Rivers

HYPREP Set To Clean Up Ogoni Shorelines …To Plant 5m Seedlings

Published

3 years ago

October 1, 2022

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) is now set to clean up polluted shorelines in Ogoni communities in Rivers State and at the end of the exercise plant about five million seedlings on the restored mangroves across Ogoniland.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Dr Ferdinand Giadom gave this indication during a shorecline remediation sensitisation workshop at the council secretariat of Gokana Local Government Area in Kpor community on Tuesday.
Giadom said the remediation of shoreline inter-tidal areas fall under the semi- complex and complex sites, saying, it is the phase of remediation that most Ogoni people have been waiting for considering the vastness of pollution and damage to the saline environment and the swarming biodiversity that it hosts, stressing that the high expectation is borne out of the fact that remediation in the area can generate multiplied job opportunities for the teeming youths whose livelihoods and that of their dependents could be enhanced.
He noted that in preparation for take-off of the shoreline inter-tidal remediation, HYPREP has assessed a total area of 2,196 hectares and allotted same into 549 grids of 200 metres per grid, adding that the assessed coastlines are in B-Dere, K-Dere, Kpor and Goi communities in Gokana Local Government Area, which he said would host the pilot of the shoreline remediation and from there progress to the rest coastal communities where there is pollution.
According to him, the sensitisation programme was the first in the series of scheduled activities to commence the shoreline remediation works.
Giadom hinted that HYPREP would be transparent and principled in choosing the workforce that would be on site, as it would adopt the Bodo remediation model of open balloting to select the workers. The Bodo remediation model is acclaimed to be highly successful.
According to him, 60 per cent of the workforce will come through balloting and the remaining 40 per cent will be supplied by each community leadership.
He contended that those that would be chosen shall be trained and certified in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO Levels 1 and 2), and their supervisors will have the privilege of having IMO Level 3 certification, stressing that the IMO certification component of the shoreline remediation is a deliberate permanent effort to empower Ogoni youths to work on similar projects anywhere in the world.
The project coordinator said actual shoreline remediation work will commence at the end of the contracting processes and mobilisation of contractors to site, stressing that remediation work in the swamp shall include but not limited to removal of oily soaked debris and stumps, raking of alga mat, flushing of sediment, among others.
He indicated that the re-vegetation of the mangrove in particular would create massive jobs for those who will nurse the five million mangrove seedlings that would be planted, and listed those to benefit from the overall shoreline remediation to include middle level manpower like supervisors, office assistants, safety officers, nurses and first aiders, while the unskilled labour will be cleaners, security guards and community contact persons, saying, those are reserved positions for the communities but it does not in any way preclude any qualified persons in the communities that have higher skills from applying to work for the remediation companies.
Giadom solicited the support of the communities and other Ogonis for HYPREP to achieve set goals and objectives going by the enormous economic opportunities the shoreline remediation would generate for the people, saying, “We need not fight ourselves rather we should close ranks at this time and work together”.
The project coordinator cautioned against re-pollution of the environment after the clean-up exercise.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of the Bodo Remediation model by the project coordinator, which is going to be adopted for the shoreline remediation of the impacted complex sites in Ogoniland.

By: Donatus Ebi

Rivers

NSE Members Tasked On National Dev

Published

2 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, have been urged to work hard towards contributing to national development. This call was made at the recent induction of new members by the Port Harcourt branch of the Society. The induction ceremony was used to formally welcome new members and celebrate its elevated new fellows.

Speaking during the ceremony held a in Port Harcourt, the Branch Chairman, Engr. Idaeresoari Ateke Harriet, FNSE, called on members of the NSE to actively participate in the Society’s professional and technical activities in order to contribute meaningfully to national development. He congratulated the new inductees, describing their admission as a testament to their hard work and resilience.

Engr. Ateke also commended the new Fellows for their immense contributions to the engineering profession, reminding them that their elevation is a call to greater responsibility as mentors and role models.

The event featured a lecture by Engr. Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, FNSE, on “Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.” The Chairman noted that Nigeria’s maritime and aquatic resources remain largely untapped, adding that engineers have a crucial role to play in harnessing these resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.

He thanked the first female President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, other dignitaries, sponsors, and families of inductees for gracing the occasion.

Also, engineers, especially those in Rivers State have been advised to adhere strictly to the core ethics of the profession and to always uphold the professional ethics of the body.

This advice was given by an engineering expert, Basoene Benibo, in an interview with at the sidelines of the induction ceremony and Fellowship celebration of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Benibo stressed the need for young engineers in the state to learn and improve on their skills by tapping from the wealth of experience of older professionals in the field to enable them excel.

Benibo, who is a one-time Chairman of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also noted and hailed the efforts of the society in eliminating quackery in the engineering profession.

Some of the new fellows include Prof Jackson Akpa, Pereowei Jose’s and Telema Osima, while the inductees, Engr Mrs Lizzy Onwuso, Engr David Jonathan jnr and Worlu Emmanuel expressed joy in being found worthy to become full NSE members, believing that it would enable them have access to more knowledge, practice rightly and impact the society positively.

Rivers

VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria

Published

2 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Dominic Amenaghawon Omokaro, has expressed deep commitment to the advancement of education and literacy in Nigeria through the library system.

Speaking through his state Chairman Dr. Chidara Okachukwu Nyemezu, at the formal Launching/inauguration of the Vanguard for Library Visibility And Advocacy (VALVA) at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt recently, Omokaro discribed the inauguration of the new body as a significant and passionate movement aimed at shining the spotlight on one of the underappreciated yet critical institution in Nigeria’s educational system and national development.

“We are gathered here not just to launch a group, but to launch a vision and ignite a movement to reinforce a mission to make libraries visible and valuable again for our people”, he said.

Dr. Omokaro stated that the birth of VALVA is based of the recognition that libraries, particularly school libraries, are the bedrock of promoting a reading and research culture that includes innovation and lifelong learning in the society, though the system is grossly underfunded and poorly equipped in many cases.

He recalled the theme of its first week under his watch, “Library System for National Development in 2022”, which he hinted was driven by the state chapters.

He explained that the inauguration of VALVA shows an important mission to promote the visibility and development with impact on schools and other libraries through strategic advocacy that will advance quality education and foster lifelong learning culture in Nigeria.

“The vision is clear to promote the visibility where every school and indeed every community will have access to a functional library managed by a professional Liberian”, he said.

Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, the founder of the VALVA, Dr. Juliet C. Akex-Nmec, stressed that no society can grow without a functional and effective library.

She urged government at all levels to ensure the establishment of effective and functional libraries across the country.

Dr. Alex-Nmec, who is also an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, called for the appointment of a Special Adviser on Library matters by the state government in order to assist the government on Library matters.

High point of the event was the formal inaugural of the new body and oath of offices to the new executive.

Akujobi Amadi

Rivers

Four Internet Fraudstars Get Different Jail Terms In PH

Published

2 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided by Justices P. I. Ajoku, P. I. Ayua and S. I. Mark has convicted and sentenced four middle aged men to various jail terms over their involvement in fraud.

They are Daniel Ebubechi Chinweobo, Timi Olamide Samuel, Chibueze Thaddeus Ugochukwu, and Emmanuel Linus, who may be dwellers on the Port Harcourt Correctional facility until their bail conditions are met.

Their prosecution is at the instance of the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate charges.

The charges, the Court noted, bordered on impersonation, Advance Fee Fraud, and Obtaining Money under false pretence.

The charge against Chinweobo reads: “That you, Daniel Ebubechi Chinweobo (a.k.a. Philip James) sometime in 2024, in Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently obtained the sum of One Thousand Great Britain Pounds (£1,000 only), from Marinela Gabriela, a Caucasian American, when you represented yourself to be Philip James, a military man from California, serving in Syria, who pretended to be in a marital relationship with Marinela Gabriela, which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

That of Ugochukwu reads: “That you, Chibueze Thaddeus Ugochukwu, on or about the 14th day of May, 2025, at Alakhahia axis of Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently obtained from one Grey the sum of Eight Hundred United States of America dollars ($800 only), under the false pretence that you are Amanda Pappers, a citizen of the United States of America which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

They all pleaded guilty to their charges, following which prosecution counsels, A. Chukwuegwu and G. C Ngborokwu, tendered incriminating documents in evidence against them and urged the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

The Defence counsels, G. N. Chukwu, Yemi Ogunleye, A. O. Secondus and Chigozie Umunnakwem, on their part, prayed the courts to temper justice with mercy on the ground that the defendants were first time offenders.

Justice Ajoku, however, convicted and sentenced Chinweobo and Linus to 30 months in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, each or to pay N200,000 respectively.

Their sentences are to run concurrently and began from the date of their arrest.

Justice Ajua convicted and sentenced Ugochukwu to one year jail term or to pay 50,000 fine, while Justice Mark convicted and sentenced Samuel to two years in prison or to pay N900,000 fine.

In addition to their jail terms, they deposed to affidavit of good behaviour and forfeited a Techno mobile phone, a Samsung Galaxy phone, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone X, iPhone 16 Pro, an iPad and Lexus ES 350, recovered from them at the scene of their arrest to the Federal Government.

The convicts’ journey to the correctional centre began with their arrest by the Commission, sometime in April, 2025, following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities in Port Harcourt.

King Onunwor