Niger Delta

Group Tasks Oil Firms On Gas Flare, Oil Spills

Published

15 years ago

April 21, 2010

An NGO, the Network for Safe and Secure Environment (NESE), has renewed the call for oil companies to accept responsibility for the negative impact of their operations on the environment.

Mr Bob Okon, the Programme Director of the organisation based in Eket, Akwa Ibom, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Eket.

He said oil companies were not environment friendly, as oil- bearing communities were exposed to the negative effects of oil exploitation because there were no projects in such areas to protect the environment.

Okon said oil spills and gas flare were the most unfriendly acts to the environment perpetrated by the oil industry.

“NESE has noted with dismay the lip service paid by oil industry stakeholders to environmental matters in our neighbourhood.

“The oil companies neglect the environment in the discharge of their corporate social responsibility and community development programmes.

“It is unfortunate that even when the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) instructed Mobil to clean up the recent spill, the company still remained adamant.

“They expose the environment and community to pollution from crude oil. We urge NOSDRA to wield the big stick and sanction Mobil to send the right signal to other oil firms,” Okon said.

He said Mobil’s host community in Ibeno, also in Akwa Ibom, had sustained oil operations for more than 40 years without any conservation efforts.

According to him, oil spill clean-up without remediation work is incomplete.

“Most times the funds set aside for the environment do not benefit the environment; rather the people benefit from it and they do not give back anything to the goose that lays the golden egg.

“When oil spill compensation is paid, the people take the money and it ends in their pockets,” he said.

The NGO also said that oil companies operating in Akwa Ibom should undertake conservation projects and remediation work to restore the environment to its natural state.

Mobil Producing Nigeria, Total Exploration & Production, Addax Petroleum and Afren Energy, an indigenous oil firm, operate offshore Akwa Ibom coastline.

The NGO said that statistics from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation showed that Mobil Producing Nigeria flared 40.98 billion standard cubic feet (BSCF) of its total gas production of 116.65 BSCF.

Niger Delta

Edo CP Vows Justice For Slain NSCDC Operatives

Published

2 weeks ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Mr. Monday Agbonika, has vowed to hunt down and bring to justice those behind the killing of eight NSCDC operatives in the State.

Agbonika gave the assurance on Tuesday during an on-the-spot assessment of the attack scene, which also involved the abduction of a Chinese national.

Describing the incident as “a dastardly act that will not go unpunished”, the Commissioner expressed condolences to the Edo State Command of the NSCDC.

He paid tribute to the fallen operatives, describing them as “gallant personnel who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.”

“We stand in solidarity with the NSCDC in this grief. Their sacrifice will not be in vain, and Edo people should expect justice”, Agbonika said.

In a separate meeting with Chinese community members at BUA Cement, Okpella, the police chief assured that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted expatriate alive.

“Our men are on the ground, and operations have been intensified. We are determined to rescue the kidnapped victim and prevent further incidents in the area”, he said.

Agbonika appealed for calm among residents, urging cooperation through timely and credible intelligence to aid ongoing security operations.

“Security is a collective responsibility. We call on residents to support us with information. Together, we will defeat criminals threatening Edo’s peace”, he added.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and properties, stressing that it would not relent until the attackers were arrested and justice delivered.

The Tide’s source reports that the Okpella attack occurred on Friday.

Niger Delta

Police Nab Suspected Illicit Drugs Dealer In Delta

Published

2 weeks ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

The Police Command in Delta State has arrested a suspected female illicit drugs dealer in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri on Wednesday.

Edafe said the suspect was nabbed alongside her three apprentices on August 29 by the police operatives attached to the Ughelli Area Command.

He said the operatives carried out the raid following credible information on the activities of some individuals that indulged in the sale of illicit drugs within Afisere/Ughelli town.

“The operatives trailed and arrested a drug baron who operates a chemist store in Afisere Community alongside three of her apprentices.

“The suspect led the operatives to her house at Afisere and a search warrant was executed.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspects included: 355 bottles of CSC codeine, 57 rolls of 50MG tramadol capsules, 335 rolls of 100mg tramadol capsules.

“Others were: 33 rolls of 200mg super royal, seven backwoods, 540 sachets of swinol capsules and 16 cups of Canadian liquid cannabis”, he said.

The police spokesman said investigation further revealed that the suspect was a major dealer in illicit drugs in Ughelli and its environs.

Edafe added that investigation in the matter was ongoing.

Niger Delta

C’River Assembly extends Bekwarra LG Chairman’s Suspension By 3 Months

Published

2 weeks ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

The Cross River State House of Assembly has extended the suspension of the Bekwarra Council Chairman, Ms. Theresa Ushie, to 90 days.

Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Elvert Ayambem, made the remark on Wednesday during plenary.

The Tide’s source recalls that Ushie was suspended on June 10 for three months on allegations of corruption, misconduct and abuse of power.

The suspension followed a petition from the Bekwarra Local Government Legislative Council, signed by eight of its members, who also attempted to impeach her.

Ayambem explained that the extension was to allow the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution more time to investigate the petition written against the chairman by the Bekwarra Legislature.

The House had earlier deliberated on a motion calling for the extension of the office of the LGA Acting Chairman, Mr. Egbung Obama, before agreeing to extend Ushie’s suspension.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Investigative Committee and member, representing Abi State Constituency, Mr. Davies Etta, said the committee needed more time to carry out a thorough investigation.

Ushie was elected as Bekwarra Local Government Council Chairman and sworn-in in November 2024.