign to acquire experience but regretted that they have been rendered redundant and paid 'stay at home allowance'for the past one year.

Senate summons Shell, others over dead fishes on N/Delta coastline

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions have intervened in the rift between Shell and communities over the dead fishes that littered the Atlantic coastline since February.

Residents along the Atlantic coastline in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom had reported massive death of croaker fish species since February, raising concerns of increased toxicity of the territorial waters.

Mr Furoebi Akene, spokesman of the affected areas said on Monday in Yenagoa that the Senate’s intervention followed a petition by the communities.

Doctors handling cases of the Novel Coronavirus in Bayelsa on Wednesday appealed to the Bayelsa COVID-19 Task Force to ensure adequate supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Dr Ebidimie-Divine Irole, President of Federal Medical Centre, (FMC) Yenagoa chapter of Association of Resident Doctors made the appeal in an interview in Yenagoa.

Irole said the appeal was premised on the recent upsurge in the spread of the coronavirus infections in Bayelsa with more than 20 doctors exposed to COVID-19 patients already infected.

BAYELSA COVID-19 ISOLATION CENTRE

COVID-19: Bayelsa Govt wades into Resident Doctors strike

 THE COVID-19 ISOLATION FACILITY AT NDUTH OKOLOBIRI YENAGOA LGA,BAYELSA

The Bayelsa government has taken steps to end ongoing strike by Resident Doctors at Bayelsa government owned Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) Okolobiri.

The doctors said they have yet to resume from the indefinite strike called off on Sunday by the national body over several outstanding issue with the health sector.

Dr Oru Oru Inetsol, President of chapter of ARD  on Tuesday that the Bayelsa government was in talks with the resident doctors to resolve the labour dispute.

He noted that following the goodwill shown by the government in the negotiations, the resident doctors deployed to the COVID-19 isolation centre were rendering services.

“The Bayelsa Deputy Governor and the Speaker of the House of Assembly led the government team that met with us on Monday and we are making progress with the negotiations.

COVID-19:Resident Doctors at Bayelsa Isolation Centre yet to suspend strike over hazard allowance

Resident Doctors at Bayelsa government owned Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Okolobiri, have yet to resume from the indefinite strike called off on Sunday by the national body.

The leadership of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) had on Sunday directed its members across the country to return to work as the Federal Government said it has cleared outstanding hazard allowances, amongst others.

NDUTH hosts the 100 bed capacity COVID-19 isolation centre located at the outskirts of Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital.

The rising spread of confirmed cases to 169 from 130 in Bayelsa with less than 200 bed isolation capacity has raised concerns of an impending crisis in the coming days.

COVID-19 suspected patients, Bayelsa Govt lament delays in confirming status of samples

Patients suspected to be infected by Coronavirus in Bayelsa have bemoaned the delays in getting results from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) laboratories in Benin and Port Harcourt.


Investigations indicate that worst affected are medical personnel with contact with confirmed cases who went into self isolation for two weeks and the test results still being awaited.



A medical practitioner who spoke on the development said that the delays had caused some stress on medical manpower at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa and the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri, Bayelsa.



The doctor who spoke with NAN and wished to remain anonymous said more than 10 of them who had completed the two weeks isolation cannot go back to work until the results are out.

Delayed response to leak at Taylor Creek oilfields due to security concerns says Agip

The Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) on Wednesday explained that it responded within 24 hours after a pipeline blast by vandals at its Taylor Creek oilfields in Aug 2019 and shut the facility to curtail further degradation of the environment.

The explanation is coming on the heels of outcry that the oil firm abducted its responsibility of operating in an environmentally sustainable manner by leaving the site without remediation for close to one year.

Eni, the Italian parent company of NAOC in a statement issued by a spokesperson said delays in the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) and fixing pipeline in May 2020 were caused by security concerns and not negligence by NAOC.

Coalition Against COVID-19 donates Isolation Centre, Medical Equipment to Bayelsa Govt

The Bayelsa government on Saturday received a 48 bed Isolation Centre to boost the total capacity at the state owned Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital , (NDUTH),Okolobiri to over 100.

The facility donated by the private sector led Coalition Againstvirus. COVID-19  -CAVID) to increase capacity in the state compliments another 70 bed facility donated by Chevron and a 20 bed isolation ward at the Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa.


The intervention by CA-CAVID compliments an existing 60 bed capacity isolation centre built by the Bayelsa government.

Dr Nathaniel Akpoku, Co-Chairman of the Bayelsa Task Force on COVID-19 applauded the coalition put together by Dangote Group and Access Bank for their thoughtful intervention to strengthen the capacity of the public health system in Bayelsa.

He noted that the centre would improve care provided to patients infected with the corona virus and assured that medical personnel managing COVID-19 cases would put the facility to good use.

Gov. Diri committed to socio-economic development of Bayelsa- UN Peace Envoy

Mr Miebi Bribena, United N s Peace Ambassador on Sunday expressed confidence in the capacity of Governor Douye Diri to make Bayelsa one the leading economies in the country.

 

Bribena who spoke on Diri's leadership style on the sidelines of his 61st birthday anniversary called on the people of the state to be patient and as well support his  laudable programmes.

   

He disclosed that one of the programmes of the Diri administration is to diversify the economy of the state from oil and gas to Agriculture leveraging on the enormous fertile arable land as well as the rich biodiversity of its water resources.

Eni says it remains committed to remediating environmental impact of Agip’s Brass export terminal

Eni, the Italian parent company of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC)  has denied abdicating its duties in the remediation of the adverse impact of its oil export terminal located in Brass, Bayelsa.

The  position followed a letter by the oil firm’s host community in Bayelsa,  seeking expedited action on remediation of a 48 year old impact on the Brass settlement.

ANOTHER WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY, ANOTHER SPEECH MAKING BAZAAR IN BAYELSA? By Iniruo Wills

ANOTHER WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY, ANOTHER SPEECH MAKING BAZAAR IN BAYELSA?

By Iniruo Wills

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Barely half way gone and still fairly young, the year 2020 is already uniquely historic in many ways. Easily forgotten now is the infectious affection with which an enthusing world welcomed it at birth, for as simple a reason as the nice ring of its twin name, Twenty-twenty. The ritual of New Year resolutions was expressed in momentous tones and portrayed with the finest memes across social media.

Then came coronavirus from the shadows of 2019’s evening, breaking out onto the morning of this year. Nothing has since remained the same. The world has literally stood still. The buzzword in recent years being disruption, coronavirus has become the world’s dominant Disruption. All are agreed that the one overarching lesson from the pandemic is that the world must rethink and reset its ways; so too its rituals.