Author: nationalpoint

With many areas located within flood plains and below sea levels, flood disaster has become almost an annual occurrence in Bayelsa State since 2012. Since late September, there has been noticeable rise in water levels in the state which has now advanced to flooding. Most of Bayelsa communities have been affected by flood and helpless, community members are crying out for help to the government to find a lasting solution to the menace which disorganizes their lives every year. They have pleaded with the state government to provide for them, temporary shelters and relief materials as the flood has already…

The Niger Delta by virtue of its peculiar terrain as the bank of the Niger Delta from where water from the rivers empty into the Atlantic Ocean has always been in constant danger of being flooded but at no time in recent history has it become as vulnerable as now with the looming effects of climate change on an already oil damaged environment. Coastal communities are quietly being submerged even before the flood and perennial flooding translates to an unbreakable cycle of poverty as folks lose all to flood to start afresh after. In serious countries, the strategic position of…

Akwa Ibom State government has stated that the guidelines for the composition of host communities development trust funds must be followed religiously, in line with the relevant provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Besides, the government advised the stakeholders to study the Act so as to understand the basic ingredients to avoid misgivings during the setting up of the trust funds. The state commissioner for power and petroleum development, Dr John James Etim gave the charges at a community stakeholders sensitization workshop on PIA and Host Community Development Trust put together by an indigenous oil giants, Oriental Energy Resources…

Apparently to boost the supply of raw materials for the State owned Coconut Oil factory, Governor Udom Emmanuel has flagged off additional 300 thousand seedlings to be planted across the state. At the event to mark the state’s 2022 Coconut Day Celebration, Tuesday, at Mkpu, Itu Mbonuso in Ini Local Government Area, the Governor described the coconut planting exercise as the hallmark of activities held to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the state. He expressed optimism that the State will become an economic hub with the availability of raw materials to boost production at St Gabriel’s Coconut Oil Factory in…

A team of Niger Delta media practitioners in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states have pledged commitment to the protection of the environment and pursuit of environmental justice in the region. At a media parley convened by a non-governmental organisation. Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Center in Port Harcourt which highlighted the devastation of communities and the attendant challenges which are not being given attention by government and the oil and gas extractors, because of very marginal media mention, the journalists promised to help change the narrative. They resolved therein to form a unified body, Niger Delta Journalists for Environmental Justice…

Alliance Française, the French language and cultural centre on Thursday hosted a conference on photojournalism in Port Harcourt where photojournalists were exposed to methods they can adopt to improve in their art and project their city to the world. The conference was led by international photojournalist, Victoria Uwemedimo, who tutored the participants on the ethics, importance and safety measures in photojournalism. She also taught the participants how to edit their works for impact and what to do to attract the attention of editors in both traditional and new media to their works. Nothing the low profile presence of Port Harcourt…

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has condemned yesterday’s arrest and detention of Ilorin-based broadcast journalists, Mr. Dare Akogun, by the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Police Force in an effort to coerce him to retract an allegation of corruption he reportedly made against an official of the State Government. In a statement issued in Lagos Friday October 14, 2022 by its director of programmes, Mr. Ayode Longe, MRA called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, to put an end to the incessant practice whereby politicians, government officials and other powerful individuals use the Police to shield themselves…

In this interview, Collins Nwankwo, Chairman of Rivers State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners tells National Point Editor, Emmanuel Obe that retirees are being shortchanged in their benefit payments . What is the experience of retirees in Rivers State? The experience of retirees in Rivers State is common knowledge. Everybody knows that they are not happy because entitlements are not paid. Even now when payment is said to be on, it is sluggish and it is not going on the way we as the leadership of pensioners expect. We wanted a robust payment stature where it will embrace…

Despite repeated assurances by the Federal Government that reconstruction work would soon begin on the Eleme section of the East-West Road, the more deaths are being recorded on the road, as the condition of the road continues to worsen. The latest assurance came from the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who said that the necessary paperwork would soon be presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval, so that the contractor would start irreversible work on site. Fashola disclosed this when he received in his office the Chairman of Eleme Local Government, Chief Obarilomate Ollor, who led…

A Professor of sociology in the Department of Sociology, Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Prof Agatha Eguovoen has ascribed one of the major causes that engender violence against women and the girl child to traditions, norms and customs. Prof Eguovoen made the statement at an event organized by the Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRHP), with the theme: ‘Refresher Workshop for Community Representatives on Enhancing Gender Equality and Protection from Gender-Based Violence for Women and Girls in Edo State,” said, “our human right given to us by God is greater than our constitutional rights”. Speaking on the topic ‘Understanding Human…