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JTF Destroys Nine Illegal Refineries, Impounds Barge …Partners Keke NAPEP To Tackle Oil Theft
The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta said that it destroyed nine illegal refineries and impounded a barge laden with suspected stolen crude in multiple raids on oil thieves.
A statement issued by Media Coordinator of JTF, Lt-Col. Mustapha Anka in Yenagoa yesterday stated that the raids were carried out within the last 10 days.
It stated that the barge, Dera 1 intercepted on Brass Creek, Brass Local Government Area of the state, was in custody of the JTF.
The JTF spokesman said the vessel and crew would be handed over to prosecuting agency after preliminary investigations were concluded.
In another raid, JTF troops destroyed eight illegal crude oil distillery camps on Tebidade Brass Agip pipeline in Gbamatoru Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
The statement stated that five crude oil and Automated Gas Oil (AGO) dumps filed with suspected stolen crude and illegally refined AGO were destroyed during the operation.
It further stated that the Maritime Component of the JTF patrolling on Okpumani Creek in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta intercepted two wooden boats laden with suspected stolen crude.
The spokesman said the troop seized and destroyed two pumping machines in an abandoned well head and a fibre boat on site.
The JTF, Anka stated, however, handed over a ship registered as MV LAME to the Management of Seatide Marine Ltd., arrested for it alleged involvement in movement of stolen crude.
He said the vessel was arrested on July 9, 2013 on Bonny Anchorage with about 100, 000 litres of illegally refined AGO.
“Our investigation that the product was unadulterated AGO which made the Defence Headquarters to order the release of the vessel and the crew.
Meanwhile, the authorities of the Joint Military Task Force code named Operation Pulo Shield has expressed its intentions to involve Commercial Tricycle Drivers and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in its renewed efforts towards tackling the menace of oil theft in the Niger Delta.
Also listed as partners in the new security exercise are traders at the various entry points along the waterways and creeks, especially the Swali Market Association, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMA) and Spare Part Dealers Association amongst others.
The Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF),Major General Emmanuel Atewe who described the listed trade unions as key elements in the fight against oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta , said there should be synergy between stakeholders, community leaders and the JTF especially in the areas of credible information gathering that will aid the Task Force to carry out its mandate.
Atewe who stated this during a meeting with the leaders of various Associations in Bayelsa State at the JTF Headquarters, weekend said the fight against illegal oil bunkering and oil theft is a collective responsibility and should not be left in the hands of Security Agencies alone.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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