News
Ogoni Plans Grand Reception For Wike
The people of Ogoni ethnic nationality have concluded plans to organise a grand reception in honour of Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, over his positive impacts on Ogoni development through the execution of people-oriented and quality projects in the area.
President of the foremost socio-cultural organisation in Ogoni, KAGOTE, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Deeyah, disclosed this during a sensitisation meeting with Ogoni stakeholders at Saakpenwa, headquarters of Tai LGA in the state.
Addressing stakeholders from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme LGAs, who attended the meeting, Deeyah said the reception for the Rivers State governor would hold on May 15, 2021 at State School 11, Bori, headquarters of the Ogoni people.
Deeyah said the reception for the governor was not at the instance of KAGOTE alone but the collective resolve of all Ogoni stakeholders, irrespective of partisan concern, to appreciate the governor for his developmental projects in the area, particularly the conclusion of the first phase and awarding of contract for the second phase of the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Road.
The KAGOTE president hinted that 10,000 Ogonis would be mobilised from the four LGAs to honour the governor.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Mobilization Committee, Hon Fred Kpakol, said the reception was to thank the governor for his commitment towards the development of Ogoni through the execution of quality and people-oriented projects in the area.
Kpakol, who is also the commissioner for Agriculture in the state, urged all Ogoni stakeholders; traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth, women and political leaders to turnout en-mass to honour the governor.
In his remarks, Traditional Ruler in Ogoni, Meene Suanu T.Y. Baridam, said that Wike would be conferred with a chieftaincy title by the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers as a mark of gratitude for his developmental strides in Rivers State, and Ogoni in particular.
Meanwhile, stakeholders at the first Pan-Ogoni Petroleum Summit, organised by the Pan-Ogoni International Magazine, have urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the development of Ogoni as, “an expedient and responsive measure towards addressing the infrastructural and human development deficits in the area despite the enormous contributions of the people to the nation’s economic fortune”.
The stakeholders reasoned that, “lOCs were yet to respond to the demands of the Ogoni people in terms of economic, political and environmental rights, which are the fundamentals of the Ogoni struggle”.
The stakeholders also cautioned against, “unbridled incursions of violence in the Ogoni, which has desecrated communities”, and called on government and relevant stakeholders to address the insecurity in the area.
The participants at the summit also urged Ogonis to be resolute, united and vigilant against infiltrative forces that benefit from the insecurity in the area.
The stakeholders’ resolutions, among several others, were contained in a statement made available to newsmen after the summit.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Board of Pan-Ogoni International Magazine, Engr Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, had in his welcome address declared that the summit was a platform to rouse the sensibilities of Ogoni people, and by extension, the Niger Delta to the dynamics of the oil politics in terms of enhancement of indigenous participation through the issuance of operational licenses to the people to become key players in the oil and gas sector, especially now that there is global paradigm shift from oil and gas to renewable energy.
The chairman called for the review of the entire oil and gas sector to “reflect the prospective realities of the Local Content Act, which endorses the active mobilisation of indigenous content and royalties as fundamental principles in the oil economy.
Speaking, the Chairman of the summit, Senator Bennett Birabi, declared the summit as “apt and pivotal for alerting the Ogoni people to redefine their development objectives and key into the dynamics and vigilance of the global energy shift”.
Birabi said the politics of petroleum in Ogoni had brought “agony, bitterness, strife, anger and aggression, spanning through decades of unpacified struggles and Ogonis have suffered severe brunt”.
The former Senate minority leader commended the organisers of the summit, and stated that, “the conversation is very necessary to affect the course of history positively by changing the ugly narrative that makes Ogoni the hub of the oil and gas sector and the metaphor of brutish human struggles”.
By: Taneh Beemene
Nigerians were among more than 140 residents injured after Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at the United Arab Emirates, at the weekend.
This raised fresh fears for thousands of Nigerians living and working in the Gulf nation.
The UAE Ministry of Defence disclosed last Saturday that its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones fired from Iran, describing the attack as a major escalation in the ongoing regional tensions.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, the ministry said its air defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones during the latest assault on March 14.
It added that the attacks left six people dead and 141 others injured, including foreign nationals.
“The UAE air defence systems on March 14 engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry stated.
“Since the onset of this blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran,” UAE added.
According to the ministry, those killed in the attacks included citizens of the UAE as well as foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
“Although the authorities did not specify the exact locations where the casualties occurred, the ministry said the injured victims were from several countries, including Nigeria.
Others affected include residents from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The list also included Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.
The Tide reports that this development has sparked concern among Nigerian communities in the UAE, where thousands of citizens live and work in sectors such as construction, hospitality, logistics and trade.
Data from Nigeria’s diaspora commission shows that the UAE remains one of the largest destinations for Nigerian migrants in the Middle East, particularly in the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The Nigerian government had in recent years raised concerns over the safety and welfare of its citizens in the country following diplomatic tensions and visa restrictions affecting Nigerians.
Saturday’s attacks have now heightened anxieties within the diaspora community, especially as the Gulf region faces growing military confrontations.
In its statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the country remained fully prepared to confront any threats to its security.
“The Ministry of Defence remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities,” the ministry said.
In a separate update, the ministry noted that its defence systems were still actively intercepting missiles and drones.
“UAE air defences are dealing with Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles and drones,” it said.
Regional media reports indicate that the attacks form part of a wider escalation of hostilities between Iran and Western-backed forces in the Middle East.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran has continued sustained missile and drone strikes across the Gulf despite protests from neighbouring states.
The strikes were said to be in retaliation for military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iranian positions in the region.
Tehran targeted several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, late on Friday and into Saturday.
The attacks also caused infrastructural damage in parts of the UAE.
Meanwhile, Iran’s elite military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that US interests in the UAE would remain legitimate targets.
Iranian state media reported that the group issued the warning after US forces attacked Iranian-controlled islands.
The IRGC specifically mentioned ports, docks and military installations linked to the United States as potential targets.
It also urged residents in the UAE to evacuate areas around ports and military facilities to avoid civilian casualties.
Security analysts say the growing exchange of threats and strike across the Gulf could destabilise the region’s economic and aviation activities if the conflict escalates further.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the five new commissioners sworn-in last Wednesday to put in their best for the development of the State.
Fubara gave the charge during the swearing-in of the commissioners at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
This followed the successful screening of the five commissioners by the Rivers State House of Assembly, last Tuesday.
The five commissioners are Tonye Bellgam, Prof. Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Mr. Lekue Kenneth, and Sir Amairigha Edward Hart.
The Tide reports that the governor had sent nine commissioner-nominees to the Assembly for screening, but the Assembly confirmed only five nominees and rejected the nomination of four over various allegations.
Those rejected by the Assembly are Prof. Dantonye Alasia, Mrs. Charity Demua, Mr. Tamuno Williams, and Otonye Amachree.
The governor congratulated the new commissioners on their appointment, noting that their thorough screening by the Rivers State House of Assembly was a proof of their capabilities.
He urged them to deploy their wealth of experience in various fields and put the State on a fast lane of development.
“Ordinarily, I am supposed to charge you on your responsibilities and how to operate. But that has been taken care of by the screening at the Assembly.
“I believe that going through one of the most rigorous screenings, it is enough to say that for those of you who succeeded, you are fit and ready to deliver to our dear State.
“So there is no further charge. The screening was the charge, so I wish you the best as I don’t expect anything less than the best from you,” Fubara said.
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, destroying a reactivated illegal refinery site in Rivers State and intercepting suspected stolen petroleum products in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Director of Naval Information, Capt Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement released in Abuja, yesterday.
Folorunsho said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH, operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, destroyed a reactivated illegal refinery site at Okolomade Community in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said the action followed credible intelligence that a previously dismantled illegal refining site had resumed operations.
According to him, an Anti–Crude Oil Theft team deployed to the location discovered that the dismantled refining oven had been reconstructed.
“Further exploitation of the area led to the discovery of additional refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO),” he said.
Folorunsho added that the illegal refining infrastructure, including ovens, storage tanks, hoses, connected pipes and newly acquired metal components used for illegal refining, was destroyed in line with operational procedures.
He said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, in another operation, intercepted about 3,950 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products at the Nigerian Ports Authority area in Calabar, Cross River State.
He said the interception was based on credible intelligence on suspected siphoning of petroleum products from vessels berthed at the port.
The naval patrol team, according to him, swiftly deployed to the area and traced the illegally siphoned products to a trailer park within the port facility.
“On sighting the naval patrol team, the suspected perpetrators fled the scene, after which the area was cordoned off and the illegally siphoned products secured,” he said.
Folorunsho said further inspection led to the recovery of about 3,950 litres of Automotive Gas Oil stored in drums and jerrycans, which had been evacuated to the naval base for further necessary action in line with extant regulations.
He noted that the successes aligned with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to intensify operations against crude oil theft and other maritime crimes across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Folorunsho reiterated the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the operational tempo of Operation DELTA SENTINEL through intensified surveillance, patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage.