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Ijaw Demand Environmental Clean-up Before IOCs Exit Niger Delta

Published

2 years ago

January 20, 2024

Ijaw stakeholders have 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.

This is because they asked the local consortiums buying up the oil assets of the IOCs to move their corporate headquarters to the region.

According to them, the Petroleum Industry Act was designed to deepen the underdevelopment of the area.

They made their position known in a communique issued after a one-day dialogue organised by the Ijaw National Congress at its national headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Friday, with the theme, ‘The imperative for paradigm shift’.

Oil giant, Shell, announced on Monday that it had agreed to sell its Nigerian onshore oil assets to Renaissance, a consortium of four Nigerian companies and one foreign firm for $2.4 billion.

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, will 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, the Federal Government, 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.

The President of INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba, who read the communique to newsmen, noted that “very soon, Ijaw territories would become private estates of these local investors with international connections.”

He said, “The Petroleum Industry Act is anti-Ijaw in all ramifications. The NNPC has been privatised by the Federal Government, and the International Oil Companies are divesting their oil assets around Ijaw land with local consortiums buying up shares.

“However, before the IOCs are allowed to pull out, they should be made to clean up the environmental mess they have created. The new investors should relocate their headquarters to Ijaw territories where they have their oil facilities.”

Okaba said the Ijaw people would set up a think-tank to examine every aspect of their existence and provide strategic templates for the collective growth and development of the Ijaw nation.

He added, “Despite contributing over 60 per cent to oil and gas production, which is the country’s main source of economic survival, there are no major infrastructures across Ijaw land. For instance, the East-West Road that traverses Ijaw land is still deplorable and impassable, and several Ijaw communities remain inaccessible by road.

“Also, port facilities in Warri, Sapele, Port Harcourt, etc, that were hitherto economically viable are no longer in use. Proposed seaports at Agge and other towns in Ijaw territories are yet to exponentially impact the economic climate of Ijaw land. We also lack energy infrastructure and other drivers of social, economic and technological advancement.

“We are unhappy with lopsided political appointments at the federal level. We reject the deliberate Balkanisation of Ijaw territories into minorities to deny us the socio-economic and political advantages that are associated with majority status. We are resolute on this.”

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JUST IN: BBNaija Season 7 Winner, Phyna, Loses Sister, Ruth Otabor After Accident

Published

48 minutes ago

August 31, 2025

Editor

The sister of Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Phyna, Ruth Otabor is dead.

The family announced her death on Sunday through a statement by Eko Solicitors & Advocates, saying Ruth passed on to glory on Sunday, at about 6:30 a.m.

“With a heavy heart, the family regrets to announce the passing on to glory of their daughter, sister, and mother on this 31st Day of August, 2025 at about 06:30Hrs,” the statement read.

The family added that they are grieving and requested privacy to mourn Ruth.

“The family is presently grieving and will appreciate to be given a private moment to mourn the departed.

“The funeral arrangement will be communicated to the public in due course,” the statement added.

Ruth had suffered a tragic accident just weeks earlier.

She underwent a leg amputation after being hit by a truck linked to Dangote Group near Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. Eyewitnesses said the heavy-duty truck crushed her leg before it was eventually stopped by a bystander.

The accident occurred only six days after Ruth graduated from Auchi Polytechnic. Her sudden death has left the family and fans in mourning.

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NSE Pledges To Mentor Young Engineers, Elects New EXCO Members In Bauchi

Published

3 hours ago

August 31, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Bauchi State branch has pledged to mentor young engineers in order to advance the engineering profession in the state.

Engr. Shehu wakili, the newly elected Vice Chairman of NSE in the state, made the pledge in an interview with newsmen on Sunday after the announcement of the election results of the newly elected Executive Council Members during the 2025 Annual General Meeting of NSE.

“The election was free and fair as the election was held and the results were announced where we became victorious.

“We will try and strive to make the society move forward. We have so many agenda to achieve, we want to increase our membership by so many activities and we want to carry our young ones and mentor them as and when due.

“There are so many ways to attract members and number one is by activities where you engage members and also by knocking their doors and invite them.

“I want to call on all of us that were elected to work hard for the progress of this society in general,” he said.

According to him, the year 2025 is the election year but not for the branch Chairman but for other EXCO members.

The positions, he said, included the Vice Chairman where he was the winner, Engr. Ibrahım Adamu won the General Secretary position, Engr. Abubakar Isah got the Asst. General Secretary’s position while Engr. Mohammed Sulaiman got the Financial Secretary position.

He explained that Engr. Abdulkadir Abdullahi won as the Treasurer, Engr. Adamu Chinade, Technical Secretary, Jawahir Hashim, Asst. Technical Secretary, Salis Kabir, Publicity Secretary, Engr. Ibrahim Lawal, Internal Auditor and Fatima Adamu as Asst. Publicity Secretary.

In an acceptance speech on behalf of other elected members, Engr. Ibrahim Lawal extended their gratitude to God and members who found them fit to serve the society and promised to serve to the best of their abilities.

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Nigeria Grappling To Balance Rapid Urbanization, Infrastructure Demands — Don

Published

3 hours ago

August 31, 2025

Editor

Dr. Ibrahim Lawal, a senior lecturer at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, says Nigeria is still grappling with the challenge of balancing rapid urbanization, infrastructure demands and the need to combat the impact of climate change.

Lawal, who stated this in Bauchi on Sunday during the 2025 Annual General Meeting and Public Lecture of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Bauchi state branch, said this is as a result of the growing population.

The Don, while presenting a paper titled ‘Building an environmentally sustainable and resilient future: The Nexus of climate change, infrastructure and engineering in Nigeria, called on governments at all levels to treat infrastructure as a priority sector for climate action.

The lecturer, who is from the department of Engineering, ATBU, said “Understanding this intersection unveils both the hurdles faced and the Innovative solutions forged to navigate towards a more sustainable future.

“In Nigeria, the dynamic interplay between climate change, infrastructure development, and engineering practices is critical in shaping the nation’s path towards a sustainable and resilient future.

“For a sustainable and resilient future the nexus of climate change, infrastructure, and engineering practices in Nigeria presents both an opportunity and a challenge”.

He however, maintained that Nigeria has a better chance at an environmentally sustainable and resilient future where communities thrive, infrastructure endures and the environment flourishes despite the challenges posed by an ever-changing climate.

Also speaking, The Emir of Bauchi, Alh Rilwanu Adamu, represented by Alh. Jibrin Jibo, Dan Saran Bauchi, insisted that a call for climate-resilient infrastructure is a call for survival, progress, and continuity in the country.

According to him, it’s a call for engineers, policymakers, traditional rulers, and communities to rethink how they plan, design, and maintain the structures upon which their lives depend.

“Engineers must continue to innovate, drawing on global best practices while adapting them to our local realities,” said the Emir.

He charged them to lead the course of transformation, adding that to succeed, they must collaborate with all stakeholders.

In his remarks, Engr. Abdulkarim Hassan, the Chairman, NSE, Bauchi branch, said the branch has made significant strides in advancing the mission and vision of the Society.

He explained that as part of the mandate to promote technical development and professional competence among its members, the branch conducted several technical visits during the year which broadened their technical exposure.

This visits, he said, also created opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge exchange between its members and industry personnel.

Also, Engr. Margaret Oguntala, the President of NSE who was represented by Engr. Ibrahim Usman, NSE National Exco, Northeast, called on the members of the society in Bauchi state to encourage visitation to project and construction sites to foster relationships.