Niger Delta

NGO, Stakeholders Partner On Campaign Against Oil Spills, Grievance Mechanism

Published

3 years ago

July 19, 2023

A Non-governmental organisation, Stakeholders Alliance for Corporate Accountability (SACA), has just rounded off a one-day event tagged “Triggers of Human Rights and Community Gatekeepers Action Reflection Forum” in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Speaking with newsmen at the event, Executive Director of SACA, Mr Kingsley Ozegbe, said the programme was held in a bid to steer community leaders in the state to take non-violence actions against crude oil spillages due to the huge health hazards linked to their exposure and also to sensitize them on ways to channel their grievances against companies operating in their areas.
The Tide learnt that the event is a component of SACA’s project that is titled, “the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) in conflict and post-conflict contexts in the Niger Delta region”.
The Tide reports that the state’s Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Environment made presentations about the risks that are linked to crude oil spillages into the environment.
Meanwhile, the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for stoppage of further willful damages and illegal activities in the oil business in the State to safeguard the environment and people.
The Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) also indicated its willingness to synergize with stakeholders to address grievances and improve relationship with host communities to end oil spills.
The Grievance Coordinator, Stakeholders Management and Community Development Division, NAOC, Mrs. Diepreye Torubiri, stated this while making a presentation on Agip’s grievance mechanism.
She sensitized the communities about the NAOC Grievance Mechanism, the Stakeholders Management System (SMS), on what it entails, the processes involved, and the channels of receiving grievances, just as she assured communities that NAOC is open to dialogue.
Torubiri added that the process cannot be completed without constituting an engagement until their complaints were addressed, urging aggrieved communities to send their complaints in writing through a credible body like SACA, CLO and NAOC offices for it to be addressed.
In their separate presentations, Director of Petroleum and Pollution, Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, Engr. Enai Reuben, Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Okoya Embasi, and Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Dr. Stowe Jones, cautioned against oil spills.
The trio noted that crude oil spillage degrades the environment, saying it leads to loss of food security and several health challenges including impotence and infertility, frequent miscarriages, change in DNA, as well as various types of cancer, defective births and many more harms.
The Executive Director of SACA, Mr Kingsley Ozegbe said that SACA invited leadership of 40 communities in Bayelsa State, adding also that the NGO is working to reach and sensitize 72 communities by September 2024.
“SACA is concerned over the effect of oil spills on humans, aquatic life and the entire environment.
“SACA’s quest in carrying out continuous sensitization was hinged on its resolve to end the threat posed by Oil spills from either third party interference on oil facilities or equipment failure on the other hand”, the Executive Director said.
This was even as he said the initiative is part of the charge of Pope Francis, who is asking all humanity to care for nature, because it is a common home.
On his part, Head of legal Services and Enforcement, National Human Rights Commission, Bayelsa state office, Barr. Goselle Vinning called on all stakeholders to checkmate the threat posed by vandals in order to forestall the occurrence of oil spills.
He added that human right violations in the affected communities are being given the attention it deserves.
Tide Tide, which monitored the event, reports that participants openly engaged in frank discussions.
Participants reflected on the presentations and shared experiences of actions they are taking to safeguard their community from these menace, just as participants also asked questions and got answers.
Meanwhile, SACA during the programme informed communities that the grievances they received have been submitted to NAOC and hope to get feedback from the firm soon.
The Tide learnt that SACA is being funded by Misean Cara of the Republic of Ireland and St. Patrick Missionary Society.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Otu Orders Sanitation Operations Review In Calabar

Published

21 hours ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has ordered an immediate review of environmental sanitation operations in Calabar metropolis.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Linus Obogo, on Friday, the Governor said the sanitary situation of the city had become a cause for concern.

He said the review became necessary because Calabar should continue to maintain its status as the cleanest city in the country.

“The city is now littered with wastes, the cleanliness status of Calabar is almost gone, we cannot just fold our arms and watch,” he said.

The Governor continued that every resident of the city had roles to play towards restoring the sanitary status of the city.

“Every resident should live up to their responsibilities. Our reputation in sanitation was not earned overnight, we worked for it.

“It is the product of discipline, policy consistency, and civic responsibility. We cannot allow negligence to take away this reputation,” he said.

He further directed that henceforth, sanitation exercise should be supervised by the office of his Special Adviser on General Duties.

“This intervention is intended to ensure stricter coordination among contractors and government agencies that are responsible for waste management,

“Environmental sanitation is not a peripheral concern of government. It is central to public health, urban dignity, and the overall quality of life of the citizens”, he said.

Otu expressed displeasure at lapses arising from the attitude of some refuse contractors in the state.

He said breakdown of mechanical tools could not be a reasonable excuse for non-evacuation of refuse.

“Operational setbacks should never translate into visible environmental neglect. Preparedness, contingency planning and prompt response are the hallmarks of responsible service providers.” he said.

Niger Delta

Lawyer X-rays Consequences Of Court Injuction Suspending INC Polls … As Diri Intervenes

Published

21 hours ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

A Bayelsa-based lawyer, and candidate for the position of National Assistant Secretary in the suspended National Executive Council (NEC) elections of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organization, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Barr. Abraham Marshall, has said the court order, which restrained the conduct of the March 7th, 2026 polls, was a setback to stakeholders of the INC.

He expressed his worries about the plights of delegates who travelled from various parts of Ijaw land to come for the elections in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, only to be disappointed by the court order.

While thanking other candidates for maintaining orderliness and brotherliness all through the campaign processes, Marshall said the court injunction has devasted candidates vying for various positions.

He described the cost of what has already been spent on campaigns and sundry arrangements for the elections as huge.

Marshall noted that already he was a leading candidate for the position of National Assistant Secretary as he was optimistic of victory.

“First of all I’ve great confidence in the ability of the Electoral Committee headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, HRM, Justice F.F Tabai, which was eager to conduct a seamless election.

“Some of us have campaigned through the three zones and clans of the INC. Some of us went to the Western Zone, Eastern and Central Zones to meet delegates.

“That is how it happenes atimes when there are contest, some persons who are aggrieved, rather than take laws into their hands, go to court to seek judicial redress. So, I want to commend all candidates for maintaining decorum throughout the entire process.

“I like to also call on stakeholders to quickly seek for ways through internal mechanisms of the INC to end this problem so that the elections can be conducted because as candidates we’ve incured lots of expenses leading to the process”, he stated.

Meanwhile, in a bid to proffer solutions to the issues bedeviling the smooth conduct of polls, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Friday met with stakeholders of the INC and its six Presidential candidates, as well as other major stakeholders of the Niger Delta region in Government House, Yenagoa.

In his remarks, the Governor commended individuals and institutions, including the presidential candidates and the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE), for their efforts towards actualising a peaceful and seamless transition of leadership in the Ijaw National Congress (INC).

The Tide gathered that at the meeting, the presidential candidates agreed to withdraw all subsisting litigations concerning the election.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, Diri also expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Bolade Igali, the Chairman and members of the INC National Electoral Committee, and other stakeholders who contributed to the resolution reached at the meeting.

Drawing an analogy from the scriptures, particularly 1 Kings Chapter 3, he likened the unanimous agreement of the candidates to withdraw all pending court cases to the decision of the true mother of the disputed baby who pleaded with King Solomon not to cut the child into two.

According to the Bayelsa helmsman, the resolution reflects the enthusiasm, love and patriotic fervour in all the presidential candidates to move Ijaw nation forward.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting, the candidates, including High Chief MacDonald Igbadiwe, who secured the injunction from a Port Harcourt High Court stopping the INC Elections billed for last weekend, confirmed the agreement and pledged commitment towards the peaceful emergence of the next President of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organization.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Police Rescue 7 Trafficked Victims In A’Ibom

Published

21 hours ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has rescued seven victims and detained four suspects linked to human trafficking along Ikot Ekpene–Aba Road.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Uyo on Saturday.

John said police operatives dismantled a human trafficking syndicate operating within the state, rescuing seven victims and arresting four suspects involved in the network.

She said acting on credible intelligence, operatives swiftly mobilised a patrol team for a coordinated stop-and-search operation along Ikot Ekpene–Aba Road on Friday.

The operation, conducted at about 8 a.m. on Friday, targeted vehicles suspected of transporting victims of human trafficking.

“During the operation, the suspected vehicle was intercepted and four victims were immediately rescued, while the suspect conveying them was arrested and taken into custody.

“Following reports that a vehicle was conveying young persons suspected to be victims of human trafficking, our operatives quickly moved to intercept it,” John said.

She said interrogation of the suspect led to the expansion of the operation to Itam and Ibaka in Oron Local Government Area.

John said three additional victims were rescued and three more suspects apprehended during the follow-up operation.

This brought the total number of rescued victims to seven and suspects arrested to four.

According to her, preliminary investigations revealed that the trafficking syndicate specialised in recruiting and transporting young persons across borders for exploitation.

“Intelligence gathered further disclosed that one of the ringleaders earlier escaped through waterways from Ibaka in Oron to Cameroon and Gabon with some victims”, she said.

John said investigations were ongoing and the suspects would be charged in court upon completion of the probe.

The police spokesperson reiterated the Command’s commitment to combating human trafficking and other organised crimes in the state.

She assured the public that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.

John urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to the police to help protect vulnerable persons and strengthen community safety.