Bayelsa Govt vows to complete demolition of illegal structures in Yenogoa as COVID-19 Task Force says it would resist inducement

Bayelsa Government on Tuesday said that there was no going back on the ongoing demolition of illegal structures in pursuit of its urban renewal project.

It would be recalled that the Bayelsa COVID-19 Task Force chaired by Gov. Douye Diri had in the past weeks  demolished illegal structures at Swali and Etegwe areas of Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital.

Mr Freston Akpor, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information in a statement in Yenagoa, urged residents to disregard speculations that the task force would be influenced to back down.

Akpor, who is also a member of the COVID-19 Task Force in Bayelsa,  said that a fraudulent syndicate was obtaining money from unsuspecting traders and landlords , while promising them that they would facilitate de- alisting of their property from those slated for demolition.

“Landlords and traders in Yenagoa, have been cautioned to be mindful of fraudsters promising to protect their illegal structures from removal by security sub-committee of the task force on COVID-19.

NDDC Audit: Ex-militant leaders cry out over delayed contractors payments

Ex-Militant leaders on Sunday in Yenagoa cried out to the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over delays occasioned by ongoing audit at the commission.

The leaders bemoaned the untold hardship experienced by contractors after certified completion of works without being paid.

The leaders under the aegis of the the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI) said some of the contractors were faced with threats of forfeiture of collateral to banks over unpaid loans.

Ijaw Elders advocate end to factions in IYC, INC drum support for Gov Diri

An Ijaw Elegers Group from the central zone in Bayelsa says it is working to end factions in two umbrella groups the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and Ijaw National Congress (INC).

The Elders under the auspices of Ijaw Elders Consultative Forum pledged to unify Ijaws to collaborate to overcome the unique development challenges faced by th.e predominantly coastal dwellers.

Chairman of the group Chef T. K. Ogoriba who spoke to newsmen at the weekend in Yenagoa noted that disunity amongst the Ijaw youths and elders had often retarded the progress in the quest for improved life for the Ijaws.

He said that the elders were already working on mobilizing stakeholders to have an acceptable and rancor free elections into the IYC and will afterwards do the same to the INC and revive the body from its comatose state.

NOSDRA says equipment failure caused 2 spills from Agip's oilfields in Bayelsa

The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) says the two leaks from Agip's oilfields in  Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government Areas (LGAs) were caused by equipment failure.

Mr Idris Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA confirmed the development on Saturday.

According to the D-G officials of the spill agency conducted a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to Agips 10" Cough creek-Tebidaba pipeline at Ologbobiri in Southern Ijaw LGA and found the cause to be equipment failure.

 

Environmental lawyers in the Niger Delta have expressed concerns over the looming public health danger occasioned by the contamination and massive death of fish along the Atlantic coastline of the region.

The lawyers under the aegis of the Association of Environmental Lawyers of Nigeria (AELN) urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to check the increased toxicity of the nation’s territorial waters.

Residents along the Atlantic coastline in Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers have reported massive death of croaker fish floating and littering the coastline since February.

The group made the call in a joint statement by Prof. Sam Dike, the President AELN and Mr Iniuro Wills, the President Ijaw Professionals Association, Homeland chapter  in Yenagoa.

Mr Kennedy Woryi, the Secretary, AELN who also signed the statement, called on the Federal Government to urgently initiate a full scale independent investigation into the matter with a view to saving lives.

The association noted that in the last eight weeks, varying from location to location, communities along the Atlantic coast in the Niger Delta had been inundated with masses of dead contaminated fishes washing up on their shores.

”This strange phenomenon portends grave danger to the affected states and communities as it will further compound the public health and economic complications that they are still struggling to grapple with as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

”Due to limited awareness of the health consequences, rural poverty and slow action by governments at all levels, some community dwellers have been selling and consuming the dead contaminated fishes, some of which may find their way into the markets and meal tables, in neighbouring communities and cities.

”This marine disaster and the global coronavirus crisis together pose a threat of double jeopardy for Nigeria’s coastal communities and our territorial marine ecology.

”There is need for quick action by the state and federal governments to combat the strange and continuing incidence of masses of dead and contaminated fishes, washing up ashores and beaches along the Atlantic coast.

“Worst hit are Bonny, Foropa, Sobiekiri, Okololaunch areas to Light House all the way to Ifoko in Andoni area.  Numerous other coastal communities of the Akassa Kingdom, Twon-Brass and other such communities in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom are affected.

“There are reports that coastal communities in Ondo, Lagos and Cross River States may also be affected,” it said.

It added that some dwellers in the affected communities have been harvesting and selling these fishes to the general public.

The group described the development as unfortunate, saying that the communities and the general public were yet to be sensitised about the dangers of consuming hazardous dead fish.

According to AELN, the stench of dead fishes has also polluted the air around the affected communities adding that it is therefore imperative to ensure the restoration of the ambient air and polluted marine ecosystem.

”The impact of the disaster extends to most of the coastal states of Nigeria and will therefore require an inclusive and cross-cutting plan of action for verification of causation, impact scoping and adequate remediation.

”It is against this backdrop that we are calling on the Federal Government to promptly institute a full scale independent investigation of this marine pollution disaster by a multi stakeholder panel of experts, reflecting the appropriate environmental and marine related agencies.

“It should include experts representing affected communities, relevant state government agencies, the private sector of the petroleum and marine/maritime industries and credible environmental NGOs.

“This is without prejudice to the ongoing investigations by various state governments.

”At the conclusion of investigations, all persons or organisations directly culpable (if any), for this disaster on our coastal populations, no matter how highly connected, should be brought to book.

“The culprit should be compelled to restore the environment, pay adequate compensation to all affected communities and face stiff sanctions.

”We particularly call on the federal and state governments to take accelerated action on all fronts against this disaster and the looming danger that official inaction may pose,” the association said.

Meanwhile, the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on Thursday said that its investigations on the massive death of the fishes had traced the incident to the discharge of toxic industrial and domestic wastes entering the water bodies.

Mr Idris Musa, the Director-General of the NOSDRA said that the agency discovered that the dead fishes and water sediments were polluted by heavy metals in high concentrations beyond regulatory limits. 

Environmentalists reject NOSDRA’s report on Dead Fishes along Niger Delta coastlines

Environmentalists reject NOSDRA’s report on Dead Fishes along Niger Delta coastlines



Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) an environmental NGO has expressed divergent views with the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on the causes of massive death of fishes littering the coast.

NOSDRA) had on May 14 said that findings on the dead fishes on the Atlantic coastline indicated high levels of toxicity caused by toxic wastes discharge.

The agency noted that the discharge of toxic materials into the Atlantic may have come from land as the wastes from domestic and industrial sources often emptied into the water body.

It will be recalled that NOSDRA had on April 22 said it was coordinating a multi-agency investigation, aimed at unraveling the cause of the reported massive death of fishes within the nation’s territorial waters.

Dead fishes: Expert disagrees with NOSDRA on findings

The Centre for Environmental Preservation and Development (CEPAD) has disagreed with National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on cause of dead fishes on Atlantic coastline.

Mr Furoebi Akene, Chairman, Board of Trustees of CEPAD on Monday, said that NOSDRA’s investigation carried out with oil multinationals excluding the impacted coastline communities was an abnormality.

He noted that excluding the people was a ploy to hoodwink Niger Delta people and hide the real cause of dead fishes littering the Atlantic coastline of the region.

NOSDRA, had on Thursday, May 14 announced that heavy metals from industrial and domestic wastes was behind the death of croaker fish specie in the Niger Delta coastline, and not hydrocarbon waste from oil firms.

Boro Day: Legislator donates to Health centres, constituents at Boro’s LGA in Bayelsa

Hon. Wisdom Fafi, Member representing Constituency 2 Kolokuma Opokuma LGA at Bayelsa House of Assembly has donated motorcycles, food stuffs and cash gifts to his constituents.

The gesture which also included donation of medical items to health centers in the area was part of the 2020 Boro day celebrations in the area where the late Ijaw icon hails from.

Speaking during the occasion, Fafi explained that the gesture was born out of his desire to further assist his people during this difficult moment occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and in the spirit of Boro Day celebration.

He described late Major Isaac Boro as a selfless son of the area and the Ijaw nation at large who fought for the emancipation of his people.

Isaac Boro Day: Diri renews calls for justice, equity in Nigeria

SEN  LAWRENCE EWHRUDJAKPO DEPUTY GOVERNOR , SEN. DOUYE DIRI, GOVERORNOR OF BAYELSA, DAME ESTHER ISAAC-BORO FIRST DAUGHTER OF IJAW ICON, ISAAC BORO AND CHIEF THEOPFILUS OGORIBA, IJAW LEADER AND CHIEF NENGI JAMES, IJAW ACTIVIST  AT THE 2020 BORO DAY COMEMMORATION AT IJAW HEROES PARK IN YENAGOA

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has renewed the call for justice and equity in the affairs of the country.

Governor Diri, made the call , Saturday at the heroes park, Yenagoa in remembrance of late foremost Ijaw freedom fighter, Major Isaac Adaka Boro.

At the brief event to mark the 2020 Annual Boro Day,  the Governor, described the late Ijaw icon as a symbol of the struggle and emancipation for the development of the Ijaw land and Niger Delta region.

Senator Diri, who recalled the ideals and principles late Boro stood for, said the those issues and concerns still face the nation today as a federation insisting that Nigeria must be a country of justice and equity.

"While we are not wishing the country bad as a federation, we as Ijaw people want a Nigeria of justice and equity where we get what is due the people. Certainly, not a country where our oil is expropriated to other places and we do not get the maximum benefits", Diri stated.

Environmental lawyers demand action on fish death in Niger Delta

 

Environmental lawyers in the Niger Delta have expressed concerns over the looming public health danger occasioned by the contamination and massive death of fish along the Atlantic coastline of the region.

The lawyers under the aegis of the Association of Environmental Lawyers of Nigeria (AELN) urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to check the increased toxicity of the nation’s territorial waters.

Residents along the Atlantic coastline in Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers have reported massive death of croaker fish floating and littering the coastline since February.

The group made the call in a joint statement by Prof. Sam Dike, the President AELN and Mr Iniuro Wills, the President Ijaw Professionals Association, Homeland chapter  in Yenagoa.

Groups urge Ex-Gov Dickson to contest vacant Bayelsa West Senate seat

Stakeholders’ have called on the immediate past Governor of Bayelsa, Seriake Dickson to contest the forthcoming senatorial bye-election for Bayelss West.

Two Senate seats , Bayelsa Central and Bayelsa West are vacant following the swearing in of Senators Douye Diri, and Lawrence Erujakpor who occupied the seats as Governor and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa respectively

The members of Odoni and Aduku communities in Sagbama Local Government Area on Thursday urged Dickson to contest the forthcoming senatorial bye-election for Bayelss West.

NOSDRA says dead fishes on N/Delta coastline traced to discharge toxic wastes

The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on Thursday said findings on the dead fishes littering the Atlantic coastline indicated high levels of toxicity caused by toxic wastes discharge.

The agency noted that the discharge of toxic materials into the Atlantic may have come from land as the wastes from domestic and industrial sources often empties into the water body.

NOSDRA had on April 22 said it was coordinating a multi-agency investigation, aimed at unraveling the cause of the reported massive death of fishes within the nation’s territorial waters.

Mr Idris Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA in a statement said that the high toxicity of the dead fishes and water samples was caused by pollution from heavy metals from industrial and domestic wastes.

Count Ijaws out of secessionist Oduduwa Republic, IYC tells Afenifere

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) on Wednesday dissociated the Ijaws from the agitation for Oduduwa Republic and urged those behind the moves to steer clear of Ijaw lands and territories in their quest.

Kennedy Olorogun, Chairman, IYC Transition implementation Committee spoke to newsmen in Yenagoa following reports credited to Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a chieftain of Afenifere associating the Ijaws with Oduduwa Republic.


Adebanjo had in media reports credited to him last week included Ijaw territories as part of the proposed Oduduwa Republic as part of indegenouspeoples group for United Nations recognition.

Olorogun noted that the Ijaws were a distinct ethnic nationality and do not to be subsumed or used to agitate for relevance and advised those behind the plot to have a rethink.

COVID-19 Task Force in Bayelsa warns Zarama market traders on social distancing

The Bayelsa Task Force On Covid-19 has cautioned traders at Zarama market in Yenagoa LGA to comply with social distancing protocol to contain the pandemic in the state. 

The Task Force as part of its surveillance activities visited the market on Thursday to monitor the compliance to guidelines imposed by the state government to control the spread of the virus.

The security sub-committee headed by the Technical Assistant Bayelsa Governor on Security, Dr Boma Spero-Jack frowned at the lack of social distancing among those doing business at the market.

Dead Fishes on N/Delta coastline: Fishermen, NGOs seek investigation, remedy

Fishermen and stakeholders on Friday called on relevant regulatory agencies to identify the cause of massive death of fishes littering the Niger Delta coastline and find a lasting solution.

The group comprising community people across the Niger Delta region, environmentalists and members of the FishNet Alliance demanded that the culprit be sanctioned if the incident is caused by unnatural sources 

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) is leading a multi-agency investigation with other regulatory agencies with mandates in the nation’s territorial waters.

Ijaw Youth Council urges military to exercise restraint in Foropa, Bayelsa

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) on Tuesday advised the military to carry out its operations with restraint and avoid molesting innocent people in search of criminals Foropa community in Bayelsa.

The advice is sequel to ongoing military operations on suspected hideouts used by criminals being burnt down by soldiers on the trail of hoodlums.

The IYC said that reports of attack by the military on Foropa, a coastline settlement by the Atlantic coastline in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area when the people were battling with the COVID-19 pandemic was regrettable.

Dead Fishes: Shell denies discharge of toxic chemicals from Focados terminal

The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Monday said that the dead fishes floating and littering the Niger Delta coastline has got nothing to do with its operations.

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

An Environmentalist, Mr Furoebi Akene, had alleged that the dead fishes littering Niger Delta coastline were caused by the discharge of toxic chemicals from Shell’s operations at Ogulagha in Delta.

SPDC in a response statement said that there was no discharge of toxic chemicals from its operations at the Focados crude export terminal off Delta.

According to the statement signed by Mr Bamidele Odugbesan, Media Relations Manager at SPDC, there was no oil leakage from its activities linked to the dead fishes.

Odugbesan said that Shell was supporting the Delta government’s in investigating the cause of the massive death of fishes as well as participating in ongoing joint investigation by oil industry regulators.

“The SPDC hereby clarifies that there is no release of dangerous, toxic or chemical substances from its operations at the Forcados Oil Terminal, or from its facilities in Ogulagha or any part of the Niger Delta where the company operates.

“Relevant government agencies are already investigating the alleged fish kill incident along the coastline in the Niger Delta and SPDC is supporting the investigations.

“The Nigeria Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) was widely reported to have clearly stated that there is no evidence that oil and gas operations may have impacted the aquatic environment as being claimed in respect of the fish kill incident.

“On our part, we are working with the relevant government agencies and the Delta State Ministry of Environment in the investigation of the allegation.

“We have conducted a joint investigation visit to the coastline, samples have been collected and testing is ongoing in accredited laboratories,” Odugbesan stated.

 Mr Idris Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA, said that the agency found no connection with oil spills to the dead fishes and was looking at other probable causes.

Musa said that NOSDRA was coordinating a multi-agency investigation aimed at unraveling the cause of the massive death of fishes within the nation’s territorial waters and was looking beyond oil spill.

He said other regulatory agencies with mandates of safety in the maritime space, were deploying their expertise in the ongoing investigation, assuring that the process was being carried out with best practices.

“The death of fishes in large numbers make it expedient to look beyond oil spillage as the likely cause, as we found no trace of oil leakage to link with the dead fishes.

“The agency proceeded to collect samples of water, sediments and some of the dead fish for laboratory testing.

”In doing so, the agency brought onboard other relevant agencies of government that have mandate on our territorial waters.

“In particular, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Instutue of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Federal Institute of Fisheries Research and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

”This is for an all hands must be on deck in assessment of the possible cause or causes of death of the fishes in such large numbers,” Musa said.

NOSDRA concludes probe of Oil Spill from Shell’s facility at Angiama in Bayelsa

The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) says it has concluded investigations on a spill from Well 13 at Angiama in Bayelsa.

The oil well located at Angiama a coastline settlement by bank of River Nun, Southern Ijaw Local Government in Bayelsa is operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

Mr Idris Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA said in a telephone interview on Friday that 43 barrels of crude was discharged into the farmlands and nearby swamps.

Four new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Bayelsa

Four more cases of the Coronvirus cases were Thursday night confirmed in Bayelsa by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) taking the tally to five in Bayelsa.

According to Dr Inodu Akpoku, Chairman of the Bayelsa COVID-19 Implementation Task Force, the index case, a 49-year-old mother of three who was confirmed to be COVID-19 positive on April 26 has stabilized.

The index case, a diabetic and hypertensive who had rejected the COVID-19 test result is recovering fast at the isolation centre where she is currently being managed at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital.