Rivers

HYPREP Set To Begin Ogoni Power Project Construction

Published

3 years ago

September 7, 2022

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) is now ready to commence the construction of its power project in Ogoniland in Rivers State, with an appeal to the people of the area to give their maximum cooperation and support to the project.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Dr Ferdinand Giadom, who gave this indication during a sensitisation workshop on the power project at the council secretariat of Gokana Local Government Area in Kpor on Monday said the power project is an initiative of HYPREP, an addition to the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, both of which are not spelt out in the UNEP Report but conceptualised as a boost and extra to the deliverables of HYPREP to the people of Ogoniland.
As a boost, he noted, the power project will provide sustainability to the project’s water schemes, the livelihood training, the operationalisation of the Centre of Excellence in Environmental Restoration and the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, approved by HYPREP’s Governing Council to be included in the deliverables of the project.
Giadom disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has given approval for the take-off of the power project, a gesture which he said has demonstrated that the President is both a father and friend to the Ogoni people, stressing that the President had always given assent to development projects coming to Ogoniland.
He further hinted that the Minister of Environment, Barrister Mohammed Abdulahi had initiated discussions with the Minister of Power on the power project while a team of engineers from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company and Ministry officials was dispatched to conduct reconnaissance survey of power facilities, electricity transmission and distribution routes in Ogoniland.
According to him, the processes are on for the conduct of the Environmental Impact Assessment of the project, which will lead to its eventual construction.
The project coordinator also indicated that he had opened discussions with the Council Chairmen of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas.
“We had very fruitful deliberations. Ogoni is not a virgin land; it already has built up areas that are most likely to stand in the way of the transmission lines”, he said, adding that “Time is of essence to deliver the power project and others on target and what that means is that we must not use our own hands to drag ourselves backwards through unnecessary communal disputes, chieftaincy tussles, petitions and squabbles over where to site projects”.
Giadom further disclosed that the engineering drawing for the power project is ready and by that design, power will be evacuated from the 132KV line sub-station in Ebubu, Eleme to Wiiyakaara in Khana and another 132KV line to Bodo in Gokana, stressing that from these two points, HYPREP shall further distribute 33KV to the communities of Ogoni.
He said powering households, the power project would energise the HYPREP water stations and the proposed economic development hubs that would house production and manufacturing activities across the four Ogoni local government areas, stressing that the construction of the power project has been divided into two phases.
Giadom described as overwhelming response for application for high pay skill areas of Aviation, Mechatronics, Seafaring and Entertainment by the project under its livelihood training programme, and hinted that HYPREP would soon conduct an online examination to screen the most qualified 100 candidates for each of the skill areas.
According to him, the selection shall be transparent, inclusive and on merit.
He disclosed that the Minister of Environment has increased to 10,000 the HYPREP’s first livelihood training for 5,000 Ogoni youths in general skills, and that the Ogoni Specialist Hospital approved by the Governing Council of HYPREP will be sited in Tai Local Government Area, which he said does not have a General Hospital.
Speakers at the event poured encomiums on the project coordinator for the power project initiative, and urged him to do more for the Ogoni people.
A women leader in the area, Chief Priscilia Vikue, while thanking Giadom for the project urged Ogoni communities to donate land for the project.

By: Donatus Ebi

Rivers

UNIPORT Moves To Tackle Insecurity … Inducts Security Experts

Published

1 day ago

November 30, 2025

The Tide

The University of Port Harcourt, has taken a significant step towards addressing the issue of insecurity in Nigeria by producing security experts through its Institute of Niger Delta Studies (INDS), with the institute inducting its first graduating students into the Nigerian Institute For Industrial Security (NIIS), with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General E E Emekah, delivering a quality lecture on the topic, “Promoting Blue Economy In The Niger Delta: The Place Of Security”.

In his lecture, Major General Emekah emphasised the importance of security in promoting the blue economy in the Niger Delta region.

He noted that the activities of the Joint Tasks Force (JTF) are geared towards maintaining peace on Nigerian waterways and promoting productivity, and also stressed the need for a non-kinetic approach to security operations, winning the hearts and minds of the communities, and collaborating with security personnel to fight insecurity.

The GOC charged the inductees to ensure that their study/training provides practical solutions to the pressing security challenges facing the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.

He emphasised the significance of their studies in UNIPORT, given the prevailing security threat to lives and property, especially on Nigerian waterways.

The Acting Director of INDS, Dr. Chukwu-Okeah, expressed satisfaction that the occasion marks a new milestone in the history of the institute, noting that the Niger Delta has been besieged with environmental and security challenges, and it is time to rise up and build the region through the blue economy ideology.

The blue economy, he explained, emphasises the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.

He described the blue economy as the new oil well, with the potential to drive economic diversification, job creation, food security, and climate resilience in the region.

One of the inductees, Ayuba Tanimu noted that security is dynamic, and continuous learning and research have equipped them to serve their communities and Nigeria well.

He described the Nigerian Institute For Industrial Security (NIIS) as a body of security professionals that meets annually to craft security policies for the country.

The programme, which attracted prominent individuals from the academia, security, and other sectors had the 7th Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Joseph Ajienka, as its chairman.

Rivers

MCDI Inducts 150 Professionals In PH

Published

1 week ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Mentoring and Career Development Institute of Nigeria (MCDI) has inducted about 150 new members into various categories of membership during a special induction ceremony and dinner in Port Harcourt.

Aimed at expanding the institute’s membership base, the event offered new inductees an opportunity to engage with senior members and integrate fully into the organisation’s professional network.

The induction ceremony was part of the 2025 national conference of the institute.

National President of MCDI, Dr. Collins Edebiri, administered the oath, while the new members promised to carry out their duties faithfully, following the institute’s rules and constitution.

Dr. Edebiri emphasised the institute’s core mandate of instilling values that will shape individuals and institutions.

He emphasised the theme of the conference, “Mentoring for Individual and Corporate Leadership”, noting that last year’s focus centred on national development and value reorientation.

Edebiri explained that the induction ceremony is a key feature of the institute’s annual conference, though inductions also occur quarterly.

On the criteria for membership, he said the most important factor is the desire to be mentored or the readiness to mentor others, and urged the new inductees to become ambassadors of value-driven leadership in their respective workplaces.

Guest Speaker at the ceremony, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who was a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), shared her experiences from her early days in journalism, attributing much of her professional growth to strong mentorship.

She encouraged members to embrace mentorship as a catalyst for personal and societal advancement.

Seminitari was later presented an award.

New members, including Wisdom Egberi Woniepiriye, and Mrs. Grace Ajinwanyiekwu, expressed their excitement and hope to be mentored well so they can eventually mentor others.

There were a dinner and networking session, marking another success for MCDI in its efforts to build leadership values nationwide.

By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso

Rivers

Fisherman Gets Thumbs-Up Over Patent Creation

Published

1 week ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) has commended a renowned fisherman, Mr. Ricky Brown Owunari, for what it described as a remarkable stride in global engineering content creation.

In a congratulatory message signed by the Association, weekend, the SPE said the patented “Dewaxer Flow Enhancer and Downhole Tool” had secured official endorsement under U.S. Patent No. 12,448,868 B2.

They said the development has been highlighted as a significant indicator of Rivers State’s growing intellectual and technological capacity, with observers noting that such breakthroughs position the state as a rising hub for innovation.

According to those familiar with the innovation, the achievement serves as proof that Niger Deltans have moved beyond the era of militancy and are now producing world-class content, research outputs, and technical solutions.

The SPE officials described the patented technologies as timely tools designed to tackle wax deposition in crude oil wells, a major challenge that frequently disrupts production and increases maintenance costs.

They further stressed that the milestone underscores the need for Rivers State to invest more in supporting innovators whose works demonstrate global potential.

Industry experts revealed that the tool originated from years of field observation, experimentation, and rigorous research aimed at improving flow assurance in challenging well conditions.

They also urged the Federal Government to show greater appreciation for home-grown innovations, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to formally recognise and encourage technological breakthroughs emerging from the Niger Delta.

Stakeholders at the event warned against piracy, emphasising that unauthorised copying of patented technologies undermines national progress and discourages genuine innovators.

Analysts observed that the breakthrough strengthens the narrative of a new Rivers State built on creativity, content development, and technical excellence rather than conflict.

The session concluded with a call for stronger collaboration between government authorities and industry players to protect intellectual property and position Rivers State as a greenhouse for innovation-driven content.

The content, The Tide gathered, is expected to solve critical challenges in the oil and gas sector, as well as other relevant areas of the national economy.

By; King Onunwor