Metro

Bayelsa To Sue Oil Companies For Decades Of Environmental Pollution

Published

9 months ago

October 28, 2024

Editor

The Bayelsa State Government has resolved to sue international oil companies operating in the state over unmitigated oil pollution for over six decades.

Governor Douye Diri disclosed this on Monday while addressing an expanded State Executive Council meeting to receive the final report of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission at Government House, Yenagoa.

He stated, “After a review of an advance copy of your report, I can affirm that it captures the essence of our trials while outlining a hopeful pathway towards resolution. Your insights will serve as a beacon, guiding us towards actionable solutions and inspiring us to restore dignity and opportunity to our people.

“The report, appropriately titled ‘An Environmental Genocide: Counting the Human and Environmental Cost of Oil in Bayelsa, Nigeria,’ is truly alarming.

“Additionally, we are encouraged by the revelation in the report that in most advanced industrialised countries, two basic principles—’polluter pays’ and ‘no fault liability’—form the cornerstone of the legal regime for regulating extractive industries. Taken together, they mean that those who own and operate facilities are responsible for the damage caused by their pollution, even if they are not at fault.”

He indicated that the government may pursue legal redress outside the shores of Nigeria.

“Consequently, the perennial excuse by the IOCs that nearly ’90 per cent of leaks are due to sabotage, a finding they believe frees them of liability for compensating the victims’ would not find accommodation in foreign jurisdictions. That is why we are pleased that this commission has strengthened our capacity to litigate anywhere in the world.”

Diri quoted parts of the report in his address, noting that Bayelsa bears 25 per cent of Nigeria’s oil pollution and that one study estimated that in 2012 alone, oil spills in Nigeria, predominantly in the Niger Delta, resulted in over 16,000 additional neonatal deaths, saying, “Even one life lost to accommodate the greed of oil exploration is one death too many.”

Regarding the level of oil contamination, he stated, “It has been so heavy that, according to estimates, as much as one and a half barrels of oil have been spilled in Bayelsa for every man, woman, and child living in the state today. The figures are even higher for some parts of Bayelsa, with, for instance, as many as six barrels of oil spilled for every person in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.”

“The stark reality is devastating: every Bayelsa resident is affected, our lives perpetually endangered. The brutal implication: we are either already dead or waiting to die,” he added.

The report estimated that between 1970 and 2014, Nigeria earned an estimated trillion dollars in oil revenue. Since 2006, oil produced in Bayelsa has generated over US $150 billion for the Federal Government and billions for the international oil companies that operate its wells. On average, oil produced in Bayelsa is responsible for approximately US $10 billion in government revenues per year.

Diri formally dissolved the commission but stated that some of the members would be appointed to a committee he would soon set up to implement the report, which he assured would be carried out.

Speaking while presenting the final report to Governor Diri, Chairman of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission, Archbishop John Sentamu, said oil has been a revenue spinner for the Federal Government but a curse for the land of the state.

Sentamu noted that oil pollution has resulted in the loss of about 40 per cent of mangroves and that the level of toxic waste exceeds acceptable levels in several parts of the state.

Other members of the commission who spoke highlighted various aspects of the report, urging Governor Diri and the Bayelsa State Government to act swiftly to seek environmental justice.

The commission recommended a comprehensive Bayelsa recovery and cleanup plan, a recovery fund of US $12 billion over 12 years, the establishment of a Bayelsa Recovery Agency, a new compensation scheme for those affected, and fundamental reform of the regulatory regime.

It also called for the introduction of a new legal framework and new dispute resolution procedures, enshrining and enhancing the role of state governments, strengthening scrutiny of IOC behaviour both internationally and in their home jurisdictions, overhauling IOC approaches to community engagement to ensure transparency, accountability, and voice, as well as establishing a legally binding effective legacy and decommissioning regime.

Metro

Hotel Under Construction Collapses In Edo Kills Owner

Published

11 hours ago

August 3, 2025

Editor

Tragedy struck in the Idumoza community, Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, as a hotel building under construction caved in, killing its owner, identified as Andrew Isesere.

The incident occurred last Friday while Isesere was reportedly inside the building.

Over 20 workers who were also at the site narrowly escaped death, according to eyewitnesses.

The lifeless body of the owner was recovered from the debris on Sunday morning.

Neighbours in the area expressed concern over the quality of materials used in the construction, noting that warnings had previously been issued to the deceased.

Andrew Inegbebor, a resident who spoke to reporters, said, “The owner was told he was using low quality material. He used 12mm instead of 16mm rods for the pillars. There was no base basket at the pillars. Look at the result.”

“The building collapsed because of substandard materials that were used. There was no engineer on site. The dead owner supervised the house. The house later collapsed and killed him , but some workers escaped,” he added.

At the time of filing this report, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, said that he had not received a briefing on the incident.

Metro

Police Arrest Stolen Phone Tracker-altering Gang In Imo

Published

1 day ago

August 2, 2025

Editor

The Imo State Police Command has dismantled a cult gang that specialised in phone theft, burglary, and altering the tracking device of phones in Eziobodo, in the Owerri West Local Government Area.

This is even as the Command has arrested several people linked to various phone robberies within the Owerri federal constituency.

Police spokesperson for Imo State command, DSP Henry Okoye, made the disclosure on Saturday morning.

Okoye disclosed that following a complaint by a phone dealer whose shop was burgled on July 11th, 2025, within Eziobodo, operatives of the Anti-Vice commenced an investigation that led to the arrest of a suspect with four brand new but stolen phones.

Intense investigation led the Police to the principal burglar behind the robbery and another accomplice who specialised in altering phone IMEI, which blocks the tracking of such phones.

Okoye said, “Following a complaint by a phone dealer whose shop in Eziobodo was burgled on 11th July 2025, operatives of the Anti-Vice Unit arrested a suspect in possession of four brand-new stolen phones. Investigations led to the arrest of the principal burglar and another accomplice who specialised in altering phone IMEI numbers to evade tracking”.

He disclosed that all the suspects arrested are currently in custody, while efforts have been intensified to apprehend other members of the syndicate.

Okoye said in another development, operatives of the Orji Police Station on July 31st, 2025, at about 9pm (2100hrs) arrested one Ernest Nweke ‘m’ at Bishop’s Court roundabout, in the Owerri North LGA, following a distress call from concerned citizens.

The suspect, who is a native of Umuoji in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State but resident in the World Bank area of Owerri, was arrested with a locally fabricated pistol after he and three others allegedly robbed one Emmanuel FearGod ‘m’ of Fountain of Knowledge Hostel.

Okoye said, “Nweke, who confessed to being a member of the Vikings cult group, was identified by the victim and arrested while the others fled. Based on his confession, four other suspects: Chamberlain Prince, Akujuobi Godwin, Ugwuelu Joseph, and Frederick Chigozie were arrested the next morning and also confessed to the crime. All suspects are currently undergoing investigation and will be duly prosecuted in court”.

Meanwhile, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has commended the officers for their swift action and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to fight crime.

The Police boss urged residents to report suspicious activities to the nearest Police Station or through 0803 477 3600.

Metro

Police Arrest Fleeing Anambra Suspected Kidnapper In Kaduna

Published

1 day ago

August 2, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper, John Chinagorom, who is said to have been on the Command’s wanted list.

A statement released on Saturday by the Anambra State Police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspect was arrested in Zaria, Kaduna State, with the assistance of the Kaduna State Police Command.

Ikenga said his arrest followed a credible intelligence received by operatives of the Ozubulu Police Division on August 1, that the suspect, who is linked to a kidnapping case in Anambra, was sighted at PZ Park Road, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The statement read in part, “The Anambra State Police Command wishes to inform the public that its officers, with the assistance of the Kaduna State Police Command, have arrested John Chinagorom ‘M’, a suspected kidnapper, who has been on the Command’s wanted list.

“This follows a credible intelligence received by operatives of the Ozubulu Police Division at noon of 1st August 2025, that the suspect, John Chinagorom, who is linked to a kidnapping Case reported on 15th April 2025, was sighted at PZ Park Road, Zaria, Kaduna State.

“Acting swiftly on the information, a team of Police detectives from the Division was dispatched, and they successfully apprehended the suspect at his hideout in Zaria, with the assistance of officers of the Kaduna State Police Command.

“The suspect is currently in custody and is assisting the Police in the ongoing investigation.”

He urged the general public to remain calm, assuring them that the security situation in the state is under control as joint security patrols and other crime prevention operations are ongoing.

“Meanwhile, the general security situation across other parts of the State remains calm, as counter-terrorism and other crime prevention operations continue.

“Further developments will be communicated in due course,” he added.