Author: Akanimo Sampson

Some concerned stakeholders on the environment are criticising the procedures adopted in the investigations to unravel the cause of last November 5 oil spill at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 in Nembe, Bayelsa State. The regulatory agencies investigating the oil spill incident on Thursday attributed the spillage to sabotage whereas the Bayelsa government and impacted communities say the leak was caused by equipment failure. A renowned environmentalist, Nnimmo Bassey, in a reaction to the development said the approach adopted in the investigation was not objective. Bassey, who holds national honours of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic for…

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As state institutions, the Executive and the Legislative arms of the Nigerian government appeared to have conspired to fail the Nigerian people, the very people who made it possible for them to occupy public office. When the electorate were casting their votes for President Muhammadu Buhari and the federal legislators in 2019, they did so with the hope that those they voted for would come out with electoral reform. With all that has been happening in the country since the 2019 elections, those massive votes may have been wasted. The Executive and the Legislature do not appear to have the…

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Comments credited to Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Idris Musa, that the Bayelsa State’s technical panel on the recent oil spill in Nembe Local Government Area of the state is illegal, has drawn the ire of Governor Douye Diri. The governor frowned seriously at the outburst of the NOSDRA chief. Diri made his position public during a courtesy visit of the Minister of State for Environment, Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, to Government House, Yenagoa. The NOSDRA chief was reportedly quoted to have said that the committee was illegal and also prevented the media from…

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Executive Director of Green Climate Fund (GCF), Yannick Glemarec, says the climate portfolio of the Fund grew by 40% this 2021, adding $2.9 billion in new climate finance. ‘’Our portfolio now totals $10 billion in GCF resources, amounting to $37 billion in climate assets under management’’, he said in a thank you message to the Fund’s partners. GCF was created to support the efforts of developing countries in responding to the challenge of climate change. The rest of the message goes thus: ‘’2021 was a year when the world needed GCF more than ever, and I am proud that we have…

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Political risk consultancy, Menas Associates says there is a serious possibility that the Libyan presidential polls will not go ahead as scheduled this Friday. In its Libya Focus, a monthly intelligence report on Libya, Menas said the run-up to the presidential elections will remain fraught. ‘’Given the current situation and ongoing tensions, it is difficult to see how the vote can be secured, let alone how those who disagree with the results will accept them. ‘’As the date draws nearer, all eyes will be focused on the High National Election Commission (HNEC) and its final list of approved candidates which…

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The security situation in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, is causing serious concern in the United Nations. UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) had earlier reported that forces affiliated with different armed groups have been deploying. The development came as Libyans awaited news about the postponement of long-promised landmark elections, due to take place this Friday. The current mobilisation “creates tensions and increases the risk of clashes that could spiral into conflict,” UNSMIL UNSMIL said in a statement. “Any disagreements on emerging political or military matters should be resolved through dialogue, particularly at this stage when the country is navigating through a difficult and…

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The appointment of Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, by Pope Francis as Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Office and Specialised Institutions in Geneva, has received high praise from Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. Governor Ikpeazu has congratulated the Catholic priest for earning the top job. Archbishop Nwachukwu was also appointed the Permanent Observer to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Representative of the Holy See to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Before his new appointment by the Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, the Umuogele Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area…

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National Caretaker Committee Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), John Udoedehe, is currently not having the best of times with his 2023 governorship ambition in Akwa Ibom State. His elder brother, Godwin has defected from APC, to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a ruling party in the state. Godwin declared that the PDP in Akwa is the only party whose visions and actions align with the collective aspirations of the Akwa Ibom people. According to Godwin, “The truth is: It is not a coincidence that the generality of Akwa Ibom people have continued to choose the PDP as the most preferred…

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Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the 9th Assembly will decide the fate of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill in January 2022 on resumption from the Christmas and New Year holiday. That was in reaction to President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the bill into law. But, the Executive Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC),  iClement Nwankwo, says the civic group is disappointed at the action of President Buhari in vetoing the Electoral Bill 2021, which was submitted to him for assent since 19th November 2021. PLAC is concerned that the veto and delays…

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National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, says President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) is busy borrowing money from foreign creditors and increasing the debt burden on Nigeria. According to Ayu, PDP governors are visible and delivering dividends of democracy. He spoke as Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State said concerned stakeholders fought for the change of the immediate past national leadership of (PDP because they wanted to reposition the party to win the presidency in 2023. He maintained that such change of leadership at the national level was also to avert a situation of doom for the…

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Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Environment says not less than 16,200 barrels of Bonny light crude stream have been recovered from Aiteo’s oil leak site in Nembe, Bayelsa State. Ikeazor was speaking on Tuesday shortly after visiting the leak site at the oilfield operated by the indigenous oil firm, Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Exploration Company. National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on November 6 visited the leak site to ascertain the cause of the leak from a non-producing well bet the pressure and intensity of the gas and crude leak hampered the process. The spills…

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Former President of Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ledum Mitee, is currently not having the best of times in the Ogoni axis of Rivers State. Since the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight of his other kinsmen on November 10, 1995, Mitee dominated the affairs of Ogoni for years. Now, a MOSOP activist, Sunday Abel Gbarabugbe, is saying that their former leader has no solution to the current factional crisis rocking the mass movement and Ogoni. For Gbaranugbe who is MOSOP’s Secretary in Eleme kingdom, Mitee is part of the generation that failed the Ogoni people,…

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As part of efforts to provide responsive training services for the development of agro-allied industry in the country, Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative (NAADI) is establishing a N5.5 billion innovation centre in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital for the South-South geo-political zone. The unveiling of the training centre took place during the agric roundtable jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Akwa Ibom State Government and the federation of agricultural commodity associations of Nigeria held in Uyo. The organizers say it was an opportunity to “set a clear path for the realisation of the…

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Emerging body language from Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) tends to indicate that the organized labour is bent on prosecuting its anti-fuel price rise war if Abuja ignores its opposition to increase the pump price of energy in the country. The organised labour was tough-talking as Northern Independent Petroleum marketers cried out that Petroleum Equalisation Fund was yet to settle their N50 billion Bridging Claim for over nine months. The situation, according to them, has thrown many of them out of the business. The marketers said failure to settle their claims may lead to scarcity of fuel in the North as…

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Rivers Renaissance, a Port Harcourt-based youth political group does not appear to be in a hurry to abort its political confrontation with Governor Nyesom Wike. For the smoking youth group, they want Wike to openly declare he owes his rise in politics to Transportation Minister,Chibuike Amaechi. President General of the group, Dokubo Dan-Tamuno, in a statement wired to this reporter claims that Wike is still indebted to Amaechi for his achievements in politics. While faulting Wike’s claims that Amaechi frustrated his ministerial nomination under the Jonathan administration, Rivers Renaissance said there was no iota of veracity in the governor’s claim,…

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Ijàw Diaspora Congress (IDC) in the US has expressed disappointment that the Federal Government of Nigeria under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari did not deem it fit to give the Nembe people of Bayelsa State who suffered a major oil spill humanitarian assistance. They are, therefore, seeking the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in the recent Nembe oil spill from a facility operated by owners of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29. The letter requesting for the humanitarian intervention is dated December 17, and jointly signed by the group’s President, Prof Monday Gold, and…

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The New Year is likely to witness a flurry of wild cat protests and industrial actions that would be sparked by unpopular government policies. The organized labour has already signalled that it will not be for a tea party next year. Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will embark on protest rallies from January 27, nationwide to reject the planned increase in the price of premium motor spirit otherwise known as petrol by the Federal Government. NLC said the protests will kick off instantly and without notice in all the 36 states in case, the government goes ahead to increase…

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Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) has explained why the Red Chamber of the National Assembly dumped President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide, Lauretta Onochie, as an electoral umpire in Nigeria. President Buhari repeatedly nominated his Senior Special Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie for a top position in Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to PLAC, the Senate stepped down her nomination following public backlash and petitions against her, from concerned citizens and groups on the basis of her membership of a political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). President Buhari has however, nominated five persons for appointment as National Commissioners…

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The new International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Global Migration Indicators (GMI) 2021 report indicates that over the past decade migrants in the worldwide labour force have tripled. And, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the key role that migrant workers play in the global economy, as well as the “terrible risks” that they are forced to take, to find work. IOM’s Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (GMDAC) also flagged that remittances sent home to lower and middle-income countries (LMICs) have outpaced foreign aid. The analysis featured on the Global Migration Data Portal, provides snapshots of the latest statistics and trends, including the impacts…

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Morocco is currently under intense diplomatic pressure to reverse its decision to extradite an Uyghur Muslim to China. Already, four United Nations independent human rights experts are saying that his return will place him under threat of serious human rights violations. They argued that if he is made to return, human rights defender Yidiresi Aishan risks detention, enforced disappearance, or torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the experts argue. Deep concern “We are deeply concerned by today’s decision by the Moroccan Court of Cassation allowing the extradition of Aishan to China, despite the credible risk of…

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The Anti-vandal Squad of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been given a tall order on the country’s national assets. NSCDC’s Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, handed them the tall order. Spokesman of the civil defence, Olusola Odumosu, in a statement said his principal has charged the squad to be dogged and resilient in the fight against vandalism of petroleum pipelines and other oil installations, oil theft, illegal oil bunkering, illegal oil refinery and other illegal dealings in petroleum products. Audi, according to him, gave this stern directive during an inspection tour of Rivers State where a large…

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President Muhammadu Buhari has come under a seeming harsh criticism on his administration’s handling of security matters in Nigeria, the world’s most populous African country. Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), a key civic group, says President Buhari has continued to prioritise skewed sectional appointments over and above competence in his management of Nigeria’s security system. ‘’No doubt, the chickens have come home to roost and the country is now paying the price for it’’, PLAC says on its website. According to the group, it appears the state of insecurity in Nigeria has now attained unprecedented proportions, adding, ‘’in the…

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Ahead of the 2023 polls, the combative and boastful Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is currently being marked for severe political attack. But, his media aide has been unnecessarily brash in responding to enquiries by newsmen. Now, a youth group in Port Harcourt, the state capital that goes by the name, Rivers Renaissance, is fearlessly challenging Wike to address the critical issues raised by former Director-General of NIMASA, Dakuku  Peterside,  on the state economy in the last six years. Petersude in an interview in the Independent Newspaper raised critical issues bedevilling Rivers and declared that there was absence of governance in…

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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is still thumb-beating his chest for his administration’s success and the quest of his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to flush out President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) from power in 2023. According to the combative Rivers governor, as a PDP controlled state government, his administration has touched every facet of Rivers State and offered the people the best good governance can afford. Continuing, he said PDP for what it has continued to do in terms of responding to the needs of Nigerians, has remained a household name and most trusted to savage…

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The Eket people of Akwa Ibom State with access to the Atlantic ocean say the subsisting map of their state is not acceptable to them. They are therefore pushing for a remapping of the big offshore oil and gas state. Their umbrella organization, Ekid Peoples Union (EPU) is loudly demanding the remapping of Akwa Ibom since according to them, what is currently regarded as a map of the state is not acceptable to the people. EPU’s National President, Samuel Udonsak, a prominent medical doctor, made the demand in his address at the Ekid Annual National Congress 2021, which has a…

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Worried by the plight of the less-privileged citizens across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President, 9th House of Representatives Members’ Spouses Association  (HORMSA), Salamatu Gbajabiamila, has taken on the well to do individuals and organizations for allegedly failing to ease their burdens. She is therefore urging governments at all levels and well-meaning Nigerians to do more for the less-privileged toward alleviating their plights. Gbajabiamila spoke in Abuja when she hosted children from some orphanages in the Federal Capital Territory. The children were drawn from the Destined Children’s Orphanage, Kado;…

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No matter how you may have looked at it, there was nothing progressive about the official response of Lagos State Government to the EndSARS saga as far as the Lekki Tollgate bloodletting was concern. And, disturbingly, a smooth return to normal life is difficult without a universal COVID-19 jabs. President of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday announced a New Year resolution on vaccine equity, calling on governments to come together on this issue ahead of a major event in mid-January. Before we return to this virus wahala, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) says the report of the EndSARS panel…

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Cross River State wing of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is currently locked in an energy sapping battle over who flies the party’s flag in 2023 as its governorship candidate. Members of the National Assembly caucus from the state are literally up in arms against one other over the zoning of the governorship seat. Three out of the eight PDP members in the National Assembly have already signified interest to contest for the PDP governorship ticket, the remaining four are also said to be interested in returning to the Upper and Lower chambers of the Legislative House. While Senator Gershom Bassey,…

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Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Akwa Ibom State have taken on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) that is under the watch of Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Godswill Akpabio. According to the civic groups, as it is presently constituted, NDDC is an illegal entity since t is being run by an interim management committee as against what is provided for in the Act that sets up the interventionist agency. Since the massive fraud saga, NDDC has been coming under attacks by various groups in the region over the failure of the federal government to constitute the board of the commission as required…

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Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State says his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike is pivotal in blending ideas, creativity with available financial resources to achieve his administration’s landmark infrastructural development. Udom who was speaking during his inauguration of the Rivers State Government Safe Home on Wednesday in the Borikiri axis of Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital, also pointed out that Wike has remarkably catered to the needs of the vulnerable in Rivers. He spoke even as Wike was busy urging Nigerians to be more careful in their choice of who they entrust with the responsibility of governing Nigeria, particularly members…

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