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Belema Oil Employs 200 Rivers Youths
Worried by the increasing rate of unemployment in the country, an indigenous oil firm, the Belema Oil Producing Limited says it will commence the employment of 200 youths from its host communities in Rivers State in addition to 315 already engaged by the company.
The aim of the employment according to the management of the company is to address raging anti-social activities within the coastal areas of the State as well as to create a peaceful business environment for investors to do business in the state.
The founder and President of the indigenous oil company, Mr. Tein Jackrich gave this indication when he received in audience, the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner in his office in Port Harcourt, over the weekend.
Mr. Jackrich disclosed that the number of youths so far employed stands at 515 Rivers youths.
He averred that the employment given to the youths has reduced the level of insecurity and other anti-social vices within the riverine areas of the State, adding that the recruitment exercise will be concluded before the end of the year.
According to him, the strategy of the company is to talkeless and give more toward the development of its host communities, adding that the measure will promote a level of medium of control among the youths in the area.
“We are aware that Christmas period is around the corner, we intend to put food on the tables of 200 families so that we can engage them from committing crime during this period”, he added.
The Chief Executive Officer of Belema Oil also told the visiting Canadian envoy that the company in addition to its corporate social responsibilities had awarded scholarships to 84 students from its host communities with a view to improving their education standard, adding that the further train those students who will graduate with first class in foreign universities.
He opined that the vision of the company was hinged on not only to build capital investment alone, but also to make the youths from its host communities an integral partners in the oil sector.
“We want to create an enabling platform where youths can get the requisite experience that will enable them be employable in the oil sector, that is why we are involved in the educational development of our host communities”, he stated.
Mr. Jackrich Tein urged the Canadian Ambassador to partner with the company and the state government and ensure that the country takes advantages of the various business opportunities which abound to invest in the state, adding that the state was peaceful for investors to come and do business.
Earlier in his speech, the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. James Christoff lauded the management of Belema Oil Producing Limited for delivering on its corporate social responsibilities to its host communities within the short period of its existence in oil exploration in the state.
Mr. Christoff said he was at the company’s corporate headquarters as part of his business tour in the State and thanked the company for making the visit a reality.
He assured the management of the company of his desire to bring business investors from Canada to the State and added that there was need for partnership between the company and Canadian government in other to strengthen their bonds.
The climax of the event was the facility tour of the Belema Oil project sites by the visiting Canadian Envoy and his team.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.