Author: nationalpoint

ParticipantsA network of non-governmental and community based organizations working on impact of extractive operations in African resource communities has frowned at the long neglect of the oil pollution in Goi Community in Ogoni, Rivers State, Nigeria and called on the federal government to institute immediate clean-up and remediation of the environment as well as compensation for the now displaced community members.The network, International African Network held a four-day capacity building workshop for community based organizations working in the extractive sector from February 26-29 at Visa Karina Hotel,Port Harcourt.It visited Goi Community as part of its  experiencing sharing on oil impacted…

By Constance MejuMembers of the Focused Group DiscussionWhen Bayelsa State was carved out of old Rivers state by the Abacha military government in 1995, there was jubilation and the people were full of expectations that development would be coming their way.Many years after including 20 years of democratic governance, the yearnings are yet to be satisfied. Some had hoped that being a small sized oil and gas rich state, proper governance would have transformed the young state into a model state for others to envy. That dream did not materialize as with trillions of naira directed into the state coffer…

Communiqué issued at the end of a 2-day meeting on Gender and Corruption:Second Corruption Survey Report in Nigeria organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, (UNODC), incollaboration with the Kano State Government through the PCAC, and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and UKAid, held in Kano, February 20 and 21, 2020Preamble• Corruption remains one of Nigeria’s most dangerous hurdles with far reaching consequences on livelihood, security and economic development.• The wave of corruption continues to hit millions of vulnerable Nigerians, including women whose qualities of life are diminished by the…

By Constance MejuContaminated well source of water in a Riverine oil producing community in Rivers State –  courtesy:  Getty imageAlthough the Rivers State governor, Chief Ezenwo Wike has been dubbed “Mr Projects” an appellation in respect of numerous projects being undertaken by his administration, members of oil producing communities in Rivers State are far from being satisfied with the state government. Their grouse is that despite the quantum of revenue accruing to the state as a major oil producing state in the country, the oil hosts have been marginalized in the spread of projects and distribution of social services.Ironically, the…

The Niger Delta has for over five decades produced much of the revenue that fuels activities of the Nigerian government and by implication, the economy that sustains Nigeria as a nation.In the process of extracting oil and gas from the vast mineral endowed fields in the region, farmers and fisher folks have been  dislodged from their traditional occupation while pollution has degraded the little left land and waterways, creating serious livelihood problems and poverty.Long untreated or half-hazard cleanup have further compounded the matter, creating health hazards resulting in respiratory, skin, cancer, infertility conditions, stunted  and deaths especially among children while…

By Iduozee Paul, BeninThe Vice Chancellor, Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa, Prof. Babatunde Idowu, has disclosed that the institution has set up machinery to go into cocoa farming as part of efforts to tackle the nation’s unemployment crisis.He spoke at his inaugural press conference at the institution in Ogwa, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.Babatunde said Nigeria once had the tallest building called ‘the Cocoa House’ in the West and made so much money from cocoa production then. He explained that the university has undertaken to bring back the hey days by going into cocoa farming to rekindle economic…

By Iduozee Paul, BeninThe Edo State Information and Communications commissioner, Paul Onuobamu has accused members of the Edo Peoples Movement, EPM, a faction of the state APC, of responsibility for the bomb blasts rocking the state. He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in the state to end the crisis.The commissioner spoke in his office while reacting to the recent bomb blast in the private residence of the secretary of the state factional APC, Lawrence Okah.He absolved Governor Obaseki and the state government of responsibility for the explosions recorded in the state since the APC…