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Just In: Netherlands Court Held Shell Liable For Oil Spill In N’Delta, Orders Compensation, ERA/FoEN Lauds Judgement

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The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoEN, has lauded judgement by the Netherlands Court of Appeal that held Shell liable for oil spills across Nigeria’s coastal communities of the Niger Delta and consequently ordered it (Shell) to pay compensation for the spills which polluted rivers, fishponds and farmlands that thousands of local farmers and fishermen in the oil-rich region farm and fish.
Recall that in 2008, four Nigerian farmers from Ikot Ada Udo, Oruma and Goi in the Niger Delta supported by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria and sister organization: Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth, Netherlands, sued Shell for oil pollution in the three Niger Delta villages.
Amongst others, the farmers demanded that Shell clean up the oil spills; pay compensation for the damages caused;  and improve the maintenance of its  pipelines and installations to prevent future spills.
However, reacting to the judgement held January 29, 2021, in a press statement made available to newsmen in Benin, Friday, Dr Godwin Uyi Ojo, Executive Director, (ERA/FoEN), described the outcome of the case which had dragged in the Appeal Court for over 13 years as a landmark judgment which the organisation is very proud of.
He said the judgement showed that the days of oil companies in Nigeria, particularly Shell criminalising local communities and framing them up for sabotage of crude oil pipelines were over, just as he added that the judgment has  “further shown the environmental   liability of parent companies for the conduct of their foreign subsidiaries.”
The statement reads in part, “Shell no longer has any hiding place, as this victory will open up a flood gate of court cases against Shell and the oil companies doing business in Nigeria and hiding under weak regulations, lack of enforcement of its extant rules, and taking advantage of the lack of political will of the Nigerian government tobring oil transnationals to account.
“The significance of the landmark judgement is that it addresses the question of access to justice that is  very much in  question in  Nigeria when  it  comes  to  holding  the oil companies accountable   for   their   human   rights   violations   and   environmental degradation.
“The judgement is urgent and strategic as the world transits away from fossil fuels, there is the need to ensure that the devastation done to our environment by Shell is cleaned up and appropriate compensation is paid to communities that have suffered in many cases irreparable losses,” the statement added.
The Executive Director enjoined Shell to comply with the court verdict, while urging the judge to do the needful in awarding compensation and preventive costs.
Ojo, therefore, called on the Niger Delta communities and CSOs not to relent in their pursuit for justice, adding that over 13 years struggle in the court has paid off.
He also called on the Nigerian government to revamp its regulatory bodies in the oil industry by ensuring that criminal acts of oil   transnationals are punished   severely.
He further urged the government to take concrete steps to wean Nigeria of its dependence on revenues from oil and gas, build a new economy on the back of a clear renewable energy framework as quickly as possible, and ensure the gradual phasing out of oil and gas activities in the country.

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Ondo Poll: Aspirants Disagree With Committee, Fault Process, Call For Cancellation

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As the primary of the All Progressives Congress is ongoing, some of the stakeholders in the election have been crying foul over how the election committee handled the electoral process.

The aggrieved party members alleged that the committee which was headed by the Kogi State Governor, Mr Usman Ododo, was biased in the assignment.

Ododo, who arrived in the state on Saturday morning, addressed some of the aggrieved stakeholders at the distribution centre in the Ijapo area of Akure, saying the electoral materials had been sent to the Ondo South and South-North Senatorial Districts remaining that of the Ondo Central (as at 10.30 am).

There was no issue, I just came this (Saturday) morning and I was told that the election materials have been taken to Ondo South and Ondo North Senatorial Districts, ” the committee chairman stated.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Ondo Poll: Violence Breaks Out At APC Primary In Okitipupa

But one of the aspirants, Gbenga Edema disagreed with the governor, saying no election materials were taken to anywhere.

He said, “I have been here since 6.30 am and I didn’t see any material taken out of this place. The returning officers and electoral officers of my ward, Mahin Ward 2 in Ilaje Local Government are here and unable to collect any materials.

“What we are asking for is a credible election. So, we are asking the leadership of the party to look into this. If they’re not ready for this election, they should postpone it and the right thing should be done.”

Similarly , the programme officer of the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation, Sola Arowosafe, demanded the cancellation of the whole exercise, alleging that the primary election committee was not fair with the process.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Hoodlums Storm Voting Venues Of Ondo APC Primary Election [VIDEO]

Ajisafe said, “For APC to bring Ododo to Ondo state is a low to our party and state, and position is that no primary election has taken place, no election materials have left here, and we are saying that the leadership of the party should do the needful by sending another neutral person, just like they did in Edo state to come and conduct another primary election where the good people of Ondo state will freely exercise their franchise to pick their candidate.”

“If the leadership of the party failed to do the needful, then there is a way we will react and we are going to react accordingly. If any results are announced, we are telling the leadership of the party including President Bola Tinubu that no election took place in Ondo state, and no materials were distributed for us to pick our preferred candidate.”

READ ALSO: Former Arsenal Chairman, Keswick Is Dead

The media aide to an aspirant, Chief Olusola Oke, Mr Rotimi Ogunleye, also said the committee failed to follow the guidelines of the election.

“We got here around 6:30 am, we don’t know when and where the election materials were sent out from this place to Ondo South and North senatorial districts, the truth of the matter is that there were no materials sent out.

“Why can’t they follow the due process? The national leadership of the party should call Ododo to order, they should follow the guidelines they released,” Ogunleye demanded.

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JUST IN: Ondo Poll: Violence Breaks Out At APC Primary In Okitipupa

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Violence broke out at Ward 1 at Stella Maris College, Okitipupa, between rival supporters of two aspirants of the All Progressives Congress who are contesting to be the party’s candidate for the November 16, Ondo State Governorship election.

Accredited party members, who had gathered in large numbers to participate in the candidate selection process, fled the scene when violence erupted among the rival factions.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the accreditation and election process had not begun when the violence erupted as voters scampered for safety.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Hoodlums Storm Voting Venues Of Ondo APC Primary Election [VIDEO]

One of the accredited voters, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that one of the agents of an aspirant came to the ward, snatched the validation and accreditation papers and ran away.

One of the agents came here, snatched the validation and accreditation papers and fled the venue in his car.

“They chased him, but could not catch him. This caused the violence,” he said.

The security agents at the ward were unable to contain the violence and everyone fled the scene.

 

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FG To Pin Down Ways And Means To Tackle Inflation

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The Federal Government has announced plans to pin down Ways and Means advances to address the issue of excessive liquidity in the system and combat inflation.

The Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, made this announcement in Washington DC after meeting with investors during the ongoing spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

In February, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, stated that the bank would cease providing Ways and Means advances to the federal government until all outstanding debts are repaid.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Nigeria’s Inflation Hit 31.70% In February – NBS

However, Edun said the fiscal and monetary authorities are also working towards bringing down inflation.

“The two authorities are working hand in hand to bring down inflation and pressure on price stability and stabilising the exchange rate with the target of bringing down interest rates so that investors can borrow at a more affordable rate with a view to getting the economy going the right direction again,” Edun said.

“We need to borrow less and focus more on domestic resource mobilisation. We want long-term resources to avoid repayment and refinancing pressures.”

READ ALSO: African Immigrants Struggle To Pay Bills In UK As inflation Soars – Report

Speaking further, the minister stated that the current administration is addressing food security by prioritising farmers’ access to their land, particularly in areas where insecurity has significantly hindered food production.

Edun added that agro clusters are being developed in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to increase food production in the country.

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