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Tag: bayelsa

  • 40-year-old man hangs self in Ibadan, another in Bayelsa

    A 40-year-old man, Lanre Kazeem, committed suicide early yesterday by hanging himself in his house, located at Eyin Grammar School, Molete area.

    It was gathered that Kazeem lived in a rented house and worked in a private palm kernel company around Soka, Ibadan, while he also had no known relatives or friends all through his one-year stay in the area.

    The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olugbenga Fadeyi, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that the body had been deposited at Adeoyo State Hospital’s mortuary.

    Fadeyi said: “The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sanyo division, has visited the area to see what happened. Investigation has commenced on the matter to know what actually happened”.

    Some residents of the area told newsmen that the deceased hailed from Ogun State and left no suicide note behind to explain the cause of his action, while some of his neighbours claimed the deceased had been sick for close to two weeks without any medical care.

    Also speaking on the incident, the chairman, Eyin Grammar Landlords’ Association, Alhaji Lateef Adegoke, said the incident was reported to him and the police had taken the body to the mortuary.

    Meanwhile, the management of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Ilorin, has condoled with the family of one of its students, Fatima Abdullah, who reportedly committed suicide in Abuja on June 18.

    This was contained in a statement issued by AbdulRazaq Sanni, the Director, University Relations, yesterday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Fatima, a 300-Level student in the Faculty of Law, committed suicide at her home in Abuja.

    KWASU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Muhammed Akanbi, extended condolences to her family.

    While sympathising with family over the loss, Akanbi enjoined parents and guardians to be sensitive to their children and wards’ unusual behaviour, especially when they notice withdrawal syndrome in their attitude.

    Also at the weekend, a 28-year-old man, identified simply as Suga, committed suicide in Bayelsa State. Suga, who hailed from Nembe Local Government Area of the state, poisoned himself with a substance suspected to be insecticide after using his boss’ money worth N150,000 to play Bet9ja virtual games.

    A source, who craved anonymity, said Suga used to run a Bet9ja shop for his unnamed boss in Bassambiri Nembe area of the state. The source said the money the deceased used to play the virtual bets was meant for the day’s work.

    The source stated: “Suga, not knowing how to explain the situation to his boss, made him to take his own life.”

  • Court orders Bayelsa PDP to pay N105m rent arrears

    A High Court in Yenagoa on Thursday ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bayelsa chapter, to pay N105 million outstanding rent to the owner of its secretariat complex.

    Justice T.I. Cocodia who delivered judgment today, granted the prayers of Chubby Ben Walson, the landlord of the six-wing complex.

    Walson was a former council chairman and a PDP stalwart.

    Justice Cocodia ruled that Walson was entitled to payment of rent from the PDP for the use of the complex on Alamieyeseigha Expressway, Yenagoa, from August 2008 till date.

    Cocodia ordered the PDP to pay Walson N85 million, being rent arrears from July 2010 to July 2018.

    Justice Cocodia, also ordered the PDP to pay the due rent of N20 million to the landlord as rent from July 2018 to July 2019 if the matter transcended Aug. 1, 2019.

    Walson filed the suit in 2019, after PDP failed to pay accumulated rent since 2010.

    In his reaction to the judgment, counsel to the landlord, Kelvin Ejelonu, described it as well deserved.

    “Not only did the claimant prove his case but also the defendant, PDP, did not in anyway disprove the claims.

    “The case of the claimant was established by a preponderance of the evidence.

    “The judgment re-emphasises the fact that once you have a legal right and you pursue same through the courts, you are sure to get justice.”

  • INEC fixes Imo, Bayelsa Plateau bye-elections ahead of Edo, Ondo guber polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has assured that the nation’s democracy and electoral process cannot be truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Commission therefore insisted that all elections will go on as scheduled despite the Coronavirus scare, adding that “while the Commission takes the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, our democracy and electoral process cannot be truncated for this reason, particularly because health authorities have advised on measures to protect the public from the virus, including all those involved in elections.”

    The Commission also disclosed that it will conduct the Bayelsa Central, Bayelsa East, Imo North and Plateau South, as well as other bye-elections ahead of the two major Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.

    Outstanding bye-elections include Nasarawa Central State Constituency, Cross River North Senatorial District, Nganzai and Bayo State constituencies of Borno State and Bakori State constituency of Katsina State.

    INEC National Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, who gave the hint in his remarks during the maiden virtual meeting with States Resident Electoral Commissioners, stated that “the Commission has directed the RECs for the nine States where the bye-elections will hold to begin preparations in earnest”.

    He added that, “the same time, we are also studying reports of recent elections conducted under the COVID-19 pandemic”,

    According to Yakubu, “it is my pleasure to welcome you to this historic meeting. This is the first time the Commission is holding a formal meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners without anyone of you leaving your States of deployment. I am glad that all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) are connected to this meeting.

    “I must quickly add that with today’s virtual meeting with you, the deployment of communication technology will increasingly become the dominant means of information dissemination within the Commission in particular and the management of the electoral processes in general, including future engagement with stakeholders”.

    He continued that, Today’s meeting is holding against the background of the global health challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in which no country around the world is unaffected. Our country’s national effort to combat the pandemic is coordinated by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on whose request the Commission has made available a number of vehicles from our fleet to support the emergency response.

    “The majority of these assets were deployed to Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which have so far recorded the highest number of reported cases in the country.

    “Like every national institution in Nigeria, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our activities. For instance, further engagement with the National Assembly and stakeholders on electoral reform as well as the conduct of some off-season elections had to be suspended because of the global health emergency. Happily, the PTF has issued Guidelines on protective measures for the gradual restoration of normalcy nationwide. On that basis, the Commission recently released its own policy on conducting elections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commission is convinced that electoral activities can resume but in full compliance with the advisory issued by health authorities.

    “Consequently, the end of tenure Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States scheduled for 19th September 2020 and 10th October 2020 respectively will proceed as planned. Already, some of the registered political parties have notified the Commission of the dates for their party primaries leading to the nomination of their candidates for the two elections.

    “While the Commission takes the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, our democracy and electoral process cannot be truncated for this reason, particularly because health authorities have advised on measures to protect the public from the virus, including all those involved in elections.

    “In addition to the two Governorship elections, the Commission is also making preparations to conduct nine legislative bye-elections. Already, vacancies have been declared by the Senate President in respect of four Senatorial Districts (Bayelsa Central, Bayelsa East, Imo North and Plateau South). Similarly, the Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly has declared the seat for Nasarawa Central State Constituency vacant. Information reaching the Commission also indicates the existence of vacancies for the Cross River North Senatorial District, Nganzai and Bayo State constituencies of Borno State and Bakori State constituency of Katsina State.

    “The Edo and Ondo Governorship elections as well as the five Senatorial and four State Assembly bye-elections are spread across nine States of the Federation involving a cumulative number of 62 Local Government Areas (LGAs); 687 Registration Areas (RAs); 9,149 Polling Units (PUs) and 6,454,950 registered voters. Put in the context of our sub-region, the number of registered voters for these off-season elections is equivalent to holding General Elections in Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde put together. Full delimitation details for the elections have been uploaded on our website and social media platforms.

    “The Commission is determined to hold some of the bye-elections ahead of the two major Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States to enable us test run and fine-tune our modified processes in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Already, the Commission has directed the RECs for the nine States where the bye-elections will hold to begin preparations in earnest. At the same time, we are also studying reports of recent elections conducted under the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in places such as Mali and South Korea, for any lessons that will strengthen our processes and protect all those involved.

    “At this meeting, we will receive the input of our RECs to the new policy with particular reference to its implementation in the areas of recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, logistics for the deployment of personnel and materials, the conduct of party primaries and nomination of candidates, the submission of the names of polling agents by political parties, the accreditation of observers and the media, the security of the electoral process, polling unit management and the collation and declaration of results.”

  • JUST IN: Gunmen kidnap popular blogger in Bayelsa

    Pandemonium broke out in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on Saturday when a popular news blogger and owner of Naijalivetv.com, Mienpamo Saint was reportedly abducted at his home by hooded gunmen.

    According to reports, the blogger was kidnapped at about 1:00am on Saturday.

    The gunmen reportedly whisked the victim to an unknown destination after seizing his phones and those of his relatives.

    Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Asinim Butswat, said he was yet to be briefed on the matter when contacted.

    However, the incident has generated uproar among journalists especially social media practitioners, who condemned the development and called for his unconditional release.

    A media rights activist and Convener of Yenagoa Media Forum (YMF), Agidee Theophilus, described the incident as outrageous.

    Theophilus said: “This is another, in a series of calamitous events that have befallen men and women of the besieged fourth estate of the realm in the state.

    “The Yenagoa Media Forum joins other members of the pen fraternity to condemn the abduction of the media practitioner who in recent times has published scathing reports about key political actors in the Bayelsa State government.

    “While the painful memory of the unresolved murder of Famous Giobaro is still fresh in our minds, we urged the Bayelsa State Police Command to do everything within it’s powers to resolve the matter within the shortest possible time.

    “Our work as journalists in the state is almost a thankless job while dissenting voices are treated as pariahs. For those who have instigated this shameful act, let’s be reminded of the very insightful statement by the late US, President John F. Kennedy on freedom of the press”.

  • COVID-19: NNPC commences construction of 200-Bed infectious diseases hospital in Yenagoa

    COVID-19: NNPC commences construction of 200-Bed infectious diseases hospital in Yenagoa

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)-led Oil & Gas Industry Intervention Initiative on COVID-19 over the weekend began the third phase of their support programme with the ground breaking ceremony for a permanent Emergency and Infectious Diseases Hospital for the South-South Region in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    A release today in Abuja by NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, stated that the event flagged–off the plan by the intervention group to deliver lasting medical infrastructure across the six-geopolitical zones in the Country.

    Chief Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources who spoke at the event affirmed that the project was part of the Nigerian Oil Industry Coalition initiative led by the NNPC to support the nation’s efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

    He reiterated that the Oil Industry was contributing about N21billion worth of support provided through internal procurement processes of contributing companies.

    Chief Sylva said that Bayelsa State was considered a suitable site for the project given its pioneering role in the history of Oil and Gas in the Country and its current contribution of about 40 per cent to onshore crude oil output.

    The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, who spoke through the corporation’s Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), who is also the coordinator of the initiative in the Petroleum Industry, Mr. Bala Wunti, disclosed that the corporation was working with its Joint Venture partners across the Upstream, Midstream and Downstream sectors to support the Health Sector.

    He said that the NNPC-led intervention had allocated the N21billion-worth of support to various International Oil Companies, Indigenous operators with Joint Venture stakes across the oil sector.

    He explained that the infectious diseases hospital to be sited on a 1,586 square metre-space would serve as zonal isolation centre for COVID-19 and would serve as a referral hospital for communicable diseases after the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Mr Lorenzo Fiorillo, Managing Director, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) stated at the event that the outbreak of COVID-19 disease had put a lot of strain on healthcare systems and personnel globally.

    Mr. Fiorillo who spoke through Mr Macwon Jitubo, Head of Community Relations, (NAOC,) said that the company remained sympathetic to help navigate the threat posed by COVID-19 pandemic, which he explained, had resulted in millions of deaths worldwide.

    He said the project being delivered in Bayelsa State would engender a valuable medical asset to the South South region of the Country.

    Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, who earlier applauded Sylva for attracting the project to the state, performed the ground-breaking ceremony in company of other dignitaries including Mr Chukwuemaka Nwajiobi, Minister of State for Education, who represented the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to Government of Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha at the occasion,

    Dr. Kennie Obateru
    Group General Manager
    Group Public Affairs Division
    Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
    NNPC Towers
    Abuja

  • Bayelsa records index coronavirus case

    Bayelsa records index coronavirus case

    Bayelsa has recorded the first case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state.

    Dr. Inodu Akpoku, the Chairman of Bayelsa COVID-19 Task Force implementation Committee, confirmed the affected woman has been quarantined at one of the isolation centres in the state.

    Akpoku said that there was no cause for worry and that the state is well-prepared to handle the situation.

    The chairman said that the government was preparing a detailed statement on the case that would be made public.

    He said; “We have recorded one case and she is a woman and she has been moved to the isolation centre at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) at Okolobiri in Yenagoa Local Government Area.

    “There is absolutely no need for panic because the Bayelsa government is adequately prepared for this. We have no fewer than three isolation centres and well trained medical professionals to tackle the pandemic.

    “We appeal to the people to take their hygiene more seriously and we have emphasised the use of face masks by residents in addition to other protocols put in place by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

    “Also, people should ensure they take more fruits and vegetables in their diet as it boosts the immune system. In addition to complying with the hygiene protocols, good nutrition is also recommended,” he said.

  • Panic as strange dead fishes litter Bayelsa coastline

    Panic as strange dead fishes litter Bayelsa coastline

    Bayelsa Government on Tuesday urged residents to abstain from harvesting, processing, eating or selling dead fishes currently littering the Atlantic ocean coastline in the state.

    The advice was coming more than one month after reports of massive death of fishes floating near the shoreline across the Niger Delta was deposited on the coastline by tidal waves.

    Mr Warimapo Amatari, Permanent Secretary, Bayelsa Ministry of Environment in a statement in Yenagoa, stated that consumption of the dead fishes posed a threat to public health.

    “People in the coastline communities are advised to henceforth refrain from collecting, processing, drying and eating the dead fishes as they are bound to be contaminated.

    “The fishes appear to be contaminated by heavy metal compounds and sludge from preliminary observation and eating such fish can expose the people to cancer, kidney and liver diseases.

    “So our advice is that the processing and drying of such fishes and transporting to Yenagoa, the state capital should be stopped pending the outcome of the investigation to ascertain the cause of the deaths of the fishes.

    “The ministry of environment in collaboration with other government agencies are investigating the matter and in the interest of public health, we want the people to keep away from the dead fishes,” Amaitari said.

    Residents along Koluama, Ekeni, Ezetu, Fishtown, Foropa, Sangana axis of the Atlantic coastline in Bayelsa, had reported sighting dead fishes littering the shoreline, since the middle of March.

    Some of the residents said the incident became obvious since March 15 and had yet to abate, fueling fears of pollution of the country’s territorial waters as a result of the dead fishes.

    Forum of Current CDC Chairmen, hosts to Chevron oilfields in Bayelsa had appealed to the Federal and State governments to check the impact of suspected toxic pollution across the Atlantic coastline.

    They said the pollution was a threat to the predominantly fishing settlement and caused hardship to host communities, adding that ongoing exploration work in nearby oilfields operated by Chevron and First E & P were probable causes.

    The forum led by its chairman, Chief Captain Patrick Ekubo and Secretary, Mr Biraladei Brisibe Wuka, said the call became imperative as the oil firms operating in the area had shown no concern.

    Wuka said the increased toxicity of the Atlantic ocean was a cause for concern to them, especially on their health.

    They urged the oil industry regulators to trace the source of the pollution while calling on NOSDRA to immediately constitute a Joint Investigation Team to ascertain the cause of the toxic pollution that had endangered their lives.

    The communities in Brass and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of Bayelsa urged NOSDRA to wrap up the probe within 21 days or risk a total shutdown of oil facilities in the area.

    However, Chevron Nigeria, an affiliate of U.S. energy firm which operated oilfields near the communities, responding to the allegations, told NAN that there were no leaks from its facilities in the area.

    Mr Esimaje Brikinn, General Manager in charge of Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Ltd, denied any links to the alleged pollution with operations of the oil firm.

    “CNL and Star Deep confirm that there has not been any chemical release from any of our facilities,” Brikinn said.

    Public Affairs Officials of First E & P, an indigenous oil firm that acquired two Oil Mining Leases (OML) 83 and 85 from Chevron in 2015 and currently engaged in drilling campaigns declined comments on the allegation.

    Information at the official website of First E & P showed that the oil firm had deployed drilling rigs and a Floating Storage and Offloading vessel in the ongoing development of the oil blocs in the area.

  • Keniebi Okoko’s death shocked me – Diri

    Keniebi Okoko’s death shocked me – Diri

    Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa said on Thursday in Yenagoa that he received the news of the sudden demise of Pastor Keniebi Okoko with great shock and pain.
    The governor, who described the late 42-year-old Okoko as an Ijaw icon, pillar and astute businessman, said Bayelsa, the Ijaw nation and indeed Nigeria has lost a man with great potential whose philanthropism and impact as a young politician would be greatly missed.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Keniebi, son of former President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and former lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Kimse Okoko, died on Tuesday at a private hospital in Lagos.
    The governor commiserated with his family, aged parents, the Obunagha community of Gbarain Clan in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.
    Diri recalled how Okoko was a co-contestant in the Sept. 4, 2019 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and made an impressive showing.
    “As a fellow aspirant in the course of the PDP governorship primary, I got to know him quite well, he said in a statement by his Acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah.
    “He always presented himself as a patriotic, intelligent, gentlemanly, courteous and devoted Christian. He was always passionate about the prosperity of our state.
    “I was therefore not surprised when I emerged winner of the primary election, Keniebi showed great sportsmanship by immediately congratulating me and collapsing his political structure into mine and worked energetically to ensure our victory.”
    He noted that Okoko’s death was a huge loss to the PDP family in Bayelsa, coming at a time the party had great hopes in him to further the frontiers of development of the state.
    He prayed God to comfort and grant his parents and immediate family the grace to bear this painful loss, adding that as ordinary mortals, we could not question God even at a time as this.
    His words: “The sudden passing of Pastor Keniebi Okoko came as a rude shock to me. It is equally painful just as it is tragic.
    “This is a terrible blow to Bayelsa and indeed the Ijaw nation. We have lost a pillar of support and a great patriot, who believed in and was always ready to contribute his quota to the development of our state. He will be greatly missed.
    “I commiserate with the Okoko family as well as the PDP family in Bayelsa over this painful loss of a young man with great potential.
    “As mortals, we cannot question the will of God even in death, no matter how painful it is.
    “Why his sun has set, so suddenly at noon is a mystery to all of us who love him. I pray God to grant us all the strength at this time and the grace to bear the pain of Keniebi’s sudden departure.
    “Nonetheless, we take solace in the words of Apostle Paul in Romans 14:8-9: If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord,” he added.
  • COVID-19: PETAN partners NCDMB, donates to Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta States

    COVID-19: PETAN partners NCDMB, donates to Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta States

    As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) endeavours, and in her effort to alleviate the anguish of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has partnered with the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to donate Ambulances , Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other medical equipment to Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers State governments

    This was made known by the Chairman of the Association, Mr. Nik Odinuwe, in Port Harcourt. He said the association is aware of the immense strain COVID-19 pandemic has placed on the healthcare system in Nigeria, and that, with the PETAN and NCDMB donations,he hopes a substantial fight against this virus will be won, in the three states.

    The partnership between PETAN and NCDMB will continue in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and other areas for the benefit of Nigerians.

    Echoing some of the sentiments of the Chairman, Dr. Lucky Akhiwu, the Publicity Secretary of the Association, said the whole country is working tirelessly to slowdown the spread of Coronavirus and that PETAN will be proud to help on a continuous basis. He also added, that PETAN member companies are presently reaching out to their host communities, to provide them with palliative materials to help ease their struggles in this time of need.

    In his final remark, the Chairman of the association, Mr. Nik Odinuwe, thanked the members of PETAN for their selfless service in the fight against the virus, and urged members of the public to stay in their homes, wash their hands regularly, and comply with the stipulated social distance gap.

    PETAN as a reputable association, continuously takes care of the wellbeing of her staff, and is working in close association with her members host communities, to mitigate the spread of COVID -19 pandemic.

  • 2 suspected cases of COVID-19 in Bayelsa test negative

    2 suspected cases of COVID-19 in Bayelsa test negative

    The two suspected COVID-19 cases in Bayelsa State have tested negative for the virus, the state government has said.

    The samples were collected from the suspects on Monday at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, for testing at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State.

    Dr Inodu Apoku, the Chairman of the Implementation Committee of Bayelsa State Task Force On Covid-19, said the results were received on Thursday.

    Apoku explained in a statement on Sunday in Yenagoa that the patients had been discharged from the FMC.

    He called on members of the public to continue to be vigilant and report anyone manifesting symptoms of the virus through the appropriate channels so that such persons could be screened.

    Apoku, also Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, said there were plans to engage community volunteers to monitor persons arriving their neighbourhood, particularly those whose traveling history might be suspicious.