PDP Convention: Bayelsa Party faithful applauds election of 25 year old as Youth Leader

Mr. Ogidi Bara, a loyalist of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa on Sunday applauded the election of  a 25 year old as National Youth Leader of the party at the just concluded elective convention of the party.

 

Bara in a reaction to the emergence of Mr. Kadade Suleiman,  the newly elected National Youth Leader of the PDP noted that the party has rediscovered itself and would come back to reckoning as its election reflected the wishes of the electorate.

 

 Bara who was a one time aspirant of PDP  National Youth Leader, described the emergence of Suleman, a youth in the true sense of the word as a round peg in a round hole.

 

Chevron funded Rural Devt Foundation in Bayelsa suspends 6 for alleged misrepresentation

A rural development foundation in Bayelsa comprising eight communities in Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government Areas of the state has suspended six of its 32 members for alleged misrepresentation.

 

The communities are Koluama 1 and 2, Ezetu 1 and 2, Foropa, Fishtown, Ekeni and Sangana forming the acronym KEFFES as parties to the Global Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chevron and First E & P, two oil firms operating in the area..

KEEFES Rural Development Foundation (KRDF) announced the disciplinary measures on its erring members in a Communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting and made available to newsmen in Yenagoa on Sunday

 

Community based tourism can transform rural areas says Gov Diri's Aide

Mr. Piriye Kiyaramo, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Douye Diri on Tourism says that tourism at the community levels can turn the economic fortunes in rural areas in Bayelsa if properly harnessed.

He appealed to communities in the state to form tourism platforms such as travel clubs or associations to liaise with appropriate agencies, institutions and industry associations to profile their tourism  potentials. 

According to Kiyaramo, who described community based tourism as an alternative economic activity that bridges the social and economic gap of rural communities

Niger Delta youth group to honour NNPC GMD, Mele Kyari for transparency , reforms

A Niger Delta youths group, the Niger Delta Youth Coalition for Progress and Peace, (NDYCPP) says it plans to honour the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari for creating opportunities, transparency and probity.

 

The NDYCPP,  noted that before  Kyari assumed office as the GMD of NNPC there were a lot of unresolved as well as lingering issues that tend to hamper the oil sector from achieving its full potential.

 

They said that with the coming on board of Kyari he has convinced industry watchers of the new direction of the NNPC by making the financial books open transparently for public probity which have changed the opacity in the system.

 

Ijaws welcome proposed pardon for en Saro-Wiwa, seeks apology

The Ijaw under the auspices of Ijaw National Congress (INC) said on Saturday applauded proposed plans to grant state pardon to late Ken Saro-Wwa.and demanded that an apology was most appropriate.

 

 

The INC urged the Federal Government should appease to the people of Ogoni Kingdom, Ijaw nation and the entire Niger Delta for the alleged wrongful killing of Saro-Wiwa in November 1995.

 

 

Prof Benjamin Okaba, President of INC made the position known in a statement he issued in Yenagoa while reacting to the proposed state pardon by the Federal Government for the slain Ogoni activist and writer.

 

Court grants bail to teenage girl facing trial for circulating nude video of retired Bayelsa Perm. Sec.

A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa on Thursday granted bail to a teenage girl facing trial for cybercrime by the Department of State Services (DSS).

 

The DSS on Monday arraigned the teenager before the court for circulating the nude video of a retired Bayelsa permanent secretary on social media.

 

In the one-count charge, prosecuting counsel, Mr Victor Uchendu, told the court that the accused engaged in cyber-stalking by circulating the retiree’s nude picture on a Whatspp group.

 

 

DSS arraigns teenage girl for circulating nude video of retired Bayelsa Perm. Sec.

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday arraigned a teenage girl before the Federal High Court, Yenagoa, for circulating the nude video of a retired Bayelsa permanent secretary on social media.

 

In the one-count charge, prosecuting counsel, Mr Victor Uchendu, told the court that the accused engaged in cyber-stalking by circulating the retiree’s nude picture on a Whatspp group.

 

Dennis Otiotio emerges Bayelsa APC chairman

Chief Dennis Otiotio, a political associate of Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has emerged Bayelsa Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC).

Retired Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Yusuf Adejo and Chairman of the state congress planning committee disclosed this when he announced the results of the congress on Saturday in Yenogoa.

Adejo said that Otiotio scored 582 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Dan Igrubia, who scored eight votes.

Ex-President Jonathan’s cousin Azibola Robert wants ‘ban’ on local gin “Kaikai” lifted

Mr. Azibaola Roberts a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday advocated lifting of the ban on local gin popularly known as Kaikai.

 

 

 

The production and consumption of the  locally distilled drink also known in local parlance as ‘Ogogoro’ was banned in June 2015 by Bayelsa government following death of 20 people in Ondo state after consuming the drink.

 

 

Other states in the Niger Delta region subsequently outlawed the production and consumption of the local drink, however the consumption has remained canelstine due to clampdown by security agencies.

 

 

Energy Transition: Shell working to make Nigeria gas hub – Official

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, (SPDC) on Monday said it is well positioned to transform Nigeria into a gas hub within the Gulf of Guinea in line with the global quest for cleaner energy.

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The company said it actively supports the nation’s Natural Gas Expansion Program  of the Federal Government introduced in the year 2020 envisioned to make the country utilize its vast gas resources effectively.

 

 

The Country Head, Corporate Relations, SPDC, Mr. Igo Wei disclosed this in his remarks at the 7^th Annual Public Lecture of the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council which took place at the Matho Crystal Hotel, Yenagoa.

Police advocates review of procedure at checkpoints in Bayelsa waterways

The Police Command in Bayelsa has attributed the  drop in crime within the waterways in Bayelsa to intensified collaboration amongst the security agencies and called for review of procedures at checkpoints.

Mr Emmanuel Asufi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police spoke at the sidelines of the just concluded 7th Annual Lecture of Federated Correspondents Chapel of the Bayelsa Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists in Yenagoa.

The theme of this year’s lecture is Maritime Security: Implications for Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry.

He observed that following the improved maritime security in the creeks and waterways, there was need the review the procedure which makes it mandatory for all passengers to raise both hands on approaching checkpoints.

EFCC drags Ex-Gov Dickson's aide, wife to court for money laundering

 

The Economic!ic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC) on Friday brought Mr Embelakpo Apere and his wife, Beauty Apere to Federal High Court Yenagoa for arraignment for money laundering allegedly carried out in 2015.

Embelakpo was a former aide on Sustainable Development Goals to Ex-Gov Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa who is currently a Senator representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly.

Following opposition by Defense Counsel, Andrew Arthur to the arraignment of Embelakpo, he could not take his plea but his wife was arraigned on seven counts and pleaded not guilty.

Bayelsa debt burden hits N150.60 bn as Gov. Diri gets nod to restructure loans

Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa has received the approval of the Bayelsa House of Assembly to restructure the state’s commercial debts with some banks, to ease the state’s monthly debt servicing obligations.

Diri had in September 2020 secured the approval of the Bayelsa House of Assembly to obtain N17 billion loan from multiple sources.

According to data obtained from the Debt Management Office’s website, Bayelsa’s debt profile as of June 2021 stood at over N150.60 billion, up from the N123 billion the present administration inherited when it came to power in Feb. 2020.