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Tag: Niger Delta

  • Jonathan Predicts Rivers Crisis Will Shape Fubara into Political ‘General’

    Jonathan Predicts Rivers Crisis Will Shape Fubara into Political ‘General’

    By   Milcah   Tanimu

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that the ongoing crisis in Rivers State will ultimately mold Governor Siminalayi Fubara into a political “general.” Jonathan made this statement during the 1st Etche Festival of Food, Art, and Culture Exhibition, held in Etche Local Government Area of the state.

    Fubara’s Political Battle

    Governor Fubara is currently facing a political battle with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Jonathan acknowledged that such political challenges are common for leaders and urged Fubara not to be discouraged by the ongoing antagonism.

    Jonathan’s Encouragement for Fubara

    Jonathan reassured Fubara that the political conflict would ultimately strengthen his leadership abilities, helping him emerge as a political general. He urged the governor to remain dedicated to his governance duties and not be distracted by the political warfare. Jonathan stated, “No one becomes a General without facing battles. The challenges you are going through now are shaping you for greatness. With your commitment and the support of the people of Rivers State, God will surely see you through.”

    The Importance of Peace in Rivers State

    The former president also urged the people of Rivers to continue supporting Fubara and maintain peace in the state. He warned that instability in Rivers could negatively impact the entire Niger Delta region and the nation’s economy. Jonathan stressed the importance of allowing the governor to complete his tenure in peace.

    Recognition of Etche Leadership and Farming

    During the event, Jonathan commended the traditional ruler of Etche, Eze Ken O. Nwala, for his decade-long successful reign. He also praised the Etche people for their dedication to farming, which has earned them the reputation of being the food basket of the state.

    Governor Fubara’s Commitment to Development

    Governor Fubara, who was honored with a traditional title alongside Jonathan, expressed his gratitude for the recognition. He reassured the people of his commitment to improving their standard of living through continued projects and services. He thanked Jonathan for attending the event, noting that the former president’s presence was a sign of humility.

     

     

  • Oil Theft: 58 Illegal Oil Blocks Discovered So Far In Niger Delta – Tompolo

    Oil Theft: 58 Illegal Oil Blocks Discovered So Far In Niger Delta – Tompolo

    About 58 illegal oil blocks have been discovered so far since the operation to end oil theft on the waterways of Delta and Bayelsa states began

    Ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo, said this in a press briefing at Oporoza on Sunday where he also gave an update on the recent discovery of a 4km illegal crude oil pipeline in the Forcadoes area of Delta State.

    “I think we have found over 58 points that have been tapped in both Delta and Bayelsa states,” he noted.

    According to him, with this breakthrough, stakeholders in the region are optimistic that the war against crude oil theft will be won.

    Tompolo also commended the effort of the military and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for collaborating with him on the operation, promising to do everything possible to bring the menace to a halt.

    “You know, we are doing this work together with security agencies. We are only providing intelligence for the security people to assist to do the work. So, everybody – both NNPC and everyone – we are working together in a very good spirit now,” Tompolo said.

    “The major problem is that the aquatic life of the area is gone. We are doing everything within our powers together with the traditional rulers and everyone to see that – with the help of the Nigerian Navy, Army DSS, and everybody – to reduce this to the barest minimum so that our people can survive after this time.”

  • Ex-agitators beg companies to return to Niger Delta

    Ex-agitators beg companies to return to Niger Delta

    ‘Days of violence over’

    Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa

    Ex-agitators have begged companies that left the the Niger Delta region following militancy to return to the region promising uninterrupted peace.

    The former warlords also called on interventionist agencies to work together to sustain the peace and ensure development of the region.

    They spoke in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, during a regional peace summit to sensitize people on the need to advance the peace currently enjoyed in the region.

    The ex-agitators also condemned proliferation of illegal refineries and lamented its adverse effects on development.

    One of the participants at the summit and ex-freedom fighter, Pastor Nature Dumale Kieghe said as ex-agitators, who keyed into the vision of the Interim Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd), they had resolved to work for a new and better Niger Delta.

    He said: “It is important to sensitize our people towards a peaceful Niger Delta and create a friendly environment that will attract development, Multinational companies and other foreign investors to the region.

    “We, who once carried guns, are now here to preach the message of peace to our people in the region. Peace is the only way we can have the developed environment that we dream of. Peace is the only way to attract the multinationals, investors and also be gainfully employed”.

    Nature maintained that peace remained a vital tool to attract investors to the region which would in turn create business and job opportunities for the people.

    He said: “Companies that have left the Niger Delta because of insecurity need to return, this is the purpose for sensitization. We are blessed with an environment that is supposed to prosper us, we can only enjoy our natural resources if there is a peaceful environment”.

    He said that a major setback to the development of the Niger Delta was the absence of proper coordination among key stakeholders.

    He said with the right synergy, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Presidential Amnesty office, could hasten the needed development of the region.

    He said beyond hampering the development of the region, illegal refining of petroleum products was life threatening and dangerous to the ecosystem.

    The sensitization programme commenced in Bayelsa state with 150 Niger Delta youths in attendance and would be held across the nine states of the region to create adequate awareness.

  • Oil in Niger Delta Belongs to Nigeria, Obasanjo Replies Clark

    Oil in Niger Delta Belongs to Nigeria, Obasanjo Replies Clark

    The former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Tuesday said that he never hated the Niger Delta Region contrary to the accusation of Chief Edwin Clark against him sequel to Obasanjo’s position on oil in the Niger Delta Region.

    However, Obasanjo in a reply to the accusation of Clark, insisted that the oil found in the Niger Delta region belonged to Nigeria constitutionally, saying pointing out the position of the constitution on an issue, should not be translated to hatred

    Obasanjo made the assertion in a six page letter he wrote in response to accusation against him by Niger Delta elder, Chief Edwin Clark in an open letter about a week ago following his comments on the issue at a forum.

    Clark, had accused Obasanjo of holding a deep seated disdain for the people of the oil producing region based on the former President’s assertion that oil found in the Niger Delta belong to Nigeria and not the region.

    The National Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ebipamowei Woduat, had at a forum convened by the Global Peace Foundation and Vision Africa in Abuja that Nigeria should allow Niger Delta to derive full benefits from the oil found in the region and which Obasanjo disagree with..

    Not pleased with the position of Obasanjo on the INC, Clark who is the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of INC, in his open letter, said Obasanjo’s comments that the oil found in the Niger Delta does not belong to the people of the region represents his continuous arrogant stance and negative disposition against Niger Delta.

    However, in his open released Tuesday, Obasanjo insisted that he had never hated Niger Delta while reiterating his stance that oil found in the region belonged to the Nigerian federation.

    Obasanjo said, “For me personally, I have never shown any anger or distraught with Nigeria nor with any part or region of Nigeria. I will rather pick points on leadership or policies and I will continue to do so.”

    The former president said that his records before and after the civil war in Niger Delta Region was without blemish and it was all goodness and goodwill to all the people of Nigeria and Niger Delta.

    He said, “But if you take my holding a constitutional position on federalism and reiterating the position of our past constitution – 1963 Constitution as I understand it as anger or grievance against the Niger Delta or Nigeria Delta people that will be a very wrong position to take because until I can be legally and constitutional persuaded, otherwise i will continue to hold my ground.”

    According to Obasanjo, the 1963 Constitution did not confer ownership of oil and other mineral resources on any of the then regions.

    He insisted that just as the Niger Delta’s oil belong to the Nigerian federation, the minerals in other parts of the country also belonged to the country.

    “The gold in Ilesha, Osun State and the lead in Ebonyi State all come under the same law and constitution. There is no part of Nigeria whose interest is not dear to my heart. And stating in your letter that it’s only that interest of the North that I continually hold dear to my heart is the type of Bukah gossip that knowing you as I do since 1975, I am not suprised that you echoed.

    “Some of the languages you have deployed to describe me in your letter are offensive, uncouth and I totally and completely rejected them.

    “I am not inconsistent, hypocritical, un-statesman, and nor am I anybody’s lackey. You use you own yardstick to judge others. I fear God and I respect those who respect themselves and I hope it is about time you change from a tribesman to a statesman,” Obasanjo said.

  • Okowa, Dikio, Nexim bank, others seek revival of Niger Delta economy

    Okowa, Dikio, Nexim bank, others seek revival of Niger Delta economy

    Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa

    Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) and the Executive Director Business Development, Nexim bank, Stella Okotete, have proffered solutions to the economic challenges of the Niger Delta region.

    The trio spoke in Warri, Delta State at a one day economic summit organised by the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) for its delegates with the theme, ‘Restoring Wealth Creation In Niger Delta Region’.

    Others, who also reflected on the way out of the region’s poor economic indices, a security expert, AVM Terry Okorodudu (rtd); ex-freedom fighter, High Chief Bibopere Ajube aka Shoot-at-Sight and business development coach, Francis Okumagba

    Okotete said while other regions in the country were taking advantage of their resources to create the needed wealth, people in the Niger Delta, particularly the youths were relying on handouts.

    She said with the agricultural resources in the region and the huge talents in the entertainment industry, people should form clusters and build the structures that will make it easier to access funding from institutions like the Nexim bank to begin export trade.

    According to Okotete, “Non-oil sector is what is driving the economy of every country and in this region, there are a lot of resources that can be exported. The various governments in the region need to create the enabling environment for more investors to come.

    “The government needs to create a balance between economic and infrastructural development. It’s not just enough to build roads, yes roads are good but they should also build industries.

    “We must look at the export space. Export creates massive wealth. We must wake up and look into the future. Nobody will build the Niger Delta for us, it is only we that can do that. Let us start selling our region to the world and create a better future for our children.”

    Okowa, who was represented by the Executive Secretary Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Orezi Esievo, called for more private sector involvement in the development of the region, saying government alone could not do it.

    The governor, who spoke on the importance of SMEs to any economy, said his administration is open to partnership that will ensure sustainable wealth is created for people of Delta State and the region as a whole.

    On his part, AVM Okorodudu (rtd), said it was unfortunate that since 2009 when the amnesty programme started, agencies of government like the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), had failed to carry out their responsibility of reconstruction.

    Okorodudu who commended Dikio’s effort, noted that funding the training of ex-agitators was an expensive venture, but added that it was sheer waste of resources to train them without employing or engaging them.

    On their parts, Senior High Chief Ajube and Okumagba, urged the ex-agitators to be inspired by the stories of successful people and stop allowing their immediate environment distract them from success.

    They stressed that youths in the region needed to renew their mindsets and believe in the possibility of becoming great industrialists and entrepreneurs.

    In his remark, Dikio, said the summit was aimed at highligting the limitless opportunities readily available within the region to enable the ex-agitators have an idea of how to benefit from it.

    “This summit is a test-run of a larger one to come next year that will be all encompassing. Basically, we are here to preach the gospel of shared prosperity. We can talk about how rich and prosperous Niger Delta is but if we don’t do something about it, it will be more wishful thinking”, Dikio said.

  • PAP boss solicits federal government partnership for Niger Delta Development

    PAP boss solicits federal government partnership for Niger Delta Development

    Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa

    The Interim Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd), has called on some federal ministries and agencies to collaborate with PAP for the overall development of the Niger Delta region.

    Dikio said PAP was only one of the approaches designed to tackle the problems in the region, insisting that synergising with other Niger Delta-related ministries and these agencies would facilitate the development of the region.

    A statement signed on Thursday by Dikio’s Special Adviser, Media, Nneotaobase Egbe and made available to Daybreak Newspaper, said the amnesty boss spoke when he paid a courtesy visit to the Commander 2nd Brigade, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    He said petroleum assets redistribution enabled by the passed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministry of Environment and PAP had complementary mandates to develop the region.

    Dikio said; “The amnesty programme happens to be one leg, there is a leg on petroleum assets redistribution; the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is the vehicle for ensuring that and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the NDDC whose mandate is to take care of the agitations or grievances about lack of physical development in the Niger Delta and of course, the Ministry of Environment, whose mandate is to address the issues of environmental degradation”.

    Dikio explained that the late President Musa Yar’adua embraced the concept of soft power by establishing PAP as an alternative to the use of kinetic power in resolving issues, adding that his office was saddled with the responsibility of managing the process.

    He said the amnesty office was doing everything possible to make ex-agitators understand the importance of adopting alternative ways of expressing their grievances.

    Dikio said while in Akwa Ibom he visited some facilities where ex-agitators could be trained, employed and mentored by such organisation.

    He said: “We provide the soft approach of administering these ex-agitators and teaching them alternative ways of ways of expressing their misgivings. This we intend to do through our train – employ- mentor (TEM) scheme.

    “While in Akwa Ibom State, we visited some facilities with the intention that PAP will pay for the training of these beneficiaries, they will then be employed by these organizations till they know the craft and then be mentored so that they can stand on their own and then be employers of labour”.

    He thanked the army commander for his warm reception and promised to keep partnering with security agencies to make the region safe.

    In his remarks, the commander 2nd Brigade, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Brig-Gen. MN Inuwa, commended Dikio’s approach and his deployment of soft power, adding that it had helped reduce violent agitations in the region.

    “The combination PAP is adopting is the solution”, he said, also noting that Dikio’s reforms and policies were helpful to the region.

  • Ex-Agitators vow to counter negative reports on Niger Delta

    Ex-Agitators vow to counter negative reports on Niger Delta

    *Dikio, Udom, Essien, challenge ex-agitators on Niger Delta development

    By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa

    Ex-agitators and members of the Strategic Communications Committee (SCC) set up by the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) have expressed their readiness to counter negative narratives about the Niger Delta.

    Speaking after a three-day workshop organised for them in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, by PAP’s Interim Administrator, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio, the ex-agitators said the skills and techniques they learnt from experts assembled for the event would help them change the negative perception about the region.

    The Chairman of SCC, Pastor Nature Dumale said: “The training has given us the awareness and the enlightenment we never had. The knowledge we have received will be adequately used to change the narratives and perception of people about our region”.

    Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom and Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Emmanuel Essien, who attended the grand finale of the workshop, urged ex-agitators to contribute to the development of the region.

    Dikio asked them to channel their knowledge to the progress and development of the region appealing to them to emulate others, who were already making positive impacts in the region.

    He advised the ex-agitators to minimize complaining and start working with vision and purpose.

    Addressing them, he said: “Contribute to the development of the Niger Delta region instead of complaining. The agitation should be channeled to the right purpose. Progress is not measured overnight; it starts with little beginnings just like this one.”

    In his remarks, Governor Udom Emmanuel, who was represented by Owoidighe Ekpoattai, SA to the Governor on Cottage Industries Clutters enjoined the committee to be proud of their region and report truth without prejudice.

    He commended Dikio for challenging the ex-agitator to move from dependent stipend earners to independent entrepreneurs.

    “With this, I know you will report positively about Akwa Ibom State and especially the Niger Delta region. This is a great region and a good place to be. I am proud to be from the Niger delta region because we speak the truth and we want to be free,” he said

    The PANDEF chairman, Essien described the workshop as a success and commended Dikio for bringing the event to Akwa Ibom saying it was the first time such event held in the state.

    Essien said: “The amnesty programme is a special programme for the region and it would not last forever.

    “Your job is to ensure that positive reporting is done for the benefit of this region so that investors will not runaway from this region.
    We have to make this region peaceful to attract employment and opportunities for our people.”

    The workshop with the theme, “Communication for Positive Change” was organised for members of the SCC by Dikio through the PAP’s Media Consultant, First Media Network Limited, to equip them with the skills to effectively discharge their mandate of changing the perception of the region through effective communication, especially at the grassroots.

  • Niger Delta: Our job becomes easier with PAP Programs on Security, CDS tells Dikio

    Niger Delta: Our job becomes easier with PAP Programs on Security, CDS tells Dikio

    Amgbare Ekaunkumo,Yenagoa

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Major.-Gen Lucky Irabor, has appraised the leadership style of the Interim Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) saying he has made the job of security agencies in the Niger Delta easier.

    Irabor asked Dikio to establish partnership with the navy to enable the amnesty office take advantage of some of the naval training facilities in his drive to add value to the Niger Delta.

    The CDS said he believed in value addition, which he observed the amnesty boss brought to table in discharging the functions of his office.

    Irabor disclosed his long-standing relationship with the amnesty boss, which started during Dikio’s days in military service.

    A statement signed on Monday by Dikio’s Special Adviser, Media, Neotaobase Egbe, and made available to DayBreak Newspaper, said Irabor spoke when the amnesty boss led officials of PAP to pay the CDS a courtesy visit in his office at Abuja.

    The statement said the amnesty boss and Irabor deliberated on the need to sustain the peace in the Niger Delta with emphasis on creating the enabling environment to make the region a preferred destination for investors and visitors.

    Irabor commended Dikio for all his efforts to sustain the peace in the region insisting that the interim administrator injected a lot of value into the programme.

    He urged ex- agitators to shun incessant protests in the interest of the region’s development and economic growth.

    He said such violent attitude was capable of doing permanent harm to the Niger Delta, adding: “oli might finish but the damage will remain in the region”.

    In his remarks, Dikio reeled out his plans for the ex-agitators and the strategies he adopted to actualise the mandate of the amnesty programme.

    He said his mission was to maintain stability in the region through constant engagements of all the stakeholders of PAP and prompt payment of stipends to ex-agitators.

    He told the CDS that his back-to-the region tour had enabled the amnesty office to understand the challenges and fears of the ex-agitators.

    He said he was preoccupied with helping the ex-agitators to embrace entrepreneurship, become employers of labour and live above the fixated mentality of N65,000 monthly stipend.

    Dikio further bemoaned the habit of blocking major roads in the region for protests at slightest provocation saying the trend was negatively impacting on businesses.

    He said part of his mission was to change people’s negative perceptions about Niger Delta to give room for businesses and wealth creation but regretted that constant protests were still giving the region a bad name.

    The amnesty boss said he had also changed the training model of ex-agitators placing emphasis on mentorship and employment.

    “One of the mission goals of this administration is to change the narrative and make Niger delta a safe place to live and do business. Protests and other obstructive activities will utterly obstruct this from being actualized.

    “Strategic plans have been put in place to implement the training, mentorship and employment philosophy. We hope that beneficiaries after being trained will be involved in several industries and on the long run, they will be empowered to start off their own businesses”.

  • Save NDDC, Niger Delta Women Tell Buhari

    Save NDDC, Niger Delta Women Tell Buhari

    Niger Delta women under the umbrella of National Association of Niger Delta Women (NANDW) have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently save the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from its current state as well as prevent the violence currently brewing in the region.

    The women in a letter sent to President Buhari, which was made available to THISDAY yesterday, lamented that with the present situation at the commission, they are the ones that would be affected by the “recklessness and the near absence of development in the Niger Delta region hence this outcry.”

    NANDW in the letter, which was signed by its Chairman, Mrs. Lovette Onos; Mrs Preye Kokumor, Mrs. Nkwor Ubong, Mrs. Julie Achibong, said they had rejoiced when the president ordered a forensic audit into the activities of the NDDC, “considering the rot and corruption in the system,” as many contractors ran back to either commence their jobs or complete them in the region.

    They, however, added that the excitement was cut short “soon after many contractors discovered that it was not a big deal, as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio, was in charge and not the presidency. Everything went back to square one, unfortunately.”

    “As wives, mothers, and market women who live in the various states of the Niger Delta, we are pained by the recent development in the NDDC. We are the ones that are most affected by the recklessness and the near absence of development in the region hence this outcry.

    “Mr. President, we plead with you most passionately to hearken to our cries and supplications. It is unbelievable that the so-called forensic audit is still ongoing and we wonder why it is unending. The forensic audit is a carefully orchestrated plan by Akpabio to take total control of the NDDC at the detriment of the entire Niger Delta people.

    “He has pocketed the NDDC and he is now acting as if he is God unto himself, without an iota of control from the President of this country.”

    The Niger Delta women, however, humbly implore the president to as a matter of urgency sack the sole administrator of the commission, “and constitute a board comprising men and women of high moral standing with proven track records, and must refuse any list from Akpabio. He cannot be the one to constitute the NDDC Board. That power rests squarely on you the president.

    Secondly, it is our plea that the NDDC be removed from the ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and placed under the direct supervision of the presidency as it was hitherto.

    “Our points have been made. We have spoken and we expect our president to listen to us. We will nevertheless undergo a protest and close down the NDDC offices across the Niger Delta and also shut the East-West Road with the assistance of our able-bodied youths if our demands are not met.”

  • “NDDC does not belong to any ethnic group in the Niger Delta region”- Wike

    “NDDC does not belong to any ethnic group in the Niger Delta region”- Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has said the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) belongs to all states in the region and that no particular ethnic group could assert itself as the dominant owner of the commission, as has been observed of recent.

    He stated this when he played host to the Interim Management Committee of NDDC led by Effiong Akwa in Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

    Nyesom Wike, condemned the posture of some ethnic groups in the Niger Delta region that behave as if the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) belongs to them.

    The Governor said such people leave their states and come to Rivers to block the gates of the commission, cause crisis and frustrate economic activities in the state.

    “Anybody can be appointed in Niger Delta. There are people who believe that if they appoint somebody from Edo or Cross River State for example, they will say no, that those people are not the core Niger Delta states. We must have to stop that.

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    “NDDC does not belong to any ethnic group in the Niger Delta region. It does not belong to anybody. There are people who have seen themselves that they are the owners of NDDC. They leave their state and come to NDDC to block NDDC gate. We are peaceful people, but nobody should push us to the point where we can tell you enough is enough.

    “The next time they try it again to cause crisis in our state, I will mobilise our people against them. I am not saying if you have grievances with NDDC you shouldn’t seek how to settle it. But, don’t use it to cause problem for us, to begin to make economic activities not to move.”

    The Governor challenged the new interim leadership to be determined to make a difference, change the current narrative of the commission of serving outsiders’ interest and abandoning its core mandate of developing the region.

    Interim Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Effiong Akwa said the visit was the first to be undertaken by his team to any governor in the region.