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COVID-19: RSG Releases 22 ExxonMobil Staff …As Caverton Helicopters Apologises To Wike

Published

5 years ago

April 20, 2020

The Rivers State Government, yesterday, released the 22 staff of United States oil and gas giant, ExxonMobil, who were arrested for violating the Executive Order restricting movement in the state.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Prof Zaccheus Adangor, explained that the ExxonMobil staff were released without charges.
Adangor said that the state government would no longer press charges against them, stressing that they were released following interventions by well-meaning Nigerians.
The Attorney-General of Rivers State confirmed that he monitored the release of the 22 ExxonMobil staff at the State Isolation Centre at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.
He noted that the Rivers State Government remains committed to implementing the Executive Order issued to check the spread of the novel Coronavirus in the state.
It would be recalled that security agencies arrested 22 staff of ExxonMobil who entered the state from Akwa Ibom in violation of the Executive Order signed by the governor.
The order stipulates that health authorities ascertain the Coronavirus status of those entering the state.
Earlier, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, had announced that security agencies arrested 22 staff of ExxonMobil who entered the state from Akwa Ibom in violation of the state Executive Order.
Wike also announced that the management of Caverton Helicopters has apologised to the state government over the conduct that led to the arrest of their pilots and passengers who violated the restriction orders of the state.
Addressing a press conference in Port Harcourt, last Friday, Wike stated that the ExxonMobil matter would be a test case in legal jurisprudence in the country.
Wike said: “Security agencies arrested 22 staff of ExxonMobil who came into the state from neighbouring Akwa Ibom State in violation of the extant Executive Order restricting movement into the state. We do not know the Coronavirus status of these individuals.
“Even though security agencies advised that they be allowed to go back to Akwa Ibom State, I insisted that the law must take its course. This is because nobody is above the law.
“As a responsive government, we have quarantined them in line with the relevant health protocols, and they will be charged to court.”
The Rivers State governor regretted that the federal authorities were working dangerously to compromise the health protection system of Rivers State, and thereby make them vulnerable to Coronavirus.
He said: “Some people want the escalation of the virus in Rivers State. People were paid to canvass a negative narrative on Caverton pilots.
“We are doing what we can within available resources to fight Coronavirus. You can fly, but as you fly and land, don’t enter our territory.
“We will fight this matter legally. ExxonMobil does not operate in Rivers State. That they have a point at the Onne seaport does not mean that they operate in Rivers State.
“People in Abuja are not happy. They want Rivers State to be infected. They want to kill Rivers people and I will not allow it. I was elected to protect Rivers people. Rivers State is not a pariah state.
“Nigerians shake when they hear oil companies they shake because they have compromised. Imagine an appointed minister issuing an order to an elected governor. They wanted to rig us out and lost. Recall that the former DG of DSS ordered his men to leave the INEC Collation Centre for the invasion of the centre. They lost.
“The right must be done. We are talking about something that is killing people. They want Coronavirus to escalate in Rivers State. The law must be tested. Make sacrifice and let us contain the virus.”
Wike said that Rivers State cannot be manipulated from any quarters.
“Nobody will use Rivers State as a toy. This Federal Government does not like us, but a government will come that likes Rivers State.
Wike stated that the state government followed due process in its actions against Caverton Helicopters, and noted that state government was focused on implementing extant laws aimed at protecting Rivers people.
He said: “On 7th April, 2020, two pilots of Caverton Helicopters flew in and landed at the Air Force Base, Port Harcourt with 10 passengers on board their Twin-Otter Helicopter without any prior notice or approval from the state government, and in clear breach of the extant Covid-19 Regulations and Executive Order. The pilots and 10 passengers were promptly arrested by security personnel and arraigned before the Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate Court in two separate charges”.
Wike noted that his administration established the right legal framework to assist it effectively fight against the spread of Coronavirus, stressing that the second case in Rivers State has been discharged.
He thanked God for His blessing to the state, insisting that the law will take its course.
The governor said: “People selling Akara are being charged to court in Lagos. But they want us to allow oil companies to flout the law. I am a boy to Rivers people, not to anybody outside Rivers State.
“You have been fighting Rivers State since 2015. They challenged me in 2015, I defeated them. In 2019, I defeated them. There is no third term.”
The governor praised the management of the NLNG for cooperating with the state authorities to fight the spread of Coronavirus.
“I must commend the management of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) for obeying the established health protocol to check the spread of Coronavirus. They have consistently liaised with the state government in the movement of their staff on essential duties. This is what is expected of a responsible corporate organization,” he said.
The governor expressed gratitude to individuals and corporate organizations that have strengthened the state’s capacity to fight Coronavirus.
He said: “Our pragmatic leadership style has therefore earned our state individual and corporate support that have strengthened our prevention strategies.”
Wike noted that his administration has developed a comprehensive palliatives scheme to support less privileged Rivers people survive the sit-at-home directive of his administration.
He said: “I directed the palliatives committee to ensure that their activities must not be partisan, religious or ethnic based.
“Let me state here that following my directive, the committee adopted a community based approach in the discharge of its assignment.
The distribution of the foodstuffs is supervised at the ward level by a five-man committee made up of a clergy man, traditional ruler, Community Development Committee chairman, woman leader and youth leader.
“So far, the palliatives committee has distributed foodstuffs to Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ikwerre, and Eleme local government areas. The committee has also distributed foodstuffs to special homes in Port Harcourt.”
The governor, however, announced the suspension of the ongoing distribution of palliatives due to complaints by some members of the public, stressing, “In order to make the exercise more inclusive, members of the civil society and the media”.
Wike stated that the state government established the Foodstuffs Purchasing Committee with a directive to buy foodstuffs and fish from Rivers farmers, adding that the committee has procured foodstuffs and set up food banks in the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
“To ensure that nobody complains of hunger during this period, the Foodstuffs Purchasing Committee has set up food banks across the 23 local government areas of the state. These food banks are to be supervised by agricultural desks in each local government area.
“So far, the committee has purchased a large quantity of garri, yam, rice, palm oil and fish from local farmers and fishermen. The overall objective is to empower our farmers and fishermen while also providing enough foodstuffs for the less privileged in the state.”
He said that it was imperative that all companies or organizations doing full or partial business in the state support efforts at containing Coronavirus.
“Failure to support us shows total disregard for corporate social responsibility. I want to sincerely thank all individual and corporate donors who have supported us in the fight against Covid-19. At the appropriate time, the Rivers State Government will publish their names in national dailies and local tabloids for posterity. These individuals and corporate organizations are indeed friends of the state,” he said.
Wike said his administration chose to be proactive because it places premium on the lives of Rivers people, and pointed out that Rivers State was the first state to close her borders to check the spread of Coronavirus.
He noted that this step was greeted by criticisms at the time, but several states have emulated this pragmatic approach.
“We were the first state in the federation to close our borders. This attracted criticisms, but we have been vindicated as other states emulated this positive strategy.
”Even though we have recorded two cases, the index case has been discharged while the second case is doing well at the treatment centre. It is obvious that our containment strategies: closure of borders, closure of schools, closure of markets, closure of night clubs, closure of cinemas, as well as the ban of public worship, ban of public burials and weddings have helped to check the spread of Coronavirus.
“This is in addition to the conduct of our healthcare professionals who have demonstrated a high level of patriotism and sacrifice in contact tracing and case management,” he said.
The Rivers State governor warned those plotting to disrupt the distribution of palliatives will be sanctioned, and pointed out that some persons only criticise for the sake of political mileage and not to add value.
The governor said that nobody can threaten Rivers State with strike, warning that the state was ready to tackle anyone trying to compromise the health of the state.

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Tinubu Pledges Peace, Justice, Development in Ogoniland….Fubara Lauds President on Peace Talks

Published

4 days ago

January 22, 2025

The Tide

President Bola Tinubu has assured the people of Ogoniland that his administration will prioritize peace, justice, and sustainable development in the region.

The President said this during a closed-door meeting with the leaders of Ogoniland led by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed details of the meeting in a statement titled ‘President Tinubu pledges peace, justice, development in Ogoniland.’

At the meeting, Tinubu called for unity and reconciliation, urging the Ogoni people to set aside historical grievances and work together to achieve peace, development, and a clean environment.“

We must work together with mutual trust. Go back home, do more consultations, and embrace others.“We must make this trip worthwhile by bringing peace, development, and a clean environment back to Ogoniland,” Tinubu said.

“We cannot in any way rewrite history, but we can correct some anomalies of the past going forward. We cannot heal the wounds if we continue to be angry,” he added.

Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to coordinate the negotiations as he called for inclusive consultation and mutual understanding.

The President commended the delegation for embracing the Federal Government-led dialogue and emphasised the need for collaboration, trust, and inclusiveness to resolve lingering issues in the region.

He asked ministers, the NNPCL, and the Rivers State Government to cooperate with the Office of the National Security Adviser to achieve this mandate.Tinubu told his guests, “It is a great honour for me to have this meeting, which is an opportunity to dialogue with the people of Ogoniland.

“It has been many years since your children and myself partnered to resist military dictatorship in this country. No one dreamt I would be in this chair as President, but we thank God.

“Many of your sons present here were my friends and co-travellers in the streets of Nigeria, Europe, and America. I know what to do in memory of our beloved ones so that their sacrifices will not be in vain,.

”Fubara thanked the President for his support of the Ogoni people and for welcoming an all-inclusive representation of the people to the Presidential Villa.

He said the meeting was a follow-up to an assignment the President gave him through the National Security Adviser.

Emphasising the importance of resuming oil operations in Ogoniland, the governor pledged the delegation’s commitment to adhering to the President’s instructions and providing the necessary support to achieve the government’s objectives.“

What we are doing here today is to concretise the love and respect we have for the President for being behind this meeting and for him to tell us to go back and continue the consultations with a timeline so that the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland will commence,” Fubara said.

On his part, Ribadu commended the Ogoni people for their trust in President Tinubu and for embracing dialogue as a path to meaningful progress and enduring solutions.

“Guided by Mr. President’s vision that every voice is heard and every interest is considered, my office, the DSS, the government of Rivers State and the Minister of FCT embarked on a diligent and consultative process to assemble this delegation,” Ribadu said.

He noted that the over 50-member delegation that met with the President reflected the rich diversity of Ogoni society, representing various constituencies, interests, and viewpoints.

“The presence of this delegation is a testament to the Ogoni people’s readiness to engage constructively in the pursuit of peace, justice, and sustainable development,” he noted.

A representative of the Ogoni leadership, King Festus Babari Bagia Gberesaako XIII, the Gberemene of Gokana Kingdom, expressed the community leaders’ willingness to engage in the process of finding lasting solutions to the lingering challenges in Ogoniland.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said the Federal Government aimed to conclude the Ogoni cleanup within three to four years, with half of the project completed.

The delegation included Senators Lee Maeba, Magnus Abe, Olaka Nwogu, Victor Giadom, Kenneth Kobani, Monsignor Pius Kii, Leedom Mitee, Senators Bennett Birabi, Barry Mpigi, Prof. B. Fakae, among others.Also in attendance were the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed; Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh; Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas; and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari.

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Nigeria, S/Arabia, Deepen Ties On Solid Mineral Exploration

Published

4 days ago

January 22, 2025

The Tide

Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have renewed plans to build the capacity of their geological agencies by leveraging the breakthroughs recorded by Saudi firms in mineral exploration.

Segun Tomori, the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, made this known in a statement in Abuja, yesterday.

He said that this was on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,

Tomori said the decision was taken at a closed-door meeting between a delegation from Saudi Arabia led by its Minister of Mining, Bandar Al-Khorayef, and Nigeria’s delegation led by Alake.

He said Alake proposed for both countries to collaborate on areas of economic advantage, urging partnerships based on the sector’s value chain.

Citing Saudi Arabia’s renowned gold market as an example, Alake said Nigeria’s gold refineries could access the Saudi market under protective clauses, guaranteeing expansion opportunities for both economies.

On his part, the Saudi Minister disclosed that its government and the private sector were working together to introduce new technologies for mineral exploration.

He emphasised that new products were showcased at the minerals forum conference to foster business partnerships and raise awareness of their applications.

Alake also met with officials of the Saudi Chamber of Commerce, where he canvassed their investment in Nigeria’s mining sector.

He urged them to leverage the large deposits of lithium and iron ore, which were being processed in Nigeria in line with the value addition policy.

To de-risk their investment, the minister promised to direct the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, to provide relevant data on their minerals of interest.

According to the minister, the global transition toward electric machines, which use lithium batteries, has positioned Nigeria as a critical supplier of minerals

Tomori quoted him saying, “Partnership with Saudi investors will encourage the export of finished industrial inputs.”

Acknowledging the investment in steel production in Saudi Arabia, the minister cited examples of companies processing iron ore to steel in Nigeria as precedents that could be replicated.

He said that Nigeria was committed to creating an enabling environment for investors to ensure smooth operations in mining projects.

The minister said they included the establishment of laboratories for the separation and analysis of mineral samples, among other facilities.

“Nigeria has the best certified laboratories for minerals in West Africa,” he said.

The Tide source reports that the 2025 Future Minerals Forum (FMF) with the theme: “Year of Impact,’ was held from Jan. 14 to 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The meeting was to bolster international collaboration in producing the critical minerals essential for the global energy transition.

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FG, States, Local Govts Share N1.42trn In January

Published

4 days ago

January 22, 2025

The Tide

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has disbursed a total sum of N 1.424 trillion to federal, state and local governments. The total amount is derived from the federation account revenue generated in December 2024.

The disbursement, which was made at the January 2025 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held in Abuja, last Friday comprising distributable statutory revenue of N386.124 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N604.872 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N31.211 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N402.714 billion.

According to a communiqué issued by the committee, the total gross revenue of N2.310 trillion was available in the month of December 2024, while the total deduction for cost of collection was N84.780 billion, total transfers, interventions and refunds was N801.175 billion.

According to the communiqué, gross statutory revenue of N1.226 trillion was received for the month of December 2024. This was lower than the sum of N1.827 trillion received in the month of November 2024 by N600.988 billion.

Also, the gross revenue of N649.561 billion was available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in December 2024. This was higher than the N628.973 billion available in the month of November 2024 by N20.588 billion.

The communiqué stated that from the N1.424 trillion total distributable revenue, the federal government received total sum of N451.193 billion while state governments received total sum of N498.498 billion.

The local government councils received total sum of N361.754 billion and a total sum of N113.477 billion (13 percent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue.

On the N386.124 billion distributable statutory revenue, the Federal Government received N167.690 billion and the state governments received N85.055 billion while local government councils received N65.574 billion. The sum of N67.806 billion (13 percent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

“From the N604.872 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, the Federal Government received N90.731 billion, the State Governments received N302.436 billion and the Local Government Councils received N211.705 billion.

“A total sum of N4.682 billion was received by the Federal Government from the N31.211 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL). The State Governments received N15.605 billion and the Local Government Councils received N10.924 billion.

“From the N402.714 billion Exchange Difference revenue, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N188.090 billion and the State Governments received N95.402 billion. The Local Government Councils received N73.551 billion, while the sum of N45.671 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue,” the communique stated.