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.