Families of Agip’s pipeline explosion victims lament neglect insensitivity by firm

Relatives of the victims of the pipeline explosion   at Agip’s oil field at Azuzuama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa have decried the neglect and insensitivity of the oil firm.

A pipeline explosion on July 9, 2015 left 14 people including a regulatory official of Bayelsa Ministry of Environment and National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and 12 others dead.

Officials of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), representatives of the host community and Bayelsa Ministry of Environment were investigating the cause of a recent oil spill in the area when the blast occurred.

The Director-General of the oil spill agency NOSDRA  Dr Peter Idabor had bemoaned the poor safety procedures at Agip’s oilfields which resulted to death of its staff and an official of Bayelsa Ministry of Environment.

“It is such a painful experience to us in NOSDRA, we have informed the family of the affected staff who hailed from Enugu state and we are in talks with Bayelsa government who also lost a staff from its ministry of environment.

“This incident shows the kind of risks and hazards that our officers are constantly exposed to in the discharge of our mandate at oilfields amidst daunting challenges and limitations,”  Idabor said.

More than one year afterwards relatives of the victims of the July 9 , 2015 blast say that the pains of the loss were still with them even as they accused Agip of neglecting the dependants of the victims.

Mr Clinton Italia a relative of one of the victims said  on Wednesday  that all that the family got was a N800,000 burial assistance and N7.4 million interim palliative.

“Life has been difficult and painful for the families of the victims of the explosion at Azuzuama. Apart from the burial assistance and the sum of N7.4 million, nothing has been done to the oilfield to forestall future accidents.

“The dependants of the deceased feel abandoned as Agip is yet to pay the main compensation, we have waited for the compensation and other promises they made to no avail and we are looking at ways of taking up the case with them.” Italia said.

Mr Karibi MacDonald , Spokesman of the bereaved families said on Wednesday in Yenagoa that Agip had neither shown remorse nor commiserated with his family and that of other victims.

“ It is very unfortunate that Agip is so insensitive to the needless death of 14 Nigerians due to the poor safety records in their oil fields, there has been no contact with us, relatives of late staff of Bayelsa Environment Ministry.

“The stance of Agip since this incident occurred has been regrettable they have not bothered to contact us even during the burial of the victims, when my own brother was d we did not see Agip.

“It is very sad that a foreign company can be this arrogant and be shying away from its liability and could not even commiserate with the bereaved families.

“We are calling on the federal government who are their joint venture partners to call them to order to avert incurring the wrath of the dead, the total lack of remorse by Agip is unacceptable.

“So far, preliminary investigations show that no effort was made to prevent the explosion as flammable materials were not cleared from the site before repair work, neither was the pipeline shut.

 “What happened was not an accident, it was preventable, Agip killed our brothers and they are not sorry about what has happened,” MacDonald said..

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria had on September 16  demanded  $28 million  compensation for  14 victims, amounting to $2 million for each victim.

However,  Eni , Italian Energy firm and the parent company of NAOC declined to comment on the development when contacted.

Ex-Militants lament outstanding stipends appeal to FG to clear 3 months arrears

  Ex-militants, under  the Amnesty Programme have  lamented non-payment of their allowances and appealed to the Federal Government to pay their three months  outstanding stipends.

Mr Ramsey Mukoro, leader of the third phase of the amnesty scheme also said that his group has not been paid for the past three months.

The Chairman of the second phase in Bayelsa Mr Ebina Salvation, in a statement made available to media in Yenagoa on Monday said the non payment of the stipends was a burden to ex-agitators.

He noted that the existing peace in the Niger Delta was as a result of the amnesty programme, adding that the delay in the payment of stipends to ex-militants was regrettable and protests could endanger the peace.

Salvation, therefore, pleaded with the government to release adequate funds to the Amnesty Office for effective implementation of the programme.

The ex-militant leader also called on the Federal Government to go back to the blueprint of the amnesty programme and implement its content by interfacing with the Coordinator of the scheme, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.) and the ex-agitators.

Salvation restated that the Amnesty Office under the leadership of Boroh was doing well and therefore should not be blamed for the delay in the payment of their stipends.

“We, therefore, describe the allegations of the faction as false, baseless, mischievous and wicked.

“The allegations lack substance and should be thrown to the dustbin of history by all right thinking persons.

“We, therefore, urge members of the group to discountenance Stephen Ebisintei’s display of falsehood which is a figment of his imagination and that of his co-travelers,” he said.

Salvation maintained that the CBN was  not Amnesty Phase 2 Office but a bank accountable and rendering services to all Nigerians, both nationally and internationally.

He, therefore, called on the security agents to be alert, urging them to find out from amnesty office the recognised leadership of the Phase to enable them to stop people using the name to issue unnecessary treats and publications.

“That is the only way to hold people responsible if anything happens. Our leadership is enlightened, reasonable, law abiding and has respect for elders and the government,” he stated.

Mr Piriye Kiyaramo, Liaison Officer at the Bayelsa Office of the Amnesty Officer declined comments when contacted by a NAN Correspondent for reaction on the outstanding stipends. 

Nigerian Army concludes ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ drill in Bayelsa creeks loosing 4 soldiers

The  Nigerian Army on Sunday concluded a military drill to train its Special Forces on  operations in  maritime environment in Twon Brass, a coastal settlement in Bayelsa where four soldiers got drowned during the operation.

Col. Sani Usman had confirmed the death of the soldiers who died in a boat mishap during the commencement of the military exercise earlier in the week.

Addressing the soldiers during the closing ceremony, the Minister of  Defense, Rtd Brigadier General Mansur Dan Ali, said the exercise code named “Operation Crocodile Smile was aimed enhancing operational effectiveness in the creeks.

Ali, who was represented by  the Permanent Secretary, Mr  Danjuma Sheni,   said the military exercise was also to defend the territorial the  and secure  area.

He said the idea was to stimulate the troops in a drill to see how effective they can be in carrying out their operations.

“We have the capacity, the expertise and the manpower to defend this area, the people and the oil facilities.

“It’s not to harass, intimidate or threaten the community people but also to protect them from the so called miscreant and oil thieves “The Minister said..

According to him, the exercise was preceded by consultations community leaders in the area and sensitization of the people on the importance of the exercise.

“We made the people to see that the troops are here for them, so we built trust and confidence of the residents and allayed their fears.

“We cannot allow some criminal elements to continue to operate along the water ways killing innocent people who are busy going about their legitimate business., we want to make the water way safe”. He said.

He said the launch 'of crocodile smile is to checkmate the  activities of militancy group, pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering, amongst other maritime crimes.

In his remark, the Chief of Army staff, Lt.- Gen. Tukur Burutai, said the exercise has achieved a tremendous results and improved the combat readiness of the troops.

The Army Chief said that several arms and ammunitions have been recovered from criminals while destruction of illegal refineries were carried out during the operation which still continues.

He observed that the challenges were enormous but assured the troops that with the support of the military high command, success was imminent.

“We are not working alone, all the security agencies are with us and we are partnering  to fight this criminals.

“They have turned our water ways to criminal haven and made it unsafe for innocent people that pass through to go about their legal business”. The Army Chief said.

Some 10,000 army personnel have been trained in the exercise which the Chief of Army Staff said would continue at regular intervals...

Also speaking, Hon. Sony Goli, Member Representing Brass Constituency I in the Bayelsa  House of Assembly, said the exercise is a welcome development and long overdue.

 .
Goli noted that those calling for withdrawal  of military in the areas, were criminals and assured that the people will partner with the military to make sure were flushed out.

Highlight of the occasion included donation of educational materials to Community Primary Schools 1, 2 and Saint Barnabas School Brass near the operational base of the Army in Brass.

The troops also provided free medical treatment to the people of Brass during the operation.

 Also two promoted officers, Major Bala Ikandu and Captain Abraham Ali Baba in charge of gun boat fleet in Operation Delta Safe were decorated with their new ranks. (

Ex-Militants appeal to FG to clear 3 months stipends arrears

 Former Niger Delta militants, under the auspices of the second phase of the Amnesty Programme, have appealed to the Federal Government to pay their three months  outstanding stipends.

The Chairman of the second phase in Bayelsa Mr Ebina Salvation, in a statement on made available to ews Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Sunday said the non payment of the stipends was a burden to ex-agitators.

 He noted that the existing peace in the Niger Delta was as a result of the amnesty programme, adding that the delay in the payment of stipends to ex-militants was regrettable. 

Salvation, therefore, pleaded with the government to release adequate funds to the Amnesty Office for effective implementation of the programme.

The ex-militant leader also called on the Federal Government to go back to the blueprint of the amnesty programme and implement its content by interfacing with the Coordinator of the scheme, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.) and the ex-agitators. 

He, however, discountenanced the Second Phase from a statement purportedly written by factional leader of the programme, Stephen Ebisintei, who allegedly threatened that they would shut down all Central Bank of Nigeria branches in the region over failure to pay their stipends.

Salvation restated that the Amnesty Office under the leadership of Boroh was doing well and therefore should not be blamed for the delay in the payment of their stipends.

"We, therefore, describe the allegations of the faction as false, baseless, mischievous and wicked.

“The allegations lack substance and should be thrown to the dustbin of history by all right thinking persons.

"We, therefore, urge members of the group to discountenance Stephen Ebisintei's display of falsehood which is a figment of his imagination and that of his co-travelers." the statement read in part

Salvation maintained that the CBN is not Amnesty Phase 2 Office but a bank accountable and rendering services to all Nigerians, both nationally and internationally.

He, therefore, called on the security agents to be alert, urging them to find out from amnesty office the recognized leadership of the Phase to enable them to stop people using the name to issue unnecessary treats and publications.

"That is the only way to hold people responsible if anything happens. Our leadership is enlightened reasonable, law abiding and has respect for elders and the government," he stated.

Mr Piriye Kiyaramo, Liaison Officer at the Bayelsa Office of the Amnesty Officer  declined comments when contacted for reaction on the outstanding stipends. 

Oil leak from Agip’s oil field in Kalaba, Bayelsa pollutes community

The people of Kalaba community in Bayelsa   have bemoaned adverse impacts of an oil leak from an oil field operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) ravaging the area.

The leak, according to residents was discovered in the area in August and is currently spilling crude spreading fast to the swamps and forest, bringing the ecosystem in the community under  threat.

The inhabitants of Kalaba community, Yenagoa Local Government Area lamented that over a month after the spill occurred, it had yet to be contained,.nor the environment remediated.

They appealed to the government and relevant authorities to prevail on NAOC to halt the spill and carry out remediation on the site.

Chief Roman Orukali Paramount ruler of the community, said on Wednesday that though officials of the company visited the area, the spill had yet to be put under control.

"Agip came to the site on August 5 though they have yet to reach the area because of water but up till now the oil is still bubbling and it is heading into the swamp.

“That is one of the fishing swamps we have and if not cleaned up in time, it will affect us adversely.

"They don’t attend to spill on time, so I am appealing to the Federal Government to prevail on the company to return to the spill site on time and make the necessary clean up and remediation." He said

The youth leader of the community, Mr. Samuel Opuro, said aquatic and farming activities were worst hit by the spills.

  "When it got to my notice, it was on the 2nd of August and I am very sure that the spills happened even before then.

" For the site to remain that way for over a month you know what it means and when it rains, oil particles go deep into the soil and they affect farmlands, crops, even our economic trees are dying." Oburo said

Mr Alagoa Morris, a renowned Environmentalist  called on the multinational oil firm to take urgent steps to clamp the spill in order to avert imminent danger.

"This is rainy season, the spill will impact the surrounding swamp. This is when swamp time fishing activities take place and with the spill, that is affected because it is spreading within the surrounding swamps.

"That is why we are very much concerned, because the more the spill, the more the water takes it far away from the very spill point." Morris said.

The Environmental rights activist, however, urged the community to promptly report incidents of oil spills in their areas to ensure timely clean up.

It will be recalled that Kalaba Community had earlier in February  experienced a gas leak which occurred underneath the Taylor Creek.

The Management of Eni, Italian energy firm and parent company of NAOC decline comments on the development when contacted by a NAN Correspondent. 

DSS/Police Call For Postponement of Edo Poll Poorly Timed, Shows Lack of Synergy

TMG Media Office

September 7, 2016

PRESS STATEMENT

DSS/Police Call For Postponement of Edo Poll Poorly Timed, Shows Lack of Synergy

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has carefully assessed the calls by two key security agencies, the Nigeria Police Force and the Department for State Security (DSS) for the postponement of the Edo State governorship election of September 10, 2016.  Given the sensitive nature of such a weighty decision, it is our considered view that the advice was poorly timed, and wrongly presented.

It is trite fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies have meeting forums and channels of communication. It is astonishing that INEC appears not have been taken into confidence before the security agencies came out in full glare of the public to announce its preference for a postponement. This clear interference in the electoral process by the security agencies, is a throwback to the 2015 general election, which was also postponed at the behest of the nation’s security chiefs.

TMG feels strongly that this tendency could undermine the confidence of voters and precipitate apathy and is capable of building tension in the electoral space. This could lead to electoral violence, which the security agencies are supposedly trying to prevent. Nonetheless, since it is within INEC’s purview to make the final decision and since the Commission is backed by law to postpone the elections if need be, TMG calls on voters, political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to remain calm and allow INEC make the call. TMG is also of the considered view that all stakeholders in the electoral process should be patient as INEC deliberates to reach a decision, which we expect to be made diligently and in good faith.

Signed:

Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi

Chairperson, TMG

TMG Deploys Observers in 18 LGs For Edo Governorship Election •Sets Agenda For INEC, Others On Lapses From Recent Governorship Polls

TMG Media Office

September 7, 2016

PRESS RELEASE

TMG Deploys Observers in 18 LGs For Edo Governorship Election

·         Sets Agenda For INEC, Others On Lapses From Recent Governorship Polls

Nigeria’s foremost election observation coalition, the Transition Monitoring Group will be deploying observers in the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State for the governorship election on Saturday, September 10, 2016. TMG Chairperson, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi said the observers will closely watch the electoral process to ensure it substantially complies with the relevant national laws, as well as international conventions governing free, fair and credible polls.

The TMG helmswoman however stressed the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies, as well as the political parties to learn from the experiences of previous elections. Specifically, Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi called on all stakeholders in Edo to ensure that the unsavoury incidents, which tainted the legitimacy of the electoral process in the in the Kogi State governorship election of November 21 and December 5, 2015, as well as the Bayelsa Governorship election of December 5, 2015 and January 9, 2016, do not occur again.

Dr Akiyode-Afolabi observed that with two governorship and several legislative rerun polls conducted on the watch of the current INEC and the security agencies, they are now experienced enough to anticipate and mitigate most of the threats that could undermine conclusive and credible polls in Nigeria.

She said: “TMG robustly observed the last two governorship elections conducted by INEC, and policed by the security agencies. That is why we want all stakeholders to pause and think of the observation findings from those polls, so that we can proactively find ways to prevent the kinds of problems we saw in the previous elections, and ensure the votes in Edo State count on Saturday. In the Bayelsa governorship election of December 5, 2015 for instance, TMG observed how the two leading political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), mobilized militants to do their bidding. This resulted in violence, harassment and intimidation of poll officials, voters and observers. In Edo State, the security agencies must be alive to their responsibilities to ensure that the kind of fierce and undemocratic political environment, does not undermine the vote or lead to an inconclusive process as it was in Bayelsa.”

With regards to the electoral process itself, the TMG Chairperson equally noted that there are lessons to be learnt in how the simultaneous accreditation and voting process fared in the last governorship election conducted by INEC. She said in Bayelsa, while INEC’s decision to merge the accreditation and voting processes was, in itself, a step towards international best practice, the timing of the decision, which resulted in a change of the electoral procedures 48 hours before the opening of the polls, did not allow enough time for officials to get acquainted with the new procedure.

“At TMG, we are convinced that stakeholders in the electoral process must take steps to ensure these kinds of lapses do not happen in Edo. If these issues are not addressed and the voting rights of citizens protected on Election Day, what we risk is apathy and an erosion of citizens’ trust in the electoral process,” she said.

According to Akiyode-Afolabi, all stakeholders must work to prevent the various infractions, which have marred previous elections, including the most serious critical incidents like ballot Box snatching/stuffing, intimidation and harassment of voters, poll officials, observers and political party poll agents, stealing of ballot papers, vote buying/bribery, observers not permitted to observe, not posting results, partisan poll officials and the refusal of some poll officials to count ballot papers.

   

Signed:

TMG Media Office