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.