Gov Diri of Bayelsa appoints Oredipe, Head Social Media Team

Gov Douye Diri, has appointed Mr. Kola Oredipe, Manager, News and Current Affairs, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), as his Co-ordinator, Social Media. 

Oredipe, a versatile reporter, has traversed the length and breadth of the Niger Delta covering events in more than 7 states in the region in the last 20 years.

He began his journalism career in 2000 with the now rested South South Express Newspaper in Port Harcourt, later joined Port Harcourt-based Dolphins Newspaper and then switched to Radio Nigeria in 2004.

Shell’s under-reporting of spilled oil from Well 13 in Angiama, Bayelsa delaying JIV report

The disparity in the volume of oil spill from Shell’s fieldl at Angiama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa has cause disagreement amongst parties investigating the incident.

Although the March incident has been traced to equipment failure, by corrosion, investigations indicate that the Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) report has not been signed off.

Checks at Shell Petroleum Development Company’s oil spills website revealed no record of the  March 17 incident at Angiama while other leak incidents were reported on the portal

Okoroma, Bayelsa Community decries neglect demands renewal of lapsed MoU with Agip

The people of Okoroma Clan in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Monday demanded that a lapsed agreement with Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) be renewed with 14 days.

 The residents regretted that jobs reserved for members of the oil firm in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which expired in 2011 was being diverted.

The therefore advised NAOC to refrain from awarding contracts meant for them to others in the state or consider shutting down their operations in the area.

Ijaw Youths Council seeks transparency in NDDC under Interim Management

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) on Monday said that the opaque style adopted by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was not in the interest of the Niger Delta region.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had on Feb, 20, 2020 appointed a five-man Interim Management Committee to run the NDDC before the inauguration of the newly constituted board of the Commision.

The youths noted that the Interim Management Committee was running the interventionist agency set up to accelerate development of the region without the participation of supposed beneficiaries.

Bayelsa gets COVID-19 index case, Task Force assures on preparedness

Bayelsa gets COVID-19 index case, Task Force assures on preparedness

Dr Inodu, Akpoku, Chairman Bayelsa COVID-19 Task Force implementation Committee says Bayelsa has recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19.

Akpoku who confirmed the development in a telephone interview on Monday assured that there was no cause for alarm as the state was adequately prepared to handle the situation.

He said that the index case, a woman has been quarantined at one of the several isolation centres put in place by Bayelsa government to tackle the corona virus outbreak.

He said that the government was preparing a detailed statement which would be made public shortly.

Environmentalist links dead fishes to toxic chemicals from Shell, urges NOSDRA to sit up

 Environmentalist links dead fishes to toxic chemicals from Shell, urges NOSDRA to sit up

Mr Furoebi Akene, an Environment on Sunday attributed the dead fishes littering the Niger Delta coastline to discharge of toxic chemicals from Shell’s operations at Forcados oil export terminal.

Akene who spoke in Yenagoa in reaction to NOSDRA’s position that it found no oil spills linking the massive death of fishes floating near the Atlantic coastline in Delta,Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom.

He said that while he agrees that the dead fishes were not caused by oil leakage as found out by NOSDRA, the disclosure was capable of misleading conclusions as the investigation results were being awaited by stakeholders.

Akene, Chairman, Board of trustees of the Centre for Environmental Preservation and Development (CEPAD) alleged that Shell Petroleum Development Company discharged toxic materials in the Atlantic off Delta coastline at Ogulagha.

Dead fishes on Atlantic coastline: Bayelsa communities outlaw ‘Croaker’ fish

Following reports of massive number of dead fishes littering the Niger Delta coastline, Bayelsa coastal settlements have outlawed the catching, eating and selling of the ‘croaker’ fish species.

Mr Leghemo Ebrasin, a youth leader, said on Friday that the traditional leadership had met and passed a resolution that henceforth it was a taboo to have any dealing with the dead fishes.

The youth leader said that Chief Patrick Tobin Ekubo, Chairman, Community Development Committee of Koluama 2 conveyed the decision of the traditional leadership to the people.

NOSDRA says no links yet to oil spills with dead fishes on N/Delta coastline

The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has said that it found no oil leaks linked to the massive death of fishes that float and litter the Atlantic coastline across Niger Delta region.

The agency said it was coordinating a muli-agency investigation aimed at unraveling the cause of the reported massive death of fishes within the nation’s territorial waters and was looking beyond the oil industry..

Mr Idris Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA said in a statement availed to newsmen on Thursday that investigation was already ongoing despite the COVID-19 lockdown.

Musa explained that officials of NOSDRA deployed from the agency’s office in Warri, Yenagoa and Port Harcourt have conducted site visits to the Atlantic coastline in Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers to collect water and fish samples tor tests.

“The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) carried out a reconnaissance  of the area in Delta where we first got the report through a member through a member of a Non-Governmental Organisation.

Oil workers arrested by Rivers Govt freed allaying fears of shutdown of oil sector

The 22 oil workers arrested by officials of Rivers Government on Sunday morning regained their freedom Elekahia Stadium where they were detained, allaying fears of shutdown by oil workers by midnight.

The oil workers, 20 men and two women were on Thursday arrested at Akwa Ibom-Rivers border for breach of the lockdown order imposed by Rivers Governor to check further spread of the COVID-19 virus.

They were heading to an oil facility in Bonny operated by Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN), a subsidiary of US energy firm, ExxonMobil.

COVID-19: Chevron, First E & P support 8 Bayelsa host communities with staple food

COVID-19: Chevron, First E & P support 8 Bayelsa host communities with staple food

Chevron Nigeria Ltd and First E & P on Sunday donated staple food to support its host communities in Bayelsa to cope with the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Representatives of the benefiting eight communities in Southern Ijaw and Brass local governments of Bayelsa took delivery of 1,600 bags of garri on Sunday in Yenagoa.

The communities are Koluama 1 and 2, Ezetu 1 and 2, Foropa, Fishtown, , Ekeni and Sangana forming the acronym KEFFES as parties of Global Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Chevron and First E & P.

Speaking at a brief presentation ceremony, Mr Mathew Sele-Epri, Chairman KEFFES Rural Development Foundation, said that the gesture from the two oil firms was to show emphaty and care to members of its host communities.

Ijaw Youth Council wants FG to probe pollution of N/Delta coastal waters

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) on Friday urged the Federal Government to probe the reported pollution of the Niger Delta coastline leading to massive death of fishes and sanction the polluter.

Mr Kenedy Olorogun, Chairman of IYC Transition Implementation Committee said in Yenagoa that the leadership of the group was worried that the increased toxicity of the waters is causing massive death of fishes.

He said that the Atlantic coastline across Edo, Delta Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom was littered by dead fishes, a development that posed danger to the predominantly fishing settlements near the coastline.

“The coastal communities and surrounding communities are presently facing severe cases of oil pollution and other toxic substances in the midst of the global pandemic.  

Ex-Bayelsa Environment Commissioner urges NODRA to probe pollution of Coastline

Mr Iniruo Wills, Ex-Environment Commissioner in Bayelsa on Thursday called on oil industry regulators to priorities investigation of increased toxicity of Atlantic coastline causing massive death of fishes.

Wills made the call in an interview in Yenagoa in a reaction to dead fishes littering the coastline across Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers.

Wills who is also an environmental rights crusader noted that continual massive death of fishers within Nigerian territorial waters for the past one month was an indication of a sever underlying factors from nearby oil installations.

He said that the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) should as a matter of urgency swing into action to trace the source of the pollution despite the COVID-19 pandemic to safeguard public health.

According to him, the oil and gas sector was categorized as essential services by the government and therefore exempt from the COVID-19 induced lockdown as oil production and export was not shut down.

Chevron, host communities differ on cause of massive death of fishes notice off Bayelsa coast

Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), has held divergent views with members of its host communities in Bayelsa on the cause of dead fishes littering the Atlantic coastline near the oil firm’s operations.

Residents along Koluama, Ekeni, Ezetu, Fishtown, Foropa, Sangana axis of the Atlantic coastline in Bayelsa, hosts to CNL had reported sighting dead fishes littering the shoreline, since the middle of March.

Some of the residents said the occurrence was noticed since March 15 and had yet to abate fueling fears of pollution of the country’s territorial waters by toxic substances.

Mr George Ibobra, a community leader and former Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman said in Yenagoa on Tuesday that the source of the pollution was the site of a 2012 well explosion.

Suspected cultists kill Local Artisan in mistaken identity at Azikoro in Yenagoa

Unidentified gunmen suspected to be cultists have shot and killed a middle aged man Senitonkumo Out who resides at Azikoro-Agbura road in Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA) of Bayelsa.

The victim known as Murphy was very popular for his skills in suspended ceiling installations as he was reputed to be very reliable.

Investigations by a Correspondent on Wednesday indicates that the victim who hails from Oweikorogha community in Southern Ijaw LGA may have been killed by some suspected cultists who stormed the area in search of a different target.

Shell resumes oil export from Forcados Oil Export Terminal, lifts Force Majeure

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) on Monday said it has resumed oil exports from the Forcados Oil Export Terminal halted on April 4 over ‘unforeseen circumstances’ in its operations.

Mr Michael Adande, an SPDC Spokesman confirmed the development to our correspondent in an email on Monday.

Adande explained that the oil firm has lifted the ‘Force Majeure’ on Forcados exports Programme effective Monday, April 13, 2020.

Force Majure is a legal clause that absolves a company from legal liabilities due to circumstances beyong its control.

Adande said that lifting of the Force Majeure notice is sequel the re-opening of the Trans Forcados Pipeline by the operator, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited  

Environmentalist seeks probe into cause of dead fishes on Bayelsa shoreline

A renowned Environmentalist Rev Nnimmo Bassey has urged governments and oil industry regulators to investigate the cause of dead fishes littering the Atlantic coastline in Delta and Bayelsa.

Bassey who made the call in a reaction to reports of massive death of fish by coastline residents noted that the development portends danger capable of wiping off fish species and depletion the biodiversity of thee Niger Delta.

Bassey who holds a National Honours Award  of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for Environmental Activism spoke in Yenagoa on Saturday.

Bayelsa will seek review of revocation of its Atala OML 46 oilfields license –Gov Diri’s Spokesman

Bayelsa government says it is studying the revocation of a marginal oilfield operating license issued to the state in 2013 to get a review of the decision by Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

The Oil Mining Lease (OML) 46 asset held by Bayelsa government located within onshore swamps in Bayelsa was won in 2013 bids by the DPR.

DPR on April 6 announced the revocation of 11 of the 13 marginal fields licenses it issued to indigenous oil firms to build capacity and promotes the participation of Nigerians in the oil sector.

The licenses were originally issued in 2003, revalidated in 2013 , and the companies were expected to bring the fields into production in five years but as at 2018 deadline most of the fields remained inactive. 

Shell’s Oil Well 13 in Angiama, Bayelsa traced to equipment failure- Community Leader

The oil spill that occurred in March  at Angiama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa has been traced to equipment failure,.

The spill reportedly emanated from Well No. 13 at the oilfield operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at Angiama a coastal settlement by the Nun River.

According to a sources who participated in the Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to probe the cause of the leak which discharged a yet to be ascertained volume of crude into the environment both regulators and the oil firm agreed on the cause of the incident.

Mr Johnbull Edward Chairman, Angiama Community Development Committee, said Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) conducted on the spill by the officials of SPDC, regulators and the community representatives indicated it was caused by equipment failure.

Atlantic coastline dwellers decry dead fishes on Bayelsa shoreline, seek investigation

Residents along Foropa, Sangana axis of the Atlantic coastline in Bayelsa have reported sighting dead fishes littering the shoreline.

Some of the residents who spoke on the development said the occurrence was noticed since March 15 and was yet to abate fueling fears of pollution of the country’s territorial waters by toxic substances.

Mr Leghemo Ebrasin, a youth leader said the development was strange and could be an indication of increased toxicity of the Atlantic ocean which could impact residents.

New Petrol Pump price: DPR seals 2 fuel stations in Bayelsa

The Bayelsa field office of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Wednesday sealed two fuel stations for dispensing petrol above the new pump price of N125 per liter.

Federal Government had on March reduced the pump price from N145 to N125 per litre to reflect the fall in crude oil prices.

The pump price was on Tuesday night further reduced by 1.50k per litre to N123.50 per litre, but DPR officials at Bayelsa field office said that they were yet to receive directive on the latest review.

Speaking with newsmen after the surveillance exercise, Mr Geore Ene-Ita, Operations Controller of DPR, said that while one of the sanctioned stations sold petrol at the old price of N145, the second was shut for gross under dispensing.