Dutch court ruling on N/Delta spill victims: Fishermen want Shell to pay $3.6 bn Bonga spill fine

Artisanal Fishermen Association of Nigeria (ARFAN), on Sunday applauded Friday’s Dutch Court ruling that found Shell liable of polluting the farmlands of four farmers in the Niger Delta.

They urged the oil firm which lost the case at appeal to consider complying with the judgement and compensate the farmers and remediate the polluted environment as ordered by the Durch Appeal Court.

A Dutch court on Friday ordered the Nigerian subsidiary of Shell, to pay compensation over the 2008 oil spills in Oruma, Bayelsa, Goi in Rivers and Ikot Ada Udo, in Akwa Ibom.

Shell, Environmentalists differ on Dutch court’s ruling on 4 N/Delta spill victims

The Shell Petroleum Development Company oSPDC) and prominent Environmentalists have held divergent views on Friday's verdict by a Dutch court that found Shell liable for pollution of farmlands and fish ponds of four farmers in Niger Delta.

While SPDC expressed disappointment over the ruling, some environmentalists applauded the decision of a Dutch Court of Appeal in favour of the farmers affectA Dutch court on Friday ordered the Nigerian subsidiary of Shell to pay compensation over 2008 oil spills in Oruma, Bayelsa, Goi in Rivers and Ikot Ada Udo in Akwa Ibom.

Dutch Court Judgement on Bayelsa Spill Victims : ERA/FoEN applaud decision against Shell

Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has applauded the decision of a Dutch Court of Appeal in favour four Bayelsa farmers impacted by oil spills.

 

 

Dutch court on Friday ordered the Nigerian subsidiary of Shell to pay compensation over oil spills in Bayelsa.

 

 

The Court of Appeal in The Hague  ruled that the Nigerian arm of the British-Dutch company should compensate the four farmers and a clean-up of pollution from leaking oil pipelines.

NOSDRA, Environmentalists, trail Bayelsa oil spill to Conoil’s facility

Investigation into the Jan. 16, oil spill near Funiwa offshore facilities off the Atlantic coast,near Bayelsa has taken regulators and environmentalists beyond Chevron facilities to nearby Auntie Julie platform.

The team, which on Jan. 23, visited communities affected by the oil leakage in Koluama in Southern Ijaw Local government on Friday continued its effort in tracing the source of the leakage.

They took samples from the polluted sites for laboratory analysis jn a bid to arrive at an evidence-based conclusion.

Ex-President Jonathan urges mothers to prioritise parenting for a better society

Former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday appreciated the crucial role of women in child upbringing and urged mothers to pay adequate attention to their parenting roles.

He noted that proper upbring of children ensures a better society as the foundation starts from the home.

Jonathan stated these while paying  tributes to the late Madam Molly Ogoun at Anyama-Ogbia, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa during a condolence visit to the bereaved family.

Bayelsa says N38 bn refunds slashed to N27 bn in a ‘discount deal’

The Bayelsa Government on Sunday said that it got N27 billion and not N38 bn approved by the Federal Government for federal projects executed by the state from 2005 till date.

 

 

The Senate had on Nov. 24, 2020 approved promissory notes and bond issuances worth N148.1 billion as refunds to some states for executing federal; projects. 

 

 

The beneficiaries are Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Osun and Ondo State governments.

 

Environmentalists, Regulators visit spill impacted communities in Bayelsa

Preliminary investigations into the Jan. 16, oil leak near Funiwa offshore facilities. off the Atlantic coast commenced on Friday with visit by Bayelsa government officials, regulatory agencies and representatives of impacted communities.

It will be recalled that fishermen around the Atlantic Ocean coastline had on Jan. 17 sighted and  reported an oil leak suspected to be from the Funiwa fields following the leakage of the previous day.

However, the operator of the nearby Funiwa field, Chevron denied responsibility for the leakage.

Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) on Friday maintained that reported leaks near its operational areas near its Funiwa offshore facilities off the Atlantic coast was not from its facilities and pledged to support regulators in tracing the source.

Fishermen around the Atlantic Ocean coastline had on Sunday reported an oil leak suspected to be from the Funiwa fields.

Bayelsa Rep, Agbedi urges youths to generate ideas to tackle challenges at constituency

Hon Fred Agbedi representing Sagbama-Ekeremor Federal Constituency has urged youths of his area to contribute ideas to tackle challenges of unemployment, insecurity, low access to health and eduction.

Agbedi, a PDP lawmaker made the call on Friday during a town hall meeting convened by Mr  Ouseibai Godsgift youth parliamentarian representing Bayelsa West at the Nigerian Youth Parliament in Sagbama town, Bayelsa.

Agbedi who was  represented by his Legislative Aide, Kevin Tawari commended the convener of the gathering for the thoughtfulness displayed in making input to solving problems in the constituency rather than resort to persimism.

Chevron’s Funiwa Oil Spill: Environmentalist seeks stringent regulation at offshore fields

An Environmental Rights Activist, Alagoa Morris on Wednesday called for more stringent regulation of activities of oil firms operating offshore within Nigerian territorial waters.

 

Morris noted that recent incidents have shown that oil and gas exploration at offshore fields comes with greater risks to the maritime environment.

Chevron, Host community bicker over source of oil spill at Funiwa oilfield in Bayelsa

Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and its host communities have held divergent views on leaks reported at Funiwa Oil Fields operated by the oil film off Bayelsa shoreline.

 

 

 

Fishermen operating near the Atlantic Ocean coastline had on Sunday reported an oil leak suspected to be from the Funiwa Fields.

 

 

While the fishermen from CNL’s host community at Koluama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area point accusing fingers at Chevron, the oil firm denies the allegations.

 

Fishermen report oil spill at Chevron’s Funiwa oilfield off Bayelsa coastline

Fishermen operating in the shallow waters of the Atlantic Ocean near Bayelsa coastline on Sunday reported an oil leak suspected to be from the Funiwa oilfield operated by Chevron Nigeria (CNL).

 

 

Fishermen from Koluama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area noticed crude on the waters near the oil facility as helicopters were seen overflying the area.

 

 

Tombra Ebitimi, a fisherman from the coastal settlement said in a telephone chat on Sunday, that he noticed the incident on Saturday night and subsequently reported same to the community leadership.

Budget Transparency: Bayelsa did not participate in N123.34 bn 2020 grant to states - Commissioner

The Bayelsa government on Friday said that the current administration did not participate in the 2020 budget transparency assessment by the federal government and therefore dismissed reports that the state failed to meet set criteria.

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  Mr Ayiba Duba,Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy in Bayelsa said in an interview in Yenagoa that the current administration in the state came into office on Feb. 14, 2020.
  
  
  He explained that the state was in transition mode as at Jan. 2020 when the assessment was conducted and could not have participated when its 2020 budget was passed in March 2020,after the assessment.
  
  
  
  
  

Rep Agbedi harps on entrepreneurship as 100 constituents benefit from skills acquisition scheme.

Rep Fred Agbedi, PDP, Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency on Thursday urged members of his constituency to embrace entrepreneurship as a way out of the current economic downturn.

Agbedi who gave the advice during a skills acquisition training for 100 beneficiaries drawn from his constituency , noted that entrepreneurship was a sure path to self reliance as there is dignity in labour.  

The two day training was jointly facilitated by the lawmaker and the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA).

OMLs 83, 85 host community youths in Bayelsa yearn for jobs ahead production start up

Youths from  Koluama communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government of Bayelsa have applauded the successful development of Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 83 and 85 to production start up.

The youths expressed hope that anticipated upsurge in project activities would create jobs for them as they have a pool of skilled youths in specialised oil and gas vocations.

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.

NDDC leadership: Ijaw youths hold divergent views on way forward

The Ijaw youths under the auspices of the Ijaw Youth Council have held divergent views on the appointment of an interim sole administrator for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)

The Nation President of the youth body, Mr Peter Igbifa, has proposed a stakeholders’ parley to discuss the issue, while the Zonal leaders of the IYC have threatened to protest and shut down the NDDC headquarters.

The Zonal leadership opposed to a dialogue include Comrade Tobin James (Chairman, Eastern Zone), Chief Frank Akiefa, (Chairman Western zone), Comrade Clever Osuma Inodu, (Chairman Central zone) and Chief Diplomat Adam Ogomugo Marbo (Chairman Abuja Chapter).

Law firm advocates use of gas flare, oil pollution fines to compensate victims

A law firm Ntephe, Smith and Wills (NSW), on Monday called for channeling of gas flare and oil pollution fines to ameliorate adverse effects of oil and gas on host communities.

It advocated a reform that will prioritise giving adequate compensations to the victims of oil and gas exploration related pollution as a condition for collecting fines for oil pollution and gas flaring.

 

 

Mr Iniruo Wills, Lead Counsel for NSW made the call at a knowledge sharing session hosted by the chamber and the Institute of the Environment Limited, in Port Harcourt.

Fred Agbedi urges constituents to approach to New Year with hope, optimism

Rep Fred Agbedi, member representing Sagbama-Ekeremor Federal Constituency of Bayelsa, has urged members of his constituency and Nigerians to approach the New Year with hope and optimism.

Agbedi, who made the call in a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr Miriki Ebikebina in Yenagoa, called on the people to go into 2021 with renewed hope and optimism in God for better days ahead.

The lawmaker noted that 2020 had gone with its plethora of challenges and unsettling uncertainties.