TheNewsGuru

Tag: Bayelsa State

  • Nembe oil spill: NOSDRA says well still discharging crude

    Nembe oil spill: NOSDRA says well still discharging crude

    The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on Sunday said that the Nov. 5 oil spill which occurred at an oil well within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 has yet to abate, 10 days on.

    It was gathered that NOSDRA officials who were deployed to ascertain the cause and estimated volume of crude discharged into the environment could not conduct the investigation whilst the leak was still on.

    In an update, Mr Idris Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA, told NAN that the leak has yet to be plugged as of Sunday, adding that the intensity of the leak was hampering investigations at the incident site.

    On whether the leak has been capped, the NOSDRA boss said: “Not yet, the Clean Nigeria Associates (CNA), an alliance of all oil firms operating in the country, has been called to beef up oil recovery.

    “That effort is to reduce the ultimate risk and lessen the impact on the environment,” Musa said.

    He said that following the inability of the indigenous operator of OML 29, Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Exploration Company, to stop the leak it was definite that international help would be sought to block the leakage.

    On the category of the spill incident, which ranges from tier I, II and III, where I is leak within an operators control and II requiring intervention across the industry and III of international magnitude, Musa said the incident could not yet be classified as a tier II spill.

    “It is not yet tier II, but we are already prepared in anticipation.

    “CNA can start work today,” the NOSDRA Director-General said.

    Aiteo had, in a statement on Wednesday, said it has yet to ascertain the volume of the crude that had been discharged into the environment.

    The statement signed by the spokesman of the company, Mr Mathew Ndianabasi, also said the oil firm suspected sabotage as the cause of the spill.

    He said the company was mobilising local and international know-how to contain the incident.

  • Leakage from Aiteo oil well continues to wreak havoc in Bayelsa

    Leakage from Aiteo oil well continues to wreak havoc in Bayelsa

    Leakage from an oil well owned by Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO) continues to wreak havoc unabated on the environment in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports AEEPCO, operator of Oil Mining Lease (OML 29) on Wednesday said that the volume of oil leakage since Friday from its operations in Bayelsa was yet to be determined.

    The management of AEEPCO in a statement by its Spokesperson, Mr Mathew Ndianabasi confirmed that the incident occurred on November 5, and till date, the leakage continues unabated in a devastating manner.

    Ndianabasi stated that the leak was reported from a non-producing well head in its Santa Barbara South field, in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    According to the company, remediation efforts to mitigate the impact of the resulting pollution on the environment was already underway as investigation by regulatory agencies was also going on.

    “The magnitude of this incident is of an extremely high order. Neither the cause of the spill, nor the quantity of leaked hydrocarbon could be determined at the time of the discovery, though containment booms were deployed.

    “And, recovery commenced immediately around the well head. As an incident of this nature imports, the necessary Oil Spill Notification Report have been promptly communicated.

    “The notification was made to National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission(NUPRC) and National Petroleum Investment Services(NAPIMS) as is required by regulation.

    “A Joint Investigative Visit, (JIV) to the spill site was held by all relevant stakeholders, community inclusive. The JIV at the time, was inconclusive, owing to difficulties with access due high pressure of hydrocarbons from the well head.

    “Additionally, immediate efforts to control the leak were aborted due to the high pressure emanating from the well head.

    “Consequently, Aiteo has mobilised a full intervention team with well control specialists and equipment both locally and internationally to arrest the leak.,” the statement read in part.

    AEEPC said that the well was yet to be shut in as preliminary indications suggest that crude oil theft and sabotage activities are suspected to be behind the mishap.

    Recall that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in 2015 divested its equity in OML 29 and transferred its interest in the oil block, including the 97 km Nembe Creek Trunk Line for 2.4 billion dollars to Aiteo.

  • BREAKING: Tragedy strikes in Bayelsa as ‘Governor’ kills cousin

    BREAKING: Tragedy strikes in Bayelsa as ‘Governor’ kills cousin

    Tragedy has happened in Bayelsa State as a police sergeant, known as ‘Governor’ Akpoboloukeme has stabbed his colleague and cousin, Yerins Sapele to death.

    The deceased, who was also a police sergeant, was allegedly killed over a minor disagreement in the Edepie area of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the State.

    Sources close to the two policemen said both cousins attended a marriage ceremony at a popular hotel on INEC road in Yenagoa metropolis where they had a minor joke that turned into a quarrel.

    It was learnt that Governor, who was said to be highly temperamental, didn’t feel happy about the joke and reacted violently to it.

    According to sources, they were almost engaged in fisticuffs, when friends stepped in and settled the two policemen.

    It was gathered that despite the settlement, Governor harboured animosity toward his cousin

    He was said to have instead of going home trailed Yerins to a secluded place and stabbed him with a dagger on the left part of the rib.

    Yerins was said to have died instantly after the stabbing.

    Investigation revealed that Governor and Yerins are cousins from Torugbene community, Delta State, but serving in Bayelsa.

    Spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat has confirmed the incident.

    He said the incident occurred on November 4 2021 around 7 pm at Edepie, Yenagoa.

    Butswat stated: “It was reported that Sergeant Akpoboloukeme ‘m’ stabbed his colleague, Sgt Sapele Eyerindideke ‘m’ over a minor misunderstanding. The corpse of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

    “The accused suspect immediately fled the scene and attempted to flee to a nearby state before he was arrested at the Glory Land gate, Yenagoa.”

    Butswat said the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Ben Okolo, had ordered the detention of the officer and a thorough investigation was underway.

  • Gov. Diri commends security agencies for rescuing kidnapped expatriate

    Gov. Diri commends security agencies for rescuing kidnapped expatriate

    Gov. Duoye Diri of Bayelsa on Sunday in Yenagoa commended security agencies for the swift rescue of an expatriate kidnapped by gunmen.

    Diri gave the commendation in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr Doubara Atasi.

    The governor said the immediate rescue of the expatriate, an employee of PAACHE Construction Ltd., showed resilience and professionalism on the part of the security operatives.

    “The state government is grateful; the security agencies ensured swift response and their effort yielded immediate result,’’ he said.

    The governor also reiterated government’s commitment at ensuring adequate protection of lives and property in the state.

    “Our government has zero tolerance for crime and violence. We shall never tolerate crime,’’’ he said.

    Diri urged security agencies in the state to trail members of the kidnap gang who might have escaped with bullet wounds during the rescue mission.

    He cautioned community leaders against harbouring criminals or providing care for those injured while committing crime.

    “As good citizens, we need to support security agencies with intelligence to tackle crime more effectively,’’ he said.

    The governor urged investors and residents in the state to go about their businesses without fear, saying: “we are committed to ensuring your safety and security.’’

    PAACHE Construction Ltd. is the firm handling the 4.5-kilometer Igbedi Road project in Bayelsa.

  • 19-year-old girl lands in court for leaking sextape video

    19-year-old girl lands in court for leaking sextape video

    A 19-year-old girl, named Miss Charlotte Delhi has landed in court for allegedly leaking the sextape video of a former Permanent Secretary of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education, Dr Walton Liverpool.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Miss Delhi was arraigned by the Department of State Services before the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa for allegedly sharing the nude video of Dr Liverpool on the social media with an intention of extorting N15 million from him.

    In the one-count charge filed against the defendant by the DSS in suit number FHC/YNG/33C/2021, the girl was accused of engaging in cyberstalking with an intention of blackmail which is contrary to section 24(2)c and punishable under subparagraph (b) of the cybercrime (prohibition, prevention etc) Act, 2015.

    The charge reads: “That you, Charlotte Delhi on the 14th day of September 2021 in Yenagoa within the jurisdiction of this honourable court for the purpose of extorting the sum of N15 million from Dr Walton Liverpool, intentionally posted a video showing the naked appearance of the said Dr Walton Liverpool on a WhatsApp group tagged “off liverpool” with an iPhone 7 Plus mobile phone and GSM No. 08084267342″.

    After the girl pleaded not guilty to the charge, counsels to DSS and the state government, Principal Legal Officer of the DSS, Victor Uchendu Esq, and a former Attorney-General of Bayelsa State and counsel to the defendant, A.S. Arthur Esq disagreed on the issue of application of bail but agreed that the trial should be made to enjoy accelerated hearing.

    Uchendu who sought for the judge’s leave for an adjournment, argued that the defence counsel handed him the application for bail process few hours to trial. He also revealed that the key witness to the case was not in good health condition.

    He said” “I was served the bail application two hours before the court sitting and there was no time for me to study the weighty allegations”.

    Naked video of the former permanent secretary was allegedly circulated on social media by the accused, after he reportedly refused to succumb to blackmail.

    Security sources said the SIM which was used to post the nude video contained phone lines of alleged clients including some members of the State House of Assembly and top politicians in the state.

  • Bayelsa imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew on waterways, bans 200hp engine boats

    Bayelsa imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew on waterways, bans 200hp engine boats

    As part of measures to curtail sea piracy, kidnappings and other criminal activities, the Bayelsa government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on its waterways.

    Gov. Duoye Diri, who announced the measure on Monday evening, at the end of the 12th state security council meeting, held at Government House, Yenagoa, said the curfew on water transportation, which takes immediate effect, is between 7pm and 6am, as he also announced a ban on the use of 200-hp speed boats.

    Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting, the Special Adviser on Security Matters 1, Mr Akpoebi Agberebi, said, henceforth, no permit would be issued for the use of 200-hp engines, warning that violators would face the full wrath of the law.

    He, however, said that there would be concessions for emergency movement, during the curfew hours, while calling on Bayelsa people to feel free to report violators to the state security outfit, Operation Doo-Akpo, on its dedicated phone line 07006464644.

    Agberebi also said that the council resolved that communities, whose lands had been acquired by the state government, should desist from any form of protests.

    He stated that some communities, still parading themselves as landlords, had been constituting a nuisance by taking the laws into their hands and depriving other citizens their freedom of movement.

    Earlier, in his charge to the newly posted Commissioner of Police to the state, CP Benjamin Okolo, Diri expressed the optimism that by his profile, he would add value to the state by curbing crime and criminality.

    Diri, urged the new Police boss to synergise, collaborate and partner with sister security agencies, and the state in particular, to achieve zero tolerance of crime.

    He said: “Let me welcome our newest member to this council, the Commissioner of Police, Ben Okolo. On behalf of members of the state security council, I welcome you to this meeting.

    “We believe by your profile, you would add value to the security council, as well as to our state, and ensure that crime and criminality are brought to zero level.

    “The creed of this council is that we have zero tolerance for crime and criminality. So, we welcome you and believe that you will synergise, collaborate and partner with sister security agencies, and with the state government,” he said.

  • APC conducts peaceful State congress in Bayelsa

    APC conducts peaceful State congress in Bayelsa

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State Chapter, Saturday conducted a peaceful state Congress to elect its 36 State Executive Committee (SEC) members.

    The congress, which was held at the state party secretariat located along Mbiama/Yenagoa Road, witnessed the presence of major stakeholders led by the Senator Biobarakuma Degi- Eremienyo, two members of Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Isreal Sunny-Goli and Hon. Preye Influence Oseke.

    The Leader of the Party in the State and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, was however absent but his political machine held sway.

    At the end of the execricise, Chief Dennis Otiotio, a doctorate holder in Law, emerged State Chairman with Hon Ebipadei Fekoweimo, a former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, as State Secretary. Media and Political Strategist, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, was returned as State Publicity Secretary.

    The Chairman of the 7-man State Congress Committee, DCP Yusuf Aurelius Adejo (rtd), described the election as peaceful and a family affair.

    Also speaking, the member representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, Hon. Preye Oseke, commended the conduct of the exercise, predicting that the emergence of Otiotio as Chairman will lead to a new dawn for the APC in Bayelsa.

    The full list of the newly elected APC Bayelsa State Executive Committee is as follows:

    1: Chief Dennis Otiotio – Chairman.

    2: Hon. Francis Kolokolo – Deputy Chairman.

    3: Hon. ThankGod Deizigha – Vice Chairman (Central).

    4: Hon. George Otto – Vice Chairman (West).

    5: Hon. Martins Alabo – Vice Chairman (East).

    6: Hon. Ebipadei Fekoweimo – Secretary.

    7: Hon. Nerius Owutuomo – Assistant Secretary.

    8: Hon. Preye Agama – Youth Leader.

    9: Hon. Doumo Isaac – Deputy Youth Leader.

    10: Hon. Ebizimor Romeo – Bayelsa West Youth Leader.

    11: Hon. Donny Sigah – Bayelsa Central Youth Leader.

    12: Hon. Eriaye Gift Jasper – Bayelsa East Youth Leader.

    13: Mrs Ebiere Akpobasa – Woman Leader.

    14: Mrs Pamela Douglas – Assistant Woman Leader.

    15: Mrs Seikemefa Akamu – Bayelsa West Woman Leader.

    16: Mrs Ikadoi Francis – Bayelsa East Woman Leader.

    17: Mrs Isowei Leigha – Bayelsa Central Woman Leader.

    18: Hon. Ogisaman Orubo – Financial Secretary.

    19: Hon. Abosi Felegha – Assistant Financial Secretary.

    20: Hon. Doifie Buokoribo – Publicity Secretary.

    21: Mr. Tamaratare Tamaratare Otis Zuokumor – Assistant Publicity Secretary.

    22: Hon. Ebimene Emmanuel – Treasurer.

    23: Hon. Lawrence Yongosi – Assistant Treasurer.

    24: Prince Tokpo Coronation – Organising Secretary.

    25: Hon. Bedford Woyengilayefa – Assistant Organising Secretary.

    26: Barr Bipeledei Efieseimokumor – Legal Adviser.

    27: Barr Doumo Ogbomani – Assistant Legal Adviser.

    28: Hon. Ebikinei Tekerebo – Auditor.

    29: Hon. Sinime Benjamin – Assistant Auditor.

    30: Hon. Abi Morris – Welfare Secretary.

    31: Hon. Jacob Jonah – Assistant Welfare Secretary.

    32: Comr. Austin B Jonah – Physically Challenged.

    33: Ikisikpo Marcus – Ex-Officio I.

    34: Awini Gerenkeme – Ex-Officio II.

    35: Humphrey Highlife – Ex-Officio III.

    36: Suoyo Amaran – Ex-Officio IV.

  • FEC approves last minute road project awarded by Jonathan for construction

    FEC approves last minute road project awarded by Jonathan for construction

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved a last minute road project awarded by former President Goodluck Jonathan for construction.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola made this known when he briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Council meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.

    According to Fashola, the contract was for the 20 kilometer dualization of Yenagoa road junction to Kolo and Otuoke and Bayelsa Palm in Bayelsa State.

    He stated that it was awarded in December 2014 on the eve of the tenure of the last administration and that the project could not take off at the time because of militancy issues and also for very limited budget provisions.

    The Minister revealed that FEC approved N38.4 billion for the project, and for the completion of some other inherited road projects in other four (4) States of the federation.

    According to him, the benefiting States include Benue, Anambra, Imo and Nasarawa, including the Bayelsa project.

    He added that all the affected projects were inherited from previous administrations.

    “They are not new projects, they are projects that we inherited and we are trying to complete. So essentially they relate to cost revision because of the ages of the contracts and the prices of goods that have changed.

    “The first one was the contract for a 13.5km spur of road from Onitsha-Owerri road through Okija-Ihembosi-For Ugbor to Ezinifite in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra.

    “That contract was awarded in 2011 but wasn’t funded until this administration came in so the contractor is asking us to revise the contract by a review of N488, 980, 891 and an additional completion period of six months and the council approved that review of price and the extended completion period,’’ he said.

    The Minister further revealed that the second contract was that of the completion of a 20km road in Bayelsa.

    “The Second one is the 20 kilometer dualization of Yenagoa road junction to Kolo and Otuoke and Bayelsa Palm in Bayelsa State.

    “That contract was awarded in Dec. 2014 on the eve of the tenure of the last administration and it couldn’t even take off because of militancy issues at the time and also very limited budget provisions.

    “It is one of the contracts that we have since activated with the Sukuk Bond.

    “So, the dualization is progressing but there is some additional work that needs to be done.

    “There are also results of further investigations that support a revision of the contract by N7.947 billion and this was approved by the council,’’ he said.

    He said the third contract was for the completion of a road linking Nasarawa and Benue States.

    “The third one is the 74 kilometer Nasarawa to Loko Road – that is the road that was awarded, I believe, in 2006, so it’s 15 years today, 74 km and it has not been completed.

    This road links the Loko-Oweto Bridge, which we inherited and which we have completed and that Loko-Oweto Bridge links Nasarawa to Benue, across the River Benue and also connects to the Oweto to Oshogbedo Road, which we also inherited, which we have completed.

    “The complete lane from Otukpo to Nasarawa ought to be facilitated by this 74km road.

    The contractor has struggled with just about five kilometers of it since 2006, and a small bridge.

    “So, what we’ve proposed was that instead of going through the long process of termination and all of that, we proposed and Council agreed that the contractor who finished the bridge and the contractor who finished the road, because they were all awarded to different contractors before we came, should join this contractor and take up the remainder.

    “So, we’ve limited the contractor who was originally awarded this road to just 10.8, that’s all he will do.

    “So, we’ve awarded 42 kilometers to the contractor who did the Oshogbedo-Oweto Road and we’ve then awarded 21km, which is the part joining the bridge directly, to the contractor who completed the bridge.

    “So, all of these totaling a revised project sum of about N30 billion, shared amongst the three contractors,” he said.

    The minister noted that the completion of the road would also save travel time for its users, especially those travelling from Otukpo in Benue to Abuja.

    “What is instructive is that once we finish this last part of the road, although it is being used now, but is not tarred, commuters are using it because it cuts off three hours from the journey from Otukpo to Abuja.

    “Motorists don’t have to go through Lafia, if you climb the Oweto Bridge across the River Benue, land in Nassarawa, you’ll be landing around Keffi.

    “So, it’s cutting off 103 from that journey from Otukpo to Abuja, which is about three hours. It used to be six hours plus.

    “This is strategic also for providing prosperity, lifting people out of poverty because if the saying that time is money is true, everybody who saves three hours has three hours’ extra productivity and also consumes three hours less fuel and travel time and so on.

    “So, Council approved this memo and we hope that sometime next year we can complete that linkage.

    “But as you know, those of you who went with me, commuters are already using the road in spite of that path not being complete,” he said.

  • Confusion in Bayelsa as abductors release popular club owner in exchange for wife, 74yrs old in-law

    Confusion in Bayelsa as abductors release popular club owner in exchange for wife, 74yrs old in-law

    There was confusion in Bayelsa State as gunmen released the abducted popular Bayelsa club owner, Tari Ajanami in exchange for his wife and 74yrs old In-law over an alleged N185m ransom shortfall during exchange.

    It was earlier reported that the kidnappers demanded the sum of N200million for the release of Tari Ajanamih, the owner of the popular night club known as Club 64 Lifestyle.

    The gunmen last month abducted the popular night club owner identified as Tari Ajanami. Tari Ajanami, an indigene of Ayamasa town in Ekeremor local government area of the State was abducted at his building project site along Otiotio Road in the state capital.

    Ajanami is the 43 years old owner of the popular night club known as club 64 along the Bay ridge area of the State capital and he is also working as a cash officer with the Wema bank.

     

     

    Details soon…

  • Residents flee as erosion sweeps homes into river in Bayelsa

    Residents flee as erosion sweeps homes into river in Bayelsa

    Five buildings and other property in Obogoro Town in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa have been swept into Ikoli River following a landslide arising from coastal erosion.

    The incident which took place late Sunday night has displaced many locals, as scores of residents were seen fleeing from the ravaging disaster.

    Meanwhile, the residents have appealed to the Bayelsa and Federal Governments to urgently come to their rescue and tackle the menace.

    Ada Gwegwe, a frontline activist in the Save Obogoro Campaign, says the rampaging waters from the river is threatening the entire town.

    Residents, fearful for their lives, are packing their valuables and abandoning their homes because of the rampaging coastal erosion in the area.

    Gwegwe called on the relevant authorities and NGOs to come to their aid, stressing that the town might soon become history if urgent and proper measures were not taken.

    A journalist with Nigerian Pilot, Miss Eunice Nnachi, said previous promises by relevant authorities had remained unfulfilled, nothing that residents lived in palpable fears.

    She said in May this year Gov. Douye Diri, after inspecting St. John’s Primary School, Ogbogoro, which was washed away by the erosion, directed the commissioners for Works and Infrastructure and that of Environment to canalize the river at Obogoro community in other to salvage the situation.

    Nnachi said nothing had been done in that regard.

    An Obogoro chief, Richard Somkume, has appealed to the state and Federal Governments to expedite action to save the community from extinct.

    Obogoro Community Secretary Pulu Yogoi has noted that as the peak of the rainy season approaches, with impending floods, there is a looming danger if nothing is done urgently.

    He said in the past the community had experienced severe landslides that washed the NYSC lodge, the community primary school and football field into the Ikoli River.

    “Farmlands with crops worth millions of naira have not been spared as the economic livelihood of the people have also been lost to the menace.

    “St. Paul’s Primary School, located in Famgbe, a neighbouring community that would have served as an alternative for the pupils has long been washed into the river with children from Obogoro forced to travel far to acquire basic education,” he said.