News
26 In JTF Net As …Shell Threatens Shut-down of Afam VI
The Joint Military Task Force (JTF), says it has arrested 20
Ghanaians and six Nigerians and destroyed seven barges with tug boats carrying
stolen petroleum products in Abonnema, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of
Rivers State.
JTF Commander, Brigadier-General Tuku Brutai said the 26
suspects were arrested during operations by his men.
The 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army spokesman disclosed that the
seven barges loaded with crude oil with the 20 Ghanaians and six Nigerians
arrested were on board were impounded last month.
He added that the arrested persons had been handed over to
the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps for prosecution, saying that,
“there were some arrests and they have all been handed over to the civil
defence corps for prosecution, and as you are aware, these barges are based in
this area.”
“They take advantage of these creeks, the difficult terrain
to sneak into the area and steal the crude oil but luck ran out of them and we
were able to intercept them.”
The 2 Brigade commanding officer also said that sea piracy
has continued in the creeks of the Niger Delta despite the efforts of the JTF
to stop the menace.
“We also have the challenge of difficult terrain where some
of our gun boats can not have access to the creeks because of the shallow
nature of the waters there but by and large, we have taken full control of the
situation in the riverine areas,” he said.
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC)
has said that the shut in of 150,000 barrels of oil per day may adversely
affect the Federal Government’s revenue targets and fiscal allocations for
projects and programmes in the 2012 budget, saying the Federal Government has
lost 1.2million barrels of projected crude oil sales in just eight days from
Shell alone.
The company has therefore, warned of grave consequences, if
government agencies charged with the responsibility of managing the nation’s
marine systems and territorial waters fail to remove the illegal crude oil
vessel which caught fire eight days ago, atop its 28-inch high pressure Trans
Niger Pipeline (TNP).
Shell has threatened to shut down the 240million cubic feet
per day Okoloma Gas Plant, which supplies feedstock to the Nigeria Liquefied
Natural Gas (NLNG) facility in Bonny Island and at Okololunch new Bonny the
gas-powered Afam VI Power Station, lying adjacent to the gas plant, in Oyigbo
Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Afam VI supplies 650megawatts to the national grid, managed
by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), thus, contributing
significantly to the government’s desire to achieve uninterrupted power supply
as part of its Transformation Agenda.
The Tide gathered that shut down of Afam VI Power Station
would cut off 650MW from the overall national power supply equation, which
stands at between 4,200MW and 4,500MW, thereby worsening the nation’s power
supply challenge.
The Bomu-Bonny 28-inch TNP and 26-inch high pressure gas
pipeline run in parallel, and pump crude oil and gas from the entire Land East
production infrastructure, particularly the Okoloma Gas Plant to facilities at
Bonny Island..
The Tide gathered that Shell’s concerns revolve around the
fact that the vessel now in flames seats atop both high pressure pipelines, and
therefore, exposes the billion-dollar facilities to serious threat.
The Land East operations cover all Shell production
facilities in Rivers, Imo, Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
Shell’s Vice President, Health, Safety and Environment
(HSE), Communications and Corporate Affairs, Tony Attah, who gave the warning
last Friday, said the shut in of 150,000bpd production, and shut down of both
Okoloma Gas Plant and Afam VI Power Station, though regrettable, were a
compelling last resort.
He stated that as soon as the incident was reported Sunday,
the Emergency Response Team (ERT) was mobilised and dispatched on overfly of
the area to ascertain the veracity of the fire, adding that three six-inch
crude theft point fittings have so far been identified on the TNP.
He urged the Federal Government to address the crude theft
problem swiftly by tightening security on the nation’s waterways while
arresting and prosecuting criminals involved in the illegal business to save
the region and the nation’s economy.
The Tide had exclusively reported last Monday that the
explosion and fire which gutted the vessel had claimed the lives of four
expatriates and 18 others while another 21 persons around the crude oil theft
circumference sustained serious injuries, including first degree burns.
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.