Author: nationalpoint

Around the Security HouseEarlier in the year, precisely in the evening of 11th June,2018  a major oil spill occurred at Shell’s Okordia Manifold, in Ikarama; neighbouring community to Kalaba.  And, ERA/FoEN had promptly reported that incident after visiting the spill impacted environment. Not so long after that spill incident, some persons from Kalaba community informed ERA/FoEN that the spill from neighbouring Ikarama has spread to their community environment. Incidentally, ERA/FoEN didn’t follow up; as folks from Ikarama denied the claim when asked.Flood and spread of crude oil from neighbouring communityHowever, ERA/FoEN confirmed that up till the last week in September,…

By Gift E. JonahEmem Okon, Executive Director Kebetkache Women Resource Centre addressing participantsEmem Okon, executive director Kebetkache Women development Resource Center, Port Harcourt, facilitator of the project said the project, Gender and Accountability Cohort, is a programme being managed by WRAPA with funding support from the Mac Arthur Foundation with the major focus of amplifying the voices of women and highlighting issues and concerns around women for improved policies and services.The programme according to her, seeks to increase public understanding of issues on gender and how policies and government activities impact women noting that vices like non-transparency and corruption which…

Pa Sylvester Utulu MejuThe death has been announced of Pa Sylvester Utulu Meju, father of Chief Constance Meju, managing editor of National Point Newspaper, Port Harcourt.Pa Sylvester Utulu Meju, native of Idumubulu Alio in Azungwu Quarter, Ogwashi Uku, Delta State, died on September 26, 2018 at the ripe age of 94 years.The distinguished retired senior police officer and former customary court judge was until his death, the second oldest man in his Idumubulu Alio community.The distinguished  retired senior police officer served in various parts of the country and as a former Customary Court judge in Delta State.He is survived by…

By Constance MejuOchanya Elizabeth OgbanjeNational attention has been focused on Benue state since news broke of the dastardly and horrific sexual violation of a 13 year-old girl, Ochanya entrusted to the care of an aunt, by the aunt’s very educated husband and knight of the Catholic Church. As anger boiled over her abuse, the employers of the violating uncle announced his suspension from service. Many are calling for his head and that of his undergraduate son, gradual murderers of the innocent girl.Very discerning Nigerians have been asking where the Lady Knight, her aunt was when all the drugging and raping…

The Enugu State branch of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, (FIDA) Nigeria, through its Litigation Committee secured a judgment over inheritance rights for a widow, Mrs Sarah Ogbodo and her four children.According to Uloma Aniugbo, chairperson, Litigation Committee, the branch took up the matter in court for the said widow and her children.Brothers of the demised made frantic efforts to deny Mrs. Sarah Ogbodo and her children their right to Mr. Ogbodo’s property.Judgment was delivered in the High Court of Enugu in suit No: E251/2017: the case of Mrs Sarah Ogbodo Eneh, Miss Anna Ogbodo Eneh, three others Vs.…

Gov. Seriake DicksonBayelsa State Governor,  Henry Seriake Dickson, has lauded the Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA) for its  sustained efforts to promote development of Ijaw communities, and for being a strong voice for enthroning professional and ethical values.He made the commendation while speaking during a visit by the association as part of its engagement with key stakeholders towards the sustainable development of Bayelsa State and Ijaw communities in other states.Chairman,  Board of Trustees of the Association, Major General Paul Toun (rtd) equally commended the Governor for his joint initiative with Rivers and Akwa Ibom State Governments in securing victory at the…

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has disagreed with the statement credited to the Shell Petroleum Development Company ltd (SPDC), which was signed by Bamidele Odugbesan, the Media Relations Manager  titled “Shell calls for dialogue on Belema Flow Station” and denying the invasion of BELEMA OIL field shutdown by the host communities of OML 25.The SPDC’s denial press release is a deceit and ploy to mislead the general public into believing  that SPDC truly stands for peace in their area of operations and the OML 25 Host Communities in particular, when in actual fact they have started with their known…

 1 October,  20181. The Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA), Homeland Chapter – covering Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States – rose from its general meeting on Sunday the 30th of September 2018 with a unanimous resolution to sound an alarm on the ongoing multiple ecological emergencies and humanitarian crises threatening the continued existence of hundreds of communities across the Ijaw Nation Homeland in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States in particular and the Niger Delta region in general.2. This call goes to the Federal Government of Nigeria; the International Community (particularly the United Nations Environment Programme and World Health Organization); the Rivers, Bayelsa…

Dr. S. Olotu, resource person presentingOne of the reasons for bad governance is the lack of accountability which in turn affects women more. To curb this menace, on Friday, September 14, 2018, Kebetkache Women Development Centre, an NGO committed to pursuing gender equality and good governance, held a Town Hall Meeting to sensitize her platform members on gender and accountability at Aldgate Hotel, Abacha Road, Port Harcourt. The event was sponsored by MacArthur Foundation through a project being facilitated by WRAPA through Kebetkache.Participants were drawn from different states of the South-South of the country cutting across different segments of society.While…

By Ken MejuAs focus shifts to the implementation of the Ogoni Clean up, Kebetkache, a women rights advocacy organisation has solicited media support for the success of the programme. Ms Emem Okon, executive director  Kebetkache made the call August 10 at a media strategy meeting. Kebetkache is implementing “The Women Unite for the clean up of the Environment Project sponsored by the Catholic Organisation for Relief and Development Aid, CORDIAD and the focus is on providing an enabling environment for the emergency measures as well as the clean up of Ogoni land.The organisation told journalists selected to push the media…