News
…Set To Combat Oil Spill In N’Delta …As NOSDRA Fines Agip Oil
The Minister of Environment, Mrs Hadiza Mailafa on Monday said the Federal Government was ready to reduce cases of oil spillage to its barest minimum in the Niger Delta region.
The minister said this in Lagos at the fourth Biennial Global Initiative for West, Central and Southern Africa (GI-WACAF) regional conference and workshop on oil spill preparedness and response.
Mailafa said that the National Oil Spill Detention and Response Agency (NOSDRA) was set up by the Federal Government to clean up the oil spill in the regional.
“Environmental problems are dynamic. The Federal Government already has an effective agency with statutory responsibility to ensure that those oil spills are cleaned up.
“The Federal Government is up to the task in ensuring that we have a clean environment and reduce the impact of oil spillage in the country.”
The minister called for the stakeholders’ participation in combating the problem of oil spill.
“ We are sitting together to brainstorm and we should ensure we find a lasting solution to this problem.’’
Mr Peter Idabor, Director-General of NOSDRA, said that there was collaboration among the countries to adequately prepare to combat oil spill.
Idabor said that Nigeria recognised the current trend of offshore oil exploration and production, the national oil spill detection and response agency.
He said that the activation of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP), after its review by other relevant stakeholders in July, was successful.
“The exercise brought out areas of strength and challenges, while the recommendations derived from this exercise are being incorporated in the NOSCP.
“It is expected that the national drill would be conducted before the next biennium conference in 2013.”
The Minister of Transport, Mr Idris Umar, said the gathering would strengthen the oil spill preparedness and response capability of the 22 countries in West and Central and Africa sub-regions.
“The West and Central African region is a major maritime route for transportation of oil as well as very active area in the field of oil exploration and production.
“These activities have posed a serious and permanent risk of oil pollution in the region. There is therefore the constant need for efforts to protect our rich maritime environment and consequently organise and prepare responses to marine pollution incidents.”
In a related development, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has ordered the Nigeria Agip Oil Company Ltd to pay N1 million as fine for failing to remediate oil impacted sites in its area of operation.
A statement issued by NOSDRA made available to newsmen in Eket, Akwa Ibom, and signed by the agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr Henshaw Oguwike, said the agency had informed Agip of its decision in writing.
It said: “The fine was imposed on Agip for the lack of response and failure to immediately contain, recover and clean-up oil spill impacted sites at its OB/OB Gas Plant in Obrikom Omoku, Rivers.
“In a letter to Agip dated September 19 over the incident, the Director-General/Chief Executive of NOSDRA, Mr Peter Idabor, said the action of the company amounted to contravention of Section 6(3) of the NOSDRA Act.
NOSDRA further directed Agip to mobilise to the oil impacted site already destroyed by the inferno resulting from the oil spill, for immediate clean-up and remediation, so as to prevent further degradation of the environment.
It further said that the director-general had informed the company that the quantum of compensation to be paid would be determined by the outcome of the damage assessment to be conducted by NOSDRA.
The letter also directed Agip to pay the fine N1 million into NOSDRA account within 14 days from the date of receipt of the letter or face stiffer penalty.
News
We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has announced a N100 billion annual education support programme aimed at keeping financially vulnerable Nigerian students in school.
Speaking at the launch of the national scholarship scheme in Lagos, yesterday, Dangote said too many brilliant young people were being forced out of classrooms because of poverty.
He described education as the “strongest engine of social mobility” and a critical foundation for national development.
The initiative, funded by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, will run for ten years beginning in 2026, costing over N1 trillion in total.
Dangote said the scheme would support 45,000 scholars each year at inception, expanding to 155,000 beneficiaries annually by its fourth year, and maintaining that level for the rest of the decade.
By 2036, he said, the programme is expected to have reached at least 1,325,000 students.
“We cannot allow financial hardship to silence the dreams of our young people, not when the future of our nation depends on their skills, resilience and leadership,” he added.
A major component of the fund is the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars programme, which will provide annual scholarships for 30,000 undergraduate students pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics in public universities and polytechnics.
Each beneficiary will receive tuition support aligned with the fees of their institution and course of study. Dangote said the goal is to expand access to higher education, empower innovation, and give young Nigerians the tools to compete globally.
“STEM drives development. If Nigeria must compete globally, our young minds must have the tools to learn, imagine and innovate,” he said.
