Rivers
Oil Resumption: FG Intensifies Confidence-Building Measures With Ogonia … As Assessment Team Tours Facilities
As part of the confidence-building measures agreed upon between the Ogoni people and the Federal Government, aimed at facilitating negotiations for resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, a high-level assessment team recently conducted an on-the-spot evaluation of key development facilities in the region.
The team was led by officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), comprising the Director of the Energy Security Directorate at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, Goodluck Ebelo, Special Assistant to the NSA, and Prince Austin Kabari, Secretary of the Energy Security Working Group.
Also in the team were Facilitators from the Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its joint venture partners, as well as representatives from the Rivers State Government.
During the visit, the delegation inspected several critical projects, including the ongoing East-West Road construction, Nchia General Hospital, the proposed Industrial Park, Taabaa General Hospital, Terabor General Hospital, K-Dere General Hospital, the Federal University of Environment Technology, Saakpenwa, the Center of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), and the Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Tai.
The primary objective was to review the progress in implementing the confidence-building measures outlined in the agreements between the federal government and the Ogoni community.
It also aimed to facilitate planning for future negotiations, rooted in the extensive consultations conducted by the Ogoni Dialogue Committee.
Addressing journalists during the visit, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree emphasized that the assessment was critical in identifying facilities requiring immediate attention, demonstrating the federal government’s commitment to honouring its agreements with the Ogoni people.
He said, “We have gone round all the various facilities. You are aware that the Federal Government and the people of Ogoni have been engaging in dialogue regarding the resumption of oil exploration here.
“Critical facilities were agreed upon to help build confidence in the Federal Government’s genuine initiative. We have conducted this assessment to identify what can be addressed swiftly.”
Said the federal government is “committed to fulfilling our part of the agreement and appreciate the community’s cooperation. We believe that very soon, oil activities will resume in Ogoni, bringing many benefits to the people.”
Chairman of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, Prof. Don Baridam, praised the federal government, especially the National Security Adviser, for its efforts in implementing the confidence-building measures.
He acknowledged progress and expressed optimism about the upcoming academic activities at the Federal University of Environment Technology.
“When we met with the Federal Government earlier, we outlined several confidence-building measures, including the completion of the East-West Road, the enactment of the university bill, hospital rehabilitations, and youth employment in NNPCL.
“I am pleased to report that the East-West Road construction is going on speedily, amongst other initiatives. This progress makes us feel a sense of belonging”, he said.
Regarding the university’s academic calendar, Prof. Baridam, also the Pro-Chancellor of the university, expressed confidence that the institution would commence its first academic session by October 2025.
“We expect to start classes here at Saakpenwa before the end of October. We will return when the Vice-Chancellor is available to assess progress and finalize preparations”, he assured.
This visit underscores the federal government’s renewed commitment to fostering development, dialogue, and peace in Ogoni, with ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring sustainable growth and a peaceful resumption of oil exploration in the region.
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As part of activities marking 16 Days of Activism, A Non-Governmental Organizatio (NGO), OLEGH, has organised a one-day awareness creation workshop on digital violence against women and girls, for civil society and media groups in Rivers State.
OLEGH’s Executive Director, Henry Eferebo, said the programme was intended to draw attention to the theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism tagged, “Unite To End Digital Violence against all Women and Girls.”
Eferebo said the event is an annual global campaign that focuses on violence against women, affords persons and groups all over the world the opportunity to embark on activities aimed at eliminating all forms of women and gender abuse.
“As individuals, we don’t pay attention to the things we see on the social media. We pay less attention to the abuse on the internet. Today, you can abuse a woman or a man physically, emotionally and otherwise, and go scot-free”, he noted.
According to him, women and girls have suffered the most from online violence and cyber-bullying, particularly on platforms such as TikTok, making them ready victims online and offline.
“So, in line with the United Nations principle on 16 Days of Activism and this year’s theme, there is a need for OLEGH Center to create awareness on issues resulting from the online abuse of women and girls.
“We decided to bring in a resource person who will tell us how to avoid being abused online”, he said.
He urged participants at the event to put hands together, rise up and speak against digital violence online.
The NGO’s arrow head, also explained that OLEGH was working towards creating an online help-desk for victims of online abuse and digital violence.
He urged participants to improve their security awareness while online, and adopt security protocols that would protect them in the digital space.
The Resource Person, Jacob Iniodu, in a paper titled, “Understanding Digital Abuse within the 16 Days of Activism”, listed forms of online violence to include, cyber-bullying, dozing, cyber-stalking, and invasion of privacy.
By: King Onunwor
Armslent Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), in Rivers State, has distributed Christmas gifts worth over N5million to aged mothers, orphans and less privileged persons in Belema, Bundu Ama (Community) in Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA).
The Foundation also gave cash gifts of N150,000 to the Community.
Presenting the gift items, comprising 5 bags of rice,10 Cartons of indomie noodles,10 Gallons of groundnut oil, 3 bags of salt and cartons of maggie cubes, to Chairman of the Community, David Oba, and the community leaders, the founder of Armslent Foundation, Comrade Richard Boma Briggs, said the foundation decided to show love and togetherness to the community by providing the gifts.
He noted that the provision was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the community aimed at alleviating poverty and create a sense of belonging as Christian faithfuls celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Briggs described Bundu Ama as one of its pillars in partnership, stressing that the foundation was inspired by the spirit of love to impact and rejoice with the residents of the community.
“The foundation was moved by the spirit of Christmas to give these gifts and rejoice with the people of community”, Briggs said.
Accompanied by the Managing Director of the Foundation, Richard Osigbo, and other top Executive Members, Briggs called on the leaders of the community to always pray for the foundation, promising that in 2026, it would embark on a tangible project at UPE Modern Primary School Waterfront, Bundu Ama.
Receiving the items, Chairman of Bundu Ama, David Oba, thanked the foundation for empowering the less privileged persons, assisting physically challenged persons, and aged mothers in the past.
“The foundation had done a lot for this community and today we are witnessing these gift items for the Christmas celebration”,he emphasised.
He called on the leaders of the community, women group, youths and residents to emulate the humanitarian gestures of the foundation and pleaded that they also borrow a leaf from the gesture,in order to also give to society whenever they can.
Earlier the leaders of Belema Bundu Ama, led by Oba, former Chairman, Benneth Kalio, and Secretary, Promise Mangibo, presented an Award of Excellence to the Founder of the Foundation for his Humanitarian and selfless service to the community.
Highlight of the event was the offering of a special prayer to the management of the foundation by aged mothers, youths and leadership of the community.
By: Chinedu Wosu
The Obolo Youth Coalition, Rivers State Chapter, has condemned the recent spate of killings in Andoni Local Government Area, describing the renewed insecurity as alarming and constituting a threat to peace and stability in the area.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comr. Jonathan J. Eyina, the group expressed deep concern over what it described as brutal and senseless acts of violence, while extending condolences to the families of the victims.
The coalition said the resurgence of insecurity in Andoni has continued to undermine communal harmony and called for urgent steps to halt the trend before it escalates further.
It appealed to youths in the area to shun violence and embrace peace, stressing the need for tolerance, mutual respect and collective responsibility in safeguarding the community.
According to the group, restoring peace in Andoni requires a coordinated approach involving government, security agencies, community leaders and residents to identify and address the root causes of insecurity.
It noted that increased security presence, improved intelligence gathering, and sustained community engagement are critical to preventing further violence, adding that underlying social and economic challenges must also be addressed.
The coalition called on the Andoni Local Government Chairman, Hon. Lucky Promise-Otua, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju Adewole, to take decisive actions to restore security.
It further demanded that those responsible for the killings be apprehended and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
By: King Onunwor