Metro

Bayelsa Communities Panic Over Shell’s Alleged Gas Flare Plan

Published

2 years ago

January 23, 2024

Residents of Gbarantoru and neighbouring communities in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have raised the alarm over alleged preparations to flare noxious gas again by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, a field report by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria has said.

Investigation showed that in October 2009, SPDC ignited a gas flare furnace at midnight that woke the people to an environment polluted by noise and noxious gas emitted into the atmosphere.

According to the report released on Monday and signed by the field monitors of ERA/FoEN, Alagoa Morris and Akpotu Ziworitin, “a towering oil well drilling rig” has already been raised by Shell with a possibility that it could “set up the gas flare stack, and flare gas…”

The report said, “Incidentally, Shell would flare horizontally, at ground level. Considering the proximity to the community and living homes, the leadership of Gbarantoru and Ekpetiama kingdom is very much concerned about the health implications on inhabitants, even as the community has witnessed expansion.”

A resident of the community, Kembia Paul, said the impending igniting of the gas flare furnace “is not good for human health,” adding that expectedly the gas flare furnace would be ignited at midnight any day soon.

She said, “Even this one (the raised rig), it was (done) in the night; we just woke up and saw that they had done it (raised the rig). So, definitely igniting of the gas flare furnace is expected in the night. Since it is not good for human health (children are here), if there is anything they can do to help, we are interested because of our health.”

The report also quoted the Chairman of the Progressive Forum of Gbarantoru, Dakolo Ineikade, as recalling that the last time Shell flared gas, “it affected our crops, buildings, and we couldn’t sleep. The same thing is about to happen.”

Ineikade advised the oil firm to move the activity elsewhere because the inhabitants of the area would not accept the hazardous effects of the noxious emission.

“This gas flare that is about to occur here, I, a former youth leader and other concerned members of the community, have taken it upon ourselves that we will stand and make sure the gas flare won’t take place. SPDC should take it elsewhere…we are the immediate impacted community,” he said.

Also speaking, the monarch of Ekpetiama Kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo, described the activity as an aggression against the community people and indeed the Ijaw nation in general.

“From all indications, as they are drilling currently, definitely it will get to a point where they will flare gas.

“Flaring means putting those nuzzles into my nostrils and pumping me with those noxious chemicals. And, even if I can stand it, how many persons in the community would be able to stand it? So, definitely, people would die and you won’t even know that it is caused by poison from Shell. I don’t really blame Shell. Why would the Nigerian state, with all the NUPRC, and all the regulators just sit there, and people will come and kill people? So, what is your job as a regulator?”

When contacted, the Media Relations Manager, SPDC, Mr Michael Adande, said he would make contacts and get back to our correspondent but had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

Recall that Ijaw nation stakeholders under the auspices of the Ijaw National Congress had, at the weekend, demanded that divesting International Oil Companies should clean up the polluted sites around the environments of their host communities in Ijaw land before pulling out of the Niger Delta.

They made their position known in a communique after a one-day dialogue organised by the INC at its national headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with the theme, ‘The imperative for paradigm shift’. The forum was presided over by the President of INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba.

The PUNCH reports that oil giant, Shell, announced on January 15, 2024, that it had agreed to sell its Nigerian onshore oil assets to Renaissance, a consortium of four Nigerian companies and one foreign firm for $2.4bn.

Shell, which had been operating in Nigeria for over 60 years, in a statement by its London office, said with the deal, its onshore subsidiary, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, would now be operated by ND Western, Aradel Energy, First E&P, Waltersmith, and Petrolin, a Swiss company.

The oil major, however, stated that the completion of the deal was still subject to approval by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

On Thursday last week, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, said it was not opposed to Shell’s sale of oil assets.

A statement signed by Nneamaka Okafor, the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, affirmed the government’s commitment to providing the enabling business-friendly environment in the country’s oil and gas industry.

Metro

JUST IN: Hausa, Benin Youths Clash Over Killing Of Suspected Yahoo Boy

Published

14 minutes ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

Photo: file copy

Several persons were on Wednesday night injured in a clash between Hausa and Benin youths, in Ogheghe community, Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, over the killing of a suspected yahoo boy identified as Chizi Benz.

According to sources, Chizi Benz was said to have been stabbed to death by a Hausa youth over a sour deal.

Though details of the deal were not available as at press time, the killing of Chidi Benz sparked outrage as youths stormed the streets with dangerous weapons in a revenge mission.

According to sources, many ‘Abokis’ were injured in a reprisal attack while others fled for safety.

News of the killing was to have spread to nearby communities of Uwelu along the Siluko Axis, forcing Hausa youths who do petty trading and rides okada closed their businesses and fled for safety.

According to sources, policemen who were deployed to the area fired tear gas to disperse the angry youths.

Edo Police Spokesman, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident, promised to send a detailed statement.

He was yet to do so as at press time.

Metro

EFCC Arraigns Three Over 25m Petroleum Theft In Lagos

Published

2 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, arraigned a vessel, MT Ostria, and three individuals before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, over alleged petroleum theft involving over 25 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit belonging to NNPC Retail Limited.

In a statement posted by EFCC on Wednesday on X, the defendants — Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, and Mr. Vincent Wayas — were charged alongside the vessel on a four-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The charges state that the defendants conspired to steal 25,354,000 litres of PMS, an offence contrary to Sections 411 and 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable under Section 287 of the same law.

One of the counts reads: “MT Ostria, Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin and Mr. Vincent Wayas sometime in January 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony, to wit: stealing of Thirteen Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand (13,354,000) litres of Premium Motor Spirit, property of NNPC Retail Limited.”

Other counts outline alleged thefts of 9 million litres and 3 million litres of PMS on or about January 17, 2024.

All defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following their plea, EFCC prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, prayed the court “to set a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional facility. She prayed the court not to grant them bail, that the applicant was a flight risk, that they had nothing to lose if they jump bail or abscond from trial.”

The statement stated that: “However, the defence team informed the court that bail applications had already been filed and urged that the defendants be allowed to continue under the bail conditions earlier granted by the EFCC.”

Justice Dada subsequently ruled, “That the defendants should continue on the existing EFCC bail conditions and subsequently adjourned the case to November 17 and 27, 2025, for the commencement of trial.”

Metro

NSCDC Arrests Five Fake Security Operatives In Anambra

Published

3 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command, has arrested five suspected illegal private security operatives and recovered a pump-action rifle during a series of coordinated raids in Awka.

The State Commandant, Maku Olatunde, disclosed this on Wednesday while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Awka.

Olatunde said the operation, conducted across several hotels and grocery stores in Awka on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, around 11 am, followed credible intelligence reports.

He explained that the intelligence indicated the presence of individuals wearing uniforms resembling those of legitimate security outfits, allegedly hired by political actors to cause unrest ahead of the November 8 governorship election.

He said, “In a bid to rid Anambra State of individuals masquerading as private security operatives, the NSCDC, Anambra State Command, has apprehended five suspected illegal private security operatives and recovered a pump action rifle during a series of raids conducted in Awka.

“The raids conducted across various hotels and grocery stores in Awka on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at about 11:00hrs, were based on credible intelligence indicating the presence of individuals dressed in attire resembling that of a security outfit, who may have been hired by political actors with the intention of utilising them to cause chaos during the election.”

He listed the suspects as Mmeka Ekene (43), Peter Detuchi Kelvin (28), Sunday Akpan Idiong (45), Enemuo Ifeanyichukwu (26), and Francis Ugochukwu Nwosu (28).

Olatunde explained that the operation, which was carried out by the Private Guard Companies Department, was aimed at flushing out undesirable elements, criminal gangs, and irredentists, as well as preventing emerging security threats, illegal possession of firearms, and any form of violence or intimidation that could undermine the peaceful conduct of the election.

He continued, “We are resolute in our commitment to providing a secure environment for the conduct of the forthcoming governorship election, slated for November 8, 2025. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that Anambra State remains peaceful and secure.”

The Commandant further stressed that the NSCDC would not be swayed by the antics of individuals pretending to be private security operatives in a bid to disrupt the electoral process.

“The Command, in collaboration with other security agencies, will take all necessary measures within its operational guidelines to counter and suppress any act that could potentially destabilise the peace enjoyed in the state,” he said.

Olatunde also revealed that the Command had strengthened surveillance and enhanced intelligence gathering to thwart any attempts by “disruptive elements or desperate politicians” to compromise the electoral process.

He stated, “The arrested suspects are currently being interrogated and will be charged in court upon conclusion of the investigation,” The PUNCH quoted him.