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  • Traditional Sports: Bayelsa wins first gold in Ayo

    Traditional Sports: Bayelsa wins first gold in Ayo

    Seun Aiyedun of Bayelsa, on Tuesday, won gold medal in Ayo competition of the 2022 National Open Traditional Sports.

    Newsmen reports that Aiyedun won all the four games in the male single category in day one of the competitions played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

    Aiyedun defeated Pave Andoka of Edo in the first game 3-0. He beat Richard Ben of Akwa Ibom 3-0 in the second.

    He defeated Monday Samuel of FCT in the third game 3-0 and finally defeated Julius Femi of Delta 3-1 in the fourth game.

    Speaking to newsmen, Aiyedun said he was happy that he won the gold medal.

    ‘i’m happy for this victory, all my opponents worked hard in their games but I thank God for defeating them.

    “I hope to also win a medal in the double male category on Wednesday,” he said.

    Richard Ben of Akwa Ibom finished second to win silver while Pave Andoka finished third to win bronze medal.

    In the female category, Blessing Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom finished first to win gold medal.

    Faith Okwudihu from Delta took second position to win silver.

    NAN reports that five states participated in the Ayo competition – FCT, Baylesa, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Delta.

    The 2022 edition of the Sport featured Kokuwa, Dambe, Abula, Langa and Ayo.

    The National Open Championship, which started on Monday is expected to end on Wednesday.

  • SAD! Maria Raphael, a Taekwondo athlete crushed to death by truck in Nasarawa

    SAD! Maria Raphael, a Taekwondo athlete crushed to death by truck in Nasarawa

    She was crushed to death, according to death in a report monitored by TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG)

    The deceased, who won a silver medal for team Nasarawa in the just concluded Bayelsa Open Taekwondo, was crushed by a truck in Lafia, the state capital, on Friday.

    The deceased lost her life after purchasing some items from a grocery store along UAC road in Lafia.

    The talented athlete won a bronze medal in the 46kg women’s category at the 15th edition of the Panamai West African and Cottage Mills Taekwondo Championship, held recently in Lagos State.

    She was in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where she represented Nasarawa in a championship which held between August 21 and 24, 2022.

    In a statement, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, described the death as an unquantifiable loss, saying her immense contributions to sports in the state would be sorely missed.

    “Maria was crushed to death (sic) by an articulated vehicle (trailer) along UAC Road here in Lafia, while on her way to purchase some items from a grocery store in the evening of Friday, 26th August, 2022, few hours after returning home from a championship in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where she represented Nasarawa State.”

    “At the 15th edition of the Panamai West African and Cottage Mills Taekwondo Championship held early this month in Lagos, the late Maria Raphael was one of the athletes who inspired Team Nasarawa to finish 4th position on the medals’ table as she won a bronze medal in the -46kg Women’s Category at the Championship.

    “The deceased was a committed, dedicated and focused athlete, winning medals of different categories for Nasarawa State, ranging from cadet, junior and senior category, until her untimely demise.

    “Maria brought lots of glory and honour to Nasarawa State. Her demise is an unquantifiable loss to everyone of us at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Nasarawa State as a whole, while her immense contributions will be sorely missed,” read the statement signed by Eche Amos, spokesman of the ministry.

    Source: Daily Trust

  • Traditional ruler seeks host communities’ participation in oil sector

    Traditional ruler seeks host communities’ participation in oil sector

    King Bubaraye Dokolo, the Chairman, of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, has said that host communities should play more active roles in the oil and gas value chain.

    Dokolo, also the Paramount Ruler, Ekpetiama Kingdom, made the advocacy while speaking at the torch lighting ceremony for the 2022 Oil and Gas Stakeholders Festival (OGSFEST) in Yenagoa on Sunday.

    He said that Niger Delta communities would become more peaceful and productive if they played more active roles in managing the oil and gas resources in their domain.

    Dakolo said it was morally wrong for the Federal Government to give oil blocs to people who do not suffer the adverse effects of oil and gas explorations

    ”As a region, the Niger Delta has nothing to show after six decades of exploration and production in its land.

    ”We should play key roles in managing and determining how our resources are used. This is in the interest of justice and fairness,” he said.

    In her address, OGSFEST 2022 Convener, Ms Onome Wilkinson, said the ceremony was to kickstart the event billed to hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom in August.

    She said that OGSFEST was aimed at promoting peace, unity and a symbiotic relationship among oil and gas host communities through a funfair approach.

    She said the Festival would showcase essay competitions, epic dramas, colourfully packaged cultural performances and roundtable discussions.

    ”The roundtable discussions will focus mainly on issues concerning the environment, oil spillage, enabling laws and more,” he said.

  • Presidential Amnesty Programme revokes training contract for ex-agitators

    The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has revoked the training contract awarded to Express Concern International (ECN) for ex-agitators in its novel Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM) scheme.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Neotabase Egbe, the Special Adviser, Media to the Interim Administrator, Col. Milland Dikio (retd), on Sunday in Yenagoa.

    It explained that the firm’s job was terminated for breaching the terms contained in the contract.

    The statement is sequel to an allegation by a group, Concerned Indigenes of Oil Mineral Producing States Forum (CIOMPSF), that the company diverted funds it received from PAP.

    Egbe said even before the group issued its statement, PAP had terminated the contracts of the defaulting firm.

    He said the amnesty office had also activated its internal mechanism to retrieve the money it paid to the firm through a performance bond provided by the company.

    The statement acknowledged the interests shown by various stakeholders in the affairs of PAP.

    Egbe explained that under Dikio each job awarded by PAP was secured by a performance bond provided by the benefitting firm that enabled the amnesty office recover its money in an event of default by a contractor.

    “The attention of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has been drawn to reports that a contractor, Express Concerns International Limited, has diverted money paid to them to train 90 ex-agitators in the agriculture value chain.

    “Indeed, the PAP had contracted Express Concerns International Limited to train its beneficiaries. But the contract was terminated via a letter dated June 14th, 2022, because the contractor breached the terms of the agreement.

    “Contracts are not awarded to just anybody who submits a proposal, but to serious contractors, who have the capacity to deliver their contractual obligations.

    “However, each job awarded by PAP has an insurance bond that ensures the scheme recovers its money in the event of default by contractors.

    “Consequently, the PAP wrote to the guaranteeing firm/insurance company for the recovery of the mobilisation fee paid to the company.

    “While the management of the PAP acknowledges the interests shown by various stakeholders in the affairs of PAP, let it be known that deliberate measures were put in place to reform contractual processes and block all loopholes that could be capitalised upon to dupe the programme.

    “To all our concerned stakeholders and the general public, there is nothing to worry about as your concerns had been anticipated and taken care of through the various reforms initiated by the administration of Col. Dikio (rtd).

    “We want to further assure all stakeholders that PAP’s contracts are designed for the benefits of the programme’s beneficiaries and not for the enrichment of any contractor,” the statement read in part.

  • Dickson cautions Bayelsa PDP members against disunity

    Dickson cautions Bayelsa PDP members against disunity

    The immediate past governor of Bayelsa state, Sen. Seriake Dickson, has cautioned members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state against disunity.

    Dickson, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Yenagoa by his media aide, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, urged the members to be loyal to Gov. Douye Diri.

    Dickson, who currently represents Bayelsa West senatorial district at the National Assembly, described Diri as the leader of the party in the state.

    ”Let’s avoid anything that will ignite division and disunity. As a former governor, my loyalty goes to the current governor,” he said.

    Dickson, who is seeking second term re-election as senator, said that the party would fare better if it shunned discord and remained united.

    ”All those who are trying to cause disaffection within the leadership of the party over the 2023 general elections must desist forthwith.

    ”Don’t forget how the mercy and grace of God blessed our collective efforts to retrieve our stolen mandate by enthroning the current state government,” he said.

    The former governor urged all aspirants in the state to play decent politics.

    ” I have always maintained that all political ambitions are legitimate, people should pray, consult and work hard.

    ”As a party, we shall look into all the emerging issues and resolve them accordingly,” he said.

    Dickson congratulated the Diri-led government for completing the New Yenagoa City Bridge which was initiated by his administration.

    ”This is a good demonstration of the spirit of continuity in governance. This will bring alive the New Yenagoa City project,” he said

    ”By this development, allottees can now plan to make their inputs to the building of a truly befitting modern state capital,” he said.

    He urged Bayelsa people to make meaningful inputs towards better governance in the state.

  • Again, Agip’s Ogboinbiri/OB-OB gas pipeline vandalised, set on fire [VIDEO]

    Again, Agip’s Ogboinbiri/OB-OB gas pipeline vandalised, set on fire [VIDEO]

    Barely one week after it was attacked by vandals on March 29, the 24-inch Ogboinbiri/OB-OB gas pipeline has been vandalised and set ablaze.

    The breach of the pipeline, operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), cuts the oil firm’s gas export feed to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas gathering and processing plant.

    The vandalised point, located within Okaka and Azikoro in Yenagoa Local Government Area, was engulfed by fire on Wednesday.

    Mr Idris Musa, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), confirmed the incident to NAN on Thursday.

    The spills response agency had on March 30 said that its investigations revealed a rising spate of sabotage-induced oil and gas leaks at oilfields in Bayelsa.

    Musa had raised the alarm that three sabotage incidents had occurred on oil and gas facilities in Bayelsa within one week and advised operators to reinforce surveillance.

    The NOSDRA boss explained that shortly after fixing the gas pipeline a few days ago, vandals blew it up and it went up in flames.

    “The Nigerian Agip Oil Company is working actively to depressurize the pipeline in order to affect repairs on it,” Musa said.

    Officials of NAOC declined to comment on the incident and negligence of the regulator’s advice to intensify surveillance on the asset when contacted for response.

    The fire at the site, which had forced surrounding vegetation to wither, is yet to be put out as at Thursday morning.

     

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  • Jonathan, others, eulogise Bayelsa founding father, Aganaba

    Jonathan, others, eulogise Bayelsa founding father, Aganaba

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said one of the founding fathers of Bayelsa State, late King Geoffrey Aganaba, lived an exemplary life.

    Jonathan, who was represented by a former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Rear Admiral John Jonah (Rtd), said this at the 25th anniversary of late Aganaba in Yenogoa.

    Aganaba was one of the founding fathers of Bayelsa State whose advocacy for a homogenous Ijaw state materialised on Oct. 1, 1996.

    He said what Aganaba had done was worth learning and passed on to the next generation so that children would learn that these things were possible.

    Jonathan said most children did not know about Balyesa history as they did not grow up at home and must be taught the history.

    “But it is by studying what people of this calibre of his time have done; the self sacrifices they have made to get us to this point that we can actually know that yes, we have a duty to this state.

    “All of us have a duty to this state to ensure that this state get to a point that succeeding generations will come and judge us with standards far higher than what we have now.

    “Things are changing, it is a computer age; they will scrutinise us. But if they do that, can you stand out? He, Aganaba, has actually passed that test,” he said.

    Jonathan appealed to Ijaw people to rally round and support one another describing the late Aganaba as a man who lived an exemplary lifestyle.

    Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa recalled that the founding fathers had requested for three states before the late military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, created Bayelsa in 1996

    Describing the Ijaw as the fourth largest ethnic nationality in the country, Diri lauded the late Aganaba for his contributions in the creation of Bayelsa but said it was not the end of the agitation for more Ijaw states.

    “The creation of Bayelsa State is not the end of it; it is indeed the beginning of it.

    “We still have other two states that we proposed that have not been created and we must make that clear to the Nigerian government that the Ijaws are still craving for the creation of two additional homogenous Ijaw states.

    “We are indisputably the fourth largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria but yet we have been balkanised into four, five states and in each of these states, the Ijaws have become minorities.

    ” I am sure that the new executive of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) will continue to take that as one of their battles that they will continue to fight and as your government, we will stand behind you to give you that support” Diri said.

    Extolling the late King, the governor described him as a man of peace, freedom fighter, saying that Aganaba sacrificed everything for Ijaw people.

    “For some of us in the history of our existence, we have never seen a man who died and for 25 years still resonates. It is heartwarming that the family gathered together and say we have to honour our father, our uncle; our brother.

    “This man has touched lives, his legacy is speaking for him today. Not only was he the king of Kolokuma clan but this man was in the forefront of the liberation of the Ijaw people.

    “He was that patriotic that his house in the old GRA became the centre of the meetings for the creation of states for the Ijaw people; not only Bayelsa as at that time.

    Also, a former Military Administrator of old Rivers, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, said three states were proposed for Ijaw homogenous states.

    Diette-Spiff was represented by King Bubaraye Dakolo, Agada IV, Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom.

    ”We as the younger ones would also go there to become messengers; his own house and that of late Amaitari Zuofa.

    “One of his greatest desire as I said was to see the birth of prosperous Ijaw states that will be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of states in Nigeria and as that time.

    “He fought relentlessly, he left every other thing and became one of those who spoke and who stood for the creation of Bayelsa State.

    “Today, most of us; governors, past and including myself serving, permanent secretaries, heads of service, speakers of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, members of the state House of Assembly, commissioners are all enjoying the sweats of people like Geoffery Filinti Aganaba.

    “We cannot but honour and recognise our heroes past,” he said.

    Diri said his government established the policy of recognising and honouring Ijaw heroes, adding, it was the reason he named the Bayelsa media house after the great Ernest Ikoli.

    In his opening remarks, the Chairman Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja JP, Amayanabo of Opobo observed that Bayelsa had been in the forefront of celebrating and recognising those, who contributed and fought for its creation.

    He said: “Bayelsa State is taking a lead in this because from time to time, they remember that this state did not come by accident that people worked for it and they do the right thing by remembering them.

    “I still know that there are those who fought for this state who are still alive, let us celebrate our heroes when they are alive and not when they die.

    “King Geoffery Filinti Aganaba, the name alone tells a story, the name alone signifies a man who was born to liberate his people and he never looked back,” he said.

  • Bayelsa pegs petrol price at N230 per litre from N300 per litre

    Bayelsa pegs petrol price at N230 per litre from N300 per litre

    As fuel scarcity continued unabated nationwide, Bayelsa has directed that no fuel station should sell petrol above N230 per litre as against the national price of N165 per litre.

    Inaugurating a monitoring team on the pricing and distribution of petroleum products in the state, the deputy governor, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, also directed that no consumer should get more than 25 litres in a jerrycan.

    The directives, he said, would be in force until normalcy returned to petroleum products distribution and supply.

    Ewhrudjakpo assured that government was taking every necessary step to end the scarcity speedily.

    The deputy governor noted that Bayelsa had the least allocation of petrol from the NNPC.

    He argued that making Bayelsa to pay the same amount for fuel subsidy as states with lion share of allocation of petrol amounted to robbing Peter to pay Paul.

    He urged the Federal Government to stop the perceived injustice by ensuring that each state paid for fuel subsidy based on the volume of petrol consumed, or number of trucks allocated to it every month.

    Ewhrudjakpo said Bayelsa would examine the possibility of establishing a fuel depot as its unavailability badly affected fuel, supply in the state.

    Also speaking, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Petroleum Taskforce, Mr Richman Samuel, said through effective negotiation, fuel price was brought down from N300 per litre to N230 per litre in the wake of the current scarcity.

    He appealed to marketers to maintain the negotiated price.

    Samuel said the taskforce had been working round the clock in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the situation was brought under control.

    In his remarks, the Chairman of Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Mr Dukumor Taremi-West, assured that marketers would not take undue advantage of consumers.

    He stressed the need for relevant agencies to query the alleged whereabouts of two truckloads of petrol allocated to the NNPC Floating Station at Nembe, not long ago.

    Earlier, the Operations Controller of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Bayelsa Field office, Mr Ogbe Nicholas, urged the public not to panic as there was enough petrol around the corner.

    He said the Bayelsa Field Office had already placed an order for 10 trucks of petrol from the Warri and Port Harcourt depots.

    Ogbe noted that the absence of a depot in Bayelsa adversely affected supply of fuel and left the state at the mercy of oil marketers.

    The monitoring team is made up of men of the Bayelsa Petroleum Taskforce, the Bayelsa Field Office of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria.

    It also has men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, those of the Department of State Services, as well as the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria as members.

  • Osinbajo, good presidential material – Bayelsa traditional rulers

    Osinbajo, good presidential material – Bayelsa traditional rulers

    The Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has the potential to be a good president.

    King Malla Sasime, Vice Chairman, Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, expressed this view while receiving Osinbajo who paid a courtesy call on traditional rulers at the Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat on Saturday in Yenagoa.

    Osinbajo was in Bayelsa to perform the groundbreaking of the construction of Angiama-Oporoma Bridge, which will link Yenagoa, Capital of Bayelsa, and the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    The traditional ruler thanked Osinbajo for the visit and implored him to maintain the cordial relationship with the state.

    “Vice President, your name has been called for very good reasons; and the reason why your name has been on is maybe people think that you have been very good and we appreciate your efforts in governance.

    “If you come out for president, you will be a good material as those rumours are all over the place in the social media.

    “So, we thank you for being a good vice president; we hope that you keep your relationship with Bayelsa in very good stead; thank you very much,’’ he said.

    Responding, Osinbajo, who was accompanied by Gov. Douye Diri, thanked Sasime for his kind welcome and reception.

    He said that he was in the state to identify with developmental projects of the governor in collaboration with the Federal Government.

    “As you have heard, I am here at the invitation of my brother, the Governor of Bayelsa, to celebrate the second year anniversary of his government and also to look at some of the works that are going as well as perform the groundbreaking of a very important project.

    “We will be driving in a few minutes on the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road; and thereafter, we will be performing the groundbreaking of the Angiama-Oporoma Bridge–which are very crucial projects.

    “I am sure you all know how important that road project is; and how several governments have worked on it including the immediate past governor of the state.

    “They have done their own bit up to a point and in the true tradition of continuum of the government, the current governor is set to complete the project and to ensure that he made available to the good people of Bayelsa, especially many of these communities that will benefit significantly from this.’’

    According to the vice president, the project is an evidence of the collaboration between the federal and state governments.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had shown by his openness, by his desire to ensure that despite political differences, every state in Nigeria benefits fairly and justly.

    “By making sure that as this road has been built, the Federal Government refunded the cost of the project so far and will continue to refund.

    “So, essentially, what we are seeing here is collaboration between the state and the Federal Governments for the benefit of the good people of Bayelsa.

    “I think that this is the way it must be; at the end of the day, political differences do not matter to our people; what our people want is the same thing everywhere across the country.

    “They want good roads; they want good infrastructure; they want an enabling environment to be able to do their businesses; they want good health facilities; good social facilities; and that’s what really the Federal Government is determined to do.’’

    Osinbajo said he was happy that the Federal Government had a partner in the government of Bayelsa, led by Diri.

    He said sure desires could only be achieved if everyone works together, the federal, state, local governments working together.

    “The politicians and technocrats are working together to ensure that we achieve the same objective.”

    He thanked the governor for the warm welcome and for the nice Ijaw outfit that he (Osinbajo) wore.

    “When you look at this outfit, you would imagine that this is what I wear everyday; it is well made but it is courtesy of my dear brother, Diri.

    “He is the one that made sure that I am appropriately attired.

    “All, I can say to him is that he has to make me a few more because after people have seen this, they expect me to show up more often in this outfit.

    “So, I want to thank you very much your Royal Majesties and thank the good people of Bayelsa for the warm welcome,’’ he said.

    Osinbajo was earlier presented with a traditional gift — a walking stick — to match the Ijaw traditional attire he adorned.

  • Sen. Ben Murray Bruce loses mum

    Sen. Ben Murray Bruce loses mum

    Senator, Ben Murray Bruce has been thrown into a state of mourning, as he lost his mum today, February 1.

    The Senator took to his social media account and disclosed that his gem of inestimable value, support system, and best friend is gone.

    He wrote, “Life. Indeed, like sand in the wind, today it’s here, tomorrow it’s gone. My mum is gone. She died at 4:40 am this morning. My gem of inestimable value, my support system, my best friend, my everything—she’s gone.

    My consolation is that in her lifetime, I gave her not just everything that money could buy, but most importantly, I gave her my presence, my time, my everything.

    On uncountable occasions, I will go to her house to hug her and play with her for no reason but love, the kind that only sons share with their mums. I love you, mum, and I miss you. This one hurts so bad. Forever yours.”