Niger Delta

Ogonis Submit Seven-Point Demands To FG

Published

8 years ago

May 9, 2018

The Ogoni Multi-Stakeholders’ Forum has submitted a seven-point demand to the Federal Government listing conditions to be met before the resumption of oil exploration and production activities in the area.
The demands were presented to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, during a roundtable dialogue with enlarged Ogoni stakeholders at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Tower, Abuja, last Thursday.
Presenting the demands on behalf of Ogoni leaders, National Coordinator, Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates, Chief Gani Topba said: “We have consistently maintained in all our correspondences to the Federal Government of Nigeria, and in particular, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, that we are not opposed to the resumption of oil and gas operations in OML 11 (Ogoni Fields).
“We, however, strongly demand that before the resumption of oil operation in Ogoniland, the suit brought by the Ogoni people to set aside the judgment of the 1995 kangaroo tribunal of the Federal Military Government that led to the gruesome execution of Ken Saro Wiwa and 8 others, currently before the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, should be first disposed off and their name cleared from the black books.
“The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and its parent company, the Royal Dutch Shell, remain persona non grata in Ogoniland as declared by our forebears in 1993.
“The SPDC’s application for the renewal of its expiring lease over the OML 11 (Ogoni Fields) should be rejected. The Ogoni Fields (Block) should revert to the Federal Government of Nigeria, effective from 30th June 2019 and should not be renewed for SPDC.
“The preliminary approvals granted to RoboMichael Nigeria Limited and/or other companies to develop the Ogoni Fields should be revoked/withdrawn.
“The environmental catastrophe created by the over three decades of SPDC’s reckless operations in Ogoniland should be cleaned up as recommended in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria should come to Bori (the traditional headquarters of Ogoniland) to discuss with the Ogoni people and address all legal issues touching on the development of OML 11 (Ogoni Fields).
“All communities in Ogoni should be connected to the national-grid as all the six power plants in Afam are located in Ogoniland. Also, the over 14 Ogoni communities which were destroyed during the military occupation in Ogoniland in the 1990s should be rebuilt and the Ogoni refugees within and outside Nigeria should be rehabilitated,” the demands read.
Topba, however, assured that once SPDC was able to apologise for the Ogoni massacre, KSWA would take the initiative to mobilise the people to ensure that SPDC resumes oil exploration in Ogoniland.
Also speaking, MOSOP President, Legborsi Pyagbara accused the federal government of causing the problem in Ogoniland, and challenged the government to implement the letters of the Ogoni Bill of Rights and the Justice Oputa Panel Report as it concerns the Ogoni question.
Pyagbara expressed the hope that a better framework would be put together to drive result-oriented engagements with the people of Ogoni going forward, and noted with regret that it took the minister so much time to do the needful in order to restore peace in Ogoni.
In his remarks, Managing Director, SPDC, Osagie Okunbor, said the issues raised by the Ogonis were not new to the company, but insisted that Shell’s position on Ogoni was very clear, adding that it was focusing now on the clean-up of Ogoniland in line with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report.
Okunbor said, “We have kept Shell deliberately out of the frame due to the issues. We want to submit a process that we know you will appreciate. We want to develop a framework. The time now is for healing to return economic activities back to Ogoni. Shell has no intention to return for oil production in Ogoni despite the allegations that we are coming back to resume operation”.
In her speech, Managing Director, RoboMichael Nigeria Limited, Mrs Arobo Ibrahim noted that there were lots of misconceptions about the licence issued to her company, clarifying that what was granted RoboMichael was a preliminary approval in June, 2017, to provide the needed technical aspects leading up to the clean-up and restoration of Ogoniland.
Ibrahim stressed that Ogoni people have the choice to benefit from the natural resources God has given them, adding that whatever was due Ogonis would be given them based on NNPC’s approved standards.
She appealed to Ogonis to be united in their quest to achieve peace and fast-track development of the area.
Ogoni delegation to the parley included the leadership of MOSOP, KSWA, KAGOTE, representatives of traditional rulers, youth and professional groups, among others.
In addition to the top echelon of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the other oil companies at the meeting were the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of NNPC; SPDC; and RoboMichael.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

Niger Delta

Okpebholo Assures Corps Members Of Improved Welfare

Published

11 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured corps members deployed to the state of improved welfare and a supportive service year.

Okpebholo gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members last Friday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada.

The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, safety and entrepreneurship.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mrs. Charity Amayaenvbo, the Governor urged corps members to embrace innovation, community service and self-reliance rather than wait for white-collar jobs.

“Edo is committed to supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and incentives that turn ideas into enterprises.

“Do not wait for jobs, create value. Wherever you are posted, serve your host community with humility, dedication and compassion.

“Have a positive footprint and let your service contribute to unity, productivity and progress,” he said.

Okpebholo assured the corps members that the state government was attentive to their welfare and had started addressing key concerns raised by the NYSC leadership.

“On behalf of the state government, I assure you of our support in terms of safety, an enabling environment and a rewarding service year.

“I listened carefully to the requests highlighted by the state coordinator, and I am glad to inform you that some of them have already been captured in the 2026 budget, which has been approved and signed into law,” he said.

The Governor noted that provisions for accommodation, meal subsidies, logistics and the construction of a multipurpose hall at the camp were included in the budget.

Earlier in her address, the Edo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, described the ceremony as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to youth development and national integration.

Ben-Ushie said as of midnight on Thursday, a total of 1,235 prospective corps members, comprising 531 males and over 700 females, had been duly registered.

She congratulated the corps members on their enlistment into what she described as a “noble scheme,” urging them to embrace discipline, learning and active participation throughout the orientation course.

“The NYSC platform provides a unique avenue to meet people from diverse backgrounds, build lifelong friendships and create networks that can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.

Ben-Ushie also highlighted the contributions of the NYSC to the state’s development, noting that the scheme had consistently provided skilled manpower, promoted labour mobility and strengthened national unity.

She cited initiatives such as the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as key interventions benefiting communities across the state.

The NYSC coordinator commended the state government for its support, including the provision of buses for corps members, and appealed for further intervention to address lingering operational challenges at the orientation camp.

She expressed confidence that resolving the issues would enhance the effectiveness of NYSC programmes in the state and thanked the Governor for prioritising the welfare, security and growth of corps members.

Niger Delta

PDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority

Published

12 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.

The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.

The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.

Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.

“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.

He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.

According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.

He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.

“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.

Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.

He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”

He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.

Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.

“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.

He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.

“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.

He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.

Niger Delta

Students Protest Non-indigene Appointment As Rector in C’River

Published

12 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, have protested to the Governor’s Office in Calabar over an alleged plan to appoint a non-indigene as Rector for the institution.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the students demanded respect for catchment area policy, local content, and the appointment of an indigene of the state as Rector of the institution.

Speaking on behalf of the students in Calabar, Stephen Etem said the protest sought to alert the Federal and Cross River State Governments to an alleged deviation from the established rectorial selection process.

Etem said a Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, was constituted by the Federal Government to conduct the Rector selection exercise.

“The screening, which began last year, reportedly produced a Cross River State indigene as highest scorer and recommended candidate.

“Information available to us suggests that the alleged recommended candidate’s name might be substituted at the Federal Ministry of Education.

“We urge the Federal Government to uphold the council’s recommendation because altering the process could threaten peace in the institution,” he noted.

Responding at the Government House, Mr. Goddie Akpama, the Special Adviser on Intelligence to the State Governor, Bassey Otu, appealed for calm, saying the Governor was away but would be briefed.

Akpama advised the students to submit written petitions through appropriate channels, avoid inflammatory language, and engage authorities to ensure stability and uninterrupted academic activities.