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26 In JTF Net As …Shell Threatens Shut-down of Afam VI

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The Joint Military Task Force (JTF), says it has arrested 20
Ghanaians and six Nigerians and destroyed seven barges with tug boats carrying
stolen petroleum products in Abonnema, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of
Rivers State.

JTF Commander, Brigadier-General Tuku Brutai said the 26
suspects were arrested during operations by his men.

The 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army spokesman disclosed that the
seven barges loaded with crude oil with the 20 Ghanaians and six Nigerians
arrested were on board were impounded last month.

He added that the arrested persons had been handed over to
the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps for prosecution, saying that,
“there were some arrests and they have all been handed over to the civil
defence corps for prosecution, and as you are aware, these barges are based in
this area.”

“They take advantage of these creeks, the difficult terrain
to sneak into the area and steal the crude oil but luck ran out of them and we
were able to intercept them.”

The 2 Brigade commanding officer also said that sea piracy
has continued in the creeks of the Niger Delta despite the efforts of the JTF
to stop the menace.

“We also have the challenge of difficult terrain where some
of our gun boats can not have access to the creeks because of the shallow
nature of the waters there but by and large, we have taken full control of the
situation in the riverine areas,” he said.

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC)
has said that the shut in of 150,000 barrels of oil per day may adversely
affect the Federal Government’s revenue targets and fiscal allocations for
projects and programmes in the 2012 budget, saying the Federal Government has
lost 1.2million barrels of projected crude oil sales in just eight days from
Shell alone.

The company has therefore, warned of grave consequences, if
government agencies charged with the responsibility of managing the nation’s
marine systems and territorial waters fail to remove the illegal crude oil
vessel which caught fire eight days ago, atop its 28-inch high pressure Trans
Niger Pipeline (TNP).

Shell has threatened to shut down the 240million cubic feet
per day Okoloma Gas Plant, which supplies feedstock to the Nigeria Liquefied
Natural Gas (NLNG) facility in Bonny Island and at Okololunch new Bonny the
gas-powered Afam VI Power Station, lying adjacent to the gas plant, in Oyigbo
Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Afam VI supplies 650megawatts to the national grid, managed
by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), thus, contributing
significantly to the government’s desire to achieve uninterrupted power supply
as part of its Transformation Agenda.

The Tide gathered that shut down of Afam VI Power Station
would cut off 650MW from the overall national power supply equation, which
stands at between 4,200MW and 4,500MW, thereby worsening the nation’s power
supply challenge.

The Bomu-Bonny 28-inch TNP and 26-inch high pressure gas
pipeline run in parallel, and pump crude oil and gas from the entire Land East
production infrastructure, particularly the Okoloma Gas Plant to facilities at
Bonny Island..

The Tide gathered that Shell’s concerns revolve around the
fact that the vessel now in flames seats atop both high pressure pipelines, and
therefore, exposes the billion-dollar facilities to serious threat.

The Land East operations cover all Shell production
facilities in Rivers, Imo, Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

Shell’s Vice President, Health, Safety and Environment
(HSE), Communications and Corporate Affairs, Tony Attah, who gave the warning
last Friday, said the shut in of 150,000bpd production, and shut down of both
Okoloma Gas Plant and Afam VI Power Station, though regrettable, were a
compelling last resort.

He stated that as soon as the incident was reported Sunday,
the Emergency Response Team (ERT) was mobilised and dispatched on overfly of
the area to ascertain the veracity of the fire, adding that three six-inch
crude theft point fittings have so far been identified on the TNP.

He urged the Federal Government to address the crude theft
problem swiftly by tightening security on the nation’s waterways while
arresting and prosecuting criminals involved in the illegal business to save
the region and the nation’s economy.

The Tide had exclusively reported last Monday that the
explosion and fire which gutted the vessel had claimed the lives of four
expatriates and 18 others while another 21 persons around the crude oil theft
circumference sustained serious injuries, including first degree burns.

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their  living conditions.

This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.

Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s

She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.

According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.

The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while  bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.

Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.

Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.

According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.

He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.

Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may  lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.

During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.

The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.

He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.

They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.

At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.

King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.

Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.

Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.

At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.

He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.

Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.

 

John Bibor

 

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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

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The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.

Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.

Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.

In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.

However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.

Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.

Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.

“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.

 

 

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