Niger Delta

Firm Donates Relief Materials To Flood-Hit Bayelsa Communities

Published

3 years ago

November 23, 2022

A firm, Pipelines Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has distributed food and non-food items to various communities affected by flooding in Bayelsa State.
Retired Rear Adm. Akinjide Akinrinnade, the Project Lead of the company, coordinated the distribution at Ogbia, Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa Local Government Areas on behalf of its Project Director, Mr Osahon Okunbo.
He said more than 100 flood-impacted communities had benefitted from the donation, part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility.
“Our action is informed by our social obligation as good corporate citizen to support efforts of government by providing solutions to current multifaceted socio-economic challenges in the midst of dwindling revenue,’’ he said.
He added that the company spent more than N100 million to buy the relief materials distributed to the flood victims.
Items distributed were 1,000 bags of rice, cartons of noodles, some bags of garri, bags of beans, and palm oil among others.
Akinrinnade said the company partners with others to fight against pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta.
“The Federal Government recently assigned us the responsibility of providing surveillance and maintenance of the Trans-Niger Pipeline due to our track record of excellent service delivery.
“As a socially-responsible company, we are not insensitive to the plights of our partners who have been rendered homeless, aside losing human lives as a result of the ravaging flood.
“We can only be happy if our host communities are happy since we are in business to achieve a mutually-beneficial goal.
“Suffice it to say that we are partners in progress to sustain production of crude oil which remains the major source of revenue to governments at all levels.
“We are also to save the communities from environmental pollution arising from the activities of illegal crude oil refiners.
Akinrinnade assured the traditional rulers, chiefs, youths and women leaders of the affected communities of the company’s determination to carry everyone along with transparency and accountability.
He thanked the people for their unflinching support and cooperation since the inception of the surveillance and maintenance project.
Receiving the items, Mr Marcus Danami, the Community Development Committee Chairman of Otuesega, in Ogbia Local Government Area, commended the company for the donation.
He observed that no other company had showed such level of magnanimity to the flood-ravaged communities.
Earlier, the Paramount Ruler of Ikarama Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area said that the gesture was the first of its kind, and urged other oil firms to emulate the goodwill.
He commended the firm for the donation and assured of the safety of their pipelines it is maintaining.
Chief Livingston Fortunate, the Deputy Paramount Ruler of Elebele community in Ogbia Local Government Area, also commended the company for the donation.
He also commended it for engaging Niger Delta leaders as part of its team of contractors.

Niger Delta

Navy Pledges Improved Patrols, Welfare Boost For Personnel

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has pledged to ensure improved welfare for personnel and more patrols on the maritime corridors of the nation.

He disclosed this during an on the spot assessment of things at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Calabar, on Wednesday.

According to him, there is the need for officers to always be ready, by improving on their welfare, in a bid to keep the country secured.

“I am here for an on the spot assessment of our operations and like you have seen, I have also gone round to check the ongoing buildings.

”These are welfare issues and for us to be able to have our men ready and keep us secured, their welfare needs to be catered for.

“So, we are here to kill two birds with one stone, which are basically operations and welfare issues.

”I am happy with what the command is doing; it is doing well in terms of keeping the maritime environment safe.

“We will continue doing what we are doing and improve on that, which is patrol of the waters and increase in the area of surveillance”, he stated.

As part of his visit, Abbas commissioned the 12×1 Junior Rates Accommodation Block A and B, at the Navy Barracks at Atimbo in Calabar.

The naval chief also inspected other ongoing projects in the Akim Barracks, 1006 flats and the Navy hotel, all within Calabar.

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Uromi Junction Flyover Construction

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State Government says it has began construction work on the long-awaited Uromi Junction Flyover Bridge in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

Director-General (DG) of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, confirmed the development to newsme in Asaba.

According to him, heavy-duty construction equipment have arrived the site, a project which is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, one of the country’s leading construction firms.

Oghenesivbe, described the flyover as a massive infrastructure project with far-reaching socio-economic benefits for the area.

He said the project would significantly transform the Agbor metropolis by easing traffic congestion, improving the city’s aesthetics, and boosting commercial activities within the local government area.

He described the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as a promise-keeper and pragmatic leader whose administration remains committed to infrastructure development and economic growth across the state.

The DG expressed confidence in Julius Berger’s capacity to deliver the project within record time and according to the highest construction standards.

“The Uromi Junction serves as a major link between different parts of the country but has recently been plagued by severe traffic congestion, making vehicular movement increasingly difficult”, he noted.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and safeguard construction materials and equipment to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Rejects Ekid Ownership Claim Of Stubbs Creek

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims by the Ekid People’s Union that it owns land within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, describing such assertions as “false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

In a recent statement, signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, the state government said it was compelled to respond in the “overriding public interest,” despite a pending court case instituted by the same group.

The government stated that contrary to claims circulating in the media, the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak vs. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land in any ethnic group or community.

“The final judgement merely dismissed the claims before the court and granted title to no party whatsoever”, the government stated, adding that “any assertion to the contrary is false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

According to the statement, the land was lawfully reserved by the colonial government under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, later amended in 1941, 1955 and 1962, with “the principal rights of the land forfeited to the Government upon the change of status.”

It said the area has since been administered under applicable laws by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which “has at all times acted within its lawful authority in the management and allocation of land in the area for legitimate public and economic purposes.”

Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, the government stated that all land in the state is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the common benefit of Nigerians, noting that claims of absolute ancestral ownership are subject to existing laws.

The government “categorically denies allegations of fraud or misrepresentation” regarding Stubbs Creek or investments there and warned it would take “appropriate legal steps” against any individual or group publishing false or defamatory material capable of undermining public confidence or discouraging investment

The statement also assured the federal government of “full access and Right of Way” for the proposed Coastal Highway through any part of the state.

The government statement followed an earlier report in which the Ekid People’s Union accused Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State of making comments that allegedly linked the community to terrorism, while he was defending the Coastal Highway project passing through the Stubbs Creek.

Ekid People’s Union maintained that the people of Ekid are the original owners of the land known as Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, arguing that their ancestral ownership predates colonial rule.

The group cited historical occupation, customary ownership and a 1918 Privy Council case, which it claimed affirmed Ekid rights over the territory.

The union also accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of misrepresenting history to justify taking over the land for commercial interests and the proposed Coastal Highway, an allegation the state government has denied.

The group rejected any suggestion linking the Ekid people to criminality or terrorism, insisting they were peaceful citizens defending their ancestral land through lawful and civic means.