News

Delta, Edo Oil Producing Communities Demand Climate Justice, Halt To Exploration

Published

7 months ago

September 30, 2023

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin

People from oil producing communities in Edo and Delta states Friday, September 29, 2023 converged in Benin under the umbrella – People’s Assembly – to demand for environmental justice in their communities.

INFO DAILY reports that the meeting known as African Peoples Counter COP was organised by Ecological Actions Advocacy Foundation with support from African Climate Collective.

INFO DAILY also reports that four oil and gas producing communities from Edo and one from Delta State attended the climate justice meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, one of the guest speakers and environmental activist, Comrade Cadmus Atake Enade, said over the years climate change has been in centre stage of discussion particularly in government but unfortunately the people directly affected are not being carried along, hence the meeting.

While lamenting that “extractive activities have destroyed the environment and climate of oil bearing communities,” Enade said yet “over time, we have discovered that climate change issues have always been at the centre stage of discussion politically, but even as at that the people are not being carried along.”

He added: “They want their voices to be heard; they want inclusion in government decisions when it comes to the environment. They want reparation from the government, and then communities where extractive activities are ongoing should be halted.”

“So, this is an avenue to aired their voices; they are using the medium to tell the whole world that they are suffering and that they demand climate justice.”

Also speaking, another environmental activist and youth leader, Akiri Murphy, said due to the operations of the ‘Warri Refinery’ sited in Ekpan community, residents of the community and other neighbouring communities are “seriously suffering.”

According to him, the Petrol Chemical plant and other machines in the refinery are obsulate thereby emitting soot and making life unbearable for the residents.

He said: “The Refinery Petrol Chemical plant emitts Carbon Black (soot) into the community, and the worse, this plant is being put on at midnight, thereby polluting the whole area. This has affected the health of residents of the community.

“The water which is their only source of drinking and fishing is being affected by the soot.

“The waste from the Warri Refinery also goes into the Ubeji community water thereby affecting them. Most of the people are into fishing but because of the impact they can no longer fish. They need to travel far before they can catch fish.

“The Federal Government should fix the refinery. The machines in the refinery need refurbish. The Petrol Chemical Machine is completely dead, it needs replacement. Fixing the refinery will reduce the pollution and enable the people in the area to live a better life.”

Also, Mrs Elizabeth Eyo, from oil producing community in Edo State, while calling for climate justice particularly for oil and gas producing communities, said “we want a situation where people from oil producing communities benefit hugely from oil exploration.”

She said: “The government should know that people living in oil producing communities can no longer farm due to exploration. Most of the people in these oil producing communities are either famers or fishermen. The government should bear in mind that these people need to feed, earn a living. So, the government should do something about this so they too can live a meaningful life.

“The bad water occasioned by oil exploration is affecting the reproductive health of the women. “

News

Moment Chief Defense Staff Hosts Prince Harry, Meghan Markle In Reception [VIDEO/PHOTOS]

Published

2 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended a reception hosted by the Chief of Defense Staff.

This was after they attended a volleyball game earlier in the day.

During the reception, which held at the Armed Forces Officers Mess & Suites in Abuja, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex received asho oke gifts from Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).

The couple also danced with Dabiri-Erewa.

The purpose of the visit was to introduce the royal couple to Nigeria’s rich socio-cultural heritage and provide an opportunity for the Duchess of Sussex to explore her Nigerian lineage.

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News

JUST IN: Again, Aircraft Skids Off Runway At Lagos Airport

Published

9 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

Photo: file copy

Barely 16 days after Dana Air was shut down by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authorities, another aircraft belonging to XEJET Airlines also skidded off the runway and landed in the grass at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Saturday.

Following this development, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has shut the 18/Left runway of the airport

The Airbus with registration 5N-BZZ with 52 passengers on board departed Abuja and landed in Lagos at 11.29 am.

Just last month, Dana MD-82 aircraft was involved in a skidding off of the runway, necessitating the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to order the suspension of the carrier for a comprehensive auditing.

Last year, in November, two aircraft from two different airlines skidded off the runway, in one week.

Aero Contractors, flight NG 119 with a registered Boeing 737 aircraft 5N-BYQ from Lagos to Abuja had a total of 133 passengers on board.

All passengers were safely evacuated through a controlled disembarkation.

The temporary closure of the runway by FAAN limits the airport to one single runway which is expected to lead to aircraft delays and landing.

The spokesperson of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Bimbo Olajide, confirmed that an aircraft belonging to Xejet Airlines skidded off the runway of the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport on Saturday.

She stated that a team had been deployed to the site of the incident.

“Our teams are there and on top of the matter. But whether or not the runway will be reopened today, i cannot immediately answer questions on that.” NSIB spokesperson told PUNCH Online.

News

Ededuna Obaseki’s Descendants Congratulate King Charles On Coronation Anniversary

Published

12 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

The entire direct descendants of World War II Veteran and a recipient of World War II Medals of Honour, Capt. Ededuna Walter Obaseki, has congratulated His Majesty King Charles III on his first coronation anniversary.

A congratulatory message signed by Mercy Ededuna Obaseki on behalf of The descendants, and made available to INFO DAILY prayed God to bless the King with long life, honour, and good health.

“We wish His Majesty good health so that he can effectively pilot the affairs of The United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and The Realms of The Commonwealth,” the message added.

The descendants, while thanking the British government for preserving the records of their late father, urged the King of the Great Britain to “start soon, the Colonial Legacy review in Nigeria because it is so important to us.”

While approaching efforts being made by His Majesty to review Colonial Legacies, the descendants said in hearing the King’s move to review it, “our Joy knew no bounds, and this feeling of great Joy increased more abundantly when we saw that indeed he was already doing this.”

“We watched with great happiness and excitement, The King presenting replacement World War II Medals in Kenya to the Veterans of The Second World War.

“We hope the King will also take action soon in actualising and fulfilling our dreams that both the British and the Nigerian government meet our demands that our father’s entitlements and work benefits be paid to we his direct descendants. It is also our prayer that the King empowers and supports us in our quests and in the present circumstances that we are in right now, your quick help is highly solicited.

“Our father Ededuna Walter Obaseki was a captain of the British Merchant Navy, a World War II Veteran and a recipient of The World War II Campaigns and Gallantry Medals of Honour. The 1939-1945; Atlantic Star; Italy Star; British War Medals were
Awarded to our father Ededuna Walter Obaseki and other officers and Seamen of the British Merchant Navy by HRM King George VI.

“Obaseki was a pioneer industrialist, governor, prime minister and head of government, and he handled the British administration in Southern Nigeria that brought great success to Nigeria in many areas like modern agriculture, education, healthcare, and maritime Shipping. The forming, shaping and developing of the navies during the time of the boom that both countries enjoyed and its citizens can still speak well of in sheer glories of remarkable advancement today.

“We are aware of some attempts by the Federal Government of Nigeria particularly in 2014 to help bring out and make known, the legacies of those that played active and very important roles in making this country Nigeria to be great, especially the Merchant Navy Officers who were the first ambassadors, head of administration and head of the British Board of Trade that brought about very positive growth and boom in Nigeria through the exports of timber, rubber, cocoa and palm produce, etc.

“We also want the distinguished senators and honourable members of the House of Representatives of Nigeria to grant our request that our father’s entitlements and work benefits for service in Nigeria to be paid to us by the Nigerian government. We need them (The Law Makers) to use their voice to also make our demands from The British Government.”