Rivers

PH Lawyer Drags FG To Court Over Soot Epidemic, Demands N500m Damages

Published

3 years ago

January 17, 2022

A lawyer, Okparaolu Chioma Chris, has sued the Federal Government over the black soot epidemic in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, and its devastating effects on the health and wellbeing of residents of the state.
Chris, in a suit filed at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, is asking the court to compel the Federal Government to pay N500million as damages for gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental human rights.
The suit also wants the court to mandate the government to take “bold and reasonable steps to stop or minimise to the barest minimum the emission of black soot in Rivers State and to begin the process of cleaning the air space and environment of the state”.
Available document revealed that the applicant is praying the court for the following reliefs; “A declaration that the applicant and indeed other indigenes of Rivers State, Nigerians and all human beings living and resident in Port Harcourt and in Rivers State and its environs are entitled to the best attainable state of physical and mental health and a general satisfactory environment favourable to their development as guaranteed by Articles 16 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ratification and enforcement) Act laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.
“A declaration that the act of the respondent in neglecting several pleas and petitions from the Government of Rivers State and her citizens, to urgently intervene, stop and remedy the hazardous atmospheric condition of Port Harcourt and other neighbouring areas and local governments of the state affected by the dangerous airborne particulate commonly known as black soot amounts to a gross violation of the applicant’s right and indeed that of other indigenes of the State, Nigerians and all human beings living and resident in Port Harcourt and its environs to enjoy physical and mental health.
“An order of this honourable court mandating to pay to the applicant, the sum of N500million only as damages for gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental human rights as guaranteed under Articles 16 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ratification and enforcement) Act laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“An order of this honourable court directing the respondent to immediately take bold and reasonable steps to stop or minimise to the barest minimum the emission of black soot in Rivers State and to begin the process of cleaning the air space and environment of Rivers State. And for such order to orders that this honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.”
In the affidavit in support of the application, the applicant explained that, “sometime in the month of April 2016, many Nigerians including myself living in Port Harcourt began noticing the presence of an airborne particulate now commonly called “black soot” within the city of Port Harcourt and its environs.
“Black soot then was visible on white clothes spread outside and on the body of cars parked outside and it even increasingly began to affect the paint especially white colour used in the painting of houses in Port Harcourt.
“When the emission of the black spot continued unabated, and began to be seen in peoples’ living homes and that of myself, I and other residents of Port Harcourt began raising the alarm to both the government of Rivers State and the respondents on the dangerous effects of black soot.
“It has been widely reported that top government functionaries, politicians and general persons of influence have started using the M95 nose mask that filters the air. This mask is very expensive and it is far from my reach and those of ordinary Rivers people and Nigerians living and doing business in Rivers State.”

Rivers

Experts Urge Fubara On Youth Marine Safety Training

Published

5 days ago

February 19, 2025

The Tide

A Maritime Security Expert, Captain Ifeanyi Eke Lawrence, has called for the training of youths as marine Safety officers in order to improve and regulate safety among boat operators and passengers.

He said the programme, if carried out, will create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state and drastically reduce the rate of death and loss of properties along the state’s water ways.

According to him, Rivers inland waterways can create over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs if properly harnessed.

Lawrence said the timely training of youths and positively engaging them as safety officers on all the jetties where waterborne transportation system is operated was necessary to solve the state’s unemployment challenge and end incessant boat mishap in the State.

The Expert, who is the Chairman, El-Bravo Maritime Safety Training Services Limited, said this in an interview with newsmen shortly after their monthly safety exercise in Port Harcourt.

He said the Government can do this through educating reasonable number of youths who will carry the responsibility of educating boat operators and regulate safety on all the jetties and state’s waterways, adding that the improvement in safety along the state’s waterways will restore the confidence of boat passengers and speed boat operators who operate along the state’s waterways.

According to him, the situation will check incessant boat mishaps which result to loss of lives and goods worth millions whenever there’s a boat accident, hence the need to save lives and property along the state’s inland waterways.

Captain Lawrence said Government can also achieve this feat through constant engagement and training of youths on Maritime safety in the state.

“Governor Fubara needs to critically tackle the dangerous threat of boat mishaps and unemployment rate among Rivers youths whose population is on the Increase

“Rivers State inland waterways have the capacity to create over 50,000 direct and indirect Jobs for the ciitizens if properly and professionally harnessed.

“This can be achieved through training and constant engagement and monitoring of the boat operators all over the State”, he said.

Lawrence continued that the state stands to benefit maximally from its God-given maritime potentials if properly harnessed.

“Rivers State with its enormous God-given natural resources, especially the amazing creeks, channels, rivers , lagoons and others, should be able to harness and tap from it to benefit the people.

“Rivers State is the second largest maritime environment in Nigeria after Lagos State, and has the largest fishing Community in West Africa at Oyorokorto, in Andoni LGA of the state.

“The community environment is a tourist site of international reputes that needs to be developed by the State Government.

“There are several tourist sites along the State’s waterways, but tourist are skeptical to visit them for their relaxation due to lack of state safety organs, to educate, regulate and enforce safety on boat drivers, passengers and everyone who does business on the state’s maritime environment.

“I’m calling on Governor Fubara to use his executive mandate and create a State civil maritime unit and sanitize all the jetties and the entire waterways.

“It’s necessary as 80 percent of Rivers people earn their living from the jetties, channels, rivers, creeks and lagoons that surround them.

“The major means of transportation in Rivers State is Waterborne transportation system, therefore it’s pertinent the State Government act as a matter of urgency, make hay while the sun shines”, he advised.

He also decried the incessant boat mishaps and loss of lives and property along waterways in the state.

John Bibor

Rivers

Association Boss Urges For Professionalism, Efficiency Among Memebers

Published

5 days ago

February 19, 2025

The Tide

The new National President of the “Noble Association of Nigeria”, Sir Emenike Nwokeoji, has called for professionalism and efficiency among members in carrying out their duties and relating to other agencies in course of their work.

Sir Nwokeoji, who was part of a Thanksgiving service organized by members of the Association of Nigeria Customs Licensed Agents (ANCLA), weekend, said this during the Service at the Christ Inter-Denominational Church, near Government House, Port Harcourt.

Speaking at the occasion, he said the past year (2024) has been full of challenges, but they have cause to thank God for His guidance and protection of their members in the course of the duties.

He however, urged members to always exhibit high degree of professionalism in carrying out their jobs and ready to co-operate with all the relevant agencies for efficiency.

“We work in synergy and amicably with other relevant agencies for effective result. We do not work in isolation”, in he said.

The service was organized to appreciate God for His grace and also to express happiness and gratitude over the emergence of Sir Nwokeoji as the National President of the Noble Association.

Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Association, Rivers State Chapter, Sir, Mike Egwuatu, expressed confidence on the ability of the new National President to pilot the affairs of the association to higher level.

According to him, Chief Nwokeoji is a loveable and friendly administrator who grew up within the system. He therefore urged the members to give him all necessary support for him to succeed in office.

Dignitaries from government circle, Heads of Churches, Academia, and Nigerian Customs Services attended the occasion.

Rivers

Redeem Your Financial Pledges, Oxfam Urges Nations

Published

5 days ago

February 19, 2025

The Tide

Oxfam, an international organisation, has called on nations to honour their financial commitments made during the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) convention on climate change.

The Oxfam Programme Manager for Accountable Governance in Nigeria, Mr Henry Ushe, made the call at a two-day workshop organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), with the support of Oxfam in Port Harcourt.

The Tide’s source recalls that some developed countries had pledged $100 billion annually to support the low and middle income countries in their climate action efforts.

Oxfam said the actual amount already delivered was low with much of the finance provided as loans which aggravating debt burdens in vulnerable countries.

Ushe, however, stated that Nigeria had developed the gas master plan following its commitment to COP27 to transit energy to net zero by 2060 and to the Paris agreement of accelerating climate action.

He explained that Nigeria had also passed the Climate Justice Act and established its secretariat to work with CSOs and other stakeholders to ensure the total implementation of the policy framework.

“But what we haven’t seen since then is the financial commitment to be able to drive through with all of this policy; what we need is the financing of all these plans”, he said.

He said that was why they were calling on those who made financial pledges at COP27 to redeem them, ‘’while we hold our government to account, ensuring that the support is used judiciously.

“We are very optimistic about the safe transition because the country has put in place all the mechanism that is needed, including a very robust gas master plan”.

In his remarks, the Head, Community, Environmental Legal Desk of Natural Justice in Nigeria, Mr. Lawrence Dube, urged the regulatory agencies to structure and enforce global energy security.

Dube, who spoke on the “Aligning Gas Plans with Climate Goals”, urged government to put the policy framework into use, bringing investors to the round table discussion for investment and partnership.

On hosoart, the Chairman, Civil Society National Regulation Council of Nigeria, Mr. Harry Udoh, decried the slow pace of the implementation of the plans since 2007 till date.

Udoh urged government to accelerate gas infrastructure development, invest in pipeline networks, processing plants and storage facilities to improve market access.

He recommended that there should be expansion of virtual gas pipelines like the CNG and LNG trucking system to reach under served areas.

He called for the strengthening of partnership within the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) to enhance regional energy security among others.

Earlier, the Programme Lead, Department of Tax Justice, Environment, and Conservation of Nature in CISLAC, Mr. Ayo Omowu, urged the country to implement the policy framework for the renewable energy and its sustainable development goals for 2060.