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Mile One Market Resettlement Saga

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15 years ago

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The first phase of the Rivers State Government funded reconstruction of the Rumuwoji (Mile 1) market in Port Harcourt has been concluded and a process is already on to allocate the 1,000 stalls to traders.

From available records, the last fire incidence witnessed at the Mile I Market occurred on January 6, 2004. This was after a sequence of such other fires, some of which were blamed on arson.

For a long time after this latest disaster, traders conducted their businesses under canopies. In fact, the entire market could be described as a forest of multicoloured umbrellas.

This was indeed the situation of things while the commission of inquing constituted by the then governor, Dr. Peter Odili, strived to uncover the causes of the fire incidence.

It would also be recalled that contract for this first phase of reconstruction was awarded by the Celestine Omehia administration in July, 2007 to Diamond Group (Nigeria) Limited at a cost of N3 billion.

The initial contract scope was for delivery to the state government of 1000 lock-up stalls in a modern, state- of- the- art, multiplex structure on three floors; but based on expert advice, the design was changed to a two-floor structure.

Daniel Iheme is the chairman of Mile One Market Traders Association (MOMTA). According to him, Omehia government did inform the traders union of the state’s intention to rebuild the market and the need for the traders to relocate temporarily.

On assumption of office in October 2007, the incumbent governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi did not put aside the reconstruction plan. In fact, on his maiden visit the market, the governor reassured that the reconstruction work would continue.

According to Iheme, “Governor Amaechi in his speech during his visit assured traders that they will be returned back as soon as the rebuilding is completed.”

Another committee was set up by the governor in 2009, according to the MOMTA chairman but traders did not know the committee members until recently when a publication was made, directing them to pay for the stalls.

The publication made by the committee on Mile One Market stalls allocation, headed by the Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice,  Ken Chikere, making payment of the sum of N10,000 open to members of the public attracted several reactions from traders, who had expressed fears that the exercise might be hijacked by politicians, rather than resettlement of the displaced traders.

The five-man committee for allocation of Mile One Market stalls which also include the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Manuela George Izunwa; Commissioner for Environment, Kingsley Chinda;  Works Commissioner Dakuku Peterside and the Urban Development Commissioner, Osima Ginah, had severally reassured traders of the committee’s commitment to give them priority.

In a press statement, Osima Ginah had said that preference will be given to displaced traders, even though the process will be thrown open to all traders, including the displaced traders who must purchase, fill and submit the stall allocation forms.

In his word, Ginah said, “The governor has directed the committee to distribute the stalls equitably to displaced traders. We collated data of genuine displaced traders”.

He highlighted that the committee is working with such data and will ensure that displaced trades are given stalls before other traders, and dispelled rumours making the rounds over alleged plan to short change traders that were displaced. 

Barrister Ginah also posited that the completed market structure had 1,000 stalls, while displaced traders of that section of the market are between 650 and 700 traders, and that the second phase of the construction will commence after the first allocation is concluded; and will be given out on payment of minimal fee to government by traders.

But the traders union is strongly disputing the figure given by the commissioner as the number of displaced traders and this has been a source of worry to them as they have said that the displaced  traders are 1,304, comprising 654 at Cultural Centre and 650 at Ojukwu field, pointing out that the said 1,000 stalls built by government is not even enough for the displaced traders.

Giving strength to the statement of Osima Ginah, the chairman of the committee, Ken Chikere, in his recent press statement reassured that the allocation of the shops will be transparent in all fronts.

According to him, “The current sale of forms is going on smoothly at the Ministry of Justice, and all stakeholders are being carried along”.

Barrister Chikere in his statement also said that the committee will make use of the registers at its disposal which include the one submitted by Port Harcourt City Local Government (PHALGA), the traders, and the one raised by the committee for confirmation.

He assured traders of the committee’s preparedness to give them priority before any other persons and solicited for cooperation of all stakeholders in the exercise. 

According to the secretary of MOMTA, Mr. Uche Marvelous, “Traders are appealing to the governor to clear the air by coming up to address this matter. Paying N10,000 is not the problem, but we are worried on the fate of displaced traders. Let the governor also remember the promise he made to traders on resettling them after the completion of the project”.

Furthermore, the secretary posited, “our fear is that the other traders that are yet to move might create some difficulties, if those at the playground and cultural centre are not reallocated, and how would the Rumuwoji community react on traders if they are not reallocated. That is why we want the governor’s intervention on this mater”.

It is true that there are still uncertainties concerning the re allocation of Mile One traders, but it is ideal that issues be sorted out accordingly to make for meaningful progress in the system.

 

Corlins Walter

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NCDMB, Dangote Refinery Unveil JTC On Deepening Local Content

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6 days ago

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July 11, 2025

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The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Company have inaugurated a Joint Technical Committee (JrefineryTC) aimed at advancing local content implementation during the operational phase of the 650,000 barrels per day  plant.
A statement from the Directorate of Corporate Communications of the Board noted that the inauguration ceremony took place at the Dangote Free Trade Zone, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State.
The statement also said the inauguration marks a pivotal moment in fostering strategic collaboration between the both institutions, and was a significant move to reinforce local content development in the oil and gas sector.
Presided over by the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, and the Group Vice President, Oil and Gas, Dangote Group, Chief Edwin Devakumar, the event featured the formal sign-off of the Committee’s Terms of Reference (ToR), a guided tour of the refinery, other critical facilities, and the official commencement of the JTC’s responsibilities.
According to the Board, the visit also featured the presentation of the certificate of the Nigerian Content Downstream Operator of the Year Award won by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Company at the inaugural ‘Champions of Nigerian Content Awards’ held recently in May.
The NCDMB’s boss made the presentation to the President of the Dangote Group, Alhalji Aliko Dangote, who expressed delight at the recognition, noting that he would display the certificate proudly at his office.
Ogbe congratulated the Dangote Group on the successful development and commissioning of the largest single train refinery in the world, as well as petrochemical and fertiliser plants, describing the projects as a historic milestone not for Nigeria alone, but for the entire continent.
He emphasized that the Dangote Refinery stands as a testament to the success of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010 and the transformative potential of Nigerian-led industrial projects.
“At an optimal daily production capacity of 650,000 barrels, this refinery will significantly enhance Nigeria’s energy security and contribute to the supply of refined petroleum products across West Africa.
“Nigerians, have to own the plant, we have to make sure that the plant works well. We have to secure it, we have to maintain it. The NCDMB would continue to collaborate with Dangote Petroleum Refinery”, Engr  Ogbe said.
Highlighting the need to ensure more value retention in the sector, as mandated by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD) 2010, the Board’s helmsman demanded compliance with Sections 32 and 33 of the NOGICD Act, with particular reference to local manpower utilization and requirements for NCDMB’s approval prior to the engagement of expatriates.
“The NOGICD Act stipulates that no expatriate can be employed in any organization in the oil and gas industry without the prior approval of the NCDMB. We will work with you, We’ve to protect jobs for Nigerians. It’s critical to job creation, skills development, and national capacity building in line with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, he said.
He commended the firm for training and employing Nigerian engineers, saying the collaboration will ensure that qualified Nigerians were given opportunities across all operational roles, while also urging the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals to support the Board’s initiative which aims at developing oil and gas industrial parks across the country to foster local content and manufacturing in the sector.
He noted that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) seeks to create an enabling environment for Small and Medium Enterprises in the sector.
“NOGaPS was conceived by the Board to develop facilities close to oil fields where manufacturing of oil and gas components, as well as research and development, can be carried out.
“We would like Dangote to support one of our major activities, which is the oil and gas industrial parks scheme. The parks are aimed at creating an enabling environment for SMEs in the industry to do fabrications and create more jobs for Nigerians”, the NCDMB’S boss stated.
In his welcome address, the Dangote Group Vice President, Devakumar, highlighted that the refinery project and NCDMB have been working together, promoting local content development during the construction stages of the project.
“We can’t say we have achieved everything, because there is opportunity to do more. We’re grateful to the NCDMB for all their support and advice.  As entrepreneurs, we’re trying to optimise costs. It’s a Nigerian company, it’s also an entrepreneur-driven company. As a Nigerian company, the focus will be on Nigerian content. As an entrepreneur-driven company, it will be cost-focused”, he noted.
Devakumar underscored the long-standing commitment of the Dangote Group to national development and capacity building, saying that the Group’s vision is to grow Nigeria’s industrial landscape.
High points of the visit, according to the Corporate Communications Directorate of the NCDMB, was the inauguration of the Committee members.
The statement from the NCDMB further added that the committee is to ensure the implementation of local content in the refinery’s operations, while its core objectives include promoting the use of Nigerian skilled manpower, services, and locally sourced materials in compliance with Section 3 of the NOGICD Act.
The Tide learnt that the committee will also support Dangote Refinery in aligning its operational procedures with the Act’s requirements.
In his acceptance remarks, Director of Corporate Services at NCDMB and Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu, expressed gratitude to the leadership of both organizations, reiterating the Committee’s dedication to upholding the highest standards of local content enforcement and fostering measurable outcomes that will benefit the nation’s economy.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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Food Security: NDDC Pays Counterpart Fund  For LIFE-ND Project

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6 days ago

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July 11, 2025

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The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, says the commission has paid its counterpart fund for the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise Project to ensure food security in the region.
The LIFE-ND project is an agriculture intervention project sponsored by the Federal Government, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the NDDC to boost food security in the region.
Mr. Ogbuku disclosed this while fielding questions at the commission’s 25th anniversary world press briefing  in Asaba, Delta State.
He stated that the commission has equipped and trained farmers in the region on best practices, adding that it has also established Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce with a commitment of N30 billion, but has released N5 billion to encourage commerce and entrepreneurship in the area.
According to him, agriculture is among the next phase of the commission’s programmes aimed at addressing food security in the region.
“Our target is to use agriculture to fight criminalities in the Niger Delta region”, he said.
The NDDC boss said the commission would hold a retreat to marshal plans to enhance the cultivation of rice, oil palm, cassava, and maize for industrialisation.
He also disclosed that its fund allocation from the Federal Government has improved, adding that funding from International Oil Companies has also increased, with greater compliance.
Ogbuku revealed that although its revenue has improved, the commission had thought it wise not to borrow but to deploy the surplus to execute more projects.
According to him, the commission has gone digital in its documentation and data generation to address its human capital development projects, ensuring the even deployment of resources, which allows people to take turns being trained in their chosen profession.
He stated that the NDDC was committed to addressing environmental challenges in erosion-prone areas in Edo, Delta, and other states, contingent upon the availability of funds.
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Replace Nipa Palms With Mangroove In Ogoni, Group Urges FG, HYPREP

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6 days ago

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July 11, 2025

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A concerned group of stakeholders under the auspices of Khana Coastal Communities has made a passionate appeal to the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Hydrocarbon Remediation Restoration Project (HYPREP) to include the removal of Nipa palms which has taken over the positions of mangroves in the area as part of the ongoing Ogoni Clean Up Exercise.
The group, which decried the invasive and destructive effects of Nypa fructicans, commonly known as Nipa palms, on the ecosystem of the affected communities, made their appeal in a Press Statement issued shortly after the  inspection and survey of the creeks and coastlines of  affected communities.
The communities are Kwiri, Kereken, Kaa, Gwara, Sii, Kpean, Tehnnama, Bane, Kalaoku, and Opuoku, all in Khana Local Government Area of Ogoni, Rivers State.
Signed on behalf of the affected communities by comrades Emmanuel Goteh Bie, Raymond Nwibani, and Chief Barineka Tonwe, the statement emphasized the need for urgent intervention to clear the Nypa fructicans and replace them with mangroves which provided sustainable habitat for aquatic species in the affected communities.
The group commended the Federal Ministry of Environment and HYPREP for their commitment to the Ogoni cleanup process and urged all stakeholders involved in the process not to renege on their complementary roles.
The statement read in part: “As you have seen, the Nypa fructicans has taken over our creeks, displacing native mangroves and aquatic life. The impact on our communities has been severe, with many of our people struggling to make a living due to the depletion of fish and other aquatic resources.
“We commend the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) for its efforts in restoring native mangroves in Ogoni, particularly in the Bomu Community. However, we are alarmed by the unintended consequences of removing invasive Nypa fructicans, which has led to the disappearance of fish and aquatic life, threatening the livelihoods of our coastal communities.
“We believe that the removal of Nypa fructicans and replanting of native mangroves will help revive our aquatic life and sustain the livelihoods of our people.”
The group passed a vote of confidence on the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas, and HYPREP Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, for what it described as their unwavering efforts in ensuring the success of the Ogoni cleanup exercise.
They  called on the Federal Government to release their counterpart funding to HYPREP without delay to sustain the pace of progress recorded in the clean up process.
“The cleanup exercise is commendable, and any delay in funding could stall the progress and undermine the efforts of all stakeholders. We urge the government to prioritize the Ogoni cleanup exercise and provide the necessary support to ensure its success”, they stated.
They also used the opportunity to caution against the antics of self-inflicted activists or bodies that might attempt to hijack the cleanup agenda and create unnecessary agitation, and assured the total support of the affected  communities to HYPREP’s activities to enhance the holistic success of the Ogoni clean up exercise.
Bemene Taneh
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