Author: nationalpoint

The vice-chancellor of the Rivers State University (RSU) Nkpolu Orowurukwu, Port Harcourt, Professor Nlerum Sunday Okogbule has commended Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike for his support to the university and trust in its leadership. Professor Okogbule made the commendation during the 41st matriculation ceremony of the university. “I want to use this opportunity to specially thank the dynamic and award-winning governor of Rivers State and visitor to our university, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike for his support to this institution and indeed, the trust and confidence he has reposed in the management and council of the university leading to the positive transformation of…

Aleto, the largest of the six host communities of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, has inaugurated an ambitious internal roads project that will cost more than N10 billion to execute. The inauguration of the project was performed by the chairman of Eleme Local Government, Chief Obarilomate Ollor at a special ceremony at Olakamitiah Road, Aleto on Monday. The total length of the roads is put at 19.5 kilometres. Ollomate said he was glad that the execution of the internal roads project was taking place during his tenure and urged the people of the community to make necessary sacrifices to see that…

One of the things that Douye Diri, Bayelsa State governor has taken to heart in this first leg of his administration is road construction to link the state capital with the rural communities and open up the state for economic growth. Since the creation of Bayelsa State, most of the community folks access the state capital, Yenagoa only by boats and at very high cost. A journey from the hinterland cost thousands of naira and for rural people who are largely poor, a burden they have borne with pain. Their prayer was that one day, government would do the needful…

ntroduction The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) was passed in August 2021, initiating the restructuring of regulation for the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, with a significant impact on communities that host operations. One section of the Act is focused on community development and provides for the establishment of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) to increase social spending by oil and gas companies (OGCs) in host communities. While SDN’s view is that this section of the act should have focused on a more holistic, government-led strategy for development in host communities and protecting them from the harmful impacts of hydrocarbon…

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has described the death of Prof. Nimisoere Dimkpa Briggs as a huge loss to Nigeria and the Ijaw nation in particular. He said the late scholar was an Academic Iroko whose passing has created a yawning gap in the pantheon of the Ijaw ethnic group and Nigeria’s academic greats. Prof. Briggs, who died on Monday April 10,2023 at the age of 79, was Emeritus Professor of Medicine, former Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Pro Chancellor, Federal University, Abakaliki and the Bayelsa Medical University as well as Chairman, Committee of Pro Chancellors of Nigerian…

Dr. Joseph Obele is the Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Rivers State. In this interview with EMMANUEL OBE, he asserts that there’s an international racket feeding fat on fuel subsidy in Nigeria. Can you tell us what is happening with regard to the fears you just expressed about an impending scarcity of petrol in Nigeria? About 40 days ago, we, the critical stakeholders in the industry noticed via the supply chain that there is a drop in quantity of trucks supplied to marketers. In view of this, I requested for an appointment with the…

Since the formal commissioning of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP in 2016 to drive the remediation of the Ogoni environment, devastated by decades of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC oil operations controversies and corruption allegations have taken central stage in the operations of the project. This has resulted in slow progress of activities at the agency and despondency among the Ogoni people, despite the huge amounts of money sunk into the project. On May 2, 2023, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey was appointed as new project Coordinator to take over from Dr Giadom, his kinsman. The appointment takes immediate effect. The…

The Women Radio Centre has selected 21 journalists and journos for the 2023 female investigative reporting training from the woman angle. The second edition of the residential training will address under-representation and under-reported issues surrounding women. “It is imperative that we commit to unearth and uncover those stories that affect women and girls, with the overall goal of amplifying the voices of women,” said Toun Okewale Sonaiya of the Women Radio Centre. Our goal is to raise the next generation of female investigative journalists and create a balance in the investigative gender gap, she stated. The 21 journalists and journos…

As women all over the globe marked Mother’s Day on May 14, 2023, Nigerian women raised their voices to call for better understanding and support from their spouses and the male folk generally. At the service marking the day, essentially ministered by women in most churches, it was opportunity for women clad in colours and looking cherished to speak out condemning things they are not happy with especially within the home and these were relayed through drama sketches, dances and short talk shows. At the Ohiamini Satelite Church, Rumuigbo of the Salvation Ministries, the women held worshippers spellbound with songs,…

The Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC) will on Tuesday, May 16 formally present the final report of its investigation into the impact of oil exploration activities on the state to the international community. The BSOEC is chaired by a number of renowned dignitaries in the governance and international development arena, including Baroness Valerie Amos and former Ghanaian president, John Kuffuor. The report will be presented at the House of Lords in London to further draw global attention to the devastating effects of oil pollution in Bayelsa and indeed the Niger Delta region. The BSOEC was set up in…