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OML 25: Buhari Apologises To Host Communities Over Neglect

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President Mohammadu Buhari yesterday apologised to the host communities of Oil Mining Lease 25 over the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Shell Petroleum Development Company’s failure to provide potable drinking water, schools and health centres in the host communities despite generating over N700m daily for the past 40 years from the facility.
The president stated this in Kula kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, during the official reopening of the of the Belema flow which would now be operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company and Belemaoil Producing Limited following an agreement brokered by the federal government recently after operation of the facility was halted for two years by the host communities.
Buhari, who was represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Niger Delta affairs, SenatorItaEnang, noted that the communities hosting the OML 25 which produces huge revenue for the country should not be demanding basic utilities such as clean drinking water, schools and health facilities and not get it after all these years.
He said, “I am saddened that for the past 40 years of Shell’s operation here, there is no school, potable drinking water nor hospital; I will take your demands to the president and he will not just provide your needs, but will also provide all necessary facilities for all oil-bearing communities in Nigeria.
“On behalf of the country, we apologise to you, this situation under president Buhari will change for the better for us all.”
“I personally scooped the water you drink here with my hands and it has oil in it, I can still feel the oil in my palms till now.”
“Communities hosting a facility which generates over $2m per day which amounts to over N700m daily for the country should not be asking for a primary school and health centre in 2019 after all these years. It is saddening.” He added.
He commended the Founder and President of Belemaoil Producing Limited, Engr. Tein Jack-Rich for revolutionalising the oil industry in the area of catering for the welfare of host communities to bring peace and enhance productivity.
“I raise your hand for bringing peace into the oil sector through your deliberate policy to develop the host communities. Your initiative has brought tremendous peace to the oil sector of the nation’s economy,” he said.
The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, MeleKyari who was represented by the Group Managing Director, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Musa Lawan, said the NNPC would partner Shell and Belema to address the needs of the host communities.
He added that the reopening signifies more revenue for the country and development for the host communities.
“We will redirect our 2020 budget towards this because we are going to take it up and capture these issues.
“I have personally observed the lack of potable drinking water and school in the community, so in partnership with Shell and Belema oil, beginning 2020, we will have a programme to at least solve these two issues and we’ll continue to address the demands of the people as they arise.

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Why Wike Is Playing God In Rivers -Asari Dokubo

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A former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, has claimed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is “playing god” in the current political crisis that has pitched him against the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Dokubo also chided President Bola Tinubu for, according to him, handing over “Rivers and Bayelsa” to the ex-governor.
“He is now playing god. It is dead on arrival, all those things that he is doing,” Dokubo said in a video that surfaced on X.com on Monday.
He added, “I advise my friend, President Bola Tinubu; what you are doing to all Ijaw, Ikwerre people in Rivers State (sic). You took Rivers state and gave it one man”
In April, Fubara revealed that the administration has raised the monthly Internally Generated Revenue of the state from N12 billion which he met upon assumption of office to N27 billion.
Dokubo described the development as commendable while alleging that the governor only had access to N6 billion when he assumed office.
“The governor had come out to say that the IGR for Rivers State is now N27bn up from N12bn. The governor is even being economical with the truth. When the governor came in, they were giving him a paltry sum of N6bn,” he said.
Meanwhile, in another twist to the ongoing crisis, Fubara on Monday said that he would set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
He disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticized recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
He stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”

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Investors, Tourists To Get Visa Within 48 Hours, FG Assures

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The Federal Executive Council chaired by President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a tripartite committee to streamline visa processes and acquisition for investors interested in investing in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this, yesterday, after the FEC meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Our visa processes are becoming cumbersome. The ease of doing business is also tied to our visa processes.
“Going forward, those investors, tourists would find it easy to acquire a visa within the next 48 hours,” Idris said.
The meeting which began on Monday was adjourned till Tuesday to allow for other “far-reaching” decisions, the information minister had told journalists.

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Panel To Probe Governance In Rivers Underway -Fubara …Swears In Iboroma As New Attorney-General

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his readiness to set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
Fubara disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the new Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticised recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
Fubara stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”
Addressing the new AG, the governor said, “You have a big task. As it is today in the local parlance, they say the jungle has matured. We will be setting a panel of inquiry to investigate the affair of governance.”
The governor further said there was a deliberate attempt to sabotage his administration, saying, “If we disagree, no matter how bad it is, it should be resolved.
“But it has become very clear that this disagreement there is no headway to it, and for many reasons, there is very visible evidence that there is sabotage, a deliberate attempt to sabotage this administration.
“Maybe where they are they are telling them nothing will happen, it is happening here live, we have our own legislators that are performing their duties according to the Constitution. So that record is threatened.”

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