Niger Delta
Indigenous Firm Donates N170m Relief Materials To Bayelsa Flood Victims
An indigenous oil firm, First E & P which operates the Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 83 and 85 in Joint Venture with NNPC has donated relief materials worth N170 million to some communities affected by the recent floods in Bayelsa State.
The relief materials were officially presented on behalf of the oil firm by Ayebatonye Basuo, Head of Social Performance, First E&P., at Danielle Jetty, Oxbow area in Yenagoa on Friday.
The materials were received on behalf of the beneficiary communities by leaders of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps from across the State.
The Tide’s source reports that representatives of the Bayelsa State Government led by the Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Mr Ibiere Jones, witnessed the ceremony.
It was gathered that over 24,000 internally displaced persons whose homes and farms were submerged by floods are expected to receive the relief materials.
Items presented as part of the donation included foodstuff, water and other hygiene products.
Speaking at the handover event, Basuo said, “Our thoughts and prayers have continued to be with all who have been affected by the flooding experienced across the nation in the last few weeks.
“We understand how difficult it must have been for people to be displaced from their homes and to see their sources of livelihood adversely impacted.
“At FIRST E&P, we seek to always ensure that through our social performance strategy, our stakeholder communities benefit from our presence on a sustainable basis.
“We drive this through flagship community development programs which cover interventions in the areas of educational, health, infrastructural and human capital development.
“However, when unprecedented disasters like the recent flood occur, we also seek ways in which we can intervene to make a positive impact.”
According to him, the donations will help alleviate hardship from the flood disaster across 48 IDP camps
In his remarks, the State Governor, Douye Diri, lauded the JV for showing concern and empathy to people of Bayelsa beyond their immediate host communities, describing the approach as impactful.
Represented by Jones, the Governor said the approach adopted by the NNPC/FIRST E&P Joint Venture was novel, as they thought outside the box by using the IDP camps as points of contact.
He also commended the firm for carrying the state government along in the exercise, noting that such shows that they were indeed a partner.
“From what I can see, the value of this intervention is huge, and being a wholly indigenous company owned by Nigerians, it is very pleasant,” he said.
On hand to receive the relief items were representatives of over 40 identified internally displaced persons camps.
Reacting to the donation, one of the representatives, Mrs Charity Godwin, recalled the ordeals of the floods and expressed gratitude to the JV for identifying with the people of Bayelsa.
DSP Konyeifa Austin, from Mechanic Road camp Yenagoa recalled that most displaced people were also victims as criminals made away with valuables they left behind.
He said that the materials would ameliorate the sufferings faced by the people as the flood recedes.
The Delta State House of Assembly has commenced public hearing on the State Human Trafficking (Prohibition) Bill, 2024.
The Tide’s source reports that the public hearing was organised by the House Committee on Housing, Women Affairs, Humanitarian Support Services and Girl Child Entrepreneurship in Asaba.
Chairman of the committee, Mrs Bridget Anyafulu, said the hearing was to provide members of the public the opportunity to offer contributions to the proposed law.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure that the state has a law that adequately answers to the challenges it seems to address and satisfy the needs and aspirations of our people and society.
“We have invited you to join us to make a law that will help to effectively address and eradicate the odious practice of human trafficking in our state.
“We know that as stakeholders, the effective participation in making this law will go a long way in enhancing the quality of the law that will finally emerge from the process”, she said.
Anyafulu assured the stakeholders that the committee would look into their suggestions and consider areas that could help to strengthen the bill as well as enhance its quality.
On her part, the State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services and Girl Child Development, Ms. Orode Uduaghan, called for the inclusion of the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in the implementation process.
It also reports that Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), State Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), among others, were involved in the public hearing.
They commended the State Executive for initiating the bill and called for its speedy passage.
The Federal Government has handed over 24,180 bags of 50kg maize and 5,828 bags of 25kg ‘garri’ to the Akwa Ibom State Government for distribution to vulnerable households.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, made the presentation on behalf of the Federal Government in Uyo, the State Capital.
Represented by Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, the Head, Operations, NEMA, Akwa Ibom State office, Umar said the donation was in fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to Nigerians.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government approved the release of 42, 000 metric tonnes of assorted food items from the National Strategic Reserve to vulnerable households.
Umar said that the president’s promise was the government’s way of reducing the impact of the current economic hardship in the country.
“We are here to hand over the food items to the state government for distribution to the intended beneficiaries in the communities”, she said.
The NEMA D-G said that the food items should be shared in the communities through properly constituted committees at the local government levels.
She said membership of the local government committees should include the council chairman, representatives of the State Emergency Management Agency and the traditional institutions.
Umar said 20 per cent of the food items for each council area should be given to religious groups, and that three per cent of it should be given to boarding schools in the area.
Receiving the items, Dr Offiong Offor, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, commended the Federal Government for the intervention.
Offor said that the gesture was a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to the wellbeing of the citizenry.
The commissioner promised that the state government would ensure that the items were given to the intended beneficiaries.
A group, Concerned Obidient Movement, has declared support for Mr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
Leader of the group, Mr. Ikhuenbor Igbinevbo, told newsmen in Benin that the election transcends individual personalities.
“It is a critical moment that will shape the future of Edo. The PDP is creating a climate of renewed political energy that promises sustainable progress.
“Its candidate, Ighodalo, and the deputy, Osarodion Ogie, possess the vision and qualifications that align with the aspirations of Edo people,” he said.
Igbinevbo highlighted the candidates’ deep understanding of the State’s challenges and potential which, he said, positions them to lead the state into a new era of prosperity and responsible governance.
He urged Edo people, both at home and in the Diaspora, to unite in their support for the PDP and its candidates ahead of the election.
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