Niger Delta

HYPREP Interfaces With Ogoni Youth

Published

7 years ago

October 15, 2018

In a bid to keep Ogoni youths abreast of its activities so far, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) last Saturday organised a youth stakeholders forum in Port Harcourt, with a charge to the youths to key into the vast business, entrepreneurial and other opportunities that exist in the clean-up of oil impacted sites in Ogoniland in Rivers State.
To this end, the Atlantic Hall of Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, the venue of the forum was filled to capacity, as youth leaders, drawn from the four Ogoni – local government areas and beyond including other personalities and stakeholders stormed the event.
In his opening remarks, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Dr. Marvin Dekil, while eulogising Ogoni youths for their support and cooperation towards the clean-up exercise, said the project belonged to them and urged them to embrace the vast business opportunities that the remediation process had already thrown up and would still provide for them in the nearest future.
Dekil reiterated that the clean-up exercise was on course as the critical stakeholders in the project were committed in the full implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoniland.
According to him, HYPREP was totally committed to discharging its core mandate of remediating oil impacted sites in the area and restoring the livelihoods of the people.
While urging the youths to form cooperatives in order to access the vast business opportunities, Dekil hinted that plans were underway for the agency to train 400 women drawn from the four Ogoni – local government areas in conjunction with the United Nations Institute for Training and Reasearch (UNITAR).
It would be recalled that HYPREP had recently opened technical and financial bids for the remediation proper and it is currently awaiting approval from the Federal Government to deploy successful contractors to commence the clean-up of impacted sites.
The forum, with the theme, “Ogoniland and Clean-Up: Implementing the UNEP Report,” featured the presentation of researched materials by resource persons.
A HYPREP’s consultant, Engr. Charles Okoro, who spoke on ‘Ogoni Clean-Up and Available Business Opportunities,’ explored all the business potentials encapsulated in the UNEP Report, particularly in the areas of livelihoods, health, water and capacity building, among others.
This is even as a lecturer with the Rivers State University, Dr. Kaanakia Konya, in his paper on ‘A Better Alternative To Illegal Refining: Entrepreneurship/ Employability’ further highlighted the benefits inherent in the Ogoni clean-up project.
An activist, Mr. Celestine Akpobari gave an insight into the various struggles and agitations which culminated in the clean-up exercise and stressed the need for Ogoni people, particularly the youths to change their strategies and contribute positively to the development of Ogoniland.
The Commander of HYPREP’s security team, Lt. Col. O. O. Coker, in his presentation, urged the youths to eschew greed, self centredness and selfish interest and pursue goals that would add value to the collective wellbeing of the people, and by so doing improve and develop the society, stressing that peace and security were essential ingredients for the successful clean-up of Ogoniland.
Dignitaries at the forum include Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Prof. Roseline Konya, President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr. Legborsi Pygbara, President of KAGOTE, Dr. Peter Medee, a lecturer with the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Ben Naanen, Paramount Ruler of Ogale Community, HRH Godwin Bebe Okpabi, among others.
Meanwhile, Ogoni youths have dissociated themselves from any act geared towards truncating the clean-up exercise, and passed a resounding vote of confidence on HYPREP.
The President of the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), Dr. Young Nkpah, who made the position of the youths known in a communiqué said the body was satisfied with the way and manner the Ogoni clean-up exercise was progressing, and condemned those hell bent on truncating the process.

Donatus Ebi

Niger Delta

Navy Pledges Improved Patrols, Welfare Boost For Personnel

Published

11 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has pledged to ensure improved welfare for personnel and more patrols on the maritime corridors of the nation.

He disclosed this during an on the spot assessment of things at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Calabar, on Wednesday.

According to him, there is the need for officers to always be ready, by improving on their welfare, in a bid to keep the country secured.

“I am here for an on the spot assessment of our operations and like you have seen, I have also gone round to check the ongoing buildings.

”These are welfare issues and for us to be able to have our men ready and keep us secured, their welfare needs to be catered for.

“So, we are here to kill two birds with one stone, which are basically operations and welfare issues.

”I am happy with what the command is doing; it is doing well in terms of keeping the maritime environment safe.

“We will continue doing what we are doing and improve on that, which is patrol of the waters and increase in the area of surveillance”, he stated.

As part of his visit, Abbas commissioned the 12×1 Junior Rates Accommodation Block A and B, at the Navy Barracks at Atimbo in Calabar.

The naval chief also inspected other ongoing projects in the Akim Barracks, 1006 flats and the Navy hotel, all within Calabar.

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Uromi Junction Flyover Construction

Published

14 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State Government says it has began construction work on the long-awaited Uromi Junction Flyover Bridge in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

Director-General (DG) of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, confirmed the development to newsme in Asaba.

According to him, heavy-duty construction equipment have arrived the site, a project which is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, one of the country’s leading construction firms.

Oghenesivbe, described the flyover as a massive infrastructure project with far-reaching socio-economic benefits for the area.

He said the project would significantly transform the Agbor metropolis by easing traffic congestion, improving the city’s aesthetics, and boosting commercial activities within the local government area.

He described the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as a promise-keeper and pragmatic leader whose administration remains committed to infrastructure development and economic growth across the state.

The DG expressed confidence in Julius Berger’s capacity to deliver the project within record time and according to the highest construction standards.

“The Uromi Junction serves as a major link between different parts of the country but has recently been plagued by severe traffic congestion, making vehicular movement increasingly difficult”, he noted.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and safeguard construction materials and equipment to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Rejects Ekid Ownership Claim Of Stubbs Creek

Published

14 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims by the Ekid People’s Union that it owns land within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, describing such assertions as “false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

In a recent statement, signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, the state government said it was compelled to respond in the “overriding public interest,” despite a pending court case instituted by the same group.

The government stated that contrary to claims circulating in the media, the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak vs. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land in any ethnic group or community.

“The final judgement merely dismissed the claims before the court and granted title to no party whatsoever”, the government stated, adding that “any assertion to the contrary is false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

According to the statement, the land was lawfully reserved by the colonial government under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, later amended in 1941, 1955 and 1962, with “the principal rights of the land forfeited to the Government upon the change of status.”

It said the area has since been administered under applicable laws by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which “has at all times acted within its lawful authority in the management and allocation of land in the area for legitimate public and economic purposes.”

Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, the government stated that all land in the state is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the common benefit of Nigerians, noting that claims of absolute ancestral ownership are subject to existing laws.

The government “categorically denies allegations of fraud or misrepresentation” regarding Stubbs Creek or investments there and warned it would take “appropriate legal steps” against any individual or group publishing false or defamatory material capable of undermining public confidence or discouraging investment

The statement also assured the federal government of “full access and Right of Way” for the proposed Coastal Highway through any part of the state.

The government statement followed an earlier report in which the Ekid People’s Union accused Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State of making comments that allegedly linked the community to terrorism, while he was defending the Coastal Highway project passing through the Stubbs Creek.

Ekid People’s Union maintained that the people of Ekid are the original owners of the land known as Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, arguing that their ancestral ownership predates colonial rule.

The group cited historical occupation, customary ownership and a 1918 Privy Council case, which it claimed affirmed Ekid rights over the territory.

The union also accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of misrepresenting history to justify taking over the land for commercial interests and the proposed Coastal Highway, an allegation the state government has denied.

The group rejected any suggestion linking the Ekid people to criminality or terrorism, insisting they were peaceful citizens defending their ancestral land through lawful and civic means.