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End Gas Flaring Now, MOSOP Tasks Buhari
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People in the United States (MOSOP USA) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the discontinuation of gas flaring in Ogoniland and Niger Delta area.
In a letter signed by the President, MOSOP USA, Elder DineBari Augustine Kpuinen noted that gas flaring contributes to the causes of climate change.
In the letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, and tilted, “The Appointment of an Ogoni and the Ogoni Clean-up”, the group said, “As a matter of urgency, MOSOP USA demands to stop all gas flaring in Ogoni and the Niger Delta area to achieve desirable results during the clean-up.
“Gas flaring is the primary cause of climate change and is identified as the silent killer of Niger Delta inhabitants”.
Also, they group demanded for the revalidation of the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) report, a template used in the clean-up of Ogoniland in Rivers State.
They stressed that since 2011, the environment has witnessed several spills, which has damaged the area more than twice as contained in the UNEP report.
“In 2011, the United Nations Environmental Programme finalised a study of the Ogoni environment, submitted a report to the Federal Government, and classified it to demand urgent attention. Yet, 11 years after, nothing has been done. Not even one of its several recommendations has been satisfactorily implemented.
“The report issued by the UNEP in 2011 on the Ogoni environment and the various tests conducted is now obsolete because they have only 10 years lifespan. Illegal bunkering, fresh oil spillages, and pipe blowouts have devastated the area twice more than reported.
“In addition, black soot now rains in the area. Black soot is the poisonous, dangerous chemical that rains in Ogoni and the Niger Delta. This black soot causes internal bleeding, which is one of the fundamental reasons Ogoni people die more.
“The increased death rate in Ogoni is because of more deadly diseases and infections traceable to the drinking of infected hydrocarbon water, eating poisonous acid infected vegetation and crops, and breathing polluted air.
“The recent oil spills in our rivers, creeks, swamps, and sea; and the illegal manual refineries make the UNEP Report of 2011 obsolete. Ogoniland desires to be thoroughly and promptly reassessed”.
The Ogonis in Diaspora further called on Buhari to invite UNEP to carry out the second reassessment of Ogoni.
However, the group thanked the president for the appointment of Dr. Ferdinand Giadom, an Ogoni as the project coordinator of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
They noted that the clean-up of Ogoni land was far more critical, and should be given the attention and financial support it deserves.
“Unfortunately, shreds of evidence abound whereby such appointments amount to window dressing and funds allocated for the clean-up project grossly mismanaged.
“Therefore, your push for the return of oil production in Ogoni through NNPC in violation of the UNEP guidelines is unacceptable. The pollution in Ogoni is real and has negatively impacted the lives of our people in every way, hence your timely intervention.
“So far, and on your watch, an estimated $360million have been spent on the so-called clean-up in Ogoni with nothing to show for it. While on the other hand, BP has spent an estimated $71billion on clean-up and compensation for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico over 10 years ago”.
The group added, “Mr. President will agree with MOSOP USA that occasional cosmetic appointments to massage the ego of selfish politicians are not synonymous with implementing the UNEP Report recommendations, or solving the problems of the Ogoni people.
“Therefore, Ogoni earnestly deserves a Marshall Plan that encapsulates the complete and uncompromising implementation of the UNEP Report, the Ogoni Bill of Rights, and the exoneration and immortalisation of the Ogoni Nine. Anything short of this will amount to window dressing – a time bomb that will devastate the Niger Delta area and beyond if not pre-emptively detonated”.
By: Beemene Taneh
Nigerians were among more than 140 residents injured after Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at the United Arab Emirates, at the weekend.
This raised fresh fears for thousands of Nigerians living and working in the Gulf nation.
The UAE Ministry of Defence disclosed last Saturday that its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones fired from Iran, describing the attack as a major escalation in the ongoing regional tensions.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, the ministry said its air defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones during the latest assault on March 14.
It added that the attacks left six people dead and 141 others injured, including foreign nationals.
“The UAE air defence systems on March 14 engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry stated.
“Since the onset of this blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran,” UAE added.
According to the ministry, those killed in the attacks included citizens of the UAE as well as foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
“Although the authorities did not specify the exact locations where the casualties occurred, the ministry said the injured victims were from several countries, including Nigeria.
Others affected include residents from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The list also included Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.
The Tide reports that this development has sparked concern among Nigerian communities in the UAE, where thousands of citizens live and work in sectors such as construction, hospitality, logistics and trade.
Data from Nigeria’s diaspora commission shows that the UAE remains one of the largest destinations for Nigerian migrants in the Middle East, particularly in the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The Nigerian government had in recent years raised concerns over the safety and welfare of its citizens in the country following diplomatic tensions and visa restrictions affecting Nigerians.
Saturday’s attacks have now heightened anxieties within the diaspora community, especially as the Gulf region faces growing military confrontations.
In its statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the country remained fully prepared to confront any threats to its security.
“The Ministry of Defence remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities,” the ministry said.
In a separate update, the ministry noted that its defence systems were still actively intercepting missiles and drones.
“UAE air defences are dealing with Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles and drones,” it said.
Regional media reports indicate that the attacks form part of a wider escalation of hostilities between Iran and Western-backed forces in the Middle East.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran has continued sustained missile and drone strikes across the Gulf despite protests from neighbouring states.
The strikes were said to be in retaliation for military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iranian positions in the region.
Tehran targeted several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, late on Friday and into Saturday.
The attacks also caused infrastructural damage in parts of the UAE.
Meanwhile, Iran’s elite military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that US interests in the UAE would remain legitimate targets.
Iranian state media reported that the group issued the warning after US forces attacked Iranian-controlled islands.
The IRGC specifically mentioned ports, docks and military installations linked to the United States as potential targets.
It also urged residents in the UAE to evacuate areas around ports and military facilities to avoid civilian casualties.
Security analysts say the growing exchange of threats and strike across the Gulf could destabilise the region’s economic and aviation activities if the conflict escalates further.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the five new commissioners sworn-in last Wednesday to put in their best for the development of the State.
Fubara gave the charge during the swearing-in of the commissioners at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
This followed the successful screening of the five commissioners by the Rivers State House of Assembly, last Tuesday.
The five commissioners are Tonye Bellgam, Prof. Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Mr. Lekue Kenneth, and Sir Amairigha Edward Hart.
The Tide reports that the governor had sent nine commissioner-nominees to the Assembly for screening, but the Assembly confirmed only five nominees and rejected the nomination of four over various allegations.
Those rejected by the Assembly are Prof. Dantonye Alasia, Mrs. Charity Demua, Mr. Tamuno Williams, and Otonye Amachree.
The governor congratulated the new commissioners on their appointment, noting that their thorough screening by the Rivers State House of Assembly was a proof of their capabilities.
He urged them to deploy their wealth of experience in various fields and put the State on a fast lane of development.
“Ordinarily, I am supposed to charge you on your responsibilities and how to operate. But that has been taken care of by the screening at the Assembly.
“I believe that going through one of the most rigorous screenings, it is enough to say that for those of you who succeeded, you are fit and ready to deliver to our dear State.
“So there is no further charge. The screening was the charge, so I wish you the best as I don’t expect anything less than the best from you,” Fubara said.
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, destroying a reactivated illegal refinery site in Rivers State and intercepting suspected stolen petroleum products in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Director of Naval Information, Capt Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement released in Abuja, yesterday.
Folorunsho said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH, operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, destroyed a reactivated illegal refinery site at Okolomade Community in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said the action followed credible intelligence that a previously dismantled illegal refining site had resumed operations.
According to him, an Anti–Crude Oil Theft team deployed to the location discovered that the dismantled refining oven had been reconstructed.
“Further exploitation of the area led to the discovery of additional refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO),” he said.
Folorunsho added that the illegal refining infrastructure, including ovens, storage tanks, hoses, connected pipes and newly acquired metal components used for illegal refining, was destroyed in line with operational procedures.
He said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, in another operation, intercepted about 3,950 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products at the Nigerian Ports Authority area in Calabar, Cross River State.
He said the interception was based on credible intelligence on suspected siphoning of petroleum products from vessels berthed at the port.
The naval patrol team, according to him, swiftly deployed to the area and traced the illegally siphoned products to a trailer park within the port facility.
“On sighting the naval patrol team, the suspected perpetrators fled the scene, after which the area was cordoned off and the illegally siphoned products secured,” he said.
Folorunsho said further inspection led to the recovery of about 3,950 litres of Automotive Gas Oil stored in drums and jerrycans, which had been evacuated to the naval base for further necessary action in line with extant regulations.
He noted that the successes aligned with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to intensify operations against crude oil theft and other maritime crimes across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Folorunsho reiterated the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the operational tempo of Operation DELTA SENTINEL through intensified surveillance, patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage.