News
Total Bows To IYC Demands …As Egi Community Insists On Remediation
The management of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria, last Monday, accepted responsibility for the casualties in a car crash caused by security escorts conveying expatriates of the company along Eastern By-Pass in Port Harcourt, on June 15, 2012.
The Tide source said that after a two-hour meeting between management of Total, led by the Director of Administration, Peter Igbinovia, and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) which barricaded the gates of the company on Monday, the management agreed to commence treatment of all those affected by the car crash.
It would be recalled that members of IYC took over the main gate of the company in the early hours of Monday, protesting the alleged unfair treatment of the accident victims of the car crash.
The protesters, carrying placards stopped workers of the company from entering the premises, demanding interface with the management and release of the expatriates to them for interrogation.
IYC’s National Director of Mobilisation, Strategy and Planning, Bristle Emmanuel Alagbarigha, who spoke on behalf of the group, said on June 15, 2012, the company’s convoy caused an accident at the Eastern By-Pass which injured six persons.
He said the protest became imperative as several efforts to reach the company’s management for dialogue proved abortive.
According to him, “we are protesting to force total to produce those in the convoy so that they can be prosecuted.
‘We also want to compel Total to take care of the victims”.
Said Alagbarigha: “several Ijaw Youths were injured, including youth from other parts of Nigeria. We are protesting against the injustice meted out to Nigerians by these oil companies.
“We are demanding that, among others, Total should produce the whole people, including the foreigners in the vehicle that committed the offence. They should be arrested, detained and charged to court.
Most of the persons injured do not have jobs and have children. Total must ensure that those injured are treated, he said.
The IYC official alleged that the Rivers State Police Command did not handle the matter properly, stressing that it was part of the corporate social responsibility of oil companies to save life first.
“Our desire is to see that business in the Niger Delta progress and that youths are employed. That is the only way jobs can be created. By the time I went to the company, I discovered that even the people at the gate were keeping quiet.
“I knocked at their gate and told them some innocent citizens have been injured. As if that was not enough, I went in and told them since there’s an accident at their premises, it is your duty as such an organization doing business in our country to move to the scene and see those injured and help to save life first”, Alagbarigha stressed.
Meanwhile, Environmental Engineering experts and former Dean, Faculty of Engineering in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Prof Alexander Akor have condemned Total E and P for planning to kill the report over oil blow-out in Egiland earlier this year.
Prof Akor alleged that independent findings revealed that Total E and P “plans to kill the report and not remediate the environment affected by the oil rapture that devastated Egiland and environs”.
The University Don, in an exclusive chat with The Tide yesterday in Port Harcourt said, “ some politicians in Egi hired a consultant who gave the oil company a clean Bill of Health. I was at the presentation and I did not like it.
While calling on the Federal Government to intervene in the matter, Prof Akor opined that all parties must be given opportunity to conduct independent study, and government should ensure that samples taken are distributed for independent analysis.
He lamented the high level of pollution caused by the blowout”, explaining that during the period, there was serious health hazard, “
Prof Akor called on Total E and P to adopt Shell Petroleum Development Company’s health scheme by carrying out free medical checks, and establish health centres to cater for people of Egi land.
Vivian-Peace Nwineache
The Rivers State Government has commended the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) for its outstanding contributions to the development of Rivers State, particularly in the areas of peacebuilding, education, healthcare, and moral development.
Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, stated that the Church has remained a dependable partner in promoting peace, unity, justice, moral discipline, and social harmony across society.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dagogo Wokoma, made the remarks during the thanksgiving service marking the 30th Anniversary and First Session of the 11th Synod of the Diocese of Niger Delta North, held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church on Sunday.
Governor Fubara described the Synod’s theme, “Kingdom Advancement: The Priority of Every Believer,” as timely and relevant, considering the prevailing realities in society.
According to him, the Church continues to play a vital role in shaping societal values and inspiring hope among citizens.
“The Church remains a vital partner in promoting peace, unity, justice, and moral discipline. Its role in shaping values and inspiring hope cannot be overemphasized,” he stated.
The Governor further acknowledged the Anglican Communion’s contributions in education, healthcare delivery, youth empowerment, humanitarian services, and spiritual guidance across communities in Rivers State.
“The Rivers State Government appreciates the invaluable contributions of the Anglican Communion in education, healthcare, youth development, humanitarian support, and spiritual guidance. Your impact across communities in Rivers State continues to strengthen families and promote peaceful coexistence among our people,” he added.
Governor Fubara reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a peaceful, united, and prosperous Rivers State where all citizens can thrive irrespective of religion, ethnicity, or social background.
He also urged the Synod to continue praying for sustainable development and progress in Rivers State and Nigeria at large.
Earlier in his sermon, the Guest Minister, Joseph Olushola, spoke on the topic, “Kingdom Investment and Internal Rewards,” urging Christians to remain faithful stewards of God’s blessings and committed to advancing God’s kingdom through service and generosity.
The cleric emphasized that believers are custodians of the virtues and resources entrusted to them by God, stressing that divine rewards are based on faithfulness and impact rather than material possessions.
The Shell Nigeria Gas Limited, in partnership with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), has reaffirmed support for efforts to expand gas distribution infrastructure in Rivers State as part of initiatives aimed at improving access to affordable, cleaner and more reliable energy for industries across the South-South region.
The commitment was highlighted during the SNG–MAN Business Forum held in Port Harcourt, where stakeholders from the industrial and public sectors examined the role of natural gas in driving industrialisation, boosting local production and strengthening energy security.
Speaking at the forum on behalf of the Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Gas Limited, the company’s Head of Gas Distribution, Mr. Chukwuka Amos Ejesi, described natural gas as a critical component of Nigeria’s energy mix and a key driver of sustainable industrial growth.
According to him, Nigeria’s gas development agenda has reached a stage where policy direction must be matched with practical implementation capable of addressing the energy challenges confronting manufacturers.
He noted that pipeline gas offers industries a cleaner, more dependable and cost-effective energy alternative capable of supporting uninterrupted operations, reducing emissions and improving production efficiency.
“Gas is the backbone of manufacturing, and we are encouraged by the growing recognition among stakeholders of the need for cleaner and more reliable energy solutions,” he said.
Ejesi stressed the need for sustained collaboration among energy providers, government institutions and industrial stakeholders to maximise the country’s gas resources for economic development.
He added that improved gas infrastructure would strengthen manufacturing value chains, enhance productivity and promote more competitive industrial operations across Rivers State and the wider South-South region.
Participants at the forum also emphasised the importance of expanding energy infrastructure as a pathway to unlocking industrial capacity, reducing operating costs and promoting sustainable industrial development.
Representing Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Director-General of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to partnering with private sector investors to revitalise industrial activities in the state.
He identified key projects targeted under the initiative to include the revival of the Ahoada Industrial Park, the New Port City project and the proposed Bonny Industrial Park, all aimed at stimulating economic growth and expanding industrial opportunities along the Bonny corridor.
According to the governor, the long-term vision is to position Rivers State as a leading manufacturing hub in Southern Nigeria through strategic public-private partnerships.
Governor Fubara also commended Shell Nigeria Gas and MAN for sustaining engagements geared towards improving industrial energy access, noting that gas infrastructure development remains central to the state’s economic recovery plans.
He further observed that the gas sector presents enormous opportunities for economic growth, especially as global energy systems continue to shift towards cleaner energy sources.
The governor called on stakeholders to work collectively towards developing a practical and sustainable gas framework capable of supporting the state’s industrial and energy development objectives.
By; Kevin Nengia
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, has charged newlywed couples to build their marriages on the virtues of love and submission as taught in the Word of God.
Prof. Odu gave the charge at the wedding ceremony of Amblessed Favour Sunny-Cookey and Samson Jesuganji at Lifegate Power Ministries, Dominion Cathedral, in Port Harcourt on Saturday, 16th May 2026.
The Deputy Governor congratulated the couple on beginning a new phase of life together and prayed for God’s blessings upon their union, noting that the couple had been raised by godly parents and encouraged them to uphold the Christian values instilled in them.
Referring to the sermon delivered during the ceremony, Prof. Odu emphasized that the principles of love and submission remain fundamental to a successful marriage.
According to her, genuine love reflects the nature of God, stressing that love should remain the foundation of the couple’s relationship as they journey through life together.
Prof. Odu further prayed for enduring peace, happiness, and progress in the home, expressing confidence that the marriage would continue to flourish under God’s guidance.
The Deputy Governor also commended the families of the couple for their support and upbringing, while urging the newlyweds to always remember the significance of the day and the commitment they had made before God and witnesses.
In his sermon at the wedding, the Founder and Presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, stated that marriage did not originate from Western culture, traditions, or human ideas, but from God, whom he described as the “manufacturer” of marriage.
According to the cleric, couples seeking lasting and peaceful homes must rely on biblical principles rather than societal trends or assumptions.
He explained that many marital crises and rising divorce rates stem from ignorance and failure to apply scriptural teachings in family life.
Drawing from the biblical parable of building a house on a rock, Pastor Ibiyeomie said the Word of God remains the only solid foundation capable of sustaining marriages through challenges and difficult times.
He noted that marriage naturally comes with unexpected realities and pressures, stressing that religious ceremonies or cultural practices alone are not enough to sustain a home without proper understanding of God’s instructions.
The pastor further warned that ignorance of scripture remains one of the greatest weapons against believers, urging Christians to study and practice the Word of God rather than merely attending church services.
It would be recalled that the bride is the daughter of Pastor Sunny Cookey the Founder and Presiding Pastor of Lifegate Ministries. The Ceremony had lots of Ministers in attendance which includes Apostle Zilly Aggrey, Pastor George Izunwa, and Bishop Winston Iwo