Author: nationalpoint

Chima Williams, ED ERA /Friends of the Earth, Nigeria addressing journalistsThe long cry for environmental justice by Niger Delta oil ravaged communities and activists finally received succor Friday January 29, 2021 as an Appeal Court in the Hague, Netherlands granted the pleas by farmers from two communities-Oruma in Bayelsa and Goi in Ogoni, Rivers states, for the indictment of Nigeria’s biggest multi-national oil company, Shell and order to pay compensation for damages and clean-up of their long polluted farmlands, fish ponds and environment.The Appeal Court in the ruling instituted by the farmers through Environmental Rights Action (ERA)/Friends of the Earth…

Left : Effiong Akwa, Sole Administrator Niger Delta Development Commission during an interactive visit to Niger Delta Activist Ms. Annkio Briggs (Right) Photo: Dayo WilliamsNewly appointed Sole Administrator of the troubled Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Effiong Akwa a consultative visit to Women in the Niger Delta on the development thrust of the Commission last week. The meeting held at the Port Harcourt home of Ms. Annkio Briggs, the convener of the women and women groups under the aegis of the Niger Delta Women Forum, NDWF.Human and environmental rights activist Ms. Annkio Briggs, called on the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality and…

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Monday, joined other key stakeholders to demand better federal government’s presence to fast track overall development of the state.The stakeholders made the call during a Special Town Hall Meeting organised by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in conjunction with the state government at the Chief Harold Dappa Biriye Conference Centre in Yenagoa.They called on the federal government to revisit the abandoned federal secretariat and housing projects among other federal infrastructure lacking in the state.In their presentation, chairman of the Central Zone, Ijaw Youth Council, Clever Inodu, and the council’s spokesman, Ebilade Ekerefe, stressed…

Honourable Minister for Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, E.S. Local Content, Hon Israel Sunny-Goli among others arrive Brass Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021 for the Ground breaking ceremony of Brass International Atlantic Refinery project and the cottage hospital building, which is also a social responsibility project of the refineryAnger, confusion and conflicting interpretations have trailed the ongoing debate and discussions on the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB at the National Assembly and in the Niger Delta. Confusion and panicky questions were triggered following a position attributed to Chief Timipre Sylva asserting that 2.5percent benefit to Host Communities proposed…

The frightening daily attacks, gruesome killings including the slaughter of two popular youth in early January, 2021,deep anger and fear over the whereabouts of five members of Banigo community kidnapped since September 2020,have returned focus to Bonny with series of protests by affected persons. Incessant killing of passengers, kidnap, robbery and rape of community members raise questions why the gory situation has been allowed to fester in a re-enactment of Somalia type wasting operations by armed men, failure of the state government, security agencies to halt the mounting toll in lives and crippling of business in this critical hub of…

Community Educators (CEs) on Gender Based Violence (GBV) met at Isiokpo, Rivers East Senatorial District on January 11, 2021 a part of activities to deepen campaign against gender based violence in communities in Rivers State.Mr. Tombari D. Kote, Cengos program officer who facilitated the meeting commended the head of the working team and asked to know if there are challenges encountered by the CEs in the course of carrying out the community sensitization programme. He encouraged them to always report on their sensitization visit to the appropriate platform.The CEs expressed happiness over the visit and assured the leadership of CENGOS…