News
Ogoni Clean-Up: Reps Flay FG’s Insincerity
The House of Representatives Committee on Environment has called on the Federal Government to, without further delay, fast-track the clean-up of Ogoniland and other impacted sites in the Niger Delta, which is being currently handled by the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP).
The Chairman of the committee, Hon. Obinna Chidoka, who made the call during an oversight visit of members of the committee to HYPREP’s demonstration site in Koro Koro Tai Community in Rivers State, recently, said there was need for the Federal Government, HYPREP’s Governing Council and the Board of Trustees to put on ground a more efficient process to ensure that the clean-up exercise was faster and more result-oriented, for the ultimate benefit of the Niger Delta people.
“What we want to see is a situation where the clean-up is faster because the more we waste time, the more it impacts on the lives of the people and this is to save them from premature death. That is also why we need HYPREP’s Governing Council which takes certain decisions and the Board of Trustees which has put the funds, to be quick and fast about the clean-up”.
“The committee members expected to see in a couple of weeks or months from now, more prosperous, pasturable and arable lands that can be used for agricultural or agro and aquatic activities in Ogoniland in particular and in the Niger Delta in general”, Chidoka said.
The Tide investigation revealed that HYPREP’s work has been apparently slowed down by bureaucratic bottlenecks, particularly in terms of accessing the funds set aside by International Oil Companies (IOCs) to effectively implement the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report in Ogoniland and other impacted sites in the Niger Delta.
Commenting on this seeming setback, Chidoka revealed that this is so because HYPREP was not established by legislation or bill but merely as an interventionist body, guided by a set of principles and rules for the sole purpose of cleaning up impacted sites in the Niger Delta.
For this reason, he said the much the National Assembly could do in the circumstance is to look at the activities of HYPREP and consider it as a bill, saying, that would entail making it to function like an agency.
He said the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) was in a better position to ensure that oil spills and the attendant pollution of the environment are addressed in the first place.
“What we are saying is that this land has been affected by exploratory activities. We have an agency that should stop it from day one not happening because if it had happened that 40 or 50 years ago, as they pollute, they not only pay but clean up immediately, we won’t be here today”, he said.
He explained further that what HYPREP was expected to do in this circumstance now is to clean up impacted sites, “round it up, and watch it over time and make sure it is okay”.
The committee chairman said the National Assembly would on its part give agencies like NOSDRA a bite by fashioning out the necessary legal framework to do their job more efficiently and stressed the need for oil companies and their collaborators who pollute the environment through their exploratory activities not only to pay fines but to be jailed as well.
Earlier, the committee members while interfacing with the management of HYPREP at its corporate office in Port Harcourt decried the slow pace of the clean-up of Ogoniland, insisting that the funding of the project by the oil companies in concert with the Federal Government must be prompt and adequate.
The members who took turns to elucidate their points stressed the need for HYPREP to come up with realistic time lines in remediating and restoring impacted sites within the shortest possible time.
In his response, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Dr. Marvin Dekil thanked the committee members for the oversight visit, and noted that as soon as the budget for the clean-up exercise was approved and funds released, it would hit the ground running to accomplish its core mandate.
Donatus Ebi
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.