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Niger Delta

Ekaette Condemns Critics Over Slow Pace Of Activities

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15 years ago

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The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, in Abuja at the weekend, said it was regrettable that some people interpret the pace of acitivities in the ministry as slow and sluggish. But he stated that the ministry was conscious of the prescriptions of the guideline for the development of the region in every step it took.
Reacting to the comments of members of the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, which last week accused the ministry of withholding implementation of projects in the region, Ekaette said he felt insulted by the law-makers remarks.
Ekaette said the ministry chose to engage the services of professional consultants to design, pland and cost the construction of projects in the region because that was according to the provisions of the Procurement Act.
He also said the ministry decided not to start implementing some projects which the National Assembly initiated in its 2009 budget because the fund which the National Assembly voted for those projects could not accommodate the 15 per cent down payment needed to foot implementation of any projects.
He went on; “I saw on papers all sorts of funny comments about the performance of Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, according to the comments, they said the ministry has not performed but I want to assure you that the ministry is methodical about carrying out its mandate. “We have not gone out of our way to do anything out of guidelines of the Procurement Act,” he said.
“When the ministry came into being late last year, and the ministers appointed late December, we started work in earnest and the first work we did was to tour the entire Niger Delta region to find out the wishes of the people and the way they would want to relate with us. Them we started planning and working towards that end. It is a pity that some of the projects initiated in our budget by the National Assembly do not have adequate fund to carry out those projects.
“At the session with the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta, we explained to them that some of the projects they initiated in our budget would be held forthwith because they have no deign, no drawing, no costing. But that not withstanding, we went out of our way to invite consultants to design them, do the costing and get them ready for us to implement but it turned out that the fund initiated for some of those projects could not even pay 15 per cent down payment for starting of projects.”
He added; “The law is that you don’t start a project you don’t have money to make 15 per cent down payment to start. We explained to the committee that, that was why we were unable to implement those projects. The insult I got from some members of the committee was unimaginable.
I have served Nigeria for more than 40 years in various capacities and I will continue to do so, but I had never received that type of insult … I feel that the people should know about it because it is already being reported. I know what is good for this country.
“I have served this country loyally, honestly and I will continue to do so. No amount of insult will compel me to something I know that is not in the best interest of this country. I stand by my word, I stand by the truth to serve Nigeria with all sincerity.”

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Niger Delta

Bayelsa Charges Environment Ministry To  End Bush Burning

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3 weeks ago

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December 20, 2024

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The Bayelsa State Government has ordered its Ministry of Environment to take necessary measures to identify and arrest individuals or groups indulging in indiscriminate bush burning in the state.
It also directed its Taskforce on Livestock Management to take proactive steps to checkmate the activities of cattle rearers to prevent the destruction of crops and farms across communities in all the local government areas of the state.
Acting Governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the directives while presiding over the 146th Session of the  State Executive Council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media, Mr. Doubara Atasi, quoted him as emphasizing on the dangers of bush burning to the environment, ecosystem and human health.
The statement added that the state’s number two man also warned those perpetrating the act to stop forthwith or face the wrath of the law.
To this end, Atasi added that the Acting State Chief Executive directed the Ministry of Environment to activate the taskforce, with a view to apprehending those found culpable and to ensure they are brought to justice.
On cattle rearers encroaching on farmlands and destroying crops, Senator Ewhrudjakpo noted that the law on anti-grazing was still in force and should be implemented in all ramifications.
He, therefore, directed the taskforce on livestock management in the state to operationalize all machineries to ensure that herders carry out their trade within the limits of the law to avoid unnecessary destruction of lives and property, including crops.
“We want to use this opportunity to alert the public about the danger of bush burning. The hazards are quite known by everybody.
“Nobody should, for the sake of their farms which they want to keep clean and cultivate, jeopardize the health of other citizens. And so, the Ministry of Environment is hereby directed to activate the taskforce on anti-burning.
“The ministry must make sure that all those who are involved in bush burning are discouraged, and where they fail to comply, they should either be brought to justice or justice taken to them.
“In a similar vein, we are aware of the influx of herders into our state. The state taskforce on livestock management is hereby also directed to activate all machineries to ensure that herders don’t come into our state to destroy our farmlands.
“The law on anti-grazing remains in force and should be enforced in all ramifications. So, livestock management committee, both at the state and local government areas, should be activated and make sure that they curtail and contain every unnecessary grazing that is not permitted in our state”, he said.
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Niger Delta

Stakeholders Caution Delta Over Propose Mangrove Forest Sale

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3 weeks ago

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December 20, 2024

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The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has cautioned the Delta State Government over its proposed sale of 258, 000 hectares of mangrove forests, for billions of naira.
According to the Tide’s source, HOMEF stated that carbon trade pollutes the environment, and  it is dangerous to human nature.
The Executive Director, HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, who was a Guest Speaker at the Environment outreach magazine public lecture/annual award at Spring Hills Hotel in Asaba, explained that carbon trade is a killer disease which is bound to affect human beings including rivers.
Basse said through Blue Carbon or carbon trade, which is the sale of mangrove forest, people will calculate the carbon in the mangrove, then sell it as carbon credit.
“Delta State is proposing to sell 258, 000 hectares of mangrove forests, one of the biggest in the country to some companies whose intentions we believe is to sell the carbon to oil companies, and when they buy the credit, then they have the right to pollute.
“Carbon credit is set to upset the pollution that is why it is a false solution.
“So, it doesn’t work. We have to do what is right to nature, and not necessarily because of money. Don’t allow carbon trading, don’t allow waters pollution”, Basset stated.
Earlier, Bayelsa-born Noble Akenge, the publisher of Environment Outreach magazine, lamented the negative effects of environmental pollution in the State.
Akenge said the state, being the heart of petroleum activities, had suffered a lot of ecological damages due to oil spills.
The Environmentalist noted that the people’s major preoccupation of fishing and farming have been impacted seriously as most of their farmlands and even rivers and streams have been polluted by oil spills.
“The destruction of the rivers in Delta State represent the phenomena in most Niger Delta States where oil and related activities take place”, he added.
The source reports that Awards were presented to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the Managing Director of Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, among others.
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Niger Delta

Eno Recommits To Accountability, Effective Service Delivery

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3 weeks ago

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December 20, 2024

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Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, says his administration will remain committed to ensuring effective leadership, service delivery and be accountable to the people.
He made the remarks at the maiden edition of his administration’s ministerial briefing and end of year review in Uyo on Monday.
He said his administration would remain purely committed to delivering democracy dividends to Akwa Ibom people in line with its campaign promises.
The Governor stated that the ministerial  briefing was to enable the administration to present its scorecard in the past 18 months.
According to him, the briefing is an enlarged executive council meeting aimed at presenting government’s scorecard and gaining new ideas.
“The exercise will enable Akwa Ibom people to evaluate and assess our government’s performance so far.
“In the past 18 months, this administration has been accountable, transparent and prudent in managing public funds.
“Release of funds must be tied to ideas and projects that will benefit the generality of Akwa Ibom people”, he said.
Eno stated that his administration is open to constructive criticisms, saying, ”I mean criticisms that will put government on its toes, and not smear campaign and condemnation.
“I must say that we have done well. It is left for critical stakeholders to analyse what we have done. We have tried to keep to the ideals of the ARISE Agenda”.
He said his administration is currently working on three major projects such as the Aviation Village, Ibom Deep Sea Port and Ibom Medical City.
Eno continued that the three major projects were capital intensive, and that his administration had to give priority attention to the airport project following its quick return on investment.
He commended his predecessor for embarking on projects that had strategic investment value.
According to the Commissioner, in 2025, his administration would be holding town hall meeting twice in a month to ensure public inputs to governance.
In his presentation, the Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Capt. Iniobong Ekong (Rtd), said the State Government had religiously settled compensations for lands acquired from citizens.
Ekong stated that the government had successfully reclaimed all government lands that were acquired illegally.
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