Author: Preye Okah

The Obololi community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa have lamented that no relief had come their way after the Feb. 16 oil leak discharged crude oil and polluted the River Nun. The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) traced the source of the leak to a 16 inch Nun River-Kolo Creek underwater pipeline operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). Mr Goodnews Okoi, Chairman, Obololi Community Development Committee (CDC) said that the coastline community is suffering acute water scarcity and risked cholera outbreak across Bayelsa. The CDC Chairman lamented that following the pollution of the…

The Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (BEDTF) on Saturday commenced a six-week training aimed at overcoming learning deficiencies amongst children in public schools. The programme is a collaboration between the BEDTF and the Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board (TTRCB) in partnership with the Bridge Academy in United States of America. Speaking at the opening, Dr Gentle Emelah, Commissioner of Education in Bayelsa noted that inclusive education, which emphasises special attention to students with learning disabilities would make inclusive education a reality. Emelah, who was represented by Dr Charles Daniel, Chairman, Bayelsa Assembly Committee on Education noted that education…

The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide (IYC) has called on gladiators in the current political crisis in Rivers to put aside their differences and work together in the interest of the people of the state. In a statement, the spokesman of IYC, Mr Bedford Benjamin, said this would avert chaos and insecurity which the Niger Delta cannot afford at this time. The statement said, “The peace enjoyed in the Niger Delta about two decades now has been taken for granted, and merchants of crises are not happy about the relative peace in the oil rich region. “As the conscience of the…

Militant activities in parts of Bayelsa State have become a source of concern for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The Bayelsa State Representative and Director of the commission, Godknows Alameiseigha, disclosed this when the state executive committee of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid him a courtesy call in his office in Yenagoa. Alameiseigha urged the media to help in sensitizing the populace on the need to secure NDDC projects in their domains, saying it was only when the citizens do so that projects would be started and finished. He said some of the projects were often vandalised…

The National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity (NAS-PC) has called for a review of laws militating against cases of gender-based discriminations and violence in the society. The NAS-PC, in conjunction with gender based advocacy groups including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bayelsa State and the Do Foundation, however agreed that despite the needed review, there was the need to address gender-based biases at homes. They noted that perpetrators of gender-based discriminations and violence are often fathers, brothers, and sons. This year’s theme was, “For all Women and Girls: Rights, Equality and Empowerment.” The…

Bayelsa State Police Command has attributed the rescue of two abducted staff of Niger Delta Development commission (NDDC) to credible intelligence from residents and deployment of security drones. The two NDDC personnel were abducted last Friday on the waterways while they were about to board a boat to Ayakoro community in Ogbia Local Government Area (LGA) of Bayelsa. It was learnt that the duo were dropped off by their abductors after intense pressure at the desolate Ayakoro Burial Ground from where they were rescued by a combined security search and rescue team on Sunday. Mr Alonyenu Idu, Commissioner of Police…

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has said that his reforms at the PAP were aimed at developing the people of the Niger Delta for a better future. He explained that this formed part of his resolve to add value to the programme beyond the N65,000 monthly stipends paid to the ex-agitators. A statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Igoniko Oduma, said that Otuaro spoke at a closed-door meeting in Yenagoa on Saturday with the leaders of ex-agitators from Bayelsa State led by His Royal Highness, Selky Kile Torughedi alias General Young Shall Grow,…

Operatives of the Operation Puff Adder Unit of Bayelsa Police Command led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo have rescued two staff of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) kidnapped on last Friday on a river as they travelled to Ayakoro community, in Ogbia Local Government Area. Ayakoro is the hometown of the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku. The rescued staff are Akari Loveday, the Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to the NDDC MD, and his brother, Emmanuel Nathan Ogbuku. Police sources said the rescue was done with pressure mounted by the tactical team of the Operation Puff Adder, the Drone…

Search for Common Ground (SFCG), an international peacebuilding organization, has launched a series of training programs in the Niger Delta aimed at reducing conflict and violence. Funded by the European Union, these initiatives focus on empowering youth leaders and security agents with the skills and knowledge necessary to promote peaceful coexistence and human rights. A capacity-strengthening training program for youth leaders recently commenced in Port Harcourt. This programme, part of SFCG’s “A Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta” project, equips young people from Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States with conflict transformation and non-adversarial engagement skills.…

Bayelsa State is preparing to celebrate Governor Douye Diri’s five years in office with a series of project commissioning and groundbreaking ceremonies. Information Commissioner Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai announced a comprehensive program including 17 projects and three groundbreaking events. “Other projects are Okaka road opposite Prosco, Dialysis Centre, General Out Patients Hospital, Zipline drone services, Onuebum/Otuoke road, Stadium ground breaking. “Empowerment of 3000 youths, new Yenagoa City, commissioning of Legislative Quarters, NLC and TUC House, Opolo road, Phase 1, ground breaking of nine story building state Secretariat. “Others are Sagbama Ekeromor road, Agge Sea Port and road, ICT village, Commissioners quarters, amongst…