The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationalities in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND} on Friday threatened a showdown with political office holders from the Niger Delta region in the federal cabinet if nothing is done to fast track the development of the region.
The position of MOSIEND was contained in a statement by the National Vice President of MOSIEND, Comrade Thompson Fuoye issued to newsmen after a meeting held with leaders of other Niger Delta ethnic nationalities in Warri.
Some residents of Ikarama community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa have lamented the adverse impact of an oil leak from a nearby oilfield.
The people on Monday advocated remediation of oil pollution from the April 7 leak from Shell’s 14-inch Okordia-Rumekpe pipeline which discharged crude into the ecosystem..
The Okordia-Rumemkpe crude trunkline, is part of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) conveys crude to the oil firm’s crude export terminal at Bonny in Rivers.
The Okordia-Rumekpe 14 inch crude trunkline operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has discharged some 213 barrels of crude into Ikarama community in Bayelsa.
Mr Bamidele Odugbesan, Media Relations Manager at SPDC confirmed the leak and said that the probe into the incident has been concluded.
According to a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) report obtained on the incident on Thursday, the incident occured on April 7 while the investigation was concluded on April 12.
Lawyers from Nembe in Bayelsa under the auspices said they are working to end violent agitation as a means of venting grievances in the oil rich Niger Delta region.
Addressing a virtual news conference, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, a traditional ruler in the Nembe speaking Brass area in Bayelsa said that the lawyers were committeed to the enthronement of an era of lawful means of conflict resolution.
Dokubo-Spiff, who is alss a leader of the forum noted that given the rich natural endowments of oil and gas, maritime potentials, the people would reap immense benefits if the resources were harnessed in an atmosphere of peace.
Mr Furoebi Akene, an Environmentalist on Monday urged the Bayelsa government to reopen the blocked Silver River to check the spread of Cholera which has claimed over 25 lives in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA).
Akene, Executive Director, Centre for Environmental Preservation and Development (CEPAD) said in an interview that the blockade has worsened the spread of the infectious disease.
According to him, the blockage had made the once fresh water which the residents along the river stagnant depend on for drinking and domestic purposes stagnant.
Chief Ebiye Tarabina, Chairman of the Directorate for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Monday expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work by contractors in various projects in the state.
Tarabina who gave the contractors a pat at the back during an inspection of some ongoing road projects in the state noted that the state government remains committed to ensuring standards set in contracts were attained in projects.
The industrial dispute at the 250,000 barrels per day capacity Agbami Offshore Oilfield operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has been resolved following a truce with aggrieved oil workers.
Mr Lumumba Okugbawa, General-Secretary of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) confirmed the development in a telephone chat on Friday.
According to him, the leadership of PENGASSAN and management of CNL reached agreements that resulted in the settlement of their concerns on impending job cuts and hence making the strike unnecessary.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has taken steps to avert an impending industrial action at Agbami Offshore Oilfield operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL).
Mr Lumumba Okugbawa, General-Secretary of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said this in a telephone conversation on Wednesday from Yenagoa.
The Police in Bayelsa on Tuesday confirmed the death of a suspected cultist when two rival cult groups clashed in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital.
It was gathered that the clash left many injured as matchetes, knives, axes and other dangerous weapons were freely used in the violent clash.
Environmentalists have urged Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to remediate areas polluted by an oil leak from its facility in Yenagoa and Ogbia Local Government Areas in Bayelsa.
The environmentalists under the auspices of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) SPDC noted that the leak discharged crude into the Ekole River, a tributary of Nun River.
The leadership of Bilabiri community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Tuesday said it is seeking the return of residents forced to flee the settlement for criminals from the area.
The people had on April 3 asked the state and federal governments to restore normalcy following the sack of residents by criminals but regretted that peace was yet to return.
Mr David Bazigha, Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC) for Bilabiri 1, coastline settlement said in an interview in Yenagoa that government of Bayelsa had waded into the issue.
Chief Timipre Sylva, Minister of State For Petroleum Resources, at the weekend said the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGAPS) at Emeyal, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa will create at least 2,000 jobs on completion.
Sylva, who visited the NOGAPS site to ascertain the pace of work, said the project which is 70 per cent completed, would be ready for inauguration by the fourth quarter of 2022.
The Bayelsa Government on Monday said that it would ensure that its ongoing infrastructure projects across the state meet world class standards as well as provide value for money.
Mr. Ebiye Tarabina, the Chairman of the Directorate for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, said this while inspecting ongoing projects in the state.
The people of Igbo-Ukwu community in Anambra has said plans were on to revive the traditional ‘Igbu Ichi’ rites, as a way of keeping and preserving the cultural heritage of the people reputed to be the cradle of Igbo civilisation.
The community said that they were disturbed by the loss of interest in cultural activities by the present generation, describing it as a development that had threatened the learning of indigenous languages of the Igbo race.
The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has confirmed an oil leak incident from its facility at Agbura-Otuokpoti axis in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa as impacted communities lament the negative impact of the oil discharged by the spill.
Whereas SPDC claims to have responded swiftly, residents say that as at Saturday, spill response was yet to begin.
Hearing on two cases involving a former General Manager of Radio Bayelsa, Mr John Idumange, who raised alarm over alleged diversion of N3 billion Agric loan by government officials was on Thursday adjourned till April 16.
The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in Bayelsa, Biriyai Sambo (SAN), had sued Idumange for misdemeanour and seditious publications against government officials who Idumange accused of diverting the loan.
Meanwhile Idumange who was detained by the order of a Magistrate court where he was arraigned approached a Bayelsa High Court which vacated the detention order of the Magistrate court and granted him bail.
