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ERA To Shell: Clamp Your Leaking Pipeline In Bayelsa Community Now

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The Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has called on Shell to immediately clamp its leaking condensate pipeline located at Ekuraba Creek in Otuasega community, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The call came after a field visit by a team led by the Program Manager and Head of the Niger Delta Resource Center, ERA/FoEN, Comrade Alagoa Morris.

According to a statement by the Communication Officer, ERA, Elvira Jordan, the visit was sequel to a distress call from a video posted on social media by an indigene of the community, showing a high level of pollution in the Ekuraba creek.

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INFO DAILY reports that Otuasega hosts Shell’s Kolocreek Logistic Base, Oil Wells where Shell extracts Crude oil/gas daily, Shell’s Kolocreek Tie-In Manifold and pipelines.

Like other host communities, Otuasega has experienced some of the negative consequences associated with oil industry induced pollution.

READ ALSO: ERA, Others Want Coca Cola, Others Held Accountable For Plastic Pollution

Akpobolokeme Odofori, one of the fisher folks living in the Ekuraba fishing camp who led the community leaders and ERA/FoEN from the spill point downstream [monitoring spread of condensate], lamented over the level of pollution the spill had caused along the Ekuraba creek and its effect on fishing activities in the area

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He added: “Fishing is my occupation and I reside at the Ekuraba fishing camp. For about a week now we are not catching fish as we used to, due to this incident.

“This morning some persons came are said they want to see where the Kerosene was bubbling and the environment.

That was how I volunteered to guide them to this area where much of the spilled substance is gathered. The substance looks like Kerosene, diesel and petrol.

“Due to this pollution we have ceased using our fishing nets on the creek. There are no fishes again as before too. Right now the bubbling has stopped, maybe Shell has shut down the line’’.

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READ ALSO: Edo: Need For Waste Management Policy Takes Centre Stage As ERA/FoEN Convenes Stakeholders’ Workshop

Responding to questions concerning the spill, a member of the community, Igbeta James Brown, explained that they were informed about the spill incident by fisher folks residing within the Ekuraba Creek environment a week ago and was duly reported to Shell without any response till the date of filling this report.

Also speaking on the spill incident, Beauty Inie Keghe, a non-native but residing at the Ekuraba fishing camp, stated that their children are suffering from ailments associated with the spill.

She added that the fisher folks who survive from fishing activities have been subjected to hunger and starvation since the spill started.

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According to her: “We are suffering since the spill happened in our camp. The water has gone bad. Children are coughing and experiencing cattarrh. The water has been contaminated, fishes are now scarce in the water; we are experiencing hunger.

“If all the fish in the water are dead, what are we going eat or do? We are suffering and facing hunger. Our husbands are also getting sick. This is the situation in our [fishing] camp now.”

READ ALSO: Edo 2024: Why I Am Aspiring On The Platform Of LP – Akpata, Ex-President, NBA

On his part, the Chairman of Otuasega community, Nyamono Ezuzu Sydney stated that the incessant oil spills has caused a lot of damages to their environment and the people, pointing out that the people depend on the creek for their farming and fishing.

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“Every end of year our people come here to do fishing. And because of this spill, I know that it will affect the fishing of this year. Besides some dying presently, most of them [fish] will migrate to other places so I know that it will affect us during the dry season, due to this. So it will affect the economic activity of our people’’.

The m Chairman said faulted Shell for what he described as a nonchalant attitude towards oil spill issues, calling on the government to intervene on the issues.

Even when the spill started, we tried to reach out to some of them. But up till now they have not come. So we want government to use their strength, because if we go to Shell , government would say we are taking laws into our hands.”

He also called on Shell to be proactive in its reactions to spills and leakages, adding that they should know it is their responsibility to detects and handle spills.

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Reacting to the spill incident, the Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Chima William called on Shell to immediately mobilize to site for JIV, with the relevant stakeholders, to ascertain cause of leak or rupture.

He further called on the relevant regulatory bodies, especially NOSDRA to ensure that Shell pays the stipulated fine for failing to notify NOSDRA about the spill within the time frame allowed.

He also demanded that the impacted environment should be immediately cleaned up to prevent further damage to the environment.

 

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We’ve Earmarked N1bn Naira Monthly To Feed Edo People – Obaseki

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Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, says his administration has earmarked nothing less than N1bn Naira monthly to feed vulnerable Christians in the state in the next three months.

This is as he said a similar programme has been mapped out for people in the Muslim faith in the state.

Obaseki disclosed this during the official flag-off of phase one of Edo State Food Support Programme also known as Christian Feeding Programme in Benin City.

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The Governor, who said he was worried by the rising number of people who cannot afford a square meal in a day in the state, said he had to call Christian leaders in the state on how best to address the alarming situation.

READ ALSO: Stock Market Review: FBN Holdings Leads 41 Others As Investors Gain N811bn

Obaseki said in order not to make it look political, he decided not to involve political office holders, but Christian leaders in reaching out to vulnerable Christians in the state.

The Governor who added that the state government already had data of the vulnerable in the state database, said the means of reaching out to them maximally was the issue, hence using churches to reach out to them.

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He said: “I was worried by the rising number of people who cannot afford a square meal in a day. So, I thought to myself how do we solve this problem. This is not politics I told myself.

“I then called the chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and some of the blockheads to a meeting and explained to them what I intended to do. So, that’s how we put our heads together to come up with this programme.”

READ ALSO: Police Bar Lawyers From Reaching Journalist Allegedly Detained On IGP’s Orders

Obaseki added: “I told them this is the amount of money I will be giving you every month. I’ll give you a billionaire monthly for three months first. At least, Let us try this for the first three months.”

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The governor said the programme was not just to feed the vulnerable, but also together more data about people in the state on how the government can create employment for them and how the government can render help where necessary.

Earlier, in his remarks, Chairman of the Organising Committee who also doubles as the Chairman, CAN,
Apostle Irekpono Omoike, while thanking the governor for the initiative, said 10kg of 60,000 bags of rice have been purchased for onward distribution to the three senatorial districts in the state.

According to him, 27,000 bags of the 10kg would be distributed to the seven local government areas in Edo South, 15 bags to Edo Central and 18 bags to Edo North.

Further giving the breakdown, Omoike said 3, 000 bags would be distributed to each local government across the 18 local government areas, summing upto 54,000 bags, while the remaining 6,000 bags would be distributed to churches not captured under CAN.

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Ex-Delta Gov, Ibori Mourns Passing Of Former Minister, Gbagi

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Former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori has mourned the passing of former Minister of State for Education Chief Kenneth Gbagi.

Ibori, in his Facebook timeline wrote: “Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi. Abovwolovwolo. Atighoyowa. So long, May your soul rest in peace.”

Gbagi was the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the last election in Delta State.

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The renowned criminologist, industrialist and senior lawyer died Saturday, May 4th, 2024 at the age of 62.

 

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BREAKING: Former Minister Gbagi Is Dead

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The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the last election in Delta State, Olorogun Barr Kenneth Omemavwa Gbagi, is dead.

Gbagi, a former minister of Education and an industrialist died at the age of 62.

The Renowned Criminologist and senior lawyer died on Saturday, May 4th 2024.

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A statement signed by his eldest son, Chief Emuoboh Gbagi on behalf of the Gbagi family, said: “It is with profound sadness but gratitude to God, that we announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, husband, and brother, Olorogun (Barr.) Kenneth Omemavwa Gbagi, FNIM, OON; Former Minister of Education, who departed this life on the 4th of May 2024 at the age of 62.

READ ALSO: Delta Guber: Tribunal Strikes Out Gbagi’s Petition Against Oborevwori

We take comfort in the fond memories of his life, his achievements, and the impact he made on the lives of countless individuals and communities.

“We kindly request your thoughts and prayers for our family during this challenging time of loss.

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“May his soul rest in perfect peace”, the statement added.
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