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Bayelsa, Israel Partner On Fish Farm

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The Bayelsa State Gover
nor, Hon. Seriake Dickson,  has  disclosed that his administration would collaborate with an Israeli agro firm to construct one of its proposed massive fish farms in Boro town, Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of the state.
Dickson disclosed this while fielding  questions from newsmen during the  on-the spot assessment of some of the projects sites in the state
He said the collaboration is to boost fish production in the state for local consumption and export.
The Governor has, therefore, called for the cooperation of the chiefs and people of the community, especially in the provision of land for the immediate commencement of the project.
Accompanied by top government functionaries, Dickson expressed satisfaction with the pace of work in some of the sites visited, stating that some of the projects will be completed on or before the deadline.
The projects sites visited include; Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Sagbama, Teachers Training Institute at Bolou Orua, Isaac Boro immortalisation project and a 2,500 capacity spectators’ pavilion in Kaiama and the NYSC  permanent orientation camp in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government.
Others are; Isaac Boro family House, the Memorial Institute and Low cost Housing Estate situated within the Boro town.
Describing the completed administrative and hostels blocks of the new NYSC  permanent orientation camp as standard, the Governor observed that the project when completed would rank among the best in the country.
According to him, the facility would not be underutilised at any point in time, as it could also be used for other programmes such as youth leadership training.
Conducting the Governor round the camp, the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, explained that the six hostel blocks which are nearing completion will accommodate a thousand corps members.
Dickson, who ordered the inclusion of a sick-bay as an additional structure at the camp, also directed the commissioner to extend the main access road to the parade ground.
At the Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro College of Education, Sagbama Town, Hon. Dickson, inspected the access road, administrative block, ICT library and one  block of 24 classrooms that have been completed.
The state Commissioner for Education, Chief Salo Adikumo, the Provost of the College, Professor Saviour Agoro and the Registrar, Dr. Guagha Berezi, conducted the governor round over 24 ongoing projects including hostels, offices and science laboratories which are at various levels of completion.
Responding to some requests of the college, the governor promised that government would survey and acquire more lands  for the construction of other critical infrastructure.
Governor Dickson, however, urged the contractors to redouble their efforts and ensure the completion of the projects for commissioning on or before February, next year.
Other projects the Governor inspected include the referral general hospital Sagbama site, for the construction of the Abadiere Childrens’ Home, Tungbo and internal roads at Toru Orua, his country home.

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Mile 2-Jetty Toxic Leakage: SEREC Worries Over Environmental Pollution 

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The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has raised alarm over the environmental pollution at Mile 2 Jetty following a sunken barge which cargo is leaking.
SEREC noted that the sunken barge has led to chemical pollution at the Mile 2 Jetty adding that the continued rainfall has worsened toxic leakage into the waterways, threatening marine life and public health.
In a Press Statement, the Head of Research, SEREC, Dr. Eugene Nweke, said the incident calls for immediate institutional reform of Nigeria’s barge operations.
According to him, independent findings showed that industrial chemicals stacked at a “shipping terminal and nearby bridge locations have been seeping into surrounding waters, with minimal visible regulatory response”.
He said the development was a wake-up call to strengthen the governance and administrative architecture of Nigeria’s barge operations adding that they are currently weakly coordinated across multiple agencies.
This, he said, has left gaps in safety enforcement, vessel standards, environmental control as well as emergency response.
In direct response to this and similar recurring incidents, SEREC strongly advocates the creation of a Directorate of Barge Operations and Logistics Services (DBOLS) within the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to be headed by a Director and operationally driven by a Deputy Director of Barge Operations and Logistics Services.
This specialized Directorate would, “Enforce mandatory registration, inspection and certification of all commercial barges and tugs operating along Nigerian inland and coastal routes.
“Institute safety, loading, and environmental standards for barge construction, cargo handling and waste management.
“Develop digital traffic monitoring systems (AIS/GPS) for barge movements to prevent congestion and accidents”, Nweke said
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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“FCCPC Approves Sale Of Chivita|Hollandia To UAC Nigeria PLC 

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UAC of Nigeria PLC (UAC) has announced the completion of it’s in a press release on October 3, 2025, that it has completed the acquisition of Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited), following approval from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Revealing this in a Press Release, at the Weekend, UAC said the transaction, first disclosed on July 30, 2025, involved the transfer of ownership of CHI Limited, a leading Nigerian food and beverage company best known for its market-dominant Chivita juice and Hollandia dairy brands, to UAC.
Commenting on the development, the Managing Director, CHI Limited, Eelco Weber, expressed optimism in the company’s future under UAC’s ownership.
“We are pleased to have received regulatory approval for this transaction. We look forward to a smooth transition and to seeing Chivita|Hollandia thrive under UAC’s ownership,” he said.
Group Managing Director of UAC, Fola Aiyesimoju, highlighted the strategic importance of the acquisition saying “We are excited to officially welcome the Chivita|Hollandia team and brands into the UAC family, and we are eager to work together to build on their strong legacy and market leadership”.
The acquisition is expected to strengthen UAC’s position in Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, expanding its footprint into the growing juice and dairy markets.
UAC further said that the acquisition aligned with its growth agenda by adding two market-leading brands and a well-established distribution network to its por.
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PenCom Reintroduces Gratuity For Federal Civil Servants

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The National Pension Commission has said it has deployed a framework to restore gratuity for Federal Civil Service under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
Director-General of PenCom, Omolola Oloworaran, disclosed this at a Stakeholders’ Conference on the Workings of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for Employees and Pensioners of Federal Government Treasury-Funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies, in Abuja, last Thursday.
Represented by the Acting Commissioner, Technical, PenCom, Hon. Hafiz Kawu Ibrahim, Oloworaran said, “Working with the office of the Head of the Civil Service, a framework has been developed to restore gratuity benefits for federal workers under CPS, in line with Section 4(4) of the PRA 2014.”
The PenCom DG added that “PenCom has enhanced pensions for over 241,000 retirees, representing 80% of those under Programmed Withdrawal. Monthly pensions rose from N12.157 billion to N14.837 billion, effective June 2025.
“Also, since July 2025, no retiree waits to access their pensions. Payments are now immediate, aligned with monthly salary releases from the Federal Ministry of Finance”.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, stated that the Commission would partner PenCom to examine the current rate of retirement benefits and recommend appropriate mechanisms for periodic reviews of retirement benefits.
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