Author: Emmanuel Obe

The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has condemned the proposed plans to allow ‘Non Hazardous’ wastes from the European Union (EU) countries to be moved to African countries, describing the idea as ill-conceived. The European Commission recently confirmed that Nigeria and 23 others became the countries that met the Feb 21 deadline for inclusion in non-hazardous waste imports. HOMEF in a statement signed by Miss Kome Odhomor, Media/Communication Lead said it is shocking and painful attempt to import “non-hazardous” waste from the EU into the country at a time of widespread ecological challenges. HOMEF noted that even wastes certified…

The vital East-West Road at Mbiama on the border of Rivers and Bayelsa States was blocked on Tuesday by youths who said they were protesting against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, for allegedly maligning the Ijaw nation, and masterminding the impeachment of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. The youths sang anti-Wike songs and carried placards, “Wike Leave Fubara Alone.” “Allow Your Boys To Chop.” “Fubara: Eight Years.” The protests caused a serious traffic at the popular Tuesday market at Mbiama Meanwhile, civil servants in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, have threatened to carry out…

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), has directed the contractor executing the N19 billion House of Assembly Complex project in Port Harcourt to deliver project as specified in the contract. Vice Admiral Ibas, who visited the project site along Moscow Road on Saturday, said restoring full and effective legislative activities in the state was part of his mandate. Work on the project awarded to Monier Construction Company (MCC) Limited has advanced significantly. It has about 34 en- suite offices on a two-storey building with elevator, gallery, meeting rooms and conference hall. The Sole…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has reaffirmed its commitment to agricultural empowerment by concluding the second batch of its Capacity Building Programme for Rice Farmers on Commercial Scale in Umuahia, Abia State. Speaking during the closing ceremony of the training programme at the Kolping Guest House in Umuahia, Abia State, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, emphasised the Commission’s commitment to transforming agriculture into a sustainable economic driver in the Niger Delta region. Ogbuku, who was represented by the NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Winifred Madume, stated that the programme would equip farmers with essential skills…

Unbundling of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11 and declaration of Eleme as a federal territory were among the numerous demands that the people of Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State made when the Ogoni Dialogue Committee held consultations with the people last Saturday. Other demands were the implementation of a Global Memorandum of Understanding that would streamline the rights and responsibilities of all stakeholders in the oil and gas companies to include provisions for community development, employment quotas, environmental remediation, and conflict resolution to be reviewed every two years. The Ogoni Dialogue Committee was set up by President Bola…

The controversy over the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State last Tuesday by President Bola Tinubu has continued to generate inflamed reactions as the Sole Administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.), took steps to consolidate his hold over the administration of the State. The Sole Administrator, who resumed duties on Thursday in Port Harcourt after his swearing-in by President Tinubu in Abuja will hold a crucial forum with civil servants at the State Secretariat Complex on Monday. The Head of Service, Dr George Nwaeke, said in a circular at the weekend that the Sole Administrator would after addressing…

There was panic in Port Harcourt and neighbouring riverine communities on Monday as air force helicopters shelled illegal crude oil bunkering sites in creeks around Port Harcourt and Eleme.The helicopters fired at vessels and camps used to store and process illegally procured crude oil that are refined crudely to produce kerosene, petrol and diesel.Initially, residents around the affected areas feared that there was armed fighting in the creeks as the shelling sent people scampering before the helicopters came into view and the thick black smoke emanating from bombed vessels rose to the sky. Smoke from the destruction of the illegal…

The Concerned Civil Society Organisations, a coalition of civil society groups in Rivers State, has condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.At a press conference Port Harcourt on Thursday, the coalition said the President went beyond his powers when in the declaration of the state of emergency, he suspended the Governor, the Deputy Governor and the House of Assembly.Mr. Courage Nsirimovu, who read the text of the press conference said the President violated Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution when he suspended the governor, the deputy governor and the house of assembly.…

The House of Representatives of Nigeria on Thursday through a unanimous vote endorsed the request by President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspend the governor and the house of assembly for six months. There were 243 out of the 360 members of the house in attendance.The South-South Governors’ Forum, led by Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, issued a statement expressing their deep concern.They argued that the situation in Rivers State did not meet the constitutional criteria for a state of emergency, which required conditions such as war, external aggression, or a breakdown…

An industrialist and major player in the oil and gas sector, Ambassador Joseph Precious Stephen has stressed the need for communities in the Niger Delta region to be more receptive of companies executing development projects in the region.Ambassador Stephen stated this when a delegation of the Defense for Human Rights and Democracy (DHRD) led by its Chairman, Comrade Clifford Christopher Solomon, paid him a courtesy call at his fabrication yard in Port Harcourt.Stephen, who is the Chief Executive Officer of JoePreStep Company, said in other parts of the country communities usually welcome community development projects and do everything possible to…