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  • NGO, Bayelsa Govt inaugurate committee to tackle child health safety from oil spillage, pollution

    NGO, Bayelsa Govt inaugurate committee to tackle child health safety from oil spillage, pollution

    Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa.

    The Bayelsa state government in partnership with an NGO,the stakeholders alliance for corporate accountability, (SACA) has inaugurated committee to tackle child health safety from oil spillage, pollution in the state.

    The government stated this on Thursday at the inauguration ceremony of a project tagged: ‘The child-driven safeguarding project at at school level’ which was carried out by SACA inconjunction with the state’s Ministries of Education,Health and Environment as well as the catholic education board and the national association of proprietors of private schools(NAPPS),in Yenagoa,the state capital.

    In a goodwill messages delivered by the trio of the state commissioners of Education, Dr.Gentle Emelah, his Environment and Health counterparts,Hon.Iselema Gbaranbiri and Dr Pabara Igwele,represented by Dr Wisdom Sawyer,Permanent secretary Health,Mr Christopher Ewhrudjakpo,Permanent secretary Environment and Mr Ere Wakedei,Director,Climate change,Ministry of Environment,respectively,the government stated that it was ready to foster a stronger partnership with the NGO to safeguard the lives of both born and yet to be birthed children, across the state from oil related pollutions.

    The state government commended SACA for taking the awareness and advocacy campaign for an hydrocarbon pollution-free society to schools in the state,saying that the awareness created would immensely address the problems of environmental hazards associated with exploitation and exploration of oil across the state.

    Speaking on the rational behind the ceremony,Executive Director,SACA,Mr Kingsley Ozegbe decried the spate of oil pollution in the state,advising that all stakeholders must synergies towards a possible ending of the dangers occasioned by spills.

    He stated that the NGO was resolved to ending oil related environmental hazards in the Niger Delta region, just as he said research conducted by the NGO through its partnering organizations show that no fewer than 16,000 children had died due to living in environments not more than 20km distance from sites of oil spills.

    “Our children born and yet unborn are exposed to dangers of oil spills,our findings showed that about 16,000 children have died due to living in a distance not more than 20km from sites of oil spills acroos the Niger Delta”, he said.

    “So we wanted to bring this awareness to our children in both public and private schools across the state the the inauguration of the Child-Driven safeguarding project at the school level in the state”, he added.

    Meanwhile,the chairperson of the SACA project management committee(PMC) who also doubles as the chairperson, national assiciation of proprietors of private schools(NAPPS),Bayelsa state chapter,Dr (Mrs) Christiana McDonald have said proprietors of schools in the state have demonstrated their willingness to continue partnering SACA in the fight against oil spills and other hydrocarbon related environmental hazards.

    ” Permit me to remind us that both the rich and the poor, educated and uneducated
    all face the risks in terms of oil spillage but the most vulnerable i.e. women,
    children, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities are sadly more prone to
    become victims.

    ” Victims and their families face extreme poverty, in addition to the
    physical and psychological consequences but am hopeful that today’s event will utilize the power of the tripartite structure of the three ministries represented here
    today i.e. the Bayelsa State ministries of Education, Environment and Health with
    the Catholic Education Board and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) on the other side which represent a positive spirit of collaboration to improve on the challenges of oil spillages in Bayelsa State.”

    She restated that though her committee was recently inaugurated,the inauguration of the child- Driven safeguarding project at the school level was capable of fast tracking the advocacy by SACA,just as she commended the state government for showing commitment in the project.

    Part of the fall out of the inauguration ceremony was the directive by the Bayelsa state government to schools in the state to form a 20-member child safeguarding club in all the ‘child-driven safeguarding’pilot schools across the state on or before 9th,July,202,while SACA would assist the pilot schools to develop child safeguarding policy, amongst others.

  • Akassa Seaport reopens: We’ll team up with Bayelsa Govt – Monarch

    Akassa Seaport reopens: We’ll team up with Bayelsa Govt – Monarch

    By Gabriel, Udeh, kaduan

    Bekekiri Community, Akassa, Brass Local Government area of Bayelsa State, will tram up with the government of Bayelsa State government in the fight to actualize reopening of Akassa Seaport for job opportunities.

    The traditional ruler, Bekeriri community area of Bayelsa State, HRH King Ayubaemi Stephen who made the assertions in a chat said the existence of the Akassa Seaport is one of the oldest in Nigeria.

    King Stephen also appealed to Federal Government and it’s relevant agencies to reopen the Port for the benefits of jobless Nigerian Youths, saying it existence dated back to February 1887 and October 1888 “Akassa Seaport will greatly impact on lives of many Nigerians by providing various jobs opportunities for the youths when reopened for marinetime business in consonance with the promised made by PMB led administration to create 100milion jobs for Nigeria youths and therefore should not be policized.

    Also in a letter addressed to Ministers of Transport Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq and the Managing Director Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, the Monarch wondered why the bodies could not see any reasons to consult with the traditional Councils and Bayelsa state government with a view to reopen a ports capable of absolving many jobless Nigerian youths inline with president Buhari’s job creation policy.
    He stated that Akassa Seaport was founded as a principal depot of the royal Niger Company and “situated at the mouth of the Nun River in the Niger Delta, upon an island bounded by landward side by the Sengana (Akassa) River.
    “It’s position is longitude 6° 20′ 10″ E and Latitude 4° 20′ 0” N.

    “The general character of the land in the neighbourhood is low and swampy, overgrown by mangrove trees.
    “The Station lies in a clearing close to the sea shore, being but 3 miles from the River bar, and about 3 miles from Cape Nun”, he stated.

    The Monarch further explained that “The river is 1 miles in width at the place. The Observatory is distant 120 yards from the dwelling-house, the nearest building to it, and about three times of that, according to Russell- Meteorological observations at Akassa Seaport at Niger territory in Akassa, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria.

    He also enjoying those in doubt to Google “Results of Meteoroligical Observations Made at Akassa”, for further clarification and to prove the authenticity of his allegations.

    “The above Google will give you more insight about the validity and confirmation of our findings.

    While he also emphasized that the existence of the Akassa Seaport as a Minor Port Station in Bekekiri, Brass LGAs of Bayelsa State of Nigeria, is not in doubt, he strongly appealed to the relevant ministries and Agency to use their good office to support the reopening of Akassa Seaport.

    He re-emphasized that “Akassa Seaport will greatly complement the proposed 100million jobs opportunity promised Nigeria youths by President Buhari led administration.

    “Indeed, we strongly believed that Akassa Port will provide countless jobs opportunity for jobless youths across the
    globe if the Seaport is reopen.

    “This is also in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s led federal government programme and policy of taken10million Nigerians out of poverty, which is our major concern, knowing fully well that reopening Akassa Seaport, like every other Seaport, will create varieties of jobs opportunity.

  • Bayelsa Govt Commemorate world solar day

    Bayelsa Govt Commemorate world solar day

    The Bayelsa State Government has joined the global world to commemorate World Solar Appreciation Day celebrated on every second Friday of March.

    The commemoration ceremony which was put together by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, had Private and Public Schools engage in Quize Competition on Friday, March 12, 2021 at the Conference hall of the Ministry, New Secretariat Complex, Ovom Yenagoa.

    The Commissioner for Environment, Hon. lselema Gbaranbiri speaking during the ceremony disclosed that the event was put together to create awareness of the importance of Solar energy.

    Mr. Gbaranbiri said, the Prosperity government was working to change the narrative of Bayelsa and that our young children, who are leaders of tomorrow must be equipped and educated on better ways our environment can be preserved for the future.

    The Environment Commissioner also noted, that such problems as erosion, deforestation, flooding and the likes, are majorly caused by man’s activities, adding that, as a people, we have failed in advocacy as well as enacting laws that would guide us in the way we manage our environment, which we must amend.

    He further commended the Schools that turned out for the event and congratulated the students who came out outstanding in the Quize Competition while also stating that the Prosperity Government was ready to keep engaging everyone to work for the Prosperity of Bayelsa State.

    Earlier, the Director, Climate Change Department, Mr. Ere Wakedei, said that the event was put together to emphasize on solar energy’s importance and the sustainability it provides.

    Mr. Wakedei noted that over the years, fossil fuel has being the main source of energy for human development and that it has negatively affected our planet and environment, while saying that it is evident in the ills of climate Change, global warming and the likes.

    He therefore stressed the need for Bayelsans, both individuals and the government to save the planet and the environment by exploring other possible clean and environment friendly sources of energy.

    The event had various private and public schools in Yenagoa compete in a Quize ,with questions drawn from the Environmental field.

    Highpoints of the event was the presentation of prizes to the winners of the Quize Competition with New Total Child Academy as the overall winner with a total of 17 points.

    Others who were present at the event were the Director, Environmental Assessment Department, Mr. lnoyo John James, Mrs Ebinabo Douyebo, staff of the climate change department who was also the moderator of the Quize session amongst others.