News

JTF Seals Shell Spill Site In Bayelsa

Published

13 years ago

August 17, 2012

There’s uneasy calm in Ewelesuo community of Nembe Local
Government Area of Bayelsa State following the deployment of armed security to
the site of the oil flow station and oil well 64, over the massive spillage
reported from the pipelines of the company in the area.

The oil spill, reported
in the early hours of Wednesday by indigenes of the community, was said to have
halted the livelihood of the people including fishing along the rivulets,
creeks and rivers.

A report made available to newsmen by pro-environment
advocacy group, Environmental Rights Action (ERA), confirmed the incident, and
alleged that the deployment of a Sea Truck and Naval Officers in a gunboat to
the site of the spillage provoked anger
and tension in the area.

According to ERA, the Naval Officers deployed to the site
denied access to people at the flowstation.But some indigenes who spoke on the
development ,including an attendant at the Flow Station, Mr Mark Dibigha said
that the oil spill occurred on Wednesday at about 4:00am.

According to him, “it occurred from a valve and following a signal about the incident some Shell officials visited from Nembe Creek Flow Station. They promised coming back but we are yet to see them. Before they went back they made sure that the crude oil stopped spewing”.

Contacted on the development, the Chairman, Oil and Gas
Committee of the Nembe Kingdom, Chief Nengi James said though he was alerted
about 4am, the spillage was a clear indication that the crude oil flowed into the Brass River and towards the
Atlantic Ocean.

“That is why some of us have the view that the oil companies
are not honest with us; they deliberately allowed the crude oil to flow into
the Brass River and into the mangrove forest before pretending to come for
containment”.

“We are still going round monitoring the environment and
seeing traces of crude oil. Shell officials are also going around now on the
same mission of monitoring the environment to see the extent of spread”.

“In this connection I want to say that we want Shell to come
and promptly clean-up the creek and impacted swamp. Whether they like it or not
there was spill, it has been discovered; we have seen it.

Chief James said the spill was due to technical fault and
called on Shell to pay appropriate compensation and embarck on thorogu clean-up
of the area

Shell spokesperson, Precious Okolobo confirmed the incident.
He said it occurred at Nembe Creek, 3 Flow Station, Bayelsa State.

Okolobo said, “a pump failure was reported at SPDC’s Nembe
Creek 3 flow station. The pump was
immediately shut down,”

“However, some oil escaped from the seal into the saver pit
in the flow station with some sheen observed. The pump has been repaired,” the
spokesperson said.

“There was no oil spill, and there was no impact on the
environment,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Nigerian NGO, Environmental Rights Action sent a team to
visit the site Wednesday and reported that there was a spill.

The head of the group, Nnimmo Bassey, described the spill as
extensive.

“It is shameful that Shell could indulge in such exercise
trying to hide what even the blind can see,” he said.

“The spill is extensive and very visible on the waters — on
the Brass River and is reported to be flowing into the Atlantic Ocean,” he
added.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.