News
Dikio Classifies Illegal Refinery Operators As Murderers
The Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dikio (rtd) has classified operators of illegal refineries as murderers, saying they contribute to the untimely death of many people in the Niger Delta.
Dikio spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State at a one-day awareness and sensitisation workshop organised by PAP’s Strategic Communication Committee (STRACOM), yesterday.
Lamenting the health hazards posed by illegal refineries, Dikio said everyone living in Port Harcourt was at a risk of dying for inhaling toxic substances from such refineries.
He appealed to all stakeholders, especially ex-agitators to collectively bring an end to illegal oil bunkering to save the region from the looming environmental and health disaster.
The PAP boss lauded members of STRACOM for putting together the workshop, saying he would continue to work with them to increase awareness on the negative impact of illegal oil bunkering.
He also charged youths in the region to stop making excuses for being idle and seize the numerous opportunities before them to earn a decent living and create employment opportunities for others.
He said: “If you are involved in ‘Kpo fire’ (illegal refineries) you are not involved in a good success. You are a murderer pure and simple.
“Niger Delta is too rich for anybody to be poor. You have to think beyond paper qualification and work for the development of the region. 60per cent of the small business that run America are owned by Individuals and most of them don’t have college degrees.
“Here in Nigeria, we pride ourselves as the most literate set of immigrants. How many of you are governors or own businesses or are senators? It’s highly time we wake up. Collectively, we will change our narrative, Niger Delta will be the safest place to live and do business in Nigeria”, Dikio said.
On his part, Head of Reintegration at the PAP, Alfred Kemepado, commended the ex-agitators for organising the programme, and appealed to them to continue to be change agents.
He said: “The whole essence of today’s event is to reconstruct the mind-set of the ex-agitators towards building a Niger Delta where we can all have it as the best place to live and do business.
“The message to the Niger Delta youths is that peace is in their best interest and any form of violence doesn’t pay. It may have short term benefits for the crisis merchants at that particular time but the simple question we need to ask is where were we before the militancy in 2009 and where are we today? If you take a score you don’t need a deep research to see it”.
In his remarks, the Rivers State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Young Ayo-Tamuno, represented by a Deputy Director, Mr. Edward Banigo, said the workshop was timely in view of the coming general elections.
He said: “We want to commend you for this programme, and we call on all others, other groups like you to also come up with programmes like this. We are here to partner with groups like you to deepen peace in the Niger Delta, in our communities and deepen our national core values. So, that at the end of the day, the change we desire we shall see it.
“The 2023 election is around the corner, we have a beautiful opportunity to make that change and one step to achieving that is to make sure you get your PVC. With your PVC we can peacefully put men and women of integrity who will change the narrative of our fatherland”, he said.
Also speaking, Chairman of STRACOM, Pastor Nature Dumale Keigh thanked Dikio for his massive support in their various enlightenment campaigns.
He said: “Today is the grand finale of the peace summit that the ex-agitators have been organising round the Niger Delta region. We believe that today has also given us further opportunity to do more having had the presence of the interim administrator himself.
“It shows that the Amnesty Office is also in support of what we have been doing and they are ready to work with us to create awareness for peace in the Niger Delta”.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
-
News3 days ago
Obuah’s Victory Excites Former Lawmaker as APC Primaries Conclude in Rivers West
-
Politics5 days agoAPC PRIMARIES: FUBARA’S WITHDRAWAL, HISTORIC SACRIFICE FOR NATIONAL STABILITY ……. GROUP
-
News3 days ago
105 Nigerians Killed In S/Africa In Seven Years
-
Sports5 days agoPH Arsenal Community Set For Streets Procession, Saturday
-
Niger Delta3 days agoRoyal Father Endorses PH Arsenal Community, Pledges To Support
-
Politics5 days agoIPAC Flays INEC Over Election Guidelines Judgement
-
Politics5 days agoNDC To Adopt Electronic Voting For Future Primaries
-
Politics5 days agoEx-IGP Defects To SDP After APC Primary Fiasco