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RVHA Tasks Oil Firms On CSR …As Saro-Wiwa Poly Bill Scales 2nd Reading
The Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday, charged oil firms to improve on their Corporate Social Responsibility activities as a way of reducing communal tension and unemployment.
The charge of the House follows the presentation of the Committee Report on the protest by communities hosting operations of the Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Limited (NDPR) by the Chief Whip, Hon. Evans Bipi.
Four communities in Ahoada-East, Emohua and Abua/Odual local government areas had petitioned the House over the continued application of an expired Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) since 2004, by NDPR.
After the committee report was debated on the floor, it was resolved, among the 19 recommendations that NDPR should enter into a fresh MoU with the communities under the supervision of the state Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, after taking voice votes that approved the committee report, among other resolutions, emphasized that the needs of the communities be reflected in the new MoU.
Ibani remarked, ‘these are issues that the National Assembly should look into. These issues touch on the existence of Niger Delta people, so, the law should be able to protect the ordinary citizens”.
Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, Edison Ehie of Ahoada East, Christian Ahiakwo representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Constituency 1, and Michael Chinda of Obio/Akpor Constituency 11, were among members who threw their support behind what they described as a “comprehensive report”.
While Ehie sought that all prayers from the report are adopted, Amawehule harped on the need for recommendations 2 and 4, among others, to be studied in-depth to give balance to the parties involved.
Ahiakwo insisted that in the new MoU, a community-based trustee be included to work independently from the main company board of management.
The Chairman of the Public Complaints Committee that compiled the report, Bipi told newsmen shortly after that the committee was satisfied with the outcome the report.
“I am very happy that we have been able to resolve the matter, at least, all parties are satisfied”.
Earlier, the House committed to committee stage the bill seeking to repeal the Kenule Benson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic Law of 2017 after the bill scaled second reading.
Ibani, shortly before the bill was sent to the committee stage, stated that the school will benefit a lot.
He said, “The bill seeks to achieve higher quality technical education for our people”.
The speaker, who relied on the House order, charged that the bill be given adequate attention by the committee such that when the report is brought on the floor, it will get quick approval.
Earlier, Amaewhule, had sought for amendments on some aspects of the bill to reflect the current trend in the technical education sector.
For Amaewhule, the bill is to reconcile the original law with the realities on ground, so that the polytechnic can deliver on its mandate and compete with other polytechnics in line with the regulations of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
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.