Niger Delta

Bonga Oil Spill Compensation: Conmen Dupe Bayelsa Communities

Published

11 years ago

March 4, 2015

As the news of the payment
of compensation to communities affected by the Bonga Oil Spillage in Bayelsa State filtered out, conmen have cashed in, distributing compensations forms and collected as much as 1,500 from residents of the communities.
Unsuspecting members of the communities have been scrambling to purchase the forms for the December 2011 Bonga oil spill incident.
It would be recalled that some 40,000 barrels of crude oil was discharged into the Atlantic Ocean during an operational mishap by the oil field operated by Shell Nigeria Production and Exploration Company (SNEPC).
The House of Representatives and National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) had in December 2014, recommended a compensation of $3.96 billion for victims of the incident.
Recently, Shell Nigeria Production and Exploration Company (SNEPCO), operators of the oil filed, signified readiness to start payment, a situation that has attracted conmen to the area, and thousands of fake forms are now in circulation.
A Youth Leader at Koluama 2 community in Bayelsa, Mr. Ebrasin Leghemo said that the Koluama communities were approached by a firm of valuers, Dutch Nigeria Ltd, which allocated 10,000 forms for the community.
“There are three groups that are involved, and we negotiated with them to give us 10,000 slots at the rate of N1,000 for indigenes and N2,000 for non-indigenes, and we were made to understand that each claimant will get N400,000.
“We heard that the House of Representatives has mandated Shell to pay N3.98 billion to the affected communities and we have secured the 10,000 slots for our community for impacted people amongst us,” Leghemo said.
Meanwhile, agents of the firm of valuers involved in the scheme were making inroads into most communities, where the leaders were purchasing the forms in bulk.
Some of the people who had purchased the forms said that the forms were sold at between N1,000 and N1,500 each in coastal communities in Bayelsa and the state capital.
James Wilson said that he had filled and returned the form he bought for N1,000 and filed his claims for both Bonga oil spill incident of December 2011 and Chevron’s rig explosion of January 2012.
Wilson said that he had filed individual claims for N350,000 for damages from the two incidents.
Sokespersons for Shell and Chevron, the oil firms on whose oil fields the damages are claimed declined comments on the development when contacted.
However, an Environmental and Human Rights activist, Mr. Alagoa Morris has raised alarm over the circulation of oil spill compensation forms by syndicates in oil communities in Bayelsa.
Morris noted that the activities of the ‘faceless syndicates’ were suspicious.
He urged the state government to investigate the firms behind the scheme to save unsuspecting members of the public from falling prey to the conmen.

Niger Delta

NPC Unveils Digital Registration System In Delta

Published

3 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The National Population Commission (NPC), on Friday, launched the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (eCRVS) in Delta State, designed to strengthen data generation and vital statistics management.

The Tide’s source reports that the system was launched by the Delta Federal Commissioner, Mrs. Blessyn Brume-Ataguba, at a news briefing in Asaba.

Brume-Ataguba recalled that President Bola Tinubu formally launched the eCRVS in November 2023 as part of the efforts to modernise Nigeria’s civil registration process.

She said the initiative followed resolutions reached at the Sixth Session of the Conference of African Ministers Responsible for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Addis Ababa in 2022.

According to her, African ministers urged member states to automate civil registration processes and implement the UN Legal Identity Agenda.

“Nigeria responded by developing an electronic, technology-driven system to enhance data generation and improve civil statistics nationwide,” Brume-Ataguba said.

She said NPC, in collaboration with UNICEF, produced an eCRVS Operational Readiness Assessment Report to guide implementation.

She explained that the partnership aims to establish a fully digital civil registration system that converts records of vital events into reliable statistics for effective planning and decision-making.

Brume-Ataguba described the initiative as a complete shift from paper-based documentation to a modern digital platform aligned with international best practices.

She said the system would transform the way births and deaths were recorded, tracked and analysed across the country.

“This process marks a complete departure from the traditional paper-based recording of vital events to a state-of-the-art digital solution that conforms to international best practices.

“This eCRVS promises to revolutionise how vital events are recorded, tracked and analysed in the country.

“This will ensure commitments, and a sustained national, international financial and political investment for birth registration within the CVRS in Nigeria, ” Brume-Ataguba said.

She also said the launch demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening civil registration data capture and processing.

She further said improved vital statistics would support national development planning and help Nigeria achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Brume-Ataguba continued that the state-level launch was necessary to sensitise the media and the public on the significance of the digital registration system.

She described the media as a vital partner in informing and educating citizens about the importance of registering vital events electronically.

She further assured residents that competent ICT personnel were available at the state level to address technical challenges and provide support.

The NPC commissioner emphasised that the eCRVS would overhaul the registration of births and deaths in the country and lay a solid foundation for efficient civil statistics management.

She urged stakeholders to collaborate with the commission to realise its goal of providing accurate and timely vital registration data.

She announced that the current phase of the e-CRVS programme would be concluded in March.

In her remark, the NPC State Director, Mrs. Jane Odigwe, appealed to the Delta Government to support the implementation of the system in the state.

“Your partnership is vital in helping us to reach this goal,” Odigwe said.

She also urged parents to register their children, saying that a birth certificate is essential for access to education, healthcare and other opportunities.

She said that registering children today would secure their identity and future participation in Nigeria’s development.

“To every parent in Delta, I urge you to bring your children forward for birth registration.

“A birth certificate is not just a document but your child’s key to education, healthcare and global opportunities.

“By registering your child today, you are giving them a voice in Nigeria of tomorrow,” Odigwe said.

Niger Delta

Police Uncover Suspects’ Armoury … Recover Weapons In Delta

Published

3 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Delta State has recovered assorted weapons from a criminal hideout in the state.

Spokesman for the Command, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this to newsmen, who on Friday in Warri, said the weapons were recovered on Thursday by the operatives of the Command’s Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), led by ASP Julius Robinson.

He said the feat was achieved following a confession by a suspect handed over to the police team by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Orerokpe Division, for further interrogation.

Edafe said the suspect was alleged to be a member of a criminal syndicate terrorising commuters and residents on the Warri/Sapele Road.

“On February 19, acting on information obtained during interrogation, the suspect led the operatives to a concealed armoury located on the Sapele/Warri Road by the Adheje Community axis.

“A thorough search of the hideout resulted in the recovery of a locally made long gun, a locally made cut-to-size gun.

“Also recovered were a fabricated Beretta pistol loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, 10 live cartridges and a dagger,” he said.

Edafe stated that the investigation into the matter was ongoing.

He, however, quoted the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Command, Mr. Aina Adesola, to have reiterated the command’s resolve in dismantling criminal networks, and mopping up illegal firearms, among others, in the state.

Niger Delta

Police Caution On Lawless Protests On Court Matters In A’Ibom

Published

3 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has cautioned on threats of lawless protests by some members of the public over matters that are already before the courts.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, told newsmen in Uyo on Friday that illegal protests could undermine public peace and order.

“When matters are already in court, let’s follow legal and civil means to seek redress. That is how a civilised society works.

“Although we recognise the constitutional rights of citizens to lawful expression and peaceful assembly, illegal protests are not allowed,” he said.

Azare said the Command would not tolerate threats or acts of nude protests, unlawful occupation of public or private facilities, and disruption of government, economic or social activities.

He said anyone found culpable of engaging in acts or threats of illegal protests would be prosecuted in line with the law.

“As a Command, we are committed to the maintenance of law and order, we are also committed to protecting lives and property”, he stated.