Chief of Defense Staff’s wife distributes paluatived to widows of fallen heroes in Bayelsa

The Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) says no fewer than 120 widows of fallen heroes of the Armed Forces have benefited from its humanitarian gesture.

The President of DEPOWA, and wife if the Chief of Defense Staff, Mrs Oghogho Musa, disclosed this at the weekend while presenting the food items to the widows at Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) in Yenagoa.

The food items, distributed by DEPOWA included bags of rice (25kg), cartons of noodles, tubers of yam, vegetable oil and spaghettis, among others.

Oil theft: Tantita, NSCDC apprehend crude laden vessel at SPDC’s field in Bayelsa

The Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) has impounded MT Kally, an ocean-going vessel laden with suspected stolen crude oil in Bayelsa barely 24 hours after the Nigerian Navy launched "Operation Delta Sanity" in Warri.

The vessel, laden with yet-to-be ascertained volume of crude estimated to be in region of thousands of metric tonnes of crude was impounded on Thursday in a joint operation by the officials of TSSL and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

TSSL, is a private security outfit is owned by a former militant leader in the Niger Delta, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

N/Delta youths say Ogbuku’s leadership at NDDC is endearing opposition to APC

Some youth groups in the Niger Delta on Tuesday said the inclusive style of Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is endearing opposition party members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

They noted that the open door policies of the current leadership at NDDC has placed the Commision at the service of Niger Delta people across party lines making inputs to development plans for the region.

Child right advocacy group kicks against marriage of 4 year old girl to a 54 year old man In Bayelsa

A Child rights advocacy group in Bayelsa , DO Foundation on Thursday kicked against the Dec 26 traditional marriage between a four years old ‘bride’ and a 54 year old man at Akeddei community in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

DO Foundation, in a statement availed to reporters in Yenagoa, described the marriage as illegal, criminal and child marriage which is against the constitution and the Child Rights Act.

MOSIEND attributes Diri’s re-election to his inclusive leadership style

The Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has attributed the re-election victory of Gov Douye Diri of Bayelsa to his unique inclusive leadership style which has endeared him to the electorate.

MOSIEND, a pan Ijaw socio-cultural movement in the Niger Delta stated this in a congratulatory message signed by its President, Amb. Kennedy Tonjo West on Saturday.

“MOSIEND congratulates His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, on his re-election as Governor of Bayelsa State.

Rivers Crisis: Ijaw National Congress urges Tinubu to call Wike to order

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to caution the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike over plans to remove the state Rivers State Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, from office.

The INC, in a statement by its President, Prof Benjamin Okaba, wondered why Wike has been resolute in the plot to remove Fubara from office in spite of the interventions by the President and other stakeholders.

The INC  also criticised the security agencies for their support for the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the state lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minster.

Fishermen list oil pollution, trawlers incursion, harmful fishing methods as obstacles Traditional fishermen operating in creeks, rivers and Atlantic coastline of Bayelsa have listed oil pollution, incursion by industrial fishing trawlers and unnatural fishing methods as obstacles to their vocation. The fishermen identified the challenges at a capacity building workshop by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF). The fishermen identified the obstacles at a brainstorming session facilitated by Dr Ogechi Cookey, Research and Publications Lead at HOMEF adding that they were responsible for dwindle catch by fishermen across the Niger Delta region. According to them inɗustrial fishing trawlers restricted by law from operating near the coastline ofteñ encroach to ‘sweep’ the waterways by overfishing and catchinɠ fingerlings that ought to grow to replenish the fish stock. They also lamented that some fishermen use some local leaves and mix them with chemicals to boost catch to the detriment of the food chain. Chief Washinton Odoyibo, a shierman, farmer and community leader in Ikarama, Yenagoa LGA noted that oil exploration and associated spills have wiped out fish species and made the waters toxic to support fishing. He noted that during oil spill incidents, the booms used to trap crude from spreading obstruct navigation by fishing boats and regretted the oil firms often abandon the booms even after clean up. Also Chief Mrs Ayibakuro Warder, a community leader in Ikarama noted that prolonged exposure to crude and inhaling the toxic fumes has increased the prevalence of athsmæ and other respiratory ailments. “The frequent spills in Ikarama has led to diagnosis of many new ænd strange ailments previously not common, and women are worst hit because they stay longer in the farms and get exposed to crude. “The report by Bayelsa Oil and Environmental Commision found higher than normal levels of heavy metals in breast milk of breast feeding mothers. “High rate of miscarriages amongst women of reproductive ages in oil communities was also reported by the study,” Warder said. In his welcome remarks, Chief Alagoa Morris, a renowned Environmentalist commended HOMEF for building the capacity of fishermen to defend their environmental and human rights. Morris, who is also Technical Adviser on Environment to Bayelsa Governor urged the fishermen to make contributions that will help policy makers to formulate policies to improve fisheries. Dr Piriye Kiyaromo, Senior Special Adviser on Tourism to Bayelsa Governor in his goodwill message noted that there was a link between fishing and tourism. He said tourists often accompany fishermen on fishing expeditions even as they also add to the culinary experience of tourists who crave for local dishes. Kiyaramo noted that the proposed State Ministry of Blue Economy in Bayelsa would take care of the concerns and challenges faced by fishermen who for a significant segment of the blue economy.

Traditional fishermen operating in creeks, rivers and Atlantic coastline of Bayelsa have listed oil pollution, incursion by industrial fishing trawlers and unnatural fishing methods as obstacles to their vocation.

The fishermen identified the challenges at a capacity building workshop by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF).