TheNewsGuru

Tag: Bayelsa State

  • Governor Diri unveils 2nd term agenda

    Governor Diri unveils 2nd term agenda

    Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has outlined his second term agenda, built on a comprehensive framework with seven pillars representing critical aspects of his administration’s developmental strategy.

    At a three-day State Executive Council Retreat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Diri emphasised the importance of collaboration, innovation, and aligning policies with common goals.

    This was contained in a statement on Tuesday signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, in Yenagoa.

    He introduced the A.S.S.U.R.E.D Agenda, which encompassed seven pillars: Agricultural revolution, Sports development, Security, Urban renewal, robust healthcare, Energy generation, and Diversifying education.

    Diri highlighted his administration’s commitment to food security, sports and youth development, security and peace, urban renewal and rural development, robust healthcare, energy generation, and diversifying education.

    He emphasised the importance of teamwork and urged participants to generate sound ideas to actualise the administration’s prosperity agenda.

    Diri explained that the A.S.S.U.R.E.D agenda would serve as a beacon to ensure economic growth, social development, infrastructure advancement, environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and good governance.

    He highlighted his administration’s achievements, including collaborations with the Central Bank of Nigeria and training of youths in agriculture.

    He also mentioned a recent trip to Seoul, South Korea, where he led a team to explore opportunities for capacity building and received donations of modern tractors and agricultural equipment.

    The governor urged participants to generate sound ideas to actualise the administration’s prosperity agenda, emphasising the importance of teamwork and serving the people.

    Resource persons, including Mr Kalada Apiafi, Dr Joe Abah, and Mr Linus Okorie, delivered lectures on teamwork, vision setting, governance, and policy making, stressing the importance of effective teams, good governance, and implementation of policies.

  • Police decorate 87 newly promoted ASPs in Bayelsa

    Police decorate 87 newly promoted ASPs in Bayelsa

    The Police command in Bayelsa, on Thursday decorated 87 officers who were recently promoted from the rank of inspector to assistant superintendent of police.

    Addressing the officers in Yenagoa on Thursday, the Commissioner of Police, Francis Alonyenu, urged them to show greater commitment to service delivery.

    “Your elevation to a higher rank is a call for greater commitment to service. I urge you to be highly professional in the discharge of your duties.

    “You are expected exhibit higher level of discipline and self-control while on duty. The reward for dedication to duty is promotion. Be dedicated to your work, and do it diligently,” he said.

    Speaking to newsmen, ASP Umar Mohammed, one of the newly promoted officers, expressed gratitude to God for the promotion.

    He thanked the Inspector-General of Police for finding them worthy of progressing in their chosen career.

    “On behalf of my colleagues, I also thank the the commissioner of police for always playing the role of a father while dealing with us.

    “This promotion will motivate us to perform our duties with more diligence and greater commitment,” he said.

    In another development, the Chairperson, Police Officers Wives Association, Bayelsa chapter, Mrs Ada Alonyenu, has joined other chapters to celebrate the association’s 60 years anniversary.

    Alonyenu urged wives of policemen to support their husbands by playing active role in managing the home front.

    She said that the job of a policeman could take them to stay out of the home front for a long time, and that it was the duty of the wife to stand in the gap.

    “As wives of policemen, we should pay close attention to the children, it is our duty to bring them up properly,” she said.

  • Planned protest: Counter rallies begin in Lagos, Bayelsa States

    Planned protest: Counter rallies begin in Lagos, Bayelsa States

    Counter-rallies to the planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1 have begun in Lagos and Bayelsa states, with many taking to the streets holding placards that read, “Say No to Protest.”

    This comes as numerous Nigerians have taken to social media to call for protests in all 36 states to demand an end to bad governance in the country.

    Youths from various locations converged on Lagos Island to express their support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration and urged others to “shun violent protests.”

    Similarly, in Bayelsa State, women gathered in large numbers with placards stating, “Say no to protest in Bayelsa.”

    Reacting to the online posts, human rights lawyer Festus Ogun stated on Facebook, “Hungry and jobless individuals are protesting against protests. This is outrightly ridiculous. Or, how do you see it?”

    Another X user, Ifeanyi, commented, “One reason they say Nigerians should not protest is the risk of hoodlums hijacking the protest and causing destruction. So, they say no to protests. But today, there are groups in the street chanting ‘No to protest.’ Are they saying hoodlums can’t hijack such a protest?”

    “No Protest In Lagos” demonstrations have already started on Lagos Island, with no security personnel present to prevent potential hijacking, observed X user @ayemojubar.

  • Appeal Court affirms Gov Diri’s re-election

    Appeal Court affirms Gov Diri’s re-election

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Thursday, affirmed the re-election victory of Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa in the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship poll.

    The three-member panel of justices led by Justice James Abundaga, in a unanimous judgment, held that the appeal filed by the appellants; Mr Timipre Sylva and the All Progressives Congress (APC), lacked merit.

    The panel held that the tribunal was not in error when it struck several paragraphs of the petitioner’s reply against the governor’s election.

    Abundaga said the Bayelsa Governorship Election Tribunal, which sat in Abuja, was right to have struck out the appellants’ witnesses statements on oath.

    The judge said it was an abuse of court process for a party to file several processes against same judgement.

    The judge added that it had not been shown that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines were tendered by the appellants before the tribunal, as evidence to prove the allegations of electoral malpractice.

    “The evidence of the appellants’ witnesses are hearsay and cannot be relied upon by any reasonable tribunal, ” the appellate court said.

    The panel subsequently dismissed the appeal for being unmeritorious.

    The court, which affirmed Diri’s election, awarded cost of N500, 000 against Sylvia and APC.

    The election tribunal had, on May 27, dismissed the petition filed by Sylva and APC.

    The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Adekunle Adeleye-led, dismissed the petition for lacking in merit.

    In a unanimous decision, the tribunal held that the petitioners failed to adduce credible evidence to substantiate their allegations against the outcome of the state’s governorship poll.

    It struck out all the additional proof of evidence and statements on oath of some of the witnesses who testified for the petitioners as incompetent.

    According to the tribunal, the law expressly provided that an election petition must be filed no later than 21 days after the election result was declared.

  • Bayelsa prepares awaiting looming flood

    Bayelsa prepares awaiting looming flood

    The Bayelsa Government has directed the Directorate for Flood and Erosion Control to identify more higher grounds for flood relief camps across Bayelsa, following the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET)’s warnings.

    The government also directed the directorate to identify structures built on natural canals within the Yenagoa metropolis for possible demolition to check flooding during downpours and flood season.

    Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Bayelsa Deputy Governor, gave the directives on Wednesday in Yenegoa at a meeting with the Director-General and directors of the Bayelsa Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control (BYSDFEC).

    Also in attendance were Local Government Chairmen and their Rural Development Authorities (RDA) counterparts.

    Ewhrudjakpo said identifying and building camp grounds were part of proactive measures the state government was taking to mitigate the effects of any massive flooding as predicted by NIMET.

    He, however, urged the Directorate to liaise with the local government and RDA chairmen to quickly establish more relief camps close to flood-prone communities to spare rural dwellers from moving to Yenagoa, the capital.

    The deputy governor also stressed the need for the Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies to intensify the ongoing efforts of opening up canals and waterways for unimpeded water flow.

    He frowned at the practice of building houses and other structures across natural water canals, especially in the state capital.

    Ewhrudjakpo assured that the present administration was poised to implement the state Physical Planning and Development Act 2000.

    He, therefore, directed the Flood Control Directorate to earmark such structures for possible demolition to save residents of Yenagoa from the menace of incessant flash floods.

    In his remarks, the Director-General, Bayelsa Directorate for Flood and Erosion Control, Walson Omuso, said efforts were underway to identify additional higher grounds for the flood relief camps in preparation for the huge flood as predicted by NIMET.

    He appealed to the local government chairmen and their RDA counterparts to collaborate with the directorate to ensure that measures being taken by the government succeeded in alleviating the suffering of the people in the event of any serious flooding.

  • Bayelsa Govt mulls floating airline

    Bayelsa Govt mulls floating airline

    The newly appointed Managing Director, Bayelsa International Airport, AVM Nelson Calmday, rtd, has said that plans were on by the state government to float an airline.

    Calmday said this on Tuesday in Amassoma, Bayelsa during his maiden meeting with top management staff, regulatory bodies and service providers of the airport.

    The new MD said the state government had given a charge that the airport, henceforth, operate as a viable business entity.

    According to him, in terms of service delivery, the airport can hardly be rated high, considering that six years after, only one operator-The United Nigeria Airline, makes two regular landings in Yenagoa weekly.

    His words: “We need to collectively do better because the Governor, Duoye Diri, desires that this facility henceforth operates as a viable business entity due to a Bayelsa Air Carrier coming soon.

    “I am not unaware of the challenges associated with becoming a Base Station, some of which include the establishment of a modest hangar for minor aircraft maintenance.

    “Sufficient BFI’s for aviation fuel, provision of serviceable fire tenders and Crash Ambulances as well as Apron Hooks for mooring parked aircraft, to mention a few.

    “Besides these however, the crux of the matter is in the structure, training and discipline of available manpower. It’s my priority that training becomes a norm,” Calmday said.

    He said that unethical staff behaviour, such as absenteeism, disregard for employment and deployment rules, loitering and any other misconduct would no longer be tolerated.

    At the maiden meeting was the Manager of the Bayelsa International Airport, Elizabeth Akpama.

  • Residents butcher giant whale in Bayelsa

    Residents butcher giant whale in Bayelsa

    A giant whale that was washed ashore in the Okpoama community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have butchered.

    According to reports, the whale measuring about 15 meters long and five meters wide at a height of about three meters, was reportedly dead when residents saw it on the beach on Wednesday morning.

    The fish was said to have come in with the high tide on Tuesday night and was left on the shore as the sea water receded at low tide.

    A community source, Tarinyo Akono, told Punch on Wednesday that “they are butchering the whale,” saying the people were using machetes, hacksaws, and axes to cut the animal to pieces.

    A former state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State Council, who is an indigene of the area, Akono said the whale was dead after being out of water throughout the night.

    The youth president of Okpoama, Seiyefa Felix Ben-Basuo also confirmed that people were butchering the animal at the seaside.

  • Aiteo shuts OML 29 field in Bayelsa

    Aiteo shuts OML 29 field in Bayelsa

    Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO), operator of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 on Wednesday announced that the shutting of its Nembe Oilfields following a leak.

    AEEPCO in a statement by its spokesman, Mr Ndianabasi Mathew, said that the field was shut as a precautionary measure to safeguard the environment from further degradation.

    “AEEPCO, operator of the OML 29, confirms it has detected an oil leak at its Nembe swamp facility in OML 29, Nembe Kingdom, Bayelsa State. The leak was reported on Monday, June 17, 2024, during routine operations.

    “AEEPCO’s Oil Spill and Emergency Response Team were immediately activated and all production from OML 29 shut down. This is a precautionary measure while mobilizing additional resources to contain the spill.

    “The cause of the spill is currently undetermined. However, we are proactively engaging with stakeholders to mitigate the immediate effects,” Mathew said.

    The spokesman quoted AEEPCO’s Group Managing Director, Victor Okoronkwo, as saying: “During our operations on Monday, June 17, 2024, the subject leak was detected. A Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) with stakeholders has been initiated to determine the cause of this incident.

    “While we regret the production losses to the Joint Venture and the nation and the potential environmental impact, our current priority is to expedite an efficient spill management process in line with regulatory standards and collaborate with all stakeholders to restore production and mitigate associated risks.

    “Our joint venture partners and the relevant regulators; The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) have been notified of the incident.”

    NOSDRA has scheduled a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to ascertain the cause of the spill, estimated volume of crude spilled and its impact on the environment.

    Mr Solomon Ukponevi, Head of NOSDRA’s field Office in Yenagoa, had told NAN on Wednesday that the agency was investigating the incident.

  • Reps to probe 20 years NDDC contract abandoned in Bayelsa

    Reps to probe 20 years NDDC contract abandoned in Bayelsa

    The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the abandoned erosion protection contract in Kolokuma/Opokuma in Bayelsa, awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Abonsizibe Oboku(PDP-Bayelsa) during plenary in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Presenting the motion, Oboku said that almost 20 years after, the project had been abandoned, adding that this had resulted into a perennial erosion, affecting a clan comprising 10 communities.

    He said that Ayakotoama community had been washed away, adding that a substantial part of Orubiri community had suffered the same fate.

    This, he said had led to the loss of lives and property, which he said could have been averted if the contractor and NDDC had lived up to the expectation of the aim and objectives of the said contract.

    Adopting the motion, the House mandated the committee on NDDC to investigate the project and report back to the House in four weeks for further legislative action.

  • BREAKING: Multiple explosions rock gas plant feeding NLNG export terminal

    BREAKING: Multiple explosions rock gas plant feeding NLNG export terminal

    Multiple explosions were on Tuesday reported at the gas processing plant operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) at Gbarain, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the gas plant feeds the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) export terminal in Bonny Island, Rivers.

    Speaking about the incident on Tuesday evening, a community source said the explosion occurred on a pipeline feeding the gas plant.

    A resident, Jessie David, claimed the blast was traced to a pipeline attacked by suspected vandals, which led to explosions and eruption of thick smoke and gaseous emission.

    He explained that the operator of the plant was alerted, and the line was isolated, reducing the pressure.

    Confirming the incident, SPDC spokesman, Michael Adande, noted that the incident occurred near the facility and that the cause was yet to be ascertained.

    “We are actively monitoring reports of smoke detected near our Gbarain Central Processing Facility in Bayelsa State.

    “While the source appears to be external to our facility, we are in close communication with regulatory authorities to investigate the incident and ensure the safety of the surrounding communities,” Adande said.