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ConOil Keeps Mum As Bayelsa Assembly, Others Kick Over Poisonous Gas Leakage

Published

3 years ago

November 6, 2021

Editor

Authorities of the ConOil Producing Limited, owners of the Adriatic facilities belonging to SHELF Oil and Gas Drilling Company Nigerian Limited platform of Otuo South in OML 59 of Sangana community in Brass Local Government area of the Bayelsa State have kept mum over the controversies triggered by a strange leakage of poisonous gas from the company’s facility.

DAILY POST gathered that the Bayelsa State House of Assembly passed a three-point resolution calling on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to as a matter of urgency, send relief materials and medical aid to the affected Sangana community.

It also called on National Assembly members representing Bayelsa State to bring the issue on the floor of both houses as a matter of urgent public importance, and further calls on Federal and State Governments to save lives, by relocating the inhabitants of Sangana community to a safer area.

The resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Hon. Dr. Charles Daniel, representing Brass Constituency one, over the recent gas leakage, which has seriously affected the livelihood and health of the people, predominantly farmers and fishermen who have deserted their communities.

Also speaking, State Coordinator of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth(ERA/FoEN), Comrade Morris Alagoa, expressed concern over the disturbing posture of ConOil on the incident, “that there is no reaction from Conoil since the incident apart from evacuation of workers from the facility.

He said, “There is no public statement, no visible signs at the facility environment that anybody is taking steps to contain the situation and bring the toxic gas leakage to a stop. This is unacceptable, considering the fact that it is raw gas that is spewing into the marine ecosystem and atmosphere above and this is inimical to the environment in terms of the health of humans and aquatic lives.

“Effortlessly, what comes to mind is the 16th January, 2012 incident at Chevron’s North Apoi facility, not far from this environment. The authorities should compel Conoil to do the needful without further delays as a stitch in time saves nine. Every single hour and day that passes with this sailing polluting condition should attract heavy penalty from the facility owner to serve as a deterrent.

“The National Assembly should call Conoil to order. If Oil industry issues were not in the exclusive list, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly would have been prevailed upon to do the needful.

“The fact that even NOSDRA seems powerless goes to confirm regulatory capture and this is not acceptable. Oil industry operators cannot self-regulate themselves. But, politicians shouldn’t play politics with pollution matters. I will post it on Facebook. That thing cannot affect only Sangana in Akassa kingdom; other Communities in the kingdom are likely to be affected too. Besides, our Politicians shouldn’t play politics with matters of pollution.

“Sangana is not the only community most likely to be impacted both in terms of health and fishing; other communities in Akassa kingdom like OGINIBIRI, OPU OKUMBIRI, OKUMBIRIBELEU, MINIBIE,MINI AMGBA, KONGHO, may be affected; including others in Southern local government area of Bayelsa State.

“The direction of wind and water current changes often. So, we cannot say 100% that such will affect only one particular community, No.”

Related Topics:Bayelsa State ConOil OML 59

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Iran President Had ‘Lot Of Blood On His Hands’ – White House

Published

8 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

Iran President Ebrahim Raisi had a “lot of blood on his hands”, the White House said on Monday despite Washington offering condolences after his death in a helicopter crash.

“This was a man who had a lot of blood on his hands,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters, saying Raisi was responsible for “atrocious” rights abuses in Iran and had supported regional proxies including Hamas.

Kirby said, however, that “as in any other case, we certainly regret in general the loss of life and offered official condolences as appropriate.”

Earlier, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, announced on Monday five days of mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash.

“I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran,” said Khamenei in an official statement a day after the death of Raisi and other officials in the crash in East Azerbaijan province.

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Iran Gets Interim President After Raisi’s Death

Published

16 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assigned vice president Mohammad Mokhber to assume interim duties after the death of president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash a day earlier.

“In accordance with Article 131 of the constitution, Mokhber is in charge of leading the executive branch,” said Khamenei in a statement, adding that Mokhber will be required to work with the heads of legislative and judicial branches to prepare for presidential elections “within a maximum period of 50 days”.

Recall that President Raisi was confirmed dead on Monday after his helicopter crashed in a mountainous region of the country.

Raisi was travelling with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who also died in the accident.

Rescue teams had been scouring the area since Sunday afternoon after a helicopter carrying Raisi, the foreign minister and other officials had gone missing.

Early Monday, relief workers located the missing helicopter, with state TV saying the president had died.

“The servant of Iranian nation, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi has achieved the highest level of martyrdom whilst serving the people,” state television said Monday, with Mehr news agency also saying he was dead.

State television broadcast photos of Raisi, with the voice of a man reciting the Koran playing in the background.

Iran’s vice president for executive affairs Mohsen Mansouri posted on X a Koranic verse used to express condolences.

Meanwhile, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has announced a five days of mourning for President Raisi.

“I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran,” said Khamenei in an official statement a day after the death of Raisi and other officials in the crash in East Azerbaijan province.

Headline

UK Threatens To Deport Physically-challenged Nigerian After 38 Years

Published

17 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

The United Kingdom has threatened to deport a physically-challenged Nigerian man, Anthony Olubunmi George, over an alleged forged entry stamp in his passport.

George who has lived in the UK for 38 years, after he left Nigeria at the age of 24 in 1986, according to the Guardian UK.

The 61-year-old Nigerian has no criminal convictions and made several applications for leave to remain in the UK, which the Home Office has rejected, most recently on 7 May.

George’s case became the second African facing a huge disappointment with the UK Home Office after spending several years in Britain.

Vanguard reported last week that a 74-year-old Ghanaian Nelson Shardey, who has resided in the UK since 1977, was refused indefinite leave to remain despite being in the country for most of his adult life.

As the case of the Nigerian, he has never left the UK and has no criminal convictions, with the reports of having two strokes, which left him with problems with speech and mobility in 2019.

When George arrived, Margaret Thatcher was prime minister and Rishi Sunak is the ninth to hold office since George has lived in the UK.

He has endured many periods of homelessness and disclosed he has lost count of the number of friends who have given him shelter over the years, adding that he no longer has any close family in Nigeria.

The Guardian UK said in 2005, his previous solicitors submitted a forged entry stamp in his passport and have subsequently been reported to the police and the legal regulatory bodies.

George told the Guardian he knew nothing about the passport stamp until many years later. His current lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, cited his poor previous legal representation as the reason for George’s problems.

In his most recent refusal, Home Office officials said: “Unfortunately this is not something that is considered an exceptional circumstance.”

Kandiah has lodged an appeal against the latest refusal.

A previous Home Office rejection of his case states: “It’s open to your family and friends to visit you in Nigeria.”

George said, “I don’t know how many different sofas I’ve slept on – too many to count. I don’t have my life, living the way I’m living now. My health problems since I had my stroke are my biggest worry. All I’m asking for is some kindness from the Home Office.”