Business
IOCs Can Relocate Without NASS Approval-MOSIENND ……Wants NDDC Board Inaugurated
The Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in Niger Delta (MOSIENND) has said that the multinational oil companies that relocated from their host communities need no approval from the National Assembly before relocating back.
President of MOSIENND, Kennedy West, who stated this while speaking with journalists at the weekend in Port Harcourt, also called on the presidency to prevail on the relevant authority to inaugurate the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
According to West, the multinational oil companies left their host communities to other parts of the country to operate without the approval of the National Assembly, and therefore do not need the lawmakers’ approval to return.
He explained that the request for the return of IOCs was one of the requests made to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), but regretted that the request had not been granted since then.
“All the requests made by PANDEF to President Buhari in 2016, which include the demilitarization of Niger Delta, increase NDDC funding, make the IOCs relocate to the region, and make the host communities participate in OML operations; none has been done since then.
“The idea of Mr President promising to address those requests made since 2016 should not be taken seriously by any person that means well for the development of the region,” he said.
He also called on the governors in the Niger Delta to speak out and act on issues confronting the NDDC, saying that anything happening in the commission will directly affect the states.
West faulted the position of sole administrator in the NDDC, describing it as unconstitutional, and called for the inauguration of a governing board for the commission.
The MOSIENND boss also accused the security agents, especially the military, of aiding and abetting oil theft and bunkering in the Niger Delta, instead of providing security for the region.
He said that there was no need for the Joint Task Force in the region since their presence have not addressed criminality in the coastal areas.
By: Corlins Walter
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.