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Gas Leak Disrupts Academic Activities At FCE, Omoku

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Academic and administrative activities have been paralysed at the Permanent Site (Campus II) of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, Rivers State following gas spillage emanating from OB/OB gas pipeline in the area belonging to Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).
The burst NPS-18 MAOP-85 BARG gas pipeline, owned by the Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Petrochemicals Limited, Rivers State passes through the heart of the college’s Permanent Site (Campus II) along Obrikom Road, Omoku.
The affected area, which houses the college’s Directorate of Degree Programmes in affiliation with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and many other schools of study, departments, laboratories, units, staff offices, among others has thousands of students and staff.
The spillage, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, June 27, 2018 through Monday July 2, 2018, forced lecturers, staff, students, traders and visitors to desert the campus for fear of explosion.
The ugly incident, apart from disruption of regular activities and posing health and environmental hazards, has destroyed many college farms and fish ponds, students’ demonstration farms as well as degradation of college environment.
Students of the college led by the SUG President, Hon. Eze Nwaneme Emmanuel, sceptical of their safety in the institution on Friday, June 29, 2018 staged a peaceful demonstration calling on the management of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited and Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Petrochemicals Limited to do the needful as the college was not safe for learning due to the gas spillage which has been reoccurring.
Addressing the protesting students, Provost of the college, Dr. Emmanuel Ikenyiri, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Pac Ordu, thanked them for a peaceful demonstration, and disclosed that the college management had contacted the companies concerned.
Ikenyiri, however, appealed to both the federal and Rivers State governments, multinational companies, corporate bodies, philanthropic organizations and individuals to come to the aid of the college as gas spillage in an academic environment was a risk on human lives, lamenting that apart from the destruction of college valuables like farms, fish ponds and other aquatic lives, staff, students could not breathe fresh air because the gas spillage has saturated the area.
Meanwhile, after an emergency management meeting attended by the Deputy Provost, Dr. Pac Ordu, the Registrar, Dr. Liverpool Onyije, Bursar, Mr. Chris Goin, College Librarian, Mrs. Nkechi Egesimba, Director of Works, Engr. Nathan Wokocha, the Dean, Students’ Affairs (DSA), Mr. Mathew Gimba with the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union, Pastor Akpos Owesina and the PRO, Prince Charles Amadike-Otoboh, among others, to appraise the situation, staff and students in the affected area were advised to keep off the zone until normalcy was restored.
As at the time of filing this report last Monday, at 4.00pm, engineers said to be mobilized by Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemical Limited were seen at the site of the incident battling to stop the leakage.
They, however, could not respond to all inquiries by this reporter.

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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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