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Niger Delta

Gov Uduaghan Tasks Industrialists On Development

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Delta State Governor, Dr, Emmanuel Uduaghan has charged industrialists from the state to assist the government in developing the state by investing in the villages and the rural areas in particular.

 Dr, Uduaghan, who gave this charge at lrri in lsoko South Local Government area of the state, during the 38th Anniversary of Bethesda Gospel Mission and the 80th birthday celebration of the founder of the church, Archbishop Christian Apena, said the state government cannot develop the state alone.

 He explained that the state has wealthy sons and daughters who can invest in their villages to empower the people disclosing that the state was providing the infrastructure to encourage such development.

 ”I am calling on wealthy lsoko indigenes and Deltans outside the state to come back home and invest. Government cannot do it alone, we are providing the infrastructure, come and assist the government to empower the people”, he stated

 The governor disclosed that the government would partner Bethesda Gospel Mission in lrri in building capacity since it is the church’s vision to develop human capital which is in line with his administration’s agenda.

 He appealed to lrri community to seek peace and resolve the differences that exist among them which has resulted to family and communal crisis, stressing that his administration was committed to ensuring peace in the state in tandem with his agenda of peace and security.

 He promised them especially the youth of the community that the state government was handling the issue and would ensure that lasting peace was restored to the community.

 ”I appeal to you to put behind you any grievance, let us be at peace, enough is enough. Let peace return to lrri and lsoko land. I want us to settle the matter amicably in peace.  The future of this country belongs to the youth, l want the youth in this community to settle the issue at stake in peace. I will help you out since the matter is before the government so that we can move this state forward”, he said.

 He explained that violence does not enhance the growth of any community or state saying, “I appeal to you to put whatever is causing this crisis in the community behind you and forge ahead as a united entity.”

 In a welcome address, the founder of Bethesda Gospel Mission, Archbishop Apena, commended the governor for the good work he is doing in the state especially in ensuring that peace reign in lrri community for the past one month.

 He explained that the three point agenda of this administration was actualizing the aspirations of Deltans and advised him to continue in his developmental stride for the state.

 “Your three point agenda captures the aspirations of Deltans and you are actualizing this dream to become reality in the state. I will like you to set a standard which no other governor that will come after you will beat. You have been given the time, try to make your mark”, Apena stated

 He advised that there should be collaboration between the government and churches as it will help to build a viable state adding that his church has achieved much in building capacity especially in the educational sector through the establishment of primary, secondary and tertiary institution to train teachers.

 He also noted that his church has liaised with some institutions abroad to provide them with books and solicited the state government support in building a modern library that would house the books yet to arrive.

 Highpoints of the ceremony were a special prayer for the governor, his family and state, and the cutting of the birthday cake by the celebrant.

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Niger Delta

Bayelsa Charges Environment Ministry To  End Bush Burning

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The Bayelsa State Government has ordered its Ministry of Environment to take necessary measures to identify and arrest individuals or groups indulging in indiscriminate bush burning in the state.
It also directed its Taskforce on Livestock Management to take proactive steps to checkmate the activities of cattle rearers to prevent the destruction of crops and farms across communities in all the local government areas of the state.
Acting Governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the directives while presiding over the 146th Session of the  State Executive Council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media, Mr. Doubara Atasi, quoted him as emphasizing on the dangers of bush burning to the environment, ecosystem and human health.
The statement added that the state’s number two man also warned those perpetrating the act to stop forthwith or face the wrath of the law.
To this end, Atasi added that the Acting State Chief Executive directed the Ministry of Environment to activate the taskforce, with a view to apprehending those found culpable and to ensure they are brought to justice.
On cattle rearers encroaching on farmlands and destroying crops, Senator Ewhrudjakpo noted that the law on anti-grazing was still in force and should be implemented in all ramifications.
He, therefore, directed the taskforce on livestock management in the state to operationalize all machineries to ensure that herders carry out their trade within the limits of the law to avoid unnecessary destruction of lives and property, including crops.
“We want to use this opportunity to alert the public about the danger of bush burning. The hazards are quite known by everybody.
“Nobody should, for the sake of their farms which they want to keep clean and cultivate, jeopardize the health of other citizens. And so, the Ministry of Environment is hereby directed to activate the taskforce on anti-burning.
“The ministry must make sure that all those who are involved in bush burning are discouraged, and where they fail to comply, they should either be brought to justice or justice taken to them.
“In a similar vein, we are aware of the influx of herders into our state. The state taskforce on livestock management is hereby also directed to activate all machineries to ensure that herders don’t come into our state to destroy our farmlands.
“The law on anti-grazing remains in force and should be enforced in all ramifications. So, livestock management committee, both at the state and local government areas, should be activated and make sure that they curtail and contain every unnecessary grazing that is not permitted in our state”, he said.
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Niger Delta

Stakeholders Caution Delta Over Propose Mangrove Forest Sale

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The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has cautioned the Delta State Government over its proposed sale of 258, 000 hectares of mangrove forests, for billions of naira.
According to the Tide’s source, HOMEF stated that carbon trade pollutes the environment, and  it is dangerous to human nature.
The Executive Director, HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, who was a Guest Speaker at the Environment outreach magazine public lecture/annual award at Spring Hills Hotel in Asaba, explained that carbon trade is a killer disease which is bound to affect human beings including rivers.
Basse said through Blue Carbon or carbon trade, which is the sale of mangrove forest, people will calculate the carbon in the mangrove, then sell it as carbon credit.
“Delta State is proposing to sell 258, 000 hectares of mangrove forests, one of the biggest in the country to some companies whose intentions we believe is to sell the carbon to oil companies, and when they buy the credit, then they have the right to pollute.
“Carbon credit is set to upset the pollution that is why it is a false solution.
“So, it doesn’t work. We have to do what is right to nature, and not necessarily because of money. Don’t allow carbon trading, don’t allow waters pollution”, Basset stated.
Earlier, Bayelsa-born Noble Akenge, the publisher of Environment Outreach magazine, lamented the negative effects of environmental pollution in the State.
Akenge said the state, being the heart of petroleum activities, had suffered a lot of ecological damages due to oil spills.
The Environmentalist noted that the people’s major preoccupation of fishing and farming have been impacted seriously as most of their farmlands and even rivers and streams have been polluted by oil spills.
“The destruction of the rivers in Delta State represent the phenomena in most Niger Delta States where oil and related activities take place”, he added.
The source reports that Awards were presented to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the Managing Director of Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, among others.
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Niger Delta

Eno Recommits To Accountability, Effective Service Delivery

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Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, says his administration will remain committed to ensuring effective leadership, service delivery and be accountable to the people.
He made the remarks at the maiden edition of his administration’s ministerial briefing and end of year review in Uyo on Monday.
He said his administration would remain purely committed to delivering democracy dividends to Akwa Ibom people in line with its campaign promises.
The Governor stated that the ministerial  briefing was to enable the administration to present its scorecard in the past 18 months.
According to him, the briefing is an enlarged executive council meeting aimed at presenting government’s scorecard and gaining new ideas.
“The exercise will enable Akwa Ibom people to evaluate and assess our government’s performance so far.
“In the past 18 months, this administration has been accountable, transparent and prudent in managing public funds.
“Release of funds must be tied to ideas and projects that will benefit the generality of Akwa Ibom people”, he said.
Eno stated that his administration is open to constructive criticisms, saying, ”I mean criticisms that will put government on its toes, and not smear campaign and condemnation.
“I must say that we have done well. It is left for critical stakeholders to analyse what we have done. We have tried to keep to the ideals of the ARISE Agenda”.
He said his administration is currently working on three major projects such as the Aviation Village, Ibom Deep Sea Port and Ibom Medical City.
Eno continued that the three major projects were capital intensive, and that his administration had to give priority attention to the airport project following its quick return on investment.
He commended his predecessor for embarking on projects that had strategic investment value.
According to the Commissioner, in 2025, his administration would be holding town hall meeting twice in a month to ensure public inputs to governance.
In his presentation, the Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Capt. Iniobong Ekong (Rtd), said the State Government had religiously settled compensations for lands acquired from citizens.
Ekong stated that the government had successfully reclaimed all government lands that were acquired illegally.
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