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‘Rumuibekwe Community Has No Problem With Shell’

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One of the host landlord communities at the Residential Area (RA) of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) in Port Harcourt, Rumuibekwe, has come out to say that they have no problem with the multinational oil company and that if for any reason there is a conflict, it could be resolved amicably.

The community has also declared that it did not mandate any person or group of persons to take Shell to court over Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) obtained by the multinational oil company in respect of lands given to Shell by its three host landlord communities of Rumuibekwe, Mgbuesilaru and Rumuorianwo-Rumuokwurusi all in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It would be recalled that a Port Harcourt High Court and an Appeal Court had declared that Shell fraudulently obtained C of O in respect of lands given to the company to build its Residential Area in Port Harcourt.

Although two indigenes of Rumuibekwe were part of the people that took Shell to court, the community says it did not mandate them to do so at any particular point in time.

Speaking during a media chat in Port Harcourt, the Chairman of Rumuibekwe Community Trust, Prince Henry Adele, said though the community felt very bad and disappointed when they heard that Shell had obtained the C of O, the people were of the opinion that the matter could be resolved without heading to the courts.

“When we heard about it, we felt betrayed by Shell. But we never mandated anybody to go to court. We felt that the matter could be addressed through dialogue between us and Shell,” he stressed.

He further disclosed that while the contentious issue was still going on, Shell met with the community and paid the amount due as rent to Rumuibekwe through the then chairman of the Community Trust, late Comrade Badu Wokeh and various heads of families.

He stressed that after paying the initial sum of over N168 million, Shell further reviewed the amount payable upwards, making available another sum of over N54 million, which was paid through himself as chairman of the Community Trust and the four heads of families, who also indemnified the multinational oil company.

Adele disclosed that the money was accordingly shared among the indigenes of the community, pointing out that everybody was happy with the outcome of the rent fees paid Shell.

“As you can see, we have no problem with Shell. Rumuibekwe people are happy with what Shell has paid as rent,” he stressed, adding that “on the issue of C of O, the matter would be resolved. There is no need to go to court with our tenant. We never asked anybody to go to court.”

He called on anybody that claims to have a mandate to show it to the people, pointing out that any legitimate mandate must be signed by all the heads of families.

The Community Trust chairman called on Shell to carry Rumuibekwe along in whatever negotiation they are having with the two other host landlord communities, pointing out that they all operate under the umbrella of Joint RA Landlords Association.

He acknowledged that the community has benefitted immensely from Shell in the area of contracts, community development, and award of scholarship, among others.

“There is no point of uproar between Rumuibekwe and Shell. Any disagreement or difference can always be resolved in the interest of all,” he summed up.

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NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians To EU Ban On Dex Soap

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The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

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Communities, Volunteers Ready To Face Upcoming Floods – Red Cross

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The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.

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Nimet Forecasts Three-Day Sunshine, Thunderstorms

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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.

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