Author: nationalpoint

Stakeholders have called on the federal government to widen the community of policy makers to include non-state actors in its drive to effectively respond to the drivers of organized crime in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. The call was made at a Conference on ‘Organized Crime in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.’ The conference which was organized by the Youth and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) was held on April 28, 2023 at the Landmark Hotel, Port Harcourt. In his welcome address, the Executive Director, YEAC-Nigeria, Mr Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, commended the guests for their various roles towards a…

Introduction 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…

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar- Farouq has assured Bayelsa state Government that the school feeding programme will not be stopped as the programme in the state and as a new administration comes onboard. Speaking on Thursday in Yenagoa at the formal launch of the programme and handover of utensils to the cooks, the minister who was represented by the director legal services of the Ministry Garba Haganawega advised the state not to be afraid because the programme has already been domesticated. She said “Allay your fear concerning the sustainability of the feeding…

National Spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Ebilade Ekerefe has advised stakeholders from the Niger Delta region to adopt new strategies to tackle the persistent reluctance of the Federal Government to respond to their agitations. According to Ekerefe, the region must do away with obsolete strategies and adopt the new era of strategic alliances with other ethnic nationalities and intellectuals in an aggressive engagement with the federal government for accelerated development of the region. Speaking recently in Yenagoa at a colloquium to mark his 36th birthday and the unveiling of his book, “Chronicle of Ebilade Ekerefe, The Journey So…

May 29 is the baton handover date for Nigeria’s political leadership. With May 29, 2023, Nigerians come to the end of an eight-year leadership under President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress (APC), an era that has witnessed record anguish, abuse of office, deaths and desolation. An unprecedented 63,111 Nigerians are reported to have died from various conflicts within this period while the bulk of the skilled manpower, especially youths migrated abroad. These were as a result of governance failure, a system crash that began with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in 1999, which the succeeding APC regime…

January 27, 2021, Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri (Coroner) presided over the Sylvester Oromoni vs Dowen College case in Epe, Lagos State. The sitting attracted a very large crowd of mainly Ijaw youths and elders from Lagos and Epe among other spectators. The Courtroom was filled to the brim. Lawyers representing Oromoni family, Dowen College, Lagos State Government, Nigerian Bar Association, Civil Rights Organizations and other lawyers representing some students accused of torturing Sylvester Oromoni jnr were also present. Outside the Court were policemen with patrol vehicles. Conspicuously parked opposite the Court premises was a mini bus belonging to Ijaw Youths Council…

A final-year Science student of Benson Idahosa University (BIU) Benin City, in Edo State, Bruno Chigozie Ezeonye has slumped and died while playing football at the institution’s football pitch. Information available revealed that the 21-year-old said to be the only son of his parents, died at BIU’s Legacy Campus. His father, who hails from Anambra, and mother, a South African, are said to be based abroad. It was learnt he was rushed to the Campus health centre where he was referred to Faith Mediplex Hospital on Airport Road, Benin, an affiliate of the university. He was confirmed dead at the…

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has urged the Nigerian judiciary to be sincere during the ongoing presidential election petition trials, adding that Nigerians are keenly watching. In a communique issued on Thursday at the end of the groups meeting in Abuja and presided over by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, the group called on Nigeria youths to remain undeterred and emboldened to carry their foresight of building a new Nigeria to fruition. The meeting also had Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere (South West); Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR, president-general, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide (South East); Dr. Pogu Bitrus,…

The world was at Lekki in Lagos State last Monday to witness the inauguration of the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery, the biggest petroleum refinery in the world. It is estimated that the plant would boost the economy of Lagos State by generating thousands of jobs, downstream investments and taxes n Lagos. It would also attract multi-billion dollar foreign direct investments to Lagos and further enhance the economy in that corridor of the Gulf of Guinea. The refinery, according to the Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Rivers State, Dr. Joseph Obele, will stabilise…

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri has said that Chief, Dr.Abraham Ayebakepreye Amba Ambaiowei still lives on, because of the indelible foot prints he has left on the sands of time. Speaking on Thursday during a public lecture to herald his burial ceremony, Gov.Douye Diri represented by the Secretary to Bayelsa State Government, Gidoen Ekeowei noted that the deceased has done well for the Izon Nation and promised that the Bayelsa State Government, will work with the ideals of Dr. Amba Ambaiowei to move Ijaw Nation. He described the deceased as a great man who provided free medical treatment to many…