Author: nationalpoint

By Chiemeka Green, YenagoaA stalwart of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide and younger brother of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Robert Igali, and three others have been kidnapped along Elele Community in Rivers State while they were trying to rescue Bayelsa State bound accident victims.The accident victims, according to eyewitness account, were returning from the wedding ceremony of an appointee of the member representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Preye Oseke.It was learnt that they were returning from the wedding of his friend they attended in Mbaise axis of Imo State when the…

By Dave Okpogadie, AsabaAs incidents of kidnapping rise in Delta State, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Chike Onyemenam, has been reported abducted at Issele-Azagba, near Asaba, the Delta State capital.Onyemenam was said to have been ambushed by arm-wielding hoodlums at Utulu Junction along Benin- Asaba expressway near Meta City Housing Estate, Issele-Azagba. He was kidnapped alongside one of his lawyers.The incident occurred on Monday when he was inspecting the site of his properties along the highway.A family source confirmed the incident to journalists in Asaba on Tuesday.The source said the kidnappers later released the lawyer after a while…

Comrade Alagoa Morris is Head, Environmental Right Action (ERA) Niger Delta Resource Centre and also project officer of ERA, a foremost environmental justice organization in the country. In this interview with Chiemeka Green, the very experienced human rights and environmental activist talks about the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa and diplomatic solutions to avert future occurrence, reprisal attacks by citizens in Nigeria and how the federal government failed in its responsibility to protect Nigerians home and abroad. Excerpts: Comrade Alagoa MorrisHow would you describe the attacks and killings of Nigerians in South Africa?Xenophobia is very strange when it…

Presidents Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria (L), Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana (C) and Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone were among the leaders meeting in Ouagadougou (AFP Photo/ISSOUF SANOGO)West African leaders on Saturday announced a billion-dollar plan to fight the rising problem of jihadist violence in the region, at a summit in Burkina Faso.According to the AFP,  the plan, to be funded from 2020 to 2024, was announced at end of the Economic Community Summit of West African States, ECOWAS in Ouagadougou, where the ECOWAS nations were joined by Mauritania and Chad.ECOWAS had decided to mobilize “the financial resources of up…

By Dave Okpogadie, AsabaMinister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has lamented the high rate of maternal mortality in the country which he put at 40,000 deaths every year.The minister made the disclosure at the opening of the 62nd National Council on Health (NCH) meeting in Asaba, Delta State.He urged the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, to, as a matter of urgency commit to and implement national policies on maternal and newborn health and also dedicate a budget line with appropriate allocation released on time for reduction of maternal and Neonatal Mortality and nutrition intervention at all levels.The minister,…

By Chiemeka Green, Yenagoa  The Bayelsa State Police Command has reiterated its commitment to ensure that Mrs. Beauty OgereSiasia, the 80year old mother of the former Super Eagles Coach, Samson Siasia is rescued from kidnappers den and reunited with her family after 60days in captivity.The commissioner of Police, CP UcheAnozia gave the assurance while briefing newsmen on the update with the investigation on the kidnap of Mrs. Siasia at the Bayelsa Police Headquarters in Yenagoa.Mrs. Beauty Siasia was whisked away through the waterways into the creeks by unknown gunmen who invaded her husband’s residence in Odoni, a riverine village in Sagbama…

By Chiemeka Green, YenagoaThe youth president of Elebele Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State last Thursday decried the lack of social amenities in the area saying they have been abandoned by the three tiers of government.The leader of Elebele Youths, Mr. Okala Azibola, stated this while conducting National Point round various sites of abandoned projects in the community, including a 33 years old bridge that collapsed recently, disconnecting vehicular movement in and out of the community.Mr. Azibola, who had spent major part of his life in Elebele, said people of the oil producing community had to provide…

By Dave Okpogadie, AsabaLate Obi Prof. Chukwuka OkonjoGovernor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has sent his condolences to the Okonjo family and Ogwashi-Uku community on the passing of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Obi Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo, at 91 years.In a statement by the governor’s chief press secretary, Olisa Ifeajika, issued on Saturday in Asaba, the governor also commiserated with the Umu Obi Obahai Royal Family over the death of the highly respected academic, international public servant and accomplished traditional ruler.Okowa noted that the departed monarch was a renowned professor of Mathematics, who devoted his life and time to the…

By Dave Okpogadie, AsabaA former commissioner in Delta State, Mr Joe Utomi is dead.Mr Utomi, who was the immediate past Delta State commissioner for Agriculture and a former chairman of Aniocha South Local Government Area, died on Friday evening in Asaba.The deceased was said to have slumped on Friday, and reportedly passed on before help could come his way.Utomi, a native of Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha South LGA, became a commissioner towards the end of the first tenureof Governor IfeanyiOkowa’s administration following a minor cabinet reshuffling.He was said to be one of the pillars of the Peoples Democratic Party’s easy triumph…

By Mbah Okemsinachi, Yenagoa Ahead of the November 16 Bayelsa State governorship election, YIAGA AFRICA, a non-governmental organization has commenced its ‘Watching The Vote’ (WTV) project with about 550 election observers set to be deployed to the eghtlocal government areas of the state to monitor the pre-election, election day and post-election processes.This was disclosed by the project director, Cynthia Mbamalu during an interview at the YIAGA AFRICA WTV media round table discussion at Matho Crystal Hotel in Yenagoa.According to Mbamalu, YIAGA AFRICA would have 21 long-term observers deployed to observe election environment in the eight local government areas of the state…