Host Community Urges Halkin Exploration to commence operations in Atala Marginal field

 

By Our Correspondent

 

With the new license for exploration given to Halkin Exploration and Production Company, the people of Ekeremor constituency 2 and other host communities have urged Halkin Exploration to commence operations in Atala Marginal field as soon as possible.

 

The host community noted that this will bring the long awaited dividends to the people of the community.

 

In a statement signed by the member representing Ekeremor Constituency 2 and Deputy Minority Leader in Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Wilson Ayakpo Dauyegha, the host communities congratulated the new owners of the OML 46 and urged them to, as a matter of urgency commence operation to assuage the anger of the people occasioned by the long years of deprivation and injustice meted by the former operator.

 

The community noted that the people of Ekeremor constituency 2 and other host communities have been short-changed since the discovery of the Atala Oil Field, and yet did not resort to hostility because they were hopeful of better things to come.

 

The group said the unproductiveness of the Atala Oil field since its discovery in 1982 and its subsequent award of exploration license in 2003 has been a thing of dwindling hope as it has been decades of hopeful waiting, owing to the fact that the BOCL failed to deliver on her responsibilities and as such we have lost trust in her.

 

They warned that the operating company should no longer delay in the commencement of operation because the patience of the people of Ekeremor constituency 2 is running out as time wasted is resultant of wasted opportunities and further deprivation for them.

 

They noted that the recent calls for cancellation of the license to a new oil exploration company by the Bayelsa State Government and the IYC is not only insensitive, unnecessary, irresponsible but will only incite unrest amongst the host communities who have been patient for so long.

 

This they said will ultimately lead to further delay and more unproductive years which will ultimately succeed in further short-changing us of the long anticipated dividends.

 

They posited that the Bayelsa State Government should as a matter of urgency congratulate the newly licensed exploration company and avail them the enabling environment to thrive, as her current position is also misleading.

 

The host communities further advised the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC to remain apolitical in matters of such, as it negatively affects its reputation and motive as a pressure group for development.

 

Rather it depicts the Youth Body as a tool of government, as all through the years of its unproductiveness, the youth body never thought it necessary to urge the previous owners to do the needful as the host communities were at the losing end of it.

 

The group however applauded the Federal Government for doing the needful by awarding the Atala Oil Field to indigenous oil Exploration Company, the group said any other decision would have been perceived as utter neglect towards the interest of the host communities.

Abuja Lawyers League: Sports is a unifying factor – Minister

By Our Reporter

 

As the Abuja lawyers’ league came to an end over the weekend, the Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has described sports as a unifying factor insisting that it has the capacity to provide a more unifying atmosphere in the country.

 

The minister noted this at the closing ceremony of the Abuja Lawyer League tagged the MAIKYAU CUP 2021 with GLA FC defeating Afe babalola FC in a 2-0 finals at the King’s Turf Arena, Panorama  Wuse Zone 3, Abuja.

 

Represented by Special Adviser Projects, Arch Biodun Owoborode, the minister stated that it is very phenomenal to see lawyers let loose and engage in sporting activity without any discrimination of tribe or religion.

 

According to Owoborode, law is a serious minded profession and the lawyers must be commended for finding time out of their busy schedule adding that this will encourage many other professionals to emulate Abuja lawyers.

 

‘‘Witnessing the finals between GLA FC and Afebabalola FC, you will discover that we had lawyers from all sections of the country, tribes and different religious affiliations showing that sports is a unifying factor’’ he said.

 

 Also Speaking was Chief Sponsor Yakubu Maikyau, SAN who noted that the aim of organising the tournament has been achieved stating that it has afforded the lawyers the opportunity to do something different which in the long run helps in the wellbeing of the lawyers.

 

‘‘You can see the unity and civility displayed here by lawyers, spirit of sportsmanship, I must say that it is a great honour to be part of this success story’’ he stated.

 

Speaking earlier, Olujimi Olujide Poko, the coordinator of the competition which is 5th edition in the series explained that the major reason for the tournament is to bring lawyers in the Nation’s capital together in a separate platform outside the courtrooms.

 

‘‘This is the end result of 9weeks of fun and entertainment, we have legal juggernauts here sitting with the young lawyers. The essence of the competition is more than just about winning, it is the opportunity to network, exercise and promote unity amongst members of the bar.

 

‘’We also had our medical outreach to sensitise our lawyers on the need to be cautious of their health as it is important to exercise and keep up to date on their health status’’ he explained.

 

MAIKYAU CUP 2021 First prize of N500 thousand is GLA FC, Afe babalola FC is 2nd place with 400 thousand while 3rd place of N350 thousand goes to Chris Uche FC.

We have lost our shinning light: RIP HIGH Chief Chris Adokeme

By Our Reporter

The National Executive Council, NEC of University of Port Harcourt Alumni Association wishes to announce with a deep sense of grief, but with total submission to the will of God, the sudden and untimely death of our National President, High Chief, Barr, Comrade Chris Adokeme who passed away during the night of Monday 5th July 2021.

In a Press statement signed by First National Vice President Citizen Uduak Ewitat states that in this time of sorrow, a thought of comfort and condolences go out to the grieving family and to the entire body of the University of Portharcourt Alumni Association,world wide. 

"Our collective hearts are heavy with sympathy and grief at the untimely and sudden passage of our dear President.

"No words can describe how pained we are for this great loss at a time like this. We are however consoled by the word of God in Isaiah 61:3 that says  " To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning…” Rest in peace High Chief Chris Adekome. More information will be provided after NEC meeting which is scheduled to hold shortly" he stated.

Housing sector is equally affected by Insecurity- Oke

 

By Ere-ebi Agedah 

 

The CEO Lifestyle Asset Hub Limited, Mr Abioye Oke has stated that the housing sector in Nigeria is also affected by the ongoing state of insecurity in the country noting that this has frightened companies in the western world from investing in Nigeria.

 

He insisted that that the current precarious security challenges in Nigeria has made companies unwilling to come to Nigeria to support the housing needs of Nigerians explaining that a forward thinking developer must be innovative, creative and should be open for collaboration.

 

Oke, who was recently decorated as the Africa CEO of the Year 2021 during Africa Lives Development Conference and Awards at the Rwanda Capital City of Kigali expressed dissatisfaction at the housing deficit in the country stating that a concerted effort from private individuals must be encouraged to support governments effort at ameliorating the menace of housing deficit ravaging the continent of Africa and Nigeria.

 

According to the Lifestyle Boss, lack of use of our sky space, the land use policy of government and inconsistency in policies has remained some of the challenges of the housing sector in the country, adding that every human being has the right to decent and affordable home.

 

‘‘In Nigeria housing sector there are lots of inconsistency in policies, the land use policy of government is also not supporting access to prime locations, also the kind of technology we still use to build today, they are very expensive, they are not very efficient and even the quality of design too makes up, because what makes an apartment affordable, it is not even the structure itself, it is the way it was designed by the architect from day one. 

 

‘‘Also, our lack of use of our sky space, we are not building vertically in this country enough. what I am trying to say is we need to start encouraging developers to start building more vertical structures, so long that the developer can prove that there’ll be enough parking spaces for all the occupants.  I believe that by the time we start building vertically, the cost of selling each unit will drop with the right technology’’ he stated.

 

While stressing that the housing needs of Nigerians must not be left to government alone, Oke noted that Lifestyle Hub through its structured Social Funding System has already settled the issues of affordable housing.

NDDC: Shutting Down Niger Delta Not An Option – IYC

Ijaw Youths Council, IYC Abuja Chapter, has reaffirmed that shutting down the Niger Delta region in protest against the managerial system of allowing the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to be run on interim administration basis, is not an option to be adopted by youths of the oil-rich region.

Briefing the press over the weekend in Abuja, Barr. Ogbofini Dennis, National Deputy Director of Mobilization of the IYC Abuja Chapter was responding to plans by members of the IYC to shut down the region upon the expiration of a one-month ultimatum to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate a substantive board for the NDDC.

Ogbofini called on other IYC members to embrace peace and adopt dialogue in resolving the issues, considering other security challenges facing the country, as well as youth restiveness in the region.

He noted that any attempt to shut down the region will affect the aged people, adding that it will also confirm the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva’s warning that violence in the region will scare away oil companies from coming to invest unless peace is guaranteed.

“We should also consider that giving such ultimatum amounts to arm-twisting the President who in his wisdom, based on consultations and advice by the Niger Delta governors, ordered a forensic audit of the commission.

“As a serving executive member of the IYC Abuja Chapter and a key stakeholder of the Niger Delta, I also want the board to be inaugurated. But I have since observed that having a board has never been the problem of the NDDC.

“We should also consider the hunger strike that our mothers and fathers may face if eventually we shut down the region, we should think of the resulting effect of the planned protest,” he added.

Also speaking, General Momos Wilberforce an ex-agitator urged the president and his exco to shed it's sword and call for dialogue between the Federal Government and stakeholders of the region that will bring long lasting solution to the demands of the people, 

He also used the opportunity to plead to  president Mohammad Buhari to increase the fundings of the NDDC and the Presidential Amnesty program

Misappropriation, Lack of Accountability are problems of the NDDC- IYC

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC has attributed misappropriation of Commonwealth and failure of a  proper accountable system as reasons why the Niger Delta Development Commission has suffered set back in recent times.

The IYC made the assertion over the weekend while announcing its suspension of  the one month ultimatum to shutdown the region.

The group who further used the opportunity to call for a dialogue with the Federal Government added that while the ultimatum had gotten the attention of the president, it was necessary to apply wisdom so as to reduce the economic impacts a shutdown might have on the people.

Addressing the press, the National Mobilization Officer, Barr. Dennis Ogbofini, noted that the conference became necessary due to the future of the region. 

According to Ogbofini, the Niger Delta region has been the most peaceful region so far and a protest to shutdown the economy might result in unwarranted implications such as hijacking of the struggle by miscreants  and politicians.

“we call on the youths to reconsider shutting down the region in view of the prevailing security situation of the country. The security situation in the country does not favour protest by a large crowd because it can be hijacked by hungry or hoodlums who seek to shed the blood of innocent people.  

“ The IYC cannot create such opportunities for hoodlums and bandits.”

The National Mobilization Officer thus urged youths to instead shut down offices of their representatives. This he said was because they (representatives) had the ‘power to stop the budget and ensure the inauguration of the board.’ 

Responding to questions as regards other methods to be used by the IYC in ensuring obligation of their  demands a stakeholder in the group, Mamus Wilberforce said, “ shutting down the Niger Delta can never be an option to make peace.  Making peace in the Niger Delta is not by shutting it because it affects our mothers in the village and everyone.  This is why we need wisdom in approaching this issue. We expect the leadership of the IYC to apply wisdom in handling these issues. Why should the region which comprise of 9 states be shut down when we can negotiate.”

Ijaw youths had last month given the Federal Government a one month ultimatum to inaugurate a permanent board for the NDDC which would comprise of representatives of the nine states in the region. While making threats to shut down economic activities in the region, the group complained about the setting up of an interim board whose members do not cater for the need of the region.

Group calls for passage of the Electoral Amendment Bill

By Imisi

 

The Election Network has called for the passage of the Electoral Amendment Bill stating that this will foster the full implementation of electronic voting during elections in Nigeria.

 

The group insisted that the alarming rate of voter apathy as experienced in the 2019 election has made it imperative for speedy implementation of electoral reform adding that this will help put in check to several electoral irregularities

 

While presenting a documentary titled “Left Behind, Editor of The Election Network , Asari Ndem, expressed dissatisfaction at the amount of voters that were disenfranchised due to violence and inability to transfer their voters card stating that Nigerians should be able to vote anywhere they are, when the need arises.

 

'‘The 2019 elections was a setback for Nigeria’s electoral and democratic framework. Officially, over 80 million Nigerians collected their voter cards from INEC but only about 30 percent of those people voted during the elections, the lowest recorded voter turnout in the history of Nigeria’s democracy.

 

‘‘We wanted to understand why this had happened, to enable us make submissions to policymakers on how this level of failure can be avoided in coming elections. So, we decided to talk to the people. To show the human impact of electoral deficiencies on average Nigerians, The Election Network produced a documentary titled “Left Behind.” In this documentary, we interviewed Nigerians who were unable to or chose not to vote during the 2019 elections.

 

‘‘We found that these Nigerians were stalled by factors like administrative shortcomings, intimidation, and violence. But what stood out the most is violence.

 

‘‘In light of these findings, we are making the following proposals for Electoral reform: The passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill: this overarching law on elections in Nigeria, when passed, will help put in check several irregularities but more importantly, give way for the full implementation of electronic voting during elections. Electronic accreditation, voting and collation to ensure credibility in the voting system needs to be done electronically to avoid errors, to also trace malpractices in the system.

 

Furthermore, Ndem called for the prosecution of electoral offenders and the inclusion of people living with disabilities, PLWD in the voting process stressing that PLWD should be included during election planning to ensure they are able to adequately exercise their rights.

 

‘‘Also, on financial accountability an embargo should be placed on the ability of political office holders to make financial transactions close to the elections.

 

‘‘With these submissions and the screening of this documentary, we hope to enact policy change that creates sustainable improvement to the Nigerian electoral ecosystem and contributes to the strengthening of our democracy’’ he stated.