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MOSOP Hails FG On N6.4bn Water Projects For Four Ogoni LGAs
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has commended President Muhammadu Buhar’s approval of N6billion for the construction of quality and accessible water projects in the four local government areas in Ogoni.
The local government areas are Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme.
A statement signed by its factional President, Nsuke Fegalo, in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said, “The decision not only vindicates our long-standing position of a fraudulent UNEP report implementation but also confirms the massive corruption on the Ogoni cleanup project under the previous management of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
“Recall that HYPREP has severally denied our claims of failing to provide water for Ogoni and held that they were implementing the report diligently despite ignoring the first and very significant recommendation for water treatment and provision for communities.
“MOSOP is, however, compelled to warn that the problem with the very faulty cleanup program implementation has not just been the unavailability of funds but the looting and corruption within the cleanup management agency, HYPREP.
“We are also concerned that the proposed water project could suffer the failure of previous interventions without a proper framework to oversee the implementation process. We, therefore, demand to see a comprehensive and integrated water project design to empower our internal monitoring mechanisms for us to support the fulfillment of the water project.
“It is our hope that as the 2023 elections approach, the water project funds and the cleanup contracts will not be misdirected to support political parties in their quest to win elections, funding violent groups and arming unemployed youths to cause conflicts in the society thereby making accountability difficult.
“We call on the president to consider the issues of livelihoods and compensation for families whose sources of livelihoods have been destroyed by years of pollution and have suffered untold hardship consequently. It is worthy to note that there can be no remediation without compensation for livelihood losses. The fact that the Shell-sponsored UNEP report did not expressly state a value for community compensation does not eliminate the sufferings our people still go through due to the pollution.
“We will urge the president to also consider the damaging effects of gas flaring to air quality and climate change and to take speedy measures to end gas flaring in the country.
“We thank our President Muhammadu Buhari for the decision to commence the Ogoni water project and call on him to extend this gesture to other communities in the Niger Delta who also suffer similar pains and deprivations like us, the Ogoni people”, the statement added.
Earlier, the Federal Executive Council had approved N6.4billion for the provision of portable water in the four Local Government Areas of Ogoniland.
The Minister of Environment, Muhammad Mahmoud, who disclosed to State House Correspondents at the end of the council meeting, last Wednesday, said the water project was contained in a memo on cleaning-up Ogoniland “graciously approved” by President Muhammadu Buhari to provide drinking water and alternative livelihood for the people of the area.
This he said was in line with the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation (HYPREP) commissioned in 2016 to clean-up areas impacted by the pollution based on a report by the United Nations Environment Programme.
Mahmoud said the mandate had 6 water projects that would be provided for local government areas of Ogoniland, adding that the projects which begin immediately are in different prices and different completion periods, and would link the Rivers State Government water system.
According to him, a total of 15 oil polluted sites had so far been cleaned up and certified clean in Ogoniland but regretted the delay in completion of the exercise due to land ownership tussle involving some communities in the area.
The minister said the project also required time in order to execute it properly explaining that Hydrocarbons cause cancer and cleaning up exercise must conform to the standard of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the standard set also by UNEP.
“This is a project that you want to take time to do and do it well. We are talking about the livelihood of people contaminated with soil by hydrocarbons, these are cancer causing chemicals, or we call them carcinogens”, he said.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.