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Shell Concealed Data On Nigeria Oil Spill – Geologist

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The global oil giant, Shell, is concealing data showing thousands of Nigerians are exposed to health hazards from a stalled clean-up of the worst oil spills in the nation’s history, a German Geologist contracted by the multinational has said.
In a letter to the Bodo Mediation Initiative, BMI, Kay Holtzmann, a geologist hired by the Dutch-British multinational, disclosed that an environmental study found “astonishingly high” pollution levels with soil “literally soaked with hydrocarbons” in the Bodo community.
Mr. Holtzmann also disclosed that Shell “fiercely opposed” environmental testing.
The people of Bodo in the oil-producing
Niger Delta region should get urgent medical tests, the Geologist wrote in the letter dated January 26, obtained by The Associated Press, AP.
Bodo is part of Ogoniland, where the failure to clean up oil spills was called an environmental scandal in 2011 by the U.N. Environment Program.
The clean-up was part of a British out-of-bounds settlement in which Shell
paid $83.5 million to 15,600 fishermen and farmers for damages from two oil spills caused by old pipelines in 2008 and 2009 that devastated thousands of hectares of mangroves and creeks.
Lawyers alleged 500,000 barrels of oil spilled, but Shell said it was only 1,640 barrels and initially offered the community $50,000 in compensation.
The agreement was reached through British law firm, Leigh Day, which said on Friday it has received no response to a January 30 letter to Shell asking for the data from Mr. Holtzmann, who was hired by Shell to manage the clean-up.
“Leigh Day has been pushing for the cleanup of Bodo, health screening of the population and testing of the water supply since 2011 – all to no avail,” the firm said.
“This letter shows that even those who were employed by Shell are deeply concerned by their behaviour and their lack of transparency.”
Mr. Holtzmann’s letter warns that children bathing in creeks are in danger of harm from toxic substances, as are people who drink from hand-dug wells.
Amnesty International had said the multinational was “deeply irresponsible.”
“Shell has a responsibility to share this information with the community to ensure they can take steps to protect themselves and their children,” a statement from the rights group said.
Clean-up efforts overseen by the Dutch government began in June 2015 but were halted within months by community disputes and problems with contractors.
Mr. Holtzmann’s letter urges Bodo Mediation Initiative, BMI, co-chair, Inemo Samiama, to publish the data, noting that the initiative’s committee had insisted on the tests “against fierce opposition from Shell Petroleum Development Co., SPDC.”
The environmental tests were carried out in August 2015 with support from Shell’s headquarters in The Hague, the letter said.
Mr. Holtzmann said his intent to publish the findings in a scientific magazine last year was quashed by Shell, which said his contract did not permit publication.
A Shell spokesperson on Sunday declined comments on Mr. Holtzman’s revelations.
But a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, which was signed by Mr. Samiama said Mr. Holtzmann’s six months contract was not extended because the geologist performed “poorly”.
“In view of Mr Kay Holtzman’s poor performance, the BMI technical team recommended that a more competent project director should be sourced for,” the BMI chair said in the statement.
Commenting further, Mr. Samiama said the Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Technique, SCAT, results confirmed areas of pollution and the need for clean-up, but the results did not raise new concerns because they were not different from existing observations from earlier reports.
He also noted that at a meeting with members of the Bodo Community, the BMI chair had suggested that the only way to mitigate against continued exposure to the negative consequences of the polluted environment was to immediately commence the clean- up and remediation exercise.
The BMI chair also alleged that the clean-up process was shut down by Bodo community members two weeks after the report was released, because they wanted to receive money rather than have their community cleaned-up.
“The SCAT report was shared with relevant BMI stakeholders and its contents were used to inform the Boko community,” he said.

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NAFDAC Busts Fake Alcohol Factory In Lagos

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January 15, 2025

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismantled a makeshift factory in the Oke Arin market, Lagos Island, where counterfeit alcoholic beverages were being illegally produced.
According to a statement via its X, yesterday, the agency, acting on a complaint, conducted a raid that led to the arrest of three men and the seizure of counterfeit drinks, empty bottles, and packaging materials.
According to NAFDAC, the seized products, which included fake versions of popular alcoholic brands, were valued at over ¦ 180 million.
The main suspect, Mr. Tochukwu Henry, confessed to refilling bottles labelled as Rémy Martin with ST-Rémy contents.
He also admitted to employing two other individuals to assist in the operation.
The statement said, “NAFDAC has raided a makeshift factory in Oke Arin market, Lagos Island, following a complaint about the illegal production of alcoholic beverages. Three men were apprehended and various counterfeit alcoholic drinks, empty bottles, and packaging materials were seized.
“The products, valued at over ¦ 180 million, included fake versions of popular brands. The main suspect, Mr. Tochukwu Henry, confessed to refilling bottles labelled as Rémy Martin with ST-Rémy contents and employing two others to assist in the illicit operation.
“All suspects are currently in custody for further investigation. NAFDAC calls on the public to remain vigilant, especially during the festive season, and to report suspicious activities and products to the nearest NAFDAC office.”

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Reps Give FG 72 Hours To Unfreeze NSIPA’s Accounts

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9 hours ago

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January 15, 2025

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The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to direct the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to within 72 hours, unfreeze the accounts of the National Social Investment Agency (NSIPA), given its role in addressing hunger and poverty.
The position of the Green Chamber was a sequel to the adoption of a motion at yesterday’s plenary sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, and 20 other lawmakers.
Allegations of corruption and shady deals compelled the President Bola Tinubu-led government to freeze the accounts of the agency, to give room for a total overhauling of its programmes.
While calling for support for the motion yesterday, Kalu emphasised that NSIPA oversees critical social intervention programmes such as Grant for Vulnerable Groups, N-Power, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, Conditional Cash Transfers and the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, among others.
He also noted that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu-led government emphasises the mandate of the NSIPA to cushion the effect of economic shocks on the poor and the vulnerable.
He said, “The House is disturbed that despite the programmes of NSIPA being vital for poverty alleviation, youth empowerment, and economic inclusivity in Nigeria; the agency’s functionality has been hindered due to administrative bottlenecks, insufficient funding and frozen accounts.
“The House is worried that the effort of the government and the laudable programmes of NSIPA were truncated by alleged financial mismanagement by handlers of the programmes leading to the suspension of programmes and freezing of the agency’s account and subsequent investigation by anti-corruption and security agencies.
“The House is concerned that the smooth operations of the programmes and the fulfilment of the mandate of NSIPA are hindered due to the suspension of the accounts of the agency and other administrative bottlenecks, which has remained in force even more than three months after the President reconstituted the new management of NSIPA.”
Kalu who represents Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, further said the frozen accounts of the agency contradict the President’s mandate on poverty alleviation by hindering and halting social welfare programs, including conditional cash transfers, small business grants, and school feeding initiatives.
This, according to him undermines “Economic empowerment initiatives, delays in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and cause erosion of public confidence and administrative paralysis in fighting poverty, among other things.”
Kalu noted that following the suspension of accounts of the NSIPA, “The N-Power programme has been so negatively affected that 395,731 beneficiaries are owed outstanding stipends to the tune of N81.32bn; a fund already captured under the 2023 and 2024 amended Appropriation Acts, which will lapse by the year ending December 31, 2024.”
Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the President to mandate the minister of finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy to “ensure that all frozen accounts of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency are unfrozen within 72 hours to enable the smooth recommencement of all the programmes.”
The minister was also tasked to ensure the release of funds to NSIPA for the payment of outstanding stipends owed to 395,731 N-Power beneficiaries nationwide without further delay.
It further mandated the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Yusuf Sununu, to ensure that all the administrative bottlenecks hindering the smooth operations of all programmes of NSIPA are immediately removed.

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Rivers Dep Gov Bags Award

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9 hours ago

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January 15, 2025

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Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, has expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology for upgrading her to the status of a Fellow by the President and Governing Council of the Institute.
Prof Odu expressed this when a delegation of Fellows and other members of the Institute visited her at the Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday to perform her Investiture as a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology.
Prof. Odu said that what the Institute has done for her is exceptional, adding that she feels so humbled by their kind gesture and proud of the Institute which she described as a trailblazer.
I want to thank our Emeritus Prof. Simeon Achinewhu for keeping the flag flying and I am pleased to be a part of this family”. Prof. Odu further stressed.
The Deputy Governor who called for continuous prayers for the success of the Governor Fubara-led Administration, noted that prayers were their greatest defense in times of trouble.
“This Administration needs God to sustain us, we need God to direct our steps, we need God to navigate especially when you have challenges, God has done it thus far and I believe the good Lord shall lead us until we finish when he wants us to finish.” The Deputy Governor further stressed.
Also speaking the leader of the delegation, Emeritus Prof. Simeon Achinewhu, said they were in the Government House to decorate the Deputy Governor as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, in line with the directive of the national body of the association to formally present the Deputy Governor with her award and certificate of membership, following are indelible contributions to the growth of the association.
Earlier, the Chairman South -East Chapter, of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, Dr. Bariwere Samuel, while assuring the State Government of its readiness to partner with the State on its food safety programs, said it is willing to deploy its expertise and resources to compliment the State Government’s efforts in ensuring the availability of safe and nutritious food for its citizens.

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