Features
Periscoping Port Harcourt City
Although the celebration of Port Harcourt at 100 in December 2012 has come and gone, it is important to revisit and periscope the state of the city. It is obvious that the one-time Garden City of Nigeria has passed through many processes of transformation compared to what it was before its pronouncement as the political and administrative headquarters of the then newly created Rivers State in 1967.
Created in 1912, both in regional and national contexts, Port Harcourt has remained an important city, all-time,because of its position as a port and as one of only two railway termini in Southern Nigeria. Its importance has taken added dimensions: Firstly as an important centre of the booming oil and gas industry in Nigeria and secondly, it is now producing more and consuming more, developing faster and attracting more risk capital.
The vast development is gaining powerful momentum, involving expansion and diversification of industrial and commercial activities. Port Harcourt is filled with vast promises and also brings with it unimagined and immeasurable consequences.
Thus, to minimize consequences of rapid development, a master plan for Port Harcourt was produced with the primary task of providing the framework for physical planning, roads, housing, water system, electricity, drainage amongst others. Realising that the success of physical planning depends, to a very large measure, on the human factor, policies on health, welfare and productivity of its population were formulated ultimately for the development of the city’s total resources, as well as the country’s.
The history of Port Harcourt cannot be complete without mentioning the fact that the area was first a settlement for Ikwerre farmers and Okrika people. The area comprising the Port Harcourt municipality, according to records, was prior to 1918, largely a farmland and secondary forest, known by the Ikwerres as Obomotu while the adjoining areas – creeks were occupied mainly by Okrika fishermen.
The region of Port Harcourt municipality was, therefore, a meeting place for the agricultural Ikwerre and the fishing and trading communities of the neighbouring Delta such as the Okrika, Kalabari and the Ibani (Bonny). The Ikwerre sold yams, livestock and other farm products in exchange for fish, salt and variety of European goods. As a result of this commercial exchange between the Ikwerre and their Delta neighbours, the municipal area also became a place for cultural interaction. Many linguistic elements, fashions in dress, styles of music, songs and dances were exchanged along with the trading in goods.
The present Port Harcourt municipality was created by the British colonial administration of Nigeria between 1912 and 1914 when Lord Lugard, the first Governor-General was planning the best ways of exploiting the resources of the country. Lord Lugard saw the need for a modern port to serve in the evacuation of the agricultural produce of Southeastern Nigeria and the minerals from the Plateau of Northeastern Nigeria and also to attract government installations, foreign business as well as workers and businessmen from many parts of Nigeria and West Africa. The government then began to construct a modern harbor and Port Harcourt became the eastern terminus of the Nigerian Railway in 1927. Several European trading firms formerly operating at Delta ports moved to Port Harcourt and commercial activities throughout the riverine areas began to be drawn towards Port Harcourt including workers in the colonial government establishments.
By the end of 1912, the area of the present Port Harcourt metropolis was chosen in preference to sites at Okrika and Bonny and Lord Lugard had ruled that the city be named Port Harcourt, after the then British Secretary of State for the colonies, Lewis Harcourt. By the Hargrove Agreement of May 1913, a piece of land measuring about twenty-five square miles in extent was acquired from persons representing the Ikwerre communities of Diobu, Rumueme, Rumuomasi, Rumuobiakani and Oginigba and representatives of twenty-five Okrika villages.
The government of Port Harcourt was run at the whims and caprices of a single British official for five years while the Township Advisory Board was established as part of the implementation of the Nigeria Townships Ordinance (NTO) passed in that year. The Advisory Board was empowered only to request and to recommend and not to decide or implement decisions.
To many from the hinterlands Port Harcourt became a strange social, economic and political environment because any trip to Port Harcourt at that time was regarded as a foreign trip to a communally heterogeneous and functionally specialised urban setting. Workers in the colonial government establishments, and in the private sector of the British, French, Syria, Lebanon, Sierra Leone and Ghanaian civil servants, lawyers, doctors among others, Yoruba, Efik, Edo, Hausa, Ibo and members of other Nigerian groups inhabited the area.
With the founding of Port Harcourt’s first newspaper, the Nigerian Observer in 1930 and with the inauguration of the African Community League in 1935, the ideological impetus was given to wrest political power from the European minority.
Another stage of political development in Port Harcourt between 1944 and 1945 saw the transfer of local power from Europeans to Africans through two main factors, the increasing militancy of the African Community League and the introduction of the franchise, though there was no overt hostility against the European or colonial rulers. There was a state of political tranquility. During the period, the African Community League made some demands such as; that Port Harcourt be accorded representation in the Nigerian Legislative Council and that the city be elevated to the status of first class township with an elected and fully responsible town council with an elected majority, a request that was granted and inaugurated on June 15, 1949.
As stated by H. E. Wolpe, “with the elevation of Port Harcourt’s administrative status, the local centre of political gravity immediately shifted from the African Community League to the Town Council of which public offices were held by those who proved their popularity at the polls. The battle for the political control of Port Harcourt was between the Ibo and the non-Ibo elements of the Rivers Province.
The position of Port Harcourt turned full when the Federal Military Government of Nigeria created twelve autonomous states in 1976, and at the end of the subsequent Civil War in 1970, there was established a Rivers State with Port Harcourt as headquarters.
Since 1970, the political and administrative control of the city has been in the hands of indigenous Rivers people, and the population has remained cosmopolitan, reflecting the city’s position as a national harbor and industrial centre. Its new status as a state capital has attracted many more people to come to settle and work in it from all parts of Rivers State and beyond including foreigners.
From 1970, Port Harcourt city witnessed various forms of development and changes in road network, traffic conditions, public transport, housing, port facilities, airport, public services such as education, health, recreation facilities, military bases and other facilities.
Port Harcourt began to witness its modern development in infrastructure during the military regime under the administration of Alfred Diette-Spiff, the first indigenous Military Governor of the Old Rivers State. Since then till-date, the Rivers State capital has a whole new network of roads, with pedestrian and standard drainage system and parking lanes. Most main roads of Port Harcourt that were very narrow have been expanded as traffic volumes increase. The Aba road which is trunk A has been upgraded just as the Ikwerre road. The East-West road from Calabar to Port Harcourt is currently under construction as well as the Old Airport road linking the Port Harcourt International Airport road.
Immediately after the civil war, (1967 – 1970) the Rivers State Government established the Transport Corporation which operated bus services due to the shortage of vehicles from the private sector. The story is different today as the number of commercial privately-owned vehicles congest our roads in Port Harcourt. Communities which had no road connections were served by the ferries of the Transport Corporation but presently, people from Buguma, Degema, Abonnema and other riverine areas that had no motorable access travel by road from Port Harcourt to their homes while there are plans to link more areas through land transport.
Port Harcourt is in a unique position in that it is the only town in Nigeria beside Lagos, which has a port with a railway connection. Though the port and the railway were the elements around Port Harcourt when it was built, but the railway has, however, lost very much of its relative importance to other modes of transport as it no longer functions.
After the civil war, Port Harcourt witnessed some favourable developments and has increased its share of the total international cargo through the Nigerian ports and also increased its capacity. A new port was planned for Port Harcourt in the Trans-Amadi area to complement the existing port but it was deemed not to be necessary now.
The first airport in Port Harcourt was situated on Aba Road, at about four miles from the city centre. It was equipped to handle daylight fights with medium-sized aircraft such as Fokker F-27 and F-28. The Nigeria Airways had about fifteen direct local flights from Port Harcourt to Lagos, and a number of other direct flights to Calabar, Enugu and Benin. In view of the envisaged heavy future air traffic to and from Port Harcourt, it was decided that a new airport be built hence the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa which has the capacity to handle jumbo jets was built.
Since missionaries saw education as one of the chief instruments of evangelism and the ultimate guarantee of the performance of their work, western education in Port Harcourt followed in the wake of the start of the first church in the city. No sooner than churches were founded, schools opened for converts, a process that began from around 1916 with the opening of St Cyprian’s Day followed by the Banham Memorial School in 1928 with establishment of the Methodist Church there about 1920. Other schools were established through similar circumstances, except perhaps, the Township school, which seemed to owe its establishment to direct British imperial policy.
At that time, the missionaries were reluctant to undertake secondary education until when they felt challenged by a Sierra Leonian freelance educationist, Rev. L. R. Potts-Johnson, who established the Enitona High School in 1932, followed by Okrika Grammar School (OGS) in 1940, and the St John’s Training College in 1942, Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls School, Elelenwo – 1943, all founded by the Anglican Mission, then came Stella Maris College opened by the Roman Catholic Mission and the Baptist Mission in the late 1940’s which established the Baptist High School. Several efforts have contributed to the greatness of Port Harcourt in the present day.
Although a lot is being done to bring Port Harcourt back to its Garden City status, more has to be done in terms of cleanliness while existing sanitation laws should be enforced in view of the fact that the more the population, the high rate of refuse generation by the residents.
Shedie Okpara
The importance of vocational training to the development of any nation cannot be over emphasised. Technical education experts define vocational education as any form of educational program or course that focuses on teaching the specific skills and knowledge required for a particular job or trade. Unlike traditional academic education, which is often broader and theoretical, vocational training is practical, hands-on, and tailored to prepare individuals for specific careers or industries. They also argue that the dearth of trained vocational and middle-level technical manpower represents a very serious gap in the development of third-world countries, including Nigeria. This argument, perhaps, underscores the Federal Government’s bold move towards educational reforms in Nigeria which includes the inculcation of vocational education into the schools curriculum as a way of equipping students with practical skills and enhancing their employability.
A recent statement released by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), indicated that the government has added 15 vocational subjects to the Basic Education curriculum. These additions which take effect from January, 2025, they said, are designed to promote hands-on learning and better prepare students for the job market. The new subjects include: Plumbing, tiling and floor works, POP installation, Event decoration and management, Bakery and Confectionery, Hairstyling, Makeup, Interior Design, GSM Repairs, Satellite/TV Antenna Installation. Others are: CCTV and intercom installation and maintenance, solar installation and maintenance, garment making, agriculture and processing, which covers crop production, beekeeping, horticulture, and livestock farming (e.g., poultry and rabbit rearing) and Basic Digital Literacy, incorporating IT and robotics.
The former Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, who earlier hinted on the new curriculum for basic schools during a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja, last October, said under the new curriculum, pupils in basic schools will be required to acquire at least two skills. According to the former minister, “The idea is that by the time children finish school, they should have at least two skills. Students should be able to finish school with a minimum of two skills so that they can have a very productive life. “The basis for the curriculum is the National Skills Framework, and it has been approved. It’s a very big project; it affects all schools in Nigeria, public and private.“Whether in the public sector or private sector, all schools are going to implement it. So, this is already determined. It doesn’t require anybody’s consent or any institution can depart from it.
Speaking on implementation, the Mamman said, “We do not expect comprehensive, full implementation from January because, when you roll out something new, there’s a lot of preparation that has to take place by the schools, acquiring new things, equipment, and small things that they will need,” adding that plans were underway to ensure teachers were well-equipped for the new curriculum. He also spoke on the benefits of the curriculum, noting that it would rekindle the desire of parents and students to acquire formal education. Hear him, “Some parents do not want to send their children to school. Right now, part of the problem why schooling has become unattractive is because people finish and there’s no change in their lives. “They cannot be employed. They can’t do anything on their own. So, parents question the value of spending money to send their children to school. “Now it’s going to change that game altogether.
And we have seen how these things resonate with parents. When they are successfully implemented, you will see students will want to run to school every morning. Parents want to take their children to school because they are learning practical things while in school.”The Acting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Dr Margret Lawani, had also disclosed during the same event that the newly introduced subjects fell under the vocational and entrepreneurship studies framework, which has been designed to expose pupils to various trades across multiple sectors. In the views of some vocational training experts, the decision to include vocational education into the basic school curriculum is plausible as it comes at a time when the nation’s education system is facing mounting criticism for its inability to adequately prepare students for real-world challenges.
They opined that by introducing vocational training at an early age, Nigeria has an opportunity to bridge the gap between formal education and practical skill acquisition. They however noted that the success of this initiative hinges on thoughtful implementation and sustained support. “The problem of Nigeria has never been a dearth of ideas or policies on how to move the country forward. In the past some educationists came up with the idea of 6-3-3-4 system of education whereby Students would be taught introductory technology and other forms of vocational skills at the junior secondary school level to better equip them for the real world in future. What happened to that brilliant idea? How many schools have well-equipped laboratories and well-trained teachers to handle these technical and vocational subjects? “The idea of setting up technical schools and polytechnics across the country is for them to serve as a grooming ground for young Nigerians in the area of technology.
How has the government, both federal and states, supported these schools to succeed? So, our problem is lack of implementation, fragmented policies and lack of sustenance not lack of ideas”, posited one expert. He advised that for the new curriculum to bear positive fruits, the government must take time to sensitize heads and owners of schools, teachers, parents and pupils of both public and private schools on the importance of the subjects and assist the schools in acquiring the necessary equipment and tools for the smooth running of the curriculum. “These subjects being introduced cannot be taught only theoretically as we are used to in this country. They require regular practical classes which will cost some money. Government, via the ministries of education, must vote out money for these practical classes and be ready to supervise schools to ensure that they are doing the right thing,” he added
Noting the importance of vocational training in today’s Nigeria where the rate of unemployment is high, Mr. Abel Ikiriko, a basic technology teacher in a Private School at Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt, regretted that vocational training is often seen as a last resort for those who fail academically, leading to low enrolment. He said, “I say this because I am a teacher and I know what we see in school every day. When these vocational subjects are introduced, you will see parents who will go to their children’s schools to make trouble because the children are compelled to learn maybe Hairstyling or something like that. Every parent wants their children to be doctors, lawyers, engineers and other professions and never skilled persons because for our society, skilled jobs are for the dullards.” “One of the most pressing issues in our labor market is the skills gap. Employers often struggle to find workers with the right skills, despite high unemployment rates. Yet many youths are not willing to be trained in a vocation. They prefer to search for the unavailable white-collar jobs. So unfortunate,” he continued.
Ikiriko said that the inclusion of vocational training in primary schools has benefits that extend beyond future job prospects. “Hands-on activities help children develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity—skills that are essential in any field. Vocational subjects can also provide an alternative pathway for students who may not excel in traditional academic subjects, ensuring that no child is left behind in the education system. Moreover, these subjects can instill a sense of dignity in manual labor and shift societal perceptions about the value of skilled trades.”He advocated for public awareness campaigns so as to change perceptions about vocational education, and showcase its potential to lead to successful careers. Mrs. Meg Amadi, a mother of three pupils is concerned about the curriculum of the primary schools being overloaded, stressing that that is a potential risk.
According to her, primary school students are at a formative stage of their development, and overloading them with too many subjects could lead to cognitive fatigue. She maintained that careful planning is required to ensure that the new vocational subjects complement rather than compete with core academic learning; that they are seamlessly integrated into the broader curriculum without overwhelming students. To maximize the impact of this initiative, she offered the following suggestions: the government must invest in training and retraining teachers to deliver vocational subjects effectively, collaborating with vocational training institutes and NGOs for better result; government should begin with pilot programs in select schools to identify best practices and address challenges before scaling up nationwide; the private sector should be engaged to provide funding, equipment, and expertise for vocational training in schools.
Nonetheless, some analysts are of the view that the addition of 15 vocational subjects to the basic school curriculum is a visionary step toward transforming the nation’s education system and improving the nation’s economy. they hold that if implemented effectively, the initiative will equip young Nigerians with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world while fostering a culture of innovation and self-reliance. They said that with collaborative effort, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders and the right execution, this bold move could serve as a model for other nations seeking to align education with the demands of the 21st century.
Calista Ezeaku
The importance of vocational training to the development of any nation cannot be over emphasised. Technical education experts define vocational education as any form of educational program or course that focuses on teaching the specific skills and knowledge required for a particular job or trade. Unlike traditional academic education, which is often broader and theoretical, vocational training is practical, hands-on, and tailored to prepare individuals for specific careers or industries. They also argue that the dearth of trained vocational and middle-level technical manpower represents a very serious gap in the development of third-world countries, including Nigeria. This argument, perhaps, underscores the Federal Government’s bold move towards educational reforms in Nigeria which includes the inculcation of vocational education into the schools curriculum as a way of equipping students with practical skills and enhancing their employability.
A recent statement released by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), indicated that the government has added 15 vocational subjects to the Basic Education curriculum. These additions which take effect from January, 2025, they said, are designed to promote hands-on learning and better prepare students for the job market. The new subjects include: Plumbing, tiling and floor works, POP installation, Event decoration and management, Bakery and Confectionery, Hairstyling, Makeup, Interior Design, GSM Repairs, Satellite/TV Antenna Installation. Others are: CCTV and intercom installation and maintenance, solar installation and maintenance, garment making, agriculture and processing, which covers crop production, beekeeping, horticulture, and livestock farming (e.g., poultry and rabbit rearing) and Basic Digital Literacy, incorporating IT and robotics.
The former Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, who earlier hinted on the new curriculum for basic schools during a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja, last October, said under the new curriculum, pupils in basic schools will be required to acquire at least two skills. According to the former minister, “The idea is that by the time children finish school, they should have at least two skills. Students should be able to finish school with a minimum of two skills so that they can have a very productive life. “The basis for the curriculum is the National Skills Framework, and it has been approved. It’s a very big project; it affects all schools in Nigeria, public and private.“Whether in the public sector or private sector, all schools are going to implement it. So, this is already determined. It doesn’t require anybody’s consent or any institution can depart from it.
Speaking on implementation, the Mamman said, “We do not expect comprehensive, full implementation from January because, when you roll out something new, there’s a lot of preparation that has to take place by the schools, acquiring new things, equipment, and small things that they will need,” adding that plans were underway to ensure teachers were well-equipped for the new curriculum. He also spoke on the benefits of the curriculum, noting that it would rekindle the desire of parents and students to acquire formal education. Hear him, “Some parents do not want to send their children to school. Right now, part of the problem why schooling has become unattractive is because people finish and there’s no change in their lives. “They cannot be employed. They can’t do anything on their own. So, parents question the value of spending money to send their children to school. “Now it’s going to change that game altogether.
And we have seen how these things resonate with parents. When they are successfully implemented, you will see students will want to run to school every morning. Parents want to take their children to school because they are learning practical things while in school.”The Acting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Dr Margret Lawani, had also disclosed during the same event that the newly introduced subjects fell under the vocational and entrepreneurship studies framework, which has been designed to expose pupils to various trades across multiple sectors. In the views of some vocational training experts, the decision to include vocational education into the basic school curriculum is plausible as it comes at a time when the nation’s education system is facing mounting criticism for its inability to adequately prepare students for real-world challenges.
They opined that by introducing vocational training at an early age, Nigeria has an opportunity to bridge the gap between formal education and practical skill acquisition. They however noted that the success of this initiative hinges on thoughtful implementation and sustained support. “The problem of Nigeria has never been a dearth of ideas or policies on how to move the country forward. In the past some educationists came up with the idea of 6-3-3-4 system of education whereby Students would be taught introductory technology and other forms of vocational skills at the junior secondary school level to better equip them for the real world in future. What happened to that brilliant idea? How many schools have well-equipped laboratories and well-trained teachers to handle these technical and vocational subjects? “The idea of setting up technical schools and polytechnics across the country is for them to serve as a grooming ground for young Nigerians in the area of technology.
How has the government, both federal and states, supported these schools to succeed? So, our problem is lack of implementation, fragmented policies and lack of sustenance not lack of ideas”, posited one expert. He advised that for the new curriculum to bear positive fruits, the government must take time to sensitize heads and owners of schools, teachers, parents and pupils of both public and private schools on the importance of the subjects and assist the schools in acquiring the necessary equipment and tools for the smooth running of the curriculum. “These subjects being introduced cannot be taught only theoretically as we are used to in this country. They require regular practical classes which will cost some money. Government, via the ministries of education, must vote out money for these practical classes and be ready to supervise schools to ensure that they are doing the right thing,” he added
Noting the importance of vocational training in today’s Nigeria where the rate of unemployment is high, Mr. Abel Ikiriko, a basic technology teacher in a Private School at Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt, regretted that vocational training is often seen as a last resort for those who fail academically, leading to low enrolment. He said, “I say this because I am a teacher and I know what we see in school every day. When these vocational subjects are introduced, you will see parents who will go to their children’s schools to make trouble because the children are compelled to learn maybe Hairstyling or something like that. Every parent wants their children to be doctors, lawyers, engineers and other professions and never skilled persons because for our society, skilled jobs are for the dullards.” “One of the most pressing issues in our labor market is the skills gap. Employers often struggle to find workers with the right skills, despite high unemployment rates. Yet many youths are not willing to be trained in a vocation. They prefer to search for the unavailable white-collar jobs. So unfortunate,” he continued.
Ikiriko said that the inclusion of vocational training in primary schools has benefits that extend beyond future job prospects. “Hands-on activities help children develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity—skills that are essential in any field. Vocational subjects can also provide an alternative pathway for students who may not excel in traditional academic subjects, ensuring that no child is left behind in the education system. Moreover, these subjects can instill a sense of dignity in manual labor and shift societal perceptions about the value of skilled trades.”He advocated for public awareness campaigns so as to change perceptions about vocational education, and showcase its potential to lead to successful careers. Mrs. Meg Amadi, a mother of three pupils is concerned about the curriculum of the primary schools being overloaded, stressing that that is a potential risk.
According to her, primary school students are at a formative stage of their development, and overloading them with too many subjects could lead to cognitive fatigue. She maintained that careful planning is required to ensure that the new vocational subjects complement rather than compete with core academic learning; that they are seamlessly integrated into the broader curriculum without overwhelming students. To maximize the impact of this initiative, she offered the following suggestions: the government must invest in training and retraining teachers to deliver vocational subjects effectively, collaborating with vocational training institutes and NGOs for better result; government should begin with pilot programs in select schools to identify best practices and address challenges before scaling up nationwide; the private sector should be engaged to provide funding, equipment, and expertise for vocational training in schools.
Nonetheless, some analysts are of the view that the addition of 15 vocational subjects to the basic school curriculum is a visionary step toward transforming the nation’s education system and improving the nation’s economy. they hold that if implemented effectively, the initiative will equip young Nigerians with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world while fostering a culture of innovation and self-reliance. They said that with collaborative effort, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders and the right execution, this bold move could serve as a model for other nations seeking to align education with the demands of the 21st century.
Calista Ezeaku
For three decades or more, there has been a cessation of oil production activities in Ogoni land. But recent meeting of President Bola Tinubu with notable sons and groups may return Ogoni to renewed oil-production once again. Ogonis are weary of perennial neglect. Days after the meeting, President Tinubu gave a nod to the establishment of a University of Environmental Technology in Tai in the Ogoni area. He had earlier-on approved appointments into some federal boards in which some notable Ogonis were among the beneficiaries. The President’s actions and speeches so far have indicated good faith and good intentions. This has urged hard-nosed and irrepressible resistant leaders like Attorney Ledum Mitee, one-time President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), to be in complete agreement with the return to oil production.
He was heard on the news calling on all well- meaning sons and daughters of Ogoniland to accept the offers coming their way. Many Ogonis however, are still doubtful about the President’s intentions. They have said it is all geared towards the Federal Government having access to the rich oil and gas deposits in Ogoni soil. There is also distrust by some who have yet to heal from past injustices inflicted on the land by previous governments in cahoots with the oil majors. Since 1993 when oil production stopped in Ogoni land following intensive protests from the Ogoni people, the Nigerian government and the oil majors stopped reaping from millions of dollars in proceeds from the oil and gas. Lawson Hayford, a veteran journalist, who has reported the Niger Delta for over four decades, particularly the Niger Delta and the Ogoni crisis, said Nigeria has lost revenue amounting to over N30 trillion for the 32 years that oil has not been mined in Ogoni land.
Writing in the Southern Examiner, Hayford said, “While oil exploration and production in the Niger Delta region began in the late 1950s, operations were suspended in Ogoniland in the early 1990s due to disruptions from local public unrests with oil fields and installations remaining largely dormant for about 34 years, leading to a loss of revenue of over N30 trillion. “There are a total of 96 oil wells connected to five flow stations across the four local government areas of Khana, Gokana, Tai, and Eleme in Ogoniland. They were being operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC of Nigeria, a subsidiary of the Royal Dutch Shell.” That story is presently being rewritten by the remediation efforts of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and the work of Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, its Project Coordinator.
“Over 50 communities are now enjoying potable water.” As though this was not magic enough, contractors are working hard toward mangrove regeneration not to leave out empowerment programmes for women and people with disabilities. These are stories too good to be true. In addition, the Petroleum Industry Act has also been introduced to take care of some basic needs of the oil communities, especially by tying development of the communities to the operational budgets of the oil companies. The establishment of a host community development trust as a condition for oil mining license holders regarding community development, may well be the magic wand required to turn things around for the Ogonis. A trying present is most likely to give way to a prosperous future. The future of the land and peoples of oil-bearing communities appear brighter with possibilities within this framework.
Environmentalist and lawyer, Iniro Wills, however, strongly thinks that the community-friendly clause in the PIA is only a tiny drop that cannot quench the thirst of the people’s appetite. Only time will tell. A lot of work needs to be done to bring every party in the Ogoni scenario to the table. Some groups are yet to agree with the return of oil production in Ogoniland, while others do not quite agree with the modus operandi adopted to initiate the process. They would all need to be brought together to ventilate their positions so that everyone is taken along together. Last Saturday, the committee that emerged to kickstart a process of the consultations initiated by President Tinubu convened a meeting at Freed Centre, Bori in the heart of Ogoniland. Though it was well attended, proceedings had to be hurried as a group of protesters stormed the venue.
Blessing Wikina, a long time public communications expert from Ogoni however, noted that the Bori meeting was a good landing. He said he was there. He dismissed the slanted reports about the meeting which he said were done to create social media content. He said in his social media handle that the committee deliberately avoided founding the consultations along old ‘loyalty blocs’ and ‘groups of people with entitlement blood.’ “Every Ogoni was to attend as an individual, not as a member of a camp. This approach meant no one would claim success or failure.”
Several factions exist in Ogoniland, including the leading pressure group, MOSOP, and they all need to get involved in the consultations, including those sulking for not being invited to the Abuja parley with the President.
Factional MOSO President, Fegalo Nsuke, recalled how MOSOP championed the Ogoni struggle from the beginning and wondered why MOSOP was not invited to Abuja or the Bori meeting. Hayford said, “sidelining MOSOP in the move to re-enter Ogoniland for oil and gas production could create distrust in the hearts of the Ogoni people, cautioning against rushing the process in order not to generate tension, anxiety and crisis in the landscape of Ogoni area.” Certain that the current process led by President Tinubu would yield good fruit for the Ogoni, Wikina says, he silently prays that “this oil resumption comes sooner, so that our people will participate in productive ventures around our oil economy…..and get benefits like our brothers in Orashi area, Bonny axis, etc.”
He cast a glance at the Bodo-Bonny road that will link mainland Nigeria with the vital island port of Bonny that is passing through Ogoniland. “Shall we wait, watch, as vehicles drive through here, to where lucrative oil businesses are happening…without our involvement? Every party will have to sheathe their sword and embrace the ongoing consultation process that will lead to a prosperous future for the land and the people.
Dagogo Josiah, Olayinka Coker and Emmanuel Obe
Josiah, Coker and Obe wrote in from Port Harcourt.