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Ijaw Group Rejects Water Resources Bill
An Ijaw professional group has joined the legion of Nigerians condemning the National Water Resources Bill currently before the House of Representatives, and urging the lawmakers to jettison the bill in the interest of national unity and cohesion.
In a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day virtual conference of the group on the bill, the Ijaw Nation Professional Group (INPG), resolved to use available contacts to stop the bill from progressing beyond its present stage at the lower chamber of the National Assembly, despite pressures from the Presidency to pass it into law.
The communiqué was signed by Arc Denzil Amagbe Kentebe (INDG), Comrade Joseph Eva (IMG), Mr. Elaye Otrofanowei (IPA), Mrs. Ebiere Fumudor (ELA), Barrister Efiye Bribena (IEF), Mrs. Rosemary Oduone (IWC), Barrister Iniruo Will (EMBASARA Foundation), and Dennis Banigo (Convener INDG).
The communiqué reads, “The Ijaw Nation Development Group (INDG) on 20th September, 2020, in collaboration with the other Ijaw organisations, including, Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA), the Ijaw Elders Forum (IEF), the Ijaw Nation forum (INF), the Ezon Ladies Association (ELA), Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG), Embasara Foundation as well as individuals and representatives of Izon Organisations globally, arose from its Virtual Conference that critically examined the National Water Resources Bill 2020, currently at the National Assembly.
“The Conference observed and noted the following: The re-emergence and pursuance of a National Water Resources Bill, which had, hitherto, been rested by the 8th National Assembly, due to widespread national opposition to its assent, but brought through the backdoor into the 9th National Assembly, leaves us but to wonder, why in the face of more pressing and critical national issues, including the debilitating Covid-19 Pandemic, widespread economic dislocation, rising energy costs, rampant and pervasive insecurity the presidency will still bring about, the ‘resurrection’ of this unprecedented Bill, and it’s urgent pursuance.
“The bill is, therefore, suspicious in context and content and quite evident that the process of emergence of this bill, lacked transparency and consultation with various stakeholders across the country. Thus, the due process of democratic law making is once again denied group participation or societal engagements, within a highly skewed history of resources governance in the country.
“That the Bill is a product of yet, another undisclosed and ill-timed agenda and an assault to the identity and existence of Ijaw people. As it is an attempt to further whittle down the powers of various federating ethnic groups in the country. Thus, the bill which attempts to repeal four other Water Resources Laws and consolidate them into a single legislation, such as River Basin Development Act Cap R9 LFN 2004 and Hydrological Services Agency Act, Cap N110A of 2004, as well as the National Water Resources Institute Act, Cap N83LFN, 2004, is inimical to the survival and aquatic livelihoods of the Ijaw people. As it has taken their right of ownership without their consent, and gives it to a federal commission, to now delegate licensing powers for commercial exploitation to states, for water resources owned by and found in Ijaw-nation.
“That the bill therefore, is an obvious impunity and outright disregard for basic principle of federalism, ownership and fundamental Human rights. More so, it is vexatious that the recent unguided comments by Hon. Sada Soli (chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources), to mention a few, tend to lend credence and give confirmation to the notion of a subterranean agenda.
“The conference further noted that, the bill is another backdoor ownership of resources, to further deny the rights of indigenous communities across the Niger Delta. We the Ijaw people will lose our lands and water rights to the presidency, if this bill is passed in its present form, and without regard to the ownership question.
“That Ijaw life is intertwined with water, and water is the very essence of our livelihood and survival. Water is synonymous to the air that has been polluted by oil companies, in collaboration with the Nigerian state. Yet, with a new bill that is an obvious intent to usurp the rights due to an autonomous federating unit; which should by the Constitution, hold the power to regulate the affairs of its people and the property within its territory.
“The conference also noted that, the double standards of the Presidency, is witnessed in recognising the rights of indigenous communities in the North, to mine gold and other minerals. But deny same to Oil and Gas in the Niger Delta region. This discriminating and fraudulent legislative polices, only continue to serve a few local and global business interest groups as our experience proves with oil and gas resources.
“The conference noted that, despite the deprivation of the Niger Delta States of their ‘minerals and mineral oils’ within their territories, the Bill now plots to take the only ‘Resource’ left for ‘the states to administer, for the benefit of their people. In addition, Section 64 of the Bill arrogates exclusive powers to the Central Government, to decide what constitutes ‘interstate waters’. While in contradiction, acknowledges that management and control of water resources within the boundaries of a state, reside in that state government. This clearly did not reflect the fact that rivers unify Ijaw people, and that Nigeria has balkanised the Ijaw people into seven states, thus, weakening their political and cultural hegemony.
“That whilst we consider the science (Hydrological and Geological) as well as the Law aspects of this bill, we note that the bill as it is, will greatly impact/distort our socio-economic wellbeing and livelihood patterns. Thus, we wonder why the Federal Government is bordered about legislating the Use and Control of Water, rather than creating framework laws that allow Ijaw people to effectively organize, control, manage and use their resources for the commercial benefit and social good of all Nigerians.
“The conference as well, observed that the National Assembly members of Ijaw and Niger Delta descent are in a knowledgeable position to speak up, in resistance to the promotion of a Bill that is an inference and a perpetration of an altruistic and systematic invasion against Southern Nigeria by the Presidency. More so, the passage of the bill, will adversely affect the fundamental human rights of Ijaw people, and her generations of children yet unborn. Should our assembly members continue to be complacent in the face of brazen confrontation?
“That the Ijaw nation has suffered marginalisation and deprivation in various forms, despite being the ‘cash cow’ of the nation, via its oil reserves. In the face of all these, they have remained a calm and peaceful people. However, it must be noted that peace does not mean acquiescence; and there are limits to peace.
“That, as a further show of its hidden agenda, especially for land grab. The bill fails to address the manifest deficiency in strategy, for development of ground water. Which as it were, over 80% of Nigerians depend on for clean and less polluted water. It therefore wonders why the rush”.
The Ijaw professionals also resolved that, “Ijaw Nation rejects the passage of the Bill in its present form, without it been open to public hearing, wide consultation and the fundamental concerns of Ownership, Control, Management and use in favour of Federalism, Human and Peoples’ Environmental Rights.
“Ijaw Nation is open and willing to engage, consult and negotiate, to reach a Bill for an act that protects her strategic interests, for the greater good of all Nigerians without sacrificing the Fundamental Rights Issues of Federalism, Ownership, Control, Management and Right to Use Including Sustainable use and Environmental Management.
“We call on the Nigerian State and the Presidency to emulate the practice of true federalism, as exemplified in India, Australia, Germany, Canada and the USA where water regulation is left for the States to formulate, within a framework set by the Federal Agency.
“We resolve to work with other Niger Delta and Nigerian Nationalities, to ensure that we protect our Nationalities and restore our Federalism as Nigerians from Unitary intrusion and control, by Hegemony and vested business and political interest,” among others.
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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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