News
Niger Delta Leaders Asked Buhari to Make The Sole Administrators of Pipelines Contracts and Oil Blocs
The Niger Delta Elders, Stakeholder and Governors, under the aegis of the Pan Niger Delta Forum on Tuesday visited the Nigeria president, Pres. Muhammadu Buhari to discuss the renewed militancy in the region to what they called alienation and lack of meaningful development of the region.
According to source, the Pan Niger Delta Forum said they had consulted widely and had come up with points that could help the Federal Government to achieve its desire of peace in the region.
According to source, the Amanyanabo of twon Brass Bayelsa State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, presented the proposed request to pres. Muhammadu Buhari.
Source said, the meeting was behind close door and it had five state governors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders from the region in attendance.
According to a 10-page document presented to the President, the Niger Delta leaders called for “inclusive participation in oil industry and ownership of oil blocs.”
They asked for what they called Host Community Content within the Nigerian Content framework across the entire enterprise chain of the petroleum and maritime sectors.
The Document read in parts “The sense of alienation of Niger Delta indigenes from the resources of their land will continue until there are affirmative action that guarantee the involvement of these communities in the ownership and participation in the oil and gas industry.
“We therefore urge the Federal Government to enunciate policies and actions that will address the lack of participation as well as imbalance in the ownership of oil and gas assets.”
Diete-Spiff also called for the awards of pipeline protection contracts to communities and not individuals.
In doing that, he said communities would begin to see the pipelines as belonging to them and they would protect them adequately.
He said, “The incessant breaching and vandalization of pipelines and oil theft have taken direct tolls on oil production and supplies with corresponding adverse effects on the economy of our country.
“Pipeline vandalism also damages the environment, health and economic activity of inhabitants of affected areas, as well as complicates environmental cleanup efforts.
“It is therefore our view that an urgent review be done to pipeline surveillance contracts to give the responsibility to communities rather than individuals in a manner that ties some benefits to their responsibility.
“Communities would then see their responsibility over the pipelines as protection of what belongs to them.”
The stakeholders also called for the relocation of administrative and operational headquarters of International Oil Companies to the region.
The stakeholders also called for the de-militarization of communities in the region.
“The increased deployment of military personnel into the Niger Delta has resulted in rise in cases of invasion of communities, displacement of persons, harassment and other forms of abuse of human rights. This has continued to escalate tension and insecurity in the region. We urge that this trend be reversed,” it added.
They added that the fallout of the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon had continued to threaten the security of the southern part of the region.
They said the unresolved issues arising from the Green Tree Agreement continued to create tension and plaque the region.
The stakeholders observed that there was lack of a well-coordinated transparent blueprint for the development and resettlement of the displaced populations.
they added that “The host communities face huge abuses and are unable to re-establish their respective means of livelihood.
“We therefore recommend a comprehensive resettlement plan including development for the host communities and displaced populations to reduce the risk of making them into a stateless people,”
While commending Buhari for the commencement of the clean-up of Ogoniland as recommended by the United Nations Environmental Programme, they also urged the Federal Government to speed up the exercise.
They stressed the urgent need to restructure and increase the funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission in order to refocus it as a truly intervention agency.
They also called for adequate funding and strengthening of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
On fiscal federalism, they said, “The clamour for fiscal federalism has continued to be re-echoed by different sections of the country. The people of Niger Delta region support this call and urge that the Federal Government should regard this matter expeditiously.”
News
EFCC may arrest me next week — but I have nothing to hide, says Obaseki
Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, says he has been told that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will come knocking when his tenure elapses next week.
Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be handing over to Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on November 12.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, during the EdoBEST National Results-Sharing Session, ThisDay reports Obaseki as saying that he would spend his time in EFCC custody doing some research.
“I hear that the EFCC will pick me next week after my tenure. Wherever they keep me, I’ll spend time doing research,” he said.
Obaseki, who has served as Edo governor since 2016, said he has left a legacy in the state.
“There are many things we have done that can be described as legacy projects,” he added.
“I believe in Edo state. One of the things that will last for a very long time to come is the fact that we were able to focus on Edo people and the things that matter to them, reform and implement those things.”
Obaseki said he is being hounded by a “cruel and wicked” opposition in the state, adding that he would gladly hand himself over to the anti-graft agency when the operatives come calling.
“Why should I have fears? I just focused on what I believe in and today, you can see what has been achieved. What happens after that is not up to me,” the outgoing governor said.
“They can continue with their political witch-hunt and do all they can to hurt me, that’s their problem.
“I’m not afraid, I’m not worried. They have written all sorts of silly petitions against me and that’s part of the challenge. In fact, I can even hand myself over, and if they call me, I don’t have anything to hide.
“You know how this country is, it is all about bitterness, it is all about vendetta, wickedness.
“People who have opposed me in Edo state are cruel, very wicked people, very jealous and envious and this is because they cannot show as much as the achievements we have made in the past eight years.
“But what is important to us is to focus on our people in order to make Nigeria better because the suffering is too much.
“We have the advantage and privilege to make things happen. So, we should focus on issues and not on vendetta.”
News
IGP directs police officers to wear black bands in honour of Taoreed Lagbaja
Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police, has directed officers to wear black bands in honour of Taoreed Lagbaja, the late chief of army staff (COAS).
In a statement signed by Muyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson, Egbetokun ordered personnel to wear the bands during the seven-day mourning period.
“This directive is to pay tribute and honour the late General who has shown gallantry, dedication, and passion for fighting violent crimes and insurgency in Nigeria,” the statement reads.
“He was a great leader who deserves to be honoured by all means.”
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast in honour of Lagbaja.
Lagbaja died on Tuesday after battling an undisclosed ailment. He was 56-years-old.
He was appointed COAS by Tinubu on June 19, 2023.
Lagbaja enrolled into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987.
In September 1992, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as a member of the 39th regular course.
He served as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.
Lagbaja also participated in various internal security operations, including operation ZAKI in Benue, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in south-east, and forest sanity in Kaduna and Niger.
The president has appointed Olufemi Oluyede as acting COAS.
News
LASEPA seals off churches, hotels over noise pollution
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has sealed off some establishments over alleged noise pollution.
The facilities sealed include churches, lounges, nightclubs, bars, and hotels in the Lagos metropolis.
In a statement on Wednesday, Babatunde Ajayi, the general manager of LASEPA, said the move was in line with the agency’s efforts to uphold environmental standards and safeguard public health.
“In a bid to address noise pollution and other environmental violations, LASEPA took action, closing down several establishments across different parts of the state,” Ajayi said.
He noted that the establishments were found guilty of breaching environmental regulations despite multiple warnings from LASEPA.
He reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance policy on regulatory non-compliance, saying “we will not permit disregard for our regulations”.
Ajayi said the enforcement drive focused on areas like Ogudu, Gbagada, Iyana Ejigbo, Isolo, Ajao Estate, Oshodi, Ilasamaja, and Okota.
He added that the sealed outfits include Honourable Lounge & Lodging, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Celestial Church of God, OMA Night Club and Lounge, and Bridge Spot Bar.
Others are Okiki Event Centre and Hall, Emota Paradise Hotel (Phase 2), CF Hotel & Suites, House 27 Hotel & Suites, Echo Spring Hotel, and Smile T Continental Hotel.
The LASEPA boss urged all businesses to recognise their environmental obligations and work alongside the state government to foster a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos.
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