News

Egi Gas Leakage: Total Plans Containment Well

Published

14 years ago

April 23, 2012

Total Exploration and Production Nigeria, says it plans to drill a relief well to end gas leakage into the environment near its Obite plant in Rivers State.

The oil firm shut down the Obite Gas Plant following a technical fault during a drilling campaign at the oil firm’s oil block OML 58.

The incident was reportedly noticed on March 20 in Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema Local Government Area, Rivers State.

According to a statement in Eket last Friday, efforts are underway to stop the gas flow.

The statement signed by Total’s External Communication Manager, Charles Ebereonwu, said”Operations are being actively prepared on the affected well to stop the gas flow quickly and permanently.

“Equipment is also being installed to recover the gas above ground and thereby limit its subsurface flow.

“A drilling rig is being brought in to drill a relief well and a second rig has been ordered.”

The oil firm said that members of the affected communities were actively involved in the surveillance of the affected area.

Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuke Amaechi has charged Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (Total E&P) to stop the gas leakage at Obite in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state within the shortest possible time.

Governor Amaechi gave this charge last Friday during a courtesy visit on the paramount ruler of Egi Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Eze Kingdom Elenwa at his palace at Obite.

Represented by his Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru, Governor Amaechi, assured the people of Egi kingdom that government would ensure that the incident is properly contained, noting that though Total E&P was making frantic efforts at resolving the situation, it still needs to do more. He regretted that the environment has been polluted and the people’s means of livelihood adversely affected.

“I have listened to the explanations of the company; I have gone round the affected sites and seen what they are doing to contain the incident but I have told them to do more,” he said, adding that “I have also told them to provide relief materials and compensation to the affected communities as they won’t be able to farm on their land henceforth,” According to him, “so far the company has taken full responsibility for the incident”.

He noted that his priority now was for Total E&P to stop the leakage first before embarking on the issues of remediation and compensations, disclosing “ we are working with the state House of Assembly and the Ministry of Environment to ensure that the situation is speedily resolved, he said, and expressed delight over ‘the robust relationship and cordiality between the company and the affected community.

In his response, the paramount ruler of Egi Kingdom, Eze Kingdom Elenwa, expressed happiness on the visit of the governor, saying that the move has assured him that government was doing something to take care of the situation. He thank Governor Amaechi for the intervention, regretting, however that the incident took place

In a related development, the management of Total Exploration and Production (Total E&P) has said that it had set up a safety perimeter at the Ibewa gas production site in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers.

Mr Charles Ebereonwu, the Manager, External Communication of the company, said in a statement in Port Harcourt, that tests on water wells and air quality in the area had been done.

He said that a technical incident occurred at the site, which was in an uninhabited area near the onshore Obite gas production facilities on the oil mining lease 58 in the state.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

10 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

10 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

10 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.