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.