Niger Delta

Association Boss Hails FG Over Pipeline Surveillance

Published

10 hours ago

January 10, 2025

The National Chairman of Ekpeye Oil and Gas Pipelines Host Families Association, Comrade Dogini Chidi, has commended the Federal Government’s initiative on pipelines surveillance.

This is particularly considering the positive results it has recorded in the increased output of oil and gas production in the country.

Chidi, who made the commendation during the association’s last quarter sensitisation programme in Ahoada Town recently, said the association is out to ensure that there is no more vandalisation of oil and gas facilities in Ekpeyeland.

He urged the Federal Government to complement the efforts of the host communities by creating job opportunities and empowerment programmes for the youths to sustain the existing peace in the area.

He noted that over time, there have been series of pollution in the area as a result of oil exploration activities, coupled with pipeline sabotage which has virtually engulfed all the communities in the Niger Delta.

According to him, “pipeline surveillance has come to stay. If we continue to protect the oil and gas facilities, surveillance job will create more job opportunities for our youths”.

The association chairman, however, faulted the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report on Ubeta Deep Oil Field project carried out by Total Energies EP Nigeria Limited, and called on the Federal Government and all relevant authorities to reverse and review the report by ensuring that Ekpeye people are properly captured in it, to avoid and avert a chaotic situation in the area.

He also appealed to Ekpeye people to be more united than ever in order to be able to confront common challenges, contending that instead of disagreement, the Ubeta gas project should be seen as a uniting factor.

Chidi also advised all sons and daughters of Ekpeye in the bush to sheathe their swords and avail themselves of the opportunity to embrace peace for the betterment of Ekpeyeland, describing Ekpeyeland as one of the most endowed areas with natural resources in the Niger Delta, which he said should be properly harnessed and utilised for the good of the people.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Steve Wordu, described the Ekpeye region as the gateway and the engine room of Nigeria’s oil and gas exports, and appealed that Ekpeye should be part of the central committee or communities to be considered whenever oil and gas business is being discussed.

He noted that all the fiendish things that have happened in Ekpeyeland, particularly with respect to cultism, were as a result of neglect, saying the wealth of Ekpeye has been stolen to develop other areas and tribes while the people are dying in the midst of plenty.

While urging the people to wake up from their slumber and demand what is due them, Wordu stressed the need for them to use the opportunity provided by the Ubeta Deep Oil Field, to factor in the demand for the participation of Ekpeye people in the oil surveillance and security project, while underscoring the EIA report on Ubeta Deep Oil Field.

He further lamented that the EIA report did not take into consideration the Federal Government’s policy on local content, stressing that the local content policy gives consideration to certain levels of employment and contracts to oil companies’ host communities.

“That EIA report violates that policy of the Federal Government. If Ekpeye people allow that report to be approved, it means that we have betrayed ourselves and our future generations”, he said.

On his part, Alhaji Sheik Abdulrazak Philip Echeye, said the root causes of vandalisation of pipelines and electricity facilities are hunger and unemployment, and advised community leaders and youths in the various communities to form anti-sabotage volunteers to protect oil, gas and electricity facilities in the area.

He also urged Ekpeye people to key into oil business, stressing that “Mr. Alikor Dangote, for example, who is not from an oil producing area, has now built the biggest refinery in West Africa”.

He, therefore, admonished the youths to look into the area of ICT for a better future.

Niger Delta

Fouchee Celebrates Asari’s Recognition

Published

9 hours ago

January 10, 2025

The Tide

The Amayanabo of Fouchee Community in Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State, HRH. A.C.Blakk-Iwerima, says the recognition of Alabo, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo Asari as the Amayanabo of Torusarama Piri is the icing on the achievements of the Rivers State Governor in 2024.

HRH. Blakk-Iwerima, who was speaking recently to newsmen after the annual thanksgiving service of the Fouchee Community, said the recognition of Dokubo Asari was fit and proper and sounds like music in the ears of all people of Ifoko ancestry.

He commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialaye Joseph Fubara, for the recognition of Dokubo Asari, whose leadership role, he acknowledged, stands out.

He also commended the Governor for the many steps being taken to restore sanity in governance and dousing desperation through people-centered policies in the State.

According to him, “the Kings, Chiefs and people of Fouchee and Ifoko Communities in the Kalabari ethnic nationality are very proud of Alabo, Alhaji Dokubo Asari, whose links with Ifoko has been most rewarding”.

HRH. Blakk-Iwerima promised to give all the support needed to enable the team working on the Fouchee Atlantic Project to succeed, and expressed hope that the Rivers State Government would also give the needed backing.

He further called on Asari to use the recognition to strengthen the Kalabari Se Kobiri and bring all aggrieved persons and communities to see the need to work together.

Niger Delta

Kalabari Media Forum Hails Recognition Of Dokubo Asari As Amayanabo

Published

10 hours ago

January 10, 2025

The Tide

The Kalabari Media Forum has endorsed the recognition of Alabo, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo Asari as the Amayanabo of Torusarama Piri and the historical relevance of the award.

A communique issued after the 2024 end of year summit of the Forum also commends the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminialaye Joseph Fubara for the recognition which they described as the best end of year gift to the Kalabari people.

The Communique signed by the Coordinator of the Forum, Alabo Dagogo Clinton and the Secretary, Mr. Harry Awolayeofori Macmorrison states that the gesture should make the Kalabari people to get back to the drawing board and consolidate on existing inter and intra communal peace within the region.

According to the statement, Torusarama Piri was the first place where the founding fathers of Kalabari converged from different cultures, tribes and backgrounds. Adding that those saying that the Kalabari people are not united should think again.

” As the different founding fathers were able to form a formidable ethnic nationality, modern day Kalabari should be able to sink the differences between the constituent communities and with other non-Kalabari speaking neighbours to achieve the needed internal cohesion for development”. It states.

The Forum further congratulated Alabo Asari Dokubo on his recognition and urged him to use the opportunity to do even more for the Kalabari people and Rivers State as a whole.

According to the statement, the Forum is happy with the recognition of Dokubo Asari not because he is one of the patrons of the Forum, but because he is about the most Kalabari-centric figure living, who has also committed enormous resources for the protection of the Kalabari people.

They urged the Kalabari Se Kobiri and the entire people of the ethnic nationality to work with Alabo Dokubo Asari and put to rest speculations about Kalabari that some persons have exploited against the interest of the Kalabari people over the years.

Niger Delta

We’re Upgrading Tourism Sites Across C’River – Otu

Published

10 hours ago

January 10, 2025

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has said plans were underway to upgrade tourism sites across the state to meet international standards.

Speaking with newsmen in Calabar, Otu said this was to attract local and international tourists to the state.

He said the state was also working on creating the needed infrastructure to boost tourism in the areas of transportation and accommodation among others.

“We are currently training personnel within the state and outside the country to upgrade our tourism sites. We are partnering with investors to bring some of them to 21st century standard.

“Currently, we are trying to ensure our roads are taken care of. We are not waiting on the Federal Government again because it has become clear that priorities are too many, so, we have to help ourselves.

“We want to ensure people easily access those tourism sites with very little difficulty and we are looking at stabilising our product pricing by making sure transportation is improved. We will explore gas, electricity and train.

“We are going to improve aviation as well”, he said.

Speaking on the just-concluded Calabar Carnival, Otu commended the competing and non-competing bands for their remarkable imput which culminated to the success of the event.

He appreciated everyone who worked behind the scene in the nine months preparation period for the carnival.

According to him, with guidance from renowned professors, researchers, individual artistes and many more professionals, the carnival was improved on.

He said in view of the need to bring back the international carnival, the state would work on ensuring world-class accommodation facilities are put in place ahead of the next edition.

He noted that the state would have a post carnival review to assess the areas to be improved on and other programmes to introduce.

Otu said depending on the outcome of the review, the state would be considering establishing diaspora bands in 2025.

“International carnival is not scrapped, we are looking at the prospect of established diaspora bands in 2025. This time, we are going to have a post carnival review to put things right.

“We are aware that three to four months ahead of the Calabar Carnival, hotels were already fully booked. So, we are trying to make sure we do not only have enough hotels but also ensure they are upscaled to international standards.

“This is because next Calabar Carnival will be a bigger picture with our international carnival in place.

“We already have international hospitality facilities that are moving here, we have hotels that are almost completed which can compete with any hotel across the world”, he said.

Otu, expressed excitement over the exhilarating performance of physically challenged individuals in the carnival.

He said the possibility of having a dedicated carnival band for them in 2025 would be explored.

“We do not see them as being limited by whatever challenges they face. We are looking at some of the things they have put to us but there must be a policy.

“We are looking at setting up a proper structure in their favour. So, to encourage them on the carnival front, the chairman of the Carnival Commission will check if they actually need their own band”, he said.